Becoming more frugal

Frugal living outside of the kitchen?

Since I have been making yogurt, soy milk, sprouts, homemade microwave popcorn and cornbread, I feel like I am well on my way to being more frugal.
I’ve noticed that the price of toilet paper keeps climbing. I am determined to save money on this.

I don’t mean to be gross, and I certainly do not want any inappropriate responses, but I’d like some money-saving ideas in this area. Buying in bulk is the best I have been able to do.

Anyone?

Composting

I am looking for ideas to keep the compost pile looking nice and not become a neighborhood eyesore in the backyard.

What ideas do you have for composting?

Them all

I walk nearly every day for about an hour. On the days when it is just too wet, cold, icy or windy, we walk at the mall. In its heyday, this particular mall was a vital part of downtown; today it houses mainly offices and a couple of shops with few customers.

The mall culture is rather interesting. There seem to be some regulars. The shaggy looking homeless guy sleeps with his bedroll near the entrance. Our Congressman walks with assorted constituents and assistants. We gaze into the window of the fitness center and view the same sweaty folks huffing and puffing on their treadmills.

Let’s hope the weather stays nice; I don’t want to become part of the mall culture.

What is your mall like? Does it have many walkers?

All dese bargains

A few months ago, a friend turned me on to Aldi. They have great prices on many products.

I love Aldi's.

What tips can you share about lowering your food expenses?

Class action

Well, it finally happened. All those notices I received in the mail written in legal-ese. For the first time, I actually received a check, a small check, but hey, it's money.

What have your experiences been with class action suits?

Celebrating anniversaries

Today is my anniversary. These past twenty-five years have been glorious.

Coincidentally, this is the anniversary of finding new relatives. Through a genealogical search, I found a branch of the family we knew nothing about. Over the year, we have gotten together several times and enjoy the closeness that has evolved.

What anniversaries do you celebrate?

Reaping the benefits

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Splitting headache

Yesterday was a perfect day. As I sat at the computer finishing an article, I spotted the city arborists out the window. Since I heat my house with wood, and scavenge for free firewood, this is a very good sighting. Well the short version of the story is that I spent the day helping them cut an enormous tree and hauled it home on a small cart, one limb at a time.

So, I have a couple of dilemmas here:

Firewood dries faster when split, but splits easier when dried.

And does it stack tighter whole or when split?

What to do first in the yard to get ready for next winter? Your recommendations?

Feast on Handel

Last night we heard the live performance of Alexander's Feast by Handel. If you like the Messiah, you would love The Feast. It was absolutely magnificent.

What is your favorite piece of music?

Sensible gaming

To my friends at the gambling boat in East Peoria, I offer these words of advice:

Don't go overboard!

Academia nuts

Kids who watch lots of TV are more likely to have asthma.

A study just came out which made this claim. Do the results of this study surprise anyone? People with asthma often tend to be around smokers; people who watch TV have less time to exercise, thus being less healthy in general.

What studies can you think of that make obvious claims?

Blind spot

I had never heard of Millard Kaufman, but this creator of the Mr. Magoo, just died. I am not familiar with other work that he did beyond the Magoo series. Though it has never been okay to poke fun of blind people, or even those of us who are nearsighted, I was a big fan of Mr. Magoo.

What cartoon character do you especially like?

The Great Es-skate

Disk jockey, referee, nurse. I did it all as I helped with grade school PE yesterday. The activity was roller skating. Oh my goodness, it is a miracle that no one, myself included, was injured. But, the kids had a blast.

I am not great on skates. How do you do on skates?

Six Savvy Suggestions

Young Money has been backlogged on excellent articles and just published one of my longer articles in the HARD COPY magazine.

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With a Voice of Singing

With a Voice of Singing and the Missa Criolla by Ramirez were two of the pieces our choir sang with soloists and 5-piece band and piano at last night's concert. The performance went very well.

What is you favorite kind of music for listening?

Testing, one two

This past week I helped at school with ISAT testing. The Illinois State Achievement Tests are a real big deal around here. They determine of a school is making AYP (annual yearly progress), with the goal of No Child Left Behind.

Educators typically do not like the testing as they feel they must teach to the test. This can zap the creativity of an inventive teacher; not to mention that it swallows up valuable teaching time.

What do you think of this type of school testing?

Shakespeare, Prokofiev, and Mark Morris

Last night we enjoyed a fabulous dance concert by the Mark Morris Dance Group performing Romeo and Juliet. I have not seem much dance performed. It was a wonderful evening.

Celebrating Lincoln

Today is Day 3 of Lincolnfest 2009. Thursday night was the opening gala with some very yummy good and wine and the Lincoln Trio. I came home with one of their CDs. Last night we saw the 1939 Henry Fonda film, Young Mr. Lincoln.

Is your state celebrating Lincoln, too?

Spring cleaning

I like to keep my blogging light & humorous, but seeing so much hype lately about colonoscopy screenings made me feel obligated to write a serious blog today.

I'm a big baby about medical stuff, even blood tests, and TB tests. I have a long history of fainting when I get nervous at the doctor's lab. It took me a few years to get up the courage to have a colonoscopy.

It was NOT a big deal. Really!!! The results were fine. And the good news is that it will be many years until I need another one.

Treat yourself to peace of mind. It is definitely worth it. Trust me on this.

P.S. Colonoscopy is not recognized by spellcheck

Happy Birthday, Barbie doll

OK, so you look fabulous at 50, Barbie. I didn't look too bad at fifty, either. And, like Barbie, I can still fit into my clothes from 40-or-so years ago.

So why all the fuss about this doll that messes with the self esteem of little girls?

Public speaking

Last night, I gave a presentation to the Champaign County Genealogical Society. The auditorium was packed and the audience response was very positive.

When I get in front of a group, I turn into Oprah. I am very comfortable as a public speaker and have enjoyed giving much larger and longer seminars and being in the college Speaker's Bureau.

What is it about public speaking that freaks out most people?

Chip off the old blog

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Blowin' in the wind

I was excited to be going to the Klezmer Concert at the Center for the Performing Arts on campus. When we got to the underground parking lot, the attendant informed us (and the other thousand or so people), that there was no power. Thus the concert was cancelled.

Yesterday was very very windy. Branches were knocked down causing massive power outages. The good news is that our neighborhood did not lose power. The other good news is that there will be more fallen branches around town to use as firewood.

Was there strange weather where you live?

Going green

This weekend was the Official Unofficial St Patrick’s Day celebration. College students converge to campus bars and parties wearing green, getting inebriated and acting like fools.
When did St. Pat’s day get to be such a big deal? Growing up in Chicago, I don’t remember St. Pat’s celebrations.

Even as a college student, I wouldn’t have found any joy in either drinking or partying.

What do you think of this type of celebration?

Spring ahead

Tonight is the night to turn your clocks ahead one hour. I've never been a big fan of daylight savings time. In our 24/7 world, it shouldn't really matter which hours are light, there are still the same number of hours. Who are we fooling?

What do you think of daylight savings time? Is it a concept whose time has gone?

Getting grounded

We have had spring-like weather these past few days. How good it felt to dig in the garden in preparation for planting. It's a bit too early to plant, but I already have my seeds: five varieties of lettuce, two types of spinach, Swiss chard, and kale. I love my daily salad of greens and sprouts from my kitchen.The greens from the grocery during the winter months simply fall short. In May, I will plant tomatoes and broccoli.

What do you plant in your garden?

Life's a circus

Last night we went to Cirque Eloize. I really didn't know what to expect, but this form of entertainment part circus, part theatre, part dance, was totally enjoyable. It was wonderful to see so many young children enjoying themselves at the center for performing arts.

What circus performances have you enjoyed?

Something fishy in the kitchen

I’m ready to come out of the closet (or should I say cupboard?). Only a few people know my little secret; I often eat sardines at breakfast. Why do friends turn up their nose at this minor dietary quirk? How are breakfast sardines any different than eating sausage or ham at breakfast? These little fishies are loaded with calcium and protein. They may in fact replace eggs as the perfect breakfast food.

I’m thinking of talking to the Big Mac CEO and see if Sardines McMuffin might excite young palettes.

What do you eat that people consider to be weird?

Getting real

A & D Ointment no longer contains either Vitamin A or Vitamin D. Two by fours measure less than 2 x 4. The TV show 60 Minutes doesn’t provide 60 minutes of programming. Cheesecloth is not used for making cheese. Clocks are mostly digital; what does clockwise mean?

Can you think of other things from days gone by?

Made in America

I’ve been watching a series of DVDs “Made in America”. It is quite interesting. It turns out that the first dishwasher was made in Shelbyville, Illinois, just a short hop from here, in the late 1800s.

Is there anything notable that originated where you live?

(J Brand writes that Spam is made in Austin Minnesota, right near the twin cities.)

Getting bugged

The 26th annual University of Illinois Insect Fear Film Festival last night was a blast! The petting zoo was especially interesting. The entomology department does an extraordinary job with this event, And the children's insect drawing contest was cool. Some great bug artists in our midst. Nice to see so many children at the fest.

What film festivals have you enjoyed?