Hi Michael,

 ML> >  ML> [chuckle] I wonder if it would have been
 ML> >  ML> more difficult to give up if you'd been
 ML> >  ML> accustomed to good wine!
 ML> > Hard to tell at this point. We didn't have the money for things like
 ML> > that, especially the final year before Steve went into the Army. It
 ML> was > actually a pay raise for him; we'd been living on $500./month
 ML> plus
 ML> > $75./month of food stamps that last year. For a family of 4, that
 ML> didn't > go very far.

 ML> As I've recounted here, in tough times I'll
 ML> save up for essentials, which for me are
 ML> things like plane tickets and decent wine.

Essentials for us were payments for mobile home and lot plus power and
phone bills, gas, insurance, food, etc. Had the "luxury" of a small dog
(Bichon Frise) but she didn't eat that much and vet bills were minimal.


 ML> Today's lunch was going to be a half packet
 ML> of ramen (10c worth), but I decided to fully
 ML> economize and have nothing. Saving up for a
 ML> trip to Tuscan wine country in September to
 ML> celebrate a friend's retirement, two years
 ML> late.

Sounds like fun, hopefully it will be do-able. We're hoping our main
travel will be several trips to Florida plus one out west. Other than
that, we're saving up to replace the truck with a newer model.

 ML> > Media just isn't waht it used to be.

 ML> Perhaps it never was.

 ML> >  ML> In this case, everybody seems to be
 ML> >  ML> focusing on LA, which has a quite
 ML> >  ML> different demographic with its own set
 ML> >  ML> of problems.
 ML> > Does CA need to split into NoCal, MidCal and SoCal?

 ML> Might, but any messing around could be
 ML> catastrophic. Problem is we're so tempted
 ML> to precipitate action these days. Oh, we
 ML> can close the borders, so let's close them
 ML> right away.

Or leave them open and let in anybody and everybody.


 ML> > From what I've read, you're doing well, overall. I've not read
 ML> anything > lately about any chocolate chip or oatmeal cookie baking; I
 ML> presume
 ML> > those have gone the way of the bread making that preceeded them.

 ML> >  ML> Costco, which has the additional advantage
 ML> >  ML> of being open.
 ML> > Yes, we hit up the Raleigh one yesterday. Replenished several
 ML> vitamins > and got some munchies as well. Then we went over to
 ML> Wegman's and had
 ML> > lunch (split a medium meatball sub and each had a soda) before doing
 ML> > some more shopping. A quick stop at JoAnn Fabrics for some quilt
 ML> backing > and batting, then back to Wake Forest for gas and eggs at
 ML> Sam's Club
 ML> > before going home. Supper was left over beef brisket, beans (canned,
 ML> but > doctored up) and biscuits--Steve had made some sourdough ones
 ML> before we > went shopping.

 ML> Once in a while we get a hot dog special
 ML> (includes drink with refill) and a slice
 ML> at Costco, total outlay $4 or less. That

We have done that a few times but Costco and Wegman's are about a block
apart so we usually go to both in the same trip. We like the choices for
lunch at Wegman's better, and by splitting a sandwich, we're still only
spending about $7.50.

 ML> of course doesn't take into account the
 ML> flat of steaks and case of wine or the

In our case it was various vitamins and munchies. Got soups, yogurts,
veggies, etc at Wegman's.

 ML> de rigueur blouse or jacket or pair of
 ML> shoes that somehow manages to make it
 ML> into the cart (likely to be returned on
 ML> the next trip, which drives me bananas).

(G)

 ML> >  ML> >  ML> At Bonnie's I'd make preserves, because she
 ML> >  ML> >  ML> got a lot of fruit and then couldn't eat it
 ML> >  ML> > Does she buy the fruit or grow it herself?
 ML> >  ML> Buys.
 ML> > Depending on where she gets it, it could be better to just buy the
 ML> jam.

 ML> Two thoughts on that. No bought jam I've had is
 ML> better than what I make (assuming I don't go off
 ML> and forget it), and any kind of jam would beat
 ML> throwing out dried-up or moldy fruit, which is
 ML> the reason I make jam in the first place.

OK, better to do something with the fruit to keep from having to throw
it out. Bananas could go into bread or muffins or similar, berries into
all sorts of things besides jam.

 ML> >  ML> > Until you go to get something out of the freezer. (G)
 ML> >  ML> I delegate! Though today I'm going to get
 ML> >  ML> some corn out, and later some Rocky Road.
 ML> > I'm usually the one digging into our freezer. I keep a pair of
 ML> gloves > handy. (G)

 ML> Actually, a pair of gloves might be a good
 ML> idea, because I've gotten really, really
 ML> sensitive to cold lately.

Get a pair to wear outside, another pair to keep by the freezer.

---
Catch you later,
Ruth
rchaffly{at}earthlink{dot}net  FIDO 1:396/45.28


... Get shopping while the gettin' is good!!!

--- PPoint 3.01