Hybrid or Not?

 No steps for over a week, I think.

I am a teeny bit better. I lost weight gained and am down still another pound. You know how you weigh something and 30 pounds? Then, you lose down to something and 29 pounds? That always seems like a great thing to me. Do you feel that way with weight loss? 

Tommy wants to get a hybrid SUV. I have read up on them but found nothing bad. How about your experience? Or rumors or about one belonging to someone else. 

My laptop is falling apart. Every laptop I have ever had has fallen apart, literally pieces falling off. I don't know what I do. These are Dell and HP. Do you ever have parts fall off or break off your laptop?

Tonight, we had baked chicken, chopped salad, and squash and onions. Cottage cheese and fresh blueberries are my snack and then cheese.

I need to take meds, hang up wet laundry.

Where Have All the Flowers Gone?

 No, that was not my question. 

Where are all the cicadas? I have not seen one nor heard one. I did experience the last two swarms, but this one has eluded me. 

Sleep also eluded me on Wednesday night. But, I slept most of the day Thursday. 

It is early still, but I am making a list of things to do today. I need some things from Lowe's. We also need to fetch the other two store ads.

I cannot remember the other question. Today, we went to get the other two store ads late, left here at 4:30. There was no cheese on either one. I do not need to buy cheese, but I want to see how long it takes either of the three to have cheese on sale again. 

Tommy washed two loads of clothes today, towels and things for me and kitchen stuff. He is amazing, but I wish the washer and dryer were in the house where I can use them.

If you remember, in order to not have stacks of wrap boxes (waxed paper, two kinds of foil, Glad Wrap, different sizes of freezer bags, storage bags, snack bags) I bought two trash cans, sort of small and clearish to put all these items into and store on the freezer. For a long time, I have meant to put the little stubby stick-on things that will elevate the storage above the freezer. I know nothing should be place on or too close to the sides of freezers and refrigerators. Tommy said incredulously, "Since when?!" Since every one made, I suppose. So, I got those from Lowe's for a chore tonight or tomorrow. I know these should hold the trash bins further from freezer top. 

Oh, I remembered the question. I was talking to a friend I have known since 1974. We are not visiting friends even though her children know mine and I have done lots of business with her. We were talking since I was trying to reach her daughter. We got onto the subject of allergies, food allergies specifically. We have some of the same allergies and people around us who do not understand. 

While she talked, she said, "And Dr#### told me...." I listened with my mouth open and disbelief seething in my head and stomach. This is the same doctor who will not give me a bit of advice, walks out of room while I am talking. And, I have not been back in three years. I have another friend who went to him, too, and never went back after the first visit.

Anyway, to the point--the question. Friend said doctor told her to only eat white cheese. It seems the yellow coloring is in cheese and an allergen. I knew this but have never been told anything bad about it. I suppose I may need to find a2cheese to avoid the protein in milk I know that affects me and allergies. 

And, there is this history of the color of cheese--

Yellow Cheese vs. White Cheese: What's the Difference? (allrecipes.com)

Tonight, dinner for me is chicken/bbq sauce, slaw and green beans with no sodium. I used a hot dog bun to put the meat, sauce, and slaw to make a sandwich. I ate the rest without a bun. Tommy had chicken, bbq sauce, slaw, mixed vegetables, and a jalapeno cheese roll. It looks like a monkey bread muffin. 

Have you seen or heard cicadas?

Have you been advised to not eat yellow cheese?

Kitchen Towels that Stink and The Solution

 It is Friday again? I am not losing days, but it seems the weeks have been flying by. I cannot believe it is Friday already! Has the week gone by quickly for you?

I have complained before of kitchen items keeping a greasy, nasty smell even after washing in hot water and detergent. I forgot which detergent actually killed the stench. But, it seemed to keep returning. Yesterday, I was folding the kitchen linens and was NOT overwhelmed by the clean laundry. Usually, I have a throw over my lap and have kitchen laundry on it and folded items on one arm of the chair. I really don't want the smell to seep into the clothes I am wearing. 

I put a dishcloth to my nose and could smell nothing. I don't even like the smell of any laundry. But, I was relieved not to smell rancid greasy cloth. 

 I usually use Oxyclean along with All Free and Clear. Now, I use the Odor Blaster variety powder in a tub. 

When I bought Oxyclean last time, I bought a different variety. The type I use now that has no smell when used is Oxyclean Odor Blaster--purple top. (sweaty, musty, body odors) Urspo, sounds like what you need. The last type of Oxyclean I used was good, "No dyes or perfumes." green top. But, still I could smell it on my clean clothing. 

For stain spot removal, I use Oxyclean Laundry and More liquid in spray bottle. Attacks tough dried-in stains. No chlorine. 

Tommy uses some strange washing powder that is pink and in unmarked, five-gallon bucket. Someone he helped to move gave it to him and he has used it for 7 or 8 years. I have no idea what it is. He uses what he wants to and I use what I want to wash with. I realize I ended the sentence with a preposition. 

I know that others have had this same problem. Some people say they throw the towels away. Does anyone use Oxyclean Odor Blaster?

Cars are expensive!

Several months ago, I took the car to Auto Zone and was told the battery was weak and alternator was fine. So, I limped along with a slow starting car. Last week, I had to have it jumped off. But, then it started slowly since then. It struggled to start.

Today, sleepy still and without a bath, at 2:30 I put on sort of clean clothes, half fixed my hair and went to bank. Then, I decided an ice cream cone from Burger King would be nice. I turned off the car at the window and you know what happened next. The car would not start.

Four people came out of BK to push my car to the parking lot. I could not steer with one hand. Even if I had not had a cone in my hand, my hands hurt too much to steer a car without power steering. So, one guy steered my car. Then, he jumped if off. It turned out he was a city employee eating there and was not a BK employee.

Oh, I had eaten broccoli before I left the house. Even though I brushed my teeth, as I licked the cone, I noticed little green spots of broccoli on the cone. I never checked my teeth, so I may have been gross all afternoon!

I headed to Auto Zone since I got the battery there. The guy said it was 100% charged but one cell was dead. Is that a thing? They would not take exbf's cc over the phone for a battery without the cc being present. So, I went to my guy who works on my car, his shop. He came in to me and said the battery was fine, that the starter was dragging.

That only cost over two times the cost of a battery. I was shocked. Exbf was not. I will never save enough money to get a hot water heater!  My May ss check is spent before I get it.

I actually got one load of laundry done before I left the house. Now, I need to cook a meal, a complete meal, and put color on my hair. Plus, I must go to laundry for one nasty load of clothing that needs hot water. Need a hot water heater! That one load of laundry in the washer needs to go in the dryer and part of it needs to be hung in the house.

It is 6 pm and I had too little sleep last night! UGH! Tomorrow, I have to be up early for the day which includes lunch (starts at 10:30 for program) and a doctor appointment. On the bright side, the car starts right up like a new car.

I have always known cars and repairs are expensive, but today drove that home once more.

Almost 9 pm, and I can barely move.

Sunday, Getting it Done

For the last few days, I have been recovering from the effects of taking an antibiotic. I was exhausted, nauseous, and just plain miserable.

Sunday, I washed four loads of clothes, and there was one on Saturday. I hung up the black pants I washed, and all the panties. I did use the dryer because there were too many towels in the towel load. At least, the use of the dryer is less. If I were hanging clothes outdoors, I could save all the cost of electricity. Since the humidity is very low, drying will be easier indoors than in rainy or just plain humid weather.

I used cold water in the washer, used 1/8 of the amount of ALL recommended by the manufacturer, used Oxi-Clean, and then vinegar in the wash.

For dinner on Tuesday, I put a steak, potatoes, carrots, onions, celery, black pepper, and bell pepper in a turkey bag and into the oven.  I won't be eating any of the steak. Carrots, celery and black pepper were the only costs of this meal. Carrots were bought in five-gallon bag. Celery was dehydrated quite a while ago. I use little black pepper, so the cost is negligible.

Tuesday is the day that the county agent will be answering questions. I am writing down my questions today. Prepping these questions will result in better gardening.

Sunday, I did not use ac or heat. When I was chilly in the night, a sheet and light blanket sufficed on my body with another just over my feet. When I was too warm, I took the extra blanket off my feet. I sometimes just cover my feet if what I am covered with is not quite enough. This evening, a sweatshirt and long pants is sufficient as I move around the house. Hopefully, the utility bill will be lower this next month. I have a few months a year where the bills are not elevated by heating or cooling.

For dinner on Sunday, I made tuna salad and had it with leaf lettuce. Earlier in the day, I had banana and milk. When I grate apples and add eggs to my tuna salad, it will be a two meal deal. My mother always grated apple into our tuna salad. I suppose besides more nutrition, it helped to stretch one small can of tuna to feed four little children and her. I have had people strenuously object to my putting apple into tuna salad, but did like it after one taste.

When I cleaned out the refrigerator on Sunday, I found my Miracle Whip. Yay! I knew it was in there, just not where. I had felt too bad to lean far to find anything. Throwing out an empty milk carton when I finished it opened the view. I love found food.

This does not mean I actually cleaned the shelves! There is something on one metal shelf that dripped through to another shelf. It is a mystery puddle. Meat leaked on another shelf. The crispers are okay, thankfully.

I checked the bottom of my shoes I patched with Shoe Goo.  It seems that stuff picks up bits of trash even after being allowed to cure for three days. Anyway, I put another layer on and am allowing it to cure.

Not a lot was accomplished today, but it was more than most days around here.

Your turn
Does antibiotic use ever make you feel awful?

$20 Value for $6

On Wednesday, after my doctor's appointment, I decided to go to the fabric/sewing shop. I had a coupon for $20 worth of merchandise, a coupon that cost me $6. Since he did not have what I wanted, a long craft needle, I just got a piece of fabric. I think I came within a nickel of using the whole value of the coupon.

Along with this coupon, several weeks ago I paid $6 for a $10 coupon at KFC. We used it a few weeks ago for lunch before he took me to a doctor's appointment in Birmingham or Huntsville, forgot which..

Speaking of going to the doctor, I am feeling much better! A nice shot in my derriere is working magic. Now, I just need to rest instead of wearing myself out. Since I still have no water in the house, I will not be doing much. But, I need to go to the laundromat to wash a load of black pants and a load of white. The dishwasher still has a few clean dishes, so I can empty them and put the ones rotting in the sink into the dishwasher.

Okay, I took five pair of black pants to the laundromat and poured a half cup of vinegar into the washing machine door. I mean in the front of the washing machine and on the clothes. I don't use the dispenser on top of the machine.

It cost me $2. I had nothing else black to wash! I easily carried all five pair of pants and the vinegar in a water bottle as I entered. When I left, I could barely carry the five wet pair. Since I put the machine on a gentle wash, the pants were waterlogged. I only brought one pair in the house. It's now hanging in a doorway. I need to go out and retrieve the other four pair and hang them to dry. ugh

The guy who was to come here is no longer answering his phone when I call. Why did he say he would come??? I could have been looking for someone else to pump out the basement! GRRR

I read about people using Hancock's coupons. Are they a good bargain? What kind of discount do you get?  Our Hancock left town!

National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day, Cheap Decorating, Affectionate Laundry

$89 antique table, $1 bunny, $3 tea cup and saucer, 25 cent dish

I must examine that table and see if it is really dusty around the edges. If so, that comes from not being able to attend to it.  The table was a steal 20 years ago. I love how there is a flower inside the cup.  This is me, cheap and tasteful...lol, at least it is cheap and pleases me. There were two pictures on the table that I removed for this shot. It looks rather unbalanced! The fringe is from a floor lamp next to the table.

On to the topic at hand--do you like pbj sandwiches? I would celebrate if I had any jelly. National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day was yesterday, but it's not too late to celebrate. Ooooh, I just remembered I have jelly!

Do you really know what your laundry does when you are not around? It was a windy day, so they mixed it up.

Your turn

Are you decorating at all for Easter, even just a bit? How do you eat your peanut butter jelly sandwich? What is your laundry doing when you are gone? 

Feeding stray children in the middle of the night

Last night--

The boys were hungry and wanted money to put in the laundromat junk food machines. No way.

A huge load of nasty towels have been waiting here, ready for me to transport them to the laundry. In the room where rain comes in, well, one of the rooms where rain comes in, I had put towels down. They dried on the line but needed to be washed. I HATE THE LAUNDROMAT!!!! After checking out the newer laundry, I got change at a gas station in case the changer did not work. When I came back, there was a crowd in the formerly deserted laundry--all young people. My nerves were on edge, and I had to keep telling myself they were not looking for trouble. I took my chances.

AT
TWO
AM

When I walked in, one of the boys called me by name. It turns out I had substituted for most of the 3 boys and five girls.

We talked. The girls told me tales of having a baby, being in Florida and the mother and three daughters riding with a trucker through eight states to get from Florida to Alabama and away from abuse, missing 28 days of school, turning in a Dad for snorting, mothers not getting child support, teachers leaving bruises....get the picture? And it is almost 2:00 A.M....that is morning, not afternoon.

As I gathered my towels to bring home and dry, the oldest boy, tallest boy, and the only black child came over and said, "Let me have a hug." Without reservation, I did. As he hugged me he asked for money. "What for." "Food." "Where?"He was going to buy food from the snack machines, said he was hungry and "staying" in a trailer with  the friend and no food and no adults and no money.

Rats, now what should I do? I hate these situations. Are they pulling my leg, just trying to get money for snacks? It is not my job to determine that! So, I pulled out two one-dollar bills. I rethought it and told him I would go get him something. So, all 8 teens were going to get in my car. Thankfully, my car was full of stuff and would not hold another person, much less eight more.

They asked if I were going to get them a hamburger. Hmmmm....the adult in me thought--Walmart seems like the place to get real food. (They told me they did not eat vegetables or much fruit.)  However, I decided to go home and get food from my house. I gathered what I had:

2 little 6-inch pizzas I had made (heated)
1/2 gallon milk
4 fresh eggs
Jiffy cornbread box mix
jello
instant pudding
peanut butter
instant oatmeal packets
8 disposable cups
dozen assorted plastic forks, knives, and spoons
1/2 gallon cherry/apple juice
can of fruit cocktail

Only the milk, eggs, jello, and pudding are something I will eat. The other is here for assorted reasons. The cups are about five years old and free when I got them.

All the vegetables I could have given them were left here. Maybe I should have taken a can of corn. Kids like corn. So do cats, and dogs, and chickens! Too late. Well, I tried to take things kids will eat, not what I think they should eat. It was mostly nutritious. I could have given them my grapes, but I had no bananas to offer.

The boys were so funny, and told me they could not cook when they saw what I brought. I assured them that the things I gave them could not be considered cooking. "Just read the directions." One said he did not know how to cook eggs. "Well, I am confident you can learn easily." He readily agreed with me. One of girls said she would teach him. Another guy said, "Don't we need butter to cook eggs? Did you bring butter?" Actually, I thought about it and forgot. I forgot the bread, too. And the jelly!

The boys looked really happy to get all I gave them and decided to leave with it immediately! No one looked disappointed. So, maybe they really needed food. I still have my money. I honestly think they went to eat.

I arrived home after 3 A.M. Why are seventh grade girls allowed to be out at this time of the night? The police came by while I was there and told them not to get into any trouble, twice!