Mini Waffles!! (or homemade Eggos)

 Life is too funny at times, and I try to make the most of it when I can. I went to the store and saw a handful of mini or tiny kitchen appliances for folks who are living alone, or maybe who are at college and aren't allowed a full-fledged kitchen in their dorm! I was amazed at what you can buy really, and therefore, I decided to think about it and see if buying a mini waffler would be an enhancement to my daily life. We'll have to see how this ends up working out for me, as I didn't think it all the way through really.

    So, if you buy Eggo waffles you know they are about four inches round. They are very uniform, and you can pop them into the toaster and they'll be hot and ready for you in a matter of one minute or so. You buy them frozen, put them into the freezer, and I think they come in packages of 10 for about $2.49.  I think that's the cost. I tried to remember.  OK, but a box of pancake/waffle mix (the type you just add water to) is about $1.49 and if you're really into being as cheap as you possibly can be, you can do the whole bulk thing at Winco, and the same amount will cost just about $1.10. The box of waffle mix makes many many more than eight waffles! If I had to guess I'd say the box makes about 40 or more waffles that are four inches round. Such savings!

    OK, but doing it yourself does require that you have a cup to pour the mix in, a spoon to stir it, and of course, you need to have a waffler. I choose the tiny little mini waffler because it's adorable, and takes up so much less space than the bigger appliance. I have a bigger appliance, but you can't make four-inch round waffles with it unless you're really good at trying to do the pouring and no, it's not worth the effort. Get the little one, and be done with it.  When all is said and done, the Eggo costs about .29 cents each (after tax) and these little waffles are less than .04 cents each. You can't beat that, and yeah, it takes a minute, and you have to clean it, but you do save on the waste, and you do save on the space in your freezer, and you do save on the cabinet top too! You can put the waffler thing in a drawer.

    The egg muffin thing is cool and I could end up getting it, but the toaster is working for me on that one and the microwave. I'm not needing to buy another big or tiny appliance. I have a really cool rack in my dining area to keep the kitchen appliances on anyway, so at least I can walk through my kitchen and not feel crowded. It's not a big kitchen. I need a much much bigger kitchen. That's next on the Christmas list I think. Santa may have to start earlier this year. I want a three-bedroom house with two bathrooms, a garage, and a backyard. I think that will fit nicely in my stocking over the fireplace. (I don't have to have a fireplace. I just said that.)

    OMG..I can compare the ingredients and the nutritional value of the Eggos vs. my box waffles. Let me go do that really quickly, and I'll come back and let you know what I found.

Well, that's surprising. There is more sodium in the pancake mix, but there is less sugar (9 vs 10) and less fat (2g v. 4g), and fewer carbs (26 v. 32).  All in all it's a better choice to do the add-water pancake mix for cost and nutrition, but you do need to know the sodium is much higher. I don't know why that is, but it is. Convenience and on-the-go timing would be a plus for the Eggo, but cost and health are two advantages of the pancake mix. You do have to clean the cup and the waffler. There is a bit of maintenance involved. OK, I have to go, I have dishes to do, laundry, and bed sheets to change. I think I'm going to the store again later anyway to get dog food, but I may end up ordering that on Amazon now. 

    PetSmart sells the dog food I buy for $39.00 a bag, and Amazon delivers it to my place and it's $32.00 a bag. I think about these things. It may only save a bit here and a bit there, but it could be the difference between making those ends meet later on, and I need that. I need to know I did everything I could to make it happen...then I go off and buy half a dozen donuts for no good reason! Yeah, I'm human!

    I did try to cook a sausage patty in the waffler today, and I think it will work if I squish it down a bit. I could just fry it up, but that also takes a bit of time. I can't do the egg in the waffler but I can microwave it with cheese.  The mini waffler is really cute and they have really fun colors. It was NOT a necessity, but it's going to make mornings a bit better. I need to start eating breakfast again, even if it's just a little waffle and sausage sandwich, or the egg-muffin cheese and ham sandwich I make too. I can't pretend that fasting is working, as it's not. I have been fasting from 7PM to 10AM for more than two years, and I think really if I change that to 7PM to 8AM I'll be fine.  (I'll let you know  if I balloon or something)

    Viva la comparisons!!  Life is fun!

Photo Credit: Me (That's a nickel on the waffler to show scale)

Espresso Yourself!

 I am not going to lie, I buy things sometimes just because I can. I also buy things because I want to, and there is (often) a difference.  Some things that I buy are for good use; while others are just because I don't want to be inconvenienced or whatever it is that I'm buying will make my life easier and/or better.  Don't (please don't) think I'm being arrogant or rude, I'm not. For a number of years, I was both unable to buy what I needed let alone what I wanted. I went through a good portion of Hell and back again over and over again. I went to "the wire" as I call it, where and when I couldn't possibly make ends meet even if I stood up and screamed to the Heavens. I was just dirt dirt poor and both owed money and couldn't make enough. These are the times I thank God because I grew to believe that there is NOTHING that can't be achieved through faith and through prayer. I was right. God was always there for me. Somehow I made it each and every time.

    So now, having been through more wringers than is legal to have been subjected to, I am possibly one of the strongest women I have ever met in terms of sticking it out and doing so much with so little for so long. I have the ability to stretch a dollar to the point that it resembles a tightwire - and I walk it very very cautiously when I need to. There are other times when I say "Screw that" and I just plop the card down or I order something online (usually through Amazon) and I absolutely never regret my decision if I make it because I don't make the decision without knowing it's going to be OK. I think it out, I work it out, I plan it out, and I say yes to the whatever it is that I'm hoping will make me smile. Today, that was an expresso machine.

    For the past however many months I've been telling myself that it will happen. I look at these machines, research, read, study, and do the due diligence, then I always find some reason to say no. I just make up an excuse that usually involves something like "I could use the money another way" or "I don't have space on my cabinet for it".  Both of these excuses are just that, excuses. I know I can make room, and I also know I don't owe anyone anything really, not anymore. I am on the upswing finally, after years of scraping and pulling myself up through credit building and paying payments on time! It is officially a good time for me, and Jesus is the reason. Without thinking about what needs to be done, and how to make it happen, I would be lost in a whirlpool of repeating poor decisions over and over again. Once I found a Bible-based method of how to set the budget and keep it, it was only a matter of time before it worked out in my favor, again, through practicing good decision-making, and not buying whatever I wanted when I wanted. I had bills to pay. I had food to buy. I have credit to clear. It wasn't easy, and yes, it took YEARS to achieve. Nothing you can achieve quickly feels as rewarding as taking your time to make sure you do it correctly. Credit is no different.

    Today, because I can, and because I found the best deal ever, I decided to make room on my kitchen cabinet for a new espresso machine. When I say it was the best deal ever, I mean it. This particular machine isn't as popular as others, but it does have a solid reputation. It was already on sale, and because I had a credit with Amazon, it was literally one-third the price of a new machine. WOW!  Now, my daughter Laura, who served as a real-life Starbucks barista for years, will train me on how to make every espresso drink I've ever loved and dreamed of making. She used to bring me free bags of coffee, and every night I picked her up or when I dropped her off, she would make me a gorgeous drink. I was too too too spoiled, and I miss that.

    When I was in my youth (before Starbucks) I only drank strong coffee. I had no idea what espresso was, and I didn't know what I was missing.  After the whole Americano rut that I found myself in, I was really excited to find out a person could drink a four-shot cappuccino and still live to talk about it. I think I'll cut that in half and pour a copious amount of wet froth on top now. I'm not really into flying at the break of dawn and landing on my backside after I've been a bit overconfident. I think I'll rein it in, and maybe try to at least act half my age. I have responsibilities still and yeah, getting too high on bean juice could prove unsettling. At least I know that I will be downing something with caramel and/or chocolate on a regular basis before heading off to work. I don't even care if I have to get up and out of bed a full five minutes earlier to compensate for the time it takes to brew. I will make that happen.

    My big beautiful machine arrives tomorrow and you know I'll be standing outside the door waiting on the Amazon man and his beautiful smiling truck! He comes to my place just about every day to drop off something I can't possibly live without; I find it easier to order it than to try to remember what it was that I wanted or needed and then try to fight traffic, store traffic, lines, and supply chains. Nope, if I can save time, money, effort, and energy, and just wait on the Amazon man, I'm doing that. Why not? It's there, it's available, and I'm not putting myself or anyone else in danger. I make planned and calculated purchases. I just need to start making them at the same time instead of on a daily basis. 

    We don't have an Amazon woman on this route. I am positive they are around, but he's been my delivery man for over two years and he even tries to guess what it is that I bought. He's rarely right. I think he does that just to make us all laugh. My neighbors are outside waiting with me. They order stuff too.  I know what you're thinking; "Jude, you're way too spoiled" and you'd be right. I am. When I was a kid and all the way through my early adult life, there was NO WAY I could have dreamed of ordering anything over the phone or through the mail and expecting it to be delivered to my house in one day for no extra cost. I'm absolutely 100% positively over-the-top spoiled, and God bless America!

    Happy coffee people!!

Photo Credit icuire.com 

At What Cost?

 Driving to work every single morning I come to a real crossroads. I am literally at the very point where I could either turn into the parking lot of my building, or I could just veer a bit to the right and head into McDonald's to pick up a beloved favorite, the Egg McMuffin sandwich.  It's a daily, and I do mean daily, decision for me. Do I do it? Do I not do it. There are arguments to be made for both going and not going.  Here are the pros and cons. You tell me what you would do.

    So, McDonald's is so close to my office, I could and do walk from time to time. I can pop in, or go through the drive-through if there are no more than two cars in the drive-through. I am so very spoiled, and I don't wait in line for much of anything or for anyone, so if there are two cars in the drive-through, I simply will not pull into it. Mind you, this McDonald's has two lanes for the drive-through. If I see more than two cars in both combined, I pull into a parking slot and go into the store. I have, on occasion, just said no to the whole matter, and then by the time I drive back to the office I regret my decision and I usually turn around and go back. 

    The Egg McMuffin is $4.12, so if there are 20 days in a month, I'm paying around $82.40 and if there are 21 working days it's $86.52 a month. That's a big chunk of change! Do I really need an Egg McMuffin every single day? Well, I say no, then I get to work and feel like I'm about to die and can't make it all the way to lunch without eating something. Our office has snacks and I love that. I bring granola bars, and I bring chips and things too, but I try not to eat them because they're not good for me, somehow convincing myself that an Egg McMuffin would be, or should be good for me. I mean, it's not really all that carbish, right? It does have an egg, and it does have a slice of Canadian bacon, and there's cheese. Cheese in moderation is good. 

    Well, what I did was think about buying myself one of those handy-dandy egg sandwich makers, and it's only $30.00, so in the long run, I'm going to win. BUT...then I got to thinking, and that's usually when things go south.  I said to myself, OK, I have a toaster. I can split it open and toast the muffin part. I have a microwave, I can break an egg, stir it up with a fork, plop a piece of ham or Canadian bacon on top, plop a piece of cheese on that, microwave it for 1.00 minute, and bam! I have an Egg McMuffin pseudo sandwich! I don't need the machine, and the machine would take time to clean and all that. I don't want to do that every day. I'm not only sp0iled when it comes to waiting in line, I'm also spoiled rotten when it comes to inconveniencing myself and forcing myself to clean things on a daily basis.

    I decided on trying the homemade sandwiches.  This is where it gets good because I don't compromise quality for the price. I went to Target and I bought Thomas brand English muffins, they are great.  I bought a package of white cheddar cheese, with thick slices, I think it's Tillamook brand or something like that. I then picked up a package of great Canadian bacon slices, and they are also a bit thicker in their cut as well.  The materials cost $15.70 and I was ready to dive into the experiment. I made a fairly good egg sandwich the next morning, but I did make a mess that had to be cleaned before I went to work. It wasn't a HUGE mess, but a towel would need to be washed, and I had to at least rinse the egg cooker thing and wipe it well. It took about 3 minutes altogether, and I had to find a ziplock bag to put it into. 

    The sandwich stayed warm all the way to work, and again, it was a bit messy; not as dry as the McDonald's brand sandwich. I didn't have paper to wrap it in, and had to use a paper towel to clean up a bit. So, again, I ask, is it worth it? The thing is, the materials I bought will be about 6 sandwiches before I need more muffins. I can get 10 sandwiches with cheese and bacon, and 12 with eggs, so all in all I can basically say it's $15.70 x 3.6 (as I have to buy more materials in the middle) for a balance of $59.66  that's only a savings of $26.86 and that's about 1.27 a day if I have 21 days in a month. I have to think about this.

    I may or may not pull into the drive-through. I may or may not have to stand in line. I may or may not even go, and then I'm destined to be hungry.  If I do make myself the sandwiches I have to clean up the little mess every day, but the sandwich is slightly better really; it has better cheese and bacon, and I do like the fact that it's wetter, not as dry. I do like the fact that I made it, and I do like the fact that I'm not giving my money away to a giant corporation that I don't really agree with when it comes to their political views; should that matter? I think it should.

    I can basically state that I'm going to continue to do the egg sandwich thing at home until I get really tired of doing it, but I can't tell you when that could be. I may just like it and continue for the rest of my freaking life. You just don't know. I mean, I can get into a rut like anyone else I suppose. I could decide to switch it up and make myself a little waffle sandwich with sausage or Canadian bacon in the middle of it. I could! You just shouldn't put anything past this woman. It could happen. Now, I'm thinking about it happening. I know I can pick up a little tiny mini pancake waffle maker thing for $12.00 and I can heat the sausage in the microwave for 44 seconds. This is going to happen, folks. Thanks so much for your input, I really appreciate it.  Life is good.

Photo Credit: HamiltonBeach.com

81 Days to Live

 According to a man known as "Mike From Around the World", there will be a NASA event on January 5, 2023, and it's something so powerful, and so inclusive, that the people of Earth, no matter how hard they try, can't stop the event from happening. Supposedly, it is a huge thing, a big deal, and even if they (the collective they) could or would warn us, we would not believe them. OK. Let that sink in. They have been so wrong for so long, and they have been lying to us over and over again about so many things, that no matter what they say, be it true or not, we would not believe it.  So then, what makes it more plausible to hear about from a man who no one seems to know who he is, where he's living, what he actually does, etc.? Well, here are my thoughts.

    I think the man's name is actually Mike Birkhead. He is a regular on the Paul Begley YouTube shows on Thursday evenings, where he has been teaching and preaching his "Doom and Gloom" for about 8-10 years.  Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not opposed to Mike. I don't always agree with him, and I don't think it's necessary to throw around end-of-the-world scenarios even if it is true, because there are just too many folks who have mental issues and incapacities; they just can't handle the sharp words of possible reality.  There are things that we can't control, and those things are best left to God. We can't stop a wave of energy from hitting the Earth. We can't stop a solar flare. We can't stop an enormous earthquake. We just need to remember the Bible has it completely lined out as to how the world (and Heaven) will end. There just isn't any reason to get the troops rallied up over something that could possibly happen in the atmosphere, or even if one of those loose planets decides to smash Earth! We just can't control it, so why bring it up in conversation? Ratings? Donations?

    Paul Begley is a good man. He is a Christian man. He is a preacher who has a heart for others, but I really can't tolerate his constant advertising for his books, his videos, and whatever else he's promoting. C'mon, if you have a word from God you give it. You don't sell it.  Jesus will KNOW your heart and you will NOT benefit from it, your blessings will NOT be given to you if you withhold the word and charge for it. Use your brain! If Jesus told you to tell people something, you do it. If He told you to hold your tongue, you do it. You don't have to advertise your books, just post them and if they are to be sold, they will be sold. Holding the word hostage is wrong.

    So, Mike Birkhead came onto the show last Thursday, I'm sure you can find it on YouTube, and he said that something catastrophic was going to happen on January 5, 2023, and believe me when I say he said it without blinking. He was just talking about the end of the world as we know it as if it was matter-of-fact knowledge. I have a real problem with this.  First, the Bible is very clear about how the Earth and Heaven will be destroyed, and if there is going to be something monstrous happening on January 5, 2023, the powers that be will either let us know or they won't. If they do let us know the people will revolt. They will start murdering and committing suicide. They will stop working, they will cause havoc, they will dive into sin like no other, then they'll start repenting around the first of the year to give themselves time to be forgiven! It's not going to happen that way. If it were true they would certainly never let us know -- thankfully!

    I have a job.  If I thought and I really thought that we were going to all die or most of us were going to die in 81 days, I would probably stop working and start ministering to the point that when January 5, 2023, came around and there was nothing to shout about, I would at least have made a stand for Christ, but my boss probably wouldn't take me back to work. I'd be without a job, and without a job, I can't feed my dog. My dog deserves better. I will continue to witness, but yeah, I'm not giving up my day job just yet.  If it were true, and we were all going to die or most of us die on January 5, 2023, we would have one heck of a Christmas and Thanksgiving celebration with family and friends. We would hold each other, hug and love each other, and talk endlessly about how we hope we go in the rapture before the event happens. We would all give up on living and just wait to die! I don't want that.

    Mike Birkhead is one smart cookie. I will never take that away from him. He is right up there with the higher levels of both intelligence and military know-how. He's in the mix, and he's both entertaining and informative. I could never imagine having the knowledge and grasp on world events as men and women like him have. He, like Amir Tsarfati, and others, gives us food for thought and keeps us thinking. Thinking is good, but panic is not good. I think we need to rein in the doom and gloom a bit and help support our brothers and sisters with encouraging words of Christ's return. We are not given to a spirit of fear, but of hope. We are not to create havoc and unrest. We are to uplift, encourage, help, and heal.  We are to be good to one another and not cause chaos.

    In the past, Mike told us that there would be hit by five waves of energy that would hit the Earth, and he was correct.  I think he made it seem as if the Earth would shake, rattle, and roll over, maybe do a pole shift. That didn't happen, but people were all about it, talking, and feeling helpless.  I think more damage is done to the minds of the weak and it is sin. I consider it a sin when we purposely harm someone who was a peace, just for the sake of letting them know what could happen. Being prepared is one thing; you can go to a tornado closet to wait out a storm, but if you can't control an asteroid from slamming into the Earth then just pray about it. Give it to God and let Him control what He has created. 

    Be at peace. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whosoever (who so ever) believes on Him, shall be saved."  John 3:16.  It's still in the Book. It's not going anywhere.  Be still and know that God is God.

Photo Credit: Paul Begley Minisries

No Xaphoon For Me. (Sad Face)

 I don't know if you do it or not, but I get these wild hairs up my butt and I decide to do things that make little to no sense whatsoever. This past week or so I wasn't feeling well, and that may have had something to do with the decision I made to buy myself a cute little reed instrument called a Xaphoon; I have no idea. I really don't know what it was that made me think I needed one. I was thinking about how it was that I was forced as an 11-year-old to play the flute in Band class because my parents didn't or wouldn't consider buying me a saxophone. Then, the next thing I know, I've decided to buy my own reeded instrument and then fake it til I make it, I suppose. Well, that lasted about 2 days. I consider that to be a sad thing really, I would have thought I could have stuck it out for a least a week. Nope.

    Amazon has absolutely spoiled me. I buy the yearly subscription to Prime delivery, so I get anything and everything offered for free delivery, and there I am, literally ordering things to the tune of one or two things a day. I think maybe I should stop the practice, I shouldn't be so spoiled, but then the thought occurs to me that if Amazon didn't want to do this, they wouldn't have offered it. I paid, and they deliver, it's a really cool thing.  The dog lets me know when the Amazon truck is downstairs, and it's not just for me. My neighbors and I both order things at least 3 or 4 times each week, and we often bring each other's packages to their respective door(s). We even try to guess what the other person has purchased. Let me tell you, they had NO clue whatsoever that the Xaphoon was in that box! Who would think that?

    When it arrived I was super happy. I thought this is it, I'm going to open the box, put it together, and start the fun! That is NOT what happened. I did open the box, I did put it together, and nothing, nothing at all happened. I couldn't push air out my mouth in the manner of which was required, and it didn't matter how many YouTube videos I watched, it was NOT going to happen. I was quietly cussing at myself, but all the while I was saying things like "There has to be another way, I'm doing this wrong!"  I was doing it incorrectly, but I couldn't force my mouth to do what is required and I couldn't even make the dang thing honk! NOTHING!  More videos. More practice. More thinking. Less thinking. Nothing.

    Then, out of absolute sheer frustration, I ordered another instrument. This one was a Scottish whistle, which if I had to be honest, I never knew it was called that. We just called them long whistles when I was a kid. There it was, delivered by Amazon the next day, and get this, it was rubbish! It made noise alright, it made a great deal of noise. The tin instrument was cheap, yes, I understand that, but it was so base and so lousy at being a true musical instrument. Even if I had been the best whistler in the world (Not me) I couldn't have made this thing perform the way it should if you want it to sound like anything other than what it was; trash.  They both went back today. They were both unceremoniously returned to Amazon for a full refund! I don't even hate myself like I thought I would. I am not really even disappointed with myself. I play the flute, I can just work on that. 

    I did buy a book to retrain myself on how to read music. I do think I need that. I can't remember a thing from when I was a kid. I just remember faking the entire four years of Band, and pretending to be playing, when I was really just mixing in a note here and there to be able to keep my seat. I only played 6-9 grades; something about having to actually read music and do solos kept me from advancing. When I say I sucked at it, I'm being too kind. I was the worst. I think maybe I let it happen and now I want to rectify that part of my soul. I want to do music and if that means I have to relearn it I will do that. I am more mature now, and it may actually be fun. I just have to do it with the flute, and get over my once obsession with the saxophone. Let it go!! 

    Amazon, Amazon! Such a First-World thing. I think about Prime and ask myself if I could live without it. I'm pretty sure I did for most of my life, so yeah, it would be difficult but I could do it. I literally ordered the shampoo and conditioner I wanted on Amazon because I didn't see it at the store and thought maybe Amazon would have it. They did. They had it, and it was a bit cheaper too! What the heck! I am too spoiled and I ask myself at least three times a week if I need to be so spoiled. Then I order something else and it's delivered the next day and I am smiling again. Wow, I am really quite shallow, or maybe I'm easily entertained. I'm not sure which. Maybe both.

    I just found out that Amazon has their own brand name products as well, which is going to be tested. I don't mind store brands. I won't buy their coffee, not going to happen, but I will try other things that they make or lend their name to. We'll see. If I can think of something I'll let you know, but for now it is good to know that I'm capable of knowing I suck at the Xaphoon and the Scottish whistle apparently, and Amazon has my back on their return policy.  I don't ever actually ask for a refund. I just keep it in the account. I'm going to order again, they know it, I know it. I sometimes have credit. I like that. I feel like it's a bonus or something when really it's just me taking things back. I'm not that person who takes everything back, but if it doesn't meet my expectations, it's going back.  They don't charge me for the return, and that's another reason to love living right here in America. I can jump in my car, and drive the 1/2 mile to the UPS store to drop off the Amazon returns. So easy. So easy. Too easy.  Thank you, Amazon.

Photo Credit: Amazon.com

America Vs. Britain (or Really, Anywhere)

 I watch quite a few vloggers and YouTubers online who are either English or Scottish and they have an entire existence online supported by and created by making comparisons between our countries. It's become a thing really. I'm almost sure, but not quite, that there are Americans who do the same thing, but for some reason, I only find the ones who originate from Britain; with the exception of Laurence Brown, who is yes, a Brit, but now lives in Chicago.  Laurence is hilarious and deserves everyone's attention. He's to be found on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/c/LostinthePond.  I'm not saying he's my favorite, but he is right up there! Two things that set Laurence and Shaun Alexander of Edinburgh, apart and separate from others are that they both compliment and applaud the United States more often than they try to find ways to slam it.  Shaun's YouTube is found at: https://www.youtube.com/c/ShaunVlog (and if you're thinking of coming after Shaun, you need to know, he's been made an honorary Texan, so you may have to back off!) (Smile)

    It's been over a year now since I've been interested in watching vloggers try and compare the two sides of the Atlantic. I find it fascinating, fun, and often interesting to find so many vast and subtle differences between the people, the places, the food, the mannerisms, the behaviors, and of course, the words we each use. Americans can be so direct, and according to every YouTuber who has ever encountered Americans both in their country and ours, we're rather loud, sometimes obnoxious, we take our sports a bit too seriously, and we fly the American flag a bit more often than any of them expected. That's actually a good thing.

    Shaun and Laurence discuss the interesting differences, show their interest or lack of it, and discuss the nuances of these differences. There are YouTubers who I won't mention, who are nothing more than spoiled poshy Gen Xers who feel the need to take donations from their subs, hop flights to the U.S., stay in expensive B&Bs and run about trying to find ways to piss Americans off by trying to compare our culture to their culture in ways that both offend and set keyboards flying. It's all or ratings. These boring brats realize that they don't have what they really want and can't get it in England, so they come here looking for fame. Face it, the audience is so much bigger! Let's see, three hundred and eighty million vs maybe 18 million if you include all of the UK? Yeah, we can fit England plop dropped in the center of Oklahoma and still have room to drive around the state, circling your borders. Oklahoma isn't even one of the larger states. Pretty sure we're a more diverse lot than you like to say we are.

    Making general statements about Americans can't be taken too seriously. There are simply too many of us to do that. Even Americans would have a difficult time saying "All Americans" are this way or that way. We have to say most, or some, or a good portion of...but these two Brits who like to think of themselves as educated puffballs, tend to throw around innuendo as well as banter which they feel is humorous; thinking they'll kiss-kiss to the camera and all will be better. I don't find them cute. I don't find them funny. I don't find them entertaining. I find them corrupted by what they think is fame. One of them, the woman, makes such a big deal out of times when men find her attractive enough to chat her up; she cringes at it if the man isn't a Prince Charming. Shallow much? The man isn't too much better, but at least he understands what fandom is.  It's fake, and it's not as secure as they may believe. Fickle really.

    When I think about it, and I do, I am quite proud of my Scottish ancestry. I am both Scottish and English, with a touch of Italian and Iberian thrown in for good measure. The Scots/English battle for my blood percentage is too close to count, and for that, I'm very sad; being far more culturally connected to the Scots than the English. I tell people that I tend to fight with myself and my Iberian ancestors to have to step in and keep me in check from time to time. I am quite proud of who I am and who I came from, but after years of personal research, travel, experience, and thoughts about actually moving to Scotland; I've decided that visiting may be the end all decision and I'll just forego the Southwestern summers for a bit of reprieve, but America takes the win in my soul.

    There's a reason more than 30,000,000 of us Americans living today have Scottish ancestry, and over 63,000,000 living Americans (some overlap) who have English ancestry.  The reason(s) vary from being asked to leave, to voluntarily leaving, and some were fortunate enough to make the decision without there being a political reason.  My personal story is that my people on my dad's side came over in 1660 from Edinburgh. I'm not really sure about Mom's side, they were the English, and they weren't fighting with themselves. I think her side came across the pond in the mid-1800s.  We've been flying that American flag at our house(s) for literally centuries. We have a lot of family traditions that stem from the Old Country, of course, but we have created our own as well.  I'll keep loving my people and who they are, who they were, what they did for all of us, but I won't change much about anything I do, say, write, act, feel, or believe. I'm just not bothered enough to think it's wrong or that it needs to change.

    I like my creature comforts as an American. I've written about the inconveniences before. I rather enjoy doing laundry and drying my clothes in a hot tumble dryer. I like running tap water from a faucet that has one handle. Love me some air conditioning, and real gas heating, and there's so much to be said for screens on the windows and doors. I like having larger yards, two-car garages, garbage disposals, and being able to drive where I need to drive without gasoline costing me more than my mortgage. I like being able to tell the government to fuck off without it being a national crime, and God knows I'm damn glad we don't bow to some stupid jacked-up concept of a family who thinks they deserve more than a pie to the face! Talk about outdated and obtrusive! Our president, my president, Donald Trump, didn't accept a penny for salary when he was in office. No Brit can say that.

    I do like the concept of having free medical for the people. I will agree that the NHS does a superior job when it comes to taking care of its own. I am not above tipping my hat when it needs to be tipped.  Other than that, I'm thinking America is the one place nearly every Brit wants to visit. I'd say a lot of Americans want to visit Britain, but not all of them.  After the culture shock of being forced to seat themselves at a restaurant, most Americans still end up tipping even though the service is crap since their waitstaff is paid a working salary. There is no incentive to make the customer happy. Americans come back from the UK happy to have been there, but happier to be home where they can relax and take in a college team sport. (OK, they also enjoy legalized cannabis, we have to be honest. I don't, but a lot of Americans do. More and more Brits are moving to America these days for the same)

    With the uncertainty of these times concerning Russia/Ukraine, the Nordstream pipeline, and other events which could leave the UK (islands really) stranded and in need of literally every type of anything from fuel to food, it's no wonder our borders are being flooded with more and more Europeans coming across the ocean to seek a better and more fulfilling life.  Laurence Brown has been here for over 14 years. He loves it. Shaun has visited half a dozen times, and he loves it. I think time will see more and more good solid people who have just had enough; who want more, coming to America.  The melting pot just keeps boiling -- and that old flag, she keeps waving, as she welcomes them all to her shores. 

God Bless the U.S.A.

    

Photo Credit: Ebay

    

Xaphoon? Sure, Why Not.

 You know how you get really old and start to hash up old crap in your mind and in your past that means absolutely nothing, but there you are festering over it? Does that ever happen to you, or is it just me being weird? I think I'm odd, sure, I get that, but I don't think I'm alone in this one. I recently dug up an old (and I do mean old) memory from way way back in the past when I was in the 6th grade, maybe about to go into the 6th grade. I wanted to be in Band class and my parents were OK with it, but instead of allowing me to pick the instrument of my choice, I was forced to use and learn to play the flute because we already owned one. My sister was in Band when she was my age, and she's only 3 years older, so the flute was not being used as my parents had hoped it would be. I got the flute.  I didn't want the flute, but I got it anyway. (the appropriate answer would have been, and should have been, "Thank you", but I assure you, I was not mature enough to do that.)

    I wanted to play the saxophone. I wasn't really into the Alto or the Tenor sax, no, I wanted the Soprano sax or the C-Sax. It was a golden clarinet to be sure, and I thought I just had to have one. I know I begged, but it didn't make that much of a difference. The flute was already in its case in my house and if I wanted to be in Band class, well, the flute it is! OK fine. I put away my dreams of being the next really cool jazz saxophonist and yes, I know that's not a word. I set aside my dreams of dancing to the honking of my precious metallic magic wand, and I dealt the blow I was given. To say I was good at playing the flute would not only be an enormous lie, but it would also be rather humorous as well. I barely scraped by Band class; making C's mostly, and I think there was that time when my director came into the room while I was recording my try-out and he just stopped the recording and told me to go home and practice somewhere that he couldn't hear me.

    To say that I sucked at playing the flute would be closer to accurate, but not entirely true, if the song I was playing made sense to my fingers and my brain at the same time, I could actually pull it off to the point that I didn't blow very hard and make too much noise, I could drown whatever I was doing in with and mix it into whatever all the others were doing. I was less than a number at that point, but still probably dead last in the lineup. I don't think I was challenged because I don't think I was happy, and if someone isn't thrilled about something they tend to be rather blase about it. That's my memory of what I was thinking back in the early part of my teens when way too many other things were at the forefront of my brain. Being in Band was good for two reasons. I was able to stare across the room at David Lombard, and I was able to sit next to Becky Hodges; she was the Oboe player, and the last flute sat next to her. She was shy and I liked her. She made me laugh (David made me smile).

    For no reason whatsoever, and I really do mean that I was looking up cheap C-Saxophones on Amazon thinking I could get a really really cheap one and just sort of practice it, and then maybe if I thought I had earned the right to get a real one, I could do that and....you know the drill.  The older we get the more challenged we are to overcome some of the past walls that we built or allowed to be built in our memories. I just wanted to do what I wanted to do. I wanted to be who I wanted to be. I was really upset that I was forced to be something I didn't want. I didn't hate it, I wasn't against it, I just didn't really want it. I wanted the damn saxophone!  Well, while on Amazon I ran across something called the Xaphoon. What? Crazy, right? Yeah, it is, and it's a real thing, not just a plastic blow torch. It has a reed. It has a real saxophone reed!

    Keep in mind, these cheap little instruments are not made to be professionally used and I do completely understand that the one I bought for myself is nothing more than a plastic blow torch with a reed rather than just a mouthpiece. It may or may not do the trick, but it's a step in the direction of directing my journey from being able to make sounds the way I wanted to make sounds, versus making noise that I don't care to make. I am about to find out. It will be delivered today. I am not expecting Kenny G-style success, but I'll take a proper G now and again, and if I hit the notes I'm supposed to be hitting I'll both feel it and I will say YES to the next level of Xaphoons; maybe even a real golden clarinet. However, now that the people making band instruments are into making them with bright and amazing colors, I don't know that I'll accept a golden rod at this point! I may do pink! I may be persuaded to get a purple C-Sax. I can!! (and it's because I can that I may)

    If you've not heard the tones that the Xaphoon makes (or if you have no idea what one is) you can find it easily at www.xaphoon.com and you can both listen and fall in love at the same time. I was flat surprised at the depth and the mellow sounds being made by the experts. I just hope I don't shame every one of them by honking at it the way I may end up sounding until I relax and get the hang of it. There was a really fun guy online that gave demonstrations. I'll post his video here: 

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFIwl4Gnsmc&t=2s  He's fun. M Benson Music is his channel. I don't know his story, but he absolutely reminds me of my young Band teacher Mr. Joe Ray, a man of great patience and timing. I think I learned more from Mr. Ray about the way you throw your arms when you conduct than I ever did about playing the flute, but that's because he had a mean eyeball-popping stare that he sort of reserved for me. I don't remember him using it with too many others. I was always on the watch for it to see if I was necessarily singled out and I think he probably begged my parents to disenroll me, but they refused, stating it was his job to teach me something. If that's the case, he'll receive an extra crown in Heaven because that man was a saint! I didn't have the knowledge of such things then - - but he was and is a miracle maker!

    So the Xaphoon arrives very soon and I'll keep you posted on the progress. I'll end up making a video this time next year to give the full report, but until then, I encourage and challenge every one of you to get out there and uncover the memories that held you back as a kid so you can forge your own way through the muck and make the music happen!  Literally, in my case.

Photo Credit: www.xaphoon.com

Health is AWESOME.

 OH MY GOODNESS, nothing brings you closer to Jesus than to have a sudden scare that sends you right into orbit. Orbit is so much closer to Jesus than Earth, you'd have to agree.  So, there I was minding my own business at work this past Monday, when I decided enough fun for one day, I was going to go home, read and relax! Nope! That's not what happened. I walked through the door and caught my daughter Laura balled up on the big chair in a really odd sort of half-sitting and half-dying position. She wasn't quite capable to speaking, but there she was, apologizing as she does, and trying not to be a deathly burden.   Sometimes I could just squeeze her widdle cheeks, she's so adorable! Then there are those times like this when I had to basically lift her and help her to the car so I could take her to the hospital E.R. so I could keep her around a little longer. 

    When Laura becomes dehydrated she nearly immediately falls into seizure-type chaos that can be quite silent and would-be deadly, but we've managed to catch it in time each time it has happened. It has happened about 5 times now. The last really big scare was on January 1, 2020.  Pretty sure everyone remembers where they were the day the lights went out all over the world regarding health.  For their part(s) the doctors at the hospital had not heard of "Covid" before, so she was diagnosed with severe flu with dehydration and a respiratory component. We know now that she had the C-word!  

    This time, as before, Laura was just about at the end of her rope and we decided to make a beeline for the E.R.  After waiting over an hour to be seen (and yes, she actually had to pass out in the waiting room before anyone determined that she was severe enough to be pushed to the top of the list.) I get it, hospitals are busy places! I think next time if there is a next time, (and I really hope there is not) we'll head over the old Deaconess rather than Baptist Integris main, there just aren't enough angry words in my vocabulary to describe how rude I wanted to become. Let's just say God made one of us a bitch, and Laura's lucky to have a defensive dog in her corner! If left to her she'd let everyone in front of her and we'd still be in the waiting room -- unless we were now waiting in the morgue. I don't play that well. I push.

    After trying to insert the IV into her arm 3x, the sweet RN tried the other arm. She found success, but she was absolutely upset with herself for not being able to find it sooner. I explained to her that this happens every single time they force Laura to wait. Her veins collapse, and they wonder why she's so sick. It's nonsense.  After the IV came the testing for Covid, Flu, and RSV, she was negative for RSV and Flu and positive for the other. SERIOUSLY? Again? UGH!!  Then they downgraded it saying it was more than likely the flu, but a slight infection was detected and that can oftentimes throw the test into a false positive. I hate that. I really hate that. I get that it's practicing medicine, I do, but when you tell someone they have something you need to be sure. JOBS depend on it sometimes!

    We were sent home five hours later, and several bags of saline were pumped through my kid. She was told to rest, take over-the-counter meds for the flu-type symptoms, take plenty of cool-warm baths to bring the fever down, and yeah, they gave her antibiotics for the infection.  All's well that ends well, but damn it, this thing did not end!! This was Monday, and by Tuesday night I was sick with it. Albeit, I didn't have the dehydration component, I had a massive headache to beat all get out, and then the stupid fever wouldn't stop for anything. I drank and I do mean DRANK a bottle of Dayquil in a day's time trying to get comfort from the pain and body aches. It was crazy stupid, and let me tell you, it's not easy to care for your kid when you're dead to the world. No, it is not! She was crawling to the bathroom and all I could do was pray for her. I let her know I loved her and she let me know she loved me too.

    So this is Saturday and we are just now coming out of this funked-up mess! I'm better than she is, but she had other issues to start with, so that makes sense. My dang fever literally lasted three solid days and that would include three solid nights. I wasn't ever dizzy, never lost my footing, but I couldn't bare the body aches and the brain searing. She was experiencing brain pains too, and this is just something neither of us remembered from when we had Covid in 2019-20.  I had it in November 2019, and it lasted through February 2020  as far as the lingering cough. The initial flu-type sickness was about 4 or 5 days, but the cough, oh my gosh, I was upsidedown with whooping and coughing back then. I couldn't take four good breaths without a cough coming up. I pray that never happens again!

    We take health for granted. I would say "In this country" but I don't know, I think people just think overall, generally speaking, that they'll be OK, and all will work its way out to being good again.  We're both in between healthcare plans at the moment, waiting for the elimination or probation period to end so we can use our healthcare rather than paying for our needs ourselves. This is another real reason that Americans (and maybe others) choose to not see a physician. It is expensive. We have to go if we miss 3 or more days of work, and that sucks because in our case(s) we haven't been at work long enough to pay for the clinic visit to get the note to return to work. I don't really like paying $400 to have a doctor say I was sick and I can now return to work!  It just goes against my grain, that's all. I'll be OK.

    Today, Saturday, was the first day I could eat anything other than shortbread cookies, and trail mix bars, and I think I had a few gingersnaps but my dog had more than I did. I didn't have the energy to stop her. I did manage to wolf down a few handfuls of Apple Jacks cereal; there's that! Highly recommended when you're sick. Drinking anything really sucks. The tastebuds take a beating no matter what virus you have. Blood doesn't carry the needed oxygen to the little guys and they just can't do their job. However, if anyone thought Pedialyte was tasty they were and are dead wrong. It's terrible. Flat never doing that again. I'll keep Gatorade around, but even that seems too strong. I don't know, maybe I'll come up with a drink that folks wouldn't mind drinking when they feel that they're about to give it up for good. Why should nasty Pedialyte be the last taste they ever have?

    Going back to the beginning, and talking about talking to Jesus. I was and am in constant communication with Him; now and when I'm sick. When I am sick He gets my full attention. I'm absolutely a mess, begging, pleading, thanking Him, and getting back to the whole begging and pleading theme of the conversation; more like a monologue. I'm the only one doing the talking. He's listening, holding me, rocking me, reminding me that He really is who He says He is, and there was and is a reason for all this suffering. I have to be honest, I don't like it.  I do, however, love it when I'm able to sit up again, take normal baths again, and drink water, tea, or LaCroix without crunching my face.  I like it when I'm healthy and Jesus and I can have the other types of conversations; the ones where I get to do His service rather than being on the receiving end of needing help. I'm too stubborn! Maybe that was my lesson, I don't know, but Laura should be given a medal for her efforts!! She pushed and pulled and fought like a bearcat to help me when I knew she was in pain and burning up with fever too! Woot!! That's my girl.

    If you (today) are healthy, be so at peace. Be blessed and consider yourself blessed. Reach up to the Heavens and proclaim your victory through Jesus, because He is the only one who has given you this gift.  I don't even care if it all sounds so churchy, it may be churchy, get over it. God is too good not to declare it!!  Being sick absolutely sucks big time and being healthy rocks!!  I have a couple of days before I have to be back at work. I literally missed four days of work, and I don't think I have to get a note since I was caring for Laura and it makes sense as to what I have. I am without a fever, and on antibiotics so I should be given the all-clear. Again, what a wake-up call to know that we are so vulnerable, but so watched over. We are loved. I know I am. I know you are; I hope you know that. 

    Laura is on the mend too. She's up at the computer again playing games and looking at horses to buy and sell, it's something she does online for fun. It's great to hear her arguing with the folks about horse care. Everyone's an expert! I just smile and shut the door!  

My friend. 

Photo Credit: zoro.com

    

Jesus Still Forgives Even When We Fall Again

 Listen to the words of Steph Macleod, a Scottish singer whose heart and soul yearns to know Christ fully. 

“You are holy 

You are my King.

For your glory, I lift my eyes and I will sing

You are the way to eternal salvation 

You are the one who has set me free

You are the light that shines forever 

Jesus, you’re the one true Savior of me “

(For Your Glory) 

Words that speak truth. Return to them. 

My Next Horse ("Horse")

 About a year ago, I sold my last horse because I was planning to move to Scotland, I knew I couldn't take him with me, and I found an amazing family with kids to take good care of him. Casper is a grade Quarter Horse, and he stands about 14.3HH weighing in about 1000 pounds. When I got him I weighed over 210 pounds and my saddle weighed about 26 pounds, so that's 235-240 pounds. A horse really shouldn't be subjected to more than 20-22% of his/her weight as cargo, and that includes the weight of the gear.  Yes, I know, I know, there are 250-pound men riding 14HH cow ponies and there are women who carry about that much weight on themselves as well while riding, and they think it's OK if they're only going for a short ride. It is not good for the horse(s) and no, I am not going down that road today. That's another reason I decided to get out of the horse world; the horse people!

    I always say the best thing about horse people is their dogs, and I mean that. I fully mean that. Horse people can be some of the most sarcastic, rude, and uninformed know-it-all bastions of moronic behavior, but they're dead set that you are the same. You can't be right because they're right. You'll never be right because they are, and even if you prove it to them, you're still wrong. That's the case with so many horse people I know, and after all the years I've been into horses, I have met and seen my share. No, I've seen and met far too many. I'm really very glad that my daughter keeps up with her hobby, and I don't have to.  

    Owning a horse can be so very rewarding. It really is, there is nothing like it in the world. Owning a horse can be extremely expensive too, and there's nothing like that in the world either. You find that you have no problem spending $150 for a vet to come out and check to see if your horse is really sick but you won't spend $6 on a bottle of name-brand shampoo for yourself. Now, if it's "Mane and Tail" shampoo you might, but it goes to the barn and stays there. It is good shampoo though, and you can use it as well as your horse. No biggie there. I'm just saying that when you own a horse (or three or ten) you'll end up spending your last dollar on something it needs or you think it needs. I can't tell you how many times I've just walked around Atwoods and wound up at the horse section looking over another piece of tack when I know damn well I don't need anything else, but there I am, thinking another halter would really look snazzy and why not? Why NOT? Because I already had 9.

    I lost the weight, and when I did I found that I was staying on top of the horse more and spending less time picking myself up from the ground. Funny how that whole physics thing works out now and again.  When I was heavier I was riding my horse like I did when I was a kid. I was riding as if I was fit, and honey, I was not fit. I was not thin, I was not close to being in shape or healthy, but there I was on top of that saddle and pushing the pony to do more than he had the umpf to do! Poor guy. I leased him for about a year before selling him to be sure I wanted to keep him; I knew I wanted to, but I didn't know if I was really going to lose the weight I needed to, and I really didn't know the situation with the overseas move.  

    The company I was going to work for never took off.  After COVID they decided to pack it in. They didn't have the strength to withstand the months off without income; it was what it was, and it is what it is. I sold the horse about a week before I found out the bad news; and you can't very well go back and get your horse back, not when you sell it to good people with great kids who really love the horse!  I cut my losses and considered the sale a good thing. I miss my Casper, he was and is a good example of what near perfection looks like. Norman, my Mustang, was in fact pure perfection.  Bedtime Hero, my older Quarter Horse was also perfection. I've been very very blessed.  Eoghan!! I can't forget Eoghan!! He was also near near near perfection.  God has been so wonderful allowing me to have so many sweet creatures in my life. 

    Now what? Do I get another horse? I can.  I could take $1500 from the bank and buy the horse. Then I'd need about $300 to have it delivered. I'd need another $350 to have it quarantined first, then about $400 for the first month's board. Of course, after he (gelding) arrived at the barn there would be a farrier called out, that's another $45.  I'd need a vet check, $150.00.  I'd need Lacy to come out and do a full-body chiropractic procedure; can't go without that. It's for the horse, not me. She charges about $125.  Oh, and we can't forget the dentist!! Every other horse you see needs his or her teeth floated. Washburn does the best job I know, and he's another $125.00.  Are you feeling what I'm saying? That's BEFORE I hop on and ride. There's the saddle of course, too.  I sold mine, so I'll need one. I can pick one up at the swap for $400, I kept the bridles, bits, and pads. What's the total? $3395 and that's just not the end of it. That's the start of it.

    Next, you'll find yourself at Atwoods, Tractor Supply, or online buying the buckets, feed, tack, grooming goods, essential medical care supplies, tackle box for the medical supplies, and more. You'll need lotions, sprays, hoof care supplements, possibly joint supplements, daily wormer, rotation wormer(s), and those things you just thought of at the last minute that sort of jumped out at you like saddle soap, no one ever has the right hoof picks, so you buy two, one for a backup! This is a real thing folks. If you have a horse you have no money. I mean, you're happy, sure, and you're riding off into the sunset with a big grin on your face, but you aren't eating as well as you once did, and you turn off the lights all the time too. You find that your clothes and mouth always have horse hair in and on them and you don't care if your boots are muddy when you walk into the store. You can't afford to go into a store that doesn't understand muddy boots anyway.

    Well, here's what I'm doing now. I have decided to get another horse, but this time I'm not doing the whole $4000 out of my pocket thing. Nope. I found a horse online that will cost me $799 delivered, and ladies and gentlemen, I don't have to feed it. I can name it. I'll probably name it, but I don't have to ever worry about it collicking. I don't need to set appointments for it and be out at the barn to meet the vet, dentist, chiro, or anyone because the horse will be IN MY HOUSE and not even at the barn. Did I mention before that the $400 was for pasture care, not a stall? Yeah, keeping your horse in a stall will be $700 or so a month. (A MONTH!!)  My new horse is going to be both efficient and effective. I will ride it (don't know if it's a girl or boy) and I'll never have to worry about anyone stealing it because to do so they'd need to first be inside my house and I think it weighs over 72 pounds. It's made of iron for the most part. :)

    I'm going to buy an electric mechanical horse. I knew they had electric mechanical bulls and I actually thought about buying one and only keeping the settings at a slow pace and forward not spinning or twisting. I can just see myself flying off the side and hitting the frames of my paintings on the walls! Geez, that would be a mess.  Nope. I don't have to do that. I can just buy the mechanical horse and be done with it. The settings allow you to trail ride, walk, trot, canter, and even gallop! I can post and I can relax and one-hand it. I am actually not thinking about galloping in my living room either. I think a good steady canter may be the best for me. I'm not into trotting in the first place, and certainly not if I have a remote control to do what I want to do!! I'm going to trail walk through my coffee time and canter for the workout!  Man, this is gonna be fun. I have a 30-day trial too, so if I don't like it I can send it back and get a full refund!! WHOA!  (did you like that?)

    What should I call the thing? I'm thinking something Scots Gaelic, maybe Haggis! It's got to be a good strong name. I don't think the thing is purebred, probably just a grade animal, but it is dark, compact, and attractive.  It has a built-in "saddle" and comes with speed control. Oh...that's good. I think it comes with a crop whip! That should make you laugh. It made me laugh when I saw it. This is a mechanical horse. Why would anyone need...wait, I think I just figured it out; never mind. Not that I would use a crop, like I said, I will use the extra hand for holding my coffee. I do that when I ride a real horse as well. The thing must be broke to the point that I can ride one-handed and hold my cup. I've had some really good horses in the past, but I think Haggis may be the smoothest ride of all; not to mention he'll be controllable; I have a remote.  Oh, I guess I just said "he" so I guess it's a boy -- we know he'll be a gelding. Sort of like the crop. I don't think I'll use a saddle either, just ride bareback. Yeah, this could work.  If nothing else I'll have fun exercising and the neighbors will have something to talk about. Jeannie will try it. She'll probably end up buying herself one. Why not? Cheap entertainment. The dogs (and cats) deserve a good show!

    Did I tell you the thing comes with spurs? Really? (just odd)  OK, I have to be honest, I'm not really getting this, it would be fun though.

    

Photo Credit: Techtongda.com