len_mullen

Business as usual for me. I had self quarantined for a few weeks when my office was sick -- just your standard flu virus -- and boycotted my niece's birthday party after her family was sick. I had been planning a visit to upstate New York and 1) did not want to make the 9 hour round trip sick, or 2) be denied access once I got there. That was Wednesday. Friday I hosted customers at our facility. Now I don't care if I get sick. I've been to three grocery stores. While most shelves were pretty bare Friday and lightly stocked this morning, I had no problem shopping my list and people were pretty social -- no masks or other protective gear. I also got my tires rotated. They put a wrapper on my steering wheel. Of course they left the 'snot spot' (middle of the steering wheel) unprotected. Toilet paper seems to be the main target of hoarders. I heard there was a fight over TP in one store that landed eleven in jail. I have plenty -- Charmin Ultra Soft -- at $10 per roll (one roll = five) ;-) I have to tip my hat to the local merchants. They are replenishing the shelves very quickly, have moved things people hoard to the front, limited purchases of shortage items, and not gouged at all. Think I'll watch The Stand tonight... https://youtu.be/0e64sPHWnsY

Only my microwave and range refuse to set themselves. I believe those appliances are the smartest things in my home.

Happy March. Two months out from making all those resolutions. How is everyone doing? My New Year's resolution was to find five hours and $100 per week that could be better spent . I have been doing this for some time, so it's getting more difficult. Just the same, there is plenty of opportunity for me to 'lean' my life. 'Better spent' is pretty vague, but taking a walk, laying in the sun, watching television, and working on this post for two hours all give me pleasure, so I'm not talking about productivity. Porterhouse steaks, red wine, and fine restaurants are off the table as well. Three years ago, I got off Twitter and Facebook. That's what started this. It wasn't my idea to get off Twitter but I quickly realized how much time I spent getting worked up over things that did not matter. I quit Facebook while 'hardening' security after an update. Best security? Stop using Facebook -- pick up a phone, get in the car, or send an email. No need to share every mundane aspect of my life and no need to vote on every mundane aspect of everyone else's life. Every year, I've broken my pledge to spend $0 on television. It's easy enough to do, but I like playing with new toys and trying new things. So, I decided to replace 'television' with 'things I do not value'. Going forward, I will spend $0 on things I do not value. Difficult at first, but I have developed this voice in my head that has all but eliminated impulse purchases. I carefully plan my grocery shopping to minimize waste. No more club memberships. No more subscribe and save. Maximizing 'cash back' credit cards (and paying off the balance each month). It's already impacting my checking account. This year, I have attacked my AT&T spend and participation in news/politics discussions with people who do not agree with me (I like talking politics with those who do ). The AT&T monster had gotten out of hand. I pay for my adult kids' cell service. It's less expensive that way -- for them, anyway. When my wife was sick, I added Hot Spot so my oldest could telecommute when required. We also used it at my sister's camp in the middle of nowhere. Getting the 'right' Hot Spot features forced me to bump my plan which qualified me for discounts on things that were kind of nice. This year, I got rid of the Hot Spot feature and the 'kind of nice things' and settled into an unlimited voice and data 'value' plan. This saved me about $100 per month and no one noticed. I am also month-to-month, so I am free to jump on a better deal. That won't get me to $100 a week. I am also working on my utilities -- unplugging things I don't use and not heating/cooling areas where no one goes. I hope to cut $100/month off my grocery bill as well. The 'news and politics' vampire is not simply an internet thing. I have avoided politics as much as possible in real life too. No cable news, no national news, no local news. Alexa keeps me abreast of the weather. When an instigator engages in political discourse, I simply excuse myself. It's been liberating. After two months, I feel like I am on track to keep my resolution. I feel pretty good about that. Anyone else crushing their resolutions? Simplifying their lives?

That's the problem. And the consequence is called capitalism. Can't wait to see what displaces Amazon.

First time we took our youngest to Disney was a lot like this. His brother was going down with the school so we decided to make the trip. We told him we were meeting his brother for dinner. He did not realize how far away Disney was from New Hampshire (probably did not even know that is where his brother was going). Never questioned anything as we boarded a plane and checked in. Finally caught on when we got inside the park. Love that kid. Bet I could pull it off today.

At least you got to sleep in ;-) I'm guessing she is not a subscriber of this forum?

and a presidential election. living in New Hampshire, the assault on the [common] senses is relentless. Have been DVR'ing programming all year to avoid the political ads. CANNOT bear to watch the local news.

I believe that is illegal.

Rabbit! Rabbit! Rabbit! Happy February!

We need names, Brad!

Good luck. I'll be rooting for Jimmy G, but have no strong feelings about this game.

BTW, that the guy who this is named for perished in a fire during his Beddian year, so keep away from open flames.

OK, wait, now I get it. A Beddian Birthday occurs when the age a person is turning, is the same number as the last two digits of their birth year. The Beddian birthday is named for NYC firefighter Bobby Beddia who noted this coincidence. Someone born in 2015, will experience their Beddian Birthday when they are 15! So, you are 20? I'm rooting for you to make 120. Beddia Theorem: In any odd-numbered year, there are exactly 50 pre-Beddian ages. In any even-numbered year, there are exactly 49 pre-Beddian ages. Moreover, with three exceptions, these ages consist of two separate spans. The exceptions are 1998 (or any year ending in ’98), for which the pre-Beddian ages comprise the single span 0-48, 1999 (or any year ending in ’99), for which they comprise the single span 0-49, and 2000 (or any year ending in ’00), for which they comprise the single span 1-49. My Beddian Year will be 2024. Already, I know that will be a great year for me as it will be my SECOND full year of retirement.

Beddian birthdays occur every 2 years, e.g. those born in 1958 (like me) will turn 58 this year (2016); those born in 1959 will turn 59 in 2018; those born in 1960 will turn 60 in 2020....and so on, and so on....

Back at ya!

I am disappointed in the two of you. My next list begins with the stuff not acquired from the last list and I never stop adding to the lists or shopping. I expect no less of you. Let's make our New Year's resolution to eliminate this slack from our consumption. Remember, if we stop shopping, the terrorists win!

Dunno, but I suspect BF just won't be the same.

Too soon, Brad. When can I update my avatar?

Now I can sleep!

I hate to break this to you, but I do not believe any of you are standing,

French lawmakers hope to ban Black Friday citing its environmental impact I'm having trouble reconciling the two problems -- traffic jams, pollution, and gas emissions and the focus being on large online retailers. It would seem to me that ordering online would help with traffic jams, pollution, and gas emissions. Merry Christmas Surrender Monkeys!

I think Amazon is carefully monitoring my Echo Show devices. I have been noticing recipes for stuff I had on my shopping list and since complaining about Amazon's packaging, everything has come in an appropriate sized box wrapped in paper tape -- which can be recycled. They must be bored out of their skulls.

I start to relax and enjoy as soon as my list is complete. Each discount is a win and I find wrapping relaxing. I love grocery shopping. Tonight we will have chicken cordon bleu, au gratin potatoes, steamed broccoli, and garlic bread. Right now, I am wrapping presents, watching Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade while sipping on a white russian and doing a little laundry. Christmas lights are all around me and I have a bag of Hershey's Candy Dish Assortment in my top right drawer. What could be better than that?