Lightbulb Economy Part Two or Funk Intensified

Sigh. I'm having kind of a bad day (life). It was good that the Lord arranged for my sisters to visit in preparation for me. I have something really special to think about on days like this.

I saw some beautiful mini sunflowers on the side of the road on my way into town yesterday. On my walk this morning I took some scissors and a plastic bag and walked across the road. I cut some of those sunflowers and some amazing little tendrils that were on ivy growing near by. I imagined how they would look arranged in an empty pickle jar on my counter.

The reality was, I didn't cut enough and all the little sunflower faces just drooped sadly around the lip of the jar. I actually felt worse for cutting them in the first place.

Just for clarification, the bulbs I bought for the RV are standard issue 1156 lightbulbs. Just like the picture. I guess there was some misunderstanding that maybe I bought specialty expensive RV light bulbs. No. Just regular 1156 lightbulbs from the regular auto parts store. The point I was making in that post was that they use to cost $13 dollars for 2 packages a couple months ago and now they are $17 dollars for two packages. A four dollar increase. My husband said he used to get two packages for 99 cents 20 years ago.

We have a new (fake) terrorist group, this time from Venezuela. Another school shooting. Another deadly disease that's going to get you even if you have no symptoms. Another day of ridiculous stories about Trump, Harris, Walz, RFK Jr., etc. I don't want to comment on our current fake reality, because I am actually still suffering from the fallout of losing my really good job for refusing to take a test or a shot and fled the state, only to end up in a place that is way too hot in summer and way too cold in the winter. Where I don't know anyone and the job market is the worst.

Anyway. I'm taking a break from blogging for a while. I may be back, I may not. Maybe if I finally get a job and an actual income, my attitude will improve. For now, I don't want to infect the rest of you.

Have a good life.

Lightbulb Economy

The scenery changes daily on my walks. New campers arriving and old campers leaving. I waved goodbye to some people as they left with their matching toy haulers. I'd heard of Minnie Winnies, but there was a little red Micro Winnie parked out front, with a slide out and an awning. I wanted to go up to the door and knock, and ask if I could look inside. I wondered if it was as cool on the inside as it was on the outside.

When I first moved to Kansas, two twinpacks of RV lightbulbs were around $13 something at O'Reilly's Auto Parts store. I bought some recently for $17 dollars. Ouch. They are not very good as I have had to change the bulb in my computer area 3 times in the last month. My husband thinks it may be the fixture. That knowledge doesn't help the situation. I may have to start ordering in bulk online. The massive gouging continues.

Everything has gotten so expensive and continues to rise. Although, my sisters thought our gas prices were excellent. It's over 2 dollars more a gallon in Oregon. I'm buying the barest minimum I can at the grocery store and pinching pennies as best I can. Why yes, I'll buy that dented can of crushed pineapple for 50 cents. I may have to drive back to the Aldi and see if I can get more of those boxes of organic mac & cheese. They were fairly inexpensive and go well with our stash of Spam.

I was interviewed a couple weeks ago by a little girl who admitted that when she first got the director's job two months before, she had never written a check or put the flag up on a mailbox to send out mail. I just got the rejection email yesterday stating that they had hired another candidate, even though I saw that job posted again on Indeed. Whatever. At least I know how to write a check and mail a letter. It reminded me of an interview I had years ago when I tried to get a job at Game Stop. The woman interviewing me said that she had never played a video game before but that I was over qualified for the job. At least I've played lots of video games and could sell them to old ladies. Probably didn't have enough tattoos or piercings. My life sometimes drips with irony. Anyway, the job hunt continues.

That's all for now. Hope you are buying what you need today before prices go hyperbolic.

Take care out there.

Gift from Dad

My 83 year old dad has been taking a water color class. He asked me on the phone if I had any wall space in my RV. I can see the one empty wall from the bedroom, and told him that I did have some space and that I would love to have one of his paintings. He said he would send one.

One of the presents my sister brought was the painting from Dad. I was not expecting it to be framed. It's really beautiful and I was so blessed to receive it. It is a true treasure and I will think of Dad when I pass it in the hall.

It's the little things that just make my day sometimes.

Take care out there.

September Already

I can't believe it is September already. Where did the summer go? Is it just me or is life flashing by before my eyes?

It has gotten chilly on my morning walk. I swapped out sweatpants and a jacket for my shorts and a t-shirt. I have been good about taking my walks and going the long way back. I was tired this morning and wanted to take the short cut but thought, go the extra mile. It's not really a mile, just an extra loop. I didn't take the easy way.

Our front A/C finally officially died, with the RV repair man making the pronouncement. We told him not to get a new motor right now, since we just can't afford it. The back bedroom A/C still works with a fan directing the air to the front. Soon, we will be swapping out all the fans for space heaters anyway. Winter is in the air.

While I was walking, I thought about my grandparents on their little farm with no electricity. They survived and would think that I'm just spoiled. I probably am. I didn't see any bunnies this morning. Just a dead monarch butterfly lying on the road. I felt kind of sad about seeing it.

The park was full of campers this weekend and most of them are still here. They all behaved themselves and I didn't hear anything in the evening. Just saw a lot of empty beer bottles still sitting on their picnic tables. They will be leaving soon. I hope they had a good time.

I woke up at 2:30am today and at 4:30am I was busy in the kitchen making cookie bars. I've been wanting to for the last couple days but it was too hot for the oven. I made it a priority today because I needed to use up some things left over from the sisters weekend. I adapted my blueberry cheesecake bars recipe but used apple and the rest of the sliced strawberries. I also added some cinnamon to the crumble mix. When it comes to cinnamon, if a little is good a lot is much better. Ha ha. I was finished by 6am, which I thought was kind of funny. They were completely cooled when I came back from my walk. What a nice breakfast.

Anyway. Take care out there.

London Fog

My sisters and I had a chance to visit Lindsborg, Kansas. It is a sweet little tourist town with a Swedish theme. While we were there, we came across Blacksmith Coffee. My youngest sister wanted to stop in to get an Espresso. She had no luck finding an Espresso in Abilene since the little drive up coffee hut Sips had closed a couple months ago and the girl at Casey's didn't even know what an Espresso was.

She asked us if we wanted to get something – her treat. On the menu board was a tea drink called London Fog. We asked what was in it. Earl Grey tea, vanilla and steamed milk. So my youngest sister got a Vanilla Latte with Espresso and the other sister and I ordered London Fogs.

It was fantastic! I had never had Earl Grey tea before. My sister says, “This is my friends favorite tea.” I answered, “and it's Captain Piccard's favorite too.”

Now back at home, I decided to buy some Earl Grey tea and see if I could recreate it. Obviously, I don't have steamed milk, but half n half works just as well. I used two teaspoons of sugar and a little vanilla. Not quite as good as Blacksmith's, but close enough. What a nice way to have an afternoon treat and reminisce on my sisters visit.

Hope you all are well. Take care out there.