This is a word I learned in the audio book I just finished. When I looked it up in a dictionary which just happened to be in my path, I saw that it means excessively frugal. Hmmm, that could be me. Yes, I just lost $40 at the casino (but I didn't feel good about it)! And am spending $175 to take an art class. But on a daily basis, I am really quite parsimonious. It is all part of my getting-ready-to-retire strategy. The plan was to keep the daily expenditures down by only spending over $20 at one place. Of course, this requires another LIST and a great deal of just-say-no. I HAVE been accused by at least one friend of being CHEAP.
Audiobook review: Please ignore Vera Dietz, by A. S. King. Found in Young adult section at the Vineland Public Library (AUD CD YA FIC King. A.) All the teenage angst got annoying and there was too much "Are you OK?" and "What are YOU doing here?". Endless bullying gets really tiresome. Also the father/daughter repartee. So, I was sort of glad when it was over. A young boy and his neighbor are good friends. Then things and people intervene and he goes off with the cool/dumb/bullying crowd. Unhappiness ensues. Sometimes with young adults, you just want to shake them and say, "STOP IT!" The jerks are not quite innocent but only the reader seems to know it. I did enjoy the words Vera was studying for her vocabulary quizzes, like parsimonious.
Finally went up into my scary and depressing attic and found the origin of the leak. There were already buckets there (!) so, obviously I had already had a leak on a prior occasion. Guess I need to leave a note on the wall with the relevant info for future reference. The ominous sky threatens another rainstorm which only fills me with dread. It means that I have to go up in the attic on a regular basis, dump the buckets into a traveling bucket and take it down two floors to dump it outside. If it rains too hard or I wait too long, the overflow will drip down through my hall ceiling. SIGH...it is so hard being me. On the plus side, I have already called a roof guy and he is planning to do something about it as soon as it dries out.
Showing posts with label frugal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label frugal. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Monday, October 7, 2013
On the turntable
In my case, it is on YouTube....Listening to the top songs on iTunes to see if any of them are worth adding to my playlist on YouTube (I am too FRUGAL for iTunes). So far have only added Royals by Lorde. Enjoying my two hour stint on the public computers at the Cumberland County Library. Had to turn on the headphones due to the incessant re-dialing of the FAX machine. They put it on automatic redial and it redials immediately after it finishes dialing.
And it is REALLY loud.
Have accomplished yoga and getting online already. Can coast for the rest of the day. Even had a sociable coffee with friends down at the Cohansey Cafe in Bridgeton before yoga. Almost hesitate to buy coffee cause then I won't have an excuse to patronize my sister's cafe every weekday.
Rain today causing me great shock. We have been waking up to sunshine every day for weeks now. I even forgot about the fact that my roof leaks. Am too frugal to get new gutters and new windows. Can I get through another winter? Dreading it. Uncomfortable at home when it is real cold. Must plan some trips?
And it is REALLY loud.
Have accomplished yoga and getting online already. Can coast for the rest of the day. Even had a sociable coffee with friends down at the Cohansey Cafe in Bridgeton before yoga. Almost hesitate to buy coffee cause then I won't have an excuse to patronize my sister's cafe every weekday.
Rain today causing me great shock. We have been waking up to sunshine every day for weeks now. I even forgot about the fact that my roof leaks. Am too frugal to get new gutters and new windows. Can I get through another winter? Dreading it. Uncomfortable at home when it is real cold. Must plan some trips?
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Foiled again
Weather tomorrow getting in the way of my plans. 5 of us had planned to go up to Grounds for sculpture. Do you know how hard it is to get 5 people to agree on a date and a plan?
I am so close to finishing so many books. Reading is my favorite activity (probably because it involves SITTING). Still slogging through several books about Paris, and the book I found in the Newark airport and the book written by Jill McCorkle, who attended my college (Hollins), and the new David Sedaris book, and L'etranger in French, and a children's book about Monet in French. And there are MORE...
Made a vow to get better about gifts. Changed one of my money envelopes to be earmarked for such, since I never have extra spending money and thus am never prepared for birthdays, weddings, etc.
Everyone else is so generous and I am just BEHIND and lacking in inspiration. I hate to shop and I hate to spend money, but I love cool gifts. Had an urge to go back to Paris and SHOP which is dumb because it was so overpriced over there.
Friday it rained all day and Monday it rained all day. One weather guy said tomorrow was the most worrisome day of the weather year so far. The nice thing about Paris is that even though it rained frequently, it didn't rain a lot and it didn't rain for long.
I am so close to finishing so many books. Reading is my favorite activity (probably because it involves SITTING). Still slogging through several books about Paris, and the book I found in the Newark airport and the book written by Jill McCorkle, who attended my college (Hollins), and the new David Sedaris book, and L'etranger in French, and a children's book about Monet in French. And there are MORE...
Made a vow to get better about gifts. Changed one of my money envelopes to be earmarked for such, since I never have extra spending money and thus am never prepared for birthdays, weddings, etc.
Everyone else is so generous and I am just BEHIND and lacking in inspiration. I hate to shop and I hate to spend money, but I love cool gifts. Had an urge to go back to Paris and SHOP which is dumb because it was so overpriced over there.
Friday it rained all day and Monday it rained all day. One weather guy said tomorrow was the most worrisome day of the weather year so far. The nice thing about Paris is that even though it rained frequently, it didn't rain a lot and it didn't rain for long.
Monday, March 18, 2013
Forget the weather forecast
I was dreading the weekend as three days of rain was predicted. It is now 12:18 on Monday and it hasn't rained yet. But, it is supposed to rain and snow today! What it is, is damn chilly.
Finished The uncommon appeal of clouds, by Alexander McCall Smith. It is one of my least favorite of his series, the one called the Isabel Dalhousie series. Isabel is an Edinburgh philosopher and amateur sleuth. She married a younger man and has a son. She helps people with "mysteries" but does not get paid. This one is about the theft of an art work by Poussin (he wasn't the thief, the thief was unknown).. It is a "contemporary cozy" verging on the boring. Isabel can be a bit of a prig.
Had a fun day at the Atlantic City casinos yesterday. I am not a gambler, but I COULD be! If I gambled in order to win, I would spend 15 minutes and walk away when my money went up. It is hard to fill many hours there without losing. In the end, I was ahead $15, which paid for my lunch. I only play the penny and nickle machines. I used to take $20 and was ready to go home after 15 minutes. Yesterday, I gambled with $65 and made it last quite a long time. The show was so so.....guys (Andre & Cirell) who did imitations and sang songs of other more famous people. Their interactions with the audience were stale and lame. We went to Resorts, which was the first casino to open in Atlantic City. It was opened by Merv Griffin back in the 70's. It seemed not very crowded down there or in Resorts. And all the people that WERE there were in the line for promotions, thus depriving me of getting a "Get the star treatment" card. OK, the other reason I didn't get the card was because you needed a photo ID and I had downsized my purse to the point where I didn't have any ID.
Finished The uncommon appeal of clouds, by Alexander McCall Smith. It is one of my least favorite of his series, the one called the Isabel Dalhousie series. Isabel is an Edinburgh philosopher and amateur sleuth. She married a younger man and has a son. She helps people with "mysteries" but does not get paid. This one is about the theft of an art work by Poussin (he wasn't the thief, the thief was unknown).. It is a "contemporary cozy" verging on the boring. Isabel can be a bit of a prig.
Had a fun day at the Atlantic City casinos yesterday. I am not a gambler, but I COULD be! If I gambled in order to win, I would spend 15 minutes and walk away when my money went up. It is hard to fill many hours there without losing. In the end, I was ahead $15, which paid for my lunch. I only play the penny and nickle machines. I used to take $20 and was ready to go home after 15 minutes. Yesterday, I gambled with $65 and made it last quite a long time. The show was so so.....guys (Andre & Cirell) who did imitations and sang songs of other more famous people. Their interactions with the audience were stale and lame. We went to Resorts, which was the first casino to open in Atlantic City. It was opened by Merv Griffin back in the 70's. It seemed not very crowded down there or in Resorts. And all the people that WERE there were in the line for promotions, thus depriving me of getting a "Get the star treatment" card. OK, the other reason I didn't get the card was because you needed a photo ID and I had downsized my purse to the point where I didn't have any ID.
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Secrets of my (health) success
I never seem to get "sick". Of course, I am always semi-sick with an as-yet-unidentifed dread disease, but I don't get colds or the flu or any of that. Here are the secrets of my success:
- Eat junk food
- Never clean your house
- Live alone
Why is my name so hard to remember? My massage therapist and my exercise teacher are always calling me by the wrong name. And not the SAME name, either. I don't correct them. I will answer to anything.
My massage therapist calls me Janine and my exercise teacher calls me Mary Jane.
Went back on antidepressant yesterday. I answered one question....I didn't automatically lose weight when I went off of them. I was perfectly happy on Pristiq but it was going to cost me some horrifying amount with my new drug plan situation. So, I was getting along OK...sometimes being obsessed with my NEED for an antidepressant and sometimes forgetting completely about it. My doctor suggested that I fill my prescription for another brand because what can it hurt to try? So I did.
- Eat junk food
- Never clean your house
- Live alone
Why is my name so hard to remember? My massage therapist and my exercise teacher are always calling me by the wrong name. And not the SAME name, either. I don't correct them. I will answer to anything.
My massage therapist calls me Janine and my exercise teacher calls me Mary Jane.
Went back on antidepressant yesterday. I answered one question....I didn't automatically lose weight when I went off of them. I was perfectly happy on Pristiq but it was going to cost me some horrifying amount with my new drug plan situation. So, I was getting along OK...sometimes being obsessed with my NEED for an antidepressant and sometimes forgetting completely about it. My doctor suggested that I fill my prescription for another brand because what can it hurt to try? So I did.
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Laboring in obscurity
Is it kind of silly to be writing a blog that no one reads? I write stuff down here and forget to tell it to anyone I actually KNOW. Went out to lunch today and felt rather underdressed. The Coach Room is where all of the lawyers and judges go and also many office Christmas parties are held there. I went with some friends who wanted to eat the chicken pot pie. I went against my principle of "only eat out one meal per day". Today I will be eating out for THREE meals. The menu? Oatmeal, chicken pot pie and beef stroganoff. Not exactly the diet menu. I did walk for 30 minutes in the neighborhood. Chicken pot pie I can take it or leave it. Once a year will suffice. Some people get really excited about it.
Just participated in the census for the Current Population survey. That is that boring book which arrived at my library, was a pain to catalog, and that no one ever looked at. I had to answer questions about my health, my eating, my spending on food, my hunger, my education, etc. Realized all of my spending is based on my own little rules of frugality and not on actual running out of money. In reality, I spend a lot more money eating out than I do on groceries. They said they are going to visit me once a month for four months and then again in a year. I felt kind of special being one of only 55,000 people, but then I read it again and saw that they ask 55,000 people every month to get the official government figures on total employment and unemployment. I guess I am now one of those people who are NOT LOOKING FOR WORK.
Ravi Shankar died. I heard on NPR that when he played at Carnegie Hall, he was warming up his sitar playing. When he stopped after 3 1/2 minutes, the audience gave him a standing ovation. This was only cited to say how little Americans understand Indian music.
Just participated in the census for the Current Population survey. That is that boring book which arrived at my library, was a pain to catalog, and that no one ever looked at. I had to answer questions about my health, my eating, my spending on food, my hunger, my education, etc. Realized all of my spending is based on my own little rules of frugality and not on actual running out of money. In reality, I spend a lot more money eating out than I do on groceries. They said they are going to visit me once a month for four months and then again in a year. I felt kind of special being one of only 55,000 people, but then I read it again and saw that they ask 55,000 people every month to get the official government figures on total employment and unemployment. I guess I am now one of those people who are NOT LOOKING FOR WORK.
Ravi Shankar died. I heard on NPR that when he played at Carnegie Hall, he was warming up his sitar playing. When he stopped after 3 1/2 minutes, the audience gave him a standing ovation. This was only cited to say how little Americans understand Indian music.
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
A committed underacquirer
In other words, I am FRUGAL. Decided to get a new window in my house. I love the big old wooden windows, but really, I have to admit that they do not function! A pane broke out, the storm window is broken and the pulley broke so that the window does not even open. Still, it is very hard for me to part with it. Maybe I will replace them one at a time? The storm windows rattle when the wind blows and some of them don't work well anymore. Costs about $500 for one, I fear. I have 13 windows.
I have love/hate relationships with many things. BRIDGETON, the town that I live in, lacks interesting stores and restaurants, but it is quiet. Our local NEWSPAPER just became "regionalized" and now incorporates Salem, Cumberland and Gloucester Counties. I love having a paper delivered that I can read at night but many articles are now about places I don't care about. Did I mention they also changed their name (I hate that) to South Jersey times? The DENTIST causes me pain and stress and breaks my teeth but I love the feeling AFTER I get my teeth cleaned. And some of them give me free stuff.
Went to an author lecture last night at the Cumberland County College. Heard Joyce Carol Oates. She read a short story called San Quentin. She shared with us the difficulties of teaching writing in a prison in that the prisoners don't really want any criticism of their work. Then she read a story called Ugly out of her anthology which was the One book, one college selection this year (Faithless : tales of transgression). She has quite a range of topics in her writings. She teaches at Princeton and tells her students she doesn't care if they like or don't like a book. The important thing is how did it make you feel. Someone asked her what does she like to read for pleasure. She said that she is a masochist and does not read for pleasure! She reads for review.
I have love/hate relationships with many things. BRIDGETON, the town that I live in, lacks interesting stores and restaurants, but it is quiet. Our local NEWSPAPER just became "regionalized" and now incorporates Salem, Cumberland and Gloucester Counties. I love having a paper delivered that I can read at night but many articles are now about places I don't care about. Did I mention they also changed their name (I hate that) to South Jersey times? The DENTIST causes me pain and stress and breaks my teeth but I love the feeling AFTER I get my teeth cleaned. And some of them give me free stuff.
Went to an author lecture last night at the Cumberland County College. Heard Joyce Carol Oates. She read a short story called San Quentin. She shared with us the difficulties of teaching writing in a prison in that the prisoners don't really want any criticism of their work. Then she read a story called Ugly out of her anthology which was the One book, one college selection this year (Faithless : tales of transgression). She has quite a range of topics in her writings. She teaches at Princeton and tells her students she doesn't care if they like or don't like a book. The important thing is how did it make you feel. Someone asked her what does she like to read for pleasure. She said that she is a masochist and does not read for pleasure! She reads for review.
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Desperate for daylight
Seems like everything needs to be done in the daylight....exercise, stuff at home, errands. I am always rushing around trying to figure out what to do before it gets dark. Oh happy day, the librarian just gave me another hour on the computer. Don't know why I "insist" upon being so technologically deficient (like not having the Internet at home and having a lame phone).
America...the only country where we gather to be thankful for all that we have and then the next day go out and try to kill each other in order to get "deals" on more STUFF! I wouldn't be caught DEAD at Black Friday shopping. Of course, this is because I am a very "under control" (cheap) consumer and have no ideas for gifts for anyone else. Today is "Small business Saturday". I think I can get behind that and do have some plans for stopping by a few stores in Millville. No box stores for me today. Already spent my daily allowance on gas for a great price of $1.37 a gallon in Bridgeton.
Had a good day yesterday with family. And the weather was delightful and warm and gorgeous. We didn't actually WALK as much as stroll and hang out in Greenwich, admiring roof handiwork and boats and riverfront property. Then I spent some time at home, which I love to do when it is sunny. Next drove to Parvins State Park for a walk around the small lake. It should be about a twenty minute walk, which is my current goal for daily exercise ("BABY STEPS...") I hadn't been to Parvins since the derecho struck on June 30th (killing two young boys who were in a tent). The only people killed in New Jersey were there. Anyway, it was amazing the trees that were down, even now, four months later. The park was entirely closed for several months due to the extreme damage to the trees. It still looked pretty shockingly different. I took a bag to collect trash (my new idea for helping the world) but I only saw an occasional cigarette butt. About halfway around the pond, I looked in my bag and it was EMPTY. Then I decided to carry it more securely. I guess my trash blew right on out!
America...the only country where we gather to be thankful for all that we have and then the next day go out and try to kill each other in order to get "deals" on more STUFF! I wouldn't be caught DEAD at Black Friday shopping. Of course, this is because I am a very "under control" (cheap) consumer and have no ideas for gifts for anyone else. Today is "Small business Saturday". I think I can get behind that and do have some plans for stopping by a few stores in Millville. No box stores for me today. Already spent my daily allowance on gas for a great price of $1.37 a gallon in Bridgeton.
Had a good day yesterday with family. And the weather was delightful and warm and gorgeous. We didn't actually WALK as much as stroll and hang out in Greenwich, admiring roof handiwork and boats and riverfront property. Then I spent some time at home, which I love to do when it is sunny. Next drove to Parvins State Park for a walk around the small lake. It should be about a twenty minute walk, which is my current goal for daily exercise ("BABY STEPS...") I hadn't been to Parvins since the derecho struck on June 30th (killing two young boys who were in a tent). The only people killed in New Jersey were there. Anyway, it was amazing the trees that were down, even now, four months later. The park was entirely closed for several months due to the extreme damage to the trees. It still looked pretty shockingly different. I took a bag to collect trash (my new idea for helping the world) but I only saw an occasional cigarette butt. About halfway around the pond, I looked in my bag and it was EMPTY. Then I decided to carry it more securely. I guess my trash blew right on out!
Saturday, November 10, 2012
1-800-GOT-JUNK?
You bet I do. Saw this roadside sign just as I was pondering the plethora of signs by the road and the fact that they always arrive, but they never leave. I think someone should take responsibility for removing the signs for craft fairs that happened over a month ago and candidates who tried unsuccesfully to unseat longserving politicians. Even Hurricane Sandy didn't seem to make a dent in them. I think I saw an art project at earth911.com for re-using these roadside signs.
Gas prices going DOWN in Vineland and going up in Bridgeton. What is with that? Nothing gives me more of a thrill than finding the cheapest gas price in the neighborhood.
Still have hives. Antihistamines did nothing, anti-fungal pills did nothing. I consulted my alternate health book which I keep at home for those diseases in the middle of the night and NO INTERNET occasions. It said if you still have hives after 6 WEEKS go see the doctor. I went after 24 hours cause I am a bit of a hypochondriac. I don't know why, I just love going to see my doctor. She says don't come back for three months, but I am always looking for a reason to come back sooner. Actually. hives are pretty unpleasant. Now I have a REASON for that creepy crawly feeling, I just don't know what it is. I want to scratch but I am trying not to.
Gas prices going DOWN in Vineland and going up in Bridgeton. What is with that? Nothing gives me more of a thrill than finding the cheapest gas price in the neighborhood.
Still have hives. Antihistamines did nothing, anti-fungal pills did nothing. I consulted my alternate health book which I keep at home for those diseases in the middle of the night and NO INTERNET occasions. It said if you still have hives after 6 WEEKS go see the doctor. I went after 24 hours cause I am a bit of a hypochondriac. I don't know why, I just love going to see my doctor. She says don't come back for three months, but I am always looking for a reason to come back sooner. Actually. hives are pretty unpleasant. Now I have a REASON for that creepy crawly feeling, I just don't know what it is. I want to scratch but I am trying not to.
Friday, September 7, 2012
The worst of public Internet usage today - annoying baby noise, sick person hacking next to me. other people laughing or rocking to their own personal headset activities. Had to put on the headphones and listen to MY loud music from Playlist.com. As many problems as I have with Playlist, I just haven't found a good substitute such as Pandora or Grooveshank. I don't want to listen to things LIKE my favorite song, I want to listen to specific songs. Reluctant to use itunes cause I am CHEAP, or "frugal" as my girlfriend would say.
Butterscotch krimpets just aren't as good when you buy'em in a box. I was so addicted to them in the waning days of my working life that people started giving them to me as gifts. Then someone made butterscotch krimpet cupcakes for my retirement party. Yeah, baby!
New lists I need to make:
- people to not sit next to in the library
- issues to discuss with my doctor (who can remember them all)
Audiobook reviews:
- The thing around your neck - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - short stories about African people, immigrant stories, etc. I like the title, Just picked it up in a browsing sort of way since I like immigrant fiction, also African-American fiction.
Went to doctor this AM with lung complaint. She couldn't hear anything wrong with my lungs so she put that blood oxygen tester on my finger. She said 92 was very bad and I should maybe have to go to the emergency room. Then she suggested taking off my nail polish and it worked better. My blood oxygen went up to 97 (good). She hadn't seen that problem before and said, "Maybe it is just with BLUE nail polish" (!?!?)
Butterscotch krimpets just aren't as good when you buy'em in a box. I was so addicted to them in the waning days of my working life that people started giving them to me as gifts. Then someone made butterscotch krimpet cupcakes for my retirement party. Yeah, baby!
New lists I need to make:
- people to not sit next to in the library
- issues to discuss with my doctor (who can remember them all)
Audiobook reviews:
- The thing around your neck - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - short stories about African people, immigrant stories, etc. I like the title, Just picked it up in a browsing sort of way since I like immigrant fiction, also African-American fiction.
Went to doctor this AM with lung complaint. She couldn't hear anything wrong with my lungs so she put that blood oxygen tester on my finger. She said 92 was very bad and I should maybe have to go to the emergency room. Then she suggested taking off my nail polish and it worked better. My blood oxygen went up to 97 (good). She hadn't seen that problem before and said, "Maybe it is just with BLUE nail polish" (!?!?)
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