groceries - back on track

So, sorry about the blow-off yesterday, but sometimes, life gets in the way.

I wanted to comment on groceries. I find the cost of consumable foodgoods and sundry items for daily living, such as dish soap, toilet paper, etc., constantly on the rise.

However, our household generally manages to keep our layout for these goods fairly constant. We check the store flyers, look for sales (it is surprising how many items can be on sale in the stores without advertising, so I normally go down every aisle and check out every corner, even if only picking up a few items), and buy items in bulk. We do whatever we can to keep our costs down.

That all being said, our weekly grocery bill for a family of three (two adults, man and woman, and a teenage boy) is usually between fifty and one-hundred dollars a week. I think that is pretty good. We are not on starvation diets, and we do eat meat and poultry, but not in every meal. 

We do not normally buy organic as it is extremely expensive. To be honest, I find some of the items that are organic, free-range, whatever, at times suspect to be qualified as such. Many people buy these types of goods not just thinking they are eating better (they may be), but also that their impact on the planet is reduced. That last bit is usually a lark. Many of these organic/free-range type foodgoods travel great distances by truck, plane, train, ship, and the like. The global impact on resources that these foods have is fairly significant. So, please do not kid yourself that you are helping the planet.

If you want to buy organic/free-range, firstly buy local. In the second place, find out what they are really doing. Many more "substances" are used in the natural food producing process that are quite shocking at times than people realise. Not all producers use these dubiously acceptable aids, but more do than you think.

Anyway, back on track. We do not normally go organic/free-range. It depends. Sometimes there is a deal, sometimes I buy directly from local farmers. It depends. However, not always all that cheap. Over the spring and summer last year we were buying produce from a young couple just down the road. It was plentiful, cheap, and unadulterated with chemical garbage. Unfortunately it was a bad growing year (they had to put in quite an effort to save as much as possible), they just had a newborn (that is not unfortunate), they had other projects and businesses on the go. That and several other factors all conspired against their efforts of true organic and natural farming and providing it locally. They stepped back from the project. I do hope they will restart it as we ate well for cheap.

Back on track again. So, we normally spend 50-100 bones a week. Several times a year we do larger runs for larger, normally bulk, purchases. These can add up. Yet, we have not had to go out and buy toilet paper, paper towels, garbage bags, dryer sheets, soap, toothpaste, kitchen-bath-floor-window cleaner, etc., for over a year. Well, you get it. Basically, many items for personal and general hygiene and keeping a clean house are stockpiled. These are easy items to buy in bulk for long-term use, if you have the space to store them. Sadly, many people live in apartments, condos, etc, that preclude the opportunity.

These purchases can be quite hefty at the outset. But if you can take the sting, the cost has been paid, not needed to be made again for some time, and if you break it out over the consumption period, these items are so very economical. This is a practice I learnt growing up from my parents.

Bulk buying also works well for items that have a long shelf-life too. Canned goods, pasta, rice, sauces, seasonings (spices last way longer than most of you will come across in reading expert opinions, especially if they are items like whole spices such as peppercorns, cinnamon sticks, cumin, caraway, and the like). So, this is something we do as well. We will buy some canned goods when they are on sale. Various beans, soups, chilies, pasta concoctions. Other than the beans, most of the ready to go canned meal goods are used for days when when time is extremely short, power outages, camping. And if they still are before the "best before" date, they are handy for food drives. 

(Just so you know, if you do not know already, most, if not all, food banks cannot or will not accept anything that is past its "expiry". Our local food bank gets a lot of stuff past its date and they put it in the "lobby" and inform clients that they cannot give it to them, but nothing can stop them from helping themselves. Again, if you do not know, these dates are "best before", they do not spoil immediately after that date. Many foodstuffs are still good for some time, but they have a liability issue to contend with. That is their work around. At least in the past.)

If you have a really good freezer, one that can keep things frozen for a couple of days if you suffer a power outage, bulk or sale buying works for items you can freeze for later use. This is really where one can clean up! We will buy various cuts of meat and poultry on sale, usually because it actually is near end of shelf life. If you either cook it right that day or throw it in the freezer when you get home, you can get a really terrific deal. Often way below current market for the protein. The funny thing though, we have been eating less and less meat over the last several months. Poultry is hit and miss; it has gone through the roof, which is total baloney, so our consumption of that has even decreased, but not as much as beef, pork, and lamb. Yet, as a result, we can really wait out the deals; we still love our steaks now and again and we are definitely not walking away from broth fondue with little titbits of meat and poultry (we actually also have several vegetables and even potato for the broth fondue, so a pretty rounded meal).

The other times we make bigger buys is before a few holidays/long weekends. In particular: Christmas/New Years, Canada Day, and Thanksgiving. We will buy some more luxurious products for those times, especially the first one mentioned. We have more elaborate meals at those times and will even splurge if the deals are not forthcoming. Plus, there are treats we may not have at other times of the year. At Christmas, I like to have nuts in the shell, shortbread; the wife likes eggnog. The boy: he likes the seasonal soft drinks, pretzels, Linzer torte, and ginger cookies. So, we try to go out of our way to get the really good stuff. For Christmas and Thanksgiving, they both love pumpkin pie. Me? I go for pecan pie, if I can find it; it can be hard to locate at times so far from the Deep South.

Speaking of Thanksgiving, it used to be a big deal with us. We would always make a big smash and invite many friends or, for a while, we would go to to a friend's cottage up by Lac Sainte Marie and bring "all the fixin's" and again, make a big smash for a bunch of people. It was very similar for Canada Day and between Christmas and New Years too. However, Thanksgiving was the biggie. This year, it is just the three of us. A first in a very, very long time.

So, speaking of Thanksgiving again, this was the ultimate point of my ramblings. As I said, it is only the three of us this time round. Yet, I still managed to drop 600 clams for groceries this week. Then, I dropped about another 100 today. The wife put down 80 earlier this week and then some more today. How is this possible? Well, let me tell you.

Excluding the weekend's indulgences, we stockpiled on various items including deals. I bought a whack of Patak's curry sauces, they were on sale. I bought dumplings with various fillings, not on sale, but a good price and we have a batch most weeks. Some various chocolates and such at really good prices. The wife picked up a bunch of raviolis and real Italian pasta. These are, along with many items, (long term) staples in our house. Plus I picked up our regular grocery bill; it will most likely last two weeks or more this time round. Then there were the adult beverages: a crate of wine that will go for some time and a special bottle of Wiser's 15 year old Canadian Whisky which just came out (I will most likely not crack it for some weeks or even months).

The indulgences? The boy did not want turkey this year. Okay, fine. He wanted roast beef. I bought a prime rib roast: 30 samolians. Actually a very good deal, in this day and age. For Thanksgiving, and Christmas, I also normally do a ham in addition to the gobbler. So, I bought a ham, that will give us a lot cold cuts for various lunches, a pea soup with ham, other dinners and more. I still got a turkey though: 15 smackers, very good deal. We will cook it up at some point when the cold really settles in. Then it will be the basis for a bunch of lunches, a soup, and probably at least another dinner. (Hot turkey sandwiches perhaps?)

More indulgences. Today, many baked goods, various fresh, real breads, some pies: pecan and pumpkin. We now actually have two pumpkin pies for this weekend, but I do not eat pumpkin pie. The boy and the wife do, so a pie for everybody. I also bought some items for future pies the wife wants to make, sale items of course. Then we bough a bunch of sodas on sale too, these will last for months.

So, even though we dropped a bomb this week, it will all carry us for some time to come. The roast will most likely give us a supper of hot beef sandwiches, if not two. So, really we spend more than 50-100 bucks a week. Maybe closer 100-150ish, but this also includes consumable items that are not food. I can be certain that we are spending far less than many people on weekly expenditures. And wasting much less. I learnt from my parents to not waste, the wife is the same way. We know far too many people that are frivolous with their purchases and how they use (or do not use) them. Bang for the buck baby! That is what it is all about.

There is a saying: "To make money, you have to spend money." Well, I say: "To save money, you need to spend money." I know it is not always easy, but if you can pull it off financially and you have the personal resources at home for storage, it is a good way to make your dollars stretch and fill your gut, and keep your house clean and tidy, at the same time. blbbl

groceries - an interlude

I was going to discuss groceries today. However, I have had an odd day and I currently have a visitor. So, I will discuss groceries tomorrow.

I think this is actually my shortest post. blbbl

cocktails - what does and does not go with bourbon

So, with the Canadian Thanksgiving long weekend all but upon us, I thought I would impart some bourbon wisdom. Plus, there are many other celebrations going on around the planet this weekend too.

I have been sampling various bourbons for some years and have discovered a few truisms regarding bourbon. At least to me.


What Does NOT Go With Bourbon:

Iced tea or Dr. Pepper. It just tastes weird. Ginger ale is so-so. Oh yeah, root beer blows with just about any hard liquor. The "Doctor" can be alright with certain vodkas though and ginger ale is good enough with rye whisk(e)y or Canadian whisky.

Peanuts. I recently learnt munching on peanuts and tippling bourbon, makes the brown liquid taste odd. I do not know if other nuts or legumes do the same though. If I recall, Canadian Whisky is just fine with the dressed up fellow, but it certainly is not anything like port wine and walnuts; oh, and a salty cheese: Mmmm.

Sesame snaps. They help provide a jet-fuel like taste to the drink. Better than the peanuts though?!

Eyeballs. Yup, eyeballs. My brother and I were camping in Maine and we bought a large bottle of white label Jim Beam. We wanted a shot, but decided it was uncouth to guzzle from a baby Texas mickey (it had a handle, it was a jumbo bottle, almost jug-like). So, my brother said he would pour a shot in to my mouth. Not to worry, he claimed he had done it before. Well, would you not know it? He missed and poured an ounce of the stuff right in to my left eyeball. It stung like a bejesus and lasted over half-an-hour. That was the night I got a fire going in a major rain storm with wet wood. At least I could see what I was doing still.

Stupidity. Being reckless, careless, dumbass, unsafe, blind drunk, stupid, and any other version of irresponsible behaviour does not go with bourbon or any other intoxicating or mind altering substance. Say no to dumbassedness!


What Does Go With Bourbon:

Pepsi. I learnt this in Moscow, Russia. A friend and I wanted to cut our bourbon with water, soda water even, but at the time we were there, it was occasionally a pain to get easily and not cheap. The tap water was dangerous to drink. The local bottled water was cheap, but it was suspect. You would be best to get imported mineral water from Poland, France, or Germany. The guy at the kiosk sold us some Pepsi to go with it, I cannot recall from what country though, but it was way cheaper than water. We were suspicious of what it would taste like, especially with my past experiences with iced tea and Dr. Pepper. Well, we tried it anyway and it was alright, but the carbonation went all strange and would dissipate quickly. That was no big deal. Now, at the time I was a Coca-Cola guy, through and through. When I got back home to Canada, I tried it with Coke. Not the same at all. Not so good and too fizzy. RC Cola is not too bad as well, if you can find it.

1st Lt. David Donovan in his Vietnam service memoir, Once A Warrior King (which I am currently rereading, again), mentions bourbon with Shasta cola (p. 143). He does not disparage it, but then again, he does not praise it. Plus the cola was warm. If I find it, I will have to try it out to find out for myself.

Water. Bourbon and water. The old standby.

Dried apricots. Very tasty with the drink. They actually killed off the high-octane result of the sesame snaps as mentioned above. I bet fresh apricots, not to mention peaches and nectarines, would work out too.

Steak. Well, just about any brown liquor goes great with steak. Beer too.

Ribs. A natural accompaniment to pork ribs, even beef, is the brown stuff. Particularly, bourbon.

Smoked sausage. Notably, Polish, or Slavic or Central European, types. Then again, what does not go with kiełbasa or kabanos? Everything is more fun with sausage!

Moderation. Have a good time, but do not be a dumbass. See Stupidity, under the NOT category.


blbbl

i love free stuff

That about says it all.

When I was a kid, I got a Boba Fett action figure. I just had to send in some proofs of purchase, and pay shipping. So, not really free, but I was the only kid I knew that ever got one. It was worth it.

While I was in the Reserve Army and we were on exercise with the Regulars and we had access to the mess hall, I started the practice of "liberating" Tabasco Sauce and Worcester Sauce off the tables to enhance our field rations. Free stuff for the whole Unit, and tasty!

When I was working computer support for an airline, there was a guy who was an inter-office courier for the company. He decided he wanted more in life and quit his job to take Information Technology training. He asked me if there was a derelict computer that could be spared. Well, not really. What I did was build, for the time, a smoking machine for him from spare parts, that were "written off", no longer considered useful. He was ecstatic. He gave me a bottle of, at the time, Wiser's finest Canadian Whisky. It set me down the path of appreciating whiskies other than Scotch.

Scouts Canada used to give little gifts to the Scouters every year as a token of appreciation. I got a couple of folding knives the first couple of years; they were actually not bad quality. Then I got a wash kit, at first I thought it was going to be lame; but it actually was pretty cool. I use it in a go bag to hold all and sundry of small gear. Then, I never got another thing. Oh well.

More recently, I got a free sample of Poly-Grip, I do not have dentures, yet, but when I do: watchout! Actually, it is in one of my go bags. It is handy at times, kind of like Silly Putty.

My latest acquisition is an epi-pen pouch from the manufacturer of said epi-pens. Very stylish. Really, it is. I was wearing it like an ammo bandolier today. The boy laughed at me. What does he know anyway?

Over the years I have been given various pocket knives, both of quality and not, by various friends and acquaintances. I too, have gotten many notebooks. I love notebooks. One can never have enough knives and notebooks.

That being said, free, and nearly free, stuff is awesome. It is like getting presents for no other reason than just being you. In my case, being an ass, that is pretty amazing! blbbl

runnin' down a dream - we have lost an icon

Thomas Earl Petty: 20 October 1950 - 02 October 2017

Tom Petty is one of my favourite music artists. In fact, he is my favourite music artist, he has been in a near-on four way tie for years, but he has edged out all the competition, because he saved me. I cannot imagine a life without new creations by this extremely talented person. I missed a chance to see him live this past summer. It may be my first regret in life. I missed an opportunity years ago to see David Bowie as well, but my commitments to the military precluded the possibility of making it so, so I cannot bemoan that lost moment.

His passing does not diminish his talents, it only prevents us from being able to enjoy and revel in new and spectacular creations that I know he still had in him. Declaring his retirement or not earlier this year, a creative person such as Tom Petty, I believe, would not have kept his craft from the world for long. I presume, he would have certainly "popped-up" from time to time, most likely in the most unexpected places. Sadly, we will never know.

I will always remember that he and his music gave me great solace one year, during a particularly difficult period in my time in the military. If it were not for Full Moon Fever, I would probably have lost it. I listened to that cassette dozens, no!, hundreds of times over a four month period. I continued to listen to it every time I drove for many years after. It was in my little hatchback until it finally gave up the ghost and landed in my first pickup truck and was my go-to tape every time. I still have that cassette. 

I still listen to him all the time. Hell, the boy is even a huge fan and follower of Tom Petty, and The Heartbreakers. He is none too peaceful either with this terrible loss.

Thomas Earl Petty, you will be sorely, and greatly, missed. blbbl

the one that got away - why do we forget stuff?

I had two ideas for a post today. The first one I thought of yesterday, then it escaped me. This morning I remembered it, while I was getting up, but then it again escaped me. This afternoon while I was going off for an appointment, I thought of something else, then it too escaped me. Why is that?

Other than dates, and sometimes names, I generally have a very good memory. I went through a spell where my memory was really crappy. I had Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), no one believed me really, but I knew that that is what is was.

Barring all that, I tend to have a mind like a steel trap. Well, I used to I guess. I find, at times it harder and harder to keep track of fleeting thoughts that I want to get back to. I used to keep a notebook to record various information. I got away from it, then I have tried over the last nine months or so to reinitiate that habit, but with poor results. I forget to take my notebook with me. The forgetting thing gets in the way of my trying to do an end-run around the forgetting thing. Somewhat ironic, I guess.

I still can often easily recall obscure facts that I have read or learnt about, from even long before the CFS, and after I recovered. I remember conversations and activities I have been a part of, for the most part, similarly to my recall of odd facts.

So, why can I not remember to bring a notebook with me everywhere and write in it when I want to go back to the thought later; let alone just being able to recall it in the first place? Is it age? Is it poor diet? Is it bad sleeping habits? Stress? Is it some odd lingering effects of CFS that fades in and out? Is it all of it to varying degrees? Some friends and I used to joke about being forgetful and that we should take ginkgo biloba (it allegedly enhancing memory), but how would we remember to take it?

See, I can recall that passing conversation from many years ago without difficulty, but try to remember the idea I had yesterday afternoon and again this morning, and I roll snake eyes. Do I need to work at improving my memory? A quick look online at some information about improving memory, may indicate that I do need to work on it. Some of the more pertinent points I meet easily, some I do not.

One should laugh. Okay. I think I laugh quite a bit and I think I have a pretty good sense of humour, although it can be quite dark and filled with sarcasm. I still laugh though. A lot.

One should hang out with friends. Maybe that could use some work. I am not the kind of person that has hundreds or even dozens of friends. I have plenty of acquaintances, but friends? Extremely close friends maybe three or four. Very close friends, again, maybe three or four more. Very good friends, a dozen...and a half, maybe. Good friends, the same, maybe less. Friends, sure a bunch. The rest, just acquaintances or friends in particular situations, I guess one-off situation specific buddies. Okay, I will work on that one.

One should be physically active. I am fairly active. It goes up and down like most people. I am now engaged in several activities that keep me moving and exerting. I think I am fine there, generally speaking.

One should engage in mental workouts. Well, I am reading a lot again. Not just fiction, but also non-fiction. I like to learn facts, especially weird and unusual ones. It is suggested to learn new skills or engage in something that is scalable in difficulty. Well, I have always wanted to be able to play an instrument and apparently learning new musical arrangements offers constant mental challenge. Maybe, in addition to my increasingly voracious reading, I should learn the harmonica.

On the matter of sleep. Apparently, virtually all adults need between seven-and-a-half to nine hours of sleep every night and should go to bed at the same time every time. Okay, I fail there. I often get four to six hours nightly and go to bed all over the map. My new daytime routine may assist in forcing me to keep regular hours for all that. I will strive to improve that, if possible for an insomniac and nighthawk like myself.

On diet. There is so much blather about diet, much of it can be quite contradictory. Other than my love of crispy pork fat and starches, potato chips being a particular weakness at times, I am pretty good.  I do intend to research "diet" once again. It is something that I have studied many times over many years, and to be honest, it seems that at about eighteen month intervals everything changes, often contradicting the previous wisdom. I will go back to my research in this area. Maybe it will give me a mental workout?

Now, here is a biggie: stress. I can be a pretty stressed out person. I go up and down with that. Some of it is my doing, some from external sources. However, ultimately, stress should be self-controllable. Yes, often there are major asses out there that make it hard for a person to destress, but barring that, much stress is often brought upon oneself, at least in my case. This is definitely something I need to work on. Meditation is an option. I am sure I have mentioned my desire to pursue meditation formally. Well, I guess if I want to improve my memory, I will need to put my money where my mouth is.


So, here is the tough part, I want to not have memory difficulties. There are things I can do to help improve them. I also have "tricks" I have used in the past. Yet, I need to remember all of this and remember to follow through to improve my memory. Is it irony or is it a contradiction in terms? I do not remember. blbbl

scout camp over - exhausted

Well, the Scout Camp is over. Everything went well enough. The kids had fun, even the Scouters too, I imagine. I Know I did. However, I am totally exhausted.

I have had two major naps since getting back. I can barely keep my eyes open right now while typing. I have a thoroughly full week coming up. Plus the regular weekly meeting for Scouts. In addition our Apple Day fundraiser is on Saturday. If you for any reason find yourself in Kemptville, Ontario and a Scout offers you an apple, your donations will be gratefully accepted.

Then we also have Thanksgiving the following Monday. Nothing organised for that. No turkey, no pumpkin pie, nothing. I need to get on that for sure this sooner than later. Then, it is a slow descent in to winter waiting for Christmas and New Years, with a small, but important, pause at Remembrance Day.

However, I must apologise. I am continually yawning and my eyes are getting very heavy. I am signing off, and immediately turning in. I just hope I do not fall asleep on the way to my bed.

Everything should be back on track tomorrow. Other than the fullness of the day and everything to get done for tomorrow and the rest of the week, I should hopefully have something interesting thrown up on these pages. However, I am off, I am having trouble composing sentences. Nighty-night. blbbl