We Need a Reboot

What I would like to see change about elections and politicians running:

•  Stop with the rallies where the candidate gets to stand and talk at the crowd. Instead, do more Q & A sessions. 

Have the candidates (from both parties) sit down to talk about specifics. In a session about the economy, invite economists from across the political spectrum to ask the questions and moderate the session. When discussing civil rights, invite moderators with experience in civil rights law and activism. Invite qualified medical doctors and other healthcare professionals in for discussions on that spectrum.

The whole point of these directed and focused sessions would be to hold every candidate accountable for being clear and knowledgeable about the issues and for actually having a plan.

• Have public news stations do nightly takes on each currently hot issue. Have journalists from across the political spectrum represented. Highlight currently relevant topics that the candidates are featuring in their platforms. Invite in experts in whatever field of topic and have civil discussions that are informative, truthful, and useful to viewers. 

This will be an alternative to the news put out based on political bias. If at no other time than during the election cycles, we need an alternative to the liberal (MSNBC-type) and conservative (FoxNews-type) noise that outshouts common, clear, and understandable information about the candidates and parties and their plans for the citizens.

• Start doing more educational outreach. When candidates are talking about healthcare reform, put out unbiased information about the basics. There is no excuse that there were people not understanding that Obamacare is the ACA. There is no excuse, with all the news being broadcast around the clock, that some of us didn't understand how tariffs affect the consumer.

We can't backtrack and re-educate multiple generations of citizens in civic, history, and government studies. We can (at least during election cycles) clarify what candidates are saying and proposing.

Now, all of those are things I am suggesting for politicians, parties, and news providers. As for citizens, we need to start holding ourselves accountable for being familiar (or getting familiar) with current issues. (And, by the way, as I point fingers, one is pointing right back at me!)

• We (citizens) need to stop getting our news from biased sources. We know for a fact that we will hear one version of a talking point on one channel while another channel is going in the opposite direction with their opinions.
• We need to stop letting news celebrities/news personalities, podcasters, influencers, etc; direct our opinions. Those people don't live your life, they don't live like "regular" folk, and they don't understand the day to day concerns of anyone not in their orbit. If I don't let my neighbor influence my important decisions, why would I let some of those other people do so. Remember how your parents would ask if you would ~insert activity here~ just because all your friends did?
• We need to start asking more questions and listening to responses from more than one source. Voting is not like religion. I can follow more than one news source even though I follow only one God.
• We need to start thinking more about our day to day life before we start choosing sides in a political forum. When that candidate said what they would do for us as far as the economy, jobs, infrastructure, etc., we need to be able to access how well those promises stood up. 
• Last of all, we need to stop being so selfish. If I don't have problems with housing costs - or jobs, or healthcare or whatever it is - that doesn't mean I should not be concerned for my fellow citizens.

I have come to the conclusion that we cannot count on our politicians to get it together until we push for that. So let's start pushing. Let's start being Americans - not Democrat, Liberal, Republican, MAGA, and so on. We all have to breathe clean air, have good food and water, and live. There are no dividing lines when it comes to just living our lives.

Peace

--Free

P.S: Forgive me for any grammatical errors or lack of clarification. I have an illness that affects my cognition at times. However, I am sure most people can understand what I have said.

Manuka Honey Is the TRUTH **UPDATE**

**UPDATE** (Added a postscript with links at the end of the post)

 Let me repeat that with some emphasis: Manuka honey is the cha-ruth!

I have been hit with this whatever-the-recent-crud-is that's gone around Iowa. I had a new cough (after finally recovering from the other never-ending one earlier this year) that is still hanging on. Apparently, I have something called a mucus plug (which I thought was only for pregnant women!) and a viral situation. So... 

With all the coughing and spitting out disgusting mucus, I was absolutely worn out - rung out, is more like it. There were days I could only get up long enough to say my prayers, take my meds with a bit of food and have some coffee. The coughing kept me awake most of time so I was mostly napping instead of getting any stretch of time asleep.

I'm whining but a couple of my neighbors were dealing with the same thing.

Anyway.

I still have the cough but it seems to be dying down. For the last few weeks, I have been on a steady rotation of Mucinex DM and Dayquil/Nyquil. Finally, I remembered that I had a little bit of Manuka honey left. There was maybe a teaspoon and a half to be scraped from the 15+ jar and a tablespoon from the 10+ jar.

Now, here is where I prove what I've said about Manuka being expensive but worth it. I got the 15+ in May 2021. It is a $36 7.9oz jar. The 10+, which I got in April 2018 was $25 (I'm sure it was a lightening deal). 

The honey is so old that, I swear, it was a job just to get the lids off!

I have used both jars to fill up little lip tubes like these...

I add in a little stingless bee honey

...to have in my purse. I use the honey to stop a cold sore from starting (applied at the first itch, I will never have to deal with the blister) and to treat minor cuts and burns. I sometimes add the honey to tea when I feel beat up by my weekly injection. And you see how much I have left. It does not take much to deal with most things.

So when I remembered I had a bit of honey left, I raided the pantry. I put a dollop of both types in my mouth and let it melt down with some lukewarm tea. You might want to think I am lying when I say that my throat felt a little better (from all the coughing) within an hour. I am still coughing but, still.

In light of the recent election and the talk of raising tariffs (which I don't think will be restricted to China), I checked Amazon for the current price of Steen's. I saw that it's currently almost $50 for a 7.9oz jar of 20+. And that is with a deal... 

The nieces and nephews had already started asking what I'd want for Christmas. I told one niece that I had the Steen's in my cart and she got it for me. 

You can bet I will be taking a little bit of Manuka every day as soon as I get it. As I said, the first doses made my throat feel better and so much less irritated. I might be delusional, but I swear the coughing is better. 

I never even think about giving medical advice (and you'd be stupid to take any from me!), but I love being able to use a honey for some things. There is proven (and documented) evidence of Manuka being a "medicinal honey" This is a nice write-up to peruse.

Anyway, this is the first time in a long minute that I've had the energy to write a new post instead of digging up one from my stash! Hopefully, I will be back to post more soon.

Peace

--Free

P.S.: I forgot to add links to other posts I've made about Manuka and healing honeys:

• This was about stingless bee honey
• This was about Manuka & alternatives
• This is one about fermenting things in honey
• This is about the onion & honey tea

Check The Sidebar for Recipes & Tips

 Times are hard for a lot of us (and might be getting harder yet!) so I thought I would make better use of this blog's sidebar.

I have added a couple of spots where I can post easy recipes or money-saving tips and hacks. Whether we vote Red, Blue, Green, or other, we need to stand together in tough times.

The first 2 recipes I put up are pretty affordable meals. The stew and the cornbread can fill the bellies of a small family, or sustain a single for a while. 

If you add additional sugar (brown or white) or honey to the cornbread, it can almost be a dessert substitute. To give more heft to the stew, you can add veggies (or even substitute them for the meat or beans). 

Both those recipes are filling and not too bad as far as sugar and salt. I hope it helps.

Peace

--Free

A Crappy $9 Bag I've Come to Love

 Last month, I saw a cute-looking ("looking" is the key here) bag on the Walmart site. I have recently developed a love of backpack purses (or convertibles). When I saw this one priced at under $10, I laughed. Then I looked again and realized I could return it for free. I ordered it. 

Thin & wrinkled/bent

When the bag arrived, I laughed. Hard. I immediately started writing a scathing review saying that the bag was overpriced and belonged in the clearance bin at an "Under $0.99" store. I ranted about the paper-thin material that I was sure might not even be real plastic. I made jokes about the toy-like straps and handle. I basically had a field day ragging on this bag. My review had a mean "are-you-kidding-me" vibe. (I am not proud of myself.) 

It came in a package
as flat as an envelope

I intended to return it but, first, I wanted to get photos. Then, for better photos, I filled the little purse up with things from my "good" purse. I thought I should get a photo of my actually using the bag - with the pitiful straps on my shoulder or holding the bag by the crappy handle. 

Even cheaper-looking inside.
Shiny nylon?

A funny thing happened while I was handling the purse. I started to like it. It's still made of cheap, can-you-even-call-it-genuine plastic. It still has a thin handle and strap. The thing is, though, I started loving how roomy it is without looking bulky. I liked all the little inner pockets. 

Looks BETTER when filled!

Basically, I have fallen in love with this cheap,  "raggely" (that's West Texan for "raggedy") bag. If only I could find a purse just like this one but made with better materials... 

Side pockets, back pocket, front & interior pockets.
So many pockets.

It's hard to convey the cheapness of this bag in photos. It's highly photogenic (which is how the seller duped me!). The color (black) helps disguise the low quality of materials, and it has a matte texture that looks expensive (or at least not cheap). You cannot tell how cheap the bag is just by looking. 

The bottom line is, I have come to love this bag. Now I just need to find the same bag made with halfway decent materials. I'm not sure this one is going to hold up to much use. I'll be lucky if a strap doesn't come loose while I'm holding it...

Peace

--Free

P.S.: I have since seen several similar designs & some of them are actually made of a better grade of plastic! LOL

P.S. P.S.: Keep me in your prayers. I'm still struggling with whatever is going around the state. I have 1 good day, then 2 days of coughing and being bedridden fatigued. At least 4 of my neighbors have the same thing going on Lord have mercy.

**REVIEW** Bamboo Queen Microfiber Baby Washcloths

 First off, know that these are not like every other microfiber cloth (dishrag, makeup rag, duster, etc.) I have seen and used.

I love using microfiber cloths for the kitchen dishes and for cleaning around the house. What I love about them is that they are soft and durable and get the job done. They are especially good for drying dishes and counters. They are awesome for face washing because they are so soft and gentle.

What I do not like about the microfiber cloths I've used in the past is that, once they get a bit of use, they start to get slimy when wet. I can wash them at this point but they only work for another day or so before they get that icky texture again. This is when I usually use them to clean my trash can then toss the rag.

When I got these cloths, I thought I was just getting a great "lightening deal" on a giant pack (32) of the usual. It would still be a good bargain but I expected to deal with the "ick" factor at some point. But, I could tell almost right away that these from Bamboo Queen are different.

These were $9.50 for a day...

When these get wet and I ring these out, they get very dry. Also, they feel stronger when wet than the others I've used. The best part is that, after using these for a few days, I made my usual mistake and left one in puddle of sink water for several hours. That usual ruins the other brands. If they are new, I can probably rescue them from the early "ickiness" but sometimes not. With this Bamboo Queen brand, once I rinsed the rag and wrung it out, it was good as new.

This might not seem like a big deal but it is to me. For one thing, that slimy texture of the other cloths makes me think "bacteria". When I first noticed the problem, I would try soaking the cloths in really hot water with some Listerine or vinegar and baking soda. Nothing worked. And I forgot to mention the smell. Ugh!

So, yeah, I am really into this brand of microfiber cloth. I would probably never have tried them if not for the temporary deal price. Judging from my orders' history, I've been using microfiber cloths for over 4 years now. Just imagine what I'd have saved by getting more use from each pack of them!

At any rate, if you like microfiber, make sure to find some that don't get icky or hold odors.

Peace

--Free

P.S.: BTW, when I looked up why some microfiber towels are better than others, it comes down to the obvious reason: quality. Do a quick search and you will probably see the same reason shown.

My Dupe For Repair Vita Oil

 I fell in love with the first (and only) bottle of the Repair Vita Oil that I got from Making Cosmetics. At that time (2021), I paid less than $20 for an 8.4-ounce bottle that lasted for MONTHS.

about $2.14 per ounce

 I was so happy to find something so good on my aging skin. I think it wasn't until several months - maybe even a year or more - that I needed to reorder. Well. Child. 

about $43.40 per pound
and 11 LBs is ONLY option

Who has that kind of Elon de Bezos money???? Don't look at me. I was rearranging things in my budget to get the twenty-dollar bottle! Obviously, MC decided to ignore the smaller customers and go for selling in bulk.  (Even if I could afford the stuff, I wouldn't indulge. That kind of excess is morally stupid, no matter how much money you have!)

Okay so... it was time to improvise. Actually, after I thought about it, I realized I should have done that in the first place. It was simple to find the ingredients and, because I already use oils for my skin and hair, I had most of them in my pantry and a couple of the missing are those I don't use anyway. This ended up being my base blend:

• Plum kernel oil
• Sweet Almond Oil
• Perilla Seed Oil
• Jojoba Oil
• Vitamin E
• Frankincense EO
• Neroli EO

The only thing I did not have much of was the Rosemary. Apparently, adding just a very little bit was good enough. Because my skin and hair aren't crazy about coconut oil, I omitted it and, because I am me, I didn't worry about the other ingredients because I was testing the blend as I went. When I got to the Neroli, I found I liked my blend much better than the MC version.

repurposed a good bottle.
This is after aboeut a month's use

Of course, I made 2 variants of the oil because I happened to have some vanilla bean oil that I'd been infusing in sweet almond oil for several weeks. I added a little of that to another bottle of my Vita Oil blend (which I call Skin Food!) and it is lovely. I was worried about the vanilla because I've never used an infusion on my skin before now but it turned out nicely and has a really faint delicious scent.

If I add up the ingredients used to make the 2 one-ounce bottles I already had, I would guess it cost me less than $0.40 to make all of it. You can see why I will never buy any more from MC...

If you decide to make a DIY oil and can't figure out what percentage of each ingredient to use, ask ChatGPT. It gave me percentages and drops. Okay. That's one safe use of AI, I guess.

I now have 3 oils (and will be making more until I run out of ingredients). I have the one I use on my face every morning; one that I use in the evening; and one that I will be using during the dryer winter months.

Morning Oil:

• Plum kernel oil (which feel amazing and absorbs so well)
• Rosemary oil
• Pure Vitamin E oil
• Coconut oil (just a drop of the fractionated version)

Evening/Overnight Oil:

• Plum kernel
• Rosemary
• Vitamin E
• Vanilla bean (oil from a sweet almond infusion)

Dry Weather Oil:

• Plum kernel
• Jojoba
• Vitamin E
• Helichrysum (and E.O.) ~this smells angelic~
• Neroli
• Sweet almond oil

(I use the Dry Weather formula under my Nivea cream.)

And, no matter what time of year it is, don't forget to use sunscreen...

As I said, because I have always used oil for my hair, skin, and cooking needs, I didn't need to buy much. One recipe I saw in a forum called for EVOO mixed with tea tree and coconut. I think that one was for combo or acne-prone skin (?).

It absorbs even more after 3 or so minutes

Anyway, I am glad to say goodbye to MC's Vita Repair oil. I think they figured out how popular it was becoming and so they upped the minimum quantity and/or price. If I can't trust the availability of a product, why even bother falling in love with it?

Peace

--Free

P.S.: There might be some discrepancies in this post. After I wrote the original draft, I played around more with my formula, so I (clumsily) have made some changes to this post.

**REVIEW** Leather Backpack/Rucksack From Komal’s Passion Leather

Before the purchase:

 For the first time in about 12 years, I am getting myself a new backpack - or as I heard our European cousins call it, "rucksack". 

Whatever this one is called, I think of it as more like a backpack-purse combo.  My previous backpack was made of canvas and nylon. It was great and lasted for around 6 years (maybe more). 

That old backpack made a lot of trips between home, the library, work, travel to and from the Lower 48, and other outings - all in the mostly cold and/or damp Anchorage weather. I think it might have lasted longer if I'd taken better care of it. I never really cleaned it (beyond wiping off any water and spraying it with odor killers) or babied it in any way. It was a great bag. It's just beyond beat-up-ugly now and somewhere in my brother's storage.

This new bag though... Oh boy, I have high hopes for this one. For one thing, it is made of leather (water buffalo, no less) and made for rough duty. Of course, I will be babying this one as far as cleaning it and keeping it conditioned. 

Even though I have a really nice and very sturdy tote, I wanted this one to replace the old pack for when I travel. It's not like I can afford to be a jet setter, but I do visit my family in another state and my local family and I drive quite a way back and forth to some of our doctor's appointments. I figured, at my age, get a bag that I will (hopefully) never have to replace. And, also, let me quit fronting - I really just wanted this bag! 

So I will not give my first impressions about this bag. When I get the bag, I will complete the review. Let's go.

Pre-impressions:

When I saw the bag online, I loved the design. From seeing a different bag that belongs to a neighbor, I expected quality materials. However, from the photos of this particular bag, I couldn't truly sense the size. Also, there were no photos of the inside of the bag.

The description states that this is "Grain Water Buffalo Leather" which would make one look twice. "Grain" indicates the longevity and durability and can be "full grain" (highest in quality); "top grain" (2nd highest) and the commonly see "genuine" (the lowest quality). However, Komal's also indicates elsewhere on the product page that this is "full grain washed" leather. That's reassuring. (This link gives more info on grain types.) 

This is a collage of partial photos of what I could see online. No matter how hard I tried, I could not find photos of the inside or of it on a person's body. That would have been nice for an idea of the real life size. The bag is described online as "12 inches wide 15 inches high and 6 inches deep." I have trouble visualizing from given dimensions. Is that just me? 

I knew that this bag was considered to be rather large for use as a convertible backpack/purse but I did want something that, if need be, could hold my laptop. Remember, I plan to use this for long road trips and possible plane travel - maybe even long-distance bus travel...

The ordering process was more than decent. I liked the fact that the price of the bag included shipping and personalization - expedited shipping at that... 

As soon as my bag had shipped (well, a few days after), I got a nice email from someone at KPL. They thanked me for my business and let me know that they had gifted me a leather journal in the order. Wow, right? When I was reading Amazon reviews of KPL products, I'd heard about the thank you letters but to get a gift too? Nice.

Receiving the bag:

The bag arrived with an added pleasure. As they said the would, KPL gifted me with this gorgeous leather-bound journal:

look at that binding!!!

This buffalo leather is SOFT!!!

The paper is super-high quality. I was blown away that they enclosed a gift at all but the fact they sent something this nice... I'm telling you that if you have a journal enthusiast in your life, this will rock their world.

But, back to the bag...

Since this is the first thing I've owned (or even seen) made of buffalo leather, I was surprised that it was so smooth on the surface. Maybe I was worried that it would be rough and, real-live-buffalo-like??? It's not. 

Of course, since this is brand new, it's stiff. The first thing I did was to coat it with mink oil. I'm probably going to do that every day for the next week. I can tell you that the leather feels really nice underhand.

By the way, I am on my second day of using the bag. I have it stuffed, and I can say that it handles the punishment well. I like how much the inner pockets can hold and that front flap is a good spot for my phone, chapstick, and some throat lozenges. 

I said that I would oil it daily. I oiled it as soon as I got it and again this morning. I can already see how the mink oil has very slightly darkened it. I love that! 

I went extra on the initials...

Before I finish, there is one more detail that I want to point out. I tend to carry the pack with one strap over my shoulder, and I so admire the sturdy way that the strap is anchored at the bottom.

both straps 
are anchored like 
this at the bottom

That's genius.

I did get the personalization and... I should have just gotten my 3 initials instead of the first 2 and my entire last name, but I am always doing too much! If (hopefully, when) I get another tote (I am looking for another, slightly smaller on that is more purse-sized), I will stick with the 3 initials. 

Guys, I do love this bag so much. I feel like I have gotten hold of one of those cherished But It For Life items that Redditors talk so much about. This bag is one that will get better and better with age.

Peace

--Free

DISCLAIMER:   As usual, I was not paid/compensated in any way for this review. My views, both positive and not, are my own opinion. 

Buying Best & Buying Less

Anyone who knows me even fairly well knows that I love purses. They don't have to be fancy or pricey or trendy, they only have to catch my eye. Of course, most of my pricier purses (handbags, shoulder bags, wallets, etc.) have either been gifts or bargain buys. As I already said, I don't love bags that have highly visible branding. Most of those items come off and tacky looking. It's like the owner is shouting, "Look at me! Look at the name on this bag!" 

Since I don't live among the wealthy, whenever I see someone with a loudly branded bag (or piece of clothing), I think "show me you are broke and tacky without telling me you are broke and tacky".  Call me Judgmental Judy, but, it's one thing to want a quality bag and another to want just anything that you think will impress people. (And most people with any sense are not impressed; they just feel bad for you.)

Paid $25
(from $170-$210 originally)

That tote up there is so far my all-time favorite. When I first saw it, I didn't know it was a Coach and didn't really care until (I saw the description and checked authenticity). Like that mattered! I loved the color and that front pocket and knew it was perfect for my laptop and notebooks. I paid a whopping $25 for it, and it's the sturdiest tote ever. All I have to do is wipe it down every now and then with mink or jojoba oil, and it looks brand new. I rock that bad boy to the library every time! The straps hold up under an incredible amount of weight. I have lugged that thing in the heat, rain, and snow back and forth to the library and just look at it. On the other hand, I had a really cute pleather bag that lasted a year or so, still looking mostly good, but the stitching on the straps started getting dangerously weak. The bag cost maybe $12 off and end cap at Fred Meyer but it would have been more expensive it my laptop had hit the ground...

Back to speaking of brands, I have talked about the Coach bags I inherited from my late sister (and my flea sale "Foach" bags!), but I have been carrying one of my favorite purses for the past couple of months. It is a Liebeskind Berlin bag that I absolutely freaking lucked out in finding. Once again, I was too ignorant to realize what I had (and still can barely pronounce or correctly spell the name). I got it off Poshmark for (~let me go check again~) $28. After I bought it, I looked around, I realized that these bags are sort of on the pricey side - not just for ego points but because of the materials and workmanship. Talk about quality.

As I said, I didn't know anything about the Liebeskind brand, but I loved the bag right away. For me, spending almost 30 bucks on a non-necessity is a big deal, but, boy, am I glad I did. If need be, I can sell that purse for at the least $100. But I had no idea. That was a lovely and lucky purchase.

I recently fell in love with another bag, and it's from Berliner. Unrelated to the Liebeskind brand, Berliner has been described as being more rugged while Liebeskind is more, maybe, "sophisticated" (?). I like the Berliner brand for the same reason I like Liebeskind. I like the look and quality. 

I slowly tanned it with sun & mink oil!
Paid $28 (approx. $200-$400?)

The only thing I was tempted to buy during this year's Prime Day was a Liebeskind or Berliner backpack purse (or "convertible" purse/bag). I have been wanting that kind of bag for forever. The problem is that the cheapest of either brand was around $150. Yeah, that ain't gonna happen. The best I could do was pull together about 75 bucks - if I cut back on the month's groceries and did not get the 3 or 4 pairs of pants I was planning on. That would be worth it, but just thinking about spending $150 on a purse gives me a fit of the vapors and makes me clutch my non-existent pearls ...

Instead of spending the money, I was going about life, celebrating that there are less than 80 days til January (the month I get my teeth, should the good Lord be willing.) Yay!!! 

Anyway, One morning, I was talking with one of my neighbors at the mailbox. I kept admiring the gorgeous tote she was carrying. I mean, this thing was of some kind of beautiful, soft as silk, distressed-looking leather material. It was a medium-sized tote and she was carrying it as a purse.

Now, I do love a leather bag, and this particular material one was really different from any I'd ever seen. When I asked, she told me she'd gotten it when she lived in Illinois - which is practically next door. She's liked the tote so much that she'd gone back to get a briefcase for her college-graduate son.  She hadn't robbed a bank for the money She said she got both from a place called Komal's (actually, it's Komal's Passion Leather) when she lived in Illinois and it was super-affordable. This was one of those "tell me more" moments.

Now, "Affordable" means different things to different people. To Bezos or Gates, a Rolls is affordable. I'm not hating, but there are times when a good bag of coffee beans are off the table for me! As does my neighbor, a lot of us have to do quick math to figure out if we are getting brand name or generic food items... 

Passion Leather has a website, of course, so I did a little browsing and, hot dog, was my neighbor telling the truth. Her bag, which was a type of tote (like one used to carry light books or a smaller laptop), was similar to one I saw for under $65. Not only are the bags affordable but, if they were all as nice as the neighbor's, they were my kind of affordable (mostly).

Lodis wallet w/RFID $15
(approx.. $70-$80)

The impressive thing is not just that the bags (I didn't really look at anything else, but there are lots of other items) are affordable, but that the quality is amazing. Seeing my neighbor's purse and getting to touch the leather and hardware, I'd have sworn that she'd paid at least $100 or more. I mean, the bag is made of water buffalo. What?!?!? That was a first for me. My cow skin Liebeskind bag will last forever, but I'm sure water buffalo just might outlast it.

And, guess what, while I was looking around, I saw a backpack purse - just like the one I've dreamed about. And it was a flat $80. Not $80 plus shipping or taxes. It was $80. And I could get it personalized for free. 

I almost hurt myself going over to rearrange my monthly budget! I mean, I can do without paper towels. I can use the cheap laundry and dish soap this time. I can make my coffee last for the next several weeks (it's a good time to drink more water!). 

By the time I finished, I was still hesitant to spend the money on a bag - even a good bag - so I put the backpack on my "wish list" and went about making dinner. I told my sister-in-law about the bag and that I'd had to leave it where it was. She got all excited and reminded me that I had finished paying off one of my bills recently. Guess how much that bill was? Sixty-some dollars.

Long story short, I ordered the bag. Even though I managed to have the money, I still cheaped out on the paper towels, soap, and coffee. No need in losing all the ground saved by paying off that bill...

Again, like with the Liebskind and Coach, the Passion Leather bag has no loud and tacky branding. I'd rather not be a walking billboard for a money-hogging designer. We all know that there are HUGE profit margins on cheap-to-make designer bags. I'd rather have something with obvious quality and workmanship - no matter what name is on it. And I like having something from a smaller business.

By the way, my SIL reminded me of something else. She said it's better to pay more for a bag that will last than to pay to replace one every year. That makes so much sense. And I do tend to keep good things for a long time. That Coach bag from my sister is at least 20 years old. My Liebeskind is never going to not be good. That thing will probably get passed down as long as there are descendants in my family. And I already told my nieces to make sure their kids get my new backpack and the other purses I've been collected over the years.

I have a new saying, "Buy best to buy less". 

Peace

--Free

P.S.: Of course, I will do an update to show the bag and talk about it a bit! I will probably even do a review.

Amazon & Walmart "Sales"? Maybe

 Well, it's that time of year. Amazon just finished their "Prime Day" and Walmart is just getting started with "Deals" day. While Amazon did a little bit of exaggerating here and there, Walmart put them to shame.

Did I shop Prime Day? A bit. I only bought things I needed and things where I knew the non-Prime Day price average. But I stayed so far away from Walmart's "deals" that I almost fell off the globe.

Amazon did have some decent price drops but the search was arranged in such a way that so many other things caught your eye. (We will talk another day about Bill-Trill Bezos cheaping out on the Amazon search engine. Oh, we will talk!) 

To be fair, I found the biggest Amazon exaggeration trumpeted (as savings) on another site. I immediately spotted the forked tongue because I actually bought this item last month when I got my new phone.

From "Market Watch Picks" today

And... what I paid when I ordered on Sept 27 (delivered the 29th)

Not $29.00

As you can see, either that Prime Deal price hit 14 days before the actual sale, or I am hallucinating. 

However, I did find a few things that were an actual sale on Amazon. I didn't score any huge savings on things I normally use (regular household stuff), but I did notice some great savings on things I have on my "Dream List". There were handbags that I can't afford, sale or no sale, but that I know had big price drops. Of course, that doesn't help me, but it shows that Amazon had some actual sale items. By the way, if you want to know the prices on luxury goods, ask any broke person you meet!

Some of the other stuff on sale at Amazon ran from "Meh" to being just plain junk. In another case of something I previously bought that went on sale, there were some phone cases. The thing is, I bought one of those cases in September and it was trash. It did go on a bit of a sale but it wasn't worth the original or the sale price. I returned mine when it started coming apart after just a couple of days. It's one of those things that belongs in a thrift store "Under $0.99 Bin"...

But back to Walmart telling their whoppers. I can't believe they have the nerve to advertise some stuff as being on sale. Trust me, I know Walmart (as a shopper) better than founders - and, yeah, I know that's nothing to brag about - and these items are an example of liar, liar, pants, house, and car on fire.

These tops are so blatantly barely worth the so-called sale price that it hurts my eyes to look at them:

Ain't nobody paying $60 to $70 for that. Not from Walmart

That was such a huge fish tale that I was left gaping at the page. That was a lie worthy of my uncle "Louis" and he lied so much we had a saying in the family that went "if he says the sky is overhead, you better go check". Yeah. Stop it, Walmart.

Anyway...

I must say that I am really pleased with the restraint I showed during this year's Prime Day. I spent less that $45 and that was for things I normally get for the house. Look at me, over here living within my means!

Peace

-- Free

I'm Rediscovering Blackstrap Molasses

 I have a habit of storing and losing things in the room that is my mind...

Recently, I have been fighting some sort of upper respiratory situation. It robs me of sleep hours because I wake up coughing. That lack of sleep leaves me dragging all through the day. And I feel just generally "blah" and "bleh". I already have issues with fatigue, so this is not helpful. 

Here comes the part where my mental librarian comes into play. Just when I can't think of anything else to do for a situation, the Librarian finds something hiding in a corner of my mind and - Whoop! There it is!

I recall blogging a review of a brand of blackstrap molasses. Back then, I had recalled my mother having used the molasses as a remedy for all kinds of things. Well, I forgot all that until the Librarian went to work.

My mother was right, as she often was. Blackstrap molasses is like a magical remedy for fatigue - or at least it has been for me.

Anyway, I have been adding some 'strap (what old folks say) to my morning coffee, afternoon chocolate, and even to my pinto bean stew. After about a week, I was feeling better. I'm not running marathons or climbing K2 but I am not dragging tail all through the day. 

Since I only vaguely remember some of the things old folks used 'strap for, I collected some information from online and as the black folk (circa 1960-70) and the young folks today say: "Don't sleep on this".

Just a few of the uses for 'strap mentioned are:

• relief of anemia (because of the nutrients)
• skincare (anti-aging, exfoliating, softening)
• hair conditioning (antioxidant mineral)
• reducing gray hair (because of copper)
• arthritis relief (because of anti-inflammatory properties)
• ADD/ADHD (because of relief of mineral deficiencies)
• menstrual remedy
• a replacement for sugars in cooking and baking

Still, when you are using this in food, don't forget it does contain sugar, sodium, potassium and other things that certain individuals need to limit.

As I said, I like adding this to coffee and tea. Since I have been using less of my sweetened creamers and opting for half and half instead, the molasses adds flavor. And sugar, of course! 

I am going to have to stay in the habit of adding the molasses to some of my consumables. The change in my fatigue is pretty astounding. And I don't want to overreach but I think that my mental health is a bit better. Whenever I get extra fatigued, I tend to feel more depressed and anxious. Maybe the energy boost is the reason those things have abated. At any rate, I feel better.

Now I'm going to go look up some recipes for baking with 'strap.

Peace

--Free

P.S.: I don't know if this is something Mama knew but she was using the unsulfured version of 'strap. Apparently, that is the best kind.

DISCLAIMER: I should not have to say this, but... I am not a health (or any other kind of) professional. You should always check with your healthcare team before taking advice from anyone on the internet. Use your common sense or borrow some to use.

From the S8+ to the S24+...

 ... Is a long way!

I mentioned needing to get a new phone - after almost 7 years and 3 months mileage on the old one. Talk about "ride it til the wheels fall off", I wish I had as a good a relationship with any person as I did with that phone!

My biggest concerns when looking for a new phone were the usual: cost and features. Well, I chose the S24+ and it's only adding around 20-some dollars to my phone bill for a while. However, 20 dollars to someone on my budget is more than it is to someone else...

Now that I actually have the new phone, I am having to learn how to use all the new Android features. A lot of things have developed over 7 years. My brother joked that I must feel like someone going from using a  horse and buggy to learning how to drive a stick shift. That's funny but kind of true.

Back in the old days, whenever I upgraded a phone, all I needed to do was insert the SIM card into the new phone and power down the old phone. That's changed. I had to actually go online and go through a deactivation-activation process.

Another thing that upsets me is that my poor old Gear S2 watch won't work with the new phone. It won't work with any 2024 device. So now I have no smart watch. That's not a big loss since I took it off my phone plan at least 4 years ago. Since then, I'd only been using it on the home wi-fi and for the Samsung Health features. I don't really have any other watch except one I got from one of my brothers but the battery on that died. 

My cellphone carrier was really annoying when I was buying the phone. I couldn't get to the check-out page until I'd gone through several "do-ya-wanna" pages. I was ready to scream as I skipped past the offers for adding another line, getting a deal on a smart watch, temptations of fancy phone cases and other accessories. I just wanted to get checked out and get the financial hit over with as quickly as possible.

I have to tell you that I was really tempted to go for the S24 Ultra - only because it has the S-pen and I haven't had a pen for my phone since my Note died... But I noped right past that more expensive phone and I'm pretty happy with the one I got. I'm still learning how to use some of the features, but I am happy with it. After all, I'm still going to need food and medicines every month more than I need a pen.

One of my online acquaintances ragged on me about picking the Cobalt Violet color over the Amber one they like so much. It really doesn't matter what color my phone is and it never has. When I get a phone, it immediately goes into a protective case and I never see the color of the phone again. I did pick out a case in a pretty shade of red. I'll be looking at the case from now on.

By the way, this is one phone that needs to be in a case. It's so slippery... 

Hilariously, when I first unboxed the phone, I was ready to make an irate call to someone in customer service. That's because when I thought the included cord had a defect. Both ends are USB-C type and it's called a "reversible" connection. I never saw that before and all my charging bricks are for cords with a different connection. My brother (when he got through making another horse-and-buggy joke about me) explained that this is the way things are now - "in modern times". So I had to order a brick for the "modern" cable.

Anyway, after I get up to speed with the phone, I have some iPhone humor to throw at my brother. 

When I want to really irritate him, I refer to iPhone users as "iPhonies". Yeah, he hates that one.

I will never tell my brother (and a nephew iPhoner) that, for 2 seconds, I thought about joining their cult this time. The price gave me pause and, really, I don't like change and going from Android to iPhone (or the opposite) is too much change for me.

Peace

--Free

So Glad I Cheaped Out on Electronic Accessories

I will never tire of bragging that I kept a cellphone intact for over 7 years - especially to my iPhone buddies. My next brag is going to be how I cheaped out on some accessories.

When I got the S8 Plus way back in the olden days, I also got a Gear watch as a "bonus freebie". The watch was not much of a freebie since in order to fully use it, I had to pay for a line. I did end up getting rid of the line after about a year and just used the thing with wi-fi. That watch still works but it won't work with any devices newer than 2023...

As I was trying to chose a phone this time, I was momentarily tempted to get the S8 Ultra instead of the S24 Plus - just because the Ultra comes with the S-Pen. I realized how silly a decision that would be. I loved having the S-Pen with the Galaxy Note - this was a really long time back - but while I did use it to take notes, I mostly used it to play games and to, well, just have the fancy pen. So silly.

Well, I did not get the Gear watch or the S-Pen. But I did get a watch and a stylus. All together, the two cost me under $35. Guess what? I love them both. I think I love my cheap smart watch more than the Gear. The stylus works as well as the S-Pen (for my needs) and I actually got a 3-pack with extra nibs. (Side note: the cheapest Gear watch is currently running about $350 for the watch and at least $7/month for the line.)

The watch is what I use the most. It does everything the Gear did and it works smoothly. I mainly use it to track my fitness, read messages, monitor sleep patterns - you know, snitch on myself to Big Brother.  It does keep me motivated to move more during the day. I am also going to be able to show my doctors how poor my sleeping routine is. I don't think they realize how bad my insomnia has gotten.

I love having a stylus (or 3) only because of all the freaky AI stuff that is on the new phones. I think I spent more time the first day playing with the AI drawing apps than I did using the phone for anything else. I'm such a child. (And, yes, I know that this whole cool AI thing is another stage in the boiling frog situation that will be our demise as citizens.)

Honestly, I am tempted to stand right outside a cellphone store to warn people against getting expensive watches and pens for their devices. Most phone accessories are "Gotcha" buys or temptation buys - especially when you get them from the service providers.

When I was checking out during the phone purchase and having to nope through all the teaser sales, I noticed how expensive everything was. An Otterbox case cost more that part of my monthly grocery budget. The extra chargers and cables and SD cards... All so ridiculously priced. The first thing I buy for a new phone is a case and the second thing is a screen protector. I got both for under $40

Going back and looking at the accessories from the service provider (and this is with their "special sale pricing"), the total for a phone case, 1 screen protector and 1 charging block (cable not included) is $98 (or $135 without the sale). 

I have not gotten everything I need yet (I will stagger the purchases for my budget!), but the total for:

• the case (I got it) with a sliding camera cover
• 2 charging blocks with 2 cables
• 3 multi-nib stylus' with additional nibs
• 2 screen protectors (from the IQ Shield brand I used with my last phone)

... that all comes to around $65. My brother gave me a charging block and the phone came with a cable so I don't have to sweat that for now.

Once I get everything I need for my phone, I am at the very least about $500 ahead of what my provider would have charged me. I'm already mad about having to pay off the phone in installments. The next time one of my credit cards makes an offer, I will be paying off my provider and making the payments to my card...

As always when I think about the cost of things, I come back to dear Katt Williams.

You have to laugh about it to keep from crying.

Cellphones are no longer optional. They are no longer something that people get just as a status symbol (well, I can't speak for my iPhone brothers and sisters!); they are a necessity. My phone is my connection to my family, doctors, creditors, etc. I can't even buzz visitors into our building without a phone.

I prefer a chunky look over a girly style

Even though I have to have a cellphone, I realize that I don't need the fanciest one. I don't need the cool watch or pricey earbuds or blinged out case. I need the phone and for everything else I want, I can cheap out. For instance, if I have to, I could replace the cheap watch at least 10 or 11 times for the cost of the Gear. And that's if I get a really decent budget watch... To be fair, if the watch lasts me at least a year, I will be happy.

I am really glad that I cheaped out on everything about my phone this time. Here's looking forward to another 7 or 8 years!

Peace

--Free

My S8 Plus Lasted (Almost) 8 Years

My S8 Plus is was a great  good one, and it was a big part of my life-change situation. I feel a bit attached to it(as I do with anything that cost me a good amount).

Back in 2017, when I left my almost-lifelong home of Alaska, my S8 died just as I was packing to go to the airport. One of the first things I did when I got here to my new home state, was to get a new phone. There was no way I could be without a phone, right? I was in a new place, trying to find an apartment, and trying to pull together the loose pieces of my life. I had to have a phone.

Because my old (and it was old) Samsung Note phone died just as I was getting ready to leave Alaska, I'd grabbed one of those to-go phones from the phone center on the way to the airport. It was just something to get me through the plane ride and the car ride to my brother's house. And it lasted just about that long! I mean, it was literally starting to glitch on the ride to the local phone store...

If you have read my blog even randomly, you know that I don't like change. I'm a person who likes stability and routine. If you want to set your clock, just match it to my daily routine. As a matter of fact, one of the reasons I don't as much TV since I moved here is because the basic network channel numbers are different than those in Alaska. I'm dead serious. (Even though I have just now picked out a new phone, I am already upset about some of the changes.)

So, I started using the S8 Plus in July 2017. A long while back, it stopped getting updates, but it still worked fine. A few weeks ago, it started acting a little bit of a fool. I'd have to restart it quite often. Also, because it had aged out of any updates, most of my important apps no longer worked on it. And when you don't drive or have the best of health, you use a lot of apps - apps for almost everything.

Anyway, you get it. I need my phone. Also, I don't have a house phone (or didn't).

A few days ago, I got an urgent computer message from one of my brothers. No one had been able to reach my cell phone - and I'd recently ditched my house phone (which was a mistake, I realize).  He sounded like he had been about to have the police do a welfare check. My family. So dramatic... Anyway, I had to get onto one of my other emergency calling apps and let everyone know that I was okay. We realized that I could receive texts even though I couldn't get or receive calls... Weird business. (I immediately opted back into my landline service!)

So it was time for a new phone. Of course it was. Because I can afford a new one, right? Wrong. Anyway... I went ahead and picked out the S24 phone and chose my carrier's rip-off installment plan. Maybe I will win a lottery and pay the darned thing off.

I will never understand how "regular" (aka non-trillionaires) can afford to replace their phones every time a new one drops - literally or figuratively. Not only have I had the same phone since I got it, but I have the same protective case. The only thing I've ever replaced was the screen protector and the finger-ring-holder thing on the back. You know I was mad when I had to find a new case and all.

Thankfully, I found a decent protective case for a affordable price. What I love is that it includes a sliding camera cover and a kickstand. The kickstand probably won't last but it's a start. The screen protector wasn't too expensive.

My little brother wondered why I didn't use my current phone as a trade-in. I told him that I don't think my cellular provider will give me much for it and also, it still kind of works so... I'll keep it as a backup for now. Who knows how decent the new phone is or is not. I'm over here, praying that it is half as good as the S8 was.

Who knows when my new phone will ship. The carrier already has my initial payment so they aren't in a hurry. I think they might be mad that I opted out of any accessories or additional services. I'm lucky I could afford to buy a case after I got the phone. I feel like Katt Williams right about now.

Well, one good thing about this new phone is that it comes with 7 years' of updates (if the good Lord is willing that I'll still be here!). If my S8 had the same, it might still be working perfectly.

Before I go, this post about cellphones wouldn't be complete without some Android vs iPhone humor, so:

My brother is always talking about how great iPhones are. When he brought it up this time, I had a smack-down ready: "They must be since you get one every year." (I hardly ever have a good comeback like that one. Almost NEVER.)

Peace

-- Free

P.S.: That title about "almost 8 years"? I might have to update that. This S8 isn't completely dead yet!

Say It Ain’t So, Lavazza! (UPDATE 9-10-24)

(I know it's spelled "Selezione" but I always spell it the way I say it!)

**UPDATE 8/10/14:

I have come back to eat a light helping of crow. After giving the Italian Dark Roast a fair try - why not, since I had so many free bags? - I have to admit that it's tasting better. I won't say that it is the same as  Gran Selzione, but it's good enough that I wouldn't be surprised if Lavazza was only testing our taste buds. Maybe they only changed the look of the packaging but not everything about the flavor??? I could see that. Like I said, this is starting to taste better and better to me. I can also find this version for better prices than with the Gran Selzione. So there is that...

UPDATE:

My eBay purchases were all duds. I had to return them. The sellers did the same thing the Amazon seller did: substituted that icky Italian Roast for the Gran Selzione. Trying to be slick like Rick...

Apparently, there is no Gran Selzione to be had anywhere - unless those 90 dollar bags on eBay are the real deal, and I don't love any coffee that much!

 I feel as if I have lost a good friend. I haven't, thankfully, but I just learned that Lavazza is discontinuing their Gran Selzione roast. I had hoped that I was just hearing rumors but... I got confirmation straight from someone in customer service for Lavazza. 

In case you missed it, this is the heartbreaking part:

Such sad news...

I'm not a coffee snob but I do have my preferences. I like a very dark roast with a bit of sweetness and notes of chocolate and a smooth flavor.

If you go looking for the flavor description of Gran Selzione, you usually run across something like this:

chocolate, intense, chocolate &
out of stock!

That describes Gran Selzione perfectly. You know what it does not describe? The Italian Roast that Lavazza has "swapped" in... I know because I got 3 free bags of that stuff courtesy of Amazon (a seller sent me the Italian because they ran out of Gran Selzione. The nerve!) I even got a free bag of the Italian Extra Dark. I haven't tried that one yet.

The Italian Roast is not horrible but it comes nowhere near the flavor of Gran Selzione. It is about as much like Gran Selzione as some influencers are like the photos they post. Come on, now!

 It is so unlike Gran Selzione that I gave away 2 of the free bags. I'd already opened one bag so I tried adding a little bit of Dutch chocolate powder to see if that helped. Did it? Not really.

A "hint" so subtle, I can't even taste it...

I was so miserable that my brother was laughing at me for taking it personally. (I was over here practically singing "Nothing Compares 2 U"!) He did make the great suggestion that I get over to eBay pronto and order some Gran Selzione before prices go up. That was some good looking out, bro! And yes, I was able to get a few bags without blowing my budget. But now, I have to find an affordable replacement for when I run out.

I'm over here being mad at whoever at Lavazza made this stupid decision. But I'm going to dry my eyes and take a deep breath. I have to get back out there to find something halfway good enough to replace my Gran Selzione. I have one picked out but it's not the most affordable coffee I know of. That is Jim's Sweet Love blend. Illy probably has something but I know that won't be affordable...

For now, it's goodbye Gran Selzione.

Peace

--Free

Old Pains & Praying for a Forgiving Heart

Have you ever had the past reach out and tap you on the shoulder? Like, "Psst, hey you. Remember that time when...?" And it's rarely a good "time when". Yeah. Anyway.

 I recently got a voicemail from someone out of my past. I let the call go to voicemail because, apparently, telemarketers have found my number. Yay. 

Anyway, when I checked the message, I didn't recognize the voice but it was male. The caller's message was aggressively friendly - although "friendly" is not the word. Maybe I should say the person sounded as if they were being friendly. In a weirdly aggressive way. Still, I didn't recognize the name. They were talking as if they were putting on an act for someone. Like, I said, it was weird. Weirder, this message said something about the person having once been a "best friend" of mine. I've only ever had a few "best" friends. All of them are female and 2 of them are dead.

I had my brother call the number and it turned out to be someone from quite a ways back in my past. And this person did not end up being a very good friend (of any variety). As a matter of fact, their last interaction with me seemed to be the start of some of my worst years.

Even people who were not super-close friends (more like very fond acquaintances) had my back when I needed it. This person who called had not had my back at all. As a matter of fact, they turned their back on me when I needed it.

At any rate, I did make an attempt to return the phone call as a polite courtesy. The call went to voicemail. Weirder and weirder, am I right? It's probably a good thing I got voicemail. I was having a really bad "brain day" so I'm sure I might have been incoherent in my stress.

That strange phone call/voicemail dredged up some old pains. At the time, I had too much going on in my life to dwell on how the person had treated (or not treated) me. I left a job that had been important to me and the parting was not nice. My sister was newly coping with her sudden bad health and I was trying to figure out how to stay on top of the mortgage and other bills we had. I was really trying to hold it all together. (And God did bring us through that storm. I did come out on the other side feeling pretty beat up.)

In a space of what feels now like the blink of an eye, a lot happened. I lost (quit) my job, sold the house, relocated for another job, almost lost my sister, sold the new house, ended up married, divorced, relocated back to my home state, started another much better) job, and became seriously ill. It really was a lot.

As I said, God brought me through and the troubles only strengthened my faith. And the storms weren't done with me yet. 

Just as life seemed to be calming down for me, my sister was diagnosed with breast cancer, then we lost my older brother, then I lost my sister, and then I just felt lost.

My best friends - the true ones - went through most of this with me as they were all going through their own stuff. We shared encouragement, prayers, tears, and laughter - because, somehow, we could always find some laughter! Then I lost my sister. Less than a month later, I lost one of my best friends, and my other best friend relocated out of state. 

Do you know who I did not hear from? The voicemail "best friend". I don't remember getting any calls of support or condolences - not even a voicemail.

So I guess I am, as the kids say, feeling some kind of way. And not just because of all that I explained but also because this "friend" is a Christian. Just like my husband's family full of ordained robe-wearing, choir-directing saints who forget to be as holy outside the church doors as they are inside them. It's painful to be mistreated by anyone but it's more painful that that person is a Christian brother or sister.

So, for a whole day, I lay around (because it was my day to take the nastiest of my medicines) feeling not only med-sick but heartsick. The voicemail dredged up so much hurt that I was shocked.

Now that I am feeling better and my brain is not misfiring, I am praying that God help me to have a forgiving heart. I don't want to harbor any bad feelings for anyone. So I have decided that maybe this person from my past has changed and was extending an olive branch. (I know that I have given out one or two long-overdue apologies/explanations. I still have a couple of people to reach out to.)

There are some verses I will be re-reading in the next few days - (I ripped these straight from Bible Study Tools):

• Ephesians 4:32 - Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
• Matthew 18:21-22 - Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.
• Colossians 3:13 - Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

Not to mention the part of the Lord's Prayer one I pray every morning:

"And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors." (Matthew 6:12)

Anyway, I am just going to try to leave all the past hurts and bad interactions where they belong: in the past. And I hope to be pleasant and forgiving should I ever talk to that one person again. I do wish them well and I do pray for them.

Peace

--Free