Time to give Fur - Cuts

Each summer I always trim my guinea pigs' fur.  (If you do this be very careful not to trim whiskers!)

Last night was my annual "Fur Cut" night.  I had so much fur off the three of them, it almost looked like another guinea pig!  I should have taken a photo of that!  It was pretty impressive to see how much extra fur these guys had!

Here is Baby Crockett sporting his new 'do.

Ethical Couponing

Some of the trends in couponing these days just infuriate me!  As someone who has been couponing for about 20 years, I can't believe how much fraud goes on anymore by the consumer.

I try to live my life honestly and ethically.  I know that means nothing since people who don't live honestly say that, but I do.

One of the big trends these days is about coupon coding.  I don't want to explain it because it is illegal, but bottom line is you can use a coupon on something it's not meant to be used for and it won't beep at the register.

The problem, though is the stores won't get reimbursed for them.  So if you go to your local grocery store, use $200 of coupons wrong, it's the exact same thing in my book as stealing $200 of items.  I don't care if the register beeps or not, a coupon is not meant to be used on an item it is not intended to be used for, and to do so is fraud.  PEOPLE HAVE GONE TO JAIL FOR THIS!  I've heard the excuse this is fine because groceries are so expensive and stores "rip people off" so it's okay for people to do this.  I disagree.  There are lots of expenses involved in getting food to your table.  Secondly, stores don't usually have a large mark up.  Thirdly, even if the stores overpriced, two wrongs don't make a right.

Yes, I love my savings, but I don't want to have to worry about if I'm going to get caught doing something wrong. 

It amazes me people will not only post videos on the Internet on how to cheat stores with coupons, but then say it's okay as long as the reigister beeps, and then even go on national TV using incorrect coupons.

I'm glad to see some stores -- and even one company -- taking a look into this trend.  What happens when they do this is prices increase for everyone else.

As for "It's okay as long as the register doesn't beep" that some people seem to think is justification -- I'm sure if an error was made in the side of the store with the interpretation of the store's coupon policy, they would be insisting it be corrected.

I had to call Walgreen's corporate recently to get my local store to accept two coupons in accordance with their coupon policy.  I knew I was doing nothing wrong, so I had no hesitation in calling.  Even showing my local store a copy of the coupon policy didn't help me.  Of course, corporate was extremely helpful and I was able to use my coupons with no problem once the reginal manager called our store.

BUT ~~  if I expect a company to honor their side of their coupon policy, I need to honor my side as well.  This means I shouldn't try to get away with anything -- including trying to use coupons for oral hygene products on diapers, steak, or anything else.

Yes, I would love to get free meat, but I'm not going to commit fraud to do so.

That said, I still save quite a bit each year.  I only buy for two people so I don't have an impressive pantry. But while I do share some of what I get, I don't see the need to spend thousands of hours a year (some excessive coupononers will spend over 3000 hours a year to save money.  That is more than a full time job.)

I do what works for me.  I wish I lived somewhere you could buy Sunday papers for only $1 but that's not the case, at least for the ones with the most coupons.  The coupons I use I mainly print from the Internet, and once a month our local weekly paper has a coupon insert.  I will buy three of those.  I'm not saying it's wrong to buy lots of papers (and some couponers might spend thousands a year on papers), but I don't spend that much for a year's worth of groceries.

But while doing what works for me, I make sure it's legal.  I'm concerned what changes may be put in place that hurt everyone because already the Rite Aid coupon policy has changed and is stricter than it had been.  I'm afraid that won't be the last place.

So bottom line, please redeem your coupon only for the product specified. 

My guinea pig's favorite iPod App

My guinea pig actually has a favorite iPod app!  When I was hand feeding him so much, I often listened to the app of Victory Baptist Church in Ovalo TX.  (It is the Victory Baptist Church app by SermonAudio.) 

While Crockett was being fed, the pastor's voice became so familiar with food to him that even now when I listen to something from this app, Crockett will run out to the edge of his cage expecting lettuce, apple, or banana.  He thinks listening to this app means feeding time.  :) 

I, however, enjoy the News in Focus program's content.  What this program is about is -- well -- the news.  What Trevor Hammack will do is take a news story, read it (or at least the important parts) and then talk about it and how it relates to Scripture and Christianity.

Of course he covers things such as natural disasters, political unrest, news within Christianity, and the like, but the ones I really enjoy are the unique stories.

My favorite was his story on Black Eyed Kids and how he followed up on it.  Search on the app for the "Demons in Disguise Part 3" program or you can find it here:

http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=419111614294

He does the News in Focus program in addition to pastoring AND a full time job, so at times there may be little posted, and at other times there will be lots of new programs.

In fact, this weekend is the second "News in Focus Marathon" where he sees how many quality programs he can produce during a weekend.  To encourage listening, there are book giveaways.  So be sure to download the app and tune in -- or if you don't have an iPod you can listen online here:

News in Focus Program on Sermon Audio

I'd listen to his latest program, which as of this moment, is "Tornado Myths Debunked" but my guinea pig is sleeping and I don't want to wake him up and him want dinner!

Cool Springs Park, Rowlesburg, WV

This is the first in a new series I'm doing on my blog of some of the things to do in the North Central West Virginia and Western Maryland area.  I decided to make Cool Springs Park the first post because I think it is one of the most interesting places I've ever been and it amazes me how many people who live in this area have never been there! It is located near Rowlesburg, WV and is about 11 miles from my home.

From where I live, Rowlesburg, WV is almost entirely down a mountain.  Because of this, our car gets 81.5 miles per gallon on our descent to the park.  (Let's not discuss the gas milage on the way UP the mountain!)

The park has a lot of trees, and parts of it are just beautiful.

But the real fun is for kids!  As I was there yesterday, I heard a little boy looking at all kinds of old  farm equiptment that is rusting through the park and exclaiming "Wow! Look!" at everything he saw.  Supervision is a must at the park because of the rusting equiptment, and children can play on the equiptment.  Also there are animals at the park that wander around.  Yesterday I saw some donkeys or burros.  They were big with hooves and looked equine-esqe but were not horses.  Because they can wander around you need to watch where you step!  There are fish you can feed as well.  (The store next to the park sells small bags of fish food for 10 cents a bag!)

These guys were in a cage.

In addition to farm equiptment to play on you can play on trains!  What little boy wouldn't adore spending time in this park?

It's not just children who love playing on the old tractors.  This guy was running all over one of them!

I used to love playing in the caboose when I was a child.  I didn't go inside yesterday to see how it has weathered the years, but do remember standing in it when I was little.

There is also an old-fashioned water wheel in the midst of the park.

Across the road there is a teepee up on a hill.  I've heard there is a geocache hidden right behind it, so if you're into geocaching then you might want to try and get this one, but one word of warning, the hill is very, very steep.  I've never walked up there myself and used to marvel when I would see people at the teepee!

Before you leave be sure and stop in the store and order a foot long hot dog.  They have great food, and the atsmophere is none like you'll find anywhere else.  There are taxidermied animals who keep watch over you and some of the most unique items ever sold in one place.  When was the last time you ate at a place with a cow on top of the building?



Staycation Activity Ideas

I'm starting a new series I'll try to post about somewhat regularly.  This is the post I'll link all those ideas for Staycation Ideas for the North Central West Virginia and Western Maryland areas.  I'll add to this regularly!

Cool Springs Park --- Rowlesburg, WV

Review and Giveaway: Amazing Grace Celtic Hymns CD

I recently had the opportunity to review the CD: Amazing Grace Celtic Hymns and Blessings released by Discovery House Music which is a division of RBC. I have been familiar with RBC for years because they are the publishers of “Our Daily Bread” devotional. I didn't realize they also sell a number of CDs, books, and DVDs.

Amazing Grace: Celtic Hymns and Blessings is a collection of 14 songs. The play list includes:

• Amazing Grace
• Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing
• Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah
• Circle Me, O Lord
• Joy in the Kingdom
• Londonderry Prayer
• The Sheltering / O God, Our Help in Ages Past
• What a Blessed Gift / The Gathering of the Saints
• Showers of Blessing
• Dwell in the Shadow (Selah)
• What a Blessed Gift / Simple Gifts
• We're Marching to Zion
• Lord of All Mercy / Be Thou My Vision
• Amazing Grace (instrumental)

There is both singing and instrumental tracks on this CD. I personally would have liked the CD a bit better if it had been all instrumental, but my mother disagreed with me, she liked the singing. I was also a bit disappointed at Simple Gifts being as short as it is. It's a beautiful song and would have liked for it to have a track to itself. But we both liked the CD and other than that there is nothing I would change.

I felt it is a nice collection of music and flows well from peppier tunes to the slower, mournful sound of the Celtic tradition.

This would be a great CD to play as background music for times music would be nice but you don't want it to be overwhelming. It's a very calming, soothing collection.

I was unfamiliar with the song “Dwell In the Shadow (Selah)” but very much enjoyed this track, and although I'm extremely picky as to which songs get added to my iPod because of space, this one will find it's way into my music to play multiple times.

The CD insert features either Scriptures or a small piece of information about each song. For instance, “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing” was written in 1758 for a conclusion to a sermon. I didn't know this before.

This is a CD I believe could be enjoyed by anyone. It is difficult to find music that both my mother and I enjoy, but this CD was a hit to both of us.  I especially liked it because my church rarely plays the old hymns and I do miss them when done in beautiful arrangements!

You can buy it here:  Amazing Grace Celtic Hymns and Blessings

FTC disclaimer:  I received a copy of the CD "Amazing Grace Celtic Hymns and Blessings" to review.  The opinions are entirely my own and I was not swayed in any way by receiving the CD.

And now for the Giveaway:

Discovery House has offered one of our readers a copy of Amazing Grace: Celtic Hymns and Blessings.

Basic giveaway information: I will pick a winner using random.org at 11:59 on June 1, so please get your entries in before then. Winner will be notified and have 48 hours to respond to the e-mail or another winner will be chosen.

Please leave contact information in each entry if it is not in your blogger profile, you may leave your e-mail as username at domain dot com or you may leave your twitter name. Just make sure I can contact you! US entries only, please.

 MANDATORY ENTRY: (Must do this first or the others won't count) Tell me which song on this CD you would most like to listen to.

 Additional entries: (Leave an extra comment for each one you do!)

• Visit Discovery House Publishers and tell me another item that catches your eye. (One additional entry)
• “Like”  Discovery House Publishers on Facebook (One additional entry)
• Follow me Google Friend Connect (One additional entry)
•  Tweet this:  (You may do this DAILY)

#Win Amazing Grace Celtic Christian CD from Discovery House Publishers via @jenndiggy #giveaway ends 6/1 http://tinyurl.com/3lu33m4




Good luck!  I know whoever is chosen to receive this CD will enjoy it!

My recent Absence

Last Tuesday just before midnight, my Internet went down. My ISP will often work on the Internet between midnight and six in the morning, so I didn't think much of it, and decided I was going to grab a book and turn in early (for me).


The next day my Internet was spotty at best, and I couldn't do much all day online.

By Thursday, I had no Internet whatsoever. I called my ISP. They told me I needed a new router. I assumed that Best Buy would have the biggest selection at the best prices. Nope. So I went to Target (keep in mind this is an hour's drive from me.)

I bring my router home, and encountered nothing but problems. I called a friend who is a computer tech, and he helped me as much as possible, but nothing.

So Friday, I called my ISP again (and again and again), and spent a total of about 2 hours on the phone with them, booting and rebooting my modem and router. They scheduled a service call for Saturday, but then my Internet started working. As soon as I hung up the phone with them my Internet went out.

Saturday I called my ISP again and that man stayed on the phone over an hour with me running absolutely every test that would tell us anything. Finally it was determined the brand new router was also bad.

Back to Target. And I buy a switch instead of a router.

At that point I figure I'm just going to Walmart which is closer (But still 10 miles away in the next state.)

More time on the phone with my friend and SUCCESS. . . until . . . .

Sunday afternoon I lost Internet throughout the house. I ended up having to restore my router's settings and reinstall the router.

So that explains my absence. I tried to at least check e-mail but other than that, I went back into the dark ages without Internet. (Anyone remember those days? First time I was ever online was 1986. I was at a computer camp and the Internet was MUCH different than it is today!)

Book Review: Out of a Far Country

To call a book a “must read” may sound cliché, but I skipped lunch and dinner to finish this book in one day. As an avid reader, I often read a book and then not think much more about it, but this book is so amazing it will be one I never forget.



As it starts, Christopher Yuan admits he is a homosexual to his parents. His mother, Angela, in a desperate attempt to “fix” him, tells him he needs to change or leave forever. Christopher decides to leave, and Angela realizes she made a mistake and goes on a relentless pursuit of him, as does God for the both of them.

This book is not your typical church testimony. There are drugs, homosexuality, HIV, and a prison sentence. But this was Christopher's life.

Early in the book Angela becomes a Christian. She prays fervently for her son who rejects both her and her God. Until he reaches rock bottom and lands in prison for drug dealing. At which point he starts reading the Bible and even playing piano for a men's prison choir.

This book is full of coincidences. Or more likely God opportunities. When Christopher is going to be released from prison and wants to go to Bible college and his parents meet the president of Moody Bible Institute is just one of these amazing events.

While this book would be a great resource to those in the middle of these issues (drugs, homosexuality, or the parent of someone dealing with these issues), that's not the core focus of this book, in my opinion. To me, it's how God can change someone's life even when you think that would be the last person to allow God to change them.

Christopher mentions the verse Acts 17:28 “For in him we live and move and have our being.” He says that Christ is above all, he isn't defined by anything except that he is a child of God, and the goal of the Christian life is holiness.

As for marriage in his future? Christopher says that he used to think he needed to be attracted to women to desire marriage, but he has realized he only needs to be attracted to one woman. The chapter entitled “Holy Sexuality” is alone worth the price of this book.
I enjoyed how Angela would write one chapter, and Christopher would write the next. It flowed well and it was wonderful to see the events from each of their perspectives.

This is definitely one of the best books I have ever read. I hope that both Christopher and Angela Yuan will write more in the future. I hope to see this book become an instant Christian classic. It is a book that is sorely needed today, and it even includes a study guide should it wish to be read and discussed in a small group setting.

Click here to download chapter one!
Click here to visit the author's website.

FTC Disclosure: I received a copy of the book “Out of a Far Country” by the publisher. I read the entire book, and the opinions about it are mine. In no way did receiving the book for free influence my opinion.

I would appreciate it if you would take a moment and rank my review for me.  This helps determine what books are available for me to review as well as makes me eligible for prizes.  You are ranking the quality of my review, and "5" is the top ranking you can give.  Thank you!  And if you are a blogger, be sure to check out their "Blogging For Books" program.

I'm no longer 12 years old!

I considered calling this post "My Church Split" but usually "church split means something else entirely.

I'm in a Wednesday night class at church with mainly 18-23 year olds.  Never mind the fact I'm the same age as some of their mothers. . . and for the most part I feel like they are my peers.  I really do try to avoid words and phrases such as "USSR", "When I was your age", "video cassette recorder" or even "I remember the first time I got on the Internet".  I almost slipped the other night and said I had a 20th high school reunion coming up this summer.  Some of them weren't even alive 20 years ago.

Anyway, after church a group of us were sitting around goofing off.  "L" asked if anyone could touch their palms to the floor instead of just touching your toes.  I may be obese, but I am flexible.  So I said, "You mean this?" and demonstrated.  "L" asked me how I did that.

Well, I couldn't just leave it at that.  You would think 20 years of life beyond my friends would teach me something, but no. . . .

I just HAD to show off how I could sit on the floor and put my foot on my head.  Impressed the teenagers.

So then someone else showed off a yoga pose that is difficult, and I said to no one in paticular that I used to be able to do splits really well and hadn't tried in years.  (I'm sure you're seeing where this is going.)

I have never had any athletic prowess whatsoever, but I discovered in jr. high that not everyone can do splits.  Overweight even then, I did splits better than some of the cheerleaders.  I was able to on my left leg in front split get totally down on the floor. Of course this was 25 years ago.

So I tried a split at church.  Was about 3 inches off the floor.  Made an "oooooh" noise that could be translated as "I'm middle aged.  This was a stupid idea" when  my friend "T" noticed me and called out "Wow!  You CAN do that!"  I, of course, was thrilled that I impressed a 20 year old man who is extremely in shape.

I was still thrilled with my accomplishment when I took some Aleve later.  Wasn't quite as thrilled with my split the next day as my muscles ached from being stretched like I hadn't done in a very long time!

I really think I need to remember I'm no longer 12 years old and should take a second thought before trying to do something I did 20+ years ago even if it did impress my friends!  LOL

Cleansing the Word

I posted this status on my Facebook update last night:

And for another edition of "How do I do these things". . . I just got shampoo all over my Bible and I wasn't holding shampoo nor was I in the shower. Grrrrrrrrrr

I got some funny comments:

Wow!?? I feel a radar report might be in order

Does you Bible smell nice now? And what poor timing, with The Rapture so soon

I may regret it, but I'm curious as to learn as to how this happened.

You don't have to cleanse the Word. It's already pure:)

Ok, you started this. Now you have to finish the story.

The word is water, but I still think this is out of line.

The story isn't that great as my status, but I'll share. . .

My church had Far Western Campmeeting for our district at our church on Thursday and Friday.

Without Internet last night (and the night before that, and the night before that) I decided to see if I could pick up a connection from my neighbors last night in my bathroom on my iPod to check my e-mail.

I had at some point set some medicated shampoo upside down in the widow to get the last of it to the top so I could use it.  Unknown to me, some leaked onto the window sill.

I set my Bible down -- directly into the shampoo.  So it was all gooey.  I dampened a washcloth and cleaned off my Bible.

So, like I said, my Facebook status was much more interesting than the actual story.

Certainly not as entertaining as what I did at church Wednesday night, but that's another post, hopefully later tonight since I've not been on much this week!

When you get TMJ from cleaning your purse!

In a recent post I mentioned how I got TMJ a few years ago from cleaning out my purse.  I was asked for the story so here it is:

I found a great deal on a hotel stays.  I always wanted to go to Williamsburg, so I played around with dates, and was able to book a room for four nights for $60 TOTAL. So my mother and I headed off into a dreary, rainy Williamsburg experience.  It was cold, and rained our entire trip.  There's not much to do in 40 degree rain in Williamsburg!

We did go to Virginia Beach to the IMAX theater, see the ocean (sitting in the car while it was raining!), a used book sale, and to visit an online friend of mine.  The only other thing we did besides eat out was I went to Sabbath service at the synagogue in Williamsburg to get a little Hebrew practice.

Well, on the day before we were to come home, I was sitting on my bed cleaning out my purse.  I leaned back.  I was sitting at the top of the bed and if  leaned back, I should have only leaned back on the bed in a half sitting, half lying position.  However, that isn't what happened.  Somehow I was propelled a couple extra feet and went over the bottom of the bed head first.

The hotel floor was cement with thin carpet over it.  (With us paying $15 a night, you know this was no fancy hotel.)  I have heard accidnet victims say things seem to happen in slow motion.  That's what happened as I was falling.  I thought, "I'm never going to be able to walk again."

I landed on the floor, head first.  I think I blacked out for a few seconds because my mother said she was talking to me and I wasn't responding.  My first thought when I came to was, "Can I move my toes?"  I could, thankfully, and amazingly the only thing that happened to me physically was I developed a severe case of TMJ.  Even though this was two years ago, I still have pain from time to time, although my attitude is why tell anyone because there's nothing anyone can do, and you just make those around you miserable when you complain about pain. 

I had to use a straw to drink out of for days because I couldn't open my mouth wide enough to drink.  In fact, I actually had to dribble water from a straw into my mouth at one point because I couldn't open my mouth wide enough for a straw. 

Then for a few more days all I could eat was foods that didn't have to be chewed.  Baby food, apple sauce, mashed potatoes (and I became quite the expert on boxed mashed potatoes.  Betty Crocker Cheesy Mashed Potatoes are a favorite!)

I still have no idea how I fell off that bed.  Mom said if she didn't see it she wouldn't have believed it.  A friend of mine told me a ghost pushed me when I told her the story, and she insisted there are lots of ghosts in Williamsburg.  I have no idea what hapened, but I am just thankful I wasn't hurt any more than I was.

So, there's the story.  I'm afraid it's not as exciting as what Sara had hoped when she asked me to tell about it, but the mystery still remains how I fell off the bed onto my head in the first place!  I know I'm clumsy, but like I said if I had just fallen backwards, I would have been lying on the bed, but I was propelled a few feet further and then tell upside down.

Checked in, checked off $6.50

Our car needed serviced today.  I was happy to find they now offer free WiFi while you wait.  I caught up on e-mail (no small task on an iPod!) and caught up on Facebook.

As I was playing around on Facebook, I decided to do a "check in".  This is a feature on mobile devices where it will let you say where you are and who you are with.  (Not good for the ultra private because it allows people to know you aren't home!)

I saw a box beside of the option to "check in" where I was currently sitting and decided to see why that was there since I'd never seen that option before.

It said if I checked in and showed the screen to an employee I'd get 10% off parts and service.  I checked in and clicked "Claim this deal". 

So my next step was to show an employee.  I heard someone say they just started that offer on Saturday. 

Sure enough, when I went to pay, there was a $6.50 discount on my bill!  First time I ever saved money by updating my Facebook status! 

Review: Praying for Your Future Husband

When I was a teenager in youth group, I used to be told “Pray for your future husband. He needs your prayers.” The advice was good, but no one ever said HOW to pray for your future husband or WHAT to pray for him.

That's where Robin Jones Gunn's and Tricia Goyer's book Praying for Your Future Husband comes in. The subtitle is “Preparing Your Heart for His” so from just the cover you know it's not all about your Prince Charming.

Gunn and Goyer have twelve chapters of things we can pray for our future husband. (Although not mentioned, if wanted you could focus on one chapter a month.) Also in the back is a list of fifty-two Scriptures with comments of how to use each of those in prayer. They did make the suggestion these be used one per week for a year.

I really enjoyed the personal stories. Robin grew up in a Christian home and had a romance like every Christian parent would dream of for their daughter. However Tricia had an abortion as a teenager, and even was a teen mom. She talked about having to leave the movie on the first date with her future husband so she could breastfeed. Anything but romantic, but that man loved her enough he eventually wanted to marry her even though their first date wasn't all roses and it made him an instant father.

The one thing I disliked was a few of the stories were hard to relate to. I saw this because I'm in my thirties, never married, and personally, to hear of a teenage boy running along a church van filled with kids while yelling “I love you” makes me roll my eyes instead of thinking what a romantic gesture. However, I realize the majority of those reading this book will not be as old as me.

I also loved the story about the purity ring made with Duct Tape that Robin's son fashioned at summer camp. For twelve years he wore Duct Tape around his ankle, repairing it when needed. He said it was a reminder of the commitment he made to stay pure. At his wedding, when he was in his late 20s, he handed his wife a pair of scissors. To me, that's much more romantic than some fourteen year old chasing a church van!

The personal stories alone are worth reading this book, but as I mentioned before, I have been told to pray for my future husband but no one had ever told me HOW. This book is a great resource not only to tell you how to do that, but to give you ideas on other ways you may pray for your future husband.

Ready to check it out?  You can read the first chapter for FREE by clicking here:  Praying For Your Future Husband, Chapter One

Or you can purchase it now from Amazon:

FTC Disclosure: I received a copy of the book “Praying for Your Future Husband” by the publisher. I read the entire book, and the opinions about it are mine. In no way did receiving the book for free influence my opinion.

I would appriciate it if you would take a moment and rank my review for me.  This helps determine what books are available for me to review as well as makes me eligible for prizes.  You are ranking the quality of my review, and "5" is the top ranking you can give.  Thank you!

Twenty Years Ago

How many of you remember May 12, 1991?  I doubt many, but I do.

I was home from college just two days and decided to visit a church I'd never been to.  Little did I know that someone I met there that day would become of my best friends and like a brother to me.

Donnie and I were both teenagers then.  (In fact, it was his birthday that day, too!  I joke that I was the best birthday gift he ever received.  I'm sure he thinks differently, though!)

This was NOT my first encounter of him, however.  When I was in junior high, my youth group was going to a concert.  We stopped at a McDonalds and I am convinced the guy all us girls were talken with by how cute he was -- was none other than Donnie.  I asked him about this once, and he said he did have a shirt like the one I described this cutie ordering, and yes, indeed he went to the same concert!  :) 

It sounds cliche, but it doesn't seem possible we've been friends for 20 years.  During that time he's graduated college and then graduate school, been ordained, gotten married to a wonderful person named Blythe I am also very close with, become a father to three wonderful children (who call me "Aunt"), started a church in New Jersey, and moved to Russia. 

When plans were being made to move to Russia, I was told by Donnie and Blythe that I needed to come visit, so I started saving for the trip.  While there, we were stuck in a traffic jam and I laughed about how if I had known that someday I would be stuck in a Russian Round-about with the cute boy at McDonalds, how thrilled I would have been as a junior high kid.  Instead, Donnie had taken me down to get my paperwork approved for my visit, and Blythe was at home with the kids.  Donnie and I were racking our brains as to where we put a video I had brought as a gift for their daughter.   Blythe had called and the kids were wanting to watch it, but she couldn't find it.  (The DVD was found a few hours later in the game closet.)

The majority of my suitcases when visiting were filled with gifts for Donnie and Blythe.  Other American friends of theirs asked me to buy some stuff and bring to them.  I took only about three sets of clothes so there would be room for all the gifts.  Even a clerk at the post office wanted to send over some Pop-Tarts and Oreos!  I could fit 50 pounds into each suitcase I took, and packed carefully, even having things on top that I could easily ditch at the airport if needed (Bag of Reese's cups, Twizzlers, etc.)  Thankfully each suitcase had exactly 2 pounds to spare.  (Of coure, my backpack weighed about 20 pounds and I had to carry that halfway around the world!)

It wasn't a problem taking snacks they enjoyed, but I wanted to find some way to take root beer.  This is something Donnie loves and isn't sold in Russia.  I thought I had figured out the solution to this by buying two 20 oz bottles (for $2 each!) in Detroit after I was through security.  However, they were confiscated in Amsterdam.  I even said, "They are my brother's favorite drink and he can't get it in Russia."  They were sealed.  I had the slip where I bought them in the Detroit airport but they were still taken from me.  I understand why, but I so hoped he could have one of those! 

Donnie and Blythe came home early last year when it was found out she was expecting!  Next month they are moving back to Russia for three years.  I'm going to miss them terribly, but at least it's only 8¢ a minute to call, and there is Skype.  Facebook is great for keeping up, and Donnie and I always play Scrabble over e-mail using a UK service, usually making 1 play a day.  There's a place we can put a note in with our play and often a few words will be put there about what is going on in our day.  "Having friends over for dinner" or "It's the 4th of July, don't you miss the USA today?"  It's not detailed, but a great way to keep in touch.

Now that they are heading home, it's time for me to start saving for my trip to Russia again.

Maybe May 12, 2013 will find me in Russia.  You never know.

Here I am with Blythe in front of the Church of the Saviour of the Spilled Blood.  The other picture is me with Donnie, also in Russia.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DONNIE! 

My free day

After talking to the Regional manager at Walgreens yesterday, I was assured I could use my coupons with noproblems this week.  (I even showed the girl the coupon policy the other day but she wouldn't allow me to use them.)  I like how Rite Aid's coupon policy spells out what happens with a Buy One Get One coupon with a sale.  (If you have a BOGO coupon with a BOGO sale, then you get both items FREE.)  But even though the Walgreens coupon policy says you can use two coupons, the girl was saying I was buying nothing so I couldn't get them free. 

So when I went in today I asked for my body wash (the Regional Manager said they would set some back for me.) I only had two coupons, which meant 4 free bottles.  But the store manager set 10 back for me.  Too bad I didn't have MORE coupons! :)  He was extremely nice to me, and everything went exactly as it should have on Sunday.  Four free bottles of body wash .  I needed to pay tax, of course, so I used a gift card I had won for the 72¢ owed.  The mango and papaya scent smells HEAVENLY.  I'm often allergic to flowery scents, but fruity scents don't bother me.  I can't wait to use these! 

From there, I headed to Wal-Mart.  I bought a $50 WM gift card with a $50 pre-paid Visa I had won.  At the store I bought 8 of the All You magazines (went on Roll Back this week.  There's a $5 Just My Size coupon in there, and  I need to replace some shirts, so for $2.88 I get a t-shirt and magazine with lots of other coupons.)  I also bought 4 jalepenos, kale, 2 heads of romaine, and 2 bananas.  I'm hoping to make some stuffed jalepenos.  I've never made them before but I heard about them online.

Then we headed to Sheetz.  Mom wanted a sub from there for lunch.  As I opened my wallet, I saw I had a lottery ticket from when Mega Millions was so high over a month ago.  I knew I didn't win the big money, but I scanned it and it said I won $3.  So I used that to pay for Mom's sub and left with 89 cents additional.

Then I went to McDonalds.  I had a coupon from a blog giveaway win for a free premium salad.  I got the Southwest grilled chicken salad and LOVED it.  I wish it wasn't almost $5 a salad.  We often pick up lunch from Sheetz and my favorite sub from there is $1.99.  Even so, I can see me buying this salad in the future.  This is one reason I love to enter blog giveaways.  I try things I normally wouldn't buy without a coupon, and in this case I really enjoyed it!

When I came home there was a box on our porch.   It was a blog win from Betty Crocker.  A box of Betty Crocker loaded potatoes, a measuring cup a OXO Good Grips 1 1/2 Quart Mixing Bowl , a spatula, and pot holder.  This bowl will be great when making pancakes because it has a pouring lip on the side  I love OXO products, and I'm sure this will be no exception!  I also love instant mashed potatoes.  This is a new kind I've never tried.  When I fell off a bed while cleaning out my purse a few years ago, I developed TMJ so badly that I couldn't chew whatsoever for a while, so I ate nothing but instant mashed potatoes for a while, so I'm quite the expert on them.  (At least in my opinion!)

Now I'm off to find a recipe for stuffed jalepenos.

Weekend Update with Radar

I've had a weekend filled with adventure.   Here are a few of the highlights (or lowlights?)

I realized I'd gained 2.2 pounds on the diet I've been on.  Better re-think this one.

Our water was a pastel color (at least that's what was reported around town.)  I drank Diet Pepsi from my small stockpile and filled the guinea pigs' water bottle with bottled water.

I had an issue with Walgreens accepting coupons and have been on the phone with Corporate today.  Corporate didn't have a problem with what I was doing, so hopefully they will call my local store and tell them I am allowed to use those specific coupons.  (Even pulling out the coupon policy yesterday didn't help.)

I received more meds for the guinea pig from the vet.  Instead of splitting the pill into tenths, I am to split a capsule into fifths.  I can just see me with a razor blade eyeing up five seperate piles of power. 

I couldn't find kale sold anywhere in town yesterday, so substituted spinach for my guinea pigs.  They had no complaints.  In fact, they seemed rather happy with the choice.

I keep forgetting to pick up a couple graduation cards at the store.  Need to write myself a note on those.

I did, however, mail a birthday card to a friend yesterday.   I made that for him through Shutterfly about a year ago.  

I was writing a story about a childhood memory, and my mother asked if I could make our dinner of fish sticks and boiled potatoes sound any more dismal.  I told her that the time to have perked up that dinner would have been 1982.  My statement was less well received by her than the guinea pigs and their spinach.

And, as most of you know, I enjoy entering contests and sweepstakes.  I have a feeling someone somewhere knew about me gaining 2.2 pounds on my diet.  Look what arrived today via Fed Ex.

My dad used to always sleep to work out DVDs.  Looks like I have a new DVD to pop in and then lie down on the couch.  I wonder if this could be part of the reason I have gained 2.2 pounds on my diet so far.  Nah.

Mom's Mother's Day Card to her Uncle

My mother has always been a bit unconventional.  My first day of school she forgot to take a photo of ME, but remembered to take a photo of the cookies she baked.  (And I think we sold that tray at a yardsale and I'd honestly like another one because that's what the Big Batch Cookie Mix cookies always were placed on.  Am I the only one who misses the Big Batch Cookie Mix?)

Anyway, with this being Mother's Day and all, I was thinking how I like how a few churches celebrate Mothering Sunday.  There are women who are infertile who going to church this day reminds them how much they want children and can't have them.  There are single women in churches who want to remain pure for marriage and don't have children but feel the clock is ticking.

And then there are the men who preform things a mother does!

My mother recognized this years ago, and she made a Mother's Day card for her uncle.  Judging from the handwriting of the children who signed it, and year my Great Uncle died, I would say she came up with this idea about 1970.

My mother always taught me to be creative.  I had a reputation some years back -- not a bad reputation, but everyone wanted to get a handmade card from me because it would always be funny.  This is because of Mom's influence. 

Her creativity isn't just left to cards.  Watch for her in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Answered Prayers: 101 Stories of Hope, Miracles, Faith, Divine Intervention, and the Power of Prayer  and Chicken Soup for the Soul: O Canada: 101 Heartwarming and Inspiring Stories by and for Canadians.

She also taught me to think of others who might be forgotten.  When I had a birthday party, I couldn't invite just the girl my age from the family who lived two houses away but I needed to invite all seven of the childrenn or invite none. 

So this Mother's Day in honor of my mom, wish someone a Happy Mother's Day who might be forgotten.  Call up the infertile woman at church and cry with her.  Give your teenage baby sitter a small gift card for ice cream with a card made by your kids wishing HER a Happy Mother's Day.  Even give your favorite uncle a Mother's Day card.  Mom did.

Happy Mother's Day, Mom.  And, Uncle Bert, I hope you have a great Mother's Day in Heaven.

And the winner is. . .

TINA!  :)

I am thrilled with the number of entries I had for this giveaway.  I'm working hard to try and get some reviews and hopefully will have some sponsored giveaways in the future.  Every time you follow me on Google Friend connect, like the fan page, or add me as a friend on Facebook, this helps increase my chances of being able to bring you giveaways in the future.

But, don't fear, I have a few planned that I am sponsoring myself!  So stay tuned.

Thank you to each and every one of you who entered and I hope that for those of you who were not chosen as the winner, you will enter again when I have a giveaway and I wish each of you the best of luck in my future giveaways! :)



Redeeming myself with the Vet

The vet called.  Wanted to check up on the little guy.  (Probably wondering if I'd killed him yet giving him 48 CCs of meds.  See my post from Tuesday about me telling the vet I gave him 48 CCs instead of 2.8 CCs!)

The good news was I was able to tell him in the course of conversation how bad my math skills are, especially when it comes to metric and CCs.  (Actually I'm better at metric than probably 90% of Americans, but after my 48 CCs statement when it should have been 2.8 CCs, well, let's just let him think I have no math skills whatsoever.)

The vet said it might be a few weeks until the little one is back to normal.  He is also dropping some meds in the mail for me and told me to give him 1/10 of a pill. 

ONE-TENTH OF A PILL?   Now how do I do THAT?   I did talk to a friend who is a pharmacist today and he said he has a good pill cutter that he can probably get it into 8ths.  (My pill cutter kind of crumbles pills.  So I guess when I get these I'll see if my friend will cut these for me.)

But at least I was able to redeem myself a litle with my math error.  And my little pig is getting some other meds.  The vet also wants me to call at the begining of the week to let him know how the little one is doing.

Note to self:  Spend some time studying metric and CCs before talking to the vet again.  (Hmm, that was my "Not to self" on Tuesday night, and somehow that didn't happen before the vet called again!)  Why do today what you can put off until tomorrow, right?

Going Green Rewards

I'm having a hard time getting into wanting to save much with coupons, sales and such right now.  I think it might be the TV show.  I don't want people think I'm a shelf-clearing hoarder.  Yes, I try to get good deals, but I'm just having a hard time being too interested at the moment.  Maybe it's because we actually have plenty of most stuff I can get free and almost free.

In fact, I had decided I was NOT going to go to CVS this week.  Sure I could get two tubes of toothpaste free and actually make $1, but I just was uninterested.

Until I saw my Extra Bucks would expire on Sunday and decided that "rolling them" (using them on something I get the full purchase price back) was worth it to extend the life of them.

So for 34 cents out of pocket (sales tax) I got this:

This takes us to 17 tubes of toothpaste in the house.  More than we need, but like I said, I got these mainly because I wanted to "roll" the Extra Bucks.  I'm wondering about a foaming toothpaste.  Will I look like a rabid dog while I'm brushing my molars?  But for free. . .

I also got $6.54 back in Extra Bucks, $1 of which was because I used my Green Bag tag.

Now THAT is something I enjoy.  The Green Bag Tag costs 99 cents.  Each time you go in (limit once a day) and take your own bags, you can have that scanned.  Every four times you have it scanned, you get a $1 Extra Buck.  Today I left with two toothpastes.  Didn't take a bag, but told them not to give me one, so I still got my tag scanned, and it was a 4th trip so I got $1 extra today.  Easy way to rack up some extra rewards.  The tag is actually one of my favorite "hidden' savings with CVS.  I go about once a week, so if I take my own bags each time, that's an extra $12 a year! :)

My math skills (or lack thereof)

My guinea pig has been sick.  He's nearly well now, but while taking antibiotics, certain things happen to animals, too, when they are on antibiotics.

Well, my little guy had taken a full course of the meds to counteract the situation, and I needed to call the vet today to see if he would call in a prescription to Walmart because my little guy still needed some meds, and the vet's office is about 3 hours away on a good day.  I've had a vet phone in a prescription to a human pharmacy before, and in a situation where the vet is so far away, it's a huge convenience.  (I'm sure people are wondering why the vet is so far away, but very few vets are really qualified to deal with guinea pigs.  My vet is an exotics who is wonderful!)

Let me back up a moment.  In college I was diagnosed with a learning disability in math and foreign languages.  This surprises many people because I attempted to learn Hebrew on my own and that I am as good with stretching a dollar as I am.  It used to take me the longest time to figure out what 35¢ coupon tripled would be.  I usally work left to right in a math problem instead of right to left.  (For instance, I would multiple 30 by 3, then 5 by three, then add them together.)  I'm sure you can see where difficulty can come in when I am faced with a more complicated math problem.

Usually I am good in metric.  Living overseas one summer helped with that greatly.  My vet does everything in metric.  Today he asked me how many grams my little guy weighed.  Now kilos I can do.  He's about .85 kilos.  But ask me to think fast on my feet to do the conversion from pounds to kilos and then move the kilos to grams.  Oy vey!

Well, then I didn't realize I did this until after I got off the phone with him.  Dealing with CCs is new to me.  Add in most of the meds are being dosed in fractions of CCs.  I told the vet I gave my guinea pig 48 CCs of an over the counter med.  OH MY!  I should have said 2.8 CCs.  (Well, I was only about 45 CCs off!)

I'm really, really embarassed.  I bet my vet thinks it's a wonder I haven't killed my precious pet with dosing like that.

Next thing on my to do list:  get better at math when it involves CCs.

So what's hanging in your garage?

The other day on Facebook, a friend and I were discussing something (I belive it was one of the hats at the Royal Wedding.)  As is typical for us, the conversation started with haberdashery, but ended up somewhere else entirely.  My garage.

He found it unique that we have a picture of a man who used to live in our house hanging in our garage.

Well, it was here when we moved in 24 years ago. And he's a cousin.

And what do you exactly DO with a photo of a cousin?  It's not hurting anything where it is, and since he's family you don't exactly want to put him out on trash day. So he's been hanging in our garage for 24 years, currently partially hidden behind a crutch.  A single crutch.

Also hanging there about that long is a needlepoint praying hands a minister in a town about an hour away once made.

That minister is a skilled archer.  So much so that when I was in elementary school we had a field trip to a neighboring town to watch this man demonstrate his archery skills.  He shot an asprin with a bow and arrow.

Now the question then and still is:  How did that help prepare me for life?  My honest reply is "I don't know".  However, I did enjoy getting out of class that afternoon.

It would have been a lot more interesting had he show an apple off someone's head William Tell style, but he said he would never do that because too many things could go wrong.  So he shot an asprin.  From across a football field.  In front of 500 elementary school students.  And he was the creator of the praying hands you also see in the photo.  (He didn't give us the picture, it was a gift to someone who then gave it to me.)