junecleaver's kitchen

Well, I did some browsing around some sites today, Cyber Monday. I did a little online shopping yesterday as well. One thing I noticed about much of the merchandise today was that some prices were raised the amount of what it would cost to ship it & then there was "free" shipping offered for that item. I found that was no bargain at all because the customer still has to pay the shipping. I purchased what I wanted yesterday & am glad because they were out of that item today. Also, sometimes the free shipping requirements just get people to buy things they neither want or need. I almost fell into that yesterday only to discover that the shipping savings was only going to be $5. So, I took 2 of the items out of my virtual shopping cart & then only purchased what I went for & went ahead & paid the $6 shipping charge. I saved much more money that way.

I've been watching a few videos which depict Black Friday stampedes that went on at various stores. People were counting down the minutes until the doors opened & then  they scrambled inside like herds of cattle do after they've been spooked. What for? I saw clips of people grabbing boxes of I guess tv's, game systems, etc. They weren't even looking at what they were grabbing, they were just grabbing something so they could be "first". But, are these people really saving money? They aren't customers in the true sense of the word. Nor are they "shoppers". They are just part of a mob that will grab, shove & push so they can be first. This is the worst year I've ever seen regarding that too. Already someone lost his life & a woman lost her baby as a result.

Another thought I've had about people grabbing these high-end items was "are they really saving money in the long run"? After all, if you are in the market for a large television, a computer, or a game system, shouldn't you have enough money set aside to pay for it? Shouldn't you get what you want? These items are something you plan on having for years. I want to go to a store where the salespeople will show me the various features of the selection I'm looking at so I can make a good decision. Also, isn't it important to also have the money set aside for delivery & installation (this part pertains to large tv's). After all, if you're trying to take home & install a large television yourself & you either drop it or zap it out in the process, you can't return it & you have negated the warranty anyways. Thus, you'd be without your new tv & you will have no leg to stand on with the store or the manufacturer. If I'm going to buy something that big, I will pay the $50 or so to have the store deliver it & install it. Then, if the delivery guys mess up something, I will get a replacement. That's big savings in the long run. Also, with such high-end items, I buy that in-home warranty so that I don't have to drag the thing back to the store for repairs. That's savings in regards to my money, time, back & aggravation as well as ensuring I don't negate my warranty. Doesn't that make sense? I won't buy such items from stores that don't offer delivery & installation or extended warranties. That possible $250 someone might save on a tv or computer could end up costing them much more in the long run if all they do is grab & run.

Sure, I'm all for saving money & in today's economy, that's part of the fun & who doesn't want to save a little money? But going for the cheapest item or the "grab & run" type behavior isn't always the best use of one's money. Is that tv or computer really worth shoving someone down to the floor? And, this grab & run mob mentality isn't exclusive to the electronics; look at the toy stores & toy departments. People will shove a trident into someone's heart for that last "Gangsta Barbie" or that on-sale Hot Wheels City of Death, just so they can save $4 & then send in for the $10 rebate. I've seen them in the toy sections. They're not looking at what they're buying, they're just buying the stuff because it's on sale. And, they're doing all this in front of their children. That takes care of the magic of Santa. Seeing Santa these days is no longer that magical request for a longed-for toy. All it is is a photo opp. These days, when Santa asks little Jimmy what he wants for Christmas, Jimmy is likely to respond with, "I've already got the XBox I wanted. Mom beaned an old lady with a Barbie Dreamship so she could get the last one at the discounted price." Does anyone recall the movie "A Christmas Story" where Ralphie ate, slept & dreamed about a Red Rider BB Gun? Seeing Santa wasn't a photo opp, it was a magical, even terrifying event. That's how it should be.

These stores are promoting this stampede, mob mentality by slashing prices for an hour or 2 & opening their stores at 5 am. I saw another blogger who suggested these stores just keep the prices low like that & stay open normal hours. Maybe that would bring back the Spirit of the Season, which is Peace on Earth, rather than the idea that there will be more casualties.

Yes, I got up early & hit the stores this morning to do some Xmas shopping. My oldest daughter & I continued our tradition of this activity. I must say, my experience was very pleasant.

We started off at Game Stop & progressed over to Target & then on to Valley View mall. My finances are quite tight this year, so I must stick to my list. I'm not into the stampedes or standing in really long lines just to save $5 or $10 on something I don't really need. This is not my idea of fun. I stayed far away from WalMart today for this very reason. Target was wonderful this morning & they had many great bargains as well. They were crowded, but they had everything running so well, you didn't notice the crowd. Santa even left what I wanted on the shelves, so I was able to get some treats for me! Hooray!

When I got to Valley View, I browsed a bit, but I refuse to stand in giant lines for shoes, etc. What I don't understand is why customers will throw something they don't want on the floor rather than put it back on the shelves or give it to the salesperson if they forgot where it goes. Don't they understand that such mistreatment of the merchandise results in higher prices? If you don't want an item, put it back so that another person who might want it will be able to buy it.

Anyways, hope everyone is having a fun & safe Thanksgiving weekend. In a few minutes, I'm going to drag all the leftovers out of the fridge & set up a dinner buffet for people to pick from. Gobble Gobble!

Now that Black Friday is under way & I'm having my coffee, prepping to head out to face the crowds with my oldest daughter, I've been doing some thinking about this Christmas, the economy & the state of most everyone's finances.

Even with all the sales out there, who among us can really afford a big screen LCD tv? Who can spare the $$$ for Wii's & PS3's? Unless your home computer is completely kaput, who can spare that kind of money for a new one? Of course, we all want to grant our children's Christmas wishes. We would all like to see a brand new car parked in our driveways on Christmas morning. But for most of us, those things will not happen. To our children we'll have to explain that Santa Claus is feeling the economic pinch the same as the rest of us. The other night I was talking to a friend of mine who said, "I dread Christmas this year because money's so tight". So, that got me to thinking further.

Why dread Christmas just because money is tight? Has anyone really paid attention to the classic Christmas shows? Has anyone read "The Littlest Angel" or seen Scrooge? What about "It's a Wonderful Life"? And then there's the real Christmas Story, the story of the First Christmas. All these stories are intended to remind us of the true meaning of Christmas. Anyone see "The Homecoming" where the Waltons are all suffering from the Depression & barely have enough money for food? All they wanted for Christmas was to have their father come home safely.

That's what Christmas is all about. It's about Love, Peace & Togetherness. How many people would prefer all the expensive gifts over spending time with their loved ones? I imagine those with loved ones in Iraq would tell you that Christmas is a sad time because they don't have their loved one here with them. How about those who have lost family members to drunk drivers or other terrible things? No amount of expensive presents will make up for that loss.

What I'm driving at here in this blog is that this year, with the economy in such a slump, it's a good opportunity to teach our children good values. We can adopt an angel from the Angel Tree or buy some Toys for Tots & teach our children the spirit of giving. We can read some of the old stories & talk about how Christmasses were a long time ago. We can ask Senior Citizens what it was like when they were children so they can give today's children insight on how things used to be. What we call poverty today is nothing compared to what it was like 50 or 100 years ago.

And, when the children are writing their letters to Santa, remind the kiddos that Santa is feeling the economic pinch & that his 401k has really been depleted. And remind the children that there are more children who would like even 1 present this year; just 1 toy to love. Tell the kids that they can wish for 1 main item & wish for some surprises. But the main thing is to remind the children what Christmas is really about. It's about Peace on Earth Good Will to Men.

So, when thinking about gifts to give, how about give some to others that have no price tag? When driving, allow someone out of a parking lot ahead of you or just refrain from any type of road rage. If you tend to tie one on at the holidays & then drive, decide to not drive at all when you've had any alcohol. When out shopping, hold the door for an elderly person, expectant mother, or just anyone. And smile when you do those things. When in the check out line, smile at a child or just at the person ahead of you. Decide not to be in a rush this year. Christmas will come, the same as it does every year & the stores will be there too. Get in the kitchen & bake gifts for others instead of buying yet another trinket for them. Instead of giving Grandma yet another knick knack, take her out to lunch or dinner instead.

Christmas doesn't have to be a dreaded time of year, just because our money is tight. It can be even more joyous & filled with wonder as we decide to give each other the gifts of Love and Time.

Well, I'm sitting here in pretty much a food coma. I cooked, like I do every year, & if I do say so, it was really delicious. We had turkey with all the trimmings. I made the pecan & pumpkin pies. We watched the Cowboys kill Seattle & now I'm watching Texas kill A&M. I must say, this has been a wonderful Thanksgiving. Everyone was healthy & my house was filled with kids, my mother & love. Even my cats joined in the festivities. They got to enjoy some turkey & my 25 pound cat, Sunshine also enjoyed a little bit of sweet potatoes & stuffing (he'll eat just about anything).

Food-induced comas invite interesting thoughts in one's mind. The one thought I've been having has been about Black Friday. Imagine if all they had on sale on Black Friday were Power Panties & bikinis. The stores & malls would be deserted. Women would stay away in droves. Even if they were offering Power Panties at $1 per pair, women wouldn't take the bait. Can you imagine having to try to squeeze into them things the day after Thanksgiving? The comedy relief it would provide would be great. Watching women hop around & lose their balance while trying to get those things on would be better than anything you could find on Comedy Central. But then there would be shrieks of horror as women tried on the bikinis & saw rolls of fat where they'd never been before. "I didn't realize stuffing went straight to that part of my hips!" a woman would shout. The bikini bottoms might even disappear entirely once they were on. "I KNOW I put on the bottoms," a woman would say, "Where are they?" Then she'd push aside some fat & say, "Oh, THERE they are!" None of this would be pretty at all.

So, there is a good reason they don't advertise such sales for Black Friday. Sales on shoes & handbags is a much better idea. No matter how much turkey you eat on Thanksgiving Day, handbags & shoes will always fit. But then, for those of us who have spent the last 3 or 4 days in the kitchen, the only shoes we're interested in are nice, roomy, comfy slippers.

Well, that's it for this random blog. LOL It's funny what kind of thoughts enough food will put into one's mind. Must go now, I hear a piece of pie calling my name from inside the fridge. If I eat it over the sink, maybe there won't be any calories in it.

Happy Thanksgiving!

What are your Thanksgiving Traditions? It's that time of year when we start thinking about our families; near to us, those who live far away; those who are still with us & those who departed, whether this year or many years ago. We remember pleasant things from our childhoods; fond memories of where we grew up or maybe some childhood friends. But whatever our memories are of Thanksgivings past, we will be creating new memories this year, as we do every year. So, please share your traditions here with me.

In my house, Thanksgiving is steeped with wonderful family traditions; many which developed with this generation.

I love to cook Thanksgiving dinner & have perfected it over the years. A few weeks before Thanksgiving, we make out the menu & start to develop the grocery list. My children have plenty of input with the menu & are put in charge of certain dishes. For example, my youngest wants mashed potatoes, thus she's in charge of making them. My middle daughter doesn't like onions in stuffing, so she's in charge of the stuffing. When the turkey is purchased, we make a ceremony out of putting the "Official Thanksgiving turkey in the Official Thanksgiving Refrigerator". I spend several days before making pies (pumpkin & pecan) & cleaning the house. My children are in charge of getting out all the Holiday videos & DVD's.

When the big day arrives, we rise early & turn on the Macy Parade. Once the parade is well underway, it's time to start the turkey. My girls love it when I play "doctor" with the turkey during the prep. "Now, Tom, this won't hurt a bit," I say when I have to stuff him. Everyone is involved in dinner prep.

My mother always joins us for Thanksgiving dinner, which is very special indeed. Since she grew up in New York City during the Depression & the War, & since her father was in the entertainment business, she has many fascinating stories.

Usually dinner is planned during the Cowboy game. It's always a buffet so people can graze all afternoon if they like. And, since there are always people stopping by my house on Thanksgiving, they are always "on time" for dinner. "Just grab a plate!" I'll tell them. Once the Cowboy game is over, it's time to break out a Holiday movie. I love "Miracle on 34th Street" & "It's a Wonderful Life".

So, what are your traditions? Can't wait to read about them!

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

It seems almost every week, there is another discussion about changing street names here in Dallas. I understand why certain groups would like to see streets and landmarks named after certain beloved famous people. However, has anyone thought about the type of confusion such name changes could cause?

Think about it. You happen to be a long-time Dallas resident. A newcomer approaches you to ask for directions. The conversation could go something like this:

Newcomer (in Downtown Dallas): "Could you please tell me how to get to the Galleria?"

Dallas Resident: "Well, you head north on the Tollway & exit at Harvest Hill, oh, wait, that's not Harvest Hill Road anymore is it?" (turns to a passerby) "What's Harvest Hill Road called now? Oh, that's right, it's now Fred Smith parkway." (turns back to newcomer) "Ok, you exit at Fred Smith Parkway & go over LBJ Freeway". But then the passerby reminds Dallas Resident that LBJ Freeway has been changed to John Neely Bryan Thoroughfare. See how this could go? The poor Newcomer would end up with a headache instead of directions & head directly to the Walgreens on Oak Lawn (or is that Roger Staubach Avenue now?) for a family size bottle of aspirin.

Dallas residents would all be driving & walking around in a state of confusion. Think drivers are bad now? Wait until they start looking for street signs that are no longer there! "Wait! I KNOW Hillcrest extended through Highland Park, but where does it still say Hillcrest? Why do all the signs read Greer Garson Boulevard now?" Doctors would be booked solid with people making appointments for Alzheimers & senility tests. In my opinion, it would all be a big, complicated mess.

How about instead of changing street names (and signs), the City Council should just decide to name new streets after these famous people. And why should it just be Dallas to do it? Arlington is expanding by leaps & bounds. Other communities are expanding at the same rate. Why not name new main roads in those communities after these beloved famous people instead? Then, if I directed a newcomer to exit at Cesar Chavez Boulevard, I would know it truly existed. If I had to drive to Buckner Boulevard, I could with complete confidence that the street signs would still read Buckner Boulevard & I would truly know where I was.

 

 

I was just reading about Lori Drew & what she did that helped send that 13 year old girl over the edge to suicide. It's come out that the woman knew the girl was depressed & in a very vunerable state of mind. As a mother, she could have done the right thing & helped the girl & taught her own daughter how to be a friend. But, instead, she chose to teach her daughter what fun it is to be a bully. She showed her daughter how cowards act & what they do for kicks. If her own daughter was worried about gossip, the mother's job was to step up to the plate & explain the evils of gossip. It wasn't her place to set up a My Space page & then bully this poor girl.

Now a young lady is dead because of gossip & bullying. Those of us who were bullied as children & who have been the victims of malicious gossip know how destructive these actions can be. Whereas most of us can brush off gossip & such, there are others, who, for whatever reason cannot fight back. Teenagers are especially vunerable because there is so much going on with them both physically & mentally. And, a teenager who is severely depressed & showing suicidal tendences needs help, not a push over the edge. Of course, sometimes it's hard to tell & signs can be missed. But Ms. Drew saw the signs in this girl & chose to push the child over the edge. What did she think she would gain by such actions? Who did she think would admire her & want to emulate her? And, how could this woman sleep at night knowing what she did?

This pastor preaches that 7 days of sex for married couples will bring them closer together. It's a great idea, but this man is quite naive if he thinks it will fix problems within a marriage. But, such a plan could go either way for a couple. Each marriage is different & since none of us knows what goes on behind the closed doors of a marriage, we are not in a position to say what will or will not fix a troubled marriage. If you ask couples who have been married 40+ years, most of the time they do not mention having sex every day. There are many factors at work in those long marriages.

Having sex every day for 7 days will not solve serious problems in a marriage. After that "honeymoon" is over, the problems will still be there. For seriously troubled marriages, 7 days of sex is just a band-aid. And, just because a couple has sex every day or every other day, doesn't mean there is fidelity in that marriage either. I personally know a man who has been married for more than 20 years, yet, he has a number of girlfriends on the side. He has lunch with his wife every day. They go on vacations together now that the children are grown. Yet, he will, at any given opportunity, spend time with another woman. Would 7 days of sex with his wife fix that? No way!

Then there are men who abuse their wives. What about them? 7 days of sex certainly won't keep his wife out of the hospital ER. Those men are likely to beat their wives should they be refused for any reason.

And, there are women who use sex as a control issue. It's almost like a reward for good behavior on the part of the man. "Dear, if you clean the garage, then you can have fun with me tonight." I know a woman who told me that she cuts off the "bedroom fun" when her husband doesn't do what she wants him to do around the house. I don't think that's right at all. Nobody, man or woman should have to beg for sex; that's demeaning & humiliating. Women who behave like this are playing roulette with their marriages because men will get tired of begging & find someone with whom they don't have to beg.

Also, when the "honeymoon" is past & there are children to raise, bills to pay, & even health issues that tend to interfere with romantic liasons, a close couple will find plenty of activities & things to talk about with each other, just because they enjoy being around each other. Ask elderly couples who have been together for 40, 50, 60 years & they'll tell you about the enjoying being around each other part. They'll tell you about being understanding of one another & sensitive to the other's feelings & needs. And, they'll tell you about trust & being part of a team.

Maybe this pastor was just giving a guideline for those whose marriages are healthy, they're just rather devoid of the romantic part. The couple has just forgotten about how they once upon a time had the hots for each other. But, this pastor also should tell the other side & how 7 days of sex isn't a magic fix & won't work for everyone. Otherwise, there are women who may feel that they must submit to their husbands, even if they're exhausted or in pain. And, there will be men who will end up sleeping on the couch because they just physically couldn't keep going for 7 days straight (wife starts crying, "You don't love me! I'm fat! If you can't be romantic like the pastor said, then you must not love me anymore!" I know how women are.)

On a lighter note; maybe that pastor has stock in the Vitamin E & wheelchair companies. ;)

What's wrong with Memphis, TN police that they didn't arrest that woman. The report stated that the woman waved a gun & threatened to shoot the students. That certainly would be enough for me to arrest her. The school didn't even call the parents to tell them about the incident. The children were never counseled or anything. This would be the time I would step in & demand an explanation. Was the reason because nobody was killed? Do the Memphis police department & school district have to wait until someone is killed before they take action? If they let this go, think about how many others will feel free to do the same thing.

I just read this article about how a woman was killed because she tried to leave a KKK meeting. The article further stated that she was recruited over the Internet & went to the initiation at this campsite. My question is, did she know this was KKK?

I wonder why anyone would do such a thing. If she knew what she was going to & getting ready to join, then she was just as big a hate monger as they are. Even if she didn't know the "club" was KKK, someone telling me to meet them at a remote location would send up so many red flags, I wouldn't be able to see the computer anymore. I hope more information comes out about this because it's very scary. Are these people posing as another type of organization?

Today is Veterans Day. With so much rush rush every day, it's easy for the days to meld together. Yet, today, let's all pause & reflect on the type of country we have because these men & women gave up their lives & fortunes just so we could be free.

My father was a Naval Aviator; a veteran of WWII & Korea. My uncle fought in a fox hole in Europe & his regiment stormed Hitler's headquarters in Munich & liberated Dachau. Without men & women like them, we most likely would be speaking German or Japanese & elections would be a thing of the past, along with everything else guaranteed us in the Constitution.

If anyone gets a chance, review the Consitution & then compare what we have here to what goes on in most other countries. Compare the Constitution to what went on for 12 years during the Nazi reign of power. Then reflect on who protected those freedoms we all enjoy. Realize, too, that 20 million illegal aliens can't be wrong. How many other countries have such an issue with people risking their lives just to be able to live there?

Our elections last week proved that America is truly the Land of Opportunity & that you can achieve your dreams. I'm sure President-Elect Obama's grandmother never thought that it was possible for her grandson to become president. Most of her life was spent having to be "obedient". But this truly is proof that what our forefathers hoped & wished for this country has come true. They created a Constitution that has worked for over 200 years. And, our military has fought, died & sacrificed their fortunes in order to hold on to that most precious commodity.

If you see a veteran today, say thank you. If you don't, thank them here so they can read it. It will mean the world to them.

With today's economy in such a slump & so many families strapped for cash, it's still very important to morale to find good family fun times, but for a nominal cost. Back in January, I decided to try the Thursday Night Family Night Karaoke with Jammin' Jay at Vick's Sports Grill at America's Best Value Inn in Farmers Branch . Was I ever glad I did! Now, every Thursday night is "girls night out" with my 2 younger daughters (they are 13 & 10). The stipulation for being able to go to karaoke on Thursday nights is that you must keep up your grades, have your homework done, you can't stay home sick that Thursday & you have to go to school the next day. Also, since Thursday Night Karaoke starts at 7 & goes until 11 or later, there's plenty of time for the early birds to get in some fun singing & still get home for bedtime. The older kids, such as mine, really enjoy the priviledge of staying up later & it adds to the special time that this really is.

At first, they were a little shy about getting up to sing in front of people. But, when they realized that nobody boo's you & everyone claps & the whole atmosphere is that of fun & friendship, their fears quickly were replaced with an increased sense of confidence.  They get to sit & have sodas & Vick's allows you to bring your own snacks. So, I've given my girls the task of being "snack monitor" & pack some snacks for our evening out. The kids love singing as a group & they also get to dance to some really fun music. Sometimes we'll sing a song together, other times they'll sing with their friends, sometimes the karaoke dj joins them, or they'll sing a solo. All the way around, this makes for a great evening. Another great benefit of this great family night out is that the kids' behavior gets better as their social skills improve. They also learn to interact positively with others & good sportsmanship. The skills they have gained from karaoke nights have crossed over into their school life. They are no longer afraid to give a report in front of the class, nor do they freeze when they make a mistake. Plus, they are more willing to help their peers & are more cooperative with their teachers.

Now, during the week, my girls count down the days until it's Karaoke Night. On Thursday mornings, they wake up & say, "It's Karaoke tonight!" Our family is closer, my children are much more well behaved & clearly happier. Music has been brought into our home in ways other than just passively listening to a boom box. We dance & sing together now. We'll rehearse new songs at home or just think of new ones to sing & then try them out on Thursday nights. No amount of Disney World or soccer practice can buy what my daughters & I have received from our Karaoke Nights. Yet, the monetary cost is nominal. You can't even see a discount movie for the same price we spend at karaoke! To this I say, What a Bargain!

At the risk of sounding preachy & redundant, I'm going to again remind everyone to be responsible drinkers. Yet, I believe this subject ranks up there with reminding children of Stranger Danger in that there is no such thing as repeating it too much. It's obvious that too many people still don't get it that drunk drivers kill.

With the Holiday Season rapidly approaching, there will be an increase in the number of drivers who are intoxicated. These irresponsible people turn a mode of transportation into a lethal weapon. There is no excuse for this. Imbibing is a free choice as is driving while under the influence of alcoholic beverages. Just because beer, wine or spirits may be a part of my enjoyment of the Holidays, doesn't mean I have the right to take away another person's enjoyment because of my irresponsible behavior.

Because of an irresponsible driver last night, a man is dead & another one is in the hospital. The dead man's family will not enjoy their Holiday Season because of this drunk driver. The man in the hospital now has to deal with medical bills, car repair (or having to buy another car, if his is totaled), recovering from his injuries & loss of work time. This is all because the one who caused this whole mess wouldn't either refrain from tying one on & then getting in his car, or because he wouldn't call a cab.

This was all a free choice on the part of the driver. By his own free will he drank too much, & by his own free will he chose to drive & then speed away from the police. It would have been so much easier if he had just been responsible.

This is a good reminder for the rest of us. While we're in the middle of our festivities, we might tend to forget just how much we've had to drink & how much we can handle. The whole spirit of Thanksgiving & the Holiday Season is that of goodwill & giving. So, this year, let's make our gift to our community that of life by not drinking & driving.

How in Heaven's Name could that judge allow that woman out of the mental hospital? She cut off her baby's arms!!!! That has to be one of the most grisly, despicable things I've heard in my life. How could that judge not be on the side of the baby? That baby didn't have the opportunity for a jury trial or to go to a hospital. She lost her life because of her lunatic mother! And, it wasn't a quick death either. We all know that baby suffered unspeakable torture & pain. I think that judge ought to be thrown off the bench for this. How could he even grant this woman her freedom? All he told her was to take birth control. Hello?? Why not just take out all the plumbing to ensure she will never ever reproduce. Also, what about other children? How do we know that other children would be safe around her? If she would kill her own baby, she is at high risk of doing similar to another child. Of course that woman is crazy! How could any sane person even conceive of doing such a thing? But just because she's insane doesn't mean she's innocent of this horrible crime. That little baby didn't have a chance, why should the mother? And, the term mother isn't appropriate here; true mothers don't do such things. This woman is a monster. This is yet another reason we parents have to keep such a sharp eye on our children more so than just a generation or 2 ago.

My heart cries for that little baby. She had nobody to go to bat for her & now, not even a judge, who is supposed to be well educated & dedicated to justice isn't even on her side.