America By The Numbers with Maria Hinojosa: Clarkston Georgia

PUBLISHERS CLEARING HOUSE

Last year around Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays the mailbox was packed every week with the “Publisher’s Clearing House sweepstakes” There should be a law requiring how many winners per year, and what states there are in. Looks to me they run the same people in the commercials, and this year I have not seen any as of yet.

               What are “they” clearing? Publications? With the decline of print publications there should be less junk mail anyway. The filler mail in the envelope is products that can be purchased in today’s Dollar 99¢ discount stores. The question again, what is in the “Clearing House?”

               I played along for one year to see how far they would go to string me along. I was told that I am getting close. There are 5 people in my zip codes and I am moving closer to finding out the winner in my neighborhood. I have been getting close for that last [forever].

               There should be a law against “coning” people out of their money. Oh wait! There is. Games of chance, internet gambling is illegal in most states; Mail fraud in all 50 states.

               I think time has passed for this type of “junk mail” There some people who really believe there is a chance like I do with the State Lottery of Education. The difference is, it’s a dollar and a dream. The Lottery can get out of control, but there are people who do win. Publisher’s Clearing House I am not too sure if any, how often.

Today’s ‘Rambling’ brought to you by “Mailbox Keeper” he who clears out the mailbox and takes a hand full directly to the nearest trashcan.

….Pandora

GPS

Get People Searching

GPS are the bane of my existence. Global Positioning System, GPS & Navigation systems seemed like a good idea at the onset. Blindly following turn by turn directions from a device that sounds like a Star trek robot that has no idea where we’re at!

Learning that this device needs to be updated at the wrong time, helps nothing. “In 200 feet make right turn”. There has been a railroad track for the last two mile running parallel with the road I’m on. I need to not to make any right or left turns for that matter! I prefer MapQuest®

I like to map out my travels to a new destination before leaving the house because of my prior experiences with GPS software.  I like to look at the surrounding neighborhoods to see if I am familiar with the general areas. I do not like surprises. Well, Surprise, not only did the map from the house computer told a lie, the car GPS and my Android turn by turn directions lead me to a dead end.

I called the office to get better directions. They gave the same directions as the Android. The issue in my town is it is growing and spreading. There streets that have not been mapped. The satellite doesn't help [evidently].(o_0). What’s the point of satellite connections if I do not have the right address or, I do have the right address and the road work has not been updated! This is proof that there is no “real time” GPS.

We finally found the place after we had lunch. Maybe the red wine help!

Be careful and make sure your GPS is up to date.

I’m in the shower, starting my routine when I looked down to see the extra that is in the shower with me. The extra width on my thighs and my waist are noticeable. My “Gurls” have gone south. I thought about complaining then I thought again.

 I thought about thanking my legs and thighs for carrying for almost 70 years [I’m closer to 70 then 20]. They have supported me through thick and thin. They have taken me work for over 35 years, carried two children at different times for 9 months. Then another year and a half off and on;  carrying each one at different times.   Grocery shopping, open school nights, emergency room visits between the hours or 1am and 4 am at different times for different children.  

I thought about my “Gurls”, my breast and how they are not paying attention to what’s ahead in front of them. They are not “uplifting” as much anymore. I remembered how they tried to feed two children once upon a time. How my “Gurls” filled out my dresses and sweaters in the right places, and hid small sums of cash from time to time.

I thought about complaining. I thought about the blessings. The blessings to be able to see another “ripple” in my thighs. The blessing to have a wider girth. The blessing to have the two sagging sidekicks.

Things are not as bad as they seem. Each day is a gift to unwrap and see the surprise that is waiting. I really smell the flowers. I really enjoy each and every day. My children are the keepers of my heart, the keepers of my soul. My grandchildren are my light on my path to my family’s future.

A Breast Cancer Survivor, I have a lot to be grateful, thankful for.

PANDORA….

POWER LUNCHES

POWER LUNCHES

A spiced ham and American cheese hero [lettuce, tomato, and mayo] with a bag of WISE® plain potato chips, a NEHI® grape soda. This is what was for lunch once per week in the 1970’s.

This was our “Power Lunch”. We ran and played hard. We ran errands for our parents. Living in the inner city sometimes we had to go to the Laundromat to wash the blankets because they were too large for our washing machines.

Those hot summer days when I had to walk to the train station to save a fare, we used to budget out for our snacks. My parents gave me just enough money for carfare and a bag of “chips”. So we would walk half of the way going and back from the train station.  We lived in The Bronx. “Soundview” station on the #6 Pelham Bay line. Getting off the “el” [elevated subway]; one would have to wait for the BX 27 bus. This is what is called a two fare zone. We did well saving that second fare by walking.

Summer school lunches were made by us who had summer jobs [$1.65hr] nasty bologna sandwiches, fruit, hot milk. No one ate the lunch. Anyone was welcomed to the lunch, there was no judgment. If you wanted it, you got it. We knew of children that were hungrier than we were. They were poorer but as a child I did not understand this concept. Some days we all ate The Nasty Lunch.

Once per year I find myself strolling past the deli section staring at the “spiced ham” with fond memories of my childhood Power Lunch. Even though I introduced this to my children, they never appreciated the history of…”spiced ham-n-cheese hero”, WISE® plain potatoes chips and a NEHI® grape soda.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!1.2

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!1.2

I bought balloons, cake, franks [I’m from the Bronx} buns for the birthday celebration of my first born. The same look on his face as always when I show up with the Helium filled balloons and a cake with his name written on it is priceless.

I personally love franks even though the sodium content is high. The sugar in the cake is unhealthy. A few times per year I eat birthday cake. [Don’t judge me] I love cake like the next foody!

Today there are a variety of sweeteners that can substitute for sugars. “Stevia”, “Agave”. One can use bee vomit [honey] as sweeteners. I will take sugar in my cake any day.

  Back to his day. I decided to fix franks and buns for the menu. I believe his guests would enjoy this.

His guest consists of three little boys who think the world of him. They believe he is a super hero and try to be like him every day in every way.

They are his sons. My baby is a father of 5, 2 girls and three boys. The boys are here for his birthday today. The girls are out of town this weekend. Daddy is everything.

I am proud of my son. I still bring him balloons, and cake for his birthday. He never sees it coming!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY! 1.2

SHOPPING LISTS

Lately I make every effort to create a shopping list to take to the grocery store for the household essentials. My attempt is to save money, use coupons and to be as frugal as humanly possible.

This task is never completed. I either leave the list home or the coupons. If I somehow remember to bring the coupons, they have expired. Not to mention the coupons nowadays are mostly dog food and for very fair skinned cosmetics.

I try to go on Wednesdays. This is the day they have “Double Coupons”. Whatever that is! There are coupons given at the checkout by the cashiers to use upon your return. I, of course never bring them.

I digress; my shopping list proves useless every time I return home without the much need groceries I left out of the house for.