Every once in a while — which is to say very, very rarely — I get an automatic deposit to my bank account from Amazon. Someone, somewhere bought my book. So imagine my excitement when I got a notice from… Read More ›
money
5 THINGS I DON’T BUY ANYMORE
5 Things We Don’t Buy Anymore We are on a fixed income, but the world is on a fast track to insane inflation, so these days there are many things we don’t buy. Dog food. I make my own from… Read More ›
HARK THE HERALD TRIBUNE SINGS: GO AND BUY OUTRAGEOUS THINGS!
Fandango’s Provocative Question #149 Fandango’s question this week almost induced a migraine. Yes, we definitely spent more money than usual — especially on food. But a lot of that was Owen because he got a bonus at work and he thought… Read More ›
THE MAGIC MONEY VENDING MACHINE
When ATMs first started showing up, I lived in Israel and had two young step-children. They saw the machine and were thrilled. “It gives you money!” they said. It was simple. Go to the special place and a hole in the… Read More ›
FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND TOO MUCH MONEY
In Israel, there’s one word that means “close” family. This would include blood relatives — parents, grandparents, siblings, cousins, nephews, and nieces, and of course, grandchildren. There is a another pair of words that means “the rest of the family.”… Read More ›
A SPOONFUL OF SUGAR
Remember the line from a song in Mary Poppins (the original movie with Julie Andrews) where she sang “Just a spoon full of sugar makes the medicine go down?” I remember when Trump was elected saying that once he got… Read More ›
FALLING BETWEEN THE CHAIRS, PART DEUX
Trying to get a loan to install a new boiler in this house ought to be easy. I’ve been paying off as many debts as quickly as anyone on social security can, but apparently not fast enough. Never mind that… Read More ›
THE BATHING OF BONNIE AS THE APOCALYPSE RIDES BY – Marilyn Armstrong
There comes a moment in time when your beloved dog smells like a pile of indescribable offal. Bonnie had reached an intolerable stage and finally, all the stuff I ordered — shampoo, detangler, steel combs, brushes arrived. I told Garry… Read More ›
WILL WORK FOR PIZZA – Marilyn Armstrong
There is a rumor, perpetuated by television shows, that bloggers earn a living. By blogging. Someone in Hollywood seriously thinks people like me make money doing this. I am depressed to admit it, but not one cent have I ever… Read More ›
I REGRET NOTHING – Rich Paschall
We all have regrets, that’s for sure. You can not lead a life without them. You may regret your first stumble and fall — if you remember it. You may regret dropping that toy or that cell phone. You may… Read More ›
REGRETS, I’VE HAD A FEW – Rich Paschall
But Then Again, Why Mention? by Rich Paschall We all have regrets, that’s for sure. You can not lead a life without them. You may regret that first stumble and fall, if you remember it at all. You may regret… Read More ›
ANOTHER VOICE HEARD FROM – GUEST AUTHOR – BEN TAYLOR
WTF! Not Another Dime We elect representatives to … uh … represent us. They are paid healthy salaries, enjoy the best health care in the country and draw a salary after retirement, even when voted out of office. What a… Read More ›
THE DAY OF THE NUMBERS – Marilyn Armstrong
I’m not big on numbers, but I had to deal with them anyway. Our banks have this sneaky way of offering you “free money” that of course, isn’t free. It’s just free of interest if you pay it off within… Read More ›
I WILL WORK FOR FOOD BUT NOT PIZZA – Marilyn Armstrong
I’ve had enough pizza. I like it, mind you, but I’ve had an awful lot of it. Especially since we discovered frozen pizza we can throw in the counter oven. DiGiorno’s sausage made with marinara sauce is my favorite. It tastes… Read More ›
THE DAY WE WON IT ALL … WELL, NOT EXACTLY – Marilyn Armstrong
THE FISCAL DREAM I just won $1,000,000,000 — that’s one billion dollars — from the lottery. It is a bit mystifying since I don’t remember buying the ticket, but I’m not going to argue the point. What’s next? So there… Read More ›
BARTERING – THE COUNTRY WAY – Marilyn Armstrong
Bartering may be “old style” in the U.S., but I think that’s just in cities. Because in the country, a lot of bartering still goes on. The countryside … where the cows outnumber people and only the horses look fat… Read More ›
AMBITION AND THE LACK THEREOF – Marilyn Armstrong
FOWC with Fandango — Ambition I was never ambitious enough for the current world. I worked hard and well, but I never sought to be a boss. Every time the idea popped into my brain, that little niggling idea that “bosses… Read More ›
ADULTERY IS A SIN – Marilyn Armstrong
The first time I heard the word “adultery,” I assumed it meant the sin of growing up. I’m not sure I was entirely wrong. I thought when you got to adulthood, you got your freedom. You didn’t have to take… Read More ›
INGENUITY: ARGUING FINANCE WHEN MONEY IS GONE – Marilyn Armstrong
FOWC with Fandango — Ingenuity Today or maybe tomorrow if I have the energy, I have to try to explain to UMass that if Blue Cross says I don’t owe money, I don’t owe the money. That is the theory and… Read More ›
BLOGGING DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE – Marilyn Armstrong
WordPress’s new “algorithm” has made a lot of bloggers unhappy. I’m sure they regret our unhappiness, but I think what is really making them unhappy is that other companies — like Google and Facebook — are raking in fortunes —… Read More ›
SERENDIPITY: SEEKING INTELLIGENT LIFE ON EARTH 