2/07/2010: 90,391 hits so far. We're two years old and counting.

"Going on the Cheap" appears to be the favorite stopping off place on this blog.  Please check it out for updates 
on the winter herb growing project and how to use your pressure cooker to get the ingredients you want into your
soup.  

January, 2010: Surprise,surprise in Mass special election.  The voters put them in their place in Washington.   If only the electorate would keep the momentum going and insist on tossing out lobbyist money.  This is a non-partisan statement.......Too late...Look what the supreme court just did to us!

Had a wonderful breakfast in local restaurant with a writer's group recently.  I would encourage folks to get connected with others doing something creative.   So much goes on at libraries and senior centers.   If there is nothing available in your area, start somethilng!  Keeps the blood flowing in your noodle.   Bonus=you get to meet nice folks who are generally non-judgemental about content, so you can write from the gut. 

11/something/09  Just discovered a way to jazz up canned soup.  I have soup often at night but add about one third Trader Joe's Low Sodium (6%) Vegetable Broth, as I dislike tasting salt.  I picked up some beet tops, washed and chopped the leaves, packaged them for the freezer.  Freezing breaks them down, so I just have to just throw a few tablespoons on top of  cup of soup and place it in the microwave.  You can even add some of Joe's cooked kidney beans (also freezable) to add protein to veggie or onion soup.  Be creative.  Try some sprouting and garnish the soup with alfalfa when soup has heated.  Alfalfa!  Talk about protein.  Check out your internet for nutritional values.  Economical, too.
   
Don't remember which talk show this came from:   "Why don't we just hire lobbyists and cut out the middleman?   Elections?  What do they mean?  After all the promises,  the politicians go off and have private meetings with the money that brought them to the dance.  

10/15/2009: Please see latest update in "Going on the cheap", ways to save money.  News about
JUICING,  Early Start on raised gardens.

9/22/2009:   Outdoor Art Shows.... The Yarmouth Art Guild   
The Guild shows were surprisingly successful despite the economy doom and gloomers. 
Keep up the good work. 
The YAG is a 501C3 non-profit organization.

6/10/2009:  Active in several writers' groups and recently took a "white line woodblock" workshop
on the Cape.  In four seperate places, have met  four different psychiatric therapists. 
Is someone trying to tell me something?  Seriously, have had a lot of fun with them. 
They know how to relax.         

11/15/08: Moving right along.  The Yarmouth Art Guild has hit the big time.  
A quickie from a T.V. interview done last Spring on Channel l7 on Cape Cod
is now on You Tube.  It can also be seen on www.yarmouthartguild.com 
   I have gotten involved in several writer's groups from Wellfleet to
Provincetown. The creative juices flow Capewide and I'm loving it. 
   
3/31/08: Some opportunities to buy a plug-in/hybrid battery throughout
country. Very pricey. See pluginpartners.com . There are numerous links on
their site and an opportunity to sign a petition. My question, "How many
million signatures will it take to wake the auto industy's sleeping giants?"
How come GM is having so much trouble coming up with a plug-in when
some guy can come up with the technology in his garage??? Could it be that
the big car companies have some sort of interest in big oil ???
See "Saving the Planet" and click on "Hybrids and Other Car Stuff". 
Check out Hybrids & Other Car Stuff 4/11/08:  The Prius is mine.
See 4/30/08 entry in "Hybrids" for the kind of smile I'm wearing. 

Have joined a writers' group in Wellfleet,Ma.  Am trying to sharpen
my skills. The gas savings will help when I travel to these sessions.
Folks of varying skills meet weekly for critiquing with lunch
afterwards.  Attendance falls off a bit during winter, because snow birds
take off. 
7/9/08: After several weeks at the writers group, feel I am on a roll. 
Unfortunately, my blog may suffer.  Please realize that I just throw things
out there and correct syntax, spelling, clumsy sentences when I can get to
it.  There's the rub...am too busy creating.  It is so therapeutic.  Presently 
I am writing memoirs.
The most fun when you write is when you nail it!
The guys and gals in the group are helping me do just that.

5/7/08: Worth noting if you're coming to my part of the Cape - Great little
restaurant on Rte. 28 in Harwich. Non-pretentious decor. Breakfast & lunch
at reasonable prices.  Family place.
...The Lighthouse Cafe is located near the Harwich Post office. Food 
served is very fresh and tasty. New Yorkers will appreciate their pickles. 

4/7/08: Entry regarding on-demand water heater in Going on the Cheap

Entry at bottom of Pumpkin Season tells you about recent experiences
with making sourdough.  I'm experimenting again, which drives me crazy
(in a fun way) I should get a life.

Sidebar: For those unfamiliar with driveucrazy, go to
sidebar and click on a category to see entries that might interest you. 
Next, click on the entry. There are Links wherever I can create them. 

Best yet quote is from Billie Burke, an early film actress,  "Age is of no
importance unless you are a cheese." Other quotes in Who Said That?

Want to make your own bumper sticker?  You can buy one or more of
your own cool design...reasonably priced! See Etc. Who's Counting?

2/26/08:  See entry in Hit and Run for the latest episode in Joankelsy's
Drive You Crazy Life.  Just trying to get wireless.  Sound simple? Hold on...

Have no use for frequent flier miles?  See 2/15/08 entry in Make Do in "Tips"
category. 
Master Card gives you cash back and a virtual credit card for internet purchases.  
                               
What' new in greentech: www.greentechnolog.com . Also, read promising news:
"A secret to drying clothes? Liquid" at  www.cnet.com . This invention could
save money, i.e. energy.

3/4/08:  It may sound nutsy for me to say this, but the high priced fuel issue
may be the best thing that ever happened to the planet.  The public must,
however, singe Washington's behind. Make them give tax breaks 
only to deserving companies. 

2/16/08:  Have you ever had trouble getting your tax rebate?  See today's
entry in "Talking To Myself", Comments category.  It could drive you insane!!

For all you creative artists: www.drawger.com. Stunning site.
See "Current Shows", then "the Museum of Forgotten Art Supplies".  You
should find this blog interesting, but please come also visit my wonderful
artists' group on the Cape at www.yarmouthartguild.com . 

• Don't forget to look at the lambs in Outdoor Shows in the Art Zone.
• New soup recipe in Ways with White Wine Sauce.Scroll to end. 
• Glad to see young people showing an interest in the coming election. 
  After all, it is their future. Hit and Run has some political content. 

Photos in: "Power Breakfast" ,"Sort-of Unconditional Love" and
"Opening Afternoon" and scattered throughout Drive You Crazy.



One of my favorites.  See The Cape and Beyond.  Do not know
who the artist is that put this charmer together. He or she is to be applauded. 
 This blog has numerous photos throughout.  I will add more when I get 
some film negatives converted to digital. 

    Recently, I was asked why I joined the Yarmouth Art Guild.  Returning to
painting after years of neglect, I found myself in the company of many others
with similar backgrounds.  I discovered that quite a few in my age group, in
particular, had taken up fine art as a new venture, having just High School
art classes and kid stuff in their backgrounds.  In the Guild, we are some-
what overloaded with seniors but they are seniors who still drive their own
cars, participate in outdoor shows and win awards at galleries...and sell! 
Two of our seniors entertained at a Christmas party by playing the piano.
One is in her nineties.  Another ninety plus has just gotten herself a new
boyfriend.
    A recent issue of the Erickson Tribune contains an article about Dr. Gene
Cohen.  He has done studies on how creativity affects how the human brain
ages.  He is Director of the Center on Aging, Health and Humanities at the
George Washington University in Washington, D.C.  I am sure if you search
the internet you can come up with his 2000 book, the "The Creative Age".
    Suffice to say, the studies indicate that painting, writing and music are
stimulating.  Coming in contact with other like minds is a big factor.  So go
to the weekly painting class at the Senior Center.  Take a creative writing
course or join a poetry club. Learn how to beat the drums.
It's good for your health!

1/2/08: Speaking of health.  My supplemental health insurance went up from
$78 to $94 a month.  I received a letter from my eye doctor that they will no
longer work through the insurance company but will give a break on charges
if patients wish to continue with them.  When I called, the gal at the desk
said that other eye doctors are quitting Tufts, as they do not want to give
sub-standard care.  I do not know what this is about, so called one of the
doctors in charge at the insurance company. I left a message, in essence that
I was upset that I heard of the change the way I did.  I also commented that
rather than pay these politicians (of both parties) to get them elected, why 
doesn't the insurance company put those dollars toward patient care. 
I doubt very much that I will hear from the gentleman or any subordinate. 
We the forgotten are left out again.  

I chose Tufts, as I had been seeing no real doctor (primary, that is).
for six years on the Cape.  I was sent to a dermatologist locally and wound
up with a nurse practitioner who did not know what she was looking at. 
I went to Raynham (you can't even get on a waiting list for a dermatologist
on the Cape). One of the doctors in the group diagnosed the problem correctly
and I finally got relief. That was through Blue Cross/Shield senior mishandling
insurance.

When will we wake up to the $$$ facts in this country?  Do you hear any of
these candidates offering to throw the lobbyists out of Washington? 
Reform contributions laws?  Good Lord No!  They would miss all those big bucks. 
We the forgotten might even be treated to less bologna on the airways.

The politicians put the clamps on medication from Canada. Too risky?
Pharmaceuticals are 80% China and India made. 
Have you seen the toy recall lately? 

Have problem with cramps in the legs, having had them since I was a teen. 
Much worse now, even though I take potassium (mostly via bananas each
morning).  My primary told me there was a simple med. that supplies quinine
but the government took it off the market.  Pharmaceutical companies had
come in with a new one.  Acquantance said the old one was sixteen dollars
and the new one well over 100 per script.  With the extra money comes more
side effects, I'm sure.  I told the doctor I would pass.  The daily glass of tonic 
I used to drink is verboten since I've found out I am borderline diabetic.  Drink
one with man-made sweeteners?  I'll pass on that one too.  Use Hyland's
homeopathic sublinqual tabs occassionally.  Pretty good.  I just have to
remember that if I change style of shoes, to limit walking in them.  Changing
the configuration of footwear seems to throw foot and leg muscles out of whack. 
Result? Cramp episodes all night.  
2/2/08:  Added something about exercise in Etc. Who's Counting? Afraid I
digress and throw things wherever there is space on this blog thing.  If I made
new entries, I think it would add confusion...and would take the punch out of
what I like to use as a front page.  Thanks for bearing with me.

1/6/07: Added something new to Hybrid & Other Car Stuff about an attach-
ment device for GPS.  That is, if those suction cup thingies drive you crazy.  May
have to hold off buying new car for a while.  Feel comfortable and safer in the VUE.

2/18/08: I had received a call early February that attachment device on back
order another call this week from supplier - he will send me a device made by
same company that has an added feature.  Costs more but he will send me one
at the same price.  We had a nice talk over the phone.  Sounds like a small
operation.  I have to give the guy a break.

6/30/08: Had received the device and used it on the Prius.  Vents accept the  little
bugger and I leave it attached, removing the Magellin GPS when not using it. 
However, I wish they had made the clips a little more sturdy.  Afraid I will break
something if I am too rough with it.