I'm Not Worthy But I'll Take a Stab by Anon (take a guess...)

For "Beach Week" I am re running some "Best of Post" including this one from my Blogger friend, Dullbert. This post first ran on 7/16/08

First a Mea culpa:
I was always pretty sure that bloggers were the same people that belonged to the "people that needed to get a life" club. Then on a lark I threw together a blog a started posting stuff that I thought was amusing and light.

As with most new blogs the comments were few and far between and then some "regulars" started stoping by. Over time without ever meeting these people you begin to realize these are some good, intelligent and descent people just having some fun (you do get the occasional "drive by" wackjob).

Leigh was one of the first ones to comment on my blog because she "got it", I do nothing heavy just some absurd commentary on the popular culture and daily events. Leigh and some of you blog about anything and everything (probably not everything !) that goes on in your life and that's cool . After reading Leighs blog for awhile you quickly realize she's definitely "got a life" I choose to post anonymously and am flattered that she asked me to participate as a "guest blogger" this week.

Now I know what Leno felt like subbing for Carson (was going to say Joan Rivers but I don't want to know what that feels like). I do have a suspicion it must be sweeps week in the blogging world why else would she bring in the heavy hitters like me - ha !
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Now most of you visit Leighs blog to get a heavy dose of food tips, shopping , travel suggestions and hair talk.
So in trying maintain the spirit of Leighs blog let me offer the following:

1.) A Restaurant Review- Taco Bell-Just throw a dart at the menu it DOESN'T MATTER what you order it all tastes the same just cover it in plenty of sauce to mask the taste of the actual food. Total price about 3 bucks .. spike in cholesterol priceless !

2.) A Recipe- Ramen noodles-boil some water throw the noodles in for 3 minutes add the seasoning and wa-la .. for the deluxe version add a saltine WOW !! A bit pricey though at about a dime per serving but worth it.

3.) Hair Tips - Never underestimate the importance of a good Flowbee and just the right cereal bowl. I wash it , I dry it , I put a hat on . Come on you can't get the Pete Rose look without a little effort !

4.) Day Trip/Shopping-I know Leigh is all about consignment shops and weird little stores in the middle of nowhere but you really ought to try a visit to your local landfill. Talk about good deals it's all FREE and some days depending on what you stumble across you can help local law enforcement solve a crime !

Now let me leave you with this interesting fact:
Studies show that like Leigh this country has nearly 10 million vegetarians which means that there are still over 290 million normal people :)

Leigh thanks for the invite hope I don't kill your readership !

T'mater sandwiches and White Bread! by Drama Mama

Today's guest blogger is Drama Mama, From Life on the Pond.....

I was walking in a convenience store yesterday to get some water cause it was like 1000* and I was sweltered- when this story on the front of USA Today caught my eye-


So, I bought a copy- Now, I have never ever been one to worry about fuel, food and electricity- I considered those things necessities and just bought it and paid the bill-I mean, that is why we are a double income family.
Gas is $4+ a gallon and every time you turn on the tv or radio all they talk about is the cost rising even higher- and passing the costs on to the consumer (you and me).
I've always bought store brands and looked for the better value, but Drama Mama is NOW paying attention to all costs-Not that we were ever frivolous or rich, but we didn't freak out over the price of milk and bread like we are doing at the Pond house now-

Maybe it's because ADHD is 12 and is eating me out of house and home-and I'm feeling the pain in my pocketbook.

So here is the POND Family plan to beat the increased cost of breathing:

1. Buy in BULK- Big Daddy and I loaded the Pond kids up in the car and headed to Sam's Club this weekend-If you don't have a Sam's near you, it is like Costco.
Now I am not one to buy in bulk, mainly because I don't have alot of extra space to store large quantities-and it is hard for the four of us to eat the large amounts of fresh food that they sell-
But somehow, we managed to spend about $200 just on things like toilet paper, paper towel, deodorant, soap and ketchup- Maybe a few other things-but not much.

I went to the KROGER today to buy a few things- crackers, bread, Diet coke and somehow my bill was $68- I can definitely feel the difference there- I thought surely it was only gonna be about $45! and I was buying store brands and sale items.
Here is the strange thing though- normally at 4pm the local KROGER is rockin- The first thing I noticed was that I immediately found a parking place within a mile of the front door-UNREAL!
Then, once I got in there- There were tons of buggies and the aisles were clear of shoppers- I thought to myself how strange that was- and then there were only two checkers open- Normally at 4 pm, all check-out lines are open and there are 5 people lined up in each.
Then I passed the local fruit/vegetable stand on my way home-That's where all the shoppers were- buying fresh food- just like the girl in the above pic-
I didn't stop cause that leads me to cost saving plan #2.

2. Less groceries, less meat, less milk! I am limiting the amount of milk that ADHD drinks- He was up to 3 gallons a week- So, I cut him off! Mean Mama! We buy two gallons now for the week and when it is gone- It's gone -too bad-so sad! He won't die from drinking more water!
l
My daddy has some tomato plants planted this year so, we are trimming the fat by eating lot's o'tomato sandwiches-





I hope those plants are fruitful for awhile.

Plus, we are both usually out on the road at lunch time, so we usually eat a pretty decent meal- Therefore, there is really no reason for me to cook big at night- Nothing wrong with a tomato sandwich, a few chips and pickles. ADHD even likes them. As long as we feed the kids okay, I know I will live on less food- In fact, Big Daddy and I will both live on less.

3. Eat out less- Pond family loves to eat! We were used to going out at least twice a week- No More!- Maybe once a week, so Drama Mama can get her Mexican fix- but you know Mexican is pretty cheap as long as you don't drink 10 margaritas!

4.Limited driving- Big Company pays for my gas,cause y'all know I drive all over the state- They have to. However, I have to pay a small amount per month to use the car for personal use, but it beats paying for gas. We try not to use Big Daddy's SUV if possible since I am already paying to use my small economy 4 door car.

5. Yes frenz, I am coloring my own hair- and I am not ashamed to admit it-
Loreal is saving me BIG bucks every month- I pay $11 at Walgreens instead of $75 at the salon. Plus, I am doing so much painting for ZEMKOOFIES that my hands and nails are always covered in paint- so, no more manicures.I can live with that- At least, people will see the residual paint and know what I've been doing.
I WILL get my toes done monthly though- cause there ain't nothing worse than ugly feet in sandals!

Are you staying at home? Eating out less? Cooking more? Buying a cow, goats and chickens to raise? Are you turning up the AC? Are you buying a deep freeze to store frozen food in bulk? Are you skipping vacation this year? Are you washing your clothes in cold water? Do you have a clothes line? Are you counting pennies and clipping coupons? Have you replaced all your light bulbs with those swirly things? Cuttin back on massages and salon costs? Are you living in the dark? Are you eating PB and J? Do you have a garden? Do you want a garden?

I'd love to hear your plans and ideas for saving $-as costs for everything rise!

My Friend Leigh, By Freddy-Guest Poster

Leigh asked that I be a guest poster on her blog This week. I wanted to talk about my friend Leigh ....

Leigh is definitely a special friend; she’s one of those people you want to have in your life forever. I met my friend Leigh back in my high school. Leigh was one of those girls that was easy to be friends with, always had a smile on her face and no matter where she was she would always speak to you…nothing like some of those stuck up girls you see or remember from high school. After graduation I never saw my friend Leigh again, not that I kept in touch with a lot of people that I graduated with.
It wasn’t until I moved to our great city almost four years ago with my lovely wife and kids that I saw my friend Leigh again, it had been about sixteen years. I had gone to some kind of meeting or presentation at the Elementary school and while sitting there I starter to look around the room and all of the sudden I saw this familiar face looking at me, it was my friend from high school, Leigh. Leigh still had that same smile I remembered from high school, I think she was surprised that I remembered her and knew her name right away. As we got to talking I realized that not only were our kids in the same class, but also she had married a guy we had graduated with and knew today he is referred to, BIG DADDY!. Even though it had been about sixteen years since I had seen Leigh and Big Daddy they both looked great and seemed very happy together, I was really happy to have ran into both of them. A few years have now passed since I got reunited with my friend Leigh and her lovely family, and I can honestly say that I thank God every day for that. My family and the her "Family circus" have become great friends, we occasionally have dinner together and our kids are now taking ballroom dancing together (thanks to my brother, The Mambo King, Fabian Sanchez). I would like to mention that I’m not the only person in my family that has enjoyed this reunion, my lovely wife Zinnia or as she is now called by the family circus, "Princess Warrior", has become a big fan of Leigh and her family, she now talks to Leigh more than I do. I would just like to end this post by saying that every person in the world should have a friend like Leigh, this girl is funny. Leigh is the only person that I have gotten voice messages from on my cell phone and I have actually saved them because she has made me laugh so hard, anytime I need a good laugh I go back and listen to her messages.
Leigh, not only are you a great friend, but you’re a wonderful mother, wife and daughter. Your parents raised a wonder girl and I know that they have to be proud of the woman you’ve become. I thank God for having you in my life.
Your friend.
Freddy Sanchez

There's a Hostage AND A Geisha in Bloggeritaville! by Jen

Well HELLO Bloggeritaville!

When Leigh asked me, Jen ,
the Dust Bunny Hostage to guest blog on her site, I just had one thing to say.

"I've gotta clean my kitchen."

stay with me people

Of course I was honored and said YES as well.

And I really did tell her I had to clean my kitchen.

I don't know about you, but I ALWAYS come up with something that I want to blog about when I am doing housework. It never fails. When I am making progress in my Dust Bunny Battle and Fight for Freedom, they send in the Tokyo Rose of Dust Bunnies. Miss Rose starts whispering Post ideas in my ear... A Dust Bunny Propaganda campaign.

As I was cleaning my kitchen, it hit me...there are things that I have wanted to talk about on my blog that I couldn't, for one reason or another. Hmmmmm, I could use this opportunity to share some of the stuff that I wouldn't DARE publish on my site.

Ooh! Ooh! Ooh! It could be like my Secret Blog. I mean, I don't ever talk about Ess Ee Ex on my site because my kids read and I want Grandchildren one day. I really don't want to warp them into sterility with THAT subject. Maybe I should talk about that! Bow Chica Wow Wow!

Ooh! Ooh! Ooh! I could talk about the numerous issues that I have (excuse me while I spray some OUST! here). There are some things that you just don't want your friends, neighbors, and Blog Buds to know about, but over here? My SECRET BLOG!

Ooh! Ooh! Ooh! I could talk about my annoying habit of saying things in threes!

Ok, I'll walk you through it... I just said Ooh! Ooh! Ooh! three different times. OK? Got me? Then I said that I have an annoying habit of saying things in threes.. OK? Got me? Ya Got me? OK.

Ba Dump Dump *ching*

What an opportunity! What a chance to share! What a crazy woman Leigh was to ask me to post on her Blog!


But then, as I was writing this, I realized that I had written enough. So, to summarize, I have basically done "The Seinfeld". A post about nothing. You know, just, nothing. Ingenious!

Cool, Huh? Huh?

Huh?


Hey! One more thing... I have another, ahem, 'celebrity endorsement' for Leigh. The Traveling Geisha TOTALLY insisted that she get a cameo on this post since Leigh mentioned her the other day on Meet My Frans (Jeez, she really let it go to her head. She's been hard to live with ever since). The Traveling Geisha love LoVe LOVES Leigh.

And so do I!