Hi, Everyone.  I would say good morning but we are expecting the first wave of snow from that system that slammed the Pacific Northwest.  It should end sometime late tomorrow after dumping between 4 and 8 inches of snow. Plus what ever lake effect snow the backside of the system will produce.  Needless to say, we are hibernating till Sunday.

I found this little item from FishOutOfWater, guest blogging at Shakesville, on my Google alerts this morning.  In their zeal to protect us from unhealthy Chinese toys, our Congress Critters formulated a sledge hammer law that would put small craftspeople making handmade, one-of-a-kind toys out of business by requiring expensive third party testing.  Various individuals, organizations and on-line outlets (like Etsy) are spearheading the protest to get exemptions for handcrafters.  The links are on the Shakesville blog entry and it has an interesting personal story from the author.  His daughter opened a toy store that sells toys made by local crafters, many of whom are retirees.

Frugal Families asks if the new law will effect yard sales also.  I read over the law and it has an interesting catch-22.  Resellers (thrift shops, second hand stores, or yard salers) are not required to get third party testing done.  However, if they sell anything that exceeds the legal limits, they are liable for criminal and/or civil penalties.  

Chris In Paris at Americablog says that China is slowing down its purchases of American debt.  I have been wondering what would happen if China and others who bought our debt stopped.  We might get the chance to find out.  Look at what has happened in our economy since consumer debt started drying up.  Perhaps our Federal Government will find out first hand what those of us lower on the economic food chain have already found out.  It can be real painful living within your means.  Then there was this little item at MSNBC this morning.  Amid all the talk of tax cuts there are proposals to increase taxes on cigarettes (.39/pack), cigars, and perhaps sugary soft drinks.  I wouldn't be surprised if the alcohol taxes were raised as well.  Why not hit all vices at once?

Well, I have made it through all my Google alerts and all the blogs I follow.  I think I will move on now to doing something else.  Maybe I will transfer that vest pattern I have been thinking about.  See you next time.

Good Morning, All.  

Well, someone finally thought to ask about the condition of small business.  I find it extremely interesting that most politicians and economists appear to believe that small business is the backbone of the economy and so few have really focused on how small businesses are weathering our economic storm.  MSNBC has a story this morning that does so in the usual sketchy and unquestioning manner that is the mainstream media's modus operandi.  There is no mention of any action by any government to help 'save' small business.  We have bailed out the banks (at least for the moment).  The Federal Government provided some loans for the auto industry.  As we listened to the morning news we suddenly noticed this lack of focus on small businesses.  I forget now which story triggered the notion.  But one of us asked how often someone went out shopping for something they normally got at a small store only to find the store gone.  Or, as we have often done, driven a route we knew well and were startled to see something new or a blank space where a familiar store used to be.  

It isn't even mid-winter and I am already itching to get tomatoes started.  I have two 30 gal. containers for tomatoes and peppers.  I have collected a dozen (plus or minus) egg cartons for starter trays.  I have a nice collection of plastic tubs from cottage cheese, cream cheese, and margarine for transplant pots.  I plan to use the plastic we have on the windows (after we take them down, of course, to fashion a cold frame so I can set plants out a bit earlier.  Now I find there are some varieties of tomatoes that have been bred to be more cold tolerant.  The How To Garden Guide has a few listed.  I wonder if some are locally available.  Will have to spend some time in the garden shops looking at the seed packets.

The Crochet Dude has a problem I totally understand.  Cats (and dogs, I suppose) absolutely love crocheted or knitted things to lay on.  And if mommy (or daddy) is working on the piece, so much the better.  And if you are not working on a crocheted piece they look at you with that wounded look that says "What are you doing THAT for? It isn't even good to lay on."  I really have to take up some small pieces that don't require a lap.

I have been hearing a good bit on TV about Oprah's weight problem.  How could I not, living near Chicago.  Here is a link to her on-line magazine that details her struggle.  One of the bloggers I normally check into every now and then, the Crusty Crone at The Crone's Corner, mentioned her disgusted disbelief that Oprah would go through four doctors before getting an accurate diagnosis.  I totally believe it.  Last spring Mom suddenly gained weight and slept a lot more than usual.  She has been on thyroid medication for most of her adult life.  Even so her primary care physician had no idea of how to diagnose her condition.  Luckily the doctor sent her to a specialist who got the condition under control.  After close monitoring (every three months since last spring) she is back on a twice yearly schedule for seeing her doctors.  During this process, however, we became aware of a different problem.  The specialist insisted on prescribing Synthyroid and refused to substitute the generic.  He said that the generics do not give accurate test results, a problem he does not see with Synthyroid.  But Mom's drug plan, which otherwise is very good, includes only a generic medication in its formulary.  As a result she has to pay four times more to get the Synthyroid.  This is something I would love to see changed.  If the doctor has a legitimate reason for prescribing the name brand then they should cover it.  I think the insurance companies should question doctors, as should patients.  They should not overrule them.

I think it is time to enjoy the brief bit of sun we are getting and clean up the part of the sewing/computer room I have been avoiding for the last couple of days.  Stay warm and safe, everyone.

Hello, again.  We have had a bit more snow but not enough to get worked up about.  Certainly not the kind of weather they have had in the Pacific Northwest.  

I was pleased to see Sen. Feinstein cutting through some of the self-righteous crap in the Burris mess and getting to a crucial issue.  She has come out in support of seating Burris noting that, although Blogojevich is under a legal (and moral) cloud, he is still the Governor of Illinois with the power to appoint a replacement for Obama.  If Burris is not seated then at any time in the future for almost any reason, the U.S. Senate can exercise veto power over any governor in his appointments.  Can you see the mess if the Senate is controlled by one party and a governor is from another?  One of the bedrock principles of this country has been the notion that we have a government of laws not of men.  This situation would qualify that--we have a government of laws unless enough men think the same way and decide to ignore the law.  Another word for that is anarchy.

MSNBC had this little story this morning.  Shoppers are, it seems, getting used to the deep discounts and are looking for even better deals.  Now the retail stores and chains are in a quandry--how low can they go?  Retail 'Limbo Rock' is the new fashion.

Has anyone else noticed how frequently the news media are carrying so-called frugal living tips lately?  I say so-called because so much of it simply doesn't pertain to my situation and I think calling it 'frugal' is a bit of a stretch.  Last night (or perhaps the night before) the local evening news had a short interview with a financial expert whose advice was totally out in left field.  He said one should start budgeting by writing down one's goals and then start savings plans to reach those goals.  That assumes that who ever is listening has a surplus income they can save.  That doesn't describe most people I know.  This morning the segment focused on 'recession proofing' your portfolio.  What portfolio?  

However, one of my Google alert searches keys 'frugal living' and sometimes I find some interesting items there.  Living the Scientific Life lists a number of ways to reduce expenditures.  Over the last few years we have implemented many of them.  We started plugging most of our appliances and reading lamps into power strips.  When we turn off the appliance/lamp we also turn off the power strip.  Our kitchen appliances are unplugged after we are finished with them.  We did not expect to see any savings but our bills have been slightly lower since.  We only shop on one day each week and plan all of our errands for that day.  We don't window shop and rarely indulge in impulse buying.

I saw the news that Toyota is shutting down their plants in Japan for 11 days later in January and early February.  The only question I have is: while the workers on the line won't get 11 days worth of pay will the executives also take an 11 day hit?  I also saw that the UEW is filing a complaint that Republic Windows in Chicago (remember the sit in where workers demanded their back pay, vacation and promised severance after the company shut down) fraudulently and illegally shut down its plant.  They claimed it was due to economic hardship and, therefore, they did not need to give the 90 day notice the law requires.  In fact, they planned to take all the assets out of Chicago and reopen under a new name in Iowa.  I wonder if Bank of America, who supposedly pulled Republic's line of credit, is providing the capital for that move?

I always love discovering new things that might prove useful.  Fran, aka Redondowriter, talks about Google Notebook on her blog this morning.  I really do have to play with it.  Thanks, Fran.

Melissa McEwan at Shakesville has an entry that triggers my disgust button.  I have never liked those 'charity' promotions that encourage people to go out and buy a s#*tload to crap they don't need to get seals, bottle caps, labels, whatever, to send in so that some company which is simply trying to bolster their sales will 'donate' some pennies to a charity.  It would make far more sense for consumers to donate the amount they would have spent (and the amount of the postage) directly to the charity and cut out the middle man.

Well, I have done enough ranting and commenting for the day.  See you next time.

Hi, everyone.  It was a nice sunny day yesterday.  Today is overcast but they have reduced the projected snowfall to less than an inch.  We dodged the bullet that went south and east with freezing rain and sleet.  Unfortunately, it looks like it is headed for Ohio.  How far north it will go is anybody's guess.

The big news has been New Mexico's Governor Richardson tapped to be Commerce Secretary but no longer because of a 'pay to play' scandal.  Over in our neighboring state of Illinois the Lt. Governor has appointed the former U.S. Attorney who successfully prosecuted former Governor Ryan to head (without pay) a commission to propose changes to clean up the mess.  I could suggest two measures that would go a long way to that end.  First, ban political contributions from any company or organization to any political party, campaign, pac, etc.  Soft money or hard, it doesn't matter.  Ban it.  At the same time, ban contributions beyond the limits for individuals from anyone in a position of authority with such companies or organizations.  Second, prohibit any company or organization from active involvement in setting up any legislation regulation the industries those companies or organizations are involved in.  We have seen far too much of the coal industry, the auto industry, and others setting public policy and using their money as leverage.  I am not holding my breath and I am not taking bets.

John Aravosis on Americablog has a link to a description of a debate between the candidates for the Republican National Committee Chair position.  He focused on an exchange between current Chair Mike Duncan, who thought that President Bush's worst failure in his 8 years in office was the conduct of the early phases of the Iraq war, and former Maryland Lt. Governor Michael Steele, who thought the worst failure was a 'failure to communicate' with the public about Iraq, Katrina and the economy.  If these two idiots are representative of the entire Party's grasp of reality,  God help us if we elect any of them to public office again.  We will deserve the crap we will get.  Actually and unfortunately, there are way too many Democrats about whom I could say the same thing.  We don't really have many choices and we do not deserve the crap we are getting.

It is now time to go on to other things.  I took out about 6 hours worth of crocheting on that rug last night and put back about two.  It is looking much better.  I still have some house cleaning to do but the spirit is leaving so I will not do as much at any one time until it comes back (not too soon, I hope).

Good Morning, Good Morning, Good Morning, Everyone.  We are supposed to have sunshine today and I am looking forward to it.  We have planned our week's grocery shopping and will get it done early.  Later I have two shopping bags and a box of books that I will take to the local library.  All the dusting I did over the last several days yielded a significant number of books that I read once, twice, sometimes more, but am fairly sure I won't be reading again any time soon (if ever.)  The local library can either sell them or (especially in the case of the paperbacks) put them on the shelf for others to enjoy.  Over the last couple of years I have been lightening my load a little at a time.

Trolling through my Google alerts this morning I found this entertaining little entry from Bob Ewing at HubPages.  I love the title: On Being A Lazy Gardener.  He didn't have any new techniques I could adopt but it was a fun read.  

I guess that some of the big box stores are getting desperate.  Mom just opened her e-mail and found two informing her that she had 'won' shopping sprees at Wal-Mart and Target.  She has been getting at least one a day for the last two weeks.  Of course, what she has 'won' is the chance to win the big prize and the invitation to spend money at the store even if she doesn't get it.  I don't know whether to be amused or irritated.  A bit of both perhaps??

Joe Sudbay at Americablog has the same comment I had concerning the 'news' item this morning that President George H.W. Bush would like to see another of his sons in the White House--Jeb.  Haven't we had enough of this family?  I am not really surprised because I remember a couple of years ago reading that Little George wasn't supposed to run for the Presidency because the family had been positioning Jeb (who was already Governor of Florida) to do that,   Unfortunately, Little George jumped the line.  The story I heard said Jeb is thinking of finding a senate seat as a lead in to a Presidential run.  I only hope that both the Republican Party and the nation has too long a memory to let that happen.

We got a chuckle out of this item on Politico (by way of digg).  It is too precious not to quote:

“Some people are pissed off at [Americans for Tax Reform President] Grover [Norquist]. Some people are pissed off at the Conservative Steering Committee. Some people are pissed off at [current RNC chair] Mike Duncan. Some people are pissed off at social conservatives. The social conservatives are pissed at leaders in Congress,” said a Republican consultant who has worked with the RNC. “Everyone is basically pissed.” 

He doesn't mention all those of us who are pissed off at the Republican Party in its entirety.  It seems there is a contentious six-way race for who will be the next Chair of the RNC.

On that note I will end this.  I have to take a little rug apart.  I finished it yesterday but it doesn't lie flat.  Oh, well, I have procrastinated long enough.

Good Morning, this overcast and moisture laden Sunday.  We are supposed to get a mix of rain, freezing rain and snow.  In pretty much that order since the temps are supposed to fall from high thirties to somewhere much lower by sometime tonight.  At least the weather people are still calling for sun tomorrow.  Since Monday is one of only two clear days for the next week that is our shopping day.  Winter is the season when our shopping is planned for the clear days.  Otherwise we hibernate.

Going through my Google alerts I found this among the quilting blogs.  Anita at Anita's Hints asks if her readers are afflicted with the 'someday syndrome.'  I know that syndrome very well.  There is always something that is a good idea--for someday.  And of course, as Anita says, someday never arrives.  Over the last year I have made some tentative moves toward breaking that syndrome.  When I start a new project I  look to my stash first and only buy new materials when I absolutely must to finish a project.  I have all too many projects that I bought on 'speculation' and have not even started.  I am gradually working those into the line up.  One of my goals this year (a continuing goal first put on my list a couple of years ago) is to finish more projects than I start.

As I read Anita's blog I thought of a related syndrome that I have made strides at eliminating--the 'saving it for special' syndrome.  We suffer from that syndrome whenever we decide that something is too good for everyday use.  A couple of years ago when we cleaned out our linen closet we found a large number of embroidered table scarves and pillowcases that were stained not from wear but from simply sitting around.  We put a lot of work into those items; too much to simply let them rot away unseen.  We pulled them out, washed them up and have been using them regularly since.  Nothing is too good for everyday use.

Time for breakfast and some more house cleaning.  

Good Morning, again.  I guess I have gotten used to the weather pattern.  Possible storms keep coming in every two to three days but nothing so bad or good as to deserve mention.  The New Year's retrospectives have carried some of the weather statistics and 2008 was, evidently, one of the wettest on record.  I am not surprised since there are areas up here that got flooded out three times over the year.  All the moisture seemed to come in concentrated bursts--like the September episode thanks to the remnants of Hurricane Ike.  This winter hasn't been as miserable as some in the recent past because I can hibernate through the worst of it.  No job means I don't have to go out in it.

Although it is early January I am already thinking about spring and gardening.  I have a couple of google searches set up for 'container gardening' (since all I have is a small concrete patio to plant something on) and 'urban gardening' (since I do live in town and have no intention of moving to a rural setting.)  I checked in on Life On The Balcony this morning and found a link to a site I may sign up for later--My Folia.  I like reading and seeing pictures of what others do with their gardens.  I get ideas I might like to try later.

I haven't written much about Illinois and its governor.  I think the whole thing is a bit surreal.  I am very surprised by all of the supposedly savvy people who are surprised by Blago's move to appoint Burris to Obama's former Senate seat.  The one thing that man has in disgusting abundance is chutzpah.  The first thing Mom and I thought when Fitzgerald announced the complaint he filed was that Blago would find a squeaky clean black politician and name him to the vacant post.  There are several points that come to my mind.  First, Fitzgerald filed a criminal complaint but has until the first of April (thanks to an extension the court is likely to grant) to file an indictment.  Therefore Blogojeovich is still the governor with all the powers of a sitting governor, including those of appointment.  Also, a committee of the Illinois House is considering its bill of impeachment and has not as yet reported it to the full House which has not, therefore, voted on it.  I do think the idiot is guilty but that has not been proven YET.  All of this bombast, on all sides of the issue, is so much bombastic crap and moral posturing.  Boys and Girls, you really do have much better things to do with OUR time.