Credit cards in responsible hands can be a very good tool to assist in managing money. But like any tool in the hands of fools it can be dangerous. About every 3-5 months I essentially get a free tank of gas from responsible use of a credit card. Or I can have a grocery trip, or go out to eat, probably 5 times. It's income on money I need to spend anyway so it's a benefit. It's not something where I have to buy something I can't use. The problem for so many that have their cards run up to such crazy amounts is they could never get a low interest loan because they're so irresponsible with their money! And if they don't pay off their cards, who thinks they'll pay off the loans? So they go to the loan sharks, aka credit card companies. They watch TV and hear how they need all this stuff and it's "only a few dollars a month" on the credit card. And geez, they shouldn't have to turn off unused lights or use CFLs to cut expenses should they? Oh, no. Put on a sweater in the winter and turn the stat down a few degrees or close off unused areas? Nope. Shouldn't have to do that. Quit driving for the sake of driving? No, that's not right. And then the smokers. I'm sick of the excuses. Everyone I know who has quit smoking agrees that you'll quit smoking one way: When you decide you *want* to quit. Period. No other time so don't make excuses. The ones who don't *want* to quit need to have an excuse. "Addicted" is a popular one. Oh yeah, it's always someone or something else's fault isn't it? I didn't get myself into the credit card bind, it's the credit card's fault. I didn't light the cigarette, it's the tobacco company's fault. I didn't get fat, it's the fast food joint's fault. Or the soft drink companies. I broke my wedding vows but it's my spouse's fault. Poor little me. Boo-hoo-hoo. The world is out to get me. Never heard of personal responsibility? But why should they? They were raised to lie, cheat, steal and blame someone else since they were "traumatized" as a child. Didn't have enough video games, cell phones and their own new car at 15. Cry me a river... Now I certainly support anyone who decides to quit smoking, lose weight, change diet habits, improve their financial situation, etc. As long as they take responsibility, blame the right party and start the journey. When you do that, it's much easier to accomplish your goal than expecting everyone else to do it for you, or tell you how bad you have it, or whatever. You get my support but I won't coddle you. You have to do it yourself. You'll have an occasional shoulder if needed, advice if wanted too. I won't lecture people who choose to spend their money on cigarettes, or fudge, or inflated interest, when it's their choosing. Hey, I laugh at them but I won't lecture the people who flush a fifty annually at the "cost club" stores to have the "privilege" of walking into the place and spend more for less. I think there are wiser choices but it's a personal choice. Just don't come crying to me about how "tough" you have it when you can't handle your money. I don't have much sympathy for them. And no respect for the ones who have used bankruptcy to supplement their income. Instead of keeping up with the Jones' lifestyle, try living below your means a bit. You'll likely be amazed at your ability to pay your own way. Most people choose to live paycheck to paycheck. Your choice and my right privilege to laugh at it. And this is the time of year I start shaking my head at the number of people whose "savings account" is the tax refund. And they spend it before they receive it and how many times does it turn out to be less than they expected?

I tried the chalk line a while back--the ants apparently hadn't been told it was a 'do not cross' sign. Alcohol is the best way I've found to clean windows. Putting sugar in corn while cooking will add a little sweetness, but it makes the corn tougher. I just buy supersweet corn at the farm stands--it doesn't need sugar. for cleaning vases with narrow necks, I break up a denture cleaning tablet or 2, drop in and add warm (not hot) water. Interestingly, when I took a pate de verre class (molding glass pieces from frit), the instructor--who was a nationally known glass artist also used the denture cleaner method for cleaning the plaster bits of the molds off the molded pieces. Elmer's glue also works for splinters. Spread it on over the area, let dry and peel off the glue--the spinter usually comes with it. Murphy's oil soap also works well on crayon marks if they're on something like wood. Baking soda is my #1 go-to cleaner in the house. It takes those brown specks off frying pans and ranges, removes KoolAid and Grape juice stains from formica, safely scours surfaces that can't tolerate real cleanser or steel wool pads, it disinfects, deoderizes, is cheap, readily available... I buy it in 5 pound bags, and keep a decorative jar of it on my kitchen sink, since I use it pretty much every day.

I bought a bag of a supplement that is supposed to help underweight horses and will be giving some to Emory and a little to the fillies. I hope in a month's time, they will be much improved. I know the fillies will....Emory is old and so thin, it may take him a lot longer. Plus, he has been skinny for a very long time. Val is probably just as old, but he got thin at the kill pen, and once he was home, he gained weight easily. In fact, now he may have to go on a diet. I am feeding him 1/4 of his normal amount of feed and he is still gaining weight. He is in a fairly large pasture but there isn't much grass in it. I will post some pics of him soon. Empower Boost

I like your outlook Jerry. I'm a messy cook by nature. I just wonder if that continuous clean will work on say, lots of splatters from roasting chicken. It looks like you do a lot of baking maybe not so much roasting messy things? I went on the BS web site; it appears the ovens just have a continuous clean. Will look at the manual for electric French door Oven and see what they say. . I really like the broiler in the BS which is better than the broiler in the GE FD. While I don't need to have a "spotless" like new oven, I also don't want grease all over the sides that smell every time I preheat. Nor am I fond of doing a lot of cleaning but like to roast meat and poultry at high temp which makes a mess. . Inga