On shrinking budgets and cheap wine!

Recently, I began to get a serious budget together. A painful process. As I'm on a fixed income, I spent most of the time trying to figure out how to stretch what amounts to an unlivable income. The only shining light in early 2016 has been the shrinking cost of gasoline, something I fear is being corrected by the Obama administration even as I write.

After carefully going over my fixed expenses; mortgage, utilities, insurance, etc. I came to quickly focus on two areas of my life that needed to be drastically cut back. One of these was my credit card spending. Thankfully, I had a zero balances and so was able to simply turn off that spigot. [Somewhere in the distance a bell tolled as I knew I would have to start making do with what possessions I had around me].

The other area of 'manageable' expenses items was my grocery list. Apparently I was living too well, at least as far as eating went. That, I discovered much to my dismay, would have to change. I quickly came to the realization that I needed to cut my grocery spending in half! ( A process made all the more problematic as grocery prices continued to spiral upwards)! But, with a brave heart and growling stomach, I got down to the business of cutting away various foods in order that I might meet my goal.

The first item on the cutting board was most forms of meat. And, while I could still afford some packaged and processed meats (when they were on sale), items like chicken, steak and ham had to go. I figured I could sub-in peanut butter.

Next on the list was the 'snack' category. Over time, I had developed a habit of purchasing name brand chips that were also low in sodium. No more. I needed to redirect my tastes to generics that were also loaded with salt. This same directive also had me cut out any fresh produce (which can spoil) in favor of the canned alternatives which were, again, loaded with salt. Do you see a trend here? Now, while I was fairly certain that this 'change of the guard' would lead to future health problems, that was OK with me as my health coverage was still good to go.

Other fringe items that needed attention were such staples as bread – I had to change, once again, from name brands to the cheap and tasteless generics. Beer also had to be severely curtailed, but thankfully a loophole existed in the form of really cheap wines. (Looking at the revised list, I realized I was going to transform myself into a somewhat bloated wino). 

Meanwhile, in far and distant Washington DC, the party of incredible excess went on... Gee, I wonder what those fat cats are eating tonight?

Well, this country's seen worst times!

Perhaps it's just me, but over the past few year's, under the Big Mac Daddy's lordship things seem somehow no right. Now don't get me wrong, I actually like that big old queer-ball aka Barrack Obama. He makes for a great comedian and can get me to laughing right along with him, as he muddles his way toward the end of a long and lackluster pair of terms in office. As a matter of fact, the biggest joke of all was that we elected this nut-job twice! (It's like we just couldn't get enough of a dose of abject failure and had to have just a little bit more). Well, now we're all positively gagging!

So, here we are, circa 2015 with just a couple more months to go. And, as I look around myself I've taken note of a few of the more obvious cracks in the Republic's foundation:

1. The economy is limping along like an old man trying to get a bowl of free soup back to his table. My bet is he doesn't quite make it.
2. My money is shrinking faster than a salted slug courtesy of the Fed diluting its value for nigh on seven years!
3. As more and more of the Baby Boom generation stagger into old age, there is exactly zero jobs offered to them, that is if you don't count mopping the floors at a local McDonald's.
4. Like flies to shit, the flow of the desperate souls across our southern border is increasing as their lives in Mexico and South America are even crappier than here at home!
5. The rise of extreme homosexuality, atheists and the mentally disturbed is almost as alarming as the number of hardened drug dealers Obama just let out of prison!
6. Illegal aliens are being handed life on a silver platter while honest to God Americans are being shuffled to the back of the bus.
7. There is no money left for major entitlement programs no matter what the media or political spin is; Listen carefully to the General Accounting Office and read their lips! Do it again!
8. The media no longer reports the news, they make up the news to suit their personal agendas.
9. The healthcare system is in complete disarray and that trickle of sick souls that are currently being rejected by their physicians will soon become a tsunami flooding and then overwhelming our emergency wards. Eventually, the government will respond by asking us to 'just deal with it'!
10. Sadly, as a nation, it appears we are preparing to elect yet another corrupt Democrat into office perhaps so that we might show the world just how incredibly dumbed-down we have all become.

I could have gone like that on for some time, but I'm sure my dear reader (I have only one), can come up with a few cracks and potholes of their own.

Random Thoughts for the end of January 2014!

Increasingly and with advancing age, the month of January has gotten harder each times it comes around. Perhaps it's the cold air or the lack of sports or maybe it's just all the dead brown trees, but what ever the cause I'm always glad to see it in the back mirror. That's not to say February is much better...

Another winter storm to hit the Midwest!

Bless my frozen heart. We've got us yet another winter storm coming our way. It's timed to make early February noteworthy with some slide offs and fender benders. That's the latest news out of the National Weather Service at any rate. It's supposed to hit sometime late on Monday, so the Tuesday commute could be problematic for some. I plan to stay safely inside after going out for groceries on early Monday morning.

Sadly, after paying for a second back to back all time high electric bill, I was hoping for a real early spring to hit my area in southwest Missouri. This storm doesn't make that look very promising. See more at www.taneyservices.com!

How about that State of the Union address?

My question after listening to the entire diatribe is – 'what the heck did he talk about other than tax and spend and then spend some more?' Seriously, I feel President Obama has done more to set the black cause back than any other man I can think of. That not me just saying that either - see this article. And, now we will have a chance to elect the first women president in 2016. How do you think that will turn out? Still, I think old Nutcracker Hilliary would be an interesting follow up to the cluster 'you know what' we've all endured right before her.

Keystone pipeline report to be out soon!

The rumors now flying around Washington that the environmental impact of running the pipeline will not be that big of a deal is sure to disappoint some of the left wing segments of our population who seem against the United States energy interests. Fortunately for them, the State Department wants to launch a new review based on the complaints that the pipeline may look too phallic for some sensitive females who might spot it while traveling around in their cars. This review could also take years to reach any conclusions. In the meantime, the rest of us can sit around at home because we can't afford to buy gas.