Expensive Mistake

 We all make mistakes but they aren't always expensive. My latest one, was. My washer is relatively new and not one of those cute window types. What I wanted is not to watch my laundry go round and round but for it merely to be clean. No high fashion in my utility room. The other day, wishing to add a damp tea towel to the washing machine, I was denied access due by the automatic door lock mechanism. It annoyed me because when someone doing laundry comes across a small item missed and wishes to add it to the working machine, one can't. It is touted as a safety feature and that's fine but why not when the lid opens, the machine merely stops and begins again when the lid is closed. What is this lid lock nonsense? Some designers of appliances are people who don't evidently use them before they manufacture them. Sure the engineers design efficient products, but are they built to convenience the customer? Too many are not. The person purchasing has to put up with a machine that forces them to comply to the machine rather than the other way around. Aha, thought I. I can fix that. I'll just snap off the little gizmo that locks the lid. I did. The machine's red light flashed at me saying "ha ha, you'll be sorry". I was. The machine stopped working. Very politely it did empty most of the water first. That feature, I loved. I hauled out my sopping wet laundry, a full load, and set up the drying rack in my walk in shower. Drip, drip, drip. After hours of drip, it all went into the dryer for two rounds. The service tech came next to the tune of a large fee just to enter my place. These days you pay first to have a look at the service person. The rest of the actual work, is added. My tech was great and very helpful. But unless I replaced what I ruined, I'd have to buy a new washer. It was a cruel and costly lesson. From now on before I do anything as rash as snapping off even a tiny bit of plastic which is all I did previously, I will research to find out the effect. Lesson learned. Ouch. Bill paid. 

HIgh Rise Trailer Parks

 We are looking for places to accommodate those who can't afford a home or need something inexpensive. There are so many living in RVs and tents and they can't find suitable places to camp while at the same time being mistreated by others. My thought is why not have high rise parking buildings with divided sites that have outlets for power and sewage, that could accommodate persons on low incomes, and at the same time have space for people living in cars and vans. There would be a fee but a low one because the site or parking spot fee would include supervised shower and bathroom areas on each floor as well as garbage service, and other utilities. Fee arrangements would fit the needs of the user. Of course there would be security patrols and rules and anyone not abiding by them or failing to pay their fee would be asked to leave according to the signed agreement when they moved in. There could be floors for tents, others for small RVs, larger ones, students only, travellers and so on. The top floor could house a grocery outlet, food court and bar for tenants as well as play areas for kids, ones  that are supervised and safe along with child care facilities. Many of the residents might train for jobs in the building itself. It would have on the lowest floor, stores for supplies and goods needed by those in the higher parking spaces. Each person would have to keep their site clean and be a good citizen. The floors could be designated. Some floors would be for those with substance problems and have helpers on site to assist them. Travellers from outside, would have the lower floors as they come and go. The entrance to the building would be gated and with security. The benefit of this kind of structure, for those in it, would be that services were available for their special needs. Some floors could be strictly for homeless accommodation in tiny units, with medical treatment available. It may sound like a ridiculous idea but rather than take up street space, persons in this situation would be located in areas that they enjoy and also would take them off green parks etc because this sort of solution building could be situated almost anywhere. The government would be better off to do this than try to find land outside cities. The city is where this is needed because of employment factors and student accommodation and just plain poverty. No one who  had higher incomes would be able to use it since it would be for those only, on most floors, who can't afford to go anywhere else. It would be cheaper to construct this kind of accommodation due to less finishing compared to other high rises that rent for impossible prices. The facility would also provide employment and services that are centered where they need to be: in one place near all services. I feel it would flourish because it is money well spent and people of need there,  would be safe and secure rather than prey out on the street.  

Short Handed

 We've dealt ourselves a short hand these days. Our senses of logic and reason seemed to have disappeared and are replaced with jumping on the social band wagon as fast as we can. Someone the other day, tried to convince me that cell phone texting was conversation and that because I favour using  email and my computer to make written conversation, I was told that this is just not done and that my emails with punctuation and no texting is passe. My argument back, is that you are not having a conversation with another human being when you text because, largely, you aren't saying anything at all. The acronyms go on, line after line adding up to nothing at all being said. I asked my companion "Why would this be called keeping-in-touch?" The answer was eyeballs-to-the-roof . Could be my friend didn't know how to have conversation. Out came his cell phone. The new therapy. It didn't really come out from anywhere because it never leaves his hand. It's a wonder he hasn't drowned it in the shower or taken a bite out of it accidentally. I jest. Cell phones can be handy things, and I have one and take it out when I go out, but I could not bear to carry it around everywhere I go. My hands were not made for holding a cell phone and I have better things to do than yapping  for no reason whatsoever. There are apparently people who sit at the same dining table and instead of looking at each other, they cell phone across the table. No more holding hands in the candlelight I suppose. Something else that worries me about the human race recently, is the need to attend something called "concerts" along with thousands of others in a huge football arena with big screens and goofy lights flashing all over, and humanity pressed together at huge expense. The cost as one starlet advertised, rather her "assistant" did, that she gave up her appointment to have her eggs frozen so that she could attend this concert. Now there's a sacrifice!  She had to fly half way around the world to attend and the cost was about the same as the egg thing, thus she felt her "sacrifice" was worth it. Media reports like that make me want to say "Stop the world, I want to get off", a line from long ago, and one that could happen due to my age. These "concerts" add up to commercial money making in the millions nay billions, while at the same time people are complain bitterly of not being able to own a house with dirt around it or pay the rising costs of groceries. Where is the logic? A concert used to be a place you attended to listen to and watch people who had spent most of their lives learning a skill so that they could perform their talent to inspire others. They don't make big money. These gigantic shows with lights and stage mavens jumping up and down with huge amps pounding their ear drums are a mystery to me.Usually there is skinny young person, dressed in expensive gear, belting out a song or two for a a few hours of shouting and screaming others all around one. From where most of them sit or stand if they become emotionally deranged over the show, can't see anything of it but a tiny bunch of people on a distant stage jumping up and down in costumes. There are big screens here and there not like the nice ones in their own homes where it would be a lot cheaper and more comfortable to enjoy. My closing comment is  "Huh?" or STWIWTGO. 

DIY Ketchup Saves

No harm in saving pennies these days by taking up DIY. I am doing so and besides putting my laundry outside, am making my own yogurt and today, my own ketchup. I am a ketchup lover and this recipe is the best tasting ketchup I have ever tasted. It is so easy with no cooking, let the kids stir it up and enjoy it on the next hot dog or hamburger from the barbecue.  To 12 ounces of tomato paste, add one third cup of white wine or apple cider vinegar, one tablespoon of sugar, one half teaspoon of salt, one quarter teaspoon each of black pepper, ground mustard, and celery salt, next, add one half teaspoon of oregano, cayenne, onion powder and a pinch of allspice. Stir well. That's it. And it keeps in the fridge for a month. If it lasts that long. I have a blob of ketchup on the side of my plate and dip into it without guilt at most meals.This recipe tastes fresh and more like tomatoes than I have had ever before from the store bought kind. The more we can save in any way we can, by finding ways to select, prepare and cook our foods ourselves, saves not only our own pocket books,  but also the earth by using primary ingredients without additives and the need for industrial production. It also teaches kids especially, the value of creating our own foods and adding personal flavours in what we prepare. Added to that learning, it allows kids to appreciate what goes into food production of items we eat every day. Using dough to make breads, making our own cakes and pies and things like our own ketchups as today, gives everyone a sense of being in control of the food supply. Better still, is growing small herbs on window ledges and in flower beds alongside the pretties, having green onions always sitting in water beside the sink for clipping,  is using the earth's gifts the right way. Wild foraging is becoming another "sport" that families are taking to. There is far more to living than competing in ball games and taking dancing lessons and dreaming of becoming the "best". We are already "the best" just living in this complex but still beautiful world. 

Unfair Farewells

 We've all done it. We saw an ad that promised a free spate of a membership with cancellation if not wanting to continue. What we found out later, is cancellation is really a complication. If we tried the membership and found it entertaining at the beginning, but that it became something we decided not to continue for one reason or another, cancelled. Or rather, tried to cancel. Previously, one could depend on a reliable, experienced company to comply with a request to cancel; but no more. I can't recall how many times in the last year or so, I have discovered that cancelling is like finding the proverbial needle in a haystack. Sometimes, after much plowing through endless redirects the key words to make the cancellation happen simply do not appear to exist. You resort to going on line to find out from others perhaps in a forum, just how they managed to cancel. The other day, for example, I checked my bank statement and discovered that a company I had joined, charged me, not a monthly fee as usual, but an annual one in which I had to pay a large amount all at once rather than the regular monthly fee. My bank listed the amount as "pending" thus I could take no action to stop payment because they could not effect it until the charge actually  happened. I had to wait until the charge went through and then start action. So how come it is listed as "pending"? And further, how do I dispute a "pending" that is a non-existent amount? The next step logically, would be to contact the company and cancel the item.  I went to "account" and scrolled down to "manage". To "manage", I could renew my subscription or extend it (with lovely bonuses) or change my account info,  but nowhere did I find "cancel". After another search, I was told that I needed to cancel, not on the company's name but from the provider source. Huh? Each time I used the product, I went directly to the company, not the provider. Finally, I found a cancellation spot and discovered that not me, but they, made suggestions listed for me to choose from.  None of the long list of items included my need. Usually at the bottom of the page, one can find "Help" and perhaps a phone number or an email address for a "zen" desk which is apparently where you just might find some real help. The zen desk was an email address only and I entered my subject - cancel the subscription. Whoopee, I reeceived a "we have successfully cancelled your subscription".  But reading on, they said I would continue as a member until next year when your "pending" fee on your bank account, will end the subscription. Next year? Now, please. I wrote to the zen desk  "cancel immediately or I will be reporting you to my bank and credit card company". I am still waiting for a response. 

Cordless Dryer

 This long weekend sends thousands of cars onto the mactac highways pumping tons of carbon into the atmosphere while complaining about the heat and buying ACs and global warming and also travelling on ships and trains and airplanes doing their bit to kill the planet in a slow death. Who wants to stay home in the summer? No one, because there's the boat and the trailer and the bush noise maker grinding up the woods and they, too, pump out carbons. Lots. Summer fun, it's called. I am staying home, goody two shoes that I am,  for these reasons: done it all, too old, no desire, got rid of my car and I love my sun deck and home and I have a conscience that tells me I have grandchildren and they need the planet.  Today I am laundering. Okay, I am using warm water, soap and electricity. But the difference is that because we have more than ample sun, I can turn on my "cordless dryer". My deck is not allowed by The Condo Act, to have laundry hanging out, thus I have encircled the deck space with fake ivy branches because I do not have a view and even if I did, I would still do the same. Why? I like the look of greenery that I don't have to water and that stays out winter and summer and doesn't change. Love it. I have a folding rack that will take lots of hanging objects, sneakers and flat things and I use it every week when the laundry days are sunny. My deck is covered by the deck above, my sun umbrella is up unless it rains and I face west with no view at all. What better reasons are there to hang out laundry that no one else can see? When I had a house, a rarity these days, I had a clothes line. Remember then,  when the sheets blew freely in the wind and towels smelled heavenly when reaped?  Even though I worked full-time, I always hung out my laundry and loved doing it. I felt that it was the right place for it. When I had a set of those cute laundry machines with the little round windows (why windows?), it just wasn't the same. What came out dry smelled like perfume, but yes, it could be folded immediately and safely since it never saw the light of day unless it was on me. But I missed gathering in sweet smelling linens of the old days before layering them into the closet. Younger  urbies don't have that pleasure now. But then who CAN hang out laundry? To me, it makes sense to use the sun instead of turning on an electric dryer. I have to admit that often I put some items in for about ten minutes just to warm out the wrinkles if any, but most pieces off the little rack are smooth and the sheets that I drape between too deck chairs are back to smelling like fresh air. Wonderful! In Europe, hanging out laundry is okay because they are crowded and know the value of not using electrical power, no matter how much source they have to do so. They are planet conscious. Are you?