And pffttt... it's gone!

Last night while lying in bed, I wrote a "funny as" blog post in my head.
It was so good, and so funny, that I layed there chuckling my head off... until I fell asleep.
With a big goofy smile on my face.

But this morning; It's gone. Not one teeny weeney iota of that post remains. I can't remember what I was thinking about... or why I even thought it was so funny.

I guess you'll just have to take my word for it.

I've got a LOT of catching up to do with my blogging, reading and writing etc, but I think that once I get home for good, that things will start to settle down.  I hope so anyway, because I've been running around like a chicken with it's head cut off (interesting image, eh?) for far too long.

Anyway, the house here in Oz is now SOLD, and it'a just a matter of weeks before I'm out of here - and back home where I belong!  But getting ready to go?  Man 'o man.. this isn't a typical "throw all your junk in boxes, load it onto a truck, or have some nice studly moving men do it for you, and then deal with the mess again on the other end.

Oh no...  nothing like that at ALL!

I'm having to go through everything, and sort, toss, sell, give-away,  or set aside so I can go back in a day or two and say "what in the heck was I thinking.... I'm not packing that crap!"  Yeas, I love those Pyrex dishes, but they do have Pyrex in the US.  I love that CD, but I haven't listened to it in yonks, so if I miss it too much, I'll buy another - cheaper - copy in California.
My aim is to fit everything I want to keep into 3 large suitcases, (and maybe ship a box or two by mail) but everything else GOES!
And after almost 16 years, I've got more stuff, than a porcupine's got quills.

The way this house sold amazes me, but then again, it doesn't.
See... I put the house on the market and we had ONE open house.  There were several potential buyers, but most of them wanted to dicker on the price, or ask for terms (like 30 day close) that I didn't want to agree to.
So I put it in God's hands.
Lord, I'm getting frazzled here, so I'm giving it to you... let THY will, not my will, be done.

Then last Tuesday, I had a candle party (Lord knows why, because I've got about as much need of candles at this point in time, as a fish has need of a bicycle)... with about a dozen women milling around.  As one of the women was leaving at about 9:30, she was approached by a man who asked if she was the owner of this house.  She sent him in to me, and he asked me if he could have a quick look through the house because he was out of town over the weekend when we had the open house.. Now, for some reason - even though it was late - I agreed - and I took him on a quick tour.  He started asking questions about price, terms, etc, but I referred him to my agent, and gave him the agents business card... so he could contact the agent himself. 
I have to admit that I was slightly creeped out, even though the guy was nice enough.  He was just so eager... you know what I mean?

Anyway, the next morning, I got an early call from the agent, saying that this man had called him at 10:30 the night before, and that he was requesting a showing at around noon. 
Sure... no problem.  I know the drill.  Vacate the house for approximately 30 minutes, until the agent gives me a phone call telling me the coast is clear again - and I can come back home.
We decided to drive over to a friends house to kill time... but before we even got there, the agent rang me and asked how soon I could get back, because the guy had made an offer - an offer I was gonna LOVE!
And man... DID I!

He offered almost my full price, with my terms of a 60 day close, and in addition, he wanted to buy the fridge, washing machine, TV, VCR and other assorted stuff - that I was seriously dreading the thought of  trying to get rid of!!
So all-in-all, I ended up making several thousand more than I was actually asking - and now I don't have to worry about selling or disposing of a lot of the larger items!!

Win/Win!!

Check 'er out!

Classic 60's Weatherboard

SOLD!

I've been battling with Blogger for days now, and I keep losing posts, I can't find "saved" posts and photos are disappearing on me.

So rather than another long-winded and "somewhat" engaging post that might just decide to fly off into the ether, leaving me even more confused than I already am, I'll just leave you with this :

That means MY HOUSE!  I'm coming home!!

Cutting costly corners - and cutting weeds!

An American friend living here in Oz, (it seems like we're everywhere!) recently sent me this information - comparing prices from one city to another, or I think you can even do it "country to country". (but since prices can vary from one city in a country to another, what's high in one city, may be lower just a few miles away)

I mean, I knew that things were much more expensive here where I live... but I sure as heck didn't realize by just how much!

Cost of Living comparison Between Sacramento,California USA, and Melbourne Victoria AU

Consumer Prices in Melbourne are 51.12% higher than in Sacramento, CA
Consumer Prices Including Rent in Melbourne are 56.42% higher than in Sacramento, CA
Rent Prices in Melbourne are 77.17% higher than in Sacramento, CA
Restaurant Prices in Melbourne are 67.23% higher than in Sacramento, CA
Groceries Prices in Melbourne are 28.48% higher than in Sacramento, CA

Restaurants

Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant, CA - $9.33 ... Australia - $15.35

+64.41 % higher
Meal for 2, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course CA - $35.00 ... Australia $67.01

+91.45 % higher
Combo Meal at McDonalds or Similar CA -$5.60 ... Australia - $7.67 $

+36.94 % higher

Domestic Beer (0.5 liter draught) CA - $2.62 - Australia - $5.71

+117.36 % higher
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle) CA - $3.38 ... Australia $6.78

+101.00 % higher
Coke/Pepsi (0.33 liter bottle) CA - $1.34 ... Australia $2.88

+115.32 % higher
Water (0.33 liter bottle) CA - $1.20 ... Australia $2.47

+105.66 % higher


Clothing and Shoes

1 Pair of Levis 501 (Or Equivalent) CA - $38.75 ... Australia $90.11

+132.54 % higher
1 Summer Dress / Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...) CA - $33.33 ... Australia $84.42

+153.26 % higher
1 Pair of Nike Shoes CA - $69.75 ... Australia $141.84

+103.36 % higher
1 Pair of Men Leather Shoes CA- $65.00 ... Australia $172.18

+164.89 % higher

Food

Eggs (12) CA - $2.62 ... Australia $3.85

+46.57 % higher
Potatoes (1kg) CA -$1.55 ... Australia $2.47

+58.70 % higher
Lettuce (1 head) CA - $1.95 ... Australia $2.46

+26.14 % higher

So, when I saw Arugula greens in the grocery store for almost 5 bucks a bunch, a light bulb went off in my head.

I decided to go for the much cheaper option, and to simply go out and weed my yard. Unfortunately, we're only eating one plant at a time, but at the rate we're going we'll will eventually get 'er done!

This way, I can live high off the hog... and at the same time, I'm saving bucket-loads of money!

Which kind of leaves my yard looking like an overgrown jungle, but hey... in the end, it's all good eats!!

Now you may think that dandelions are just your pesky garden-variety weed, but dandelion
greens have become so popular nowadays, that many grocery stores and greengrocers now stock cultivated varieties. I think it's probably because it's less labor-intensive than running around and digging up peoples yards. And chances are, if you've ever had an Arugula Salad in some high-priced fancy-schmancy restaurant... you were actually eating dandelions and didn't even know it.

This one is Purslane - or known by some people as "little hogweed" It's tart and lemony, with a slight peppery kick... and the Old Guy loves it fresh, although you can cook 'er up too.
I throughly investigated it before even trying it,( I recommend investigating anything out in the wild - or in your yard... before putting it in your mouth or on your plate) so I had to laugh at this description:

Known formally as portulaca oleracea, and informally as little hogweed, purslane
is a succulent herb that looks, as one Baltimore chef put it, like a miniature
jade plant. A more colorful description can be found in seed catalogs, which
note that in Malawi, the name for the fleshy, round-leafed plant translates to
"the buttocks of the wife of a chief."

Now the Old Guy has trouble remembering the name purslane or even "the buttocks of the wife of a chief", so he simply calls it "Chiefs Arse".

Honey? Can we eat some of the Chiefs Arse tonight?

Sure dear, go cut some off...

Necessity is the mother of invention...

I have 2 freezers still partially full of food, so I figure that if the stuff in there doesn't get eaten by the time I leave for good... well hell, it will just go to waste. And I sure as heck didn't want that to happen.

So tonight's dinner is going to consist of Stagg canned Chili, Glicks frozen "bake and eat" Bagels and a lovely Sara Lee Cheesecake for dessert.

I know that "bagels and chili" kind of sound like a strange combination, but I think that they'll go surprisingly well together.
You know... Bagels and cream cheese / chili and sour cream?
I mean, why not mix it up a little bit? And serve chili and bagels with sour cream? At least the freezer's will be cleared out a little bit more, and the stacks of canned goods will be getting used up too.
And that's a win / win in my book!!

Even if it gives me The Old Guy wind!

Bon Appetit!

Packing my bags...

Ayup... I'm packing my bags here, because I"M COMING HOME!! Well, not for good at this 'exact' point in time, but we are going 'home' for a few short weeks in May, to get details and finances sorted out, prior to me getting home for good - hopefully by mid-to late summer.
The house here is ready to put on the market (except for replacing that damn vomit-pink pedestal sink in the bathroom) and all the mess and clutter from months of carpentry and painting is well and truly done and dusted.
My stuff has been (mostly) sorted through, tossed out, set aside for the Salvation Army, given away to friends or sold... and I'm kind of enjoying this 'clutter-free' existence!

In the past, when we've gone home we've only worried about taking a small-ish carry on bag each... but this time we're taking the small bags plus two huge 70 lb bags as well. Stuffed with things that I want to keep and think at this point, that can't live without... but Lord knows what the airport security people are going to think of some of it!
Wind chimes and photos, bird feeders and linens & laces, and even a couple of ancient and well-loved cast iron skillets.
Oh... and a book or two that I just can't bear to part with.
And my cookbooks...
And that cool vegetable peeler that's shaped like a carrot... the one with the cushy orange handle.
And... and... well heck... whatever else I can fit in the suitcases!

I thought at one point that I would find a moving company to move most of my stuff, but as my son pointed out, with the exhorbitant cost of shipping, I can buy "new furniture" cheaper over there, and then fill in the gaps with garage and yard sale finds.. And that will also give me the pleasure of picking out 'new stuff' as well - something I haven't been able to afford to do, in all the years I've been here!

I just want to get this all over and done with, so I can settle down and start living my life again... instead of feeling like I'm on a never ending roller coaster. Leaving The Old Guy is going to be one of the hardest things about it all, but I have his sworn promise that he'll be coming over a couple of times a year for a month or two at a time.

And if he doesn't, I'll be coming back to whoop his arse...

Baby Steps...

Okay folks.... I'm just letting you know that I'm still counted among the living here, and I am doing my darnedest to write a semi-legible blog post. A blog post that will get you semi-caught up on what's been going on in my life - even though you've probably all but forgotten my name by now. Which is fair enough.... considering my extreme slackness. But I do have an excuse. Really I do...

So hold on to yer hats, because there's Good Stuff to come ... ie: I'm coming HOME baby! In just a matter of months!!

There's Bad Stuff ... The Lad is no longer here, which is technically "good" stuff, considering the hell he put me through last November. And I'll fill you in on the the thieving and aggravated assaulting that he did... And you know what? I might even think about changing the name "The Lad" for something a little far more descriptive.
IF I can think of something that doesn't involve swear words and the entire top row of the keyboard, that is.

And then there's the Ugly Stuff... because I'm looking at some serious surgery - not too far down the road... to repair the damage that "The Lad" did to me.
He's got a court date set for March 28th that I wouldn't miss for the life of me... even if Sam Elliot rode up on a horse - nekkid as the day he was born!
Which I guess if you take out the surgery part, it would really be considered to be "good stuff".
The court date, as well as the thought of a birthday-suited Sam... Ahhhhh!!!

Well, to tell you the honest truth, the thought of both of those things really get me grinnin' like a possum eatin' briars!

Christmas 2011 -- Birth of a New Tradition!!

THIS IS A GREAT IDEA! And wouldn’t it be great if everyone would participate?!

As the Christmas holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high gear to provide Americans with humongous piles of cheaply produced goods... merchandise that has been produced at the expense of our very own American or Australian labor.
This year Christmas will be different around here - and I hope it will be different at your house too.

This year, Americans will be giving the gift of genuine concern for other Americans.
There is no longer an excuse that at gift giving time, nothing can be found that is produced by American hands.

Because YES there is!

It's time to think outside the box, people.
Who says a gift needs to fit in a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper?

Everyone ~ and I mean EVERYONE gets their hair cut.
How about gift certificates from your local American hair salon or barber?
How about massages or manicures?
Gym membership? It's appropriate for all ages - and who isn't thinking about some
health improvement?

Who wouldn't appreciate getting their car detailed? Small American owned detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a book of gift certificates - and that helps keep our money in our local community.

Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plonking down the Benjamin's on a Chinese made flat-screen?
Perhaps that lucky/grateful gift receiver would like his driveway sealed...or lawn mowed for the summer... or their driveway plowed all winter... or maybe even a few games at the local golf course.

There are a bazillion owner-run restaurants around your area ... most offering gift certificates or vouchers.
And, if your intended isn't the fancy eatery sort of person, what about half dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint?

Remember, folks this is NOT about helping your big National chains get richer -- this is about supporting your home town Americans.
Americans with their businesses, jobs and homes on the line... and when it comes right down to it, this simple little idea can help them keep their doors open... and so that they don't go under.

I mean, for Pete's sake.... how many people couldn't use an oil change for their car, truck or
motorcycle, one done at a local shop run by the American working guy?

Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would probably LOVE the services of a local cleaning lady for a day.

My computer could use a tune-up, and I KNOW that I can find some young guy who's struggling to get his repair business up and running.

OK... so you were looking for something a little more personal?
Local crafts people spin their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make jewelry, and pottery and beautiful wooden boxes. Check out the local craft markets/flea markets or market gardens.

Plan your holiday or family outings at local, owner operated restaurants and leave
your server a nice tip.

And how about going out to see a play or ballet at your hometown theatre?
Do we really need to see "professional" actors, when it's even more fun watching the Bob the local butcher play Romeo... or the little girl down the street dancing to "The Nutcracker"?
And musicians need love too... so find a venue showcasing local bands, and rock the house down!

Honestly, people, do you REALLY need to buy another ten thousand Chinese
lights for the house?
Sadly, when you buy a five dollar string of lights, only about fifty cents stays in the community. FIFTY CENTS!!
That's just beyond wrong!

Our parents and grandparents celebrated Christmas just fine without the lights and tawdry decorations and expensive gifts... so let's make this the year we get back to the REAL meaning of Christmas!
If you have those kinds of bucks to burn, at least please leave the mailman, trash guy or babysitter a nice BIG tip in their Christmas card!

You see, Christmas should no longer about draining American pockets, so that China can build another glittering city.
Christmas is now about us caring about each other... and us encouraging our local American small businesses to keep plugging away to follow their dreams and keep this country strong!
When we care about other Americans, we care about our own communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn't even begin to imagine.
This seriously needs to be the new American Christmas tradition.

So go ahead...Feel free to copy this and forward it to everyone on your mailing list
Post it to discussion groups.
Throw up a post on Craigslist in the Rants and Raves section in your city.
Send it to the editor of your local paper and radio stations, and TV news departments.

This needs to be a revolution of caring about each other...
And after all, isn't that really what Christmas is about?
So c'mon people...let's start putting our own people first, and let's start thinking outside the square.

That said, I would be more than happy for any of you to offer to clean my house for me, or maybe even weed the backyard...
(Hey, I just thought I would save you the trouble of asking. *wink wink*)



(Note: I recieved this is a forwarded email, and even though it specifies "Americans"... as far as I'm concerned, it applies to ALL of us... No matter where we come from.
Just think "local"!!
Let's make this year the year that we TRULY make a difference!)