Fall 2011

Well it’s hard to believe that it’s already 3 days into Fall!  Where does the time go?  Seems like the year was just starting, then it was July…this July was all to say an interesting one with the “Big Storm” happening up north at the cabin during the week of the 4th of July.  This will be one remembered for many years, as well as the aftermath will be visible as well for quite a few years to come.

2011 started off with a bang, COBRA insurance ran out on December 31, 2010…then exhausted all unemployment benefits in March!  Yoo-hoo what a great year thus far.  The job market was still mighty bleak.  Gas, food, utilities all on the rise.  Luckily after a number of applications attempts was able to land a job at 3M in Menomonie.  Getting ready to start my 4th week working tonight 6p-6a.  The 12 hour shifts go fairly fast, well the last 2 hours seem to take for ever to get done with.  The rotating from nights one week to days the next week get to be  a bit taxing on the old body.  ( no spring chicken any more )  going to be switching the end of the week from 12’s to 8’s, which too will be rotating shifts, starting with 11-7, then 3-11, 7-3 then back to nights.  The pay is decent and very good benefits!  Great to have a job once again in this era where every time you read and article some place is closing or laying off a couple hundred people.  Actually the reason I’m up writing this, to transition to nights for this week, well it will actually be for the next two weeks this time.

With next Saturday being the 1st of October the days are quickly getting shorter and cooler, not looking forward to this winter coming.  I’ve not had to go out the last two years, now that too has all changed and will have an 18 mile drive each way every day.  If this winter is anything like last winter, I will not be liking it one bit!  Not much choice will just have to get up and push on…

Did some winterizing this weekend, cleaned out all the flower and vegetable pots most of which had seen there day and now will rest in the landfill from this point forward.  Cleaned off and arranged the back deck for the coming winter months.  Will still have to get the snow blower ready to go for the snow season, but it did start right up!  Power washer has been put to bed for another season.  Still will have to clean up leaves and a final mowing before putting the mower away until next spring.  But it was a good start to getting all ready for winter. 

Cleaned out the kitchen cupboards and drawers, it’s been some time since it’s been done last.  Moved stuff around threw out all the miss matched crap as well as cleaned out all the unused kitchen utensils to the tune of a full grocery bag full of ‘junk’ so the drawers and cupboards are useable once again.  Packers beat the Bears so all in all it was a very good weekend.

Well that’s about all for this time, now it’s off to get some rest and get ready to head off to work tonight!

Save some Cash!

With the price of a carton of Marlboro’s closing in on $60, thanks in most part to State Tax!!!  Trying something new, well new to me anyhow.  Making my own cigs, well in a manner of speaking.  At a cost of about $14/carton!  Well don’t have to hit me in the head with a baseball bat to figure the savings there…that’s about 4 cartons for the cost of 1.  The initial outlay is very reasonable as well, $40 for the machine for filling the pre-made tubes.  With the purchase you can send in for a $10 coupon to use for the tubes, tobacco needed, thus making the cost of the start up at $30.  Once the machine has been purchased you only need to purchase the Tubes and Tobacco.  There are a number of brands available, I’m using the ‘Tube Cut’ brand from Republic Tobacco L.P. out of Glenview IL.  These are the cigarette paper and filter pre-made.  There are a number of choices for tobacco; regular, light, menthol in a large or small bag the large bag makes about 3 cartons of King size cigarettes.  Personally I think they are quite comparable to Marlboros, flavor wise, as well as they are chemical free and don’t have the fire safe crap, so they do not go out.  Of course there is some time required on your part to sit down and make the cigarettes.  Once you get the hang of how much tobacco the process goes quite fast.  The cost savings are well worth the time and effort put in.  Again there are a number of brands, but the ‘Tube Cut’ works well for my purposes.  If you smoke and are sick of paying $60 for a carton of cigs or more if you buy a pack or two at a time then this too might be something to consider?