Monday Tired

I rose with my alarm at 7ish, and sunrise woke me earlier, but I managed to sleep longer. I walked out to the kitchen and found a liberal pot of coffee joy. I poured a cup and made some toast by cutting off a bit of the wheat flour loaf I made a few days ago in the bread machine (I stopped buying bread and instead I make it). I use King Arthur Flour Company flour, milk powder, yeast, and grain mix in the bread machine. I purchase it online and pay shipping at a flat rate of $15; their online prices are lower than in the grocery store. The bread machine is the cheap Amazon version (about $70). While flour is not cheap, I think it must be more affordable to make your own, but adding in the machine’s price may still be more expensive than buying. I think I will break even if I make bread every week or two for a year (I have made about ten loaves, so that is likely $9 each using simple math and cost for ingredients).

Economics and cost of living have moved up in my thinking (as they continue to increase) as I watch the debacle caused by the tariffs. The demand that interest rates be lowered has also surprised me, as the same folks who said the rates are too low are now saying they are too high. Being retired and thus having no paycheck and no Social Security until next year, I must live on my investments, dividends, and interest this year, plus savings I accumulated these last few years. I do not think Trump-style shocks to the Markets or economy will benefit me. The red-hat folks bounce from one extreme (higher rates) to another (lower rates), and cheering on dismantling fifty years of free-trade institutions (tariffs) will produce good returns, which is unlikely, I think. But I accept that Trump won and that he gets another chance; I will watch, try not to wince, and grab some more popcorn.

To be clear, I prefer policies based on income growth for mid-to-low-income families and stabilization of basic costs (gas, food, homes, rent, utilities, and so on). I believe free trade lowers prices and improves goods, services, and fiscal instruments. From what I can see, Wall Street and many corporate folks don’t like it as it pressures them to produce better and cheaper products.

But I digress. The blog is about what I am feeling and experiencing; these thoughts are on my mind more. Returning to the story…

I wrote the blog, spoke, and texted Deborah to wish each other a happy Monday, and did my usual morning things. The liberal (i.e., fair-traded) coffee fueled my morning. The blog was done in the late morning. I dressed and headed into Safeway.

The soaking of beans for today’s chili was missing from yesterday’s blog. I bought a few kits from the Women’s Bean Project, and I planned to make chili today for lunch. I have mentioned this group before; during the pandemic, they were the only folks I could get dried beans from, and I like their products as they help people and are also good. It’s a bit more money, but the handwritten note on the box stating who packed it tells you that you helped someone by using these beans and seasonings. Today, I was using the Firehouse No. 10 Chili package. I soaked the beans overnight.

I followed directions (mostly, but used 1/2 the amount of onion), boiled the beans, and then simmered. I shopped at Safeway and got the items I needed to finish the chili (now buying the cheaper items–see above). The meat manager all but handed me a ham, $6, and was all but putting them in people’s carts. I called Corwin, and he later stopped by and got two cheap ones. These are the plain, not spiral-sliced, hams. I somehow got my bill to just under $90 and two bags. I self-checked out and flagged a security check.

I had dropped a set of apple sauce single servings and had to put the singles in my bag after scanning the barcode on the broken paper holder. The self-checkout then played a movie of me playing stuff directly in my bag. Yes, I was caught by AI! The store staff had to watch the replay of the possible crime and approve each moment. The staff was annoyed as they were busy talking about family matters (not watching me) and had to stop and worship the AI with a wave of their passcard.

It was fascinating to me. The video had a green box over the bag I loaded the items into. I suspect that had I pocketed an item, it would have directed it to my person. Exciting. Having been approved, I paid and was allowed to take my items to the EV. I will eat the apple sauce slowly, now enjoying every AI-tested bit.

Back at the house, I unloaded my approved items and chopped and assembled the chili. I used the jars of instant stock (I saw it being used in New Orleans) and hot water instead of buying what is mostly water in those boxes. The taste was the same (and was much cheaper–see above). It was not too spicy and had a nice flavor. I had three bowls.

I sent a note to Corwin and he was over after work and had a large bowl and raided some of my frig pickles. I learned I was right that he had finished the asparagus pickles. We chatted for a while.

I headed to Wildwood and talked to JR for a while. He is often there on Mondays. His son was married there on Sunday in a big party. We had a few beers. They have a pay-it-forward board where folks can buy a beer for someone. There was a colon cancer survivor line for $25 on the board, and I used $15 for my drinks (leaving $10 for someone else to use). We talked about travel, politics (we don’t agree on much), and beer; an excellent mix.

I also read more of Pastor Ken’s book, now through chapter 3. I sent a few comments.

Deborah spoke to me before she went to sleep. It is always good to open and close our days together.

I had a few beers, smaller ones, and read, and then headed home.

I was still tired from Sunday’s pancake breakfast. Between things, I also did the laundry on Monday. I read for a while and was soon asleep again, around 10:30.

Thanks for reading!