I learned something new tonight

Perhaps I understood the full meaning of the word in vocabulary class, but I don’t think so. All my life I thought gossip was people spreading intentional misinformation. I looked it up tonight and was surprised to discover that gossip means….

From Wikipedia…Some people commonly understand gossip as meaning the spreading of rumor and misinformation.

Gee…that’s what I thought it meant! I also looked up the definition of gossip and found this…

Gossip is identified as both rumors and facts.

All this time I had NO IDEA that if I recounted facts that it was considered gossip!

So….what is the difference between trying to get help in a situation by reporting the facts of what’s going on and gossiping? I often say what I see. I do not like scamming or injustice. This is something I need to ponder a loooooong time…..

Economic justice, frugality, entitlement, compassion…

According to the US Census Bureau…

The median income per household member (including all working and non-working members above the age of 14) was $26,036 in 2006.

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My income is $6,876/year, plus $360/year in food stamps.

I’ve been thinking a lot about the people who tell me to be glad I live in the US. Yes, it’s waaaaaaay better to be disabled and poor in the US than, say, Bangladesh. Does that mean I should just shut up and smile? Perhaps.

I wish instead we could talk about my triumphs and challenges. I take pride in doing what I can for myself. I squeeze every bit of money I have until it screams. I plan months ahead of time for how I want to spend my money. I try to invest in things I need long-term instead of things I would like.

I do not have hot water here. I refuse to turn on the hot water heater because I really don’t need it and I sure don’t want to pay for it. I haven’t been to a movie theater in years. I do not rent movies. I do not have cable TV. I don’t go to any sort of entertainment events that cost money…like concerts, fairs, plays, etc. I haven’t bought clothes other than underwear in two years.

I cook almost everything from scratch. I bake my own bread. I preserve and store any windfalls of food. I do not buy junk food. I usually treat myself to a $6 buffet once a month, though Other than that, I only go out to eat if someone takes me out.

I budget one tank of gas per month. Mostly that’s for doc appointments, getting freecycle stuff, buying groceries and going to church. I stay home for days at a time without going anywhere. Theoretically I could take the bus, but it’s definitely a last resort thing for me. To get from my apartment to a store requires bus transfers and a bunch of walking. Also, the crazy driving makes me wicked bad queasy. Sitting in the sun waiting for a bus is killer with MG.

Heck, I’m having a hard time thinking about what people do with their money. I spend mine tithing, on electricity, the telephone, the internet, pet food, vet and pet meds, car insurance, license and registration, gas, maintenance, hair cuts every 2 or 3 months, food, toiletries, laundry, stuff for my garden…..

I don’t belong to any dues paying clubs or subscribe to any magazines. I have no life or other kinds of optional insurances. I do not have any savings or a credit card. If the tire goes flat or the window is shot out…tough luck.

I was homeless the last two years because I could not afford monthly rent and I sure could not afford deposits on rent or utilities. Now I’m living here only by the grace of my church. I still cannot afford rent of $494/month, as it is here. A great thing about apartment living is the built-in storage, paid garbage, water is included, maintenance is done by someone else, etc.

Through all this I am trying to do food storage, have a 72 hour kit, grow a garden, do church stuff, take care of myself, my pets and help out my friends. It’s a miracle I do as well as I do! For once I’d like to hear people tell me how remarkable I am rather than what a slug on society I am! Grrrrrrrrr…..

Awwwww….cute kitty!

see more crazy cat pics

Economic stimulus…NOT here!

Sigh….it’s always tough being the poorest person I know, but today is harder than usual. Yesterday my neighbor got her check and went out and got a new-to-her car. A lot of the ads offer to boost your buying power if you spend your money at their place. As usual, I’m economically left behind.

People on SSI are not eligible for economic stimulus….and we probably NEED it more than most anybody. I guarantee we would rush out and spend it! In a baffling move, last year was the smallest cost of living increase. And anyway, whenever there’s in increase in SSI benefits, that same amount is taken out of the food stamps we get.

I continue to scrape by on $573/month and get no relief. Gas and food and EVERYTHING keeps going up in price and my spending power is in the pits. Sigh…
Enough folks told me to try to make money online, so when I am doing OK, I add items to my new blog…

Get the Goods! Supplies for Life….

Just Good Stuff That Wendy Likes. Wendy Usually Wanders, and has found some good stuff for you to buy. Finally a source for self-reliance, food storage, homesteading, camping, cooking and other GOOD STUFF with the Wendy Usually Wanders seal of approval.

I made a dollar and thirty three cents this month. I truly am grateful to whoever it was who bought things from Amazon after clicking on my site

It’s probably just as well I don’t have money. I’d go blow it on food

Oh…and just so you know…even if you plan on buying something at Amazon that I have not spotlighted on my blog, just by starting there, I get a teeny, tiny commission. I got 2.2% on whatever that person bought this month. Thanks!

Global Food Crisis Series

The Washington Post is doing a series about the global food crisis.  Check it out HERE.

clogged sink

see more crazy cat pics

Some urgency to prepare

“We live in a most exciting and challenging period in human history. As
technology sweeps through every facet of our lives, changes are occurring so
rapidly that it can be difficult for us to keep our lives in balance. To
maintain some semblance of stability in our lives, it is essential that we
plan for our future. I believe it is time, and perhaps with some urgency, to
review the counsel we have received in dealing with our personal and family
preparedness. We want to be found with oil in our lamps sufficient to endure
to the end.” L. Tom Perry, Ensign, Nov. 1995, 35

More food shortages on the way?

Mormons are having a hard time getting wheat to store. Rice is being rationed. Rumor has it that the next things to become scarce at big stores like Sam’s will be bulk flour, oil and sugar. Are you prepared?

If Ye Are Prepared Ye Shall Not Fear

Gordon B Hinckley said…

Our people for three-quarters of a century have been counseled and encouraged to make such preparation as will assure survival should a calamity come.

We can set aside some water, basic food, medicine, and clothing to keep us warm. We ought to have a little money laid aside in case of a rainy day.

Now what I have said should not occasion a run on the grocery store or anything of that kind. I am saying nothing that has not been said for a very long time.

That was in 2005. I wonder what he would say today?

Mental gymnastics

I am glad I have been a thinking person. I like to DO stuff, but also to ponder every angle. Tonight I watched an hour long video about why people leave the LDS church. It was done by a guy who said he is something like 6 generations in the church. He described the typical person born under the covenant as thinking issues were black and white. As a convert, I was never under any such illusion.

There is a HUGE difference between the people in church and perfection. The only perfect being is God and his only begotten son, Jesus Christ. People are ALWAYS messed up. If we weren’t we wouldn’t need to do our time as humans. In this realm we have free agency and can cause as much or as little trouble as we choose to. ALL people are imperfect, including prophets, apostles, bishops and other church leaders. That is why we are given the gift of discernment through the Holy Ghost. We have scriptures written and transcribed by imperfect beings and we have leaders who are not perfect. All I can say is DUH!

Well, come to find out, some folks think others are infallible. Nope…only God and Jesus fall into that category. There are plenty of people able to tune into right and wrong, goodness and light, evil and corruption. We can know those things exist thanks to the Holy Spirit testifying to us.

Before I ever became a Mormon, I went through a lifetime of study and observation. I was disillusioned by the Presbyterian church holding meetings to decide what they believed. I was totally turned off by the preachers I knew who practiced adultery and other bad stuff. That’s why I turned to the Catholic church. I LOVED going to high mass in a cathedral. It was downright disheartening to go to some small parishes where people came for the absolute minimum amount of time purely out of obligation.

I spent years of my life reading about the early prophets and how they lived in real life. More disillusionment! I realized quickly that there were no perfect people here on earth. What I needed to find were the folks striving the hardest to become all they could be. I did not join the Marines ;-p

Despite all the crackpots and liars and thieves and people who take advantage, I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is where I want to be. I went through all that disillusionment before I ever joined and I have done plenty of questioning along the way. The fact remains that this is as good as it gets here on earth. I knew that going in. I know it even more now.

Matthew chapter 7 says it all. I have never met a church before that as a whole oozes so much goodness.

Farmgirl wholesome

My friend Robin used to say Heather was a wholesome looking farm girl. She still has it The boyfriend’s not too bad, either :-p