Window Shopper

I guess this is a rant, at first, at least. When we moved to Arkansas from Missouri, I had to find someone to do my hair as did my husband. We like getting our hair cut (done) at the same place since, these days, the hair salon can do both equally well, in theory. It took us a long time to settle on a place that got what we wanted and would do that same thing each time. We are sorta set in our ways. I’ve no idea why at the moment.

As I said, it took us a long time to find a place but we did. Spent the better part of 8 years at that place. Then, the lady who owned it got sick and sold the place. ACK!! Now, please understand that I am praying for the lady that got sick. I am NOT THAT shallow.

However, it starts all over again. See, we live in a small, rural area where there are not a plethora of salons that do a good job. There are, however, a number of salons with teeny boppers who have no clue how to do actual hair. They do know how to spike and colorize, not how to cut hair. I could scream….well, I did a couple of times when we tried out some of those teeny boppers. Not everyone is that age but they look like it to us….older generation. Ahem. The young ones want to do your hair like THEY want, not what you want. Argh!!

Today, we went to a place that my sister’s girls all went to for their hair cuts and styles for the beginning of school. With a great deal of caution, we entered the place that looked a bit like a hair salon, small but equipped and working. And then I spied a familiar face! The lady who was a stylist at the other salon now owns this one!!! YES!!! We are home. And that’s it for another day.

Happy Shopping!! Watch the hair!!

You know, once in a while, I just have to ask silly questions. It is in my spirit to do this. And I am such a curious person…well, possibly nosy but in the interests of the masses, I am taking a small survey. It might not include a favorite. If it does not, please add it to the comments section of this post. And the survey IS (thank you, Richard Dawson):

What is your favorite fast food of all time?

1) McDonalds
2) Burger King
3) Wendy’s
4) Dairy Queen
5) Subway
6) Pizza Hut
7) Taco Bell
8 ) KFC
9) Arbys
10) Sonic
11) Pizza Inn
12) Quizno’s
13) Little Caesar’s
14) Any other place

I think I ran out of places that I could think of. #14 will take someone else adding any other place. And, after all this, I have a fav or two. That’s the problem. I have more than one favorite. So, my first place favorite is probably Pizza Inn. We don’t have one here anymore. Second favorite is Arbys. After that, it’s sort of a tossup. (You might be wondering why I did not include fish places. That’s because I don’t like fish so I could not think of any names. )

It’s now up to you to add to the list.

That statement comes from what I like to call “a dry well”. That’s me. I want to give all sorts of tips and deals that can help you save money on lots of things. I’ve given you tips on groceries, insurance, discounts on theme parks, saving money around the house. I even gave you some tips on keeping the pets comfy during the hot months. Sigh. But today, my tips are not with me. I cannot think of a single thing to write about concerning tips and money saving. Isn’t that sad?

I do love to put up those videos of the music from the 60s for the boomers since I am one of them. Those songs meant something to me. I grew up with groups like Herman’s Hermits, the Beatles, Elvis, Jan and Dean, Beach Boys, The Rondells, Jefferson Airplane, Jackson Five, The Osmonds and so many more. I fell asleep to all the top hits. I knew the top 20 list every week and I could tell you what was on that list and what it’s previous week’s standing was. Whew! Now, I get blessed smply remembering the groups and singers from then.

Tell you what. Tell me what you like and I can try to find it and post it here. How about that? So far, I have posted one from the Kingston Trio and Herman’s Hermits.

I have a new category for my blog. The For The Boomers category is because I am a boomer and I have loved the songs that this group and many others did in the sixties and seventies. It was a time when I had just graduated from high school and listened to every top twenty song on the list. In fact, I knew the top twenty for my local station. I bought the 45s and went to sleep every night to the songs and sounds of the sixties. I would never have believed it but Youtube is a great thing if you can find all or most of the oldies that you grew up with. Here is the Kingston Trio on the Andy Williams show in 1966:

I thought about it a long time before I decided to do this. If you have one you want to see on my blog, please let me know.

I need my readers to input on this one. Yes, it would be great if you could tell me your experiences but in this case, I really need you to help with the situation. Let me tell you a small story about us.

Some years ago, my family was unable to have an income. We had to rely on Social Security. They were quite slow in granting the disability for one of us. The other had a chech of some $400 for four of us to live on. We couldn’t pay the bills and while we did have food stamps, they were not nearly enough for us for a month. Perhaps some of you have been like this or are now in this situation.

So, we decided to visit the local food pantry where they were happy to give us what they could. Unfortunately, they were low on food each month because there were so many that needed food but not that many willing to give. We left with a small grocery sack of food and supplies that we were very grateful to get.

Here’s the problem. Most people like to give at the “feel good” times like Christmas and Thanksgiving, perhaps Easter. Those are the main times of the year that people will give, sometimes ratty things they had cast off. Sometimes, it would be the cans in the cupboard that they will never eat because it’s yucky. The cans will be old and bent. The clothes would be tattered and torn. Some of the things would be simply too used. They wouldn’t want to be seen in them but it’s okay for poor folks to have because they don’t need anything nice.

I propose this. Those of you who are reading this could find it in your hearts to give some cans or boxes of food each week or month. Do you know that it does not cost that much to buy a few extra things from your plenty? If enough people would do this, those few things would feed so many people. Times are difficult. Money does not flow like it did at one time. Too many people are living from paycheck to paycheck. If a disaster happened, they would be so messed up.

It always has amazed me to see that so many people will give at the feel good times but will not lift a finger any other time of the year. Do you honestly believe that those people aren’t hungry anytime but once a year!! COME ON!!! People are hungry all year long. How can you only give at one time a year. Yes, times are hard. But how much harder are they for your neighbor than for you? We are currently on Social Security and yet we can give something to our local place. We give some clothes that no longer fit but they are good clothes. There are even new clothes that go too. If you are giving from your heart, it won’t be the old grubby things. It will be good, new things, fresh cans from the store, fresh boxes. You will show your giving nature in this way.

Okay, readers, your input here and there are both necessary for me. Tell me your story!!!

Lately, I have been thinking about what my shopping blog really needs to be doing. I do want to share tips about shopping because I could have used this back when I didn’t know diddly about anything. Then, I like to review products too. Sometimes, I run across other things to write about as well. The focus on the blog is to inform, correct? Then that is exactly what I want to do.

The problem is that my mind goes so blank when I look at the white screen in front of me. What can I write about today? What tip could I give? What does everyone want to know? Now THAT question is one I really do need to have answered by those who read my blog. What do you want me to address? These questions answered would help me so much in knowing what to talk about.

So, please answer the questions, if you will. Then, if you have any other comments or ideas, let me know through my comment section. This could be fun. One note: Please do not abuse this. I really don’t want to see filthy language or sexual suggestions. (I’ve had this before on comments) Simply give me your ideas of what you want to know. It’s possible that I can help.