Shopping

Any future archaeologist unearthing this particular grocery receipt might be inspired to come up with some interesting theories about life in 2013 America, based on the items listed. 

Really, all I bought were wine and cat food.  But I also picked up a good laugh.

Whole Lotta Nothin'

That's what my dad used to call it when we were playing poker for pennies and he had cards in his hand that didn't match or line up in any recognizable order.

That pretty much describes this post, too. I've been so swinging busy that I barely have time to eat and sleep. You know it's serious when even your blogging time suffers. It's like being in law school again, but without the massive reading assignments.

No, wait, I have those, too. So it's just like law school, except the grading system is more ambiguous.

I started my part-time writing coach gig for the local college's Master of Liberal Studies students again. Last year I was hired mid-semester and most of them had already figured out the techniques to use in their weekly papers, so I only worked with the handful of slower learners.

This year I started at the beginning of the semester and it's totally different. Not only am I working with the ones who are just not getting it and the ones who are well on their way to getting it, but I also have the high achievers who missed an A by one point and nevertheless want to exercise their do-over option and try to get the A. So I am S-W-A-M-P-E-D.

The papers are due Friday at midnight, so on Wednesdays (if I'm lucky) and Thursdays (if I'm not) my e-mail fills up with drafts to be reviewed.

It's been really fun seeing most of them get it, sooner or later. When the light bulb comes on, I feel like a genius teacher. And when I've spent 30 minutes talking with one of them about basic things like how a paragraph is supposed to have only one main idea, I feel like a dolt. My goal is to maximize those genius moments!

Meanwhile, I spent the weekend volunteering at the regional U.S. Pony Club Dressage Rally. Cute kids, adorable ponies and handsome horses everywhere! Tallying the scores was a bit of a challenge (I spent almost two whole days doing math!), but well worth it. And now I have done my bit for them and am off the hook for the rest of the year. I think.

My broken toe is healing but still painful enough that I can't wear closed-toed shoes.

Earlier this month, before everything exploded, I finished 4 books that I need to write blog reviews for. Looks like that's not going to happen in September.

I started the final book on the Colorful Reading Challenge, read one paragraph, and promptly fell asleep. It was so long ago I don't even remember what I read. So when I circle back to that, I'll have to read the paragraph over again. Here's hoping I can stay awake for the rest of the page.

I still have a few pictures from D.C. to bore you with.

Last night I managed to attend an alumni function at a local wine bar, where they have wine vending machines. Very cool. You put your card in the slot, select your beverage, hold up your glass under the spout, and it automatically dispenses an ounce of your choice.

Riesling is God's gift to very tired people who don't like wine.

Shopping the Dumpster

Now that I've successfully moved, I can start accumulating things again, right? Here's a find I made while taking out the trash.

It was sitting on the ground next to the dumpster, along with a computer monitor and assorted other household items, none of which was nearly as interesting. A good scrub and you can hardly notice that this nifty item is slightly off kilter. (I'm thinking a few more bottles of wine will balance it up.)

I'm not sure I would ever actually go into a dumpster after anything attractive--it would have to be something really good--but stuff at the curb is definitely fair game. I once picked up several pots-full of wonderful landscape plants that had been set out as trash. After I installed them in my front yard, it was quite amusing to see my distant neighbors do a double-take when they recognized their plants. I bet they were thinking they gave up on those beauties a little too soon. Either that or they were thinking I was some kind of wacko.

Wine and Books in a Down Economy

As the major leaguers I'm assigned to cover were taking practice swings earlier this afternoon, I had an interesting discussion with one of the coaches as we stood behind the batting cage. I mean, I can't remember the last time I discussed wine with anyone at the same time singles and homers were being struck a few feet away. But there we were, talking about a particular cabernet that the manager had recommended the day before. He told me that the bottle was moderately priced, under $20. But when I found it at the store for $26, I took a pass. I drew the line. It was too expensive for my taste

"That," said the assistant coach, overhearing our conversation, "is exactly what's wrong with the economy. People like you, worrying over six bucks, is why we're in the mess we're in."

I had a notion at that instant to mention that I did my degree work in economics, and knew a little something about the subject, but decided to bite my tongue and go on. Six bucks does matter. It matters an awful lot to those making the mininum wage of $7.25/hour. And it matters to anyone who is trying to act prudently in the current economy.

Never mind the bottle of wine. That's easy enough for me to do without. I've decided for now to cut back in an area dear to my heart, my quest to collect first edition copies of the National Book Award winners and finalists. From now on, at least until the economy improves, I'll go back to reading cheaper paperbacks and wait for the economic climate to improve before returning to expensive hardbacks.

It only makes sense.