Thursday Thirteen

Occasionally I think about the thing that I used to make a living doing: writing.

Here are 13 ways to improve your writing skills:

1. Research your audience and their questions before you write. This goes for nonfiction and fiction. Who are you writing for?

2. Start with an outline to organize your ideas and create a clear structure. I usually do this in my head, but some people write it down and have concise, clear outlines.

3. Simplify your topic and avoid over-explaining or using unnecessary details. This may not work if you're writing a fantasy, but it is a must for nonfiction. Aim to write for about the 6th grade level (if you can figure out what that is these days).

4. Expand your vocabulary and use precise words. Avoid jargon and obscure terms. Of course, if you're writing a college paper, you may need to do this, and if you're writing for a corporation, you're going to be using their buzzwords and such. But generally speaking, try to keep it clear.

5. Use contractions, colloquialisms, and conversational tone to make your writing more engaging and natural. This only works for fiction, nonfiction that has normal people (not professionals like doctors or lawyers and such) as the audience, and me.

6. Break the grammar rules when appropriate but know why and how you’re doing it. For example, do you know where commas go? How to use an ellipsis? Do you overuse exclamation marks!?!?

7. Use active voice, strong verbs, and sensory details to make your writing more vivid and dynamic. I consider this to be among the most important rules. Root out all of those do-nothing verbs like versions of "to be" or "go." Make your character run or shuffle along, not just go to the store.

 

8. Use transitions, headings, bullet points, and white space to improve the readability and flow of your writing. This is especially important in nonfiction work.

9. Use punctuation, capitalization, and formatting correctly and consistently to avoid confusion and errors. I tend to use Chicago style when I write, but you can also create your own style sheet and follow that. The point is, if you're always going to capitalize the word Error, then do it every time, otherwise, you've made an error.

10. Use a clear and consistent voice that reflects your personality and purpose. Of course, if you have no personality, then I suppose one ends up with very dry writing, but then again, maybe we need more of that in these days of overheated opinions and vast amounts of overwritten stupidity.

11. Edit your writing ruthlessly and eliminate any unnecessary or redundant words, sentences, or paragraphs. In other words, kill your darlings. This is hard for many writers to do. Don't fall in love with your sentences. Sometimes you just have to pull that great sentence out and hope you find another story in which to use it.

12. Proofread your writing carefully and check for spelling, grammar, and punctuation mistakes. I am always amazed at how many people do not use the spellchecker in their word processing program. Word and Page and Word Perfect or whatever you're using, heck, even the browsers now have spell check in them. 

13. Seek feedback from others and learn from their suggestions and critiques. But don't ask your mom. She will always love it and that's not the kind of critique you need. You may need to pay someone for a critique if it's a long work. It's worth a couple hundred bucks to hire an editor (I do that kind of work, should you ever need someone.).

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Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while, and this is my 844th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen things I could talk about for a little while, and sound like I am sensible:

1. Writing nonfiction news articles.

2. Playing the guitar or other instruments.

3. How to stay with the same person for 40 years.

4. Virginia government and how it works (or rather, how it is supposed to work).

5. The history of Botetourt County.

6. Raising cattle.

7. The ins and outs of a septic tank.

8. How to thoroughly clean a house. (Not that I do, but I know how it should be done.)

9. Allergies or environmental sensitivities.

10. Endometriosis.

11. Fantasy television, movies, and/or books.

12. Dysfunctional families.

13. Journaling and why it can be helpful.

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Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while, and this is my 843rd time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

Thursday Thirteen

Time doesn't always seem to be on our side, but sometimes we can find time when we're not exactly hunting for it. If you find yourself with a minute to spare, here are 13 things you can do with that little bitty span of time. It might help you get something done!

1. Make your bed. Really. It doesn't take that long.

2. Brush your teeth or floss. Good dental hygiene is important!

3. Drink a glass of water. Staying hydrated helps you think and keeps your muscles working.

4. Stretch your body. Try touching your toes and just holding it there for a minute. It will make your lower back feel better!

5. Write a thank-you note. They don't have to be elaborate. Just do it!

6. Meditate. Focus on your breathing. You can actually feel your breath enter your nose if you pay attention.

7. Read a page of a book. Or two, if you're a fast reader. (This one could trip me up if I have someplace to go and I get involved in the book too quickly.)

8. Sing a song. And do a little shimmy while you sing!

9. Fold your clothes. Like making your bed, this is a chore that doesn't take as long as it seems. I think dreading it takes longer than actually doing it.

10. Delete unwanted emails or clear out your spam folder. Everybody has unwanted emails!

11. Learn a new word. I really like this one. Learning is good!

12. Compliment someone. You'll make somebody's day.

13. Smile 😊. A good smile never hurts.

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Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while, and this is my 842nd time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

Thursday Thirteen

Some songs stick with you not because of the entire song, but because of a line or two. Here are 13 lines from songs that have stuck with me. Do you recognize them?

1. "And I need you more than want you, and I want you for all time."

2. "For I've been lonely, in need of someone, as though I'd done someone wrong somewhere, but I don't know where."

3. "To believe in this living is just a hard way to go."

4. "I've done my best, it wasn't much. I couldn't feel, so I learned to touch. I've told the truth, I didn't come to fool you."

5. "Have you ever seen the rain coming down on a sunny day?"

6. "I'm just another writer, still trapped within my truth."

7. "And the river she rises just like she used to do. She's so full of surprises, she reminds me of you."

8. "Teach the children quietly for some day sons and daughters will rise up and fight while we stood still."

9. "Now that she's back from that soul vacation tracing her way through the constellation, she checks out Mozart while she does Tae-bo, reminds me that there's room to grow."

10. "Somewhere, somehow, somebody must've kicked you around some."

11. "We went searching through thrift store jungles. Found Geronimo's rifle, Marilyn's shampoo, and Benny Goodman's corset and pen."

12. "They would not listen, they did not how. Perhaps they'll listen now."

13. "Just remember in the winter, far beneath the bitter snow, lies the seed that with the sun's love, in the spring becomes the rose."

Answers:

1. Wichita Lineman, Glenn Campbell

2. Play Me, Neil Diamond

3. Angel From Montgomery, John Prine (performed by Bonnie Raitt)

4. Hallelujah, Leonard Cohen

5. Have You Ever Seen the Rain, by CCR

6. Sometimes When We Touch, by Dan Hill

7. Heart of the Night, by Poco

8. Silent Running, by Mike & the Mechanics

9. Drops of Jupiter, by Train

10. Refugee, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers

11. If It Makes You Happy, Sheryl Crow

12. Vincent (Starry Starry Night), by Don McLean

13. The Rose, by Bette Midler

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Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while, and this is my 841st time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

Thursday Thirteen #840

 

We are winding up another year, so I thought I'd take a look back and see what kind of stuff I was up to in the last 12 months.

1. I read and/or listened to 63 books. They ranged from classics like Catch-22, by Joseph Heller, and Tarzan of the Apes, by Edgar Rice Burroughs (which was actually very good), to books by Janet Evanovich, Debbie Macomber, and Louise Penny, and ranged in genre from fantasy to mystery to self-help to memoir.

2. I washed at least 720 loads of laundry. To only be two people we go through many clothes. This is because we live on a farm and my husband in particular can change clothes three times a day. The cow doody has to be washed off.

3. I cooked at least 365 meals, although I suspect it was a larger number. Usually I don't fix breakfast, but I do fix lunch and supper. However, I only counted one meal a day. Sometimes my hubby makes his own sandwich.

4. I edited one book for someone, and it was published in October.

5. I wrote and published 42 articles. I also wrote 330 blog posts. Not quite one a day, but close.

6. I returned to physical therapy for a couple of weeks to work on a chronic pain issue.

7. I began playing music once a week (give or take) with my father and a friend of his.

8. I made the bed 365 times. I stripped the linens and replaced them 52 times.

9. I swallowed approximately 24,000 pills (not all at once, of course). I take 9 different prescription drugs, some of them multiple times a day, plus a lot of vitamins. (I had no idea it was that many until I started adding them up.)

10. I lost six pounds and kept it off.

11. I walked approximately 1.16 million steps during the year, and that's at an estimate of 3,200 steps a day, which is about what I averaged when I was using a Fitbit before it died. Some of you walked 10 million steps or more.

12. I spent over 1,000 hours playing video games. (One of my new year's goals is to stop that.)

13. I answered approximately 1,400 spam phone calls on the landline. I wouldn't answer them except we have businesses to run, and some calls come in on that number.

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Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while, and this is my 840th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

Thursday Thirteen

 

1. On the first day of Christmas, I tried not to cry. The Christmas tree was too much for me by myself. I hated asking the husband for help.

2. On the second day of Christmas, I wrote out my list. I have no idea what to buy for gifts.

3. On the third day of Christmas, I set out to shop. Thank goodness for my little laptop.

4. On the fourth day of Christmas, I sat down to write my cards. I found my messages to folks were hard to write.

5. On the fifth day of Christmas, UPS rolled in with gifts. I wondered if anyone would like the things I picked.

6. On the sixth day of Christmas, I started looking for the tape, because a new pack cost $6.88.

7. On the seventh day of Christmas, I couldn't find my special recipes. I printed off a few I found online.

8. On the eighth day of Christmas, I found my recipe. I was relieved and I could go and make penuche.

9. On the ninth day of Christmas, I made a slab of fudge. I put in the freezer and hoped it would be good.

10. On the tenth day of Christmas, I watched Rudolph, the Red Nosed Reindeer. This time I did not fall asleep.

11. On the eleventh day of Christmas, I found a fruit cake for my guy. I also bought him old fashioned custard, which he likes.

12. On the twelfth day of Christmas, I played carols with my dad, and when I came home, I was kind of mad.

13. On the thirteenth day of Christmas, I said, "That's enough," and I sat down to drink a cup of ... something.

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Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while, and this is my 839th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

Thursday Thirteen

I have decided that the 1970s was the best decade for most everything, like music, TV, politics, women's rights, religion, etc. It was also the beginning of what we have today (which is a mess), but for a while there I think the 1970s had good things going for it. I know there was inflation, Nixon, Carter, and women and people of color were still repressed and all, but the Vietnam War ended, the music is still played even now, and that was the most influential decade of my life, I think, as far as the things I learned in school and what I saw on TV.

So, without further ado, in no particular order, here are 13 TV shows from the 1970s that influenced me:

1. M*A*S*H. Even though I was a little late to the party watching this (we couldn't get the channel), I think this is the show that made me a pacifist. I watched what it did to Hawkeye and it ate me up inside.

2. The Carol Burnette Show. I watched this when we stayed with my grandparents. I didn't always understand the jokes because of my age, but it was good, solid humor that didn't actually hurt anyone.

3. The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman. I am tying these two together, since the latter was a spin-off from the first. I loved them both (but especially Lindsay Wagner as The Bionic Woman). They gave me hope for a future when humanity could heal deadly wounds and make us better than we actually were.

4. The Brady Bunch. I was a dedicated fan of Marcia and Greg Brady, the older two of the six children. I watched their interactions with one another and with their friends with great zeal. I wanted to be popular like Marcia (didn't happen), and I wanted a boyfriend like Greg (didn't happen, either, although I married someone even better than Greg).

5. Little House on the Prairie. This was my grandmother's favorite show, and I saw it only when I was at her house (again, we were limited to two channels at home, but we spent most of our weekends with my grandparents). I was actually a fan of Mary, not Laura. I thought Laura was too brash and too tom boyish. But Mary was studious, thoughtful, and a good daughter. I had read the books and followed the plot of the loss of her eyesight with great sorrow, knowing that she would, indeed, go blind.

6. Charlie's Angels. Oh, did I love Sabrina Duncan! She was smart, sexy in a non-conformist (i.e., no bathing suit) sort of way, and I thought Kate Jackson was the greatest actress ever. I had been a fan of hers ever since her first appearance in Dark Shadows and had followed her on The Rookies, where she played a nurse and wife of a police officer. Maybe that's why I became the wife of a fireman. We'll never know.

7. Wonder Woman. I have a "strong woman" thing - I like to read and watch woman who kick butt and take names, yet don't actually damage people. With her magic lasso of truth and her terrific speed and strength, Wonder Woman fit the bill. She tossed people about but no one seemed to die from her efforts; they just went to jail like they were supposed to.

8. Emergency! This show, more so than The Rookies, made me a fan of emergency services and the things those folks do to keep the public safe. I also had a little crush on Johnnie.

9. CHIPS. Ok, I admit it, I watched this show simply to see Erik Estrada. He was like, oh, Ranger in the Stephanie Plum books. Handsome, suave, a real hunk. (I was a teenager by then, so, hormones.)

10. The Partridge Family. I loved the idea of a musical family, and I thought this show put the Monkees to shame because this was more realistic. Also, David Cassidy was more of a dreamboat than Davy Jones, in my opinion. I thought Susan Dey was a great actress - almost up there with Kate Jackson - and I was happiest when the shows revolved around her, which they seldom did. Mostly they seemed to revolve around Danny.

11. Land of the Lost. I hate to say I was so invested in the plight of Marshall, Will, and Hollie on their routine expedition (hit the greatest earthquake ever known) and their efforts to find a way home, but I never missed a show on Saturday morning. I think part of my love of fantasy and science fiction comes from this show.

12. The Incredible Hulk. This was another fantasy/comic book show that I was regularly. I found it sad a lot of the time, though. Poor Bruce Banner was destined to live his life alone, walking the world trying to find a cure for his Jekyll and Hyde problem.

13. Fantasy Island. De plane! De plane! This one also caught my attention because sometimes the fantasies turned out so . . . wrong. Sometimes it was definitely a Monkey's Paw situation and a cautionary tale of be careful of what you wish for. 

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Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while, and this is my 838th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

Thursday Thirteen

1. This morning, I watched as the darkness became lighter, and the cloudy sky began to show pink, maroon, and purple color out the front window.

2. On the other side of the house, the sky was also purple, but quickly turned into a more orange hue as the sun rose.

3. If we didn't have clouds, we wouldn't have magnificent sunrises and sunsets. They would all look the same. There's a lesson in there somewhere, isn't there?

4. We are still in drought conditions, but the county lifted the burn ban anyway because we'd had a few showers of rain.

5. Out in rural areas, people often burn their trash. Many folks have a "burn barrel" for this specific purpose. We do not burn our trash; we take it to the landfill. I have asthma and can't take the smoke from burning trash.

6. People also burn piles of brush, or piles of leaves. Sometimes farmers deliberately burn a field of grass, because it makes for better grass the following year.

7.  I prefer the sight of a burning sky - one colored by the sun - to the sight of a fire.

8. Fire in the fireplace can be mesmerizing, which is why they have fireplace fires you can watch on TV, or electric heaters that mimic the look of a fireplace.

9. We have a fireplace, but we haven't used it in many years. Again, that's because of my asthma and allergies. At this point, I would be afraid to use the fireplace until a chimney sweep cleans it out and checks it over.

10. The fireplace in the house is the one thing I wish we hadn't installed when we built this house. It looks nice, but it is now more of a liability for us than anything. 

11. Maybe I should get some orange construction paper and cut out flames and put a light behind them so the woodstove that takes up the fireplace hole would look like it has a fire in it. 

12. We've considered removing the woodstove and installing gas logs, but talking about it is as far as we've gone.

13. Red sky in morning, sailors take warning!

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Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while, and this is my 837th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

Thursday Thirteen

These are the nonfiction books I have read this year, with the exception of the inclusion of #2, which was listed as a novel. I included it because it was about the Japanese internment camps in the US during World War II and while written as a novel, I had the feeling it was based more on family lore than fiction.

Some of these books I don't remember much about, so obviously they didn't stick with me. Those include The Power of Habit and The 60-Something Crisis. Either I wasn't paying attention or the messages in the books weren't new or impressive enough to warrant my attention.

The memoirs/autobiographies are all female, except for David Sedaris's books. The books by Carly Simon and Jennifer Grey were somewhat dismaying; Carly Simon's book in particular perhaps should not have been written. Our Little Secret is a biography of Melissa Etheridge by an adoring fan, and it ended in 1999, so there wasn't much new information there. My favorites were The First Lady of World War II, which was about Eleanor Roosevelt, and Back to the Prairie, by Melissa Gilbert, which surprised me with how good it was.

Anything by David Sedaris is good; I think I have now read most of his books.

1. Boys in Trees, by Carly Simon

2. When the Emperor Was Divine, by Julie Otsuka

3. Our Little Secret, by Joyce Luck

4. If You Ask Me, by Betty White

5. The Power of Habit, by Charles Duhigg

6. The First Lady of World War II, by Shannon McKenny Schmidt

7. Back to the Prairie, a Home Remade, by Melissa Gilbert

8. 1963, a Turning Point in Civil Rights, by Lawrence C. Campbell, Sr.

9. The 60-Something Crisis, by Barbara Pagano

10. Out of the Corner, by Jennifer Grey

11. Holidays on Ice, by David Sedaris

12. Theft by Finding, by David Sedaris

13. In Such Good Company, by Carol Burnette

Extra: Born with Teeth, by Kate Mulgrew

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Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while, and this is my 836th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

Thursday Thirteen #835

So, what to do for a Thursday Thirteen that lands on Thanksgiving? The obvious would be the things to be thankful for, of course.

1. My best beloved husband, who is wonderful at driving me nuts.

2. My brother, who picks out the best Christmas presents of anyone I know, and whom I love very much.

3. My other family members, numerous and plenty, though I don't see them too much, ranging from my father to distant cousins.

5. The beautiful Blue Ridge and Alleghany Mountains that surround me, the Blue Ridge to my back, the Alleghanies to the front (though I tend to lump them all together as the Blue Ridge).

6. My new eye glass lenses, because now I can see what I am doing. I had no idea my vision had deteriorated so much. Best not to let 4 years go by without a prescription change next time.

7. My friends, who should be in number 4 of this list, but I am too sorry to go back and make the change. They are dear to me.

8. Music, which makes me happy, even if I sing or play it badly.

9. Books, which also make me happy and take me away to distant lands and on fantastic adventures, to places where I can find dragons and wizards or whatever wonder I might desire.

10. Good food, because who doesn't like good food?

11. Decent television shows or movies, when I can find them.

12. Clocks. I have always liked clocks, always worn a watch for as long as I can remember. I like to know what time it is.

13. Night and day, for where would we be without Helios and Selene as they travel in their chariots across the sky? 

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Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while, and this is my 835th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

Thursday Thirteen

My 40th wedding anniversary is almost here. I suppose being married for 40 years could make me a marriage expert, but honestly, no. I do have some ideas about relationships, though. Many of these apply not only to marriage to to friendships, family relationships, etc. But here are 13 things I've found that have helped us maintain our sanity and commitment to one another.

1. We are friends. I think this is likely the most important aspect of a good marriage. If you are only lovers but not friends, then the laughs are few and the grouchies are many. Your partner should be someone you can laugh and cry with.

2. Communication is next. My husband is a manly man and doesn't communicate well, leaving me to guess a lot as to what is on his mind. I've had to patiently teach him to speak up. It is necessary to be open and honest with each other. Share thoughts, feelings, and desires without fear or judgment. Learn to use "I" words, as in, "I heard you say that you feel thus and so because of this or that. Is that right?"

3. Learn patience. Don't only be patient with your partner, but also yourself. Reacting in anger or frustration doesn't help and generally only starts needless arguments. Try to understand your partner’s perspective and needs.

4. Respect each other’s individuality. Don’t lose yourself in the relationship, but keep your own hobbies, interests, and values. Everyone needs some alone time.

5. However, is important to also have shared interests, values, goals, and beliefs. Having these things in common can help you overcome differences of opinion and other challenges. (I mean, can you imagine a marriage where someone loves #45 and the other person hates him? I can't.) Common interests might include gardening, bird watching, enjoying the same kind of TV or movies, etc.

 

6. Support one another in various ways. Help the other person grow personally and professionally. Encourage your partner to pursue dreams and passions. Celebrate achievements. For example, I attended every promotion event my husband had as he rose through the ranks of the fire department. I could have been elsewhere, but I chose to be with him during these special times. I also made sure his shirts were clean!

7. Make time for each other, even if you are busy or stressed. Do fun and meaningful activities together. If nothing else, go have lunch.

8. Show appreciation and gratitude. Express your thanks and praise for your partner’s efforts and contributions to the relationship. Don't take your person for granted. After all, tomorrow is not guaranteed.

9. Be flexible and adaptable. Don’t be rigid or stubborn but be willing to compromise and adjust to changing circumstances. Stuff happens. Old bodies begin to break down. Things don't always go as planned. Learn to roll with it.

10. Resolve conflicts constructively and quickly. The longer an argument festers, the harder it will be to overcome it. Don’t avoid or escalate problems but try to address them calmly and respectfully (this is difficult in the heat of the moment, I know). Listen to each other and seek win-win solutions. Sometimes you have to leave the room and come back, but don't just let an issue dissolve without resolution.

11. Trust and be trustworthy. Don’t lie or cheat. Be honest and faithful to your partner. Believe in and respect your partner.

12. Respect each other’s boundaries. Give your partner space and privacy. Don’t demand or expect. (I find it hard not to have expectations. I mean, there are certain things one expects people to do. Be polite, for example. Fix the dripping sink. Occasionally compliment you on a good pork chop. Whatever.)

13. Be supportive and understanding. Empathize and validate your partner’s feelings and opinions and listen and respond to your partner’s needs. I have found the older I've become, the more I tend to judge. I think it's just my personality, but I try to keep that in check.

Lastly, you have to know yourself if you're going to have a relationship. If you don't know your own good points and bad points, it only makes things that much more difficult. I highly recommend a good therapist occasionally for everyone, no matter who you are or your marital status. Everyone can benefit from some good inner work.

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Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while, and this is my 833rd time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

Thursday Thirteen

We all know that the prices of food, in particular, are particularly galling these days. It's easy to blame Biden, the Democrats, or the Republicans, but I put the blame on Corporate Greed. I think that's really where the fault lies. They want to see how much they can get before they have a backlog of something or another.

They are also changing products. I was sad today to see that they've made Ritz crackers thinner and less buttery. You just can't count on anything anymore.

To help with the wallet-punch at the checkout, here are tips to save money on groceries.

1. Check what you already have and make a list before you go shopping. This way, you can avoid buying duplicates or items that you don’t need.

2. Limit your shopping trips to once a week or less. The less you go to the store, the less you spend on impulse buys or gas.

3. Stick to your list and avoid unnecessary purchases. If you see something that is not on your list, ask yourself if you really need it or if you can wait until next time. (I know, sometimes you have to have the ice cream. Indulge, just don't over do it.)

4. Pay attention to prices and compare different stores and brands. You can use apps or websites to find the best deals and coupons in your area. (I personally do not find this helpful because of my location. It's too far between stores to make it worthwhile. I buy certain things on one trip to one store and certain things on another trip to another store.)

5. Buy the Sunday paper (if they still have one in your area) or look online for coupons that apply to the items you need. You can also use apps to get cash back or gift cards for buying groceries.

6. Shop at warehouse clubs like Costco or Sam’s Club if you have a membership. You can save money by buying in bulk and getting discounts on gas and other services. (We gave up our Sam's Club membership because we weren't using it. We saved a whole $34.35 with a $55 membership fee. Not cost effective.)

7. Buy seasonal, local, and organic produce when possible. They are usually cheaper, fresher, and better for the environment than imported or conventional produce.

8. Buy frozen, canned, or dried foods when fresh ones are not available or too expensive. They can last longer and still provide nutrients and flavor.

9. Buy generic or store-brand products instead of name-brand ones. They are often cheaper and have similar quality and ingredients.

10. Buy cheaper cuts of meat or seafood and use marinades, sauces, or spices to make them more tender and tastier. You can also stretch your meat budget by using less meat and more vegetables, beans, or grains in your dishes.

11. Plan your meals ahead and use leftovers creatively. You can save time and money by cooking in bulk and using what you have in your fridge or pantry.

12. Cook from scratch and avoid buying pre-made or processed foods. They are usually more expensive and less healthy than homemade ones.

13. Make your own snacks and drinks instead of buying them. You can make granola bars, popcorn, smoothies, coffee, tea, and more with simple ingredients and save money on packaging and additives.

Extra tips:

14. Grow your own herbs, vegetables, or fruits if you have space and time. You can enjoy fresh produce for free and reduce food waste by harvesting only what you need.

15. Store your food properly and use it before it goes bad. You can use apps to track the shelf life of your food and get reminders to use it up.

16. Donate or compost any food that you can’t use or eat. You can help reduce hunger and environmental impact by giving away food that is still edible or turning it into fertilizer for your plants. But don't give away food items that are out of date. The food banks can't use those. Maybe your neighbor can, but the food banks can't.

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Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while, and this is my 832nd time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

Thursday Thirteen

Tuesday, November 7, is voting day. In Virginia, we can vote early, and I've already cast my ballot. Will you go vote on Tuesday? I sure hope so!

Here are some reasons why you should go vote:

1. Express Your Voice: Voting is a way to express your opinions and values in the political process.

2. Influence Policy: Your vote can help shape the policies that affect your daily life.

3. Hold Elected Officials Accountable: Voting allows you to choose leaders and hold them accountable for their actions in office.

4. Change the Status Quo: Voting gives you the power to bring about change if you're dissatisfied with current conditions.

5. Protect Your Rights: Voting is a way to safeguard the civil rights and liberties that previous generations fought for.

6. Diverse Representation: Voting helps ensure a diverse and representative government that reflects the nation's demographics.

7. Support Your Community: Voting can lead to improved local infrastructure, education, and public services.

8. Economic Impact: Elected officials make decisions that can impact job creation, wages, and economic stability.

9. Environmental Policies: Your vote can influence environmental policies and address issues like climate change.

10. Social Justice: Voting can contribute to achieving social justice and equal rights for all citizens.

11. Healthcare Access: Your vote can impact healthcare policies and the availability of affordable healthcare.

12. Education Funding: Voting can influence funding for schools and access to quality education.

13. Preserve Democracy: By voting, you actively participate in the democratic process, which is essential for the functioning of the nation.

When you vote, you are influencing the policies and decisions that affect your life and your community. Whether it’s health care, education, environment, or economy, your vote matters!

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Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while, and this is my 832nd time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

Thursday Thirteen

We are, allegedly, out of the Covid pandemic and into the endemic stage of the virus. That means we get to learn to live with it.

I know the pandemic changed many things for a lot of people. Some people changed nothing about their lives, but I suspect most everyone was affected in one way or another.

Here are 13 things that I have changed, modified, or otherwise fixed or broken since 2020:

1. I no longer bite my nails. This is one of the biggest changes for me. I stopped biting them almost as soon as the government shut down. At that time, remember, even though I assumed the virus was transmitted through air, there was much concern that it was transmitted via touch as well. Remember wiping off the groceries with a Clorox wipe? I stopped biting my nails *snap* almost just like that. I keep them trimmed very short and they will never be lovely nails because of so much damage to the nail bed from biting them for 57 years of my life, but I have stopped biting them.

2. I wash my hands. A lot. I wash my hands the minute I walk into the door if I have been somewhere. If I've been to the grocery store, I wash my hands and then empty the car, put the groceries away, and wash my hands again. 

3. I have inside sneakers and outside sneakers. I used to wear my shoes everywhere, but now I have a pair that (mostly) stays in the house, and another pair out in the garage that I wear when I go to the store or whatever. I think this has helped cut down on debris in the house and dust and dirt on the floor. My husband also no longer wears his outside shoes in the house.

4. I use hand purifier in the car every time I get in it. Go to the store, get in the car, use hand cleaner. 

5. When I gas up the car, I use a tissue or something to hold on to the handle and touch buttons.

6. I still wear a mask in the stores, especially if they are busy. I am generally the only person in the store with a mask, but not always. I may go in a store without a mask if it's a quick stop and there aren't a lot of cars in the parking lot, but I always have a mask with me and if I start to feel like an aisle is getting crowded, I won't hesitate to put one on.

7. I have not been sick (for me, anyway), since 2020. I used to have bronchitis, pneumonia, sore throats - constant colds and allergies. Staying isolated and masking has kept me well, aside from an occasional asthma attack and constant post-nasal drip. I used to get so sick about twice a year that I spent a month in bed, usually in March and again in the fall. Not so now.

8. We eat more home cooking, although I dislike cooking. Our meals are not fancy, and they are rather bland and boring, but we eat in a lot more than we eat out these days. And if we eat out, we generally pick it up and bring it home. I think I've eaten in a restaurant maybe six times in the last three years.

9. My ulcers returned. I lost 20 pounds, and I kept 15 of it off. The other 5 pounds keeps coming and going, but maybe I will one day get a grip on that.

10. I stopped exercising, which was a huge mistake, and the scar tissue issue in my abdomen has increased, along with low back pain, mid-back pain, and my TMJ issues. It's all related, somehow or another.

11. My husband retired. He was a battalion chief with the fire department and just coming off of an ankle fusion when the pandemic hit and things shut down. He was eligible to take his retirement and did so. His reasons were many. This was a huge adjustment for me. He seemed to do fine with it, though he missed "his guys." I missed my long nights of book reading, but we've about adjusted. I think.

12. I spent more time playing the guitar. I haven't necessarily gotten better, but I haven't gotten any worse, either.

13. My car, which is 9.5 years old, only has 60k miles on it, mostly because I don't go anywhere anymore. I think it will be with me for some time.

How about you? Did you make life changes in the last 3 years?

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Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while, and this is my 831st time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.