McEconomy Choices

 

"I was at McDonalds once. There was a sign out front. It's said 'McMuffins: now served with freshly cracked eggs.' I was like, what the fuck were they doing before? Just melting down old SpongeBob toys in the back?"

~Joe Russell

I think McDonald's should pay me for that photo, I think I did a pretty good job in making their classic morning sandwich look tasty! Too bad this Egg McMuffin is so different from the one I became hooked on years ago! When it was introduced, the Egg McMuffin sold for just 63¢. Yesterday, I paid $2 for one on their deals menu, but after that they sell for $5.69... and they are at least 25% percent smaller, although I would be willing to debate the issue. I fall on the, Team Shrinkflation, side of the controversy. I remember what I bought!

Still, McDonalds, and others claim the McMuffin has not changed in size one bit! Shrug. Decide for yourself, but one fact is indisputable, the price has gone up, especially after Covid-19! Supply change issues, lack of eggs from the Bird flu, and energy costs in the form of higher gas prices have made the Egg McMuffin unaffordable, at least for me, but once in a while I need a fix, and the $2 deal works for me. Shrug. fortunately, in that it is a fairly simplistic sandwich, they can also be made at home with a little work, and they can be frozen for a quick bite on the run! The plus to fixing my own is that I can cook it to my standard! I'm picky, especially right now!

Here is a breakdown of the cost for homemade McMuffins

Based on purchasing the ingredients at my local Walmart.

Thomas's English Muffins - 6 pk - $3.38

Kraft American Singles Processed Cheese -16 count - $3.86

Jones Dairy Farm Canadian Bacon - 12 slices - $4.47

Great Value Cage Free Eggs - 12 count - $1.67

Estimated Total $13.38 for all the initial ingredients, and then form at will. Dear hubby adds a couple slices of Canadian bacon, or replaces the Canadian Bacon with a sausage patty, making it a Sausage McMuffin with Cheese. I don't vary that much with my, but sometimes I like 2 slices of cheese. So any way you slice it, it's cheaper to make McMuffins at home. Duh. Oh, I'll still visit McDonald's and enjoy a genuine, Egg McMuffin, like on the first day of Autumn, which is a tradition in our house, but in this economy, I think I might just make my own.

Here's some fun... On the first day of Autumn, In 2023 we scored extra McMuffins! placing your to-go order at 10:20 am, just before they stop serving breakfast, is the way to go, I guess! 

Time Magazine

The Unlikely Origin Story Of The Egg McMuffin

Ellipsis Movie Of The Week... Girl Most Likely To...

 

Girl Most Likely To...

ABC Circle Films

Release date, November 6th, 1973

Tillson: Mr Meyers, can you tell us the basic theme of Oedipus?

Moose Meyers: Uh... yeah. That's the guy who had something wrong with his eyes. Yeah. He had eye problems.

Tillson: Miss Knight, perhaps you can help Mr. Meyers with the theme of the Oedipus legend.

Mirriam Knight: Easy. A guy can't kiss his mother and get away it.

~Mirriam Knight ( Stockard Channing)

 Once in a while I get lucky, and a truly fabulous film from my childhood becomes available, and this is one of those movies folks! I love to share movies that stood out for me as a kid, to share a bit more about myself, and let me tell you, this movie left an impression! The, Girl Most Likely Too...,,  was originally featured on the, ABC Movie Of The Week, in 1973, and it still holds up to all the elements that made it a great film, all the way back then! Stockard Channing and Ed Asner lead the cast, with a few familiar faces from back in the day like, Annette O'Toole, Larry Wilcox, Dennis Dugan and Fred Grandy!

 I had already loved Ed Answer for years, but this movie made me a Stockard Channing fan for life! It's a great movie if you've ever contemplated seeking revenge on someone, and while I know the whole revenge thing is getting pretty old right about now, this movie manages all the ironic humor it can find, while reminding us to not take it all too seriously! It delivers all the luscious guilty pleasure as good as any beach read! My inner psycho applauded this film when I was 11 years old, and I never forgot it. Today, I could live vicariously through it, and be quite happy!

Now click on through the link, and go have some fun!

Note: This is Stockard Channing's first credited screen role!

Have A Coke And A Smile

 

"You know, we might've fucked up the planet, sucking out all the oil, melting the ice caps, allowing ska music to flourish, but we made Coca-Cola, so goddamn it, people weren't all bad."

~Joe Hill

The Fireman

These fucking Republican sourpusses!

For fuck's sake people, shut up and enjoy an ice cold Coca-Cola!

You'll have to pry my Coke, out of my cold dead hands.

Think

 

"Only you can prevent Wildfires."

~Smokey The Bear

Ellipsis Weekend Cooking... Chicken Wings And Their Sauces

 Epicurious - Dr. Pepper Barbeque Sauce - Recipe

Football season is almost here, so it's time to try something new... Chicken wings with different sauces. I have always wanted to try Dr. Pepper BBQ Sauce, but the ever lazy me, always opted for my favorite bottled sauces. Frank's Red Hot Sauces, and Original Bullseye BBQ. But as good as they are, how boring is it that I didn't think out of the box once in a while? Well, there's no better time then right now, right? So, in an effort to jazz things up, here are a few sauces I plan to try. Chicken wings and ribs will be a much happier experience I think. But lets be clear, it will take quite the sauce to unseat Buffalo as my favorite for chicken! I'll update this post if I find one that does!

These recipes, from here and there, sound wonderfully delicious!

Simply Whisked - Hot Honey Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings - Recipe

Don't Go Bacon My Heart - Sweet & Sour Chicken Wings - Recipe

Urban Bakes - Spicy Maple Chicken Wings - Recipe

Sticky Orange Glazed Chicken Wings - Sanderson Farms - Recipe

Food Network - Cranberry Glazed Chicken Wings - Recipe

Nutmeg Nanny - Apple Butter Chicken Wings - Recipe

Food Network - Creole Mustard Chicken Wings - Recipe

Food 52 - Sticky Pomegranate - Chicken Wings - Recipe

Delish - Spicy Apricot Glazed Wings - Recipe

Delish - Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings - Recipe

Delish - Sunkist Wings - Recipe

Delish - Balsamic Glazed Wings - Recipe

That should be a good start. So off I go to plan. Goodness, I am hungry!

Swimming Lessons

 

"What greater gift, than the love of a cat."

~Charles Dickens

Time for another adventure for Orange Cat Scully, and his nephew, Edgar. This time Scully teaches Edgar to swim! Oh my, where was Scully when I needed to learn to swim? LOL.

Here are my fellas, Tyler and Joey. I wish Simon had been in the photo, but I can't seem to get them all corralled at the same time. Oh my goodness, the sure keep us running! Such spirt, just joy, such and love that fills you!

Have a little fun. Visit the Purrallel Universe on Youtube

89 Days And Barf To Go

 

NBC News

Cyclospora Outbreak 2026: Maps, Foods To Avoid, States Most Impacted, As States Hit 22,000 Cases

"I got food poisoning today, but I don't know when I am going to use it."

~Steven Wright

Summer fruit salad, partially from my own garden ( 2007 ) 

back when we could trust the CDC.

George W. Bush administration

👀

We are heading into the last stretch of summer, and I would love to say I feel good about having some wonderful dinner salads, or fill my daily breakfasts with luscious fruits, but with the way things seems to be going right now, I just even think I want to try, to try. I just can't bring myself to buy fruits and vegetables from anywhere. Although yesterday, I had a fit of rational thinking, and decided to try some tree fruits, like oranges and peaches. When I got one home, I scrubbed them really good, and cut opened a very nice, Cara-Cara orange, only to find it was dry and mealy on the inside.

 It's seems no one else is keen on purchasing the fresh stuff, even if it had never been anywhere near a, Taylor Farms, or Walmart, so I suppose I am not alone in my hesitancy. I will be returning the oranges to Costco, continue to read the updated recall lists, and I will keep myself updated on things in general, but with what all Trump has done to my trust of the FDA, CDC, and medical advice we are currently subjected to, my trust has eroded to the point I might never eat the way I used for at least Trump's last two years in office.

Interesting Reading...

San Francisco gate

Taylor farms says ex-president committed $32 million fraud, including U.C. Berkeley gift. 

NYT

Scared of Cyclospora, Americans turn to Local Lettuce

Update to my original post

New York Times

Two deaths linked to Cyclospora outbreak in Michigan 

Pow! ZING! Zooom! OOF!

 

"Precisely, Robin!"

~Batman ( Adam West )

Why isn't there anything remotely cool like this anymore? Yes, I know, I know, there have been many blockbuster films with the caped crusader since 1968, but doggonit nothing as cool as the kitschy original series. Adam West's, Bruce Wayne, was so dorky, and so unbelievably HOT at the same time, and there wasn't anything like it on TV! Plus, the attention to comic page graphics just sold the whole thing, didn't it? It was TV perfection when I was a kid, along with Star Trek, The Monkees and Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea.

Things are now bigger, and louder, and feature superstars and it's also so much darker, and depressing at times. Why can't there just be some fun. Now, I will admit that I was thrilled with Michael Keaton's turn as Batman, and I loved Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman, even Arnold Schwarzenegger as Mr. Freeze was awesome, but the cynicism takes hold is too much for my liking. Oh well, maybe I am just old, and spending too much time back in the, I remember in my time, nonsense, but to ask an honest question, couldn't we use some superhero fun, that doesn't remind you of the we live every day now? And wouldn't it be great if the bad guy got his, in under 23 minutes... or 90 days as of today?

90 days to go until the midterm election.

 Batman do you see the signal?

"Holy atomic pile, Batman"

~Robin ( Burt Ward )

Note: This clip runs in a 12 minute loop, but it's the best audio version of this Batman commercial on YouTube. 

Ellipsis Movie Of The Week... Leave The World Behind

 

"We fuck each other all the time, without even realizing it. We fuck every living thing on the planet over and over and think it will be fine because we use paper straws and order free-range chicken. And the sick thing is, I think deep down we know we're not fooling anyone."

~Amanda Sanford ( Julia Roberts )

Leave The World Behind

From the book, Leave The World Behind

By Rumaan Alam

"Well, when I couldn't fall back asleep thus morning, I came over here. To watch thr sunrise. And I saw all these people starting their day with such tenacity. Such verve. All in an effort... make something of themselves. Make something of the world. I felt so lucky to be a part of that. But then I remembered... what the world is really like. And I came to a more accurate realization. I fucking hate people."

~Amanda Sandford ( Julia Roberts )

Leave The World Behind

Do you ever wake up one day, and think to yourself, I can't take one more day of humanity? I know I do, often. Like the character of Amanda, I have, at times, become weary of of being around people in 2026! Things are so selfish and scary. The glee and glow, for some Americans, comes not from living the American dream, but rather the thought that we would all be better off if a nice little civil war would take place, to save America from... us. This movie addresses one such path towards the end of the world, through frightening means. 

Strange happenings. Coincidences. Conspiracy theories and a sudden lack of connection to the outside world, and it's affect on an America used to being plugged in all the time! It all leads to the feeling of being on the outside looking in, all while feeling all to aware that life has gotten very, very, real when you weren't looking. The collection of eerie moments in this film are terrific, one such involved the arrival of an large container ship, on the shore of a pristine beach! Julia Roberts and Ethan Hawk are perfect as a couple who are almost polar opposites, but who used those differences to apply critical thinking to their new circumstances. Two different perspectives is a good thing!

But soon, it turns out to be about more then just them trying to figure it all out! Is it danger calling, help calling, or is it something eerily different?

I don't want to give it all away, so go watch the movie! There is a cool tie-in to the television show, Friends, so here is a little music that fits very well with the movie! 

"I'll Be There For You"

The Rembrandts

Get Ready To Match The Stars

 

"Slide it Earl"

~ Gene Rayburn

The Match Game

I loved this show as a kid, I watched it every afternoon, without fail. Growing up I was always a gameshow fan, I watched them all! I was lucky enough to interact a few times with Anitra Ford on Twitter, later X, and I was delighted to learn she was super friendly, and shared my deep concerns for our country. Funny, when I was a little girl if someone had that one day I would be able to speak with my idols, by way of a thing called, Twitter, I would have looked at them like they had three heads, and thinking they probably shouldn't be walking around! Of course if anyone had told me about anything that's happened since I was 10 years old, I would have probably have been put off to the whole idea of growing up! LOL. Anyway, I thought a few episodes of a gameshow or two, could be fun to begin the week! 

Enjoy!

The Price Is Right ( First Episode )

Let's Make A Deal

The Dating Game

The Newlywed Game

It was a good time to be a kid!

Bye Bye, Baby

 

Read the New York Times article here.

"Some people aren't loyal to you. They are loyal to their need of you.

 Once their needs change, so does their loyalty."

~Unknown

Donald Trump is loyal to no one. He always has put himself on a golden throne, as he is a king in his own mind. While folks have sat back and laughed and smirked at the at the way Trump has treated people over the years, both the loyal and disloyal alike, they never imagine that one day Trump will chew them up, and spit them out, despite of their being a long history of just that. In the last few days, Trump has thrown two Department of Justice figures under the bus, Todd Blanche and Jeannie Pirro. Both are about to see their careers ruined, and the very real possibility of at least one of them will being disbarred. Everything Trump touches dies, and right now the careers of anyone in his orbit and in particularly the ones who tell the truth or refuse to do his bidding will be the next to go.

Are numbers, letters now?

Fuck it!

So, who gets fired first?

Who will quit first?

I predict Pirro will be gone by the end of the week, but there will be quite the mean tweeting between now and then. I'll get back to you.

New York City Bar Association

Opposition to Todd Blanche Nomination To U.S. Attorney General

Ellipsis Weekend Cooking... Zucchini And Tomato Tartlets

 

Zucchini and Tomato Tartlets With A Cheddar Crust - NYT - Recipe

"A tomato may be a fruit, but it is a singular fruit.

 A savory fruit.

 A fruit that has ambitions far beyond the ambitions of other fruits."

~ E. Lockhart

Oh my. Have you checked the latest food recall lists? The last thing I read about was. Reds All Natural Breakfast Burrito with Steak Cilantro and Lime. Sigh. Again, so far, my state of California hasn't been affected much regarding recalls, but I am pretty concerned about when that shoe will fall, and we will be right in the center of a doozy of a recall. But, for now, I am doing my best to not become too hypervigilant about this whole situation, but things are fairly spooky. 

Mr. Stripey

Anyway, how about a nice little tomato and zucchini tart, or two, to enjoy on a lovely summer afternoon? I love tomatoes in summer and fall, Heirloom tomatoes like Mr. Stripey in particular. They're all good! In fact our love for fresh tomatoes took on some added enjoyment, when we began our own tomato garden several years ago!  As far as I know tomatoes are not under recall, at least not as of the writing of this post, so why not enjoy some yumminess?

 Just wash, and cook, thoroughly!

The Spruce Eats has a really great guide to different tomato varieties.

95 Days, Knucklehead

 

95 more days until the midterm election and we

 flip the House of Representatives, and the Senate.

95 Days.

Then it's all about those three little words...

Impeach

Convict

 Remove

95 More Days.

Update: The Knucklehead said this today, isn't it treason to give aid and comfort to our enemies. I'd say publicly letting Iran off the hook for the recent cyberattack on the utilities in Minnesota, and the likely attack on 7 other states! And impeachable offense I believe!

95 days to go, pass the popcorn please.

Yes, I've lost my stressed out mind!