Drunk Librarians

 

"If television's a babysitter, the Internet is a drunk librarian who won't shut up!"

~Dorothy Gambrell 

Cat And The Girl Vol.1

Okay, so later this week we will make the switch to Dish TV. We currently have Xfinity, and have been their devoted customers for over a decade, but the price for it has gotten completely out of control, especially right now, when the price of everything else is equally untenable. We are paying $275 a month for their top tier channel line-up, internet, and home security. The equipment for Xfinity Home is basic, but does alert police if something is happening, like it did several years ago when someone tried to break into our old house, not once, but twice! Also, we had to subscribe to TCM for $9.99 extra a month, rather than get it for free, because Comcast, in it's infinite wisdom, decided that not enough regular customers were watching the channel, so they boxed it with a sports and entertainment package, which I paid for, but never used. Ugh. 

But with the new change we will be saving around $150 a month, and TCM comes standard with our service from Dish. Now, to be clear, the package doesn't include Internet, I get that from T-Mobile for $30 a month, and I am planning to approach our home security differently too. Maybe bolster our Ring account with new equipment, or possibly I will look into ADT or maybe SimpliSafe. We'll see. San Joaquin County charges an additional $75 per year to have a security system that alerts the police, in the event of a break-in, or emergency, and even more if the alarm goes off, when there is no emergency! It get that false alarms can be expensive, but come one, I feel like I am being ripped off right and left! Oh well, I will  figure it out, and in the meantime, I am saving a lot of money, and getting a little more for it!

I hate the idea of a two year contract, because I am 64 years old and who the hell knows if I will even be alive in two years, but here's to making whatever future is ahead of us better! I will update later in the week about how the installation goes. I extremely dislike letting representatives into my home. Everyone thinks there is no such thing as Covid-19 anymore, and no one wants to wear a mask. How many homes will the installation professional be in, before he spends time in our home? What germs might he bring along with him?

I hate that Covid happened, but it did, and it changed my life. Sometimes I feel like a drunk librarian, with all I do to research all the happenings surrounding the Coronavirus, and the FDA Recall lists. It's hard to not feel anxiety about it all, when it has affected me the way it did. I am doing the best I can, and trying to take care of us the best ways I can.

Sigh.

NPR - August 14th, 2026

Is There A Summer Covid-19 Surge This Year?

Yep, It's Ramping Up Again

A Pinch Of This, And OH HELL NO TO THAT

"A recipe has no soul. 

You, as the cook, must bring soul to your recipe."

~Thomas Keller

As you know, I like to cook. But things are getting way to expensive to make the recipes I want to make. But here's the thing, it's just as expensive, if not more, to eat out! So, what's the solution? Well, eat at home, but it doesn't have to be boring! There are so many fantastic recipes available, why am I paying $8.79 for a Garden Salad, with Crispy Chicken, from, Jack In The Box? A Big Mac Meal is now $11.00! I refuse! But Like everyone else, I loved my fast food.

 A Big Mac, once in a while, was really enjoyable, but in the last few years I have watched big corporations take advantage of everything from the Covid-19 Virus, to Trump's idiotic tariffs. Prices have inched up to a noticeable degree since 2021, sigh, what can I do? If I just have to eat out, Olive Garden, and B.J.'s Brewhouse, both offer reasonable lunch menu specials, which tastes better, and dining in the restaurant, is so much more comfortable. Anyway, in favor of eating at home, here is a yummy menu I put together from recipes from the New York Times cooking section. I think it sounds delicious, and the ingredients are probably already in your kitchen!

Enjoy!

Roasted Chicken Provencal

Garlicky Mashed Potatoes

Chocolate Souffles