Farewell, 2022

Dear 2022:

I am glad to see you leave tonight.  Though you weren't as bad as 2021, 2020, or 2019, but you were still pretty bad in some ways.  The worst thing you brought me this year was shingles.  Thanks alot for bringing the shingles to me two weeks after I retired.  When you leave at midnight tonight, please take my itching with you.

I have to be honest with you, 2022; you weren't all that bad.  You gave me a year of opportunity to improve my cooking skills - for that, I know the Old Man thanks you, too.  And speaking of him, thank you for keeping the Old Man going like the Energizer Bunny, albeit a bit slower than this time last year but thank you for him being happy and still here with me.  You also gave me the opportunity to retire and not have to answer to that alarm clock five days a week.

So goodbye, 2022.  I am looking forward to what 2023 will bring.

Your friend, Puddin

Ohio Valley Weather Update

 As I post this, it is 66 degrees. At this time last Friday, it was -4, with wind chill feels like of -30.  There's not much more I can say about this.  

Ohio Valley Weather Update

 This time last Thursday, we were bracing for a bunch of snow and below zero temperatures.  As I type this, it is 58 degrees.  And supposed to get warmer for the next few days.  Which can only mean sometime later next week we will be back in the deep freeze.

Stay tuned.  

App Of The Week

 It's been a long time since I posted about an app that I love, so I am taking care of that today.  

Yesterday, I got an 8 quart T-Fal stock pot and a pair of Russell sweatpants for the Old Man, and all both off those cost me was about four bucks - because I used a $50 Amazon gift card that I got for free.  It was from an app called Fetch Rewards.  All you have to do is take a picture of any receipt and submit it.  You can use any receipt as long as it has the amount, date, and restaurant/store.  I repeat - you can use any receipt from anywhere.   It took a while to accumulate enough points for the $50 gift card but it is well worth it.

Fetch Rewards gets the TWIT Seal of Approval. 

One More Why $19 Update

 I did a little research last night and found one reason for charities to ask for $19 a month.  One common theory links it to charities' obligation to provide a receipt for an annual contribution of $250 or more, per Internal Revenue Service rules.  A $19 contribution for 12 months amounts to $228, less than the receipt-sending threshold, 

Why $19 Update

 The list of charities asking you send them just $19 a month is growing:

• St. Jude's Children's Hospital
• Shriners Childrens Hospital
• Wounded Warriors Foundation
• ASPCA
• World Wildlife Fund
• Disabled American Veterans
• March Of Dimes
• Save The Children

Merry Christmas

 TWIT and I would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas.  

Winter Storm Update From The Compound

 The weatherazzi was right - when I got up yesterday morning, the temperature was -6 with a wind chill feels like of -30.  It was like that most of the day.  Luckily we only got about an inch or so of snow here at The Compound,  

I was outside for about 20 minutes yesterday - long enough to clear off the front porch steps and sidewalk and to clear off the ramp.  Monday when it warms up more I will go out and sprinkle some snow melt.  Other than that, we have made it through the first winter storm just fine.  

We had our traditional Christmas Eve meals today -- White Castles for lunch, and party foods for supper.  There is a nice fire going in the fireplace and we will settle back down for a nice Christmas Eve.

Winter Storm Update From The Compound

 I was busy yesterday going to the grocery and other errands and didn't have time to post.  The weatherazzi, mayor and governor have us all worked up.  They have declared a state of emergency here in Louisville and Kentucky for the next few days - mainly because the wind chill temperatures will be -20 to -40 degrees.  No, that is not a typo.  

We have two boxes of four hour Duraflame logs if needed, and have a pretty good stack of wood in the carport if necessary; we have plenty of food and adult beverages, so we will be hunkered down.  My plan is to not go out until Tuesday at lunchtime when we have haircut appointments.   Rain is staring now, and is supposed to change to snow at about 8:00 as temperatures plummet.  It's 47 degrees right now, and 10:00 it is supposed to be 17.  When we wake up tomorrow morning, they are calling for -3. 

Stay safe, and stay tuned.  

Merry Christmas To You, Mother Nature

 They are predicting an arctic blast here in the 'Ville starting Thursday evening, along with some snow.  The weatherazzi has scaled back their snow amounts to only an inch or two, but the highs on Friday, Saturday and Sunday are expected to be in the single digits.  While we might have a white Christmas, we will be dealing with wicked cold temperatures.  I am ready - the Old Man bought me a new very warm winter coat and some awesome gloves for Christmas so bring it on.

Merry Christmas From The Compoond

Nothing says Merry Christmas like a Little Debbie Christmas tree cake. 

Saturday Updates

 As I type this, we are waiting for our kin folk from up north to arrive. The house is cleaned and decorated, and the Christmas lights and decorations are all lit up and waiting for their arrival.  We are anxiously waiting for them to get here so we can commence happy hour.  

More Craziness At The Compound

 When I went out to get the newspaper this morning, I discovered some more craziness here at The Compound.  A vehicle had went off the road into the ditch of our neighbors, turned around in the ditch making more ruts in their yard, and came back out onto the road through our front yard and onto our driveway.  It is nothing short of a miracle that the vehicle didn't hit the utility pole - their tire ruts were about a foot from the pole.  

It's never boring here at The Compound.  But we are thankful that it wasn't worse.  

Christmas At The Compound

 I am very happy to report that all timers on our decorations are coming on and going off as we want.  All is well with our electronics.  

We spent the morning cleaning in preparation for my Favorite Cousin and her awesome husband to come visit us this weekend from up in LaFayette, IN.  Tomorrow, I will clean up the kitchen and on Friday will do the dreaded mopping of the floor and then go to the grocery for some snacks and to the liquor store for some adult beverages.   It's all coming together. 

The 2022 12 Days Of Christmas Price Index

2022 PNC Christmas Price Index®
		TRADITIONAL			INTERNET
			% Change			% Change
	2021	2022	2022 / 21	2021	2022	2022 / 21
One Partridge in a Pear Tree	$          222.68	$          280.18	25.8 %	$          324.18	$          400.18	23.4 %
Partridge	$            20.18	$            20.18	0.0 %	$          110.18	$          110.18	0.0 %
Pear Tree	$          202.50	$          260.00	28.4 %	$          214.00	$          290.00	35.5 %
Two Turtle Doves	$          450.00	$          600.00	33.3 %	$          540.00	$          695.00	28.7 %
Three French Hens	$          255.00	$          318.75	25.0 %	$          415.00	$          518.75	25.0 %
Four Calling Birds	$          599.96	$          599.96	0.0 %	$          454.00	$          500.00	10.1 %
Five Gold Rings	$          895.00	$       1,245.00	39.1 %	$          969.75	$       1,089.75	12.4 %
Six Geese-a-Laying	$          660.00	$          720.00	9.1 %	$       2,760.00	$       2,841.00	2.9 %
Seven Swans-a-Swimming	$     13,125.00	$     13,124.93	0.0 %	$     15,125.00	$     15,124.93	0.0 %
Eight Maids-a-Milking	$            58.00	$            58.00	0.0 %	$          448.32	$          456.00	1.7 %
Nine Ladies Dancing	$       7,552.84	$       8,308.12	10.0 %	$       7,552.84	$       8,308.12	10.0 %
10 Lords-a-Leaping	$     11,260.00	$     13,980.00	24.2 %	$     11,260.00	$     13,980.00	24.2 %
11 Pipers Piping	$       2,943.93	$       3,021.40	2.6 %	$       2,750.00	$       2,750.00	0.0 %
12 Drummers Drumming	$       3,183.17	$       3,266.93	2.6 %	$       3,000.00	$       3,000.00	0.0 %
Total Christmas Price Index	$     41,205.58	$     45,523.27	10.5 %	$     45,599.09	$     49,663.73	8.9 %
True cost of Christmas in song	$   179,454.19	$   197,071.09	9.8 %	$   210,627.12	$   227,441.72	8.0 %
"Core" index, excluding swans	$     28,080.58	$     32,398.34	15.4 %	$     30,474.09	$     34,538.80	13.3 %