Day 34
Have you ever awakened from a dream and you weren't sure if you were dreaming still? What I mean is are you awake or still dreaming, it's just different? I've read we all dream even though we don't remember. And we dream about 12 different dreams each time we sleep. I assume this is spread over an eight hour period. A sleep cycle lasts about thirty eight minutes. A cycle is much like a whale swimming in the sea. It starts on the surface and then submerges deep down, and eventually resurfaces to catch a breath and goes back down again. When we come back up we don't awaken but we are close, then we sink back down into a deep sleep. This is when we dream.
So here's the story.
The other night I had a dream. I drove to my friend Irene's apartment to vacuum her carpet. I once owned a cleaning business and this woman was my partner. I'm sure she didn't need me to vacuum her rug, it was just an excuse to visit since I hadn't seen or spoken to her for some time. When I went inside there was a large group of people there. It was a party. Irene's two sisters were there and walked over to greet me. I felt out of place. I thought because I hadn't been invited. Then I saw Irene. She smiled and started to walk my way. She looked so great, so alive. There was laughter in her eyes. She was so beautiful. I hadn't seen her look this good in awhile. She kept moving closer.
I began to wonder why she hadn't invited me. I remembered I hadn't seen Irene in a long while. She stood in front of me, almost touching me. She didn't say a word but kept smiling. I started to wake. My chest tightened up, my throat closed as I choked back a sigh. As I woke felt hurt, I couldn't understand why she hadn't invited me.
I was in that place between awake and asleep. That place where Never-Never Land is suppose to be. That place where all your dreams come true. But my dream wasn't coming true. My heart was breaking. Again.
The fog of sleep lifted and I remembered Irene had passed away over ten years ago. I reasoned that's why she didn't invite me. It just wasn't my time yet. Her sisters were there though they had not spoken either. I haven't heard from anyone in her family for many years now. Something may have happened to them.
Some cultures believe that when we sleep the soul leaves the body and walks through another world. A world just as real as this one. A world somewhere between asleep and awake. A world where anything is possible. Good night Irene. I'll see you in my dreams.
Until tomorrow,
Ken
Saturday, December 12, 2015
Friday, December 11, 2015
EBAY Has Taken Over My Home
Day 33
Like most people I can always use a little extra cash, especially around the holidays. It's not the gifts so much as my truck and car insurance is due at the beginning of December, then the license plates come due in March and a few months after that the truck and car insurance is due again. Of course, all of the holidays and events. Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, college bowl games, Super Bowl, Valentines Day, and tax day. All require money and spending. I'm not required to spend the money (except the taxes) but I like to celebrate and a little extra cash is helpful.
This is were the allure of Ebay comes in. Selling used castoffs in my case. I started like most ebayers selling items found around the house that I didn't want anymore. I simply read a book about selling on Ebay, opened an account and started selling. Soon my own personal treasure trove was empty so I went in search of more quality used goods I could sell. First I tried estate and garage sales. Most people have a high regard for what their used items are worth, often asking near new prices no matter the condition of the item. Next and foremost I went to thrift stores buying garage sale donations at more reasonable prices.
Shopping was good until thrift stores started asking Ebay prices for some of the high quality and not so high quality items. Even placing hand made signs quoting Ebays asking price (silly since Ebays selling prices are very fluid). I have even found items with labels destroyed to devalue them to discourage resellers. Thereby also discouraging their intended buyers from purchasing. Bad business. But this is not a lesson in business practices.
After some trial and error I settled on clothes as the best for availability, cost of goods, demand and shipping costs. There are always plenty of quality items available at low prices, since clothing is the life blood of most thrift stores. Travelling from place to place perusing, haggling and sometimes purchasing was actually the fun part and I hate shopping.
Then came the dull drudgery of listing the items for sale. Setting up a small photo studio with lights and a half mannequin. Examining the clothes under harsh lighting for flaws I may have missed. Holes, tears and missing buttons. Also odors undetectable in the store. Lost inventory goes into a pile off to the side. Sizes mean nothing, you have to measure each item and include in the body of the listing. Take lots of good pictures of each item in front of a pleasing background, thus the small photo studio.
Sit down in front of the computer, load and check the photos, adjust for brightness and clarity. Think of an eye catching title that will get a buyer to look at your item. Write a description that accurately describes the item and gives it purchasing appeal. Research asking and actual selling prices to set your price either for maximum profit (higher) or quick sale (lower). Most sellers start out asking the former but end up accepting the later. Listing quickly became a chore. So you'll understand that my shopping far outran my listing and selling.
Only a small number of your items will sell at a profit and much of that is eaten up by Ebay fees, the cost of goods sold and (my favorite) shipping costs (my largest single expense is shipping). Remember each listing costs 30 cents, not much until you have a couple hundred listings, a bare minimum to make any money. And that is just a quick synopsis.
I had bags of unlisted clothing stashed in every closet. Soon they overflowed into my living room. My home became an obstacle course of trash bags filled with used clothes. I was on the verge of becoming a reality TV show on hoarding. My little project to make a few extra dollars became a job of long hours (listing) with little pay (profits) to show for my labors.
A few days ago I decided I had had enough and began to "clean house". I have gone through countless bags and gleaned the best possible items with the most potential to sell. The rest have been returned to the local thrift store for resale or donation to the needy. Either way they are out of my house. I must go to work and list these items now during the selling season to squeeze the profit out of what I have left. Come summer whatever is left goes to the thrift store.
I haven't given up on making money online from my home, I have just moved on from clothing. Now I have an item I can readily acquire from my home at minimal cost, shipping is very low and I can sell on more than one venue. The best part is these items take a mere fraction of the room the clothing did. My new idea? Well that's for another time.
I'm getting my home back and that's the main thing.
Until tomorrow,
Ken
Like most people I can always use a little extra cash, especially around the holidays. It's not the gifts so much as my truck and car insurance is due at the beginning of December, then the license plates come due in March and a few months after that the truck and car insurance is due again. Of course, all of the holidays and events. Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, college bowl games, Super Bowl, Valentines Day, and tax day. All require money and spending. I'm not required to spend the money (except the taxes) but I like to celebrate and a little extra cash is helpful.
This is were the allure of Ebay comes in. Selling used castoffs in my case. I started like most ebayers selling items found around the house that I didn't want anymore. I simply read a book about selling on Ebay, opened an account and started selling. Soon my own personal treasure trove was empty so I went in search of more quality used goods I could sell. First I tried estate and garage sales. Most people have a high regard for what their used items are worth, often asking near new prices no matter the condition of the item. Next and foremost I went to thrift stores buying garage sale donations at more reasonable prices.
Shopping was good until thrift stores started asking Ebay prices for some of the high quality and not so high quality items. Even placing hand made signs quoting Ebays asking price (silly since Ebays selling prices are very fluid). I have even found items with labels destroyed to devalue them to discourage resellers. Thereby also discouraging their intended buyers from purchasing. Bad business. But this is not a lesson in business practices.
After some trial and error I settled on clothes as the best for availability, cost of goods, demand and shipping costs. There are always plenty of quality items available at low prices, since clothing is the life blood of most thrift stores. Travelling from place to place perusing, haggling and sometimes purchasing was actually the fun part and I hate shopping.
Then came the dull drudgery of listing the items for sale. Setting up a small photo studio with lights and a half mannequin. Examining the clothes under harsh lighting for flaws I may have missed. Holes, tears and missing buttons. Also odors undetectable in the store. Lost inventory goes into a pile off to the side. Sizes mean nothing, you have to measure each item and include in the body of the listing. Take lots of good pictures of each item in front of a pleasing background, thus the small photo studio.
Sit down in front of the computer, load and check the photos, adjust for brightness and clarity. Think of an eye catching title that will get a buyer to look at your item. Write a description that accurately describes the item and gives it purchasing appeal. Research asking and actual selling prices to set your price either for maximum profit (higher) or quick sale (lower). Most sellers start out asking the former but end up accepting the later. Listing quickly became a chore. So you'll understand that my shopping far outran my listing and selling.
Only a small number of your items will sell at a profit and much of that is eaten up by Ebay fees, the cost of goods sold and (my favorite) shipping costs (my largest single expense is shipping). Remember each listing costs 30 cents, not much until you have a couple hundred listings, a bare minimum to make any money. And that is just a quick synopsis.
I had bags of unlisted clothing stashed in every closet. Soon they overflowed into my living room. My home became an obstacle course of trash bags filled with used clothes. I was on the verge of becoming a reality TV show on hoarding. My little project to make a few extra dollars became a job of long hours (listing) with little pay (profits) to show for my labors.
A few days ago I decided I had had enough and began to "clean house". I have gone through countless bags and gleaned the best possible items with the most potential to sell. The rest have been returned to the local thrift store for resale or donation to the needy. Either way they are out of my house. I must go to work and list these items now during the selling season to squeeze the profit out of what I have left. Come summer whatever is left goes to the thrift store.
I haven't given up on making money online from my home, I have just moved on from clothing. Now I have an item I can readily acquire from my home at minimal cost, shipping is very low and I can sell on more than one venue. The best part is these items take a mere fraction of the room the clothing did. My new idea? Well that's for another time.
I'm getting my home back and that's the main thing.
Until tomorrow,
Ken
Thursday, December 10, 2015
Single Mans Easy Roast Beef Dinner
Day 32
It's December 10th here in northern Michigan and the ground is a autumn brown. I have an english cut chuck roast with carrots, potatoes and onion in the slow cooker. Another hour yet before it's finished and the meaty scent is making my stomach grumble.
If you like tender roast beef and you haven't had an english cut chuck roast in a slow cooker, then next time you have a hankerin' give this a try. Remember ENGLISH CUT CHUCK ROAST it has to be ENGLISH CUT (something to do with the area it is cut from).
Try this: 2-3 lb. english cut chuck roast
6-8 medium potatoes
6-8 carrots
1 medium onion (I prefer sweet onion) optional
1 can beef broth
Spray slow cooker with non stick spray (such as Pam).
Wash and halve potatoes and carrots and place potatoes in cooker first, they should cover the bottom, then the carrots. In a hot pan, sear both sides of the roast (keeps the juices in). Place roast on top of the carrots. If using an onion, peel and cut into quarters place next to roast. Shake can of beef broth and slowly pour over roast. Put on the cover and set for 8 hours. Then work up an appetite for eight hours. Do not be tempted to cut the cooking time short, I cut the time short by an hour once and the roast was chewy. I hate chewy.
Gravy? Heintz Savory Beef gravy in a jar. Like I said, "Easy".
Serve it up a salad and some crusty french bread.
Leftovers idea: Easy Stew. Cut up leftover roast, potatoes, carrots and onion. Cover with a jar of beef gravy. Heat and serve. Serve with bread.
Want to impress someone? Add a shrimp cocktail appetizer. Magnificent!!
Aside: I set a bag of frozen shrimp in the fridge to thaw, four hours later the shrimp is still frozen solid. Why do they tell you to thaw something in the fridge? It takes several days.
If you want to thaw shrimp quickly. Remove frozen shrimp from bag, place in warm water for about 30 minutes or so. Should feel rubbery and flexible when thawed. Too warm now? Place thawed shrimp in iced water for a few minutes to chill. Serve about 30 minutes before dinner with your favorite cocktail sauce.
Currently my favorite cocktail sauce is from Gordons Food Service, thick with just the right amount of horse radish for that little bite. I bought some Kens Steak House cocktail sauce and I can't wait to try it.
Until tomorrow,
Ken
If you like tender roast beef and you haven't had an english cut chuck roast in a slow cooker, then next time you have a hankerin' give this a try. Remember ENGLISH CUT CHUCK ROAST it has to be ENGLISH CUT (something to do with the area it is cut from).
Try this: 2-3 lb. english cut chuck roast
6-8 medium potatoes
6-8 carrots
1 medium onion (I prefer sweet onion) optional
1 can beef broth
Spray slow cooker with non stick spray (such as Pam).
Wash and halve potatoes and carrots and place potatoes in cooker first, they should cover the bottom, then the carrots. In a hot pan, sear both sides of the roast (keeps the juices in). Place roast on top of the carrots. If using an onion, peel and cut into quarters place next to roast. Shake can of beef broth and slowly pour over roast. Put on the cover and set for 8 hours. Then work up an appetite for eight hours. Do not be tempted to cut the cooking time short, I cut the time short by an hour once and the roast was chewy. I hate chewy.
Gravy? Heintz Savory Beef gravy in a jar. Like I said, "Easy".
Serve it up a salad and some crusty french bread.
Leftovers idea: Easy Stew. Cut up leftover roast, potatoes, carrots and onion. Cover with a jar of beef gravy. Heat and serve. Serve with bread.
Want to impress someone? Add a shrimp cocktail appetizer. Magnificent!!
Aside: I set a bag of frozen shrimp in the fridge to thaw, four hours later the shrimp is still frozen solid. Why do they tell you to thaw something in the fridge? It takes several days.
If you want to thaw shrimp quickly. Remove frozen shrimp from bag, place in warm water for about 30 minutes or so. Should feel rubbery and flexible when thawed. Too warm now? Place thawed shrimp in iced water for a few minutes to chill. Serve about 30 minutes before dinner with your favorite cocktail sauce.
Currently my favorite cocktail sauce is from Gordons Food Service, thick with just the right amount of horse radish for that little bite. I bought some Kens Steak House cocktail sauce and I can't wait to try it.
Until tomorrow,
Ken
Wednesday, December 9, 2015
Musings from My Mind: Healing Power of Forgiveness
Day 31
Let me start out by saying I'm not here to preach. I was going to put this one off until Easter, but I'm feeling under the weather today and medicine is on my mind. So here goes.
I went to a Lutheran school while growing up in lower Michigan. We spoke often of forgiveness and forgiving others. It comes with the territory in Christianity (not preaching here just setting the background). Through eight years of bible study and wonderful stories, I learned I should forgive others for the hurt they cause me either intentional or otherwise. It was one of the key requirements for entry into heaven (still not preaching). I don't remember being told of the other advantages.
Here comes the story.
As my brother and I were driving home from getting our tickets for this weekends showing of Dashing Through the Snow, we decided to take the scenic route. This was one of the reasons I moved to a small town in northern Michigan; I wanted to slow down, take in the scenery and smell the pine trees (not many Roses here). I've been halfway around the world and seen many beautiful places. Michigan is still at the top of my list partly because it's home. But I digress.
While driving around Higgins Lake we discussed different things as brothers often do, when I inquired about my grand nephew. He's lost his way and been a great concern to the family. This led to other topics. A good old fashion bitch session, something older people do now and then to relieve us of our concerns. My brother can be very outspoken when he is passionate about a subject. At the top of his list is family. Recently he said some things that were gnawing at him. A heat of the moment rant. Now his grandson isn't speaking to him. There needs to be some forgiveness on both sides.
I have pondered forgiveness recently because there are people I have wronged over the years. I would ask them to forgive me. Not for my personal well being but for their own.
It's not easy. There are some people who would willingly throw themselves in front of a train before forgiving someone who wronged them thereby letting the wrong doer off the hook.
When someone wrongs us whether real or imagined, it plants a seed. A life destroying, soul corrupting seed of anger and discontent. Some times it grows instantly, sometimes slowly over years, even after we've forgotten what it was that hurt us. Until we end up bitter, seeing fault were there is none. And whom do we hurt? If the other person is indifferent or oblivious to the problem then they are certainly not being hurt. In the end we mostly just end up hurting ourselves.
There's a conventional wisdom which states "Laughter is the best medicine". I wholeheartedly agree. Laughter works the muscles, while clearing the mind of unhealthy worries and relieving stress, which helps the body to heal. But laughter is only a temporary solution, unless we want to walk around looking like a blithering idiot, laughing all of the time. Great for the abs though.
There's a better way.
Another old adage says, "To err is human, to forgive is divine". I'm an old sinner and have no illusions of being divine (now I'm preaching). After many a drive around the lakes and many hours considering what I have learned over the years, I've found forgiveness is not about giving the other person a pass for what they've done. It's about grabbing the weed of hate, anger and sorrow and tearing it out by the roots. So that you can begin to heal and even laugh again (which as I've said is great for healing).
I don't have all the answers; I make mistakes like anyone else. But I do know the sweet release of forgiveness and the clarity of mind it can bring. It's like a dark veil being lifted from your eyes.
So my advice is to forgive and be at peace.
Until tomorrow,
Ken
I went to a Lutheran school while growing up in lower Michigan. We spoke often of forgiveness and forgiving others. It comes with the territory in Christianity (not preaching here just setting the background). Through eight years of bible study and wonderful stories, I learned I should forgive others for the hurt they cause me either intentional or otherwise. It was one of the key requirements for entry into heaven (still not preaching). I don't remember being told of the other advantages.
Here comes the story.
As my brother and I were driving home from getting our tickets for this weekends showing of Dashing Through the Snow, we decided to take the scenic route. This was one of the reasons I moved to a small town in northern Michigan; I wanted to slow down, take in the scenery and smell the pine trees (not many Roses here). I've been halfway around the world and seen many beautiful places. Michigan is still at the top of my list partly because it's home. But I digress.
While driving around Higgins Lake we discussed different things as brothers often do, when I inquired about my grand nephew. He's lost his way and been a great concern to the family. This led to other topics. A good old fashion bitch session, something older people do now and then to relieve us of our concerns. My brother can be very outspoken when he is passionate about a subject. At the top of his list is family. Recently he said some things that were gnawing at him. A heat of the moment rant. Now his grandson isn't speaking to him. There needs to be some forgiveness on both sides.
I have pondered forgiveness recently because there are people I have wronged over the years. I would ask them to forgive me. Not for my personal well being but for their own.
It's not easy. There are some people who would willingly throw themselves in front of a train before forgiving someone who wronged them thereby letting the wrong doer off the hook.
When someone wrongs us whether real or imagined, it plants a seed. A life destroying, soul corrupting seed of anger and discontent. Some times it grows instantly, sometimes slowly over years, even after we've forgotten what it was that hurt us. Until we end up bitter, seeing fault were there is none. And whom do we hurt? If the other person is indifferent or oblivious to the problem then they are certainly not being hurt. In the end we mostly just end up hurting ourselves.
There's a conventional wisdom which states "Laughter is the best medicine". I wholeheartedly agree. Laughter works the muscles, while clearing the mind of unhealthy worries and relieving stress, which helps the body to heal. But laughter is only a temporary solution, unless we want to walk around looking like a blithering idiot, laughing all of the time. Great for the abs though.
There's a better way.
Another old adage says, "To err is human, to forgive is divine". I'm an old sinner and have no illusions of being divine (now I'm preaching). After many a drive around the lakes and many hours considering what I have learned over the years, I've found forgiveness is not about giving the other person a pass for what they've done. It's about grabbing the weed of hate, anger and sorrow and tearing it out by the roots. So that you can begin to heal and even laugh again (which as I've said is great for healing).
I don't have all the answers; I make mistakes like anyone else. But I do know the sweet release of forgiveness and the clarity of mind it can bring. It's like a dark veil being lifted from your eyes.
So my advice is to forgive and be at peace.
Until tomorrow,
Ken
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
Ghost of Christmas Past Quote
Day 30
“There are some upon this earth of yours who lay claim to know us, and who do their deeds of passion, pride, ill-will, hatred, envy, bigotry, and selfishness in our name; who are as strange to us and all our kith and kin, as if they had never lived. Remember that, and charge their doings on themselves, not us.”
Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol,
Amen.
Until tomorrow,
Ken
Ghost of Christmas Past
Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol,
Amen.
Until tomorrow,
Ken
Monday, December 7, 2015
Dashing Through the Snow Going to a Show
Day 29
I bought tickets for Dashing Through the Snow today. It is a Christmas comedy set in Tinsel, Texas at an inn filled with unusual characters. This is a local production at the Kirtland Center for the Performing Arts in Roscommon. Taking mom for a night out this Saturday. Should be fun. I'll report back after.
Until tomorrow,
Ken
Until tomorrow,
Ken
Sunday, December 6, 2015
Model Trains Not a Thing of the Past
Day 28
Last night I drove to Roscommon Twp to get some groceries at the local Glenns store. I could have gone to Walmart but it's a little crazy on the weekends, plus I enjoy the drive to Glenns. While I was standing in the parking lot a train came thundering through town, the whistle blasting out it's warning could be heard for miles. Trains come through so seldom that Fred's Restaurant and Bowling Alley, which is next to the railroad tracks, buys all customers a round on the house. This brought to mind a memory from my childhood.
When I was about seven years old, my brother had a Lionel train set. The set had two different engines; a modern Santa Fe and a black steam locomotive, several freight cars and a caboose. The black locomotive would puff smoke if you dropped a special tablet into the smoke stack. There was many feet of metal track and a long curved tunnel shaped like a mountain which had to be placed perfectly or the train would hit the side and try to move the mountain.
My brother Tom and I weren't allowed to play with it because it was our oldest brother Bill's train set and it used a large electric transformer that was considered possibly dangerous. Mostly though it was because it belonged to my brother and he didn't want us to play with it. He was older and bigger than us, so he got his way.
When our parents and brother were not home we would sometimes pull out the three boxes of track and trains and the heavy controller. We would set up the track in different configurations from ovals to figure eights and the tunnel under the mountain was a must. We would spend hours running the trains and when we were really daring we would put a pellet in the smoke stack of the steam engine and wait for it to warm up and start puffing smoke rings as it went around and around. Daring because there was a limited supply of pellets. Often a model car would stall on the tracks and POW, train wreck. The plastic car would fair much worse than the heavy metal train.
When we heard a car pull into the driveway we would scramble to pull the track apart, put the locomotives and freight cars back in the box and lug the transformer/controller (I swear it weighed a hundred pounds) back upstairs to the attic. Then innocently stroll back down the stairs. Eventually the train set stayed in the basement where would set it up but when we didn't have to sneak, it lost it's appeal. I guess half of the fun was carrying it down from the attic to the basement and back without getting caught.
Back then there were enthusiasts who would set a piece of plywood with permanent trees, bushes buildings and complete little towns with road crossings and even people. Some with enough track to run several trains at the same time. Truly amazing. There are still people who do this today.
I went online just to see what a model train set costs now and found that model trains have changed over the years. There are a plethora of different models, many run on batteries and are remote controlled. Currently the most popular would be a replica of the Polar Express, and even this has many variations and price ranges. Also there are many train shows and clubs still here in Michigan. I may have to take a ride to see one and feel young again for a day.
Until tomorrow,
Ken
When I was about seven years old, my brother had a Lionel train set. The set had two different engines; a modern Santa Fe and a black steam locomotive, several freight cars and a caboose. The black locomotive would puff smoke if you dropped a special tablet into the smoke stack. There was many feet of metal track and a long curved tunnel shaped like a mountain which had to be placed perfectly or the train would hit the side and try to move the mountain.
My brother Tom and I weren't allowed to play with it because it was our oldest brother Bill's train set and it used a large electric transformer that was considered possibly dangerous. Mostly though it was because it belonged to my brother and he didn't want us to play with it. He was older and bigger than us, so he got his way.
When our parents and brother were not home we would sometimes pull out the three boxes of track and trains and the heavy controller. We would set up the track in different configurations from ovals to figure eights and the tunnel under the mountain was a must. We would spend hours running the trains and when we were really daring we would put a pellet in the smoke stack of the steam engine and wait for it to warm up and start puffing smoke rings as it went around and around. Daring because there was a limited supply of pellets. Often a model car would stall on the tracks and POW, train wreck. The plastic car would fair much worse than the heavy metal train.
When we heard a car pull into the driveway we would scramble to pull the track apart, put the locomotives and freight cars back in the box and lug the transformer/controller (I swear it weighed a hundred pounds) back upstairs to the attic. Then innocently stroll back down the stairs. Eventually the train set stayed in the basement where would set it up but when we didn't have to sneak, it lost it's appeal. I guess half of the fun was carrying it down from the attic to the basement and back without getting caught.
Back then there were enthusiasts who would set a piece of plywood with permanent trees, bushes buildings and complete little towns with road crossings and even people. Some with enough track to run several trains at the same time. Truly amazing. There are still people who do this today.
I went online just to see what a model train set costs now and found that model trains have changed over the years. There are a plethora of different models, many run on batteries and are remote controlled. Currently the most popular would be a replica of the Polar Express, and even this has many variations and price ranges. Also there are many train shows and clubs still here in Michigan. I may have to take a ride to see one and feel young again for a day.
Until tomorrow,
Ken
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