One of my presents came early this year.
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Find Your Music on a Map?
Find music, films, or books that other people like who like what you like on on Gnod.com.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Thursday, July 23, 2009
The "Beverly Hillbillies of Texas"
Another book recommendation:The Big Rich: The Rise and Fall of the Greatest Texas Oil Fortunes
Listen to the podcast interview with author Bryan Burrough.
Read "Is the Era of the Texas Super Rich Over?" interview with Burrough.
Listen to the podcast interview with author Bryan Burrough.
Read "Is the Era of the Texas Super Rich Over?" interview with Burrough.
Monday, July 20, 2009
R.I.P. Frank McCourt, Recession Challenge #4, Reading Recommendations,Kodachrome, & Happy 40th Apollo Moon Landing!
Part I
Frank McCourt’s (1930 - 2009)passing inspired the subject matter of the first part of today’s blog.
When I was growing up, my family often took car trips to Mexico. We did not go solely for just across- the-border shopping trips, but for actual family vacations. We drove from Houston to Tampico or to Mexico City. Dad always insisted on taking the out of the way minor roads, rather than the main highways. He wanted his children to see the way people lived in the small towns and impoverished villages. Once we arrived at our final destination, a beach front resort or luxurious metropolitan mecca, our wise patriarch was assured his family knew how fortunate we were. Now, whenever I sense that I am falling into that self absorbed downward spiral of lamenting about being middle class, instead of a Rothschild or Kennedy, I find something to lift me up to reality. Rater than spending almost a trillion dollars to gas up the vehicle to travel to a neighboring country, rule Texas, or even a Houston ghetto, all I have to do is turn to a good book. The following is a combination recession challenge and reading recommendation.
Read a borrowed library book or DVD instead of going to the movie theater. Stay home from the movie theatre. You CAN wait to see The Half Blood Prince when it comes out on Netflix (only $15.99 a month; better fee than cable), DVD, or broadcast television. Unless you can walk or bike to the theatre, staying home will save gasoline, too. Reading the book will also save electricity used by the television and DVD player. Most neighborhoods have a public library branch within walking or biking distance. Re-read Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince; no money out of your pocket. Instead of complaining about the recession, unless you have lost employment, cancel your pity party and check out a good book to draw you back to reality. Suggestions for you and kids (from age 12), too.
Books with characters who deal with poverty:
Angela’s Ashes, Frank McCourt
The Good Earth, Pear S. Buck
Ellen Foster, Kaye Gibbons
The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck
Les Miserables, Victor Hugo
Fat Kid Rules the World, K. L.Going
Oliver Twist, Charles Dickens
How to Steal a Dog, Barbara O’Connor
Part II
Memories of Childhood Past
Frank McCourt’s (1930 - 2009)passing inspired the subject matter of the first part of today’s blog.
When I was growing up, my family often took car trips to Mexico. We did not go solely for just across- the-border shopping trips, but for actual family vacations. We drove from Houston to Tampico or to Mexico City. Dad always insisted on taking the out of the way minor roads, rather than the main highways. He wanted his children to see the way people lived in the small towns and impoverished villages. Once we arrived at our final destination, a beach front resort or luxurious metropolitan mecca, our wise patriarch was assured his family knew how fortunate we were. Now, whenever I sense that I am falling into that self absorbed downward spiral of lamenting about being middle class, instead of a Rothschild or Kennedy, I find something to lift me up to reality. Rater than spending almost a trillion dollars to gas up the vehicle to travel to a neighboring country, rule Texas, or even a Houston ghetto, all I have to do is turn to a good book. The following is a combination recession challenge and reading recommendation.
Read a borrowed library book or DVD instead of going to the movie theater. Stay home from the movie theatre. You CAN wait to see The Half Blood Prince when it comes out on Netflix (only $15.99 a month; better fee than cable), DVD, or broadcast television. Unless you can walk or bike to the theatre, staying home will save gasoline, too. Reading the book will also save electricity used by the television and DVD player. Most neighborhoods have a public library branch within walking or biking distance. Re-read Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince; no money out of your pocket. Instead of complaining about the recession, unless you have lost employment, cancel your pity party and check out a good book to draw you back to reality. Suggestions for you and kids (from age 12), too.
Books with characters who deal with poverty:
Angela’s Ashes, Frank McCourt
The Good Earth, Pear S. Buck
Ellen Foster, Kaye Gibbons
The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck
Les Miserables, Victor Hugo
Fat Kid Rules the World, K. L.Going
Oliver Twist, Charles Dickens
How to Steal a Dog, Barbara O’Connor
Part II
Memories of Childhood Past
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
What I Am Reading
Fat Kid Rules the World
The kids are reading this for their book club.
The Women
I have enjoyed the 1939 and the 2007 films. I like the 2002 PBS production best!
Cross by James Patterson
I am reading this online. I have the DVD of Along Came a Spider. I prefer to read the book before I view the film.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Meet the Millionaire Next Door
Monday, May 25, 2009
The book by Thomas Stanley is one of my bi-annual reads. Since it was published in 1998 the stats are dated, but the theory makes a lot of sense.
I remember when a few of my less frugal friends "strongly encouraged" me to buy a vehicle before I was ready-DUMB, rather than sharing a car - SMART. Well, well. I shared and saved enough to pay three months short of cash for a three year old Jaguar. Those same helpful,less frugal folks are now stuck with five year notes with eight or nine percent finance rates on a lesser quality car and will repeat the cycle in about five to seven years. How smart is that?
I know I am frugal. I keep trying to be even more frugal. I know there is room for improvement.
-I do not have cable.
-Do not own a large screen television.
-Purchase pre-owned cars every 12 years.
-Pay cash for most everything. (I have a mortgage.)
-Drink filtered water. No plastic water bottles. I have a table top filter for the water I drink at work.
-Only see movies at the theatre with free passes.
-'Got Netflix.
-Five retirement plans.
-Drive slow and plan trips.
-Save gas by shopping on line with free shipping and returns.
-Stock up on toiletries when on sale and only purchase from discount stores.
-Purchase all clothing on sale, with the exception of shoes. (I wear 10AA; sometimes AAA.)
-Do not eat meat.
-Drink only water, soy milk, and ginger tea.
-Do not use condiments, nor bottled seasoning except cinnamon, curry, or ginger.
-Eat out once a month. If more, I compensate somewhere else.
-Brown bag it at work. (I have eaten out for lunch only three times in eight months.)
-Hang dry most items.
-Hand wash as many items as possible. It may use more water, but saves clothes in the long run.)
-Use gas, rather than electric appliances.
-Use my debit card (cash)for even purchases less than a dollar. Yes! You are reading correctly. My bank gives me .25 points to a dollar. When I get enough points, I redeem them for gift cards for myself to buy things already on my list, not EXTRA stuff or to give as baby shower, birthday, and other special occasion gifts. (Marshalls, Target, Exxon, are a few.)
-Check out books from the public library, rather than purchase. (Every room in my house has a book shelf, even the bath.)
-Use the Internet for banking, long distancing, etc...
-Cell phone is only on after 9:00 p.m. and weekends.
-Purchase veggies and soy milk from the 99 Cent Store.
What My Value System Dictates
-Spend money on charity, education, and travel. No arguments.
BTW, travel abroad includes roughing it with public transportation, no frills hotel until the last two nights, and native, not tourist restaurants.
Room for Growth: What do I do to splurge?
I know I must get better at this. The following is what most can do without or lessen, but, I do not.
-Healthcare for pets. Since I cannot speak puppytalk, we usually show up at Dr. Palma's everytime a sneeze occurs.
-Drive to Austin to shop at Tesoros.
-Housekeeper and yard crew.
-Wrinkle cream, mani\pedis, and hair salon. (Average $180 per month.) This is the biggie!!!!Help! Help!
-Attend concerts and the theatre. (I will pay up to $500 for U2, B.B. King, Stones, and Elton tickets. I would for Phillip Glass, but there never seems to be a demand.)
-Shoe shopping sprees at Saks, Nordstrom, Shoebuy, Brucette's, Marshalls, and J. Renee. I love shoes!
-Accessory sprees at Charming Charlie, Forever 21, Zen's, World Market, Sam Moon, and Ebay.
-Other sprees at Whole Foods, Farmers' Market at Rice U.
Improvements
-Instead of $27 foundation, I have found the same quality for $9.99.
-Old:Makeup remover & toner; New:just apple cider vinegar
-From Purchasing plastic water bottles to using table top water pitcher
The book by Thomas Stanley is one of my bi-annual reads. Since it was published in 1998 the stats are dated, but the theory makes a lot of sense.
I remember when a few of my less frugal friends "strongly encouraged" me to buy a vehicle before I was ready-DUMB, rather than sharing a car - SMART. Well, well. I shared and saved enough to pay three months short of cash for a three year old Jaguar. Those same helpful,less frugal folks are now stuck with five year notes with eight or nine percent finance rates on a lesser quality car and will repeat the cycle in about five to seven years. How smart is that?
I know I am frugal. I keep trying to be even more frugal. I know there is room for improvement.
-I do not have cable.
-Do not own a large screen television.
-Purchase pre-owned cars every 12 years.
-Pay cash for most everything. (I have a mortgage.)
-Drink filtered water. No plastic water bottles. I have a table top filter for the water I drink at work.
-Only see movies at the theatre with free passes.
-'Got Netflix.
-Five retirement plans.
-Drive slow and plan trips.
-Save gas by shopping on line with free shipping and returns.
-Stock up on toiletries when on sale and only purchase from discount stores.
-Purchase all clothing on sale, with the exception of shoes. (I wear 10AA; sometimes AAA.)
-Do not eat meat.
-Drink only water, soy milk, and ginger tea.
-Do not use condiments, nor bottled seasoning except cinnamon, curry, or ginger.
-Eat out once a month. If more, I compensate somewhere else.
-Brown bag it at work. (I have eaten out for lunch only three times in eight months.)
-Hang dry most items.
-Hand wash as many items as possible. It may use more water, but saves clothes in the long run.)
-Use gas, rather than electric appliances.
-Use my debit card (cash)for even purchases less than a dollar. Yes! You are reading correctly. My bank gives me .25 points to a dollar. When I get enough points, I redeem them for gift cards for myself to buy things already on my list, not EXTRA stuff or to give as baby shower, birthday, and other special occasion gifts. (Marshalls, Target, Exxon, are a few.)
-Check out books from the public library, rather than purchase. (Every room in my house has a book shelf, even the bath.)
-Use the Internet for banking, long distancing, etc...
-Cell phone is only on after 9:00 p.m. and weekends.
-Purchase veggies and soy milk from the 99 Cent Store.
What My Value System Dictates
-Spend money on charity, education, and travel. No arguments.
BTW, travel abroad includes roughing it with public transportation, no frills hotel until the last two nights, and native, not tourist restaurants.
Room for Growth: What do I do to splurge?
I know I must get better at this. The following is what most can do without or lessen, but, I do not.
-Healthcare for pets. Since I cannot speak puppytalk, we usually show up at Dr. Palma's everytime a sneeze occurs.
-Drive to Austin to shop at Tesoros.
-Housekeeper and yard crew.
-Wrinkle cream, mani\pedis, and hair salon. (Average $180 per month.) This is the biggie!!!!Help! Help!
-Attend concerts and the theatre. (I will pay up to $500 for U2, B.B. King, Stones, and Elton tickets. I would for Phillip Glass, but there never seems to be a demand.)
-Shoe shopping sprees at Saks, Nordstrom, Shoebuy, Brucette's, Marshalls, and J. Renee. I love shoes!
-Accessory sprees at Charming Charlie, Forever 21, Zen's, World Market, Sam Moon, and Ebay.
-Other sprees at Whole Foods, Farmers' Market at Rice U.
Improvements
-Instead of $27 foundation, I have found the same quality for $9.99.
-Old:Makeup remover & toner; New:just apple cider vinegar
-From Purchasing plastic water bottles to using table top water pitcher
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
How Nobody Came to the Graveyard
Neil, congratulations on your award. It's almost like the new Kindle, but better. Neil reads eight chapters. Check him out on my favorites.
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