Just ewww.

This is a weird photo. I admit that. I have one of those plastic containers on the bathroom shelf that contains Q-Tips. I got down to my last dozen so I got out the box that was under the sink. What you see to the left is what I found.

If you notice, some of the Q-Tips are missing ends. I was quite startled and started tossing them out. As I dug deeper into the box and realized over half of the Q-Tips were missing ends, I noticed those black flecks in the bottom of the box. Close examination shows those to be insect shells. Some kind of insect had infested my extra box of Q-Tips and had eaten off the cotton swab ends of most of them. You can see a few that are okay but who is to say there isn't larva in those swabs. I pitched the whole box and it will go out to the curb tonight with the garbage.

I have never seen this before. I have no idea what those bugs could be. I thought of cotton weevils but how did they get into my Q-Tips? That's the part that really bothers me. Is this larva that's naturally occurring in cotton and I put this in my ear? [deep breath] No, no. I'm going to operate on the assumption it's something that got into the house. I have to replenish my Q-Tips because I use them for a lot of things. I guess what I need to do is not buy the gigantic economy size if I can't get them into the plastic bin I have.

Has anyone else had this problem? Any guesses what the bugs are? It's creepy. Someone should make a low grade horror movie out of this.

Beverage: English Breakfast tea

Deb

Eggs!

The weekend included trips to the grocery. I headed out of work early on Friday because of the impending snowstorm. When I left the office at 3, the weather people were predicting 4-8 inches of snow. As I was down to chocolate chips, All-bran and beef broth, I knew it was going to be a chunk of change to restock the shelves.

I had posted before about being out of eggs and unsure how to get my promised free ones. I went to this web site I supposedly signed up for. A little poking around and, well what do you know, there are my free eggs. It's actually, now that I've spent a couple hours in the site, quite easy to use. I click on an offer and it gets "loaded" onto my Dominicks card. You all have these things. I have one not on this fob. I have to register it online and I keep forgetting to do that.

So, I load up my "Fresh Values" card and head over to the grocery on Friday. I spent over $100 but I got my free eggs and replenished the pantry.

I'm always skeptical of the receipt claims that I saved x number of dollars because I used my card. It's quite dramatic when the register rings up a final bill of $150 and then they apply your card discounts and it drops like a stone. It's an emotional pat on the back that you maybe did shop well. Still, I did get some things for very inexpensive prices and they were things, like pasta, which I use. And yes, the eggs were free.

I contrast that with the Whole Foods run on Saturday, in the snow. I got fresh fruits and vegetables, bread, flour, cereal, bulk raisins and cranberries and frozen peas and carrots. None of that stuff is discounted or free with $10 purchase. It's all organic so I feel that although the price is probably 10-15% higher than buying at Dominicks, it's better for me. Maybe I'm kidding myself but some illusions I want to keep.

I wound up spending more than I had budgeted for, but what I also did was buy for a full month. I shouldn't need groceries beyond incidentals until January. To me, that's a good plan.

Beverage: English Breakfast Tea

Deb

First of Many.

I'm still not quite used to this whole "son-in-law" concept. I'm sure I'll get used to it and that, eventually, it will be hard to think of them not as a couple.

This is the first Christmas card to be sent to the daughter combined with the husband. I must have read every...single...one to make sure I got the one that said just what I wanted it to say. Yes, I send silly ones but I've always sent a serious one. I hope I'll be sending at least 50 more of these.

Beverage: China Black Tea

Deb

The Watcher in the Woods

Part of my job involves setting up equipment for clients. My company has a policy that you aren't allowed to mention it on social networking sites or in blogs so I'll just say my job involves some travel about the Chicagoland area to provide services to clients.

On this particular day, November 24th, I was out and about setting up equipment. This location is adjacent to two forest preserves.

As I pulled up to the equipment's location, I saw movement out of the corner of my eye. I always have the camera with me now because you never know what you can see and this camera is more portable than the previous one. Plus, it turns on faster.

I whipped out the camera as I was getting out of the car to get the equipment. I'm parked by the side of a road so there isn't much room to stand. Hence, it was a somewhat quick shot. It was also cold, with a 30 mph wind and I just wanted to get the equipment and get back into the warm car.

The deer watched me walk away to get the equipment. When I came back, about 2 minutes later, it was still there which is when I got this shot. As I came around the car to get into it, the deer took off, so I'm glad I got this shot.

Usually, it's nosy neighbors or dogs that watch us, never the wildlife.

Beverage: China Black Tea

Deb