Random thoughts

Doesn't beef stew come in a can from Dinty Moore? That's the only way I know how to get it.

It's always so great to come home tired and smell they great dinner ready!

I put a chuck roast in the crock pot with an envelope of Lipton's dry onion soup mix and a cup or two of water, a few big chunks of potatoes and onions and we have a great roast for dinner that night.

I use the left over roast with BBQ sauce on buns for BBQ and serve it with baked beans the next night (dh's favorite) It's good to cook country style ribs in bbq sauce all day and boy are they tender by supper.

And crockpots are so cheap now! I got mine for $15 at Walmart.

I used to chop and simmer and do all that for sauce until once I used a jar sauce and got family compliments.
First compliments!
Never did it again, used the jar stuff from then on.(plus a little extra stuff) LOL

Brenda...I had that problem too until someone clued me in that I needed to brown the roast in olive oil in the frying pan first to seal in the juices and flavor. Now it comes out juicy and tasty.

And now for something completely different.....

Is the economy "good" or is the economy "bad" right now?

I say "bad" because I see the cost of goods (gasoline!!!) and services rising while most people's pay (mine included) isn't going up to keep pace with inflation. I buy basic groceries but I see SO many people buying high end items and 'convenience' (portioned, more expensive) items that I think a lot of people have a lot of disposable income. And don't get me started on all the people who are driving around - alone - in gass guzzling suv's! My only debt is my house - am I worried for no good reason? I swear I was better off financially 10 years ago.....

Jaybird

Some people that seem to be living well may actually be living beyond their means by buying on credit. You never really know for sure.

Thanks for the roast ideas ladies. I will try them. Can you use diet pepsi. Who would think to use pepsi for roast. What does it do to make the meat tender.

As for the economy I know I had more money 10 years ago. In S. California housing is really out of control. The average family needs to make well over $100,000 to own a home here. Yet most families don't make that much. This area is a prime example of what subprime lending can do to an areas housing market. Now there are thousands of homes in foreclosure because people borrowed beyond their means.I know many people who have house payments over $3000 a month now and they are middle class folks.

The poor military people that are transfered here can not afford housing. They must live on base or rent apartments in less than desireable areas. What a thing for the people who protect our country to have to deal with.

As for the rich here I think they just keep getting richer or are really good at moving their money around. Creative banking. People who owned homes before the real estate boom of the early 2000's have prospered as well.

Gas was $3.39 here today.

Im not sure why, but they are saying gas in Chicago is the highest in the nation.

Changing subjects for a bit.

I was thinking yesterday, when I was a little girl how important Memorial Day was. It wasnt just about having a bbq. There were lots of parades, honoring our soldiers. Heard on the news yesterday that alot of places across the country have stopped the parades! Sure doesnt make sense to me.

Memorial Day was always a day the family took a trip to the cemetary to visit loved ones we had lost. Bring flowers and such. It was always crowded with lots of people. Marching soldiers giving gun salutes to remember.

Seems like now, Memorial Day is more like picnics, pulling out your white shoes, getting ready for summer, and stuff like that.

Just all seems strange to me.

Nicki

With all our young men dying in Iraq and Afghanistan you would think people would think more of it than an extra day off! My deceased husband was miltary and I was with him for the last 8 years of his career and it was a big deal for us on the base, but out in civilian life it is a very different atmosphere.

When you think of it though (now I am 44), the way things were when I was a kid is way different than they are now. I used to be able to set my bicycle in front of my friends houses while I went inside to play. Come out hours later and the bike was still there. Everyone would sit out on their front porches at night and enjoy the evening and neighbors would chit chat. Now, not only can you not leave anything unlocked, but you are afraid to let your children go in peoples houses unless you really know them. And as for the front porch, most houses don't even have a porch anymore to sit on!

I remember reading a book when I was in junior high that was jumping into the future and going on how houses didn't have front porches and people were less socialable. I would have never dreamed that is how it would be for me as I got older!

LuAnn

CNN Investigates had a special on last night called Combat Hospital. It actually looked like the real MASH - but its present time doctors and nurses, techs and aides - taking care of our wounded. I guess I found it interesting because Im a nurse. It really brought home the realities of war.

I saw lots of picnics and family gatherings today. Went to the store and saw lots of Memorial Day sales. I wonder if its because our WWII vets are old and many have died.

LuAnn: I used to sit on the porch sometimes till midnight when I was a kid. Never had any fears back then. Things have changed.



Nicki

This post is in remeberance of my brother, Gene "Fat" Hicks. He was a Korean War Vet but he never went to Korea. Instead he was sent to Atlanta during Martin Luther King's march thru town. He drove a tank thru downtown Atalnta with orders to shoot to kill if ANYONE caused any problems. I was about 2 or 3 at the time and i remember he brought a panda bear ack for me. I miss my brother. He passed away 3 years ago.

Remembering war veterans, my Uncle Sam was killed in action and his body never recovered. He was involved in a battle on Chuk Island, was a gunner in the back of the plane. His plane was shot down and the men never recovered

LuAnn