Being Free

I Have to Vent. About a TV Show.

2026-03-27T20:00:00.025-05:00

This is so silly of me, but I have to vent about a TV series I've watched. The show is not a new one (I never watch new shows it seems) and started in 2005 and lasted 7 seasons. I just finished it and, to quote the lead character, "Oh, that woman!"

Kyra Sedgwick plays the main character who lives up to her reputation as "The Closer", by doing anything to close a murder investigation. And anything means anything. The woman is a complete and laser-focused hound when it comes to getting people to confess. And that is what could have made her kind of cool but, in my opinion, it made her totally unlikeable.

You know how it's said that the most successful people in some careers are psychopaths? I've always thought that is probably true of most politicians, lawyers and, maybe, helicopter parents. I know it's true if this fictional character that I have no business thinking so much about...

I have convinced myself that the show creators tricked people. They made the lead character (Brenda) so horrible that viewers would watch each week just waiting for her to get less horrible. She never did. At the very end, I was left hoping that maybe she was going to be a better person in her future life. But I doubt it.

This woman - Brenda - was almost inhuman. Seriously. To the point where her own house could be about to catch fire and she'd ignore it and the people inside to answer a call about a murder. Nothing seemed to ever matter to her more than being The Closer - not her husband or her any of her blood family.

Brenda might have been awful before becoming The Closer. She had zero friends to speak of. Her only past romantic interests were and ex-husband and a former lover (who'd been married at the time) who became her boss. The man she dated and later married must have liked being walked on by her little heels. She treated him like he was disposable the entire time they dated and when they got married, it got worse. I started out feeling sorry for him and ended up repulsed.

The fact that her former lover/current boss remained as hot for her as her current husband makes me wonder if psychopaths have something special going on behind bedroom doors. Brenda surely was not wowing men with her appealing feminine wiles. She's not bad-looking but is built like a plank (though she has the boobs men love) and has the attitude of a drill sergeant.

Understand that I am not invested in this character as if a fictional person could mean anything to me. What bothers me is that a show based around such a character was so massively popular - something I didn't know until I checked.

And honestly, the longer I watched the show - you know, waiting for something to defrost Brenda's heart - the more I wondered about the actress. Don't get me wrong, I know almost nothing about Sedgwick's career. I don't think I've ever seen anything else she's been in. But I did wonder how someone could play such a dislikable character so well.

It gives me the creeps now to think of how horrible Brenda is as a character. Why was she written to be so nasty and just, ew? By the last couple of episodes, when I was sure time had run out for Brenda to be more human, I realized that her eyes look black.

The realization about the character's eyes kind of gave me the creeps. I went back to pan through some old episodes and, yep, the eyes were always very dark. I do think they got darker as the show went on.

Anyway, I'm now done watching the show, but it's one of the reasons I don't watch much TV. I think some programs are programming society to become comfortable with personalities of darkness.

Peace

--Free

Cheap(er), Tasty & Filling Meals

2026-03-24T17:30:00.001-05:00

Like so many people lately, my neighbors and I have been talking about groceries. My neighbors are mostly 75 and up and I am in my mid 60s. We know something about stretching meals & eating cheaply. I want to share this with anyone trying to eat filling meals for as cheap as possible. I give thanks to my mother and my neighbors for sharing their wisdom.

There are some staple ingredients to keep around - like a barebones set for hard times. I will talk about those later. For now, here are some of the simple meals to think about.

A meal of beans and rice is so filling. (When I say "beans", unless I say otherwise, I am talking about pinto beans) 1 cup of beans and 1 cup of rice will feed 2 people for a day - maybe more, depending. You can season the beans with pizza sauce, onions, garlic, and spices. Serving the beans on top of the rice makes a warm and savory dish. This also works with navy beans and black-eyed peas.)

Rice by itself is versatile. You can eat it sweet or savory. You can have some of it with salt and pepper and some with butter and brown sugar. Cold rice can be served with sweet milk or heated up to eat with savory broth.

Cornbread is great to make and keep around. Regular cornbread (or pan cornbread) is simple to make with basic staple ingredients (see below). Once you have cornbread you can eat it with simple soups/stews or just a bowl of beans or rice. It is filling. You can also add bits of canned corn or bacon bits to cornbread. To keep leftovers, put the cornbread in a baggie or sealable dish and put in the fridge. Basic cornbread will keep overnight sealed on a counter but lasts better in the fridge.

Hot water cornbread is simpler but tastes best eaten warm or heated up the same day. It literally is just cornmeal "cooked" to a mush with boiling water. You add a little salt and pepper and a drop of oil if you like before frying the patties of mush. It's very tasty with soups, beans or stews. I like to just nibble on pieces of it while I'm cooking other things.

Frozen mixed veggies can be doctored up to taste really good. You don't have to eat them steamed or boiled; you can sauté them with onions and garlic and bits of potato. One of my brothers likes to steam his and mix them in with scrambled eggs (ew!). You can also combine mixed veggies with beans or with rice.

Hoe Cakes (also called patty cakes or flat bread). This is the poor man's bread. It's basically flour, water and salt kneaded and flattened into patties before frying in shallow oil. We ate it all the time as kids when my dad was TDY. Mama would serve it as breakfast with butter and syrup or jelly/jam and at dinner with fried potatoes and onions. It goes well with meat or soups/stews. Mainly it is cheap and filling.

Cabbage can be steamed, boiled, baked and fried. It is not always cheap, but raw cabbage keeps really well in the fridge if you wrap it in foil. It goes well with pan cornbread or hot water cornbread. You can add bits of meat or other veggies with it. It's healthy and can be filling.

Using leftovers:

Potatoes skins - not the fancy stuff restaurants serve - I'm talking the skin we normally toss out. First off, if you are frying your potatoes, just leave the skin on (after washing the potatoes!). Always wash and scrub the potatoes so that, if you save the peeled skin, you can oil and season then and fry them up to nibble on. My mom used to purposely leave a little potato on sometimes to let snack on the fried skins.

Onion skins - I won't go into how onion water is supposed to be good for a cough... But save your skins to add to your rice, beans, and soups/stews. It adds flavor and my mom used to say, "the skin is where the vitamins are" and she would use them in her stocks. You will want to strain out.

Cornbread - like regular bread this makes for yummy croutons. Season and bake/air fry and do your thing. This won't work with hot water cornbread.

(Cornbread and buttermilk - I don't cosign on this one, but it was a favorite of my daddy's. Heat the leftover cornbread and, ugh! pour some cold buttermilk over it. Daddy liked it with fresh cornbread, but we are talking broke meals here.)

Beans - when heating up leftover beans add a little water first. N

TIPS:

When making beans, always add more water than needed. It will be soupier than you want, but if you mix a little cornstarch in cold water and stir into the bean water, it will make it thicken. That extra bean broth is good for eating with rice, bread, cornbread or hoecake. I always make a lot of broth and it's even good warmed up and just sipped on its own between meals. Also
I like adding a little sugar to my beans - preferably dark brown. To bulk it up I also like to add a sauce (tomato or tomato paste, cheap spaghetti or pizza is fine or even a thick bbq sauce) to give it more flavor.
Liquid smoke adds lots of flavor the beans and meat dishes. It's cheaper than buying pieces of smoked meat for flavoring dishes. It's super expensive in the little bottles.
Buying jars of garlic granules and making your own powder or using in place of fresh garlic is cheaper. Dried garlic lasts longer than trying to buy fresh.
Buying larger amounts of anything - especially staples - is cheaper in the long run if you can afford it. I can buy a jug of liquid smoke online for what a tiny jar costs at Walmart.
If you get ground meat on sale, put in in freezer baggies and flatten them so save space.

Basic Grocery List:

From reading about the meals, you get an idea of what you need. This is a very basic list for when you get to the grocery store. It won't cover everything, but it will get you started:

A/P Flour
Sugar (white and brown)
Cornstarch (you need this more than you think in the kitchen & elsewhere)
Salt and pepper
Dried Beans
Rice (I prefer long grain)
Cornmeal
Oil (I use Lard, olive, saved bacon grease)
Butter (I always get unsalted b/c I can add salt if needed)
Eggs (freeze eggs for up to one year)
Milk (get powdered milk if you don't use a lot to save on waste)
Evaporated milk (even if you have reg. milk or dried)
Syrup
Good sealable baggies or a cheap vac sealer and bags. Vac sealers aren't expensive; it is the bags...

If you just start with a basic pantry of staples, you can at least have meals of beans, rice, and some kind of bread.

When you find sales - especially of dried or frozen goods - stock up.

I find that one thing that helps on saving with food is getting used to either meal prepping - which I am not good at - or eating the same thing a few times a week. If food is tasty, I don't mind eating it for a few days on end.

My mind can be scattered so if I remember anything, I will come back and update this post. In the meantime, I really hope this helps someone in stretching the dollars.

Peace

--Free

A Quick Tip Boost Existing Moisturizers

2026-02-05T17:30:00.001-06:00

Put a little bit of snail mucin into your:

skin moisturizers
hair leave-ins (this is mainly for afro-naturals who use daily moisturizers on their hair)
anything of a cream or lotion-like texture that you use to hydrate skin or hair.

I don't use a lot of snail mucin solo. I got a bottle of a good brand for Christmas and I have some face masks using mucin. I'm not crazy about the texture, but I have to admit that it is very hydrating.

Since I will not let a gift go to waste, I needed to use this stuff. So happens I also have a jar of face cream that I cannot return. It's an okay cream but I find that it doesn't do a good job moisturizing my face. So... I doctored it with a few drops of that disgusting mucin. Child.

That mucin was the best thing to happen to the face cream. It really boosted it to max levels. And you know me, I had to see what else I could doctor.

I have now been adding the mucin to every hair moisturizing cream I have. I find that all of my leave-in products are so much better.

A couple of warnings:

You might not want to add this to anything that is meant to be watery-textured.
I make sure to test everything before I end up ruining whole bottles of products.
The mucin does transfer the "slimy" texture to some products.

Of course, I'm no chemist or pro of any kind so... do your own testing and take your own chances. I'm just telling you that I've loved doctoring some products. I actually have managed to use that whole bottle of mucin instead of letting it go to waste. I also am glad that I've been able to "boost up" some products that were not working out solo.

I think what I like most about this tip is that the mucin doesn't create any more buildup on my hair when I add it to products.

Another bonus is that, while I like the mucin face masks (kind of), I am able to use the "juice" remaining in the containers. I either save them in a bottle for later or add them right away to another product.

Remember - do your own testing and research.

Peace

--Free

CROSSPOST The Biggest Distraction

2026-02-02T10:47:00.004-06:00

Everyone is aware that the world seems to be more in turmoil lately. Maybe because the worst turmoil is in a place that was once the icon of Western stability - the USA. Initially, I wanted to blame politics and its bad actors, but now I'm thinking we are all to blame. Everything has become so performative. That was only mildly annoying when it was to do with social media - you know, with everyone become an 'influencer' of some sort. I thought it was just another social/cultural phase when people went from simple YouTubing - being serious, being too sharing, being outrageous, being silly, etc. - to making it a lifestyle. Everyone was suddenly a 'content creator'. There were parents putting their family life (for better or for worse) on display. Every day it seemed there was a new family of some specific number in a house, van, or on the road. It wasn't enough to showcase details of the latest mystery or gossip or story, but some people decided to do it all while applying makeup or doing their hair.

I was only annoyed when all the creating and influencing and showboating was to do with meaningless media, but then the shift came for the news. Not that I ever fully trusted the news to be unbiased or untainted by hidden manipulation, but when it became so obviously and purposefully performative...

Every newsperson (I don't know what else to call them) became their own media character. You had your left-wingers, right-wingers, and swing-wingers. There was the highly educated and the questionably educated and so on. I am pretty sure that whoever it is that does manipulate society has a casting department. When the networks need a Rachel Maddow, Greg Gutfeld, or Don Lemon, I imagine a meeting of shadowy people who send out a request to other shadowy people. Suddenly, *we the people/viewers* have a new face to focus on; someone relatable to represent all our frustrations and energy.

What I wonder is if there really are any significant numbers of people left who know their way around the information minefield that is the "news". Does anyone still think critically enough to know that there is really no longer "news" but instead just "approved propaganda"?

The thing is, that this is happening doesn't bother me in the way someone might think. I know that this is what it was all coming down to. Man has been playing to his own destruction since Adam and Eve messed up in the Garden.

Everything - from the beginning - has been a war. "We the people" have always been the prize. We were never in control of society or culture. The only control we've ever had is over our personal choices. Everything outside of that is part of the many battles in this war. The only way to win - and we can only win or lose for ourselves - is the make the right choice.

Every struggle and triumph in a person's life are just cobblestones in their whole walk, and everyone will influence that all-important choice. In the end of it all, it's not going to matter how wealthy or poor, healthy or not; no matter what you look like or what talent you have or don't have; what friends and connections you do or don't have. All that is going to matter is the choices you made that led to the most important choice.

There won't be anyone counting their money in Heaven or Hell. No one is going to care that you did or didn't achieve whatever success in your mortal life. Your mortal self won't matter in your immortal eternity.

So, all this worldly, human STUFF is just distraction to keep your eye from seeing what the shadowy manipulators are doing. They don't want you to see your way to Jesus. They know that if you see the Messiah, he will be your way to God.

Don't be distracted. Don't let the good or the bad of this world keep you away from eternal salvation.

Peace

--Free

"The more I study science, the more I believe in God." — Albert Einstein

A Quick Tip Slow Cooking in the Ninja FD400 series

2026-01-30T11:49:00.004-06:00

Making some collards today, I decided to go old-school and slow cook them instead of being in a hurry. You can see here what inspired me!

I ran into a problem as soon as I finished sautéing my onions and garlic. There is a Sauté button that I use quite a bit, but I couldn't figure out how to set up a slow cook without landing on the Yogurt setting. Thank goodness for this lady (who gets to the point better than I!):

Bless that woman.

Even with her help, I had to toggle a bit to find the 8hr slow (hers landed me on Hi). If I ever meet her, I'll offer to make her some greens and hot water cornbread.

BTW, Now that I'm kind of getting over a month-long vira-crud (that's what I'm calling it), I was inspired to make greens. While I was shopping them, I got some beef bones to make some homemade broth. (Reading this was a comfort of memories.) Between that and the pot "likker", I might feel decent by the time our cold spell thaws a bit.

Anyway, I do hope this helped someone.

Peace

--Free

UPDATE The Best Sunscreen. EVER.

2026-01-29T20:30:00.002-06:00

A while back, I was reminding/encouraging people to wear sunscreen. I am convinced that wearing sun protection is one the best things one can do for skin health. I have talked about why some sunscreen products are better (or, rather, more effective in certain ways) than others. The past month that fact came to bear in real life.

Some reminder posts... One, Two, and Three. You're welcome!

After using a certain sunscreen for a while, I ran out and wasn't able to replace it right away. I had been using that product consistently for about 2 months when I ran out. I wasn't too bothered at first because I had a backup product that I do like. However, I got a little bothered when I noticed some changes in my skin...

A couple of weeks into using a different product, my skin was drier and kind of irritated, also, I had to re-moisturizer more often. My skin just didn't feel as good as it had been feeling for a while.

Now the reason I wasn't able to replace that better sunscreen was twofold: I was worried about the price and couldn't find a sale. I was really trying to save a Christmas gift card (thank you, lovely family!) for something special but decided that sunscreen was special enough! But it was out of stock everywhere, it seemed. Of course...

That sunscreen is La Roche Posay's Anthelios UVMune 400 Invisible Fluid SPF50+. I'd always been able to score some from a seller I like on eBay, but he was out of stock. I don't trust any other eBay sellers for this particular product (and I don't recommend anyone). The only other site I trust is French Pharmacy, but they are out of stock.

This particular sunscreen is the Euro version so... not that easy to find. You can't even get it on the US LRP site. And why the heck had my skin become so addicted to it???

Anyway.

Turns, out that there may be a reason or two why my skin loves this stuff. I think it has to do with the key (and proprietary) UVMune ingredient: Mexoryl 400 aka “Methoxypropylamino Cyclohexenylidene Ethoxyethylcyanoacetate”. Say that even once fast or slow! That is owned by L'Oreal and they developed it with a chemical producer. That's why I couldn't find it in any other products brands.

The backup product was not working out for me because, of course... My skin wasn't happy, so I tried to hunt down the UVMune elsewhere (and maybe on sale). I found it a Le French Skincare - what a name, right? I had never heard of the place. Thankfully, I was able to put my gift card on PayPal (because it was more expensive than French Pharmacy - and being a site new to me, it was best to be careful). I then used one of my own cards via PayPal, so I'd have some purchase protection. Being broke means you have to be more woke about your spending! By the time I post this, you will know how that transaction turned out!

The good thing is that, even though I didn't get a sale price and had to pay over $38, I know from experience that a single bottle of UVMune will last me at least the next 2 1/2 months (or more of I'm not outside. Also, I will be using a lot less of my regular daily moisturizer.

For sunscreen this good, I will forgo a little food to keep some on hand. I have enough problems without getting skin cancer...

Anyway, this Mexo400, as I call it, happens to be great for aging and sensitive skin. In addition to working on (don't quote me here) "ultra long UV rays", it kind of protects the skin collagen, pigmentation, and a lot of other stuff I can't explain.

I suggest these links if you really want to dig in:

On Wikipedia
A Reddit "Master post" on UVMune
And this copy/paste from ChatGPT:

Anyway.

Some folks love saying, "Black don't crack", but I happen to know that it does if you don't take care of it. Anyone can get skin cancer. Don't be arrogant about your health in any way. Get all the exams recommended for prevention, eat better foods if you can find them, love you neighbor, and wear good sunscreen.

Peace

--Free

UPDATE on the purchase:

I have received the item from Le French Skincare and... I'm a little shocked (and very happy) to say that my transaction was completely legit. The name of the site worried me because it is too on-the-nose. However, my item arrived on time and well-packaged. The price is higher (almost $9 more) than at French Pharmacy, but they had it in stock, so... Of course, I will repurchase at FP whenever I can, but it is nice to have a backup site in case of emergencies.

BTW - don't buy LRP sunscreen on eBay unless you have had past transactions with a trusted seller. There are not many out there. Some dead giveaways that your LRP UVMune is fake:

The texture & color. The real stuff has a slight color tinge and is a bit watery-thin.
The bottom of a fake bottle is usually absent some of the info/markings. There are also deviations in some printing and some other bottle features.
Go here to check yours to see if you got a fake. (Thank you, Reddit!)

It's best to be safe & just order from authorized sellers. Or maybe get a pilot/flight crew friend to shop for you when they travel. I have to find more friends that travel!

So Hard to Do the Right Thing…

2026-01-07T22:43:00.003-06:00

Although I no longer do resolutions at the beginning of the year, for the past few months, I have been trying to continue doing better for my all-around health and well-being. It should not be so difficult!

For a long while there, I thought I was using better products on my hair, skin and body Turns out most of the shampoos, conditioner, and body washes are just full of the wrong stuff. In some cases, the ingredients are just fake and unnecessary, but in other cases, they could have been causing the problems I was trying to solve.

I have completely changed the hair wash and conditioner I use, and I am working on finding better body wash. The problem is that the safest and best products are tricky to find and also usually pricier. If the cost is because of testing and obtaining quality products fine. Although, I almost choked when I checked out one recommended hair care line. It's the Caviar Anti-Aging Replenishing Moisture Shampoo/Conditioner from Alterna. I will not be washing my hair with something for which I need to set up installment payments. (Just thinking about it has me using my best grammar!)

What a did settle is something from a brand that has never (yet) let me down: Taliah Waajid. I am going to be trying her Total Body Black Earth Shampoo & Herbal Conditioner. I have been using and just love, love, loving her Black Earth Products African Healing Oyl. I use it mostly on my face but I will probably be using it on my hair a lot more when I shampoo out all this silicone buildup... (And, my ladies of all races, don't shy away from the "African" in the name. This stuff is the truth!)

I had to look for a while to find a few shampoo/conditioner brands that have ingredients I feel better about. You have no idea what kind of hissy fit I had after I saw a video on spices! Oh, my goodness. I have probably been dusting my foods with all kinds of sawdust and who knows what else. I was actually feeling smug because I have been getting most of my spices from Frontier Coop for at least 7 years or so. Then, all of a sudden, that brand popped up. It's one of those "been bought out" situations. (Lord, please don't let Taliah Waajid sell out - or at least not to some evil corporation...)

Back to the food situation. I pulled some Italian sausages out of the freezer last week to thaw. I was going to mix boil then and mix them in with some steamed veggies. Because I was trying to see the date I'd bought them, I was looking closely at the packaging. The front makes bold claims about having no artificial flavors, colors, nitrates, etc. - which is why I chosen them over the cheaper Walmart brand I used to buy. Walmart straight up says on the front that their sausage has BHA and propyl gallate. The Johnsonville meat that I had hid that detail in smaller print higher up on the front. Wow.

By the way, I encourage you to check out Eat This Not That. This page really made me feel some kind of way.

The worst thing about the BHA and friends is that I can't find any sausages without them. I'm going to be going to the local butcher. They don't deliver, but I won't have to worry about what is or isn't in the meat.

You'd think I'd be done crying and whining, right? Nope. We have to talk about beverages.

I cannot find any kind of water enhancer drops that does not contain stevia, sucralose, sucra-anything, aspartame, etc.
there are no decently rated canned or bottled beverage without any of the above ingredients or with allulose or tagatose as a sweetener
Torani comes closest as a flavor additive but... it is either high in calories or uses one of those dreadful sweeteners

Also, I am really upset that Stevia gets to be listed as "natural". That makes it hard to avoid when you are searching for anything without "artificial" sweeteners. On my tastebuds, it comes off as too sweet - just before it becomes slightly metallic. I hate how popular it is. It's the same thing as with Starbucks - everybody raves about it, and I have no idea why.

source

What I finally found to try out is the Soda Stream drops. I plan to use them in the cheap sparkling water I've been getting since Topo Chico has gotten out range of my budget. I don't know how it will work, but...

When I get to try the drops in the water, I will probably blog about it. The thing is, I had to really hunt around for a Soda Stream flavor that had none of the sweeteners. At least there were a couple, including this one. I wanted the peach or peach/mango, but they had added sweeteners (aka grossness).

Okay, now, I'm done with my wailing and whining.

Peace

--Free

P.S.: I will be looking for sites that lists information about foods, beverages, and various consumer goods. I'm looking for directories. I'll work on it as health allows.

Aye Yo 2026 - Already?!?!

2026-01-06T20:14:00.000-06:00

Ain't time a funny thing? It seems to have sped up for me, the older I get. For younger people, it seems to stretch out longer than it is.

Talking with one of the younger family members a while back, they made an observation about "old folks" always talking about "slavery time things". The conversation was about food. I was explaining about "hoe cakes" coming about when slaves (and other poor people) would cook the flour or cornmeal "cake" in a hoe held over hot coals or a fire.

I wasn't mad about the remark because we joke around like that in my family. I was struck (as I sometimes am) by young people thinking of "slavery times" as ancient history.

I asked if the young person remembered us older relatives talk about Grandpa Bud. They did. Did they remember that he was a veteran and lived to be just over 100 years old? They did. Well, did they know that my Grandpa Bud was the child of slaves? See, that's time being funny, I told that "young 'un".

Their jaw dropped. I told them that Grandpa's parents were eventually freed, but they had lived as slaves. They didn't realize that Grandpa (who passed in 1986 or 87) had been born in just over 100 years before. I think I read once that the last known slave was still alive as late as 1970-something.

When my young person got over their shock, I introduced to some of the "old folks" stories about Grandpa Bud. They didn't realize that, unlike Alex Haley, I had not found a way to trace my grandfather's ancestry. His parents being born (or just taken) into slavery meant that their genealogy was a mystery to us.

But, still...

As it is with the beginning of every year, I start tallying anniversaries. How many years since loved ones have been gone, and who is celebrating which year of marriage, and how many years since I last saw talked to or heard about so-and-so.

When I first moved here over 8 years ago (9 years this coming summer), I had more than a few spry old neighbors who told me some stories about their youth. Some of them shared recipes and kitchen tips. One gentleman was the historian at the town library. He told me about some of the local homes and locations.

Just before the end of the years, two of those neighbors - very, very sweet women - were moved into nursing homes. It was no longer safe for them to live on their own and both had children that lived farther away than the ladies wanted to move. One of them, God willing, will be turning 99 this year. She's still mentally sharp, she just doesn't walk well and isn't able to cook and clean the way she did in her own place. I'm ashamed to say that she might have been in better shape a couple of years ago than I am now!

All in all, I tallied up 5 neighbors who have passed and at least that many who have gone into nursing care. And those are just the ones that I chatted with on a regular basis.

So yeah. I've been thinking a lot about time. When my sister was a young woman, Al Green was a favorite singer. Even though one of the tunes she loved most is a love song, the opening lines seems fitting for this post.

Sung by Al Green

Lyrics by Willy Nelson

I hope this a safe and happy year for us all.

Peace

--Free

P.S. Not sure how long the song will stay so here is a link.

Geezer Ranting, Trending & Groupthink

2025-12-14T13:36:00.004-06:00

While skimming Google News this morning, I ran across this "7 Perfume Trends to Smell Sophisticated and Rich This Winter".

That headline hit on something in me. Why do we even want to smell "sophisticated and rich"? Why not just smell nice? And I do realize that headlines are written this way to pull a reader's attention to an article. Still, why not just " 7 Perfume Trends"? But I would find a problem with that because, lately, I'm having a problem with societies need for "trends" and "influencing" and anything labeled as "latest" or "game-changing". I think I'm just tired of all the follower-like behavior in our culture.

Is this my old age talking? Is this the geezer coming out in me? Maybe. But there is truth to getting wiser as you age - or rather, as you mature.

Why can't we all just be our best - at our jobs, in our behavior, in life? Why do we always have to be something other than what we are? Of course, we want to improve and grow - to mature in everything, but why do any of that unless for ourselves?

I think I'm on to something here. Think about it. No one - or at least not enough of us - thinks for themselves anymore. We have fallen into the predicted trap of groupthink. Of course, being in some kind of harmony with the rest of society - as far as laws and general behavior -for the sake of peace is good. I'm talking about losing the desire (and maybe even the ability) to think for ourselves.

In high school, I always admired the kids who didn't mind being a little different. There would be the kid who could have been more popular if - they wore her hair a certain way or dressed like the other kids or... Or, or, or, and if. I wanted to be that kid. Instead I wasted a lot of time trying to hard to be like the other kids. Sometimes, it worked (and when it did, it was exhausting), and sometimes it didn't (and I was left feeling anxious and depressed). As a G.I. brat, I changed schools a lot and, depending on the situation, became either a chameleon or a outsider.

That was high school. By the time I graduated, I found my own groove. I became an introvert who could be very social when I wanted. I'm still that way 45 years later. But every now and then, I have to remind myself not to slip into the world of the wanna-bes.

The problem with kids who "wanna be" whatever it takes to be with the "in" crowd is that they grow up and become adults with the same mindset. This is why (all my opinion, of course) so many people fall into groupthink.

Asking for a list of examples of groupthink disasters, ChatGPT (I know, I know!) responded:

When Obama was running the first time for president, so many black people (of all political parties) and white liberals and progressives voted for him simply because he is black. I can't deny that, although I strongly disagree with him on so many things, I wanted to see him elected. Grouphink.

When Trump first ran, the same thing happened. Many whites who felt represented for the first time in a long time (and other people for various reasons) wanted him in. Groupthink.

Getting away from politics, look at fashion trends. Afro-natural hair came back several years ago. Groupthink. Korean beauty became big in the past few years. Groupthink. Influencer marketing is big. Groupthink.

Groupthink is the reason we have trends, the reason things fall in and out of "fashion". Groupthink is the reason marketing works.

As a Christian, I can't be a diligent groupthink citizen - not as far as larger issues. If I were, I'd believe that America is the center of prophecy and that we must be a "Christian" nation. I am a Bible-believing Christian so I know that people accept (or reject) Jesus as their Savior, not nations.

We are where we are as a world because most of us have been programmed to be part of a "collective". In the Boiling Frog scenario, people who think for themselves will get out of the pot before it's too late.

Let me get a little deep here and say that since every journey starts with a single step, learn when it's better to walk your own way.

I wear my hair afro-natural, and I love K-beauty, but I know when to get off the groupthink bus. I hope you do as well. Learn to think for yourself when it's most important.

Peace

--Free

Mini Post Small Things = Big Improvements

2025-11-30T22:51:00.003-06:00

This is just a mention of how I made a couple of small changes that have made a big difference in my daily life. For one thing, I got a cheap pair of blue-blocking glass (seriously, I found some for $3!) and, it may be the placebo effect, but my eyes feel less strained throughout the days. The second thing was I got a couple of incandescent light bulbs. I'm excited to see if using the bulbs in the evening will help me sleep better. (By the way, a while back, a tech YouTuber showed how to adjust my Android settings for more comfortable lighting.)

The reason for my trying this stuff is that I've struggled for a long time with insomnia and depression, the first is which seems to be getting worse, I wanted to try something other than more medicine.

There is a lot of confusing information out there about both these items. To be honest, I suspect my glass might be subpar (I mean, they were only $3), but until I can afford better, I'll take the relief - placebo or no. As far as the bulbs, I'm going to only be using them in the few hours before bed or on the days when I am sick.

I have read a lot of stuff about both those types of products. The Mayo Clinic advises other ways to protect your eyes (and sleep) from blue light. Also, I found this list of pros and cons of incandescent lighting.

When I have had more time using both things, I will try to remember to do or more in-depth post.

Peace

--Free

Time Feels So Weird Now

2025-11-15T10:37:00.000-06:00

I have spoken here before about my depression. It's been a while since I have had a bad "episode", but those damn blues are back.

What I've wondered for the past couple of weeks is what triggered my depression this time. My brother mentioned how the daylight savings affected a lot of people this year. I can't be sure if that's the problem, but I know that the time change was worse for me this time. Normally, I barely notice the change after the first day. This year, it took a week before I got back into rhythm with the time change. And what is the point of DST these days? Arizona and Hawaii do fine without it.

The other thing I've noticed is how weird time feels to me lately. As I have aged, like a lot of people, time seems to move faster for me, but these days, it's gotten bizarre. I had a weird thing happen. Late yesterday, I was making some medical appointments and noting them on my calendar. For one of the appointments, I was thinking of calling the doctor's office with a question, but it was after hours. This morning when I got up, I called the office only to get the "closed" message. That's when I realized this is Saturday. I don't remember Friday at all. Does that make sense?

I live on a schedule because it's how I keep sane. I clean on a schedule, I pay bills on a schedule, and I have a certain day that I do laundry, check my appointments calendar, etc. Because I tend to be foggy-brained half the time, doing things on a schedule helps keep my life on track. I don't understand how I skipped an entire day. Is that something caused by my depression? Or is the time thing the cause of my depression? I don't even know how to ask my doctor about this because it sounds so crazy.

Time has felt weird or "off", in my opinion, for a while. It's as if too much is happening too fast all the time. Lately, I don't even like to read the news because it's almost over-stimulating.

I remember hearing something like what is shown in the following meme, and I've never forgotten the explanation:

Hmmm... I wonder what means when you feel like you're skipping whole days.

Is this strangeness affecting only me, or are others feeling this way? My brother, when I asked him, agreed with me but he might be just saying that, so I don't feel crazy.

Anyway, I'm going to start asking people if they are noticing this weirdness.

Peace

--Free

Buying Less to Buy Better

2025-11-09T21:18:00.009-06:00

For parts of last year and then then for the last few weeks of summer, I took some time to clear out some things. I was able to donate to a local center a lot of tops and jeans and even a jacket and some footwear. Let me be completely honest and admit that I didn't start out doing it to be charitable. My initial intention was to get rid of so clothing I don't wear or fit or want.

What that little project made me realize was how many cheap clothes I have/had. I would literally have multiple pairs of the same cheap brand of jeans that look almost identical. The same thing goes for my tops. I buy the same style and toss them when they wear out. My jeans last at least 3 or 4 years before they start looking not just comfy but sort of raggedy. My tops usually start getting "pills" or loose threads after a year or more.

I've always heard my parents talk about buying better things that last. That seemed to be easier up until about 15 years ago. More people could afford good shoes and work clothing; you could still find actual denim jeans without too much wallet pain. Then cheap clothing became "the thing" - either just for me or for more people than usual. Or maybe it just seems that way to me.

Lately, I have been thinking a lot about just wearing everything I have until it falls apart and replacing it with better quality items. Every year, my family lets me pick what I want for Christmas, my birthday, Mother's Day, and any other special occasion. I think from now on, I will ask for something from L.L. Bean or some other place of good quality items.

When I first started thinking of this, I wondered just how pricey such items could be. It turns out that out that you can find quite a few things in markdown, used, or during a special pricing event. I found really good jeans at a couple of sites for $50-$70. If buying new, a lot of places offer "lifetime" warranties or repairs. At my age, I don't think I have to worry about years and years of use!

Before I plan anything though, I have to wear out what I have. I have some jeans and tops to wear out, but I can use a good jacket or pair of everyday walking shoes. If, like me, you have ever wondered where to find some quality items, there are several options:

Poshmark - a lot of used or discounted items from the "better" retailers. Just make sure to compare the used prices to those posted on a brand's site.
eBay - same as for the above. Also, make sure you find a reliable or verified seller.
Darn Tough - the have socks that are supposed to be the best.
Patagonia - The even have a "used" section & the let you trade in your used Patagonia items.
L.L. Bean - no intro needed. They do have several discounted items.
Filson - new to me. They have some wear for serious business.
Marmot - again, new to me, but for serious outdoor wear - though they have other stuff.
Kuhl - another new one, but they have some nice-looking jeans.

You get the idea. For more suggestions, check in with Reddit. Also, I found this list to peruse.

I'm really starting to think that certain items are not worth having if they have to be replaced too often. At any rate, it's going to be something to consider from now on.

Peace

--Free

Cheap & Fun Winter Therapy

2025-11-08T20:00:00.015-06:00

My depression has been creeping up on me again. It has nothing to do with the change of seasons (I survived Alaska so Iowa can't touch that!). I think this is just a normal cycle - a sort of ebb and flow that my depression does. At any rate, I am fighting back. I'm eating better and I'm exercising more. In addition, one of my nieces turned me on to a little bit of DIY therapy.

It's literally DIY. She got me one of those paint-by-number kits after I saw one at her place. She had some smaller ones but when I picked mine, I didn't notice the size...

That's what it looks like on the product page. Who knows what I will have it looking like! But I love the idea. It comes with everything I need to get it done - paints and brushes, and even little hangers.

Yeah. It's quite large at 16"x20". I like it a lot but it's probably going to take my brat of a brain forever to get it done. This is what I have managed over the past couple of weeks. Don't laugh! Or at least wait til I've finished.

In addition to the paints being shown,
there's a copy of the pic to follow.

I have very limited room to work in. I used a piece of cardboard as my workspace and just do as much as my head will let me before I get tired. Next time, I will go smaller!

Seriously, though, I can really say that the project is very therapeutic. My anxiety goes way down when I spend just half an hour working on this - and most of that time is setting out the paints and cleaning water! I actually think it helps my brain too. I have to focus on some details and keep my hands steady.

I've already told some of my neighbors about this. A lot of them struggle with depression or cognitive issues because of age and life situations. Some of the folks here do puzzles together, but this is something they can work on whenever they need to calm down or relax.

If you decide to try one of these kinds of paintings, trust me, go small for the first one!

Peace

--Free

P.S.: BTW, when I went back looking for smaller items, I realized how affordable they are. The one I'm working on was less than $10! That's amazing for what you get.

DISCLAIMER: I am not/will not be compensated in any way for any products mentioned in this post and there are no affiliate links. I am not a suggesting/advising anyone use any product mentioned. I am only sharing my experiences and feedback.

The Madness of Beauty Trends (or Skin of the Week)

2025-11-06T19:49:00.002-06:00

I was just recently talking about being more frugal with beauty purchases. We all want to take care of our skin and hair - or just look nice - and I'm glad there are a variety of products out there. The problem is there are too many products out there. Not just that, but there are trends coming and going so fast that it's hard to keep up.

The K-beauty trend is one I latched on to a few years ago. I immediately loved the whole idea of focusing on my skin's health and not just being vain. Also, I realized K-beauty as something people of my mother's generation understood, that good skin and hair care is not just about what you use but about consistency. One difference is, my elders stuck to a soaps and lotions while K-beauty can be very involved if you let it. I don't I stick to a wash, tone and hydrate routine, using the occasional mask.

So, while K-beauty is something I appreciate, now that it's become so popular in Western culture, it's getting a little crazy. I have to restrain myself from getting swept up in all the madness and just stick that what has been working for me.

I use a few basic K-beauty products along with a few others that have worked well, but I almost got hooked on the "glass skin" trend. Almost. I was this close to adding a bunch of things to my routine before common sense kicked in. And it's a good thing because, while glass skin was so the thing yesterday, a new thing is "silk skin". I just barely finished reading about that when I saw an article on "butter skin". What? The trends are just whizzing by in a blur!

Let's go through them briefly:

Glass skin is when your skin looks almost Sim-like - super smooth and pore-free. Think of what some people look like after they've filtered the heck out of their Instagram photos. It looks flawless and glass smooth.
Silk skin - the best way I can describe this is to say that it's smooth and flawless but without the glass skin shine.
Butter skin (and this is what I think I've been trying to achieve without knowing about it) is a lot like silk skin except looking very matte. If you've ever seen an ad for a product that promises to "blur" skin imperfections, you'll know what I mean.

I expect the next trend will be to look as much like an AI as possible - no pores, no smile lines, no humanity.

While I sometimes get a little frustrated by the adult fixation on skincare, I don't know how to feel about getting kids into the mix. These folks are starting a skincare line for kids and... I don't know. I think that it's enough to teach kids to use sunscreen (of course) and lotion or oil on their skin. I'm not sure I want to create more consumerism by getting them into using masks. Let kids be kids. Teach them good hygiene; protect them against harmful sun rays and ashy skin, and make sure they brush and floss. Isn't that enough?

Anyway.

I think people should stop jumping from skincare trend to skincare trend - because they all have a different set of products - and stick with what works. And that's coming from someone who loves trying a new product every now and then. I just try not to go crazy with every new thing that comes around. No one could possibly keep up with that.

Maybe next time, I can discuss haircare trends...

Peace

--Free

2025 Winter Skin & Health

2025-10-30T21:18:00.000-05:00

I am always reneging on my plans to stick to a certain number of products in my skin or hair care routines. The problem is that my needs change. Or a product comes out that works better than what I previously used. So, I haven't been as good as I hoped. However, I have pretty much stuck to the plan of using up what I have on hand before I get anything else. So... I'm improving?

For my health, having my teeth have made things a million times better. I went through a period of eating everything I shouldn't just because I could finally chew! Now I have settled down and am loving a routine of vegetable and various proteins. Tofu is my fall back, but I am doing a lot with braised chicken, baked ribs, and any seafood that goes on sale. I've just ended about a week of eating what I call "hoisin veggies". My snacks consist of Chex cereal sans milk and unsalted pretzels that I can season to my liking. I'm also happy to say that all my coffee drinking included only plain cream of half-and-half with a little syrup or allulose or tagatose for sweetening. I do still need to find an affordable fizzy water to amp things up when I want something bubbly.

Anyway, the food thing has gotten easier. It's the skin thing that took some working out.

One reason I've changed up my skincare routine is because I am losing weight and that is going to affect my face. I have finally hit on a nutrition regimen that works well for me - kidneys, sarcoidosis, and weight loss. That was not easy to do. In just over 8 weeks, I am down 12 pounds and still losing. Also, I am coming up on 65 years. I'm thankful to still be here, struggles and all, but I want my wrinkles to be well moisturized! 👩🏾‍🦳

During the summer months - when it's so humid here - I can go much lighter on any face, body, and hair moisturizers. I was using one face moisturizer and sunscreen for day, and it was enough. For nights, I added a light application of Vaseline in over the base moisturizer. Sometimes I used my German Nivea if I needed it. Now that the dry air has come to town, I've had to really boost up on the moisture from head to toe.

One body lotion I've fallen in love with (after getting a sample in a Walmart Beauty Box) is this Avena Instituto Espanol Collagen Body Regeneration. It's so wild that I was able to get a 2-pack of 17 ounce bottles to under $10 from Amazon while the same thing is $23 at Walmart. That's insane.

The Avena is so amazing that I can, in a pinch, use on my face - but it has a scent. What I love is that is drenches my skin with moisture that lasts. It's one of the few things that I've tried that is better than CeraVe and La Roche Posay and the price makes it a winner. I can honestly say that, if it had cost the same as the other two, it would still win out.

Years ago, a close family friend did a huge weight drop over a year. One thing we were amazed by was how well her skin held up - not a lot of looseness or sagging. She said that she had made sure to stay extremely hydrated, inside and out. I never forgot that so...

The first thing I make sure to put on any list is sunscreen. I never tire of reminding others to use a good sunscreen. For some reason, many folks neglect this. Some people think you only need sunscreen in the summer. Nope. Just get some and use it - regularly.

Another product I've come to rely on this winter is a facial oil from Good Molecules. I'd tried an oil last winter from Palmer's and my skin rebelled. I used to be able to use castor or jojoba on my face, but they now seem to heavy. Weird. The oil from Good Molecules is a nice addition for winter. It goes on like a serum rather than an oil and I think my skin is getting addicted to it. At first, I was alarmed by the tiny size of the bottle and the $10 price, but it takes only a couple of drops for each application.

One of the reasons I've been using the oil is because I'm also using a Bakuchiol Retinol Serum. That's because I'm afraid of actual retinol but have learned that bakuchiol is the next best thing. and I chose this one because I can do cheaper refills and a single container lasts! It only took a couple of weeks to convince me. The results are subtle but there. I have those dark spots that are common to black people and, while it takes professional treatment to get rid of them, the serum is helping to make them less noticeable. Also, my skin is staying firm and holding on better to the moisturizers I'm using. (And I do have to use good moisturizer along with the bakuchiol.)

Speaking of facial moisturizer, I love all the Medicube stuff I tried but I had to get pick something more affordable. I went with Illiyoon's Ceramide Ato Concentrate Cream which is almost half the price and works awesome on my skin.

There are 2 other products I use off and on. One is snail mucin (I will get whatever brand is around $10) and the other is any kind of collagen or snail mucin mask (again, whatever is on sale).

I never was someone who used a lot of face masks, but I tried a collagen set I got on a lightening deal and, boy, was it amazing. Oddly, I use the time wearing a mask to relax the way I used to when soaking in a bath. My apartment only has a shower so... Also, while the collagen masks were great - and affordable because they are so plentiful - I prefer the snail mucin masks. To be honest, I hate touching snail mucin, but I love how it super-hydrates my skin.

One trick I learned with moisturizers is that, if I have to use a one that is less rich or hydrating, adding a little bit of snail mucin in makes it so much better. You're welcome.

When my family asks what I want for Christmas, I'm choosing to stock up on my skincare products!

Peace

--Free

Better Sweeteners? Comparing Allulose & Tagatose

2025-10-28T20:30:00.003-05:00

When I posted this a while back, I was hopeful about finding an alternative to sugar. Since then, allulose has changed my whole diet. On top of that, I have included allulose into the plan. I hate the use this overworked phrase, but... they are true gamechangers.

Initially, I thought these sweeteners were new, but this page speaks on their commercial history. I'm not surprised that they are being better marketed outside the U.S... This company markets tagatose as a healthy alternative under the name "Tagatesse" and has products and recipes. I couldn't find a lot of commercial applications when searching Food Navigator (for the U.S.) as compared to Europe. I found articles for Nutrilab on F.N. going as far back as 2008. I did see this from Bonumose, which is pushing for the commercialization of rare sugars.

Anyway.

I was going to update the original post to include information about tagatose. As you can see already, there is so much to add that I'm doing this separate post. I decided to do an image because it's easier when comparing info.

Nutrilab works towards a bright future for tagatose

A pared down comparison:

While both products are more expensive than table sugar, that's only when you're thinking about your wallet - in my opinion. For me, I find that the health benefits are worth it. I am all about avoiding table sugar and high fructose corn syrup and if that is going to cost me more, I will make it work.

I'm waiting for the food companies to get rid of the sweeteners that aren't quite all that they could be. I don't care what anyone says, there is some kind of funky after-taste or cooling effect to all the common substitutes for table sugar. Until now.

When I can get a beverage or creamer made with allulose or tagatose, I will be so happy. There are some products now but, if they aren't crazy expensive, they include a secondary sweetener - Monk fruit is a popular one - and that ruins it for me.

By the way, as of now, allulose of easy to find. I've seen it on most online shopping sites. Tagatose is harder to locate easily. I got mine from Bull City Flavors and at just over $12 for a1-lb bag it is going to last.

An important note: Tagatose will activate yeast (for baking) and allulose will not do that. I can, however, use either sweetener once I have activated the yeast. BUT there are other considerations when using these sweeteners and I am still learning. If you ignore any shopping links, this page is helpful, and this one has some info & recipes; here is some general info on tagatose, and Dirt to Dinner has excellent information and I learned allulose and tagatose are "rare sugars").

If you want to look at some additional information, here are these links some can be quite technical):

Rare sugars curb appetite and mimic diabetes drugs in mice
Description and history of rare sugars
Wikipedia lists the following as rare sugars:

Tagatose
Allose (not allulose)
Psicose (aka allulose!)
Sorbose

I will update this post if needed but, for now, you have some starter info.

Peace

--Free

REVIEW Mr. Coffee 5-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker

2025-10-21T19:30:00.005-05:00

The actual review starts under the photos

I've just updated my review of my 4-year-old Ninja CE251, and... I am sorry I ever bought it now. I learned a good lesson after the Ninja and so I took my what I learned with me when I went shopping for a new machine.

Some of the lessons I kept in mind with looking:

I only need what I need and can use. I don't need what's hyped or trendy or looks awesome.
I have to be more realistic about my life, living space, and budget.
Even if I had a huge budget, I should still think of the first item on this list.
I don't need to impress anyone. For a coffee maker. I need reliability, safety, and function.

That list saved me a lot of time. Right off the bat, item 1 helped me reject about 60% of what popped up in my searches. Item 4 brought me down another 15%. Of what was left, I focused on Items 2 and 4. There was nothing complicated about my needs when I thought about it that way. Basically, I needed/wanted:

a 5-cup machine. Or at least certainly not a 10- or 12-cup one.
something with auto shut off. I'm too spacey-brained not the have that!
something that fit my counter space. Not too tall or wide and, while I'm at it, not too heavy.
most importantly, something that puts out HOT brew.

That last bit was my biggest disappointment with the Ninja after the first few years. I knew I was not happy when I started using my kettle for hot water to make pour-over or French press brew. On my not feeling well days, I resorted to a good instant brew like Cafe Bustelo or Nescafe Gold. All while that Ninja was taking up precious counter space...

It took only about an hour to narrow my choices down to 2 brands: Black & Decker and Mr. Coffee. They both have ridiculously affordable (I won't use the word "cheap" for a decent machine) prices. I don't think there was anything over $30 of my choices and a couple were as low as $17, depending on the retailer.

I got my selection down to 2 machines, one from each of the above brands. I was leaning toward the Black + Decker but, after watching Just A Dad do a comparison against the Mr. Coffee, I made up my mind. Mostly. The B+D seemed to brew hotter, but the Mr. C was shorter in size.

I usually use Amazon, but I wanted to actually see both machines, so my SIL and I stopped by Walmart while we were out on other errands. I ended up going with the Mr. Coffee Mini Brew Programmable. It was only a couple of dollars more than the non-programmable and had one of the most important requirements - auto shut off.

Here is my new coffee maker. That's the box and the actual machine in the bottom right corner.

One thing I did notice is that the one I saw online in chrome and black had a water filter and a reusable basket. It was also $20 more than that black one I got. I don't care about a water filter, and I prefer to use paper coffee filters.

Notice that's almost $60 without the "discount"

The actual review

Pros:

Most important & hard to find in a 5-cup machine is the AUTO SHUT-OFF! For a few dollars less, I could have gotten the non-programmable Mr. Coffee or a similar Black and Decker, but I need the peace of mind of auto shut-off. This one will shut off after 2 hours ((if you want to keep the coffee warm) or, if you empty the pot, you can just press the Brew button again to shut it off.
This is quieter than I expected. It does some light gurgling with the last few ounces, but I don't care.
The next most important thing to me is that the coffee brews up HOT. I always add my cream/half-n-half from the fridge & I don't like having to warm up my cup to keep my coffee hot. No problem here. It brews up at around 160F-165F(as it goes into the pot). That is hotter the my Ninja was brewing into the cup after the first 2 years. In my electric kettle (when I make instant coffee or tea), the 212F is almost too hot LOL! This machine gives me coffee of around 2 cups that is still nice and hot AFTER I add about 3 to 4 tablespoons of cream. (NOTE: I do use a little metal mug with a plastic lid.)
I've been using it the last couple of days about 6 times a day. It doesn't take too long (for 2 to 3 cups) and finishes brewing at around 4 to 4.5 minutes. It's not too loud either. It will gurgle a bit when brewing but I won't bother someone sleeping in the bedroom less than 10 feet away.
I really like that the lid isn't hard to close after I add the water and coffee. My last small cup with the "arm" under the lid was hard to close completely & it would open slightly when I replaced the carafe.
The carafe, btw, pours nicely without making a mess. It's very easy to rinse and clean and get all the water or coffee out without having to turn it upside down.
Emptying the used grounds is super easy and no mess at all. The whole basket comes out if you lift by the little handle. LOVE that I don't get a mess when emptying the grounds.
The pot doesn't take up a lot of space - a good thing since I have a small kitchen without a lot of counter space. One of the reasons I chose this over the similar Black and Decker is that this is lower under the cabinet even with the lid lifted to pour in water.
The machine makes GOOD coffee. I was worried about that. I think it does so well extracting flavor because a) the water gets to the right temp, and b) the way the spigot sprays the hot water into the coffee as it's being made. It actually soaks the coffee a bit (letting the ground "bloom") before it starts dripping.
It's going to be easier to clean than the Ninja (which had a "Clean" function but took a lot of time and water). With this one, I will just run some vinegar or water with citric acid through every month or so.

If looking at front, you can't see
the water window

Note the handle and the measure marks.
Perfect for lefties LOL

Cons:

The window to see the water level is too far towards the back of the machine. If I wanted to use it to gauge my water amount, I'd have to turn the machine to the side. This is not too bothersome for me since I use the pot do measure my water. After the 1st time, I was able to tell the right water-to-coffee ratio for my preference.
The carafe seems to be made for the left-handed. Since I use the carafe to measure my water, the measurement lines are opposite to the way I (a right-hand person) hold it. Not a huge problem because you can see the markings through the glass. It's just worth mentioning.
If you do leave the warmer on with very little coffee in the pot (I did this the first time without thinking), it will scorch in the pot. As I said, make sure to hit the Brew button again to turn the warmer off if you finish the pot. Apparently, not only does the coffee brew up hot, but the warmer gets toasty!

That's the temp of the coffee in the pot -
when it's finished brewing. Not bad at all!

All in all, I am happier with this that I thought I could be. The first time I used the programmed brew, I almost messed up because I had initially set the clock for AM not PM. I love how simple this is. It's all I really wanted, after all.

French roast with half and half
& allulose

I cannot stress how important the temperature is to me. With the Ninja I'd had to start warming my cups or setting the cream out so it would cool the coffee too much. Hassle! With this one, no worries.

When I think of the cost and hassle, I realize that if this machine lasts over a year, I will have saved money. It appears that even the fancy or costlier machines don't last long so if I'm going to be repurchasing every few years...

That's my review. I will update as I use this more and more. For now, I am happy, happy, happy.

Peace

--Free

DISCLAIMER: I was not/am not compensated in any way for the products in this post. I have no affiliate links.

The Keys to Happy...

2025-10-17T11:20:00.005-05:00

It's been a wonderful, tiring, amazing and blessed past couple of weeks because last week...

I got to see my Arizona & Alaska people!!!

I was so happy, I didn't mind all the heat we were in!

The visit was to see one of my nephews get married and begin a wonderful chapter of life with a very lovely young woman. BUT also

I got to see my Arizona & Alaska people!!!

It was awesome. I met some of my great nieces and nephews for the first time; I saw their parents for the first time in YEARS, and I got to be with my 2 older siblings.

You don't realize how important the people in your life are until you haven't seen them for a while. And I truly believe there is power in the act of being surrounded by love.

This won't be a long post because, of course, I caught some little bug or something and am whipped. What I came to do was list my personal "Keys to Happy":

Family - those that are yours by blood or by love.
Proverbs 17:22 "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person's strength".
Contentment in the moment - We are not promised our next breath so let's enjoy this one!

Now, I have to go and unpack and try to do something with all the photos I took!

Peace

--Free

Let the Sideshow Begin!

2025-09-16T18:30:00.002-05:00

As you know, since I got my dentures and am able to eat a better diet, I've been a whole wellness kick. I have been walking a few times a week, weather allowing, and I've been enjoying the vibration plate exercises. But with winter coming on, I might not be able to go out walking as much - it will depend on my balance and the sidewalk conditions.

Anyway.

In talking with someone in a forum, I got the idea to get a hula hoop. In my fantasies, I was going to be able to hula while standing on the vibration plate but, a more realistic (and safe) goal was to hula a couple of times a day when I'm not able to go walking.

Do you know that hula hooping has become a whole new thing again? Everyone is selling hoops of all kinds. There are hoops with weights attached, hoops made of beads, and hoops made with what looks like the hose on my vacuum cleaner. And, of course, the prices are insane...

I was going to get around the price by getting a hoop made for kids, but I found out that adults need a larger size. I was told the best size in general is one that stands at least just above the belly button. It seems that fat people require bigger hoops to hula with.

It was hard to find anything that I wouldn't need to use a credit card flex-pay plan to afford, but I did it. I got one for just under 20 bucks. Is it me, or is that still kind of dear? Oh well.

Okay. So, the hoop came, and I was able to put it together (yeah, that's a thing). Then I cleared a space to do a hula workout. I used to hula constantly when I was a kid. It was something all the kids did. I figured the ability would come back to me. It did not.

I tried for over half an hour the first day. Nope. The hoop would make 1 or maybe 2 circuits before it dropped. Good Lord.

I sent a video to my little brother, and it was about 5 minutes before he could catch his breath from laughing and talk. I won't show my own shame, but this one is already up online so...

The only thing I can say is that at least my hoop never took flight!

My brother was surprised at the trouble I was having. He watched the video again - it's less than 10 seconds long - and, when he could talk (again), wondered why someone who had been a pretty good dancer could not hula. In his opinion, it's all rhythm. He never could dance but he can hula. I thought he was lying, but my SIL said he did last year with the kids. The only thing is, he has a bad back.

My brother couldn't get over to my place soon, so he suggested I find an instructional video. And then my day got worse.

One of the customer review videos is of a lady just whooping it up. Her husband got her the hoop for her 70th birthday...

Anyway. When I finished feeling all kinds of sorry for my sad little self, I found some videos. When I can rally my spirits, I'm going to give the hoop another try. In the meantime, I figured I burned quite a few calories laughing at the video. I watch it often.

Peace

--Free

UPDATE No White Cast Sunscreens (even on dark skin)

2025-09-05T19:30:00.002-05:00

UPDATE

Since my opinion on sunscreen is limited to the few I've tried, I wanted to provide more sources of information.

A dermatologist did a little testing of her own. I love the method she used. Here's a link if you want to avoid YouTube and, of course, the YouTube video.
There was a scandal about a certain sunscreen recently & an independent consumer product group out of Australian caught it. Listen, if anyone cares about sunscreen, it's our Aussie brothers & sisters! This is their ranking of some other sunscreens they tested.
EWG has their 2025 list of sunscreens. I have nothing against them & often use their resources, bit EWG is concerned about products from an environmental perspective.
Huffpost took a look at whether or not differences between SPF factors matter. (And do refer back that dermatologist's video...) This was interesting since I try to go for the highest SPF I can.
BBC took a look at more common myths about sunscreen.
Last & maybe most helpful, the Skin Cancer Foundation offers up tips for choosing a sunscreen.

When looking into these resources, I did notice variations in the "best of" lists. I am really liking the Hawaiian Tropic I mentioned below. I did get my hands on a sample of the SPF 70 & t's nice on my face which means I would only have to purchase one sunscreen instead of another for my body. I checked the price and it's affordable. It's also moisturizing without being greasy, and it absorbs quickly.

******

As a dark-skinned woman, I know the struggle of finding a sunscreen that does not leave me looking ashy. There are some sunscreens that I can balance out with foundation, but I rarely wear make up so... Here are some sunscreens I have used on that leave no white cast at all. (There is a link to INCIDecoder for each product if available.)

Neutrogena Invisible Daily Defense Sunscreen Lotion SPF 60+ - Love this one so much that I was subscribed until recently. PROS: moisturizing, fragrance-free & water resistant. It's priced higher than some others & the lid gets messy and gunky after a while if you're not careful. NOTE: Surprised that this was so good after trying the brand's Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen Lotion SPF 70 which does leave a white cast. INCI page
Black Girl Face & Body Moisturizing Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30 - Tried this one and it is awesome. Not as moisturizing as the Neutrogena, but it is good to the skin. It's a good buy for (recently) under $10. If they come out with a higher SPF for a good price, I'm in. (I can't find it on INCI; it may be too new to be in the database. I will have to submit the info.)
Hawaiian Tropic Sheer Touch Lotion Sunscreen SPF 70 - This is one I'm trying now. I know it doesn't leave a white cast because I have the SPF 30 that I have always used on my body. I am going to be trying the higher SPF for my face & body. The SPF 30 doesn't bother my face, but I will have to let you know when I try the 70. Pricing was a big factor in trying this to replace the Neutrogena. At around $9 for 8 ounces this is cheaper than the Black Girl and Neutrogena. INCI page
La Roche Posay Anthelios UVmune 400 SPF50+ Fragrance-Free - If my pockets were deeper, this would be my favorite. My skin loved this when I found some on eBay. Unfortunately, I can't always find it on such a good sale. But, if you can find some, it's good. It is moisturizing and soaks in well. INCI page for all the Anthelios.

I would suggest Walmart's Equate Kids Broad Spectrum Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 50, but unless they have changed, there is no expiration date on them. I used it a few years ago and it was great. I have not tried their Equate Ultra Light Broad Spectrum Sunscreen Lotion for All Skin Tones, SPF 50, but may have take a look. One user provided photo proof of no white cast... It gets pretty good marks for ingredients on INCIDecoder. I will let you know if I pick some up.

I know there are many others out there, it's just being able to hunt them down. I only included ones that I have tried myself.

Peace

--Free

DISCLAIMER: I have not been/will not be compensated in anyway for any products mentioned in this post. I do not have any affiliate links in this post.

FREE&FAITH Music - Listening or Hearing

2025-08-17T11:36:00.002-05:00

This is a cross post from my other blog. I think it will be of interest to anyone - regardless of belief.

When I was growing up and listening to a lot of music, my friends would tease me because I always misheard lyrics. There is a name for that now: mondegreens. Huh.

I looked up and found a list of common examples of misheard lyrics:

"I Can See Clearly Now"
by Johnny Nash: Some listeners hear "I can see clearly now Lorraine is gone" instead of the correct lyric "I can see clearly now the rain is gone".

"I'm a Believer"
by The Monkees: The lyric "Then I saw her face, now I'm a believer" is sometimes misheard as "Then I saw her face, now I'm gonna leave her".

"Losing My Religion"
by R.E.M.: The line "That's me in the corner, that's me in the spotlight" is often misheard as "Let's pee in the corner, let's pee in the spotlight".

"Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)"
by Eurythmics: The title lyric is sometimes misheard as "Sweet dreams are made of cheese".

"Blowin' in the Wind"
by Bob Dylan: The lyric "The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind" is sometimes misheard as "These ants are my friends, they're blowin' in the wind".

"Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap"
by AC/DC: The title is often misheard as "Dirty deeds and the thunder chief" or "Dirty deeds and they're done with sheep".

Kind of silly, right? But I'm sure we can all relate. Misheard lyrics are one thing. At least we are paying attention to what we think is being said. What bothers me is when we don't apply discernment to what we hear.

I think it was the pastors Joe Schimmel and G. Craige Lewis that first prompted me to pay attention to lyrics and meanings. One song we've probably all heard at least once is "I Write the Songs" sung by Barry Manilow, but written by Beach Boy Bruce Johnston.

On the surface of my mind, I always heard the song as a lovely melodious tribute to the creativity. Then, as I said, I was prompted to get out of my social emotions and pay attention to what was being conveyed.

Here are the lyrics and, as you read them, think about who is speaking and what the message is. I boldfaced some of the words:

I've been alive forever
And I wrote the very first song
I put the words and the melodies together
I am music, and I write the songs
I write the songs that make the whole world sing
I write the songs of love and special things
I write the songs that make the young girls cry
I write the songs, I write the songs
My home lies deep within you
And I've got my own place in your soul
Now when I look out through your eyes
I'm young again, even though I'm very old
I write the songs that make the whole world sing
I write the songs of love and special things
I write the songs that make the young girls cry
I write the songs, I write the songs
Oh, my music makes you dance
And gives your spirit to take a chance
And I wrote some rock 'n' roll, so you can move
Music fills your heart, well, that's a real fine place to start
It's from me, it's for you
It's from you, it's from me
It's a worldwide symphony
I write the songs that make the whole world sing
I write the songs of love and special things
I write the songs that make the young girls cry
I write the songs, I write the songs
I write the songs that make the whole world sing
I write the songs of love and special things
I write the songs that make the young girls cry
I write the songs, I write the songs
I am music (music), and I write the songs.

People might say that the song is from the viewpoint of God - I read that's what Johnston claimed. But would God want to make anyone cry? Would God want your spirit to take a chance?

G. Craige Lewis once pointed out that Lucifer was created with "tabrets" and "pipes," built into him. Some people think of Lucifer as having been a chief musician in Heaven. That's debatable, but it's how many people think of him.

My point is that we (okay, me) often hear without listening. Even I have thought a lot of innocent-sounding songs have deeper and darker meanings buried in them. Mainly, I chose these because something in them just felt wrong in my spirit. You might some debatable but here is a list:

Actually, I didn't like anything by The Doors because the lead singer creeped my out for some reason...

Here are a couple of videos showing more songs. I noticed I already had some on my list.

And don't think that so-called "gospel" and "Christian worship" songs are any better. So many people striving to be "stars" are doing anything to get there. Anyway, people, be more discerning in your every day life, as I will be.

Peace

--Free

UPDATE 10/26/25 Allulose Is Different

2025-08-15T19:30:00.007-05:00

**UPDATE 10/26/25**

Since I wrote this post, I have been using allulose almost 95% of the time (although when baking, I have to start my yeast with table sugar). When I want something a little more decadent, I will use tagatose. Since there is a lot of useful information comparing the two, I will be writing a separate post and putting a link here when it's finished. So... check back soon!

Here is the link!

For a long time, I've struggled with finding a satisfactory substitute for table sugar. Here are some that I tried and discarded:

Stevia - hate it, hate it, hate it. On my palate it's so sharp that I feel something is cutting me. I have tried it blended with other substitutes and... nah. Not for me.
Monk Fruit - this came close to being the most likeable. However, it took a lot of tricky measuring to get the right balance. An nth too much and I get a nasty aftertaste. Also, it did give me a bloated feeling.
Truvia - From what I remember, it wasn't horrible, but it depended on what it was in.
Erythritol - This is a hard no. This reminded me of a watered-down version of the saccharin Mom used in back in the day. One teeny touch of this on my tongue created an almost visceral reaction.
Swerve - I was okay with this for a lot of things but too much was nasty. I realized why when I read the ingredients.
Aspartame - This is right up there with Erythritol and that old school sweetener. So gross.
Xylitol - More than any other sweetener, this has that cooling effect that puts me off. The only acceptable use is in gum and mints - where you want that effect.

I've had other replacements when trying various beverages. Recently, I bought a fizzy mango-flavored drink (can't remember that name) and was so disappointed at first sip. I hadn't noticed the label to see the dreaded Stevia... That was a precious $1.50 poured right down the sink?

Years ago, I remember a product called Just Like Sugar. It was awesome and this is back when I wasn't as desperate to lose weight. See this link because I can't go back that far in my head! (Glancing back at that post, I realize I was kinder to some of those sweeteners than I am now...)

So JLS was great - while it lasted. Of course the creator passed and the product just went away. It was when I was looking into what happened with JLS that I found what had to be the main ingredient in it: allulose. Cue the heavenly choir.

I got a bag of allulose a while back, but I didn't get serious about using it on a daily basis until my last doctor visit. My blood pressure has been good but my doc wants to get it lower. She reminded me how much BP affects kidney disease. That did it.

Instead of using sweetened coffee creamer, or even using regular milk or half and half with brown sugar for sweetening, I have buckled down. I am using evaporated milk with water (or a little half and half) with allulose. I wish I had gotten serious about the allulose sooner.

I have noticed that if I have my morning coffee with allulose instead of other sweeteners, my appetite stays curbed most of the day. I know that's no good if I don't make better choices in what I do eat. So I am trying to do a lot of veggies and fish for meals and, for snacking, nuts and dried fruits. I will have another coffee sometime in the afternoon and at some point, I will have a cup of tea (with milk and allulose).

While allulose is not as sweet as sugar, I am having to get used to that. When I first started using it in my coffee, I used a lot - trying to get it sweeter. Now I realize I don't need the higher sweetness, I just need enough to give flavor to my coffee (or tea).

I am so used to sugar being sugar-sweet that I am teaching my tastebuds to appreciate the flavor not sweetness. Does that make sense?

I won't go into the supposed pros of allulose except to leave that links for you to look at. You need to do your own research and check with any health providers to be safe.

Honestly, I have yet to bring it up with my own kidney doc, so I can't preach. I just know that I need to lose weight and this is helping me start.

I found a video showing how to make a DIY brown sugar with allulose for baking (and coffee!)

Before I close, I want to share this video that I have not yet watched. It's not the first time I've heard allulose mentioned in relation to metabolic changes. Again, do your due diligence!

Peacc

--Free

Wearing Makeup at 60+

2025-08-09T12:00:00.000-05:00

Well, folks, after not wearing makeup for years, I am having to practice using foundation. I have a wedding to attend this winter, should the good Lord let me live and nothing happen.

I have worn the occasional cosmetic, but I usually stick with eyeliner and lip gloss. The last time I owned foundation was a few years ago and I think I wore it three or four times total. Normally, I wouldn't bother, but I am going to be in the company of some fabulous girlie girls and would like to join in the reindeer games - at least when it comes to the photos! Also, this wedding is a 3-day affair; no need being the homeliest one in that many photos.

Now, here's the thing, I haven't worn makeup for so long the I was really having a time finding something suitable. My requirements are pretty standard:

The shade has to be right. I don't want to look "made up" and I don't want my face to be a different color from my neck.
Back to the not looking made up, I'm shooting for a "no makeup" effect. Basically, I just want to even things out and have a "finished" look. Without looking like I tried!
I don't want to leave makeup marks on everything. My or other people's clothing, dinner napkins, etc. That's so unattractive - especially with "deep" brown makeup.
Most of all, I don't want to irritate my skin.
It would be nice if the result lasts for several hours. Back in the day, I hated doing touchups and regular blotting for shine control.
Finally, sunscreen is a must.
Final finally - LOL - is price. This makeup situation is temporary, so I don't want to splash out!

After 3 days of looking at different brands shades (and considering my requirements), I found something decent. I will have to make adjustments for sunscreen and the transfer situation.

I still had some Juvie ad Black Radiance to play around with (even though they are old) and am disappointed. The Juvia is as I remembered and good, but too heavy, My amazing Black Radiance no longer makes the same BB cream I loved.

What I have learned is that cosmetics have come a long way since I wore them.

The first thing I found was a color-matching product from Almay that did its job so well, it was like magic. I kind of love it for an everyday look.

Goes on grayish &
blends in matching

Almost invisible
it matches so close

My neighbor said it was fabulous for every day, but suggest for the wedding photos, I might want to "build it" more. Hmmm. Since the Deep shade was only $4 and change, I'm going to try the concealer from the same line to see if it has more coverage. And I love that all the Deep shades are half what the other shades cost... And sticking with the under-five price, I went ahead and ordered some Maybelline Age Rewind. Just in case.

The next wonderful thing I found is this stuff that... "grips" your makeup...

Child!

The first one I ordered, Amazon lost in the mail and had to refund me. The second one was so late arriving that the lost got to me. I've tried both and the work about the same, but maybe the Sheglam is friendlier to my skin and lasted longer.

That grip stuff solved some serious problems. First, it kept the foundation in place for hours. Also, it prevented transfer. It suctioned the foundation to my face like crazy - without drying my skin, Of course, I first applied all my moisturizer and sunscreen beforehand...

Now all I need to do is find some decent lip stain and I will be ready. I have some time to play around any get better at applying the makeup. Wedding photos, here I come!

Peace

--Free

I Am Mad At Medicube...

2025-08-03T14:07:00.001-05:00

...Or at myself.

There is a story to this story and the first part is the post I was preparing to write a couple of weeks ago. Here is the start of it:

Most of my skincare routine is based on products I know and that have proven good for my skin. However, there are times when I want to rotate in a different product (or products) to give my skin a break. Lately I have been looking for a collagen-based face cream. Every time I do a general search, one brand keeps popping up: Medicube.
I'd never heard of Medicube until I saw it a while back all over Amazon. I was curious and even sort of interested until I started seeing "viral" and "TikTok" all over the reviews and photos. That set off an alarm in my brain. I have trust issues with people paid to hype products. Influencer marketing is not new to people around my age...

One of the originals...

I'm not a big TikTok user and I am always surprised to remember that I once had an account. I do see TikTok videos come up in a lot of YouTube videos, especially the "reaction" videos. Most reactions videos are like those weird nesting images within images. You have one video talking about other videos that are sometimes talking about other videos. We are living in weird times, people.
Anyway.
When I continued looking through the Amazon search results, I noticed that there are other brands slapping labels on products: "Viral on TikTok" or some other social media tease. Think I'm being dramatic?
Found all these products on first
couple of pages of search.
Here's the thing, I used to love the product review community about 5 or 6 years ago. I was part of it in my own small-fish kind of way. Reviewing products then was fun and a way to get to try new stuff for no or at low cost.
Because I still love reviewing products but don't like to exaggerate any claims - and because I am don't "engage" on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, etc. - I just stick to my humble little blog. I don't go out of my way to cover products I end up not liking, but I won't over-hype the stuff I do like. That's not the point of doing actual reviews.
I no longer trust social media to be truthful about products.

As a matter of fact, the best way to put me off a product is to slap "viral" on the label. This is my take on the new social media selling game:
Viral means it's backed by influensters
Influensters are paid spokespeople
Spokespeople are in it to make a commission or grow their following
People will exaggerate to make money or grow a following
Viral products come and go
When I look for products, I want something that is actually good - viral or not. Most of the products that I have used off and on for years are from long-standing brands. Back when I wore a little bit of makeup regularly, I used Fashion Fair and Black Radiance, Covergirl and Revlon. I stopped wearing makeup for the most part in my late 20s and early 30s and stuck with the occasional eyeliner and lip color and, of course, focused more on skincare. I used L'Oreal, Black Opal*, and more recently brands like e.l.f., and an assortment of natural carrier and essential oils.

I don't trust a flawless (or seemingly so) influencer advising me on skincare. If you want to impress me, get rid of the photo filters and layers of makeup. Or just tell me why you love the product. Don't try to jive me, hype your numbers or impress the brand you work for.

Yeah. I was on a roll... And now I am mad because I have to catch, cook, and eat my own crow. Confession: I tried Medicube and I kind of love it. (I still wish brands would stop with the hype marketing.)

I tried the Triple Collagen Serum (TCS) because someone I personally know said it was actually good and I trust her opinion.

I like the cap cover

The serum was so good that I tried the other product this person was also using - the Triple Collagen Cream (TCC).

That was so good for my daytime routine, I spun the wheel a third time and hit the jackpot again. The Jelly Collagen Cream (JCC) seemed to be me going too far at first, but it turns out that I like to combine it with the TCC as my night treatment and I know it is going to be a winter season must-use.

It is not sticky

Of course, you don't personally know me, so I probably sound like just more of the "viral" hype. But here's the thing: I am not an affiliate or getting any compensation in any kind of way for telling you about my experience.

My skin has been pretty good all my life but, as I age, it's gotten tri-polar. I'm 64 now (thank you, Lord!) and my skin has lost all its mind. Depending on what time it is on a particular day, I can describe it as dry, oily, or combo. And, in the past several years, I've been developing little spots that are not freckles...

I do like the products I was currently using, especially the Topicrem Balm and La Roche Posay Cleanser. I am still using the balm on my neck and body and the LRP cleanser. I did like the L'Oreal face cream I was using until they changed the formula. But this Medicube is next level - and affordable.

My routine recently has been:

Cleanse (with the LRP) and a good lukewarm rinse
Apply the TCS, wait a few minutes
Apply the TCC (at nighttime, I mix in the JCC), wait a few minutes
Apply a thin layer of Vaseline (or CeraVe Healing Ointment), wait about 5 minutes
Apply Sunscreen (only during the day, of course)

That takes care of the whole day. I will reapply sunscreen, if I go outside. By the way, this one is on my Subscribe and Save. It has zero white cast and is, by itself, very moisturizing. I use this one when I can find it on sale or on eBay for cheaper. Again, no white cast. None.

What do I like about the Medicube products I'm using?

The effect on my skin's texture & moisture retention
My skin feels velvet-soft and a more firm.
Affordable
Doesn't take a lot to treat my face and neck
No irritation (so far)
No scent to it
Well-packaged and labeled
The effects last all day or all night*

* Confession: I went to sleep one night without washing my face & my skin was still feeling great the next morning!

Mostly, I loving what it is doing for my skin overall. It's hard to explain without you being able to feel my skin for yourself, but the softness and texture is amazing. I took a before picture after the first few days so that I can do another photo later for comparison. I am excited to see the difference myself. For now, this is how I look after the daytime treatment. No makeup or filters used, but I do have on a light application of some color-changing lipstick.

see the "not freckles"???

(I was taking the photo and my SIL made me laugh out loud about how it feels to have teeth again!)

Last thing I want to mention is something I asked the lady who turned me on to Medicube. After I got the TCC and before I got the JCC, I asked which she would pick if she could only have one of them. She said that she likes having both but, if she had to choose, she'd go with the JCC. Now that I have used both, I would have to choose the TCC. In my case, I could use something else (or more Vaseline) in my night routine if I had to, but the TCC is my must-have.

That's the last of my two cents' worth of opinion.

By the way, my goal is not to look young; I just want to take care of my skin and keep it in good shape. The added benefit is not having sun damage or looking as haggard as I sometimes feel. It's enough that I am still working in losing weight. If y'all do nothing else, wear sunscreen and stay healthy and happy with yourself!!!

I'm still not trusting any viral marketing or influencers. This time I am so happy that I had a good recommendation from a trusted source. We should all use that method.

Peace

--Free

DISCLAIMER: I am and will not be compensated for any products mentioned in this post. I don't have any affiliation with Amazon or any of the other stores/sellers linked to. I am just sharing my experience in using the products mentioned.

Comedy Bits. Raised Like This!

2025-07-28T09:45:00.004-05:00

This is just a quick post about a video I saw. It's a funny bit by one of my favorite comedians. And it is funny, but it's also true - at least for me. I was raised in a home like this:

We had to use all those words in place of less polite ones. One time, one of my brothers learned how painful it could be to fall on that bike bar. My dad asked if he was okay, you know, didn't hurt his "perky".

If you passed gas, you either had either "pooted" or "lost your manners". Lost your manners could also mean you were misbehaving, as in, "Have you lost your manners?" Going to the bathroom you either went Number One or Number Two or "made water" or "poo'ed", or - and this is the most hilarious - did a "hard job" but it was pronounced "hod" job. And that was the remedy for almost everything. Feeling grumpy, didn't sleep well, couldn't concentrate? Maybe you need to do a "hod job".

I just had to share these little tidbits of my young life. I just love Mike Goodwin because I sure can relate to his comedy.

If you really want a giggle, check out his "What you not gon do" jokes. I put those in the sidebar.

Peace

--Free

Being Free

I Have to Vent. About a TV Show.

Cheap(er), Tasty & Filling Meals

**A Quick Tip** Boost Existing Moisturizers

**CROSSPOST** The Biggest Distraction

**A Quick Tip** Slow Cooking in the Ninja FD400 series

**UPDATE** The Best Sunscreen. EVER.

So Hard to Do the Right Thing…

Aye Yo 2026 - Already?!?!

Geezer Ranting, Trending & Groupthink

**Mini Post** Small Things = Big Improvements

Time Feels So Weird Now

Buying Less to Buy Better

Cheap & Fun Winter Therapy

The Madness of Beauty Trends (or Skin of the Week)

2025 Winter Skin & Health

Better Sweeteners? Comparing Allulose & Tagatose

**REVIEW** Mr. Coffee 5-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker

The Keys to Happy...

Let the Sideshow Begin!

**UPDATE** No White Cast Sunscreens (even on dark skin)

**FREE&FAITH** Music - Listening or Hearing

**UPDATE 10/26/25** Allulose Is Different

Wearing Makeup at 60+

I Am Mad At Medicube...

Comedy Bits. Raised Like This!

A Quick Tip Boost Existing Moisturizers

CROSSPOST The Biggest Distraction

A Quick Tip Slow Cooking in the Ninja FD400 series

UPDATE The Best Sunscreen. EVER.

Mini Post Small Things = Big Improvements

REVIEW Mr. Coffee 5-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker

UPDATE No White Cast Sunscreens (even on dark skin)

FREE&FAITH Music - Listening or Hearing

UPDATE 10/26/25 Allulose Is Different