A LITTLE STORY
My favorite color is blue now. There was a time I was more into greens. I also had my gray phase. Many famous painters also had color “phases” in their life that affected their paintings like VanGogh’s yellow phase that inspired his popular sunflower paintings. There were two days last year when I was in my metallic silver phase. What was I thinking? I think it happened because I forgot to take my vitamins for about a week and I was low on my iron intake, so my body craved silvery things.
I envision me going into a pastel phase later in life because pastels go with everything. Perhaps I will go back to my green phase. People change in life. How you were twenty years ago may be totally different from the way you are now. For instance, twenty years ago I would bring a boom-box to the local mall, turn it on full blast, and gyrate to some fine tunes. I’d do mostly the robot. I would also do the I’m stuck in a box like the mimes do on neighborhood squares. But that was then. Now I sing Take On Me by Aha in my backyard.
But yes, people change. Sorta like Ronald Reagan. He was a Democrat before he became a Republican. Same with Rudy Guliani and Condi Rice. Others have switched from Republican to Democrat like Arlen Specter. Even the philosophies of each party has changed since back in the day. In the 1800’s, most African-Americans affiliated themselves with the Republican party – that was Lincoln’s party. And now a very large majority are affiliated with the Democratic party. Back when many considered former Senator John Edwards to be a charming gentleman. Now he is a complete jerkyhead.
Back in the 1980’s the U.S. government under Reagan even financially supported Saddam Hussien while he was in power. Needless to say, things have changed.
What may seem good then is bad now. And what may seem bad now, we will find out later is good. There is a period of resistance to change before it accepted. But one thing has been consistent through all of time – Papa Smurf has always lived under mushrooms with one raspy-voiced female Smurfette and a litter of other one-dimensional, apply-named Smurfs. It has never changed.
And it’s amazing to see history somewhat repeat itself now. Back in the 1920s, years of prosperity were followed by the Great Depression as did the Great Recession now. Trouble with banks followed each economic turmoil and jobs were in short supply. Republicans ruled during the 1920s as they did during the 2000’s followed by Democrats who brought Socialism of sorts to the fold such as unemployment benefits, bank regulation, and social security – partly as an answer to the state of the economy. Interestingly, many of the Fortune 1000 companies were incorporated during a recession. Things will change for the better in time.
Back then after Prohibition ended it was rejoiced by many. Nowadays, the demise of the alcoholic malt beverage Zima brought joy to many also. That was a horrible correlation. Scratch that one. How about back then people wore tophats. Nowadays people like to sing about your pants on the ground. I’m getting nowhere with this now. I’m being distracted by the voices in my head again. They are all talking out of turn and over each other. It’s just so annoying and they are just distorting everything. Maybe I’ll try to get them to speak in much more pleasant two-part harmony.
For a little more history check about all the changes in political parties check out these links – very interesting reading:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Party_(United_States)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Party_(United_States)
MCDONALDS
Free wifi where they have it.
SAMS CLUB
Looks like they are having problems. They are closing ten of their stores and laying off over 10,000 workers. They are outsourcing their in-store promotion people. So In essence, most of those same workers that were let go will go to work for a firm that will now do in-store promotions. As I’ve said before, why would you want to shop at a store that charges you to shop there? They don’t let you use coupons. They sell a lot in bulk, which isn’t always cheaper. Just like people think generics are always cheaper – not so if you use coupons and find the item on sale. Generics rarely go on sale and involve coupons.
A-A-A-ALCHOHOL
Liquor sales in Ohio reached an all-time high in 2009, breaking the record for the 10th year in a row. Sales were at $734.8 million for 10.7 million gallons of liquor, another record high. The top 10 sellers were Kamchatka Vodka (400,787 gallons), Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey, Bacardi Superior Light Rum, Captain Morgan Spiced Rum, Smirnoff Vodka, Crown Royal Canadian Whiskey, Jagermeister, Absolut Vodka, Black Velvet Canadian Whiskey and Korski Vodka (236,942 gallons). I bought, nor drank, any of those on the list last year. I like wine. Wine doesn’t give you a beer gut.
GOING OUT OF BUSINESS
Pet Supermarket – up to 25% off – closing 2/28 – location on Richmond Rd in Richmond Heights – thanks Dale G. for the heads up.
Weiss Furs – now up to 90% off – last days
Alvins Jewelers – all merchandise now at the Great Lakes store – up to 80% off.
Bogeys Comedy Club – although they may decide to open again
OPENINGS
Restaurants:
Bac – W 14th
Dante – Professor Ave
DragonFly Lounge – W 25th
Gusto d’Itlalia – Hudson
Rosewood Grill – Hudson
MOVING
HH Gregg in Mentor will be moving to the old Circuit City.
CVS
Free after extra bucks:
Dove Men’s Care Body Wash – plus use $1.25 coupon – make money!
RITE AID
Pro Foot Insoles & other foot products – 3 for $5 after rebate – Look for $2 coupons on package – make money!
Buy $50 in selected product shown in ad, get a $25 gift card.
Chex Mix – 99 cents – plus use .50 coupon found on http://www.smartsource.com
WALGREENS
Free after register rewards:
Zicam Cold Sore Swabs (after $3 coupon on pack)
Blink Gel Tears – use recent $1 coupon – make money!
Joint Juice 30 pack
Scalpicin – find $1 coupon at http://www.scalpicin.com/ – make money!
Vitamin Schtick Lip Care
Toblerone – 2 for $1 after in-store coupon
Milk – 1 gallon – $1.89
Buy $20 worth of Pepsi, Doritos, Tostitos, or Lays prodcuts – get $10 in register rewards
ALDIS
Cauliflower – 99 cents each
Brocolli – 99 cents – 16 oz package
Avocados – 49 cents
Baby Carrots – 49 cents per bag – 16 oz.
PRESCRIPTION COUPONS
Rite Aid & K-Mart have coupons in their ads this week for $25 gift cards when you transfer a prescription to their pharmacy.
COUPONS
New coupons loaded for February. Click here for over 170 coupons:
COUPONS.COM
WEST SIDE MARKET
I was there this past weekend. It was very busy. Free parking! The melting pot of people and foods there was spectacular. You’ll find stuff there that you won’t find at any local grocery store. If you wanted to eat sparrow livers, you can probably find it there. I found strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries for $1. Raspberries were $1.50. Beefsteak tomatoes – 99 cents/lb. The Our Town book also has buy-one-get-one free coupons for the West Side Market in it. Click here to order the book:
http://www.joethecouponguy.com/merchandise/index.htm
WTAM 1100 AM
They interviewed me this afternoon. They mainly chatted with me about gift cards. Here is a link to the story:
http://www.wtam.com/cc-common/news/sections/newsarticle.html?feed=122520&article=6724340
GIFT CARDS
Have a gift card that you don’t plan to use? Sell it or trade it in! Some people use eBay or Craiglist, but there are sites that deal with gift cards exclusively. They are:
cardavenue.com – charges 50 cents plus 3.95% from sellers and traders plus shipping. $150 guaranteed, $10 deductible.
leveragecard.com – No fees. User pays shipping and subject to marketing efforts.
swapagift.com – $1.99 fee; 30% to 40% of value. Transaction guaranteed up to $100.
plasticjungle.com – 10% for buyers and sellers: 35% to 45% if selling for cash. Transaction guaranteed.