Thursday, February 17, 2022

FINALLY, MORE USELESS STUFF

I know it's been a crazy 2 years or so, but what in the world is going on??!!  The other day I was paying for some items in Dollar Tree (now $1.25) when I heard something fall.  I turned around, looked on the floor and...nothing.  Then when I looked up, I noticed the lady behind me was placing my watch in her handbag!!!!  I was steaming inside, but calmly held out my hand and mentioned that I used that watch to monitor my heart rate.  She returned it, and all the while I was thinking how quick this lady was to bend down and grab that watch.  I mean, she was really fast!(lol)

Who's ready to admit that they were addicted to watching 'Curling" during the Olympics even though they had no idea what's really going on?(lol)  That would be me.  

According to a study completed by www.ranker.com, the #1 quality that's appreciated is Trustworthiness at 33%, with honesty coming in right behind with 25%.  Apparently, no one cares if we have good manners, because it was rated at exactly 0%!

 



You may be surprised, but the Beatles are still the #1 Musical Artists of all time according to the sales of their albums as of August 2021.  If you guessed Garth Brooks at #2, go to the head of the class, and Elvis Presley rounds out the top 3.

With all the programs we've seen on television over the years, the last episode of Mash on 2/28/1983 is still rated as the all time highest rated at number 1.  

Were you on the edge of your seat wondering 'Who Shot JR?" on Dallas in November 1980, if you so, you contributed to the #2 rating. 

Finally, in January 1977, all eyes were on the 8th and final episode of Roots where  Civil War and slavery ended, as part of the top 3.

There have only been 8 presidents in office who were left handed, and include Ronald Reagan, George HW Bush, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.

I use the post office a lot, but every year they continue to have changed.  In 2001 there were over 775,000 career employees, vs a little over 495,000 in 2020. 


 

Do you feel like you can't remember where in the heck you've placed your keys during the winter months?  Don't panic yet, you may just need more Vitamin D.  During the colder season 40% of us are deficient according a Yale study. Try a daily dose of D3 and get a brain boost.

With prices going up, up, up, more opportunities for deals is important.  A biggie that saves money on Procter & Gamble products is the coupon site, www.PGGoodEveryDay.com, which lets you print coupons right at home.

Here's a tidbit that I found super interesting.  Carrying around the $100 bill, may make you feel like a baller, but of the $12 billion $100 notes in circulation, a whopping 80% of them are not in the United States.  This is the currency of choice by drug dealers, terrorists and others who don't want to use credit cards or small bills, according to the Federal Reserve. It also weighs much less when stacked, like what we've seen in movies.  So it' not surprising that the $100 bill is the most counterfeited outside of the US. The top bill counterfeited here in the US is $20.  In 2020, the Secret Service collected more than half a billion dollars, according to their annual report.  With that being said, the Department of Treasury says there is still $70 - $200 million dollars worth of counterfeit money in circulation.


Just in case you've been wondering, National Random Acts of Kindness Day is today, February 17.  What a great opportunity to leave fun notes for your co-workers, pay for coffee for a stranger, help a neighbor with repairs or to surprise your local fire department with some cookies.  If you can dream it, performing a random act of kindness is very much appreciated.


I started this blog back in 2014 to put some eyes on domestic violence, of which I'm a survivor, and it soon evolved into many other things.  Either way, you stuck with me throughout it all, and I've loved it so much.  What's even better are the relationships that were built outside of the blog, along  with the phone calls, emails, cards, gifts and eventual meetups. They were the best.  Meanwhile, I still advocate for those who suffer the pain and trauma of physical and emotional abuse, many in fear for their lives.  Don't give up on them when you tell them to just leave the situation, and they don't. They need you, still. While I'm saying 'see ya later' to In the Know With Ro, I absolutely will still stop by to wave hello to all my blogger buddies to see what's going on, because each of you has taught me something new, interesting or thought provoking that made life more rewarding.  For those who want to see pics of some of the things I do that are absolutely unimportant most of the time,(lol) come on by Instagram at ro.intheknow

Most of you know that I'm absolutely hooked on books, movies and tv programs, so here's a few for you to check out for date night, or just for fun on cable, streaming, or On Demand.


1) Reacher - I literally binged this all day(lol) Plenty of action and dry humor to keep your attention. - Amazon Prime

2) Tinder Swindler - this guy is literally still walking around out there, and you'll look at online dating a different way! - Netflix

3) CODA - I wake up being able to hear every day, but so many of of us may not have that. What an eye opener, and such a brilliant movie. - Streaming


4)  Dopesick - no words - just watch the fabulous Michael Keaton in action. - Hulu

5)  Yellowstone - it took me awhile to get through all the seasons, but 'm totally hooked! - Streaming 


6)  1883 - Even if you don't like westerns, you'll get caught up in the lives of these people as they travel, and my goodness - Sam Elliott and Tim McGraw.  Need I say more? - Streaming on Paramount+


7)  Next Level Chef - Gordon Ramsay came back with a vengeance and something totally unique when it comes to showcasing chefs.  Watch this on the Fox Network


8)  The Gilded Age - this explores snobbery, racism, revenge and more amongst the upper class.  I couldn't take my eyes off the things that were happening.  Christine Baranski is so believable as a snob in this role of the 19th century. To her image is everything.  HBO 

9)  Don't Look Up - perfect example of how we simply don't listen and have our own agenda.  You'll love seeing all the stars in this movie including Leonardo di Caprio.  Watch it on Netflix and ask yourself -"What if?"


10)  Nightmare Alley - see the evolution of the handsome Bradley Cooper as he slowly spirals out of control in what's sure to be a classic. - Streaming

11)  The Harder They Fall - true this is a western, but I promise that you'll be absolutely shocked by the ending, and asking yourself 'what kind of person am I?"  Truly riveting, and Idris Elba too!


12) Inventing Anna - this true story is absolutely mind-boggling, and will have you scratching your head in fascination, hoping that you don't have a friend like this.  Did I mention that it's factual?  Binge it on Netflix.


13) Always Be My Maybe and anything done by the amazing Ali Wong.  Yep, Wong's standup is raunchy, but I promise something she says in one of her stand-up sets is going to bring back memories of something you've done or thought about.(lol)  Her movie and stand up specials are streaming on Netflix.


14)  RuPaul's Drag Race  - Back for Season 14, this Emmy Award program is one of my faves.  You may be surprised to know that RuPaul is not a made up stage name.  Ru's mom wanted to celebrate  the New Orleans 'roux' commonly used in gumbo, and RuPaul Andre Charles was born. Ru has been around since the 1980's, along with his sidekick Michelle Visage.  All of his hard work has paid off over the years earning him a current net worth of $60 million. 









Sunday, August 1, 2021

SOME USELESS STUFF

When working in retail years ago, I used to get super embarrassed when people brought condoms to the register to purchase.  But you know what doesn't cause me to turn red? Telling guys when their zippers are open.  So yesterday this man was moving carts around outside in the Walmart parking lot, so I figured he'd want to know that his fly was open, right?  I promise this has never happened to me ever, but that guy looked me right in the eye and told me, "I know". So what in the world do you say to that, blogger buds?(lol)


Did you know that wiping down your wiper blades rubber with alcohol once a month will preserve them, and make them work better?  After you do this, clean your windshield with glass cleaner too.

If you're a streamer, one of the shows that will keep you glued to the screen is Joshua Jackson's portrayal of Dr. Death.  It will make you seriously think about whether you want to risk having surgery for back pain.  What's worse is that this is a frightening true story of a narcissistic neurosurgeon who literally butchered 38 of his patients without any regard for their lives or well being, and how difficult it was to stop him.  You'll keep asking yourselves how something so scary could have ever happened. Where is Dr. Duntsch  now? In prison for the rest of his life, where he'll be up for parole when he's 74 in 2045.

I bet you have tons of change in your purse, piggy bank or junk drawer.  But did you know that your coins could be worth a ton of cash?  For example, keep your eye out for 1943 pennies.  Because of the war, these pennies were made from steel to conserve copper.  But a few were made from copper by mistake.  So if your penny won't stick to a magnet, yay, you've got a copper money maker!  Find out more about coins and what they could be worth by visiting coins.HA.com and typing error in the search box, or check out usacoinbook-com.

August 4 gives us the perfect excuse to eat some chocolate chip cookies.


Wow!


Can you sit still for long periods of time to read your favorite novels? According to the recent World Guinness Book of Records, the world's thickest book is Agatha Christie's collection of Miss Marple stories.  With over 4,000 pages, it's more than a foot thick and weighs close to 18 pounds!  We could use that for a workout, right?


If someone tells us that they're feeling anxious, or suicidal, bullied or abused, we should pay attention, and not sweep it under the carpet.  This is our chance to possibly make a difference in someone's life.

My buddy Elizabeth over at alteredbookloverblogspot.com often posts her calendar of what happened the month before, so we can be nosy (lol) and thought I'd add a few pics of some random stuff.

Who remembers Nancy Drew?




Yes, I eat cherries and love them!

Chosen as an Ambassador for the 3rd year in a row!

Another thriller from Don Bentley

One of my fave authors

Just in case you forgot how much I love cheeseburgers(lol)







Wednesday, July 7, 2021

WE ALL SEE IT

Have you ever given yourself another name as a kid to discourage an unwanted admirer?  

When I was young, my girlfriends and me were often yelled at by guys in cars or walking down the street, asking us "What's Your Name?"  My fake name was Rosalind.(lol) I have no idea how I chose it, but it was close enough to my own name to work.  We were also known for giving out nonexistent phone numbers too. 

Of course this caused problems because we'd usually run into some of these same guys later on, and we'd get busted!(lol)

I finally met a "real" Rosalyn years later when I lived in Virginia Beach, as she fell down some stairs while leaving a doctor's office (another story), and we ended up being good friends.  Speaking of always being honest...


Today, July 7 is National Tell the Truth Day.  Psychologists say that those we love can handle the truth, and I think it's best too.  My thoughts are if you've been dishonest all your life, one day of telling the truth is never gonna happen.  Nonetheless, if you've been wanting to share some news, or confess, today's the day!


I still mail cards and letters for birthdays, holidays and 'just because'. Did you know that in 1971 it cost just 8 cents to mail a standard letter?  In August 2021, the price will increase from 55 cents to 58 cents.  

This is mine!   You've probably heard of people claiming they found lost money and wondered it was true, and I'm here to tell you that it's very real. I put in my name and was shocked that 162.00 was calling my name from Texas.  All you have to do is put in your name, and if there's money, the info will pop right up.  Visit www.unclaimed.org to check.  Also, there's so many class action suits going on right now due to misleading ads or more.



So if you think you've been bamboozled, check out www.classaction.org/settlements.  You'll be amazed at the things you find and include lots of things you use every day like Cranberry Juice, Juul Cigarettes, Baby Powder,  Cell Phone or Banking Fees, etc. (That recent check above for $16 is mine, along with a card from Sophia from http://delightedreader.com/ ) 


June 2021 was officially Pride Month, but if you want to celebrate year round, head to Eureka, Arkansas.  Eureka's population is about 2000, and 30% identify as LGBTQ+ .  They also have Diversity weekends 3 times a year, and everyone joins in for the celebration.  There's also lots of walking trails, haunted hotels, great places to eat and lots more.  Road Trip!

Hopefully you stay hydrated when it's hot outside, but it's sure a lot more fun to grab a slushy drink to quench your thirst. We may call frozen drinks a Slurpee, but that name is exclusive to 7-Eleven's brand, and they're all the rage when it's a steamy day. But you may be surprised that the Slurpee Capital of the World, and has been for 20+ years, is Winnipeg Canada.  Even during -4 degree winter weather, they're in hot demand, and there's even a street called  Slurpee Way in downtown Winnipeg to commemorate these frosty frozen treats. Brain freeze anyone?!(lol)


So last week, someone saw a zebra cobra snake hanging out on a porch in a Raleigh neighborhood, who had escaped from 21 year old Christopher Gifford's home, and everyone was definitely in a panic.  He was safely caught 2 days later, but the fact that this snake that's native to Africa actually spits venom had everyone on edge.  It's legal for venomous snakes to be kept in North Carolina (?), and  Chris doesn't mind bragging about his collection via all his social media accounts. (@the_giff) on Tik Tok and facebook.com/christopher.gifford.56? ) Yikes! 

By the way, there's about 30 venomous snakes in the world and include the Coral Snake, Tiger Snake, Rattle Snake, Krait Snake and the Taipan Snake.                          


So if you've been following this blog you may know that my birthday is coming up on August 12, and I've been asking for a ticket to Switzerland so I can scratch this off my  massive bucket list.  Since I'm turning 60, I'm hoping someone will finally feel sorry for me and send that ticket! (lol) I remember when I was 17 and used to think 30 year old people were so old. (lol)  But I can still dance my blogger buds.(lol)


Since the pandemic I've had lots of time to reflect over life, and mad props and thanks to Author Extraordinaire Sandra Cox https://sandracox.blogspot.com/who has been diligently taking the time to check on me since I've been MIA from the blog.  You've all been very much missed! 

Even though I wasn't blogging, I tried to pop by to  visit other blogs when I could, but with so many things going on, some days were rough, but somehow Super Sleuth Sandra seemed to pick up on that. 


Also gotta give a HUGE thanks to Sophia from www.delightedreader.com who 'just because' sent me stickers for my planner that really made my day, along with a handwritten card.  

If you haven't talked to a friend or family member in awhile, give 'em a call to say hello and make sure all is well.  I promise that gesture can make a difference in someone's life.  


If you enjoy sitting back with some popcorn, cheeseburger and lemonade and watching something good on television.  These are great.

The Wrath of Man - I've seen this 5 times (no joke, and my son thinks I'm obsessed with Jason Statham. Yes I am(lol)

Cruella - Watched this one twice because it was so good.

The Mysterious Benedict Society - a really good series about 4 gifted children who are on a mission to save the world.  Fun!

Fatherhood - on Netflix, and a true story about a husband who takes care of his daughter when his wife dies shortly after she was born. Funny, but you'll need some tissues too.

Workin' Moms - Binge on Netflix, because I promise even if you're not a mom you'll laugh out loud during all 5 seasons!

Bridgerton - yes, I'm still talking about this fabulous and innovative program on Netflix that the world is raving about.  Romance, witty conversations, humor, mystery, diversity.  It's all here, and yes it's been renewed for seasons 2, 3 and 4!

Somebody Feed Phil - You'll love this guy, and can find him on Netflix  He travels around the world eating at all these wonderful places, and meets cool people to hang out with while we learn new cultures.  






Who knows what Academy Award winning movie from 1939 said this at the very end? 

                                       "After all, tomorrow is another day"