Rays Get 10 Strikeouts, Free Pizza Again

Well they beat the Yanks Friday night but didn't get the strikeouts, and tonight (Saturday) they got the 12 strikeouts but lost the game 5-4. I hope they win tomorrow!. Anyway, If you're in the Tampa Bay area, that means FREE PIZZA from Papa Johns. Just go to www.kanesstrikeoutcontest.com and print your certificate within 24 hours of the game. Then you have 3 days to bring it to a Kanes Furniture store near you to exchange it for a free pizza coupon. The coupons now are valid through 10/25/10.

Now you can bring in your Thursday 7/29 certificate and todays 7/31 certificate, to get 2 pizza coupons in one trip.

Window Shopping

A few weeks ago, the passenger window of the 04' Camry started failing us. The window started to lug and lurch when we tried lowering it or raising it, kind of like the motor was failing. We left it closed and decided we better get it fixed before our racing trip coming up in August. Well, today we're planning on giving blood after work and the location is near the car dealer. It would be an ideal time to both drive and then drop off a car, so I called the dealer to figure out whats involved.

 

Well to my surprise, it costs a bunch of money to make a car window go up and down. First there is the inspection fee to determine if its just the regulator or the motor, or both. And then of course they don't have parts for THAT in stock, so it takes a day to get it from somewhere else, another dealer or supplier. So essentially, it means two trips to the dealer - or leave the car for two days. For us its not that big a deal because we have other wheels to get to work, but for some people this would suck.

 

So I'm wondering what is the value of the having a window go up and down, and what is the urgency to do it. Personally, we do not like to own cars or anything for that matter, that is makeshift or only partially operable. I like everything to work as designed, so we usually fix anything that breaks right away, or we replace it. I hate broken crap, or using stuff that doesn't work. I hate that the back window windshield wiper on the SUV is wacky and only clears 1/2 the window, but I guess I can live with that. But can I live with a window that doesn't go down? Maybe. Is it worth $682 to have the window go down? Maybe.

 

But you know us - the frugal ones, we have to check out our options, call another dealer who might have parts, find a competitor coupon that they would match, or go to the local guy Elmer around the corner who's done good work for us before on the cars. I might even check out youtube to see if there's a video on how to do it myself. Who knows it might be really simple, just to pop out the door molding and pop in a quick connect regulator. Its possible. I could seek advice from my un-frugal brother who is a service manager at a dealer, but he would tell me to quit being so cheap and just bring it to the dealer.

 

We ultimately will get the window fixed because the car only has 64,000 miles on it and is intended to last forever for us. But for now all we'll be doing is some window shopping.

Boost My Blog Friday

hosted by Designitchic

 

Welcome Blog Hoppers -

 

Good Morning, Happy Friday, Payday (once a month for us gov workers)! I'm excited for the Rays to kick Yankee ass in the sold out 3 game series, which means more free pizza if they get 10 strikeouts each game.

 

Leave a comment and I'll come check out your blog too!

Rays Get 10 Strikeouts Again - Free Pizza

Thery're on a roll, first a no-hitter on Monday night, and then Tuesday night the Rays got 10 Strikeouts, and again today, Thursday! If you're in the Tampa Bay area, that means FREE PIZZA from Papa Johns. Just go to www.kanesstrikeoutcontest.com and print your certificate within 24 hours of the game. Then you have 3 days to bring it to a Kanes Furniture store near you to exchange it for a free pizza coupon. The coupons now are valid through 10/25/10.

Now you can bring in your Tuesday certificate and todays certificate, to get 2 pizza coupons in one trip.

My Time Is Worth More

Last night we were scheduled to work security at the Dave Matthews concert at the amphitheatre. We've worked that show four times in the past, and every single time there are thunderous storms and heavy blowing wind. This time was no different, except the storms blew in before the show, right as we were getting off work from the boring government work day. I read a great blog post on www.WiseBread.com about replacing a crappy job. The first sentence was about the crappier the job is, the easier it is to replace. Or in my case, just don't go.

 

We ended up calling off the concert gig, blaming it on car problems and we couldn't make it there. I felt terribly guilty about it, but I had been dreading the drama that goes along with working security. First the weather always is a factor, with extreme heat conditions and warnings to limit outdoor exposure. Here we were planning on standing for at least 6 hours straight in the heat. The other unknown is where we'd be deployed. The gates suck because you have to stand in the sun and search peoples bags, and throw away their beverages that they try to sneak in. I hate doing that, so I usually ignore the beverage if I can and not have some other newbie security guy next to me point out that I missed it. Also working the lawn sucks too because the people are so wasted and they just pee everywhere and smoke all kinds of things up there, and generally are loud and drunk and obnoxious. Anyway, there are only a few good positions for security where you can have nice guests who paid too much money for their tickets to get wasted and miss the show up front. These are usually assigned to the regular workers who come to every single event, obviously we don't have the clout anymore.

 

I went for a walk with a friend on our afternoon break, and we were discussing the concert and my dread of going to another job after work. He asked why we were doing it, since he knew we have seen DMB many times, plus we don't particularly care for the music - its kind of sleeper. I guess it helps if you're buzzed which we aren't when we work. He knows its not for the money, a measly fifty bucks each to work a show. I can save more than that in one good grocery shop using coupons! I didn't have a good reason why we worked security. We've done it for six years and have attended hundreds of concerts, so there's rarely a performer that comes along we haven't already seen that we want to see.

 

So, here I have two gnawing coincidences today, the blog post and my conversation with my friend. Both made me question working security. I realized my free time is worth more than they pay me. I didn't want to give up my evening of free time. I'm not sure I can put a price tag on what my free time is worth, but now I know its at least $50.

Rays Get 10 Strikeouts = Free Pizza

Thery're on a roll, first a no-hitter on Monday night, and now Tuesday night the Rays get 10 Strikeouts. If you're in the Tampa Bay area, that means FREE PIZZA from Papa Johns. Just go to www.kanesstrikeoutcontest.com and print your certificate within 24 hours of the game tonight. Then you have 3 days to bring it to a Kanes Furniture store near you to exchange it for a free pizza coupon. The coupons now are valid through 10/25/10.

 

They'll probably get 10K on Wednesday and maybe Thursday too, so you could wait to visit Kanes until Friday and turn in 3 certificates at once, saving yourself extra trips to the store.

Evil Scale Update

Well I'm happy to report I've lost 2.4 lbs in my first week dieting and exercising. Last Monday I started documenting everything I eat and all my activities on www.fitday.com and its amazingly hard to cut back on calories. I thought I ate good, but morning snacks are my downfall after riding my bike to work. I get so hungry. Right now its almost lunch time and my stomach just aches with hunger. Its painful losing weight! I also need to give up the alcohol every night, those 2 beers a night add up to 1400 calories a week. When it takes 3500 calories deficit to lose a pound, those drinking calories don't help!

 

So I did pretty good riding my bike 10 miles daily, and walking an hour at least 4 days, but the beer and the chicken wings on Saturday night were a setback. I did see the evil scale tip up slightly. I don't like to see the yo-yo pattern at all, since that's always been my downfall. I lose 3 lbs a week, but then gain a pound on the weekends with my excess consumption. This weekend I rode my bike 10 miles each day to make up for my otherwise lazy ways on the on the weekend, so that was what saved me this week.

 

Here's a chart of my calories eaten vs calories burned and I managed to burn more than eat all days, so that's good.

 

7-25-10 Two Coupon Inserts

There will be 2 coupon inserts this Sunday, 7-25-10, a Redplum and Smartsource.

Smartsource

$1/1 2000 Flushes Automatic Toilet Bowl Cleaner

$1/1 Almay Cosmetic product, any x10/16

$1/1 Clearasil product, any x10/17

$1/1 Colgate 360 Sonic Power Toothbrush, any x8/14

$.40/1 Colgate Adult/Kids Manual Toothbrush (excludes: Plus or Extra Clean) x8/14

$.50/1 Colgate Toothpaste 4oz+, Any, x8/14

$.50/1 Colgate WISP 4ct. or 8ct. product, x8/14

$1/1 Colgate WISP 16ct. product x8/14

$1.50/1 Farmer John Bacon x8/29

$1.50/1 Farmer John Lunch Meat, Package of 16oz. x8/29

$.75/1 Franks RedHot Sweet Chilli or Wings Sauce x9/30

$.50/1 Franks RedHot Sauce x9/30

$1/2 Fritos Corn Chips 9.25oz.+ AND Fritos Dip 9oz., any flavor/variety x9/11

$1/1 Goof Off Brand Product, any x12/31

$2/1 ICAPS Vitamin Formula, any x10/31

$.50/1 Irish Spring Body Wash (excludes 5.5oz.) or (2) Multi-Bar pack 3pk+ x8/14

$.50/1 New York Brand Frozen Product, any x10/31

$4/1; $4/2 OPTI-FREE Solution (2) 10oz. or Twin Pack x10/15

$.25/1 Palmolive Liquid Dish Soap (20/25oz.) x8/14

$1/1 Post Cereal 10oz.+ any variety

$1.50/2 Post Cereal (10oz.+), 2 of any variety and Milk (1gal.) x9/10

$1/1 Rayovac Alkaline or Hearing Air Batteries, any x9/25

$3/1 Schick Disposable Razor Package (excludes 2ct.), any x9/5

$3/1 Schiff MegaRed x10/31

$2/1 Schiff Mega-D3 x10/31

$5/1 Schiff Move Free Advanced 80+ x10/31

$3/1 Shiff Glucosamine Product x10/31

$2/1 Schiff Vitamin or Supplement (excluding MegaRed, Mega-D3, Glucosamine & Move Free) x10/31

$1/8 Scott Extra Soft Bath Tissue, off 8 or more rolls x9/5

$1/4 Scott Paper Towels Long Lasting Tolls or Mega Rolls, off 4 or more x9/5

$.50/1 Scott Naturals Flushable Wipes Tub or Refills x9/5

$1/1 Snyder's Of Hanover Pretzel Sandwiches, 8oz+, any x10/31

$1/1 Snyder's Of Hanover Lunch Packs, 5.5oz.+, any x10/31

$.50/1 Speed Stick Deodorant or Lady Speed Stick (Excludes 0.5oz.) x8/14

$1/1 Softsoap Brand Body Wash 12.0oz+ x8/14

$.35/1 Softsoap 8.5oz.+ Liquid Hand Soap x8/14

$.50/1 Softsoap Liquid Hand Soap Refill 28oz.+, any x8/14

$2/1 Systane Product, any x10/31

$1/1 Triaminic Fever Reducer Pain Reliever Product, any x8/28

$3/2 Triaminic Products, any x8/28

$1/1 Tyson Grilled & Ready Fillets, any x9/30

$1/1 Tyson Frozen Breaded Chicken, any x9/30

$1/1 Tyson Any'tizers Wings, any x9/30

$1/1 Tyson Any'tizers Snacks, any x9/30

$.50/1 Yoplait Delights Yogurt Multipack, any flavor x9/18

$.50/1 Yoplus Yogurt, 4pk, Any flavor x9/18

$.75/2 Yoplait GoGurt or Yoplait Trix Multipack x9/18

$.40/6 Yoplait Yogurt Cups (original, Light, Thick & Creamy or Whips) or Any Flavor Yoplait Original or Light Smoothie x9/18

$.40/1 Ziploc Brand Bags, any x9/18

$1/2 Ziploc Brand Bags, any x9/18

 

RedPlum

$1/1 AcneFree Kit

$1/1 Betty Crocker Brownie Toppings

$2/1 Cheer BrightClean

$0.40/1 Dannon Light & Fit (6 6oz cups or any 1 Light & Fit 4-Pack)

$1/2 Dentabites or Hairball Temptations Treats for Cats

$3/2 Flintstones and One A Day Multivitamin

$2/1 Flintstones Multivitamin 

$1.50/1 Goodlife Recipe Food for Cats

$1/2 Kellogg's Eggo and/or Cinnabon Frozen Products

$1/2 Kellogg's Raisin Bran Crunch, Raisin Bran Crunch, Raisin Bran Extra or Raisin Bran Cereals

$1/2 Kellogg's Special K Cereals, 11.4 oz or larger

$1/2 Kellogg's Special K Protein Products

$3/1 L'Oreal Collagen Micro-Pulse Eye 

$2/1 L'Oreal Magic Perfecting Base

$1/1 L'Oreal Paris Cosmetic

$2/1 L'Oreal Shade of Preference or Root Rescue

$1/1 L'Oreal Skincare

$1/1 L'Oreal Studio Line or VivePro Glossy Styling Product

$2/1 L'Oreal Visible Lift or any L'Oreal foundation, powder, blush or concealer

$1/1 L'Oreal Vive Pro Shampoo or Conditioner

$0.50/1 Luigi's Real Italian Ice

$1/1 M&M's Pretzel, 9.9oz or larger

$1/1 Marble Mix'ins Ice Cream Toppings

$0.75/1 Minute Maid Frozen Novelty

$1/1 Nature's Bounty Vitamins or Supplements

B2G1 Nivea Body Wash for Women-B2G1 Nivea BW Men's FREE

$1/1 Nivea For Men Body Wash

$3/1 Nivea Happy Sensation Body Lotion, 13.5 fl oz

$1/1 Non-Kit Acne Free Treatment

$1/1 One A Day Multivitamin

$1/1 Pedigree Good Bites

$1/2 Quaker Chewy Granola Bars

$0.55/1 Renuzit Adjustable

$2/1 Renuzit Crystal Elements

BOGO Right Guard or Dry Idea, Up to $4.49

$1/2 Snickers Brand or Twix Brand Ice Cream Miniature

$2/1 Sun Crystals All-Natural Sweetener

$1/2 Temptations Treats for Cats

$3/2 Therma Care, 2ct or larger 

$3/2 Venus Disposables, 2ct or 3 ct 

$4/2 Venus Disposables, 6ct 

$0.50/1 Whole Fruit Fruit Bars

$0.50/1 Whole Fruit Sorbet

$10 off $20 Busch Gardens Tampa

What a great deal! If you're a passport member you probably received an offer in the mail this week that you might have overlooked. Its an offer for $10 off $20 to use towards purchase in your favorite restaurant, on merchandise in the park or any of the up-close or behind the scenes tours. It does NOT exclude alcohol, so you could get four beers ($5.49 ea) and only pay for two! This offer can't be combined with any other discount, and can't be used toward admission or games.

It is valid thru September 6, 2010.

 

To get your coupon, just go to one of the self serve kiosks outside the entrance and scan the bar code of the letter, click on Redeem Pre-purchased Internet Passport Vouchers and your coupon will print out.

 

Enjoy the Park!

The Evil Scale Is Back

This month we've been trying to clean out the little freezer so we can defrost it, and also empty out the primary freezer to make room for ice. We're planning on driving over 700 miles in August to go to one of the NASCAR races, so we can bring everything we want, including beer. Which is why we need to start making ice. So, in between the free Papa John's 10" cheese pizzas from the Rays Strikeout deal, we've been eating DiGornio pizzas, TGIF snacks like chicken wings, potato skins and cheesey artichoke dip with Tostitos. Along with that we ran out of berries so we're eating Fisher Fusion Nut snacks, Emerald Snacks and Cascade Farm granola bars for our morning snacks. Don't all these products sound familiar? That's right, they were all free or just about from using coupons.

 

Well, despite eating healthier cereal for breakfast and a salad for lunch, we've gained weight this year - especially in the last month. I have reached my threshold where I must do the turn around. Even though I ride my bike 10 miles a day, and walk 4 miles about 5 days a week, the fattening food has won again. I vow to quit buying that prepared packaged food, even if its free. Since we finished our kitchen remodel in March, we have a regular kitchen to prepare again instead of just the microwave to make our meals. Thankfully, all the Contessa meals are gone, along with the breaded fish fillets, and most of the steamers veggies. What a perfectly good way to make vegetables bad for you. Ugh!

 

So I'm starting a diet today, using my food and exercise log at www.fitday.com to track my consumption. My goal is to lose 15 lbs in 60 days. The method will be to track calories consumed, and calories burned with the simple goal of burning up more than I consume. No foods will be prohibited, but by logging in my food log it will be evident I need to drink less beer on Friday nights, and probably cut some Buffalo Chicken Wings from my meals.