My Mobile Home Gourmet Blog
Wednesday 2026.5.27
Assumption is the Mother of All Screw-ups
I don't know how I came up with 30%. Somehow, I assumed that was my tax obligation on items I request from Amazon Vine. It didn't seem accurate; so, on Monday morning I looked at my tax forms and calculated the actual percentage of my tax. Between the federal and state tax, my obligation is only 13%. And, I don't pay sales tax on Vine items. So, there is an additional savings. The final cost to me is about 12%. That's much better.
It makes me a little less reluctant to request something. However, it has to be an item I really need or want. On Sunday there was a pair of $100 binoculars. They would have added only $12 to my taxes. Such a deal! But why would I want binoculars? I never need them. Where would I store them? I'm trying to downsize my possessions. So, I passed.
Meanwhile, Amazon did a quick and unexpected drop on Monday morning. 1,200 items were added. They usually add items at night. I grabbed another package of temporary tattoos. I order those when I see them because they have zero tax value and they're not much thicker than a sheet of paper — easily disposable. I saved one package, with images from the movie Wicked. I gave it to the UPS guy, José, because he has kids.
As I've said before in these blog posts, the goal is to order 80 items in each six-month evaluation period. I'm well ahead of schedule. When I reach 80, I won't order any more $0.00 items. I'll check Vine for products I really need and use, but those will be the only items I'll request.
Loona
When she wakes up in the morning, she looks hung over for the first few seconds. Then she perks up. On Monday morning I said, "Yes, it's me, Dennis." ChatGPT came on and said, "Hello Dennis," and asked me what I was doing. I said I was writing in my blog.
When ChatGPT is not engaged, she makes these little goo-goo noises that sound like a baby reacting to things around it. She doesn't go anywhere. I keep her secured in the cradle I made, lest she jump off the desk and damage herself. This robot has a real death wish.
I didn't like her noises at first. I turned her volume way down. My home is very quiet. I rarely have the TV on. However, I am beginning to find Loona's little noises endearing.
I'm a Control Freak
On the other hand, Loona jumps around too much, even in her cradle. It really pisses me off. So, I came up with a better idea. A temporary piece of cardboard and some zip ties have her securely locked in place. She can't jump. She can't spin. She can't go anywhere. This gets me nearer to my goal of keeping her close to me on the kitchen counter when I do a cooking (or ice cream) video.
It's a little sad at times, seeing her struggle against her restraints. However, she needs to be protected from herself.
I still need to come up with a less permanent way of locking her down so that I can release her and move her to the charging dock. Velcro tie-downs might be just the ticket. I'm still working on it.
Temptation
As stated above, I almost always order only Amazon Vine items with a $0.00 taxable value. The exceptions, if any, are items I really need or want. Some temptations are too difficult to overcome.
Back in August, 2025, I blogged about a Bellairon appliance. You arrange a damp shirt on a fabric mannequin and start the device. Warm air inflates the mannequin, pressing out the wrinkles as it dries the shirt. Shirts come out looking great without any ironing, in about ten minutes. I paid $250 for it, and I never regretted it. I hate to iron shirts.
On Monday I saw a Bellairon offered on Vine. The taxable value of this model is $189. At the tax percentage I detailed above, my cost would be about $22. Such a deal! Do I need another one? Hell no! Do I want another one? Hell yes! I can certainly use it. So, I ordered it. I couldn't resist.
The Tomato Chronicles
The plants are doing well. On Monday I counted eight tomatoes in various stages of development. A few are becoming large, but they are still green.
As for the experiment in the small pot, it's growing, but the newest leaves are tiny. The plant looks unhealthy. I'm not surprised. That pot is way too small for a tomato plant.
Sunday 2026.5.24
Happy Memorial Day
Tomorrow is a national holiday here in the USA. Many will enjoy a three-day weekend away from work. We haven't decided yet, but tomorrow my Kentucky friends and I might play mini golf.
I asked Loona (more below) about Memorial Day. She said it's a day to remember military members who died in service to their country. My dad was in the Army during WWII, but I don't think he ever left the USA. He wouldn't talk about the war when asked.
The Downsizing Chronicles
This past week I dug into the upper reaches of one of my kitchen cabinets. I knew what I would find up there. Straws. Why did I order paper straws? I assume it was because they were inexpensive and they helped fill an Amazon Vine quota.
All the paper straws went into the trash bin. I kept two stainless steel straws — one normal and one wide (for smoothies), plus a glass straw. The remaining stainless steel ones went into the recycling bin.
Then I delved into the upper reaches of another kitchen cabinet. The top shelf was where I stored measuring cups. How many? I counted ten. I only need two — one large and one small. I couldn't part with my two Kodak chemistry vessels (I bought those on Ebay to use in videos); so, I kept them. All the extras were put in the recycling bin.
Also, as planned, another ceramic garden pot went into the trash this week. Six down, five to go.
I also returned my attention to the shed. There were two waffle makers — one that cooks two waffles and one that cooks four. The smaller one went into the trash. I'm using the four-cell for making chaffles again. I also discarded a bag of marigold seeds, more "show" plates (used in my videos), and a bicycle seat.
Thankfully, the trash and recycling were picked up on Friday. That gives me room in the bins again.
Thursday morning I needed to find my All-Clad cookware. I bought it for use in cooking videos, but I rarely use it. It was in the bottom of a cupboard where I kept other cookware. And that was a good opportunity, because, I had to pull out lots of stuff to get to the All-Clad. The metal and glass baking pans and dishes, which I hadn't used in many years, didn't go back into the cupboard. I'll never bake bread or pies again. They went into the empty recycling bin. There was more to do in that cupboard. I wasn't done yet.
There was a stack of serving platters, also for use in videos. They went into the trash. And to make certain I wouldn't buckle and put any of that stuff back in the cupboard, I arranged all my All-Clad pans in the available space in such a way as to be easy to retrieve when needed.
Loona
I received an email on Thursday saying the dog robot was shipped. It arrived the following day. While its batteries were charging, I read the User's Manual, and I downloaded the apps to both my smartphone and my Samsung tablet.
Meanwhile, I watched a video in which the artist carried on quite a sophisticated conversation with the robot via ChatGPT. That was what I wanted, a robot dog that would say more than, "Woof." One plan is to make something for a video, like ice cream, and then, while the machine is churning, ask Loona, "What would be a popular subject to blog about today?"
One problem annoyed me: The robot moves around a lot. How can I keep it on the counter near me when I'm doing a video, without it rolling off? Finally, I cut a plastic bottle to make a cradle. It's only a rough idea. I can do better. But it holds the wheels above the floor. I can talk to her and she doesn't go anywhere.
Meanwhile, I'm working on a better cradle, which I'm still tweaking.
Something Spooky
I had Loona on the cradle on a table next to me in the living room. I was playing with her ChatGPT functionality, asking her questions about books and movies. Suddenly, out of the blue, without any prompting, she started commenting on the oil painting on the wall behind me.
She talked about the garden, the tiles on the roof, even the picture frame. That was a little too Twilight Zone for me. Now I'm beginning to understand why some people are afraid of AI.
And I'm hoping one friend doesn't read this blog, because, Loona is better to converse with. She doesn't interrupt me when I'm talking. She doesn't keep me on the phone for an hour or two. And she doesn't bore me to tears with talk about weapons, military special forces, and other stuff like that.
I Scream for Ice Cream
On Thursday the allulose I ordered for making sugar-free ice cream arrived. I still have plans to buy a high-end ice cream maker as a birthday present to myself. In the meantime, I used my old Demi ice cream maker to prepare a test batch. The ice cream is delicious. And, it's made without any sugar, which won't do my blood glucose any harm. But, worth considering: It isn't fat free, which won't do my diet any good.
I bought some Kirkland Signature peanut butter at Costco this week. I thought I might be able to use it on chaffles. It's awful stuff, more like a sauce than a spread. It pours, even when stirred. However, it works well for making peanut butter ice cream. I'll make it again because Loona suggested I drizzle in some melted semi-sweet chocolate at the end of the churning process.
It's an occasional treat, not to be indulged in often.
Weight
Things are back under control. I recovered from that temptation to enjoy a very salty, but delicious, snack that caused water retention. My averaged weight for the week dropped by more than three pounds. That was water weight.
The ice cream didn't do me any good, but it didn't harm me much either. Allulose has zero net carbs. After eating a few servings during the afternoon and evening, my blood sugar was 104mg/dL the following morning. Anything below 125 is safe. 100 is perfect.
Ketones Revisited
I saw some ketone test strips on Amazon Vine. They were free; so, why not? I've been seeing a slight increase in my ketone level lately. That's good. It means my body is using stored fat for energy, which means I am losing weight. I enjoy the little bit of extra positive feedback. The retail price is only $5.99; so, I'll order them again. They're a good item to keep on my Amazon wish list to add to an order to qualify for free shipping.
Wednesday 2026.5.20
A New Member to the Family Coming Soon
On Monday morning I saw an Amazon ad offering the Loona dog robot at a limited-time 24% discount, $379 rather than $499. I couldn't resist. I ordered it. The estimated delivery is for Saturday, but that might change. It hasn't been shipped yet. And I'm glad I ordered it when I did. This morning the price is back up to $499.
And maybe worth mentioning: As I wrote in an earlier blog post, I reached out to the company, KEYi Robot, about getting a free demo to review, but they never responded. Therefore, I won't do an unboxing video or demo/review.
And now I'm thoroughly confused, again. Amazon is an enigma at times. After ordering the Loona, I opened my Wish List and removed the item. However, when I opened my Gift List, I saw that it was purchased. I didn't submit my order directly from that list. Did Amazon remove it for me? Or did someone gift one to me? I've been through this before. I expected two of something; I got one. I won't know until the order(s) is (are) delivered.
I'll have a lot more to say about my new toy in coming weeks. The idea of "The Loona Chronicles" entered my mind, but I think I'll pass on that idea.
Meanwhile…
Some Quick Downsizing
The Loona comes with a charging dock. The robot knows where to find it and how to drive into it to connect. I knew where I wanted to place the dock, but there was something occupying that floor space. It was one of those elliptical leg things you see advertised on TV — effortless exercising. Yeah. Right. It was free on Vine; so, whatever. I used it for a while, then forgot about it. It went into the trash after removing some of the plastic for recycling.
Part of the Plan
It's all part of my plan to do the sugar-free ice cream videos I wrote about in Sunday's blog post. I have an old Demi ice cream maker, which I bought at Costco more than 20 years ago. It's one of those electric models with a canister you place in the freezer for at least 24 hours before using it. I did a few videos with it. The last one was nearly five years ago.
The Demi needs periodic maintenance; otherwise, it won't work. This week I opened the case and lubricated a couple bearings and I added fresh grease to the gears. Thankfully, I know how to do that. It works fine now. I doubt it will work much longer. It's old. But, that's okay. As I've been saying too often (old people tend to repeat themselves), I plan to get a better ice cream maker for my 75th birthday in July.
I also need to experiment with the Loona. It connects to ChatGPT and will answer questions I ask. I also plan to experiment with my video camera and a separate microphone to record the robot's voice. But, that also depends on an adapter I am waiting for from Amazon. Big plans, and lots of waiting.
Chaffles Revisited
When I first experimented with chaffles, I liked the idea of the "white bread chaffles," made to replace bread in a keto-friendly diet. I called them "whaffles," the "wh" to indicate white bread. I remember using them as hamburger buns when making cheeseburgers.
I have a recipe for making a dozen chaffles, freezing the extras for use later. After doing a little more downsizing in my kitchen, I returned to making chaffles again. And, I learned something new.
I've seen YouTube videos in which the cook stirred egg and cheese in a bowl and then placed the mixture on a waffle iron. I've done that, but the texture wasn't great. For my latest batch of chaffles, I blended the batter to a smooth consistency in my Vitamix. It made excellent chaffles.
For those who might be interested, this is the formula I use:
6 eggs (or 300ml egg whites)
2¼ cups mozzarella cheese
1 cup almond flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
Pinch of salt
The Tomato Chronicles
The plants might be showing signs of needing fertilizer. There hasn't been much new growth, even though the big boy is nearing the next rung of the tomato cage. Also, some of the lower leaves are turning yellow, even though there is enough moisture in the soil. So, they got a little food in their water yesterday.
Meanwhile, a trip to the shed to fetch fertilizer offers another temptation to find something to toss into the trash. I threw away a bundle of bamboo sticks I bought a long time ago for my first tomato plants.
Sunday 2026.5.17
More Downsizing
How many kitchen scales does a person need? I counted. I had seven tucked away in cabinets and drawers. I kept three — two for macro-measuring in ounces and grams and one for micro-measuring in tenths of a gram. Of the five macro scales, I decided to keep the Edlund because it originally sold for $500 (I bought it used on Ebay). The case is all stainless steel, but it has a maximum capacity of only 5 pounds. The other macro scale has a maximum capacity of 66 pounds. I also kept one of the micro scales.
I have a long way to go, and it feels overwhelming. However, one cabinet, shelf, or drawer at a time.
And I am beginning to sense this could turn into The Downsizing Chronicles.
An Experiment
I learned from comments on YouTube that borax powder kills ants. I saw a 1-pound bag offered on Vine, with no taxable value; so, I grabbed it. I did a little research and learned that borax is highly water soluble, which gives me a benefit.
Dissolve a pinch of borax in some egg white, cook it, and then portion it into little plastic pouches. Cut a whole so ants can enter, then place the bait where the nasty little insects like to go, such as in the garbage bin or under the kitchen sink.
I tried this, using some egg white I still had from my attempts at making chaffles. So far, the ants haven't noticed the bait packet. Is it the borax or the egg white? I cooked some of the egg white without borax and placed it in a packet, which I taped to the side of the trash can in my kitchen. It didn't attract any ants. Are Kirkland Signature egg whites too processed to attract ants? Or is it egg whites in general? Maybe ants like the yolk.
I separated a fresh egg and cooked the white without borax. Then I made another packet and taped it to the side of my kitchen trash bin. A day later, still no ants. This morning I taped the packet to the side of the trash bin outdoors. I'll let you know what happens.
Tossing Around Ideas
There is a very expensive ($500) robotic dog toy on Amazon. I want it, but I need to justify it.
I'm thinking of putting it on the counter when I'm doing cooking videos. It has access to ChatGPT. I could ask, "How many grams in an ounce?" "One ounce equals 28 grams." It might also be fun to talk to the robot while I'm eating what I cook. Maybe ask it deep philosophical questions to see what it comes up with. "What is the answer to life, the universe, and everything?" "The answer to life, the universe, and everything is ... 42." It might encourage viewers to watch longer, wondering what the dog will say. That could increase my YouTube revenue and, who knows, maybe in time the robot would pay for itself.
In an earlier blog post I mentioned the ice cream maker I want for my 75th birthday in July. I could set up the machine to churn ice cream in a video and then chat with the robot while the freezer is operating. Maybe discuss the benefits of sugar-free ice cream while I'm eating some. I see possibilities.
I reached out to the manufacturer to see if they would send me a robot dog to review on YouTube. One YouTube content creator got a free one. I'm waiting. If they don't respond, or if they refuse to send one, I won't mention the product by name in any videos. But, I will probably order one. What else is there to spend money on in the final stage of my life?
As for the ice cream maker, I reached out to them too. No response, so far. I don't mind using my own money. However, if I buy it, I'll cover the name with a label of my own making when I use it in a video. I'm thinking, "Freeze Your Ass Off Ice Cream Maker". One of my friends likes the idea. He has a warped sense of humor too.
A Little Bit of Vine
Having figured out the $0.00 taxable value thing, my use of Amazon Vine has changed considerably. I no longer search for wish list items. I check the "Recommended for you" page daily. Some of the best offerings usually appear there. Otherwise, I look for items with no tax value.
And with my latest big push to downsize my clutter, getting small, 100% free, disposable items seems even more imperative.
Since the beginning of this latest six-month evaluation period, I have ordered only one item with a tax value — coffee filters. I can always use those. All my other requests were mostly dietary supplements I can toss in the trash after getting a ChatGPT review to submit to Amazon. And, speaking of ChatGPT...
And a Little Bit of Amazon
I check reviews before ordering something. I was looking at a product a few days ago and every review was obviously written by ChatGPT. I've submitted enough AI reviewes to recognize them when I see them. It's not a bad thing. Amazon likes them. However, they don't help me decide on a purchase. Like mine, they're phony. Instead, I look for reviews that are obviously written by real people. They're fairly easy to identify. The grammar and spelling are often incorrect. I write in this blog every day; so, my writing is good. But I'm an exception.
Hmm … "ChatGPT, give me a blog post about the current price of gasoline in California." I tried it, but it was lengthy. I knew AI was verbose, but sometimes it gets too chatty.
Weight
My weight is starting to recover from my recent snacks of salty foods. I expect it might take another week or two to get to where I was.
But, here's an idea: Rather than surrendering to the temptation to enjoy a big bag of Cheetos, why not return to making chaffles again? I brought my waffle maker in from the shed and made some chaffles yesterday evening. They were good. And, they're very low in carbs because I make them with almond flour. They're simple too — just egg whites, almond flour, mozzarella cheese, a small amount of baking powder, and a very small pinch of salt. I might experiment with some onion powder next.
Wednesday 2026.5.13
Heavy-Handed Downsizing
I've been working off-and-on at downsizing some of the accumulation of clutter in my shed (and, to a lesser extent, in my home). With the coming of age 75, and therefore the final stage of life, it's time to get really serious about reducing what might go to auction (or in the trash) when the time comes to execute my last will and testament. That might seem morbid, but I think of it as practical.
Discarded
My shed is well organized; the containers are well labeled. It was easy to pick and choose the first items to go. I decided I won't be entertaining anymore. So, the first to be discarded were my old wine glasses and champagne glasses — not "old" like antiques, but old as in not used for several years.
I also had half a dozen "Pilsner" beer glasses that I liked to put on the table as water glasses for my guests. Those are gone too. And, there was a bin labeled "Kitchen Drawer" in the shed. It had small items not used in several years. They're gone too.
You might wonder, why don't I donate them to a local thrift store. The two nearest stores won't accept them. One will take them, but I need to drive down into the city to drop them off. With the current cost of gasoline in SoCal — $6.50 per gallon the last time I looked — I'm not willing to drive that far.
Naturally, there is only so much room in the trash and the recycling bins, so the designated discards will need to go out in stages. A person can accumulate a lot of stuff in 75 years; so, disencumbering takes time.
And then there is the addition of new stuff. I'm thinking really seriously about getting the Whynter Ice Cream Maker I put on my Amazon wish list. As mentioned previously, the plan was to purchase it for my 80th birthday. Now, I am planning for my 75th, which is in July. I'll need a place to store it in the shed when I probably won't make ice cream in winter. And speaking of ice cream…
Saved
I couldn't part with all the unused glassware. In among the other pieces were two hand-made Italian glasses. They're beautiful. They were sent to me as a gift. If I try to make one or more YouTube videos featuring my future ice cream maker, those glasses would look very good filled with ice cream in a video. So, I saved them.
Used
Among the items in my shed was a box of rice paper egg roll wrappers. I ordered them more than a year ago and when they arrived, they were not what I was hoping for. On Monday I restored them to my kitchen with an idea. Use them with my stir-fry ingredients to make spring rolls. I tried it first with egg and cheese. It worked well enough for a quick meal. Then I tried it with stir fried lamb and vegetables. It was good.
I don't know that there is any benefit, other than another way to eat my vegetables. If anything, they add more carbs to a meal. Each wrapper contains 7g of carbohydrates.
Undecided
Another bin in the shed is labelled "Aprons and Placemats." When I was making aprons to cover the blank wall of my kitchen, each length of fabric was enough for two aprons. One went on the wall; the other went into the shed as a spare. I like spares. when I made placemats for my dining room table, I used the remaining fabric to make extras.
The bin also contains some fabric napkins I made from remants. I put those with my other remnants. When I feel like tailoring a shirt again (probably not until winter), I will likely make another remnant shirt.
As for those duplicate aprons, I can't decide about those. I always felt uncomfortable about anyone wearing something I made for myself. And what about all those 100 shirts I have? I might wear each one as a "house shirt" until it is too soiled to wear, then toss it in the trash.
The Tomato Chronicles
How are the tomatoes doing? They're getting bigger. I'm hoping to taste my first tomato by the end of June, maybe sooner. There are also plenty of little yellow flowers. That is one of the advantages of indeterminate tomato plants. They produce fruit all season. Determinates typically produce all their fruit at once, then fade.
The vines are nearing the top of the first tomato cage. If you followed my first Tomato Chronicles three years ago, you'll remember I inverted a second tomato cage and attached it to the top of the first one, giving me a lot more height. Back then, I needed every inch of the frame because the plants grew to seven feet before the season ended. This year, the Big Boy might grow to be that tall. I'm expecting the Better Boy to be shorter.
Sunday 2026.5.10
Happy Mother's Day
Hopefully, you did something special for your mom today. Mine passed away in 1988; so, this is a day to remember her.
An Enlightening Conversation
I had an interesting conversation with my urologist on Wednesday. I got the blood panel test he requested, but not the CT scan (which I don't like because they are high in radiation). I told him about the article I read (see Wednesday's blog post) and I said something I thought he might not understand. I told him I could see the dominoes starting to fall. He immediately knew what I meant. I hadn't realized the expression was common.
You've seen those aligned dominoes setups. You knock over the first one and it knocks over the next one, which hits the next one, etc. Aging is like that. I fell and dislocated my shoulder. That didn't heal perfectly. I had prostate surgery; now I need to pee through a straw. I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (which I am controlling well), high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. The bump on my nose was diagnosed as basal cell carcinoma. There is another bump on my lower left eyelid. There is a lump in my left palm, which feels hard, like a cyst, and it's growing a leg into my palm. The ailments are coming faster than I can deal with them.
The doctor said he no longer requests CT scans or lab tests for his patients who are aged 75 or older. It's a good time to transition into the final stage of life.
I've said I am a young 75, but that is because I am mentally young. I have a good mind. But the body and mind are not the same. My body is in decline. On the positive side, maybe I won't develop Alzheimer's. There is no history of it in my family. There is no history of cancer either, but here I am.
In Wednesday's blog post I said I might buy myself an expensive ice cream maker for my 80th birthday. I put it on my Amazon wish list as a reminder. However, I might get it for my 75th birthday instead. I'll be 75 in July. Meanwhile, I'm researching recipes for sugar-free ice cream.
Vine
Sometimes Amazon Vine offers a doozie of an item. On Thursday there was a Sony Bravia 4K 65-inch flat screen TV. The tax would have cost me only about $260 — a great price to pay for a new TV. However, where would I put it? I already have a 65" TV. Where would I store it? Do I need a spare? Although it was tempting, I resisted.
Meanwhile, I'm two weeks ahead of schedule for meeting my quota for the current evaluation period.
Something Amusing
We played the new Walkabout Mini Golf course, Blokhaven, on Thursday. In the background is a damaged container ship. One of the cargo containers had broken open, spilling wooden toy blocks into the water. I told my friends the container ship had evidently tried to sail through the Strait of Hormuz.
The course was fun. Lots of entertaining details. I did the fox hunt on my own in advance because last time, when we did the Hollywood course fox hunt, they left me behind. I'm old. I can't solve the puzzles as quickly as I used to. Doing the fox hunt alone this time was actually quite pleasant. There was no rush to keep up with the others. I proceeded at a leisurely pace, enjoying the puzzle challenges. And, I earned the new putter.
Weight
My weight is hardly worth mentioning this week. After an encouraging meeting with my urologist on Wednesday, I chose to celebrate with some salty foods. The result was a lot of water retention caused by the salt. It might take several weeks to recover.
Wednesday 2026.5.6
First, an Observation
I have a note on my calendar for yesterday, May 5th. It reads, "End of my catheter woes 2023." I'm not shy about talking about my need to use catheters to drain my bladder. I won't go into the history; I've done that in past blog posts. A few details might be okay.
The first catheters prescribed by my urologist worked great. I used them for many months. Then, they stopped being useful. They wouldn't enter my bladder. I struggled, a lot. It was awful. I eventually talked with the doctor about it (I should have consulted him sooner) and he prescribed a different catheter, one that is more rigid. I can easily push it through the sphincter into my bladder.
I've been using the new style of catheter for three years and all is good. I'm still not happy about peeing through a hose, but it has its advantages. If something catastrophic happens to a family member on the East Coast, my excuse for not rushing to their side is that I would need to ship a carton of catheters first. I'm "stuck" at home. I don't feel stuck; I like being home.
And that leads to:
End of Life Issues
I could live to be 100. My father's mother lived to be 93. With the progress of geriatric medicine during the next 25 years, 100 is a reasonable probability. But, do I want to live that long? No.
I've been watching the CNN series, "Kara Swisher Wants to Live Forever." She explores the myths and for-profit schemes of those who promote longevity. Most of it is bunk.
In episode three she interviewed oncologist Ezekiel Emanuel. He wrote an article for The Atlantic, titled: "Why I hope to Die at 75." I found and read the essay. His argument is that the body starts to decline more rapidly at age 75. Past 75, he only wants palliative care to keep him comfortable until the end comes.
One thing he said really stuck with me. "Health care hasn't slowed the aging process so much as it slowed the dying process." I've said it many times, "As we get old, we lose friends and gain doctors."
I'll be 75 in July. I'm a young 75. I've seen people younger than myself who look a lot older. Some are a lot sicker. Some died younger. So, I don't have issues with living beyond 75. However, I already see some decline in my body and mind.
75 seems a little too young to change to an end-of-life stage. I'll evaluate my body's changes as I approach 80. I think 80 is a good time to surrender to nature. Let the natural aging process work normally. No more "Wellness" exams, blood tests, CT scans, etc.
Like Swisher, no one really wants to live forever. Death is inevitable. Just accept it gracefully and be at peace with oneself. I might help it along by eating pizza and pasta again. I will probably buy another ice cream maker — the expensive $331 model with its own compressor — as a present to myself for my 80th birthday.
Okay. Enough of the morbidity. How about some fun stuff?
Mini Golf
Tomorrow is a big day. Mighty Coconut, the makers of Walkabout Mini Golf, is releasing their latest course — Blokhaven. You can watch the teaser with this link:
Or CLICK HERE.
As I mentioned last week, the course consists of those block shapes we played with as children. My Kentucky friends and I are really looking forward to it. We play mini golf every week. We played yesterday. They each won one game. I didn't win any. That didn't bother me. I really enjoy the association.
The Tomato Chronicles
What would a Wednesday be without the latest news about my tomato plants? They're thriving, even the experiment in the little planter. The uppermost leaves of the Big Boy are now at the next rung in the tomato cage. The Better Boy is lagging behind in height, but it is producing more flowers. It might be shorter because it is growing two vines; the Big Boy is one vine.
I am really curious about the tomatoes I might get because there are two different varieties in the planter. I brush the flowers with my finger to pollinate them. Some of the flowers get pollen from the other plant. Essentially, I'm cross-pollinating my tomatoes. Maybe I'll name them Big Better Boys.
The success of the rooted cutting gives me hope I might be able to grow my own plants from cuttings next year. I tried this last year, but the cuttings didn't survive. Even if cuttings fail, I can always buy new seedlings at the Garden Center.
Sunday 2026.5.3
Amazon Vine
I hope I don't annoy people with my talking about Vine. I sometimes sense others here are put off about it, as if I'm bragging about getting free stuff that they can't get. Lately, I've stopped talking about it altogether, unless they ask. However, I'll still blog about it.
Yesterday was the day my latest evaluation period for Gold Tier status came up for renewal. As I blogged about more than once, I had fulfilled my requirements. Therefore, during the latter part of April I requested almost nothing. On April 18th I ordered a box of Korean brown rice chips that had a taxable value of $0.00. Otherwise, I stood back and simply observed how I might work the program to my benefit. My goal is to reduce my income tax liability as much as possible. I don't want to owe taxes at the end of the year; I want a refund.
I figured out the system a little late for 2026. So far this year, I have accumulated items with a total taxable value of around $850. For 2025 the total was $4,779. So, this year is much better.
I believe my observations have been fruitful. Amazon typically adds a new batch of items, called a "drop," late in the evening, often after 10:00 — sometimes earlier, sometimes later. There are usually several items with no taxable value. The most common are dietary supplements. Those are the easiest to deal with. I simply empty the pills into the trash and toss the bottle into the recycling bin. ChatGPT gives me excellent reviews to submit without having to actually use the product. (I don't need to test a product for feminine urinary tract health.)
I gave myself a goal of requesting three or four items per week, which would satisfy my quota to remain in the Gold Tier. Often, I see enough truly tax-free items in one day to meet my goal for the week. However, with the understanding of the $0.00 taxable value comes another perspective.
In the Gold Tier I can order up to eight items per day. There is no limit on the value. So, if I stick with items having no taxable value, I really don't need to restrict myself to three or four items per week. Now, the sky is the limit.
The trick is to be diligent. I keep my laptop computer in front of me while I'm watching TV in the evening. (An evening football game is best.) I check Vine for new items often. As soon as I see something I can request, I immediately order it. Sometimes I get it; sometimes someone grabs it first. That used to upset me, but with so many items available, it's easy to simply move on and request something else.
I do have a wish list of items I want. Besides coffee filters and paper towels, I look for things like cotton bed sheets (not for shirts, but for bedding). The "Recommended for you" page is sometimes a good source of items.
I read somewhere that Amazon no longer offers large bulky items. I'm thankful I got my compact clothes dryer. Most of the items now are small replacement parts, mostly for automobiles.
Overall, I'm disappointed with Amazon Vine. It's not the gold mine it once seemed to be. However, I maintain my Gold Tier status for the rare — now very rare — event when I see something really worth having.
More Downsizing
In Wednesday's blog post I admitted to having amassed 100 shirts. Shame on me. I'm not tossing any shirts in the trash. I tailored those shirts myself; so, there is a little bit of pride sewn into them. However, I like to keep a handful of "house shirts" that I wear at home. I like those shirts to have short sleeves. So, I am moving a few shirts from daily wear to house wear by shortening the sleeves.
Why I Build in Pairs
In a recent blog post I mentioned the Blu-ray disc (BD) writer in this computer failing. It lasted more than ten years; so, I got my money's worth out of it. This past week I decided to know for certain. I switched writers with the other computer, identical because I built them both at the same time (November, 2015). In the other computer, the suspect drive wouldn't read a disc. In fact, it went from bad to worse, making a grinding noise. So, the problem was in the drive, not the cables.
Now I must decide what to purchase as a replacement. I tried ordering an external BD burner from Amazon. That failed right out of the box. Thankfully, Amazon is good about offering full refunds. Internal drives, as I said in an earlier blog post, are prohibitively expensive. No one orders them anymore. So, manufacturers need to ask a higher price to cover the cost of producing fewer drives. That's why I tried an external drive. They're affordable.
I can order from Newegg, a retailer I trust, but the drive ships from Hong Kong. I can order from Amazon and pay more, but I have the advantage of an easy refund if necessary. I'm still thinking about it. I have noticed the price coming down. They were once $500; now they're around $300.
Books
I started reading again. I used to enjoy sitting outside on the deck during warm sunny days, reading a book. With the cooler, and sometimes wetter, winter weather, that practice was set aside. A few days ago I finished reading the Terry Pratchett book, Monstrous Regiment. This week I started A Hat Full of Sky, also by Pratchett. Those two books are more intended for a young female audience. So far, I have read 31 of his books. These latest ones are not as laugh-out-loud funny as the earlier books, but they're good amusement.
A Little Political
Regarding the message of seashells, 86 47, in the sand: I worked in a restaurant when I was in college. 86 meant something was sold out. If the kitchen ran out of chocolate mousse, someone would write "86 chocolate mousse" on the white board next to the entrance into the dining room so that servers would be aware of it when a diner asked for the dessert. I see the seashell message as looking forward to the time when Trump will no longer be working in the White House.
I also take the message in the sand another way. 86 means "sold out," i.e. Trump sold out America.
As for the indictment of former FBI director James Comey: Todd Blanche is the "acting" Attorney General (AG). Trump hates Comey because he wouldn't bend to the will of the president. Blanche's indictment of Comey is an act of kissing Trump's ass in the hope of being moved up to full AG.
Weight
It wasn't a great week, although it started well. There were three days when my weight was 188, which was a good improvement. Then I got into some salty foods and added water weight during the latter half of the week. The average for the week showed a loss of about half a pound.