Grimace, indeed

Keenan's class will soon be going on a three-day field trip to Space Camp in Montreal. (I didn't know the Canadians had a space program; then it occurred to me that this probably was the Canadian space program.) When told were told the trip would include a stop at the mega-McDonalds just on the US side of the border, the class responded with a spontaneous chorus of boos.

When I was ten, a stop at McDonald's would have been a highlight of any class trip. For many of my classmates, it would have been the sole highlight.

Simply put, the fifth graders of America don't know Mayor McCheese, and they don't care.

John Bought Jelly

Sorry this is picture of two jars of jelly is blurry. I have an old camera (that would be three years old). I've always liked preserves, my mother used to make her own jellies and applesauces and also can peaches and tomatoes from our garden. An old friend from Pennsylvania sent me a jar of black raspberry jelly that one of her friends made; but Isa and I had finished it. Yesterday John asked if we wanted anything from the store. Some jelly, I told him, but only if it's something good.
John returned with the jar on the left, and I'll list the ingredients:
Grape juice
corn syrup
high fructose corn syrup
pectin
citric acid

Basically, John bought jelly with no fruit in it. Or sugar, the two ingredients I'd asked for.

The second one Isa and I got later tastes much better:
Raspberries
sugar
cane sugar
concentrated lemon juice
fruit pectin

Timeshare Math Problem

In a hypothetical timeshare presentation which she in fact studiously avoided, Bernie is offered an amazing opportunity: to purchase a timeshare in the resort in which she is currently staying. For about forty grand, she can have it all, a week in the sun in paradise, or, she can go elsewhere and trade in her week. She gets this week of paradise every year for 45 years, and she can even rent or sell this week, therefore it has value. There is the small issue of maintenence fees, to the tune of about $800 a week for a well-appointed one bedroom apartment. Luxuries abound at this resort...
(airfare not included)

Scenario number two: Bernie goes on Orbitz and gets the same empty timeshare room at same timeshare resort and airfare for a ridiculously low price.

If anyone wants to take the challenge and explain how timeshares can save you money, I'd love to hear it.

The saddest part about this is they're going up everywhere in this area, mangrove lagoons are being drained and paved for the resorts. The birds have less and less habitat to winter in. These men and women fellow guests (and timeshare presentation victims) with their giant sunburned bellies (John likes to call them all 'pregnant men') only want alcohol, a pool, trinkets, and cheap food. I can provide that for them in Illinois, under a giant dome, which they might learn to like. Maybe in this way we can save the birds.