Christmas???

One morning you are going to wake up and it will be seven days before Christmas...put off the dreaded drag to The Mall as long as you could, but now...as the panic spreads, out comes the plastic...there go Best of Intentions. But Think.

Oval Office "administration" has done things --many secret, that will affect us --for decades. Believe It: government way not going to help or care if you are too tired, too ill to work and have no money. You have to set aside Serious chunks of money, in your own account --each year --each month --end of each week --starting now --Pay YOU First. Buying expensive gifts NOT going to help. But: Giving summer fruit, veggies --out of season, will not take a bite out of your future.

Remember --two years ago --the stuff, the tech toys you Had to buy for Them, all those others --now tech trash, still lingering on the Debt Card bill, but long since in the landfill? Do you need to repeat the dance to remember the feeling --of dread? Is More Stuff -Another piece of tech trash Really worth your future?

It does not have to be that way. Nobody "needs" more objects --we are a country crammed FULL of Stuff. There IS another way --and It is Still summer...how heavenly would it be to deliver a gift --only to those who Really matter, of the Best of Summer --for winter treat. All kinds of fruit --available now, would be much sweeter, special in the middle of winter's cold...strawberries --blackberries -blue berries -figs, dates... ripe juicy peaches.... You don't need to make jam -bake -or cook anything: just freeze, then put into a glass jar (--left-over from peanut butter, mayo, or pickles and small size jars)...olive oil, with a few raspberries dropped in...wrapped simply, ribbon round the lid: --perfect size --right color --rejected by No One!

Stroll through weekly farmer's market will reveal all that is in season now, sorely missed in December. Simplest form is best, but lots of cookbooks, on-line recipe sites can give more complex ideas, but avoid recipes that include white sugar, fats, artificial chemicals. Nothing is as zingy, heavenly as perfectly ripe unadorned blackberries...on buckwheat pancakes --while rain, wind pounds life outside.

To Freeze Fruit, Berries:

• Use any flat surface, such as cake pan -pie plate -stiff cardboard -aluminum tray
• Cover surface with paper towel or wax paper
  
• Spread out berries -so none touch
• Place in freezer -small berries will harden within two hours
  
• Glass Jar, lid: as jar becomes available thoroughly wash, including inside lid; thoroughly dry
• Place fruit inside jar loosely -without packing, screw lid tightly; replace in the freezer
• Sheet of Labels, wide-nib pen, such as caligraphy pen from art store, clear tape
• Write: name of each fruit, possibly date of purchase, and "From"
• Don't add label to the jar -until just before delivery or: add label first, then cover with tape (to keep the ink from smearing when moist)
• Ribbon: while doing other errands during next few months, stop in at a fabric store and purchase few yards of satin or gros grain ribbon, to place around each lid --you're done!

NOTE: Do NOT freeze Tomato: never ever even chill --cold destroys the 47 enzymes in tomato, which turns it to garbage -no reason to eat; but using summer tomatoes to make Tomato Sauce, with fresh basil, That is a very good idea; could be used on wheat pizza dough, as soup, on any pasta shape; on bagels, topped with cheese -under broiler.

NOTE: Use glass jar --no not NOT plastic. Why NO Plastic: will not freeze; how long until plastic --in landfill breaks down? Try: 1,000 years --or never. Plastic: made from petroleum --not helpful to the planet.

Or: you could do the usual --buy more stuff, more tech toys --for people who's last names you hardly know --they will take you in --take care of you --when you have no home, no income --in your 70's, 80's --right? Ask a senior adult -a grandparent, if you're lucky enough to have one, what life is like living on Social Security...how many trips, treats, restaurant meals....

If you absolutely Positively Hafta buy an Object:
-Look around, now, while everyone is outta town, leaving the shops empty --what's on sale --bargain from season, reduced to insignificant cost...books...wool scarf, unusual shirt, tennis balls

-Start checking in at charity shops: not only can you find good bargains, toys, books and such, but designers, bankrupt store owners and unusual others (such as brides who received 'white elephants') donate un-used/new merchandise to charity and thrift shops for the tax write off. Gift Idea for a family or wedding gift: assemble all the parts for a picnic basket.

All of which will not make Serious dings in: Your Plan to Save for Your Future. Some day: you will be too tired to work. If you take care of that Future person today, Future person will thank you.

No matter what happens in November --how many right-wingers still in Congress after November election: Part of having Healthy life is having enough money to take care of yourself. That is harder to do, much more important when right-wing Republican holds nearly every seat. The chief Whack-job will still whine about secrets, swipe rights, invade privacy, tell only part of the truth and help his pals do the same, But: Eventually he'll blow outta DC, leaving the rest of us to restore shredded reputation, Bill of Rights, Treasury, ify future. We have to get through two and a half more years --of his imperial tyranny, appalling illiteracy, endangering policies, indifference to middle -working class Americans --those who help his pals get wealthier, but aren't in the country to pick crops. He has done things that will make future difficult for the individual --while helping corporations and his pals. You must begin doing defensive things --look out for yourself, despite his ugly plans, changes of law.

But: Next year could be OK for you...if you have a plan, stick to it weekly, pick the best of summer and ignore Oval Office occupant's pals' pressure to Buy More Stuff.

Remedies:
Get a wire shopping cart basket --get a ROTH-IRA pension account --sign up for any work-available pension plan, sock away all the goodies.

You can enjoy all the season's best --no fear factor, no guilt, no fire alarms, no Wal-Mart, no mauling, no crowds, no left-over debt --no landfill filler, for stress-free tasty season. Bon Apetite!`

tag: Christmas, summer gifts, summer fruit, summer veggies, plastic debt, ROTH-IRA pension