C.A.B. Update: HUNDRED DOLLA 'MATERS?

OK, time for the cheap-ass-bastard outlook on recent times (ie., summer):

Seems we got ourselves into a vicious circle of endless watering and shit, in hopes of 'saving' what could be referred to as 'a garden'. Truth be known, if it were all laid out in the open, that every to-mater coming out of my so-called 'garden' probably comes out to >/= $100 per pound; jalapeños a bit less, perhaps, and yellow Hungarian peppas around $50/lb. Of course, that cost incurred includes keeping a few things green around here--which could be well worth it. KK, I'm cheap, but, GREEN is worth the green, if you follow me. I made up for the shortfall by refusing to buy damned near anything from the produce section[s], except jalapeños & onions [who could live w/o those?]. So, If it don't come in a can, fugetaboutit.

Yes! Canned shit is still cheap, even 'maters. Yeah, sizes are generally shrinking, and costs going up, in general, but there's still bargains to-be-had for those willing to 'chop smart'. Hell, just the other day, I found some Campbell's Bean w/ Bacon soup [one of my all-tyme favs, since childhood] with 30% more! <gotta love that shit> Of course I stocked up, but now I regret not fillin' my cart more. Seems I overloaded on canned goods there, last tyme, and ended up with "cart deficiency" syndrome (you know; not enough room for all yo crap). I also got S-loads of a heretofore unknown brand of chili, both with and w/o beans. Ya, bargain chopping is not for the faint-of-heart; one might end up with a wholelotta caca, and buyers remorse, if the gamble goes the wrong way. Fortunately, it was fairly decent. A bit greas-idy, but...

Freakin' 'fresh' veggies have been outrageous! I just refuse to pay 'meat prices' for greens and shit that admittedly has few, if any, real food value. First, the overproduced food is grown in fields which have no leachable nutrients left, fertilized with oil byproducts, and plants often genetically modified taboot. Then, the stuff is picked green [not ripe], minimizing what real nutritive value can be obtained, and then we consumers foot the bill for all the supermarket waste [who do you think pays for their waste/excess/rotting/spoilage??]. Three-four bucks for a few bell peppers? I think not. Two Dolla 'maters? no. Big bucks for salad fixins that will most likely go mushy before you get to it? NOT. Gimme that can, man; at least the stuff is picked ripe and processed fairly quick, meaning you likely get more flavor and nutrients. At least, I hope so. Take a couple good multi-vitamins to make up for any deficiencies, and leave that $$ in your wallet. Buy coffee and cigarettes, and skip that annoying "breakfast" meal. Can-up, and cheap out, like the pro. If you must, get reasonable stuff like apples; they stay good long-tyme in TFM (The Fridge Monsta), and they are decent, price-wise, by the bag. Only thing is, they tend to rot in there, eventually <man, if only someone would core and peel me some, and just put em where they can be reached>
Lol!
<note: STILL looking for that someone who is nurturing enough to make me take care of meself--I've kinda given up on it, even though I'm pretty damned 'low-maintenance'. Wish me luck on that one...
/C.A.B. bullshit>

Heat Wave

Yeah, the heat wave is nearly over; it's been triple digits damn near every day this summer, it seems. Forecast this week brings it down into 80s-90 [F]. What a nightmare it has been, vainly attempting to keep all my outdoor plants going this year. At some point, I gave up on thrive, and settled for survive (yes--that bad.) Typically, I have a veritable 'jungle' going on in front and back, with flowering stuff nearly all year, when its temperate, anyways. I like lots of green plants around, both indoors and out. Just a 'thing' of mine ;I admit I seem pretty successful at it, usually. Up until recently, I actually had green grass around my deck area, but it is tired, and I tire of trying to keep it green. There's something about bare-footing it outside, with a soft green turf underfoot. It's all dry and crunchy now, and the earth is baked. Maybe I will just let it go, and hope it rains...

Fat chance of that though--hardly a smattering, all summer--devastating. My chilis and tomatoes have hardly produced anything, all season [ 'cept  my yellow Hungarians, which seem ok]. There may be fruit yet, if/when it cools, and we get RAIN. Of course, I get out and keep 'em alive via watering--almost like taking care of kids or something <geez>. Gma is pretty tired of the whole scenario, and my Bro is pretty well disgusted with his first year here gardening, too. My glass is half-full though; surely I will "endeavor to persevere" until things get back to 'normal'. The weather predicts chances of rain the next few days, esp at night, which could get things restarted, if measurable quantities fall...

We shall see.[gotta run, and move my hose...]
GT