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The stores are stocked with school supplies, gadgets and gizmos, and the latest back-to-school fashions now. Parents and students will be filling the aisles shopping for the styles favored by kids, tweens, and teens this year, and the gadgets and gizmos necessary to complete assignments these days. I remember being so excited about getting a new book satchel. Remember? We didn’t have backpacks. We had book satchels with a handle for holding next to your side and a long strap you could drape over you so the satchel would hang by your side.

Oh, don’t forget about the lunchbox selections we had. If only I had kept one of my favorite lunchboxes! I had one with The Monkees theme, which according to the Palm Beach County Public Library in Florida, could fetch $300-500 these days. Parents of today should take note. They could possibly receive a huge return on their school supplies investment in the future.

The notebooks I always favored were the blue denim covered notebooks. My classmates and I were always rather creative with all the writing and drawings on our notebooks. The flair markers which were available in several different colors were perfect for creating colorful graffiti on our notebooks. By the end of the year our notebooks were definitely unique works of art. If someone were able to collect a bunch of those graffiti covered old notebooks, I’m sure they would make up an interesting and artistic documentation of Baby Boomer history.

I know our list of necessary school supplies wasn’t nearly as long as the lists of today, but I know I’m forgetting about some of the things on our lists. One thing I know I’m NOT forgetting is a scientific calculator. We already had that attached to us and we were required to use it frequently throughout each day. Fortunately mine still works today, too, for adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing at least. Amazing how things have evolved, isn’t it?

Help me out here. What am I forgetting that we used for school? Do you still have any of your old notebooks, lunchboxes, satchels, or maybe even your term paper? Would you or your parents be able to reap a huge return on their investment of your school supplies? What would the kids of today learn about our schooldays if we were to put together an exhibition of the items we used?

Popularity: 14% [?]

As I’ve stated on my About page, I’m not much of a foodie (though I DO eat out of necessity and sheer pleasure) so I invited someone who IS a foodie to contribute her knowledge of the world of food, restaurants, and meal deals. I’m SO-O-O-O happy she has graciously accepted cuz although I like eatin’, I do NOT like cookin’.

Hey, she qualifies…she LOVES cooking and converting recipes to healthier versions, and SHE lives in the big city as opposed to me living here in Podunk where they still roll up the sidewalks at 5 PM and leave ‘em rolled up at least one day a week. Oh, AND she has two younger sisters who’s names are Faith and Charity (you’ll GET it in the next paragraph).

So, without any further ado, allow me to introduce you to my new co-author, sidekick, whatever ya wanna call ‘er (just be nice, K?), The Backseat Gourmet aka Hope Nance. (Her Mama, my cousin, missed the Baby Boomer generation by just one year, can ya tell?) Got a clue how we came up with The Backseat Gourmet? I’ll be adding Hope’s picture over there underneath mine soon. On to Hope now…

Live To Eat….Eat To Live with The Backseat Gourmet, Hope Nance

No matter which one of these slogans fits your lifestyle, that’s one thing we all have in common - Eating; however we all make different choices depending on our lifestyle and what suits our palate.

I will be dropping in here from time to time to share Recipes / Restaurant news with you. Whether you’re a Vegetarian, Weight Watcher, or simply just tired of eating the same old thing day after day; I’ll try to include a mixed bag of recipe choices including “To Die For Desserts”, and when available I’ll include low fat substitutions / nutritional information. If you’re tired of eating your own cooking, and want to be taken out to eat, I’ll be sharing some “Can’t Miss” dishes, or Special Meal Deals from a variety of well known restaurants, hopefully one in your area. So tell me what you’re hungry for or what your interests are.

My first entry is a favorite recipe of mine that’s always a Big Hit, and is a must at all of our family dinners, not to mention kids love it, too.

Corn Casserole

Preheat oven to 375 degrees
Melt (1) stick of butter* in a 2 quart casserole dish; set aside

Mix Together:
(2) cans Mexicorn (drained)
(1) can Cream of Mushroom soup*
(1) can Cream of Celery soup*
(1) package of Mahatma yellow saffron rice (cooked according to package directions)
3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese* ( I prefer sharp)
Salt & Pepper to taste, I use white pepper and I even use a little garlic powder (optional)

Pour corn mixture into casserole dish with butter; Bake for 35-40 minutes. Remove from oven, stir well, and top with additional shredded cheddar cheese* 1/2 to 3/4 cup, put bake in oven for 5 minutes, or until cheese is melted.

*I use the light variety: butter (not margarine), soups, and cheese - it doesn’t affect the Taste!

Bon Appetite
The Back Seat Gourmet

Popularity: 27% [?]

We’re going to be spending time in Hot Springs, AR this weekend. Hot Springs is known not only as former President Bill Clinton’s hometown, but, first and foremost, for its hot springs and bathhouses on Bathhouse Row. It has a rich history because it’s also America’s First Resort. Even Al Capone was known to hang out in the area years ago.

Even though it’s less than an hour drive for us, we don’t venture over there very often. This weekend, however, we have guests coming that are interested in the possibility of moving to Hot Springs. One thing some of you may not know is that Hot Springs has become a relocation destination for retirees lately. We’ve lived within an hours drive of Hot Springs for nine years and it has grown considerably in that period of time.

There is plenty of recreation in addition to the spas and bathhouses such as boating, fishing, camping, and swimming on the three lakes, Lake Catherine, Lake Hamilton, and Lake Ouachita (pronounced wah-shi-tah) in the area. There’s also thoroughbred horse racing, golf, outdoor theatre, an amusement/water park, indoor and outdoor concerts, and a host of other things. You definitely won’t get bored in Hot Springs.

We plan to look into the housing in the area. There is still plenty of lake front property available, but it’s going fast and at high prices these days. New condos are popping up as well as new communities and single family home subdivisions as development spreads out from Hot Springs. Retailers obviously are anticipating a decent economy as new ones are coming in frequently these days, too.

DH and I drove around a couple of weeks ago and, quite honestly, if someone came along and offered us the right price for our lil piece of 9 1/2 acre heaven on earth here just 30 minutes away, we’d pack up and move to Hot Springs in a heartbeat. It’s still close to DH’s job and still has plenty of real estate that would provide enough acreage to make me happy, especially if it was lake front property or a piece of property with a lake and/or mountain view.

Have you given any thought to whether or not you would want to relocate when you retire? Where to? Why?

Popularity: 18% [?]