I wasn’t looking for anything, but wasn’t expecting this either, if that even makes any sense :-)

What is this?  Three conversations that went in directions I didn’t expect, which gives me something to blog about I suppose.  Of course I’m shaking my head in disbelief at the fires in California and Frump’s latest shenanigans, but meanwhile, here at least, life goes on.

A couple weeks ago I was talking to my sister, and remarked as soon as I had this long covid under control (still having relapses) I needed to go to the dentist—specifically, a dental surgeon and get molar implants.  

I am missing all my molars in my lower left quadrant—the last one (a stump) broke off and my dentist said could not be built up or support a partial denture.  I was told a dental implant bridge will cost $15,000 and that is not including the bone graft surgery I’ll require beforehand.

My sister said “Well, my coworker needs $50,000 worth of dental work.”  Did that make mine not as bad compared to his?  I guess so, but I’m still anxious and afraid to get this started.  I wrestle with TMJ a lot, and people have shared some scary stories about their implants on Reddit.

Last week I got a letter from Steiner Realty (my landlord).  They were apologetic, said the cost of everything is out of control and they hope I remain a tenant--but effective April 1, my rent will be $880.00 per month.  That’s a $40.00 increase.

I’m used to my rent going up $20.00 a month every year, but this is double that!

When I told my friend Diana, she said “That’s nothing.  My son and his wife pay twice that for their place!”  She’s right, twice mine is a lot!  But they live in beautiful Salt Lake City Utah and have jobs and I don’t.  My rent is still high where I live and I worry this $40 increase will be the new norm come next year.

This past Friday I went to the store for some milk & eggs, saw they had Spicy Pineapple Ham on special—that is good stuff.  I could just picture it on some King’s Hawaiian rolls.  After I got both and was checking out, it occurred to me some Ruffles Cheddar & Sour Cream potato chips would go perfectly with these spicy ham sliders.  I don’t know why I even thought of chips, it’s probably been 2 years since I last bought a bag. 

I asked the cashier if I could run back and get some, she said sure.  I run over, grab a bag, Carol rings them up—$5.99.  What!  It’s not even a big bag, and they cost $5.99?  Did I just crawl out from under some rock?

Before we moved to the farmhouse in 1970 and still lived in town, my mom often sent me up the street to Howard’s Market for items like milk, lunchmeat, cigarettes. 

If we were having a cookout, Mom would tell me to grab a bag of DiMarco Potato Chips, produced in nearby Uniontown Pa. 

They were 49 cents for a large bag. Yes yes I know—that was over 50 years ago but still.

Back in the present, I said to Carol—“When did potato chips become a luxury item?  $5.99 for a bag of chips, how can people afford to eat these?”   

Carol said “Consider yourself lucky you’re not buying cigarettes.  Mine cost $13 for one pack.”

I said “Yes that’s awful, but you don’t NEED to smoke.  I DO need to eat, there’s a difference.” 

Carol snapped “You don’t NEED to eat chips.  Go grab a can of beans!”  I laughed and said okay, I’ll shut up.  I said I was sure she’s heard plenty already about the steep price of these chips. 

She said “I hear it every day about meat and cereal and other things, but not about potato chips!”  OKAY CAROL.

I wanted to crawl back under that rock I must’ve recently crawled out from.  By the way, the ham sliders were delicious but those Ruffles potato chips really hurt my gums.