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I spent the day consoling (read: napping with) a tonsillitis-infected little monster.

Live Real, Now was included in two carnivals last week:

Festival of Frugality #327 hosted by Budgeting with the Bushmans

Yakezie Carnival – Setting Your Clocks Edition hosted by 20 and Engaged

Thanks to all of the hosts for including my posts.

Get More Out of Live Real, Now

There are so many ways you can read and interact with this site.

You can subscribe by RSS and get the posts in your favorite news reader.  I prefer Google Reader.

You can subscribe by email and get, not only the posts delivered to your inbox, but occasional giveaways and tidbits not available elsewhere.

You can ‘Like’ LRN on Facebook.   Facebook gets more use than Google.  It can’t hurt to see what you want where you want.

You can follow LRN on Twitter.   This comes with some nearly-instant interaction.

You can send me an email, telling me what you liked, what you didn’t like, or what you’d like to see more(or less) of.   I promise to reply to any email that isn’t purely spam.

Have a great week!

When I was a kid, there were 44 cookies in a box of Thin Mints.   Now?  I’ve lost 16 cookies and that makes me sad.

When I was a kid, Girl Scouts went door-to-door selling cookies and freezing.  Now? Coworkers bring in the cookies to sell.

When I was a kid, there was a 6 week wait in between ordering cookies and eating them, creating a fantastic urge built on anticipation.  Now?  They are right there.

Girl Scout cookies have been an undeniable success as a fundraiser.   Entire generations have grown up waiting for that wonderful time of the year(February) when the little crack-hustlers come knocking on the door, trying to score some cash for their treats.

Remember the myth about drug dealers putting LSD on stickers and passing them out at elementary schools to hook children and make them addicts for life?  That was actually based on the true story of Girl Scouts and Samoas/Carmel Delites.   They came into our classrooms, plying their wares and hooked their classmates, a generation at a time.

Fast forward 20 years, and who are they marketing to?  The established addicts.   Now, it’s family, friends, and coworkers selling cookies, instead of the girls themselves addicting their classmates.    Who’s going to buy the cookies in 30 years?  Nobody.  The addicts are going to be falling out of the market and their replacements will be imaginary.  Really, who wants to buy half a box of cookies for $3.50 when the choice isn’t driven by nostalgia or addiction?

30 Day Project Update

This month, I am trying to do 100 perfect push-ups in a single set.  I’m recording each session in a spreadsheet.  I am currently up to 50 in a set and 145 in a session.

Weight Loss Update

I am on the Slow Carb Diet.   At the end of the month, I’ll see what the results were and decide if it’s worth continuing.   For those who don’t know, the Slow Carb Diet involves cutting out potatoes, rice, flour, sugar, and dairy in all their forms.   My meals consist of 40% proteins, 30% vegetables, and 30% legumes(beans or lentils).    There is no calorie counting, just some specific rules, accompanied by a timed supplement regimen and some timed exercises to manipulate my metabolism.   The supplements are NOT effedrin-based diet pills, or, in fact, uppers of any kind.  There is also a weekly cheat day, to cut the impulse to cheat and to avoid letting my body go into famine mode.

I’m measuring two metrics, my weight and the total inches of my waist , hips, biceps, and thighs.   Between the two, I should have an accurate assessment of my progress.

Weight: I have lost 36 pounds since January 2nd.   That’s 1 pound since last week.  I’m not surprised the rate of loss is down.  I’m doing a lot of push-ups, almost 1500 in the last week.

Total Inches: I have lost  21 inches in the same time frame, down 1.5 inches since last week.   Interesting tidbit:  I’ve lost 7 inches off of my waist since I went on the diet.

Best Posts

Have you ever used a credit card‘s concierge service?  Beats Google for some things.

Did you know that the TARP(Troubled Asset Relief Program/bank bailout administration) has its own armed police force?  Don’t defraud TARP, or a SWAT team could come knocking on down your door.

From now on, any story I read that doesn’t involve psychotic tree rats will lose a few points on the Jason Scale of Awesomeness.

LRN Timewarp

This is where I review the posts I wrote a year ago.  Did you miss them then?

I wrote a post about eliminating junk mail and spam phone calls.  I still smile when I think about the section on guerrilla warfare.

There’s also a timeless post on avoiding identity theft.

Carnivals I’ve Rocked and Guest Posts I’ve Rolled

Things to teach your kids about money was included in the Carnival of Personal Finance.

How to Deal with Debt While You’re Out of a Job was included in the Totally Money Carnival.

Thank you! If I missed anyone, please let me know.

Get More Out of Live Real, Now

There are so many ways you can read and interact with this site.

You can subscribe by RSS and get the posts in your favorite news reader.  I prefer Google Reader.

You can subscribe by email and get, not only the posts delivered to your inbox, but occasional giveaways and tidbits not available elsewhere.

You can ‘Like’ LRN on Facebook.   Facebook gets more use than Google.  It can’t hurt to see what you want where you want.

You can follow LRN on Twitter.   This comes with some nearly-instant interaction.

You can send me an email, telling me what you liked, what you didn’t like, or what you’d like to see more(or less) of.   I promise to reply to any email that isn’t purely spam.

Have a great week!

Horse season starts today.  That means that almost every weekend my wife and daughters will be at horse shows.   The days I don’t go with are among the most productive I have.  The days I go, I’m just herding whichever kid is bored or has been recently snubbed while everyone else enjoys themselves.

Live Real, Now was included in the following carnivals recently:

Yakezie Carnival – The Facebook IPO Edition hosted by One Cent at a Time

Financial Carnival for Young Adults #11 hosted by 20’s Finances

Yakezie Carnival – My Momma Told Me Edition hosted by Weel Heeled Blog

Carnival of Money Pros hosted by Little Miss Money Bags

Carnival of Financial Camaraderie #33 hosted by One Smart Dollar

Yakezie Carnival – Will Smith Slap Edition hosted by Young Adult Finance

Totally Money Carnival #67 hosted by Don’t Quit Your Day Job

Carnival of Money Pros hosted by Miss Wallstreet

Carnival of Financial Planning – Edition #237 hosted by The Skilled Investor

Carnival of Financial Camaraderie #33 hosted by My University Money

Financial Carnival for Young Adults #14 hosted by 20’s Finances

Yakezie Carnival – The Power Ballad Edition hosted by Daily Money Shot

Totally Money Carnival #69 hosted by Thirty-Six Months

Lifestyle Carnival #4 hosted by Free Ticket to Japan

Thanks for including my posts.

Thanks for including my posts.

Get More Out of Live Real, Now

There are so many ways you can read and interact with this site.

You can subscribe by RSS and get the posts in your favorite news reader.  I prefer Google Reader.

You can subscribe by email and get, not only the posts delivered to your inbox, but occasional giveaways and tidbits not available elsewhere.

You can ‘Like’ LRN on Facebook.   Facebook gets more use than Google.  It can’t hurt to see what you want where you want.

You can follow LRN on Twitter.   This comes with some nearly-instant interaction.

You can send me an email, telling me what you liked, what you didn’t like, or what you’d like to see more(or less) of.   I promise to reply to any email that isn’t purely spam.

Have a great weekend!