Ceramic iphone amplifier

Yesterday morning, I met the artist who makes these. Christ, they are beautiful and simple . . . and impractical . . . I don't have a smartphone. I still want one.

Savings so far = $2105

Today's savings = $40

Total savings so far = $2145

Total spend so far = $139.60

I bought stuff to etch my own computer boards

I can write that shit off.

Savings so far = $2105

Today's spend = $56

Total savings so far = $2105

Total spend so far = $139.60

Nuthin'

Just plain nothin'.

Total savings so far = $2105

Total spend so far = $83.60

AM Gold, no shit.

While I understand "that trying to purchase all of these songs individually would cost me thousands of dollars", I can't justify the 100+ bones it would cost me (at best) to acquire the cheeper alternative complied here by the benevolent hucksters at TIME/LIFE. And guess what, I don't have to. My pal, Peter hipped me to the fact that WDGY 740 is still on the air and still playing all these hits (and more, motherfucker!) in the humble magnificence of A.M. including capable local advertisements for home heating and cooling companies and local hamburger joints, from sun up to sun down. 

"What about after sundown," says the little justifier in my noggin. 

Well, in the evenings, when the conditions are right, I can get a comparable station from Toronto on, would you have guessed, 740 AM. And, this station not only plays the American hits of the 60's and 70's, but also tosses in the Canadian AM stars as well as the crooners of the 50's. All hail the singing barber, Mr. Perry Como!.

Savings so far = $2005

Today's saving = $100+

Total savings so far = $2105

Total spend so far = $83.60

Today, I got paid to be a tightwad.

I take the bus. Beyond all of the benefits to the environment, the roads and my sanity, it's cheep. Parking near downtown is around $11 a day. The bus is $6, round trip. So, not counting, gas, servicing and wear and tear on the car, I save a minimum of $5 every day I take the bus. Suck it, General Motors.

Here's a bonus. I showed up today for the bus and was handed a $20 portable phone battery charger along with a right pleasant "thanks for riding the bus" from the folks at the bus company. Suck it sideways, GM!

Savings so far = $2000

Today's saving = $5

PLUS a bonus $20 that I didn't have to spend somewhere else.

Spend today = -$20

Total savings so far = $2005

Total spend so far = $83.60

More Mt. Holly Swag

These fuckers are still on ebay and the $14 and change is still in my pocket.

Savings so far = $1986

Today's saving = $14 + shipping

Total savings so far = $2000


Total spend so far = $103.60

Friends ruin everything. I bought 2 books.

My friend Peter Schilling Jr. keep writing books. Not just any books, but books I genuinely want to read. Today, as a good friend should, I went to his reading and signing and a great independent bookstore, Moon Palace.

I bought Peter's book about Carl Barks' comics and, his talk was so good and since it's a criticism of work with which I am unfamiliar, I bought a collection of the most acclaimed Carl Barks' story.

Oh, let the justifications roll.

Fuck it. I'd do it agin.


Total savings so far = $1986

Today's spend = $45.00
Total spend so far = $103.60

I didn't buy this book about a super tramp.

I used part of a gift card. So, there.

Total savings so far = $1986

Total spend so far = $58.60

Me and my big mouth.

This shit scorched my mind and my pocketbook. Fuck, I was doing so good.

Better do some reading and get my mind right.

Savings so far = $2001

Today's toll = $15

Total savings so far = $1986

Total Spend so far = $58.60

$2000+ in 2 weeks.

Two weeks in and look at how much I've saved! Plus, I didn't buy shit today.

I'm a regular Ebenezer Scrooge. 


Total savings so far = $2001 

Total Spend so far = $43.60

Fuck yeah, Lemonheads!

Worked from home today and blazed through a bunch of dusty old 80's/90's records I haven't listened to in years. Old Lookout stuff, Das Damen, Skunk. Shit the list goes on.

I will pound you into a pile of puss if you can fade any of the first three Lemonheads LPs. Laughing? Go ahead and try me. Killer melodies, smart fun lyrics, Crunchy guitars, Manson covers. I want them on my ipod.

I didn't buy the CDs or .mp3s. Which sucks because those guys deserve the extra dough for cranking out these three great services to indie rock. I'll convert the records instead. Sorry, Dando.

Savings so far = $1956

Today's savings = $45

Total savings so far = $2001 

Total Spend so far = $43.60

Godamnit, all.

Today I didn't buy the shit needed to build this fucking thing. It''s too bad. It's awesome and I would have learned shit. Awe who am I kidding, I would have built it and put it in a box that would have gotten thrown away when I implode.


I got bids the cost for the 3D printing which at it's cheapest came to $500. I guess 3D stands for discretionary, destitute and damnit. 

I din't even look at the rest of the parts but they have to be at least another couple of hundo's.

Savings so far = $1256

Today's savings = $700

Total savings so far = $1956 

Total Spend so far = $43.60

I bought some rubber bands

Rounded up cost is 60 cents. I'm making some old man tricks for the Pioneer Power Swap Meet. I'll be able to recoup nearly double the expense if I sell just one of the 30 I'll be able to make with these binders and some scrap wood. I hope this investment doesn't bite me in the ass. 

Savings so far = $1256

Minus today's $.60

Total savings so far = $1256

Total Spend so far = $43.60

Nuthin.

I didn't buy shit today. Didn't want to, either. Fuck you, Waltons.


Total savings so far = $1256 

Total Spend so far = $43

Today I spent $13

- 1 never used brimmed stocking cap (to stave off sickness costs)
- 1 Minnesota 150 book (150 things that made Minnesota Minnesota in its first 150 years)
- 1 unopened deck of bicycle cards (that I will be putting into a bottle)
- 1 Twin Cities Fishing Guide updated and expanded (will pay for itself in fish dinners)
- 50 match books
- 1 Ghost Towns & Back Roads book (a future gift for my pappy)
- 1 Early Roger Miller LP VG+
- Sounds of Yesteryear (where else can one hear Abraham Lincoln's Birthplace in STEREO!!!!)
- 1 Autographed Hardcover copy of Tales of the Road (Pappy's been very good this year)
- 1 Spike Jones LP
- 1 3m card game, Tryce. (cheeper than a movie)
- 3 6-piece burr puzzles
- 1 twirly folk-art trick
- 1 Golden Guide to Weeds (fills a gap in my collection)
- 1 Golden Guide to The Rocky Mountains (fills a second gap)
- 1 Chromed bicycle puzzle
- 1 mushroom puzzle (soooooo good!)
- 1 His and hers playing cards (Will end up in a wedding gift box this year)
- 1 pair of gaiters


Savings so far = $1269

Minus today's $13

Total savings so far = $1256 

Total Spend so far = $43

How could I justify spending $629.99 on this JAY WARD BULLWINKLE ROCKY DUDLEY DO-RIGHT PEABODY SHERMAN AESOP IMPORTANT LOT? Let me count the ways!

Link to ebay sale

1. Holy shit! Look at all that MOOSYLVANIA stuff!

2. I could build a Jay Ward Museum in Mt. Holly!

3. I could build a Moosylvania embassy for the next Art Shanty Projects!

4. I could probably get a grant to build a temporary Moosylvania Museum on an Island up on the rainy river!

5. I'm a selfish prick that would take the food this money would buy out of the mouths of my family.

Savings to date $1269.00

Fuck this cool-ass motorcycle gear, even on sale.

I would have saved plenty and spent more. Still looked like a dummy. Free shipping with purchases over $150? I would have spent $200. Done.

Savings to date $639

I bought some electronic components

I bought $20 worth stuff for a project and a windshield scraper. I'll probably get paid back for some of the electronics. Plus, I bought them at The Shack. Everything was %80. So, shoot. me.

I bought the scraper because it's been shitting ice outside all day. A man's gotta see through his windshield, right?

Savings: $459

minus todays purchases: -$20

Savings to date: $439

Mt. Holly Swag

I fucking hate ebay.

I saved $27 + postage by not buying this super rare shit I'll never EVER see again.

Total Savings to date $459

I bought candy for my dad and myself

I regret nothing.


Savings to date: $462

Less candy: -$10



Total savings to date $432

Motorcycle helmet that would look stupid on me.

It's the middle of the winter. I eyeball my cycle, plugged in, under wraps at least once a week. I do my own winterizing, naturally. 

It;s this time of year that anyone who manufactures anything for cycles comes squirreling around the mailbox and inbox like a randy Fuller™ brush man. And admittedly, I'll let those fuckers in. Dumb-ass screwpegs that make it easier to take off my seat, and keep it 10 times more secure? HELL YEAH! Dumb pants that will protect my legs 10 times longer than I could ever dream of sliding along hot asphalt with my bike on top of me. I'D BE A FOOL NOT TO BUY TWO PAIRS.

This helmet still pops up this time of year, even a couple seasons after it's launch. Why not? Look at how awesome it looks, defying gravity over this snow white field. I think this would make me look like a sexy cosmonaut. I can imagine myself barreling across The Plains as june bugs, tossed cigarettes and meteors bounce off of it's beauty. 

Undoubtably, I would end up looking like a poorly-aging lego figure. And, this dumb thing would collect dust on a peg.

Besides, I already have 3 helmets. Last I counted I only have one fat head.

Savings to date: $462

a good look.

I cut my own hair.

I saved roughly $30.

That's money well-saved. A haircut that looks too good, only makes my mush look worse. No one ever put a tiara on a slab of burl or a bit of rouge on a carbuncle.

Total to date: $62

This asshole

I would have fucked a hole straight through and engine block for a couple of Wuolett doughnuts this morning. Sure they're under two bucks a piece. Even with a cup of decaf (paying for coffee with no caffeine, even dumber) I'd be all in for 5 bucks.

But that's just today. This fucker beckons to me each morning as I step of the bus. "Hey, you deserve it,  you're working today." "Jump start your day, motherfucker."

A slippery slope. At $5 a day, let's be conservative and say, 100 days a year; that's $500 bucks. Eat shit, early-morning pastry pushers.

Savings today = $5

Total savings to date = $32

This book about different wood and shit.

Not only could I totally use this sweet book for figuring out what kinds of wood I should be using for my different dumb whittling ideas but also for being able to tell what the outsides of said wood bearing trees look like so I know which ones give which wood. I didn't buy it. Hell, I probably would never have used it. Most of my smart books collect dust on the shelf, because I won't ask or look for help. I also rode the bus today and made my own lunch. So fuck you, S.Daniel Abraham.

Savings to date: $27 + shipping and shit.