That’s Saturday as in “tomorrow,” and yes, I should have given everyone more notice.
My apologies: When I’m in New Jersey I just lose track of time.
Late last night I suddenly realized, “Holy cow* — it’s Thursday!” I went to the McDonald’s website and found a place just two miles away from where I’m staying.
Despite the late notice, I hope that those of you who expressed an interest can make it.
I can find personal finance advice just about anywhere, which is why I’ve posted articles like “6 financial lessons from ‘Godzilla’,” “Zombie consumerism” and “10 personal finance lessons from the Iditarod.”
Thus I was on the lookout at last Wednesday’s Metropolitan Opera’s HD re-broadcast of “The Merry Widow.” This is not an opera about bustiers. In fact, it’s not even an opera, but an operetta – lots of speaking roles but with enough musical numbers to keep an orchestra busy.
It’s pretty fluffy fare: The Paris embassy of the impoverished Grandy Duchy of Pontevedro plans a formal ball and invites the titular widow (played by Renee Fleming), who came into big bucks upon the death of her much-older husband on their wedding night.
Officials are terrified that she’ll marry someone outside their country and take her money with her, which could tip the country into bankruptcy. They scheme to fix her up with the ultra-eligible Count Danilo Danilovitsch. What they don’t know is that the two were once in love but his family forbade the marriage – at that time, Hanna was a country girl without a cent to her name.
Does she still love Danilo? Do you even have to ask? But things aren’t that simple.
Sick of sharing the bathroom, and maybe even a bedroom? Understandable. But the solo life can cost you. The chance to walk around in your underpants and watch whatever you want on Netflix means paying up to 44 percent more for the single life.
That’s why I suggested this as a topic for Money Talks News: “Done with roommates? 48 ways to afford living solo.” Some of those 48 tactics are fairly easy things like researching the rental market, watching for move-in specials and entertaining at home vs. making every occasion an expensive one.
Others are simple, but not easy.
A couple of months ago I spoke at the New Media Expo conference in Las Vegas. While there I met a slew of podcasters, some of whom asked for my card and inquired as to my availability for interviews.
One of them recently followed up: Dot Cannon, an independent new-media broadcaster with TwoMaverix.com. In her Over Coffee podcast series she talks “with artists and innovators about the process of changing the world in terms of what they do.”
We set a date, did the interview and now “Game-changing the future” is available for your listening pleasure.
Not in person, of course — unless you happen to live in Anchorage and be the winner of this week’s giveaway.
I’m offering $25 worth of Fandango scrip. Since it’s accepted in so many places, it’s likely you’ll be able to see at least a couple of movies on me.
Or one movie and a bunch of concessions. Your call!
Memorial Day weekend is coming up, as is a summer full of potential getaways. If the idea of paying $1.59 for a one-ounce tube of toothpaste irritates you as much as it does me, then you need this week’s prize.
These TSA-friendly travel bag giveaways are always insanely popular. The price of that toothpaste probably has a lot to do with it.
In addition, you won’t have to refill travel bottles of shampoo and conditioner. Plus: A free Ziploc freezer bag!
This time around, we’re looking at toiletries both luxurious and mundane:
The Academy Awards have come and gone. Seen the prize-winners yet?
The summer movie season is nearly here. Got your must-see list going? (I’m looking at you, “The Avengers: Age of Ultron.” Might even spring for a midnight screening.)
Ticket prices are a bummer, but I can help. That is, I can help if you live near an AMC theater and win this week’s giveaway. I can even offer you something to drink.
Just in time for the 57th annual Grammy Awards, the folks at Savings.com are giving away a trio of Sony portable party systems with Bluetooth and NFC.
It would be great if all three went to readers of Surviving and Thriving. Failing that, even one winner would do.
You have until 11:59 p.m. EST Saturday, Feb. 7 to try.
Reaction is always enthusiastic whenever I give away one of the “Tundra” comic strip collections. Why shouldn’t it be? Chad Carpenter is a very funny guy.
He’s also resourceful, having come up with an extremely portable and dual-use version of his best-selling anthologies: “Tundra” playing cards. (Insert your own “playing with a full deck” joke here.)
A set of the playing cards are up for grabs this week. As the artist suggests, use these for a poker game and see if anyone at the table can keep a straight face.
The last movie-based giveaway drew 135 entries. That shouldn’t have surprised me, because relatively few people would turn down a free movie ticket. I’d like to win a free movie ticket myself.
But this week it’s your turn, not mine. The giveaway prize is a $10 card to AMC Theatres.
Think of it: At least one (and maybe more than one) movie you don’t have to pay to see. Just swipe that card and enter your local palace of dreams.