Affordable Food Choices for Every Household

~ SA Otey

Honestly, I’m just grateful that I can fill up a cart without feeling like I need to take out a loan. Aldi keeps me guessing with their mystery aisle treasures, Walmart always comes through in a pinch, and the warehouse store makes me feel like I’m stocking up for the apocalypse. It may not be Instagram-worthy like a Trader Joe’s haul, but I walk out with food that tastes good, fills me up, and doesn’t leave my wallet in tears. At the end of the day, laughter, full bellies, and a stocked pantry beat fancy labels any time.

I don’t live in a nice enough part of town to shop at Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s. I have slum it and make do with what I have available. I typically only shop at three stores. Aldi, Walmart, and some sort of big box warehouse store. Don’t get me wrong, I like the idea of Whole Foods, but don’t feel it warrants the price for the food. The human bodies digestion system is pretty amazing and I don’t think it matters how much the food costs. Organic doesn’t mean that much to me and if it only takes a few extra years away from my life, I’m OK with that.

The Power of Kindness Amid Political Polarization

~ SA Otey


I’ve been voting for several elections now and I don’t recall so much hostility towards any president as much as Donald Trump. I’ve never seen so many commercialized insults towards President Trump and now it seems that candy companies are throwing their hat in the ring. Just because you have freedom of speech doesn’t give you the freedom to be disrespectful towards your fellow humans. Well, I guess it does.

But let’s remember that even if someone is “your enemy” then treating them with kindness is like dumping burning coals on them. Got that from some book, not sure which one. I think it’s the same one as the golden rule or something.

Top Cereal Choices for Chocolate Milk Lovers

~ SA Otey

I’ve never been a huge fan of cereal because of all the sugar and milk. Here are a few of my favorites and why.

  • Kashi Go Lean Crunch – It’s like eating a wicker basket, and it cleans you out. Plus it gives you non-stop gas to torment your family with. I try to eat a bowl before I go play golf so I can get an extra boost on the golf swing and distract the others from their game.
  • Frosted Mini-Wheats – Fill a bowl with ears of wheat and milk and let it sit for a few minutes. It turns the brillo pads into a nice soggy frosted pillow of tastiness.
  • Cracklin’ Oat Bran – not sure why I like this one, it was in the cabinet one morning when I was a kid.
  • Life – It’s simple, just like real life is. Glad there is no “Death” cereal, or maybe that’s what Marshmallow Madness is.
  • Fruity Pebbles – If I had to choose one super sugary cereal, it would be this one. It’s like eating a bowl of candy and the milk wash after looks like the runoff after a preschool is washing out the paint trays after they’ve finger painted mothers day cards, but more delicious.
Great with Chocolate Milk!

Bladder Control on Long Drives: Essential Travel Advice

~ SA Otey

There have been a few times when I felt like my bladder would stretch beyond capacity and burst inside my body. However, there is one time that stands out more than most. On the first anniversary of my marriage, my spouse and I decided to visit Orlando, Florida, for the first time together. Little did she know that it would soon become an obsession, and I would want to go every year or maybe even move there.

During this time in my life, I was very successful in losing weight with diet, exercise, and a pill called Xenadrine which was a diuretic. I also drank a couple of 20-oz Diet Mountain Dews that morning. Needless to say, fluids would eventually need to exit my body. We were driving through South Carolina when the urge began to build. It’s one of those times when you say to yourself, “I can make it one more exit”. Well, the last time I said that, I must have missed the sign that said next rest area 1000 miles.

We finally made it to the Georgia welcome center, and I must have urinated for 20 minutes. If you have kids, stop at every rest area; it’s good for you to stretch your legs and for them to empty their bladders. Otherwise, they will need to go 20 minutes before you get home, and there is nowhere to stop except that gas station where people are murdered in. Plus, you don’t want them to pee on the side of the road and end up in jail for public urination.

The biggest mistake that actors make

~ SA Otey

No, it’s not the roles they take or their political or religious opinions. It may surprise you that it’s a very simple mistake that could easily be fixed. I’m no actor so my advice may not be well regarded so here goes.

One of my biggest pet peeves is how actors drink coffee on screen.

When someone hands you a fresh cup and you can tell it’s empty, don’t immediately tilt it 45 degrees. Coffee is typically hot and unless your throat is made of cast iron, take a small sip from the rim of the cup. You also need to make an attempt to swallow. No one takes a sip of coffee and holds it in their mouth until it absorbs.

No one waves their cup of coffee around without it spilling everywhere. Keep your hand motions to a minimum like there is boiling lava in your drinking vessel. Maybe put water in the cup? There needs to be weight in your hand.

Keep the cup silent, we can hear the knock of an empty cup in our living rooms from our loudspeakers. This is also where a ceramic mug would come in handy. It’s a simple mistake that can be easily fixed.

Surviving Nashville: Avoid These Driving Mistakes

~ SA Otey

Don’t balance your tires
There are so many uneven parts of the road and potholes your tires will instantly be out of balance. Wait until you get home.

Don’t get an alignment
Again, with the potholes and pavement unevenness, wait until you get home and get an alignment. I wonder if no state taxes are the reason the roads are so bad. It’s just the sheer mass of humanity that is on the road there.

Don’t try to take back roads
There are tons of people on the back roads as well, you will just wait even longer because of the traffic lights.

Wait it out on the interstate
It’s really the best option, just wait, be patient, allow people to merge, and don’t run anyone off the road.

Don’t visit any landmarks
You go to Nashville to see the Ryman, The Grand Ole Opry, and such but don’t go there. There are too many people. Just stay in your hotel and drink as much free coffee as you can. Enjoy an extra creamer or three.

Don’t do any shopping
Parking is tough and they charge outrageous fees. Just stay in your hotel and watch TV. Swim in the 10-meter pool and do half-laps.

Enjoy your trip!


If you happen to visit Nashville and you must drive then good luck. It’s tough, but here are a few tips to help you navigate the city.

What is the best flavor of Gatorade?

~ SA Otey

Someone once told me, “If it’s good enough for MJ, then it’s good enough for me.” I’m not a massive fan of Citrus Cooler, but it’s drinkable. I’m classic lemon-lime or nothing. The new bolder smoother finish Gatorade taste like cough syrup. I guess if you like pretending you have bronchitis then it’s a good drink.

Whenever I spend much time outside on the ball field, I now reach for a LMNT. I was feeling quite ill from lack of hydration and LMNT had me feeling correct in about 20 mins. I never realized until now but it’s like drinking salt water. Might as well start drinking soy sauce, probably will hydrate quicker right?

How to Keep Kids Entertained at Baseball Games

~ SA Otey

Taking your children to a baseball game can be a memorable experience. Here’s how to make the most of it

Bring a tablet/smartphone

This way they can watch videos or play a video game and not the actual ballgame

Buy them all the food they ask for

Hot dogs, popcorn, peanuts, cotton candy, funnel cakes, dippin’ dots, etc. This keeps them busy instead of watching the game.

Bring signage

Things like “First game”, and “It’s my birthday” and waves them in front of players or coaches so you can collect as many signed baseballs as possible.

Pose them for shots

Take pictures with all the gear you’ve collected for them. Post them immediately on Instagram or Facebook with the false narrative that they are big fans of the game when they haven’t actually seen one inning.

Actually, watch the game

Here’s an idea, watch the game. Eat stadium classic food and enjoy the sights, sounds, and smells of the ballpark. No distractions just baseball.

Why Dogs Can’t Replace Grandchildren

~ SA Otey

This couple is taking it pretty well that their offspring aren’t providing any grandchildren. As much as our society is trying, dogs will never replace children in value. It makes me sad to even write that, but I feel that our society wants this to happen. Even the movie “The Boss Baby” addresses the issue. Who’s going to be there for you when you get revert back to your second toddler phase and need care? Dogs can’t provide that.

Teaching Kids Value: A Mall Experience

~ SA Otey

I really used to love going to malls. One of my favorite memories as a kid was scraping up enough money during the week to purchase a new hip-hop cassette tape and a paper cup of thick-cut fries from the Steak Escape. We took our children to the Opry Mills Mall in Nashville on vacation so they could see its grandness. I turned my back for one minute and it happened. My daughter was held hostage by a shiny object at a kiosk.

The young lady was selling “splat toys”. You fling it at the wall and it flattens out in a hilarious fashion. My daughter was intrigued and proceeded to practice her softball pitching motion and hit the bullseye. She thought the price wasn’t a good deal, walked away, but then accepted the lady’s counteroffer. She spent her hard-earned allowance money and this is where the story becomes a life lesson.

When she got a chance to use the new toy it burst open after about a dozen tosses. She was quite upset that her money was now gone and she had no way to return it. No, I didn’t rush out and buy her a new one. I didn’t offer to reimburse her for the allowance. I did teach her what the phrase “Caveat Emptor” means.