In college, I ran completely out of money, a week before our monthly payday at the Physical Science Lab. I took my prize guitar to a pawn shop and tried to get a loan - I was offered the princely sum of $7 for a loan against it, which I refused (it was an old Gibson my uncle had given me, and pawn broker objected to a scratch on its headpiece). I had about $5 left so I went to the store and bought some peanut butter, eggs, crackers and several boxes of the store brand (Shure Fine!) macaroni and cheese (they were only 14 cents a box, this was 1967). When I got home and started to prepare some macaroni and cheese, I found the boxes were all full of "miller" bugs. The solution was to let the bugs float to the top of the water and skim them off for discard. (Later I was informed I should have left the bugs, as they are an excellent source of protein..)
To supplement my low cost meals, I ashamedly admit that I stole some tomatoes from my neighbor's plants during that period.
BTW, PSL eventually started paying twice a month, but only after it was mandated by government contracts. By saving its precious accounting department the massive labor and expense of an extra computer payroll run all those years, PSL lived up to its nickname "Poor Student Labor". I well remember that my monthly take home during that time was $147.80..
To see me now, you'd never believe I ever had anything short of a full meal.. Everyone says, "pull up a couple of chairs and sit down, Larry."
L.
"However, never daunted, I will cope with adversity in my usual manner.. sulking and nausea." -Tom K. Ryan
Topic: There is such a thing as a "Free Lunch" (Read 2599 times)