unsolicited advice

I've been on the road. I'm back. Now I have to learn how to make Thanksgiving Dinner.

Meanwhile, despite the fact that you never asked or even hinted that you were curious or open to it, I've decided to offer you some unsolicited advice:

1. It's $5 cheaper to travel I-95 from Philly to DC than it is to travel I-95 from DC to Philly. One of the three tolls only charges northbound traffic. Not only is it cheaper to head southbound, but it's consistently less dangerous and less traffic-jammed. I have no idea why, but as bad as it is southbound, it's regularly twice as bad northbound. To take the indirect, slightly more scenic route (up I-81 and over on I-76) takes 6 hours between Charlottesville and Swarthmore. In theory, the more direct route should take less than 5 hours. Mapquest.com says 4.5. But last night it took me 6 hours coming the supposedly faster way. I watched a couple accidents, sat absolutely still three or four times, twice because of rubber-necking in the northbound lanes to watch some accident in the southbound lanes. Taking the longer route would have been safer and less stressful. So my unsolicited advice is to avoid I-95 northbound even if you believe it will be quicker. You're probably wrong, and even if you're right, it's just too damn dangerous.
2. As I write this, gold is at $449 an ounce. I wish I'd paid attention to gold before I did. I didn't start taking notice until it was about $330. Didn't start buying until it was at $350. Didn't really invest until it was about $375. I told all my friends and family to buy gold before it reached $400. Few did so. When it got to about $425, it fell drastically, even dipping down to my purchase price before climbing again. I was glad not to have to defend my advice to any loved ones who were nervous investors. Is the price of gold just a random walk? Does it undergo ups and downs based on people's whims? My faith in gold is based on my distrust of Federal Reserve Notes. Anyone contemplating a hedge against "inflation" (so-called) should buy before gold goes above $450. (Of course, the higher the price of gold, the weaker my recommendation to buy. On the other hand, I just don't see the Fed behaving itself -- or better yet, going away -- any time soon.)
3. Do you ever see gadgets that look like they might be really useful and great -- or they could just be a complete waste of your money? Well, I finally bought myself a EuroSealer -- as seen on TV! -- after a couple of years of wondering. It's great great great. Takes 2 AA batteries, sticks to the fridge by magnet. Cuts bags open; heat-seals them back closed. Definitely worth the $10 you can get it for.

Wish me luck with the bird.