Polar Bears at the NC Zoo playing in the snow. I wonder what they thought? We don't get a lot of snow here.
2/27/07
Picture of the Day
Polar Bears at the NC Zoo playing in the snow. I wonder what they thought? We don't get a lot of snow here.
2/26/07
Save the Planet
Here is my public service announcement. I guess it cropped up because I watched the Oscars last night and saw Al Gore and Leonardo Di Caprio talking about how the Oscars had gone green. So, I went on a few websites and gathered some ideas of things you can do right now to help stop Global Warming. I know most people have heard of these but I was really amazed how beneficial doing them would be! There was a long list at stopglobalwarming.com. I listed the things that I am going try and do this year.
Ways you can help stop Global Warming
Use Compact Fluorescent Bulbs. In one year this could save 300 lbs of carbon dioxide and $60. I am switching out my regular light bulbs for these as I buy them. They cost more than incandescent but the benefit truly out weighs the cost to me.
Check to make sure that your tires are adequately inflated. Save 250 lbs of carbon dioxide and $840!
Change your cars air filter. Check it monthly and change when needed. This could save 800 lbs of carbon dioxide and $130 per year. I am going to figure out how to do this! I am not very up on cars.
Make sure that your dishwasher is full before starting it. This would save 100 lbs of carbon dioxide and $40 per year. I already do this. With one person it takes a while to fill it up but I always wait.
Use recycled paper. Save 5 lbs of carbon dioxide per ream AND countless trees!
Adjust your thermostat. Heat down 2 degrees and air conditioning up two degrees in summer. Save 2000 lbs of carbon dioxide and $98 per year. I already do the heat one. The air conditioner will be harder but I will try.
Change your AC filter. Save 350 lbs of carbon dioxide and $150 per year. I change mine monthly.
Buy locally grown/made products. This will reduce the amount of energy required to truck products in!
Plant a tree. Trees suck up carbon dioxide and make clean air for us to breath. Save 2000 lbs of carbon dioxide per year. My spring project is to plant some trees in areas that I had to take some out that were dead or damaged and create a wildlife habitat on the other side of my fence for birds and small mammals.
Unplug un-used electronics. Even when electronic devices are turned off, they use energy. Save over 1000 lbs of carbon dioxide and $256 a year. I am doing this as soon as I get home. I had no idea that even if something is turned off it can still use energy if plugged in.
Bring cloth bags to stores. I have never done this but I am going to start. I have some string bags that I found in a box and I am going to stick them in my car so I can use them. I read that if you go to IKEA and buy something there and you want a bag they will charge you a nickel for it. That nickel will then be donated to an environmental group. GREAT idea IKEA!
Air dry your clothes. You can save over 700 lbs of carbon dioxide and your clothes will smell great! I am going to do this when it gets a little warmer out.
I have thought about switching to cloth napkins among other things to save on paper products but I am not sure if the increase in laundry would cancel it out? I will have to think about that one.
Do you have tips you can share?
Ways you can help stop Global Warming
Use Compact Fluorescent Bulbs. In one year this could save 300 lbs of carbon dioxide and $60. I am switching out my regular light bulbs for these as I buy them. They cost more than incandescent but the benefit truly out weighs the cost to me.
Check to make sure that your tires are adequately inflated. Save 250 lbs of carbon dioxide and $840!
Change your cars air filter. Check it monthly and change when needed. This could save 800 lbs of carbon dioxide and $130 per year. I am going to figure out how to do this! I am not very up on cars.
Make sure that your dishwasher is full before starting it. This would save 100 lbs of carbon dioxide and $40 per year. I already do this. With one person it takes a while to fill it up but I always wait.
Use recycled paper. Save 5 lbs of carbon dioxide per ream AND countless trees!
Adjust your thermostat. Heat down 2 degrees and air conditioning up two degrees in summer. Save 2000 lbs of carbon dioxide and $98 per year. I already do the heat one. The air conditioner will be harder but I will try.
Change your AC filter. Save 350 lbs of carbon dioxide and $150 per year. I change mine monthly.
Buy locally grown/made products. This will reduce the amount of energy required to truck products in!
Plant a tree. Trees suck up carbon dioxide and make clean air for us to breath. Save 2000 lbs of carbon dioxide per year. My spring project is to plant some trees in areas that I had to take some out that were dead or damaged and create a wildlife habitat on the other side of my fence for birds and small mammals.
Unplug un-used electronics. Even when electronic devices are turned off, they use energy. Save over 1000 lbs of carbon dioxide and $256 a year. I am doing this as soon as I get home. I had no idea that even if something is turned off it can still use energy if plugged in.
Bring cloth bags to stores. I have never done this but I am going to start. I have some string bags that I found in a box and I am going to stick them in my car so I can use them. I read that if you go to IKEA and buy something there and you want a bag they will charge you a nickel for it. That nickel will then be donated to an environmental group. GREAT idea IKEA!
Air dry your clothes. You can save over 700 lbs of carbon dioxide and your clothes will smell great! I am going to do this when it gets a little warmer out.
I have thought about switching to cloth napkins among other things to save on paper products but I am not sure if the increase in laundry would cancel it out? I will have to think about that one.
Do you have tips you can share?
2/23/07
A Few More of My Favoite Things
Wade Whimsies: I just discovered these in a box of Red Rose Tea. I LOVE THEM! They are cute and right up my alley. They have been around for a while, I think since the 1950's and are made by Wade Pottery. Wade Pottery has been around since the 1800's and made/makes all kinds of items. So, now I am on a mission to collect the Whimsies! Ebay here I come!
French Fries: My favorite food! I like crinkle cut, skinny, steak fries, natural fries, seasoned, plain...I like them with ketchup or ranch dressing or just a little salt. I think the best fast food french fries are McDonalds or Steak and Shake. In the triangle area, Snoopy's or Hayes Barton. I know they aren't good for me but I need something! :-)
Naps: Nothing is better than a Saturday afternoon nap. Especially on a rainy, cold day. The dogs and I get all comfy and take a little siesta. I think places of employment should offer nap rooms. Some place where the employees can go on their lunch break and take a nap if they want. All you need is a few recliners, an alarm clock and people can bring their own pillows and blankets. Think how much more productive we would be if we had a 45 minute nap at 12:30 p.m.? Yes, a nap room is a good idea. I need one right now!
Cordless phones that have multiple handsets but only need one phone jak: Whoever figured this out is a GENIUS! I live in an old house and there are only 2 phone jaks in the whole house. So until I stumbled upon this item, I had to carry my cordless phone all over the house with me. So half the time I would forget to put it back in the charger so I couldn't use it, or I would put it somewhere and forget where it was. Now, if my phone rings and I am in the kitchen, boom, there is my phone! Fabulous!
Gift cards: This is one of my favorite presents to get. I love being able to go to a store and get something without having to have money or use a credit card. I never have money and this lets me get something I WANT instead of using all my money for what I NEED (dog food, medicine, gas for the car etc) which is what I usually do. Some people find them impersonal but I think it is a nice gift. I never have to worry about if the recipient will like the present I got them. They will because they picked it out! Well that is the list for today! What is your favorite thing today?
2/22/07
Fractured Prune
So today I ventured to a new donut place called the Fractured Prune. A friend of mine had told me about it while she was over delivering a lovely bookshelf to me (thanks Whitney!) and I could not stop thinking about it. Basically, it is a design your own donut place. You can chose one of their 15 glazes and/or their 10 toppings. They also have Specialty Dounuts which is what I chose. (at 8:00 a.m. it was too early for me to design my own.) I chose the O.C. Sand which is honey glaze with cinnamon sugar. IT WAS THE BEST THING I HAVE EVER TASTED! It was hot and gooey and absolutely delicious. Donuts are .95 a piece or 8.95 a dozen which is a bit expensive for a donut but so worth it. Check out their website at www.fracturedprune.com and see what they have to offer and the story behind their name. If you have a Fractured Prune in your area, check it out. Next time I am getting a lemon glaze with granulated sugar. Yum! This could be a problem…
2/20/07
Things that I don't like, make me mad or just drive me nuts!
I have not done this list in a awhile so I think it is time!
1. When you pull your favorite navy blue sweater out of the dryer and it is covered in little lint balls. Then you have to spend 20 minutes using the lint roller tape thing to get them all off.
2. The smell of peas cooking. I make them for the dogs and it grosses me out but they love them!
3. Balancing my check book. You would think it would be easy since there is never any money in there (haha) but it never is!
4. Having to Pre-Pay for gas because I am paying cash. I never know how much it will take to fill it up and then if you go over, you have to go back in for change or if it is not enough than you car is not full. It is just a big pain!
5. Realizing how much prescriptions actually cost the insurance companies. Someone REALLY needs to investigate that. I really have a hard time believing that 1 prescription could cost over $200 for a month. I feel really bad for people who do not have health insurance and have to pay full price for them. I mean the drug companies can pretty much charge what they want because if you are on a prescription you usually have to have it. That just drives me nuts.
6. Having to throw away 2 jars of Peter Pan Peanut Butter because it might be contaminated with salmonella. Yikes!
7. When you go on cragslist to look for something that you need and you find one for a great price and then read the description only to find out it doesn't work. I know some people look for things to fix but not me. I feel lucky to change out a light bulb!
8. When you are trying to load new software for your new internet card on your computer and it is not working properly. so, you call the service number for help and they tell you they can't help you because you have not registered your product. You explain that the problem is that you can't get online because the thing you are trying to load doesn't work therefore you can't get on the internet to register the product. AND THEN THEY TELL YOU OH WELL TOO BAD! They suggest you go to a friend's house and do it and then call back. Are they nuts? JUST HELP US!!! I mean that is their job right?
So what drives you nuts?
1. When you pull your favorite navy blue sweater out of the dryer and it is covered in little lint balls. Then you have to spend 20 minutes using the lint roller tape thing to get them all off.
2. The smell of peas cooking. I make them for the dogs and it grosses me out but they love them!
3. Balancing my check book. You would think it would be easy since there is never any money in there (haha) but it never is!
4. Having to Pre-Pay for gas because I am paying cash. I never know how much it will take to fill it up and then if you go over, you have to go back in for change or if it is not enough than you car is not full. It is just a big pain!
5. Realizing how much prescriptions actually cost the insurance companies. Someone REALLY needs to investigate that. I really have a hard time believing that 1 prescription could cost over $200 for a month. I feel really bad for people who do not have health insurance and have to pay full price for them. I mean the drug companies can pretty much charge what they want because if you are on a prescription you usually have to have it. That just drives me nuts.
6. Having to throw away 2 jars of Peter Pan Peanut Butter because it might be contaminated with salmonella. Yikes!
7. When you go on cragslist to look for something that you need and you find one for a great price and then read the description only to find out it doesn't work. I know some people look for things to fix but not me. I feel lucky to change out a light bulb!
8. When you are trying to load new software for your new internet card on your computer and it is not working properly. so, you call the service number for help and they tell you they can't help you because you have not registered your product. You explain that the problem is that you can't get online because the thing you are trying to load doesn't work therefore you can't get on the internet to register the product. AND THEN THEY TELL YOU OH WELL TOO BAD! They suggest you go to a friend's house and do it and then call back. Are they nuts? JUST HELP US!!! I mean that is their job right?
So what drives you nuts?
2/13/07
2/11/07
Ok, so I am NOT the next American Idol!
Well, at least my dogs don't think so.
In a previous post I wrote about my MP3 player that I got for Christmas. Well, I have been fairly industrious and have more than 100 songs on it right now. These are all my favorites and it is a pretty eclectic mix as I stated. But the thing is, because they are all my favorites, and I am in the mood to sing, well I am. With feeling and maybe a little dancing.
I have been whizing around here trying to get things done for the work week and it helps pass the time while putting monumental amounts of laundry away. And the dogs must think I am terrible because they keep barking whenever I sing.
At first I thought "Hey, they are singing with me!" but then reality set in and I realized, they wanted me to stop!
Well, I should say Otto doesn't like it. Bunnie could care less and Chloe doesn't bark unless I sing TO her. But Otto, well I get a verse or two out and he barks. And he won't stop unless I stop. And it seems odd but I can tell the difference between his barks and this one is definately "Quit the sinigng now"!
Now, seriously I know that I can't sing-I can't carry a tune at all. But, this does not stop me from doing it in the privacy of my home or car or church (you don't have to sing well to sing in church. God doesn't care. I figure he knows I can't sing so I hope he just appreciates my effort.) Now there are very few people that I will sing in front. They consist of my friend Jenn, my nieces, my brother, my mom and dad and my friend Chelle. I figure these people love me for who I am and they don't care that my singing is well...bad. But Otto not liking my singing, man that hurts. Oh well. Otto is going to have to get over it.
I love you buddy but you are going to have to listen to mommy sing Driver 8 one more time!
2/6/07
Funny Otto
Otto is being so completely cute and funny right now. Sometimes he gets these bursts of playful moments and tonight is one of those nights. He got a squeaky toy that looks like a present for Christmas and has completely ignored it until tonight. Now he is flipping it, catching it and squeaking it all over the living room. It is so funny because he really dives after he flips it.
It cracks me up. He can be such a funny boy.
Otto, thanks for making me laugh.
I really needed it!
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