Tuesday, November 10, 2009
I kept Neosporin on my burn every hour and it seems to be healing well and not peeling.
Another early morning for me, but I’m getting along alright. I find it hard to come back and take a nap though because I am always finding things I could be doing! Today I came back expecting to sleep, but I ate some pizza and prepared my baked goods instead. Then felt like I needed to get a jump start on selling them since it is a miraculously beautiful day.
My loaves went very well today. The apple and courgette was delicious. I think I like it better than the pumpkin/sweet potato. I sold out even though they went up in price 50cents. I saw a carrot cake for 6.50 and another for 5, so I’m a great value. However, people are coming in for produce and health items so it is more effort to talk them into buying sweets. Samples still help a lot but there are a few regulars that come in and forgo a sample because they know it’s good.
Erika came by to say hello and see about taking me up on the offer of my broadband stick after I am done with it. I also helped Teresa plan her trip to Prague as her father’s birthday present. I showed her the cheap bus tickets to Dublin and a web site to look up hotels in Prague.
After selling at the booth, I baked some almond-hazelnut chocolate crescents and Monica’s apple cake. The cake was not as thick as I was expecting. Monica said it was because I didn’t put in a lot of apples. I called it apple squares instead of apple cake. The crescents were unusual. At first I didn’t like them because it wasn’t really sweet, but they grew on me. They have a crumbly texture, but a nice essence of almond and chocolate drizzle.
At eight o’clock, Zach and I went to the BUNAC social to meet other people from the US, Australia and Canada on the same work program. I was amazed that there were so many people. I thought there were maybe five of us tops in Galway, but there were at least 25 people there. We had the whole upper level reserved at the Cellar bar. A girl sat down beside me and I realized I knew her. It was Laura, a girl I work with at the pharmacy. I didn’t even realize she was Canadian. I like her, but I am kind of glad I didn’t meet 30 people before hand cause I’m much happier with my other friends who I was quick to meet up with as soon as I could.
Marta, Jordi, Roberto, Monica, and Audrey (Monica’s new roommate from France), Zach and I all went out and played games at a pub. We did the drawing game for Monica and Audrey who had missed out on it. But it is an interpretation game with an umbrella, elephant, house, snake and ship.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Nice day then Ugly day
Monday, November 9, 2009
I got to work and it was another day of moving boxes and shelving.
I had to get to the tax office and it started pouring rain, but I threw on my rain jacket and braved it. The wind did not help one bit in the situation.
When I got to the tax office I was filling out some papers and I saw something moving out of the corner of my eye. I looked over and descending into my backpack was a spider about the size of my thumb – menacing looking thing. I started carefully pulling things out of my pack till I found it attached to a piece of paper and seemingly dead. Creepy little thing.
It continued to rain all day, but I went on to the grocery after leaving the tax office. No matter the occasion I tend to visit all three stores each time I head out that way. I needed to get ingredients for my breads. I checked in some toe warmers for here and for Germany, but it was 3-4 Euro for one disposable set. Ridiculous!!
When I was on my way back from the store, Monica called asking if I wanted to go for a coffee. I wasn’t sure she was well enough to venture out, but she seemed bent on getting out of the house, so I agreed. I had a hot chocolate that was delicious and we sat at a table and talked for about an hour till I went home to take a nap.
I told Zach to wake me up when dinner was ready which gave me about an hour and half nap. Dinner was a lamb dish with rich and veggies. I’m not a huge fan of lamb. It’s not just the animal, but I’m not so keen on the taste. Depends on how it’s done, but it’s not really my preference; however, the dish he made was nice enough.
After dinner I began my baking. I altered the pumpkin bread recipe to be a sweet potato recipe at the suggestion of Laurel. It turned out to a wonderful substitute, and tasted quite similar. I also made apple and zucchini bread, which I chose to name apple corrugate loaf. Zucchinis are called corrugates in Ireland, England, Australia and New Zealand. I like the way it sounds better anyway. I think it’s French.
In the process of cooking, I managed to burn my palm. I wasn’t sure how bad it was at first, but I managed to get through it with a lot of cold water and Neosporin.
In the adaptation of the recipe, I was not sure exactly how to get puree out of the raw vegetable and because mom was MIA I went ahead brazenly trying things out! What I did worked and the loaves turned out wonderful. Some stuck to the pans again considering it had rained all day, so I left them to sell with the pan again. I also topped the sweet potato loaves with cream cheese icing I still had in the fridge.
I got to work and it was another day of moving boxes and shelving.
I had to get to the tax office and it started pouring rain, but I threw on my rain jacket and braved it. The wind did not help one bit in the situation.
When I got to the tax office I was filling out some papers and I saw something moving out of the corner of my eye. I looked over and descending into my backpack was a spider about the size of my thumb – menacing looking thing. I started carefully pulling things out of my pack till I found it attached to a piece of paper and seemingly dead. Creepy little thing.
It continued to rain all day, but I went on to the grocery after leaving the tax office. No matter the occasion I tend to visit all three stores each time I head out that way. I needed to get ingredients for my breads. I checked in some toe warmers for here and for Germany, but it was 3-4 Euro for one disposable set. Ridiculous!!
When I was on my way back from the store, Monica called asking if I wanted to go for a coffee. I wasn’t sure she was well enough to venture out, but she seemed bent on getting out of the house, so I agreed. I had a hot chocolate that was delicious and we sat at a table and talked for about an hour till I went home to take a nap.
I told Zach to wake me up when dinner was ready which gave me about an hour and half nap. Dinner was a lamb dish with rich and veggies. I’m not a huge fan of lamb. It’s not just the animal, but I’m not so keen on the taste. Depends on how it’s done, but it’s not really my preference; however, the dish he made was nice enough.
After dinner I began my baking. I altered the pumpkin bread recipe to be a sweet potato recipe at the suggestion of Laurel. It turned out to a wonderful substitute, and tasted quite similar. I also made apple and zucchini bread, which I chose to name apple corrugate loaf. Zucchinis are called corrugates in Ireland, England, Australia and New Zealand. I like the way it sounds better anyway. I think it’s French.
In the process of cooking, I managed to burn my palm. I wasn’t sure how bad it was at first, but I managed to get through it with a lot of cold water and Neosporin.
In the adaptation of the recipe, I was not sure exactly how to get puree out of the raw vegetable and because mom was MIA I went ahead brazenly trying things out! What I did worked and the loaves turned out wonderful. Some stuck to the pans again considering it had rained all day, so I left them to sell with the pan again. I also topped the sweet potato loaves with cream cheese icing I still had in the fridge.
Monday, November 9, 2009
A < Not > Rainy Day
Sunday, November 8, 2009
The weather was wonderful today. Wonderful for Ireland…it didn’t rain one drop and it was about 5 degrees warmer than yesterday! Zach and I ran into many people we knew today so that helped pass the time.
Evidentially, the Irish drink more tea than any other country, so I guess it is only fitting that I developed a taste for drinking hot tea here. So much so that I took a sugar water today from Eddie Rockets because I am worried that it might have an effect on the coloring of my teeth!
After work we went over to Marta’s for her torta de chocolate and hot chocolate. So much wonderful chocolate! She, of course, showed me how to make it! We played games on paper which we found to be similar. They play dot to dot, tic-tac-toe, hangman, Parcheesi and snakes and ladders with variations on the names.
When she asked me about the famous comics in America, I gave her Peanuts and Foxtrot. We have Calvin and Hobbes in common. In Spain they also have Mafalda (Argentinean). I have noticed that following comics seems to have more emphasis than we put on them in the US. Marta also told me about places to go in Bologna!
I left early so I could go to bed in order to roll out of bed at 6am. It is going to be a long month!
The weather was wonderful today. Wonderful for Ireland…it didn’t rain one drop and it was about 5 degrees warmer than yesterday! Zach and I ran into many people we knew today so that helped pass the time.
Evidentially, the Irish drink more tea than any other country, so I guess it is only fitting that I developed a taste for drinking hot tea here. So much so that I took a sugar water today from Eddie Rockets because I am worried that it might have an effect on the coloring of my teeth!
After work we went over to Marta’s for her torta de chocolate and hot chocolate. So much wonderful chocolate! She, of course, showed me how to make it! We played games on paper which we found to be similar. They play dot to dot, tic-tac-toe, hangman, Parcheesi and snakes and ladders with variations on the names.
When she asked me about the famous comics in America, I gave her Peanuts and Foxtrot. We have Calvin and Hobbes in common. In Spain they also have Mafalda (Argentinean). I have noticed that following comics seems to have more emphasis than we put on them in the US. Marta also told me about places to go in Bologna!
I left early so I could go to bed in order to roll out of bed at 6am. It is going to be a long month!
It seems I am Employed by a Pharmacy!
Saturday, November 7, 2009
I did it!!! I got to work on time and I wasn’t too tired. I separated crates, unpacked boxes, shelved merchandise, and catalogued it in storage. I don’t know if they plan on training me on the register or not. Since I had to sign the security agreement, I won’t be talking about my job much but I think I will like it enough despite the hours. The people seem pleasant. I got a pack of tissues accidentally thrown my way and the apologies and teasing/joking that followed made me feel welcome, like part of the team. They started off playing Christmas music (!!!) until some employees complained and they changed it.
It was a quick turn around to go work for Eddie Rockets at 12, but I made it through the cold and rainy day. Every time Zach and I passed by a doorway emitting warm heat we tried to stay close for awhile before walking on.
After work Marta called me to come watch Demelsa make pumpkin fritters out of flour, milk, sugar, pumpkin, and egg. Evidentially, the mischievous Roberto had added some water he should not have added when left in charge of some stirring and so Demalsa was not satisfied with the result. She needed more flour, so I offered up mine and she and I made the trip to my apartment and back. She fried them up and served with honey. They reminded me of fair food, so I could only eat one, but it was tasty. Marta had made chicken noodle soup and offered that to everyone as well. She and I took some soup over to Monica’s who is still a shut-in with flu-like symptoms – but not seemingly the swine flu. She said she felt better, but it is still too cold for her to venture outside.
At 9:30 Zach left to meet up with Johanna (French), Julie (Austrian) and another girl Beatrice (Swedish). Roberto (Italian) and I (American) followed at 10. I stayed till 11 listening to the music at Monroe’s pub and trying to talk over it, but not being very successful. I walked home with Beatrice when she left at 11. We both needed to get some sleep, so I was glad to have to opportunity to walk back with someone earlier. Since this was my first time meeting her, it was nice to be able to hear each other talk as we walked. She is an au pair for four Irish children! I don’t know if I could handle that many all the time.
I did it!!! I got to work on time and I wasn’t too tired. I separated crates, unpacked boxes, shelved merchandise, and catalogued it in storage. I don’t know if they plan on training me on the register or not. Since I had to sign the security agreement, I won’t be talking about my job much but I think I will like it enough despite the hours. The people seem pleasant. I got a pack of tissues accidentally thrown my way and the apologies and teasing/joking that followed made me feel welcome, like part of the team. They started off playing Christmas music (!!!) until some employees complained and they changed it.
It was a quick turn around to go work for Eddie Rockets at 12, but I made it through the cold and rainy day. Every time Zach and I passed by a doorway emitting warm heat we tried to stay close for awhile before walking on.
After work Marta called me to come watch Demelsa make pumpkin fritters out of flour, milk, sugar, pumpkin, and egg. Evidentially, the mischievous Roberto had added some water he should not have added when left in charge of some stirring and so Demalsa was not satisfied with the result. She needed more flour, so I offered up mine and she and I made the trip to my apartment and back. She fried them up and served with honey. They reminded me of fair food, so I could only eat one, but it was tasty. Marta had made chicken noodle soup and offered that to everyone as well. She and I took some soup over to Monica’s who is still a shut-in with flu-like symptoms – but not seemingly the swine flu. She said she felt better, but it is still too cold for her to venture outside.
At 9:30 Zach left to meet up with Johanna (French), Julie (Austrian) and another girl Beatrice (Swedish). Roberto (Italian) and I (American) followed at 10. I stayed till 11 listening to the music at Monroe’s pub and trying to talk over it, but not being very successful. I walked home with Beatrice when she left at 11. We both needed to get some sleep, so I was glad to have to opportunity to walk back with someone earlier. Since this was my first time meeting her, it was nice to be able to hear each other talk as we walked. She is an au pair for four Irish children! I don’t know if I could handle that many all the time.
Long day in Training
Friday, November 6, 2009
This morning I started training for the pharmacy at 10am and it lasted until 7 pm with an hour break for lunch and another 30 minute break in the afternoon. There were three videos that we watched. I learned that there are four fire extinguishers. The red one is water, cream is foam, blue is powder and black is carbon dioxide (most common in America). Each is used for a different type of fire. For example: electrical fires require the carbon dioxide extinguisher while it is best to use the foam on contained flammable liquids and the powder on running liquids. I thankfully got paid for the training, so I didn’t mind as much, but the computer modules were tedious and occasionally insulting of my intelligence, but I can see how they are necessary. I had to do more written exercises from a manual and then go over contracts and guidelines. I also signed a security contract about searches and social networking. Ever since Facebook became so popular, they have had some problems with co-workers talking about other co-workers and it getting out of hand, so it is now a clause in the contract. As far as the searches: I can be searched at anytime and so can my things. I am not allowed to have money in my pockets and if there is anything that could have been purchased at the drugstore then I must have a receipt with it to prove I paid for it. I can understand I guess, but wow! They don’t seem to trust their employees. Probably a good policy though. Thankfully, I don’t have pockets on the pants I wear so no problems there!
During my lunch break I had enough time to set up a bank account at AIB (yea! I have a foreign bank account!) and talk to Teresa about moving out. Teresa surprisingly said that we could move out whenever, and if we did relocate to the Kester’s apartment on the 14th then it would be enough time for her to advertise and hopefully get someone when we leave. Kathleen had called me too about possibly staying with us for a week while she relocated to another place. I was ecstatic, but trying to be a bit pessimistic and plan for it all to fall through- just in case.
When I got back from a long day I walked in the door and saw a coat hanging up that I did not recognize as Zach’s. I walked up the stairs and was greeted by a kitchen full of people! Marta, Demelsa, Zach, Roberto and Jordi were all in my kitchen. Some people you don’t want to see after a long day, but the people I know here are the ones who will always be welcome to be standing in my kitchen.
Zach had fixed a coconut chicken curry from scratch. I had been encouraging him to use the recipe books I had and he did! It tasted wonderful too. Nam accompanied it – an Indian flat bread that is quite good.
As expected, something fell through and Kathleen said she would not need to stay with us for a week because her landlord was going to let her stay on at a reduced rate till they found a replacement. It probably worked for the best because I wouldn’t want to be waking her up every morning at 6.
We all sat around the table talking for awhile, but I was so tired. I stayed behind when everyone left to go out. I had to be up at 6am…and stay awake working till 6pm. Eek!
This morning I started training for the pharmacy at 10am and it lasted until 7 pm with an hour break for lunch and another 30 minute break in the afternoon. There were three videos that we watched. I learned that there are four fire extinguishers. The red one is water, cream is foam, blue is powder and black is carbon dioxide (most common in America). Each is used for a different type of fire. For example: electrical fires require the carbon dioxide extinguisher while it is best to use the foam on contained flammable liquids and the powder on running liquids. I thankfully got paid for the training, so I didn’t mind as much, but the computer modules were tedious and occasionally insulting of my intelligence, but I can see how they are necessary. I had to do more written exercises from a manual and then go over contracts and guidelines. I also signed a security contract about searches and social networking. Ever since Facebook became so popular, they have had some problems with co-workers talking about other co-workers and it getting out of hand, so it is now a clause in the contract. As far as the searches: I can be searched at anytime and so can my things. I am not allowed to have money in my pockets and if there is anything that could have been purchased at the drugstore then I must have a receipt with it to prove I paid for it. I can understand I guess, but wow! They don’t seem to trust their employees. Probably a good policy though. Thankfully, I don’t have pockets on the pants I wear so no problems there!
During my lunch break I had enough time to set up a bank account at AIB (yea! I have a foreign bank account!) and talk to Teresa about moving out. Teresa surprisingly said that we could move out whenever, and if we did relocate to the Kester’s apartment on the 14th then it would be enough time for her to advertise and hopefully get someone when we leave. Kathleen had called me too about possibly staying with us for a week while she relocated to another place. I was ecstatic, but trying to be a bit pessimistic and plan for it all to fall through- just in case.
When I got back from a long day I walked in the door and saw a coat hanging up that I did not recognize as Zach’s. I walked up the stairs and was greeted by a kitchen full of people! Marta, Demelsa, Zach, Roberto and Jordi were all in my kitchen. Some people you don’t want to see after a long day, but the people I know here are the ones who will always be welcome to be standing in my kitchen.
Zach had fixed a coconut chicken curry from scratch. I had been encouraging him to use the recipe books I had and he did! It tasted wonderful too. Nam accompanied it – an Indian flat bread that is quite good.
As expected, something fell through and Kathleen said she would not need to stay with us for a week because her landlord was going to let her stay on at a reduced rate till they found a replacement. It probably worked for the best because I wouldn’t want to be waking her up every morning at 6.
We all sat around the table talking for awhile, but I was so tired. I stayed behind when everyone left to go out. I had to be up at 6am…and stay awake working till 6pm. Eek!
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Dryer sheets will kill you!
Read on to find some tips I got in an e-mail from my aunt, some of which I found interesting and useful.
CLEVER IDEAS WORTH KNOWING
Take your bananas apart when you get home from the store.
If you leave them connected at the stem, they ripen faster.
Store your opened chunks of cheese in aluminum foil.
It will stay fresh much longer and not mold!
Peppers with 3 bumps on the bottom are sweeter and better for eating.
Peppers with 4 bumps on the bottom are firmer and better for cooking.
Add a teaspoon of water when frying ground beef.
It will help pull the grease away from the meat while cooking.
To really make scrambled eggs or omelets rich add a couple of
spoonfuls of sour cream, cream cheese, or heavy cream in and then beat them up.
For a cool brownie treat, make brownies as directed. Melt Andes mints in double broiler and pour over warm brownies. Let set for a wonderful minty frosting.
Add garlic immediately to a recipe if you want a light taste
of garlic and at the end of the recipe if your want a stronger taste of garlic.
Expanding Frosting
When you buy a container of cake frosting from the store, whip it with your mixer for a few minutes. You can double it in size.
You get to frost more cake/cupcakes with the same amount. You also eat less sugar and calories per serving.
Reheating refrigerated bread
To warm biscuits, pancakes, or muffins that were refrigerated, place them in
a microwave with a cup of water. The increased moisture will keep the food
moist and help it reheat faster.
Newspaper stops weeds
Start putting in your plants, work the nutrients in your soil. Wet newspapers,
put layers around the plants overlapping as you go cover with mulch and for-
get about weeds. Weeds will get through some gardening plastic they will not
get through wet newspapers.
Measuring Cups
Before you pour sticky substances into a measuring cup, fill with hot water.
Dump out the hot water, but don't dry cup. Next, add your ingredient, such
as peanut butter, and watch how easily it comes right out.
Hate foggy windshields? Buy a chalkboard eraser and keep it in the glove box of your car When the windows fog, rub with the eraser! Works better than a cloth!
Re opening envelopes
If you seal an envelope and then realize you forgot to include something inside, just place your sealed envelope in the freezer for an hour or two. Viola! It unseals easily.
Goodbye Fruit Flies
To get rid of pesky fruit flies, take a small glass, fill it 1/2' with Apple Cider Vinegar and 2 drops of dish washing liquid; mix well. You will find those flies drawn to the cup and gone forever!
Get Rid of Ants
Put small piles of cornmeal where you see ants. They eat it, take it 'home,' can't digest it so it kills them. It may take a week or so, especially if it rains, but it works and you don't have the worry about pets or small children being harmed!
Easy Deviled Eggs
Put cooked egg yolks in a zip lock bag. Seal, mash till they are all broken up.
Add remainder of ingredients, reseal, keep mashing it up mixing thoroughly, cut the tip of the baggy, squeeze mixture into egg.
Just throw bag away when done easy clean up.
Broken Glass
Use a wet cotton ball or Q-tip to pick up the small shards of glass you can't see easily.
No More Mosquitoes
Place a dryer sheet in your pocket. It will keep the mosquitoes away.
To keep squirrels from eating your plants, sprinkle your plants with cayenne pepper. The cayenne pepper doesn't hurt the plant and the squirrels won't come near it.
Flexible vacuum
To get something out of a heat register or under the fridge add an empty paper towel roll or empty gift wrap roll to your vacuum. It can be bent or flattened to get in narrow openings.
Reducing Static Cling
Pin a small safety pin to the seam of your slip and you will not have a clingy skirt or dress. Same thing works with slacks that cling when wearing panty hose. Place pin in seam of slacks and ... ta da! ... static is gone.
INFO ABOUT CLOTHES DRYERS
The heating unit went out on my dryer! The gentleman that fixes things around the house for us told us that he wanted to show us something and he went over to the dryer and pulled out the lint filter. It was clean. (I always clean the lint from the filter after every load clothes.) He told us that he wanted to show us something; he took the filter over to the sink and ran hot water over it. The lint filter is made of a mesh material .. I'm sure you know what your dryer's lint filter looks like. Well ... the hot water just sat on top of the mesh! It didn't go through it at all! He told us that dryer sheets cause a film over that mesh that's what burns out the heating unit. You can't SEE the film, but it's there. It's what is in the drye r sheets to make your clothes soft and static free ... that nice fragrance too. You know how they can feel waxy when you take them out of the box ... well this stuff builds up on your clothes and on your lint screen. This is also what causes dryer units to potentially burn your house down with it! He said the best way to keep your dryer working for a very longtime (and to keep your electric bill lower) is to take that filter out and wash it with hot soapy water and an old toothbrush (or other brush) at least every six months. He said that makes the life of the dryer at least twice as long! How about that!?! Learn something new everyday! I certainly didn't know dryer sheets would do that. So, I thought I'd share!
Note: I went to my dryer and tested my screen by running water on it. The water ran through a little bit but mostly collected all the water in the mesh screen. I washed it with warm soapy water and a nylon brush and I had it done in 30 seconds. Then when I rinsed it .. the water ran right thru the screen! There wasn't any puddling at all! That repairman knew what he was talking about!
CLEVER IDEAS WORTH KNOWING
Take your bananas apart when you get home from the store.
If you leave them connected at the stem, they ripen faster.
Store your opened chunks of cheese in aluminum foil.
It will stay fresh much longer and not mold!
Peppers with 3 bumps on the bottom are sweeter and better for eating.
Peppers with 4 bumps on the bottom are firmer and better for cooking.
Add a teaspoon of water when frying ground beef.
It will help pull the grease away from the meat while cooking.
To really make scrambled eggs or omelets rich add a couple of
spoonfuls of sour cream, cream cheese, or heavy cream in and then beat them up.
For a cool brownie treat, make brownies as directed. Melt Andes mints in double broiler and pour over warm brownies. Let set for a wonderful minty frosting.
Add garlic immediately to a recipe if you want a light taste
of garlic and at the end of the recipe if your want a stronger taste of garlic.
Expanding Frosting
When you buy a container of cake frosting from the store, whip it with your mixer for a few minutes. You can double it in size.
You get to frost more cake/cupcakes with the same amount. You also eat less sugar and calories per serving.
Reheating refrigerated bread
To warm biscuits, pancakes, or muffins that were refrigerated, place them in
a microwave with a cup of water. The increased moisture will keep the food
moist and help it reheat faster.
Newspaper stops weeds
Start putting in your plants, work the nutrients in your soil. Wet newspapers,
put layers around the plants overlapping as you go cover with mulch and for-
get about weeds. Weeds will get through some gardening plastic they will not
get through wet newspapers.
Measuring Cups
Before you pour sticky substances into a measuring cup, fill with hot water.
Dump out the hot water, but don't dry cup. Next, add your ingredient, such
as peanut butter, and watch how easily it comes right out.
Hate foggy windshields? Buy a chalkboard eraser and keep it in the glove box of your car When the windows fog, rub with the eraser! Works better than a cloth!
Re opening envelopes
If you seal an envelope and then realize you forgot to include something inside, just place your sealed envelope in the freezer for an hour or two. Viola! It unseals easily.
Goodbye Fruit Flies
To get rid of pesky fruit flies, take a small glass, fill it 1/2' with Apple Cider Vinegar and 2 drops of dish washing liquid; mix well. You will find those flies drawn to the cup and gone forever!
Get Rid of Ants
Put small piles of cornmeal where you see ants. They eat it, take it 'home,' can't digest it so it kills them. It may take a week or so, especially if it rains, but it works and you don't have the worry about pets or small children being harmed!
Easy Deviled Eggs
Put cooked egg yolks in a zip lock bag. Seal, mash till they are all broken up.
Add remainder of ingredients, reseal, keep mashing it up mixing thoroughly, cut the tip of the baggy, squeeze mixture into egg.
Just throw bag away when done easy clean up.
Broken Glass
Use a wet cotton ball or Q-tip to pick up the small shards of glass you can't see easily.
No More Mosquitoes
Place a dryer sheet in your pocket. It will keep the mosquitoes away.
To keep squirrels from eating your plants, sprinkle your plants with cayenne pepper. The cayenne pepper doesn't hurt the plant and the squirrels won't come near it.
Flexible vacuum
To get something out of a heat register or under the fridge add an empty paper towel roll or empty gift wrap roll to your vacuum. It can be bent or flattened to get in narrow openings.
Reducing Static Cling
Pin a small safety pin to the seam of your slip and you will not have a clingy skirt or dress. Same thing works with slacks that cling when wearing panty hose. Place pin in seam of slacks and ... ta da! ... static is gone.
INFO ABOUT CLOTHES DRYERS
The heating unit went out on my dryer! The gentleman that fixes things around the house for us told us that he wanted to show us something and he went over to the dryer and pulled out the lint filter. It was clean. (I always clean the lint from the filter after every load clothes.) He told us that he wanted to show us something; he took the filter over to the sink and ran hot water over it. The lint filter is made of a mesh material .. I'm sure you know what your dryer's lint filter looks like. Well ... the hot water just sat on top of the mesh! It didn't go through it at all! He told us that dryer sheets cause a film over that mesh that's what burns out the heating unit. You can't SEE the film, but it's there. It's what is in the drye r sheets to make your clothes soft and static free ... that nice fragrance too. You know how they can feel waxy when you take them out of the box ... well this stuff builds up on your clothes and on your lint screen. This is also what causes dryer units to potentially burn your house down with it! He said the best way to keep your dryer working for a very longtime (and to keep your electric bill lower) is to take that filter out and wash it with hot soapy water and an old toothbrush (or other brush) at least every six months. He said that makes the life of the dryer at least twice as long! How about that!?! Learn something new everyday! I certainly didn't know dryer sheets would do that. So, I thought I'd share!
Note: I went to my dryer and tested my screen by running water on it. The water ran through a little bit but mostly collected all the water in the mesh screen. I washed it with warm soapy water and a nylon brush and I had it done in 30 seconds. Then when I rinsed it .. the water ran right thru the screen! There wasn't any puddling at all! That repairman knew what he was talking about!
Another job? Really? I got it? Too good to be true, there must be a catch
Thursday, November 05, 2009
Today started off like any other. I set up my little table downstairs at Teresa’s to sell pumpkin cookies and puppy chow. It was a slow cold day. I had to go back upstairs to get my jacket. Surprisingly it did not rain a drop today. It was about time we had a break. I stayed at my little booth till 3:30 and sold the remaining puppy chow and 6 of the 10 cookie sets. So I did alright. I was finishing up Haunted Land book of Ireland’s ghosts ad reading a story about a witch who hung travelers staying at her in County Derry when I looked up to see someone who gave me a start. I don’t want to be impolite, but this woman was exactly the kind of witch I had been imagining. She was a street woman who begs for money, so when she saw my free samples sign she asked for one. I obliged, but it took me a minute to regain my composure. Mainly because if the story I had been engrossed in and then I looked up to see a face covered with warts and moles. She stuck her long crooked and pointy tongue out to lick the side of her face and it frankly just startled me a little. She wasn’t a problem. I gave her a sample to try and she walked off. Teresa’s son who was working today came over to talk to me and see that she had wandered off. He said she stops by time to time asking for things, but she never buys.
After I finished reading that book, I started Un Lun Dun. It is the fantasy story about the mirror city of London where unwanted things go. There is an No York, Sans Francisco, Lost Angeles, Helsunki, Parisn’t, Hong Gone, Romeless. The creation of creatures is really quite something. The imagination of the author, China Mieville, is brilliant. It’s a rather long book -520 pages. Longer than I usually read because I tend to get bored, but I aim to finish it before long.
After I put up my table and got upstairs, I asked Zach if he wanted to go for a walk since it wasn’t raining – explore a little. We headed out by the University in an area neither of us had been then down by the canal and out to the port. We had seen a bridge on the map connecting one side of the bay to the other, but it was only for the train and pedestrians. It was hard to locate, but once we did it was a beautiful walk over the bay and to the other side. When we had walked the long way back around I stopped at a playground and immediately b-lined to the swing set. I was gorgeous. No rain. Dramatic skyline with the sun setting over the water, and the swings faced it all. It was nippy (Marta’s new word of the day she used when she came over last night), but nice.
During the walk I tried calling Boots pharmacy to see about the job I had interviewed for. I left my name for someone to call back and when they did I missed the call by two minutes. I frantically called back and asked to speak to the person who had interviewed me. I was connected and I apologized for missing the call. The woman told me she was calling to offer me the job if I would like it. I was shocked. I had already given up on getting it, but I thought a phone call might persuade them of my desperation. She asked me to come in tomorrow for training from 10-6. Woah! That’s a long time. No bakery and I will need to reschedule my appointment with the GSPCA for volunteer training, but I said I could do it. I start Saturday morning 6am-10am. Should be interesting, although I’m not getting my hopes up. I’ve learned things can take quite a different turn between now and actually working and getting a paycheck.
At the end of the walk, we came upon a playground and I suggested we swing. I love swings. I spent about 15 minutes pumping my legs and observing the fast approaching darkness. The playground was right by the water and as I swung I was looking over the lights reflecting on the bay. Couldn’t have been a cooler place for a swingset.
Today started off like any other. I set up my little table downstairs at Teresa’s to sell pumpkin cookies and puppy chow. It was a slow cold day. I had to go back upstairs to get my jacket. Surprisingly it did not rain a drop today. It was about time we had a break. I stayed at my little booth till 3:30 and sold the remaining puppy chow and 6 of the 10 cookie sets. So I did alright. I was finishing up Haunted Land book of Ireland’s ghosts ad reading a story about a witch who hung travelers staying at her in County Derry when I looked up to see someone who gave me a start. I don’t want to be impolite, but this woman was exactly the kind of witch I had been imagining. She was a street woman who begs for money, so when she saw my free samples sign she asked for one. I obliged, but it took me a minute to regain my composure. Mainly because if the story I had been engrossed in and then I looked up to see a face covered with warts and moles. She stuck her long crooked and pointy tongue out to lick the side of her face and it frankly just startled me a little. She wasn’t a problem. I gave her a sample to try and she walked off. Teresa’s son who was working today came over to talk to me and see that she had wandered off. He said she stops by time to time asking for things, but she never buys.
After I finished reading that book, I started Un Lun Dun. It is the fantasy story about the mirror city of London where unwanted things go. There is an No York, Sans Francisco, Lost Angeles, Helsunki, Parisn’t, Hong Gone, Romeless. The creation of creatures is really quite something. The imagination of the author, China Mieville, is brilliant. It’s a rather long book -520 pages. Longer than I usually read because I tend to get bored, but I aim to finish it before long.
After I put up my table and got upstairs, I asked Zach if he wanted to go for a walk since it wasn’t raining – explore a little. We headed out by the University in an area neither of us had been then down by the canal and out to the port. We had seen a bridge on the map connecting one side of the bay to the other, but it was only for the train and pedestrians. It was hard to locate, but once we did it was a beautiful walk over the bay and to the other side. When we had walked the long way back around I stopped at a playground and immediately b-lined to the swing set. I was gorgeous. No rain. Dramatic skyline with the sun setting over the water, and the swings faced it all. It was nippy (Marta’s new word of the day she used when she came over last night), but nice.
During the walk I tried calling Boots pharmacy to see about the job I had interviewed for. I left my name for someone to call back and when they did I missed the call by two minutes. I frantically called back and asked to speak to the person who had interviewed me. I was connected and I apologized for missing the call. The woman told me she was calling to offer me the job if I would like it. I was shocked. I had already given up on getting it, but I thought a phone call might persuade them of my desperation. She asked me to come in tomorrow for training from 10-6. Woah! That’s a long time. No bakery and I will need to reschedule my appointment with the GSPCA for volunteer training, but I said I could do it. I start Saturday morning 6am-10am. Should be interesting, although I’m not getting my hopes up. I’ve learned things can take quite a different turn between now and actually working and getting a paycheck.
At the end of the walk, we came upon a playground and I suggested we swing. I love swings. I spent about 15 minutes pumping my legs and observing the fast approaching darkness. The playground was right by the water and as I swung I was looking over the lights reflecting on the bay. Couldn’t have been a cooler place for a swingset.
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