Friday

tip-o-day

Instead of using wrapping paper on your next gift, why not just pop your gift into a handy re-usable shopping bag! They're .99¢ at most places and almost everyone can use one more. And if they have enough... they can always use it to re-gift to someone else.


Now, if you really want to take 're' to another level. Fill the re-usable bag with gifts from the earth.

We just filled a couple of these for friends birthday's last week.

My horticultural wife went skampering around the yard collecting bulbs and tubers of some of her favorite flowers.


We re-used some old cotton shears to wrap up each type of plant.


Look how cute...


My creative wife re-purposed the old curtain tie backs to make little tags to identify each type and offer planting tips.


Then we popped them all into the re-usable bag.

whala!


still collecting kill-a-watt data... i will post the spreadsheet next week.

killing watts

This is too fun. Everyone should have one of these.

I ran all over the house last evening checking Watts. To get accurate readings I realize I will need to leave appliances plugged for some time - but I was so excited...

Here's the KW in the kitchen, checking the under cabinet halogen lighting:

(hmm, 66 watts - that's alot)















Then I wanted to check the watts drawn by a cell phone charger with no cell phone attached. I read somewhere that these draw power even when they are not in use.
But the KW is reporting 0. Hmm - more testing is needed in this area.






My patient wife put up with me plugging and unplugging her laptop while she was trying to use it. She is so good to me.


















I plugged in the TV/DVR last night for a longer duration test (which of course includes downtime and ontime). Right now, the fridge is plugged in for an 8 hour test cycle.
... working on my spreadsheet now.

giddy

A friend of mine at work is letting me borrow this...

I am so excited.

Kill A Watt^TM will measure the wattage that our electrical devices are using simply by plugging them into it.

I am particularly interested in measuring the 'dinosaur that keeps our food chilled'.
In doing some online research I have learned that we may save as much as $120 dollars a year by replacing this ancient beast.
But this nifty little device will give me solid proof where the web-based calculators leave me wondering.

and yes... I am already working on my spreadsheet.

A tiny little hole in our hearts

I woke Sunday morning to find my early-rising wife at the table catching up on her March Madness standings.
I noticed in the garden next to the patio there were two squirrels busily eating up seeds and nuts and such. The FREE dog had not seen them yet – so I let them go about their business for awhile.
When I finally let her out she had her fun chasing them up a tree.
So the next time she whimpered to go out I assumed they had returned for more tasty nuts.
I watched as she darted out the door and then was horrified to see she was after a cat.
I ran out after her to call her off the poor thing. She rolled the cat once but the cat was able to get away and up a tree. Once I was finally able to get the FREE dog back into the house the cat jumped out of the tree and ran away.

Whew.

Not to long after that my worried wife called me out to the back yard. She told me she had just seen the FREE dog out in the yard and watched her ever so gently place something on the ground and then walk very slowly away.

We ran out to find a very tiny kitten.
Eyes still closed, but not freshly born – maybe a week or so old.
The kitten was breathing, tho labored.

We wrapped the little fluffy fellow in a towel and brought him in.
My now very worried wife went out to look for more. I consulted the Great And Powerful Internet for advice, the little orange kitten laying next to the laptop on the table snuggled in a hand towel.

We got some warm water to clean him up a bit. He had a wound – tho it didn’t look deep. The FREE dog must have been very gentle. I stroked his little head and he responded well to the attention.
I called a local emergency vet and got further advice on how to care for this very new very tiny little life.

As we coddled over him, my allergic-to-cats wife and I discussed how we would care for him over the coming weeks. I planned to bring him to the office so I could feed him several times during the day. We planned to get up every couple of hours for night feedings.
I whispered in his little furry ears that he was safe now and that he was home.

Despite our best efforts and noblest of intentions our little kitty died. Right there on the dining room table. We were comforted by the fact that he died with us, warm and loved – rather than out in the backyard in a pile of leaves.
My saddened wife named him Shere Kahn – for he was brave.

He has been laid to rest in our yard, right next to our other warrior.

be there in the dark

Friday

tip-o-day

I have berated and teased about taking down Holiday decorations in a timely fashion.
It's simply inappropriate to have them up past their time.

Ah.. but - there are other, practical reasons to follow these rules.


Yes, that's ours.

We took the bows and decorations off our holiday wreath this year and thought we would just keep the natural greens until the end of winter. It looked so welcoming right there next to the door.
Earlier this month we joked about leaving it up until after Easter.
And we did.
It was a joke.

Now, its a home.

When I told my coddling-wife of this discovery she was thrilled.

So... if you come to visit us within the next 4-8 weeks - expect to see a sign at the end of the walk redirecting you to another entrance, as well as a tarp on the porch floor under the new family (this is mostly for me).

misbegotten

I work in a pleasant enough environment.

I have a little heater under my desk, because my blood seems to slow down to a crawl when I sit in front of the computer for more than 15 minutes at a time.

I was able to turn off all the bright, fluorescent lights over my space, because I feel they rot my brain.

I have several toys (and other fun things) in my warm, dark cubicle.
We have soothing fish to view and feed and tend to.

All the free coffee you can drink, subsidized food and soda, bagels on Fridays... and right now they are having a cookie break, complete with milk, in the lunch room.

Seems nice...huh?

Then why is it our Administrative Coordinator has no choice but to keep sacred office supplies - such as spiral notebooks, in a locked cabinet.

These things confound me.

testing, testing

After my last incident with headphones I thought it might be wise to branch out a bit.

I thought I would give the earbuds a try.

So far so good.

It's a good thing I peed

On my way home from work last night I was pulling through an intersection in my very busy office complex when my Cabrio decided to stop... all systems shut down... in the middle of the intersection. Just my luck a Semi was headed directly for me. There was a brief moment of panic after I switched on the hazard lights and tried to jump out to wave at the driver of the really big truck hurtling at me... only to be stopped by my seat belt (hmm, safety first?).

The driver was a pro - he had noticed immediately that my car was in distress and even parked his truck across the lanes so no on-coming traffic would plow into me.
He got out and pushed my car neatly to the side of the road and went on his way. The world is filled with nice people.
It was a busy time of evening so I ended up waiting in the car for about an hour for a tow. I had plenty of time to think... it was quiet and really quite nice, except a little chilly. But I was thankful it was not below freezing, I was very thankful I had remember my gloves that morning, and even more thankful I peed before I left work.
Always-- ladies, always pee before you go.

So I am working from my home today. And you know what that means.
Yup... distractions.

I tossed in a load of laundry - thinking this would not really take me away from my day job too much. But then I remember that the dryer seemed to be taking too long, so I stepped outside to peek at the vent on the roof.

Hmm.
Looked clogged.

Ok - welp, in order to get my work done, I clearly need to dry this load of clothes, and in order to do that I clearly need to clean out this vent.

The problem really lies in the fact that its on the roof.

weese doesn't do roofs.

So I needed to devise a tool. Won't take long I figured, I'll be back to my day job in no time at all.
Down to the workshop to gather some supplies.











(the hammer? ...well you never know)








I made this.









Put up a ladder.


Then, using a second pole to keep the weather flap open - I was able to clean out a good bit of lint.


And... no injuries. I was back at my day job in less than an hour. The drying is purring away right now.

Ok... really, now I have to get back to work... right after I...

happy fish

I like fish... like fish in a tank... like fish which are pets.

I like sushi as well - tho I suppose this is somewhat of a conflict of interest... in context of this post.

For the purposes of this entry lets assume that each time I mention 'fish' I am thinking of them in their pre-sushi state.


And so... I like fish.

We have a tank here at the office, and each day I spend some time with them.

I pull a chair up close to the tank and simply watch. They don't seem to mind.

They make me peaceful.
They bring me joy.

Accomplices

We went to pick Ferris up from the airport the other night.
We arrived a few minutes early and my eager wife and I were milling about the baggage claim area when the first call came in.

Ferris: Where are you guys?
Weese: In baggage claim.
Ferris: Well you could get the car…
Weese: Not to worry, we scored an excellent spot very close by.
Ferris: Umm… ok

My obliging wife decides… what the heck… and goes to pull up the car.
She’s cute that way.

I pick out a chair near the baggage belt and sit patiently waiting doing a little people watching.

Second call.

Ferris: Where are you?
Weese: I am still in baggage claim, Mom went to get the car a couple of min…
Ferris: Ok, I need you to go to the car… do you understand?
Weese: Yup... on my way – how about if we wait out in the parking lot, rather than by the curb.
Ferris: That would be better. Bye

See… I have a knowing.

I go out to the curb to find my waiting wife.

Weese: Ok we need to drive away.
My Confused Wife: Huh..Drive? Where, why?
Weese: Actually, um… we need to go back into the parking lot.
My Frugal Wife: Hmm, I just paid to get OUT of the parking lot??

So we circle the airport as I explain the second call.

We decided to park near the curb but far away enough to be ignored if necessary.
Ferris walks across the street and waves – this must mean the coast is clear so we pull up.

Weese: So …what was it?
Ferris: She was so hot.



Friday

tip-o-day

Forgive me...I should have given you this tip at the start of the long, cold winter season - tho I suppose you can apply it to windy March days as well.

When you go to a restaurant or place of business... but really this applies mostly to restaurants - where they have installed two doors, with a space between them - please refrain from opening both doors at the same time.
I see this all the time, especially with families. They open the first door and the family starts to pile into what might be a small space between the doors, then they open the second door while the first door behind them is still open and start piling in and tussling with coats and chatting back and forth at one another.
I am sure you have seen this - and I am sure you have been the recipient of the cold gust of air as a result.

There are two doors for a reason.
The business went to great expense to install the second door to keep their patrons comfortable.
So please, open the first door, gather your family together if you must - then allow the first door to close prior to opening the second door.
This way - the folks inside can stay warm and toasty, as the proprietor intended.

Small kindnesses.

LOOK!

Look at my new office toy!

wait...

We have an agenda?!?
Why am I always the last to know these things.

(I discovered these gems through some blogger pals)


Oh... what the heck, while I'm at it - try this too.

Friday

tip-o-day

O sure… I may come off as a know-it-all, with my tips and suggestions – but I am also the first to admit when I’m not. In manysome cases I am even an idiot.
So today’s tip is something that hit me in the forehead with an audible ‘DUH’.

My ardent wife and I enjoy lighting candles in our bedroom. It sets a wonderfully serene, sultry mood, and the dancing lights are a pleasure to watch wrapped in our warm sheets.
The problem has always been… that ‘someone’ (where are those servants when you need them) must, at some point prior to sleep, extricate themselves from the aforementioned warm sheets to blow the damn things out.
Ugh.
Sometimes its just easier to not light them at all.

Duh.

tealights

We burn them in small glass holders, and they go out by themselves in about 2 – 3 hours.
My clever wife had the idea to put up a small shelf so we could easily see the happy flames flickering from bed.

You can check in but....

They called it a hotel but it screamed motel to me. The furnishings were dated, but clean. We had a second floor room overlooking the parking lot. And when I say overlooking I mean through an enormous picture window. Our room was really more of a small apartment. We had a sitting area with a small TV, on one of those 70’s style TV carts with the wheels. I wondered briefly if it might be black and white. There was a kitchenette with that fantastic white speckled Formica sporting chrome edges. On the other side of that wall there was the bed with a chenille coverlet and a small bureau.
The red slip-covered sofa was saggy and surprisingly comfortable. The slipcover even smelled freshly washed. This, of course, pleased me.


We had just come in from being out… possibly to dinner… and we left the lights off as we came in. There was a sultry ambient light streaming in the giant window from the street lights across the parking lot. It only added to the already garish, somewhat surreal atmosphere.

In that light, settled into our cheesy surroundings I found myself feeling a bit amorous… in a pulp novel sort of way. After all these years my sultry wife knows in a glance where my mind is. She shot me back a look that was devilish and playful. In a place like this, really there are only two ways to feel; the first being mildly grossed out, or this fictional, seedy sexiness in a grungy, slumming sorta way.

We settled onto the couch, bathed in that pale yellow light from the night life outside, kissing and fondling like teenagers.
My steamy wife lifts her head throwing her hair back and mentions, almost in passing, that the fire flares out the window were so romantic… casting a red color, intensifying our passion.

I sat bolt upright. That passion sloughing off like rain water.

Fire flares? Out the window? Huh?!

We both stood slowly, and approached the large window tentatively. In the distance we saw red flaring, bright flames shooting skyward. Not fire though, more like explosions.
Then in the distance, tiny lights approaching through the night sky. It took a minute before we realized they were planes, and then another moment to understand they were fighter planes. Some of them prop jobs– like from the Big War. I am not sure why this didn’t surprise me, this coalescing of era’s, but we were under attack and didn’t really have time to ponder such trivialities.

We hit the floor prone as the planes flew over our hotel. Fearing the unseen pilots would notice us in that giant window and open fire. I imagined them to have those machine guns mounted under the wings like I had seen in the movies.

After they passed we knew we needed to spring to action. Our eyes met briefly – the look so different than the one we just shared moments before. I told my frightened wife that we should grab our bags, packing quickly and most likely having to leave behind many of our belongings. In my minds eye I saw our green luggage in the closet and items strewn around the bed and in the bathroom. I started to try to think about what was where and what to grab – our belongings from home kept mixing with these thoughts and I had to keep correcting my inner eye to remind myself we were not home – but we sure needed to get there.
With all this noise going on in my own head it took a moment to register the next sound.
The slow, heavy sound of tires on sand. A sort of grating, crunching noise – but it seemed bigger than tires. My shaky wife and I went to the smaller side window only to see, in disbelief, a tank pulling into the far parking lot with a soldier walking beside it easily able to keep up to its slow pace. It turned its great treads on a dime and stopped as if to park in a parking space, though it took up most of a row.

Forget the bags – we had to go …now.

We made our way down the darkened back stairs and snuck out the side door to the car. Running off on foot didn’t occur to me. In retrospect, I am not sure why.

With all the clamor outside I wasn’t too worried about the sound of the car, it was the lights that I feared would give us away. My little green convertible has daytime running lights; these come on as soon as the emergency brake is released. I reasoned we could simply drive with the brake pulled slightly – one problem solved. Then I remembered the brake lights. Perhaps I should just smash them, but my cautious self got the better of me –so I opened the trunk to pull the bulbs. The trunk light went on, but it seemed dim enough not to cause a stir. I was wrestling with the light covers when…

when… I woke up.

Ok.. who the hell dreams like this?

Office supplies

I like to keep some cleaning supplies at the office. Also, this time of year(cold and flu season) I keep Lysol on hand as well as that hand sanitizer stuff.

Well, and a couple other things... just in case.

How many pages in a tree

60 catalogs so far.







5:15 pm
I just got home to find 5 more in the post today. FIVE more. Will it ever end?

Friday

tip-o-day

It's that time of year again where we start jonesin' for some Spring.

For a little hint of Spring in your home, set a couple vases of fresh flowers around. Tulips and Daffi's are flooding the stores now. This small spark of color will do wonders for the energy in your home.
Put a small vase in your bedroom too. Remember, your bedroom is your sanctuary. Keeping the room you sleep in orderly and clean will help you stay focused and keep your mood level throughout the day. And seeing a happy spot of color will also give you a bit of joy to carry with you into the still cold days of March.

There's no need to spend money on this little bit of happiness. Just trod out into the backyard (your's or someone else's) and clip some forsythia or pussy willow. Both these early bloomers are easy to force.

Before sticking them in a vase, be sure to crush the woody stems so they can draw in more water. Using warm water will hasten the process. It also helps to set them in a sunny window.



But know that it will take several days for your blooms.

We set out some forsythia to greet guests we had coming in for the weekend.
Unfortunately, just a little to late - so they were met with sticks in water when they arrived.
















But of course...


the day after they left.

The Circle of the Box

O Great And Powerful Internet (OGAPI) – you never cease to amaze me.


First a little background.

Last April a group of blog type folks got together and created this wonderful
collaborative art project for my sweet wife for her birthday.
A large drawing was done of which small pieces were then sent to households across the country. Each person or family colored in and embellished their piece. These
were then sent one at a time to our house.
Each one was so beautiful and different… it was so much fun to piece together the big picture as we got the mail each day.

We were incredibly moved by this banding together of gentle internet folk.
Since we were the only ones who had seen the art all in one place we felt strongly about sharing it with everyone who participated.

So we decided to send the art ‘on tour’...

And really… what’s a tour without T-shirts.
So we made up some T-Shirts in various sizes and stuffed them and the art into a Box. We included pre-printed mailing labels for each destination and quietly sent it off on its journey.

That was in June.

Every once in a while we would wonder about the Box. Ponder where it might, who might have seen it already, where it may end up next.

But the Box had been gone a long time. We had not heard of the Box in months. I considered sending out a cryptic email to the Box recipients… to see if I got any bites – but in the end we let (read: my patient wife calmed me and fed me paxil) the universe …and the Box.. make its own way.

Fast forward to this past weekend.

My innkeeping wife and I hosted some out of town bloggers at our house. Bloggers whose addresses were in that Box.

So one drunken night over cocktails I simply had to ask,
“Has anyone SEEN the box?”

Ah yes... they HAD! But that was some time ago... it's current whereabouts - sadly unknown.

O well…

My spiritual wife is always trying to teach me to let it be, let the universe take the direction that it will.


The next day we went to the second annual BlogFriends get together, hosted by dear bloggers Sassy and Eagle Eye.

And guess what showed up…

Not only did the box make its full circle – but it was embellished inside and out with drawings and writings

and tokens from its trip.

The universe is grand and glorious place people.

To those of you who could not be here with us as the box came home ...

Thank you.

You have warmed our hearts, made us laugh, and brought us great joy… and T-Shirts.

House of Bloggers

We have been entertaining some blog-gals for the last few days.

Some details to come - but first my energetic wife and I have some laundry and vacuuming to tend to.

busy busy busy

I am very busy at work today.
So I am settled in for the afternoon in my warm, dark cubicle.

I have a freshly opened Diet Dr. Pepper stowed in my happy fish coozy



my Ipod...turned up loud














and of course a little snack.

Because old dogs don't always learn very much at all

And by dogs... I am referring to myself.

We got the new 'Laundry Center' this weekend.
I spent some time sitting on a small stool just watching it wash.


I was riveted.
Do you have a front loader?
Have you ever watched it? I highly recommend it.



Alas, I was not completly satisfied with the installation by the trained, washer-installer professionals.
Not a problem.
There is not much weese can't fix... or should I say 'attempt' to fix.

After about 20 minutes, 4 bandaids and several trips to the basement for more tools.
I found my anywhere-but-in-the-same-room-with-me wife and said
"Sometimes you should just tell me to leave well enough alone."

Happy Valentines Day

Go do something romantic.

You don't need a dozen roses, or a box of chocolates, or a dinner out...

How about a slow dance in the kitchen, a hot bubble bath for two, or just a quiet moment of small, sweet whispers.

Saturday Delivery

Sadly... no tax credit.
But the water savings alone will make for a very happy weese.

Friday

tip-o-day


When the washer makes a high pitched squealing sound - stop it immediately.
Once you see the smoke - its most likely too late.

____
And now we decide... fix or trash?

Gratuitous Foam

Ok. So now what. I can't simply throw it away!


Before I could even get my head fully around my rage I found myself on the HP website.
I penned this letter to a fellow named Mark Hurd, as he seemed to have a lofty title... Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President.

I am writing to tell you how EXTREMLEY disappointed I am in your company’s latest advertising promotion.

I received your gimmicky box labeled 'Top Secret'. Mind you, I have no issue with the premise. But WHY oh WHY did you feel the need to include a completely gratuitous 9x12 piece of Styrofoam?
How could a company, as environmentally conscious as you claim to be, send out a substance that has a degradable time frame of NEVER -- for absolutely NO reason. There was NOTHING in the box except for Styrofoam.

I will not visit your site, not even to play along for my free gift. I will also do my best to repurpose this Styrofoam to keep it from floating around in the environment for all eternity.

Your advertising has not only failed to promote your products or your company – but has truly upset me.

I sent it, proudly, from my work email, with my full e-signature on Monday.
No response yet.

hmm, I think perhaps I can do better than to simply repurpose...

Because I am a clearly a very important technical professional, I recieved this package at work yesterday from HP.


The package had all sorts of exciting industry news for me! Even tempting me with free gifts.


ooo what could be inside??



hmm??!!??


what will weese do?



to be continued...

super fat

Its big, it’s huge, it’s ginormous
It's TUESDAY!

As is customary on Fat Tuesday my festive wife adorned me with beads as I left for work this morning (with a requisite flash).

And I am also announcing my support for Barack Obama. Ya know… cuz when say …Oprah or the Kennedy’s endorse a candidate it creates quite the stir.

Msabu, thes water lives at Mombasa

This weekend we had some big rain here in the Northeast. Big enough that we found ourselves with a leak in the laundry room. It was night time and torrential rain with some ice - so the best thing we could do was to get a bucket and a couple of cocktails.

The next morning, after my handy wife tidied up the leak area - I went outside to investigate. There is a dryer vent that pokes out of the roof right there. So my assumption was that something had gone wrong around the flashing. I needed a closer look.

Would you be surprised to know we have several ladders?
My favorite is a 7 foot green fiberglass step ladder. But we also have two extension ladders. One is around 20', the other may be as tall as 30'.
I got out the seven foot ladder and put it on the back steps... hmm... not tall enough.
I went back for the 20' extension ladder. Since this was placed at ground level I extended it up about halfway, placing it in a secure, level location and testing its sturdiness.
Up I went.
I got to the top and placed my hands on the roof... and froze.
I was paralyzed.
There was no way I could get myself off the ladder and onto the roof.

I knew this before I even took the ladder out of the garage. I have tried several times to climb up onto this roof over the 20 years we have lived in this house.
Each time I greet the chance enthusiastically. Certain that this time I can do it. Positive that saving all that money on hiring someone else to do a job I am perfectly capable of will be all the reinforcement I need.

I climb the ladder each time happily and full of confidence.
And each time, I climb back down.
Defeated.

Luckily the basement was also leaking. So my graceful wife sent me down there to play.

Friday

tip-o-day

I seem to end up doing a lot of trim work around this aging house we live in.
I have mastered base trim and can cut it using either my chop saw or a hand saw and mitre box quite effectively.
Where it all falls apart for me is crown molding. I understand the basics. I know I don't have to have a compound mitre saw to get good results.

I am clear that I need to place the molding in the saw upside down and at the same 45 angle as it will be on the wall.



But for some reason I just can't keep the angles straight in my head. So inevitably I run down to the basement - make some cuts, run back upstairs and the cut is wrong... so very wrong.

I found all sorts of complex advice online, but finally came across just the simple clues that I needed to make the right cuts.

So if you have some molding to do, I hope this can help you too.