Surviving Thunderstorms Tips

We've been battered with serious thunderstorms this past month and three days ago lightening struck outside the trailer. I was at my friend's house when it happened. They lost power from downed lines somewhere. We didn't lose power, but we discovered the next morning that the lightning strike fried our satellite dish TV service and phone line.

Apparently, we've done a few things right in preparing for storms because only those things sustained damage. (See surviving thunderstorms tips below.)

To repair the TV, we decided to upgrade our system to new equipment for a $19.95 service fee. We get a standard DVR box, a new dish since ours is an old version, and whatever it takes to get the system working again. Plus, since we've been out of service since the weekend, Directv is crediting us $5 per month for the next three months and giving us two months of free Showtime.

Contrast this to the standard $79.95 service call to repair the broken equipment or $5.99 to activate their service plan with a $19.95 service call under that service, and we've definitely chosen the best option. If you end up with screwed up equipment, always ask the company about upgrade options and customer credit incentives. Chances are you can find a better deal than paying for service calls flat out.

For our phone line, I tested the box at the pole and we had dial tone, but none at the jack in the house, so whatever the lightening hit and fried, it was between the two--75 feet of between. Jim decided to buy new wire, so yesterday evening Jim and IJ ran new wire from the box to the house and installed a new house jack. Presto! Dial tone. And our Internet seems to be working a little faster since Jim bought better quality wire.

I'm very glad I plugged our phone line from the jack to a surge protector before running it to the computers, phone, and fax. If I had not, the lightning probably would have fried all of them, costing us big bucks to replace.

Here are a few storm tips to help you in case of lost electricity or a lightning strike:

• Always plug your phone line from the jack to a surge protector before running it to your equipment.
• Plug in all your electronic equipment into surge protectors.
• Fill your bathtub with water when you hear lightning and thunder coming, and place a bucket nearby. If you lose power and cannot flush your toilet due to your well pump that can't work until electricity is back on, you can still flush your toilet with a bucket full of water from the tub as well as perform quick washes. (Since lightning is attracted to water, a full tub in front of a window may not be your best option. Instead opt for a few filled buckets kept away from windows.)
• Close windows by sinks and other indoor water sources. And don't wash dishes or shower during storms. Jim's mom had lightning come through her kitchen window into her sink as she was washing dishes. Not a fun experience.
  
• Get out a flashlight.
  
• Know where your matches or lighters and candles or oil lamps are and have them easily accessible.
• Between storms, purchase and install stick up battery operated lights on your walls.
• Get a storm radio that operates with batteries and test it before you need it.
• Keep a few gallons of bottled water stocked for drinking needs while electricity is out. Use and replace periodically.

Hopefully, if you're in serious storms this season, you'll be safe and able to endure them well with a little planning.

Check out more Works for Me Wednesday posts at Rocks In My Dryer.

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Tech Tags: lightning strike storms tips weather prevention

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Save on Gas

I've taken a tip from the airlines in an effort to save gas: Drive slower.

When oil prices skyrocketed in 1973, the US government cut maximum speed to 55 in an effort to conserve energy, part of the Emergency Highway Energy Conservation Act. It was signed on January 2, 1974, and stayed for a good fifteen years before the imposition was lifted, allowing for speed limits to jump back up to 60-80 depending upon state preference.

From the bit of reading I've done, though, vehicle engines are still made to perform at optimum proficiency at 55 miles per hour, so if you drive the current highway speed limit, or on town roads at slower speeds, you burn more fuel than if you were to drive 55.

Now don't go speeding on town roads to save gas, but when it comes to highway travel, try running at 60 miles per hour instead of 65, or drive 55 if you can stand it. Here's an interesting article titled "The Unmentioned Energy Fix: A 55 mph speed limit."

Since I've begun to drive slower, I've noticed two things:

1. Others are beginning to do the same; even when I drive 55, cars have stayed behind me instead of pass. I think it's catching on. People are getting it: you burn (rubber), you lose (money).
2. Our gas consumption has reduced. I track our miles per gallons and when I began to drive 55-60, our miles per gallon increased.

It really works! It must; the airlines are using this method to save money. Added bonus? Zero speeding tickets.

Check out more Works for Me Wednesday posts at Rocks In My Dryer.

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Tech Tags: energy consumption 55 mph speed limit save gas automotive economy national US United States

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Nontoxic ant repellent for home interiors

Last year when I posted about our ant problem, a friend of mine posted her suggestion for ridding our living area of ants. Baby powder.

Baby powder? No way. I was so skeptical, I never tried it. But this year rolled around and the boys had so many ants crawling on the ceiling and walls around their beds, the big black yucky ant kind, that I needed a nontoxic repellent to eradicate ants since it was in their sleeping area. I remembered her suggestion and decided it was worth a shot. The worst it would do is make the house smell like a clean baby's butt.

So I went around and puffed baby powder along the wall, floor, and ceiling cracks where we had ants and beyond, and watched and waited.

Within 24 hours, we saw a 99% reduction in ants! The day before I applied the powder, the kids counted the killing tally and within an hour were in the 30s. The next day I saw one ant on the wall.

I wondered if it was a fluke or just a dramatic answer to prayer, so I asked God to show me. The next day I happened to look at the doorway threshold and saw an ant writhing in the powder like he's eaten ant poison. Amazing!

Thanks, Kelly, wherever you happen to be, today. Your suggestion reversed the ant invasion on our family!

Check out more Works for Me Wednesday posts at Rocks In My Dryer.

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Tech Tags: ant ant killer house natural ant killer nontoxic bugs infestation remedy solution

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How to remove a tick & tick remover tools

I was picking up toys off the floor in the boys' room so I could vacuum and I happened upon a small round object. I went to pick it up, but the punky soft object slipped out of my hand. It felt like a water logged raisin. I was going to pick it up again, but for some strange reason, I thought better of it, so I went to get the flashlight and a tissue.

When I realized the raisin-like object was an engorged tick, I dropped it again and opted for a dust pan.

I still can't eat dried fruit, and this was three weeks ago. Just ask my mom who I confided in and was with me at Bible study just after this event when I tried bread someone brought in to share. Halfway through I bit into raisin and almost gagged. It was all I could do to keep myself quietly together, for the baker's and everyone else's sakes who was still eating the actually tasty bread. I only made it by repeating, "This is raisin, not tick. Ticks are not raisins. Raisin is food. I can eat raisins. I don't eat ticks. Raisin is food. Raisin is food."

I did not go for another piece of bread.

This left picture is of the Tick Key tick remover tool. Don't buy one. They don't work except maybe on engorged ticks. All a newly attached tick does is turn and its still thin body slides out the slit. I returned it to the pet store in exchange for the Ticked Off tick remover tool.

The Ticked Off tick remover really works, and I'm impressed.

As you can see by this picture to the right, it resembles a measuring-spoon with a cutout in the front to entrap the tick. You put it next to the skin and slide it under the tick as close to the skin as possible and slide slowly forward. The tick comes off without any hassle and either lodges into the triangle slit or falls into the spoon part for easy disposal or salvage if you want to test the tick for Lyme Disease.

Want to know how to remove ticks the safe way? Read on.

Tick Removal Don'ts:

1. Don't pull a tick out by the butt.
   
2. Don't heat tweezers and put it on the tick's rear.
3. Don't squeeze the tick.
4. Don't twist the tick.

All of the above will distress the tick and could leave its head in the skin and cause infection. The biggest reason not to do the above, though, is that they can cause the tick to inject its saliva into the skin and, infected with Lyme Disease, infect the host.

Tick Removal Do's:

1. If using tweezers, use needle small head tweezers.
2. Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible.
3. Pull straight out.
   
4. If using a tick remover, follow instructions but avoid twisting the tick.
   

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Tech Tags: tick ~ engorged tick ~ tick remover ~ tick key ~ ticked off ~ spring ~ bugs ~ pests

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Secure your sensitive information against identity theft

You seen that commercial where the guy drives around in a cargo truck with his social security number printed on the side? It caught my attention, particularly because several years ago we found someone else's credit information on my husband's credit report. And he wasn't even born yet at the time those events happened. I've been on the alert ever since--way before identity theft became a public awareness.

I haven't been able to get that truck out of my mind, so I took a click over to Lifelock to find out more. Here's what I discovered:

For $10 per month, they offer protection of your personal information with a 1 million dollar guarantee per person if registered personal information is breeched due to Lifelock's failure, reduced junk mail and credit card offers, and engagement in regular proactive credit protection like placing fraud alerts on your accounts so you'll be notified in the event of a questionable incident. They also offer protection for your kids under the age of 16 for an additional $25 per year.

I'm intrigued, though I'm unsure about giving a company my private information to protect. Yeah, I know, I give it to the bank and such, but I can at least meet these people in person, and it's required. I refuse to give my social security number just about everywhere else, and you should, too.

But there's no doubt Lifelock helps avert disaster so I'm mulling over this service for our family. I doubt it could have prevented the botch on Jim's credit since that seemed to be a misreport of information, but after that, and the rise of identity theft often discussed, how could I not consider Lifelock further? All I have to do is remember that CSI episode where identity theft is a key factor in a case to realize how much damage identity theft can do.

For now, here are free ways we protect our sensitive information:

1. I don't post my kid's names on my blog and rarely post pictures of them.
2. We cross-cut shred anything with personally identifying information on it including envelopes labeled with our names and addresses.
3. We don't put social security numbers on forms at doctor offices and other places that do not need it. IT IS NOT REQUIRED.
   
4. NEVER put your full account numbers on your checks when paying bills even though the stubs tell you to. Accounts receivable will match your information just fine. If you're super concerned about payments getting mis-attributed, write the last few numbers of the account (acct# ending in xxx) on the check and on the pay stub you can write "paid w/check #xxx ").
   
5. Print only your first initial on your checks. Only your financial institution needs to know who is authorized to write checks on your account so this makes it harder for thieves.
   

I'm sure there are more things we can do that I missed, so drop me a comment with more anti-identity-theft tips. While I wait I'm going to try driving that social security number truck out of my head. Brilliant marketing tactic, that truck.

Update: I thought of another important security measure this morning, and that is to use a credit card, not debit card, for any transaction where your card leaves your hand or where you're making a reservation. Credit cards have anti-fraud protection where debit cards do not, as well as the obvious plus that a credit card is not directly connected to your bank account.

If someone fraudulently swipes your card while paying your dinner meal at a register away from you, you can contest it on a credit card and keep your bank account from being infiltrated. And when making reservations, you won't run the risk of overdrafting your bank account when a hotel places a hold on your account for the full amount of your room to keep it until you come and pay. Holds aren't charged, but will make your bank account bounce if using a debit card because the money in a hold becomes earmarked and therefore unusable, and if you don't have that full amount in your account, or you're close but then make regular payments, your account will bounce and you'll incur nasty overdraft fees. Since credit cards are purely credit, the hold only applies to your credit limit.

Just make sure when using a credit card that you treat it like a debit card and only charge what you have money to repay immediately. :-)

Check out more Works for Me Wednesday posts at Rocks In My Dryer.

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Tech Tags: identity theft ~ Lifelock ~ money ~ finances ~ poll ~ security

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Earth Day Humor: Ways we help the earth & environment

Welcome to
Works for Me Wednesday,
sponsored by
Rocks In My Dryer.

Since yesterday was Earth Day, I thought I'd share a few green living tips--ways we help the earth, and you can too.

1. We open our doors to let air conditioning outside. We want to do our part to help stop global warming and figure that if everyone did this, maybe we could cool the earth back down and once again weather would resume to normal behavior. No more 80 degree April days in Vermont!
2. We throw our banana peels and apple cores outside to feed animals and fertilize the ground by what they leave behind. I hope this will make our sandy lot more garden friendly so we can start growing our own vegetables instead of buying pesticide laden ones from the grocery store.
3. We buy recycled napkins--lots of them. The more we buy, the better the recycling industry will do. And since they're biodegradable, we throw them on the ground too to keep them out of already full landfills.
4. We clean our bathroom once a month so we don't put more chemicals in the air or harm the environment. We like that all-natural bathroom aroma.
5. I make our kids wear holey clothes to keep them cool instead of maintaining a pool full of environmentally unfriendly chemicals. We get most of the holey used clothes from clothing giveaways so we can also preserve money to build our house.
6. We give all our junk to free places like Freecycle or hospice places. That way our broken monitor and printer stays out of electronic landfills in Asia.
   
7. Last but not least, I make our kids wait at least a week before showering so they don't waste water. And that's when they're allowed to brush their teeth. Waste not want not.

No, really folks, if you think we really do these things, you're nuts!

Earth Day is great time to evaluate our lifestyles.If we exchange one product for a recycled one, like napkins, or change out a chemical toilet cleaner to baking soda or vinegar, and everyone did this, the impact on our environment to preserve the earth would be great and our earth would bear us better.

Here are ways The Building Brows really help our earth:

1. We recycle and use recycled items.
2. We avoid foods made with artificial flavors, preservatives, and colors (all chemicals).
3. We purchase decent used clothes, visit clothing giveaways, swap clothes, and give away ones we no longer use or need.
4. We turn off water (or try to remember to) when brushing teeth and soaping dishes.
5. We exchanged a few chemical cleaners for natural ones made of plant bases, and they really work.
6. We shower instead of bathe to preserve water.
7. We carpool and/or consolidate trips in our fuel-efficient Kia Spectra.

We also have the option to purchase greener electric power that comes from wind sources instead of filthy coal-burning plants at a slight price increase. We may look at this in the future for a self-appointed portion of our bill. Perhaps your electric company also offers a greener power alternative.


Hope you enjoyed this Works for Me Wednesday post and will consider what one thing you can add or change to make an environmental difference on the earth for all who live on it.

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Tech Tags: Earth Day ~ environment ~ tips ~ green ~ Works for Me Wednesday

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Simple Desk & More Trash Control Tip

Welcome to Works for Me Wednesday, sponsored by Rocks In My Dryer.

If your desk is anything like mine, covered with tissues, crumbs, wrappers, or other miscellaneous disposable junk from various family members, you'll like this simple desk+ trash reducer tip.

Many people probably have a trash can beside their desks, but since we have little space, we don't. Still, even with a trash can nearby, trash accumulates quickly and we don't always want to disrupt work long enough to get up or swing around to throw stuff away.

To remedy this, I keep an emptied tissue box, preferably pop-up, within arm's length. I can dump dirty tissues or whatnot in it without disrupting my train of thought and keep my work space clear, which helps me be more efficient. At the end of the day or at break time, I dump it in the nearest trash can and return it to its spot.

This small decorative box still adds to decor while serving a great function. Plus it's portable and can be used anywhere in the house you need an extra trash collector but don't want to place an extra trash can. Works great in the kids' rooms or when someone's sporting a cold that produces mounds of tissues. I can assign an emptied box per child that gets used during the cold and then discarded or recycled once they recover.

Works for me! Try it. You might like it too.

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Tech Tags: trash tip health household Works for Me Wednesday organization

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Spring time dirt defense

Welcome to Works for Me Wednesday, sponsored by Rocks In My Dryer.

Its finally spring and I'm battling the biggest no-snow problem of all. DIRT. Since we have oceanless beach front property, sand seems to get everywhere. Each morning I sweep up buckets of the stuff. And that's with thorough sweeping before bed. My kids must go out in the middle of the night to play basketball. Either that, we have a visually impaired sandman who bumps into stuff in the dark and spills his precious sleep potion everywhere.

I went to the store yesterday to set up my line of defense. A step before the bottom of the walkway IN THE WAY I placed a bristle shoe brush. From there, we step onto a pallet. Dirt falls between the slats as we walk the distance to the stairs. (We need to add another pallet back. We used to have two which doubled the sand drop rate.)

At the end of the pallet just before the stairs begin, I placed a bristle mat for more wiping. Then up the stairs. At the top, is a flatter mat with recessed areas to catch more dirt, but it wipes the finer sand away. Then it's in the door where I placed a new tan mat with recessed areas as well to catch the dirt.

So far, my defense line is working well. There was about 65% less dirt actually on the stairs than average days prior to the new mats, and indoors was less, too--even with the dog's feet.

Now all will be fine as long as everyone avoids dog poop.

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Technorati Tags: spring sand dirt+in+house housework solution

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Tips for Successful Transactions in Finding eBay Bargains

Welcome to Works for Me Wednesday, sponsored by Rocks In My Dryer.

As frugal home builders, we always seek ways to purchase what we need through least expensive options, if possible, though we're not fanatics about it. We frequent several online shopping sites, but our favorite is eBay.

Jim loves eBay Motors. He just loves to look at trucks, and it gives him a good idea of what vehicles are going for these days. And outrageous bids amuse him.

I love eBay, too. We bought our daughter's flute through eBay so she could participate in band, and I've found several good deals for items we needed. Here are some tips for navigating a successful eBay transaction and what to watch out for:

• Read listings carefully. I recently purchased a wall adapter based on the image and description. The image looked like the model I wanted, but the description didn't specify it was a brand name, which was fine as long as it looked the way it was supposed to, which is eBay's policy. When I received the item, it was a cheap generic version that looked completely different than what was advertised and plugged in all wrong in the outlet. Plus it was damaged. The seller misrepresented the product. Reluctant to use the product because I didn't want to damage anything I plugged into it, I asked for a full refund and offered to return the item if they would pay return shipping. (A buyer should not pay for seller misrepresentation and defects.) All they would offer was a partial refund and then they stopped answering messages. The matter is still unresolved.
  
• Look to see where the items ships from. The item I mentioned above came from Hong Kong, but I noticed only after I committed to Buy It Now. It took longer to get the product and turned out to be an inferior product they so far have not stood behind.
  
• Check shipping prices. Even though eBay prohibits astronomical prices in shipping, eBay sellers still do it to compensate for or avoid eBay fees. Many times the total price is more than a local store once you factor in shipping. Consider about how much it should cost to ship, allow for a little extra for packaging and handling, and judge the shipping fees from there.
  
• Read a seller's feedback ratings. Have buyers found the seller reliable? easy to work with? good at communication?
  
• Read positive reviews, too. Don't just look for negative reviews to read assuming positive reviews mean all positive transactions. Many buyers leave a less-than-positive review to an ill transaction to avoid seller retaliation with a negative review back. This policy is changing so eBay sellers will no longer be able to retaliate.
  
• Pay attention to mutually withdrawn feedback. If you see several mutually withdrawn ratings, treat them as negative reviews. In most cases, a buyer left a negative review and the seller retaliated with a negative review, and neither wanted a lower feedback score so they agreed to mutually withdraw the rating to avoid a lower eBay scores. eBay policies will make it so sellers can only leave negative feedback for no-pay buyers, but it will take months for this to reflect in ratings.
• Never respond to eBay transactions outside the eBay system including offers via e-mail to close an auction early, requests to pay though instant transfers with a service like Western Union, or from someone claiming to be the seller with a name different than the eBay user name. In one instance we knew they were scams because in one instance we were the winner and had already paid through eBay's system when the supposed seller was offering to end the auction early. Plus the message came to an e-mail address the seller or anyone else could not have had through eBay transaction. The people had taken our eBay name and plugged it into a popular mail service and reached us that way, the reason eBay no longer allows members to use an e-mail address which uses the user name.
  
• Investigate second chance offers carefully. After the item closed, we have received several second chance offers from people claiming to be the seller for items we bid including the eBay item number to make it look legitimate. It came outside the eBay system to an e-mail address we don't use for eBay. But if we had not known to scrutinize the message, we may have fallen for the scam and lost money.
• Ask questions before bidding.
  
• Wait a reasonable time frame before inquiring about delivery. 5-7 business days is reasonable for first class, 10-14 for media mail.
  
• Contact the seller if there are problems. Give him a chance to correct things if something is wrong. And remember, computer glitches do happen, and you can't tell a person's tone by words in e-mail. Someone may appear to be curt when in reality they just aren't terrific writers. Always give the benefit of the doubt where you can.
  
• Leave appropriate feedback. If things weren't terrific but your product still worked, leave a positive feedback. If there were problems, but the seller tried to correct them, you could leave positive or neutral feedback. Only leave negative feedback when the seller failed to send the right product, you waited an astronomical length of time for your product with no communication, or some other serious transaction infraction.
  

Finding bargains through eBay can be a lot of fun. Follow these tips and it will help you have a good eBay experience. Just don't go overboard buying lots of stuff you don't need. ;o)

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Technorati Tags: eBay ^ tips ^ successful ^ buyer ^ Works for Me Wednesday

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Make Money with Your Blog

Welcome to Works for Me Wednesday, sponsored by Rocks In My Dryer.

Everyone can use a little extra cash in their pocket, particularly stay-at-home moms and single parents. If you blog, you can earn extra money.

PayPerPost.com provides bloggers with opportunity to post on various advertiser-sponsored topics. Payouts range from $5.00 to a few hundred dollars per post and can be anywhere from 50 to 300 words depending upon advertiser specifications. The kind of post opportunities you get depend upon your blog statistics. Your blog's category, the better page rank and Alexa ranking you have, and whether or not your blog is on your own website or a public platform determine which opportunities you qualify for.

Blogs eligible to join PayPerPost include those that are established for longer than 90 days with at least 20 existing posts over the course of longer than a month and without a gap of 30 or more days between posts. They must contain primarily non-paying posts, and run off a platform that allows you to join PayPerPost.com. (wordpress.com users, check your most recent terms of service.)

I've made over $500 with PPP since last year. Many others have earned much more, but I am very selective about which opportunities I take so that my content remains relevant and helpful rather than ad-littered. But that money has helped tremendously.

PayPerPost works for me. It will work for you, too. :-)

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Technorati Tags:  monetizing ^ making money ^ blogs ^ tips ^ PayPerPost ^ Works for Me Wednesday

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Ways to Stay Healthy in Changing Fall Weather

Welcome to Works for Me Wednesday, sponsored by Rocks In My Dryer.

It's been warming up a little at a time over the past few days. It was 67 degrees in the mobile home this morning instead of 64, and 80 degree temps are expected over the next four days or so. I'm looking forward to the brief warm-up before we dip back into traditional fall Vermont weather.

But these ups and downs on the thermometer can wreak havoc on a body. This is one of the times of year when people get sick easily. Here is how I help my body stay well.

1. Drink a two-cup glass of water each morning upon awakening. (I prefer warm to hot water to help clear nasal passages and warm me inside out.) We're supposed to drink six to eight cups of water a day, but I suspect most people have fluid deficiency, especially avid coffee drinkers. Proper hydration is essential for the body's immune system to function well.


2. Replace a cup or more of coffee with herbal tea, especially green tea. Less caffeine and dehydrating coffee properties will do your body good while the herbs and green tea will help give your body the boost it needs. Green tea is known for reducing free radicals in your system which are produced during the body's oxygen use and can damage tissues. Yogi Tea, Super Antioxidant, has the best and least bitter flavor of several green teas I've tried including Celestial Seasonings and Yogi's Simple Green Tea. Look for Yogi Tea's Super Antioxidant in the natural foods section.
   


3. Add garlic to your daily diet (capsules, coated tablets, or garlic cloves). Garlic contains antiviral and antibacterial properties that will help you stay well. It also helps reduce blood pressure. Do not take garlic if you are preparing for surgery or take blood thinning drugs. Garlic may contribute to colic in nursing babies.


4. Take multi-vitamins daily including extra vitamin C (and iron during menstrual cycles). Healthy immune systems require proper nutrients. Vitamin C has proved in several studies to strengthen the immune system.


5. Take echinacea capsules or drink echinacea tea at the first sign of a cold. Studies show that echinacea reduces the length of a cold and can prevent them from setting in. Some people report, including myself an others I know, that echinacea kept the cold from settling in at all.


6. Carry a sweater, hat, and gloves just in case. With radical temperature changes, it's important to have extra warmth on hand when needed. The hat is extra important because it keeps heat from escaping your body and some cover the ears which can land ear aches from cold wind. Even if you don't have a sweater, you'll feel warmer just by donning a hat.

These things work well for us. I hope they'll work well for you, too. If you do anything else to stay well, leave a comment.

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Technorati Tags: health ^ tips ^ weather ^ Works for Me Wednesday ^