I live in an apartment with no washer/dryer hookups. I'm on the third floor, and at least one person per week gets stuck in the elevator. As a result of the flaky elevator, I just pretend that it doesn't exist and take the stairs all the time.
There is a laundry room downstairs, but it costs $2 to wash and $1.50 to dry. Figuring on 2-3 loads per week, that's $35 per month spent on laundry. Plus, the one time I used the laundry room, my only good towel got stolen. (The thief left the old ratty towels alone and took my pretty blue absorbent one.)
I decided to invest in an apartment sized washing machine, and my quest for cheap clean laundry has given me some great stories.
Story 1 "Free Can Sometimes Be Expensive"- Setting: February - July 2006
I don't remember exactly what prompted this one, but I ran an internet search for dryers that run off of 110 volt power. I think it's because in my quest for a washer, I wanted to see if I could find a dryer, too. Anyway, I discovered that there is such a contraption as a 110 volt ventless dryer. I was excited by this find because I didn't have anywhere to vent the dryer, and I didn't have a 220 volt dryer plug.
I checked craigslist, and I found a couple of these dryer contraptions. It turns out that it's actually a washer/dryer combo unit. Not a stackable unit, but a washer and dryer in one. Put in dirty clothes, and clean dry clothes come out. There was one in Pacifica that a guy was giving away for free. The catch was that it needed a new water pump.
I figured free was a good price and that a water pump would be easy enough to fix. I called my mom and asked if I could borrow her minivan to haul it, and she said yes. My mom lives in San Jose, I live in Fremont, I went to school in San Francisco, and the washer/dryer was in Pacifica. I called my neighbor who went to school with me and offered him a ride to school in exchange for helping me pick up the washer. He said yes. (We usually took the train, so it saved him the cost of a train ticket.)
The running total for the free washer/dryer: $10 savings for not taking the train, offset by $10 for parking. No bridge toll because I was carpooling. $25 for gas. Net total: $25- still a pretty good deal.
I got out of class and headed to get the washer/dryer. Of course, I got lost driving down a windy mountain road. I finally managed to find the place and we hauled it into the back of the van. When we got it home, we tried to get it up the stairs. This contraption probably weighed 75 lbs. It took me, my burly former football player neighbor, and my roommate to get it up the stairs.
I hooked the washer up to the sink and ran a test load. It worked beautifully. I figured I had gotten an amazing deal, and I was excited. This excitement lasted for about 10 loads before the water pump gave out, flooding my kitchen floor. I mopped up the mess and called Sears to get someone out to repair it. The repair technician came out and said that he had never heard of my brand before and had no idea how to fix it. Fortunately he didn't charge me for the visit. I did some checking online, and I made some phone calls, and nobody could fix it.
I decided to cut my losses at this point. I placed an ad on craigslist offering a free washer/dryer combo that doesn't require hookups, but has a broken water pump. I received several responses. The first person I set up an appointment with stood me up. The same with the second, the third, the fourth, etc. Finally, I got sick of it and moved the monster out onto my front porch. I put up an ad describing it and saying that it was free to the first person to haul it away.
I got home the next day (it's mid-April by now) and saw that someone had strapped the washer to a furniture dolly and had left me a note saying that he would be back the next day to haul it away. Apparently he had tried to move it himself and had quickly realized that he needed help. I called him back and confirmed that he was coming.
Several days passed and the washer was still there. I called the guy again. He made some excuses and said he would come and get it. This back and forth continued until June, when he called me and said he wasn't comfortable taking the washing machine because he suspected that I was mad at an ex-boyfriend and was getting rid of his belongings in a fit of rage. (I have no idea where he came up with that one. Maybe he was projecting something that was going on in his personal life.) Meanwhile, nobody else wanted it either. I asked the guy when he wanted to come retrieve his furniture dolly, and he kept putting me off.
I finally got so sick of the ugly washer on my porch that I decided to haul it to the dump. I called my dad and he came with the minivan on a Saturday morning. We managed to get it down the stairs and to the dump. It cost me $50 to dispose of it, and I took my dad out to lunch for his trouble, costing another $15 or so.
So, the total cost of the "free" washer/dryer combo that lasted me for 10 loads: $90. Oops. Free can sometimes be expensive.
Story 2 "They Don't Make Things Like They Used to, and Sometimes That's a Good Thing"- Setting: March-August 2006
While the nonsense with the impossible to dispose of behemoth was going on, my clothes still had to get clean. I looked into other ways of having a washer in my apartment, and I stumbled upon the Wonderwash. Basically, it looks like the offspring of a propane tank and a slot machine. You put your laundry, detergent, and water in, close the lid, and crank it for two minutes. Then you drain the water, fill it with clean water and crank it for another minute to rinse. Then you wring your clothes out and dry them.
The wonderwash worked ok, but it was extremely labor intensive. I was basically hand-washing everything. Also, it's really small, so I could only wash a few items at a time. Since it doesn't have a spin cycle, my clothes took forever to dry on the clothesline I had strung up in my shower to compensate for the loss of my dryer.
I still have the wonderwash sitting in a closet somewhere. If I ever have a laundry emergency during a power outage, I'm good to go.
Story 3 "All Good Things Must Come to an End"- Setting: February 2009
In August 2006, I bought an apartment sized washing machine. It's made by some company in China called Haier. It's about the size of a garbage can, and it's designed to hook up to the sink and roll away into a closet when not in use. It can only wash small loads, and it plays "Jingle Bells" at the end of the cycle. I found a 110 volt dryer in December 2006, and I leave it on my balcony so that it can vent. All in all, I've got a pretty good setup. No more laundromats for me.
Well, when you buy a $100 washing machine that comes from some unknown company in China and is made of plastic, a limited life-span is to be expected. When I first got the washer, I was the only person using it. I'm single and I don't generate much laundry. Now, both of my roommates are using it as well, and they each have a kid. So, instead of laundry for one adult, it's laundry for three adults and two children.
About three months ago, the washer started making awful clunking noises during the spin cycle. I took a look at it and noticed the belt was getting worn. I trimmed the loose bits of rubber and that seemed to fix it for a short while. About a month ago, it started making the noise again, and clothes would come out soaking wet, as if it hadn't been through a spin cycle. I replaced the belt last week. (It took that long for the part to arrive.) The first load worked like a dream. The second load was back to the clunking, whirring jet-engine noise and soaked clothing.
I figured it was toast, so I started scouring the internet for a replacement. A new one was going to cost $200. I found some on craigslist ranging from $50 to $120. At first I was hesitant to buy a used appliance that only had a lifespan of 2 1/2 years, but I decided I was cheap. Anyway, the first appointment fell through, and my roommate managed to limp the washer along a little while longer.
Last night, I did my laundry again, and I had to majorly wring my clothes out. The spin cycle is completely toast, but the rest of it works fine. Now I have to figure out what to do. My options are:
1. Replace the washer. This would have the advantage of getting a fresh start and may end up being the easiest solution. Still, I'm hesitant because the washer still gets my clothes clean.
2. Deal with it the way it is now. This may be the cheapest solution. However, it's a pain to have to wring out the clothes, and even when I wring them out, they still take longer in the dryer because I'm not as good as a spin cycle. Plus, I don't know how dilligent my roommates are going to be about wringing out their clothes, and I'm the one paying the electric bill.
3. Invest in a spin dryer. I've recently become aware of a nifty contraption called a spin dryer. Basically, it's an appliance that is like a souped-up spin cycle. It spins at about 3200 rpm and uses centrifugal force to extract the water. You run it for 2-3 minutes per load. It cuts down drying time because the clothes are practcally dry already.
So, that's my laundry saga. Who knew that getting clothes clean could be such a task. At least I don't have to beat my clothes with rocks in the river.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
Goodbye, Sunglasses
When I was 15 1/2, I bought a pair of sunglasses to celebrate getting my learner's permit. My original goal was to have them last at least until I got my driver's license. I paid $9.99 for them. My dad said he thought I would lose them before my 16th birthday.
I loved those sunglasses. Not only did I manage to hang onto them well past my birthday, I managed to hang onto them into and past college. Those sunglasses have been sat on, stepped on, and left in the hot car to melt. They still survived and thrived. They've been to France, Israel, Canada, North Carolina, and Virginia. I wore them in an Air Force uniform, in missionary attire, and in normal clothing. Those sunglasses were a part of me.
Last week I went to put them on and the temple snapped clean off. There's no repairing them. It's time to move on and find a new pair. I hope I can find another pair as good and sturdy.
I loved those sunglasses. Not only did I manage to hang onto them well past my birthday, I managed to hang onto them into and past college. Those sunglasses have been sat on, stepped on, and left in the hot car to melt. They still survived and thrived. They've been to France, Israel, Canada, North Carolina, and Virginia. I wore them in an Air Force uniform, in missionary attire, and in normal clothing. Those sunglasses were a part of me.
Last week I went to put them on and the temple snapped clean off. There's no repairing them. It's time to move on and find a new pair. I hope I can find another pair as good and sturdy.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Feeling Overwhelmed
I haven't blogged in a while because I've been swamped. The nature of temp work is that it's either feast or famine, and I've been blessed with steady regular temp work for the last few weeks. This is in addition to the weekend job that I hold down to give me health insurance and tide me over during the dry spells. Oh, and I'm still in law school. Needless to say, I'm exhausted. The company I've been temping at is considering hiring me on full-time in the HR department. (Of course, if I had a dollar for every company that has told me that, I would be able to take you out to a nice dinner...)
So, I need to make some choices and changes, and what better way to base major life decisions than by taking a poll of anonymous internet people?
Update: We're going to do this low-tech because I couldn't get the polling software to work properly. If you want to vote, please leave your answer in the comments.
Trudy should...
a) Keep things the way they are. It's only for 2-3 more years, and who needs sleep anyway?
b) Stay in law school part-time and work full-time as Catbert's minion.
c) Switch to full-time law school and graduate with a mortgage sized student loan debt load.
d) Stay in law school part-time and work full-time as a Biglaw paralegal.
e) Forget law school and join the circus.
So, I need to make some choices and changes, and what better way to base major life decisions than by taking a poll of anonymous internet people?
Update: We're going to do this low-tech because I couldn't get the polling software to work properly. If you want to vote, please leave your answer in the comments.
Trudy should...
a) Keep things the way they are. It's only for 2-3 more years, and who needs sleep anyway?
b) Stay in law school part-time and work full-time as Catbert's minion.
c) Switch to full-time law school and graduate with a mortgage sized student loan debt load.
d) Stay in law school part-time and work full-time as a Biglaw paralegal.
e) Forget law school and join the circus.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Trials of Fake Post Offices
I'm sure you've seen those post office branches. They're post offices, but not post offices, and they're commonly found in places like greeting card shops. (I won't name names, but the chain rhymes with "ballpark".) Sometimes they're convenient, and I mail a lot of stuff, so I like to think I know the ropes about mailing.
Usually I'll go to the regular post office, but it's tucked away in a little corner of town surrounded by one-way streets and poor traffic control. One day last summer, I went to the fake post office at the local "ballpark" store intending to mail a book. There was a man staffing the counter who I'm pretty sure was the forgotten eighth dwarf, Surly, who didn't make it into Snow White's story. He snapped at a little old lady for asking how much it would be to mail a calendar. When it was my turn, I presented my package. Surly weighed it and quoted the price. I tried to pay using exact change, and he wouldn't accept my pennies. He was quite rude about it, so I decided to take my business elsewhere. I've never mailed at "ballpark" since.
Today, I needed to mail another book. I had to be on campus early for a meeting today, so I figured I would just mail it from the university post office. (This is at a private university.) I went down into the cavernous recesses of the student union basement and ventured into the underground parcel lair. I'm sure the woman who staffed the counter must be Surly's sister. I presented my package and she weighed it. She quoted me a price, something like $2.53 and said cash only. I pulled out three $1 coins to pay. She looked at me with a scowl and said "I don't accept those." I politely informed her that it was valid U.S. currency, and she scowled and said that she couldn't exchange them (whatever that was supposed to mean). She said I could go next door to the quick mart to get change. I was annoyed, so I politely asked for my package back. I'll mail it from the real post office on my way home.
It's pretty sad that the people at the government run post office actually provide better customer service than people at privately run post offices. What's so hard about accepting U.S. money to mail packages from the U.S., to the U.S. to be delivered by the U.S. postal service?
Usually I'll go to the regular post office, but it's tucked away in a little corner of town surrounded by one-way streets and poor traffic control. One day last summer, I went to the fake post office at the local "ballpark" store intending to mail a book. There was a man staffing the counter who I'm pretty sure was the forgotten eighth dwarf, Surly, who didn't make it into Snow White's story. He snapped at a little old lady for asking how much it would be to mail a calendar. When it was my turn, I presented my package. Surly weighed it and quoted the price. I tried to pay using exact change, and he wouldn't accept my pennies. He was quite rude about it, so I decided to take my business elsewhere. I've never mailed at "ballpark" since.
Today, I needed to mail another book. I had to be on campus early for a meeting today, so I figured I would just mail it from the university post office. (This is at a private university.) I went down into the cavernous recesses of the student union basement and ventured into the underground parcel lair. I'm sure the woman who staffed the counter must be Surly's sister. I presented my package and she weighed it. She quoted me a price, something like $2.53 and said cash only. I pulled out three $1 coins to pay. She looked at me with a scowl and said "I don't accept those." I politely informed her that it was valid U.S. currency, and she scowled and said that she couldn't exchange them (whatever that was supposed to mean). She said I could go next door to the quick mart to get change. I was annoyed, so I politely asked for my package back. I'll mail it from the real post office on my way home.
It's pretty sad that the people at the government run post office actually provide better customer service than people at privately run post offices. What's so hard about accepting U.S. money to mail packages from the U.S., to the U.S. to be delivered by the U.S. postal service?
Monday, January 19, 2009
Un-Shopping
I really dislike running errands. It's just a big pain that takes away from other things I would rather be doing, like reading, sleeping, working, etc. Shopping is my least favorite errand, because not only is it annoying, it's also expensive.
Last week, my to-do list finally got so long I couldn't put it off any longer. I got started on what I like to call un-shopping. I had some old clothes that needed to go to the thrift store. I had some books that I needed to sell to the used bookstore. I had a television antenna that I needed to return to Radio Shack. So, I started out with a bunch of stuff and no money, and I ended my trip with no stuff and a bunch of money. Much better than shopping.
Last week, my to-do list finally got so long I couldn't put it off any longer. I got started on what I like to call un-shopping. I had some old clothes that needed to go to the thrift store. I had some books that I needed to sell to the used bookstore. I had a television antenna that I needed to return to Radio Shack. So, I started out with a bunch of stuff and no money, and I ended my trip with no stuff and a bunch of money. Much better than shopping.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Happy New Year!
I've been a vacationing slacker. (I haven't been slacking in my vacationing duties; I've been on vacation and slacking at everything else.) As such, I completely neglected to make posts about Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanzaa, or any other holidays celebrated this time of year. I'm going to at least recognize what my cousin refers to as "the arbitrarily designated end and start of the Earth's revolution". So, there you have it, Happy New Year.
I make resolutions each year, and I break them by the end of January. Here's this year's list:
1) I resolve to stop procrastinating...tomorrow.
2) I resolve to tone down the sarcasm. (Yeah, right...)
I make resolutions each year, and I break them by the end of January. Here's this year's list:
1) I resolve to stop procrastinating...tomorrow.
2) I resolve to tone down the sarcasm. (Yeah, right...)
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Au Revoir to My Long Hair
I've had long hair for most of my life. My mom made me cut it from waist-length to chin-length when I was 12, but I immediately started growing it right back out. By the time I was 14, it was back to my waist. Since then, I've kept it between the middle of my back and my hips, preferring it slightly past the middle of my back.
Last week, I decided it was time for a trim since I hadn't gotten it cut in a while. I debated cutting it shorter than normal, and I finally settled on right around my shoulder blades. I did some research and realized that I had enough to donate it to one of those organizations that makes wigs for people. I called around to a few salons, and none of them participated, so I decided to cut my hair myself.
This was my first mistake. There's a reason I'm in law school and not cosmetology school. I shouldn't be trusted with a pair of scissors. I planned on cutting off 8 inches, the minimum needed for donation. I measured wrong and ended up with 12 inches. My hair was uneven and just past shoulder length.
Enter my second mistake: excessive frugality. I usually go to Supercuts or Great Clips to get my hair cut. I can get a cut and shampoo for $15-20. Well, I decided that I didn't want to spend that much, so I called the local beauty college. They were running a special for $5. I had gone to the beauty college before for other services and I was pleased, so I figured I would give it a try.
I went in and asked just to have it evened out, but to keep my hair as long as possible. The student began clipping away. She clipped, and clipped, and kept clipping. I reminded her that I didn't want a lot cut off. She was dividing it into sections and trying to give me layers. When I told her I didn't want layers, she mumbled something about school rules. Then she tried to give me bangs. I grew my bangs out when I was 12 and my mom finally wasn't making me have them anymore. I've never looked back.
To make a long story even longer, I managed to get out of there without layers or bangs, but I lost another 3 inches of hair. It now barely touches the tops of my shoulders when it has been straightened. I shudder to think how short it's going to be when I let it go curly again. Now I'll have to figure out how to fix my hair. I can't put it up in a bun or a braid anymore, and those were two of my favorite styles. I have it in a headband to keep it out of my face, but I'm quickly running out of ideas.
At least it will grow back.
Last week, I decided it was time for a trim since I hadn't gotten it cut in a while. I debated cutting it shorter than normal, and I finally settled on right around my shoulder blades. I did some research and realized that I had enough to donate it to one of those organizations that makes wigs for people. I called around to a few salons, and none of them participated, so I decided to cut my hair myself.
This was my first mistake. There's a reason I'm in law school and not cosmetology school. I shouldn't be trusted with a pair of scissors. I planned on cutting off 8 inches, the minimum needed for donation. I measured wrong and ended up with 12 inches. My hair was uneven and just past shoulder length.
Enter my second mistake: excessive frugality. I usually go to Supercuts or Great Clips to get my hair cut. I can get a cut and shampoo for $15-20. Well, I decided that I didn't want to spend that much, so I called the local beauty college. They were running a special for $5. I had gone to the beauty college before for other services and I was pleased, so I figured I would give it a try.
I went in and asked just to have it evened out, but to keep my hair as long as possible. The student began clipping away. She clipped, and clipped, and kept clipping. I reminded her that I didn't want a lot cut off. She was dividing it into sections and trying to give me layers. When I told her I didn't want layers, she mumbled something about school rules. Then she tried to give me bangs. I grew my bangs out when I was 12 and my mom finally wasn't making me have them anymore. I've never looked back.
To make a long story even longer, I managed to get out of there without layers or bangs, but I lost another 3 inches of hair. It now barely touches the tops of my shoulders when it has been straightened. I shudder to think how short it's going to be when I let it go curly again. Now I'll have to figure out how to fix my hair. I can't put it up in a bun or a braid anymore, and those were two of my favorite styles. I have it in a headband to keep it out of my face, but I'm quickly running out of ideas.
At least it will grow back.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Grand Plans for Christmas Break
A few days ago, I just finished finals for the semester, and I'm experiencing a mixture of emotions as a result. Suffice it to say I'm relieved/concerned/tired/drained/relieved/penitent/relieved. I have a month off from school, so I have some grand plans.
1. Clean my apartment from top to bottom. Housekeeping has kind of slipped the past few weeks, and I find myself staring at/tripping over barely controlled chaos. Truth be told, it will probably only stay tidy for a week or so, but I can try. (Curse the Second Law of Thermodynamics...)
2. Get caught up on reading for fun. I've already started this one. On Friday, I read Anthem by Ayn Rand. I liked it better than The Fountainhead, but not as well as Atlas Shrugged. I plan on reading, in no particular order, The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, Freakonomics by Steven Levitt and Steven Dubner, and Restoring the Lost Constitution by Randy Barnett.
3. Write. I guess by doing this blog post, I've gotten started at this one as well.
4. Go job hunting. I'm tired of temping. I need stability and I want to use my training. If you know of any lawyers who are looking for a paralegal, I'm looking for a job.
5. Practice the recorder. I've been letting my music slip by the wayside. I was talking with the orchestra last night at intermission, and I think I'm going to play with them next year. Soprano choral singers are a dime a dozen, but I would be the only tenor recorder in the orchestra. (I would play the music of the second oboe, which would work great because there is only one oboe now.)
So, this is my list of plans. What will probably happen is that I'll sleep in, stay in my pajamas until noon, and snuggle up with my cat to watch television re-runs. I can dream big, though.
1. Clean my apartment from top to bottom. Housekeeping has kind of slipped the past few weeks, and I find myself staring at/tripping over barely controlled chaos. Truth be told, it will probably only stay tidy for a week or so, but I can try. (Curse the Second Law of Thermodynamics...)
2. Get caught up on reading for fun. I've already started this one. On Friday, I read Anthem by Ayn Rand. I liked it better than The Fountainhead, but not as well as Atlas Shrugged. I plan on reading, in no particular order, The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, Freakonomics by Steven Levitt and Steven Dubner, and Restoring the Lost Constitution by Randy Barnett.
3. Write. I guess by doing this blog post, I've gotten started at this one as well.
4. Go job hunting. I'm tired of temping. I need stability and I want to use my training. If you know of any lawyers who are looking for a paralegal, I'm looking for a job.
5. Practice the recorder. I've been letting my music slip by the wayside. I was talking with the orchestra last night at intermission, and I think I'm going to play with them next year. Soprano choral singers are a dime a dozen, but I would be the only tenor recorder in the orchestra. (I would play the music of the second oboe, which would work great because there is only one oboe now.)
So, this is my list of plans. What will probably happen is that I'll sleep in, stay in my pajamas until noon, and snuggle up with my cat to watch television re-runs. I can dream big, though.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
How the Cat Stole Christmas
I love decorating for Christmas. When I was growing up, my parents always had an artificial tree. The year I moved out, they got a new tree, so they gave me their old one, which was about 10 years old. I used it the first year and contemplated giving it away after that because it was starting to show its age. Being a poor grad student, however, I decided to make it last for another year. So, I used it last year with no problems. I once again thought about giving it away, but I decided to make it last for yet another year.
I live in a small apartment with 4 other people, 2 cats, and a chihuahua, so storage space is a bit limited. I store my tree at my parents' house in the off-season. On Thursday, after Thanksgiving dinner, I loaded the tree into my car and headed home. I set the tree up that night, and I realized that I should have given it away last year. It looked sad and worn. When I wasn't looking, my roommate's kitten, Pumpkin, managed to climb up into the tree, bend the branches, and knock other branches out of place. I removed him and began to string up the lights. He climbed back up and we played this game for over an hour.
I finally got the tree put together with the lights strung up, and then I went to bed. I didn't get around to putting up ornaments until Sunday, and Pumpkin pretty much left them alone. I finished putting up the ornaments on Monday night. Yesterday morning, one of my roommates (not Pumpkin's owner) said that Pumpkin had climbed up into the tree, knocked the ornaments down, and batted them around on the floor like cat toys. Later in the day, I saw him do the same thing, and he even broke one of my ornaments. (Fortunately, it was a cheap one that I didn't care much about.) He kept knocking branches down, and I was so frustrated that I took the tree down and put the furniture back where it belonged.
I called my mom and asked if I could borrow her little display tree that she used back in the day when she sold Christmas ornaments at craft fairs. She said yes. I now have a tiny 1 1/2 foot tree sitting on an end table with 6 ornaments and a string of lights. Pumpkin started batting at that one, too, but then I stuck some peppermint leaves in the tree and he hasn't touched it since. I just wish I had known about that little trick before I took the big tree down.
Oh, and I gave the big tree to the thrift store last night. Hopefully it will brighten someone else's Christmas.
I live in a small apartment with 4 other people, 2 cats, and a chihuahua, so storage space is a bit limited. I store my tree at my parents' house in the off-season. On Thursday, after Thanksgiving dinner, I loaded the tree into my car and headed home. I set the tree up that night, and I realized that I should have given it away last year. It looked sad and worn. When I wasn't looking, my roommate's kitten, Pumpkin, managed to climb up into the tree, bend the branches, and knock other branches out of place. I removed him and began to string up the lights. He climbed back up and we played this game for over an hour.
I finally got the tree put together with the lights strung up, and then I went to bed. I didn't get around to putting up ornaments until Sunday, and Pumpkin pretty much left them alone. I finished putting up the ornaments on Monday night. Yesterday morning, one of my roommates (not Pumpkin's owner) said that Pumpkin had climbed up into the tree, knocked the ornaments down, and batted them around on the floor like cat toys. Later in the day, I saw him do the same thing, and he even broke one of my ornaments. (Fortunately, it was a cheap one that I didn't care much about.) He kept knocking branches down, and I was so frustrated that I took the tree down and put the furniture back where it belonged.
I called my mom and asked if I could borrow her little display tree that she used back in the day when she sold Christmas ornaments at craft fairs. She said yes. I now have a tiny 1 1/2 foot tree sitting on an end table with 6 ornaments and a string of lights. Pumpkin started batting at that one, too, but then I stuck some peppermint leaves in the tree and he hasn't touched it since. I just wish I had known about that little trick before I took the big tree down.
Oh, and I gave the big tree to the thrift store last night. Hopefully it will brighten someone else's Christmas.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Karaoke
Last week was my sister's birthday, and we went out as a family to a hibachi grill. (The kind where the chef plays with your food at the table.) The chef wasn't as entertaining as some are, but he was a better cook than most, so the food was excellent. It was karaoke night, so Jen and I decided to sing.
Background: I was in the opera in college and I've taken years of voice lessons and I sing semi-professionally, although I sing less frequently now because of school and work demands.
There is a dearth of pop music written for sopranos, but I decided to sing Girls Just Wanna Have Fun. I was pretty bad, to be honest. (Although, I was better than most people. I had the advantage of being sober.) My timing was off, and I was apparently hard to hear, even with the microphone. I had fun anyway, and that's what counts. Jen sang Gypsies, Tramps, and Thieves, and she was great. She could give Cher a run for her money.
Background: I was in the opera in college and I've taken years of voice lessons and I sing semi-professionally, although I sing less frequently now because of school and work demands.
There is a dearth of pop music written for sopranos, but I decided to sing Girls Just Wanna Have Fun. I was pretty bad, to be honest. (Although, I was better than most people. I had the advantage of being sober.) My timing was off, and I was apparently hard to hear, even with the microphone. I had fun anyway, and that's what counts. Jen sang Gypsies, Tramps, and Thieves, and she was great. She could give Cher a run for her money.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Happy Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. I love getting together with friends and family and celebrating all of the many things we have to be grateful for. I'm of course grateful for the traditional things like food, clothing, shelter, family, liberty, etc. However, what follows is a lighthearted list of things I'm grateful for.
1. I'm grateful that my cat, unlike my roommate's cat, is not inclined to scale the screen door.
2. I'm grateful that I now have a magnetic cat door that will allow my cat into my bedroom, but will not allow my roommate's cat in.
3. I'm grateful that the construction at my apartment complex is nearly finished and may be done sometime before the turn of the century.
4. I'm grateful that my inability to afford cable has granted me the opportunity to try to learn Spanish. (I have an antenna, and most of the channels I can pick up are in Spanish. I think the only English channels I can get are ABC and PBS.)
5. I'm grateful that the trackpad and trackball on my laptop are working today.
6. I'm grateful that somebody will read this blog entry and comment on it. (Hint, hint...)
Have a happy Thanksgiving. What are you grateful for? (Serious or lighthearted, it's all good.)
1. I'm grateful that my cat, unlike my roommate's cat, is not inclined to scale the screen door.
2. I'm grateful that I now have a magnetic cat door that will allow my cat into my bedroom, but will not allow my roommate's cat in.
3. I'm grateful that the construction at my apartment complex is nearly finished and may be done sometime before the turn of the century.
4. I'm grateful that my inability to afford cable has granted me the opportunity to try to learn Spanish. (I have an antenna, and most of the channels I can pick up are in Spanish. I think the only English channels I can get are ABC and PBS.)
5. I'm grateful that the trackpad and trackball on my laptop are working today.
6. I'm grateful that somebody will read this blog entry and comment on it. (Hint, hint...)
Have a happy Thanksgiving. What are you grateful for? (Serious or lighthearted, it's all good.)
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Out of Gas
Literally, not metaphorically...
I'm a terrible procrastinator. I keep trying to overcome it, but it pays off just often enough to remove the incentive to stop. However, it did not pay off yesterday.
I'm usually pretty good about filling my car up with gas. When I have a quarter tank left, I fill up. I get excellent gas mileage, so I can let it go for longer, but since I work weird hours in sketchy areas, I don't usually push my luck.
Thursday morning, I noticed that I only had a quarter tank of gas left, so I figured I would stop at the bank and then the gas station on my way into school. (The gas station I go to gives a discount for paying in cash.) I was running late that afternoon, so I didn't stop by on my way to class. On my way home, I decided that I was too tired and that it was late, so I decided to push off filling up to the next morning. I went home and looked for parking. Since my roommate hogs the parking spot, I had to circle the (very large) block a few times before finding a spot. I parked my car and trudged to my apartment.
In the morning, I decided to go to the library to check out some books. (Real live novels, not textbooks. I feel so decadent.) I walked out to my car and got in. I turned the key, and my car wouldn't start. My car is really old, and the battery dies frequently, so I figured that was the problem. Then I realized that the radio and the lights worked, so it couldn't be the battery. I thought about calling AAA, but then it dawned on me that I might be out of gas. Fortunately, there is a gas station about a block away from my apartment. I grabbed my wallet and trudged up the street.
When I got there, I bought a gas can, filled it with a gallon of gas, and walked back home. I put the gas in my car, and sure enough, the car started. I promptly stopped for gas before running my errands.
I'm just glad that if I had to run out of gas, that it was in broad daylight in front of my apartment complex on a day when I wasn't in a hurry to get anywhere. This could have been much worse. Now, I'm going to be extra vigilant about filling up when I get low.
I'm a terrible procrastinator. I keep trying to overcome it, but it pays off just often enough to remove the incentive to stop. However, it did not pay off yesterday.
I'm usually pretty good about filling my car up with gas. When I have a quarter tank left, I fill up. I get excellent gas mileage, so I can let it go for longer, but since I work weird hours in sketchy areas, I don't usually push my luck.
Thursday morning, I noticed that I only had a quarter tank of gas left, so I figured I would stop at the bank and then the gas station on my way into school. (The gas station I go to gives a discount for paying in cash.) I was running late that afternoon, so I didn't stop by on my way to class. On my way home, I decided that I was too tired and that it was late, so I decided to push off filling up to the next morning. I went home and looked for parking. Since my roommate hogs the parking spot, I had to circle the (very large) block a few times before finding a spot. I parked my car and trudged to my apartment.
In the morning, I decided to go to the library to check out some books. (Real live novels, not textbooks. I feel so decadent.) I walked out to my car and got in. I turned the key, and my car wouldn't start. My car is really old, and the battery dies frequently, so I figured that was the problem. Then I realized that the radio and the lights worked, so it couldn't be the battery. I thought about calling AAA, but then it dawned on me that I might be out of gas. Fortunately, there is a gas station about a block away from my apartment. I grabbed my wallet and trudged up the street.
When I got there, I bought a gas can, filled it with a gallon of gas, and walked back home. I put the gas in my car, and sure enough, the car started. I promptly stopped for gas before running my errands.
I'm just glad that if I had to run out of gas, that it was in broad daylight in front of my apartment complex on a day when I wasn't in a hurry to get anywhere. This could have been much worse. Now, I'm going to be extra vigilant about filling up when I get low.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Cleaning Disk Drives
Note to self: When you clean a disk, that is not to be interpreted literally.
I got up at 4:00 am this morning to finish my term paper that was due at 5:30 pm today. I worked all day, and I did my laundry while I was working. Well, around 11:00, I went to switch my load. I heard some rattling at the bottom of the washing machine, and I fished out my flash drive. I dried it off and put it in my computer. All files are present and accounted for, thankfully. I think I need a nap.
I got up at 4:00 am this morning to finish my term paper that was due at 5:30 pm today. I worked all day, and I did my laundry while I was working. Well, around 11:00, I went to switch my load. I heard some rattling at the bottom of the washing machine, and I fished out my flash drive. I dried it off and put it in my computer. All files are present and accounted for, thankfully. I think I need a nap.
Friday, November 7, 2008
It's a Hardware Problem
My dad is a software engineer, so whenever he can't fix something, he proclaims it to be a hardware problem, and thus not his department. I'm a political scientist, not a computer scientist, but in this technological age, I've had to learn my fair share about computers. I've never had any formal training (except for the typing class I had to take in high school), but I've managed to pick it up quite well.
When my laptop died last year, my dad and one other computer engineer said that it was toast and that I would have to buy a new one. Since I was (and still am) on a student budget (seriously, grad students are even poorer than undergrads), I was determined to fix it. It turns out that my hard drive was scratched and all I had to do was replace it. No problem. I took care of it in under an hour. (Well, under an hour once I diagnosed the problem...it took me a lot longer than that to figure out what the problem was.)
Computer knowledge is a blessing and a liability. On the blessing side, I can set up and manage my wireless network without paying anyone else to do it. On the other hand, once people find out my hidden talent, they are forever asking me to fix their computers.
This is especially pronounced at work. I provide in-home care for disabled adults. My two clients share an apartment, and I come in on the weekend to provide care. There are other staff members who come in during the week. There is an internet connection available for staff use. Somehow, I ended up as the de-facto network administrator.
Sometime during the week, some of the staff members had moved the telephones in the apartment. When I arrived this evening, the person I was relieving said that for some unknown reason, the computer was broken, and she asked me to take a look at it. I did, and the computer was fine. However, the internet connection was down. I couldn't find any reason why it should have been down. The computer had a good connection to the router, and the router had a good connection to the modem. I checked all plugs, and then on a whim, I walked out to the kitchen. Sure enough, the spare phone had been plugged into the wall without a DSL filter. I unplugged the spare phone, and, voila! Internet access.
Lesson of the day: When in doubt, it's a hardware problem.
When my laptop died last year, my dad and one other computer engineer said that it was toast and that I would have to buy a new one. Since I was (and still am) on a student budget (seriously, grad students are even poorer than undergrads), I was determined to fix it. It turns out that my hard drive was scratched and all I had to do was replace it. No problem. I took care of it in under an hour. (Well, under an hour once I diagnosed the problem...it took me a lot longer than that to figure out what the problem was.)
Computer knowledge is a blessing and a liability. On the blessing side, I can set up and manage my wireless network without paying anyone else to do it. On the other hand, once people find out my hidden talent, they are forever asking me to fix their computers.
This is especially pronounced at work. I provide in-home care for disabled adults. My two clients share an apartment, and I come in on the weekend to provide care. There are other staff members who come in during the week. There is an internet connection available for staff use. Somehow, I ended up as the de-facto network administrator.
Sometime during the week, some of the staff members had moved the telephones in the apartment. When I arrived this evening, the person I was relieving said that for some unknown reason, the computer was broken, and she asked me to take a look at it. I did, and the computer was fine. However, the internet connection was down. I couldn't find any reason why it should have been down. The computer had a good connection to the router, and the router had a good connection to the modem. I checked all plugs, and then on a whim, I walked out to the kitchen. Sure enough, the spare phone had been plugged into the wall without a DSL filter. I unplugged the spare phone, and, voila! Internet access.
Lesson of the day: When in doubt, it's a hardware problem.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Vote!
I promised that this blog wouldn't be serious, so I'll start with my public service announcement and then follow it up with levity.
Today is election day. Our forefathers and foremothers sacrificed greatly so that we could have the right to vote. Don't let that sacrifice be in vain.
Now, for a bit of humor...A few years ago, I stumbled across a website called "Nobody for President". After all, Nobody can be trusted to keep his campaign promises.
Nobody will promise to end the war in Iraq!
Nobody promises to give power back to the citizens!
Nobody will promise to stop spying on Americans!
Nobody will promise to end corruption in the Government!
Nobody will promise to run on a platform of Peace!
Nobody will promise to stop government subsidies!
Nobody promises to cut Military Spending!
Nobody promises to reform our Election Process!
Nobody promises to create a lasting Peace in the Middle East!
Nobody promises to end the War on Drugs!
So, on this election day, go out and vote. Nobody will make you!
Today is election day. Our forefathers and foremothers sacrificed greatly so that we could have the right to vote. Don't let that sacrifice be in vain.
Now, for a bit of humor...A few years ago, I stumbled across a website called "Nobody for President". After all, Nobody can be trusted to keep his campaign promises.
Nobody will promise to end the war in Iraq!
Nobody promises to give power back to the citizens!
Nobody will promise to stop spying on Americans!
Nobody will promise to end corruption in the Government!
Nobody will promise to run on a platform of Peace!
Nobody will promise to stop government subsidies!
Nobody promises to cut Military Spending!
Nobody promises to reform our Election Process!
Nobody promises to create a lasting Peace in the Middle East!
Nobody promises to end the War on Drugs!
So, on this election day, go out and vote. Nobody will make you!
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