Never EVER let your dog get locked in your bedroom, but if it should happen, here's what to do beforehand to save your sanity:

Make sure you...
Because the smell WILL go through every layer imaginable. Then...
Much more simpler and cheaper than buying another carpet and carpet pad. And believe me, since bedding is machine washable, if the dog DID track it all over, it's much easier to deal with.

The last mess was in the TV room and it got three sets of shoes, on the TV room carpet, the dog bed, the couch that thankfully had a slip cover, the kitchen floor, the hallway carpet, the front door carpet, under my computer desk which is the dog's favorite place to lie, and all over the bottom of the dog's foot. That was a miserable evening of four-hour cleanup. Fortunately, today's mess was a lot quicker and easier an ordeal.

My special advice, fresh from dog poop central. Here's hoping you have a clean, tidy, and dog-poop-in-the-house-free week.

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Labels: Animals, Family, Home Maintenance, Tips, Works for Me Wednesday

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

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Labels: Home Maintenance, Tips, Weather, Works for Me Wednesday

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Another Honda recall was issued yesterday, July 17, 2008, by the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC), this time for log splitters with Honda engines because of fire hazard.

The CPSC says "The engine's fuel tank can crack and leak, posing a risk of fire or explosion.... The log splitters with the recalled engines were sold at outdoor power equipment dealers and Tractor Supply stores nationwide from January 2007 through June 2008 for between $1,150 and $1,500."

With people preparing for winter and wood burning families undertaking log splitting, now is the time to check your log splitter's make and model to make sure you don't have one of these recalled splitters.

The recall affects Split Masters by SpeeCo and Huskee log splitters (models listed below) with Honda engine model type GCV160LA N1A and engine serial numbers between 5547012 and 6880908. You can find the serial number near the oil dip stick below the upper shroud. They are colored either silver/black or red/black.


If you find you own one of these recalled log splitter engines, stop using it immediately and contact any Honda Lawn and Garden dealer or Honda Engine dealer to secure your free repair.

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Labels: Recalls, Tools

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

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Labels: Economy, Energy, Finances, Works for Me Wednesday

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What's worse than $5.079 per gallon for kerosene 2008-2009 prepay price?

Calling back to order prepay for the season and being told they sold it all so you can't buy prepay.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sounds like a bad joke, but it's no joke. Only bad. It's the second time in a month I've felt sick to my stomach at news--the first time over the initial prepay fuel price I so wanted to refuse to pay but couldn't out of no alternative.

The company said they sold in three days what they normally sell in five weeks for kerosene. Good for them? Not really. They say they're making the same profit they did last year when prices were $2+ per gallon less. You know where the money is really going.

I even asked about their requirements for enclosing a tank to buy oil at $4.67, which is sounding pretty good right now, but they require the tank be in a heated enclosure, not just an insulated box. Now I'm not sure what we'll do.

The good news right now is that it looks like the weatherization we did last year reduced the amount of kerosene we used so we need less. (And that reminds me, I never posted the weatherization pictures. That, I'll have to do.)

So for now, we're on the waiting list. If the fuel company buys more kerosene, they may let us buy prepay. If not, it's right back to where we always were: trusting God.

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Labels: Economy, Energy, Finances, Home Maintenance, World Events

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