August 05, 2010

Thurs., 08/05/10



Hello!

Today I want to discuss noise. Yesterday I used computer to read about soundproofing.

There are web sites & people devoted to the subject.

Do you know if you mask one sound another one will take its place? For example, if you eliminate a barking dog you might hear a baby crying.

If I could afford to have my whole house soundproofed I would still be assaulted by noisy motor vehicles when I step outdoors. Now I don't enjoy walking to library, p.o., supermkt., & hardware store because traffic is noisy, & I have to look both ways at intersections before running across streets.

Do all new jobs involve motors & noise? Are they all created for men? Are any new jobs being created for quiet & creative people? Most women don't want to drive trucks or pound nails. Where are the jobs for women's college graduates? English majors? single women who depend on salaries for housing, food, utilities, & clothes?

Hot weather continues in northwestern Vermont. I better make ice now to keep lunch at dept. store fresh tomorrow.

Bye

Mon., 01/04/10

Hello. This is my first 2010 post to this blog.

In Sept. 2009 I joined gather.com where member contributions earn points redeemable for gift cards.

Not until recently did I have any compact fluorescent "lamps" in sockets. [When did light bulbs become "lamps?" window panes "lights?"]

A great gift for college students, retirees, & unemployed workers is a CFL. Savings in terms of dollars & energy are impressive as is long life of CFL. Give CFLs to everybody!

I've been thinking about light bulbs since bulb in garage fixture burned out. At least I think it burned out. Turns out the bulb was a 4.65" halogen double-ended "lamp." In November 2009 I ordered a replacement electronically. It wasn't in stock & had to be ordered. Six wks. later UPS delivered lamp to my house.

Fixture is mounted on garage near the gable. To remove old bulb & install new one I used ext. ladder. Driveway is uneven. When I installed replacement bulb or lamp I put summer tires around feet of ladder to increase my safety & self-confidence. Two springs in fixture hold lamp. I had to climb ladder at least 12 times to try every combination before lamp illuminated when turned on. Switch is in the kitchen. While installing lamp I noticed spring connections are rusty.

Halogen burns at high temperature & one is supposed to handle lamp with paper towel or clean cloth. Skin contains oil/s which will damage bulb or shorten its life.

About two yrs. ago I bought a pr. of three-way porcelain lamps at a resale shop. After both lamps fell to floor on separate occasions bulbs didn't operate at three settings. They only emitted 70 watts of light not 30 or 100. When I bought CFLs I also bought two three-way bulbs for the sake of safety. I don't want to worry about bulb not actually being OFF while I'm at work.

Does anybody know if CFLs are available with three-settings for three-way lamps/light fixtures?

Happy new yr. & decade

Bye

Wed., 10/14/09

Hello

What I have seen of fall this yr. while walking around my small Vt. city & driving to solid waste drop-off center is spectacular. Maple leaves don't all stop producing chlorophyll at same time so foliage occurs in stages. Trees on my property are late bloomers. Leaves are gradually changing colors & still cling to trees.

Today I raked enough leaves near busy street & on sidewalk to fill two trash cans. (They fell from a neighbor's tree.) I dumped leaves in compost pile. Several times this yr. I've mowed leaves for mulch.

This yr. I've bought a few buttercup squashes & a pie pumpkin. Always I roast the seeds. They provide protein.

I like pumpkins because they are handsome & edible.

Bye

Thurs., 8/20/09

Hello

It's been weeks since I've posted to this blog!

Last Wed., 8/12/09 I was dismissed from temporary psych tech job. It took me about six mos. to get the job.

Summer weather finally arrived in Vt. about 10 days ago. Rain is expected this evening & tomorrow. I don't mind a few days of hazy, hot, & humid weather.

This Sat. I should visit farmers mkt. in Taylor Pk. to buy an ear or two of sweet corn. It's delicious without butter.

As always, thank you for visiting.

Bye

Mon., 07/13/09

Hello!

It's been weeks since I've published a new post. Mon., 06/01/09 I began a new job which requires spending almost an hr. driving to work & an hr. driving home. That's 10 hrs. behind a wheel weekly.

About a wk. ago screws on old toilet seat rusted away. At a hardware store I bought an oak seat. It's easy to install. More difficult was installing burlap curtain panels on 3-season porch. Instead of expensive drapery hardware I used two 3/4" PVC pipes (10' ea.) & gutter hardware.

Today I ordered 8" coil burner or element electronically. Recently I put a kettle of water on stove & it didn't boil. Element light illuminates when the dial is turned but there isn't any heat. Late this afternoon I removed old single-lever kitchen sink faucet because it leaks. Tomorrow morning I'll buy a faucet deck with three holes & possibly a sprayer.

I haven't seen the Atlantic Ocean since mid 1980s. This summer is cool in northwestern Vt. & it often rains.

Thanks for visiting.

Bye

Fri., 05/29/09

Hello

This a.m. I wrote this essay about paint stirrers as a note on facebook.com

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"Paint Stick"

Preparation is the most difficult part of painting. Filling dings. Caulking gaps between floor boards. Sanding. Vacuuming. Washing/rinsing surfaces. These steps take time. When they are eventually done you're ready to prime & paint.

Always remember to ask for a paint stick or stirrer when you buy primer & paint. If more than one is offered to you accept them! Sometimes I'm on a roll when it comes to painting, & I am juggling two or three projects at once. To not have a paint stick can delay the application. Sometimes I apply primer to trim & am ready to apply second coat of color to a wall in another room. I need a dry paint stick.

At local paint & hardware stores I have to ask for a paint stick. They aren't on the counter. Customers can't help themselves to two or three. I think paint sticks should be prominently displayed on counters to remind customers they will need this tool. It's as important as a brush or roller cover. How do commercial painters obtain sticks? I've never seen a pkg. of sticks for sale in any store. I'd be willing to spend a couple dollars to buy a pkg. of 16 or 20 sticks.

Not all sticks are created equal. Some sticks are thin & brittle. They wiill break if primer or paint is stirred too vigorously. Recently I bought a tray liner, 9" roller cover, & two sm. foam disposable brushes at a hardware store. After walking out I do-si-doed back in to ask for a paint stick. Clerk handed me a nice, thick one from a box on a low shelf behind paint mixer & muttered something like "You're lucky. It's almost the last one."

After spending $12 to $15 for a qt. of paint & about $30 for a gallon why are paint & hardware stores stingy when it comes to distributing paint sticks? If you find yourself without a stirrer when you're ready to apply primer or paint I suggest using an old kitchen utensil, a (clean) ruler, or part of a yardstick. I used to have a set of two or three wooden mixing spoons but needed them to stir paint.
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Bye

Wed., 05/20/09

Hello

I'd like to create a blog for unemployed Americans.

Why do so many human resource depts. contain people with androgynous names? Some are Lee, Dale, Robin, Kelly, Chris, Jamie, & Pat.

Some paper applications have a section at the end with the instructions "DO NOT WRITE BELOW THIS LINE" or something similar. What happens if I write a poem or draw with crayons in the space?

Why do employers not ask for an electronic address? Sometimes I include it but usually I forget to provide an e-mail address. Acknowledgement via computer of paper & electronic applications would be appreciated by this jobseeker. Already I am paying Fairpoint Communications for Internet & e-mail service.

Thanks for visiting.