Desert Pond

Blog

  • Spina Bifida – Do Good Work in This World

    I’ve been working on a writing project that will help (I hope) the Spina Bifida Association of Western Pennsylvania.  In order to gather as much information as possible, I’ve been poking around the web looking for material to help highlight the cause.  Twice now, I’ve come across folks whose stories really touched me.  I reached out to both of these individuals to make sure they were okay with my using their information or sharing their stories.  Both times, I received the sweetest, most favorable replies almost immediately.

    When you’re doing good work in this world (my Dad’s motto), people are so willing to share and help that it makes the work that much more enjoyable.  In fact, it makes it feel like it’s not really work at all.

    Do something good today: Leave a nice comment for a friend, Twitter a happy message to the world, write an article to highlight your own good cause.

    Donate some time or money to a worthy organization.

    Smile.

    Erin Solange blogs about her life with spina bifida in a heartfelt journal of life in general and the challenges she faces – emotional and physical.  Thanks, Erin for your quick email responses!

    I want to also thank Tyler Genest who took time out of his busy life – and without immediate access to the internet – to find a way to contact me to let me know he was absolutely fine with my sharing his story.   You can learn more about Tyler in the following video.

    Bless you, both!

    httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Im-IhZpRgio

  • This Way Out

    My office door has been closed so long at work due to a head-pounding round of conference calls related to a project I feel sure is being haunted by a poltergeist that I forgot what it looked like outside of my office when that door was open.

    After only one conference call (albeit, 3 hours long), I had a break – some time available where I might just sit like a normal person at my desk with an open door and a welcome smile while I worked on some paperwork.  In mid-thought, I glanced up from my work to gaze out that beautiful, open door.

    You know what I can see outside of my open door?  Two very large, very red EXIT signs pointing to the elevators.

    So I left.  🙂

    (Okay – I didn’t go far.  Down to the corner Starbucks for a caramel frappuccino and back – but it felt so good!)

  • Lower Electric Bills – Trick is Twofold

    I’ve been researching electricity usage, reviewing electric bills, and reading up on the cost per kilowatt hour nationally and state-wide for a current project. I’m always on the hunt for ways to lower my electric bills and have been writing about this online recently. Then a light bulb went off (it’s okay, it was solar powered). The problem needs to be tackled in at least two ways.

    Light Bulb by Caveman 92223
    Light Bulb by Caveman 92223

    First, rate – the cost you pay for your electricity. This is usually referred to as your cost per kilowatt hour (or kWh). You can lower this amount if your electric company offers what’s called an Off-Peak or Non-Peak plan which charges less per kWh for those kilowatts used during the time of the day when overall demand is lower. If you sign up for these plans and shift as much of your usage as possible to the off-peak times, you’ll lower your overall cost per kWh. Your electric company may offer other reduced-charge plans.

    Example:

    1000 kWh used at $.09/kWh would be a charge of $90
    1000 kWh used at $.08/kWh would be a charge of $80

    Second, total usage – the total kWh used in a month. This shows up on your bill and can vary month-to-month but is usually driven by changes in season and weather. If your home uses electric air conditioning, for instance, but gas heat like mine, your electricity bill is often higher in the summer and lower in the winter only because you’ve switched sources of energy used to set your home’s temperature.
    Making your home more energy efficient also helps reduce your total usage and has an impact on your electric bill. Even a reduction in usage of 10% makes a difference.

    Example:

    1000 kWh used at $.09/kWh would be a charge of $90
    900 kWh used at $.09/kWh would be a charge of $81

    Now, put the two techniques together. Lower your rate and your usage:

    Example:

    1000 kWh used at $.09/kWh would be a charge of $90

    900 kWh used at $.08/kWh would be a charge of $72 ?


    For information on the exact methods you can use to lower your electric bills, see my other online articles:

    Cutting Electric Bill
    How to Lower Electricity Bills
    Compare Electricity Bills
    Reducing Electricity Bills
    Solar Electricity for Your Home

    Good luck!

  • Found Money

    I’m starting to think that I need a new blog, one that just focuses on my six year old. He’s great blog material. He’s my little blogger boy. He’s a blog-o-rama. I often tell him he should have his own show. Take yesterday, for example, when he greeted me in the morning as I was getting ready for work with a fistful of dollars in his hand.

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  • My Little Conniver

    Yes, we have rules at our house. Maybe not super-strict, uncomfortable rules, but they’re not too shabby where kids are concerned. No computers or TV in the bedrooms. Limited computer time. Limited TV time (when we remember to enforce it). Bedtimes are strictly required during school. Chores on a regular basis.

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