Keep Learning

When I was young, I would sit around my grandmother’s dining room table and talk and drink tea. One thing Grandma always said, was no matter what, always keep learning, and always know that you can accomplish whatever you set out to do.

On Friday the warnings of severe weather had me alert, but I freely admit to having no knowledge of furnaces, thermostats, or frozen pipes.

In the afternoon we were down to -10 outside and by bedtime, it was -20 with a stiff wind.

When the master bedroom temperature fell like a lead balloon, I tried everything I knew to get the heat on. By 6 PM, we had no heat in the Master Bedroom, and the temperature in that room was 52 degrees and one of our sink faucets would not respond.

On Saturday, I was panic-stricken. This would not go well. At 8 AM I attempted to call 14 different Plumbing and Heating businesses. I left messages and did not get one phone call back.

However, on call #15 a nice woman’s voice greeted me. I told her what was going on and she said hold on, and she put me on speakerphone.

Q: What is under your Master Bedroom?

A: A garage. (Design flaw)

Q: Is there any way to warm up the garage?

A: Yes, we have radiant heat in the garage floor.

Instructions: Go down and turn up the heat in the garage to 76 – 80 degrees. Then come up, and turn on the sink faucets in the master bath. Just a trickle mind you, but on. Set the bedroom thermostat to 76 degrees. Leave the door open from the bedroom, and the closets, and cabinets.

I went around the house doing as I was instructed. By dinner, I was too tired to even want to eat. I fell asleep. I woke to the sound of running water in the Master Bath. After that, I didn’t wake up until 12:30 AM when the dogs wanted to go out. So I took them, (It was only -8 F)

By Sunday, the pipes are all thawed. The temperature is currently 23 degrees F outside, and I have learned so many valuable things. Just call me Maribeth the Frozen Pipes Fixer!

Grandma was right. Keep learning, keep believing and there isn’t anything that can’t be accomplished!

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Something New

I’ve decided to try out this way of answering your comments, in hopes that more people will comment here. Below you will see the comment area. Simply write your comment and tick the box Notify me of new comments via email before you submit the comment. I will reply here to each comment and you will get notified. Who knows? This could be fun!

How toA Blogging friend of mine does this on his Blog and I always enjoy his feedback on my comment and the comments of other readers.

So, let’s give it a try!

Medical Histories

The other day I accompanied Jack to the doctor. They handed him a one-sheet paper on which he was to write a detailed medical history.

When he has had different operations, medical conditions, medications, etc.

I tried to get it all written down for him, but this required me to play “Let’s ask a million questions with him”.

As I sat there, I thought about my own situation. I simply do not have this problem. Why? Because a few years ago I sat down and wrote out a detailed medical history. I add to it, as needed, but it is all there. And all I need to do is go to my file on the computer and print it!

My history starts with my name, address, and phone number. My height, weight (I always lie!) and my blood type.

From there I start with the first of my unbelievable operations and conditions. In order, year by year.

I have been asked if I am a medical professional. No, I am not. I just got tired of having to write out my long history and try to recall all of the dates.

I also include my medications, and their dosage, and then my allergies, including any food allergies I might have.

Medical HistoryClick on the image to make it larger and download it for your convenience. I also have it in a Word Document and let me know if you would like that one.

It took me 45 minutes to make one up for Jack so that now he can print this to take to future doctor’s appointments.

I encourage you all to do the same. It saves time and could save your life if you keep this information tucked in your wallet.

Up & Running!

I would like to believe I am computer savvy, but really, I think I am lucky more than anything.

Still, when our old Router showed signs of letting us down and not giving us the streaming video we would like, we knew it was time to splurge and get a new one!

I researched and we got a TP-Link AC1900 Smart Wireless Router – High Speed, Long Range, Dual Band Gigabit WiFi Internet Router. After it arrived, it was just a matter of setting it all up.

s-l300First, she is a beauty to look at, and what I did to help myself was to buy all new, highspeed cables, and then I lay everything out and made a checklist of steps of how to hook it all up.

Then I started and went methodically through each and every step until things were all set up. Then, I went to each TV, Amazon Fire Stick, Cell Phone, Tablet and such, and connected them to the new Network!

But, I did it all myself! I am extremely proud and I thank my teacher in all things computer, Brad, for patiently explaining things to me. I really was a little sponge and learned so much just by watching you! Thank you!!!

Cell Phones & Photographs

Hi Everyone. I feel quite guilty for not writing until now. However, I finally became the owner of a Smart Phone, a Galaxy S5, and since I have never had a Smart Phone, I have had to spend a lot of time learning about it, and programming it to my needs.

In fact I took these pictures today of a Christmas Cactus that was given to me years ago by a very special friend, Carol. The cactus loves my bedroom window, and just keep blooming, over and over again!

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The camera is easy to use and takes such nice pictures!

Anyway, I did get the sheets washed and the bed made, and cooked three nice meals, and in between, I worked on learning the new phone.

Unclogging A Drain Naturally!

My bathroom sink has been draining off slowly. I hated to ask Hubby to come in again and open up the drain and clean it, so I Googled “How To Unclog A Drain Naturally”. I got out my old friends and cleaning champions – Baking Soda and Vinegar and got ready to rock and roll my bathroom sink.

I could hardly wait to give them a try.  This process works with a slow drain, but it would be interesting to see how it works with standing water in the sink.

Here’s what I did:

  • 1/4 cup baking soda
  • 1 cup white vinegar
  • 1 large pot of boiling water

(I removed my pop-up drain stopper first. Mine simply unscrewed.) Carefully pour the baking soda down the drain.  Follow with 1 cup of white vinegar.  Let it stand for about 15 minutes.  Then I poured a pot of boiling water down the drain.

It was moving a little faster, but still a bit slow.  So I repeated the process.

The second time worked like a charm, I heard a gurgling noise (which sounded encouraging) and when I poured the boiling water in, it really went down fast.  Now it drains as fast as when it was brand new.  Totally amazing.  And to think, I just used what was in my pantry, no $$$ out the door.

Hubby wasn’t sure this would work. He stood by watching me conduct this Scientific Experiment”! Even he was impressed when the drain ran clearly!

All I can say is, I wish my Science Teachers had been this interesting in school. I might have paid more attention, and become a Rocket Scientist, or something equally as glamorous!

So tuck this away, for the day you need to unclog that drain. Since my hair is longer now I will probably do it once a month to keep it running this well!