Something Stinks

A couple of years ago we bought a new, energy efficient washer and dryer. We opted for the front loading washer because it saved on water. Everything was great. The clothes would get so rung out in the spin cycle that it didn't take much time to dry them.

A few months later I kept smelling a bad odor coming from the laundry room. We quickly figured out that it was coming from the washer. How could this be? A new washer stinking? I googled the problem (I love the Internet!) and discovered that the water doesn't drain all the way out of the washer, so it sits in the bottom of the drum and mildews. It's a common problem with front loading washers. Wish we had known this before buying. I have tried several washing machine cleaners that you run through the washer, none of them worked.

Then I saw an ad on TV for Tide washing machine cleaner. I had to try it. It worked! It even cleaned the black mildew in the rubber door seal! It smells great! I wanted to share this with other unsuspecting front loading washer owners that there is hope and a great cleaner is on the market. Tide, please don't stop making it!

Help for the Homeless

Living on Skid Row, Ron Thomas' life was changed by a chance encounter with a little girl. He is now helping the people living on the street that he once called home. Watch his inspiring story.

This is a video that I adapted for a young audience. This required writing the script, new shot selection, editing & choosing voice over talent & music.

A New Attitude

The lyrics to Patti Labelle's "New Attitude" are running though my head. The beginning of the song goes like:

Runnin' hot, runnin' cold I was runnin' into overload,
it was extreme I took it so high, so low  
So low, there was nowhere to go like a bad dream
 
Somehow the wires uncrossed, 
my tables were turned  
Never knew I had such a lesson to learn
 
I'm feelin' good from my head to my shoes 
Know where I'm goin' and I know what to do 
I tied it up my point of view 
I got a new attitude!

I'm at a career crossroads right now and it's become clear that I need a new attitude. I "got the ax" from my job in September 2012. The signs were there that it was coming, but still when you walk into a conference room where your boss, your boss' boss, and the head of HR are at sitting at the table you know what's about to happen.

I had tried to prepare myself for this moment, but I still got that pit in the bottom of my stomach and had to fight back tears (my boss was crying, so that made it hard.) I was let go due to the company trimming back. No issues there, like I said, I kind of knew it was coming.

Even though I was laid off due to budget cuts, it still did a number on my confidence and self-esteem. During the month of October through December I took time to slow down and think about what I really wanted to do--work part-time, find a job close to home, find a job I would be passionate about, or not work? Not working was not an option. My husband and I have a daughter in college and we'd like to keep it that way until she graduates.

With encouragement from several people, I'm "networking." Sometimes when I'm in a large crowd of people, I clam up and the introvert in me comes out. So, I was tentative about mingling with a bunch of other people who also didn't have jobs. But you know, once I get myself out the door and to the job networking event, I usually come away with new insights, encouragement and having met some really nice people.

This is what finally hit home: my attitude in looking for a job plays a huge role in searching for a job. Today's speaker at C3G (Christ Centered Career Group) talked about helping others find a job and not focusing on myself and MY hunt for a job. He also talked about once you do get a job, to keep up the good attitude.

Although my attitude is a work in progress, I feel like "the tables have turned ... (I) know where I'm going and I know what to do ... I got a new attitude!"

Enjoy Patti's hit from the 80's

A Penny for Your Thoughts

I guess I've been living under a rock for the last couple of years because I just heard about the possibility of the government ceasing to make the penny. It seems the issue has been coming up for the last few years that it costs more to produce the penny then what it's worth--in 2012 it cost 2.41 cents to make. Some have estimated that we could save $75 million dollars a year if we do away with the penny. Another option is to change what the penny is made of--we've already altered it at least once. Before 1982 the penny was made of 95% copper and 5% zinc. To reduce the cost, the metal composition was changed to 97.5% zinc and 2.5% copper. In 2011 the government considered changing the metal composition to steel. But steel presents a problem where it can be magnetized. This past Thursday during an online chat with a random group of Americans, someone asked Obama why the US is still minting pennies when so many agree they are economically inefficient. "I gotta tell you ... I don't know," Obama said. "It's one of those things where I think people get attached emotionally to the way things have been ... We remember our piggy banks and counting up all our pennies and then taking them in and getting a dollar bill or a couple dollars from them, and maybe that's the reason why people haven't gotten around to it." Anyway, it's not a top priority for the President or Congress right now, so the debate will continue. If Congress does decide to take up the issue, they should also consider the nickel since it costs 11.18 cents to make.

The World's Smallest Cars

For car lovers, you'll like these micro cars.

I'm back

It's hard to believe it's been over two years since my last blog post. Sometimes life gets a little overwhelming and other things take priority. I'm unemployed right now so I have more time to reflect on life. Since my last post, my daughter has graduated from high school and is a freshman at Kennesaw State University. My husband's father passed away after several years of battling Alzheimer's. Our dog passed away from cancer and our cat left the house one morning and has not been seen since. I made it through one downsizing at work, but not the second. I've had two surgeries. We've not been on a vacation. And, we've adopted two dachshunds. Of course a lot more has happened but those are the things that came to my mind first. I'm a little rusty so bear with me as I take up blogging again.