New Year Resolutions

UGH!   It is that time of year when we examine our past year or even life and make plans to improve for the future.  REALLY!? 

How many people make resolutions only to fail to keep the promise in the same week?  Only 45% of people even make New Year resolutions because 98% of us fail to keep them.  If it involves life changes there is a science to changing human behavior from negative reinforcement to positive conditioning.  Proclaiming a resolution to change one’s behavior on New Year’s Eve when one may have a few alcoholic beverages to bolster confidence sounds plausible however through a hangover haze the next day it may be difficult to pursue.   

When I was growing up, at midnight on New Year’s we would sit around the table and announce our soon to be ill-fated resolutions.  Everyone had one from my younger cousin at 7 years of age to my grandmother.  There was always someone trying to lose weight, trying to exercise more, take the dog out without asking, ask for a promotion at work, just go to work, save money, pay bills on time and even do homework.  We were a funny mix at New Year’s Eve.  Actually when I think about it, we had to say a resolution.  Since all the resolutions always were broken, I wonder if any were sincere.

Years later every New Year’s day I would meet with a friend and we would review what we wanted to change for the upcoming year.  Those actions that we wanted to change were not exactly resolutions but similar.  Many of those plans came to fruition.  Being sincere about wanting to change, discussing it aloud with someone else and writing it in a systematic plan lead to long-term successful change.

This year my plans are bold and daring; it involves risk and bravery.  It may even hurt.

I plan to continue my half hour a day pill to health called exercise.

 I have many years of practice so that is really cheating for me but I need a guarantee success to feel good.

I plan to follow a budget and not waste my money on impulse purchases. 

That is going to be difficult and painful.  I would like to say I am a saver but money burns a hole in my pocket – it literally screams “SPEND ME, SPEND ME, SPEND ME!” until I spend it.  I just donated five pairs of khaki pants that still had the tags on them; I do not like khaki pants but that did not stop me from buying them because they were on sale.

I paint and I am going to place some of my items for sale. 

That is daring, risky and painful for me. I must be brave.  I do not want to be rejected or have someone make fun of my work.  My artwork is like pieces of me; they are my babies. 

Other resolutions are easier:  Not using the telephone in the car including texting, as it becomes law in March and I have been practicing so it becomes a habit; clean out my closets – does anyone really need eight pullover shirts in different shades of blue.

The easiest of all for me as I have been practicing since I was ten (it started at that kitchen table) is to become a better me.  Every day I receive a gift.  I have a chance with each day to try to be a better person:  to apologize, to say please and thank you, to offer a helping hand, to control my temper and what I say, to open a door, to listen, to pay for the coffee of the person behind me in line.  There are so many opportunities for me.  I have been practicing.  I say it aloud.  I write in down.  I tell people.   This is the resolution I want most to stick.  If it does not stick, I get to try again fresh the next day.  That is the best resolution of all. 

Happy New Year and good fortunate to you!

*We will return to our series on fire prevention next week.

Christmas

I love Christmas and the holiday season.  My older daughter’s birthday is Christmas day.  My ice skates when I was ten years old probably are still my favorite Christmas present.   I love the food and cookies.  Candle light service at the Methodist church is a heartwarming experience.  Rockefeller center has amazing decorations and the ice skaters twirling around in a circle is truly a picture card memory.

Lately I have been hearing and reading about lay-away Santa in different states.  People are going to K-marts and Wal-Marts paying for people’s outstanding layaways.  One man paid for all layaways at one store that were under a specific dollar amount, Santa Claus.   Another person paid all the layaways remaining in the store, Santa Claus.  The recipients cried, were paying forward by purchasing presents for others while some were planning a Christmas dinner now. 

While watching the stories and even while writing, I am crying.  The generosity of strangers is inspiring.   I work with people with generous spirits.  They are not strangers to me they are my coworkers, Santas.

Every year DGK’s employees adopt a family from Friends of Interfaith in Tunkhannock.  It is not the company but each individual employee that purchases presents for a family we will never know or meet.  It does not matter if they know us it only matters that we were able to help a family that could not provide presents for their children.  The day before we deliver the presents to the pick-up location we elves wrap the presents in the conference room, Santa’s workshop. 

While I love Christmas for the traditions and presents, I love knowing that strangers not expecting anything in return are helping people who are less fortunate at this time.  One of the Santas said it best:

”The smallest amount of money or the simplest act of kindness really goes a long way and could change somebody’s’ entire season and even their life."*

Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah and Happy Kwanza to you and your family.

*Source: http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/joliet-secret-santa-136117178.html#ixzz1hNAMaPFd

Up in Smoke

When I was three years old, my parents’ home caught on fire and burned to the ground.  A burned fan was all that remained.  I grew up fearing fire from the stories I heard about our house fire.  In my mind it was the fan’s fault though why we still used the fan could never be reconciled in my mind.  Children have such strange thoughts! 

I did learn that house fires are devastating to life, property and mental health.  In elementary school whenever I heard a fire alarm or fire truck I would worry it was my house and what would happen to my dog since my mother worked.  I did not feel secure that when I returned home that it would still be there and not burned away.  I have outgrown my fear of fire; now I am fire safety woman!

I celebrate Christmas; actually, I celebrate two Christmases.  My tree stays up from December 5 until January 8.  Really who could blame me for the putting it up the first week of December?  Armenian Christmas the Epiphany is celebrated on January 6^th.  In honor of the Russians giving the Armenians, the Georgian part of their country, I keep my tree up for Russian Christmas too.   After all, it is only one more day.

The trick is how to keep a tree alive for over a month.  Simple technique is to cut about an inch or two from the base when you get your tree home and water it immediately.  Keep it watered.  If you have pets that enjoy drinking from the tree refill the water more than once a day.  Do not let your tree dry out as that will form a sap barrier and the tree will be unable to absorb water.  Once the tree no longer absorbs water, the tree begins the drying process. 

Click here for a video of a Dry Christmas tree.

The video clip (really short clip) from the Building and Fire Research Laboratory of the National Institute of Standards and Technology illustrates what happens when fire touches a dry tree. Within three seconds of ignition, the dry Scotch pine is completely ablaze. At five seconds, the fire extends up the tree and black smoke with searing gases streaks across the ceiling. Fresh air near the floor feeds the fire. The sofa, coffee table and the carpet ignite prior to any flame contact. Within 40 seconds "flashover" occurs - that's when an entire room erupts into flames, oxygen is depleted and dense, deadly toxic smoke engulfs the scene.



The Gold Round Ornament is the Fire/Smoke Detector

I keep my tree in a separate room and shut the door when not at home and awake.  I also have a smoke detector ornament that hangs on the tree.  I have an artificial tree now but I previously had a real tree, which was well watered.  Even with an artificial tree, common sense applies: no open flames near the tree, no antique lights on the tree that get over heated, and no leaving the tree lights on when not home and awake. 

Here is wishing you a happy and safe Christmas tree. 

*This is a series of blogs regarding fire prevention.  There is more to come. 

Tis the Season to Shovel Snow

I love to shovel the snow.   I crave the muffled sound of the neighborhood as the snow is falling on the ground early in the morning, making paths in the fluffy white snow and the smell of the fresh crisp air.  I enjoy the watching the snow fill the paths I just created and the speed which it does. 

Truth is I love my shovel.

"Old School"

I use a straight handled plastic shovel.  It has no fancy tools on board to scrape ice, the handle does not bend to ease any back pain, it does not fold to fit in a car, it does not periscope to adjust to the user’s height.  It is a very "old school" shovel.  That is where the argument starts with my husband.  What is the best shovel for snow removal?

My husband loves his shovel.  

Ergonomic

My husband uses an ergonomically designed shovel.  The contoured handle enables a more comfortable stance to prevent back strain.  The special handle allows you to bend less.  The shovel is also lighter.  Of course, he recites the scientific studies dating, as early as 1898 examining the biomechanics of snow shoveling to validate his preference for the ergonomic shovel. 

With my trusty little plastic shovel, I shovel the driveway in small sections.  I push the snow using my legs for power.  I do not throw the snow over my shoulder or out in front of me nor do I use any twisting motion.  I take my time as I enjoy the solitude of a winter snowstorm, my neighbors must magically remove snow from their driveways, as I do not see them out when I am out shoveling.   I usually have my water flask in my pocket in case I become parched and since there are snow angels and snow turtles all over the lawn, I obviously take several breaks. 

Obviously, there are physical differences between my husband and me.  He is a foot taller than I am therfore he also weighs more than I do.  His height may require his need for the longer bent handled shovel where I am already really close to the ground so it is unnecessary for me.  His upper body strength can handle the weight of his shovel whereas mine is much lighter and works better for me even if he says his shovel is lighter.  So when he refers to my small shovel as a “Barbie” shovel I know it does the job and really isn’t that all that matters?

We do agree on one item, doctor’s orders.  If either is sick or injured and told to curtail exercise, we do.  There are many horror stories about people injuring their backs or having heart attacks while shoveling.  It is not the age of the person shoveling snow but the health; I have asthma and my husband has high blood pressure so we are cognizant of our health.  It does not stop us from shoveling snow; we are just wise about shoveling. 

One suggestion – get your shovels now.  Once the snow flies so do the shovels, right out of the store! 

Happy Safe Shoveling!

Snow Fall on DGK

references: http://ergo.human.cornell.edu/ErgoPROJECTS/97projects/coffiner.htm & http://ohsonline.com/Articles/2008/12/5-AAOS-Offers-Snow-Shoveling-Safety-Tips.aspx

Ladder Safety

I am short.  I try to convince people that I am tall but truthfully, I am short.  Between ladders and stepladders I should be an expert on ladder safety however, I am not.  Just this morning while decorating the office Christmas tree, I stood tiptoes on a chair leaning forward to reach the top of a 6-foot tree.  It was in the stand, which made it that much taller! 

I really needed the chair.

Since I was at work, I violated not only our safety rules but also common sense.  I know not to stand on a chair and not to stretch from that chair once I am standing on it.  At home, I admit I am even worse. I climb on countertops, ledges, and the back of the sofa and or the loveseat to reach the curtain rods.  My neighbors have seen me move the truck closer to a tree and put a ladder in the truck bed to hang the summer swings.  This is the part where we all learn about ladders and practice what we learn. 

How Do I Avoid Hazards?

• Position portable ladders so the side rails extend at least 3 feet above the landing.
• Secure side rails at the top to a rigid support and use a grab device when 3 foot extension is not possible.
• Make sure that the weight on the ladder will not cause it to slip off its support.
• Before each use, inspect ladders for cracked or broken parts such as rungs, steps, side rails, feet and locking components.
• Do not apply more weight on the ladder than it is designed to support [For additional information, see Ladder Safety].
• Use only ladders that comply with OSHA design
  standards [29 CFR 1926.1053(a)(1)].

The ladder also comes with recommendations for serviceability, a fancy word meaning for its intended use.  In our legal world, it just means that ladders should not be used inside a truck bed.  If you do use it inside a truck bed, you void the serviceability of the product.   In other words, you are accepting the dangers of the misuse of the product.  If you get hurt and want to sue, misuse is a legal defense; you did not use the product as it was intended and therefore you got hurt.

To avoid injury and voiding the warranty of serviceability, follow the ladder safety rules.  For a short person it is easier said than done.  A chair is usually handy, I can climb on the countertop to reach a shelf, and I can figure a way to “rig” something to reach the unreachable.  However, I am all about safety.  I guess it is time to practice what I preach and follow the rules.  Hope you do too.

Rental Car Insurance Coverage: To Purchase or Not to Purchase

Thanksgiving and until New Years are the most heavily traveled times.  During the holidays,  families come together to celebrate.  If you are traveling by train or plane at the end of your destination, you may need to rent a car.  When you come to signing the papers at the rental desk do you purchase the physical damage or not?

When I travel and rent a car, I buy the physical damage for the rental vehicle.  I have since my first grown up trip when I went to Florida to visit my father.  My father lived on a sand road not an actual road and I was afraid that I would not be able to control the car in the sand.  I tend to drive with have a heavy foot.   I was concerned that I would have an accident and would have to pay for the car.  I did not know that my auto insurance would extend to the rental car. 

Years later, I have my insurance license and am thankful I was so uninformed that I purchased the physical damage for the rental car.  I now know that I would have been responsible for the down time of the rental not to mention any other fees the rental car outlines in their contract.  Some credit cards offer the physical damage but they will not pay for the “loss of use” of the rental car.  Yes,  auto insurance would pay for repair of the car if I was in an accident but until they can replace the car, they would lose money until it was back in operation.  Auto insurance would not and does not pay for down time of a rental car.  If the car has a flat or “blows” a gasket while in my possession, I would be responsible for that and auto insurance does not pay for plain old maintenance or mechanical breakdown. 

When I rented a car in Florida, I came out of the hotel room in the morning, found a flat tire, I called the rental car, they came, picked up that car and gave me another.  The next morning I came out of the hotel room and found a crack across the windshield making it unsafe to drive.  I called the rental company again; they picked up the car and delivered another to me.  Thankfully, I did not have any more car troubles that trip.  There were no extra charges on my credit card and no forms to complete since I had purchased the physical damage coverage. 

Twice I did not purchase the physical damage from the rental car company on trips out west.  Every time I got behind the wheel, I worried. “Don’t hit me.” “Don’t have an accident.” “Don’t have a flat.”  I learned very quickly to buy the physical damage coverage from the rental car company for peace of mind.  It is not a coincident that DGK’s motto is peace of mind. 

I am fully aware how much the coverage cost.  It can be more than the car rental price.  When I travel and need to abide strictly to my budget, I include the insurance as part of my travel budget.  I am not happy about it at all.  I would love to see the largest ice cream cone or the world largest cotton candy.  As an adult, I have to choose and I choose peace of mind. 

If you are traveling I wish for you a save journey and peace of mind. 

For more information please read the Trusted Choice article.  The link can be found on DGK’s facebook.  DGK's Facebook - Sign in & Like us.

"Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on Earth."

At six years of age, I trick- treated for UNICEF, asking not for candy but for money.  I was told I would be helping children less fortunate than me.  I remember going door to door, some people gave money some said no and closed the door in my face.  At six I was not rejected I just skipped to the next door.   And so it began, my life-long affair with volunteering.   

I enjoy volunteering.  There are so many opportunities in our community and beyond.  You can donate (volunteer) money, clothing, books and other items.  You can donate (volunteer) your time or expertise.  The organizations range from Habitat for Humanity to soup kitchens, from Ronald McDonald house to the Humane Society, and the list continues. 

Fortunately, DGK believes in volunteering as much as I do.  Each employee is given a community day to volunteer their time during the workweek when so many organizations are short handed.  My

co-workers are active in parent organizations, their house of worship, libraries, civic organizations, charities, fundraisers for scholarships and local communities.  One of the women heads a mission trip to Haiti.  Others are board members or officers of their organizations.  I know I missed someone’s group and I am sorry. 

My mother taught me to volunteer.  It started with UNICEF but it continued with cutting food at Christmas dinners for physically and mentally challenged people, helping the jeweler at the end of the block to care for his lawn; he was in a wheelchair, picking up trash in the park and the list continues.  I in turned taught my daughters to volunteer.  From packing food in bags for the Christmas food drive, collecting books for children in other countries, assisting in giving out food at the food pantry, every year before Christmas my children would go through their toys to donate to children that did not have such an abundance of toys, and their list continues.  I wanted to teach my children, at a young age, that if you do not have money to give you give your time or even some treasured items to someone who has less than you.  I hope they continue the giving legacy with their children. 

This is the time of year, when we notice that so many have so little.  Placing a food item in the

“Feed a Friend” barrel in the grocery store can help those with the holidays.  It is a little gift to someone else that you do not know with no expectation of a thank you.  Many areas look for volunteers around the holidays.  If you are new to volunteering, it may feel unusual to give.  Once you do, you get hooked!

If you are looking to get involved, the Red Cross has a program for our U.S. Armed Forces, veterans and their families.  The Holiday Mail for Heroes program is a joint effort with Pitney Bowes.  Below is the website that has all the details.  In the privacy and comfort of your home, you can make someone’s holiday special.  If that is not the volunteer experience you are looking for just give me a call, the list continues. 

http://www.pb.com/holidaymail/index.shtml

ps not sure why the format does not stay in place after the post is up but I am sorry if the spaces annoy you.

 

New Rules for PA Teen Drivers

I have my driver’s license since I was 16 years old.  I took driver’s training in school and had on the road driving with the instructor in the car.  Things have changed since then.  I paid for the driver’s training class for my daughters.  My mother did not have to pay for my class it was part of the curriculum.  I would like to say that this is the difference in teen accidents but the truth is one month after I had my license I was in a car accident.  That makes me a teen driver statistic.

The new AAA study reveals that teen drivers are approximately 50 percent more likely to crash in the first month of driving than they are after a full year of experience driving on their own, and are nearly twice as likely to suffer a crash as they are after two full years of experience.  Researchers analyzed crashes of first-month teen drivers in North Carolina and found three common mistakes—failure to reduce speed, inattention and failure to yield—account for 57 percent of all crashes.

In accordance with several new studies, Gov. Tom Corbett signed into law new safeguards for teenage drivers.

The bill, known as "Lacey's Law"  sponsored by Rep. Kathy Watson, a Bucks County Republican, had a constituent family lose their daughter, Lacey Gallagher, in an April 2007 crash where she was one of six teens riding in an SUV.  None wore seat belts.

·         For six months, teens without a parent in the vehicle are allowed one friend or similar person under 18, who is not a member of their household, as a passenger. If they have not caused an accident after six months, the teen driver could carry three such passengers while holding their junior license.

·         It makes failure to wear seat belts a primary offense, so police can stop drivers under age 18 if they or their passengers are not wearing seat belts. Violations carry a $75 fine.

·         The law also requires teens with learner's permits to have 65 hours of driving experience to get a junior license, up from 50 hours. Teens can get a junior license starting at age 16. There is also a new requirement of five hours of bad-weather driving and 10 hours of night driving.

“Teen drivers out there may feel that they are being singled out by this bill and, the fact is, they are. Each of our children, like Lacey Gallagher, represents our future, our hopes and our dreams. We are not ready to give them up to a needless accident and we support this bill because we care so much for them,” said Tom Corbett.

Would the new law have kept me from being a statistic? I was alone in the car, I had my seat belt on and it was broad day light.  However, the new law requires 65 hours of driving experience and that would have been a plus.  Old school, we applied for our permit & received it three months before we were sixteen and were taking our drivers test exactly 30 days after we turned sixteen.  Lacey’s Law would have required I had driving time behind the wheel for much needed practice; my mother would have required it was with the driver’s ed instructor.  THAT would have helped me avoid being a teen statistic!

DGK Has a Commercial

Recognize anyone?
We entered a contest and won air time and a creation of a commercial!  How very exciting.  Enjoy!!

13.1

On October 16, 2011, the Hershey Half Marathon was held in Hershey PA.  Three runners from our office with a family member and two friends totaling six participants headed to Hershey.  Almost six thousands runners and walkers filled the streets surrounding Hershey Park to raise money for Children’s Miracle Network. 

The air was chilly and damp.  The wind that gusted thirty mph the day before had slowed to a mere ten mph.  The trail taped off secured the road for the walkers and runners.  The hills and there were plenty rolled throughout the course.  Running the perimeter of Hersheypark, Chocolate World and then through the park along with neighboring communities kept the event exciting.  There were so many cheering people along the route.

Mile nine‘s Chocolate Aid Station was unique.  Volunteers handed miniature chocolate bars to the participants to “sugar-up” for the last four miles.  Did I mention hills?  Just when you thought there were no more hills in Hershey, there was one more at mile twelve.  The final mile was around the parking lot and into the stadium.  Once over the finish line, you received a sliver blanket to stay warm, Re-Gen sport drink, re-usable lunch bag with an amazing chocolate chip oatmeal cookie from Hershey Lodge, and a big Kiss finisher’s medal. 

This is my second half marathon.  I make myself anxious to the point of being ill prior to the race.  I am working on staying calm.  My friends are calm before the race and utilize their energy to run.  I am working on that.  Once running I enjoyed the sunny day with people cheering and bands playing music; it was a wonderful experience.  My friends and I will run this race again.   

If you ask why I run I do not always have the same answer.  Most times, it is to stay healthy and to relieve stress.  When I do not run, I want to bite my husband’s head off and I am just grumpy.  Running gives me a better attitude that I think keeps me healthy.  Sometimes I run so I can eat a slice of cake or fit into a pair of jeans.  On beautiful days, it is to experience NEPA at its finest.  Sometimes, I need to run away from myself.

The real question is why I enter races since I will NEVER win a medal.  My friends and daughter win races I do not and their times per mile I am in awe.   I am confident that my time will not earn a medal.  So why do it?  Entering in a race keeps me motivated; I want to finish what I started.  In addition, the running community cheering any run accomplishment is a warm friendly feeling. 

I will run in Berwick Thanksgiving Day.  They are expecting about two thousands participants.  I will not win the race and I will not win my age group but I will finish hopefully.  That is usually my goal.  As a runner, you are usually working on some goal.  I have a few others:  I do not want to finish last and I usually have a time per mile between ten and eleven minutes.  I have always made two out of my three goals.  The time goal is difficult for me.  I am working on that. 

Baby Its Cold Outside

My couple to-do list went into motion this past weekend! 

This weekend became insulation Saturday.  This to-do list had several projects.  Insulate all the plugs and switches on the outside walls, measure the insulation in the attic, purchase insulation if it measures less than 12 inches, purchase half inch (for the water lines) and three quarter inch (for the heat lines) pipe insulation (referred to as noodle) and install the noodles on the pipes in the basement and crawl space.  When I have projects slated for a weekend, I find I am successful if I do the easiest project first.  It gives me a sense of accomplishment and provides motivation for the larger projects. 

First up was the installation of the plug and light switch insulation.  I believe in the winter, I can feel the cold air coming from the plug and light switch.  My husband does not agree with me.  His comment when I installed the first plug was, “Wow!  It’s warmer in here already!”  I still installed all the insulation in the outside wall plugs and switches while he smirked at me.

The next item was the attic.  I do not like the attic.  The first step in overcoming a fear is admitting it.  I am spooked by the attic.  No reason really, I just am spooked by the attic.  My husband set up the ladder and I crawled in the opening and immediately saw we have over 20 inches of insulation!  Three cheers for the budget!  After I saw the amount of insulation, I held my breath to see if the second layer was non-barrier insulation and to my relief and joy, it was!  That made the attic less scary.

Since the insulation project in the attic turned into just an inspection, I then checked to ensure there were no leaks in the roof, no leaks around the chimney, and lastly, I checked the mortar on the chimney to see if repointing is necessary.    Repointing is not mysterious; it just means to replace the mortar between the bricks.  On the new list for the attic: roof fine, chimney fine and insulation fine.  I skipped down the ladder; really, I literally skipped down the ladder happy as can be. 

The last item was the pipe insulation.  I will admit I thought it was going to be a piece of cake to slap the noodles on the pipe.  I did not realize that someone would have to go into the crawl space; I confess, actually I forgot about the crawl space.  My husband tackled the crawl space since I inspected the attic.  It turned out my attic portion of the list was easier than the pipe insulation as he was going to be crawling around on his back installing the noodles, pulling the tape and sealing the noodles.  He  “noodle-d” the crawl space and I “noodle-d” the basement.  I am a foot shorter than my husband is.   Reaching the pipes, wrapping it in the noodle, pulling the tape and sealing it was more difficult than I anticipated.   When he finished in the crawl space, he came to my rescue and helped finish the basement.  His height advantage made reaching the band joist where the heat pipes run easier for him.  Together we completed the basement.



noodle pre-installation



We chose to insulate pipes, water and heat, in the crawl space, heat pipes in the basement, water pipes along the outer walls, and the accessible area below the sunroom.  We chose not to pull out the insulation in the floor and band joist under the sunroom to noodle the heat pipes.  We chose to leave some heat pipes exposed in the basement for heat.  The furnace lives in the basement but an actual radiator does not.  



noodle post installation

Our cost was minimal, under $100.00.  The outcome will be a success if I no longer feel the cold air from the outlets, the water in the kitchen and bathroom does not take as long to heat up or cool down, and the refill of our oil tank does not come so quickly.  I will keep you posted.   

I plan to research how much insulation should be in the crawl space.  It did not seem enough; I only stuck my head in for a second but...  I will have to rethink the crawl space.  Don’t tell my husband, he thinks the project is finished.