Six months ago, we signed up for Netflix after our local video store upped their "new releases" prices to $4.00 a movie with a one-day return still in place. One or two movies a week was running us $16 - 32 a month. So we signed up for Netflix and now pay $19 a month with tax and can have as many videos as we want per month. We tend to watch three per week - though I know that will change when the new shows start airing.
I've been nothing but thrilled with the Netflix service we've had so far. They pay the shipping both ways. The local mailing address keeps mailing times to usually no more than a day, two tops. And I'm getting new releases in my mailbox on the same day they come out. It's been wonderful. And then if we go a couple weeks without watching a movie, it's still no big deal because there really are no late fees!
I highly suggest looking into Netflix if you are looking to still rent videos with a little more flexibility.
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
Back To School Shopping
I did my shopping last month, but I do have a complaint that goes out to a good number of stores and clothing manufacturers. Two years ago, our school opted to come up with a dress code after numerous younger girls were coming to school dressed like Britney Spears. The code states, quite simply, that no spaghetti straps are allowed, shirts must cover the midriff, and shorts and skirts must be at least one inch longer than the length of the fingertips when your arm is hanging down to the side of you. That's nothing different than when I was in school. My issue comes with finding clothes that meet all of these issues. First, I thank Old Navy for actually getting it right. Without Old Navy, I would have been hard pressed to find anything.
I went into Marshalls and TJ Maxx first and every pair of shorts and skirts I picked up in a size 10 (children's size 10 no less) barely covered the butt cheeks. They were horrendously short. While I was able to find jeans, I still needed some shorts for the remainder of summer. There were a few decent shirts, but a lot have one normal sleeve and then the other side is a spaghetti strap. Children don't need to be dressing like this and I'm upset with the fact that manufacturers feel there's nothing wrong with it --it's the current trend...
I found a load of shirts that showed stomach - again no 9 or 10 year old needs to be exposing skin. Let them be kids!!!!!
Finally at Old Navy, I was able to find decent shirts for an affordable price. But even then, some of Old Navy's (some, not all) shorts and skirts were cut very short.
It's times like these that I wish I wasn't a complete flop with a sewing machine - I know I could create a decent outfit that was eye catching without being trampy. Leave the low-cut, skin exposing outfits for the adults--the only crowd who I think should be wearing them--maybe...
I went into Marshalls and TJ Maxx first and every pair of shorts and skirts I picked up in a size 10 (children's size 10 no less) barely covered the butt cheeks. They were horrendously short. While I was able to find jeans, I still needed some shorts for the remainder of summer. There were a few decent shirts, but a lot have one normal sleeve and then the other side is a spaghetti strap. Children don't need to be dressing like this and I'm upset with the fact that manufacturers feel there's nothing wrong with it --it's the current trend...
I found a load of shirts that showed stomach - again no 9 or 10 year old needs to be exposing skin. Let them be kids!!!!!
Finally at Old Navy, I was able to find decent shirts for an affordable price. But even then, some of Old Navy's (some, not all) shorts and skirts were cut very short.
It's times like these that I wish I wasn't a complete flop with a sewing machine - I know I could create a decent outfit that was eye catching without being trampy. Leave the low-cut, skin exposing outfits for the adults--the only crowd who I think should be wearing them--maybe...
Monday, August 29, 2005
Hurricane Katrina
I just read that the hurricane has made landfall. My thoughts and prayers go out to all those who are currently or soon to be hit. I hope all goes as well as it can, especially for those in New Orleans! I was watching the news last night and they were saying that one of the biggest issues will be getting the flood waters back out of the city once the storm has passed. Water can get in, but the wall keeps it from getting back out - not a pretty situation by any means.
Hopefully, things will not be too bad.
Tracy
Hopefully, things will not be too bad.
Tracy
Thursday, August 25, 2005
Fall Foliage In Vermont
I know next month is when an influx of tourists start coming into Vermont hoping to see the foliage change. Usually hotels, inns and the likes book up very early, so my advice is to book early!
This year, I'm guessing that the foliage will be turning a little early. We've had a tremendously hot summer with a dry spell for a couple of weeks. That always messes up the foliage. But my real proof comes from one of my trees that started changing this week. Leaves on that tree are turning yellow. It's early for them, but this week we got trapped in this weird cycle of cooler temperatures (high 60's to low 70's) and at around noon every day this week so far, the sun vanishes, black clouds roll in, and the skies open up for about five minutes with a deluge of rain. I think that has really confused some of the trees on our land.
We're heading back to normal temperatures starting today--though I admit I was enjoying being back in jeans and sweaters. What this will do to slow trees turning, I'm not sure! The thing with foliage season is that it will do what it wants regardless of what people predict. :-)
This year, I'm guessing that the foliage will be turning a little early. We've had a tremendously hot summer with a dry spell for a couple of weeks. That always messes up the foliage. But my real proof comes from one of my trees that started changing this week. Leaves on that tree are turning yellow. It's early for them, but this week we got trapped in this weird cycle of cooler temperatures (high 60's to low 70's) and at around noon every day this week so far, the sun vanishes, black clouds roll in, and the skies open up for about five minutes with a deluge of rain. I think that has really confused some of the trees on our land.
We're heading back to normal temperatures starting today--though I admit I was enjoying being back in jeans and sweaters. What this will do to slow trees turning, I'm not sure! The thing with foliage season is that it will do what it wants regardless of what people predict. :-)
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
Parental word of advice
I had a very busy day yesterday. Someone I know had been very sick for two days, severe stomachache, vomiting, fever... Symptoms started on Sunday and were progressing steadily.
So on Monday I talked to his mother after he'd called me asking if I had any tea (which I always have in the house), so I made him a cup of mint tea, added some extra sugar and walked it over. I took one look at him (pale as a sheet of paper), asked him if he'd ever had his appendix out--he said no, and then went home and got in touch with his mother. Told her I was seriously thinking his appendix was the issue and that she needed to get him to the docs ASAP. In a nutshell, she came home that night after work, asked him how he was feeling - he said better and that he really didn't want to go to the ER (he's scared of docs) so she left it.
This is where I don't want to get preachy, but I'm going to anyway. As parents we are responsible for our children's welfare. I don't think anyone will argue that point. If your child pushes you aside when you suggest a doc, then force the issue. If my kids are that sick, I don't give them a choice, they go whether they want to or not. In this case, the pain to the right of the belly button, fever, vomiting all suggested appendicitis to me. So yesterday, he came crawling to my house (not literally crawling, but he was walking like the hunchback doing this shuffle walk) and I asked him again if he'd been to the doc. He said no, so I told him to call him mom at work and I'd take him. No putting it off any longer. Thankfully, he isn't one to tell me no, he usually doesn't put up too much of a fight with me.
So I did take him for her, the doc saw him. Called his mom, called a surgeon and asked if I could get him up to the hospital, which I did. I'm still waiting to hear what's going on, I know they were doing a CAT scan, and that the doc said he was 90% certain that it is his appendix and that is has ruptured, hence why he started feeling better. No one came home last night, so I would assume the surgery is over, but this kid is like my son so I'm a little worked up right now waiting to hear if all went fine...
But if your child has a stomachache, ask where! If it is to the right of the belly button, go to a doc ASAP, regardless of what your child says. The doc also said if hunching over is more comfortable than that can also be a sign. Fever, vomiting - other signs. Even if you take your child to the doctor and there is nothing other than a stomach bug, it's worth the time and money spent. A ruptured appendix can eventually kill, and no child or parent wants to face that!!!
So on Monday I talked to his mother after he'd called me asking if I had any tea (which I always have in the house), so I made him a cup of mint tea, added some extra sugar and walked it over. I took one look at him (pale as a sheet of paper), asked him if he'd ever had his appendix out--he said no, and then went home and got in touch with his mother. Told her I was seriously thinking his appendix was the issue and that she needed to get him to the docs ASAP. In a nutshell, she came home that night after work, asked him how he was feeling - he said better and that he really didn't want to go to the ER (he's scared of docs) so she left it.
This is where I don't want to get preachy, but I'm going to anyway. As parents we are responsible for our children's welfare. I don't think anyone will argue that point. If your child pushes you aside when you suggest a doc, then force the issue. If my kids are that sick, I don't give them a choice, they go whether they want to or not. In this case, the pain to the right of the belly button, fever, vomiting all suggested appendicitis to me. So yesterday, he came crawling to my house (not literally crawling, but he was walking like the hunchback doing this shuffle walk) and I asked him again if he'd been to the doc. He said no, so I told him to call him mom at work and I'd take him. No putting it off any longer. Thankfully, he isn't one to tell me no, he usually doesn't put up too much of a fight with me.
So I did take him for her, the doc saw him. Called his mom, called a surgeon and asked if I could get him up to the hospital, which I did. I'm still waiting to hear what's going on, I know they were doing a CAT scan, and that the doc said he was 90% certain that it is his appendix and that is has ruptured, hence why he started feeling better. No one came home last night, so I would assume the surgery is over, but this kid is like my son so I'm a little worked up right now waiting to hear if all went fine...
But if your child has a stomachache, ask where! If it is to the right of the belly button, go to a doc ASAP, regardless of what your child says. The doc also said if hunching over is more comfortable than that can also be a sign. Fever, vomiting - other signs. Even if you take your child to the doctor and there is nothing other than a stomach bug, it's worth the time and money spent. A ruptured appendix can eventually kill, and no child or parent wants to face that!!!
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
The Mysteries of Football
Let me start out by saying that years ago, I was totally hooked on a show called 21 Jump Street that starred Peter Deluise, Holly Robinson and Johnny Depp. They played young, undercover cops who went into high schools posing as students and broke up crime rings or whatever within that high school. I loved that show and recently rented the boxed sets so that I can watch them again.
So anyway, Holly Robinson now Holly Robinson Peete, has just written a book titled GET YOUR OWN DAMN BEER. It is a women's guide to understanding football. Now in my household, my husband's life is not complete if he misses a Red Sox, Patriots, or 49ers game. The television is on a lot during sports seasons (which really go year round in my house with little to no gap between the end of football and the start of baseball.) While I have always been interested in watching the players (face it some of them are gorgeous!!!), the rules to football prove to be illusive. I get the whole idea that one team is the offense and one is the defense and that they must run down the field to score their touchdown. But it is the terminology and nitpicky rules that have me utterly confused. No matter how many times my hubby has tried to explain things to me (sorry but phrases of "you have four downs to get your yardage and earn points" don't work for me.)
I ended up eagerly looking foward to reviewing Holly Robinson Peete's new book. If anyone can explain the game of football in layman's terms, I figure a woman should be able to get the job done! Women's minds don't always work on the same wavelength as men's. So Holly starts off her book with humor, always important, and then makes this clear statement (I'm going to sum it up instead of running downstairs to get the book) -- you have four CHANCES to move the ball 10 yards. If you do that, you win another four chances to move another 10 yards. See now that makes sense to me. So last night, we put my new found knowledge to the test. Dallas vs. Seattle. I was able to call the penalities with ease. I had the terminology down! It felt amazing.
My hat is off to Hollly for actually getting through to me! And, of course, as an added bonus the list of admirable football behinds can be found within. Short of missing Adam Vinatieri's posterior, I have to admit she's pretty much on the money.
So anyway, Holly Robinson now Holly Robinson Peete, has just written a book titled GET YOUR OWN DAMN BEER. It is a women's guide to understanding football. Now in my household, my husband's life is not complete if he misses a Red Sox, Patriots, or 49ers game. The television is on a lot during sports seasons (which really go year round in my house with little to no gap between the end of football and the start of baseball.) While I have always been interested in watching the players (face it some of them are gorgeous!!!), the rules to football prove to be illusive. I get the whole idea that one team is the offense and one is the defense and that they must run down the field to score their touchdown. But it is the terminology and nitpicky rules that have me utterly confused. No matter how many times my hubby has tried to explain things to me (sorry but phrases of "you have four downs to get your yardage and earn points" don't work for me.)
I ended up eagerly looking foward to reviewing Holly Robinson Peete's new book. If anyone can explain the game of football in layman's terms, I figure a woman should be able to get the job done! Women's minds don't always work on the same wavelength as men's. So Holly starts off her book with humor, always important, and then makes this clear statement (I'm going to sum it up instead of running downstairs to get the book) -- you have four CHANCES to move the ball 10 yards. If you do that, you win another four chances to move another 10 yards. See now that makes sense to me. So last night, we put my new found knowledge to the test. Dallas vs. Seattle. I was able to call the penalities with ease. I had the terminology down! It felt amazing.
My hat is off to Hollly for actually getting through to me! And, of course, as an added bonus the list of admirable football behinds can be found within. Short of missing Adam Vinatieri's posterior, I have to admit she's pretty much on the money.
Monday, August 22, 2005
Movies
I loved Shrek & Shrek 2. Especially #2, which I felt was geared towards adults with many references to movies and music from the 80's.
So this weekend it was rather rainy and dreary, so after sitting around all afternoon with no plans - I got that itch. We've all had that MUST GO OUT AND DO SOMETHING itch - I'm no different. So after fighting it for a couple of hours - my husband announced that he thought it would be a good idea to go to the movies and maybe even to dinner if it was in the budget. So after some quick thought... I realized his OT pay for last week was enough for dinner and the movies and we headed out.
We have a newer cinema in a town called Williston. It's a 35 mile drive, but I live rural and anything worth doing is at least 20 miles away anyway. Next door to the new cinema is this little Italian place called Nicco's Cucina. We'd never been, mainly because I try to do the low-carb thing most of the time. So we go into Nicco's (they have a deal - dinner and a movie for $20) and spent $80 including a pitcher of wine and desserts - but that included our movie tickets and we were too stuffed after dinner to bother with the concession stand.
So anyway - we went to see Valiant. It's by the producer of Shrek...and contains the same computer animations. I was pretty psyched - Ewan MacGregor, John Cleese, Rik Mayall... I love these guys and figured the movie would be filled with laughs. Sadly, while the movie is okay, it's nothing I'd want to see again.
The premise is this puny carrier pigeon (Ewan) who wants to join the services. He ends up being enlisted (after a bit of a snit fit by another pigeon who is trying to escape trouble) and then due to the failure rates of the other pigeons - Ewan's group is sent out to retrieve and deliver a top secret message from France. (This is based on actual use of pigeons during WWII). The movie has its charm, but it just wasn't as funny as I was expecting. With a top-notch voice cast, I think they could have done much better.
So this weekend it was rather rainy and dreary, so after sitting around all afternoon with no plans - I got that itch. We've all had that MUST GO OUT AND DO SOMETHING itch - I'm no different. So after fighting it for a couple of hours - my husband announced that he thought it would be a good idea to go to the movies and maybe even to dinner if it was in the budget. So after some quick thought... I realized his OT pay for last week was enough for dinner and the movies and we headed out.
We have a newer cinema in a town called Williston. It's a 35 mile drive, but I live rural and anything worth doing is at least 20 miles away anyway. Next door to the new cinema is this little Italian place called Nicco's Cucina. We'd never been, mainly because I try to do the low-carb thing most of the time. So we go into Nicco's (they have a deal - dinner and a movie for $20) and spent $80 including a pitcher of wine and desserts - but that included our movie tickets and we were too stuffed after dinner to bother with the concession stand.
So anyway - we went to see Valiant. It's by the producer of Shrek...and contains the same computer animations. I was pretty psyched - Ewan MacGregor, John Cleese, Rik Mayall... I love these guys and figured the movie would be filled with laughs. Sadly, while the movie is okay, it's nothing I'd want to see again.
The premise is this puny carrier pigeon (Ewan) who wants to join the services. He ends up being enlisted (after a bit of a snit fit by another pigeon who is trying to escape trouble) and then due to the failure rates of the other pigeons - Ewan's group is sent out to retrieve and deliver a top secret message from France. (This is based on actual use of pigeons during WWII). The movie has its charm, but it just wasn't as funny as I was expecting. With a top-notch voice cast, I think they could have done much better.
Thursday, August 18, 2005
Coffee
We had this amazingly cool night last night - it was 43 when I awoke. So my first plan of action was to put on a pot of coffee, wear pants and a sweater and totally enjoy the cool morning air. It's been a wicked summer for most of us and the heat and humidity have totally messed up my system. Yesterday, with a high of 75 I found myself shivering when the sun would go behind a cloud--PATHETIC.
So after my first sip (and I only drink decaf, so there really is no caffeine rush, just the taste is enough to wake me up), I realized that giving up coffee completely would be a major challenge. It led me to wonder how many people drink coffee for the pick-me-up over just the taste?
I live in Vermont, obviously, so Green Mountain Coffee Roasters is a local product and commonly consumed in my household. (Special mention goes to my neighbor who happens to work there and keeps us well stocked with coffee. -- around here if you work at GMCR or Ben & Jerry's an employee perk is free take home items--so coffee for GMCR employees and ice cream pints for B&J employees.) But I am an experimenter, my second favorite place to find coffee comes from TJ Maxx. Their variety of decaf coffee is amazing. At the moment, I am totally hooked on some companies Kahlua & Cream coffee. I can't think of the brand (an Italian company) but their coffee is amazing. I don't have the issues with flavored coffee that some people do. And if I am showing a sign of a cold, you can bet that I'm grabbing a bottle of Jamesons and putting in a couple tablespoons to ward off becoming really sick. For some reason a hot cup of coffee with Jamesons in it knocks the virus out of me within a couple days. I'm not sure why, but maybe there is some logic to that somewhere...
But I digress, my main point today is how many of us can't survive without that morning coffee- and is it for the caffeine or is it the taste that wakes you up?
So after my first sip (and I only drink decaf, so there really is no caffeine rush, just the taste is enough to wake me up), I realized that giving up coffee completely would be a major challenge. It led me to wonder how many people drink coffee for the pick-me-up over just the taste?
I live in Vermont, obviously, so Green Mountain Coffee Roasters is a local product and commonly consumed in my household. (Special mention goes to my neighbor who happens to work there and keeps us well stocked with coffee. -- around here if you work at GMCR or Ben & Jerry's an employee perk is free take home items--so coffee for GMCR employees and ice cream pints for B&J employees.) But I am an experimenter, my second favorite place to find coffee comes from TJ Maxx. Their variety of decaf coffee is amazing. At the moment, I am totally hooked on some companies Kahlua & Cream coffee. I can't think of the brand (an Italian company) but their coffee is amazing. I don't have the issues with flavored coffee that some people do. And if I am showing a sign of a cold, you can bet that I'm grabbing a bottle of Jamesons and putting in a couple tablespoons to ward off becoming really sick. For some reason a hot cup of coffee with Jamesons in it knocks the virus out of me within a couple days. I'm not sure why, but maybe there is some logic to that somewhere...
But I digress, my main point today is how many of us can't survive without that morning coffee- and is it for the caffeine or is it the taste that wakes you up?
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
Bingo TV
We switched from Adelphia to DishNetwork a couple of years ago. I was sick to death of Adelphia's price increases... They'd sent us a note stating that prices were increasing for the third time that year and that to keep our $75 a month internet and television package, we'd have to drop 20 channels OR we could pay $138 a month and keep all the channels we were receiving. I dropped Adelphia quickly and we've been very happy with Dish in the past two years - our rates have increased only $2 total. I keep hoping that Verizon will get into this area so that I can drop Adelphia internet too, but so far that hasn't happened.
So I recently decided to try their Wednesday bingo night. I don't mind the game usually and the opportunity to win a prize makes it more enticing. I'm amazed at how quickly my little personal time out became a family event. Now my kids and my husband will grab a few cards from me and play along too. We still haven't won, and I'm not convinced we ever will, but trying is a lot of fun!
So I recently decided to try their Wednesday bingo night. I don't mind the game usually and the opportunity to win a prize makes it more enticing. I'm amazed at how quickly my little personal time out became a family event. Now my kids and my husband will grab a few cards from me and play along too. We still haven't won, and I'm not convinced we ever will, but trying is a lot of fun!
Sunday, August 14, 2005
Rainy weather
I just did something that I do whenever I have the chance. This time my daughter made a comment--"Mom, why do all the people in cars keep looking at us like we're weird?"
She's right. Whenever I go outside on a rainy day with my kids and splash in puddles, I do get some pretty strange looks. It's quite sad, I think. Even my husband won't go play in the rain anymore. Yet--ten, fifteen, twenty years from now, my kids will still remember that mom would get soaked and go splash in mud puddles. This is quality time that I'm spending and it doesn't cost a penny. Have you seen "Singin' In The Rain"? Didn't the scene with Gene Kelly splashing away in the pouring rain make you stop and smile? Why don't more adults do that?
I'm not sure why some grown-ups give up splashing in the rain--we did it when we were kids--but I can guarantee that if you do make the effort to get out there and get wet with your kids, your relationship with them will never be better. It's the little things that count to a kid, and playing in the rain is very simple.
She's right. Whenever I go outside on a rainy day with my kids and splash in puddles, I do get some pretty strange looks. It's quite sad, I think. Even my husband won't go play in the rain anymore. Yet--ten, fifteen, twenty years from now, my kids will still remember that mom would get soaked and go splash in mud puddles. This is quality time that I'm spending and it doesn't cost a penny. Have you seen "Singin' In The Rain"? Didn't the scene with Gene Kelly splashing away in the pouring rain make you stop and smile? Why don't more adults do that?
I'm not sure why some grown-ups give up splashing in the rain--we did it when we were kids--but I can guarantee that if you do make the effort to get out there and get wet with your kids, your relationship with them will never be better. It's the little things that count to a kid, and playing in the rain is very simple.
Saturday, August 13, 2005
Gas Prices???
Not two days ago, I was complaining about the comparison between salary increases being way out of touch with the increased cost of living. And then yesterday I happened to need to gas up my car.
Now my husband and I both drive fuel efficient cars (THANK GOD) and usually get at least 30 miles to the gallon. I drove to our local gas station and found $2.499 was the current price for regular. I refused to pay that much and kept driving. NOTHING was cheaper. That's a 15 cent increase from the last time I had to gas up my car.
Now I know that I am not the only one who is dealing with these inflated prices, and I also know that Vermont is relatively inexpensive still compared to other states. But $2.50 a gallon is insane. Then on the news last night, there was an article on a recent poll. Families are having to decide between gas to get to work and heating fuel or groceries and they are picking gas obviously and skipping their weekly grocery trip. Now where I live, there is no public transportation. Unless you live in Burlington, South Burlington, Williston or part of Essex Junction buses don't run. We are too rural and small for subways or commuter trains. So public transportation isn't an option. To cut costs, you have to car pool, but for my husband he's a wierd shift and has yet to find anyone who is willing to set up a car pool. 7 to 3 is not the norm around here. Thankfully, I'm at home and only have to drive for errands which I try to pool together in one shot.
How can the government not do anything about this? The price of electric cars needs to be made more reasonable. Something needs to change with the crude oil price. I know someone who just returned from duty and happened to go into Saudi Arabia where the gas price there was a meager 5 cents per gallon. Can you even imagine 5 cents per gallon??? I can remember gas at 99 cents over 10 years ago, but 5 cents a gallon... I'd love it!
So what is everyone else having to pay at the pump?
Now my husband and I both drive fuel efficient cars (THANK GOD) and usually get at least 30 miles to the gallon. I drove to our local gas station and found $2.499 was the current price for regular. I refused to pay that much and kept driving. NOTHING was cheaper. That's a 15 cent increase from the last time I had to gas up my car.
Now I know that I am not the only one who is dealing with these inflated prices, and I also know that Vermont is relatively inexpensive still compared to other states. But $2.50 a gallon is insane. Then on the news last night, there was an article on a recent poll. Families are having to decide between gas to get to work and heating fuel or groceries and they are picking gas obviously and skipping their weekly grocery trip. Now where I live, there is no public transportation. Unless you live in Burlington, South Burlington, Williston or part of Essex Junction buses don't run. We are too rural and small for subways or commuter trains. So public transportation isn't an option. To cut costs, you have to car pool, but for my husband he's a wierd shift and has yet to find anyone who is willing to set up a car pool. 7 to 3 is not the norm around here. Thankfully, I'm at home and only have to drive for errands which I try to pool together in one shot.
How can the government not do anything about this? The price of electric cars needs to be made more reasonable. Something needs to change with the crude oil price. I know someone who just returned from duty and happened to go into Saudi Arabia where the gas price there was a meager 5 cents per gallon. Can you even imagine 5 cents per gallon??? I can remember gas at 99 cents over 10 years ago, but 5 cents a gallon... I'd love it!
So what is everyone else having to pay at the pump?
Friday, August 12, 2005
What happened to common sense while driving?
Last weekend we went on a camping trip to the other side of the state. This is a 2 hour drive, mostly by interstate, and along the way I noticed many of my pet peeves were happening time and time again. When my kids are in the car, I get doubly frustrated by the way some people drive. So I decided today to share a few driving tips that drivers seem to have forgotten...
1. If you are in the on-ramp to get onto the interstate, you actually DO have to yield. The driver on the interstate should try to get over to the left for you, but that is not always possible, so if they can't move or haven't moved, don't try to pull into the side of their car in an effort to force them to move.
2. Sticking to Rule #1, if you are in the right lane and no one is coming up in the left lane, it would be nice if you did move over. I'm finding more and more drivers don't bother to move over and it is a pain in the behind having to come to a complete stop on the on-ramp and then accelerate in a hurry as you try to get back up to the 65mph of the interstate.
3. Stop signs... There seems to be a huge issue with them these days. They actually do mean stop. I'm all for a "California Stop" where you slow and then proceed slowly if no one is coming, but you actually have to make the effort to look both ways--emphasis on both ways. I've had more drivers run a stop sign when I'm on Route 7 and they are coming off side roads. They either are blind and don't see them, in which case they shouldn't be driving, or they ignore them, in which case I wish I were an undercover cop so that I could then offer the expensive ticket.
4. Construction or Obstruction depending on your point of view. Vermont interstates are a mess. Over the past winter, the top layer of asphalt crumbled away and there is currently a big push to fix those areas, so there is a lot of obstruction out there. So I was heading to our local Walmart (a 40 minute drive by interstate) and had this guy from Massachussetts pull up behind me in a construction zone where it was posted slow to 55 or get a double fine. Vermont's big on doubling the fine in a construction zone and I can guarantee there is always a sheriff there in the midst just waiting to get you. I have no issue slowing down. It can prevent the construction crews from getting hurt. However, the guy in this truck with Mass. plates apparently had issues and proceeded to tailgate something fierce while swerving back and forth. As soon as he noticed the sheriff he stopped, but this is just juvenile behavior that doesn't belong on the roads. There are double fine warnings for a reason, so deal with it, or skip the interstate.
5. Bicyclists - you guys need to follow the rules of the road too. That's a big pet peeve of mine. We live on the Champlain Bikeway, so we have bike traffic coming up and down our road and roads surrounding us. I was coming up my road one day and there is this T intersection where the traffic coming off Georgia Plains Road has to stop, but our road goes straight through and doesn't have a stop sign. So this person on the bike completely ignored the stop sign and went right out in front of me. I swerved and went into the grass and they kept right on going. That's a good way to get yourself killed. Another pet peeve is when traffic is stopped at a red light and a bicyclist runs the red light. You DO have to obey the traffic signals just as a car does.
6. Turn signals. I was pulling out of our local Maplefields (Gas Station/Convenience Store) and was making a left across traffic. No one was to my right and there was one car to my left, so I was going to wait and then she put on her directional signaling a right into the Maplefields parking lot. So I watched her slow and pulled out. Suddenly she sped back up and almost hit me while giving me the finger. If you are going to change your mind, be warned that other traffic can't read your thoughts - especially if your turn signal remains on, which it did until I lost sight of her.
7. No Turn On Red. This is one of my favorite stories. Down the road where our Costco is - there is the interstate off-ramp and a sign that clearly states "No Turn On Red." I have been there multiple times and had someone beep their horn when I don't make the right turn during the red light. I always get annoyed and point the sign out - not that it seems to make much difference. So one day, I was at that light again with an unmarked town cop car behind me, only I was turning left. So the next lane over a guy proceeds to make the right on red. Cop car lights came on and the guy was ticketed. It's always great to see someone get got there! Kind of makes up for all the times I've been beeped at.
8. And my other favorite story. Burlington is Vermont's college town. UVM draws a huge crowd and a good deal of these male college student drivers, drive like your average teen male. I had a kid in a car plastered with UVM stickers beep at me and swerve all over the place - I was doing 45 in a 40 zone and apparently that wasn't fast enough for him. He ended up passing me on a corner. Right around that corner was a state trooper who nabbed him. Again, any time this kid saved by speeding was taken up now by his waiting as the ticket was issued. I just hope he enjoyed it.
9. If you are merging from an on-ramp and there is a third lane, that third lane is yours. You don't need to suddenly pull out in front of oncoming traffic to get into the middle lane. Wait 'til it's clear!! We only have one section of interstate (that I know of) where this is the case, but every time I drive through there, the people coming in from the right immediately feel the need to cut in front of you instead of waiting until it is clear.
10. Trust local drivers. This one is important. We have a stretch of interstate through Burlington and South Burlington where it slows to 55mph for about 3 miles. I know the spots where the DMV and officers hide to catch speeders, so I always slow to 55-60. Yet, I'll have out of staters fly by me giving me dirty looks for having slowed down. Time and time again, I've seen those same speeders then get nabbed by the DMV truck that usually sits right around the corner. Usually locals know the quirks to the roads and it is a good idea to watch and follow suit.
I think I'm done venting for the day. I have to go to Costco later, which means I'll be heading out and I'm betting at least the No Right Turn rule gets ignored today. It almost always does.
1. If you are in the on-ramp to get onto the interstate, you actually DO have to yield. The driver on the interstate should try to get over to the left for you, but that is not always possible, so if they can't move or haven't moved, don't try to pull into the side of their car in an effort to force them to move.
2. Sticking to Rule #1, if you are in the right lane and no one is coming up in the left lane, it would be nice if you did move over. I'm finding more and more drivers don't bother to move over and it is a pain in the behind having to come to a complete stop on the on-ramp and then accelerate in a hurry as you try to get back up to the 65mph of the interstate.
3. Stop signs... There seems to be a huge issue with them these days. They actually do mean stop. I'm all for a "California Stop" where you slow and then proceed slowly if no one is coming, but you actually have to make the effort to look both ways--emphasis on both ways. I've had more drivers run a stop sign when I'm on Route 7 and they are coming off side roads. They either are blind and don't see them, in which case they shouldn't be driving, or they ignore them, in which case I wish I were an undercover cop so that I could then offer the expensive ticket.
4. Construction or Obstruction depending on your point of view. Vermont interstates are a mess. Over the past winter, the top layer of asphalt crumbled away and there is currently a big push to fix those areas, so there is a lot of obstruction out there. So I was heading to our local Walmart (a 40 minute drive by interstate) and had this guy from Massachussetts pull up behind me in a construction zone where it was posted slow to 55 or get a double fine. Vermont's big on doubling the fine in a construction zone and I can guarantee there is always a sheriff there in the midst just waiting to get you. I have no issue slowing down. It can prevent the construction crews from getting hurt. However, the guy in this truck with Mass. plates apparently had issues and proceeded to tailgate something fierce while swerving back and forth. As soon as he noticed the sheriff he stopped, but this is just juvenile behavior that doesn't belong on the roads. There are double fine warnings for a reason, so deal with it, or skip the interstate.
5. Bicyclists - you guys need to follow the rules of the road too. That's a big pet peeve of mine. We live on the Champlain Bikeway, so we have bike traffic coming up and down our road and roads surrounding us. I was coming up my road one day and there is this T intersection where the traffic coming off Georgia Plains Road has to stop, but our road goes straight through and doesn't have a stop sign. So this person on the bike completely ignored the stop sign and went right out in front of me. I swerved and went into the grass and they kept right on going. That's a good way to get yourself killed. Another pet peeve is when traffic is stopped at a red light and a bicyclist runs the red light. You DO have to obey the traffic signals just as a car does.
6. Turn signals. I was pulling out of our local Maplefields (Gas Station/Convenience Store) and was making a left across traffic. No one was to my right and there was one car to my left, so I was going to wait and then she put on her directional signaling a right into the Maplefields parking lot. So I watched her slow and pulled out. Suddenly she sped back up and almost hit me while giving me the finger. If you are going to change your mind, be warned that other traffic can't read your thoughts - especially if your turn signal remains on, which it did until I lost sight of her.
7. No Turn On Red. This is one of my favorite stories. Down the road where our Costco is - there is the interstate off-ramp and a sign that clearly states "No Turn On Red." I have been there multiple times and had someone beep their horn when I don't make the right turn during the red light. I always get annoyed and point the sign out - not that it seems to make much difference. So one day, I was at that light again with an unmarked town cop car behind me, only I was turning left. So the next lane over a guy proceeds to make the right on red. Cop car lights came on and the guy was ticketed. It's always great to see someone get got there! Kind of makes up for all the times I've been beeped at.
8. And my other favorite story. Burlington is Vermont's college town. UVM draws a huge crowd and a good deal of these male college student drivers, drive like your average teen male. I had a kid in a car plastered with UVM stickers beep at me and swerve all over the place - I was doing 45 in a 40 zone and apparently that wasn't fast enough for him. He ended up passing me on a corner. Right around that corner was a state trooper who nabbed him. Again, any time this kid saved by speeding was taken up now by his waiting as the ticket was issued. I just hope he enjoyed it.
9. If you are merging from an on-ramp and there is a third lane, that third lane is yours. You don't need to suddenly pull out in front of oncoming traffic to get into the middle lane. Wait 'til it's clear!! We only have one section of interstate (that I know of) where this is the case, but every time I drive through there, the people coming in from the right immediately feel the need to cut in front of you instead of waiting until it is clear.
10. Trust local drivers. This one is important. We have a stretch of interstate through Burlington and South Burlington where it slows to 55mph for about 3 miles. I know the spots where the DMV and officers hide to catch speeders, so I always slow to 55-60. Yet, I'll have out of staters fly by me giving me dirty looks for having slowed down. Time and time again, I've seen those same speeders then get nabbed by the DMV truck that usually sits right around the corner. Usually locals know the quirks to the roads and it is a good idea to watch and follow suit.
I think I'm done venting for the day. I have to go to Costco later, which means I'll be heading out and I'm betting at least the No Right Turn rule gets ignored today. It almost always does.
Thursday, August 11, 2005
New additions
I had a deal with my daughter... If she could pick up her room to my standards, we'd get her a pet rat. I have had a pet rat in my youth and despite their reputation, they make incredible pets. They are very intelligent and loving.
So yesterday, she got up at 5am and went to work. She had that room spotless by 10am and I owed her the rat. However, after a slight disagreement on what a rat should be named - Templeton is the only name for a rat... We ended up with two rats, a pair of sisters. I actually feel better with the two because they'd been caged together since birth and I think the remaining would have been miserable alone.
So this morning, I think they've been toted around on my daughter's shoulders more than they have spent time in their cage. Their temperament is incredible. When I snapped a picture of them for her, instead of running in the other direction, they immediately came towards the camera and climbed up into my hands to see what the strange flashing thing was.
I once reviewed a book that lists a rat as a great starter pet for your child - especially if you are in the city and can't have a dog. I fully agree. Rats are very social. Buy from a reputable dealer (our local pet store breeds them in the shop and then hand raises them.) Make sure they've been handled a lot and you shouldn't wind up with a biter. As a teenager, I had a rat (science class project where the class raised two rats - one on junk food and one on healthy food to see the growth differences between the two. At the end, two students were raffled to take the rats home. My little brother took one of them and then grew tired of changing the litter. I took over and that rat lived to be about 8 years old. Good age for a rat, especially one that had a passion for french fries. :-)
These rats are clean. I fully believe in bathing them too. Most rats have no issues getting into a shallow bowl of water. Mine never complained. Rats pride themselves on grooming, so don't think they are dirty disease infested creatures. In the wild that is true, but pet rats are cleaner than my dog who has a passion for rolling on dead creatures that neighborhood cats seem to enjoy dumping in my yard!!
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
Liveable Wages
This is a topic that I am firmly in support of in any conversation, and it came up last night. Our neighbor came over because the tube that his oil dipstick slides into had rusted completely through, much to his surprise since he'd had an oil change done last month, and he couldn't get the dipstick back into the engine block due to the tube rusting completely through. (I keep saying Ford just isn't worth it...) So his 1999 truck now has a big issue that he needs repaired.
Anyway, we got onto the conversation of how to pay for these surprises in this area. My husband just got a 60 cent an hour raise--first raise in a few years now. While we are thankful for anything, it won't cover the fact that our propane rates for winter heating has just increased 60 cents a gallon. We use about 800 gallons a year. Obviously gassing up the car has increased a lot. Electricity rates go up every fall (back to winter rates) and then let's not forget that the state of Vermont and the town we live in are asking for more money in property and school taxes this year. We are expecting a $400 increase there.
So how do families stay ahead? My neighbor went on about how he was just given a 50 cent an hour raise -- yet he works all over and the area they currently have him working at is a 40 mile drive one way. He never gets a company truck like some of the other construction employees, so the raise doesn't help him at all. I'm baffled. It's understandable that families are having to work more hours than ever and some work two jobs just to stay ahead.
In Vermont, you have to earn less than $30k to get any state aid. The average price of a house is $200k (A two bedroom, 900 square foot house on 2 acres in our neighborhood just sold for $195k.) A three bedroom farm house with no basement on 3 acres just sold for $210k. Mortgages are up there with property taxes and school taxes escrowed in--most mortgages for people I know are over $1000 per month.
The government keeps blaming television and video games for the declining morality of our youth, I disagree. I think it is the fact that many parents are having to leave their middle school aged kids unsupervised while they work more hours in order to pay the bills.
So if I can see this is a scary situation that's not getting better- how come the state and federal governments are still missing it?
Anyway, we got onto the conversation of how to pay for these surprises in this area. My husband just got a 60 cent an hour raise--first raise in a few years now. While we are thankful for anything, it won't cover the fact that our propane rates for winter heating has just increased 60 cents a gallon. We use about 800 gallons a year. Obviously gassing up the car has increased a lot. Electricity rates go up every fall (back to winter rates) and then let's not forget that the state of Vermont and the town we live in are asking for more money in property and school taxes this year. We are expecting a $400 increase there.
So how do families stay ahead? My neighbor went on about how he was just given a 50 cent an hour raise -- yet he works all over and the area they currently have him working at is a 40 mile drive one way. He never gets a company truck like some of the other construction employees, so the raise doesn't help him at all. I'm baffled. It's understandable that families are having to work more hours than ever and some work two jobs just to stay ahead.
In Vermont, you have to earn less than $30k to get any state aid. The average price of a house is $200k (A two bedroom, 900 square foot house on 2 acres in our neighborhood just sold for $195k.) A three bedroom farm house with no basement on 3 acres just sold for $210k. Mortgages are up there with property taxes and school taxes escrowed in--most mortgages for people I know are over $1000 per month.
The government keeps blaming television and video games for the declining morality of our youth, I disagree. I think it is the fact that many parents are having to leave their middle school aged kids unsupervised while they work more hours in order to pay the bills.
So if I can see this is a scary situation that's not getting better- how come the state and federal governments are still missing it?
Tuesday, August 09, 2005
Vacations
Whenever my hubby takes a week off, my schedule goes awry. Not that it is a bad thing, we've had a lot of fun the past week, but I find myself pushing everything aside--housework, laundry, reading, computer... And now that he heads back to work tomorrow, I keep looking around the house at all the things that have stacked up while we've been fitting in day trips and camping.
Camping is a whole other ball game. I can't see why people are so fascinated with it. By the time I'd packed the tent (and we have this monstrosity of a tent, huge, grand, and did I mention HUGE...) and then folding chairs, sleeping bags and pillows. There was no more room in the trunk. I think in order to camp, you must bring two cars or have a really big truck. I'd love to know how people pack for camping without going insane...
Camping is a whole other ball game. I can't see why people are so fascinated with it. By the time I'd packed the tent (and we have this monstrosity of a tent, huge, grand, and did I mention HUGE...) and then folding chairs, sleeping bags and pillows. There was no more room in the trunk. I think in order to camp, you must bring two cars or have a really big truck. I'd love to know how people pack for camping without going insane...
Friday, August 05, 2005
Willy Wonka
Last night, my husband and son went to see ISLAND with Ewan MacGregor, and my daughter and I went in to see WILLY WONKA. I am a huge fan of the original CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, but I also adore Johnny Depp, so I was anxious to see the difference. I am highly impressed.
Tim Burton is usually someone I can take or leave. I was expecting the new Willy Wonka to be dark, but in actuality it is a riot. I spent more time laughing than I have in a long time. Johnny Depp's slightly neurotic portrayal of Wonka is on the money and it's nice to see the odd part of that character more developed. We knew that Gene Wilder's character was batty, remember the river boat scene, but they never really played it up. Johnny Depp does so and the story goes beyond it to delve into Wonka's past and explain why he is a little wacky.
Having seen it now, I think those who hated the Gene Wilder version (my husband and son included) will really enjoy this new version.
Tim Burton is usually someone I can take or leave. I was expecting the new Willy Wonka to be dark, but in actuality it is a riot. I spent more time laughing than I have in a long time. Johnny Depp's slightly neurotic portrayal of Wonka is on the money and it's nice to see the odd part of that character more developed. We knew that Gene Wilder's character was batty, remember the river boat scene, but they never really played it up. Johnny Depp does so and the story goes beyond it to delve into Wonka's past and explain why he is a little wacky.
Having seen it now, I think those who hated the Gene Wilder version (my husband and son included) will really enjoy this new version.
Thursday, August 04, 2005
Moving to Vermont
I was searching for a local pizzeria's menu last night - of course there wasn't one online but that's a whole other story - and came across another woman's blog. She and her husband had just moved to Vermont from California and she was now realizing that Vermont is not a user-friendly state. I became hooked on her blog and proceded to read the entire thing.
She'd moved her with the "promise" of a job at a local credit union. Only she arrived to learn the job wasn't all she'd pictured and salaries were miniscule compared to salaries in CA. So by the time I'd finished reading, she was ready and talking about moving back to CA.
I find this amusing because salaries here are not great. Housing costs and taxes keep increasing, while salaries stay the same. We bought our house a little over ten years ago. Since that time, the value of our house has doubled. Our property and school taxes have tripled and my husband's hourly wage has increased by a little over $4--so that's about 30 cents a year. With skyrocketing heating fuel costs, lack of public transportation so you have to car pool or drive your car to work, I've often wondered how Vermonter's can afford to stay in Vermont. I'd love to pack up and move, and I know the day will come when we will. For now my family is here, my husband's job seems secure enough and he's put in 27 years now, so as he said he'd be foolish to start over. But something within the government has to change. Big business is shot down repeatedly by environmental agencies who want Vermont to remain small and wooded... but without jobs there will be no people to support the state so something has to give.
She'd moved her with the "promise" of a job at a local credit union. Only she arrived to learn the job wasn't all she'd pictured and salaries were miniscule compared to salaries in CA. So by the time I'd finished reading, she was ready and talking about moving back to CA.
I find this amusing because salaries here are not great. Housing costs and taxes keep increasing, while salaries stay the same. We bought our house a little over ten years ago. Since that time, the value of our house has doubled. Our property and school taxes have tripled and my husband's hourly wage has increased by a little over $4--so that's about 30 cents a year. With skyrocketing heating fuel costs, lack of public transportation so you have to car pool or drive your car to work, I've often wondered how Vermonter's can afford to stay in Vermont. I'd love to pack up and move, and I know the day will come when we will. For now my family is here, my husband's job seems secure enough and he's put in 27 years now, so as he said he'd be foolish to start over. But something within the government has to change. Big business is shot down repeatedly by environmental agencies who want Vermont to remain small and wooded... but without jobs there will be no people to support the state so something has to give.
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
News article
I saw this article on the news last week that bothers me... It makes me wonder what aren't parents telling their children, or are children just ignoring what we say? I can't imagine my kids will ignore the things I shared with them this weekend.
There is this new "game" spreading around the U.S. Children are dying from it. I've seen my neighbor with his cutting and then huffing--he almost killed himself, and his mom never thought that he'd do something so dangerous - yet he did. He's a troubled kid and looks for attention any way he can get it.
But this new trend - Crazy Chicken, Suffocation Roulette, Spacemonkey, Flatliner... it's scary. The damage a kid can do to themselves by cutting off bloodflow is something they should be well aware of. http://www.keepmedia.com/pubs/USATODAY/2005/07/20/937104?extID=10032&oliID=213
Talk to your kids. We sacrifice, I stay home with my kids and will until both are in middle school which means the bus comes home after my husband is home. I know this is an impossibility for many and most families. But regardless, keep the lines of communication open. If they haven't mentioned it, bring it up. Let them know just what can happen! Remember Michael Hutchence from INXS? Suffocation isn't pretty, and no child should be doing it to themselves!
There is this new "game" spreading around the U.S. Children are dying from it. I've seen my neighbor with his cutting and then huffing--he almost killed himself, and his mom never thought that he'd do something so dangerous - yet he did. He's a troubled kid and looks for attention any way he can get it.
But this new trend - Crazy Chicken, Suffocation Roulette, Spacemonkey, Flatliner... it's scary. The damage a kid can do to themselves by cutting off bloodflow is something they should be well aware of. http://www.keepmedia.com/pubs/USATODAY/2005/07/20/937104?extID=10032&oliID=213
Talk to your kids. We sacrifice, I stay home with my kids and will until both are in middle school which means the bus comes home after my husband is home. I know this is an impossibility for many and most families. But regardless, keep the lines of communication open. If they haven't mentioned it, bring it up. Let them know just what can happen! Remember Michael Hutchence from INXS? Suffocation isn't pretty, and no child should be doing it to themselves!
Monday, August 01, 2005
Parking Lots
Something has been happening time and time again in my area and it makes me wonder. Last Spring, a guy in a truck backed into my car behind him in the Home Depot parking lot. His response was..."I didn't see your car because it sits so much lower than my truck." Obviously it was his mistake and his insurance paid for it... but I found out later that because any claim was made it counts against me anyway--hence my insurance rates went up a little bit. So I was steamed, but there's nothing I can do about it.
Today, my daughter was walking into the store, holding my hand as per the rule, and as we walked down the parking lot roadway a car was backing out from beyond the minivan we were behind. I pulled my daughter back in time, and the driver admitted she couldn't see a thing with a truck on one side of her and a minivan on the other until she'd backed out beyond them.
So it makes me wonder. With the current trend in Vermont and many other areas leaning towards the bigger SUVs and trucks, why can't stores designate portions of their parking lots for sedans only and SUVs and trucks on the other side? I don't have a problem with SUVs and trucks, if you can afford them, great! But I will admit that I don't back into parking spots anymore, I always find a spot where I can drive straight out. And my reasoning is that if two larger vehicles park on each side of me, my vision is blocked. I've been sandwiched in the past between two Chevy Avalanches (a truck I love, but could never justify splurging on for myself) and visibility when you are in a sedan is horrendous. You cannot see a thing with two much larger and longer vehicles on each side. For a person's safety, I do not see why a parking lot couldn't be split in half, larger vehicles on one side and smaller cars on the other.
Today, my daughter was walking into the store, holding my hand as per the rule, and as we walked down the parking lot roadway a car was backing out from beyond the minivan we were behind. I pulled my daughter back in time, and the driver admitted she couldn't see a thing with a truck on one side of her and a minivan on the other until she'd backed out beyond them.
So it makes me wonder. With the current trend in Vermont and many other areas leaning towards the bigger SUVs and trucks, why can't stores designate portions of their parking lots for sedans only and SUVs and trucks on the other side? I don't have a problem with SUVs and trucks, if you can afford them, great! But I will admit that I don't back into parking spots anymore, I always find a spot where I can drive straight out. And my reasoning is that if two larger vehicles park on each side of me, my vision is blocked. I've been sandwiched in the past between two Chevy Avalanches (a truck I love, but could never justify splurging on for myself) and visibility when you are in a sedan is horrendous. You cannot see a thing with two much larger and longer vehicles on each side. For a person's safety, I do not see why a parking lot couldn't be split in half, larger vehicles on one side and smaller cars on the other.
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