Hello Dust Bunny

Wielding a vacuum is not the most glamorous job in the world but the results are one of the cleanest. I've never used a Martha Stewart recipe or any of her tips for a tranquil domestic household nor have I ever lined up at The Container Store to learn how to become a better organizer. Without Martha's help or containers of all shapes and sizes stacked floor to ceiling how in heavens did I become so good at the profession of busting dust bunnies? Maybe my mom taught me, surely I must have learned something about domestic chores from her. About the only thing I really remember her harping about was for me to make my bed. Never once did I have to clean the bathroom or mop the kitchen floor so how did I become a champion cleaner and even more astonishing, why do I enjoy doing it?
Most people would brag if they could that not having to wield a vacuum cleaner is a sign of success when really their inability to keep order is what stairs you in the face when you walk into their home. Domestic chaos equals dust and dirt both of which defeat most people. The self loathing rhythms of busting dust bunnies have never been my enemy. Removing other peoples dust clouds allows me to work only a few hours a week providing enough money to pay all my bills and have money left over to do pretty much what I want. When ever I hear someone shout "I'm not the maid" I see dollar signs. Domestic order is my business and dust bunny bounty hunter is my trade. I'll clean and organize with ferocity capturing every dust bunny I see always wondering if making my bed is truly the reason for my success.

Father's Day

During the Father's Day holiday I seem to have a lot of that 20-20 hindsight thing going on. Sometimes I wish I would have done a few things differently as I grew up, especially paying more attention in school but those issues never kept dad for loving me just the same. As Father's day approaches the memories of my dad always become more intense and emotional. He always worked hard and long hours to provide for his family while making sacrifices of himself for his family. When growing up I never really understood what all that entailed and probably still don't because I don't have a family or kids. Those sacrifices are unparalleled to any sacrifices I think I may have endured.
I am lucky enough to have my dad around this weekend so I'll give him a big hug, tell him I love him and how much I appreciate everything he has done and still does for me. HAPPY FATHER'S DAY dad!

Let There Be Light

The incandescent light bulb has been around since Edison invented it in 1879 illuminating the world ever since. Now there is a push for energy efficiency but changing the old "let there be light" habit is proving harder than changing a light bulb. The old question of how long does it take to change a light bulb is about to receive a new answer. After nearly a century and a half the United States government will make it mandatory in 2014 that all illumination come from compact fluorescent bulbs. The incandescent bulb is on it's way to the history books and with it the need to change light bulbs on a regular basis.
Why should I spend $2.50 for a compact fluorescent bulb when I can buy a incandescent bulb of the same wattage for 25 cents? I know that in the long run the $2.50 bulb will pay for it's self, even saving me money but when I am standing in the isle at WalMart I am thinking of the money in my present pocket not the money in my future pocket. It's the old dilemma " Pay now or Pay later" that is always at the heart of our buying decisions. Whether you admit it or not, there lies a cheapskate in all of us so until 2014 most people will continue to buy the 25 cent bulb.
A couple of months ago I intimidated that cheapskate inside me when I was given my very first compact fluorescent bulb.
Removing a perfectly good 25 cent incandescent bulb and replacing it with the compact fluorescent bulb did not give me the desired effects I had hoped for. Oh it sounds good when they tell you the bulb will last nine years and save you $47 but it just didn't give off as much light as I was used to. Although disappointed I had to laugh when I read on the package that for any reason the bulb refused to illuminate all I needed to do is send in the receipt for a full refund. Give me a break, who in their right mind is ever going to keep a $2.50 receipt for nine years. In nine years a US postal stamp will probably cost $2.50 so I would be lucky if I even broke even. Besides, the bulb does not give me enough light to even read the receipt so how an I to even know if I am entitled to a refund? The corkscrew appearance of the bulb was even worse than it's attempt at illumination but I was determined to get the best of my inter cheapskate so I purchased a compact fluorescent bulb that more resembled a conventional incandescent bulb and that seemed to produce a somewhat happy median to the bulb dilemma.
I still can't read very well by it's light but I guess that really doesn't matter because with all the money I be saving while using the compact fluorescent bulb I'll be able to buy a stronger pair of reading glasses.
One bulb will not defeat Global Warming but it is a start so I want to let the world know I am doing my part one bulb at a time.

50 Billion Dollar Fixer Upper

When I was growing up and even today I have always been convinced that a Chevrolet automobile was better than a Ford or Chrysler automobile. I have never been able to explain that reasoning but I know I would still never buy a Ford or Chrysler and for that matter you can kick me in the ass if I ever buy any American car.
With the $50 billion government bailout of General Motors the tax payers of America now own what was once the greatest automobile company on the face of the Earth. The company's luster has faded just as the luster on this 1967 SS 396 Chevelle has. The car's 396 cubic inch V8 motor coupled with a positive traction rear end and 4:10 ratio gears begged to be driven as hard as humanly possible.
GM was in it's glory days when it produced this car but what happened in the following years was a shame brought on by corporate greed. General Motors decision to build cars that would fall apart after a few years so that the consumer would need to buy a new one is the main reason the company is now in bankruptcy. Once you screw the public they never forget it! Over the years GM has refused to build cars the public wanted and gave America gas guzzlers even when gasoline was $4 a gallon so now we are staring upon GM's tombstone. With their body barely cold I find myself filled with I dare say "JOY". The days of GM's glory are as dull as the taillights on this classic yet the company begs America for one more chance, promising that this time it really does understand the need to build cars the public may want to buy.
General Motors turns 100 years old this year so maybe America should give them another chance because anything that has lasted 100 years deserves something special. They convinced us to give up the horse and saddle and even our buggy whips. They let us make out in their back seats and watch movies on the big screen. They let us cruse the A&W and flirt with the car hops. They even let us see the ocean for the first time through one of their windshields but it is a new day and a new century. Whats a billion or even 50 billion for that matter all I know is I'll never be able to buy a SS 396 Chevelle and even if I could buy a fixer upper I would never be able to afford to fill it up with gasoline. Dreams are all I'll ever have but dream I can because somewhere in America there are still A&Ws and car hops to flirt with.