Crooks are Dumb

It’s tax season and a recent news show commented on how to tell if your identity has been stolen.  One of the ways they pointed out concerned e-filing tax returns.  If you attempt to file your taxes over the internet and it is rejected because someone has already filed under that social security number then your identity has been compromised.  Imagine, someone has stolen your identity, taken your money, and then filed a tax return to claim the income.  That has to be one of the dumbest things I have heard of.

Bathtub Drains

Do you have a problem with your bathtub drain?  I did and I put it off for a while because I thought it would require a lot of work.  I have fixed sink drains in the past (See my post in March 2011) and figured a tub drain would work about the same but be harder to get to.  Finally I secured the time I thought I would need and began the job.

First I looked at how I would get to it.  There should be an access panel behind the tub and sure enough mine was in the closet.  I took everything out of the closet, cleaned it up while I was there, took off the panel and scratched my head.  It didn’t look at all like the sink.

To make a long story short, I went back to the tub, used a simple screw driver to take off the overflow cap, pulled up the chain that was attached to the lever and found that it was much simpler than a sink.  I went to the hardware store, bought the correct part and fixed it.  Just look at this picture and you can see what I mean.  I could have told Nancy that it took half the day when in fact it should have taken 20 minutes tops and had a lot of time for myself but it did take a few hours because I lost all that time tearing the closet apart, cleaning it, and putting it back together.

Sometimes it is just better to go to a local hardware store, swallow your pride, and ask what you have to do.

Feel Good About Your Free Time

We all have free time and though we have earned it we tend to feel bad about having it.  Well, use it for something good.  Donate your time as a volunteer for some organization.  It can be a few hours on a weekend or some continuing commitment, doesn’t matter really.  You will feel better about yourself and make the world better for others.

I started helping the Multiple Sclerosis Society at their annual Walk many years ago.  It was half a day, once a year, and I felt good all year long.  Now I do a lot more but then I have more time and this isn’t about me, it is about you.  There are a lot of things you can do for a charity that nobody ever thinks about.  When a charity has an event where do you think those tents, tables, supplies, etc. come from?  Where do they disappear to when the event is over?  Our local MS Society has had teams of volunteers from the Air Force and Maryland University loading and unloading trucks.  Two hours work, meet new people, and feel good forever.

The different walks can last from 3 miles to 2 days and they always have at least one rest stop.  These are usually manned by volunteers who are often from a company or organization.  Get your bowling team together for three hours and pass out water and bananas.

Please, don’t say you are too busy.  An old colleague of mine once said “if you want something done, ask a busy person.”  I have fun, feel good about myself, and help raise over a million dollars to help find a cure for MS.  I may never win a Pulitzer Prize but I do feel like my life has a meaning.

Our MS Chapter actually has a woman who runs her own Walk, basically a neighborhood pot luck, and they send all the donations to the MS Society.  What the heck.

If you want to sit on this for a while but can donate a few dollars now, just go to http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR?px=4065717&pg=personal&fr_id=14712&et=KTFxOwscQsXwiSVaN4YStQ..&s_tafId=165640 and make your donation on-line.  I’ll make sure it goes to the right place and you will begin feeling great.

What to Say

We all have, or will have, friends and relatives suffering from something.  It can be cancer, a heart attack, accident, job loss, diverse, or some other catastrophe and we want to show our support.  Unfortunately finding the correct words can be almost impossible or worse yet, we don’t know how bad the words are.  This can be even harder if you are close, like an Uncle or Aunt.  Let me try to help.

You see I had a heart attack once, my Wife has cancer, both my parents have died, the son of a friend was killed in a traffic, accident and another committed suicide so I have been around grief a few times and learned from both the good and bad approaches.  Hopefully I can help you help someone else and yourself at the same time.

First, don’t tell them about someone who died from the same disease.  There really is nothing worse, when confronted with your own mortality, to hear about people who didn’t make it.  Or, when grieving over the loss of a loved one to find out that their death is no more than a notch on your scorecard.  It does not make them feel good.  Please, don’t do it.

Second, don’t tell them about your own sickness.  Think about this for a second.  There they are stricken with leukemia and you are telling them about your dysentery.  Not at all comforting.

Third, while you can and should give them words of encouragement don’t refer to them as a “survivor”.  Of course letting them know they will survive is a good thing but don’t replace their life long identity with something that will always remind them of their illness.  Wait a while.  When they are comfortable with their ability to reach the future they will let you know that they are a “survivor” and then you can feel good and use it yourself.

The idea is to put yourself in their place, let them know they have your support and the two of you will always share the same relationship you had before.  Something along the lines of “I just heard you were sick (they know the what the illness is so you don’t have to repeat it) and wanted to remind you that if there is anything I can do just let me know,  Need a ride somewhere, some shopping done, want me to cook something up so you only have to heat it?  All I ask is that you make me a list of the drugs they give you that give a good buzz.”  The drug comment is only for laughs but if you don’t feel good with it then use “if they give you anything that helps real quick please let the Browns know because I have a lot of money riding on the Steelers game Sunday.”  This can also be left on call-waiting or written in a card.  By the way, if you are sending a card then write something of your own or be counted as one of those people who are just being polite.

What I mean is let them know you care, that you want to help and they can count on you, that you are a source of encouragement, and that your relationship will always continue.

The Tea Party

 So, what Party does the Tea Party really belong in? Over the years, especially since 1980, the Republican Party has prided itself on presenting an image of unanimity. One focus, everyone in support of one course, no public internal dissent. Quite an accomplishment when you consider the large number of people needed to subscribe to such an action. The Democratic Party has been an accumulation of differing views which by nature causes public debate and a multitude of interesting options. Dissenters call Republicans “conservative” and Democrats “liberal” but facts don’t support the claims.

Now we have the Tea Party which advocates definite conservative views, was born within weeks of the inauguration of President Obama, gives voice to certain Republican speakers and candidates and is thus considered an arm of the GOP. But are they? I have been watching the situation with some interest and question that conclusion.

First, you can not listen to what the Tea Party “says” because that is filtered through well intentioned news sources who are reporting on what one person or one group is claiming and not how the total membership is advocating. For this you have to look at intelligent polling data and then use some common sense. Second, forget the message from impromptu gatherings at the Capitol Building since it isn’t practical to believe a representative group of Tea Baggers can leave their jobs or come from anywhere that isn’t close.

So, what are we left with? Apparently Tea Baggers believe government spending must be cut drastically before anything else is done but not to programs that they want (not any different from any other group). Some put the emphasis on cutting the National debt but they are opposed by those who think the budget deficit is more important. Some want the United States to become isolated from the outside world while others believe that aggressive warfare with unconditional surrender is better. Most Party members feel our taxes are excessive yet a majority of them also believe corporations make too high a profit. There is a faction guarding the military budget facing off with possibly a larger bloc reminding us that million dollar toilets are the product of the Pentagon. Most surprising is the fact that the Religious Right is more prone to be members of the Tea Party but Tea Party members don’t join the Religious Right in astounding numbers.

In short they are diverse, they debate in public, they are only a little more religious than the norm, they hate taxes, and they don’t want to be lead around by a ruling, dictatorial, minute troupe of self-serving people. Quite frankly, if they learn to compromise and play with the other kids at the park, they would resemble a component of the Democratic Party more than the Republican Party.

Shepherd's Pie from Leftovers

Don’t you hate to go into your refrigerator and find small amounts of vegetables left over from previous meals? Not enough for a side dish but throwing them away is just such a waste. And how about those vegetables you made to share with someone else because they liked them but you didn’t? What can you do? How about something like a Shepherd’s Pie.

A Shepherd’s Pie or Potato Pie as it is sometimes called can be made from fresh ingredients and with a more formal recipe but it can also be a catch all for leftovers before they are wasted. Just use up those peas, corn, green beans, pepper, tomato sauce, sour cream, catsup, milk, onion, mashed potatoes, cheese, celery, etc. before they go bad, it is pretty ease to make and can be reheated on days when you just don’t have time to fix a big meal.

Now I have a Shepherd’s Pie recipe on my other blog that you can try. Remember though, food has an expiration date so don’t use anything that is turning green or moldy or went bad already. You will not enjoy the pain that comes with food poisoning.

Breakfast

OK, Breakfast may be the most important meal of the day but who has the time to fix a “meal” early in the morning?  Besides wouldn’t the 20 or 30 minutes be better spent in bed?  That is the normal opinion of people especially those on the go and singles who are on their own.  Of course that is the line of thought that has us paying $3 for coffee and $5 for a sausage biscuit.  Well as far as I am concerned a poor breakfast is a challenge I can beat but I’m still not trading in my sleep time.

During the weekend I make one or two things that can be frozen and later zapped (microwave).  The trick is to make a casserole or to double or triple a recipe because that doesn’t usually triple the time required.  In the morning during the week I zap some of what I made, let the heat spread, and eat.  A decent meal in a little time and I save quite a bit of money.

I mentioned casseroles but a few other ideas are pancakes, French toast, and sausage gravy.  I’m putting a few suggestions on my other blog, Cooking With Ed at Boyle-Over.blogspot.com and would appreciate hearing suggestions from you on the subject.  Maybe even a recipe or two.