Tuesday, March 18, 2008
No I haven't fallen off the planet...
although a nice vacation while careening through space would not be all that bad at this point! Things have been slightly crazy at work lately. Plus I'm still waiting for my laptop to come in...long story not going there right now. New projects are popping up here at work like tulips. That is why you haven't heard from me in a while. I get to work in the mornings and when I look up it is time to go home. CRAZY!
Thursday, March 6, 2008
I'm Sick :-(
I have always battled with the occasional sinus infection and allergies, but this is the first time I have every had broncitous. The hardest part for me is having to stay home. I've never missed this much work at once for being sick. Now I know the place is not going anywhere and my work will wait for me, but I hate sitting around my house and doing absolutely nothing. The only reason I have not gone back yet is because every time I move around for more than 10 mintutes I feel like I will pass out. I will admit I'm not a good patient...and if you are around me for more than 2 seconds you will probably get your ass chewed. Sorry...I'm just not feeling well.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Content to leave my childhood behind...
After my incident at the baseball park on Saturday, I have realized that I am an adult and while having fun and always being playful will be a part of my personality forever. I am also very content with the fact that I have left my childhood behind a long time ago.
I have never sugar coated my high school years. I have always been very honest that they were not the best years of my life. I was always the butt of the joke, the easy target and I always felt like I never fit in with the other students. Now with that being said if I could go back and change my childhood or school I attended I would never do it. Those experiences have made me who I am today. My self confidence comes from within and I do not put a lot of stock into others opinions of me.
I guess with all that being said that is why I look at this weekends incident as juvenile. My godchild had decided to play school baseball. However after the first practice he decided that he did not like being yelled at by the coach. Yes I was disappointed that I would not be able to watch him play every week, but no one deserves being yelled at. My aunt had called the coaches to inform them of his decision. Plus she had informed another mom about what had happened.
On Saturday, I was at the park watching Clayton play when this mom that my aunt had spoke to approached me and wanted to know if I was mad at Devin for not playing. To which I replied, no he doesn't deserve to be treated like that and I support his choice to quit the team. She played stupid with me and asked what had happened to make him quit and I told her he didn't like the coach yelling at him. She then snapped back at me that Devin was going around telling everyone he had quit because the team sucked.
OK so are we in Junior High again with the stupid well he said this and she said that crap?
#1. Why does an adult have to make an issue out of what a 13 year old said?
#2. Devin has never played sports for the win or lose aspect of the game. It is just an activity for him.
#3. Since when do Moms and Dads get in the middle of playground figths. I went through crap when I was in Jr. High as I said before. My parents never came to school, called a parent, or a child about what went on during recess.
#4. I'm not the parent if you have an issue with the child call his parents. Don't confront the godmother.
#5. Do parents really need to strap a book sack to their back (or in my case sling a book sack onto one shoulder...because back in my day only nerds wore their book sacks on both shoulders)and head to school to relive their childhood with their children.
Today's parents are raising children incapable of their own thoughts, reliant on others to make decisions for them, and unable to cope with negativity, failure and conflict.
and the parent of the year award goes to......
I have never sugar coated my high school years. I have always been very honest that they were not the best years of my life. I was always the butt of the joke, the easy target and I always felt like I never fit in with the other students. Now with that being said if I could go back and change my childhood or school I attended I would never do it. Those experiences have made me who I am today. My self confidence comes from within and I do not put a lot of stock into others opinions of me.
I guess with all that being said that is why I look at this weekends incident as juvenile. My godchild had decided to play school baseball. However after the first practice he decided that he did not like being yelled at by the coach. Yes I was disappointed that I would not be able to watch him play every week, but no one deserves being yelled at. My aunt had called the coaches to inform them of his decision. Plus she had informed another mom about what had happened.
On Saturday, I was at the park watching Clayton play when this mom that my aunt had spoke to approached me and wanted to know if I was mad at Devin for not playing. To which I replied, no he doesn't deserve to be treated like that and I support his choice to quit the team. She played stupid with me and asked what had happened to make him quit and I told her he didn't like the coach yelling at him. She then snapped back at me that Devin was going around telling everyone he had quit because the team sucked.
OK so are we in Junior High again with the stupid well he said this and she said that crap?
#1. Why does an adult have to make an issue out of what a 13 year old said?
#2. Devin has never played sports for the win or lose aspect of the game. It is just an activity for him.
#3. Since when do Moms and Dads get in the middle of playground figths. I went through crap when I was in Jr. High as I said before. My parents never came to school, called a parent, or a child about what went on during recess.
#4. I'm not the parent if you have an issue with the child call his parents. Don't confront the godmother.
#5. Do parents really need to strap a book sack to their back (or in my case sling a book sack onto one shoulder...because back in my day only nerds wore their book sacks on both shoulders)and head to school to relive their childhood with their children.
Today's parents are raising children incapable of their own thoughts, reliant on others to make decisions for them, and unable to cope with negativity, failure and conflict.
and the parent of the year award goes to......
Monday, February 25, 2008
My Partners in Crime...
I have the opportunity to work with many great people all over the state and the country, but when I tell you that the Louisiana Member Services group is the best group I'm not kidding you. They remind me of an old Pi Sig saying..."Work hard, play harder!" They are truely marketing people. They are also the group of people I get to spend my birthday with every year...they always make my birthday special and we always party like rock stars. I love these people! These are pictures of us working the Police Jury Convention last Friday.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Up on the Roof
February Article:
Roofs are perhaps one of the most important components of an energy-efficient building. Unfortunately, compared to items like doors, windows, and lighting, roofs are generally much less durable and much less energy efficient.
Over the lifetime of a building, a roof needs to be replaced an average of four times. More than 75 percent of the roofing work in the United States involves reroofing, and roofing materials are the second-largest contributor to solid waste in the United States.
Energy-efficient roof technologies are fairly straightforward. Manufacturers have developed lighter-colored shingles and tiles, usually containing a coating of titanium dioxide, since they absorb less heat than a typical asphalt shingle and can last twice as long. Since lighter surfaces are easily discolored by fungus, a fungicide coating normally gets added. Many of the new roof coatings are even self-cleaning to retain reflectivity properties and reduce air conditioning requirements.
Lighter-colored roofs are slightly more expensive. However, the small cost difference–$25 for a 1,000-square-foot roof–will easily pay for itself in one summer.
Roof overhangs are another way to trim summer cooling bills. For many homes and businesses in warmer climates, overhangs reduce solar heat gain and interior temperatures. They can also be designed to let direct sunlight into a living space during winter, but keep things shaded in summer.
Source: U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy www.eere.energy.gov
Roofs are perhaps one of the most important components of an energy-efficient building. Unfortunately, compared to items like doors, windows, and lighting, roofs are generally much less durable and much less energy efficient.
Over the lifetime of a building, a roof needs to be replaced an average of four times. More than 75 percent of the roofing work in the United States involves reroofing, and roofing materials are the second-largest contributor to solid waste in the United States.
Energy-efficient roof technologies are fairly straightforward. Manufacturers have developed lighter-colored shingles and tiles, usually containing a coating of titanium dioxide, since they absorb less heat than a typical asphalt shingle and can last twice as long. Since lighter surfaces are easily discolored by fungus, a fungicide coating normally gets added. Many of the new roof coatings are even self-cleaning to retain reflectivity properties and reduce air conditioning requirements.
Lighter-colored roofs are slightly more expensive. However, the small cost difference–$25 for a 1,000-square-foot roof–will easily pay for itself in one summer.
Roof overhangs are another way to trim summer cooling bills. For many homes and businesses in warmer climates, overhangs reduce solar heat gain and interior temperatures. They can also be designed to let direct sunlight into a living space during winter, but keep things shaded in summer.
Source: U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy www.eere.energy.gov
Have You Broken Your New Year’s Resolution Already?
January Article:
If so, it is not too late to make a new one. According to a recent survey, 49 percent of all Americans will make a green New Year's resolution for 2008. Pointe Coupee Electric Membership Corporation is offering tips to help homeowners keep their green resolutions. Making a green resolution is easy since it can yield tremendous benefits, such as reducing energy consumption, saving money and helping the environment. However, like any New Year's resolution, keeping that commitment to energy efficiency can be a little harder, so I wanted to offer these quick and easy tips to help homeowners.
To help you get going, I am challenging you to start the "seven days of saving challenge" -- quick and easy tips consumers can adopt each day to make their home more energy-efficient and reduce their carbon footprint:
Change your light bulbs: Year-around, lighting can account for as much as 25 percent of a home's electrical use. Simply replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent lights that use up to 75 percent less energy. Imagine if every American home replaced their five most frequently used light fixtures or bulbs with ENERGY STAR qualified models. The estimated savings would amount to nearly $8 billion dollars a year -- greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions from nearly 10 million cars!
Upgrade to ENERGYSTAR appliances: ENERGYSTAR labeled products can cut your energy bills by up to 30 percent when you're ready to replace your heating and cooling systems -- as well as appliances, lighting, windows, office equipment, and home electronics. Consider investing in new appliances if your budget allows since you should see immediate energy savings. Use the dishwasher more: One load of dishes cleaned in a dishwasher requires 37 percent less water than washing dishes by hand. However, if you fill the wash and rinse basins instead of letting the water run, you'll use half as much water as a dishwasher.
Unplug the charger on your cell phone: When portable devices such as a Blackberry(TM), cell phone, or iPod(TM) are finished charging, disconnect the device and unplug the charger. Even if the device isn't connected, energy continues to seep out through the charger itself.
Purchase a Rug in the season's newest color -- Green. A rug is not only a decorator's must have, but it also helps insulate your floors and cut down on the noise too.
Let the sunshine in. Open the drapes or blinds on sunny days and bask in the 'free' heat. Keep those south-facing windows squeaky clean to let the light through. Remember to close the drapes or blinds when the sun sets.
Renewable energy does not only include solar panels and windmills on your home. Start thinking about what is right for you and your family.
Take the pledge to change even one incandescent light bulb in your house to a CFL bulb. You are guaranteed to achieve savings in energy consumption, and reduce your energy costs.
Source: http://www.directenergy.com/ or energystar.gov.
If so, it is not too late to make a new one. According to a recent survey, 49 percent of all Americans will make a green New Year's resolution for 2008. Pointe Coupee Electric Membership Corporation is offering tips to help homeowners keep their green resolutions. Making a green resolution is easy since it can yield tremendous benefits, such as reducing energy consumption, saving money and helping the environment. However, like any New Year's resolution, keeping that commitment to energy efficiency can be a little harder, so I wanted to offer these quick and easy tips to help homeowners.
To help you get going, I am challenging you to start the "seven days of saving challenge" -- quick and easy tips consumers can adopt each day to make their home more energy-efficient and reduce their carbon footprint:
Change your light bulbs: Year-around, lighting can account for as much as 25 percent of a home's electrical use. Simply replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent lights that use up to 75 percent less energy. Imagine if every American home replaced their five most frequently used light fixtures or bulbs with ENERGY STAR qualified models. The estimated savings would amount to nearly $8 billion dollars a year -- greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions from nearly 10 million cars!
Upgrade to ENERGYSTAR appliances: ENERGYSTAR labeled products can cut your energy bills by up to 30 percent when you're ready to replace your heating and cooling systems -- as well as appliances, lighting, windows, office equipment, and home electronics. Consider investing in new appliances if your budget allows since you should see immediate energy savings. Use the dishwasher more: One load of dishes cleaned in a dishwasher requires 37 percent less water than washing dishes by hand. However, if you fill the wash and rinse basins instead of letting the water run, you'll use half as much water as a dishwasher.
Unplug the charger on your cell phone: When portable devices such as a Blackberry(TM), cell phone, or iPod(TM) are finished charging, disconnect the device and unplug the charger. Even if the device isn't connected, energy continues to seep out through the charger itself.
Purchase a Rug in the season's newest color -- Green. A rug is not only a decorator's must have, but it also helps insulate your floors and cut down on the noise too.
Let the sunshine in. Open the drapes or blinds on sunny days and bask in the 'free' heat. Keep those south-facing windows squeaky clean to let the light through. Remember to close the drapes or blinds when the sun sets.
Renewable energy does not only include solar panels and windmills on your home. Start thinking about what is right for you and your family.
Take the pledge to change even one incandescent light bulb in your house to a CFL bulb. You are guaranteed to achieve savings in energy consumption, and reduce your energy costs.
Source: http://www.directenergy.com/ or energystar.gov.
I can save you some money...
Most of you know that I publish a monthly column in the local news paper on energy efficiency. I have been doing these columns for 3 years or since I started working at Pointe Coupee Electric. You can find every single column I have written on our website at www.pcemc.org. However, I have decided to start publishing them on my blog as well. Hope you enjoy them and get some money saving tips from them.
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