Making Furnace Filters Last Longer

Furnace filters clean the air but need replaced so soon!

Fridays at work are opportunities for improvement.  When we don’t have meetings and trainings to become better educators, we clean and plan in the classroom.  Today was definitely a day to work on the classroom.  I sanitized all of the toys, passed out old art projects, painted the walls where they were nicked, and did a dozen other things.  I somehow finished my to-do list and was looking for a task that would keep me busy, so I decided to dust the heating and air system intake.  When I finished dusting, I opened the panel to find the filter was completely filthy and splattered with dust bunnies.  When I reported this to my boss, she told me she would tell the landlord so he can replace it.  In the meantime, she gave me a neat trick that can help furnace filters last longer and stay cleaner, which is both economical and better for the lungs.

To clean the filter, I removed it and plugged in the vacuum cleaner.  This seems like an unlikely combination, and I was skeptical if it would work or if I would just end up destroying the filter.  I plugged up the vacuum cleaner and used the crevice tool to vacuum the filter.  Immediately dust and clumps of fuzz were sucked away, leaving a dramatically cleaner filter.  This is not a permanent fix to the problem of dirty filters, as it did not make the filter pristine, but I was able to remove approximately two cups of filth from the filter, a feat that was both remarkable and disgusting.  Even my boss was surprised to see the sheer volume of debris.  This was an unexpected but genius hint.  I’ll have to mine my boss’s mind for more little tricks, which shouldn’t be too hard—she has tons!

The Snowy Day

Author: Ezra Jack Keats

This is a really great winter read for teachers and parents alike. Keats is masterful in creating a fun day in the snow, full of events and choices that children can relate to. The fact that this book won the Caldecott Award also goes a long way in vouching for credibility.

There are also many opportunities for discussion based on the text, particularly those dealing with science through explaining cause and effect relationships within the text or hypothesizing what may happen next after a certain event. As a teacher, I see this story as a good primer for actually going outside and trying some of the activities Peter enjoys in the book. An excellent follow-up would be a winter craft, such as shaving cream art.

All in all, I would highly recommend this story for your personal collection, as it is one that can be enjoyed again and again. As children age beyond the discovery phase, I'm sure they will reach a nostalgic position as they remember when they were small and enjoyed the simple magic of a snowy day.

Overall Rating: 5 of 5 Stars

Girls On Top: Explicit Erotica For Women

Editor:  Violet Blue

I truly enjoyed this collection, mostly because it was all about taking chances. There were stories involving gender roles, cross-dressing, gay issues, subcultures and cultures, BDSM, and so much more. Each story found a way to go beyond the rudimentary motions of sex to find a way to say something more about society as well as the individual. There were opportunities to see a character get into something he or she had not experienced before, and it was refreshing to see some doubt, some trial and error; in that way, the characters were much more human than mere manifestations of animal instinct. There were roads to travel, narrow little perilous bridges to cross, relationships at stake. To me, that is more exciting than just reading the "hot" parts and not having more than a sham of a story to drape them.

I liked being able to see these stories play out and have to think about how I would feel or what I would do in the situation if I had the guts, which I usually don't in my mild-mannered reality. Maybe after reading this, I will reconsider some of my boundaries that I keep and how firm they really should be.

What I did not like so much was the story about the robbers. I cannot see her just going for a tryst with the criminals like that. Also, if the cops find her with them like that, she's in trouble as well because she's going to look like an accomplice. A bit of the writing in the rest of the book was a bit flimsy. There were a few typos, including one character being called by another character's name, but overall, the editing was fairly well-done. This was an exciting collection with a bit of something for everyone who wants to see evidence of more exciting sex lives.

Overall rating:  4 of 5 Stars

Dirty Girls: Erotica for Women

Editor:  Rachel Kramer Bussel

Pretty good. My first time reading an erotica collection. I was disappointed with the half-hearted attempt at stream-of-consciousness in the story "A Prayer to Be Made Cocksure"--especially since the first two pages were so confusing that I thought the story was about two men. The rest of the stories were quite good and usually worked an unexpected angle.

Overall Rating:  4 of 5 Stars 

Most Likely You Go Your Way and I'll Go Mine

Author:  Ben Tanzer

The first thing I thought when I finished this book was, that I saw the ending coming relationship-wise. It matters, not because I need a shock at the end of every book I read (I really don't). It matters because there is a natural progression to the end, and it feels like there would be loose ends if it ended differently. The couple that ends up together at the end have to work for what they have, to quit looking at the little things for evidence that they should be together and just go with where they are being driven, to see that their brokenhearted balms only inflame the injury they ultimately inflict upon themselves. With the other couple, it is pretty clear what their functions are in the story, and that was fine, if not mildly comforting. Not everyone reaches a state of relationship stasis at the same time, and a double-wedding ending would seem contrite.

I liked the indecision, the way at this age you never know what you should really do, especially when everyone else around you seems to know better. When Geoff asks his co-workers, they each speak in turn in a succinct succession, and they all bring their job title-shaded "expertise" to the table, even though they are just as lost as Geoff. they tell him what they would do, how they would want things to be, but they expose a bit of maturity in not telling him he has to do it their way despite the general immaturity of these suggestions. Jen has her sister and best friend to guide her, who falter along the paths of their own love lives but she still wonders if she should model after them. These are very real examples of how we use peer pressure to make decisions in our youth, and sometimes beyond.

Geoff and Jen also look to their parents, while acknowledging the parents' choices have led to dysfunction but still wanting to turn to the one who has helped them since their birth. I was a bit surprised to see the parents' ability to overlook their children's active sexuality when they feel like they may need to move on or when they move too quickly. Perhaps this is because I am from a small town with parents who are sexually conservative that I can't really talk to about intimate matters...even if I wanted to. This parenting model in the book feels like it comes from a place of personal liberation. Still, I was glad to see a model of caring parenting with lots of honesty. They seem a bit too much like friends at times, as is the case in some parent-child relationships, but they ultimately truly want the best for their children. Steven is a good addition because he not only fills out the story a bit more; he also shows that most parents will not give up on a child even when they struggle so greatly.

What I didn't like was the incredible sameness of the characters at times. They all have their own things going on and individual things to work out, but some things are a bit too close. Both Geoff and Jen had a parent move out when they were children. Geoff and Jen are paralyzed at times by their own neurosis and indecision. These are questions that enter every relationship, but they feel them at the same time from the start of the relationship. They both rely on a parent and either a group of friends or a friend and a sister for advice that gets them nowhere most of the time. This is realistic, but I would like to see maybe one struggle more individually or have a more adept sounding board board to switch things up. The uncaring girl with the tattoo was a good way to switch things up and to demonstrate to Geoff what not to want.

At first I mistook the brief chapters as laziness or ineptitude, and then I saw the genius of being able to switch between perspective so neatly, which is something I think a lot of other authors have a problem with. Also, the short snips and resulting disjointed feel of the quick switching of gears says something more of the inattention of youth and the aimlessness of those who are uncertain. I'm glad sometimes the jumps also served to move to a different point in time. This probably eliminated some filler in a book that keeps to a snappy clip. I think it is somewhat courageous to take a chance with a tableau-like series of vignettes instead of just moving beginning to end and acting like nothing else happens in between. On the topic of time, I think the time period is well-established in many ways: the slang, the music references, the attitudes, the bombing especially since it can be pinpointed in time. I also like that they mention past things they still like, such as Bob Dylan, since it's more realistic not to just deal with what is currently popular. It's nice to see a bit of nostalgia in a nostalgic novel. I think the title itself is good because it has a pop culture reference as a Bob Dylan song and sets a real tone for the story to come. I was supremely pleased to see mention of journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" mentioned, both because of its status as one of my favorite songs and also because it is meaningful to the text on a level beyond simply being mentioned.

What I couldn't stand is the numerous errors. Winona Ryder's name is spelled differently in different parts of the book, and another celebrity's name is misspelled, both of which could be remedied with a quick visit to imdb.com or similar simple research. The errors of grammar and other spelling (I spotted the wrong "too" once, for example) could also stand to be fixed. Since I majored in writing in college, I realize the over-sprinkling commas are most likely stylistic, standing in for natural pauses, another manifestation of the uncertain, among other things. I think it does turn off a quantity of readers who may not realize this, so it's a gutsy decision that makes repeating the reasoning worth it. Still, there were some straight punctuation errors. There is even one or two in the author bio and blurb on the back cover.

Overall, I really liked this book. I can see beyond its shortcomings to a story that feels very natural emotionally to someone who has dated or tried to get advice and came up wanting. I saw myself in the characters and wanted the best for them because of it. I felt several times that i wished I had been a part of the scene as it happened, to have such haphazard control over my flailing life. I wanted to have friends who could accept me and give me their frankness instead of playing games to try to hide their hearts and ill choices in exchange for trying to act like the ideal is always achievable. The stringency of the rules and thorough discussions of such rules remind me of how important standards are in life and how the ones society sets forth mean little when we want something different. Just reading this book felt like that for me. I don't like the best-sellers--I crave something a bit more unique, more risk-taking. I found that in much of this book and hope others will as well.

Overall Rating:  4 of 5 Stars

The Undertaking: Life Studies from the Dismal Trade

Author:  Thomas Lynch

Perhaps my fascination with this book says a little something of my darker side, but when it's a book this good, I don't mind letting the skeleton out of the closet for a nice jaunt. The essays are eloquent as only the words of a poet can be (yes, he is a poet as well as an undertaker!) with a sprinkling of profanity and such to keep Lynch human. The points of his poignant essays hit home with their well-made arguments and other sides of the story. I can only wish when my time comes I have someone like Lynch to help me along on my final journey.

Overall Rating:  5 of 5 Stars

Freecycle

http://www.freecycle.org/

I have been using the Freecycle program for approximately three years now. In the beginning, I joined out of curiosity and the absurd desire to get awesome things for absolutely free. The program is free to participate in as far as money goes, but it is not without commitment. I hope to convey this notion of giving and taking by illustrating my own experience with the program.

I don’t remember how I first heard about Freecycle--probably on TV or in a magazine--but once I found out about it, I quickly searched it out. While you can find a Freecycle page on Facebook, to actually participate you have to go through Yahoo, specifically through the Yahoo Groups. The groups can be accessed at the bottom of the Yahoo homepage. This leads to a page where you can search the current groups (or create your own). Use the keywords “Freecycle” and your town or county with state. Large cities like New York usually have their own group, but where I live in Southern Indiana, it is split up by county; I am a member of ClarkCtyINFreecycle, for instance. Follow the directions on the page, respond to the initial message they send you by replying to the e-mail, and you’re in!

When someone joins the network, they are expected to post an initial offer of something they would like to give away. This could be an animal, clothes, food, toys, housewares, magazines, or anything they think someone else would enjoy or use. My first offering was unopened and unexpired instant baby cereal, items which were quickly responded to and in high demand, making it difficult to choose who to give to. The offering post should include your city, the name of the item, and a description, typically including any information such as an item’s condition. It’s okay if the shirts have stains, because someone out there may be looking for something to wear while puttering around the yard. A table with a scuffed surface may be just fine for someone who has no table or is starting their life over like so many seem to be, and can easily be remedied with a tablecloth. It’s all about disclosure.

Another thing to consider, if you are offering a number of things, give an idea of approximate size.

Several months ago I was excited to hear that I was chosen to pick up “books, toys, and holiday decorations,” items received from a fellow Freecycler that were more than this person could use. Since I love getting cheap or free books and decorations, I thought it was going to be an awesome experience. Normally this would mean a medium or large box, so I figured I would pick it up on my way back from getting my younger daughter from preschool. This was a “porch pick-up”, which means the giver would leave the items out on the porch and the receiver picks the item up and leaves quietly, which can be very convenient with busy schedules or hesitant people. Still, I messaged the person with a time when I thought I would come through, but impending rain threatened to ruin the items, so she messaged me and told me to pick them up ASAP. I looked up the directions to her house and was on my way, several hours ahead of what I had planned. Since I had no real plans that day, this was no big deal.

When I reached my destination, I was surprised to see the items were not waiting on the porch, but instead out by the road alongside the mailbox and some full trash cans. I was even more surprised to find that there was not the expected box or trash bag. What I found was a short wooden VHS shelf full of tapes, about five to eight cardboard boxes of books of all types, and a white kitchen bag of decorations, mostly fat Christmas light bulbs. The shelf alone placed long-wise took up my entire backseat, laid across my daughter’s booster seat. The books took up the rest of the room in my car and trunk. As I drove away, trying to find my way back home, I circled back and stopped to look at two large black trash bags, remembering the toys advertised. Opening them up, I saw they were a mix of more decorations and the toys. I ripped one bag open and crammed its contents in any space and jammed the other up front, barely able to maneuver the gear shift, exhausted from heavy lifting and anxious to get home. Had I waited until I picked up my daughter, I would have had both girls with me and would probably have needed a second trip.

When I lugged the items into the house to see the damage, my living room was full, and I dreaded what my husband would say when he saw what I had brought home with me. I would have left half of it or more if I wasn’t afraid of being reported for being a no-show. Two reports can result in expulsion from the group. Immediately I emptied one of the boxes on the couch and sorted the books into two piles: one for keeping, the other to put back into the system. This didn’t do a lot of good, since they were still in my living room. It was interesting to see almost everything had flea market price tags, where I presume they did not bring the prices marked on them. Of the books I wanted to get rid of, I separated them by genre and immediately posted them on Freecycle. I found a set and a half of Tae Bo VHS tapes, so they were their own set. the tapes went within a day or so, but the books were harder. The large number of religious books went quickly, but the rest resulted in no-shows, so I held onto them. I gave some books to someone at work who knew someone who would love them and a VHS or two for classroom use, and I gave some of the VHS tapes to family. This still left quite a stack. A lot of the books were children’s books, and I was reluctant to get rid of ones my kids might want to read. I gave a lot of the decorations to my mother. Months later, I am still whittling the stash, occasionally posting them in groups, being glad someone will find them useful and that they will no longer crowd my small home. As time goes by, I feel most of the books will be gone, but there are a pretty fair number that I found interesting or useful. This really wasn’t a typical experience. I feel like this person had received the stash unknowingly as I did, and she was simply overwhelmed and wanted to pass it on rather than throw it all out.

My other experiences have been nice and very manageable. Last year I received several lily plants that I simply took home and potted on my patio. Today I picked up a medium-sized box of toys for children, hoping to give them to my mother, who works as a babysitter and has a special stash of babysitting toys, and to donate much of the rest to my work, where we can always use some new things to keep the kids busy, which I disclosed when I messaged the lady to see if the items were available. The items included are very nice, very clean. There are several Easter plushies, which I plan to give my girls for Easter next year, as well as my cousin-in-law’s daughter. There is a lot of play food, which my younger daughter loves. There is a play child-sized chef’s jacket, which will be perfect for the preschool, as well as several other items. There are baby items that my cousin-in-law will probably enjoy. For now, the items are in a box i have started of items I want to give away as I get the opportunity, a box my family walks by regularly that they know they can add to. If I discover there is an item I would like to request, I know I will have something to offer before I ask, a requirement meant to be a way to maintain balance in the group.

The moral of this story is to not be greedy, to be flexible, and to give back. I only have so much space for items, so much time to enjoy each possession, but also so much of an opportunity to give back and share the bounty of a full life. You do too. I would encourage anyone who is in need as well as those who have room to give to try this program out and see what it gets you, and I bet a feeling of helping the community will be a healthy part of the bounty.