A bright idea?

After having compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) burning out faster than their incandescent counterparts around our house, I did some web research and learned some things

Namely:
--CFLs are not recommended for fixtures that get less than 1.5 hours of burn time a day or have frequent on/offs, ie: closets. (Could explain their shorter life in my bathroom fixture)
--CFLs are not recommended for use in areas of high humidity (ditto the shorter life in my bathroom fixture.)
--CFLs must NOT be used in track lighting, recessed lighting, or with dimmer switches because of fire hazard.

If a CFL breaks on a hard surface it is recommended that you:
--Open the windows, and leave the room for 15 to 30 minutes.
--Turn off central air/heat system.
--Clean up large pieces with disposable cardboard and small pieces/dust with sticky tape and/or damp paper towel.
--Do NOT use vacuum or broom to clean up. (If a CFL breaks on carpet or a soft surface, and you must use a vacuum to clean up, dispose of the vacuum bag or canister contents in a sealed plastic bag when through.)
--Dispose of bulbs inside a sealed plastic bag (some articles said TWO sealed bags)
--Preferably dispose of them as you do batteries, oil, paint and other hazardous materials.

And then there's the poor lady I read about who, after dropping a CFL and breaking it on carpet, called the retailer where she bought it for clean up instructions, and was referred to Poison Control Hotline and on and on until she got to her state's Department of Environmental Protection, eventually having the room in her house sealed off and banned from use until she could save up to afford the astronomically expensive clean up by hazardous waste experts. Sheesh! Read about her plight here:http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/227056/cfl_light_bulbs_hype_and_hazard.html?cat=5

Now, even more than before, I'm unhappy and perplexed as to why the government is moving toward banning incandescents before we have a better alternative than CFLs. I foresee only monumental problems with them ahead.

Cheerleaders

Kasey just e-mailed me this picture of the girls in their cheerleader uniforms. They're not in an organized group (yet), but with three big brothers playing football, they attend a lot of games and practices, and love to wear uniforms too. Beau's grandmother bought Caitlyn her first uniform for her 2nd birthday. Caitlyn loved it so much, that when she outgrew it, Kasey had to go get her another one, and pass the original down to Chloe.

And they do a lovely job of 'cheering', especially if you use a liberal definition. Caitlyn loves to talk to everybody. Kasey told Carey the other day that after practice, some of the other moms came over to tell her that Caitlyn had come around telling them that she loved her mom. As hearing reports about your kids go, it doesn't get much better than that.

This brings to mind a book that I read a long while back called 'Balcony People' by Joyce Landorf Heatherly (I think). It talks about those people in our lives who are our personal cheerleaders. They lift our spirits, and direct our thoughts and actions in a positive direction. They're always in our corner, on the sidelines, or in the balcony cheering for us. They are gifts from God to walk with us on our path. They increase our joy, they share our sorrow, and they teach us priceless lessons.

We all need somebody in our balcony cheering. We can all be that person for another. And happily encouraging others helps us as well. Go team!

A day at the beach...

Broke the routine, and went on a ride-along with a friend who was coast bound. Stayed at one of her mom's homes (nice to have friends with vacation homes!) The picture expresses my feelings--I love the beach! Thanks for inviting me, Pam.

A - You're adorable...

B - You're so beautiful.

C - You're a cutie filled with charm.

D - You're a darling.

E - You're exciting.

and F- You're a feather in my arms.

G - You look good to me.

H - You're so heavenly.

I - You're the one I idolize.

J - We're like Jack and Jill.

K - You're so kissable.

L - is the lovelight in your eyes.

M, N, O, P - I could go on all day.

Q, R, S, T - Alphabetically speaking, you're OK.

And U - make my life complete.

V - You're so very sweet.

W, X, Y, Z - It's fun to wander through the alphabet with you to tell you what you mean to me.*

This is the song that I sing to the girls when I rock them. It's the perfect song, because they are all of these things. Oh how happy am I that they let me rock them. Rocking a baby has to be at least as beneficial to one's health as, say, yoga.

We sing lots of songs. Caitlyn (pictured here) has an amazing repertoire. I work hard to think of kid's songs she might not know, and by the time I sing the first line, she's joining in with the rest. Chloe is catching up fast.

Their brothers don't let me hold them much anymore. I hope the girls don't outgrow it for at least another ten or fifteen years.

*This is a fabulous song written by B. Kaye, S. Lippman, and F. Wise in 1948, and it's included on a great CD, "Singing in the Bathtub," by John Lithgow. The CD also features other songs that are fun for kids and adults.

Capturing bits of magic

I got a new camera recently, and I finally got around to taking it out of the box this weekend. Once I had the basics down, it of course necessitated a trip to see the grandbabies to really give it an initiation work out. We went on Monday, and were able to attend the boys' football practices. I got a lot of practice too while snapping happily away...141 images. I'm a snap-now-and-edit-later kind of girl.

I love this picture of our Chloe. She turned two last Friday. She is an adorable package of girly girl. I often find myself wondering what is going on behind those eyes of hers. This was one of those times.

The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dogs.

Did you know that the post title, a classic typing exercise, contains each of the 26 letters in the English alphabet at least once? Just a little keyboard trivia. I'm thoroughly enjoying the unencumbered touch typing these days!

Drum roll please...

After four months, today the cast came OFF! Woohoo! Woohoo!! WOOHOO!!! It was replaced with a splint that I wear till I go back in six weeks, but the splint can be removed several times a day for light exercise, like TYPING! (Indeed, doctor's orders!) And no more plastic bags taped to arm while showering! Oh Happy Day!

It's not done healing, but it's 'much improved.' It's very weak, so lots of progress to make. Still must use the bone stimulator daily, and not over tax it or strain it, and must massage the scar tissue (ouch), but very happy and thankful am I.