April 09, 2015 - Msg 101111: God bless, nighty nite all, MDC
April 09, 2015 - Msg 101112: Sure it's late, sure I'm tired, but I swept anyway! love ya,
MDC
April 09, 2015 - Msg 101113: Wow MDC. That vacuum switch stuck on and wouldn't shut off huh? Well, I'm glad you went ahead and tidied up. I just wish you could vacuum without singing "No account mule" though. Don't get me wrong, you have a nice voice, but not a 2 a.m. in the blessed morning! ;)

Asa
April 09, 2015 - Msg 101114: ..I suppose he chopped the wood too ya think Asa? Cleanliness is next to Godliness as "they" say...Good on him!..G-F

April 09, 2015 - Msg 101115:
Nice sweep MDC

For a feel good story that is a perfect example of true love and strong faith, read and watch http://tinyurl.com/kn6b828 ... but be warned that you might want to have a box of tissues nearby.

from Poor Horatio
April 09, 2015 - Msg 101116: Wow. That's quite a story. Thanks for sharing that, PH. You just never know what God can do, if you believe and try to follow His will.

I recall a story from early in my years working at the hospital. A young man, about 42 as I remember, had suffered a brutal stroke, and been in ICU on life support for a couple of months, and finally his doctors and his parents (he was single) agreed it was best to take him off the support, because he was making no progress at all. They did, but he continued to breathe. His parents were elderly and couldn't care for him at home, so he was moved to a bed on our general medical floor, to wait for the end. We had him for about six weeks, totally unresponsive, no movement, nothing. Then one afternoon we heard a crash from his room and ran to see what it was. He was lying on the floor, face down. His side rails were up, so apparently he had awakened, and tried to climb over the rails. He had broken his nose and loosened some teeth, there was blood everywhere, but he was awake! We got him back in bed, and he started talking. Long story short, after a couple of days he was feeding himself, walking, talking, everything. In a couple of weeks, he was discharged, and refused the wheelchair ride - he walked out of the hospital! Normally no one is allowed to refuse that ride, but we made an exception for him. He lived, worked and led a normal life for another five years or so, and then one day he had another massive stroke, was brought back in, and passed in a day or so. I've always wondered what it was that God revived him for? Whatever it was, I hope he did it.

Well, gotta run. Much to do today. Blessings, friends. --Romeena
April 09, 2015 - Msg 101117: ...Yep, I guess he didn't have his "business done" yet! Great story from both of you..Yes TOM rain,rain, but "they" say dry for the Indians Opening Day in Cleveland tomorrow....G-F
April 09, 2015 - Msg 101118: Good Afternoon Porch!

How are y'all today? Law, it's getting warm quickly. If you are friends with me on Facebook look at the video of the pollen. My allergies have been driving me crazy. Oh well, at least the trees are pretty!

I saw that story, PH. So sweet! Your story was so neat too, Romeena.
Asa, your comment to MDC made me chuckle out loud. Ha!
MDC, thank you for sweeping.

I need to make a resume for the first time since college. Not sure if I should hire someone to do it or follow a template online. What do you guys think?

I don't have a chance to read the archives from the last day or two so I'll just say hey to all. Dinner will be on me at the Waffle House. Smothered or covered?

Blessings,
~Lucy
April 09, 2015 - Msg 101119:
Lucy, I'm not sure what is the best way to create a resume. Allow me to relate my own experiences. After a few years of official retirement, I tried re-entering the job market. First I replied to online job openings with my own original resume that I created in about two hours. That generated no responses. Then I took a resume writing course and spent two full days revising my resume. But once again, no responses. Then I joined an online group that helps older people find jobs. That entitled me to send in my resume to them to be critiqued. After I made the changes they recommended, still no responses. I finally gave up with the resumes and purchased some training courses that allowed me to become self-employed. In essence, I hired myself. That worked!

from Poor Horatio
April 09, 2015 - Msg 101120: ...Lucy I think PH is right, now-a-days the interviews/resume's are a lot different, try this:
"My name is Lucy Matthews", I'm a real good worker and I am qualified for this job, just ask Ed Sawyer he will vouch for me...Sometimes it's just that easy...Good Luck :)

TOM, The Indians had a no-hitter going into the 9th inning today until the second batter punched one out, but they still won 5-1. So they are 2-1 going into tomorrows home opener.
..End of report...G-F
April 09, 2015 - Msg 101121: Good evening, porch. Lucy, I'm afraid I can be of no help at all. I've never written a resumé in my life, never needed one. I know there seems to be an art to it, and I'm grateful I never had to do it. Mine wouldn't be very impressive.

We're having the strangest weather. It will be sunny and bright, then half an hour later it looks like the day before Noah's flood, and then another half hour passes and the sun is out again. We got a tiny little rain squall just now, lasted about five minutes, barely wet the pathway out back, and now the sun is shining again. Weird.

Well, I have mucho to do. Gotta vacuum and mop the kitchen and sunroom, and that's going to break my puny old back, but it's got to be done. I've decided to serve spaghetti, salad and garlic bread to the bunco gals tomorrow night, and have root beer floats for dessert. I got some store-bought "muffin top" cookies to go with the floats. I have no idea how they taste. Maybe I'll eat one tonight to make sure they're not awful. They look good, though.

Blessings, porch! --Romeena
April 10, 2015 - Msg 101122:
Lucy, that was a lot of bleak information I posted in Msg 101119 about resumes. Now for some positive information to give you hope and some cash in your pocket.
There is plenty of information about creating resumes in the libraries (speak with the reference librarian) and on the internet that you can search for. Also, any schools that you have graduated from might offer job placement that includes help with resumes.
As for people like me, I recommend working from home or some other kind of self-employment. I will give you two examples that I have done:
#1 - Sell stuff on internet auction sites. You obtain your goods from around your house and from purchases at thrift stores, garage sales, estate sales, special sales at regular stores and even online auction sites. http://thequeenofauctions.com/ is just one example where you can purchase training and tips. There are over a half a million people who earn a full-time income doing this on eBay. http://www.ebay.com/gsr/How-To-Guides/102481/i.html?rt=nc offers free help to get you started with eBay. Once you get some experience, then you can branch out to other sites such as Amazon.com.
http://www.auctionzip.com/about.html will help you locate live auctions near you.
#2 - Real estate investing using none of your own money or credit. You can start out by becoming a "bird-dog" where you spend time, not your money, to search for motivated sellers and discounted properties. Many investors don't have the time to do this so they are willing to pay bird-dogs a finders fee just for locating, not buying, these properties. Start at http://www.reiclub.com/real-estate-clubs.php to find a meeting place near you where you can meet with other investors that can help you get started with more information.
I posted just enough information to help get you started. #1 will generate some cash in the quickest amount of time. If you need more information, don't hesitate to ask.
Good luck.

from Poor Horatio
April 10, 2015 - Msg 101123: Thanks, PH. I know you were intending that information for Lucy, but you found a mark with me as well. I can use the extra money, and I've got a house full of stuff I need to get rid of. I'm going for the second link, to find out how to do the ebay thing. Wish me luck! --Romeena
April 10, 2015 - Msg 101124:
ASA--very funny comment. I got the Gomer in my head
now and cant shake it! ha
LUCY--Sorry, no help from this retiree.
Go for what PH said. Yup, that's what I'd do. :)
Hello to all,
MDC
April 10, 2015 - Msg 101125:
Lucy and Romeena, there is a television program called Thrift Hunters. It stars two men who are full-time sellers on auction sites like eBay. Each episode follows them as they visit all kinds of places to find cheap items that sell well on the internet. It is the best way to learn what sells on the internet. You can watch episodes at https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=thrift+hunters
Once you start making some money and learn how easy this is, you will get upset at yourself for not having done this sooner.

Romeena, I found a story from a lady who gave up nursing to become a full-time seller on eBay. Read her story at http://www.ebay.com/gds/tips-for-Selling-Full-Time-on-Ebay-/10000000000850400/g.html

from Poor Horatio
April 10, 2015 - Msg 101126:
For those who are interested in selling stuff on eBay, you will need to open an eBay account, which is free.
And since most buyers on eBay use PayPal to pay for their purchases, you might want to open a PayPal account, which is also free. Why use PayPal? Read https://www.paypal.com/us/webapps/mpp/paypal-safety-and-security
Although buyers using eBay and PayPal are not charged any extra fees, both eBay and PayPal charge fees to sellers. To learn more about these fees, visit http://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/fees.html and https://www.paypal.com/webapps/mpp/paypal-fees

from Poor Horatio
April 10, 2015 - Msg 101127: Good morning, porch! Well, it appears I have some link-following and reading to do. It will have to wait, as my bunco group comes tonight and I have a lot to get done before they arrive. If I start chasing links now, I'll never be ready when they arrive at six. However, these links aren't going anywhere, so I can come back in a day or so and start digging. Sounds very interesting, and thanks!

OK, off I go. I'd love to sit and chat, but the dirty kitchen floor is sitting in there laughing at me. And naturally, my left hand has chosen this morning to be so stiffened and sore with arthritis that I can barely use it. I broke down and took a Tylenol tablet, maybe that will help. I almost never take anything like that, so when I do, one tablet is usually effective. Blessings, friends! --Romeena
April 10, 2015 - Msg 101128: ...If your dirty floor is diggin' you Romeena, you just dig it right back! Just do as Mr. Dave told Opie..There's no better day to do something than to do it tomorrow! Then you can just "lop mop the top" haha... Sooo, go take a Tylenol, rest awhile and then go play Bunko...Yep, That's the plan!....

G-F...
April 10, 2015 - Msg 101129: I wish I could just go play bunco, but unfortunately, it's at my house!! I'm movin' right along on cleaning, though. Eddie is here, and I conscripted him to clean the front porch. It had cobwebs everywhere, and just generally looked trashy. He went over it with the leaf blower, then got my squirt bottle of Lysol spray and sprayed the grimy spots, rinsed them with the hose and then scrubbed the tile floor, and now it looks quite presentable. He has mowed the yard and it looks so pretty. I've finished the vacuuming everywhere, now just need to dust a few tabletops and mop the kitchen. The sunroom cleaned up well enough with the vacuum that I'm not going to mop out there, but the kitchen floor has sticky spots. I don't want to have to pry my guests feet off the floor, so guess I'd better mop.

Did I tell y'all that there's another rat in the garage? Well, there is, and he's slicker than goose grease. I got a big old snaptrap and he has robbed the bait off of it four times, without springing it! He loves dog biscuits, so this time I tied one to the little bait spot with some dental floss. Let's see him steal that without getting snapped! Miserable wretch.

I just can't believe I'm having to fight rats. How embarrassing! However, I remember what my grandma said about bedbugs back when I was a kid. Bedbugs were common back then, and my grandma regularly turned all the mattresses, dragged them out in the sun, scrubbed the baseboards in every room, washed anything that wouldn't fall apart, etc. Her favorite expression regarding the problem was, "It's no disgrace to get bedbugs, because sooner or later, everyone does. However, it's a disgrace to allow them to remain!" Well, I guess I could say the same thing about a rat. I can't keep him from getting in my garage, but I can darned sure see to it that he doesn't remain.

Blessings, friends! --Romeena
April 10, 2015 - Msg 101130: ...Maybe this will help you Romeena, The old on staff exterminator we used to have at work always said: The best way to get rid of rats was to think like a rat!"...If my memory serves, me he kinda "looked" like a rat, come to think of it...But I have to say when we had "Vince" we had very little rodent and bug problems...Yep, he was a WW2 pilot who did crop dusting after the war, so I guess that is where he learned his trade and got good at it...The residents used to call him "The crockroach Ninja"...Anyhow, here a link that may help you.
http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Outsmart-the-Rats-Outsmarting-Your-Traps-158741175.html

G-F...
April 10, 2015 - Msg 101131: Thanks, G-F. I agree completely - rats are smart. I also agree that glue boards are not something I'd want to use. Assuming I caught the rat on the board, then what? What am I to do with him - beat him to death with a shovel? No way could I do that. That's why I liked the live trap that I used a few years ago to catch those big old wood rats that were coming from my neighbor's junk pile. When I would catch one, I'd just put the trap in the trunk of my car, take him about two miles down to the Trinity River bottom area, and let him out. Caught and released six of them! If I had this current rat on a glue board, how would I get him loose without getting bitten? Actually, I have high hopes for the trap that's out there now. If he can get that dog biscuit off the bait platform without tripping the thing, it will be one for the books. It's tied on, for heaven's sake! Also, I put peanut butter on the bottom of the biscuit, like mortar, to stick it to the platform. I guess I'll see in the morning.

I refuse to use poison. First, it's a miserable way to die, even for a rat. Second, the poisoned rat usually goes outside in search of water, dies out there, and somebody's cat comes along and eats the rat, and is poisoned too. Or - he ends up dead and stinking in my garage. Not a good plan. I'd go back to my live trap, but the first rat tripped it, and then got out of it, not once but twice. I know he was in it, because I saw him, but was on my way to catch a bus for a church group trip and couldn't take time to carry him to the river bottoms. I called Ted, he came by, and said the trap was empty. The second time, the trap was tripped, the bait was gone, but no rat. Somehow, he figured out how to get out of that trap. These rats are smaller than the wood rats. They couldn't get out.

I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. A few years ago, my home-builder son in Florida had a crew working on building a bunch of houses, one after the other, on lots that had been developed back-to-back with a wooded area. Little mice were raiding the workmen's lunch bags, so they put out glue boards, caught a bunch and just tossed them out into the woods to starve or be attacked by ants. Very cruel. My son learned about it, called them together, and got the whole story. He left, came back with enough metal lunch pails to provide one for each worker. Then he told them if he ever found glue boards being used again, they would all be looking for a job. No questions asked, no "he did it" or any such, just everyone would be out, the entire crew. He meant it, and the men knew it. Problem solved.

Well, enough rat talk. I'm hoping in the morning to find that my current rat has met a swift and merciful end, and my problem will also be solved.--Romeena
April 11, 2015 - Msg 101132: Well, speaking of building a better mouse trap, does anyone know if there
is any kind of "senior" can opener out there? I mean something to
help with those lids on microwave soups, etc.
Not for me, but for a widow lady from our church that we help out. She can do the first part of
snapping the ring back, but then cant pull the top off. PH, any ideas form the Maple Leaf folks?
Thanks and prayers,
MDC
April 11, 2015 - Msg 101133: Good question, MDC. Those pull-off lids can be tough - I have trouble with them at times, when my hands are really sore, but can usually manage them. Sometimes sort of rocking the lid side to side works, so you're only pulling one side loose at a time. That's a little easier.

Well, he did it. The rat escaped again. The trap was snapped, lying upside down, and no rat. However, it must have scared him pretty good, because when it snapped it threw the bait about five feet away, and he didn't come back for it. I don't know what to try next, but I've got to get rid of that varmint. I need a big hungry cat, with lots of claws and teeth. It needs to be a feral cat, I think, not somebody's little pampered kittycat. Old Shamu, who lives next door, is not the answer. The rat would probably beat him up. Maybe I'll try the live trap again. If this one is a little bigger than the other one, maybe he won't be able to get out. Yep, that's what I'm gonna do. All it can cost me is a couple of dog biscuits for bait. He apparently really likes them.

Well, got a few errands to run and a bit to do, so guess I'd better get out of this rocker and get busy. Later, taters. --Romeena
April 11, 2015 - Msg 101134:
MDC, are you referring to the soup cans that have a metal pop top ring? I tried searching for a video on the internet but could not find any. This might be difficult to explain this using just text.
But after you pull the edge of the ring away from the can lid, continue in the same direction to bend the ring over the edge of the can. That should pull up the lid closest to the ring until it separates from the can. Then pull the ring in the opposite direction over the entire can until the lid is removed. If that is still too difficult, try sliding something hard that is long and narrow through the ring opening to use as a lever. Levers allow the use of less force to do the same amount of work.
If you don't understand these instructions, just let me know.

from Poor Horatio
April 11, 2015 - Msg 101135: PH, you description of the proper way to remove the lid from the can is very clear, and of course, should work. However, those of us with arthritic hands have a hard time with the second phase, where you pull the ring in the opposite direction. It works pretty well with small cans, like regular Campbell's soup, but can be quite difficult on the larger cans, like the newer "hearty" soup cans. As I said in 101133, "rocking" the lid in that second phase, pulling one side loose at a time, has worked pretty well for me. You're right about leverage, and that would definitely be the answer if she's having trouble with the first step, getting the ring to pull forward over the can rim, to actually make the lid break through initially. On one occasion, I actually couldn't make the lid separate, so used a spoon handle to do exactly what you said. It worked. Sometimes just getting the ring to lift up from the top of the can is hard, too. When I have that problem, rather than risk breaking my thumbnail, I use the bowl of a spoon to raise it. Works fine! --Romeena
April 11, 2015 - Msg 101136: "your" description, not "you" description. Oh, and when the lids are just too stubborn in that second step, I insert a wooden spoon handle into the opening made by the first step, and just use it to pry the rest of the lid free. --Romeena
April 11, 2015 - Msg 101137:
MDC as for what to choose to use as a lever, a screwdriver with a long shaft should work. I will try to make this explanation as clear as possible.
With the ring pulled so that it is almost perpendicular to the lid, slide the screwdriver's shaft through the ring (from the side closest to the can's edge) so that the screwdriver blade makes contact with the can close to where the ring is attached to the lid. This acts as a pivot point. Then pull the screwdriver handle in the same direction as if you were opening the can with your hand. Just make sure you apply some downward pressure to keep the pivot point from moving. As the lid begins to separate from the can, stop the pulling so that you can now re-position the pivot point by sliding it along the lid farther away from the ring and closer towards the can's edge. As you near the end, you may have to slide the blade tip over the edge of the can to complete the lid removal or it may now be easy enough to pull the ring with your hand. Let me know how this works.

from Poor Horatio
April 11, 2015 - Msg 101138:
Romeena, you gave some great tips about this problem of pop-top can lids. Their is one science concept I left out that should be understood about levers. Not matter what long, narrow, tool you use, there will be three points of contact. In my example, the first point of contact is where you hand applies force on the handle. The second point of contact is where the srewdriver shaft makes contact with the ring. And the third point of contact is at the pivot point where the blade and can lid touch.
If the distance between the first and second points is greater than the distance between the second and third points, then the amount of force needed to be applied at the first point is magnified.

As an example, I was doing some plumbing work in my house that required removing a 50 year old pipe. Unfortunately, even using my entire body weight, I could not generate enough force to loosen that pipe because the distance between the pipe and my hands (the length of my pipe wrench) was too short. So I ended up sliding a longer pipe over the handle of my pipe wrench, thereby increasing the distance between my hands and the pipe. This effectively magnified the power of my hands to remove that pipe.

from Poor Horatio
April 11, 2015 - Msg 101139:
MDC, if your are having trouble understanding my technical explanation, just remember the following information:
Let DISTANCE 1 be the distance between where the hands apply the force to the tool and where the tool touches the ring.
Let DISTANCE 2 be the distance between where the tool touches the ring and the pivot point on the can lid.
The greater DISTANCE 1 is when compared to DISTANCE 2, the lesser the amount of force is necessary to be applied at the tool's handle.

from Poor Horatio
April 11, 2015 - Msg 101140:
An extra word might make my last sentence easier to understand.

"The greater that DISTANCE 1 is when compared to DISTANCE 2, the lesser the amount of force that is necessary to be applied at the tool's handle."

from Poor Horatio
April 11, 2015 - Msg 101141:
Another way of summarizing this is to be careful how you position whatever tool you use. To accomplish this task with the least amount of force, make sure that the distance between where your hand applies the force on the tool and the point where the tool makes contact with the ring is significantly greater than the distance between where the tool makes contact with the ring and the pivot point on the can's lid.

from Poor Horatio
April 11, 2015 - Msg 101142:
Now for some humor. Canada has some strange laws on the books. Below are a few samples:
- Citizens may not relieve themselves or spit on the street. MY COMMENT: I guess sidewalks are still ok.
- You may not park a car in such a way that it is blocking your own driveway. MY COMMENT: When I park my vehicle in my driveway, am I not technically blocking my own driveway?
- When raining, a person may not water his/her lawn. MY COMMENT: I've seen automated sprinklers violate this law.
- “For Sale” signs are not permitted in the windows of moving vehicles. MY COMMENT: So if you are advertising your car for sale, change "For" to "4" and avoid that law on a technicality.
- Cars parked in public places must be locked, and their windows open no more than the width of a hand. MY COMMENT: One woman was fined $81 for leaving her window open too much because she had a large dog in her vehicle.
- You can’t drag a dead horse down Yonge Street on a Sunday. MY COMMENT: Yonge Street was once mistakenly considered to be the longest street in Canada.
- All business signs in the province of Quebec must be predominantly in French. MY COMMENT: In fact, the only business signs in english that I saw while driving through Quebec were MacDonalds, Burger King and Dairy Queen.
Residents are not allowed to have an Internet connection faster than 56k. MY COMMENT: This makes me a criminal.
You may not pay for a fifty-cent item with only pennies. MY COMMENT: Pennies are no longer used or manufactured in Canada. Everything is rounded to the nearest nickle.

from Poor Horatio
April 12, 2015 - Msg 101143: "NOW time for some humor", really PH? I found #101134 thru #101141 to be extremely humourous!
In fact, my eyes were watering by the time i was reading thru #101141, and I was actually laughing out loud. My first thought was that you would make a great writer of government regulations! Ha, sorry, I was talking about a soup can lid, and you made it sound like the trajectory of a projectile. All in fun, mind you! But I was also trying to picture this 82 year old widow trying to get thru it all!! :)
Now to the secondary humor of #101142. Those were hilarious! Pappabear has sent me some funny US laws, but your driveway law
is the topper.
Good Sabbath to all,
MDC


April 12, 2015 - Msg 101144: MDC, can the lady from your church use a can opener? Specifically, one of the kind that cuts on the side of the can, not the top like regular can openers.
I snapped the ring off of one of those cans of soup once, and I used my side-cutting can opener, and it worked like a charm. If she has trouble using a manual can opener, they do make those side-cutting ones in electric models as well.

Just a thought.

Have a Blessed Sunday everyone.

-Sterling Holobyte
April 12, 2015 - Msg 101145: Good Sabbath all.

I hope you all are fine and dandy.

Romeena, all I can say concerning your failed capture is "aww Rats"! Keep trying though. Perseverance will prevail.


Sounds like them easy open cans are not so easy for some folks. The ones that get me are the packed items that are supposedly easy open. You know the ones I am talking about. They even have instructions printed on them, like "pull here" or "tear across dotted line". I had a bag of mixed salad I was trying to open the other day. It had those instructions of "pull here, easy open". Well after numerous attempts of pulling apart, I guess I applied to much pressure to the bag because suddenly the bottom of the bag blew out, dumping the contents all over the floor. I gotta tell ya, things like that can set me off. Just don't advertise it as easy open. Instruct folks to get a pair of sizzors and cut it open. That's what I will do from here on. I have had the same thing happen with a bag of potato chips also.

Well better go get ready for preachin. It's our "Fast Sunday" this week. They are great.

Prayers for all for a great day.

Asa
April 12, 2015 - Msg 101146:
Sterling Holobyte, you brought up another great idea for opening pop-top cans. Although I have a side cutting can opener, I never tried it on a soup can. The best part is that the machine does all the work and requires very little effort by the user (just holding the can). After the initial cost of getting this can opener, I believe this would be the easiest method for anyone, especially the elderly.

Another tool you can use is a P38 or P51 military can opener. When I was in the Army and my unit had to spend some time outdoors in the field, we were issued C-rations, which are meals that came in cans and sealed packages. The food cans did not have any pop-tops, so we used the P38 that came with each meal to open these cans. These P38's and P51's can be purchased at any any store that sells camping gear (army/navy surplus or large department stores like Walmart). I would recommend getting the P51 since it is larger and gives a person more leverage. Unfortunately, this requires some effort by the user. But since you are opening softer aluminum cans, it should be easier than the thicker tin cans we had to open.
Watch the following video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEfga9kdZoc

MDC, I'm surprised you laughed at my extremely detailed explanations. I had no idea it would have that affect on you. I understand your laughing was all good natured.
Since I have taken a college course in technical report writing, I know that when pictures or diagrams can't be used, the writer needs to rely on making the text portion very detailed. As I'm typing my instructions, I am visualizing each step in my mind. So I have to rely on my detailed text to help the reader also visualize the concept in their own mind since I'm not in their presence.

Romeena, regarding your new rat visitor, my first thought was to clean out the garage to eliminate any hiding places. But the risk of getting bitten make this method not worth it. My second thought is to seek professional help and at least get a quote that you can consider. There are too many hiding places in your garage. So after the rat is gone, that's a better time to clean out the garage (throw out the junk and sell anything of value on ebay). Don't wait too long. It is possible that given time, the rat may seek shelter in the engine area, or trunk, or maybe even the passenger compartment of your vehicle. Imagine discovering this while you are driving!
http://www.howtogetridofrat.com/garage.html

Asa, your explanation about opening a package of mixed salad made me laugh when the bottom of the bag blew out.

from Poor Horatio

April 12, 2015 - Msg 101147: Good afternoon, porch. Asa, ditto and amen to your observations about opening bags and packages by trying to follow the directions to "tear here" and whatever. Long ago, I gave up and put a pair of kitchen shears in a very handy little drawer. Whatever I'm opening, I just use those shears to cut the package open and no more mishaps. I had a "blowout" of salad once, too, only mine shot out of the top of the bag and showered the countertop, the floor, and me with chopped salad! I had shredded veggies in my hair! What a mess, and I had no salad for dinner. I have found, however, that I can pull bags of chips open very successfully. You know the method - pinch a section of the two flat sides of the bag near the top and pull them apart. I like to do that rather than cutting a strip off the top, because since it's just me, I don't use many chips at a time, and at first, I need a good flap left at the top for closing. I keep several spring-type wooden clothespins in that same drawer for closing bags. They work great. They beat the socks off those dinky little plastic "chip clips" thingies, and they're cheap. You get a whole package of clothespins for what you'd pay for a fancy little Chip Clip.

Well, guess I'll go hunt up some lunch. Shouldn't be hard. I've got lots of leftover spaghetti and about one serving of meat sauce, and I've got half a steak and some sauteed mushrooms from last night. I may just cut that steak into bite-size pieces, heat up a little of the spaghetti (no meat sauce) and put the steak and mushrooms over it. Sounds good to me! Then I can have spaghetti and meat sauce tonight. I've also got a bag of chopped salad! I'll be careful not to spray it all over the kitchen.

Blessings, friends! --Romeena
April 12, 2015 - Msg 101148: Sterling, every guy should have a P38. Mine has been on my key ring since 1969 it has opened many a can and MANY paint cans too..

Romeena.. Remember, Think like a RAT!

G-F...
April 12, 2015 - Msg 101149: Hey everyone. Hope you are all well and blessed. We are fine.

Asa, what is fast sunday? I'm curious.

Been working and spending time with the family, doing housework, the usual. Wish I had some interesting happenings to share, but nothing new. Cant add anything to the rat stories or can stories. :)

Hope you all have a great week.

Boo
April 13, 2015 - Msg 101150: PH and GF--you use an airplane to open a can?? teehee
April 13, 2015 - Msg 101151: Hey everyone, look what I found! And good ole Miles Kimbell too! We used to get their catalogs in the mail. I did nt even know that they existed anymore.
http://www.mileskimball.com/buy-ring-pull-can-opener-311503
Happy Monday to all! Prayers,
MDC
April 13, 2015 - Msg 101152: Well, doggies! That looks like just what your friend needs, and I just might order one myself. I read some of the comments from users, and a couple of them mentioned sloshing or whatever when you pull the lid back. I'm thinking it would be smart to lift the ring and push it forward as usual, to make that first opening. That part is easy. Then use the device to actually pull the lid off. I can see where there would be a movement of the can if you just try to pull it straight off, without that initial breaking of the seal. Still, it looks like just the ticket, and as I said, I'll probably order one. Thanks, MDC.

We had some thunder and lightning earlier, but no rain. I think it just went right around us. All it managed to do was set Toye Starr's nerves on edge. She's been trotting around here, growling and emitting little burpy barks, like she's fixing to whip somebody. Funny little thing.

PH, you're absolutely right about cleaning out the garage. I know that needs to be done, and badly. It's too big a job for me to tackle alone, and my son would be upset if I tried. He's really busy right now, with his own business, and he tries to help Jerry, his FIL, as much as he can, and then the boys have baseball, etc., but whenever he gets a little time we're going to do that. Jerry is my age - 75 - and still climbing into attics to do a/c installations and repairs. He's had three hernia surgeries, has respiratory problems and many years ago, fell off a ladder and broke three vertebrae. He has no business doing what he does, but he won't slow down, so David tries to be available to help him with the more difficult jobs. In return, David is learning the trade, and probably will eventually be licensed himself. Mostly though, he just wants to keep Jerry from hurting himself. So, probably when school is out and they could come during the week, he'll bring the two boys and we'll all work together and get that garage clean. I'm still going to try to trap the rat first though, and get rid of him.

Well, it's late and I'm tired. I'm off to the ironing board. Later, taters. --Romeena
April 13, 2015 - Msg 101153: Good morning! A gray and drizzly day here, what we drought-ridden Texans would call "a beautiful day"! I just noticed I've got some spectacular amaryllis opening out back. They're leftovers from Christmases past. I usually buy the bulbs when the online sellers put the pre-planted gift baskets on sale just before Christmas. It's too late to bring them into bloom for the holidays, but that's okay with me. I want them blooming in January and February, when everything else is so drab. They really light up my sunroom. After the blooms die, I plant the bulbs in the ground out back. Some make it, some don't, but those that do develop into big husky, sturdy plants that bloom so beautifully in mid to late spring, and those are what's blooming now. I may go get some pictures of them and put them on Facebook a little later. Also, the irises are just blooming all over themselves, and the snapdragons are really showing off. I love this time of year!

I slept late this morning, after being up so late last night. I haven't checked the live trap, but it would be wonderful if Ratticus was in it. I'd surely like to get rid of that critter. I know he's been in the engine of my car, because I've found shreds of rubber and insulation fluff on the floor beneath it. So far, it hasn't affected the function, but I'm sure it will.

PH, you mentioned that situation - the rat getting inside the car - and I have to tell you about a time when it really happened. It wasn't actually a rat, it was a tiny mouse, and it happened while Dale was in Korea, and I was living with my parents. At the time this happened, I was about three weeks away from delivering our first son. We lived in the country, and I had a fairly long commute to get to my job at Randolph AFB. I was driving toward town on the highway, when some movement to my right caught my eye. I looked over, and saw a mouse, just casually walking along the little ledge just inside the front passenger window. I didn't panic (I was a country girl, I'd seen mice before), but I didn't want to stay in the car with him, either. He jumped off the door to the floorboard and disappeared! I had no idea where he was, or where he might reappear. After a mile or so, there was a gas station, so I pulled in. Gas stations had attendants back then, and there was a young man standing near the gas pumps. I climbed out of that car, probably not too calmly, and told the man in a pretty excited voice, that there was a mouse in my car. He looked at my about-to-pop figure and got pretty excited himself! I'm sure he could just see himself trying to help a 19-yr-old woman deliver a baby right there in his gas station. I settled down, he came and searched the car, but never found the mouse. I had no choice but to get back in and drive to work, and I never saw the mouse again. I have no idea where he went, but I kept a wary eye out for several days. It was just a little old field mouse, but still....

Well, guess I'll go hunt up some lunch. Blessings, friends! --Romeena
April 13, 2015 - Msg 101154:
MDC, I'm glad you found a more practical and economical solution to the pop-top can opening problem. Otherwise, I was about to explain how to use a samurai sword to open those pop-top cans.

Romeena, I am very curious to learn how that rat has been outsmarting humans so far. Too bad you don't have access to one of those motion activated wildlife cameras that could be installed temporarily in your garage for a few days.

from Poor Horatio
April 13, 2015 - Msg 101155: Drat! No rat!! --Romeena
April 13, 2015 - Msg 101156: Hi Town
What a nice warm day going to be bout 80 for the high.
G F- keep a eye out for the Indians may gum you down.
ROMEENA- I had a little mouse running up & down my back one night I catch him out door he gong.

TOM

April 13, 2015 - Msg 101157: Good Afternoon,

Thank you all for your advice on résumés and working from home! Poor horatio, I appreciate you explaining what you do! I'll use those links. I sent it to a few people today, primarily for feedback.

As we rent, we call the front office for rat, um, removal.
Boo, I am glad to see you're doing well!
Tom, hi! You have some warm weather. Good!

I watched the Quiet Sam episode last night. There were 2 babies named for Andy, right? Sam's son and Charlene's daughter, Andelina, if I recall correctly.

I hope all have a great week this week!

Blessings,
Lucy
April 13, 2015 - Msg 101158: I'm still hanging on to the belief that I'm smarter than a rat, and have high hopes of catching that miserable varmint, very soon. I just hope I can get it done before he gnaws his way into the house! Having him as an unwelcome guest in the garage is one thing, but in the house? Nope, that's not gonna fly!

I watched "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" this afternoon. I loved it when it was first released, and a quick Google now tells me that it won an Oscar for Best Musical Score, and was nominated for four other categories. Still, seeing it through today's eyes, I couldn't help but laugh at a few things. For one, in the kidnap scene, when the brothers were hauling the six women away in a horse-drawn wagon, pursued by the women's families in sleighs and on horseback, they were all running on a road bed that had been nicely plowed through snow several feet deep, and they ran for miles. Tell me, just how would one plow a road through deep snow with nothing but horses for power? Also, the brothers had grabbed the girls and carried them off with nothing but the clothes they were wearing, yet they spent the winter in that farmhouse and I don't think anyone wore the same dress twice! Amazing. Kinda pulls "Gilligan's Island" a little closer to the realm of possibility, doesn't it? If you accept the things in the movie, that is. Ha! It's just all in good fun.

Well, I've got a mizry in my back today, guess I'll get out of this chair and go sit where I can stretch it out. Blessings, friends! --Romeena