There are a few easy steps to take care of if your brakes fail, so don’t panic. Just remember these few easy steps and you will be able to stop without too much hassle.
DOWNSHIFT
Most people forget this easy step. They are panicking and don’t realize this will help them slow down significantly. If you don’t have a stick shift vehicle you still have the ability to downshift with an automatic. It is the D1 and D2 spots that allow you to downshift the engine.
EMERGENCY BRAKE
Now that you have slowed down with the downshifting then you can apply the emergency brake. It might jerk the steering wheel a little bit so be prepared to hold it steady. Steer over to the side of the road and call a tow truck to come pick up your vehicle.
OTHER OPTIONS
If either of the two options above fail then look for a hill to help slow you down. It will slow down your vehicle enough that you can pull over to the side of the road. You can also look for a pile of sand or embankment to drive the vehicle into as a last resort, because this is much better than hitting another vehicle or a tree.
But the most important part of anytime you are in an accident, don’t panic. It is when people panic that they start having problems, because they forget to think. Another good idea would be to start praying, God will help you through the accident. Good Luck and remember to get your brakes checked periodically.
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Thursday, April 26, 2007
My Favorite Professional Chef: Alessandro Stratta
My favorite professional chef would have to be Alex Stratta. He is the executive chef at Alex, located in the Wynn Resort in Las Vegas. Alex has worked at many 4 star restaurants and after he went to Renoir at Mirage he was able to achieve the coveted Mobile 5 Star status after only 6 months. His restaurant Alex, is currently rated Mobil Five-star and AAA Five Diamond awards. It isn’t just the food he creates, which is phenomenal, but it is the whole experience of his restaurant. His staff is knowledgeable and friendly, they don’t mind if you linger over your dinner.
Alex’s signature dish, Braised Short Rib with Horseradish Potatoes, is the best meal I have ever eaten. My husband and I had gone to his restaurant for a nice dinner out and my husband was upset that they didn’t have steak (he is a steak and potatoes person) until he took my recommendation and tried the Braised Short Rib. The meat wasn’t tough at all, it fell off the bone and the flavor was rich and succulent. The Horseradish Potatoes were an excellent compliment to the meat.
Having worked with Alex for two years, I feel that he is a down to earth person. He enjoys spending time with his family and maintains a relaxed atmosphere not only in the office but also in the kitchen. You can walk into his kitchen and it is organized and neat, everyone knows what they are supposed to be doing and takes care of it. Alex doesn’t have to yell in his kitchen because his staff is some of the best in the industry. Alex is an overall great person and I have enjoyed meeting him and tasting his wonderful creations.
Alex’s signature dish, Braised Short Rib with Horseradish Potatoes, is the best meal I have ever eaten. My husband and I had gone to his restaurant for a nice dinner out and my husband was upset that they didn’t have steak (he is a steak and potatoes person) until he took my recommendation and tried the Braised Short Rib. The meat wasn’t tough at all, it fell off the bone and the flavor was rich and succulent. The Horseradish Potatoes were an excellent compliment to the meat.
Having worked with Alex for two years, I feel that he is a down to earth person. He enjoys spending time with his family and maintains a relaxed atmosphere not only in the office but also in the kitchen. You can walk into his kitchen and it is organized and neat, everyone knows what they are supposed to be doing and takes care of it. Alex doesn’t have to yell in his kitchen because his staff is some of the best in the industry. Alex is an overall great person and I have enjoyed meeting him and tasting his wonderful creations.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Toy reviews: American Girl dolls
American Girl dolls are the type of toy that can become an heirloom for a child that she can pass down to her daughter. You can either buy a doll with its history already created or you can create a doll that looks like the person you are buying it for. They are on the expensive side, costing almost $100 for the doll not counting the different outfits and accessories you can get her.
THE DOLLS:
ADDY. Addy is a little girl that is enslaved on a plantation in 1864. She and her mother work on escaping to Philadelphia but have to leave Addy’s baby sister behind because she could cause too much noise. Her father and brother have already been sold and it is hard for her to leave her sister behind. Her goal is to reunite her family.
FELICITY and ELIZABETH. Felicity and Elizabeth are best friends that live during the time of the American Revolution. It starts in 1774 and Felicity believes that the colonies should be free of English rule. Elizabeth and Felicity’s grandfather believe that the colonies should stay under the king’s rule. Each story builds on the friendship between these two girls.
JOSEFINA. Josefina lives in New Mexico in 1824 and has lost her mama. Her mama’s sister Tia Dolores moves in with them to help with Josefina. Tia Dolores wants to teach Josefina how to read and wants to start a business but Josefina worries that is will make her forget her mother.
KAYA. Kaya is a Nez Perce girl that grows up during 1764 and hates her nickname Magpie. She is trying to improve herself by working with Swan Circling, a bold warrior woman. She needs to prove she is trustworthy after her twin brothers wandered off while in her care.
KIRSTEN. Kirsten leaves everything she knows to come to the new world in 1854. They settle in the Minnesota frontier to live. The people are so different to her. They speak a different language, wear different clothes and don’t understand the traditions that mean so much to her.
KIT. Kit is growing up in 1934 during the Great Depression. Her father lost his business overnight and she is worried that the family will lose their home next. Kit’s favorite thing to do is write and she will sit in front of her typewriting and fight the Great Depression with words.
MOLLY and EMILY. Molly is growing up during World War II and she is tired of the war and just wants her dad home. She opens her home to a war-torn girl, Emily, to help her out. She learns to work on pulling together to survive the war.
SAMANTHA and NELLIE. Samantha is an orphan being raised by her wealthy grandmother in 1904. Samantha’s best friend in Nellie, a servant girl. While Samantha tries to become a proper lady, she sees that not everyone has it as easy as her and she is trying to figure out how everything works.
American Girl dolls are a way for young girls to connect with the history of our country and to learn more about the past in a fun way. They have a wide range of items to choose from and they even have clothes that match the dolls for the young girls who own them. Even though expensive it is a quality gift for any young girl.
THE DOLLS:
ADDY. Addy is a little girl that is enslaved on a plantation in 1864. She and her mother work on escaping to Philadelphia but have to leave Addy’s baby sister behind because she could cause too much noise. Her father and brother have already been sold and it is hard for her to leave her sister behind. Her goal is to reunite her family.
FELICITY and ELIZABETH. Felicity and Elizabeth are best friends that live during the time of the American Revolution. It starts in 1774 and Felicity believes that the colonies should be free of English rule. Elizabeth and Felicity’s grandfather believe that the colonies should stay under the king’s rule. Each story builds on the friendship between these two girls.
JOSEFINA. Josefina lives in New Mexico in 1824 and has lost her mama. Her mama’s sister Tia Dolores moves in with them to help with Josefina. Tia Dolores wants to teach Josefina how to read and wants to start a business but Josefina worries that is will make her forget her mother.
KAYA. Kaya is a Nez Perce girl that grows up during 1764 and hates her nickname Magpie. She is trying to improve herself by working with Swan Circling, a bold warrior woman. She needs to prove she is trustworthy after her twin brothers wandered off while in her care.
KIRSTEN. Kirsten leaves everything she knows to come to the new world in 1854. They settle in the Minnesota frontier to live. The people are so different to her. They speak a different language, wear different clothes and don’t understand the traditions that mean so much to her.
KIT. Kit is growing up in 1934 during the Great Depression. Her father lost his business overnight and she is worried that the family will lose their home next. Kit’s favorite thing to do is write and she will sit in front of her typewriting and fight the Great Depression with words.
MOLLY and EMILY. Molly is growing up during World War II and she is tired of the war and just wants her dad home. She opens her home to a war-torn girl, Emily, to help her out. She learns to work on pulling together to survive the war.
SAMANTHA and NELLIE. Samantha is an orphan being raised by her wealthy grandmother in 1904. Samantha’s best friend in Nellie, a servant girl. While Samantha tries to become a proper lady, she sees that not everyone has it as easy as her and she is trying to figure out how everything works.
American Girl dolls are a way for young girls to connect with the history of our country and to learn more about the past in a fun way. They have a wide range of items to choose from and they even have clothes that match the dolls for the young girls who own them. Even though expensive it is a quality gift for any young girl.
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Best ways to do chores
Many households do chores differently and I don't think there is a correct way to do them. I have found some tips that have helped me over the years and I will relay them here for you.
It is helpful to start at the top of the house and work your way down. This is two-fold. The first being that if you are dusting and vacuuming upstairs then any dust will fall downstairs. The second part is if you have clothes or dishes upstairs and you take them down to your clean kitchen you are going to have to clean the kitchen again.
It will help to dust the house on a daily basis and polish once a week. This will keep down on the dust in the house and help to stop sneezing and allergies. A hint for this one, get one of those feather dusters and have your kids do it, small kids especially like to play with it.
The same applies to vacuuming and sweeping on a daily basis and mopping once a week. It will help cut down on the dust and if you have pets, the hair.
I clean my kitchen twice a day. First in the morning after everyone leaves and then again after dinner. This is helpful to keep down the effects of germs in the house. I have found those bleach wipes to be fantastic in the kitchen. After I wash my counters and appliances down, I then take these and wipe them down again.
I empty the trash in the bathrooms once a week and I wipe down the toilet with the bleach wipes once a week. I found that putting comet into the toilet cleans it better than any other product I have tried.
There are many different things you can do to keep yourself organized and on track with doing chores. If you don't have a lot of time during the day because you work outside the house, then do one chore a night. It will help cut down on the large cleaning to do on the weekends. If you have children, get them to help you. They helped make the mess, teach them how to clean it up. It will help them in the long run. Cleaning a house is about keeping it organized and if you set yourself up on a schedule then it won't be as hard. Make a large list of everything you have to do on a weekly basis to clean the house and then figure out what you can do each day. Don't overwhelm yourself because then you will be less likely to do it. After you do one deep cleaning then it will be easier to keep up with the rest of the chores on a daily basis.
It is helpful to start at the top of the house and work your way down. This is two-fold. The first being that if you are dusting and vacuuming upstairs then any dust will fall downstairs. The second part is if you have clothes or dishes upstairs and you take them down to your clean kitchen you are going to have to clean the kitchen again.
It will help to dust the house on a daily basis and polish once a week. This will keep down on the dust in the house and help to stop sneezing and allergies. A hint for this one, get one of those feather dusters and have your kids do it, small kids especially like to play with it.
The same applies to vacuuming and sweeping on a daily basis and mopping once a week. It will help cut down on the dust and if you have pets, the hair.
I clean my kitchen twice a day. First in the morning after everyone leaves and then again after dinner. This is helpful to keep down the effects of germs in the house. I have found those bleach wipes to be fantastic in the kitchen. After I wash my counters and appliances down, I then take these and wipe them down again.
I empty the trash in the bathrooms once a week and I wipe down the toilet with the bleach wipes once a week. I found that putting comet into the toilet cleans it better than any other product I have tried.
There are many different things you can do to keep yourself organized and on track with doing chores. If you don't have a lot of time during the day because you work outside the house, then do one chore a night. It will help cut down on the large cleaning to do on the weekends. If you have children, get them to help you. They helped make the mess, teach them how to clean it up. It will help them in the long run. Cleaning a house is about keeping it organized and if you set yourself up on a schedule then it won't be as hard. Make a large list of everything you have to do on a weekly basis to clean the house and then figure out what you can do each day. Don't overwhelm yourself because then you will be less likely to do it. After you do one deep cleaning then it will be easier to keep up with the rest of the chores on a daily basis.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Should you Follow your Boss to a New Job
Following your boss to a new job is not an easy decision. It should be something that you think long and hard about before you make your decision. There are a few questions you need to ask yourself before you decide you would like to follow him. Is he moving to another position within the same company? Is he doing well in his chosen career? Do you enjoy working for him?
Is he moving to another position within the same company? This is an important question because you need to determine if the benefits and vacation you have accumulated are worth giving up if he is leaving the company and will you be compensated for the loss of those benefits if you do leave with him. If he is moving within the same company, how will you job change? Are you qualified to handle the new work that you will be receiving? Will you receive a pay raise or is it a lateral move? These are all questions you need to ask yourself before you commit to a move.
Is he doing well in his chosen career? Is he moving because he was about to get fired? Does he want you to go with him because he can’t do his job well on his own and wants you there to help him with his job? Is he recognized for the work he does and is the recognition good report? If the company was getting ready to fire him, then it is probably not a good idea to follow him to a new job. If he wants you to follow him because he can’t do the job on his own then very likely he will have you do his job and he will get the credit. You need to consider all aspects of the job offer and try and figure out his motivation in wanting you to go with him to be able to make a good decision.
Do you enjoy working for him? This is the most important question of moving with him to a new job. If you don’t like working for him then switching jobs with him will not improve your work environment. If you do enjoy working for him, then that is a positive reason to move with him. But remember if you don’t like working for him, just because he has a new job doesn’t mean his personality will change or his work ethic.
Choosing to follow your boss when he is starting a new job is not an easy decision. It is something you need to think about and if you are married, you need to discuss the situation with your spouse or significant other. It is a decision that can change your life. If you make the wrong decision you could be looking for a new job in a short period of time. If you know the person who will be replacing him then you need to take into consideration if you would like working for that person also. If you do decide to follow your boss, remember that you will be going into a new position and even if it has the same title you will very likely have different responsibilities. Most of all relax and think it out. You will know if you have made the right decision.
Is he moving to another position within the same company? This is an important question because you need to determine if the benefits and vacation you have accumulated are worth giving up if he is leaving the company and will you be compensated for the loss of those benefits if you do leave with him. If he is moving within the same company, how will you job change? Are you qualified to handle the new work that you will be receiving? Will you receive a pay raise or is it a lateral move? These are all questions you need to ask yourself before you commit to a move.
Is he doing well in his chosen career? Is he moving because he was about to get fired? Does he want you to go with him because he can’t do his job well on his own and wants you there to help him with his job? Is he recognized for the work he does and is the recognition good report? If the company was getting ready to fire him, then it is probably not a good idea to follow him to a new job. If he wants you to follow him because he can’t do the job on his own then very likely he will have you do his job and he will get the credit. You need to consider all aspects of the job offer and try and figure out his motivation in wanting you to go with him to be able to make a good decision.
Do you enjoy working for him? This is the most important question of moving with him to a new job. If you don’t like working for him then switching jobs with him will not improve your work environment. If you do enjoy working for him, then that is a positive reason to move with him. But remember if you don’t like working for him, just because he has a new job doesn’t mean his personality will change or his work ethic.
Choosing to follow your boss when he is starting a new job is not an easy decision. It is something you need to think about and if you are married, you need to discuss the situation with your spouse or significant other. It is a decision that can change your life. If you make the wrong decision you could be looking for a new job in a short period of time. If you know the person who will be replacing him then you need to take into consideration if you would like working for that person also. If you do decide to follow your boss, remember that you will be going into a new position and even if it has the same title you will very likely have different responsibilities. Most of all relax and think it out. You will know if you have made the right decision.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Reflections: Remembering the 2006 World Series
We watched all season with anticipation. They had been the worst team a few years ago with the worst record of any team ever in the history of baseball, but now they were at the World Series. The television was on and we were watching it because we lived across the country but we still had high hopes that the Detroit Tigers were going to win the World Series. They had twelve straight losing seasons but finally some young talent was filling the Tigers with enthusiasm.
They lost the first game to the Yankees and came back to win the rest and moved onto Oakland and swept them away but now they were fighting against the St. Louis Cardinals. They made it into 5 games against the Cardinals but then they folded like a stack of cards. The St. Louis Cardinals won the World Series.
While we didn’t walk away from the television that day jumping up and down for joy and high-fiving our friends and neighbors we also didn’t walk away with our heads hung low or our lips pouting in sadness. The Detroit Tigers had made it to the World Series against all odds and we were proud of them. And as all baseball and all sport fans know, there is always next year. When the Tigers make the World Series in 2007, I will be sitting either in front of the television watching the game or just maybe at Comerica Park rooting in my Tigers.
They lost the first game to the Yankees and came back to win the rest and moved onto Oakland and swept them away but now they were fighting against the St. Louis Cardinals. They made it into 5 games against the Cardinals but then they folded like a stack of cards. The St. Louis Cardinals won the World Series.
While we didn’t walk away from the television that day jumping up and down for joy and high-fiving our friends and neighbors we also didn’t walk away with our heads hung low or our lips pouting in sadness. The Detroit Tigers had made it to the World Series against all odds and we were proud of them. And as all baseball and all sport fans know, there is always next year. When the Tigers make the World Series in 2007, I will be sitting either in front of the television watching the game or just maybe at Comerica Park rooting in my Tigers.
Tips for Unclogging a Sink
The first thing you need to decide when unclogging a sink is if you are going to use chemicals to handle it or try to handle it without the use of chemicals. If it is a normal clog, like hair , then a chemical will work to remove the clog, but if it is something else stuck down the drain then you will need use a different method to remove the clog.
If you are going to use a chemical and the sink is clogged then you can more the bottle into the sink and follow the directions on the bottle. If it is a slow drain then fill the sink up with water, do not close the drain and then pour in the chemical. Follow the direction on the bottle and wait to see if the clog is cleared. If it is, congratulations, if it is not then we will go to the next step.
If chemicals didn’t work to unclog your sink or you opted not to use them, then we are on the next step. Depending on what type of drain you have, underneath the sink the drain is hooked up to a latch to close the sink. You need to disconnect this latch and lift the drain plug out of the sink. This will allow you to get into the sink to clean it out. You will need to have a plastic bag handy to throw your mess away into. Look down the drain and see if there is anything you can pull out. Just a reminder you also might want to wear plastic gloves to clean out the drain. You can then take a snake (a tool you can buy at your local hardware store that goes down drains and pushes the debris out in front of it) and push it down the drain. Normally this will take care of your problem, but be careful that you don’t push too hard when you are using the snake as you could break a pipe. If you hit a spot where the snake doesn’t want to continue then you might have to take the pipe apart to clean out the debris.
When you have to take pipes apart, you will need an old bowl to catch any water drippage so that you don’t soak your floor. Place the bowl underneath the pipe you are going to take apart, then undo the piece holding the pipes together. Remember it is righty tighty and lefty loosy. Once you have loosened the pipe slowly take it out over the bowl and set it into the bowl. You will have water coming out. Look into the pipe and clean out any debris you find. If it is clear make sure you look in the other direction and make sure it is clear. Then put the pipe back together, tightening the connection. Once you have determined the pipe is back together securely then turn the water on to see if it flows freely.
If it works then congratulations on a job well done, but if it doesn’t I would recommend you call a plumber because the clog could be further along in the pipes under the house. Also don’t forget to reconnect the drain plug to the hook under the sink. Otherwise your drain will not work.
If you are going to use a chemical and the sink is clogged then you can more the bottle into the sink and follow the directions on the bottle. If it is a slow drain then fill the sink up with water, do not close the drain and then pour in the chemical. Follow the direction on the bottle and wait to see if the clog is cleared. If it is, congratulations, if it is not then we will go to the next step.
If chemicals didn’t work to unclog your sink or you opted not to use them, then we are on the next step. Depending on what type of drain you have, underneath the sink the drain is hooked up to a latch to close the sink. You need to disconnect this latch and lift the drain plug out of the sink. This will allow you to get into the sink to clean it out. You will need to have a plastic bag handy to throw your mess away into. Look down the drain and see if there is anything you can pull out. Just a reminder you also might want to wear plastic gloves to clean out the drain. You can then take a snake (a tool you can buy at your local hardware store that goes down drains and pushes the debris out in front of it) and push it down the drain. Normally this will take care of your problem, but be careful that you don’t push too hard when you are using the snake as you could break a pipe. If you hit a spot where the snake doesn’t want to continue then you might have to take the pipe apart to clean out the debris.
When you have to take pipes apart, you will need an old bowl to catch any water drippage so that you don’t soak your floor. Place the bowl underneath the pipe you are going to take apart, then undo the piece holding the pipes together. Remember it is righty tighty and lefty loosy. Once you have loosened the pipe slowly take it out over the bowl and set it into the bowl. You will have water coming out. Look into the pipe and clean out any debris you find. If it is clear make sure you look in the other direction and make sure it is clear. Then put the pipe back together, tightening the connection. Once you have determined the pipe is back together securely then turn the water on to see if it flows freely.
If it works then congratulations on a job well done, but if it doesn’t I would recommend you call a plumber because the clog could be further along in the pipes under the house. Also don’t forget to reconnect the drain plug to the hook under the sink. Otherwise your drain will not work.
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