The Watt Spot

Just found out today ComEd is increasing the cost of electricity this summer by 2.5%, if I remember correctly. A few weeks ago I signed us up for real time pricing from ComEd. They finally came out yesterday to change our meter. So now instead of being charged a flat rate for our electricity like everyone else, we'll be charged less if we use it in the off hours and more if we use it during the high demand hours. I guess they can email you the cost of electricity for the next day or so - so you can plan accordingly. More info at www.wattspot.com

I already switched most of our lightbulbs to the CFL type. Only have to change one wall dimmer switch to a regular on/off switch - the dimmable cfl bulbs are too expensive for me. Hopefully, this will save us some money this year.

Hello AT&T Goodbye Comcast!

Finally fed up with the cost of our Comcast internet, I finally decided to switch to AT&T. We were paying about $61/mo for cable internet with comcast. It was worth it back then because we were so fed up with dialup! But after paying that for years, it's time for something new and cheaper. I hooked up the DSL modem today and no problems. I can't believe they charge you $200 for a tech to set it up. It was very easy. As for the speed, really didn't notice any difference with uploading pictures. Haven't tried uploading video yet, however. I think I signed up for the express or pro DSL, can't remember which. As well, no problems using 3 or 4 browsers at the same time.

We've had the phone switched over for the last week now. At first, there was a lot of static, but after I added the DSL/phone filters to the phone jacks(which came with our dsl modem), the problem is pretty much gone. Thank goodness. Who needs 12 calling features like 3-way calling, call forwarding, call you in the car, call you in the shower.... We only need three: call waiting, caller ID, and call waiting caller ID, which we got with AT&T.

I have yet to receive the first bill, but according to my calculations looks like we should save around $40-45 a month. I'm just glad I didn't sacrifice internet speed with dsl. This has been the first day using it and so far, so good.

Now I have to call Comcast probably sometime next week to cancel our broadband - it's so expensive.

Last major snowfall February 2008

The last snowfall was last month and most of the snow has melted. What's left over should be gone by the weekend since it is suppose to be in the 40's the next few days. I still haven't been able to visit a frozen pond or lake to take pictures of ice - looking for interesting bubbles trapped underneath. Anyway, these are some of the pics during that last snowfall last month:







My stomach hurts, can't I stay home???

Magic trick

Ramen noodle magic trick:

Bingen, Germany

A view over Bingen Germany looking to the Rhine River. What a great place to visit especially in the Fall. We were there (Germany and a few other countries in 2005 and 2006). Stayed with our friends mom, Mrs. G for a few days in Bingen before visiting other places. Wish I was there now to have a brat and a 1L beer!

The picture is from my flickr site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cum-grano-salis/sets/72157594575208467/

Winter's not done yet

Was off from work today. And the forecast was for more snow!! So we built an igloo. This has been the 2nd snow storm in Feb. I believe.

Stitches

What a bad week Jan 23 was. First I get a speeding ticket then the next day I get whacked in the face which included a trip to the ER where 3 stitches were placed and super-human glue used to close up a second cut under my nose. Tyler said, after I ran in the house, ('cause the bleeding wasn't stopping outside as I was applying pressure) I think this is the day my dad will die - I was told later. Kind of wild walking into the ER with that bloody paper towel over my face telling the triage nurse, duhhh "I think I need some stitches." It's been about 10 days now and everything is healing well.