~ Watery's Pond ~ Here's to a happier New Year!

[Lemon Cheesecake]

Heat is good when you are cold!

Ya, old houses did not get wired well. It is so easy for the wires to be burning behind the walls and that is scary! Be on the alert for any funky smells ( like dead mice) that mean the wire is burning. Usually its at the sockets so take the covers off and look. And don't overload the system with plug in's!

[galled]

Electrical wiring in old houses is definitely a hazard waiting to happen. The good news is most of our appliances and electronics use less power than the old versions. So with a little care, you could be OK.

You really have to be careful plugging in electric heaters, blow driers, electric kettles, irons (things that heat up with electricity), etc. as they draw the most current. If possible, you want to use the outlets on the inside walls if wiring is questionable (as opposed to the outside walls). Inside walls usually do not have insulation and have more room to "breath." So they shouldn't retain heat, will have less direct contact to things that can burn, and will typically give more warning (smell quicker) if something goes amiss.

I foresee a day when our homes will run on 5 volts or 12 volts DC. Almost all electronics these days run on DC (as do LED lights), but we use the power adapters to convert AC back down to DC (and net a power loss/efficiency loss in the process). Solar panels produce DC and we convert that to AC to run in the house, the plug our USB power adapters to run our devices (back to DC). Crazy!!

[Watery Star]

My father-in-law said the extension on the back of the house that was made for a laundry room doesn't actually have enough voltage to run both a washer and a dryer(or something to that effect). I normally only use one machine at a time but now will have to make sure I don't run both at the same time. Trouble is, in the winter time, I have to put a space heater in the laundry room or else the washer acts like it's too cold for it to run. My FIL got us an extension cord that should be ok to use with the space heater so we can avoid using the outlet in there. I forgot to use it when I last did laundry though.

Yeah it would be nice if we could get to a point where we're more efficient with electricity. Eagle said he'd like to have some solar panels on the roof but that was earlier on when we were only concerned with the roof. Not sure how expensive it is to install them nowadays. My dad had talked about the solar panels they had installed at his work maybe a decade back and how long it would take to recoup the loss.

[Lemon Cheesecake]

Solar City in California has a lease program for solar panels where you don't buy the panels you just lease them. They figure out how much your location should generate in solar power, how much electricity you generally use and figure out a monthly fee you pay - you don't lose because you don't actually own the panels, and your lease price is incorporated into your usage price.When your lease comes up you have the option of renewing or upgrading your system. I don't know if it is offered in every State or not though. One day I'd like to have the solar panel rooftop shingles, those are like double purpose.

[Watery Star]

I'm not sure either but that sounds like a good option.

[Lemon Cheesecake]

I haven't eaten all day and I am famished but I really am too tired to cook. I guess it's salad until I figure something out.

What did you cook for dinner?

[Watery Star]

Hope the salad helped energize you. Eagle hasn't made dinner yet. I think we're having our beef,peas and rice concoction.

I am thinking of making a sweet potato pizza with barbecue chicken later this week if I'm up for it.

[Gingerale]

what the heck is a sweet potato pizza? Do you use sweet potato in the dough or as a topping?

[Watery Star]

As the dough!

http://frame.bloglovin.com/?post=5039922043&blog=1864681&group=0&frame=1&frame_type=none&avpp=true&context=&context_ids=&feed_order=&click=0&user=0
Crust recipe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=ui6OYR1kcLs
Quick video how-to

[Watery Star]

I'm upset at my brother. He asks me to pick up dessert and when I tell him we got it then it's apparently not good enough. Eagle is done with him. He never comes over for Thanksgiving but wants us to go there for Christmas. He continues to be difficult and distant. I want to work things out but Eagle and him do not get along. Eagle is dropping me off at my parents and not going. There really isn't a good reason for him to go when they fight. He doesn't think I should go either. I don't know what to do.

It's not about the dessert, it's about the way my brother acts. It's about the way he treats me and the rest of the family. He puts his wife on a pedestal and the rest of the family below it.

[murmurlade]

what the heck is that kind of relationship .___.
someone needs to wake him up

(hugs watery)
to be honest.. sometimes, its better to distance yourself from these people when they clearly don't want to work things out, though i hope you do. it can get a little toxic.

[Watery Star]

*hug* Thanks. Yeah Eagle doesn't want me to go over there. I don't know what to do. I don't want to seem like I'm upset over the dessert but I don't want my brother to think it's ok to treat me the way he does.

[Közi]

Hello! May I post woth you? :3 I’m sorry if this is a bad time.

[Watery Star]

Everyone's welcome to post here anytime

How are you?

[Lemon Cheesecake]

You can always ask if there is something in particular they want you to bring, but if they aren't specific then they really shouldn't complain about what you do bring.
I can understand you not wanting to put your parents in a bind by having them choose who's place they go to but I suppose you could ask them if they will alternate between you and your brother's since it sounds like it is a stressful time for you. What about going to Eagle's family? I'd hate for him to be alone on Christmas day and he is obviously trying to defend you. Maybe its time you start your own traditions and celebrate in your own home - it may be a little late to plan something this year but invite friends over and do a potluck even if you are wanting company. Have breakfast or lunch with your parents and let them know you don't feel welcome at your brother's so you won't be going. Too bad it doesn't sound like you are very close with your sister-in-law. Do they have kids?