I found a few more places to donate things if you are looking for a little something more. This is most likely overkill, but I am hoping that you will read, then down the line remember this as a resource and it will help you as a reference.
>Bicycles: The International Bicycle Fund (http://ibike.org/encouragement/youth.htm) offers an extensive directory of youth bicycle recycling programs.
>Books: There are so many different book drop offs in so many communities. At local libraries, drives during the holidays, BUT if you are looking for somewhere else to ship a few books to and don't mind paying the shipping costs here are a few. A majority are to inmates looking to read, and/or there are American Indian Reserve book programs, along with many others http://adoptalibrary.org/.
>Cars: If you are an Illinois resident, here is a very popular car donation site http://www.kars4kids.org/car-donation-illinois.htm. Also, hundreds of charities accept used (running or not) cars to sell at auctions. Here is a website that lists if a charity in your area (state) that could accept it http://donatecarusa.com/. PS- It is also a tax write off if you donate your vehicle.
>Eyeglasses and Hearing Aids: If you are willing to ship, this is also a great website. I know that places like Pearl Vision will accept old eyeglasses, but this website also includes sunglasses, hearing aids, watches, and more, so I figured if you need a place to donate for these things look no further. http://neweyesfortheneedy.org/how-you-can-help/
>Fur coats: IF for some reason you have inherited some fur coats and they are not really your style, you can donate them to http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/fur_fashion/donate_fur_coats_for_cubs_11042010.html and your coats will be redirected to a wildlife sanctuary to help comfort orphaned and injured animals. Thought this was a pretty cool thing.
Happy De-cluttering, and Happy Post Thanksgiving!
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
BA- Part Deux
Blogger Anonymous Part Deux- this is more of a kid friendly edition if you want to use some things from around the house to do art projects, WHICH was also sent to me FROM MY DAD. I didn't give him credit, specifically, for the vinegar uses specifically and he was a little sad. Thank you DAD!
"Americans create an average of 4.5 pounds of trash a day and much of it is created in our kitchens. Recycling is an option to reducing trash and composting is another, but sometimes there are items that can be kept around for a multitude of reasons. Here are five tips for reducing kitchen 'trash'.
1) Egg Cartons
Whether the eggs you buy come in paper, foam, or plastic packaging — you can reuse it all. These containers are perfect for preschool art projects, storing and sorting small items like nails and screws or as seed starters. Or, give them to the golfer in the family because each slot is the perfect size to hold and store a treasured golf ball.
2) Wine Corks
If you are a wine lover, chances are you've thrown a few wine corks away. While you can recycle them at Whole Foods Market and a few other places, there are lots of other ways to give them more life. There are easy ways to turn them into bulletin boards, coasters, or even funky picture frames. They can also be cut into slices and put under furniture to keep pieces from sliding.
3) Milk & Juice Cartons
Those wax-coated milk and juice cartons can be difficult to recycle but there are an endless number of ways to reuse them. They are easily turned into bird feeders that will last outdoors for months. The base of these waterproof containers is also perfect as paint containers for small projects or as seed starters.
4) Cereal Boxes
A creative project for school-aged kids is to turn a cereal box into an organizer for school papers. Any tall rectangular paperboard box will do. You simply cut off the top and decorate the outside with glued on magazine clippings. The size and shape of the box is perfect for keeping all of their papers in one place where you can find them when needed.
5) Plastic Food Containers
All of those lunchmeat, yogurt, or similar plastic food containers with lids are too useful to wind up in the trash. Use them in place of all those plastic baggies to help pack waste-free lunches. You can also use them to store leftovers or for organizing small items throughout your home."
Here is the article: http://www.att.net/s/editorial.dll?eetype=Article&eeid=7859911&render=y&Table=&ch=fh&cat=hgarti&dcatid=2036&topcat=Article
Also, just today a patient came in and had something shoved in between two teeth and could not get it out for the life of her. A great way to get that wedged, hard to reach piece of something IS.....tie a knot into a piece of floss and put it right up in the business of the irritated area. Then swishing with water or mouth wash usually is enough to dislodge it. If this doesn't work then you are going to your dentist. The #1 thing to get stuck in between your teeth is popcorn kernels, so watch out for those bad boys. Or just don't chew on them at all because they can also cause some serious cracks, which then turn out to be expensive cracks. My boss suggested that I add this 'bit' to the blog, so thank you to her. More importantly, thank you to everyone for reading and supporting.
Flanagan out.
"Americans create an average of 4.5 pounds of trash a day and much of it is created in our kitchens. Recycling is an option to reducing trash and composting is another, but sometimes there are items that can be kept around for a multitude of reasons. Here are five tips for reducing kitchen 'trash'.
1) Egg Cartons
Whether the eggs you buy come in paper, foam, or plastic packaging — you can reuse it all. These containers are perfect for preschool art projects, storing and sorting small items like nails and screws or as seed starters. Or, give them to the golfer in the family because each slot is the perfect size to hold and store a treasured golf ball.
2) Wine Corks
If you are a wine lover, chances are you've thrown a few wine corks away. While you can recycle them at Whole Foods Market and a few other places, there are lots of other ways to give them more life. There are easy ways to turn them into bulletin boards, coasters, or even funky picture frames. They can also be cut into slices and put under furniture to keep pieces from sliding.
3) Milk & Juice Cartons
Those wax-coated milk and juice cartons can be difficult to recycle but there are an endless number of ways to reuse them. They are easily turned into bird feeders that will last outdoors for months. The base of these waterproof containers is also perfect as paint containers for small projects or as seed starters.
4) Cereal Boxes
A creative project for school-aged kids is to turn a cereal box into an organizer for school papers. Any tall rectangular paperboard box will do. You simply cut off the top and decorate the outside with glued on magazine clippings. The size and shape of the box is perfect for keeping all of their papers in one place where you can find them when needed.
5) Plastic Food Containers
All of those lunchmeat, yogurt, or similar plastic food containers with lids are too useful to wind up in the trash. Use them in place of all those plastic baggies to help pack waste-free lunches. You can also use them to store leftovers or for organizing small items throughout your home."
Here is the article: http://www.att.net/s/editorial.dll?eetype=Article&eeid=7859911&render=y&Table=&ch=fh&cat=hgarti&dcatid=2036&topcat=Article
Also, just today a patient came in and had something shoved in between two teeth and could not get it out for the life of her. A great way to get that wedged, hard to reach piece of something IS.....tie a knot into a piece of floss and put it right up in the business of the irritated area. Then swishing with water or mouth wash usually is enough to dislodge it. If this doesn't work then you are going to your dentist. The #1 thing to get stuck in between your teeth is popcorn kernels, so watch out for those bad boys. Or just don't chew on them at all because they can also cause some serious cracks, which then turn out to be expensive cracks. My boss suggested that I add this 'bit' to the blog, so thank you to her. More importantly, thank you to everyone for reading and supporting.
Flanagan out.
Friday, October 21, 2011
BA- Bloggers Anonymous.
It is almost my 4 month blogging anniversary, and now people will think of something and say, "that would be great for your blog!" So.....this episode is brought to you by are all things that people have contributed or shared with me, which I am going to share with you. Thank you for thinking of me, and allowing me to share your knowledge.
I learned last night while carving these pumpkins (pictured above). Dry erase marker removes permanent marker because of the chemical make-up of the ink. It worked. We drew the outline onto the pumpkin with permanent marker, then after we carved and there was some still on the pumpkin, we used the dry erase to get it off. Pretty cool, and so is the person that showed it to me. He is just a world of knowledge, it's remarkable.
I now use vinegar as my house hold cleaner, so here are 20 different (unusual) uses of vinegar that were sent to me.
1. Condition hair- Just add half a tablespoon of vinegar to a cup of water, plus a few drops of essential oil if you like. I prefer the lavender castile soap.
2. Killing weeds-Spray those suckers.
I now use vinegar as my house hold cleaner, so here are 20 different (unusual) uses of vinegar that were sent to me.
1. Condition hair- Just add half a tablespoon of vinegar to a cup of water, plus a few drops of essential oil if you like. I prefer the lavender castile soap.
2. Killing weeds-Spray those suckers.
3. Remove underarm stains- Ironically, if you use aluminum-based antiperspirants, they’re even more likely to appear, thanks to a reaction between aluminum compounds in these products and salts in your sweat. Spray full-strength white vinegar on the stain before washing, and it will disappear. **Thought this was really interesting.
4. Soften fabrics- Add 1/2 cup of white vinegar to the wash cycle, and not only will it prevent lint from clinging to your clothes and keep colors bright, it’ll also remove soap scum from both the clothes you’re washing and the washing machine itself. Vinegar is also recommended in place of dryer sheets -- simply add 3/4 cup to your washer during the final rinse cycle.
5. Remedy sore throats- Many people recommend sipping or gargling with a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in a cup of warm water to soothe a sore throat. Add a few tablespoons of honey to this mixture in order to make it even more effective and far more palatable.
6. Deter ants-Spray where those suckers roam around.
7. Soak sore muscles- Apple cider vinegar helps draw out lactic acid, which accumulates in muscles after exercise, causing that sore feeling. Mix a few tablespoons of vinegar into a cup of water, dip a cloth in the mixture, and apply it to sore areas for 20 minutes.
8. Freshen air- Whether it’s smoke, mildew, pet odor, or lingering whiffs of burnt casserole, bad smells can make a home less than welcoming. Acetic acid in vinegar absorbs odors, so spritzing it around the room will neutralize the smells. You can also use it to wipe down surfaces in the room that needs freshening. We always used to put it in dishes and let it sit when we had smokers in the house. Worked great!
9. Remove stickers- Warm a little bit of white vinegar on the stovetop or in the microwave and then dip a rag into it. Hold the rag over the sticker until it’s thoroughly saturated, and it will peel right off without leaving sticky residue behind. This trick also loosens wallpaper adhesive. As mentioned before, a blow dryer works as well.
10. Cure hiccups- maybe?
11. Clean crusty paintbrushes- Fill a saucepan with undiluted white vinegar and bring it to a boil over medium heat. Dip the paintbrushes into the boiling vinegar, one at a time, dragging the bristles along the bottom of the pan. Continue this process until the paint is dissolved.
12. Dissolve rust- The acetic acid in vinegar reacts with iron oxide to remove rust from small metal items like hinges, nuts and bolts. Simmer them in a saucepan full of vinegar, then rinse well with water to prevent the vinegar from further affecting the metal.
13. Eliminate stale odors- Kinda the same thing as above.
14. Remove mineral deposits- Run a mixture of half water, half white vinegar through your coffee machine to remove them. Use straight vinegar as a rinsing agent in your dishwasher to prevent buildup, and wrap a vinegar-soaked cloth around stained faucets until the deposits can be easily scrubbed away. To clean a clogged showerhead, remove it from the pipe and place it in a saucepan full of white vinegar. Simmer for just a few minutes, being careful not to allow it to boil, and then wash off the stains.
15. Neutralize spice in foods- Add white or apple cider vinegar to your food, one teaspoon at a time, to neutralize the spice.
16. Prolong the life of cut flowers- Squeeze a little extra enjoyment out of your arrangements by adding two tablespoons of white vinegar per quart of water in the vase, which will keep them perky just a little bit longer.
17. Clean glass, plastic, chrome, and floors- A half-and-half solution of water and white vinegar will cut the grime on the shelves and walls of the refrigerator and eliminate spoiled-food smells too. Full-strength vinegar will remove tough smudges on glass and make porcelain sinks shine. Make it into a paste with a little baking soda to scrub chrome, or mix 1/3 white vinegar with 1/3 rubbing alcohol, 1/3 water, and 3 drops of dishwashing liquid for an economical floor cleaner. Just be sure not to get vinegar on marble, granite, or slate surfaces.
18. Treat fungal infections- Such as athlete’s foot, toe nail fungus, and dandruff are definitely no fun. White vinegar and apple cider vinegar can both be applied topically to affected areas of the body to kill fungus. For foot-related ailments, soak in a solution of one part vinegar to five parts water for about 30 minutes a day.
19. Tenderize and kill bacteria in meat- Marinate meat overnight in apple cider vinegar, and it will be delectably tender. This can reportedly also kill the bacteria that causes food-borne illnesses, including e. coli.
20. Open drains and freshen garbage disposals- Clear a clogged drain without the nasty, headache-inducing chemicals. Dump about 3/4 cup of baking soda down the drain and chase it with 1/2 cup white vinegar, then plug the drain. Leave it for about 30 minutes before rinsing with a kettle full of boiling water. You can use the same trick to clean and deodorize garbage disposals, or freeze vinegar in an ice cube tray and grind them up in the disposal to clean and sharpen the blades at the same time.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
How Many Is Too Many?
I absolutely love this ad on the radio, come to find out that it is on the television as well (of course), and the singing broccoli just gets me every time. Probably because if Aretha Franklin were a vegetable, that would probably be her diva dancing with her vegetable back up singers. The spell checker just wanted to change 'Aretha' to Urethra. It fascinates me at times what is spell check appropriate or accepted.
Props to the advertising team at Jewel-Osco Enterprises, and my middle sister for sending it to me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj-9MaUhStg
As mentioned before, my parents have a fourth daughter, the horse, and we had the pleasure of watching her race on Sunday. Unfortunately, she was claimed on the same day and my parents are now down to 3 daughters again, which I am sure they would rather have the ONE horse, then THREE sarcastic twenty something human beings. She did show though (third place), and we were very proud. That was pretty neat, but the real treat was after the race got to witness/experience a camel race which I have never even thought was a thing. Let me set up the scene so we can be on the same page, for those of you who are interested. If not, thanks for reading those couple paragraphs.
Yes, the camels did have jockeys, but they were not trained professional jockeys, they were just chosen from the 'crowd' it appeared. No, you could not bet on the camels, which I originally thought that you could, but instead they gave you a card that had a pre-determined camel on it when you initially entered the track. Mine was Jo Ro Ain't Slo, and yes he did end of winning. No, there was not a cash prize, but in honor of Svengoolie ---------->
being there, I won a rubber chicken key chain. Amazing, right? Yes, they were face painting kids faces to have a Svengoolie face, and yes it was INCREDIBLY creepy.
I am still trying to figure out how many blogs posts are too many or too little, so thanks for bearing with me. I have not really set any amount, let's say, two per month, it's when I come up with good/amazing/mind blowing things to write about. The winter is coming, aka hibernation, so I am sure there will be plenty to go around :)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj-9MaUhStg
As mentioned before, my parents have a fourth daughter, the horse, and we had the pleasure of watching her race on Sunday. Unfortunately, she was claimed on the same day and my parents are now down to 3 daughters again, which I am sure they would rather have the ONE horse, then THREE sarcastic twenty something human beings. She did show though (third place), and we were very proud. That was pretty neat, but the real treat was after the race got to witness/experience a camel race which I have never even thought was a thing. Let me set up the scene so we can be on the same page, for those of you who are interested. If not, thanks for reading those couple paragraphs.
Yes, the camels did have jockeys, but they were not trained professional jockeys, they were just chosen from the 'crowd' it appeared. No, you could not bet on the camels, which I originally thought that you could, but instead they gave you a card that had a pre-determined camel on it when you initially entered the track. Mine was Jo Ro Ain't Slo, and yes he did end of winning. No, there was not a cash prize, but in honor of Svengoolie ---------->being there, I won a rubber chicken key chain. Amazing, right? Yes, they were face painting kids faces to have a Svengoolie face, and yes it was INCREDIBLY creepy.
Back to the camels....they just ran a 50 yard dash. They did go into the starting gates and were released to run right down that track, and they are surprisingly speedy. It was such an incredible sight to see I had to take a series of pictures. Unfortunately someone did fall off their camel at the finish line and an ambulance came on the track and carried her off on a stretcher. I suppose a camel racing hazard, who knew? All and all I believe she was ok, and she had the honor or riding that speedy camel. Here are some shots I snapped.
 |
| Jo Ro Ain't Slo is the one on the right. Look at those Champion legs. |
 |
| My computer's desktop background. A little insight into my life. |
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
The Different Places to Dispose of Things
In a magazine my mom gave me, Family Circle, there was an article about places to recycle just about everything if you can't find where to properly dispose of things from around the house. Of course there are always local organizations that will take certain things, but if not, here you go:
>For Formal Wear: you can log onto http://donatemydress.org/ to find a dress drive in the area.
>For Winter Jackets: http://onewarmcoat.org/ Most of these drives start in October, and you can search on this website for local coat drives. They also accept sweaters, sweatshirts, hates, and gloves.
>For Most Old Tech Supplies (Computer and Parts): They matche used tech equipment with local organizations like school or non-profits http://www.cristina.org/donate.html. The site also will take a lot of things http://www.gazelle.com/ ALONG WITH this one http://nextworth.com/
***For those of you in the Oak Park area, I know the last Saturday of every month (excluding the winter months) they collect old electronics at the OAK PARK PUBLIC WORKS 201 S. Blvd. from 9 am til 1 pm
>For VHSs and Old Floppy Disks: You can send it to this organization http://actrecycling.org/donations/ which is a non-profit based out of Columbia, Missouri that trains and employs disabled people.
>For Cell Phones: http://wirelessfoundation.org/ProgramsAndInitiatives/GreenWireless.aspx gives charities the proceeds from selling cell phones.
-Donate cell phones for calling cards for overseas soldiers at http://cellphonesforsoldiers.com/
-http://digitaltips.org/green/default.asp
-Retailers like Target and Best Buy also have drop boxes for used cell phone equipment.
>CDs and Other Media: You can sell or swap them at sites like http://www.gamestop.com/gs/specialty/tradeins/ OR http://www.secondspin.com/. Best Buy also has a program where you can recycle them for free.
>TVS, DVD Players, iPods, Camcorders, Remotes, Speakers, or Video Game Equipment: All these things can be brought to Best Buy for free. TV's larger then 30" cannot be hauled away, but can be in exchange for purchasing a new set. If you trade in an old iPod for a new one, you will recieve 10% off. Certain items can be traded in for gift cards or cash. You can visit http://www.bestbuytradein.com/bb/ for more details. More recycling questions on these types of items can be found on http://earth911.com/
>Batteries: RadioShack, Lowe's and Home Depot recycle RECHARGEABLE batteries for free, as well as Ikea. For other drop off centers near you, check http://www.call2recycle.org/home.php?c=1&w=1&r=Y
***A FUN FACT: Single use batteries no longer contain toxic metals, so it is ok to trash them. Although, the acid can leak through the casings so before you do trash them please do seal them in a plastic bag.
>CFL (compact florescent) Lightbulbs: These light bulbs do have mercury in them, so please seal them in a plastic bag and toss them in a designated bin at Lowe's, Home Depot, or Ikea. For more places you can check http://earth911.com/
Of course always support your local non-profit organizations, but hope this list helped with items that you just didn't know what to do with.
--Sarah
>For Formal Wear: you can log onto http://donatemydress.org/ to find a dress drive in the area.
>For Winter Jackets: http://onewarmcoat.org/ Most of these drives start in October, and you can search on this website for local coat drives. They also accept sweaters, sweatshirts, hates, and gloves.
>For Most Old Tech Supplies (Computer and Parts): They matche used tech equipment with local organizations like school or non-profits http://www.cristina.org/donate.html. The site also will take a lot of things http://www.gazelle.com/ ALONG WITH this one http://nextworth.com/
***For those of you in the Oak Park area, I know the last Saturday of every month (excluding the winter months) they collect old electronics at the OAK PARK PUBLIC WORKS 201 S. Blvd. from 9 am til 1 pm
>For VHSs and Old Floppy Disks: You can send it to this organization http://actrecycling.org/donations/ which is a non-profit based out of Columbia, Missouri that trains and employs disabled people.
>For Cell Phones: http://wirelessfoundation.org/ProgramsAndInitiatives/GreenWireless.aspx gives charities the proceeds from selling cell phones.
-Donate cell phones for calling cards for overseas soldiers at http://cellphonesforsoldiers.com/
-http://digitaltips.org/green/default.asp
-Retailers like Target and Best Buy also have drop boxes for used cell phone equipment.
>CDs and Other Media: You can sell or swap them at sites like http://www.gamestop.com/gs/specialty/tradeins/ OR http://www.secondspin.com/. Best Buy also has a program where you can recycle them for free.
>TVS, DVD Players, iPods, Camcorders, Remotes, Speakers, or Video Game Equipment: All these things can be brought to Best Buy for free. TV's larger then 30" cannot be hauled away, but can be in exchange for purchasing a new set. If you trade in an old iPod for a new one, you will recieve 10% off. Certain items can be traded in for gift cards or cash. You can visit http://www.bestbuytradein.com/bb/ for more details. More recycling questions on these types of items can be found on http://earth911.com/
>Batteries: RadioShack, Lowe's and Home Depot recycle RECHARGEABLE batteries for free, as well as Ikea. For other drop off centers near you, check http://www.call2recycle.org/home.php?c=1&w=1&r=Y
***A FUN FACT: Single use batteries no longer contain toxic metals, so it is ok to trash them. Although, the acid can leak through the casings so before you do trash them please do seal them in a plastic bag.
>CFL (compact florescent) Lightbulbs: These light bulbs do have mercury in them, so please seal them in a plastic bag and toss them in a designated bin at Lowe's, Home Depot, or Ikea. For more places you can check http://earth911.com/
Of course always support your local non-profit organizations, but hope this list helped with items that you just didn't know what to do with.
--Sarah
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Once you pop, you just can't stop
Do you ever have a problem remembering what meal you requested for the wedding you RSVP'ed for a couple months ago? Now the big day is here and you don't know what delicious meal is heading your way. I started to write on the back of the invitations what I requested this way if you want to save the invite it is not on the front, and you will be able to remember what delectable meal is in store for you. Incredibly easy and simple.
One of my absolute new favorite things that I just learned for around the
house, but for this case more around a bonfire IS.....LINT.
>The Story of my Lint: I went to my friends lake house and her mom saves the egg cartons and shoves the lint inside the egg carton for a great fire starter. I am a fire starter!! In our long camping trip this weekend to Sleeping Bear Dunes, we tested our new 'science project', and by golly it worked! It really is a great idea, and now all the egg cartons are going in a special place all year long until the summer camping trips. THEN I started thinking, why not just save toilet/paper towel rolls and shove lint into there for another great fire starter. It is a great replacement for those harsh, chemical filled starter logs, and you are re-using things from around the house. Also, a small side note, is it doesn't seem to produce the ash that newspaper or cardboard does, which is plus because no one wants to eat that.
>Another good little tid bit that is for around the house is saving the plastic bread closers when you get a loaf of bread because it is a great way to label that mess of cords you have. This way you can distinguish which one is which, and never again play the unplugging guessing game. I have not personally done this one yet, but my amazing boss has started her cord management with this method and it has been a great success. Hope I can spread the same success onto you!
Good night, and good luck.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Let's go back to the Olden times
The window is open for the first time in a while, and the crisp air is feeling pretty good right about now while under my blanket. It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood.....I love the cooler weather, and I loved today (slightly sarcastic) how people were coming into the office saying how chilly it was outside and complaining they had to wear a jacket all day. What are we going to do? FALL IS COMING!!!!
I think I would like to chat about elders driving. Your thoughts and/or concerns?.....
For a while now I have been a big proponent of aging, elderly people NOT getting behind the wheel and driving themselves to where ever their little hearts want to go. My grandma was notorious for that, and she was the WORST driver you could possibly imagine, and now these 85+ year old people are driving themselves when they can barely walk or have to use some sort of other assistance to get themselves around. A 92 year old woman came today with a walker who just passed her drivers license because once you pass the age of 87 you HAVE to take a test every year to renew your license, and they felt she was up to Illinois standards. She then proceeded to scramble for her keys and when she couldn't find them realized they must be in the car! Come to find out they were still in the ignition with the car on because she is 92 and just a little forgetful. I, in all seriousness, want to be able to drive these people to their destinations so it is not another place that they have to worry about getting too. Of course, some would probably say my driving is not any better, and there are no references for this statement, but I have to think that I am a little better then most 87 year olds out there.
I watched my grandma's independence be taken away from her when she was told she couldn't drive anymore, and it was very hard. It is not easy to be told that you are getting old and you can't do the things you want or used to be able to do, regardless of how simple the task may be. Everything slows down, their reflexes, sight, and I just wish it was easier for them to accept the outside help that could be given to them. This costs money, which nobody is a fan of. I actually bought my current car from an 82 year old lady who barely drove it at all. A 1996 Saturn, with 17,000 miles on it, how's that for steal or what? But, I was the one that took her car and self reliance and she was about ready to cry when handing me the car key. I still go visit her to let her know the car is doing well, and to assure her that it misses her old owner, dearly. The new owner had a new stereo put in and plays that terrible music way too loud!
Tomorrow is my first assignment (outside of my family) where I get to go pick someone up, who is in his 80s, drive them to a DRS. appt., maybe stop for a few other errands along the way, and take him home right after. I am keeping him off the road, helping his family feel better about the way he is getting to and from the doctor, and I love talking to people who have had so many more experiencing that I have. The list of topics is already formulating in my head. Hopefully this is the start for many, and helping get some of the old folks off the road and into my sweet saturn where the music is blaring.
Until next time.
I think I would like to chat about elders driving. Your thoughts and/or concerns?.....
For a while now I have been a big proponent of aging, elderly people NOT getting behind the wheel and driving themselves to where ever their little hearts want to go. My grandma was notorious for that, and she was the WORST driver you could possibly imagine, and now these 85+ year old people are driving themselves when they can barely walk or have to use some sort of other assistance to get themselves around. A 92 year old woman came today with a walker who just passed her drivers license because once you pass the age of 87 you HAVE to take a test every year to renew your license, and they felt she was up to Illinois standards. She then proceeded to scramble for her keys and when she couldn't find them realized they must be in the car! Come to find out they were still in the ignition with the car on because she is 92 and just a little forgetful. I, in all seriousness, want to be able to drive these people to their destinations so it is not another place that they have to worry about getting too. Of course, some would probably say my driving is not any better, and there are no references for this statement, but I have to think that I am a little better then most 87 year olds out there. I watched my grandma's independence be taken away from her when she was told she couldn't drive anymore, and it was very hard. It is not easy to be told that you are getting old and you can't do the things you want or used to be able to do, regardless of how simple the task may be. Everything slows down, their reflexes, sight, and I just wish it was easier for them to accept the outside help that could be given to them. This costs money, which nobody is a fan of. I actually bought my current car from an 82 year old lady who barely drove it at all. A 1996 Saturn, with 17,000 miles on it, how's that for steal or what? But, I was the one that took her car and self reliance and she was about ready to cry when handing me the car key. I still go visit her to let her know the car is doing well, and to assure her that it misses her old owner, dearly. The new owner had a new stereo put in and plays that terrible music way too loud!
Tomorrow is my first assignment (outside of my family) where I get to go pick someone up, who is in his 80s, drive them to a DRS. appt., maybe stop for a few other errands along the way, and take him home right after. I am keeping him off the road, helping his family feel better about the way he is getting to and from the doctor, and I love talking to people who have had so many more experiencing that I have. The list of topics is already formulating in my head. Hopefully this is the start for many, and helping get some of the old folks off the road and into my sweet saturn where the music is blaring.
Until next time.
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