A Consumer's How To: #44: How To & Make

I looked at all of the How To sites and they were all basically the same. You can find information ranging from car repairs to health issues to relationships. VideoJug is a great site for people who prefer a visual aid along with verbal instructions.

I selected eHow to learn how to refinish a hardwood floor. I discovered that it will require a lot of time and patience. Special equipment (sander) is needed and improper usage will damage the floor. I think we will hire someone to redo the floors. This information can be found at http://www.ehow.com/how_2117359_refinish-hardwood-floors.html

A Consumer's How To #43: Buying & Selling Online

My family and I use Ebay regularly. We have sold video games, video systems, clothes, cell phones and various other items. We have also purchased video games, guitars, drums, books, music and various other items from Ebay. It is a fun way to stay within your budget because you can determine how much you want to spend on something and search and bid until you win that item. I like that you can judge the quality of the merchandise you are buying by checking the feedback and score of the person you are buying from. We personally do not want to buy from someone with negative feedback and a low score (90% or less).

My son furnished his apartment with furniture that we purchased from Craigslist. There is no bidding on this site, you just find what you want and make arrangements with the seller to purchase it.

I was not familiar with Etsy, so I browsed the site and found some unique hand crafted items. I wish I had known about this site when i was selling my crocheted socks (I will tuck this information away for future use).

Since we buy and sell on Ebay we already have a PayPal account. I was hesitant at first to use it, but once I started I realized that it is a very safe, fast, and secure way to make transactions.

Wellness #42: Staying Well

I described Fosamax on the pill identification site and it was accurate in its finding. After taking this medication you are suppose to wait 30 minutes before eating or drinking anything, but I learned that the longer you wait before consuming anything the better the medication can absorb into your bloodstream.

I checked the National Library of Medicine website for locations that treated Osteopenia in Fort Bend County. There were numerous listings ranging from family practice doctors to specialists to clinical trials that are being conducted in the area. This was a very informative site.

Creating my family medical history tree was a learning experience. I realize that I need to talk to my siblings regarding their specific medical conditions so I can elaborate on my family tree. I am going to print this and give it to my family once it is completed. I am going to expand the tree to include my husband's family because this would be a great tool for me to pass down to my children so they will know the past medical history of their family.

Wellness #41: Going Green - Part 2

I am very interested in living a green life more efficiently. Some of the things that I can implement immediately are driving at a moderate speed, avoid idling for long periods of time, recycle more (I currently only recycle paper, but can start recycling plastic also), and plug air leaks around my windows and doors. I would like to purchase an energy-efficient central air conditioner and attempt to make my own non-toxic cleaning kits, but these two things will require more of a commitment and money.

Wellness #41: Going Green - Part 1

I determined my carbon footprint at two different sites. National Wildlife Federation had my carbon footprint above average, whereas it was average when I used Yahoo! Green. National Wildlife Federation had some very helpful tips to conserve energy. I already recycle, have a timer on my water heater, turn off lights when no one is in the room, and change the furnace filter regularly. I try to set the thermostat a few degrees higher in the summer, but the young men are always so hot and keep turning it down. I will implement some of the other suggestions to conserve energy.

I enjoy going to farmer's markets. I use to go to the one in Hempstead, Texas on my way home from Bryan, Texas. There was such a large variety of fruits and vegetables, various stands in the area, and the prices were reasonable (slightly higher than the grocery store). I did not mind the price difference because the quality of the produce, aroma, and the flavor of fresh produce cannot be beaten. Since I no longer go to Bryan on a regular basis, I will start going to the market at Rice University on Tuesdays.

Wellness #40: Fitness

This was a very interesting and informative module. I will implement some of the exercises that can be performed discretely at my desk into my daily routine. I was very happy to learn that my health age is a lot younger than my actual age and that overall my body is still in good condition. I realize that I need to increase the amount of exercise that I do and improve my diet with more fruit and fresh vegetables. I also need to add some variety to my workout so I won't become bored.

Wellness #39: Nutrition (#2)

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Wellness #39: Nutrition (#1)

Nutrition Data was an interesting site that tells you the nutritional aspects of anything you consume. I compared apples to oranges and was surprised to find out that oranges are not only better for weight loss and optimum health, but contain more protein and less fat than apples. I guess an orange a day will also keep the doctor away.

Games and Gaming #38: Console Gaming

The "nostalgic" game site was great. Pacman was one of the first video games that I played. I don't think I had an advantage over anyone who had not played the game before other than already knowing the rules and concepts.

I have played games on Microsoft Xbox 360 and the Sony PlayStation 3. I have not played on the Nintendo Wii. The two systems that I have played on are very similar and both are a lot of fun.

I believe the Microsoft Xbox 360 would be best for library purposes because you do not need the added feature of a Blu-ray DVD player that the Sony PlayStation 3 offers. If games and gaming is the catalysis to get teens and young adults in the library, than I believe the library should emphasis that. It does not matter what gets them there, the point is to just get them in the library, then introduced them to other things the library offers. Show them gaming magazines, books about the concepts behind the game designs, show them your collection of the latest movies that are available, or show them your book selection for young adults. The sky is the limit to what can be introduced to them once you have them there.

Games and Gaming #37: Get Your Game On @ The LIbrary

I found the article "The Shifted Librarian" very interesting. Offering a Game Night at the library for a select age group with parent permission was a very innovative way to get teens in the library.

I played both games offered by Carnegie Mellon University Libraries website. "I'll Get It" was a little confusing. Although I provided the patron with the correct information, it was never in the form they wanted and I did not know how to get the right format for them. "Within Range" was a lot easier, but very boring.

I think games have a place in the library because they are very popular among young adults. By offering games at the library these teens can be introduced to other aspects of the library. Books about the various games and gaming magazines can be pointed out to them. I also believe that at some point in the near future, the library will be providing video and computer games for patrons to check out. Games will evolve the same way DVD's have.

Games and Gaming #36: The Wide World of Online Role Playing Games

My Runescape character was a female with gray hair wearing a pale green skirt with a white top and brown vest. She was able to cut down a tree, make fire and catch shrimp. She was not able to cook the shrimp and eat them, therefore she perished. It was an honorable death since she did not particularly enjoy her mission. I found the game relatively easy to learn, but it took me more than 15 minutes to understand the rules.

Games and Gaming #35: Games? In the Library?

Since I have already played Soduku, I decided to try FreeRice and WordSplay.

WordSplay was very similar to Boggle. It was fun and would be a good tool for learning mouse control, eye coordination, and word recognition.

FreeRice was my favorite because it has many benefits.

• You are donating free rice in an effort to end world hunger.


• You are building your vocabulary.


• Students can use this game to prepare for the vocabulary portion of SAT and ACT exams.


• You can learn mouse control.


• You can have fun and help others!!!

Maps #34: Geocoding and Geocaching

The location I chose to find was Hightower High School at 3333 Hurricane Lane. The GPS coordinates are: 29.530528, -95.500931
N29°31.83168, W095°30.05586

The geocache that I found interesting was "Skeered Turtle Observation Deck" and it has the following url: http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=99942220-5a2a-42ce-a98d-e745418351e3

I think geocaching is a technologically advanced, adult version of Hide and Seek that you played as a child. I think a customized version of this would be a fun activity for a family reunion. You could find caches in your city, state, or various locations before reaching your destination.