Sourdough starter

I decided to make a sourdough starter.  I watched the video 3 times.  I read the materials.  I was prepared!

Friday evening: I mix the flour and water in a clean jar.  It's a hell of a lot thicker than in the video.  Okay, flour is an agricultural product and is therefore not subject to precise scientific measurements the way water is.  I added more water.  Yep, that looks about right.  Scrape down the sides of the jar, cover with a clean napkin, and set aside for 12 hours.

Saturday morning:  Nothing's happening.  But the video warned that the first 12 hours there would be little activity and it might go unnoticed, particularly by people like me who don't really have experience.  So I didn't worry at all.  I gave it the second feeding.  No problem.

Saturday evening: Still nothing.  Okay, the video said if this happens to just give it a good stir and let it sit for another 12 hours.  It should wake up and be fine by then.

Sunday morning:  Still nothing.  Fine, this one didn't work.  The video also said that sometimes it takes several tries to get a starter started.  I'm a little disappointed, but not terribly devastated.  On the other hand, I am late to drive a gazillion miles to visit my grandparents, so I leave the failed starter on the counter in its jar.  Uncovered, since it's going to be dumped out when I get home.

Sunday evening: I've completely forgotten about the starter.  Life goes on in its Sunday way.  I sit down to watch TV with DF, and get up to make some hot chocolate, and there on the counter is the jar.  And it's full and bubbly and happy and brimming with life.  Wow!  It just needed more time and some good neglect!  This is the kind of project I can totally get into.  I dump half (per the instructions), feed the remainder and cover it and lovingly place it in a safe part of the counter.

Monday morning: I get up to feed the cats.  The starter is sitting on the counter practically shouting "I am alive and I have arrived!  Hey, isn't there anything to eat in this place?  I was just about to go rummaging in the pantry.  Feed me, woman!"  I dumped half and fed the remainder.

I fully expect that when I get home it'll be chasing the cats with the vacuum and watching porno on the computer.

They grow up so fast...

The job thing

It's time for me to leave Superior.  And past time.  A few months back I had my resume professionally rewritten, and I posted it on the major job sites that I know of.  I've gotten a few calls from recruiters, but nothing that matched my required salary, commute range, and skillset.  It's a bit discouraging.

Yesterday and today I started contacting people I know.  That is, always, the better way. 

Karen at Edgenet:
Thanks for the note – we are in the process of evaluating staff for the year because of our growth – I will let you know.


Ric Piecuch:
Yes... I will keep you posted. Hiring RPG and J2EE staff in 2011.

Yay! Of course, that isn't enough baskets for my eggs, nor are they very strong baskets, so I'll need to reach out some more. I'm hoping to have contacted a bunch more people by the end of this month and hopefully be interviewing soon.

Money!

It's been a pretty good week for money.  Now that my taxes are figured out, I can do some really cool stuff:

1. Today I will file my tax return.  Expecting $5,825 back, probably by the end of March
1. $4000 straight to debt reduction
2. $1700 into eFund to bring it back up to preferred level
3. $125 to ENJOY!
2. Monday I will file a new W4 (W2?) so that I will get the money through the year instead of when I file
1. Approx $150 more per paycheck
2. I plan to continue my expense-reducing plans, and keep living on my current budget
3. Extra money each month will go straight to debt reduction

If I'm looking at this correctly then (god willing and the creek don't rise) I'll have paid off an additional almost $7,000 by the end of this year.  Add in my usual payments, and that's $10,000 worth of debt that should be GONE by the end of the year.  WOOT!

There is hope...

Additional bulb replacements

• Replaced bedroom bulbs with CFs
• Replaced garage flood with CF
• Replaced bedroom ceiling fixture with CFs
• Replaced nook fan-fixture with CFs

And more!

Done:

• Revise power strip usage in livingroom
• DVR in wall for constant power so it will record
• TV and Wii on power strip, and shut off when not in use
• DVD and VCR unplugged unless in use
• Cell Phone:
• DF ordered a charger for his same-carrier phone, so I can probably reduce my plan by a LOT.  I'll wait a few more days to give his charger time to ship.
• Lights:
• I've been really good about turning off lights when I leave a room.  Not perfect, but very good.
• Computer
• I've also been good about shutting off the computer when I'm done for the day... though I haven't been using the power strip.

And some more steps...

• Lower temp at night and during workday. - DONE
• 60 at night, and revisit to see if 55 is possible
• 55 during work day
• Revise "warm up" and "cool down" times - DONE
• Warm up *after* arrival home (or start just before)
• Cool down *before* bedtime, to encourage going to bed on time!
• Unplug everything you can
• Toaster oven - DONE
• Can opener - DONE

Fools' Suggestions for Utility Savings

Having discussed all of this with my favorite gurus of all things, I now need to gather all of the collective wisdom somewhere so I can cope with it.  Like... here.

Gas:

• Lower temp at night and during workday.
• 60 at night, and revisit to see if 55 is possible
• 55 during work day
• Revise "warm up" and "cool down" times
• Warm up *after* arrival home (or start just before)
• Cool down *before* bedtime, to encourage going to bed on time!
• Consider using space heater for very localized heat, but keep house less heated
• Clean furnace filter
• Get plastic for north-facing windows
• Get and install office blinds already!!!
• Research attic tent idea
• Research insulation idea
• Weatherstripping on doors - particularly front door
• Close windows in patio?

Electricity

• Clean dryer lint traps
• Clean refrigerator coils
• Unplug everything you can
• Bedside lamp
• Toaster oven
• Can opener
• Search for more
• Put night-light in office by back door (try to get one that only comes on after dark)
• Replace bedroom lamp bulbs with CF
• Revise power strip usage in livingroom
• DVR in wall for constant power so it will record
• TV and Wii on power strip, and shut off when not in use
• DVD and VCR unplugged unless in use
• Turn off computer AND power strip when not in use
• Turn off bedside power strip when not in use (make sure clock isn't plugged into it!)
• Remove 2 of 3 office bulbs?
• Look into Kill-A-Watt
• Perhaps put standing lamp in office and perhaps put on timer

General

• Check out the Home Energy Checklist
• Look into state incentives
• Review utility bill history