KellyEng, this is the usage history since moving into this house January 2005. More details are provided when they were recorded in my records. Period 1/21/2005 to 2/xx/2005, 1,004 KWH Period 2/xx/2005 to 3/xx/2005, 696 KWH Period 3/xx/2005 to 4/15/2005, 727 KWH Period 4/16/2005 to 5/17/2005, 34 days, 655 KWH Period 5/18/2005 to 6/18/2005, 32 days, 1,296 KWH Period 6/19/2005 to 7/18/2005, 30 days, 1,471 KWH Period 7/19/2005 to 8/18/2005, 31 days, 1,521 KWH Period 8/19/2005 to 9/18/2005, 31 days, 1,651 KWH Period 9/19/2005 to 10/18/2005, 30 days, 1,384 KWH Period 10/19/2005 to 11/16/2005, 29 days, 833 KWH Period 11/17/2005 to 12/18/2005, 32 days, 1,263 KWH Period 12/19/2005 to 1/17/2006, 30 days, 1,103 KWH Period 1/18/2006 to 2/19/2006, 33 days, 1,083 KWH Period 2/20/2006 to 3/19/2006, 28 days, 760 KWH Period 3/20/2006 to 4/19/2006, 31 days, 831 KWH Period 4/20/2006 to 5/19/2006, 30 days, 1,075 KWH Period 5/20/2006 to 6/20/2006, 32 days, 1,523 KWH Period 6/21/2006 to 7/19/2006, 29 days, 1,756 KWH Period 7/20/2006 to 8/20/2006, 32 days, 1,877 KWH Period 8/21/2006 to 9/xx/2006, xx days, 1,476 KWH (haven't yet received this bill, but I know what is the usage) Note the significant increase in usage since the 5/20 period. My air conditioning had a problem in early June, a circuit board went bad and the blower wouldn't run. The repair tech wired the blower to run continuously while waiting a replacement part, which took about six weeks (fixed on 7/21). I expected the bills during that time (for periods ending 6/20 and starting 6/21) to be a little higher than usual due to the blower running, but not that much higher! AFTER the repair, usage increased even more. I even INCREASED my A/C setback period by a couple hrs per day. After some investigation I discovered on 8/29 that the system either had another problem that got missed the first time or had gone wonky again, and one of the HEAT STRIPS was running whenever the blower was OFF. The repair tech said it was stuck on continuously, but I don't think that's the case or usage would have been even higher. It'd run for a few seconds until it overheated (due to there being no airflow) and shut off from the limit switch, then when it cooled to reset the limit switch, it'd come on again for a few seconds. The longer setback period I used for cooling, there was more time during which the system didn't otherwise run which made for MORE time during which the heating element kept cycling on and off.

terriks, There are lots of great recipes at the joe cross website. These are some of my favorites: Carrot Apple Lemon Juice This recipe makes 2 servings. Ingredients: 4 apples 4 carrots 2 lemons, peeled Directions: Rinse all ingredients and cut to size for your juicer. Add ingredients to juicer. Enjoy! A lot of times I sub a grapefruit for one of the apples Green Lemonade Juice Ingredients: 6-8 kale leaves (Australian Tuscan Cabbage) 3 handfuls spinach 1 green apple 1 cucumber 2 celery stalks 1 lemon Directions: Rinse all ingredients and cut to size for your juicer. Add ingredients to juicer. Enjoy! Green Citrus Juice This recipe makes 2 servings. Ingredients: 2 green apples 2 oranges, peeled 6 big handfuls of leafy greens (kale, chard, spinach, romaine, etc.) Directions: Rinse all ingredients and cut to size for your juicer. Add ingredients to juicer. Enjoy! I usually sub out an orange for a grapefruit in that too. Mostly those make about 32oz. Gazpacho Juice 4 plum tomatoes ( I usually use 2 tomatoes and 2 carrots) 1 large cucumber 2 celery stalks 1 red bell pepper 1 small red onion 2 cups parsley (leaves and stems, roughly chopped) 1 lime the site below is also great. you can plug in your ingredients and it will give you recipes. I started out buying a juice a couple times a week from a juice cafe, then every day, then I got a juicer. trying it out when someone else makes it is easier and cheaper at first. :) there are also a lot of juicers out there and you have to figure out your goals before you buy one. We have two. a centrifugal and a masticating. one is MUCH easier and faster to use than the other. once you start making them every day you start subbing and come up with your own recipes. I try to use cabbage, kale, bock choy, broccoli, romaine, spinach, swiss chard, etc in the green lemonade. I just use two each day and switch it up. I usually have two 32 oz of the green lemonade a day. Here is a link that might be useful: recipe site

Online banking is just a wonderful service. No stamps, no worry about checks lost in the mail, you can set up "recurring" payments that you want to pay the same every month or do One Time Only checks. You have an easy to access record of all paid checks. Believe me, I've had a few disputes settled by printing out my paid checks.As far as household organizing, a good idea is Do It Now. If you see dirt on your kitchen floor, clean it now. don't wait and let people and pets track through it. A "Flylady" approach helps. Keep your sink clear of dishes, do laundry daily, think of your house having a "center" (your kitchen sink) and clean from there outwards. I read Flyladys website, even bought her book. I don't agree with everything (like wearing lace-up shoes) so I use what I like and ignore the rest.

Orchid, we've owned many mazdas (we being he and I when was married). Daddy loves them too. Great cars. The current car is a Miata. I have loved that gal to death! It's one of the reasons I haven't let go. I say she's better than therapy. Toss the top down and off we go. Ah. My friend and I fight over whether your hair is supposed to whip wildly in the wind (me!) or you should wear a ball cap (him, in his saab), but whichever you pick, a convertible is just fun. Even being a girly girl, I have no qualms about pulling out the brush at the end of the ride. Lucky I have straight hair, that may help keep it reasonable. chi, I totally agree with you. I think most of us buy a car outside of our financial grasp. My car payment (not gas, insurance, upkeep) was something like $300 a month and that was 23 years ago. Why? I hadn't paid off the Eclipse before trading. I learned the very hard way, car payments are killer. I've told my son, instead, save what you'd pay in payments until you have enough for the car. Why didn't anyone tell me that at 14 years old (or to begin saving at 8 years old)? Maybe I'd never have had car payments, but then again, maybe I would've. He won't. He likes riding the bus. He can read, play games on his tablet, and save his bucks. I'd ride the bus except it's really hard to get errands run without a car. Grocery shopping especially!