Day: November 23, 2010

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Propane Usage for Fall 2010

I ran out of propane this afternoon, pretty much on schedule. I used up my full tank in exactly 72 hours, which means I’ve been averaging 10lbs of propane per day, or $8.90. At this rate, propane would cost me $267 for a 30-day month. The forecast is worsening and we’re going to be below minus ten for the week. Until that magic number, I have no problem keeping a comfortable ambient temperature. Below that, my heating costs rise exponentially.

I’m seeing a lot of frustrated neighbours who have lost their water. I’m not suffering at all. I set up one of my flexible jugs on the counter, so it’s easy to heat a little water in the kettle for washing up. I’m especially grateful that the tap water here tastes good, so I can use that jug for drinking, too.

Last night, I added the sleeping bag to my bedding and slept well, even with the furnace cycling on and off. It tends to keep me up because I find myself waiting to see if it’ll turn off again. If it doesn’t, then it means I’m out of gas and need to go turn it off myself.

The RV park sells propane, but I haven’t checked the prices or availability. I like going to the Shell station at the north end of town. Prices are competitive, staff is always cheerful, and they are open late. Going there gives me a chance to get out for a bit.

On the way home this afternoon, I stopped at the McDonald’s for a coffee; they’re having their annual free coffee event. I won’t go there just to get a free coffee, but I stop in if I’m driving by. I love their coffee, it’s my second choice after Starbucks, so the free coffee event is a real treat.

I have a cold weather dressing tip for the gals: get a heavy, full, ankle-length skirt. This way, going out involves pulling on the skirt over your longjohns and/or flannel jammies for instant warmth and a touch of glamour that will have others exclaim “OMG, you’re wearing a skirt! Aren’t you frozen?!” to which you will smile coyly, knowing that you’re warmer in your skirt than they ever will be in their slacks. 😀

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Fourteen Year Anniversary of Living With the Internet

November 23, 1996, at about 6PM, I took my first steps onto the information super highway. I made a note of this occasion in my diary because I could recognize that it would be a watershed moment in my life.

I am at an age where I can cleanly separate life pre and post internet. I have lived just about exactly half my life at this time in both eras. The technology grew during my college and university days and I saw the world change overnight. In April of 1998, I was still doing homework on a typewriter; six months later I wasn’t allowed to use a dot matrix printer for churning out essays; and two years later I was getting bonus credit for submitting my papers as web pages.

Ultimately, I am grateful for the internet, even if I am much too dependent on it. I have always had a thirst for knowledge that libraries and bookstores couldn’t slake and now I have all the knowledge I could want at my fingertips. I have also made some truly remarkable, life-long, friendships through the web. I sometimes spend too much time mindlessly surfing and not enough time reading books, but when all is added up, the internet has been a Good Thing in my life.