Audio Book Rentals Through the Library

by Heather on September 2, 2010

Heather says:

I may be the last to know about online audio book rentals through the library.

It’s a parenting sin to admit this, but I hate, loathe, despise, and dread taking my children to the library. Well, not my stepdaughter, but in this scenario she doesn’t count, being above the age of reason and all. The kids are 6, 4, and just turned 3. If going to the library could have a 1:1 adult child ratio, sure it might be a pleasant excursion. Instead it’s a giant headache. I know there are plenty of you out there with more and younger kids and who enjoy library trips; I’m sorry, I just can’t join that club.

Yesterday, as we were leaving the library, with an armload of books, and as I was trying to prevent children from darting into the community room, bathrooms, and out into the parking lot, a sign caught my eye. It announced that audio books were available for free online rental. I got excited, loaded the kids in the car, and raced home so I could check it out.

So, what’s the point of this post? Not everyone has time to read -you will make time for my book when it’s out in March, right?- OK, but what does that have to do with home economics? Audio books are an excellent distraction during the repetitive and mind numbing chores that make up a good portion of responsible living. I hate mowing and weeding, but both are bearable if I can keep my mind from focusing on how much I hate what I’m doing. The same goes for picking apart a chicken, mopping, chopping vegetables, exercising. The list goes on my friends.

I’m curious, is there a centralized list somewhere that shows what libraries participate in programs like the Jasmine Digital Library? Does your library have such a program? Would you take a moment and log onto your library’s web page and see if they offer this service? If so, would you be so kind as to mention the library system you use to help raise awareness?

I’ve done a brief search and it looks as though the digital library used by the Berkeley County Library System (that’s mine) uses different names depending on location. I also see Library Connection in Connecticut and eNYPL for New York.

I know not everyone has a smart phone, but you can still download audio books to your PC or Mac and ebooks to the Nook or Sony Reader, unfortunately it doesn’t seem to be compatible with the Kindle.

I want to shout, “FOR FREE!”, but then my internal realist kicks in and says, “No, Heather this is paid for by your tax dollars.” I’m perfectly fine with that. I hated borrowing books on CD from the library, it just meant more potential for damage fines or late fees.

Oh and if you’re curious, I’m starting off with And Then There’s This by Bill Wasik it’s about viral culture, because I’m nerdy like that. Don’t worry there seems to be plenty of fiction available, but I already have a stack on my nightstand.

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Do You Need to Clean a Broom

by Heather on September 1, 2010

Dear Home Ec 101,
Should I be cleaning my floor broom?
Can I clean my broom, if I use it on something really disgusting? Currently, I have a synthetic fiber broom, but I suppose the question is relevant for any types.  And then how?
Nasty things I may have to sweep up include:

  • sticky foods in the kitchen
  • dust bunnies from under the appliances
  • occasionally, animal excrement -some of these animals are welcome in my home, some are the pesky invader type

Thanks so much. I love your site, and more importantly, I love that you’re honest and helpful without being snide, overbearing or sarcastic. :)
Sign me,
Broom Wielder

Heather says:

Yes, you absolutely can clean your broom. While it’s not a chore you need to obsess over, it’s still a good idea. After all brooms are used to clean the floor, not the kitchen counters. However, if the broom has been used to sweep up the droppings of birds or mice, is used to sweep around toilets, or if there are small children or cats in the household, cleaning the broom from time to time is a good idea.

Synthetic brooms are much easier to clean than their straw counterparts. Why? The synthetic fibers don’t absorb water and swell like their straw counterparts. If you have a straw broom, you can use the same steps, just be aware that it will take much longer to dry and that you should hurry through the wet cleaning to keep the straws from absorbing too much water.

Pull as much of the tangled matter off the straw as possible.

Use a hose to spray off any solid, remaining dirt.

Swish the broom briefly in a bucket of soapy water.

Rinse.

Then, if you are particularly concerned about sanitizing the broom:

Dip the business end of the broom in a bucket of dilute bleach solution.

Allow your broom to dry thoroughly. This can take quite a while for a straw broom.

Just remember in most cases, mopping is the actual germ killer. The role of sweeping is to remove the solid particles that can damage flooring and to make mopping more effective. That said, sanitizing your broom on occasion can help prevent the cross-contamination of surfaces.

For all you TMBG fans out there, I give you: I am Not Your Broom, thanks to @amblin

Send your domestic questions to helpme@home-ec101.com.

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Squeamish Talk

August 31, 2010

Heather says: Life is messy. A few days ago, I was pulling apart a rotisserie chicken for chicken and dumpling soup. My mother-in-law walked past and commented something to the effect of, “I don’t know how you can do that.” (She didn’t say it in a rude manner, it was just a casual comment). I [...]

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Retro Saturday August 28, 2010

August 28, 2010

Heather says: Long time readers, don’t skip this one. Retro Saturdays give new Home Ec 101 readers a chance to delve into the archives. After working on this site for more than three years, there are almost 1500 posts in the archive. Each week, I’ll try to pull up the best of that week’s posting [...]

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5 Reasons to Have Renters Insurance

August 27, 2010

I’m still on the road, hanging out in Minnesota. The lovely Louise Baker offered to guest post and I gratefully accepted. Enjoy! It’s important to know when you’re moving into a new rental home or apartment, your landlord carries insurance only on his building. It’s up to you to insure anything inside by purchasing renters [...]

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How to Reduce Paper Clutter

August 26, 2010

Dear Home Ec 101, There are stacks of paper all over my house. Do you have any suggestions on how I can better organize this mess? Signed, Precarious Piles Heather says: I am completely guilty of this avoidance behavior. Living in a mess of paper clutter is a sure sign that someone in the home is [...]

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Is Crystallized Honey Safe

August 25, 2010

Dear Home Ec 101, I don’t really like honey, but I keep it around for when my grandkids visit. It always gets grainy and I don’t trust that it’s safe for the kids. Is there a way to prevent this from happening? Signed, Beelinda Heather says: Honey crystallizes over time, it’s just a fact of [...]

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Wading Into Seafood

August 24, 2010

Heather says: How do you feel about buying seafood? I talk to a lot of readers and I know some readers find the process of buying fish intimidating. They don’t know what to look for, don’t know whether to buy farm raised or wild caught. If they do buy wild caught, there are concerns about [...]

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