Why I won't get rid of my refrigerator

I know (and am certainly glad) that appliances are built to last a long time. thank goodness. who could afford to replace washers, dryers, dishwashers, stoves and refrigerators as often as we replace cars or cell phones? i know i certainly couldn't.



but my refrigerator is 15 years old. i think that is probably about replacement time or very near it. but i can't replace it. not only because i simply can't afford such an expense at this time. but i don't wanna replace it.



it was a wedding gift from a very dear friend who has long since gone. unfortunately she died a couple of years after my wedding, she was my maid of honor. Gail. I miss her. she really "got" me. actually we "got" each other. unfortunately the marriage has since ended too. but that's another story.



we purchased it from a local Lowe's that use to be on my way home. she and i shopped for it inquired of the salesman about all the ins and outs of this particular model and brand for you see it' s not a big name brand like whirlpool or Frigidaire no my refrigerator is a holladay.




what we learned as we quizzed the salesman was that this brand was actually a lower cost, economical brand produced by a large well known manufacturer: Frigidaire and it was, according to the salesman, as good a quality as any of their well known brand name refrigerators. turns out he wasn't lying. it's been a real champ.



it only had to move twice (including the trip from the store) since it was purchased. i'm sure that helped. however, it does has a few aging characteristic quirks. sometimes when you close the door, it somehow eases open. sometimes it's just a hair, but sometimes it's as if you never shut it at all.


i've cringed a couple of times thinking about the coming month's utility bill because i've come home from an 8+ hour work day to find it standing ajar. needless to say i've had a few jugs of milk and some leftovers to go bad before their time because of this gate keeping problem



i think i know the reason. it seems like this actually occurred when it was relatively new too. if memory serves me right it has some pedestal type levelers underneath and when it is not level the door will not shut properly. i wonder if it because the house is aging and settling as well. or maybe it's the change of season but strange door behavior comes in fits and spells.



it does not happen all the time. in fact once when it was going through one of these periods i realized i had some things sitting on top (my overflowing spices that wouldn't fit on the spice rack). a huge heavy glass jar filled with my favorite cereal--cheerios, a nice ceramic bowel with beautiful clusters of grapes (grapes--my kitch motif) that my mom gave me--filled with plastic fruit. i guess i would get a little wobbly too, if i had all that on my head.



i think i won't get rid of it just yet. i'll call my son or brother over to try and get the levels readjusted. i'm not ready to buy another refrigerator. not ready to toss that memory of me and Gail's shopping experience aside. sure i know the memory of her lives on in my head and heart. but still i kinda like having something tangible of her to hold on to.



sooo...that's really


Why I won't get rid of my refrigerator.

Social Entrepreneurship

Here's a topic that's been on my mind an aweful lot lately,
Social Entrepreneurship.

Do a search on social entrepreneurship and the results will undoubtedly yield this name: Muhammad Yunus.

Known as the "banker to the poor," Yunus, winner of the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize, has helped people rise above poverty by giving them small, usually unsecured loans through his Grameen Bank.

Now Yunus has written about his next big idea in Creating a World Without Poverty: Social Business and the Future of Capitalism. He calls his vision "social business" — a model where entrepreneurs can apply their creative, social and altruistic vision to the world's most pressing problems, such as poverty and homelessness.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia For the Indian diplomat, see Mohammad Yunus (diplomat).Muhammad Yunus, (Bangla: মুহাম্মদ ইউনুস, pronounced Muhammôd Iunus) (born 28 June 1940) is a Bangladeshi banker and economist. He previously was a professor of economics where he developed the concept of microcredit. These loans are given to entrepreneurs too poor to qualify for traditional bank loans. Yunus is also the founder of Grameen Bank.

Youtube

NPR

Do the Right Thing," focus on the purpose

Stimulus package:
Pass this already. Time is ticking. Democrats and Republicans, just do the "right thing.” Look at what will put people back to work, give us some confidence in the stability of our economy. This package can't be all things for all people. Fund the programs that have teeth; this is no time for "pie in the sky" wishlists.
Keep the focus on the purpose--to Stimulate the Economy.

Compassion, the "new" black

Faith based initiatives: Good idea. It’s American. At our core this is who we are. I like what the Ba hai faith says about different religions “that all spring from the same source.” I believe this. I grew up in a very religious family. At various times and stages in my life it has been a bit inconvenient. However, having experienced a mighty unseen hand at work at some of my most perilous, frightening moments, I holdfast to my abiding faith in a higher power. My foundation is still that of a 12 year old humbling accepting Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. That said, I have also seen the inner workings of many “organized” religious institutions and it was not always pretty. So I can understand how the best and highest ideals of man can fall short with flaws. While not perfect most religious followers will do well as long as they remember and honor the concepts of caring more for others than themselves. Just “caring” is a giant step in the right directions. Thanks, President Obama for bringing “compassion” back.
I think it’s great that we have a leader who has and outwardly exhibits compassion and humility yet remains strong and Presidential. Keep up the good work. It does matter to people like myself. I’ve never been one of those people who wanted my President to be “someone I would have a beer with.” I want a President who is smarter than me but can also “relate” to me and my situation with compassion. What if, compassion becomes the “new” black, where average service oriented people become our heroes. Imagine a time and place where service is honored over greed.

Just as the little "black" dress forms the basis of any descent wardrobe, compassion should form the basic character of any descent human being from the less to the greatest. Thank you President Obama for being a role model not just in words or deeds but the very essence of your being.

The Bailout: "...like I'm a four year old"

The Bailout: I'm really tired of the political game playing that's going on in Washington. We all know they are going to pass it. Hopefully sooner rather than later. I think it is needed but like most Americans I'm interested in how it will affect me. What's in it for me? That's what every American really wants to know.

Congress and the media should work on explaining that a bit better. Explain it to me like I'm a 'four" year old because this economic stuff makes me feel like one. Go ahead, it won't hurt my feelings at all. I want to "understand."
My sarcastic voice: Our representatives on the hill should have no problem doing this since their behavior has been pretty much on that level. It's like they just learned to play "psych."

Decorative Altered Box

This was a gift box I made for my mother's Birthday, Ground Hogs Day, February 2nd.

I repurposed a pair of linen pants to cover a small square USPS priority mail box. Accented this with bits and pieces of ribbon, wire mesh, vintage buttons, feathers, swvaroski crystal chips. Four matching wooden beads were glued to the base for pedestals.

The box contained two small potted plants: African violets and jade. Beautiful and colorful. It also holds a "handmade" pillow box containing a small kitchen gadget. The pillow box is a floral fabric covered repurposed manila folder.

Yes, she loved it. Mom loves cooking and gardening so anything dealing with those interests lights her up. She and my sister immediately thought of a useful purpose for the box: holding mail.

So this decorative altered multi purpose container can be used as a gift box, flower box , mail holder,.

Passionate about Jewerly making

My creative passion at work. Visit me on etsy: http://www.dbdesign.etsy.com

Winter of Hope

Blogging--as active engagement

Engagement--my new watch word. As you can see I haven’t posted for sometime. Although I haven’t posted here I have been very busy posting on other interesting blogs. I’ve wrestled with how to manage my time and still be involved while not comprising my own need for creativity. I’ll devoted my focus here first. One Woman’s Voice will be the eternal well from which I draw.

When I first became interested in blogging, about two years ago, I quickly set about to create all these elaborate blogs; each focused on a different area of interest. According to all the blog-cology, this was the way to go. Was I doing it for fun or profit? Well it depended on which day I was blogging.

Let’s face it. The human being is a wonderfully complexed creature. Add a bit of creativity and trials of life to the mix and you’ve got one interestingly whacky unpredictable character. That’s me--Interesting, whacky and unpredictable. So what kind of blog(s) should a whacky chick like me create? Where do my passion and interests lie?


Creativity--I love making things. As a veteran coming from a large family of veterans I am politically impassioned. I like to say, I was patriotic before patriotism was cool. As a member of a very large loving southern family with a small family of my own, I continue to share in and experience the joys and sorrows of daily living in this tribe. I oten attempt to capture these moments through photography. Being equally moved by the joys and sorrows, drives me to activitism. So what's a whacky unpredictable chick to do?

One woman’s voice is the heartfelt expressions of engagement. I am engaged with life. It leads me in many different directions. This is simply the place where I record my impressions along the way. It is with this singleness of purpose this blog exist. It is one woman's engaged prespective on the business of living. Doing it My Way!