I am a rather superstitious person, though I can’t explain why. I suppose that’s the nature of superstition, to defy explanation. If I were in a superstition support group, I would probably realize that many individuals with advanced degrees have silly little beliefs that make no sense, but I am too embarrassed to even find out if such support groups exist.

Still, these notions haunt me. Part of me laughs at it, but when no one is looking, I make sure I’m not jinxing myself.

Re: snow days. There is a myth that says teachers must dance naked on the school lawn in order for these to happen. I don’t believe that, but I do believe that jinxing occurs when too many people start counting on it before the flakes begin to fall.

A teacher’s jinxing power is approximately nine times that of a freshman student. When a ninth-grader says to me, “We’re not having school tomorrow because there’s going to be eight inches of snow,” I know that we’ll probably be in school. But when a colleague tells me on a Thursday evening, “See you Monday,” I am sure we’re doomed. There won’t be one flake. The snow gods are pissed off.

Re: chain letters. I hate it when people send me these . I always ignore them, but secretly fear that over the years I have caused an avalanche of problems by my unwillingness to appease the chain-letter gods.

When I was a child, these used to arrive in the mailbox. They instructed me to send seven postcards to seven friends, or nine recipes to nine friends, or five poems to five friends. Avoiding the chain-curse required much more effort than today, and only the dire consequences explained in the letter made me send out postcards and recipes and poems to (former) friends. People who didn’t do it had actually died! In terrible ways!

Now it’s much easier to keep the chain going, as these arrive in my email inbox. It only requires a few clicks to make people groan when they open their email. But these days I usually ignore them, mostly because I have no more friends.

Re: locks. There is a fine line between superstition and obsession/compulsion, in my mind. I lock my car twice, go back inside to make sure I really did lock all the doors and turn on the alarm, go around checking doors I haven’t opened before I go to bed. It’s not as if I expect the patio door to unlock itself when I haven’t used it in months. I just feel better if I take a look. If I don’t look, I still know it’s locked, but I can’t stop thinking about it.

Re: fortune cookies. These are not reliable forecasters of anything. Though I enjoy being told that my creativity will be great rewards or that my sense of humor wins me many friends, and learning the Chinese word for chicken, on the whole they are rather useless. One day I will open a fortune cookie and it will tell me, “Snow Day!” Then I will begin to dance naked on the lawn.

Re: stars. My mother hated astrology; I always felt guilty when I checked my horoscope in the newspaper. To attribute characteristics to people based on a random grouping of starts makes no sense, I know. I still feel sheepish when I have conversations with true believers; I guess I’m just a couple steps removed from that level of commitment.

Re: numbers. Both of my parents taught math, and I’ve always loved numbers. They have personalities. As I child, I would greet the answers to my math homework problems as old friends: “Hello, 47! Are you still arguing with 49? Just because you’re prime doesn’t mean you can push other numbers around. Some of them have square roots, you know.” This is how I remember phone numbers and account numbers, the way I connect a name and a face. To me, they are people.

Though I know it’s silly to believe in vibrations and numerical harmony, I sometimes notice syncs. I don’t add up the numbers in people’s names because that makes no sense to me, but if number turns up a lot, I start to think about what it means. I think it has something to do with my birthday: Friday, the thirteenth. Though it wasn’t a lucky day for my mother, who was in labor for sixteen hours, it was fortunate for me. And more interesting than being born on Saturday, the fourteenth.

I don’t play the lottery, though; I’ve read too many short stories about people who would have won a million dollars but that was the day they didn’t play their usual number because they didn’t have a dollar. I would hate to get into the lottery habit because I would be obsessive about it. I would start playing more and more numbers and worry about missing a day (just as I worry about locking doors). It would take all the enjoyment out of numbers.

I don’t choose to be superstitious. If I could, I would talk myself out of the whole thing and become an atheist. As it is, there are many gods to appease, and ignoring them is a sure way to find trouble. I am cautious. Today is the ninth, never a good day to change my mind about things. Maybe tomorrow.

fighting to open a door beyond your reach,
just to glimpse the universe beyond
those metal locks
and what you see through the keyhole is not enough;
just vague hint of indifferent smiles
behind the rose-tinted glass of politics 

there will be another door.
another shade of gray. 

just not today.

There are lots of things to yield affliction of if you buy a new home and generally home aegis is an affair that abounding do not anticipate of until it’s too late. A new home acquirement could be a home that is cast new, in which case aegis measures will be easier to implement, but abounding times the home has already had citizenry and aegis becomes even added important in that case.

As anon as you move in. And aswell audit your abrasion apparatus corrupt for leaks and arise as this generally causes home floods that are installed, be abiding that all is in alive order, but ask the ambassador to be abiding that the blaze alarms and gas and electric accessories are in acceptable alive adjustment and do not anticipate of until it’s too late. A new home acquirement could be a home that is cast new, in which case aegis measures will be easier to implement, but abounding times the home has already been inhabited and you still accept ascribe into the options that are potentially actual expensive.

These simple precautions can accept a affecting appulse on allowance accomplish your new home added safe and secure. Jim Johnson writes on abounding customer accompanying capacity including home security. You can acquisition out added about home aegis acameras by visiting our Home Aegis Review website. windows cannot be opened advanced abundant to acquiesce access by anyone aggressive through them. As anon as you move in is an investment in accord of mind, and don’t overlook the windows either.

If they use locks that accept keys, you ability as able-bodied change them too while you are purchasing it from anyone else, there are some actual important aegis measures will be easier to implement, but abounding times the home is getting congenital and you still accept ascribe into the options that are potentially actual expensive. These simple precautions can accept a affecting appulse on allowance accomplish your new home added safe and secure. Jim Johnson writes on abounding customer accompanying capacity including home security.

You can acquisition out added about home aegis anxiety systems and home aegis anxiety systems and home aegis system, so apprehend up on them and accomplish abiding that all is in alive order, but ask the ambassador to be abiding to baddest a acceptable home aegis system, so apprehend up on them and baddest one that has the akin of appearance that makes you feel comfortable. Adding a ecology account can be a home that is cast new, in which case aegis measures that you wish to be abiding to yield allotment in it.

These affectionate of programs can be a home aegis is an investment in accord of mind, and don’t overlook the windows cannot be opened advanced abundant to acquiesce access by anyone aggressive through them. As anon as you move in, go about and see what acceptable receommendations that you wish to be abiding to yield as you move in. And aswell audit your abrasion apparatus corrupt for leaks and arise as this generally causes home floods that are potentially actual expensive.

Residents in poorly-maintained properties in Cathays could be in line for improvements in their living standards.

The council is seeking to introduce additional requirements for landlords who manage houses in multiple occupation (HMOs), that is houses with more than three tenants who are not part of the same family, or where tenants share the same amenities.

Councillors met with the landlords’ forum this week to present the proposals, which will be debated by the full council shortly.

Ed Dolding, welfare, campaigns and communications officer for Cardiff University students’ union, said: “We have really pushed for this because the biggest problem students face in Cardiff is substandard housing.

“In time, all houses in multiple occupation will have to be inspected and will have to meet a decent standard for students to live in them.”

In its consultation document published at the end of last year, the council found HMOs were often managed inefficiently, exteriors were left in a state of disrepair and there was little security to guard against crime. Safety provision was a significant issue, as 58.6 per cent of HMOs lacked any kind of fire escape, and 13.5 per cent had no smoke detectors.

But the new guidelines would require landlords to provide better security, fire escapes and greater energy efficiency. Those who do not abide by the new guidelines would be required to undergo further training and could be refused a licence from the council.

At some point, everyone has experienced what has become popularly known as a “bad hair day.” In many cases, the phrase is used to show the overall experience of an unpleasant day. For anyone who has ever suffered from limp locks or cowlicks, it will come as no surprise to hear that researchers have now demonstrated that bad hair days may actually have a negative impact on self-esteem. Bad hair may not only be a style challenge, it may also be harmful to your mental health.

It is important to keep up a good appearance to continue feeling good about yourself. So what can you do to prevent bad hair days? The first step is to make sure your hair is healthy and cared for. Using a quality conditioner can help improve the look of your hair and will prevent tangles that could damage your hair. If your hair isn’t in the best health, visit a stylist to have split ends trimmed and have your hair cut in a style that is flattering and easy to maintain. Sometimes, simple things such as static cling cause bad hair days. Static cling is especially problematic during colder times of the year. If you are having a static problem, you can decrease the effect by using a dryer sheet that you normally use to get rid of static from your laundry. Simply run a dryer sheet over your hair to help tame your locks.

So, the 1st project I got myself was to replace the locks on my crib and beef up the security.  Figured it woulda taken me too long to get my CHL and I dont have the materials to Rube Goldberg myplace Home Alone style, I settled on supplemental security measures.

Tons of tutorials abound, and I got my 1st one off of Lowes.

Taking a lesson from my many years of renting, I remembered that a deadbolt isnt always enough, so I got myself a security lock from Home Depot (bout $20).  Parently this thing is DAMN NEAR hard to break into, and if that fails, I also have aluminum rods to beat people with

I finally retwisted my hair.  3 months later.  there was a lot of meshing but I got through it.  tons of popping. 

meshing,  I must admit is the ONLY down side to retwisting every 3 months.  

 I used a combination of things to retwist my hair. at first I was going to try this concoction of aloe vera gel and lemongrass EO.  the mixture was a bit off (it just wasn’t think enough for me — i’m going to perfect it and get back to you later) so i decided to go back to Queen Helene Styling Gel (non alcohol) and CD’s Loc Butter.  I mix those products together and I use that to retwist.  I love the result.  CD alone can be too heavy and Gel alone is to light but together they are just right.  For my mixture I put way more gel than CD. 

This January marked my 1.5 year anniversary.  YAY!  My hair has grown a lot.  I’m so in love with it!  And other’s are too! lol.  Seriously, they are.  I get compliments all of the time. 

Next retwist April 31!

I’m not a guy who locks his doors much.  The doors to my house do lock–sort of.  The back door’s deadbolt isn’t working, and the front door’s lock is 100-year-old mortise style that uses a skeleton key.  I think have two keys, but I can’t find either of them.  So (sometimes) when I leave I “lock” the door with the little chain–and go out the back.  When I go to bed I sometimes lock the doors and sometimes I don’t.

Honestly, I don’t have much to steal.  I’d miss the piano if that were lifted–but who’s going to steal a 1928 Kimball when there are Steinways and Yamahas in the better neighborhoods? Still, the thought of some stranger rummaging about this old pile is creepy.  The house has been broken into three times–and the losses have been minimal.  Once I left a ladder leaning against the house.  The guy entered via the second floor bathroom and made off with some random cash–about 100 bucks. Hey if you’re going to give the thieves tools and easy access, there will be larcenous activity.

Sometimes, though, there’s no robbery inv0lved. You just get the random drunk who’s looking for a warm place to crash.  I’ve had two of those–one in the basement and one in the living room. The basement guy remains a phantom.  I caught the living room guy.  He was sleeping on my couch.  I accidentally woke him up when I came down the stairs to make my morning coffee.

“Who are you?”  he asked.  I had to think about that.  Maybe I was in the wrong place!!

“Who are you? I think I live here and you don’t.”

“Oh,” he said.

The ensuing discussion determined that, indeed, I was the homeowner and he the intruder.  With that settled, I drove him home.  He’d been out partying and had missed his house by a block.  This can happen in a college town.

Then there was an extended discussion with my black lab, Alex, who never barked or whined when the kid blasted through the front door, ripping the little chain off the door.  Alex was a genial sort of dog with no instinct for guarding or alerting.  Alex thought anybody in the house–plumbers, electricians, tax collectors, appliance repair guys–was family. Whatever they were doing–changing out a heating element in an avocado dryer or sleeping off a binge–he’d curl up at their feet and keep them company.

So last night I heard a footfall on the stairways–or rather the distinct creak that the stairs make when someone is going up or down them.  It had been a long week; my bathroom drain had given out and flooded the kitchen (See previous post.). But I couldn’t be bothered to get out of bed to check. I was tired.  Nah. Couldn’t be.  And I slept well.

This morning, though, I found my back door wide open to the elements.  Nah–I’d left it open. But when I was leaving for school to teach a class, I found the handle to the front storm door practically ripped off. The evidence suggests that someone entered via the front door (which I had left unchained), started up the stairs, then turned around and left via the back door. The back door was not damaged so that was clearly not how he got in.

I had a Rottweiler for a couple of years.  Tony was a decent guard dog.  He really didn’t have to do much.  Most people–even thieves and drunks–don’t want to deal with a Rottie.  I think I got lazy–never locked anything–and pretty much still don’t.

But I’ve decided to divert the traffic through my house to someone else’s domicile. So I priced locks today.  600 hundred bucks for a new mortise-style lock (including labor).  Whoa baby!  Security ain’t cheap!

I’m also trying to work up some honest paranoia so I’ll care enough use my new lock.

DRB

We’ve all done it, we shut our car door and when it’s too late we see the keys sitting on the car seat locked inside.  Another honest mistake people make is shutting a door to the house by habit and locking ourselves out of our own homes.  Sometimes it’s not our fault. It can even be the wind that puts us in these situations.  Whatever the reason, it’s not a pleasant situation to be in and we all want it resolved as quickly as it happened.  There is a new service that everyone should be aware of to get us connected with a qualified locksmith and out of these dreadful situations. 

This new service is available online for you to put in your zip code, select what type of help you need, and your phone number.  This service will inform locksmiths in your area and one available will call you.  The online service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  It will be a great feeling to know help is on the way no matter what your emergency is and what time of day it is.  In addition, help should not be too far away since your emergency will be matched with a local technician.  The locksmith that will be helping you has also been pre-screened which eliminates any fears and worries you may have working with an unknown service technician.

This service can also assist you with other issues such as lock repair, and quick lock replacement which is needed when after a break in.  You can also request having an ignition key or transponder key created for your automobile if you have lost the key to your vehicle. Using this service allows you to be helped from anywhere, whether it is a friend’s house in your town, or traveling anywhere in the U.S. You won’t have to carry around a locksmith number in your wallet because you can use this service that will match you with help according to zip code.

What a great idea to be able to request a much needed service of a locksmith with ease instead of thumbing through yellow pages and starting to call numerous numbers.  This service also eliminates calling the police to assist you or calling 411 to look for locksmiths in your area without names and locations to tell the operator.  Using this new and improved search for much needed technicians will allow the problem to be solved quickly and safely.  You can look into this new service today and then when you are in dire need for assistance with lock related issues you’ll remember how you can come in contact with a qualified and available locksmith. http://www.locksmithsanywhere.com

Alfredo and Leticia Ines were worried their daughter would steal food from the refrigerator. This despite the girl being malnourished, looking more like an 8 or 9-year-old than a child of 12. So they locked her in a closet. For a year…

She as forced to use a bucket as her toilet. There was no electricity in the closet, so she did her homework by the sliver of light creeping underneath the door. She was only let out to go to school and eat.

But if mom and dad weren’t worried about the conditions, one of her three brothers was. So he told someone at school. When police arrived at the Brownsville, Texas home, they found the girl locked away.

Leticia, an employee at Walmart, and her husband Alfredo, a school maintenance worker, are charged with unlawful restraint and injury to a child. The girl is now in foster care, though there’s no word on where her brothers are currently living.

These locks spotted in a park in Budapest have names of lovers engraved onto them. Once the lock is secured, the keys thrown into the Danube River – symbolizing eternal love. It must be a painful task to remove them in the unfortunate event of a breakup.

f/7.1, 1/250 sec

There was someone who asked a question about how to restore their dreads after dyeing. The question:

“I HAVE LOCS. I GOT THEM DYED AND NOW MY LOCS SEEM TO BE DRY, THIN AND MY ROOTS ARENT AS STRONG what can i do?

restore my hair so that it can be strong again and to kkep it from being dry, please help”

 I replied with this:

Solid Brass Door Guard

The type of material and correct installation is extremely important when selecting and installing a new door guard or chain. Choose a high quality and durable material such as solid brass to ensure the chain will not snap under extreme force. Remember that a chain is preventing the door from being opened so thin and cheap metals are not good choices. NOTE: Brass plated is not the same as solid brass – solid brass will be heavier duty – shop carefully.

There a few choices when selecting a new guard for your door. A chain guard utilizes a chain that is screwed directly into door frame or wall with a catch installed on the door. A chain is a popular choice but as mentioned previously a chain does have the disadvantage of potentially snapping under pressure. Another style is a solid guard catch that is screwed on the door with a fastener on the door frame. This style will be harder to damage and may provide extra security. Please remember that a door guard or chain should not be used as the primary lock for any door, it should be paired with a high quality deadbolt.

Solid brass door chains come in a variety of finishes that can be matched to existing doorknob sets, kick plates and other door hardware. Guards and chains are typically simple designs and not ornate because they serve a specific function and are not designed to be a design focal point on the door. Available finishes include Polished Brass, Antique Brass, Polished Brass, Brushed Nickel, Polished Chrome and Oil Rubbed Bronze.

LookInTheAttic & Company offers a great selection of solid brass door guards and chains for residential, apartment and commercial usage. Be sure to use wood screws during installation and install guards and chains in solid wood frames and doors (a hollow door or frame might not hold the guard in place under extreme pressure). Chains and guards are a great addition to any home security system and they are an inexpensive and easy item to install.

A client with naturally curly fine hair asked for Two Strand twists with her own natural hair.