Where Were You on 9/11?

I have tried not to allow the events of September 11, 2001 define who I am and who I will become. However, with all the talk around the 10th anniversary of that fateful day it is hard not to think about that day and how it has affected us. My thoughts could literally be written down in a book and I am sure everyone has their own compelling story about the events of that day and the days and years that have followed.

I was living in Montana and managing a hotel. I was on my way to work and stopped off for a semi-daily cup of coffee at a local supermarket, when a girl said to me “There he goes again, George W. has got us in another war”. I had no idea what she was talking about (I'm still not quite sure what she was getting at) – I didn't normally turn on the TV at home while I was getting ready for work. The cashier said that a plane crashed into one of the World Trade Center buildings.

When I got to work at the hotel the TV was on and the second plane had just hit and the stations were showing and reshowing the plane hitting the building. All the guests had come to the lobby for breakfast and everyone was glued to the news in a state of shock. Then they showed people either jumping or falling out of the windows and that is when it really hit me. These people had no other

How to Make Your Own Drain Clog Remover

Make your own drain clog remover with supplies most homes already have. Why spend more money on toxic drain openers or a plumber. Most clogs and slow drains can be cleared with inexpensive ingredients you have in your kitchen.

You can make your own drain opener for a fraction of the cost of using the commercial variety. Here's what you need:

Household Ingredients Used:

A pot of boiling water
1 cup of vinegar
1 cup baking soda


Directions for Drain Cleaner: Place pot of water on high to boil and add one cup of baking soda and one cup of vinegar to the boiling water. The mixture will fizz begin to fizz. Pour the mixture down the clogged or slow drain. The action of the fizzing from the combination of vinegar and baking soda will dissolve any greasy or fatty clogs in your drain. Allow some time for the mixture to work on the clog, then flush the drain with tap water.

I prefer to use these household ingredients over the more expensive caustic chemicals that are used in store bought or industrial strength clog removers. The benefits are a home free of dangerous chemicals and a healthier and safer home for you and your family. If you have small kids or pets in the house, it is much safer for them. You may avoid a catastrophic poisoning.

How to avoid clogs from grease and grime build up - First it is important to dispose of grease by allowing it to cool and placing it in an empty disposable container that is easily sealed. You can store the container in the refrigerator until it is full and then dispose of through your community grease and oil recycling programs (if you are lucky enough to have one).


How to maintain your pipes grease free - Once a week pour a pot of boiling water down the drain. This will flush the pipes of any new grease build-up. If you have a more serious clog, it may require a plumber snake or a professional plumber. Therefore maintenance is always the preferred solution to drain clogs.