I want some of these for my birthday: http://www.chicobag.com/
They look pretty cool, they are WAY better than using plastic bags, they'd fit in my purse and the reviews are decent. They are not very expensive, either, 5 of the same color for $20 from the links on the chicobag website or $3.85 for plain white ones from Amazon.
Most of the bad reviews (4/300+ were bad) were because the bags came with defects. I'm not sure the people realized that the bags are under a one year warranty, though. Even if they didn't come with information on the warranty, it shouldn't be that hard to call the company and find out how to get them replaced. For that matter, it seems like it would be easy to run a second seam myself.
I'm looking forward to getting some of these!
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Friday, March 28, 2008
Your suburb...
I'm going to start a new line of jokes. Forget "your momma" insults. Let's try "your suburb" instead! I'll start. Your suburb has so much sprawl, the UN just recognized it as its own country. Your suburb is so environmentally unfriendly that they give tickets to anyone not driving an SUV! Your suburb is so vehicle dependent they recently took out the bike lanes on a major thoroughfare! Your suburb is so apathetic, there's only one pollng place in town! Your suburb is so ostentatious it has more golf course acreage than strip malls (and that's saying a lot!) Your suburb is so SUBURBAN that the children think "downtown" means the place with all the strip malls.
Now it's your turn! If you can't come up with any good ones, no problem. Guess which one is true about my suburb! Go ahead, guess. I'll wait.
Well, ok, several of those are true, but if you guessed "removed bike lanes" you are closest! Recently, on a major thoroughfare, they wanted to widen the street. It's the main access from our latest zone of sprawling suburbia to the interstate freeway. Two lanes was just not going to cut it anymore, so they widened it in both directions to three lanes. Unfortunately, in doing so, they took away the bike lanes. Now, in one direction, there is a sidewalk labeled "bike route" which invites bicyclists and pedestrians to share a 6 foot wide strip of pavement. In the other direction, there's nothing. Did I mention this is the steepest hill in town? A bicyclist may choose, on the way down - coast down the bike route and risk hitting a pedestrian? or coast down with 3 lanes of heavy traffic and risk being hit by a vehicle?
This matters to me because last week I started riding my bike to and from work. My plan is to ride Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. It takes less time than walking, and it's better excersize, too. Already I've seen some changes: I can now see my thigh muscles, and today it was easier than ever to ride at higher speeds. I still walk up the steep hill on my way to work, though I'm confident that eventually, if I stick to it, I'll be in good enough shape to ride up. I'd love to tell you how great the scenery is (I know it is, I walked it enough) but when I'm riding, I have to concentrate too much. Our lovely suburban town has an awful lot of gravel and rocks in the bike lanes.
The thing is, for a suburban town, the roads really aren't safe for a cyclist, and not just because they took out the bike lanes in one stretch of road or that the bike lanes have gravel where they exist. The same day as my first ride to work, a 10 yo boy on his way home from school was hit by the short school bus and killed at a blind intersection. The following Monday, a 13 yo girl was hit by a drunk driver in a mini van who was dropping his own children off at school. I'm not surprised that they were hit; I've had my own experiences with really scary drivers, on the same two days!
Friday, on my way down the hill (the one where they took out a bike lane) there was a stupid driver who stopped abruptly with her tail end stuck out into the next lane over while she was stopped at a red light. To avoid running smack into her, I had to swerve out into traffic, luckily with nothing coming. Her action would have been stupid even without a cyclist right behind her; traffic in the next lane hadn't stopped, and they go 40 miles an hour down that hill. When I finally made it around the corner, and into the bike lane, she was driving just behind me, half into the bike lane, and drifting even further over. I was sure I was about to die. Luckily someone honked at her and she started paying attention. When she finally did pass me, I peered in at her. She was unwrapping an ice cream bar. Now, I'm overweight too. I understand the need to be eating an ice cream bar on the way home to dinner. But lady, get fat on your own time! Get away from my back tire!
Monday I had a similar instance, this time with a man who sped up when I signaled left. What kind of idiot tries to cut off a bicyclist? I'll tell you what kind... a man in a beemer with something to prove!
After much discussion, my husband and I decided that it's just too dangerous to use that route in the evenings. He came up with an alternate route for me. I complained bitterly that it was a mile longer and had 2 extra hills, but he was right, it was much safer. It has a bicycle lane the entire length and I don't have to turn left until I'm at a special intersection designed for bicyclists. Despite my original complaints, I am very pleased with the new route. Instead the old way, with a mile of uphill and half a mile of (dangerous) downhill, the new route has half a mile of moderate uphill and about 2 miles of downhill. The two extra hills turned out to be little blips I barely noticed. Indeed, I didn't notice the extra mile at all. I wouldn't want to use it the other way (two miles of uphill? EEK!) but I like all the coasting I did on the way home!
Yes, I said coasting. Those bicyclist enthusiasts out there would, if they ever read this blog, indubitably shake their heads over me. But it's not my fault, I swear! I DO know that it's better not to coast on a downhill like that. It's my bike that is the problem. It's not in the worst shape it could be, thanks to my husband, but it's not in great shape either. For example, I cannot shift out of the middle chainring gear. Instead of the 21 gears I should have access too, I only have 7. My top coasting speed of 20mph is not nearly high enough to compete with traffic going 40-50. What I really need is a nice road bike instead of my heavy mountain bike that has to be dragged up the hills. Given our bike lanes here, I'm almost glad I can't afford a road bike. How would I deal with gravel on a road bike?
Now it's your turn! If you can't come up with any good ones, no problem. Guess which one is true about my suburb! Go ahead, guess. I'll wait.
Well, ok, several of those are true, but if you guessed "removed bike lanes" you are closest! Recently, on a major thoroughfare, they wanted to widen the street. It's the main access from our latest zone of sprawling suburbia to the interstate freeway. Two lanes was just not going to cut it anymore, so they widened it in both directions to three lanes. Unfortunately, in doing so, they took away the bike lanes. Now, in one direction, there is a sidewalk labeled "bike route" which invites bicyclists and pedestrians to share a 6 foot wide strip of pavement. In the other direction, there's nothing. Did I mention this is the steepest hill in town? A bicyclist may choose, on the way down - coast down the bike route and risk hitting a pedestrian? or coast down with 3 lanes of heavy traffic and risk being hit by a vehicle?
This matters to me because last week I started riding my bike to and from work. My plan is to ride Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. It takes less time than walking, and it's better excersize, too. Already I've seen some changes: I can now see my thigh muscles, and today it was easier than ever to ride at higher speeds. I still walk up the steep hill on my way to work, though I'm confident that eventually, if I stick to it, I'll be in good enough shape to ride up. I'd love to tell you how great the scenery is (I know it is, I walked it enough) but when I'm riding, I have to concentrate too much. Our lovely suburban town has an awful lot of gravel and rocks in the bike lanes.
The thing is, for a suburban town, the roads really aren't safe for a cyclist, and not just because they took out the bike lanes in one stretch of road or that the bike lanes have gravel where they exist. The same day as my first ride to work, a 10 yo boy on his way home from school was hit by the short school bus and killed at a blind intersection. The following Monday, a 13 yo girl was hit by a drunk driver in a mini van who was dropping his own children off at school. I'm not surprised that they were hit; I've had my own experiences with really scary drivers, on the same two days!
Friday, on my way down the hill (the one where they took out a bike lane) there was a stupid driver who stopped abruptly with her tail end stuck out into the next lane over while she was stopped at a red light. To avoid running smack into her, I had to swerve out into traffic, luckily with nothing coming. Her action would have been stupid even without a cyclist right behind her; traffic in the next lane hadn't stopped, and they go 40 miles an hour down that hill. When I finally made it around the corner, and into the bike lane, she was driving just behind me, half into the bike lane, and drifting even further over. I was sure I was about to die. Luckily someone honked at her and she started paying attention. When she finally did pass me, I peered in at her. She was unwrapping an ice cream bar. Now, I'm overweight too. I understand the need to be eating an ice cream bar on the way home to dinner. But lady, get fat on your own time! Get away from my back tire!
Monday I had a similar instance, this time with a man who sped up when I signaled left. What kind of idiot tries to cut off a bicyclist? I'll tell you what kind... a man in a beemer with something to prove!
After much discussion, my husband and I decided that it's just too dangerous to use that route in the evenings. He came up with an alternate route for me. I complained bitterly that it was a mile longer and had 2 extra hills, but he was right, it was much safer. It has a bicycle lane the entire length and I don't have to turn left until I'm at a special intersection designed for bicyclists. Despite my original complaints, I am very pleased with the new route. Instead the old way, with a mile of uphill and half a mile of (dangerous) downhill, the new route has half a mile of moderate uphill and about 2 miles of downhill. The two extra hills turned out to be little blips I barely noticed. Indeed, I didn't notice the extra mile at all. I wouldn't want to use it the other way (two miles of uphill? EEK!) but I like all the coasting I did on the way home!
Yes, I said coasting. Those bicyclist enthusiasts out there would, if they ever read this blog, indubitably shake their heads over me. But it's not my fault, I swear! I DO know that it's better not to coast on a downhill like that. It's my bike that is the problem. It's not in the worst shape it could be, thanks to my husband, but it's not in great shape either. For example, I cannot shift out of the middle chainring gear. Instead of the 21 gears I should have access too, I only have 7. My top coasting speed of 20mph is not nearly high enough to compete with traffic going 40-50. What I really need is a nice road bike instead of my heavy mountain bike that has to be dragged up the hills. Given our bike lanes here, I'm almost glad I can't afford a road bike. How would I deal with gravel on a road bike?
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Modern Medicine
A friend of a friend of mine started taking medication for a thyroid condition yesterday. Now, coming from a family with dysfunctional thyroids right and left, I was completely understanding that someone would need medicine for an under-producing thyroid, even a young someone. But no, they are giving her medicine to DESTROY her thyroid. She has an over-working thyroid, for which her doctor prescribed radioactive iodine. After the effects of the radioactive medicine wear off, she will be on prescription medication for the rest of her life to make up for a "damaged thyroid condition." Now, I've read the effects an overactive thyroid can have, and they aren't pretty. But neither are the symptoms of a damaged thyroid that underachieves.
My first reaction (when I finally worked out what they were giving the medication for) was that some crazy doctor in her third world country needed to go back to school. Then I did a bit of research. It turns out that my first reaction was one of prejudice: destructive prescriptions for this condition are standard medical practice even in the US. This shocks me even more.
What has modern medicine come to, that we BREAK a working part of our bodies, causing a different life long problem, to stop certain symptoms? Is this where the height of technology has lead us to? Damaging our bodies? I find it hard to believe that these medical research companies can come up with nothing to treat the symptoms of an overactive thyroid other than to injure it past repair. You may laugh and call me a holistic Californian, but I see a problem here! To me, permanently damaging our bodies in the name of medicine is like the practice of bloodletting: for YEARS doctors thought it was a good idea, only to find out they were doing their patients more harm than good.
I feel that this issue is a symptom of a larger problem I have personally noticed humans doing for a few years now, though it has probably been happening for decades without my awareness. It's the practice of trying to fix a problem we caused in nature by changing nature further. Some examples of this include: "oh dear, we damaged the natural watershed system beyond repair and now the river floods, let's build a dam!" and then the new reservoir destroys whole villages and wipes out 4 varieties of fish. Or: "Hey, when we built this road, we created a ditch that breeds mosquitoes with West Nile virus, so let's spray everything with pesticides" and then we get 3 legged frogs and children with asthma and food you can't eat off the tree. Or: "Hey, we tried to plant the prairie with farms and now all the dirt is spinning up in our faces and the buffalo have died, lets go do the same thing 400 miles north!" How about: "Uh oh, gasoline prices are going up, let's set a whole lot of it aside, expensively, so we have some to sell in the future!"
This is not sustainable living, folks. Nor is permanently destroying a working part of our bodies to fix a problem. Doctors, Scientists, Army Corps of Engineers, Environmentalists: If you cannot find a natural way to fix the problem, which DOES NOT CAUSE MORE HARM, then don't try!
My first reaction (when I finally worked out what they were giving the medication for) was that some crazy doctor in her third world country needed to go back to school. Then I did a bit of research. It turns out that my first reaction was one of prejudice: destructive prescriptions for this condition are standard medical practice even in the US. This shocks me even more.
What has modern medicine come to, that we BREAK a working part of our bodies, causing a different life long problem, to stop certain symptoms? Is this where the height of technology has lead us to? Damaging our bodies? I find it hard to believe that these medical research companies can come up with nothing to treat the symptoms of an overactive thyroid other than to injure it past repair. You may laugh and call me a holistic Californian, but I see a problem here! To me, permanently damaging our bodies in the name of medicine is like the practice of bloodletting: for YEARS doctors thought it was a good idea, only to find out they were doing their patients more harm than good.
I feel that this issue is a symptom of a larger problem I have personally noticed humans doing for a few years now, though it has probably been happening for decades without my awareness. It's the practice of trying to fix a problem we caused in nature by changing nature further. Some examples of this include: "oh dear, we damaged the natural watershed system beyond repair and now the river floods, let's build a dam!" and then the new reservoir destroys whole villages and wipes out 4 varieties of fish. Or: "Hey, when we built this road, we created a ditch that breeds mosquitoes with West Nile virus, so let's spray everything with pesticides" and then we get 3 legged frogs and children with asthma and food you can't eat off the tree. Or: "Hey, we tried to plant the prairie with farms and now all the dirt is spinning up in our faces and the buffalo have died, lets go do the same thing 400 miles north!" How about: "Uh oh, gasoline prices are going up, let's set a whole lot of it aside, expensively, so we have some to sell in the future!"
This is not sustainable living, folks. Nor is permanently destroying a working part of our bodies to fix a problem. Doctors, Scientists, Army Corps of Engineers, Environmentalists: If you cannot find a natural way to fix the problem, which DOES NOT CAUSE MORE HARM, then don't try!
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Counting Down
I have now finished the test! They don't actually say what day the results will arrive, just that they will be sent out "in approximately 29 days." So I'm hoping they'll arrive on April 17. Check out the cool countdown I added on the right. I love the dancing mailboxes!
I returned all my borrowed study books to my boss. I am going to tidy the library room so all my books and papers are neatly hidden away on their appropriate shelves. Then I'm going to fold up the table and not study ever again! Or at least not until July/August, when I want to take my LEED AP exam...
Cross your fingers for the results!
I returned all my borrowed study books to my boss. I am going to tidy the library room so all my books and papers are neatly hidden away on their appropriate shelves. Then I'm going to fold up the table and not study ever again! Or at least not until July/August, when I want to take my LEED AP exam...
Cross your fingers for the results!
Friday, March 14, 2008
Never bank with CitiBank!
Next to Wells Fargo, I'd say Citi is the WORST banking service I've tried. They're simply out to make a buck using predatory lending practices, a variety of tricks to charge fees, and random services being added to my account, which they then charge for. I charged most of my college costs to my credit card, then (being a college student) defaulted one to many times. What with my 32% interest, I was actually (almost) relieved to find out they cancelled my account when some jerk executive lost his laptop.
Since my account has been closed, I do not have access to Citi's online computer banking, which is the only free way to make a payment to them. Not that the online banking wasn't without drawbacks, but it was better than pay-by-phone or mail. Over the phone they charge $14.95, and by mail they *always* claim the payment was late and charge a late fee, no matter what day I mailed it. Actual customer service rep, 2 years ago: "No, we don't count the date stamp. It doesn't matter when your payment is received in our office, it's when we process it. As a way to avoide the fees, we suggest mailing it on the 10th of each month. Yes, we know you don't get the bill until the 20th, yes, we know it isn't due until the 30th. Send us the check anyway."
So I'm limited to the phone service, which costs $15 each time to pay my bill (still cheaper than a $30 late payment fee). Normally this is a painful process. I call in, type in a random number 3 times because they won't even direct the call you give your 16 digit account number, which I don't have since I cut my card up. I could wait for the bill, but I probably wouldn't get it in time to make the payment. Invariably, after typing some random numbers in, I get a message saying to wait for a rep, and then there is a technical malfunction which usually results in me getting hung up on. Then I get to repeat the process! When I finally get the stupid automated phone service to connect me to customer service, the people at the other end are normally polite and friendly, even though they have to charge me $15 and can't make it possible to pay online.
Today, though, TODAY took the cake. Not only did I have the normal problems with the phone system, but, well, here's the conversation I had with the rep:
Rep: Can you tell me your account number?
me: no, I can't, I don't have the bill with me (since it comes next week), and I don't have the card anymore
Rep: can you tell me just the last 4 digits?
me: um... no.
Rep: What is your ssn?
me: ***-**-****
Rep: ok, can you tell me the password?
me: *****
Rep: Your hint is "What is blahblahblah?"
me: still *****...
Rep: ok, what would you like to do today?
me: make a $250 payment
Rep: your balance is blahblahblah
me: ok, I'd like to make a payment of $250
Reo: would you like to make a payment today?
me: OMFG! ARE YOU EVEN LISTENING TO ME?!
Ok, ok, I didn't REALLY say that last line. I just thought it.
anyway:
me: um... yes
Rep: how much would you like to pay?
me: $250
Rep: I see you made a payment on March 4 for $200
me: *silence* (thinking: uh... thanks for telling me?)
Rep: so how much would you like to pay today?
me: $250
Rep: I see you've made previous payments by phone.
me: yes. I'm now making another, for $250
Rep: there's a $15 charge
me: yeah, I know
Rep: do you still want to make a payment over the phone?
me: yes. for $250 (hadn't I said it enough yet?)
Rep: ok, do you want me to include the $15 payment?
me: yes, but I'd like it on my card, please
Rep: ok, your charge will be for $265
me: no, I want to make a payment for $250
Rep: there is a $15 pay-by-phone fee
me: you can put that on the credit card (usually they ask me how I want to pay the fee)
Rep: ok, $250 is your new charge. Will there be anything else today?
me: (wtf new charge?) Can I have my confirmation number?
**click**
me: /sigh
... They've hit a new low, folks! Now I have to call back and make sure my payment went through for the right month. Take my advice and NEVER, EVER, BANK WITH CITIBANK!!!!
Since my account has been closed, I do not have access to Citi's online computer banking, which is the only free way to make a payment to them. Not that the online banking wasn't without drawbacks, but it was better than pay-by-phone or mail. Over the phone they charge $14.95, and by mail they *always* claim the payment was late and charge a late fee, no matter what day I mailed it. Actual customer service rep, 2 years ago: "No, we don't count the date stamp. It doesn't matter when your payment is received in our office, it's when we process it. As a way to avoide the fees, we suggest mailing it on the 10th of each month. Yes, we know you don't get the bill until the 20th, yes, we know it isn't due until the 30th. Send us the check anyway."
So I'm limited to the phone service, which costs $15 each time to pay my bill (still cheaper than a $30 late payment fee). Normally this is a painful process. I call in, type in a random number 3 times because they won't even direct the call you give your 16 digit account number, which I don't have since I cut my card up. I could wait for the bill, but I probably wouldn't get it in time to make the payment. Invariably, after typing some random numbers in, I get a message saying to wait for a rep, and then there is a technical malfunction which usually results in me getting hung up on. Then I get to repeat the process! When I finally get the stupid automated phone service to connect me to customer service, the people at the other end are normally polite and friendly, even though they have to charge me $15 and can't make it possible to pay online.
Today, though, TODAY took the cake. Not only did I have the normal problems with the phone system, but, well, here's the conversation I had with the rep:
Rep: Can you tell me your account number?
me: no, I can't, I don't have the bill with me (since it comes next week), and I don't have the card anymore
Rep: can you tell me just the last 4 digits?
me: um... no.
Rep: What is your ssn?
me: ***-**-****
Rep: ok, can you tell me the password?
me: *****
Rep: Your hint is "What is blahblahblah?"
me: still *****...
Rep: ok, what would you like to do today?
me: make a $250 payment
Rep: your balance is blahblahblah
me: ok, I'd like to make a payment of $250
Reo: would you like to make a payment today?
me: OMFG! ARE YOU EVEN LISTENING TO ME?!
Ok, ok, I didn't REALLY say that last line. I just thought it.
anyway:
me: um... yes
Rep: how much would you like to pay?
me: $250
Rep: I see you made a payment on March 4 for $200
me: *silence* (thinking: uh... thanks for telling me?)
Rep: so how much would you like to pay today?
me: $250
Rep: I see you've made previous payments by phone.
me: yes. I'm now making another, for $250
Rep: there's a $15 charge
me: yeah, I know
Rep: do you still want to make a payment over the phone?
me: yes. for $250 (hadn't I said it enough yet?)
Rep: ok, do you want me to include the $15 payment?
me: yes, but I'd like it on my card, please
Rep: ok, your charge will be for $265
me: no, I want to make a payment for $250
Rep: there is a $15 pay-by-phone fee
me: you can put that on the credit card (usually they ask me how I want to pay the fee)
Rep: ok, $250 is your new charge. Will there be anything else today?
me: (wtf new charge?) Can I have my confirmation number?
**click**
me: /sigh
... They've hit a new low, folks! Now I have to call back and make sure my payment went through for the right month. Take my advice and NEVER, EVER, BANK WITH CITIBANK!!!!
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
So you know I'm still alive...
I am writing here what I memorized last night.
The purpose of the California Historic Building Code is to provide for the preservation, restoration, relocation, rehabilitation or continued use of a qualified historic building through the use of flexible code provisions to preserve architectural elements or features, encourage energy efficiency, provide disabled access, allow for cost efficient projects, and provide for the health and safety of building occupants. These flexible code provisions fall into 7 categories, each of which uses the flexible provisions differently. They are: Occupancy/Use, Fire Protection, Egress, Accessibility, Structure, Archaic Materials and Methods, and Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing Systems.
Seriously, I memorized that.
Don't expect anything worthwhile from me this week, the test is in only 7 days.
The purpose of the California Historic Building Code is to provide for the preservation, restoration, relocation, rehabilitation or continued use of a qualified historic building through the use of flexible code provisions to preserve architectural elements or features, encourage energy efficiency, provide disabled access, allow for cost efficient projects, and provide for the health and safety of building occupants. These flexible code provisions fall into 7 categories, each of which uses the flexible provisions differently. They are: Occupancy/Use, Fire Protection, Egress, Accessibility, Structure, Archaic Materials and Methods, and Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing Systems.
Seriously, I memorized that.
Don't expect anything worthwhile from me this week, the test is in only 7 days.
Friday, March 7, 2008
The Good News and the Bad News... and the REALLY Good News
I opened the drier this morning, intending to check the clothing inside for dampness, and spotted my ATM card sticking up from the top of the lint vent. This happens to me a lot. Since my purse strap broke, I've gotten into the habit of putting my cards in my back pockets, which is all well and good until I forget they are in there and wash my pants. The signature on the back of my ATM card has been washed off now. So I reached into the opening and pulled on my ATM card, which came out pretty easily. Then there was a slithery sound and a faint clunk, and I hastened to pull the lint screen out.
The good news is that I found my BART card. It had $9.50 on it, so I was pretty upset about losing it. Just a dollar more and I can go round trip to SF. I'm glad I found it! But it was INSIDE the vent line, through the tiny little slot in which the vent screen fits. I tried everything to get it out. My hand does not fit in there! I tried a pair of pliers (too short) a pair of vice grips (still too short) and a long handled spatula (long enough, but no gripping power). I looked at the way the front of the drier fit on, realized I was running out of time, and decided not to attempt taking it apart. At that point, I got frustrated, and almost walked away, since it was only $10. I didn't need it right then. And then I saw the bad news.
The bad news is that I also found my driver's license, about 6" deeper inside the drier. Now, I know my hand didn't fit, but my first inclination (a stupid one) was to try to jamb my hand in there anyway. Then I tried the spatula again, and succeeded in driving my license deeper inside. Grr! Finally I got smart and looked at things logically. Since the front of the drier couldn't easily be removed, I examined the vent screen slot, made up of plastic parts. Those were only held on by 4 screws, and (in my search for the vice-grips) I had already located a screwdriver! Miracle of miracles, it was even a phillips head!
The really good news is 2 skinned knuckles and a bumped head later, my driver's license is now safely(?) in my back pocket with my ATM card, and I didn't even break the drier!
In other news, sorry I haven't written in so long (all of my loyal 2 lurkers). I've been spending every spare moment studying for my exam. 11 days to go. Hold your thumbs, cross your fingers, hang up a horseshoe, find a four leaf clover, carry a rabbits foot and wear green for me on March 18.
The good news is that I found my BART card. It had $9.50 on it, so I was pretty upset about losing it. Just a dollar more and I can go round trip to SF. I'm glad I found it! But it was INSIDE the vent line, through the tiny little slot in which the vent screen fits. I tried everything to get it out. My hand does not fit in there! I tried a pair of pliers (too short) a pair of vice grips (still too short) and a long handled spatula (long enough, but no gripping power). I looked at the way the front of the drier fit on, realized I was running out of time, and decided not to attempt taking it apart. At that point, I got frustrated, and almost walked away, since it was only $10. I didn't need it right then. And then I saw the bad news.
The bad news is that I also found my driver's license, about 6" deeper inside the drier. Now, I know my hand didn't fit, but my first inclination (a stupid one) was to try to jamb my hand in there anyway. Then I tried the spatula again, and succeeded in driving my license deeper inside. Grr! Finally I got smart and looked at things logically. Since the front of the drier couldn't easily be removed, I examined the vent screen slot, made up of plastic parts. Those were only held on by 4 screws, and (in my search for the vice-grips) I had already located a screwdriver! Miracle of miracles, it was even a phillips head!
The really good news is 2 skinned knuckles and a bumped head later, my driver's license is now safely(?) in my back pocket with my ATM card, and I didn't even break the drier!
In other news, sorry I haven't written in so long (all of my loyal 2 lurkers). I've been spending every spare moment studying for my exam. 11 days to go. Hold your thumbs, cross your fingers, hang up a horseshoe, find a four leaf clover, carry a rabbits foot and wear green for me on March 18.
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