H.O.W. Hip

Totally Tailgating Grill and Fryer Reviews

2012-02-08T11:55:00.003-06:00

I have been a football fan my entire life. I don't know what it is about the game, maybe it was Bears® fever when I was a kid. I grew up watching Brian's Song every year like most kids looked forward to It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. While a Bears® fan since I could talk, when we found out that an NFL® team was coming to Nashville, I "tee-heed" for a week.

Tailgating Fall and Christmas at the Davidson County Courthouse

When we were preparing for our first tailgate as season ticket holders on the opening day at Adelphia® Coliseum, I had no idea what I was doing. Our location was fabulous, the team was magical and I embraced the whole thing and became a go-to tailgate hostess. I like to be the one in the crown on whom you can count to be prepared for darn near anything. I love to cook and talk fan smack, hubby loves to grill and socialize - we were made for the tailgate.

Public Square Park Nashville, TN

Our location has changed; they remodeled the Courthouse and our wonderful parking lot was replaced by a lovely Public Square Park. These days, when we tailgate, we do it by boat. As you can imagine, that put a whole new wrinkle in the whole tailgating process.

In my opinion, any tailgating accessory must meet a few standards, regardless of location:

Portable
Easy to set-up/break-down
Easy to clean
Good at whatever it's supposed to do

In general, when it comes to any "gadgetry", I also strive for the unique or cool. My work history makes me a stern taskmaster when it comes to products. I expect the marketers to be honest, the engineers/designers to be thorough and the assemblers to care about what they build. That being said, lets talk grills.
Our grill reviews won't get into how the grills cook (unless they just really suck at it). A grill is supposed to grill and if we're taking the time to check it out, stands to reason that it cooks food the way it's supposed to. While it may seem backwards, just as with the tools we review, we use 'em for at least a season before we share our findings. Seriously, right out of the box typically isn't an issue. The real question is how does it hold up when tailgating - by land or by sea!

Thought it would be nice to have a page cataloging our grill/fryer and cookingwhatnot reviews. This way, if you're thinking about a grill for a gift or yourself, you don't have to sort through all of the other reviews found on Totally Tailgating.

CharBroil® Big Easy Infrared Turkey Fryer, Published 2009

Lite-Cylinder® Propane Tanks, Published 2010

Blacktop 360 Party Hub Grill-Fryer, Published 2011

Why We Exist

2012-01-10T19:21:00.000-06:00

Happy 2012 All,
We hope to give you more reasons to visit this year. To help encourage us to step up our activity level, we received a comment to one of our videos on You Tube that seems just heaven sent. Whenever we try to describe the mission of H.O.W. TV, it's sometimes difficult to get the point across. We basically want to provide resources for getting stuff done to women who want to fully participate in their lives and don't take themselves too seriously. Women who don't want to be treated with condescension, don't want to be made to feel stupid or inadequate and don't want assumptions and broad generalizations applied to them.

Since we weren't adequately able to respond to this comment within YouTube (character count issue), where better to post the full response than right here. We had to paraphrase a bit on YouTube, but feel free to visit our channel via the link above to see exactly how we responded to the comment.

YouTube Comment on "The Air That You Breathe": ARE YOU GIRLS STUPID? HARD TO GET IT DRY? DOMMY. JUST WASH IT, THEN,USE A BLOWER DOMMY TO DRY IT.JUST GIVE 1 HOUR ALONE,AND THEN PUT IT BACK. NO ONE WILL DIE WHILE THE FILTER IS DRYING. YOU SAVE A LOT OF MONEY BUYING STUPID FILTER IN WALMART. SAVE THAT MONEY FOR YOUR OWN OR YOUR FAMILY. HIGHER RATE IN THE FILTER,MORE EXPENSIVE. SO YOU WONT HAVE TO BUY FILTER EVERY MONTH. JUST ONE FOR LIFE

Our Full Response:

At first, we were just going to point out that our audience consists largely of women who may have never had to think about their furnace filters. A lot of these women feel that what with washing/cleaning dishes, floors, clothes, bathrooms, windows and whatnot, they aren’t really looking for something else to clean. In addition, many of these women can be a bit picky about what’s considered “clean” and “dry”.

Instead, we took the time to do a little more research on the subject and found out a couple of things. First of all it seems to be a given in the HVAC world that washable filters aren’t terribly efficient at trapping small particles of dust and other contaminants. Since reusable filters should be washed monthly, compared with many pleated and electrostatic furnace filters, which need replacement only every 90 days, they definitely require more of a time commitment in addition to the up-front cost. Also, a reusable furnace filter never gets completely clean after being washed, so dirt buildup can eventually restrict airflow through the furnace, according to many in the industry. Lastly, I’ve seen end-user reports of mold due to residual moisture.

So, we are neither stupid nor dummies (note - no "o" in the word), but we do try to learn a little something at times. We thank you for the Christmas gift of providing us with a perfect example of why we thought H.O.W. TV would be a good idea. We intend to get a good bit of mileage out of it. Have a wonderful 2012.

The Fabulous Shower Curtain Ring

2011-10-14T10:14:00.000-05:00

Just a quick little post this time :) I have this thing about wanting to hang everything possible. Unfortunately, not every knick knack and whatnot that pleases my eye comes ready to hang. As a result, I'm constantly trying to find a quick, cheap way to attach stuff to walls without putting nail or screw holes in stuff.

During a recent redo of my hallway, it became a necessity to do something about some pictures that I have in these cute little frames. They previously sat on top of a bookcase, but alas that bookcase had to find a new home. Enter my stash-o shower curtain rings.

It never ceases to amaze me how many times I have drawn from my $1.19 well of plain old shower curtain rings to solve a problem. To solve this one....

If you have a picture frame with only the little kickstand on the back, take a regular shower curtain ring, insert the kickstand and voila! You may have to do a little adjusting, but it works fabulously.

Can I Sharpen a Chain Saw

2011-10-04T08:45:00.002-05:00

Bette from Tennessee asked us if we had any advice on sharpening a chain saw. Brand and Beth looked at this during their days with Tools and Techniques on the DIY Network. They found that most felt it was easier to just have it done professionally.

These days, a lot of us find ourselves having to do things that we might have paid someone to do for us in easier years. So, I did a little research - our mission, we'll spend the time and effort so you don't have to. Did you know that there is actually a http://howtosharpenachainsaw.org ? Gotta tell ya, this one was a surprise to me. The article is pretty informative, but for me, refers to parts that they don't identify, so it's a little lacking in the H.O.W. way of doing things. The best and most informative article that I found comes courtesy of Mother Earth News. It was the first source that agreed with Beth on the importance of having the right file. While reading instruction is helpful, I think that combining the guidance in the Mother Earth News article with watching this great video that I found on YouTube. It's a bit long, but really good.

There are kits, guides and even a chain saw sharpening stone for a Dremel, so it's unlikely that you'll have what you need laying around in your garage. The one thing that I thought would be the most useful is a chainsaw filing guide. Once you've done this a few times, you probably don't need it, but until you get used to performing this task it seems like a good idea. Most of these tools are less than $20, so it still represents a significant savings over having it done professionally.

A helpful hint from one the sources that I reviewed is to use a piece of chalk or crayon or something to mark the first tooth that you sharpen so that you know where to stop. I want to give this a try myself, but if you get to it before me, let us know how it worked out!

Update to the Rescue Tape Product Review

2011-03-09T21:34:00.001-06:00

Like Beth, I was quite fascinated with this tape as well. With my never-ending slew of half-finished projects and the universe’s insistence that every time I try to do something that should take 5 minutes, stuff’s gonna happen to make it take an hour, I foresaw a lot of use for this tape. Let’s take washing a car, for example. This is a simple exercise that has the added benefit of providing instant gratification. I swear my car runs better when it’s clean. Anyway, I pull out my car wash stuff, wash mitt, glass cleaner, etc., move my car into position, unroll the hose and turn on the water. Guess what happened – I had enough dancing water to give the Bellagio a run for its money.

My reality is that for me to carve out the time to wash my car is a one shot opportunity. Hopping in the wash-me billboard to go buy another hose was just not an option if I really expected to get this task done. What to do….ahhh… Rescue Tape! Now, I was on the phone with Beth a bit when she was trying to tame her recalcitrant ice maker hose, so I was prepared for the whole stretching thing. I have to say, I stretched first and then wrapped the stretched tape around the offending areas of the wet hose. This worked fairly well for me, although it did take a couple of lengths of tape before I was able to do it without getting the tape stuck on itself. They aren’t kidding, once that stuff sticks to itself-it’s not coming off.

Anyway, once I got the tape wrapped around each of the holes, I was ready to rock. Each mend got a bubble under pressure, but none of them ever popped. That hose is still working to this day, and I fixed it 6 months ago (Beth’s icemaker hose is still holding too). I’m telling you, this stuff works, and it works for a good long time. I’m curious to see if the hose makes it through this season-more likely, when I finally go to wash my car with whatever hose happens to be out there, I’ll be looking for the Rescue Tape again.

Rescue Tape is one of those things that just needs to be in the ole whatnot drawer. You may not use it often, but when you need it, you want to already have it. I’m giving this stuff 5 Fingernails – even with the whole stretching thing.

The 112th Congress - Best Wishes From H.O.W.

2011-01-06T17:19:00.000-06:00

While we at H.O.W. Media have made a conscious decision to stay away from various topics as smart business people, the whole purpose of H.O.W. Hip is to give you a feel for who the people are behind H.O.W. TV. So I’m throwing caution to the wind (although it may get me in a little trouble with my partners) on this, the first day of our 112th Congress, I can’t help but notice a few things.

First of all, I hope that one day the polls show that we’re 98% independent, with other two falling wherever between the two parties. Ours is a complicated world and does not lend itself to representative loyalty based on some 20+ year old definition of what makes a Republican, Democrat, Moderate, Conservative, Liberal, etc. I mean, I’m sorry, but I think a lot of us can go through the “standard” definition of those labels and pick out principles with which we agree that are (supposedly) held by each one. Regardless of which principles those are, how do we then align ourselves with entities that are supposed to govern our way of life.

As I watched the first female Speaker of the House pass the gavel, I could not help but think what a truly phenomenal thing former Speaker Pelosi accomplished. She managed to get that body to pass things that some thought impossible (whether I personally agreed with them or not). I mean, have you ever watched C-Span and listened to those egos that we call legislators. For a woman to be able to steer a body made up of those (mostly male) personalities with any sort of success is something that we women should be proud of, regardless of whether or not you agree with her politics. (I must admit, that I don’t agree with all of her politics and at times has thought she was nuts) I applaud her for what she’s done.

While I also don’t agree with all of Speaker Boehner’s politics, I sincerely hope that he meant the things he said yesterday. It has grated on my nerves every since November 2nd, the hot air bellowers who wanted to label that election as repudiation of the current administration or any party. We Americans are simply sick to death of the inability of our leaders to get their s*&^t together and at least move on even small things that would make a huge difference. I don’t think any of us care what bloody “party label” they have, we just want them to be as effective and efficient as our bosses in life expect us to be when we’re at work. I can’t even imagine how chopped up my resume would be if I were half as useless in the positions I’ve held as our government seems to have been in recent years.

To them I say – find things that you people can agree on that will help move this country forward and get them done. Here are just a couple of suggestions:

Can we really not agree that any school lunches provided by taxpayer dollars should be healthy. Let’s face it, a generation of fat, diabetic kids is not something that the American taxpayer should be creating.

Can we really not agree that anyone who risks their life to protect our country should get the best possible care of any kind without jumping through a bunch of hoops.
Can we really not agree that our taxation system should ensure that every single sole who uses any American service – be it roads, schools or whatever, contributes to the coffers? (Yeah I know this one is a little meatier than the other two – but goodness sake, what are we paying these people in the legislature to do?!)

They all espouse how important small business is, yet the health care legislation argued about so much is going to require small businesses to file 1099’s for everyone with whom they spend more than $600 per year. Think about it…having to 1099® Office Depot, the parking garage, etc.…will we have to 1099 the post office? We mail and ship a lot of stuff. Not to mention that form 1099 is the only tax form that you have to buy! I mean, c’mon. I’m not knocking the health care legislation, I don’t know enough about it to think anything one way or the other, but for all of the “death panel” and other elements people spouted off about, did you hear anything about that? Ask your dry cleaner, mechanic or hairdresser how much easier that’s going to make life for them.

I think the majority of us realize that with technology, terrorism and the environment of corporate greed that exists – everything about the way our government works needs to get out of the 19th century and lean into the 21st! They apparently think that we’re so stupid, with such short memories that they can keep our eyes off of the systemic failings by filling the airwaves with scripted controversies and incessant finger-pointing. Where I come from, far more time is spent in finding the solution to problem than sitting around figuring out who to blame for it. I beg you all, participate in your government, write/call/e-mail your congressmen and senators when they’re not looking out for your interest. Let them know that we are neither stupid nor sleeping – but are definitely not going to put up this. Best wishes to you Speaker Boehner, Senate Majority Leader Reid and President Obama. We all hope that you can live up to your words about working together to move America forward.

All images obtained from http://whitehouse.gov

H.O.W. for the Holidays Special Offers

2010-12-07T08:36:00.000-06:00

As the companies featured in the gift idea portion of the holiday newsletter provide discounts for the H.O.W. faithful, this part of the blog is where you'll find them. We want to thank these Ladies Who Launch members for not only bringing their unique products to our attention, but for being willing to pony up while trying to get their businesses to the next level.

Speaking from experience, it's really hard to get a business off the ground in a down economy. But, when you know that there are women out there who want/need what it is you have to offer, it feeds that determination to keep on trying. I know that we do a heartfelt tee-hee dance every time we hear from even one woman (or man for that matter) that something we published helped them make a task a little easier. The businesses featured here are in the same place - problem solvers looking for the folks who need the solutions that they have to offer. If you missed the newsletter, you can still get this issue if you register by the 10th, in the meantime, here are the featured offers...

PZI Jeans - 15% discount on all merchandise ordered online by entering code PZ15TWT
Posh Party Box Gift Boxes - 15% discount by entering code PPBHOWTV
Cozy Petal Gift Boxes - 15% discount on 12/17 only by entering code HOWTV3 (we'll post a reminder) & free shipping on orders of $150 and up

H.O.W. for the Holidays

2010-11-24T07:10:00.041-06:00

Most of us can always use more time and money! We find that to be particularly true at this time of the year - the inflation rate on our time is way higher than the market right now. But, there's certainly lot of pull for our money as well...the usual bills, gift giving, card sending, decorations, and everything else that goes with the season. So, think carefully about where you spend your time, as well as your money - both are more valuable to you than others realize (at least they are for me).

Since some people on our gift list appreciate things that we make for them, and money is on the tight side, this year, I am choosing to make more of our gifts and some, if not all, of our cards. It comes out a bit cheaper monetarily, but it does take time, and I dare you to put a price on your time!

If you choose to join us in the venture, here are some suggestions for you. Get your kids (or kids you know) in on it - you're gonna have them home for holiday breaks - they need something to do, why not make it something helpful. I'm totally going to come up with something for the next time the grandkids are here. Look for homemade gifts that have a little utility. If you're going to invest the time, you want the recipient to really value the gift. Lastly, be realistic about that time investments - don't bite off more than you can chew - who wants to self-impose more stress?!

So here's a challenge from us. What you can't or choose not to make, try to buy American and shop with your local merchants. Really put some thought in to where and with whom you spend your money. Support your community and the businesses in it. I love my local Ace Hardware®, Mt. Juliet Beer Co., etc. - makes me smile every day that I see their doors open.

Let's be better stewards of our holiday experience. As Americans, we full well realize that our entire system is built on a foundation of the movement of money. How we spend our money ultimately affects everything ( I know, I know-soapbox). Whether working, not working, going to school, retired, having money problems, family illness....whatever, we all have demands of some kind during this time of year that must be met-regardless. Think of this as a test - see if you don't find that you spend the holidays in a state of less stress, more satisfaction and raring to take on the New Year.

H.O.W.® for the Holidays is a way to share ideas and info to further that goal.

H.O.W.® Facebook® Fan Page ("Like" Page...whatever) & Twitter®

H.O.W.® for the Holidays Discussion: Easy but cool gifts that you can make (we don't want to gft clutter any more than we want to amass it). Fans (Likers) and H.O.W.® post instructions and pictures for clever projects to help a sista' out.
Tweets & Status Posts: Holiday reminders, links to cool gift ideas and cool places to shop - comments and ReTweets encouraged!

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General Interaction

Whether through blog comments on H.O.W.® Hip, joining in the discussion inthe social media world or e-mailing suggestions directly to us - ladies have a lot of ways of getting things done and a lot to say. That combination is a powerful thing.

We truly think that living life is so much more satisfying than life living you. And you're here because you feel the same way. In true Hands On Women® fashion, we encourage you to do everything that you can to get the most out of getting done all of the crap that has to be done for the holiday season.

Most of you are here to support the project of a friend the rest of you found out about us somehow and liked something that you saw in the world of H.O.W.® We'd like to take this opportunity to begin the season with a heartfelt - Thanks for the support! Starting a new venture is definitely challenging, but when you really believe that you're on the side of the angels, no challenge is too daunting for the Hands On Woman. You Rock!

Everyday Treats

2010-10-28T20:36:00.001-05:00

I think one of the unintended consequences of “consuming” so much is that the things that are considered “treats” become so much more prodigious. That idea filters through so many areas of our lives – the way we eat, the way we dress, the time allocation choices that we make, and on and on. I remember when it was a real treat to get candy at Halloween – man, the best thing about that was this lady on my grandmother’s block who made popcorn balls every year. Yum… I can still taste those things. It’s sad – the thought of letting your kid eat homemade popcorn balls from their trick-or-treat bag is unthinkable now.

Sorry, I digress, as usual. Anyway, I was listening to an exchange on tv about how our kids eat, and it occurred to me that this state of our children’s health is just another example of a consequence of indulgence. In my day, going to Dairy Queen or something was a special event, not something that we expected to happen! If we require so much to go into the make-up of a treat – how many is it possible to have in a day..week..month? Think about it…how much different would you feel if you experienced 5 or 6 treats..not in a month or year, but a day? Try it…for one day, focus on what could be considered a treat. If something makes a moment more enjoyable or reflective, if a task is made painless-almost unnoticeable because of the state of something (no traffic when you’re in a hurry, finding something right where it should be, etc.), acknowledge it. Think of it as a treat, and just see how you feel at the end of your day. I’m not saying that we should lower our standards, it’s really more a matter of being as appreciative as possible of what our world IS. Getting the most we can from the now, is the best way to make the most of the next.

Sometimes I think that it’s a big vicious plot that feeds that whole “entitlement” vein in our national personality. Baby I don’t even feel entitled to draw breath – it’s a gift from God everytime that happens. The best stuff in life are those that require a little effort..a bit of personal success with something. I dunno, seems to me that a little more appreciation and a little less expectation might be a good thing. If I’m preaching to the choir – RIGHT ON!, that’s being a Hands On Woman! Fill every day that you can with treats.

Teach the Children Well

2010-09-16T00:37:00.002-05:00

While there are a number of problems facing our nation, whenever I hear a discussion about the state of our education system, I can’t help but marvel at how that happened. More money has been spent during the period of our educational decline, yet there’s been no appreciable impact on the slope of that decline. It’s extremely sad, for one thing - a curious mind is a glorious thing to see in a child and watch blossom into the catalyst of that person growing into a happy, contributing participant in God’s gift of a life. On a less dreamy, more pragmatic level - I want smart, proactive people running this country’s engine when I’m old and doddering.

In the midst of laundry, it occurred to me, could it be possible that this whole water slide started when parents took over how schools can discipline. Think about it – I’m 48, so if you’re around my age, think back to grade school and high school. (Remember, back in those days there weren’t many middle schools and whatnot.) I admit, I was a pretty decent student – couldn’t stand social studies, loved me some English and math – but, I was into my share of stuff you don’t want Mom to find out about. One thing I totally recall is avoiding any kind of terse communication between Mom and school. Man..that would just be trouble that my wantin-to-hang-out-with-my-friends-after-school self just did not need. Folks got paddled, put in detention, suspended, p’s called to the principal’s office – and then punished more when they got home. Just not good stuff. But…I wonder if it made us more, I dunno… receptive?

These days schools have metal detectors, teachers and parents are no longer partners and our kids have no idea that "text" used to be a noun (do they even do parts of speech anymore). I don’t exactly know how we did it, but we went from a place where kids were never in the house, generally respectful and learning stuff (for the most part), to a place where a commercial showing a 12 year old gettin an attitude because she can’t get a $150 pair jeans is mainstream? I mean…what the hell!?

Technology has certainly made learning different, we parent differently and society is decidedly different. It’s hard to pin down what needs to be attacked to ensure that we aren’t raising a generation of mindless drones who can’t get to Grandma’s ‘cause their gps failed in the middle of the trip and their cell phone’s dead. I realize that it seems that I’m wandering, but there are really a bunch of fibers that make up the fabric of a people. I also realize that I’m generalizing, so if you/yours are clued in, please don’t get your panties in a wad.

I worry that we teach to tests not to problem solving; I hate that it’s cheaper to feed kids crap than good stuff; I’m sorry that the days of homemade popcorn balls from Miz Taylor’s house down the street can’t be part of a kid’s Trick-or-Treat bag anymore (would most kids these days appreciate it anyway). Where’m I going with all this, you say? I dunno... if you know/have an urchin, do what you can to expand their experiences to include the simple things. You never know what fiber is going to hold their fabric together – how cool if it turns out to be something that you wove.

All clip art used in this post obtained from free-clipart.net

Yes, We Still Build Things

2010-08-26T06:02:00.001-05:00

In this day and age, it seems as though our children’s tactile experiences are limited to keyboards and game controllers. I remember to this day (and believe me, I have a hard time remembering what I did yesterday) things that I made when I was a little kid. I especially remember my grandfather teaching me how to put race cars and whatnot together. Not to diminish technology and the things that you can accomplish with it, I worry that our kids aren’t really experiencing enough of that sense of pride and accomplishment that you get from making and growing things. In an effort to nurture a generation to be innovative, making things feeds that curiosity about how things work. It's great that they can build virtual castles and tend virtual gardens. Just not the same as putting this little rock looking thing into some dirt; having an excuse to play in the water every so often; and then getting to eat it! Fabulous!

Now, how 'bout taking a kid through that same journey of discovery of how things are made. Look, when trying to teach the next generation the joy of simple triumphs, you have to be diligent in the search for activities/subjects that inspire them. I would like my grandchildren to be better at producing something useful than in manipulating a keyboard/pad/whatever. I realize that I'm a bit biased. I can remember making my first potholder for my mom when I was a kid, and how it made me smile a little every time she used it. I get a little tingle when one of the kids plays out of the toy box that I painted. I want the kids in my life to learn the value of that.

There are lots of building toys out there, but none that really give the feel of the completion of a saw cut or that umph when a screw is snugged. Ron Hazelton, veteran home improvement personality, came up with this idea for power tools for kids and project kits that use a material that is totally harmless, yet feels remarkably like working with wood. As soon as I saw the iBuild2® product line, I just couldn’t get this image of me and my grandson building the little fire truck that you see in the video-followed by me and my granddaughter painting the jewelry box that she just built. Talk about Hands On Women® living, it just doesn’t get any better than that. There are so few things that give you such a sense of triumph as every time you use something that you made yourself.

This product isn’t on the market yet, but we will be keeping our eye out. Man, if this stuff is available in time for Christmas, MiMi’s going to be the bomb this year! By the way, the grandson actually got a few little watermelons out of that endeavor pictured at the top of the page. I can't wait to see his face when he see's them. Hey...I know what...I'll take a picture...stay tuned...

Bay St. Louis, Katrina and Oil

2010-08-07T18:09:00.003-05:00

August of 1969 saw Hurricane Camille-I was 7-and until Katrina, it just wasn't part of my mental library. Camille was the second most intense storm to hit the US. I learned about Camille in the coastal Mississippi town of Bay St. Louis; the time..a couple months before Katrina. My husband and I were heading home from a family visit, driving around town dreaming of buying a vacation house there. Our visit had been so restorative, it was just fabulous; the beach front bars, the buckets of crawfish for 6 bucks, the galleries, the people...everything! Now, we love Nash Vegas, so moving isn't really happening, but we could sure see spending some time there. It was also when I got to know this one cousin and that was such a blast that she planned to come our Pig Roast, scheduled for September 3rd, 2005.

As the predictions of Katrina grew more concerning, the Pig Roast approached and our cousin decided to stay home and ride it out. Katrina hit on August 29th, we heard from Cousin Ellis the next day. She was thankfully alive and unhurt - but in a kind of shock that shook us to the bone. We waffled - should the annual party go on, should my husband go to Bay St. Louis? We ultimately had the party, using it as a way to amass relief supplies for Bo to take when he headed down on Sunday. What our cousin and her fair town experienced during that storm and the aftermath are chronicled in her book, Under Surge, Under Siege: The Odyssey of Bay St. Louis and Katrina. No, this really isn't a shameless plug for the book, it's background for what I really want to talk about - oil.

Enter July, 2010 - the month of our 20th wedding anniversary. Hectic schedules made it challenging to plan something special. We decided to head to Bay St. Louis. Several factors led to this decision: we hadn't seen Ellis since she left us after Katrina, we wanted to see how the community was doing, we're a beach loving couple who hadn't been to a beach in years, Ellis' book was being released, and we wanted to see first hand how the oil of BP was affectimg this part of the Gulf. Since it's neither New Orleans, nor Florida, in-person seemed the only way.

The empty beach (with the exception of the neon green vested clean-up workers, sand moving equipment and fences) was in stark contrast to the last time I visited. We didn't get a real sense of the "oil effect" until we took an excursion to Ship Island. Ship Island is part of the Gulf Islands Naional Seashore. It's the home of Fort Massachusetts, with history that includes the War of 1812.

As the excursion boat approaced the island, we saw the expected oil booms, but we didn't see any oil, nor did we see any evidence of BP clean-up crews. We were informed that the crews come and go before the excursion boats are cleared to leave dock. We toured the Fort, which was the most fascinating Park Service tour experienced to date, and imagined what it must have been like to be stationed in this uniquely fashioned structure. After the tour, we meandered to the other side of the island in order to enjoy the "unfrequented beaches, beautiful water and clean gulf air" touted in the brochure.

It didn't take many steps before the sad truth of the oil effect became apparent. Just as we started to see health warning signs, we noticed a definite acridity to the air. It wasn't so bad as to make breathing difficult, but it was definitely noticeable. Then we saw the condtion of the marshes. I can't put words to the sadness that crept over me as I stood in this beautiful National Park and looked down into the greasy, nasty deposits created by a failing of our consumptive lifestyle. Since I hadn't seen any oil in the big water, I assumed that this area had been spared. How is it permeating the interior marshes?
We continued on to the beach. as we approached, we could see an "oil dust" covering the sand, with still no visible oil in the water.

Swimming in Gulf waters is heavenly. The water is warm and a clear green that dubbed this area the Emerald Coast. I have actually always liked the sort of salty feel that you get when you air dry after frolicking. Since we didn't see any oil in the water, we waded in and played. The warm water was not as clear, but seemed fine. It wasn't until we got out, that our skin felt funny - sticky instead of salty. It took several showers before either of us felt clean. I don't know if it was broken down oil, or dispersant, or what. I do know that it certainly was not as it had been before the oil.

Now, we hear that "75 percent of the oil is gone". "Where has the oil gone?", some ask - well I submit that they simply aren't looking in the right places. We have no idea what the long term effect of this man-made mess is gonna be. We have no idea how long real efforts are going to be made by those responsible to track down every drop - on the water surface or otherwise. We should know that whether or not our leaders choose to lead us down a path that allow us to follow the campers' rule of leaving a site better than we found it, each of us needs to head down that path in order to be truly happy campers. As I have traveled across this great nation, I continually marvel at the cornucopia of beautiful sights that only God could have put in motion. While I don't think of myself as a "tree-hugger", I do think that the least we can do, is try to care for this miracle that is our home. Would I trade taking the shortest route rather than the fastest; or consolidating daily trips into weekly or monthly trips, for never having to feel the bastardiztion of something as wonderful as Gulf water? You bet your ass I would!

I am truly blessed to have never dealt with a disaster - natural or man-made. I'd like to think that I'd be strong, focused - a rock. Who knows..experience has taught me that you never know how you'll react to any situation until you're in the moment. One thing I do know is that I believe that each of us can do anything - when it really matters to us. Another thing that I know is whining solves nothing, and self-reliance pays homage to the brains and abilities that God bestowed upon us. That's what being a Hands On Woman is all about.

During our visit, we heard no whining from the residents, saw great progress in the rebuilding of a area that faced Katrina, Gustav and now BP. We want to buy a house down there even more now than we did before (can you see the dream bubble above my head?). In a world that has become increasingly disconnected (I'm sorry, an e-mail or a "poke" is not the same as a hug), community is an overwhelmingly attractive idea to me. Here's to you, people of Bay St. Louis and surrounding - a hearty Hands On Women "YOU ROCK"! The next time you look for some place to go, consider "the Bay", it truly is a place apart.

Special thanks to Alex Demyan for allowing me to use his before and after images of Bay St. Louis
If you're interested in more about "the Bay" and Katrina: http://katrinapatina.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default

Char Broil Big Easy Product Review Update

2010-07-24T08:59:00.003-05:00

Since the original review was written, we have "infrafried" 2 turkeys, 3 chickens, 4 rib roasts and 2 pork tenderloins. We still LOVE this cooker! This thing makes me want to up the highest possible rating to 10 fingernails. It has continued to be easy to clean, cook well and even the ignitor still works. I've never had the best luck with propane ignitors holding up over the long haul - so I'm happily surprised by this one.

So far, the hands down favorite piece of meat to infrafry is the rib roast. It is just simply to die for - even if it's a little overcooked (we're rare people). After trying several rubs and spice combinations, we found that Famous Dave's® Rib Rub does a spectacular job on this piece of meat. You get a little bit of crispy crust, while the inside is juicy, juicy, juicy. You also get just the right amount of au jus collected in that little tray thing at the bottom of the cooker.

Speaking of that little tray thing - I pitched the aluminum loaf pan provided in the box. Drippings seemed to constantly land in and under it. I'm simply not into having 2 things to clean when just 1 will do. Besides, cleaning aluminum pans is an extremely frustrating enterprise. After almost a year of use, that is truly the only complaint I have with this product.

There are a couple of supporting products that the infrafrying afficianado must have in their repertoire. For the whole seasoning bit and prepping the rack for non-stick cooking, Grill Wipes® are the absolute bomb. When I've been forced to use another method to season or prep, slight irritation has ensued. (you know I'm all about keeping irritants down to a minimum) I also highly recommend the use of a wireless thermometer. Trying to gauge cooking time by using a per pound plan, doesn't always deliver the desired doneness. 10 minutes per pound works fine with poultry, but not so much with other types of infrafrying fodder. In my hubby's enthusiasm during an early infrafrying session, we melted the base on our sending unit - don't ask me how - but it's been challeging since then. A standard thermometer is okay, but I kinda need that alarm to keep me focused.

If you're a rabid infrafyer, what's your favorite nosh? If you aren't an infrafryer yet, put it on your wish list - you will not be disappointed.

Principle Before Profit

2010-04-16T08:03:00.002-05:00

By: Pam Melton

You know, a lot of my friends kinda snicker at me because I tend to get a little self-righteous when it comes to companies and products. I just don't believe that selling your soul, and making as much money as possible-regardless of the consequences are requirements to making a living, and living a happy, fulfilled life. Seriously, there is a a particular store that I haven't patronized at all in over 7 years, at great comparative inconvenience, because I don't like their business practices or philosophies. When I don't like a company-I really don't like them; when I do like or respect company, I'm pretty vocal about it because sometimes, the good guy really should succeed.

I admit, I've historically been more of a "convenient environmentalist" - a believer, but not a staunch practitioner. I realized, however, that if I'm as serious about getting the most possible enjoyment of life and celebrating what I have, rather than lamenting what I don't, it includes giving a crap about this beautiful planet that we are honored to inhabit. I'm not gonna be chaining myself to trees or anything, but how hard is it to really do what I can? So...I discovered Seventh Generation® products 5 years or so ago, when Publix® opened a store in my area. It was a little more expensive, but at the time, we could afford to spend an extra few cents in the effort of being better stewards of our planet-I mean we enjoy the outdoors, we should be responsible about it. Anywho, the product work great, and if they're available where I happen to be shopping, I'll choose their brand.

I recently signed up on their site and just received their newsletter. I just had to share it. I mean here's a company who makes fabric softener sheets, yet extols the virtues of line-drying clothes; they make cleaning products, yet advise on the wisdom of using welcome mats to reduce the dirt and crap that comes in, and micro-fiber cloths to reduce (eliminate in some cases) the amount of cleaning product needed. You just gotta love principle before profit. Check 'em out.

Five Most Impactful Cleaning Strategies from Seventh Generation Seventh Generation

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H.O.W. to Remember

2010-03-18T13:58:00.005-05:00

If you're a subscriber to H.O.W. Now News, you know that we will start a new service in April. H.O.W. to Remember will Tweet reminders of those tasks that you know that you should do/mean to do/have a V-8 moment when you think about them. You know, it's all of that stuff that you just don't want clogging up your calendar and are contained on some to-do list...somewhere. Wherever possible, the Tweet will link to how-to or product information to help get the job done.

We've developed a list of those things, but want to make sure that we hit everything that we can to help a sista out. We also want to be able to be a resource for those who really don't want to sign up for yet another site (Twitter). This area of the blog is where a list of these chores will reside, by month. Since the length of a Tweet is sometimes a challenge, all links to helpful info will be stored here. This is also the place where you guys can suggest tasks to add to the Tweet schedule, as well as share any great shortcuts and time or money savers related to the task at hand.

Follow us or mark the blog as a favorite so you don't miss a trick - who needs an elephant when you have the H.O.W. nation!

HTR 1-Now's the time, if you plan to plant anything, take a soil sample to make sure you're ready. (4/1/10)
HTR 2 - Is your mascara more than 3 months old? Bacteria buildup & whatnot could be lurking. Change it now & we'll remind you in 3 months! (4/2/10)
HTR 3 - Take an hour and clean out the fridge-Easter dinner leftovers. Don't forget the fresh box of baking soda (old one down the drain). (4/3/10)
HTR 4 - Can your car see clearly now? Change those windshield wipers! We'll remind you again in 6 months. (4/7/10)
HTR 5 - Great evening to welcome hummingbirds to the world of you. It only takes a minute. http://howtv.tv/Humm_Along.html (4/8/10)
HTR 6 - Probably okay to take hibernating outdoor plants back outside-season’s early this year, and what a way to finish out the day! (4/14/10)

HTR 7 - It's about that time, so get ready plant. Now's the time to work tilling into your toils this week. (4/19/10)

H.O.W. Now

2010-03-16T23:16:00.002-05:00

Responsiveness is our battle cry! We tend to get bogged down in the edit bay, so here's where we get on your requests as expeditiously as possible (I can't help it, like big words-Scrabble freak too). Check back lots - we'd love to get your take on the questions from the Hands On Nation.

10/28/10 - Hands On Woman Carol: "Just learned that we can prevent many transmission problems by having our transmission fluid changed periodically. Wish I had known this."

10/29/10 - The next channel that we want to add to H.O.W. TV is automotive. Between the way women are typcially treated when it comes to auto maintenance/repairs and the fact that we really can do a bunch of that stuff ourselves, this is a great category for Hands On Women. In the meantime, this is a pretty informative write up:
How Often Should Automatic Transmission Fluid Be Changed

03/13/10 - Hands On Woman Susie asks: "I would like advice on buying a hedgetrimmer, tired of the scissor type, too much work. I would also like advice on buying a hand-held steam cleaner- do they really work that well?"

03/16/10 - Well Susie, while we haven't run a product test of the hedge trimmers out there, I can say that we have given the Worx® Hedge Trimmer a workout. I absolutey loved using it last season. I'm overdue on the product review of the Worx® yard tools, so I'll get right on that. You can take a look at the brief demo from the Hardware Show. It is a really lightweight trimmer and it does a beautiful job.

As to the handheld steam cleaner, in my prior life, I had cause to test every steamer that I could find. As a caveat, I have to say, this has been about 6 years ago, so some great product may be out there that we haven't tried. So, steamers are gonna be our first category review. That being said, I didn't find them particularly effective on cleaning grease (range hoods, grills, etc.), nor was I tickled with less than sparkling results on glass (soap scum or not). Don't get me wrong - it gets clean, but I didn't find it as effortless as it appears on tv. I did have great success cleaning the grout on floor in our sun room. Stuff looked like new! If disinfecting is your goal, I think this is the way to go. Now, it's not like I've got a way to test for germs or whatever, but the concept makes sense. If there any brands that you want us to make sure to try, post it! Hope this helps, Susie.

The Premier of the new H.O.W. TV

2010-03-06T11:20:00.004-06:00

After a year and a half of listening and tweaking - the new H.O.W. TV has arrived! The search engine is more robust, the site is easier to navigate and we are fired up and ready to go! Another cool addition is that we can now link relavent videos to articles. As you know, there's often a lot more helpful info on a subject than makes good video. We are able to give you all of the info, without having to make you click all over the place to get it. One more thing, the Fingernail Rating System.

Fingernail Rating System

Okay, here's how it works. The more fingernails we are able to keep intact while doing a project, the happier we are with the project. Since a lot of intact fingernails is a good thing, the more of them a product gets in a review, the better we like the product. 5 whole fingernails rocks...5 broken fingernails sucks. There you go - the key to what we think is worth doing or buying.

Visit H.O.W. TV 2.0 and let us know what you think! If you like, sign up for the newsletter - we try not to be a nuisance with that, so we only publish when there's something really importat to say. Happy H.O.W.ing!