Killing fleas with salt
June 29, 2008
My cat, Hemingway, has lived with me longer than my wife. Huey joined the family after we had been married about a year. In all of that time, we’ve never had fleas.
Undoubtedly, our apartment complex has fleas outside. Undoubtedly, when my two children play in the grass, they bring in fleas. Undoubtedly, those fleas have taken roost inside.
We’ve not seen a lot of fleas, but Hemingway is not happy. I’ve seen one on the toilet seat. Tara saw one on the floor while playing with Ella, our soon-to-be 1-year-old daughter.
Thus, we went exploring the Internet and found a safe, cheap remedy for fleas: salt.
So, off to Kroger I went. I purchased 12 boxes of salt at 33 cents per box. Tax and all, that comes to $4.24 later, I had a non-toxic remedy.
It took six boxes to cover the apartment. We let it sit overnight and vacuum in the morning. We’ll repeat in a couple of days.
For more on how to kill fleas with salt, read one of these posts:
I just hope my cats don’t lick the carpet…
Keeping cool and saving money
June 25, 2008
LifeHacker provides a tip on making your ceiling fans work for you.
From Simple Dollar via LifeHacker:
Most fans have a “clockwise” setting and a “counterclockwise” setting, each appropriate for a different season. Stand beneath the fan and turn it on. If you immediately feel a breeze from the fan, then it’s set on the “summer” setting, usually counterclockwise. Otherwise, turn off the fan, climb up near the base of the fan, and look for a little button or switch that sets the fan to run in the opposite direction.
Visit LifeHacker for the link to the full Simple Dollar article.
My plan for getting healthy and fit
May 28, 2008
So, “tomorrow” didn’t come as soon as I thought. Between work getting crazy and me getting sick, I’ve been swamped.
Excuses aside, here’s the next part of healthy lifestyle plan.
After deciding to not only lose weight but to get back to a healthy lifestyle, I outlined how I lost 30 pounds in six months last year. My method included better eating habits but no real exercise. While that formula can be effective for losing weight (and thus making you healthier), it is not the best way to improve your overall health.
So, here’s my plan:
Exercise: I’m up at 5 a.m. and in the exercise room by 5:15 a.m. I’ll do light cardio on the bike or treadmill and finish with weights. As I build up, I’ll increase my weight training. In the end, though, I’ll have only 45 minutes to give to exercise. But that’s better than nothing.
Eating: This will be strictly a calorie-counting exercise. I can eat whatever I want, within reason, so long as I’m careful to watch my calorie consumption. Once you are accustom to counting calories (or Weight Watcher points) then it becomes second nature.
Foods to avoid: OK. An addendum to the above. I will avoid all fried foods and consume “sweets” only once a week. I’ll increase my fruit intake as snacks. (I know, sugar. Must be careful.)
Water: I’ve already increased my water intake to 96 ounces a day. That alone can make a big difference. Water can help keep your metabolism up and keep you filled.
Tracking: I’m a big believer in accountability. I’ll track my progress daily and weekly in a few ways, all of which will be discussed in my next post. (And while it’s planned for tomorrow, I’ve learned never to publicly announce my next blog post unless it is written and scheduled to post automatically.)
None of these are revolutionary tips, and they are all commonsense. In fact, they are so simple that I’m reminded of what someone said on Twitter when I posted my last post.
“Is it really that hard to lose weight?” he asked, then went on to explain his method. He:
- Watches what he eats.
- Rides his bike everyday.
In short, no, it’s not that had to lose weight and stay healthy once you are in that routine. But breaking bad habits and getting into a good routine can be quite difficult.
Sometimes just writing it down and finding inspiration in others who have undertaken simple steps to reach their goals is needed to obtain what others find so simple. That’s what I’ve done, and I hope others (at least one person) finds the same from these posts.
Up next: My jumping off weight and sizes, my tracking methods and where I am after one week.
Losing 30 pounds in six months
May 20, 2008
Yesterday, I wrote a post announcing that I was getting back into a healthy lifestyle routine. Today, I’ll give you background on how I lost 30 pounds in six months without exercising, and why not exercising won’t work for me this time around.
My first newspaper gig was at The Rankin Record in Flowood, MS, under a publisher by the name of Tim Beeland. It was Tim who told me about the best diet in the world, though I would not “get it” until years later.
He subscribed to the Push-Away Diet. In short, once he was done with his plate, he pushed away from the table. If he knew something was bad for him, he pushed it away.
That’s rather simplistic, but it’s the most effective diet in the world. And I would say it is no harder than giving up certain food groups. In fact, with the Push-Away Diet, you can eat what you want, so long as you push food away once you’ve reached your predetermined limit.
All joking aside, this is how I lost my weight. There was no intense exercise program, no fad diet, not cutting out bread and eating red meat like it was going out of style.
Simply put, after I did a little research, it became clear that the simplest approach was to eat fewer calories than what I required. Once I found a way to count calories without it being a crunch on my time or an inconvenience at meals, I was ready to go.
Before I go further, let me say that I’m a political consultant, freelance writer and former journalist. At no time have I professionally worked in the health field. This post includes my thoughts, observations and tips that work for me. They may not work for you — or anyone else, for that matter.
What my research showed
The best diet in the world is not really a diet. It’s a study of how your body gains or loses weight. It’s semi-scientific approach to understanding the relationship between what you eat and the fluctuation in weight.
The Hacker’s Diet was written by John Walker, founder of Autodesk, Inc., and co-author of AutoCAD.
If you are serious about weight loss, I would recommend sitting down and reading it. Mind you, it is a long piece. It has worksheets (that I don’t use) that illustrate the points made and that can help you along the way.
The key points of the Hacker’s Diet are as follows:
Approach weight loss as an engineering problem. While this may not appeal to anyone but engineers, think of it as a mystery. It can be a coding mystery for you programmers or a simple puzzle for those who like mind games. The point is to approach weight loss (and a lifestyle change) not from the point of view of “this is what I have to do to lose weight” but “what do I have to do to lose weight?” If you go at a diet saying, “The Acme Diet says I can’t eat anything that I like,” then you will fail. But if you take a hard look at your lifestyle, recognize what changes need to be made and then voluntarily make them, you have ownership over the plan.
Continual monitoring keeps you focused. I have a wee bit of a compulsive personality. The whole idea of weighing once a week kills me. I’m on the scale every day, same time of the day, to see my progress. Granted, I know results do not happen overnight and that many factors can contribute to slight ebbs and flows in one’s weight. That said, it is the daily tracking — at least mentally — of where I am that gives me the input I need to make it through the day in a healthy manner. The Hacker’s Diet prescribes just that. Continual tracking and monitoring — going so far as to plot certain things on a spreadsheet, for the truly obsessive — can help you not only see the effects of the changes you have made in your daily habits, it can also encourage you (or shame you) in your efforts.
Exercise or the lack thereof. Walker writes: “You don’t exercise to lose weight (although it certainly helps). You exercise because you’ll live longer and you’ll feel better.” This is what sold me on The Hacker’s Diet, and I’ll tell you why. Exercise is important. It does help you live longer, and it does make you feel better. But for exercise to be an effective weight-loss tool, it must involve a rigorous, time-consuming routine for which most average people do not have time. Once I understood exercise’s role, I was free to focus on my eating habits as weight-loss and finding time for exercise became secondary. I no longer felt like I was failing in my “dieting” if I did not exercise. I just felt like, “If I exercised more, I’d feel better and have more energy. But, hey, look how much weight I’m losing. That helps, too.”
One important note. Walker is quick to point out that he is not a doctor or nutritionist. In fact, he says The Hacker’s Diet “is a diet book by somebody who spent most of his life fat.”
Hacking the Hacker’s Diet
As with any diet, it only works if you custom-tailor it to your life. If you can afford a gym membership and have the time to go for an hour or two every day, then by all means do it.
For me, I hacked The Hacker’s Diet this way:
Weight Watchers. If you want a mainstream diet plan, this is the way to go. This is the easiest way to count calorie-, fat- and fiber-intake. While the program itself can be expensive, you can find online counters (even for your iPhone or other mobile device) that help you judge the points. A cursory search with Google will produce charts for you to decide how many points you need. And, if you have the spare change, signing up for a month or two to get the materials may be worth it. It was to my wife and me.
Home cooking. My wife cooked every dinner. I went home most every lunch. By doing this, we not only saved money, but we avoided the grease and fat of restaurants. If you can’t go home for lunch, take your lunch with you to work. And don’t be daunted by cooking at night, especially you busy parents (like us). There are great cookbooks out there that are geared toward quick-and-easy meals.
Don’t forget to cheat. I used the FlexPoints plan of Weight Watchers, which gives you extra points each week. This allows you to cheat. And cheating is not bad, so long as you do it in moderation. For instance, my cheats might be a beer or a glass of wine each night. Perhaps it was dessert at my favorite restaurant. Or maybe I would have that cheeseburger I wanted. It was rarely more than weekly, and it was rarely — if ever — a binge.
Adapting to change. You may read the cheating point above and say, “My problem is that I always binge.” That’s because you are trained to do so. If you can make it through that first week of counting points or counting calories, then your body will start to adapt to your new eating habits. The hunger pains can be tough, but cucumbers, radishes and other crispy veggies will do away with them in short order. And once you have adjusted to the new eating habits, the desire to binge will go away. In fact, when you do cheat just a little, your body will not like it.
For me, starting with Weight Watchers helped train me to know what I could and could not eat without taking in too many calories. I learned portion sizes as well. Eventually, I stopped counting the points because eating healthy foods in the right portions became second nature.
And what about exercise?
When I began this new approach last year, I said I would start exercising again. Several months before I had been exercising every morning. I’d ride my bike and then do a light weight routine. When my wife and I moved, I got out of the habit.
However, while I changed my eating habits, I never got back to my exercise routine. For me, it didn’t matter as much during those six months. I weighed 205 pounds when I started. For a guy who stands only 5′9″, that’s a hefty load.
Losing the weight gave me more energy and made me feel better. Plus, it helped my life expectancy.
Now, however, I’m only slightly overweight. My target, which I’ll discuss more tomorrow, is now not so much about weight as it is size. I want to get from my size 36 pants to a size 34. I want to get rid of my beer gut. And I want to have more energy and feel healthier. Losing just a few pounds will achieve the first two, but it won’t do as much toward the second.
My new plan includes a daily exercise plan, but it’s not to lose weight. If I miss a day of exercising, it’s just going to make it a longer day. It won’t really play a part in my weight loss.
Tomorrow, I’ll outline my goals, both for losing weight and for exercising.
And if you take nothing else from this post, take that the two (weight loss and exercise) can be — and for most of us, should be — exclusive, even if they are equally important.
My plan to get back to a healthy lifestyle
May 19, 2008
Like many people, I’ve wrestled with my weight and lifestyle habits. There have been times of regular workouts but poor eating habits and times of great eating habits but no workout plan.
Last summer, I vowed to do something about it. After a bit of research online, I came to the conclusion that I already knew: If you want to lose weight, take in less calories than you burn.
From June to December of last year, I lost 30 pounds without doing the slightest bit of exercise. Mind you, I’m not advocating no exercise, but my point is simple: You can lose weight without exercising.
I’ll get more into what I did in a later post. For now, know that I did not starve myself. I ate regularly — four to five times per day — and sensibly.
For most people — myself included — the 30-minute workouts will do little to burn enough calories for weight loss purposes. If you want to lose weight through workouts, you have to be dedicated to a rigorous schedule.
Without getting into the debates of cardio vs. weights (a healthy combination of both is the way to go), exercise for me is not about weight loss. It is about building up my metabolism, being healthier and generally feeling better throughout the day.
Leo Babauta at ZenHabits just started a new blog to track his workout progress. Mind you, he is already a runner and in good shape. Were I where he is, I’d be happy.
After five months of slacking, not to mention gaining back seven pounds, I’ve decided to rededicate myself to getting healthy. Two recent posts from ZenHabits, the announcement of the Unbelievable Lightness of Being Club and 17 Tips to Help You Get Leaner and Fitter, were good inspiration.
Therefore, this is the first of a four-part series and regular blog posts. Here’s what I plan to do:
Background: What I’ve done before in weight loss and exercise, including more details about how I went from 205 lbs. to 175 lbs. in six months.
Goals: Weight loss, waist size, workout and morning routine.
Tracking: Blog, eating diary, etc.
Daily blog reports: The key to being successful is being vested. If I commit to telling the world about it, then perhaps the shame of failing will keep me going.
My next post will be in the morning after I exercise.
And by the way, I started out right this morning. I was up at 5 a.m. I rode my bike and did a light weight routine. I ate toast (plain) and yogurt for breakfast. (3 points if you are doing Weight Watchers.)
Keeping razor-sharp focus
May 5, 2008
A recent guest post by Glen Stansberry of LifeDev on keeping focus offers some excellent tips. You could easily design your daily routine around most of the 16 posts. A few highlights to that extent:
Keep a daily “purpose” card. It’s pretty easy to get lost staring at the computer all day long. We’ll find rabbit holes to wonder down (ie. Youtube, Myspace, etc.) if we’re not careful. Having your daily purpose card gives you clarity and a reminder as to what you’re doing today.
I do this to an extent. I have my top 3 most important tasks (MITs) for the day each day. They are prominently displayed on my desktop using a text file and GeekTool.
Plan your day to the T. If you’re finding sporadic periods of laziness throughout the day, it could be because you don’t take enough breaks (see #2), and you don’t have the day mapped out as efficiently as you could. Make sure your list of todos has lots of small, actionable steps that can be done quickly. This will gives a really satisfying feeling when you’re crossing things off your list like crazy.
OK. So “to a T” is a bit of an exaggeration for me. That said, I know my lull times and my productive times. I try to play to those strengths and weaknesses with set times for email, RSS reading, research and other regular tasks. Most of it is driven by my MITs.
Plan the night before. Planning the night before is a great way to really get focused on the next day. “Sleeping” on your tasks and goals for the following day can really help your mind expect what’s going to happen the next day. Essentially, you’re preparing your mind for the following day. Advanced focus.
I’ve just started doing this, mainly because I plan quicker at night than in the morning. When I plan first thing in the morning, I allow myself to get distracted or find myself eager to start a project before my planning is done. The end-result is often either a dysfunctional day or a wasteful day — both due to a lack of planning.
Keep a journal of what you did throughout the day. I like to use a moleskine notebook for my lists just so I can go back and review it every now and again, to see what I’ve done. Knowing how far you’ve come can keep you sharp and motivated to finish.
I use a moleskine notebook as well, but I don’t always journal in it at the end of the day. I sometimes use Journler, and sometimes I use a moleskine. Either way, getting into the habit of reviewing your day in writing is a good way to put your thoughts together and begin the planning process for the next day.
Start the day right. Starting the day with a good breakfast, some quiet time and/or exercise is a great way to set your day up for success. Sounds like a cliche, but it really works.
Clean yourself up. It’s why my track coach in high school made us dress up for big races: you perform the way you feel. And if you feel polished, groomed and ready, you’ll be more likely to be productive. For me this is just taking a shower, brushing my teeth and putting on casual clothing. I used to work all day without taking a shower in my PJ’s, but I never got much stuff done. Let’s be honest here… if you’re dressed really casually, odds are you’ll be working really casually. Just taking the time to clean up a bit before you buckle down for the day is never a bad idea.
These last two go hand-in-hand, in my opinion. If I am not up by 6 a.m, then my day is shot. Likewise, if I’m not dressed when working from home, I do not have the same energy. And sometimes, if I’m bumming it at work, I lack the same energy as if I’m dressed for a meeting. That said, sometimes I much prefer the “bumming”. It comes down to knowing what you have before you and being prepared mentally for it.
15 tips to save money setting up a new office
April 22, 2008
I’ve had more than a few experiences setting up a new office, or taking over a severely out-of-date office in need of an overhaul.
If you are not careful, you can rack up an expensive pile of invoices before you ever get down to doing any real work only to find that what you have doesn’t quite meet your needs.
Here are a few tips to ensure that not only do you save money setting up a new office but that you also address all of your needs.
1. Outline your needs
This may seem straight-forward, but too many people jump straight into buying the desk or getting the newest computers. In reality, those things — while big ticket items that need to be carefully thought out before purchased — aren’t what’s going to kill your pocketbook.
It’s the filing drawers you don’t need and the extra work tables you do that will pile on the expenses.
If this is a home office or a small shop (two- or three-person), simply think through your workflow. Don’t forget the business side of life (i.e. how you will file invoices, keep up with manuals, store supplies, etc.)
If you are looking at a larger operation, go the extra step of diagraming work spaces. Think through as many of the nuances of your business as you can.
Spending a little time here will save you much money down the road.
2. Skimp on the desk
Desks should meet some simple needs: Hard surface on which to write with a keyboard tray for ergonomic purposes.
Personally, I hate drawers, though I still get desks with them for most people in the offices. Drawers cause clutter and items to be lost. Less drawers can save you in office supplies. Trust me!
3. Buy comfortable chairs
When setting up an office, there are a few places where you should not skimp. Chairs are one of them. Take the money you save on desks and put it here.
That does not mean you have to go purchase a $750 ergonomic chair. However, you would be wise to consider one that meets your budget. In the long run, the more comfortable people are at their desks, the more work they will get done. Past that, you can help cut down on posture problems. (Coming from a relatively young man with a bad back, that will mean a lot to your co-workers.)
5. Buy Mac computers
I’ve heard the arguments about Macs being more expensive than PCs. And, perhaps there is some truth to that if you compare a solid MacBook with a bottom-feeder PC you get from Office Depot. But, you get what you pay for, my friends.
That said, Macs are easy to use, easy to network and are not as susceptible to viruses and spyware. They also hold up much better than PCs, especially when it comes to having to replace hard drives.
If you are concerned about the lack of tech support for Macs in your area, don’t be. First, you will need tech support a lot less. Second, purchase the Apple Protection Plan if you are not computer savvy. Their help desks are phenomenal. If you are the least bit computer savvy, rely on the online forums and help articles. It’s a great database, and I’ve rarely had to look anywhere else for what little has ailed my Macs.
6. Be smart on computers
Not everyone needs the latest MacBook Pro. In fact, if you don’t need to buy a new computer, don’t. Go with a refurbished model or purchase a slightly used computer from that guy who has to have the newest everything. (Trust me, they are everywhere.)
7. Buy second monitors
Here’s another place where you should not skimp. Dual monitors will increase your productivity. I cannot fathom working on some projects without a dual-monitor setup. The only time I sacrifice this setup is when I decide to work from a mobile office for a while. (See more about this in the last point.)
But do not purchase just any old cheap monitor. In addition to increasing productivity, good monitors will help with eye strain. Too, creative professionals will benefit from the clarity of their screens.
8. Look at software alternatives
I’m not a fan of Google Docs, but there are plenty of free office suites out there. Likewise, you can get away with iWorks for a lot less than Microsoft Office.
Depending on your business, decide what you need and search online for those price-savers. If you are going to be working with lite graphics that take only a 1/1000th of PhotoShop’s power, try Pixelmator or another alternative.
9. Go cable for Internet
OK. I hate AT&T. While I have their DSL service in my home office, it is only because I will not give up my DirecTV for cable to get Internet through Comcast.
That said, if you have the choice between AT&T or a cable high-speed provider, go with cable. In many instances, it will be cheaper, and you get cable to boot. Too, cable is up to four times faster than DSL.
Now, not everyone will have the simple choices of two or three providers; some will have far more choices. But the point here is to shop around. In today’s fluctuating market, deals are ever changing. Make sure you leverage this to your advantage.
10. Make the right choice on phones
If you can get away with it, I would go with all cell phones and unlimited data plans. Most people prefer their cell phones to landlines. Too, we increasingly communicate with e-mail, SMS and IM.
If you feel you need a phone system, then consider going with an online system. To do this, you will most likely need a T1-type internet connection. So keep this in mind when choosing the right Internet provider.
11. Spend money on “amenities”
Do not sacrifice coffee makers, refrigerators and water coolers to save money. If anything, buy premium coffee or contract with a service to provide coffee.
Your workers will spend more time at the office than they will awake at their homes. Make sure they are comfortable. It will pay off with increased productivity.
12. Go mobile
This goes back to Nos. 5 & 6 in a way. Buy laptops where feasible. Then, allow or even encourage people to work away from the office from time to time.
To facilitate, make sure you have one or two PC connect cards to help save money on the wi-fi fees from Starbucks. Again, this is an “amenity” that will pay off in increased productivity and creativity.
13. Hire an accountant
Depending on your business, I’m betting your strong suit is not handling the books. Therefore, do not torture yourself with it. Hire an accountant to handle your books, payables and receivables.
Outsourcing financial-related aspects of small businesses is common today. You will most likely be able to find someone who is a semi-retired accountant or business manager who enjoys doing what you hate and has made a go at doing it freelance-style.
So support other independent-minded entrepreneurs and outsource your biz office.
14. Buy an OCR scanner and a shredder
If you outsource your business office, this will be an absolute must. Past that, you can forgo the need of filing cabinets by taking your paper life and making it digital. The best on the market is the ScanSnap from Fujitsu. I swear by them.
Also, get a decent shredder. Shred every bit of paper that comes your way, especially those with sensitive information. Ditto for old credit cards or those stupid credit card offers.
Again, these are two areas where you do not want to skimp, especially the scanner.
15. Try a “mobile” office
And finally… don’t rent office space. This will not work for every kind of outfit. However, it might work for more than you think. If your business lives largely on your computer, cell phone and online servers, then why rent an office?
If you consult, then take meetings at the client’s office or at a coffee shop or in the park.
Need some quiet time to work? Go to a library or a book store or that park where you are going to meet your client later in the day.
Got a small amount of product but not enough for a warehouse that does not require storefront space? Rent a storage building instead. You can get climate control for cheaper than an office space.
Seriously. Arm yourself with a laptop, a cell phone and a PC connect card. Buy a printer for the house or use the thousands of dollars you are saving to print at a print shop. Then, make the world your office. It’s the most liberating feeling you will ever have.
Ecclesiastes, Proverbs for the 21st Century
March 29, 2008
The unexamined life is not worth living. —Socrates
For several years I have been lurking on sites such as LifeHacker, ZenHabits and 43 Folders. Each offer great tips on everything from technological productivity to enjoying life and work more with simple pleasures.
It was from these sites, and many like them, that I first started yearning for the freedom in life to work for myself. And while my decision to leave my old newspaper and start afresh as a consultant may not have been all mine or have happened under the best of circumstances, the end result has been glorious.
My favorite books of the Bible are Ecclesiastes and Proverbs. If you are reading a Catholic Bible, I would throw in the Book of Wisdom. They are full of bits of wisdom, a users guide, if you will, to living a moral and peaceful life.
In many ways, these sites are the 21st Century equivalency, though without the religious overtones. To boot, most have a good community of people who interact in comments and cross-postings.
Through following these sites I’ll post the “neater” findings here, along with my own tips and tricks that I’ve developed over the years.
Why? Because one of my greatest interests at this point in my life is living better. It is a real calling for me, and I want to share what I discover along the way.
And I encourage you to visit a few of my favorite sites:
I’m subscribed to twice as many feeds similar to these, but the ones I listed above are by far my favorite.
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