Save On Gas -Tips

One chore I really could do without is filling up the gas tank. For some reason, I put it off as much as I can without making myself too nervous about that needle getting too close to the empty side on my dashboard. I’m not sure what it is, and it’s not about having to pay too much either, I just do not like messing with the gas station.

I did have to fill up this week, however, and this time I was actually cheerful about it. Want to know why? For the first time in a very long time, it took less than a $20 bill for a full tank!

How exciting is that? 

Even though the price per gallon is indeed down, it’s still always good to be aware on how to save on gas consumption.

Here are a few tips to Save on Gas:

• Avoid iddling more than 30 seconds. If I have to wait more than 1 minute (except at stop sign or red lights, off course), then I turn off the car. It takes more gas to iddle than to start the car again in 5-10 minutes -not speaking about less air polution.
• Avoid aggressive driving. Speeding, rapid accelerations, and hard breaking all decrease gas mileage by up to 33 percent.
• Use cruise-control on highways. Maintaining constant speed saves on gas. Your foot is not as reliable on long trips.
• Clean out your car. No need to carry around excess weight, or all those books you keep meaning to take to Half Price Books, or the bag of dirt for Mom’s garden beds.
• Keep tires inflated. Check the pressure recommendations on your tires and keep them there.

**info in part from US Dept of Energy

New T-shirts and the Holidays

With the holidays and family being around for Thanksgiving, I do not have as much time to make the rounds of my various blogs and other online ventures… though I did manage to upload a couple images into the Zazzle gallery and add some fun T-shirts and bumper stickers.

Sloth illustrations, to be precise. Curious? Check them out here:

http://www.zazzle.com/riverbynight

and off course…

Happy Turkey Day!

Dance Movies and Ballroom Dancing

I’ve just posted a new squidoo lens. It’s been a while since I made one and after watching “Take The Lead” with Antonio Banderas, I felt inspired… who wouldn’t, watching Banderas in an impressive Tango scene? (BTW, you can see what I’m talking about through a youtube video on the lens)

This one is about dance movies -you know, the ones with a usually thin plot revolving around dance in one form or another. I only have a few movies featured for the moment, and do plan on adding more soon.

Ballroom dancing is all the rage now with movies and the current, very popular Dancing With The Star show. There is a certain grace, elegance, and certainly “sexual” aspect to it that makes it mesmerizing to watch.

Here’s an exerpt of the introduction:

Dancing movies inspire us. Sure, some are the epitome of campy, but they make us want to get up and move our bodies, feel the passion of dancing, run away with the dance instructor… oh, uh, ahem, ((cough)), sorry, got a little carried away there.

As I was saying… most dance movies follow a somewhat generic plot line, this being secondary to the visual candy of the dancers. After all, that’s why we watch, isn’t it? To forget our woes and loose ourselves in a magical world.

I’ve got a few titles on my renting list. When I do watch them, I’ll add them on the lens with a quick personal note.

So take a peak, and like I said, be sure to watch the videos:

http://www.squidoo.com/dance-movies

If you like it, come back here and leave me a comment… 

Enjoy.

Leaders

Our principal sent us a nice note on the weekly newsletter yesterday that I wanted to re-print here.

It’s a breakdown for each letter of the word: LEADER

See if you agree:

• L – Learn: who you are and where it is that you want to do.
• E – Enthusiasm: be enthusiastic about what you do. Enthusiasm is contagious.
• A – Attitude: not about what you hope tp happen but what you expect to happen.
• D – Dedication: the ability to carry out a promise.
• E – Empathy: caring about others.
• R – Reviresco: a French term translated to mean to grow green again. To flourish when face with adversity.

Book Review: Almost French

I wrote a review of Almost French, written by Sarah Turnbull, an Australian expat living in Paris, France.

It’s a fun easy to read book with lots of very humorous moments. Part travel book, part personal journey into another culture, this will delight any francophile… and anyone else too, for that matter.

Here is an exerpt, then click on the link for the rest of the review:

It is, however, well written and delightful to read, and a great study of French etiquette with the love of beauty and elegance above all else. One particular moment comes to mind when Sarah quickly throws on sweat pants to run off to the bakery for fresh bread. Frederic is horrified: “Are you going out like that, wearing your gymnastic pantaloons?” “Yeah, I’m just going to the bakery” Sarah replies, to which comes Frederic’s indignation, “But that’s not nice for the baker!”

Enjoy. Please be sure to rate the review via the star system at the end. Thanks a million.

Almost French full review