True, meter readings can definitely be in error, but keep in mind that these errors are not going to cost you any money in the long run. In the case of your water bill, for example, your bill for water usage the next month would have been zero because the meter reading still probably would not have come up to the figure they erroneously recorded on the previous month's bill. The same would be true of gas and electric meters. (There may still be a monthly service fee you pay, so the bill wouldn't actually be zero, but you'd pay that anyhow. The bill for your actual usage will be zero.) However, some people may object to "lending" the utility company money in the form of paying a big bill this month, even though that money is going to be paid back to them over the next few months in the forms of very low or non-existent bills. These people can simply do as you did and read the meter themselves if they get an overly high bill, and the utility company will make the appropriate adjustment.

Yes and no and no. My downstairs computer is in the middle of the house, between the living and kitchen areas. It certainly isn't hidden, but I have a lot of artwork and bookshelves in the spot, and I'm comfortable with it. In my bedroom, I have a computer hidden in Broyhill's Attic Heirlooms computer armoire. (This is Broyhill's picture, not my bedroom.) The laptop goes wherever. :-) Susan

Check your current spices first ... if you see movement among a couple, it probably indicates the presence of livestock ... ... which, if you choose to use them for their usual purpose, will add a little extra protein to you diet, that day. On the other hand, if you spread them on a tray and put them in the oven on low for a while, the unwanted residents'll likely desert the place. It may work if you put the tray out into strong sunlight, as well, especially if you cover some pieces of cardboard with sheet aluminum and have the reflected sunlight shine on the tray, as well. Probably a good idea to drop them into a sieve and give them a shake, after the livestock 's departure, to get rid of their offloaded material, as well. I have a dim view of the claim that spices expire ... especially after a specified date. It depends on how they've been stored. I suggest that you try them to see whether they have retained at least a measure of their potency and be guided largely by that standard. As to the future regarding the ones that you decide to discard, here's what you do. Gather a dozen neighbours ... friends ... relatives ... ... well, not "gather" ... but contact them. Ask their opinion, especially of the ones that use quite a lot of spices, as to the validity of the "expiry date" project ... whether they've used old ones and what results they've had. See if they need some spices, of the kinds that you feel that you need to replace. Check out a place that you can buy them in bulk: as Linda said, they come a lot cheaper, that way. Buy some and share them with the other needy folks. While you're at it ... possibly some of your contacts may know some spicy stories which they may be willing to share ... you could pass them on ... and gain a reputation (of sorts). ole joyfuelled ... fuelled partially also by spicy stories ... but fresh out of fresh ones, at the moment P.S. If you end up with some empty bottles - they're great for holding small screws, map pins, regular pins, thumbtacks, paper clips, etc. (a bit too small to store store teeth, though). o j

I shut the computer down every night. I also unplug it during bad storms. We had a house fire that was caused by the toaster oven. The oven was plugged it, but not turned on. I won't leave any small appliances plugged in now and if I could unplug my microwave oven more easily, I'd keep that unplugged, too. I don't trust things to flip breakers or blow fuses. It took me a long time to get over the intense smell of smoke. We nearly lost a cat in that fire and the only reason we didn't was a fluke in timing. I got home just as the kitchen was going up in flames and I was able to put it out before the fire dept arrived. I had to try to put it out because we didn't have a telephone at the time. (Rental house, for short period, trying to save on expenses, stupid!) After I got it out, I had to run to the high school to get someone to call the FD to double check it was out. Then I had to pack all our smelly belongings so we could move out that day, no way could we stay there. That was a horrible, scary day and all because of a small appliance. My parents have a nifty system, Pops put an outlet/surge protector strip on the counter, behind the small appliances, and they are all plugged into it and it is plugged in. They turn it on as needed, but it's always off when nothing is being used.