Lisa Allen Blog

Thanksgiving is done, and now everybody's thoughts have shifted to Christmas. Here are a few steps that you can take to make your Christmas more eco-friendly:

• Trade in those incandescent lights for LEDs, which use a fraction of the energy.
• Look for recycled content in wrapping paper. This can be difficult to find and may actually require online ordering, but expressing demand will help drive its availability.
• Recycle your own wrapping paper, boxes and plastic packaging.
• Scale back the elaborate outdoor displays. You can be festive without being Times Square.
• If you do use outdoor light displays, use a timer so the lights are on display only at times when there is an audience.
• Give your cookies away on a real plate or recyclable plate. Likewise, if you're hosting a party, either bite the bullet and actually do all those dishes or use recyclable ones.
• Take the time in your holiday party aftermath to sort through all the cans and bottles that can be recycled.
• Make good use of your green bin and/or compost bin this holiday season. Uneaten food from holiday dinners and parties can go in there, as can scraps from meal preparation, soiled napkins and paper food packaging, coffee grounds and tea bags, paper plates and your great aunt's famous fruitcake.
• Consider asking those with whom you exchange gifts to make a charitable donation in your name. There is no packaging involved. Consider food banks and shelters or organizations that purchase animals or supplies for families in developing countries. For a truly green Christmas, your contribution could go toward environmental conservation.
• When gift giving, try an experience present, such as tickets to a show or a night at a hotel. It's something personal that isn't loaded up with all that packaging.
• Buy sustainable. Many stores offer fair-trade products.
• Real trees are great, but consider artificial. If buying a real tree, look for trees that are grown locally. Many are shipped from a great distance consuming fuel to bring them to local Christmas tree lots.
• Take reusable bags with you when you go Christmas shopping. Don't let all that extra shopping generate extra plastic.
• Save your money, save the environment and spare yourself from long hours of looking for the proper gift items at the mall. Start a trend: show you care with some thoughtful homemade gifts. Local, organic, nutritious food items fresh out of your kitchen can work very well.
• When practicing your out-with-the-old, in-with-the-new New Year routine, don't just throw out old toys, clothes, shoes and household items. All these items can be donated to organizations that support people less fortunate.

• Fresh turkeys are safer, but if a frozen turkey is used, it must be completely thawed. Placing a frozen turkey into hot oil could cause an explosion or cause oil to spill over and ignite a fire. Oil and water, including ice crystals, do not mix.
• Turkey fryers should be used on a flat, level surface and placed outdoors at a safe distance away from the house or combustible materials such as towels, food packaging materials or pot-holders.
• Never use turkey fryers on a wooden deck or in a garage. Do not leave fryers unattended.
• Wear safety goggles to prevent oil splatter, and use cooking mitts or insulated pot-holders when touching the fryers' pot or lid cover.
• Lower the turkey into the pot slowly. If the oil bubbles, allow the bubbles to settle before lowering the bird the rest of the way. Do not overfill the fryer with oil.
• Never allow the oil temperature to exceed 350 degrees, as oil can ignite at 375 degrees. The oil inside the fryer will be dangerously hot for hours after use, and should be allowed to cool completely before removing or storing.
• Keep a fire extinguisher nearby when frying a turkey.

• All cards being sent in for 2011 Holiday Mail For Heroes program should be postmarked no later than Friday, December 9, 2011.
• Ensure that all cards are signed.
• Use generic salutations such as "Dear Service Member." Cards addressed to specific individuals can not be delivered through this program.
• Only cards are being accepted. Do not send letters.
• Do not include email or home addresses on the cards, as the program is not meant to foster pen pal relationships.
• Do not include inserts of any kind, including photos, as these items will be removed during the reviewing process.
• Please refrain from sending holiday cards with glitter. Many of these cards will be delivered to military and veterans medical facilities and the glitter could interfere with a patient's recovery.
• We encourage participants to mail as many cards as they are comfortable sending. If you are mailing a large quantity, please bundle the cards and place them in large mailing envelopes or use a flat rate box from the post office. Each card does not need its own envelope, as cards will be removed from all envelopes before distribution.

For the record, I have never dressed up Marvin in a Halloween costume. I've always thought that these hot dog costumes on dachshunds are adorable. This is just a picture of a dog that looks like Marvin.

Gaga can be kind of scary sometimes with make-up, but what do you think of her without it?

Food - at least enough for 3 to 7 days
— non-perishable packaged or canned food / juices
— foods for infants or the elderly
— snack foods
— non-electric can opener
— cooking tools / fuel
— paper plates / plastic utensils

Blankets / Pillows, etc.

Clothing - seasonal / rain gear/ sturdy shoes

First Aid Kit / Medicines / Prescription Drugs

Special Items - for babies and the elderly

Toiletries / Hygiene items / Moisture wipes

Flashlight / Batteries

Radio - Battery operated and NOAA weather radio

Telephones - Fully charged cell phone with extra battery and a traditional (not cordless) telephone set

Cash (with some small bills) and Credit Cards - Banks and ATMs may not be available for extended periods

Keys

Toys, Books and Games

Important documents - in a waterproof container or watertight resealable plastic bag
— insurance, medical records, bank account numbers, Social Security card, etc.

Tools - keep a set with you during the storm

Vehicle fuel tanks filled

Pet care items
— proper identification / immunization records / medications
— ample supply of food and water
— a carrier or cage
— muzzle and leash

What were you doing at 1:48PM on Tuesday, August 23?

I was sitting at a desk doing last minute preparations for the show. We were having some work done on the air conditioning system here at the station, and they were supposed to turn it back on around midday, so when the building started shaking, some of us just assumed it was the firing up of the AC system. After what seemed like a couple of minutes, however (it was only around 10 seconds), something definitely didn't seem right.

Several of us migrated to the hallway after it ended, wondering what it was. Our engineer then approached with his cell phone to his ear and informed us that it was, indeed, an earthquake?

Really?!?!?!?

Yep!

I'm sure it's a day that none of us will ever forget!

The stock market is down again today, despite our lawmakers finally agreeing on an emergency bill to raise the debt ceiling. I remember in 2008 when the market fell quite a bit I lost a lot of my retirement savings. It was just reaching the pre 2008 level when the market started to fall again - and I have no desire to check the balance right now because I know it will make me feel ill.

I started to consider retirement when I was in my 30's and now I'm about 20 years away from it (hopefully). It doesn't matter if you are in your 20's, 30's, 40's or 50's. You should be thinking about retirement and if you're on the right financial track. Check out this retirement calculator from CNN.

http://cgi.money.cnn.com/tools/retirementplanner/retirementplanner.jsp

I graduated from high school in 1981. That was also the year that we first got cable TV in my house. That summer after graduation, I got my first job, but since it was part-time, I had a lot of time at home to watch TV, and I started watching a new network that everyone was talking about - MTV.

Until that summer, I listened to a combination of country music and pop from the 50's and 60's. MTV introduced me to a whole new world of 70's hard rock, 80's hair bands and new wave pop. I started buying albums from Journey, Duran Duran, Meatloaf, Dire Straits and more.

MTV is celebrating it's 30th Anniversary. Now, instead of music videos (which have been moved mostly to the MTV sub channels on the extended digital cable), MTV is mostly "Jersey Shore," "The Real World," and "Teen Mom." I haven't watched it in years, but I still remember every detail of the videos for "Hungry Like the Wolf" and "Thriller."

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/43833050

Beyonce is making an alternate version of "Best Thing I Never Had" and she needs your help. She's asking you to send in photos and video footage from a wedding day or a prom night that you'd rather not relive.

Find out more here:
http://www.beyonceonline.com/us/bestthing

In case you've been wondering who that new voice is in the afternoon for the past couple of months - it's me, Lisa Allen, and they finally gave me my own soapbox here on the web.

I've been in Charlottesville for the past 2 1/2 years. Before that I spent 10 years in Maryland, but I grew up in Miami Beach, Florida. I do miss Miami Beach whenever it snows and I'm outside shovelling snow from my driveway, but otherwise, I think this region is absolutely beautiful.

I have a super-sized miniature dachshund named Marvin who is a total brat because I raised him that way.

I love all kinds of music and have even tried my hand at writing songs. I will watch just about anything on TV except for "Jersey Shore" and "The Bachelor." I'm somewhat of a couch potato, but I do enjoy getting into the kitchen and creating new recipes occasionally.

I look forward to getting to know you every weekday afternoon from 2-7.