Sure, Just Leave The Black Mold There, We'll Just Die Or Something...

     So, I'm not sure if I've told you all - my invisible readers - about my apartment, but let me tell you! It's something. And not the good kind of something... but that's not the story here. I'm not skilled enough for that novel O_O .
     Point is, our kitchen ceiling is filled with black mold, but apparently it's just too expensive to take care of, so they're coming over in a little bit to just cover it up with some dry wall. It's okay, we can die, that's alright dummy.

     Now, don't be concerned for me, but I will even still list the facts and such about black mold (hold back, it's been a while since I've done a fact blog).

     Mold kind of lives in a colony, and is thought of as a single living organism. The main body of a mold colony, also known scientifically as mycelium, is made up of groups of multicellular filaments called hyphae. The hyphae tips release enzymes that the mold uses to help break down, and take over (or eat) what it is growing on. The hyphae than also absorbs the nutrients from the thing that they're growing on, thus, making the organism spread.
     Of course, certain conditions must be right for the mold to grow, such as light, temperature, oxygen levels, and, the amount of nutrients in the victim object. The types of things that aid the right conditions are things like: Humidity, a good food source (wood, drywall, cotton, etc), darkness (mold cannot grow in ultraviolet sun light), warmth (mold can't grow in the cold), oxygen, moisture (water leaks, humidity),  enough time (mold takes about 24-48 hours if all conditions are right), and finally, how well the spores spread (mold grows like flowers with the spores acting like pollen, awww, how fancy). 
     At the signs of mold; allergic symptoms, a moldy smell, added with any kind of problematic water leaks you may want to hire a professional mold inspector. It's best to hire a professional rather than your uncles' wife's twice removed, brother-in-law's neighbors cousin, because professionals know what they're doing. When the inspector comes in, they'll have their little gadgets, moisture meters, fiber optics and junk. These tools, they use to help them find this little pest behind walls and other objects in your house that would be good at hiding the mold without disturbing your home.
     Ideally, it would be nice to test the mold to see exactly what kind it is, and if it is dangerous or not, because believe it or not, some mold is harmless. There are four types of mold tests:

Air Testing: Air testing is when samples of air are taken from your home and sent away to a big fancy laboratory. This test is to find the concentration of the mold spores (remember, it's the little mold pollen) in your home, even if you can't find where the mold hides. One draw back is that the air types vary, so it's never really a consistent result every time.

Surface Testing: Surface testing is when samples are taken from objects around your home to figure out the amount of mold spores and growth deposited around your house. But as the same with air testing, the results aren't perfect because mold isn't really spread around a home evenly , and it can change from time to time the amount they'd find. One thing air testing can do that surface testing can't is identifying the exact concentration of mold spores in your home.

Bulk Testing: With bulk testing the professionals take items from around your home to a laboratory to be tested under a microscope. Bulk testing is helpful to tell you figure out if you do have a mold problem, and to give you an idea just how much the concentration is.

and finally,

Culture Testing: Culture testing is when mold particles are taken into a petri dish to grow to figure out exactly what species of mold can grow inside one's home. Only the live particles of mold can be tested this way, but don't just leave the dead pieces there, they can still cause harm, even dead. But other kinds of tests (such as the ones named above) can still identify mold issues in the home, whether dead or alive, so it is still best to do this test.

Reasons Why You Should Test:

• You notice signs of mold (like the ones named above)
• To identify the species of mold in your home
• To help find where mold is growing
• To test your indoor air quality by measuring mold spore concentration
• To test if the mold in your home has been fully removed

Health Symptoms of Mold

• Cold or flu like symptoms
• Coughing 
• Sneezing
• Sore throat
• Irritated, or itchy throat
• Blocked, itchy, runny nose
• Sinus congestion or headache
• Difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, wheezing
• Irritated or itchy skin
• Skin rash, hives
• Red, itchy, watery, or bloodshot eyes
• Itchy ears
• Hair loss, or baldness
• Hay fever symptoms

     Granted, none of these are casual coughing, sneezing or whatever. There are however, 16 different toxic molds that release highly toxic chemicals called mycotoxins. The symptoms of toxic molds are much worse than just the common molds named above. Symptoms of mycotoxin infection would include bleeding, damage to internal organs, metal impairment, cancer, or even death.

Safe Mold Removal
     Wear protective equipment (goggles, dust filter/respirator, gloves, and,  a safe suit that covers your whole body) contain the mold spores, set up negative pressure, remove mold, clean belongings, and, use a HEPA vacuum. Cleaning the mold with bleach, ammonia, borax, or vinegar is ideal in the removal.


     And just in case I didn't explain it well enough:
What is Mold?
Causes of Mold
Testing
Health Symptoms
Inspection
Safe Mold Removal
Preventing Mold

Business Blogs... Whut?!

      Hey! So I think I've mentioned at some point in past posts that I was going to take my G.E.D., but I was really procrastinating... Honestly, I would have done it..... but at some point, kind of like how you procrastinate getting up in the morning, no matter how annoying your alarm clock is (my mom was the nagging alarm clock...). And so, I think I owe my mother a great thank you for being a supportive, nagging, funny lady. Thank you Madame Sueffle. Sorry, I don't know how to spell it... but she knows what I mean... I mean for real, she's pretty much my only viewer besides those of you who are just passer-by's. But it's okay, for those of you who stay here long enough to read that part though... :S
      I always try to find other blogs to read on here, it'd be nice to be able to find a blog to read, just something random, not about hair-do's I can't do to save my life, your family.. I mean for real, who wants to know about what your 5 year old said? Granted, kids say the funniest things, but I don't want to read ALL about that! Or, I always come across the business blogs... whut?! And it seems the best blogs I come across, it just so happens that I can't read Spanish....
     But, to the point. I did take my G.E.D. last week, and I passed! I knew I would, because my practice scores were really high, and also it was easy... and even though I promised I'd cry when I got my scores back.. I didn't cry soo much, only enough to be like "Oh my god, I passed, last year I didn't even imagine myself here, and just six months ago I couldn't even imagine this, much less three months ago, and I still passed, I get to graduate with my best friend on time!" The only thing I wish I did, was go to the prom.. my whole life I've been like "Omg, prom, that's stupid, just a dance to get fancy with." Man, *smh* I love to get dressed up... as much as I pretend I don't, I still think it's obvious that I love to get fancy. So prom... I disparately missed you. :( Plus I had to work that night, and I had nobody to go with, no dress, I don't go to that school... it was a mess. *smh* Poor prom, I know you missed me ;)

I think this is about love?

     I don't even know how long it's been since I last posted... I just remember leaving off at "C" of my 'blog by alphabets', which I left a half draft in saved, but unpublished. I suppose I got bored with blogging, thinking it was pretty senseless to be typing stuff, putting so much work into it, when it seemed nobody would even see it... but I guess that's what putting your heart and soul into something really means, in which I gave up on. Let's be honest, blogging really isn't "my thing" per say, I just feel it's something I can put out there, how I feel and junk, even if nobody sees it... it's better than my facebook seeing all the things I feel and think, than they'll think I'm just a whine ass. And I guess I've come back to you invisible readers, because I just feel like you, all of you masked by the great internet have been my support... if that makes sense...

     But in the meantime. A lot has happened since I've last posted.. I'm in a different head space, before I was hung up on my ex, and having now realized, that he didn't really love me as I thought... Well, I suppose any kind of love is real love, sometimes the way you need it and how you want it, and sometimes not. But even so, it's the only way that person knows how to love at the moment. It was honestly a lot of me to expect a sixteen year old boy to be in love, I mean really? Seriously. I was all like "oh! Let's get married" (After we'd done stuff like college and junk of course) I understand where he, and everybody else was coming from when they said "What the fruit, you have the rest of your life!". In that head space, I just wanted to be loved, I wanted security in the fact that I knew somebody really did love me. Without really realizing that I already was loved.... I know, but not in the forefront of my mind I suppose... the fact is, before you can love somebody, you have to love yourself first, which I'm working on, with time.....

     Also, further from the fact of love; in my absence from school this past year, out in The Real World, I've finally come to believe what they all say "Friends in high school, often stay in high school" Damn straight! The high school drama carries onto the back scenes of the fast food restaurants with the "He said, She said, but that's not really what happened, but I suppose you'll never find out because you're not In".... I don't understand how people do it for 20 plus years, as I've written in my best friends letter, "fast food isn't a career, it's something to do while you are bettering yourself in life" But I guess you always need those life dropouts to be the store manager, which I'm not talking down to my boss, he's a good guy, but you can just look around, past the fake smiles and see they all wanted something more than tossing chicken into a bucket. I'm getting out of there. That will not be my life. I for one, am tired of smiling and nodding to customers who have money enough to buy 4.00$ side items. And with the end of that, I must go to work now.... Tootles now my invisible support. :)

I Just Thought I'd Post This... I Like It... :)

24 Life Lessons, Courtesy of My Dog

By Emil Caillaux (thoughtcatalog)

1. You can choose not to run to get the ball, but it’s always a lot more fun if you do.
2. Never underestimate the value of a simple plate of food and water.
3. Sometimes it’s all right to roll over and let someone pamper you.
4. Never bite the hand that feeds you.
5. Make sure you stretch thoroughly before you get up.
6. If a loved one is sad, approach slowly, cuddle up to them and wait for them to tell you what’s wrong.
7. There are times you lead, and there are times you follow.
8. Never discriminate. Cats can be a lot of fun to hang out with too.
9. The best place to nap is under the sun.
10. There is no bigger sign of affection and closeness than a big lick to the face.
11. It’s OK to be overly excited about things that pass you by.
12. Wading into water is good. Jumping in is infinitely better.
13. Pick carefully where you go to the bathroom.
14. A good run will always improve your day.
15. Only bark when the situation warrants it.
16. Leftovers are always delicious.
17. If someone enjoys scratching your back, stick with them forever.
18. Always know how to find your way back home.
19. Take good care of your teeth.
20. Loyalty is priceless.
21. Someone hurts someone you care about, you run after them and make them pay.
22. It’s all about opportunities: you’re not there, someone else gets the morsel.
23. Even if you’re alone, there’s someone out there that’s thinking of you.
24. Always go for what you want.

B is for Berenstain Bears

     Many of you, my readers, may remember The Berenstain Bears series as children, so perhaps you shall be interested to learn more about one of your childhood book series.

     Stanley Berenstain and Janice Marian Grant both born in 1923, grew up during the Great Depression in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. They met in 1941 at the Philadelphia Museum School of Industrial Arts. Stan was drafted into the army in 1943, serving until 1946. He was blind in one eye, so he only had limited service, but he spent most of his career as the medical illustrator at an army hospital in Indiana. And during his free time he began drawing cartoons and publishing them in magazines. Janice also had a career with the army, she worked a draftsman for the Corps of Engineers, also as an aircraft riveter, building the Navy's PBY flying boat.
     Jan and Stan married right after the war in 1946, starting a career together as team cartoonists for magazines. Such as The Saturday Evening Post, Good Housekeeping,  Collier's, and McCall. In addition to publishing their own magazine of their cartoons, all featuring focus humor about children and families.

     Mr. and Mrs. Berenstain began their family with the birth of their son Leo in 1948, and adding their other son Mike in 1951. Both children being big Dr. Seuss fans, Stan and Jan figured to try their hand at writing their own children's books. They called it The Big Honey Nut, which had featured Mama, Papa, and Small Bear, and was published in 1962 with Ted Seuss Geisel (Dr. Seuss) as editor and publisher. And then it continued for the next 43 years with over 200 books, until in 2005 Stanley Berenstain passed away.

     As the books grew more and more popular, Mr. and Mrs. Berenstain added more characters; making their little bear family grow. Small Bear became Big Brother with the coming of Little Sister in 1974, and then later the arrival of Honey in 2000. The names "Mama", "Papa", "Big Brother", and "Little Sister" were kept for the ease of reading for their young fans, and also to emphasize their roles in the family.
     Jan and Stan kept up the magazine cartooning along with the books until the '80s. Their son Mike had also followed in their footsteps; joining his parents with the magazines and then illustrating and co-writing the children's books in 1992.

     Being one of the most popular children's series, The Berenstain Bears had five NBC seasonal specials, two seasons of Saturday morning cartoons on CBS, and a daily cartoon show on PBS that started in 2002. The characters have also been made into dolls, toys, games, puzzles, computer software, and clothing, just to name a few. During the '80s and '90s there were a number of Berenstain Bear Country attractions at amusement parks. But more recently have become exhibits at museums, one such as the Strong Museum in Rochester New York. There have also been four Berenstain Bear plays and musicals, including the highly successful musical Berenstain Bears Live in Family Matters.

     Jan and her son Mike still continue to write, illustrate, and publish Berenstain Bears books today. They live in Eastern, Pennsylvania, which apparently looks a lot like Bear Country.

     The Berenstain Bears is a series of about 300 books that have been translated into 23 different languages; most recently Icelandic and Arabic. There are more than 260 million copies printed.

     According to The New York Times, the Berenstain Bears were almost the Berenstain Penguins, until the authors decided that bears are more human-like in the way that they stand on two legs and the mothers are very good mothers.

The Berenstain Bears website: http://www.berenstainbears.com/

A is For Armadillo

     This is the start of my fact-based blogs that go from A-Z, and as you can see, this one is about armadillos.

 

     There are 20 varieties of armadillos, 19 of which live in Latin America (North and South America together), but the well known nine-banded armadillo is the only one of it's kind to roam North America. The omnivorous mammal is currently endangered due to loss of habitat and over-hunting. Some cultures in America like to consume armadillo meat, which apparently is much the same to pork as in taste and texture.
     Armadillos live in warm areas that have rain, grasslands, forests, and semi-deserts. And because of their lack of fat storage, cold is their natural enemy, wiping out dozens during a cold spate.

     Most of the species dig burrows and sleep 16 hours, eating beetles, ants, and termites evening and morning when they wake. Armadillos have poor eyesight and depend on their sense of smell to help them out. They also have strong legs with long claws that they use to dig, and long sticky tongues that they use for extracting ants from their tunnels. In addition to insects, armadillos also eat small vertebra, plants, fruit, and on occasion carrion meat (dead and decaying flesh of deceased animals).
     Armadillos can grow to be as little as 3oz, or as big as 120 pounds. Contrary to popular belief, they cannot curl up into themselves; only the three banded armadillo can. Pulling it's head and legs up inside it's tiny armor-like shell, and becoming like a hard ball, confusing predators.

Armadillo Fast Facts 

• The name "armadillo" is Spanish for "little armored one".
• Armadillos average life span in captivity is 12 to 15 years
• Armadillos can be any size ranging from 5 to 59 inches
• Other than humans, armadillos are the only other animal that can get leprosy
• Armadillos can be house broken
• When frighted, armadillos jump straight into the air
• Armadillos can walk underwater
• Armadillos always give birth to four identical babies, all of the same sex

                   

100 Things To Do Before Next School Year; Edition 2

     You all remember how I had that list of things to do before next school year? Well, I've decided to do it again this year :) Except it's called my Goal List... So for those of you who are curious;

1. Read 10 books
2. Go sledding
3. Set up lava lamp
4. Ace a test
5. Go on a collage tour
6. But a sweatshirt
7. Save 100 dollars & not touch it
8. Make my bed
9. Go to the fair
10. Go on a bouncy house
11. Eat popcorn
12. Drink marble soda
13. Plant m&m's
14. Meet somebody new
15. Get a T-Rex
16. Water gun fight
17. Eat salad
18. Make a rainbow out of Starbursts wrappers
19. Clean my shoes
20. Play tic-tac-toe
21. Wear feeties with someone
22. Watch a movie
23. Appreciate somebody
24. Pay it Forward
25. Color
26. Pay off the library
27. Watch a foreign film
28. Make cookies
29. Eat a candy cane
30. Draw with chalk
31. Find pastels & use them
32. Collect 300 pennies
33. Write 26 factorial blogs A-Z
34. Get a book from the library
35. Not lie
36. Have a snowball fight
37. Go swimming
38. Use bananas as phones
39. Go to church
40. Draw 
41. Complete something
42. Clean the bathroom
43. Do at least 5 pages in my book
44. Write a poem
45. Wash a floor
46. Work maximum hours
47. Eat candy
48. Go to the mall
49. Go for a walk
50. Do homework
51. Melt crayons
52. Talk to an old friend
53. Buy clothes
54. Help with the Free Sale
55. Write on a sidewalk in mustard
56. Eat cotton candy
57. Eat a Popsicle
58. Listen to a new song
59. Take a really good picture
60. Work out
61. Play in the rain
62. Hug somebody new
63. New pen pal
64. Learn a new sentence in a language
65. Drink Kool-aide
66. Cry
67. Wear earrings
68. Paint toe nails
69. Draw a new animal
70. Spring collage 2013
71. Apply to LTU
72. Buy a laptop
73. Go to an art show
74. Sleepover
75. Wear a dress
76. Go to the Peanut Shop again
77. Be nice
78. Do some math
79. Keep a positive attitude
80. Paint
81. Sharpen pencils
82. Be the best I know I can be
83. Quotes
84. Clean under my bed
85. Wash sheets
86. Start a portfolio
87. Learn a new word
88. Write an essay
89. Blog
90. Lose a balloon
91. Blow bubbles
92. Do something not selfish
93. Pray, for no reason other than to do it
94. Try your hardest
95. Volunteer
96. Apologize with action
97. Find green underwear
98. Listen to an old song
99. Try something new
100. Buy someone lunch
101. Sing
102. Don't give advice
103. Play I spy
104. Have a tea party
105. Watch a movie in theaters
106. Not cut
107. Empathize
108. Eat french fries
109. Get new shoes
110. Go to camp
111. Win an art scholarship
112. Be serious
113. Garden
114. Detail Burger Head

     And that is so far, but I think I forgot a few... Anyways, I hope this catches on! :D The only rules are you don't set out to do it, it just happens, and once it's written down, you can't erase it, doesn't mean you have to do it, just that you can't erase it. Thanks for reading! :D