Soccer - Game Day Pictures (again)

The project:
Get snap-happy with the camera and long lens at area youth soccer games, and share the results free of charge for families to use as they see fit.

Time:
Two hours at the games, another hour editing and uploading.

Why bother?
Taking pictures during the games keeps me from chewing off my nails or getting stressed by the game. The added benefit is that other parents enjoy the pix of their kids. And in this digital age, it's no skin off my nose to share - just some time, which is also precious, but I can manage.

Worth it?
Yes!

Recycling Used Motor Oil

The project:
Recycle oil after shade tree maintenance to our cars.

Time:
10 minutes to properly dispose of the oil via our local auto parts store.

Why bother?
After too many run ins with the local auto dealer, we've opted to do the easy stuff at home and save not only cash, but provide ourselves some peace of mind. It's easy, less expensive (than the dealer, by a far cry), and provides some life lessons for our homeschooling family.

Among the biggest problems with shade tree mechanics is improper disposal of auto fluids, but it doesn't have to be. Collect the oil, then drive it down to the auto parts store where your purchased your new parts, filters and oil. They should accept it, free of charge, and dispose of it properly.

Used motor oil can be refined and used as base for lubricating oil, among other things, according to the American Petroleum Institute. You can also recycle your oil filters, which are made of paper, metal and plastic, all of which are recyclable. To find your local oil FILTER recycler, click here. For your local OIL recycler, click here.

Worth it?
Absolutely. Saved about $200 by doing it ourselves (over dealer shop). KNOW the filters have been changed, the oil is changed, parts checked and we're ready to roll. And the used up, black old oil is in the most appropriate tank, ready for reuse.

Photo courtesy Luis Cerezo under Creative Commons license.

Reach the Top Shelf for a Shopper in a Wheelchair

Endal's helpful, but wouldn't have been tall enough for today's deed.
Photo courtesy Lisa under Creative Commons license.

The project:
Grab some groceries off the top shelf for a sister shopper in a wheelchair.
Time:
Moments.
Why bother?
She really wanted that juice, but couldn't reach it with her bad shoulders, she said. Would I be so kind? Of course!

"Do you need anything else," I asked.
"The rest of my groceries," she quipped with a laugh.

I'm sure there was some truth to her joke. I would love to have stuck around and shopped with her. It was the perfect opportunity. But the girls and I were running (very) short on time before their lessons, so I felt we had to press on.
Worth it?
Yes. It's probably really tough to have to ask for help so often, and of strangers who might just ignore you. I wish we could've stayed to help her with the rest. Would've made her day, and been entertaining for us all. (With three of us, we probably could have helped her wrap it up in record time!)