The blog challenge prompt is “had a problem and found a solution?”

Well, yeah–that’s kinda what life is about in my experience. I am a strong proponent of the BSA motto of “adapt and overcome”. There be a whole lotta adapting goin’ on around here. But here’s two–

I’ve had a solution published, so that’s kinda cool. FamilyFun magazine shared my idea for keeping track of internet passwords in an address book. Now they sell password books all over the place, so apparently people really liked that solution.

Not every solution has been ideal. I was always trying to come up with a way to drain grease off of browned hamburger. I knew to not pour it down the sink drain and clog up the pipes. I’m not coordinated enough to pour it into a metal can or glass jar. My favorite solution was to use a turkey baster to suck it up–unfortunately, getting the bulb clean and keeping the rubber from degrading proved to be difficult. So for now my solution is to use a gravy ladle to scoop the grease out into a bowl. Once it has cooled, I either toss it in the trash or set it out for the cats so they don’t get hairballs–that’s a two-fer solution (two-fur, if you will).

Life is full of challenges that need solutions. I come from a long line of problem-solvers. When my great-uncle was a small lad, his local barbershop had a problem with these 3 dogs that came by every day and cocked their legs to hose down the shop’s screen door. Uncle Leo went home and wired a battery to a metal grill. He returned to the barber shop and attached the grill to the screen door. Then he and the rest of the barber’s clients sat and waited. The 3 dogs trotted up to the door and the biggest dog let a stream fly, let out a blood-curdling yelp, and ran for the hills. The second-biggest dog, walked up and started to hose down the door, yelped like he’d been shot, and bolted down the street. The smallest dog crept up to the door, gave it a look, and walked away with his nether regions unzapped. Problem solved.

Keep your eyes open–there’s always something to improve or invent!