CDL Third Party Testing in Pennsylvania

CDL Third Party Testing in Pennsylvania may be an option
for you to get your Commercial Drivers License.

If you have your CDL Permit in Pennsylvania, at some point you are going to have to take the CDL testing in order to receive your CDL License.

In Pennsylvania, when you decide to take the skills portion for your CDL License you have two options - schedule a test at a PENNDOT Licensing Center or go to a certified third party CDL testing site. What you decide can really depend on your situation.

If you have access to a truck and/or trailer, then perhaps going through PENNDOT is a good option. You have no testing fees to pay. Having access to a truck and trailer is also great since you can practice until you feel comfortable taking your test and have the added advantage of really knowing the equipment much better than jumping into a truck for the first time.

However, if you do not have access to a truck and trailer, then going to a Third Party CDL Testing Site may be the option for you. That is just what I did so I will give you an overview of the CDL Skill testing I performed.

Here in Pennyslvania, the CDL Skill Testing portion has three separate phases. The first phase is the CDL Pre-trip Inspection, followed by the CDL Skill Test, and finally the CDL Road Test.

A third-party CDL testing site will charge you for administering the tests. In this case, if you take all three tests the fee is $125. If you need to take only one or two of the test (perhaps you previously passed one or two of the tests) the fee is $50 per section. If you need to use the site's equipment, the fee was $250 - which also allows you to used the equipment to take the test until however many times you need to take the test. In another words, the equipment fee is a one time fee only at Kuhn Transportation.

The guys at Kuhn Transportation are real nice people who will make you feel comfortable from the time you speak to them until you pass your Pennsylvania CDL Test.

I took my test using a dump truck that pulled a lowboy trailer. Before the test starts, you will be given an overview of the testing, what is expected of you, any questions you might have, and some free time to get a feel of the truck and trailer and use it around the lot to get used to it.

Once the testing starts, you can no longer ask the instructor any questions about the test. You can ask him to clarify his instructions if you don't understand what he is asking you to do.

If you are looking for a great Third Party CDL Testing Site in Pennsylvania give Kuhn Transportation a call and talk to Matt or Clayton. Their phone number is (570) 325-5614. They are located in Jim Thorpe, PA.

DUI in Pennsylvania What happens after your arrest

So, you have just been charged with a DUI in Pennsylvania. It can be a scary experience and you are not sure how to handle it. Well, I will gives you a heads up into the process of DUI and how it works here in the state of Pennsylvania.

In Pennsylvania, the legal definition of driving under the influence is a BAC of .08 or higher. It used to be .10 but due to some great lobbying from MADD and the threat of losing highway tax dollars from the federal government, Pennsylvania lowered the limit to .08. Soon it might be even a lower BAC at .04.

You had some drinks and got pulled over. Well, you could have also gone through a checkpoint. They used to call them roadblocks, but checkpoints sound more digestible and politically correct. You could have also been the target of "roving patrols". If you read that article, you may have noticed how the State Trooper Reznick admits, “It’s very difficult not to be able to find some type of equipment violation even on a new car”. I guess that is protecting and serving in the 21st century.

Once you are arrested, you will be transported a state police barracks or the hospital for either a breathalyzer test or a blood test. The blood test is more accurate, although the breathalyzer is accurate if calibrated correctly. Guess what? They do calibrate them regularly. I will get back to that when I talk later of getting a lawyer.

When you are done "giving your sample" you will either be given a ride home or someone will be called to pick you up. Yip! It's damn embarrassing. Helpful Hint: Don't not try to play with the breathalyzer device. What I mean is don't try to blow out of the side or your mouth or act like you don't have enough breath. They will give you a couple of chances before they finally just charge you with a refusal. This can be even worse driving license wise than the DUI itself.

Calm down now. You won't receive the actual charges in the mail for another 7 to 21 days usually. So, you can go through your daily living with the prospect of going to jail and losing your license hanging over your head or just pretend it was a bad dream. You can also pray your blood test results get lost in the mail or got mixed up with another suspect who was under the legal limit.

That's another thing. Just because you are under the legal limit doesn't mean you can't be charged with DUI in Pennsylvania. This usually happens when you have an accident and may be under the legal limit of .08, yet the police officer believes the alcohol contributed to the accident. It's kind of rare since most of the time a jury will have a hard time convicting.

Here is another somewhat bizarre way of getting a DUI in Pennsylvania. If someone under the influence drives your car, with you in it, not only will they be charged with DUI but you will also be charged. Many people find themselves blindsided by this one, but it is the law.

Let's get back to your charges. After you have been charged you may wonder, "What is the next step?" Your next step can be get a lawyer or wait until you receive the official charges in the mail. If you go to the lawyer before you receive the charges it's kind of a waste of time since he won't be able to do anything until he can see the criminal complaint. Of course, he will still charge you for the pleasure of talking to him. So, just wait for the mailman.

It's the big day. You got your charges. Now you can go see the lawyer and get this squashed. Deep down you hope the lawyer really likes you and he plays golf with the officer who arrested you, the DA, and a few judges and they will squash the charges if you dress up like Santa for their kids. Probably not going to happen.

After reading the charges over, the lawyer says, "I might be able to get this reduced if the breathalyzer machine wasn't calibrated correctly" or "We might be able to dispute the blood test". Again, the chance of this being successful is really low.

After getting your lawyer, the next step will be a preliminary hearing. This takes place before a district magistrate who decides if there is enough evidence for the charges to move to court. The magistrate will just look at the results of the breathalyzer or blood and move it through. You have the right to contest and charges and have a hearing. Most lawyers will want you to waive it and go for the plea bargain or take it to trial.

When you received the charges in the mail, it will instruct you to have your finger prints recorded. You do this by visiting your sheriffs office or the local state police barracks. Yes! You will also pay for the privilege of recording your fingerprints for life into a state police data base. So, don't commit any crimes after this without gloves on. Just kidding! Go ahead and do some more. The charge for fingerprints is between $65 and $75. That was last time I had to do it and that was nearly 10 years ago.

Arraignment time. After the preliminary hearing, the next formal court proceeding will be arraignment. It's just where you or your lawyer will officially enter your plea of guilty or not guilty. Yeah! Enter not guilty. Entering guilty will result in getting to the fast lane of sentencing. We don't want to do that. Not guilty gets us to the next phase of  plea bargaining. BTW, if you have a lawyer you don't usually need to be present for arraignment. Your well paid lawyer will fill out some papers for you.

Plea bargaining. Here is where your lawyer comes in handy. This is where he acts like he has really done you some good because the DA has agreed to give you the minimum sentence if you plead guilty. Well, guess what? You could of got that yourself as long as you don't have mitigating circumstances (you assaulted the officer, pissed in the cop car, spit on the cop, etc.). If this is your first DUI and you have a pretty clean criminal record you will most likely qualify for ARD. ARD will allow you to also have the DUI charge expunged from your record, provided you meet the requirements of the program. If you don't have a lawyer (or don't want to pay from one) just contact the ARD coordinator in your county. You will then be given an appointment to sign some papers and most likely get accepted into the ARD program.

It's pretty simple and easy. Just follow instructions.

Pennsylvania Probationary Drivers License to a Standard Drivers License

In a previous post, I stated how the departmental review for a probationary license works.

Well, now I will follow up with the experience of getting back a standard driver's license in Pennsylvania once the Pennsylvania Probationary Drivers License concludes.

My situation was that I had a Probationary Interlock License which meant I could only drive a vehicle with the interlock installed and also could only drive from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. by default. These hours were fine for me. They can be changed for valid reasons such as work, school, or medical reasons.

So, about two months before my Probationary License was about to expire I called the toll free number to PennDOT to speak to a "specialist" about my license and what I needed to do. Understand, I still have this ignition interlock in my vehicle and paying $85 a month for it isn't what I consider cheap. So, what do I need to do to continue driving and have my interlock uninstalled after my one year was up.

I was told I would need to get form DL180, which is for a learner's permit, have a physical, go to the nearest driver's center and take the knowledge test, followed by the eye examination.

To make it short, just do everything over. I asked, "So, I drove a vehicle for a year and now I have to go and take all the tests to show I can drive?" I was told yes.

So, here is the funny thing. The $63.75 check that I sent in early  July to renew the probationary license was cashed on July 17th and now I was informed in August - one day before my probationary license expired - that I would have to get a driving permit and complete the tests in order to continue driving. I was told there was a "processing error" and the form submission could not be completed, although the check was cashed.

I asked it would have been nice if I could have been informed maybe a month, even two weeks before my probationary license expired. I was just given the typical "I don't know how this happened". Then I was also informed I would need to submit forms DL-16 and DL-17, which state I own no vehicles in Pennsylvania that required insurance and the other form stating I will send in my license, no longer have the license, or it expired. In my case, it expired.

The only good thing out of this conversation in futility was that I was given a PennDOT Fax Number and then after submitting the forms, I received a call five days later from a PennDOT worker who processes the forms from that fax number.

Here are some PennDOT Telephone and Fax Number for getting your license back quicker.

PennDOT Fax Number: 1 (717) 705-2404 You should address the Fax to Mr. Roderick.

Telephone Number for talking to an actual human being WHO CAN PROCESS YOUR NEEDED FORMS: 1 (717) 787-4220 The lady I spoke to was named Lou. She also informed me that Mr. Roderick was out of the office for two days so she would process the forms. Thanks Lou!

If you have been frustrated trying to get your Pennsylvania Driver's License back, maybe this information can help. By the way, I had my permit the next day after talking to Lou and passed my drivers test four days later. I'm all set and will be driving safely and securely. Oh! how it feels to be free again to live life like an adult.LP - 336 Danger - High Voltage Driver License Plate - 287 (Google Affiliate Ad)

Convert your Wordpress Blog to Blogger

How to import your Wordpress Blog or Site to Blogger

Ok! So you have a Wordpress Blog and would like to import it into a Blogger account. Sounds simple enough, right? Well, Yes and No. If you have a small Wordpress export file, less than 1 MB, it's real simple.

Export your Wordpress by going to Tools -> Export in your Admin Panel at your Wordpress blog. I saved All content in the Export area. Then, take your saved file and go to the Wordpress to Blooger app and upload your file. There is a maximum size of 1 MB allowed. Although, I read some people were able to use it successfully when their file was between 1 and 2 MBs.

After, you download your now converted file, log into your Blogger account or create a new one. Then go to Settings -> Import Blog and upload your converted file. You should now have all posts, comments, and pages.

But my Wordpress file is much larger than 1 MB

So you have the same problem I had. Well, there is a solution. My database was nearly 50 MBs. I used a news fetching feeder plugin the updated the site once daily. I had over 21,000 posts. I could of used a text editor and cut down the file manually about 50 times, but I had better things to do. After searching Google, I finally came across a cool little app that was free and did only one thing and only the one thing I wanted. It allowed me to import and XML file. That is the type of file you exported from Wordress and then specify how big of a file I wanted it split into. I selected 1 MB and hit the Split Files button. Now, I had the right file size to upload over at the Wordpress to Blogger App site.

Now of course I had to do this about 50 times and then proceed to upload the files about 50 times to Blogger, but that is my dilemma due to the number of posts. Of course, now I have all my content still on the web with no hosting or domain fees anymore.

So, if you need to convert your Wordpress Blog to a Blogger account give it a try. Here are the links again.
Wordpress to Blogger Site. Converts your Wordpress Export File into a Blogger format

Ranger Pretzel Site. XML Splitter App. Let's you split large XML files into a smaller size you specify.



ProBlogger: Secrets for Blogging Your Way to a Six-Figure Income


Blogging All-in-One For Dummies

Horse Back Riding on the Bartram Trail

If you have horses or want to ride horses in Northern Berks or Southern Schuylkill County, the Bartram trail is a great place to try. The section from Hamburg to Auburn is approximately 7 miles and allows for a great trek for a total of a little over 14 miles. The terrain is flat and not hard on the horses at all. Water is also readily available along the trail at various spots for your horses. You shouldn't have to worry about dogs since all dogs should be leashed at all times. If you live in the vicinty the Bartram Trail is a great trail for horseback riding in this area. Happy Trails!

Technorati Tags: bartram trail,horses,horseback riding,schuylkill county,berks county,auburn,pennsylvania,horses berks county,horses schuylkill county,hiking,walking,dog walking,trails,outdoors

Bartram Trail in Hamburg PA

I was out recently and took some photos of the Bartram Trail in Hamburg, PA. I was only able to take 5 or 6 photos before my battery died in the camera.





I have it fully charged and ready to go now. Here are those photos.

The Bartram Trail in Hamburg, PA.

The Arch in Auburn Pennsylvania

The entrance to Auburn, PA. Commonly referred to as The Arch.

Here are some photos of the Arch in Auburn,PA. The Arch is also known as the entrance to Auburn. The Reading and Northern Railroad runs on the tracks that go over the Arch.

Years ago, people would hang out and socialize on the steps to the arch. It was a favorite place among teenagers of the time. This was before the internet and today's world of Facebook.

The arch also has a small dirt road right before the steps the leads back to the Auburn Canal. This was a very popular spot for fishing and also bush parties.

On the area to the right of the Arch is the Schuylkill River which has a small path/trail that leads to the Schuylkill River and is still quite popular with local fishermen.

The actual street that runs under the Arch is known as Route 895 or Market Street in Auburn, PA.

The Landingville Marsh Area Landingville, PA

The Landingville Marsh Area - Landingville, PA

A view of the Marsh Area from the Bartram Trail parking lot in Landingville, PA

Just past the marsh area in Landingville. This is near the entrance to the falls of the Auburn Dam. The Bartram Trail currently ends at the concrete barrier seen in this picture.

The Landingville Marsh Area is a great place for outdoor recreation. Some activities include fishing, walking, and bird watching. The marsh isn't fished much, but you can catch sunfish, bass, and pickerel there. The Bartram Trail runs along the one side of the marsh and allows you to connect to a trail that goes around the marsh and comes back out to the road. When you get near the road you will be alongside the Schuylkill River.



Signs posted along the marsh state the marsh area is home to 211 species of birds with 77 confirmed to be nesting in the area. The marsh is also very close to the Auburn / Landingville Dam which is heavily used for boating and fishing. The Dam is home to a large number of fish which include catfish, large mouth bass. small mouth bass, carp, perch, suckers, musky, pickerel, walleye, and pike. In the past few years some reports show trout in the dam. This is probably due to trout being stocked north of the dam in the Schuylkill River near Pottsville.

I will be taking more photos of the Marsh in the future and will upload them here.

Lehigh and New England Trail Tamaqua, PA

A few weeks ago, I took and dogs and decided to check out the Lehigh and New England Trail in Tamaqua, PA. This trail is about 3 miles long or 2.7 miles as listed on www.traillink.com.

The trail is slightly south of Tamaqua on Dairy Road. Dairy Road is directly across Rt. 443 at the intersection of Rt. 443 and Rt. 309. Here is a map to show it better.


View Larger Map

When you get on Dairy Road, right as you pass the TLC Convenience Store on the right, the trail will be about 500 feet on the left. Right before the Lehigh and New England Trail is a paved area on the left where you can park. Its flat and paved, but not very large. You may want to go past the area and turn around so you are parking correctly and facing the proper way.

The trail is marked with a red pole or stake at the beginning which is viewable from the road or where you park. From Dairy Road, the trail starts with a slight hill going upwards. Once you go up the little hill, the trail is flat. The trail is about as wide as a vehicle. Although, the trail pretty much runs along Rt. 309, it is hidden by a dense amount of trees and makes for a great hiking or biking adventure.

Here are some pictures to give you a better look of the Lehigh and New England Trail in Tamaqua, PA.

The Lehigh and New England Trail looking towards the intersection of Rt. 443 and Rt. 309 along Dairy Road.

The Lehigh and New England Trail where it starts from Dairy Road. A slight hill until the top which then is all flat.

The Lehigh and New England Trail marker which sits to the right when you reach the top of the small entrance hill off Dairy Road.

A picture of the trail about 1/10 mile in. It runs north alongside Rt. 309.

Dentist visit 19 Molar Extracted

 Well, I finally took care of that bad molar that was causing the dreaded abscesses I was suffering from. The previous home remedies for a toothache were used one too many times and it was time to face the dentist.

The tooth that was giving me trouble was the #19 molar, which is the first molar on my bottom left. There is the canine tooth, then two premolars, and the next one going back is the #19 tooth or first molar.

My dentist did believe he could save the tooth by doing a root canal, but I was just as the point of wanting to get rid of this tooth once and for all. This was definitely a tooth I had come to hate. That is isn't going to save me from having a root canal. I was told after a brief examination that I should have two root canals performed on two other teeth. I believe I will follow through on having them done since I have no desire to experience the pain I had for the past year or so. I estimate the tooth I had extracted flared up 7 times. Sometimes the abscess would come and go easily. This last time the agony lasted 5 days. I decided this would be the last time.

This time the pain was excruciating. I couldn't think, couldn't sleep, couldn't eat. All I could do was think and feel pain. On the fourth day I thought I was out of the woods. The abscess was drained and nearly gone and I had no more pain. Then wham! I got a sharp, intense pain. The pain ran along my jaw and felt like it was going into my ear and eye socket. I felt like I should just cut my head off. I figured that wasn't really a good option.

Motrin did nothing for the pain. It continued. I had an ice pack and that seemed to help a little. Then I had an idea, try ice water. I took a swig of ice water and rinse it around. Amazing! Instant relief. However, once the water got warm in the mouth. I had to spit it out and take in some new water. I continued doing this from 2:30 p.m. until the next moring at 9:30 a.m.. That's right, no sleep but yet no pain. I did get to sleep about an hour before going to the dentist. Im sure I didn't look well, I know I didn't feel well.

So, I had the tooth extracted. No pain. My face and mouth were very numb due to the Novocaine, which eventually wore off. I had no problem being numb, it was much better than the past five days. I had some slight pain that night around 8 o'clock, but it was minor so I used Motrin. The extraction site is healing nicely now, five days later, so that is good. I never had dry socket and had two previous extractions with no problems, yet I was a little worried thinking "it could be happen".

I didn't fool around though. After reading about dry socket, I decided I would get clove oil, which is great for tooth pain caused by nerve or pulp damage. When they pull the tooth, blood should pull in the socket and the healing process should start. What sometimes happens is the blood clot gets dislodged and then you can have the dreadful experience of "dry socket". This pain is caused from the jaw bone and nerves being exposed to air, food, liquirds, etc. and this causes pain. If you have dry socket, the area will in time still heal on its own. You will need to do something about the pain. It is a good idea to go back to your dentist where he will then clean the site and administer a "medicated" packing to get rid of the pain. However, you can get clove oil yourself and put it into the site yourself by using an eyedropper or administering syringe to squirt the clove oil into the socket. It doesn't taste great and may give a slight burning sensation to other areas if you spill it. Just put it on the socket area.

The alternative is to suffer for 5 or 6 days, which I don't think you would want to do. Anyway, I just so thankful that I am no longer in pain and can sleep well again. Toothaches and abscesses suck!

Pennsylvania Probationary License How it Works

Pennsylvania Probationary License - How the Process Works

If you are reading this, you are probably interested in a Pennsylvania Probationary License.

Since I just received mine today, I will share the process and how it worked. I didn't have the greatest driving record to start with due to having a few DUI offenses which also included driving under suspension DUI related.

Well, fast forward 7 years later. I lost my license for a total of 8 years and then learned about a probationary license and what it takes to get one. A person in Pennsylvania can get a probationary license if their license is suspended or revoked for 5 or more years. The least amount of suspension you can have is 3 years and that is for more minor related suspensions like never having a license and getting caught, speeding, racing, etc.

To get the license no matter what your circumstance, you need to have "clean time". In other words, you haven't had another violation in the time needed to get a probationary license.

Like in my case, having a DUI , driving under suspension DUI related, suspended for a refusal to submit, as well as a few other scenarios, you need to have a full 7 years of no new offenses.

Anyway, the day came that I was eligible. I sent in the form as well as the amount of money needed. In my case $163.75 which was $88.75 for the license and $75.00 for the restoration fee.

I then received a letter approximately 3 weeks later stating I was eligible and approved. However, before the license could be issued I would be required to have an Ignition Interlock Device installed as well as attend a Departmental Review session.

I called to have an Ignition Interlock installed the day I got the letter. The appointment was about two weeks later. I was also informed in the letter that I would be informed within 21 working days of the date, time, and location of the Departmental Review.

After having the Interlock installed, I received a letter about the Departmental Review about three weeks later informing me it would be in about three weeks. Then, five days before the hearing I received a letter stating the hearing had been postponed for two weeks. No reason was given. Actually, it was just another letter exactly as the first one just stating another date and time. Same location though.

Finally, the day came and I proceeded down to the licensing center. I got there about 10 minutes before my stated time. The place was packed with people getting licenses, getting photos, taking tests. I actually had to look around until I saw the "Departmental Review Hearings" sign. It was a relief. I just got into the area that said to have a seat until called, when a man came out of a door and called my name. What luck?

He instructed me to come inside a room and he needed to ask some questions and see my identification. He looked over my identification. The letter said bring one form of the following, which then was proceeded by three groups of ID. I took no chances and brought one from each group- my photo ID, my birth certificate, my social security card, and my voter registration card.

He looked them over, asked some basic questions and then explained how the probationary license worked. He also gave me forms showing the points system and how to fill out a form if I wanted to add a new car, request additional or different driving hours, renew the probationary license, etc. The whole process took about 10 minutes.

I was then giving a camera card, as well as a paper that was attached to the top - which I would have to keep and show law enforcement if stopped. It just showed the vehicle I was allowed to drive and the hours allowed to drive. The default hours are 6 am to 7 pm, which work great for me.

He then led me to the desk where people would pick up a paper ticket with a number to get their picture taken. I was number 105 and at the time the three numbers at the camera stations were 70, 71, and 72. I had a little bit of a wait.

After about an hour of waiting I had my new probationary license for the state of Pennsylvania. I was truly excited. I finally got home and couldn't wait to take a drive for the first time in nearly 8 years.

Of course something had to go wrong, the day was going too smoothly. I had a flat tire. So another hour later and I was out the door. I cruised through the countryside and finally stopped at a local mini mart.

I had to play the Powerball. After all, this 20 year old truck I'm allowed to drive might not make it a full year.

Feel free to comment or ask any questions. The reason I wrote this was I couldn't find much information on the process of getting a probationary license in Pennsylvania and how it worked. So, I hope this helped you or maybe someone you know.

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Geo Metro No Headlights Fix

Geo Metro No Headlights Fix Including Dimmer Switch Problem


I have a 1997 Geo Metro and it's a great car. A three cylinder 1.0 L engine that gets around 40mpg. These days with the price of gas, I can't see driving around without my Metro.

The car is old and has had a few problems here and there but nothing major. When I bought the car one of the first things I noticed was that it had no working headlights. It did have parking lights and the daytime running lamps worked. So, it could be driven at nights but the daytime running lamps are not as bright as the functioning head lights. I knew this had to be fixed. I was somewhat lucky in the fact that the previous owner also included a Chilton's book that included the wiring diagram. Fixing the headlights actually took about 5 minutes.

I also noticed I had another problem. The dimmer switch for the lights didn't work either. I could push the switch forward to flash the high beams but that was it.

So here is the fix to repair the headlights on a Geo Metro. You are really in luck since I also took pictures.

Haynes Chevrolet Sprint Geo & Chevrolet Metro 1985-2001 (Haynes Manuals)

From what I read this is a common problems with Geo Metros, yet easy enough to fix.

You will need to be able to get underneath the dash and look up. Right under the steering column. You will need to be able to look up and find the wiring and plug coming down from the steering column. Here, you will find a plug that comes apart. One end goes up your steering column to the light switch and the other end, or other plug goes to your fuse panel or fuse box.

In my case, it was easy to tell I had the right wires due to the plastic plug piece showing a brownish burnt color from the outside of the plug. Here is a picture.

See the brownish burn marks indicating we have a bad connection. The left side of the plug goes back to the fuse panel. The right or top of the plug goes up the steering column.

Another view showing where two wires - one for the headlights, the other for the dimmer switch - burned out on my Geo Metro.

A view shwing the location of the plug. Nearly directly under the steering column

Okay. Now what wires are what. On this 1997 Geo Metro, the headlight switch for what turns on the headlights is a red wire with a white stripe that comes down the steering column into the plug. This then connects to a red wire with a white stripe on the other end of the plug which goes back to the fuse panel.

For the dimmer switch, the wire coming from the switch down the steering column is a white wire with a black stripe that goes into the plug and meets, on the other end of the plug, a brown wire with a white strip that then goes back to the fuse panel.

All I did was clip the corresponding wires and then uses two wire connectors and crimped them on the ends. An easy 5 minute fix. It great having nice, bright functioning headlights again. Here are some more photos that may help with the repair.

A closer photo showing the headlight switch wire(red with a white stripe) and the dimmer switch wire(white with a black stripe) coming down from the steering colum. 1997 Geo Metro

   Stereo Wire Harness Geo Metro 95 96 97 1997 (car radio wiring installation parts)

Toothache Home Remedies and Pain Relief

The Ultimate Toothache Remedy: Prevent Tooth Decay, Avoid Gum Disease, Gingivitis, Periodontal Disease, and Get Temporary Pain Relief With Safe Toothache Remedies

Toothache Home Remedies and Pain Relief

So, do you have a toothache? Are you looking for a home remedy? More importantly, you probably need some pain relief?

Well, I just got over a tooth abscess that lasted four days. In my case this wasn't the first abscess for the same tooth. This was about the third time. So, having some experience with a toothache and the pain, I know some home remedies that worked for me.

Before I start, I would like to tell you that just like I read, a tooth abscess will come back and it will be worse each time. This is the last time for me. If I have to get a part time job to pay for the dental work I will.

The first two times this tooth got an abscess the pain and dealing with it lasted until the next day at the most. I did some research the first time and went with the salt and baking soda remedy. It's real simple. Mix equal parts of salt and baking soda. That is baking soda I said. I saw some other people saying they tried it with baking powder. No. That is not the same thing as baking soda. When you mix the two together, place the mixture on something flat - a plate, saucer, table, whatever. Now take a cotton ball, cheesecloth, or gauze and make it wet. Then dip it in the mixture and place over the area of the abscess between the cheek and the gum.

The first two times I did this the pus reared it head and was leaking within a few hours. You will know when the pus has ruptured. I has a horrible taste and smells bad. You need to spit this out immediately. Do not swallow it. It is a toxin or poison and needs to be spit out.

Once the pus ruptures, try using the muscles in your mouth and jaw to push out some more of the pus. Don't try to hard, just slight pressure. You could also put some light force against the area with your hand by the jaw area. Again, don't over do it.

From experience, I use a flashlight to look into my mouth and see if the pus is about done draining visually. Once I feel that it is, it's time for rinsing the mouth out. I put some table salt into a glass, add some warm water and swish it around my mouth for about 3 minutes. Again, spit it out. It's no time to be drinking refreshing salt water.

You can now repeat the process. One thing that you should have noticed is instant relief. You should have no pain or nearly no pain and the pressure is gone. Some swelling may still be evident. If you are lucky, that may be gone in a few hours.

Alright! Now you are good to go. Not so fast. Even though you feel much better and think the ordeal is over it really isn't. The above method is for TEMPORARY RELIEF. You see, that bacteria that causes the abscess most likely is still present. You may not feel it or see it but there is a good chance it is still somewhere in that tooth. The only way to be sure your body is clear of the agonizing bacteria will be through the use of antibiotics. Even with the use of antibiotics, you will still need to see a dentist for care. There is a reason you got an abscess in the first place - cracked tooth, cavity, a bad root canal.

A dentist will usually give you two options from an abscess. You can have the tooth extracted or you can have a root canal. If you already had a fancy root canal then the next option will be extraction. I never had a root canal and never will. I heard enough people talk about having them and they always seemed to have trouble and had to go back. That's just my opinion. Maybe a root canal is for you.

Anyway, back to some home remedies for toothaches. This last time I found a new way of extracting the pus. Why. when the salt and baking powder worked great the two times before? Well, I will tell you. This time the abscess was very stubborn. It took a full day for the abscess to come to a head. Then, when it finally burst. It only drained partially. To me it felt like maybe only a third came out. So, by reapplying the salt and baking soda method, my cheek and gum were starting to get quite raw and feeling like sand paper. I had to find another method.

Tea Bags? Yes. A tea bag will draw pus out too. You just need a standard tea bag. You could use black tea. I only had green tea and it worked just fine. Now if you try to take the bad and put it between the affected area and your cheek you will notice it isn't comfortable. Here is what to do.

Take the bad and cut it in the middle. Be sure not to let the tea spill out all over the place.Most bags have a seam in the middle. Looking at it, the bad looks like it has two sides. Now hold the bag at one lower corner and pour out some tea. Try to pour it so the tea comes out evenly from each sac. Now level it off and look at the amount of tea left. We wont to get it down to about 3/16 to a 1/4 inch evenly. When you get to that level, stop and fold over the top of the bag to one side. The area that is exposed - shows tea through the bag - put that on the affected area with the tea showing side against the abscess. Leave it there for about an hour and then check it out. You should have drawn out some put. The bag will most likely look real gross and have a good amount of pus on it.

Remember I said before that without a doubt you need antibiotics? Well, its still true. Here is the thing. If you have insurance, a good doctor, or time for the emergency room, you will be just fine. At the first hint of an abscess you should go get checked out by an emergency doctor or hopefully your family doctor. They should easily give you antibiotics and if you are lucky a good pain killer like Vicodin or Percocet. If you are lucky enough to be in this situation. Then good for you and I wish you a speedy recovery. If these are not your circumstances and you need antibiotics but don't have insurance or the money to see a doctor try this.

Just do a search for amoxicillin+for+fish . Yes! You can just click on that link. See, here in the United States, you need a prescription to buy antibiotics. However, you need anything to buy antibiotics for fish, cats, dogs, horses, or any pet. You will have to know what antibiotics you can take. If you are allergic to penicillin, then you can't use amoxicillin.  Anyway. this is a perfectly legal way to obtain antibiotics. Did you know that this is a well known secret in the military. What is mean is sometimes young people in the military have "too good of a night" and find out later they caught more than a hangover that night. So, to avoid having an STD on their military medical history, they go to the pet store.

A recommended dosage for amoxicillin is 750 mg daily for 10 day. I get the 250 mg capsules and take them 3 times a day for 10 days. Again, you need to take the dosage for 10 days to be sure you eradicated the bacteria.

Pain relief I used Aleve and Motrin. They worked OK for me. Not the best. I did try the whole cloves. You just crush the cloves and put them against the affected area. I took a tea bad, emptied it, and then put the crushed cloves in it. It did ok for me too. I didn't knock out the pain totally, but it did know out the throbbing, jackhammer type of pain that I had. Cayenne pepper is another known home remedy for pain, but I didn't have any so I don't know how well it works.

You could try Ambesol, but that just numbed the gum for me. It didn't do anything for the actual abscess pain. I had a feeling it wouldn't. It does work for smaller toothaches like those caused by a cavity where you can get the Ambesol to the nerve that is exposed from the tooth.

Some other things that come to mind about a tooth abscess for me: Hot liquids were hell. I love coffee but learned to do without for four days. I also ate a good amount of garlic. Garlic is a good natural antibiotic. I ate three cloves a day. Ice bags did help for the swelling on the face. I used them sparingly and put them on my face for about 15 minutes at a time.

Eating was also difficult. An abscess causes the tooth to rise slightly and gives an improper bite. I tried to stay will foods that were soft and easy to chew. Its also hard to just use one side of the mouth to chew. After eating, I would rinse out my mouth with warm salt water. I didn't need any more food particles going into the area that caused the abscess in the first place.

Oh! I almost forgot. You can take garlic and put it against the abscessed area. This helps kill the bacteria. I must warn you though, it will burn a good 10 minutes.

Well, that is about it. If you can get to a dentist at the first sign of an abscess, by all means do it. As much as these home remedies can help for temporary relief of an abscess, nothing can take the place of good quality dental care by a great dentist. An abscess if not something to mess around with. It can lead to all types of problems including but not limited to death and septic shock.

Zilactin Tooth and Gum Instant Pain Reliever, Maximum Strength 8 ea

I Love My Dentist - The Secret to Creating an Exceptional Patient Experience (Series 1)

The Holidays are Over

Its another new year and with that the end of the 2008 Holiday season. All the gifts were wrapped and given, the turkey and ham are consumed, and the New Year's toast is over.

Although, the holidays are great and fun, it seems there is always some stress to the holidays also. Trying to find the perfect gift for friends and family seems to be the biggest one. What do you get someone who has everything? What do you get older people? What will you do with 4 packages of socks?

The traffic is always horrible around Christmas. Then the weather will always come into play. I have never been one who liked to be driving around in the snow or ice.

Some people also travel during the holidays by plane or train or automobile. I haven't been on a plane since I was two years old and I can't say I miss it. There is always the probability of losing luggage.

So it is time to look forward to the new year. A new president will soon be in office. Hopefully the economy makes a comeback and people keep or find jobs.

Every year will still have some elements from the previous year. Trash will still have to be taken out, the car will need to be inspected, and the property taxes will always arrive in spring.

Here is to a new year and all the possibilities it encompasses.

New Doggy in the Household

We just got a new dog. His name is Jake. He is about 1 year old and a Westie mix.

This dog definitely has a lot of energy. Jake has a lot of energy and loves to play. Among his favorite things to do is play fetch and dig. I think sometimes he might be part groundhog.

Jake does not like being alone and will whine a lot until any family member comes home.

As far as eatin, he is not picky and will eat dry dog food, soft dog food, and anything that comes from the refrigerator.

Jake is one dog that keeps everyone on their toes.

Want to make some extra cash

Would you like to make some easy money? Well, Cash Crate is the answer.

Just do simple free offers,surveys,and more to make easy money.

In just the first day, I made over $8.00 dollars.
The picture above shows the first day earnings.

Now some people, like Amy Bass, make over $1000 a month. The very top photo is a photo of her one month where she make over $1500. I would say that is a pretty good check.