I think there’s something wrong with our water heater. Over the last few weeks I’ve noticed a change in the amount of hot water in the house…especially in the evening when it’s bath time for the kids.

I hate it when things break, because I still have so much to learn about home repair. Of course I’ll have the plumber come out and take a look, but I expect to hear that I need a new water heater. I’m not exactly sure how old this one is, but I know that the warranty has expired and what do I know about buying a water heater? Nothing.

I’ve learned that buying a major appliance requires a lot of homework. You really have to think about the features that you need before going to the showroom, because all those shiny new appliances can distract you from thinking about getting the appliance that has all the features you need without paying for things you don’t need.

I always shop for appliances that are EnergyStar rated, that’s always the first thing on my list. Sometimes you can even find tax rebates in your area when you buy EnergyStar appliances. Too bad there are no water heater rebates available for me. It’s not free, but I like the unbiased appliance advice from Consumer Reports.

All I know is that I’m going to do the research and figure out what water heater is right for my family before the old one breaks completely and we’re dirty and there isn’t a clean dish in the house. Who needs that kind of pressure?

Last month I told you about how the President and Congress delayed the transition from analog to digital-only broadcast until June 12, 2009 in order to give stations and consumers more time to prepare.

When the delay was announced, many people were on a waiting list for a digital television converter box coupon. The coupon allows people who have analog televisions the ability to buy a digital signal converter box at a reduced price. Fortunately everyone on the coupon waiting list has had their requests processed and they can go online and use their address or account number (given when they signed up for the program) to check their coupons' status. People can still apply for a converter box coupon, but they are being issued on a first come first serve basis. Once you buy your converter box, look at the resources for installation and fixing any reception problems.

When the transition was delayed, the Federal Communications Commission allowed some stations to move to digital-only broadcast on the original deadline date of February 17. As a result, one third of all television stations in the US are digital-only broadcast. Two weeks ago the FCC released a list of 158 channels which meet the specific requirements set forth by the FCC that allow these stations to transition before the June 12 deadline. The remaining stations will transition on the June 12 deadline.

Have you had any trouble getting a coupon?

When my youngest sister, Dana, was 4 she was in her bedroom listening to a record on her kiddy record player.  The record player’s electrical plug was not pushed in all of the way and my sister got the idea to place a hanger on the metal prongs of the plug.  I was in the living room watching cartoons, but I heard a very loud crack and the hallway lit up with a bright flash.   Surprisingly, my sister was not hurt at all, but the hanger was burnt through and the plug and outlet were scorched black.   The irony of the story is that my father was a master electrician who worked around very high voltage equipment for a living.   Needless to say he didn’t allow my sister to again use anything involving plugs, outlets, or hangers until she turned 33!

I was again reminded of the power of electricity, this time in the form of lightning.  Last week, while I was on vacation a man was struck by lightning and died near the condo my family rented.   While I did not witness the event, I decided to research and pass along information about the dangers of lightning and lightning safety.

According to FEMA, 300 people are injured and 80 people are killed each year by lightning in the United States. Most lightning victims survive, but people struck by lightning are often plagued by a variety of long-term, debilitating symptoms.   Your chances of being struck by lightning are estimated to be 1 in 600,000.   You can reduce these odds by following safety precautions.   As we approach the season where more people are outside and exposed to the possibilities of thunderstorms and lightning, it is important to educate yourself about lightning safety.   Here are some links to help you do that:

• USA.gov Lightning Safety
• Online Tornado FAQ
• What Happens When people and Lightning Converge
• Survivor Stories
• Lightning, What you Need to Know Now
• FEMA - Thunderstorms and Lightning

Kids often spend a lot of time outdoors, so it is important to educate your children on what to do should they get caught outside during a thunderstorm.   Here are some helpful links:

• Mr. Plug Fun Book
• FEMA Kids’ Page
• National Weather Service Kids’ Page
• JetStream Online School for Weather
• Types of Lightning

I am always interested in the science behind things and events.  If you are interested in meteorology and the scientific aspects of lightning, check out these resources:

• Science Behind Lightning
• Where Lightning Strikes
• History and Mystery of Lightning
• Electrical hurricanes
• Lightning Strikes an Odd Pattern

If you ever wished you could communicate directly with President Obama, ask him a question and get an answer, now you have a chance.

Whitehouse.gov launched a forum where you can submit questions about the economy in text or video messages for the President to see. He then may answer some of your questions live in his own video chat.

If you're not interested in submitting your own question, you can also vote on other people's submissions.

The President says in his video message that this is a new experiment, but he hopes to open the White House to the American people, to get opinions on the economy from outside Washington and understand citizens' most pressing concerns.

The White House blog provides a brief summary of how online town halls will work. You may also want to read basic guidelines for submitting questions before you dive in.

You can watch the first town hall online today and can check Whitehouse.gov to look for more opportunities to ask the President questions.

If you could ask President Obama one question, what would it be? You can leave it here in the comments, but then go over to Whitehouse.gov and ask him yourself.

When I first graduated college my #1 concern was getting a job. For one thing, my mother was utterly confused as to why she'd bothered to send me to school when I was back in her house, instead of instantly employed upon receiving my diploma. Many an uncomfortable family dinner did this make.

As for me, I was well aware that come January, I was getting booted from my Dad's health insurance plan—and I was one of the lucky ones. Most of my friends got the heave-ho the second we moved our tassels in May. Seeing as I am fairly accident-prone and enjoy having my teeth cleaned, making sure I was covered was a priority.

Now, given the state of the economy, many families are faced with the same concern. Not only is income an issue when losing a job—health insurance and coverage is also a major factor.

Should you lose your job, you do have some options:

• Special Enrollment in Another Group Plan: This option allows an individual and possibly your family to enroll in a spouse's plan regardless of enrollment periods. Be sure you request the special enrollment within 30 days of losing eligibility for other coverage.
• COBRA Continuation Coverage: If your employer continues to operate and offer a group plan, COBRA continuation coverage may be available. It may be more expensive than what you were paying while employed, but it's likely to be cheaper than private, individual coverage. COBRA coverage usually lasts 18 months, but may last longer. The U.S. Department of Labor has announced that through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) certain individuals will be eligible for COBRA coverage at a discounted rate.
• Health Coverage through a Government Program: Medicaid, Sate Children's Health Insurance Program, and Medicare are available through your state insurance department of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services at 1-800-MEDICARE.
• Private, Individual Health Insurance: Is an option if you had health coverage for at least 18 months without a significant break in coverage and were part of a group plan, your coverage was not terminated because of fraud or failure to pay premiums, and you are not eligible for COBRA or other health coverage.

While none of these options may be ideal, it's at least something. Have you ever lost healthcare coverage? What have you done in between plans?