Good Things to Know:
Cold, Flu & Viruses:
Whew! You came down with the flu! Lainey called me...a little frightened because she had never had a fever over 100 degrees and in need a bit of mothering. So off I went with some of my famous chicken soup that I always have in the freezer this time of year for precisely these kinds of emergencies and all my best comforting. I grabbed up the rubbing alcohol for a high fever, digital thermometer for my failing eyesight, and lots of juice.
The other thing I can add is that you need to keep a citrus cleaner around. All those anti-bacterial soaps and sprays are just that...anti-BACTERIAL. Colds and flu are VIRUSES not bacteria. So all those products don't produce a germ-free environment. Use orange or some other citrus cleaners on the phones, doorknobs, and anything that the sick folk have touched. And wash your hands non-stop...even taking a used glass from the sickroom to the kitchen is enough to get the ball rolling.
Sneezes, wheezes, and used tissues are seriously sickening. It took a number of days to get her feeling right and I can report that she is back at school none the worse for wear! I'm a little tired but so far I am fine as a fiddle. I think that almost every household has had a cold or the flu come for a visit this year. So I thought you would like the down and dirty about what can get you down for the count.
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases puts out great information. Take care and take in the info!
The Cold Facts:
* The Problem In the course of a year, individuals in the United States suffer 1 billion colds, according to some estimates. Colds are most prevalent among children, and seem to be related to youngsters' relative lack of resistance to infection and to contacts with other children in day-care centers and schools. Children have about six to ten colds a year. In families with children in school, the number of colds per child can be as high as 12 a year. Adults average about two to four colds a year, although the range varies widely. Women, especially those aged 20 to 30 years, have more colds than men, possibly because of their closer contact with children. On average, individuals older than 60 have fewer than one cold a year.
* Cold Season In the United States, most colds occur during the fall and winter. Beginning in late August or early September, the incidence of colds increases slowly for a few weeks and remains high until March or April, when it declines. The seasonal variation may relate to the opening of schools and to cold weather, which prompt people to spend more time indoors and increase the chances that viruses will spread from person to person. Seasonal changes in relative humidity also may affect the prevalence of colds. The most common cold-causing viruses survive better when humidity is low--the colder months of the year. Cold weather also may make the nasal passages' lining drier and more vulnerable to viral infection.
* How Colds are Spread Depending on the virus type, any or all of the following routes of transmission may be common:
-Touching infectious respiratory secretions on skin and on environmental surfaces and then touching the eyes or nose. -Inhaling relatively large particles of respiratory secretions transported briefly in the air. -Inhaling droplet nuclei: smaller infectious particles suspended in the air for long periods of time. Much of the research on the transmission of the common cold has been done with rhinoviruses, which are shed in the highest concentration in nasal secretions. Studies suggest a person is most likely to transmit rhinoviruses in the second to fourth day of infection, when the amount of virus in nasal secretions is highest. Researchers also have shown that using aspirin to treat colds increases the amount of virus shed in nasal secretions, possibly making the cold sufferer more of a hazard to others.
* Prevention Handwashing is the simplest and most effective way to keep from getting rhinovirus colds. Not touching the nose or eyes is another. Individuals with colds should always sneeze or cough into a facial tissue, and promptly throw it away. If possible, one should avoid close, prolonged exposure to persons who have colds. Because rhinoviruses can survive up to three hours outside the nasal passages on inanimate objects and skin, cleaning environmental surfaces with a virus-killing disinfectant might help prevent spread of infection.
A cold vaccine? The development of a vaccine that could prevent the common cold has reached an impasse because of the discovery of many different cold viruses. Each virus carries its own specific antigens, substances that induce the formation of specific protective proteins (antibodies) produced by the body. Until ways are found to combine many viral antigens in one vaccine, or take advantage of the antigenic cross-relationships that exist, prospects for a vaccine are dim. Evidence that changes occur in common-cold virus antigens further complicate development of a vaccine. Such changes occur in some influenza virus antigens and make it necessary to alter the influenza vaccine each year.
Flu Facts:
Influenza, or the flu, is a respiratory infection caused by a variety of flu viruses. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 35 to 50 million Americans come down with the flu during each flu season, which typically lasts from November to March. Children are two to three times more likely than adults to get sick with the flu, and children frequently spread the virus to others. Although most people recover from the illness, CDC estimates that in the United States more than 100,000 people are hospitalized and more than 20,000 people die from the flu and its complications every year.
* When and Where Do People Usually Get the Flu? Flu outbreaks usually begin suddenly and occur mainly in the late fall and winter. The disease spreads through communities creating an epidemic. During the epidemic, the number of cases peaks in about three weeks and subsides after another three or four weeks. Half of he population of a community may be affected. Because schools are an excellent place for flu viruses to attack and spread, families with school-age children have more infections than other families, with an average of one-third of the family members infected each year.
* How is the Flu Transmitted? You can get the flu if someone around you who has the flu coughs or sneezes. You can get the flu simply by touching a surface like a telephone or door knob that has been contaminated by a touch from someone who has the flu. The viruses can pass through the air and can enter your body through your nose or mouth. If you've touched a contaminated surface, they can pass from your hand to your nose or mouth. You are at the greatest risk of getting infected in highly populated areas, such as in crowded living conditions and in schools.
* Are There Different Types of Flu Viruses? The first flu virus was identified in the 1930's. Since then, scientists have classified flu viruses into types A, B, and C. Type A is the most common and usually causes the most serious epidemics. Type B outbreaks also can cause epidemics, but the disease it produces generally is milder than that caused by type A. Type C virus uses, on the other hand, never have been connected with a large epidemic.
* What are Possible Complications from the Flu? You can have flu complications if you get a bacterial infection, which causes pneumonia in your weakened lungs. Pneumonia also can be caused by the flu virus itself. Symptoms of complications will usually appear after you start feeling better. After a brief period of improvement, you may suddenly get: -High fever -Shaking chills -Chest pain with each breath -Coughing that produces thick, yellow-greenish-colored mucus Pneumonia can be a very serious and sometimes life-threatening condition. If you have any of these symptoms, you should contact your doctor immediately so that you can get the appropriate treatment.
* Are There Other Flu Complications that Only Affect Children? Reye's syndrome, a condition that affects the nerves, sometimes develops in children and adolescents who are recovering from the flu. Reye's syndrome begins with nausea and vomiting, but the progressive mental changes (such as confusion or delirium) cause the greatest concern. The syndrome often begins in young people after they take aspirin to get rid of fever or pain. Although very few children develop Reye's syndrome, you should consult a doctor before giving aspirin or products that contain aspirin to children. Acetaminophen does not seem to be associated with Reye's syndrome.
Other complications of the flu that affect children are: -Convulsions caused by fever -Croup -Ear infections, such as otitis media Newborn babies recently out of intensive care units are particularly vulnerable to suffering from flu complications. Aching face, throbbing head, stuffy nose and a nasty cough? The symptoms could signal a common cold, or something more serious: sinusitis. An estimated 31 million people develop sinusitis every year. Sinusitis is an inflammation of the nasal sinuses -- the hollow cavities within the cheek bones around the eyes and behind the nose. Swelling can prevent mucus drainage, eventually building a breeding ground for bacteria to move in and cause an infection. The illness often develops following a cold, allergic reaction or other illness that causes the sinus cavities to swell.
ACUTE SINUSITIS: Commonly follows a typical cold; If cold symptoms last more than 1 week, then the cold may have advanced into sinusitis. * First timers: If this is your first episode of acute sinusitis and you are not too sick, you may want to give it a few days to resolve before asking your doctor to prescribe an antibiotic. A decongestant might help relieve symptoms.
* See a doctor: If you or your child have a fever greater than 100.5 degree F, pain or swelling in the face or eyes, redness on the cheek or around the eyes, severe headaches, confusion or a stiff neck, see your physician immediately. * Repeating problem: Frequent episodes of sinusitis or failure to completely clear up symptoms may be an indication of chronic sinusitis.
CHRONIC SINUSITIS: Diagnosed when sinusitis symptoms last for more than 12 weeks despite medical treatment. * Common: One of the most common chronic illnesses in Americans under 45 years of age. * Nasal polyps: Approximately 20 percent of patients with chronic sinusitis develop nasal polyps, which are cyst-like growths that develop from sinus tissue.
* Allergies: People with chronic sinusitis should undergo an evaluation for allergies, especially to test for allergens that are difficult to avoid, such as indoor dust mites and molds. Take care of yourselves! To SUBSCRIBE: http://www.shagmail.com/sub/notmartha.html
Hangovers:
They don't call it intoxication for nothing. Happy juice is poisonous. Put enough of it into your body and you die. It is not so much alcohol itself but the by-products of alcohol, and especially one particularly nasty chemical critter by the name of acetaldehyde. It's got a lot more of the bad kind of kapow, and the latest research suggests that it may be responsible for the worst of your hangover.
After you ingest alcohol, your body breaks it down into (among other things) acetaldehyde, before converting it into less harmful substances. The acetaldehyde messes with your brain at the same time as a host of depleted minerals are short-circuiting your nervous system, and that's in addition to low blood sugar and the classic headache-and-dry-mouth symptoms caused by dehydration.
The result: nausea, twitchy nerves, unpleasantness, pessimism, terrible brain pain, and a temporary suspension of the laws of gravity. The severity of a hangover varies according to . . . * The amount you've guzzled in a given period of time * Your own innate enzymatic capacity to deal with the poisons * Your age * Your gender...guys can drink more. Hey, they are bigger, etc.
Translation: the more you drink in a short amount of time, the more you'll feel the alcohol. One's weight is also a factor (the less you weigh, the more you'll feel it), as is a genetic predisposition. Finally, the older you get, the more you'll feel the alcohol the next morning.
As anyone who has had a hangover knows, thirst and dry mouth are 2 of the cardinal symptoms. These symptoms caused scientists to investigate how drinking alcohol affects your water regulatory system. Anyone who has gotten drunk knows that drinking eventually leads to multiple trips to the bathroom. This is because consumption of alcohol causes a decrease in a substance called anti-diuretic hormone (ADH).
As blood alcohol levels rise, less ADH is available, and more water is excreted by the kidneys. This situation reverses itself, however, when blood alcohol levels begin to fall, and your body begins to compensate for the temporary, alcohol induced dehydration. ADH levels rise, urinary output decreases, and you become thirsty.
By the time the hangover gets into full swing, you are actually retaining fluid, as evidenced by the puffy eyes and face that some people get after a night of drinking. I suspect that this fluid retention, also known as edema, contributes to the hangover headache. Some of the other effects of hangover appear to be caused by a condition known as metabolic acidosis.
Acidosis is when your blood becomes more acidic than it should be. There are a number of reasons why alcohol causes this, but suffice it to say that alcohol interferes with the normal metabolism of some acids, and actually produces others. The end result is a slight increase in the acidity of your blood.
This increase reaches its peak during the hangover period, and the level of acidity is strongly correlated with the severity of the hangover symptoms. It takes your kidneys and lungs about 18-24 hours to return the blood acid levels back to normal. It seems likely that the symptoms of nausea and sweating are related to this temporary increase in blood acidity.
The third cause of hangover symptoms is a disruption of some of your normal daily (circadian) rhythms. I have found some studies which observed that alcohol consumption that leads to drunkenness can change the normal daily rhythm of body temperature and brain activity. In those cases, the subjects body clocks were set back about 6 hours; that means that if they woke up at 9:00am after a night of drinking, their body thought it was 3:00am.
This could definitely account for hangover grogginess and irritability. Lastly, some people believe that certain impurities or toxins that can be found in alcoholic drinks, called congeners, can cause hangover. In fact, there is a brand of vodka that used to market itself as so pure that it was hangover free; I believe some governmental agency has since made them stop saying that.
In any event, drinks like vodka and gin have fewer congeners, and are supposed to produce less of a hangover, whereas drinks like whisky and red wine, which have lots of non-alcohol ingredients, are supposed to insure a big headache. Along these same lines is the idea that a toxic byproduct of alcohol metabolism (acetaldehyde), builds in the bloodstream and causes hangover.
You've just opened your eyes to find yourself crumbled into a collapsed mess, hopefully in a bed, hopefully in somewhat familiar surroundings, but, worst of all, awake. Your mind gradually manages to reconstruct some sort of memory of some portion of the previous night's activities. You feel like the worst part of hell ...this is the cue for the proverbial "I'll-never-drink-again" declaration.
You need help. Quick. You are suffering from the Big Three: 1. Dehydration - the alcohol has forced evaporation of a certain vital portion of the body's water. 2. Nervous shock - with alcohol you're coming off the effects of a mild overdose of a depressant drug, so your nerves are displaying the great Newtonian natural law of action/reaction by going into a relatively hypersensitive state. 3. Malnutrition - pumping all that alcohol and liquid through your body has effectively flushed away a significant supply of your storage of vitamins and nutrients, chemicals which would stimulate natural defense systems, but you're running seriously low on them now.
What you need to do is take some restorative steps to begin a recovery process. Hydrate...water, water, water. Gatorade, Diet Coke, juice. Tea sweetened with honey. It also means trying to eat something that will help to replace the nutrients you've lost. That really should be in the forms of fruits/vegetables, NOT fatty, greasy junk, not dairy foods, something that isn't too tough on the already beat-up digestive system. Bananas are great for key vitamins....tomatoes! Strange but true.
This sort of explains half of the reason that a Bloody Mary is the standard morning-after drink. So, next time, try it. Maybe a little light pasta with a meatless, greaseless, tomato sauce. Cold gazpacho or a mild salsa may work too, but your stomach will be in no mood for onions and peppers. A glass of V8 may be just the thing. Citrus juices tend to bother the stomach too; but tomatoes are highly acidic, so I can't explain that part.
BEFORE YOU GO OUT So now that you know exactly how alcohol can affect your little ol' body and what makes you likely to feel the aftereffects, it is time to figure out how to prevent a hangover. Prepare yourself even before you step out the door, by following these tips:
* Don't go out on an empty stomach. Granted, it's completely unrealistic to ask you to pause and enjoy a healthy meal full of starches and stocked with essential minerals when you're getting ready to have a night on the town.
Also, launch your night with a double order of curly fries. The moderating effect this will have on the absorption of alcohol into your bloodstream in the short term may be more important than the clogged arteries in the long term. The reason that food is so important is because it'll sop up the alcohol so that it doesn't all go directly into the bloodstream.
* Hydrate your body. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Sure, you'll probably still wake up at 4 a.m. with hairbrush tongue and a desperate compulsion to hang your head under the faucet, but every glass of juice or water you force yourself to swallow now is worth two in the morning. Everyone knows that alcohol acts as a diuretic. In case all those trips to the bathroom didn't tip you off, more is going out than coming in. You need to replace that liquid. So the lowdown is: eat, drink (water), and you'll be merry in the morning.
WHILE YOU ARE OUT OK, so you've loaded up on food and water. Now you can start your drinking. But while you're deciding whether you'd like a Fuzzy Navel or a Shirley Temple, there are a few things you can do while you're drinking to lessen the effects of the alcohol:
* Choose your drinks with care. There are poisons besides alcohol itself that contribute to a brutal hangover. Nasty chemicals called congeners occur naturally in all fermented drinks. The general rule is that darker drinks, such as red wine, bourbon, scotch, and brandy have more congeners than lighter drinks like white wine, vodka, and gin. But you should also keep in mind that whatever your drink's color, the cheaper it is, the more poison will be in it. So avoid the cheap sauce.
One further note: red wine contains an extra hangover-inducing poison all of its own called tyramine. So be especially careful with cheap red wine. * Alternate alcoholic beverages with non-alcoholic beverages. This simple measure will help keep you hydrated. A fruit juice (which is particularly good at re-hydrating the body) is an especially good choice. * Consume less than one drink per hour.
Your liver breaks down alcohol at the rate of about a beer an hour, so spreading out the drinking over the course of an evening will lessen the likelihood of a hangover. TIPSY TIME...despite all your best efforts! * Don't pass out! Your metabolism slows down when you're asleep, so your body takes longer to process and safely dispose of all that alcohol. This is how hangovers happen.
* You have to drink lots of water immediately. Remember dehydration is responsible for a major part of that hungover feeling. OK, you hate water - try Diet Coke or something, as long as it's not full of sugar. Drink at least 2 big glasses of it, whatever it is. * You are going to stay awake for at least an hour, so chat with a friend (or the cat), make a cup of tea (not coffee - that just dehydrates you more), do anything that keeps you awake.
Stay awake drinking water until you're only about half as drunk as you were, if not exactly sober. Now, go to bed - and when you wake up you won't feel nearly as ghastly as you would have without the extra awake time and the water. You may be pleasantly surprised by complete hangover absence if the impending hangover was likely to be mild; or if you were set for a major hangover, you'll get a mild one instead.
* In your list of hangover cures you mention taking aspirin, ibuprofen, or acetaminophen. One thing you REALLY ought to be aware of --- if you plan on living very long -- is that acetaminophen in combination with alcohol does HORRENDOUS liver damage. Alcohol alone damages the liver; and acetaminophen (Tylenol i.e..) does a little damage to the liver; but if you mix the two, the damage you incur is EXPONENTIAL.
I'm sure you can find plenty of medical journals to collaborate this if you want to. This made news a while back. You can literally wreck your liver in a very short time if you mix Tylenol with alcohol. Aspirin upsets the stomach and aggravates the symptoms of a hangover. Ibuprofen is the best. Before you go to bed take 2 Advil (or any headache pill that is made of Ibuprofen). * If you want to take a pill, a multivitamin might help by replenishing some of the B vitamins you've quite literally pissed away during the course of the evening. Research has shown that B Vitamins are the first thing to be used up when the liver is processing alcohol.
IMPORTANT NOTE: See a doctor IMMEDIATELY if you are experiencing tremors, stomach pain, or if you see blood in your vomit. These are indications that you have tippled way too much, and must get professional medical attention, (e.g., a stomach-pump at the local emergency room). Better safe than sorry. Before you go out put a glass of water next to your bed. Then drink it and put another one there for when you get home. Works best if you know where you'll be sleeping.
You can help your body to ease the pain and assist rapid recovery by trying a little-known substance called cysteine. Cysteine directly counteracts the poisonous effects of acetaldehyde. It can be found at vitamin shops. If necessary, follow up with a dose of Maalox, lots of Gatorade, and bouillon soup for dinner. These ingredients will rehydrate your body, replace essential vitamins and minerals, and help rid your body of some of the toxic byproducts of metabolized alcohol.
For a headache that drugs don't seem to touch, try an icepack or a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a tea towel, 20 minutes on your head, 10 minutes off. You will require something protein-heavy for breakfast-- avoid lots of sugar. You can have a cup of coffee now, and extra water. Go out and face the day! ***DON'T DRIVE IF YOU ARE DRINKING. Friends don't let friends drink and drive...and we are great friends. To SUBSCRIBE: http://www.shagmail.com/sub/notmartha.html
Good Advise:
Thought this was good advice if you have not already taken the precautions...
Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine, do both sides of each license, credit card, etc. You will know what you had in your wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to call and cancel. Keep the photocopy in a safe place.
A corporate attorney sent this out to the employees in his company. I pass it along, for your information. We've all heard horror stories about fraud that's committed us in your name, address, SS#, credit, etc. Unfortunately I (the author of this piece who happens to be an attorney) have firsthand knowledge, because my wallet was stolen last month and within a week the thieve(s) ordered an expensive monthly cell phone package, applied for a VISA credit card, had a credit line approved to buy a Gateway computer, received a PIN number from DMV to change my driving record information online, and more. But here's some critical information to limit the damage in case this happens to you or someone you know.
As everyone always advises, cancel your credit cards immediately, but the key is having the toll free numbers and your card numbers handy so you know whom to call. Keep those where you can find them easily.
File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where it was stolen, this proves to credit providers you were diligent, and is a first step toward an investigation (if there ever is one).
But here's what is perhaps most important: (I never ever thought to do this) Call the three national credit reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and SS#.
I had never heard of doing that until advised by a bank that called to tell me an application for credit was made over the Internet in my name. The alert means any company that checks your credit knows your information was stolen and they have to contact you by phone to authorize new credit.
By the time I was advised to do this, almost 2 weeks after the theft, all the damage had been done. There are records of all the credit checks initiated by the thieves' purchases, none of which I knew about before placing the alert. Since then, no additional damage has been done, and the thieves threw my wallet away this weekend (someone turned it in). It seems to have stopped them in their tracks.
The numbers are: Equifax: 1-800-525-6285, Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742, Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289, Social Security Administration (fraud line): 1-800-269-0271
We pass along jokes; we pass along just about everything. Do think about passing this information along. It could really help someone. I hope this help you!
Saying & Thoughts:
One's self-image is very important because if that's in good shape, then you can do practically anything. Sir John Gielgud
Nature gave men two ends - one to sit on and one to think with. Ever since then man's success or failure has been dependent on the one he used most. George R. Kirkpatrick
Success seems to be largely a matter of hanging on after others have let go. William Feather
It was a high counsel that I once heard given to a young person, Always do what you are afraid to do." Ralph Waldo Emerson
An inexhaustible good nature is one of the most precious gifts of heaven, spreading itself like oil over the troubled sea of thought, and keeping the mind smooth and equable in the roughest weather. Washington Irving
Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. Leo Buscaglia
Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant. Robert Louis Stevenson
It is easy to sit up and take notice. What is difficult is getting up and taking action. Al Batt
Refuse to be ill. Never tell people you are ill; never own it to yourself. Illness is one of those things which a man should resist on principle at the onset. Edward G. Bulwer-Lytton
Your profession is not what brings home your paycheck. Your profession is what you were put on earth to do. With such passion and such intensity that it becomes spiritual in calling. Vincent Van Gogh
One who is too wise an observer of the business of others, like one who is too curious in observing the labor of bees, will often be stung for his curiosity. Alexander Pope
The thought manifests as the word; The word manifests as the deed; The deed develops into habit; And habit hardens into character.
If there is light in the soul, There will be beauty in the person. If there is beauty in the person, There will be harmony in the house. If there is harmony in the house, There will be order in the nation. If there is order in the nation, There will be peace in the world. Proverb
The reality of life is that your perceptions - right or wrong - influence everything else you do. When you get a proper perspective of your perceptions, you may be surprised how many other things fall into place. Roger Birkman
Happiness belongs to those who are sufficient unto themselves. For all external sources of happiness and pleasure are, by their very nature, highly uncertain, precarious, ephemeral and subject to chance. Arthur Schopenhauer
Knowledge is gained by learning; trust by doubt; skill by practice; and love by love. Thomas Szasz
Hope and patience are two sovereign remedies for all, the surest reposals, the softest cushions to lean on in adversity. Robert Burton
Non-violence leads to the highest ethics, which is the goal of all evolution. Until we stop harming all other living beings, we are still savages. Thomas Alva Edison
So watch the thought and its ways with care, And let it spring from love; Born out of concern for all beings. The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. Eleanor Roosevelt
Good, better, best. Never let it rest. Til your good is better and your better is best. St. Jerome
Etiquette on Tipping:
Holiday Tipping: The holiday season is the perfect time to say "thank you" to those who have provided service to you throughout the year - to let them know you're pleased with what they do for you. A monetary gift, or a gift that you have selected personally, are both appropriate. Tip amounts and/or gifts vary widely.
Make your own modifications based on: how pleased you are with the service, your relationship with the service provider, the frequency of the service or how long you have worked together, your budget, your regional customs, the type of establishment: a deluxe or moderate beauty salon/apartment/fitness center.
Guidelines Remember: These suggested ranges are merely guidelines. What to give is an individual decision.
Teacher: Check school's policy; ask other parents. Enlist your child's help with selection. Ideas: desk accessory, book, picture frame, fruit basket, candy, cake, gourmet food item. Another option is to go in on a joint gift with other parents.
Day Care Provider(s): $25 - $70 each, plus a small gift from your child Remember to check your establishment's policy.
Nanny, Au Pair: One week's pay, plus a small gift from your child
Regular Baby Sitter(s: ) One evening's pay, plus a small gift from your child
Cleaning Person: $25 - $50, or one day's pay, or a gift equivalent to a day's pay
Regular Newspaper Deliverer: $10 - $30
Letter Carrier: U.S. Postal Service regulations allow carriers and other employees to accept gifts worth up to $20, per occasion.
Beauty Salon Staff: $10 - $60 each, giving more, or possibly an additional small gift, to those who do more for you.
Personal Fitness Trainer: One work-out session's fee if you are a regular client; less if you use the service occasionally.
Regular Overnight Delivery Person: $10 - $25
Private Trash Collectors: $10 - $20 each
Apartment Building Superintendent: $20 - $80
Doorman: $20 - $80
Private Garage Attendants: $10 - $30 each
Holiday Etiquette FAQs:
Is it OK to e-mail my holiday greetings instead of mailing cards? Yes--if your intended recipients are online and would welcome this type of greeting. Your great aunt Sara, who cherishes your handwritten notes, may still prefer a traditional card. The benefits of e-mail greetings? You can wait 'til the last minute and you can even attach pictures. Just be careful about sending personal e-mails to people's work addresses. Many companies have policies against receiving and sending personal e-mail at work.
Should I give my boss a holiday gift? Generally, no. It could easily be perceived as trying to win favor. However, a pooled gift from you and other employees that isn't too expensive or personal is fine.
What about co-workers? The Secret Santa system or a holiday grab bag are some of the easier ways to handle this. These types of gift exchanges can keep costs down and can be a lot of fun. Humorous gifts are OK-but don't go overboard. Homemade gifts are also a good idea.
I just got laid off. Can I cut back my gift giving at the last minute? Yes. Let people know (ahead of time if possible) that you won't be purchasing gifts this year. For those you still want to recognize, get creative with an inexpensive but meaningful gesture. You could plan to spend an afternoon in the park or build snowmen with your nieces and nephews instead of buying them the hot new toy. Send your parents and friends letters of appreciation for their special roles in your life. A homemade meal or batch of cookies is always a welcome gift-and a little easier on the pocketbook.
My wife's company holiday party is next week and I'm the world's worst conversationalist. Any advice? Don't panic. Most conversational blunders are committed by those who talk too much, not too little. Think before you speak. Have a list of potential conversation topics in mind that will help you get a conversation going. Avoid yes/no questions. "What are your plans for the holidays?" will generate a more detailed response than "Are you traveling for the holidays?" Don't be afraid to introduce yourself, especially to another wallflower who may be having as much difficulty as you are.
Because of recent national events, I really don't feel comfortable giving gifts this year, but I do want to honor the spirit of the holidays. Is it OK to give a donation to charity instead? Sure! A donation to a local charity in the names of those you wish to honor is a wonderful way of sharing the "giving" spirit. Because of the attention given to national charities this fall, local charities are having a hard time meeting their fund raising goals. Local groups that serve children, the homeless and the hungry would all appreciate your consideration.
For your Kitchen:
Wash the silver by hand in mild dishwashing liquid. Dry it thoroughly. When corrosion has been caused by salt, as happens with shaker tops, soak the silver in a mixture of salt and hot vinegar. If you don't have any silverware polish, try toothpaste or a paste made of water and cigarette ashes. When keeping flowers in a silver vase, change the water frequently to prevent discoloration. Polish and clean silver plate more gently than you might solid silver.
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