MAKE A NOTE!! -- February 1st, 2006
CIRCULATION - 37,164 (From Around the World! :-)
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A Free Twice Monthly (1st and 3d Wednesday of each month) Ezine with (Hopefully) Useful Info on a Wide Variety of Topics
NEXT ISSUE TO BE PUBLISHED ON/ABOUT FEBRUARY 15TH, 2006
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NOTE: Each entry has a suggested "POST IT..." location at the end. We recommend that you print out the ezine, cut out each entry, & post it in these locations to make it easier for you to find when you need it. And if you like what you read, be sure to pass it on to someone else who can use it.
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My Favorite: Books
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Hugs and Hope.org (with thanks to reader Marsha J.)
This is a wonderful opportunity to touch someone's life in a special way. This organization will provide addresses for children with life threatening medical conditions, so that you can send a cheery card to them. You can also get updates on their condition, as well as submit the names of children you know in similar situations. For this Valentine's Day, or any other day of the year for that matter, why not help to cheer up a special child? For more info, go to... www.hugsandhope.org
POST IT...on your computer and snail (regular postal) mail list. POST IT...with your car keys.
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Valentine Candy Specials
In past issues, we have recommended Russell Stover Candy's website... www.russellstover.com, Then click on Russell Stover. We wanted to alert you to a new 24 hour sale program that they started at Christmas time. For the days leading up to certain holidays (they've already done this with Christmas, now Valentine's Day, and we hope will continue for upcoming holidays like Mother's Day & Easter), they feature 24 hour sales. These are extra special discount offers, that are only available for 24 hours. You can get on their email list, but they will usually just tell you that they are running the sales for a certain number of days. In order to see what is on sale, you have to go to the website. For Christmas, I was able to order an almost 3 lb box for about $15 w/free shipping. It seems the closer you get to the holiday, the better the sale. You can order up until 2/6 for standard shipping for Valentine's Day orders to arrive on time. So be sure to watch those sales. By the way, they also have excellent tasting Sugar Free and Net Carb products.
POST IT...on your calendar near holidays.
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Hospital Stays
If someone you love is stuck in a hospital, either temporarily or longer term, remember that a hospital is NOT usually a restful place...between medications, treatments, doctor visits, cleaning teams, and beeping machinery. So ask when meals are delivered, when they usually get treatments, when they'd be taking a nap (most are tired after physical therapy), and what time they go to bed & get up. Encourage people to send cards or letters (some hospitals even let you send emails to patients), & flowers (if there is space in their room). But as far as phone calls go, ask people not to call unless it is during those times when they won't be eating, getting treatments, or sleeping. In some cases, you can ask for the phone calls to be held at certain times, or even unplug the phone. If it is your family member, then try to set up an email update system, and ask certain people who get the emails, to call people who don't have email to get them abreast of the situation. That way, the family caring for the loved one, will also get some sleep instead of answering multiple calls of concern. Another thing, in some cases medical treatments or tests can be delayed until the person wakes up, if they are sleeping. Don't be afraid to ask if it will hurt anything to delay things until the patient wakes up.
POST IT...with your "Get Well" cards.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Let me take this opportunity to again thank our friends & family who have been so kind during my mother's hospitalization.
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Life Link Personal Alarm
After much research on personal alarms that can be pushed if a loved one falls & needs assistance, the Make a Note would like to recommend Life Link Personal Alarm. With most other alarms, there is a monthly fee (usually $20-$40/month) and a center is usually called and they direct the call. We were surprised to find that many of the major companies have quite a few complaints against them. With Life Link, you pay a one time fee for the equipment and that is it, so you start to save money in less than a year. They have an automatic dialer, that when triggered by pressing a button on a pendant, will call up to 5 people, until someone pushes a "0" to indicate they are online. So if you pressed the button, you might have it call a neighbor, then try a family member, then maybe a family member's cell, then another family member or neighbor, and the last call should be 911, so that you KNOW someone will be there to answer. It plays a recording explaining that you hit the button and need assistance. A loud alarm sounds in the house until someone pushes the "0" button, so that when the alarm stops, then the person who fell will know someone was reached. They can then turn the alarm off on their pendant. The pendant is water resistant, so it can be worn in the shower or bath. They do have a program where you can purchase multiple pendants to put around your home as well, if you need to. The system costs $139 and they have a 30 day money back guarantee, and a 1 yr warranty on equipment. You do need a phone jack to plug the system in. This is a great idea for anyone who lives alone. However, it does not solve the problem of the possibility of someone falling and being knocked unconscious. If a person has fallen before, then you can set up certain times of the day when you call to check on them...maybe when they first get up, when they go to bed, or before/after showers & baths. You can see info on their website at... www.callforassistance.com or call 1-877-837-0779 for an info packet. Don't forget to test the system on installation, and also periodically throughout the year. If you don't feel you need an actual alarm yet, considering having a phone of some kind near the bottom of any steps in the house.
POST IT...in your address book near the names of those who might need the product.
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Recipe: Shrimp Enchiladas Verde (from the "Eating Well Healthy in a Hurry Cookbook")
Shrimp with spicy tomatillo-and-cilantro sauce, a common combination in coastal Mexican cuisine, make bright-tasting enchiladas. Precooked shrimp help get them on your table in a hurry.
 | 1 pound peeled cooked shrimp (21-25 per pound; thawed if frozen), tails removed |
| Diced 1 cup frozen corn |
| Thawed 2 4-ounce cans chopped green chiles (not drained) |
| 2 cups canned green enchilada sauce or green salsa |
| Divided 12 corn tortillas |
| 1 15-ounce can nonfat refried beans |
| 1 cup reduced-fat shredded cheese, such as Mexican-style, Monterey Jack or Cheddar |
| 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro |
| 1 lime, cut into wedges |
1. Preheat oven to 425ºF. Coat a 9-by-13-inch glass baking dish with cooking spray.
2. Combine shrimp, corn, chiles and 1/2 cup enchilada sauce (or salsa) in a microwave-safe medium bowl. Cover and microwave on High until heated through, 2 1/2 minutes.
3. Spread 1/4 cup enchilada sauce (or salsa) in the prepared baking dish. Top with an overlapping layer of 6 tortillas. Spread refried beans evenly over the tortillas. Top the beans with the shrimp mixture, followed by the remaining 6 tortillas. Pour the remaining sauce (or salsa) over the tortillas. Cover with foil.
4. Bake the enchiladas until they begin to bubble on the sides, about 20 minutes. Remove the foil; sprinkle cheese on top. Continue baking until heated through and the cheese is melted, about 5 minutes more. Top with cilantro and serve with lime wedges.
Makes 8 servings.
Active Minutes: 20
Total: 45 minutes
To Make Ahead: Prepare through Step 2, cover and refrigerate for up to 1 day. Allow the cold baking dish to warm slightly before placing in a hot oven.
Per Serving: 320 calories; 9 g fat (4 g sat, 1 g mono); 136 mg cholesterol; 37 g carbohydrate; 26 g protein; 7 g fiber; 538 mg sodium.
Nutrition Bonus: Fiber (28% daily value), Vitamin C (25% dv), Calcium (20% dv), Iron (20% dv).
High Fiber
To read more about this book, see the article in our 1/18/06 issue, or to purchase, click...HERE.
POST IT...with your recipes.
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Back Issue Treasure: February 1st, 1999 Issue (Valentines for Veterans, for the Forgotten, Postmarks, Gifts, Easter Banner/Book, & More)
If you are lonely and don't have anyone special to share Valentine's Day with, then you should definitely read our article on Valentines for the Forgotten. Consider sending a Valentine to a Veteran at a VA Hospital to thank them for their service. Learn how to have a truly Valentine postmark on the Valentines to those special someones OR how to get those special gifts for those special occasions. Start making a wonderful Easter Banner to celebrate the days leading up to Easter.
To retrieve this back issue click HERE.
POST IT...by your computer.
Missing People: Julie Michelle Bullard
Witnesses say a masked gunman snatched Julie from a home in Broadway, Lee
County, NC early Monday morning (1/2/06). Investigators say Julie was last seen
hanging out with friends in a home early Monday morning. According to
authorities, a masked man surprised the group, breaking through the door with a
gun. Detectives say the masked man tied everyone up and left with Bullard. They
said there is no indication that any of the victims knew the masked man. Search
crews from Lee, Harnett and Moore counties combed through fields. Divers also
checked a nearby pond, but there was no sign of Bullard. Bullard's father said
he will not rest until she is found. He formed a private search group Monday
night with friends and family to keep looking for her. Bullard is described as
being 5-feet-2-inches tall and weighs 125 pounds. She also has brown hair and
brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans.
According to the family, the suspected kidnapper is in his mid-thirties, he is
white, approximately 5 feet, 8 inches tall, wearing a camouflage jacket and blue
jeans. On 1/29 searchers in Cumberland County found her purse and the wallets of
2 of her friends in the trailer. Anyone with information about Bullard's
whereabouts is asked to contact local authorities immediately. For photos and an
update, go to...
http://www.fayettevillenc.com/article?id=225444
POST IT (her photo)...in your car or business, especially if you are in the NC area. If you have a property in that area, be sure to search it, along with abandoned buildings, wells, or ponds, as best as you can.
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Final Words
JOKE
Mr. Norton was in the hospital recovering from an operation when the nurse on duty received a call from a man who asked how Mr. Norton was doing. "Oh, quite well. We expect he'll be released in the morning," said the nurse. "Very good, thank you," said the caller. "May I ask who is calling so that I can tell Mr. Norton?," said the nurse. "This IS Mr. Norton," said the caller, "The doctors don't tell me a thing." :-)
QUOTE
"Everyone brings joy to a room...some when they enter and others when they
leave."
--Unknown
EDITOR'S NOTE: Which of those people do you *choose* to be?)
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