MAKE A NOTE!! -- May 17th, 2006
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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 JUNE 7TH, 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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Airline Water
If you are traveling by air this year, then you definitely should check out this article on the quality of water on airplanes, ESPECIALLY if the plane you are flying on has any stops in areas with questionable water quality. Read the tips, including taking your own bottled water, at... http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10071013/
POST IT...under travel agents in the yellow pages, or on your calendar if you have a air travel date.
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Clothing for Hot Flashes
If you, or someone you know, is dealing with hot flashes, here is a material you'll definitely want to check out. It was first designed for athletes. But some women going through hot flashes found that clothing made of this material was also great to wear even when they weren't working out. The clothing is designed to pull moisture away from the body and evaporate it quickly, so that you don't wake up in soggy clothes, or have to go change your clothes during the day. To read more about it and find clothing to purchase made of dri-release material, go to... http://www.drireleasestore.com/ The items for sale at this link are only a small sample of what is available. Be sure to click on the "Partner" links to see the entire lines, but make sure the item you are purchasing is dri-release or wicking material as some partners also sell other lines. There is sleep wear, workout clothing, and casual wear, but I haven't seen much in business or formal attire.
POST IT...in your medical reference book under Menopause, or on your shopping list for those special ladies so dear to you.
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TheThingsIWant.com
With more and more people shopping online these days, here's a helpful site for those planning big events like weddings, bridal/baby showers, or big birthdays. Go to... http://www.thethingsIwant.com While I think they could have come up with a less greedy sounding name, the site is basically a gift registry where you can make a list and link to gifts from all over the internet, and even off the internet (like if a couple would prefer some cash for certain things). It is completely free and makes it easier, esp. when people may not all be coming from the local area.
POST IT...with your gift cards, or on your calendar for special events.
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How to Complain
If you feel the need to complain about service, a product, or business, there is a way to proceed which will lead to a productive response, and there is a way to proceed that will make you come out looking like a raving lunatic. If you complain in anger, the targeted people are NOT listening to what you have to say, they are just looking for a way to calm you down and get rid of you. They will be less likely to take you seriously, or respond in a good way. Remember the point of the complaining should be to improve the situation, either for yourself or others, either in the present or in the future. The point is not just to release all that anger. So first, stay calm outside, even if you are furious inside. Go up the chain of command in the proper order. For example, if your food/service is lousy at a restaurant, first, speak with your server. If they are not able to resolve the situation, then speak with the manager on duty, and you may (or may not) feel the need to continue to the restaurant's main manager, restaurant owner, national office (if the restaurant is a chain), Better Business Bureau or local review websites, or other professional membership organizations (for example if a caterer was a member of a catering organization, or real estate agent was a member of a realtor's board) which might have some ability for intervention. Plan ahead for what you will say and what remedy you would consider fair. Start out with a compliment, something that you like about the place/service/product, apologize (yes, really) for bothering them with the matter, and thank them for hearing you out. Then explain what happened, why you don't think it is right, how it could create a bad reputation for the business/representative. Then wait for a response BEFORE you suggest a remedy; sometimes the remedy that they may offer is a lot better than what you would have suggested. If they don't suggest a remedy, now is the time for you to suggest one, whether it be a free meal or discount, credit towards other products/services, or something similar. So a typical conversation with a restaurant server might go like this..."Could I talk to you for just a minute about something? Thanks I really appreciate it. We have always loved your restaurant and have recommended it to many of our friends, and I'm really sorry to have to bother you with this, but the meal tonight was really a disappointment. We had to wait a long time for our food, it was cold when we got it, and there were a lot of mistakes made on the order." At this point, you wait to see if the person offers a remedy, and if they don't, then you might say, "It really seems that with the way everything was, that you really should give us some kind of a discount, free dessert, or some kind of credit." If you aren't happy with what they are offering, then start moving up that chain of command. Even if they are unresponsive to your complaint (their mistake), then you are still letting them know about the problem, and organizations like the Better Business Bureau, and hopefully they'll be less likely to do it in the future to others. DON'T FORGET TO COMPLIMENT THESE SAME PEOPLE IF YOU ARE HAPPY WITH THE SERVICE/PRODUCT/BUSINESS AS WELL!
POST IT...in the front of your phonebook.
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Recipe: Zucchini Bread from Karen
| Preheat oven to 350F. |
| Grease & flour 2 bread pans. |
| Mix 3 eggs well beaten, 2C sugar, and 1C vegetable oil. |
| Mix in a separate bowl 2C flour, 2 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp salt, and 3 tsp cinnamon. |
| Add dry mix to egg mixture. |
| Add 2C coarsely grated zucchini, then 1C chopped nuts (walnuts are fine), and 3 tsp vanilla extract. |
| Mix together well. |
| Divide evenly between 2 pans and bake for 1 hour, until golden brown, & knife inserted into middle comes out clean. |
POST IT...in your recipe box.
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Back Issue Treasure: June 1st, 2000 Issue (Swimsuit Buying Tips, FREE Craft Classes for Kids, Hand Me Down Mom Parties, Free Circus Tickets & More)
If you are like me, then you rarely get your swimsuit out and often it is horribly worn or out of date. But you don't have time to find a new one (usually the selection at the stores seems to be horrible during these moments), before the swimming event. So think ahead and start looking now for a replacement. Read this back issue to find an article on how to pick the most flattering swimsuit. We also like the selection from the Blair company catalog... http://www.blair.com And their prices too. Summer means more free time for the younger crowd, check out our article on free craft classes for kids. Want to brighten your wardrobe, but not spend a lot of money?...then check out how to have a Hand Me Down Mom Party. If you know someone who has had a baby in the past year, check out the article on free circus tickets. To see this back issue, click HERE.
Missing: May 25th=National Missing Children's Day
With this event in mind, I would encourage everyone to go to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's website at... http://www.ncmec.org On a regular basis to look for faces in your state. You can click on the search feature in the middle to pull up children from your state. Even if you only do it once a week, you will view 52 children a year, and one of those faces may ring a bell some day. Imagine how you would feel if it were your child and do all you can to help.
POST IT...on your computer.
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Final Words
JOKE
"Last night I played a blank tape full blast. The mime next door went nuts."
--Steven Wright (1955- )Comedian/Actor/Writer/Director
QUOTE
"No man needs a vacation so much as the man who just had one."
--L. Ron Hubbard
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It may be more reasonable than you realize. And check out the other free helpful ezines offered at
http://www.stretcher.com/menu/subscrib.cfm
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AT&T's Community Port
AT&T has a site about WorldNet members, like us, who have created their own personal web pages. If you think our site deserves to be featured on AT&T's Community Port , send them an e-mail about it, at communities@att.net. Be sure to include the page's URL http://home.att.net/~make-a-note/index.htm and why you think our site is special.
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