MAKE A NOTE!! -- January 19th, 2005
CIRCULATION - 45,948 (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 2ND, 2005
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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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Tutors
So the semester report cards show up and the grades are not as good as you had hoped. It's time for tutoring, but how do you go about finding a good, affordable tutor for your child (or yourself)? First stop...the teacher, ask your child's teacher if they can give them some personal (or small group) tutoring time either during, before or after school, or weekends. But many teachers are overwhelmed already, so if they can't do it, here are some other ideas to pursue. If the teacher is unable to help, ask if there another teacher that may be willing to help (most subjects in the same school district, use the same curriculum). Ask the teacher if there is an honor student in the subject, that might be willing to work with your child for pay. Some schools' honor societies already have free tutoring programs in place, if your school doesn't, suggest they set one up. If you can't find a tutor at your school, ask the teachers in that subject in nearby schools. If your child is in grade school, check for tutors at middle schools or above...child at middle school, check at high schools...child at high school, check at local colleges. If all else fails check with a learning center that provides professional tutoring, but they will usually be pretty pricey. The advantage to using people, teachers or students, at the school is that they are familiar with what is expected. No matter where you find your tutor, insist that the tutor work closely with the child's teacher. The teacher knows the child's weaknesses best, and can help guide the tutor to the areas that need work.
POST IT...wherever you keep report cards.
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"Wickedly Perfect" Crafts/Recipes
There's a new reality show on CBS with tons of crafty ideas, if you can just ignore the occasional bickering among the contestants. "Wickedly Perfect" is a show that is trying to find "the next great style maker" (think Martha Stewart). What I think is so neat about the show, is that they are given tasks to complete, usually within 36 hours. So in a relatively short time, they have to come up with food, crafts, projects, parties, and so much more. For example, in the first episode each team had to pick as many apples as they could in 30 min, but THAT wasn't the competition. Once they picked them, they were told they had 36 hours to use every single apple they had picked (a large grocery store display crate filled) in a display that had to have food and crafts. The teams are judged on the group projects, but each contestant makes an individual project as well. If a team loses, the contestants with the 2 worst individual projects are up for a vote to be eliminated. The judges are professionals, so as long as you do well in the individual projects, no one can vote you off. But the reason I recommend the show is just the sheer creativity of these people. It is amazing what they come up with in such a short time. You see them doing the projects, what works and what doesn't. Most of the projects don't take much time, because they don't have much time to complete the tasks. You see what the judges adore and what they turn up their noses at. The web site isn't completely up & running yet, but they do have How-To's in the bottom right corner for all the projects, and it looks like they'll have photos eventually. Come on CBS, let's get it up to 100%. I recommend checking out contestant Mychael's page first, just about everything she has done has been a huge hit with the judges. This caterer is definitely the one to beat. "Wickedly Perfect" airs on CBS Thursdays 8pm ET/PT, and you can read more about it on their web site at... http://www.cbs.com/primetime/wickedly_perfect/
POST IT...on your calendar, or circle it in your TV Guide, have a note pad handy for ideas you like.
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"Did I Do That?"-Helping You Remember
How many times have you asked if the fabric softener was added to the wash, or whether you took your medicine, or if you got your 3 big glasses of milk today? Well, here are some things you can do to narrow down the confusion. Keep the item in a particular place, but if you use it, put it in a different place. For example, if you want to add something to the rinse cycle in your washing machine, keep the bottle/box on a shelf, but after using it in the machine leave the bottle/box on top of the machine. That way, if you don't get to the machine until several hours later, you'll see that you did add things. When you empty the machine, put the item back on the shelf until the next time. This also helps if more than one person is helping with the wash. If you take medicine, bring it out of its proper place and put it in the middle of a counter before you go to bed at night (be careful it isn't in reach of young children). Once you take the medicine, put it back in its proper place. If you are trying to get enough calcium every day and want to drink 3 big glasses of milk, then put out 3 calcium supplements; every time you drink a glass of milk, put one of the supplements back into the container. If you don't feel like drinking the milk, then take the supplement. Gerry P. had another great idea for the New Year...write 2005 on several checks in your checkbook. That way you'll be covered on the first few checks, and it will help remind you on the future ones. You get the idea.
POST IT...wherever it is needed.
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Homeless Care Packages
This time of year can be especially difficult for those who live on the street. You see it more in the larger urban areas, than small towns, but it is still there. When we lived in Philadelphia, we would carry a Homeless Care Package in our trunk at all times. So when we saw someone that truly looked in need, we could help in a way that might bring long term results. Here's what we would include, esp. in the winter: Information about Homeless Ministries (for shelter, meals, job placements, medical care) in the area, a blanket, warm socks, knit hat, mittens, ready to eat food (cans of tuna/meat/fruit/veggies, crackers, peanut butter), comb, toothbrush/paste, baby wipes, washcloth, lotion, hand sanitizer, Bible, scarf/muffler, maybe a large sweatshirt or jacket. But you should always be extremely careful when approaching the homeless, many on the street can be mentally ill, drug addicts, or understandably defensive when approached. I would definitely not recommend approaching anyone at night, or isolated areas, in particular. Always go with someone, preferably with one person staying in a vehicle, while the other gives out the bag. I would also not recommend approaching a group alone. You should use your best judgment, and if you have any doubts about the safety of the situation, you should err on the side of caution. Women in particular should not do this alone. Check w/a local law enforcement officer or homeless ministry for safe places to help. You must take responsibility for your own safety. If you would like to help out in a bigger way, with a more organized group, seek out the homeless ministries in your area and volunteer.
POST IT...on your shopping list & in your trunk.
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Recipe: Cranberry Salad Mold (for that leftover cranberry sauce) From Pat L.
If you have cans of cranberry sauce left over from the holidays, here's a beautiful and delicious way to keep them from sitting in your cupboard until next year. Pretty enough in pink for Valentine's Day as well.
 | Mix 2C of hot water and 2 small boxes (or 1 large box) of blackberry or cranberry jello. |
| Stir until dissolved. |
| Chill until it begins to set, but not jelled yet. |
| Add 1 pt of sour cream and 1 1/2 cans of jellied cranberry sauce (some people use 2 cans without problems) and mix well. |
| Pour into a jello mold and chill until firm. |
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Back Issue Treasure: February 6th, 2002
Check out this issue and see how fun Random Acts of Kindness can be. If you are constantly being interrupted by the doorbell, you might consider one of our door notes (homeschoolers in particular might find this helpful). Get a Personal Locator for your loved one and make getting lost a thing of the past. Looking for school project info?...check out a web site with holiday & historical info for "this day in history." Want to mail a special Valentine to someone, then check out our Valentine Mailing Ideas. All this and much more.
To retrieve this back issue click HERE.
POST IT...by your computer.
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Missing Child: Claudia Guillen and Mother
Claudia Guillen (2-yr-old, white/Hispanic female, brown hair/eyes, 2', 30 lbs) and her mother, also Claudia (24-yr-old, white/Hispanic female, brown hair/eyes, 5'5", 150 lbs) went missing from Yuma, AZ, USA on 11/24/04. They were last seen at a store, & haven't been seen since. For a poster go to... http://www.ncmec.org/missingkids/servlet/PubCaseSearchServlet?act=viewPoster&caseNum=1004550&orgPrefix=NCMC&searchLang=en_US
Or go to www.ncmec.org Click on "More Search Options," then enter their last name.
POST IT...in your vehicle or business, esp. if you are in the Yuma area.
Final Words
JOKE (Adapted from Judy H.)
A young boy, wanting to earn some extra money, decided to hire himself out as a "handyman" and started canvassing a nearby well-to-do neighborhood. He went to the front door of the first house, and asked the owner if he had any odd jobs for him to do. "Well, I guess I could use somebody to paint my porch," he said. "How much will you charge me?" The young boy quickly responded, "How about $50?" The man agreed and told him that the paint and everything he would need was in the garage. The man's wife, hearing the conversation, said to her husband, "Does he realize that our porch goes all the way around the house?" He responded, "That's a bit cynical, isn't it?" "I guess so," said the wife. A short time later, the young boy came to the door to collect his money. "You're finished already?" the husband asked. "Yes," the young man replied, "and I had paint left over, so I gave it two coats." Impressed, the man reached into his pocket for the $50.00 and handed it to him. "And by the way," the young man added, "it's not a Porch, it's a Lexus."
QUOTE (From Bill P.)
One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on
inside people. He said, "My son, the battle is between 2 wolves. One is Evil. It
is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment,
inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego. The other is Good. It is
joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy,
generosity, truth, compassion and faith." The grandson thought about it for a
minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf wins?" The old Cherokee
simply replied, "The one you feed."
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