Organize Your Home Day – 2013

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By Terry Orr

Today and this week will be chaos at its best.

Monday – Painters arrive to paint family room and the Electrician and his helper begin process of installing our new natural gas generator.

Tuesday – Carpet installers arrive to install new carpet in family room; electrician and helper continue installation; maids arrive to clean remainder of home.

Wednesday – Electrician and helper turn off electrical power 4-5 hours for final electrical work on generator.

Thursday – handy man and crew arrive to install new mirror over fireplace, install new baseboards, and assemble and anchor new bookcases in family room.

Friday – is backup day is something fails to be completed earlier in the week.

In addition, on Monday I will attempt to finish organizing our laundry and pantry room – been a work in progress. That will be about all I’ll get done on getting our home organized this day – but something will be done in that regard.

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My normal daily routine around home since retiring is pick up any clutter, take out the trash, do the laundry as needed.  Dishes are done daily.  Yet I still need a good helper from time to time to move those things too big or heavy – and a fresh mind and eyes to give me different ideas on how to organize things a bit better. That is also a work in progress.

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I am somewhat old school and believe in keeping this simple – putting my car and house keys in the same place each and (almost) every time – same with coats, sweaters, etc. Sure saves me time and some frustrating moments.

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Over the past couple of years, I have read several articles on organization of the home, office, computers notebooks…yadda, yadda…but the point is – we have to take that first step to act upon those good ideas.

My quick search on Amazon.com for books on “Organizing your home” yielded 625 books.

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Getting one’s home organized for a day is really not all that difficult – the real challenge come trying to keep in neat and organized. Since January is all about getting ourselves, homes, computers et al organizes – here’s a tip – just work on one thing at a time, them move to the next item.  Good luck and let us hear your ideas on getting it together.

National Volunteer Blood Donor Month

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By Diane Forrest, RN

When I was in high school, the United Blood Drive came to my school to get donations.  You had to be 17 to donate, and of course everyone wanted to donate, because that would mean getting out of class for the period you went.  When it was my turn to go I was a little nervous.  What I expected to be a simple procedure ended up being more complicated than I could have imagined.  It started off simple enough, filling out the required paperwork and answering all the questions.  Then they did a finger prick to determine my blood type.  Next it was time to be stuck with the needle.  It was then that I learned I had no veins.  It took all of the blood drive employees to examine my arms for a suitable vein.  I was told that I had surface veins, and they could not be used. 

Finally after being stuck for the third time a return of blood flow was awarded.  You would have thought they struck oil!  Their elation soon ended when then flow of blood turned into a trickle, then a drop.  The well had gone dry, and I had only filled half of the bag.  They were very disappointed, however not nearly as disappointed as me.  Not only was I sent back to class without a rest time, but I didn't even get any juice or cookies.  The blood could not be used, and had to be discarded.  I failed at donating blood, but that doesn't mean that you can't donate.

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I later learned from my father, that when I was a baby, I dehydrated, and they couldn't find any veins at that time either.  They had to make an incision on my ankle to find a vein to place an IV in so that I could get fluids.

January is National Volunteer Blood Donor Month.  January was chosen because it is the hardest month to recruit volunteers.  Changing weather, busy holiday schedules, increased cold and flu symptoms and even the winter blues can keep the most dedicated blood donors from making or keeping an appointment to give. Yet winter weather can lead to more traumatic injuries on icy roads and may increase the need for blood.  Donating blood is a simple, painless task that not only makes you feel good about helping your fellow man, but also 1 pint of blood can save up to 3 lives.

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For more information about donating blood visit this site: http://www.americasblood.org/

Then call your local blood bank and schedule your appointment to give the gift of life.

Red Cross relies on donations of time, money, and blood to do its work

 

 

On Wednesday, April 27, 2011 one of the largest outbreaks of tornado's swept through 13 southern and Midwestern states killing over 300 people and caused billions of dollars in destruction.  Images that flooded the news were devastating and heart breaking.  People interviewed described their fear and loss, the loss of their homes and possessions that took years to accumulate, were all gone. 

That's when the Red Cross comes to pay a visit.  Disasters can happen in an instant.  Like the tsunami in Japan, tornado's in the south, or a fire in your home.  People are at a loss, in shock, and need help.

Since its founding in 1881 by visionary leader Clara Barton (who was a nurse), the American Red Cross has been the nation's premier emergency response organization. As part of a worldwide movement that offers neutral humanitarian care to the victims of war, the American Red Cross distinguishes itself by also aiding victims of devastating natural disasters. Over the years, the organization has expanded its services, always with the aim of preventing and relieving suffering.

The Red Cross is not a government agency; it relies on donations of time, money, and blood to do its work.

What can you do?

·       Donate

·       Volunteer

·       Give Blood

Do what you can when you can, you never know if you may be the next one who needs their services.