Sweetwater Reporter (Sweetwater, Tex.), Vol. 113, No. 354, Ed. 1 Monday, January 9, 2012 Page: 5 of 10
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Life
Sweetwater Reporter
Monday, January 9, 2012 ■ Page 5
Put these home improvements
on your 2012 calendar
(MS) — With the deep freeze factor at
its annual high, the potential benefits of
making energy saving improvements really
hit home. Yet saving energy and money
and adding comfort to your home should
always be in season. Industry experts at
Icynene (icynene.com) recommend you
put these home improvement tips on your
2012 calendar:
Winter
* Install affordable plastic window-seal-
ing kits, especially where you feel drafts.
* Install foam gaskets behind electrical
outlets and switches to reduce air leakage.
* Close the fireplace damper tightly when
it's not in use. If you use your fireplace
regularly, consider adding a well-designed
insert.
* Replace or clean furnace filters at least
once every three months.
Spring
* Consider larger home improvements,
like replacing windows that are best com-
pleted when the weather is nice. Consider
adding spray foam insulation (like innova-
tive Icynene) to your attic or in other areas
of your home where the summer heat can
infiltrate. You can start saving up to 50 per-
cent in energy costs all year long.
* Is your air conditioner old or on its
last legs? Before things heat up, consider
investing in an energy efficient Energy
Star-rated unit. Consult an expert to ensure
the size of the unit is properly matched to
the needs of your home.
Summer
* Add window coverings to block sun-
light during the day, so your air condition-
er doesn't have to work as hard.
* Replace inefficient incandescent light-
ing with more efficient compact fluores-
cent or LED lighting that also produce less
heat.
* Check your hot water tank. If it's warm
to the touch, it might need some extra
insulation. Check your home improvement
store for inexpensive pre-cut tank jackets
or blankets.
Fall
* Check insulation levels where you can,
like the attic or the floor of a room over the
garage. If you didn't get to it in the spring,
install spray foam insulation to seal around
openings and penetrations that let air flow
in and out of your home.
* Use caulking, sealant and weather-
stripping to create a barrier against air and
water around door frames, windows and
baseboards. Choose the right caulking for
the surface.
* Insulate your hot water pipes to reduce
heat loss. It may enable you to reduce the
temperature setting on your hot water
tank.
What is IEIDP
The term LEED is often bandied
about when conversations shift to the
environment. A term used when dis-
cussing building certification, LEED
stands for Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design. It is an inter-
nationally recognized green building
certification system that was developed
by the U.S. Green Building Council 12
years ago. The system provides build-
ing owners and those who operate
businesses with a distinct framework
of guidelines that identify practical and
measurable green design, construction,
operation, and maintenance solutions.
In order to be fair, LEED uses a rat-
ing system that is developed through
a collaboration by LEED committees.
Committees are groups of volunteers
who represent a variety of building and
construction industry subsets.
Some of the things that LEED will
measure through its rating system
include:
* energy and atmosphere solutions
* water efficiency
* sustainable sites selection
* sustainable materials and waste
reduction
* indoor environmental quality
Organizations that are seeking LEED
certification for a building must earn a
minimum number of "points" to reach
certification. The maximum number of
points offered is lio, which includes
10 bonus points. Most buildings are
eligible for certification, but it's best
to check with the LEED Rating System
Checklist and find out the requirements
for a particular project. That informa-
tion is available at www.usgbc.org.
Eleven tips for winter
beauty therapy
Winter brings with it many things,
including snowy days, chilly nights and
the propensity for irritating beauty issues.
Cold dry air outside and warm dry air
inside can result in moisture loss "from
both the hair and skin. Not only can this
be uncomfortable, but it can be unsightly
as well. There are also other beauty issues
that come up, like which products to use
this time of year.
The primary beauty concern for most
each winter is dryness. Winter is the sea-
son for dry skin and chapped lips because
lower temperatures and lower humidity
result in drier air, both indoors and out-
side. Forced-air heating sources also con-
tribute to the problem, especially if they
are not equipped with some sort of humid-
ity adding device. Dry skin becomes itchy
and turns into a nuisance.
Dry air can also contribute to dry hair.
Dry hair tends to be flyaway and prone
to static. Your entire body actually may
be susceptible to static-related shocks as
you traverse carpeting or pull on charged
clothing. The low humidity adds to the
separation of electrons and protons in the
materials surrounding a person, which
contributes to extra static electricity. The
imbalance of these microscopic particles
becomes evident when you touch some-
thing metal and a shock occurs.
Re vamping a health and beauty regimen
for winter comfort takes just a little effort.
Here are 11 tips that will benefit you and
your appearance all season long,
1. Adding moisture to your environment
is one of the single best ways to combat
winter skin and hair issues. This means
purchasing a humidifier that will put mois-
ture to the air. Even boiling some water on
the stove and allowing the steam to seep
into the air can alleviate a dry home.
2. Dry skin can feel tight and itchy. It
may or may not flake off as well. Dry skin
that is consistently scratched could become
irritated or even infected if bacteria gets
into the skin. Moisturizers applied all over
the body can help the skin retain moisture
and alleviate the itchiness. Creams with
menthol could provide a cooling effect
that also tames itchiness. But watch out
for products that also contain alcohol. The
alcohol might seem cooling at first, but the
alcohol could eventually dry out die skin
when it evaporates.
3. Experiment with your home's ther-
mostat to find an indoor temperature that
is more comfortable for your dry skin
conditions.
4. Very hot showers may chase away
the chill from outdoors, but they can strip
the sldn and hair of moisture as well. Try
showering in lukewarm water instead, and
slather on a moisturizing body lotion right
afterward.
5. Relying on an electric hair dryer to dry
your hair after washing can compound dry,
frizzy or unruly hair. It may be unwise to
step outdoors on a cold day with wet hair,
so leave ample time in your schedule to
shower and allow hair to air dry whenever
possible.
6. Licking dry lips just exacerbates the
situation. Instead, use a moisturizing lip
balm sparingly. Even rubbing a little olive
oil over the Hps can help moisturize and
prevent cracking.
7. Choose nonfoaming cleansers for the
face and body when washing up. This way
the soapy layer doesn't strip away essential
moisture from the lipid barrier of the skin.
8. Be sure to continue to apply an SPF
product every day before headi ng outdoors.
Ultraviolet rays are still present during the
winter, albeit in less concentration.
9. Avoid frosty eye shadows in the win-
ter because they tend to make most peo-
ple look washed out, especially when the
glow of summer skin has waned. Similarly,
avoid overdoing bronzer during the winter
months, which can seem out of place and
make the skin look artificially orange.
10. Revamp hair color to bring out gold-
en hues during the winter months and
keep you looking vivacious. Avoid high-
lights diat are white or ashy. Don't go for
more than two shades lighter or darker in
any direction for a whole-head coloring.
11. Hat head is almost as dreaded as a
bad hair day brought on by dry winter-
air. Hat head occurs when damp hair has
been allowed to dry under a hat, which
then causes flattening and denting. Allow
hair to dry completely before donning a
hat. And consider parting your hair the
opposite way before putting on the hat,
so it will have volume when the hat is
removed and hair falls naturally back in
place.
Annie's Mailbox
1RI
BY KATHY MITCHELL AND MARCY SUGAR
Dear Annie: My good friend "Ben" met
"Kim" during his first week as a freshman at
college. Three weeks later, Ben called to tell me
they were getting married in a month. Both of
| their families were shocked.
Ben is usually a sensible guy, but since he
1 met Kim, he has been unpredictable and seems
| brainwashed. He is hurt when his friends and
j family tell him that rushing into marriage with
someone he barely knows is not a good idea.
I resolved to trust Ben's judgment — until I met Kim. She
clearly has serious mental and emotional problems. The
first day we met, she told me elaborate personal stories
from her childhood that clearly were made up.
Ben was crazy about Kim when they first met, but now he
seems embarrassed, and I'd even characterize his reaction
as "trapped." Kim recently announced that she is pregnant,
and Ben now feels obligated to marry her. But I don't trust
anything she says. Kim clings to Ben 24/7 and controls
his life. I suspect he wants to get out of the engagement,
but he's a little afraid of her. He won't confide in anyone,
but I can tell he's struggling. What can I do? They are both
19, and I'm afraid this girl is going to ruin his life before it
starts. — Distraught Best Friend
Dear Distraught: This sounds like emotional
abuse. The combination of being away from home,
starting college and meeting an exciting girl didn't
give Ben a chance to catch his breath. If you think
he's having second thoughts, please let him know
he doesn't need to rush into anything, no matter
what the circumstances are. Even if there is a baby,
he can fulfill his obligations as a father without
marrying a girl who seems unstable. Don't bad-
mouth Kim, but do encourage Ben to talk to a col-
lege counselor. Remind him that this is his future
and he should take whatever time he needs to get
it right.
Dear Annie: We live in the same town as my husband's
brother, and he frequently stops over for short visits. That's
fine, except he makes himself a little too comfortable.
During each visit, he opens the fridge or pantry and helps
himself to whatever he wants. He even has opened a bottle
of wine and poured himself a glass. He never asks whether
it's OK with us.
If we are eating when he stops by, we always offer to feed
him, but I think it's rude that he simply helps himself to
whatever he wants without first asking. Am I wrong? How
should I handle the situation? — Fed Up
Dear Fed Up: It's sweet that your brother-in-
law feels so welcome in your home that he raids
your refrigerator, but obviously, it's too much, too
often. Ask your husband to speak to his brother
and explain that you love him, but you are the
ones who buy the groceries. Simple consideration
requires that he ask before taking anything and
occasionally replace whatever he grabs.
Dear Annie: I must say you blew it with "Standing My
Ground as the Bad Aunt," whose nephew's girlfriend prob-
ably stole $170 from them. This young lady should be inter-
rogated about the obvious facts and held accountable. As it
stands now, she must feel she got away with it, which will
only fuel the fires in her thieving mind. At the very least,
she should be aware that everyone knows she is a crook
who is not welcome at the scene of her crime. — Lance
Dear Lance: Many readers wanted the girlfriend
raked over the coals, but the nephew's parents
specifically asked that "Bad Aunt" let the theft
slide because their son had been seriously ill and
they didn't want to upset him. Hie aunt agreed
to this. The opportunity to question the girl has
passed, and "Aunt's" choices now are to lock up
the valuables 01* keep the girl, the nephew and the
nephew's parents out of their home indefinitely.
It's not an easy choice.
Get the acts on bronchiolitis
Parents have likely heard about bronchitis. But another
respiratory infection, bronchiolitis, gets far less attention.
Bronchiolitis is an infection of the small tubes inside of
the lungs (bronchioles) that is caused by a virus and gener-
ally affects young children during the autumn and winter
months.
During normal breathing under healthy conditions, air
enters the lungs through the trachea. It then travels down
the branching bronchi and into the small bronchiole tubes
inside of the lungs. Then the air passes from the bronchi-
oles into the millions of air sacs in the lungs, and eventually
into the bloodstream.
When a child suffers from bronchiolitis, most often the
bronchioles fill with mucus and experience inflammation
thanks to a virus called the respiratory syncytial virus
(RSV)- The mucus and swollen tubes can make it difficult
for oxygen to reach the lungs and get to where it is needed.
The child may wheeze or breathe harder or faster in order
to compensate.
In adults, RSV infection isn't generally serious. But in
children it can be dangerous, particularly if the virus does
not clear up quickly and leads to an acute case of bronchi-
olitis. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say
that most otherwise healthy people recover from RSV in
1 to 2 weeks. Infants and young children may be prone to
cases that don't go away and become bronchiolitis.
The best way to prevent bronchiolitis is to reduce the
spread of cold viruses through the home with frequent
hand-washing and cleaning of shared items around the
house. Children that fall into the following categories
may be more likely to get bronchiolitis, according to the
National Institutes of Health. These risk factors include:
* Age 6 months or younger
* Born prematurely
* Exposed to cigarette smoke, even in the womb
* Bottle-fed
* Born with Down's Syndrome
* Close contact with other infected children
* Have a long-term lung disease
Symptoms of bronchiolitis include a cough that may be
dry or produce phlegm. Wheezing may also occur because
of inflammation of the airways. Rapid breathing, difficulty
breathing, fatigue, fever, and nasal flaring in infants may
be other signs.
Antibiotics do not treat viral infections, so it's unlikely
the child will be given an antibiotic prescription for bron-
chiolitis. Usually supportive therapy, such as breathing in
moist air, rest, drinking fluids, and avoiding any exposure
to cigarette smoke, are recommended. Rarely antiviral
medications may be used to treat very ill children. Some
doctors may prescribe the use of a bronchodilator or
steroid treatment to ease inflammation in the airways.
These may be breathed in by use of a nebulizers or another
inhaler delivery device.
Parents of children with breathing difficulties should
consult with the pediatrician if symptoms of any respira-
tory illness take a while to clear up. The illness may have
gone beyond just the common cold.
N
S
Currently your government officials publish their plans and
decisions in the newspaper — including where they intend to
build facilities you might not want down the street.
That could change in the future because they want to bury
their public notices somewhere online, on a little seen, rarely
visited government website — out of sight, out of mind.
Don't let government keep you in the dark.
If it is not in the newspaper,
you won't know about it.
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Sweetwater Reporter (Sweetwater, Tex.), Vol. 113, No. 354, Ed. 1 Monday, January 9, 2012, newspaper, January 9, 2012; Sweetwater, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth229657/m1/5/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Sweetwater/Nolan County City-County Library.