The Shadow
Dear Heloise: I have lived in hurricane-prone areas and used to advise people about preparing emergency kits. One item I suggest is that everyone who may experience power outages stock children’s PARTY GLOW STICK bracelets in with the supplies.
Reasons:
1. Safer than candles, especially for children and elderly.
2. You aren’t using batteries or losing flashlights. They last 24 hours.
3. Inexpensive — you can buy packages of multiple glow sticks at dollar and craft stores.
4. They can substitute for a night light anywhere you need one.
5. You can hang them from chandeliers or light fixtures — almost anywhere.
6. I loop them around every doorknob in the house so I do not injure myself walking through the house, and this makes it easy to find an exit if it is necessary.
7. They store easily and last a long time. But if I don’t use them by late October, I give them to the trick-or-treaters to be safe as they walk the neighborhood, and then I buy myself a new supply.
— O.M., via email
I love these and have a supply at our coast house for just the same reason. — Heloise
BINDER RESPONSE
Dear Heloise: Suzy of Colorado Springs, Colo., had a fabulous idea in compiling a three-ring notebook to keep deployed Dad involved in the day-to-day activities and grades of his children (from a previous column — Heloise). But I would add to please consider making a second set in case the binder gets lost.
As the daughter of a military dad who spent most of my childhood overseas or at sea, I have treasured the three-ring binder my dad compiled when he was finally stationed stateside. What I didn’t appreciate at the time has since become a loving memory. You can’t put a price on priceless. — Helen in Montclair, Va.
Priceless is, well … priceless! A heart hint for sure. — Heloise
FREEZER DEFROSTING
Dear Heloise: When it is time to defrost my upright freezer, I remove the frozen food. I take a floor-type fan, place it in front of the freezer and turn it on so the warm air from the room circulates into the freezer. Within one hour, I have my freezer defrosted and all my frozen food back in.
I also mark food before putting it in. After cleaning out the freezer and putting the food back in, it is easy to know which things are older than the others, and the items can be placed accordingly. — Kathie in Erie, Pa.
LAST BIT
Dear Heloise: When you reach the end of a roll-up deodorant package (the kind with the wheel on the bottom that you turn to raise the product), turn the wheel to raise the plastic base all the way. Then pry out the base, flip it over and turn the wheel the other way to re-engage the wheel. There is another week’s worth of deodorant there! — Howie Kallem, Arlington, Va.
Send a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000, or you can fax it to 1-210-HELOISE or email it to Heloise(at)Heloise.com. I can’t answer your letter personally but will use the best hints received in my column.
(c)2011 by King Features Syndicate Inc
