Posts by Jacob

Quality Time with Your Kids—Fixing Up Cars and Boats Together

Posted by Jacob on Feb 7, 2012 in Children | 0 comments

That which is easily obtained is easily neglected—whether you’re talking about free stuff at conventions, party favors, or junk mail. But when you work hard to get something, especially when it’s something you can use with your family and friends, there’s a good chance that you’ll value the acquisition for years to come. This is particularly true of doing fix-it-up projects with your kids, and in this case, we’re talking about fixing up cars and boats together. Doing these projects is about taking a boat or vehicle that’s seen better days, and restoring it back to its former beauty. But then again, it’s not only about the finished product—it’s also about spending quality time with your kids. And keeping a few things in mind as you embark on the project will make the finished product something that everyone can be proud of.

One of the first things to consider is whether you plan to gift the finished car or boat to your child. If so, he or she should definitely have a say in the type of make and model. Taking your child with you to junkyards, car lots, and warehouses may not sound like the most entertaining activity in the world, but as kids participate in the selection process, they’ll get more excited about helping throughout the life of the project. Many used cars and boats are overpriced, but if you keep an eye out and aren’t in a terrible hurry, you can usually find a great deal. In many cases, owners of equipment are just trying to get rid of it, so use that to your advantage. Look for any damage or corrosion—things like cracks in paint, fractures in metal, separating hulls, or anything else that will need repair. You’ll need to take all these things into consideration as you make a purchase, especially if you’re trying to get the project done on a budget. Point out any flaws you see and you can usually get a price reduction.

Once you’ve gotten the car or boat home, you’ll need to take an even closer look. Check the fuel lines, motor, inboard boat propellers, and any other moving parts that you know you can’t do without. Do some deep cleaning—this will probably be a multi-step process, especially if the project has been sitting out in the elements for a while. You may notice additional points that need repair, so jot them down. In fact, you’ll want to keep a running inventory of all the things you’ll need to replace, just so you don’t have to make extra trips to the hardware store. You can get necessary bits like boat motor parts directly from a dealer or a garage, but if you’re vigilant you can get the parts you need by doing some “dumpster diving” at the junkyard. Again, this part of the process can be pretty fun when you include your kids.

When you have all the replacement parts, hardware, tools, and paint, it’s really time to get to work. You should choose a work location where you’ll be very comfortable, because this stage of the process will likely take several weeks (if not months). But this is also the part of the process where you can have some of the best conversations with your kids—working side-by-side as a family, shooting for the same goal, you and your kids will probably find yourselves talking up a storm.

And when the project is finally finished, it’ll be something that everyone will value even more—because getting it was no easy task.

How Your Diet Can Lead to Diabetes

Posted by Jacob on Feb 2, 2012 in Health | 0 comments

Diabetes is diagnosed when the pancreas is not able to create enough, if any, of the hormone known as insulin, or occurs if the insulin that is produced does not work effectively. The evidence of these things occurring in the body is found in the blood when glucose levels are too high. There are two different types of diabetes. Type 1 Diabetes occurs when the cells that make insulin in the pancreas are destroyed. This causes such a severe lack of insulin that the body is in jeopardy of death. It is currently believed that this is an auto-immune reaction, taking place because the body overreacts, attacking and destroying its very pancreatic cells.

There is no direct link between any habit or behavior and the development of Type 1 Diabetes in either children or adults. There are some theories that appear to be gaining in probability at this time and they include; infection cause by a specific bacteria or virus, exposure to chemicals toxins that are food-borne, and exposure to cow’s milk as a very small infant. The cow’s milk theory currently proposes the introduction of an unidentified and unknown component of the milk is said to trigger an autoimmune reaction in the infant’s body. All hypotheses are still under investigation and all suggestions as safeguards against Type 1 Diabetes are still just suggestions and without guarantee.

Type 2 Diabetes is the more common form of diabetes and can occur in a variety of ways throughout all the stages of life. Type 2 Diabetes occurs when the cell’s receptors lose the ability to be stimulated by insulin, this is called insulin resistance. Because of this the pancreas reacts by created more insulin and becomes exhausted by the increased, and ineffective, efforts. It can also occur if the insulin that is available in insufficient or the insulin created is abnormal. There are very definite risk factors involved with Type 2 diabetes such as aging, physical inactivity and obesity. There are rarer risk factors such as the use of certain medications, illness or disease that can cause the pancreas to become damaged and pregnancy which can lead to gestational diabetes.

What does this mean in regard to one’s diet and its effect on the development of Type 2 Diabetes? Well, it’s a complicated issue. While eating sweets and junk food does not directly cause any currently known malfunctions to the pancreas there is still a correlation with eating poorly and a lack of physical activity and the development of obesity. There is no direct link between Type 2 Diabetes and specific foods but since being obese and physically inactive are definitively linked to the developing of this serious disease it is safe to say that following an unhealthy diet can increase your risk for Type 2 Diabetes.

A majority of the people that develop Type 2 Diabetes are obese. This does not mean all those with this disease are obese as there do seem to be some genetic factors involved. What are some of the foods that should be eliminated from the diet in order to avoid obesity? Fried foods, foods heavy in saturated fats and sugars, unnecessary amounts of bleached carbohydrates or starches, to begin with.

A diet high in fruits, vegetables and lean proteins is best for maintaining a healthy weigh and BMI (body mass index). It is also important to make sure that the daily requirements for vitamins and minerals are being met because these are what help the body to feel strong and sated, thus eliminating erroneous cravings and the urge to snack. When the body is receiving all the nutrients it requires it will stop sending out hunger signals and signals of craving. Eating healthy dietary fiber is another way to keep the stomach feeling fuller for a longer time. Eating the right foods also enables the body to increase its energy output meaning that exercise and other forms of physical activity will occur more naturally and the body will not grow tired as quickly. Being active and building muscle will also lead to a higher functioning metabolism, another key to keeping weight where it should be for optimum health. It is important to maintain a healthy lifestyle in order to earn a long and active life!

The Nightmare of Losing Your Wedding Ring

Posted by Jacob on Jan 27, 2012 in Preparation | 0 comments

It’s every married couple’s worst nightmare. An expensive piece of jewelry that is small and you take just about everywhere you go.  It is estimated that 13% of men lose their wedding ring within the first 3 months of getting married. That means that millions of black tungsten wedding bands are probably sitting on the side of the road or deep in the couch cushion somewhere. It’s tough to think about a beautiful princess cut diamond that cost thousands of dollars just gone, but unfortunately it happens. Hopefully it never happens to you, but chances are pretty good that either you or your spouse will lose their wedding ring at some point in your marriage.

So what can you do to help? Well first, if you haven’t lost your ring yet, consider getting insurance. They will replace or fix your ring if you lose it, it’s stolen, or it’s damaged. For a reasonable price you can insure your rings (mens rings can be as low as $5 per year depending on the value of the ring–it usually comes to about $10 of insurance cost per $1000 value of the ring, so if you have a ring worth about $3,000 you will pay about $30 per year of insurance.

It is important to get in the habit of putting your ring in the same place every time you take it off.  If you take it off at night then have a

designated place to put your items when you get home such as your phone or keys, put your ring there also.  This will help you get into a good habit and not put your ring somewhere that you’ll forget later.

If you’ve already lost your ring there are a couple of tips. First, don’t delay looking for it. If you realize that you aren’t sure where it is immediately think about the last place you had it and start looking. Think about things that were different from your normal routine and where you might have put your ring if you took it off during the out of the ordinary event. If you can’t remember the last time you had it you can review recent pictures and see if you can tell whether or not you had your ring on. That can help you pinpoint a time that you may have lost it, then think about things that you were doing at the time and see if that helps you narrow down where it might be.

If you haven’t been able to find it right after you lost it, wait a few weeks before you look at replacing your ring. Often it will turn up in a pocket in a piece of clothing you don’t wear too often or in the laundry or a random place in your house or car.

If all else fails and you still can’t find it consider a cheaper alternative to buy you more time. You can buy inexpensive rings online—especially men’s rings that are good quality if you know where to look. For women, a cubic zirconium ring can look like an authentic wedding ring for cheap giving yourself more time to find the ring. Hopefully you can take precautions before something happens, but remember that while your ring symbolizes your love for your spouse, it can’t be taken away just by losing your ring. Get a cheap alternative until you can replace the real deal and then make sure to get insurance!

Tips to get your family emergency plan in place

Posted by Jacob on Jan 24, 2012 in Featured, Safety | 0 comments

When faced with an emergency, it is important to have a family emergency plan in place. Here are some tips to help you get started:

1.  Choose an out-of-area contact – someone each member of the family can call or e-mail in case of an emergency. This person can help family members stay in touch and get back together if they are separated. Be sure to pick someone who is far enough away so as not to be affected by the same situation.
2. Decide on temporary accommodation – such as a friend’s place or hotel, where you can stay for a few days in case you are evacuated. This may also be where you will meet if you are separated during a disaster. When choosing your shelter, remember that bridges may be out and roads may be blocked. (Don’t forget to plan for your pets – they are not always welcome in emergency shelters or hotels).
3. Use a template to prepare your own family emergency plan. Give a copy to each member of your family, your out-of-area contact, your children’s school (possibly their usual sports facilities as well — arena, pool, etc.) If you live in a residential facility or an apartment building, an emergency plan should be available on-site. Learn the procedures to follow and your role in case of an emergency.
4. Post important numbers near your telephone or program them into your cell phone.
5. Check emergency plans at your children’s school or daycare. In case of emergency, you should know if the school will keep your children until an authorized adult comes to get them or if they need to find their way home by themselves. Determine what kind of authorization the school requires to release your child to your representative if you cannot get there yourself. Ensure that the school knows your current contact information and that of the people authorized to collect your children for you. Give them a copy of your family emergency plan. Find out about the emergency plans of your children’s schools. Help your children understand all that they must do when an alarm goes off.
6. Check emergency plans at work. Find out about the emergency plan at your workplace. Ask questions: What would be your role in case of a disaster? What are the evacuation procedures? Is there an alternate work site in case of emergency? Keep important numbers — including fire, police, ambulance — near your telephone.
7. Practice your emergency plan as a family at least once a year. Practice often helps people feel less disoriented and better organized in case of a disaster — even in the middle of the night or the middle of winter.

Decorating for the Holidays

Posted by Jacob on Dec 15, 2011 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

One of the best parts of the holiday season is sitting by the soft glow of a fire while snuggling up in a blanket (with or without someone else). From the beginning of time until now, mankind has always taken a “shine” to the light that a flame provides – no matter what the size. Fires in caves to candles to incandescent bulbs, the attraction of our race to twinkling lights has never ceased.

Christmas time is an extreme reminder of this pull towards the burning lights. Millions of people decorate their homes every year with thousands of little lights. Sure, the electricity factor is a slight departure from the old tradition of putting candles on the tree, but it is a reminder of the spirit of the thing nonetheless. Each light bulb seems to carry with it the fire of its own candle and they shine bright and clear – and in color! Some even perform shows in blinking lights.

Whatever the outdoor decoration, the indoor one is its own thing. Most people, who celebrate Christmas, place a cheery tree in the home with twinkling lights of its own. There are stockings hanging by the fireplace and presents wrapped nicely beneath the tree. Near the mantle is a firewood rack with logs stacked neatly for that cozy yuletide fire we all adore.

In the window sill are bright candles of Christmas colors or scenes. Often these window candles have pleasant scents and help to bring back fond childhood memories. A bright beacon on a cold December night has surely been not just a friend, but a savior to many travelers and family.

Festive cookie jars, red and green utensils and plates, you name it, the list goes on. Decorating the home is a daunting task sometimes, but worth it in the end. The spirit of the Christmas season is alive and well in almost any decorated home. Final touches should include fresh baked gingerbread, pumpkin pie and perhaps a turkey feast. No home decor is complete without a hint of those festive smells at some point between Thanksgiving and New Years.

The main thing is to make your home your center and your comfort zone. When you get home from those frantic last days of shopping, you should be able to toss your boots by the door and snuggle into that warm blanket by the fire. (Cue the Christmas music).