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Face Time: Canine couture

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During a fashion show at the Fetching Ball, one of the models hopped off the stage and another lost his goggles. Their runway careers might be over, but these dogs are training for much more important callings — as assistance dogs.

The event at the Earle Brown Heritage Center in Brooklyn Center benefited Can Do Canines, a nonprofit Twin Cities area agency that provides fully trained pooches free of charge to adults and children with disabilities. The patience and skills the dogs are learning actually made it possible for them to wear the elaborate costumes.

“They are more tolerant of the outfits,” said Alan Peters, executive director. “Most would be pawing immediately.”

Peters started the organization in 1987 as, well, a pet project. Things really took off, and it now trains five kinds of assistance dogs: hearing, seizure, autism, mobility and diabetes.

While Can Do Canines uses a lot of retrievers, it trains dogs of all breeds, ranging from 7 to 95 pounds.

“The dogs have to have the right personality, skills and temperament to fit the bill,” Peters said.

The future assistance dogs live with trainers for up to two years before graduating in a ceremony that includes mortarboard hats, of course.

At the fetching ball, many well behaved assistance dogs attended.Melissa Stam of New Hope brought her mobility assist dog, Kramer.

“He helps me retrieve my phone, my keys, anything I drop on the floor,” she said. “We make a good team.”

To see the full article, go to http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/style/135699233.html

Keeping Warm This Winter – Plastic on Windows

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Let me start off by saying that I do this every year to keep warm. I also should say that I had a very difficult time doing this the first year that I did it. It was almost the ruin of my marriage, trying to get this stuff to work. However, I did come up with some pretty neat ways to make this work, even on very large, picture style windows. Here is what I found works for putting plastic on the windows and why it works so well.

 

Why Winterize with Plastic?

Winter is a harsh time of year. The weather is cold, the wind is harder and there is a lot of snow if you live in the north. This can end up driving a person’s heating expenses to all time highs. To help prevent these costs, there are a lot of different winterizing projects that can help to decrease the amount of heat lost and prevent cold weather from gaining entrance into the house. The biggest of these winterizing projects is covering the windows with plastic. This can be tricky, so knowing how to winterize windows with plastic is essential to completing the project quickly, easily and with minimal stress.

Which Windows to Winterize

While it is a good idea to winterize all of the windows in a home, there are some windows that need it more than other windows. These windows are typically on the north and western sides of the home; however, there is a good way to determine which windows need it. First, on a bright day, turn the lights off inside the house. Walk around the windows and look for signs of light coming from where the wall meets the window frame. These areas will need to be patched and then covered. On a windy day, watch the curtains on the windows. If the curtains are moving, these windows need to be covered with plastic because wind is pushing through the joints where the frame holds the glass.

Finding Plastic for Winterizing Windows

There are several kits that promise to help winterize windows. These kits provide detailed instructions on how to winterize windows. They often include double sided tape and pre-cut plastics. This plastic tends to be very thin and the tape is weaker than other double sided tapes. These kits are suitable if a person lives in the middle section of the country, where it does not get incredibly cold and the wind does not blow quite as strong. For those who live in the north, pick up a couple rolls of thick and strong double sided tape and a roll of painter’s plastic. The double sided tape will hold the plastic up and secure. The painter’s plastic is thicker than the other plastics, a clouded clear so people can see outside and it is very durable.

Putting up Plastic Over the Windows

Take a piece of the double sided tape and test it against the wood for the window. This will show if the tape is going to damage the paint or not. If so, applying a clear coat of paint is advised to decrease the chance of needing to repaint the windows in the spring. Once this has been completed, measure the windows along their outside edges. Once the windows have been measured, apply a single line of double sided tape to the windows. Do not peel off the back side of the tape yet. Once the tape has encircled the window, cut the painter’s plastic to the same size as the windows. Peel back off of the tape on the top section of the window. Starting in the middle of the window, press the plastic against the double sided tape, taking care to get the plastic centered on the window. Continue this process until the entire window is covered with plastic.

Removing the Winterizing Plastic

Mark the window that the plastic goes over. Since this plastic is thicker than most plastic used to winterize windows, it can be used more than once. Carefully pull the plastic from the double sided tape. If it does not come easily, use a spray bottle to wet the tape and loosen the adhesive. Carefully fold the plastic and store it until next winter so it can be reused rather than having to purchase more and then go through the measuring and cutting process again. To remove the tape from the window, carefully pull it away from the frame. If it appears to be sticking to the paint, apply water to loosen the adhesive. If this does not work, use mineral water and allow it to sit for a moment as it loosens the adhesive.

 

Now that you know how to winterize windows with plastic, your house will be able to stay warm and cozy all winter long! I know that I will be.

Safe Halloween Partying

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Halloween parties are a tradition! People love the opportunity to get together, dress up, drink and eat candy. Depending upon the group, these parties can get pretty wild too. There are scares, fun, movies and the chance for adults to feel like kids again. I love Halloween parties.

 

That being said, there are some serious dangers associated with Halloween parties too. There will be many people who find that this party is their last party. It is unfortunate, but true. There are also many people who will be hurt or taken advantage of during these parties. Here are some very easy ways to prevent this heartbreak during what should be a fun and festive holiday.

 

  • Never drink and drive. This is the number one killer of healthy adults and teens inAmerica. Motor Vehicle accidents kill 20% of young adults and alcohol is often involved in one way or another. Want to live longer? Get or be the designated driver.
  • Party with those you know. Partying with strangers can be fun, and it can allow you to expand your friend base, but it can also be a danger. You do not know these people, and if you are drinking, it can quickly become a situation where they can take advantage of you.
  • Buy your own drinks and take them with you. You think this is only something for women to be concerned with? Well, slipped drugs in a drink can also affect men and lead them down dangerous paths as well. Do not accept drinks that are brought to you and that you’ve not been able to watch the entire time.
  • Do not bring valuables with you. Women, your purse should be small and just about empty. Consider packing some money to buy your drinks and food with and identification. Men, same goes for your wallet. Leave the iPod, computer, tablet and expensive watch at home. Jewelry should be kept minimal. Do not present yourself as a target.
  • Eat a high protein meal. Yes, eating before the party is often skipped since you are too busy getting ready. However, if you eat a high protein meal, you can avoid getting too drunk and doing something you would regret later. The high protein meal with make you feel full longer and slow the absorption of alcohol in your system.
  • Be aware of your surroundings. If you feel uncomfortable with the party or event, leave. Trust your instincts to guide you in this instance. All too often people look back and think “I had a bad feeling about this” and that feeling proved to be correct.

 

Here at RichardTMoody, we want everyone to have fun and enjoy themselves. We also want you all to be able to come back and tell us about it. Have fun, be safe, and enjoy this festive holiday. Much love.

Top Halloween Costumes for 2011

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Halloween is just around the corner. As much as I look forward to this time of year, even I have to admit I have no idea what I am going to be this year. I don’t normally dress up. After all, I am always handing out candy, and it can be very intimidating to children to walk up to the “Grim Reaper” and ask for candy. This year is going to be different.

 

This year, I plan on going out all weekend and then handing out candy, in a costume. I went down to the Spirit store, and other Halloween stores, and looked around at various costumes. Still, I have no idea what I should be for this Halloween. Here is some of the most popular costumes for people this year.

 

Men

 

  1. Angry Birds- Yes, this phone app really has taken over.
  2. Captain America- Everyone wants to be a hero.
  3. Charlie Sheen- Watching his train wreck has inspired a lot of people.
  4. Mad Men- This retro television show has inspired many men to dress this way for Halloween.
  5. Tron- Yes, this science fiction movie will be coming to life this Halloween

 

Women

 

  1. Black Swan- Everyone wants to be a ballet dancer, and now they can be.
  2. Playboy Bunny- Every woman wants to feel sexy.
  3. Nicki Minaj- To be pretty, a top singer and get to dress wildly, why not!
  4. Smurfette- Designed originally as the bad guy, this good girl has a wild side too.
  5. Repunzel- Tangled is an endearing movie, and face it, long blonde hair without the work is many women’s dream. Here is the chance to get it without the long wait.

 

Kids

 

  1. Witch- This Halloween classic never goes out of style
  2. Princess- Yes, this implies girls only, but hey, boys can be princes!
  3. Super Heroes- Spiderman is the number one super hero this year, but expect to see a lot of the other traditional heroes too.
  4. Pirate- Yes, there are girl and boy pirates out there and yes, Disney is to blame.
  5. Pumpkin- Yes, now kids can be the pumpkin and carve one too!

 

Pets

  1. Lady Gaga- Yes, this celebrity has become a top pick for your dog.
  2. Panda- Many people are dressing their pets up as other animals.
  3. Dinosaurs- You think your dog is crazy now, dress him up as a Raptor!
  4. Horse with Rider- Many dogs will be sporting a rider of some type this year.
  5. Angel/Devil- Yep, many owners will be putting their pets’ personalities on display for all to see.
I’ll keep you posted as to what I decide to be this year. What about you, what are you being this year?