WLKM Radio 95.9 FM
One doesn’t need to look far to be subjected to some form of loud noise, whether it’s a car needing a new muffler or the delightful sound of children yelling at each other in excitement, hopefully outdoors. The younger set likes to have their music cranked up to 5000 decibels. Attending a rock concert just isn’t the same unless you’re sitting five rows from the stage right next to the amps. The ones enjoying the deafening din will someday be purchasing hearing aids. Hearing aids cost around $6000.00 now. I can’t imagine what they’ll cost in forty years.
I’ll be the first to admit that there’s nothing quite like the sound of a Harley firing up or a high-octane dragster leaving a patch of rubber at the local drag strip. Then it’s also hard to beat the sound of coffee percolating or birds chirping as the sun comes up early in the morning. I guess it depends on one’s testosterone level.
With the fall and winter seasons just around the corner, it’s time to make plans to clean out the garage so that there’s room for the “stuff” that needs to be stored for the cold winter months. I have a couple of friends in the insurance business, and one of them shared with me some suggestions as what not to store in that already overcrowded garage. Ideally, it would be great to keep your vehicles in the garage, but many folks don’t have the room. It’s very easy to turn that garage into a catch-all storage place. There are, however, some items that just don’t belong there because of the possibility of a repetitive hazard to your safety. Here are some suggestions that might help:
Stashing portable gas cans and propane tanks can be dangerous. If you must store gasoline, you should do so in dedicated, leak-proof containers. They should be kept out of reach of children and pets. Perhaps a small shed away from your house would be a safer choice.
Any liquids that might freeze at the same temperature as water should be stored in a more temperature-controlled environment. A warm, dry basement might be just the place.
Furniture: Wild changes in heat and humidity can warp wood. Pests such as rodents love upholstery, fabric and mattresses; they can make a very cozy nest.
Out-of-season clothing should be stored in a sealed container and kept in the attic, basement or even the back of a closet. If kept in the garage, clothes may soak up fumes and dust and offer another nice home for insects.
Food does not belong in the garage. This includes food for birds and pets. Even canned food may spoil more quickly in temperature extremes. Keeping a refrigerator or freezer in the garage might cause the appliance to struggle to operate efficiently as the temperatures fluctuate.
There are many items that store well in a garage. Lawn-care tools, gardening supplies, plastic storage bins, drained hoses, and out-of-season sports equipment are just some of the items. Oh yes, a family car or truck fit nicely, if there’s room.
Here are five things to remember when you feel lost in your life. I’ll give you six more next week.
Your present situation is not your final destination. The best is yet to come.
If you don’t like where you are, move. You are not a tree.
You can’t start the next chapter if you keep rereading the last.
If it doesn’t open, perhaps it’s not your door.
Sometimes the bad things that happen in our lives put us directly on the path to the best things that will ever happen to us.
Holding a banana peel over a bruise for 10-30 minutes will remove its color.
See you Out and About!
Submitted by Norm Stutesman
