FIRE PREVENTION AT HOME

Most of the fires that occurred in a certain place were due to the negligence of homeowners. Homeowners have to exercise caution and initiate fire prevention. Fire can kill, so homeowners should make their own fire drill.

-Make a routine habit to periodically check all electrical connections of your appliances for possible faulty wiring. Any defective parts should be replaced. If you have leaking gas stove, remove temporarily from your house and have it fix. Leaking gas can easily catch fire when it explodes.

-Keep matches, lighters away from your small children. There were fire accident caused by children playing matches at home unnoticed by parents igniting combustible materials(thinners, fluids) near the kitchen. Some of this fire accident originated from the room with flammable materials like bed, bedding, pillows and clothes.

-If you have unused leftover firecrackers remaining during Christmas Day and New Year's Day, remove it and store somewhere away from the house.

-If you are a smoker and you cannot afford to stop your habit, be cautious in throwing lighted cigarette. Put it out first before throwing it to the trash can. If not, have a glass container to put all your waste during the duration of your smoking hour and have it thrown in a proper place outside the house.

-Sell all those old newspapers and magazines stored somewhere in your house. This will be the breeding place of house pests (cockroaches, termites, ants, etc.) can easily catch fire. Remove all combustible materials inside and around the house like empty liquor bottles, paints, thinners, etc.). They are dangerous precedent to fire.

-Check all faulty wiring, defective switches in your electrical connection. If possible, let your electrician do the re-wiring. It is most safe if you install open re-wiring outside the ceiling and walling. Any faulty wires eaten by termites or house rats cannot be detected if placed inside the ceiling and walling. For those who plan to construct their wooden house, all wiring should be placed inside a plastic tube before its installation.

-Put a reminder in red ink in your kitchen, living room especially near the appliances, home theater system to unplug connection after use.

-Teach your family about the basic concept of fire prevention especially irresponsible children who liked to play fire inside the house. Parents should monitor their children activities. In case a fire break out, they already knew what to do. Train them to safeguard your home from fire and be responsible children.

-Many cases of fire came from using candles and lighted kerosene lamp due to brown-out. Blow the light out before going to bed. Practice your children to sleep in the dark.

-Have fire extinguisher. Place it in your living room near the kitchen. If you can afford to have more than one, then its better.

CHECKLIST BEFORE MARRIAGE

Check if there are agreement between both of you about mutual respect and understanding. Ask yourself now what makes a strong marriage. Does a good marriage require to have qualities, loyalty, faithfulness and fidelity? Many marriages wanted to treat each other equal. They are not treating each other as inferior because marriage will never be successful.

If both of you have objection about strong commitment then don't pursue your desire to get married. The future of that relationship is bleak. Commitment means surrendering yourself totally to your agreement that you will share each other for better or for worse.

Have an honest talk about each of your individual responsibilities at home. If you are both working outside your home, sharing of responsibilities in household chores is one way to avoid a conflict. Know all your household chores. List them down. Go over with them. Then talk to her which one of this chores is for you and for her. Establish a better sharing. This will be your responsibility to be agreed by both of you before you walk down in the aisle.

Each one of you are expecting that when you got married you will have a child. Plan ahead especially if you are both working. Agree about the nurturing of the child. If you decided to put your child in the hands of someone, then go on. If your wife is willing to sacrifice her career and concentrate the task of caring the child is a better choice and more acceptable. The child must grow close to his parents. Doing the parenting should be done by the mother herself rather than handled by other person being hired.

Many marriage couple always fight about proper use of money. If the husband are spending too much even if it is not necessary, quarrel will occur. Saving a little and spending too much will not bring a good result. Avoid doing a poor money management. If you are saving more and spending less then the family will be happy. You will no longer have problem about money in time of your great necessity.

Before you get married it must have a blessing from your both parents. Sometimes, the parents of the girl controlled the life of their daughter or your parents for you. Try to win the heart of the father of your girlfriend. Show them that you are good enough to be their daughter's husband otherwise there will be a hindrance in your union when your parents will control both of you.

Check your potential spouse if she showed personal integrity. Is she dishonest and liar? Talk to yourself the same question. Lying behavior can causes damaging consequences in marriage.

One good chance for marital success is having a strong foundation, values and culture. Is she religious in her character and in her faith? Does your girlfriend is more mature, responsible and dedicated?

Long time intimacy is much better than a short one to give a little space to discover compatibility in your behavior knowing of your likes and dislikes. Many hidden behavior will often come out only after marriage.

If you are willing to follow this advices then you have a great chance that your marriage will be a fruitful one.

WHEN OUR TIME IS UP

All of us are afraid to die. There are no sane people want to have a trip to other dimension. It's painful to know that our life will end. No one lives forever. This was the hardest part of our lives. But what is death, anyway? Death is a cessation of life when our heart beats no more, when our mind shut off completely, when our body give up to become dust. Death can hit us anywhere we go, on the street, in our home, in some places, in an unfortunate accident, and even in our sleep. It depends on what manner death will come to us. When our time is up, we only leave memories, our past and present, nothing more and nothing less. We cannot even say goodbye. Those left behind are only to remember us everyday, every year or forgotten us completely as their world is not our world anymore. What was left from memories were the pictures with the children and grandchildren. They will remember us every year by visiting us to our place of rest.

But how about those who knew he has a terminal disease as his days were numbered, how can he manage the painful truth that death is inevitable and will come sooner or later. It becomes a torturer into his mind, losing hope for a chance to recovery.

Some of them have enough courage to face death. In his darkest hour, he got the opportunity to grow spiritually. Instead of turning his days with worry, he makes it to be worthwhile. His passing day was a gift. He used it wisely trying to be happy.

He experienced fear before the moment of death. But he managed it well. He give the remaining days of their life with a purpose. As the time is nearer, intimate relationship grows more. It creates a special closeness to go deeper. He feels he was being cared more than ever before. Every passing hours, become the time of expecting when....

In his deathbed, panic creep him. He used his courage and strength to focus in different direction believing that he is only making a trip to other place hoping to be back in some other time even if it is not.

TAKE CARE OF MY BABY

As your wife gives birth to a beautiful baby girl, you cannot explain your feeling upon seeing her sleeping in a crib in the hospital. The medical intern in the pediatric room was there watching your baby ready to feed a bottle of milk when she awake. You child was in deep sleep as if she was contented with her life outside her mother's womb. Your wife was in private room taking her rest to recover her lost energy during the time she labored the child.

Thinking how the situation occurred in the delivery room, it was still fresh in her mind how she twisted her face for the never ending pain, gasping for air forcing all her efforts in letting the child out in her temporary shelter to the world of the living. She was exhausted but her face shines knowing that the child was there in her bedside wriggling, crying to an emotion hard to understand. And few minutes later, she was asleep.

When you went home together from the hospital, your new life with the baby begin. Your daily routines were feeding, taking care of diapers, bathing, pacifying the little girl's crying. You were overjoyed of having your first child. You asked this before and you will not ask for more.

You picked up the baby, cradled her in your arms, feels her softness, a very fragile angel. You were very gentle in handling her taking caution to the soft spot in her head. You picked her up by slipping one hand behind her neck and her head, a very convenient position for the baby. You let the child's head rest above your shoulder with her body against your chest to hear the beats of your heart.

You talked to her even if she did not understand you. You sing a song without a lyric and an ending just a humming to feel your presence. Your voice had an effect to the baby as she sleep in your shoulder. This is the voice she will seek when she is not in your arms. Baby's intelligence can remember every voice, every touch you did to her. It is a reflex response knowing her parents were there taking care of her.

The ideal way of feeding a baby is by breastfeeding. It strengthens the bonding of the mother to her baby. This relationship gives closeness to her mother when she started growing.

Being a father, show your bonding to her. Take care the child when your wife is not around. You have to take the function as a mother in nurturing her. A function that can mold into closeness to her. Giving her water in a dropper to respond to her needs.

-Put the child in a room that are very comfortable, a quiet room free from any noise. Child is very sensitive to it that will keep her awake.

-Do an alternative feeding by using milk in can. Always hold the bottle in such a way that the nipple is always covered with milk to avoid her to suck air.

-After feeding, try to burp her. It can relieve stomach distress that will result to child's belching, the discomfort for her to cry.

-Always anticipate your child's need as she started growing more.

Caring a child is a wonderful habit by giving her comfort and attention. You and your wife should be there at her side most of the time.

You did not care the tiredness in your body from your work in the office. When you go home and see your child smiling at you, a wonderful feeling of contentment and satisfaction to be the father of this beautiful child.

WAYS TO HANDLE SEAFOODS

Choose a crabs that are fresh catch and heavy in size without any water inside its shell. Determine the presence of water by shaking it. Select also those that have fat shells to ensure that what you bought has a good and full of white meat. There are crabs that the meat is only few inside the shell and very light, most of it contains water.

In order to kill the live crab, boil water in a pot. After the color become orange, remove it and start cracking. Remove first the shell on top, twist the triangular flap in its underbelly. There is an intestinal veins you can see, remove it including the gills by holding it firmly, split it in two.

In removing the meat, use a crab pick and put the meat in a container ready for cooking to a selected menu of your own choosing. There are simple menus you can prepare by using battered eggs, bulb onions, tomatoes and garlic to mix it together with the crab meat in a bowl. Add seasoning and a little salt. Fry it. Smell the mouth-watering aroma of the newly cook menu.

There are also other method to cook a crab. Cook whole live crab in a pot. When they become orange, adds seasoning, tomatoes, bunching onions, garlic, and dessicated coconut milk. Eat with satisfaction in a very full meal for you. Any left over can be heated again ready for the next meal or if not you can wrap it in an aluminum foil and store in the ref. You can do the heating later.

Live crab can be stored inside the ref. Using a newspaper, wrap it and place it at the vegetable bins waiting for the menu you want to prepare the next day.

In checking the freshness of the mussels, see to it that the shell is shut tight closed. Don't buy an open shells. Most of it smell odorous and not good for cooking. It you want to cook without the shell, only pure meat, you can. There are many preparations that can be done by using the meat of the mussels. Before doing the cooking wash it thoroughly to remove stain and other debris in the meat out from the food they eat. If you wanted to delay your cooking, you can store it in the ref temporarily.

HOW TO DO A PLUMBING REPAIR

It is important for you to know where to shut off the valve and the location of your plumbing system. It is found under the sink, in lavatory and in your toilet room. Stop the water supply temporarily until the plumber can fix it.

A dripping faucet was caused by loose packing below the bonnet-shaped cap under the handle or due to frayed washer at the stem base. Protect the cap with a cloth before you tighten it.

A clogged shower head needs cleaning. If it is defective then replace it. Remove the shower head and clean it with a wire or big needle. With the use of ammonia and water, scrub the inside part with an old toothbrush. If the flow is still in a stream, then change it completely.

If the faucet continuous to drip, buy a new washers. In changing the shower, close the shut off valve to stop the supply of water. Remove the handle and the bonnet cap. Remove the stem by twisting it with a wrench or pliers. Remove the screw from the washer and the lower end and lift it off. Connect the new washer and screw it similar to the old one. Test the new washer by closing and opening it several times before opening the shut off valve.

If the drain clogged, it should be repaired immediately. The clogging was due to food particles accumulated inside it while the lavatory drain was clogged by human hair. This problem is in the built-in metal drain stopper. Twist it and lift and remove hair.

The clogged toilet can be cleared by plunging a bell-shaped rubber cap to wood handle. First, fill the toilet with water. Position the cup over the drain and hold the handle with both hands. Force the cup downward and release it abruptly to created suction action. Repeat as many times as necessary to break up foreign materials and forces it down the drain. Use Muriatic acid to assist in dissolving the particles.

A sink drain was clogged at the trap or U-shaped pipe, under the sink. Close the shut-off valve to stop the water supply. Catch the dripping with a bucket placed under the sink. Loose the trap plug or nut with the use of a wrench. Do it carefully to avoid stripping the thread. Force out the foreign matter with heavy wire into the drain pipe. Pour hot water in full force.

MAKING AN AQUARIUM AT HOME

The beauty inside your house can be enhance when you have an aquarium in the living room. Instead of buying a ready-made aquarium set sold in the pet shop, do it by yourself. All you need are the following:

Use ten gallon tank for easy mobility. You need air pump with tubing, air stones, box filters, under gravel and living plants. See to it that the aquarium can hold water to avoid crack to the surface. Use cover with working light. The air pump should have a steady and firm flow of water without any blockage. The heating devise is free from any rust. Be sure that the heater glass has no crack.

Run your aquarium without a fish inside. This will be your trial run. After a week, add fish you like, but keep the quantity to the minimum. Then add live plants for greater effect.

After you rinse out the tank with under gravel filter inside, start putting other ornament. Wash the gravel before putting it. It should be clean and free from any debris.

To hold down the plants inside, you need rocks and settle it into shelves near the back of the aquarium. Use live plants rather than plastic plants so that the aquarium have a natural look.

As the materials are inside (except fish) now the time for you to add water half-way at first. To avoid destroying your arrangement, use folded newspaper as your dish so that the water slowly transported inside the aquarium and fill it without moving the lay-out of the materials inside.

At first, the water will cloud, but it can clear within 1 or 2 days. If possible do not use chlorinated water. If not possible, use conditioner you can buy in pet shop and use it to neutralize the water from the chemicals.

If you think your aquarium still need additional adjustment regarding its arrangement, do it because the water is only half-way in the aquarium.

After the tank is fully filled, hook up airlines to filter and test the heating system. It will take 3 to 4 days checking the thermometer to let the thermostat to regulate the temperature to 78'F. This conditioning period will allow any impurities to reduce or disappear while the bacteria will now begin cycling the wastes.

Choose harmless gold fish or other kind of fish that are peaceful. Start it with only 4 or 5 fish for the first months. After your purchase, acclimatize them slowly because of different temperature by floating it in plastic container in the aquarium for 30 minutes maximum to avoid stress to the fish for sudden change of temperature.

At the end of the month, add more but don't overcrowd it. In your periodic cleaning, you need fish net, algae scrapers, gravel vacuum, test kit and fish food. You should have a daily feeding schedule. Make a regular schedule for testing the water quality for hardness and nitrates changing water and cleaning the aquarium.

Change water every 2 weeks to remove unwanted sediments. In feeding, dry flake foods are good. Use other kind of foods you can buy in pet shop.