Hot Hot Hot in Catasauqua

Whew baby it is hot outside, so what's a girl to do.  I decided to clean the basement.  But every so often I take a break and surf around the web.  I though maybe I should blog about the heatwave.  So I was checking some historical heatwaves.   A 1936 heatwave was the most severe heat wave in the modern history of North America.   It took place in the middle of the Great Depression and Dust Bowl of the 1930s, and caused catastrophic human suffering and an enormous economic toll. You gotta remember that this was before air conditioning.  Some of the records from 1936 still stand today, maybe I shouldn't say this but the the heat wave of 1936 was followed by a winter with record breaking cold temperatures.

There was another record setting heat wave in the area in 1995 and from what I have been reading on line 2012 is turning into another record setting year.

Now, while I was popping around looking for Catasauqua facts I found some interest sites that I did not know existed.  First on Facebook, I found the Catasauqua Emergency Management Agency, which lead me to http://readycatasauqua.tumblr.com which had some great hot weather survival tips on it; and http://www.catasauquaema.org, along with a twitter account are all sites of the Catasauqua Emergency Management Agency.    I guess you can never be too ready. 

You can check out their sites but in the meantime here are some hot weather tips from the CDC - The Center for Disease Control and Prevention

• Drink more fluids (nonalcoholic), regardless of your activity level. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink. Warning: If your doctor generally limits the amount of fluid you drink or has you on water pills, ask him how much you should drink while the weather is hot.
• Don’t drink liquids that contain alcohol or large amounts of sugar–these actually cause you to lose more body fluid. Also, avoid very cold drinks, because they can cause stomach cramps.
• Stay indoors and, if at all possible, stay in an air-conditioned place. If your home does not have air conditioning, go to the shopping mall or public library–even a few hours spent in air conditioning can help your body stay cooler when you go back into the heat. Call your local health department to see if there are any heat-relief shelters in your area.
• Electric fans may provide comfort, but when the temperature is in the high 90s, fans will not prevent heat-related illness. Taking a cool shower or bath, or moving to an air-conditioned place is a much better way to cool off.
• Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.
• NEVER leave anyone in a closed, parked vehicle.
• Although any one at any time can suffer from heat-related illness, some people are at greater risk than others. Check regularly on:
  • Infants and young children
  • People aged 65 or older
  • People who have a mental illness
  • Those who are physically ill, especially with heart disease or high blood pressure
• Visit adults at risk at least twice a day and closely watch them for signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Infants and young children, of course, need much more frequent watching.

If you must be out in the heat:

• Limit your outdoor activity to morning and evening hours.
• Cut down on exercise. If you must exercise, drink two to four glasses of cool, nonalcoholic fluids each hour.  A sports beverage can replace the salt and minerals you lose in sweat. Warning: If you are on a low-salt diet, talk with your doctor before drinking a sports beverage. Remember the warning in the first “tip” (above), too.
• Try to rest often in shady areas.
• Protect yourself from the sun by wearing a wide-brimmed hat (also keeps you cooler) and sunglasses and by putting on sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher (the most effective products say “broad spectrum” or “UVA/UVB protection” on their labels).

This information provided by NCEH's Health Studies Branch.

Well that's it for now, back to basement for me and remember......BE SAFE - STAY COOL and that's another day in Catasauqua

Happy July 4th!!!!

It's been a great July 4th so far.  It started for me last night at the Iron Pigs game where I got to see Ryan Howard hit a home run, some strongmen and then  fire works.  Since the Pigs hit over 5 runs it also meant that we received coupons for free 6 inch subs at Subway which are our lunch today.

This morning my bff,  Cathy,  and I headed to the George Taylor home for the reading of the Declaration of Independence.   The Declaration of Independence was a statement adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, which announced that the thirteen American Colonies, then at war with Great Britain, regarded themselves as independent states, and no longer a part of the British Empire.  It was read by Daniel K. McCarthy, an Attorney at Davison & McCarthy.  Mr. McCarthy has practiced law in the Lehigh Valley for over 35 years and he is a member of the Lehigh County Board of Commissioners.

The Declaration of Independence is interesting reading - after hearing parts of it this morning (3 yup 3 airplanes went over during the reading) I decided to read it on line.

We know the most famous part of it - the 2nd sentence -

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."  which has become a major statement of human rights.  But it then goes on to a list of grievances against King George III.  It calls him, "A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people."

The Declaration ends as follows:

"We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor."

Here is some July 4th Trivia -

• Betsy Ross, according to legend, sewed the first American flag in May or June 1776, as commissioned by the Congressional Committee.
• Independence Day was first celebrated in Philadelphia on July 8, 1776.
• The word patriotism comes from the Latin patria which means homeland or fatherland.
• Both Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died on Independence Day, July 4, 1826.
• The 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence did not sign at the same time, nor did they sign on July 4, 1776. The official event occurred on August 2, 1776, when 50 men signed it.
• The names of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were withheld from the public for more than six months to protect the signers. If independence had not been achieved, the treasonable act of the signers would have, by law, resulted in

 And, of course, one of those signers was George Taylor.

Happy 4th of July Catasauqua, be proud to be an American and show that pride today and every day, and that's another day in Catasauqua

I did it for the Cause - Tattoos to the Rescue

My number was 47.  Number 47 for a Tattoo at Hard Core Ink located at 517 Front Street in Catasauqua.  A couple weeks ago I saw in the Catty Press that Hard Core Ink was doing a Benefit for Peaceable Kingdom and Last Chance Ranch today, July 1 and that they would have dozens of animal inspired tattoos available.  I mentioned it to Parke, but I don't think he believed that I really wanted one.

Parke got his tattoo at Hard Core Ink last year, and he was happy with it, so why not.  What else is there to do on a sweltering hot Sunday in July.  So I headed down around 2 ish, there was a 3 hour wait, but I could go home and they would call.  Johnny did my tattoo which is a heart inside of a paw.

This was not my first tattoo, I have another tattoo which was done at the request of one of my bff's Tammy who got tired of seeing my underwear every time I bent over in choir in the pew in front of her, so I got a tramp stamp of the moon and 7 stars.

Johnny did a great job on the paw print and everyone at Hard Core Ink were very nice and friendly.  I would recommend them to anyone.  It didn't hurt that much, but heck after experiencing labor pains, what really hurts?  

Since most of my pets have been either rescue pets from the shelters or homeless I feel a special place in my heart for places like Peaceable Kingdom.  Our illusive cat, simply called Attic Cat, came from FURR, unfortunately she has to be the most skittish cat I have ever seen.  She lives on the third floor in my craft/spare bedroom/sewing room.  There is a bed, a sofa and  a rocker.  Her and Tipper, our other cat spend alot of time up there even though they have the run of the house.  I only see Attic Cat on her way to the litter box or to eat.   We had tried to no avail to get her to come to us.  Occasionally she will get close, but you can't move, or twitch because she is off in a flash.  I've seen her walk all over Parke though, when he has been napping in his recliner.  Parke thinks she is trying to suck his soul, but I don't think so.

Tipper, Attic Cat and Digger are our fur babies right now, and I love them all.  A big thanks to the places that take care of the unwanted animals, special thanks to the people that adopt them and a big special thanks to Hard Core Ink and other business that support the cause; and that's ....another day in Catasauqua.