| Greetings!
Can you
believe August is here already? Summer just flies by. Are
you taking time to enjoy it before it's gone? Be sure to
get out and do something fun during these long lazy days
and nights. Before you know it, the kids will be back in
school and the leaves will start to change.
This month
we have some great ideas for you about ways to enjoy life,
as well as thoughts about how to get ready for Fall. As
ever, it is our goal to provide useful information and tips
to help you keep your life in balance, and to be on call
for you when you need help. We'd love to hear what you would
like to see in upcoming issues.
With thoughts
of starry nights,
Ellen
Lovelace, Founder and President
| August
Calendar |
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August
is a quiet month, with no major notable holidays.
Here instead are some observances for you to have
fun with!
3
National Watermelon Day
Ahh,
sweet and juicy watermelon. No picnic is complete
without eating a big slice, juice running down your
chin, and spitting the seeds at your little brother.
Watermelon is over 90% water, very low in calories,
and full of healthy antioxidants. Don't wait until
the big fruit's day to have some!
13
International Left-Handers Day
Celebrate
your right to be left-handed! Today is devoted to
making right-handed folks understand how it feels
for left-handers to live in their world. YOU try
using scissors backwards!
19
National Homeless Animals' Day
The
International Society for Animal Rights began this
day as a way to draw attention to the overwhelming
problem of dog and cat overpopulation. Millions
of dogs and cats are put to death every year in
shelters. There aren't enough homes for them all.
Please, please, please have your pet spayed or neutered!
Wouldn't today be a great day to adopt a homeless
animal from your local shelter?
21
Hawaii Statehood Day
On
this date in 1959, Hawaii became our 50th state.
Thank you, President Eisenhower!
Have
other dates this month that are important to you:
birthdays, anniversaries, etc.? Visit our Forget
Me Not page on our website to learn how QCS
can make sure no important date ever goes forgotten
again.
To learn more about
National Homeless Animals' Day and the ISAR, click
here |
| Vacationing
With Your Pets |
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Have
you avoided taking a vacation because you would
feel guilty leaving your precious pet behind? Well,
no more excuses, you can take your pet with you.
Many hotels across the US are welcoming you to bring
Spot and Fifi along.
Hotels
such as the Serrano Hotel in San Francisco not only
welcome your big dog, but for a fee, will provide
walks, gourmet dog food, faux sheepskin bedding,
leashes and rawhides. Wow, your pet may be more
pampered than you ever imagined! In L.A., check
into the Four Seasons. In New York, most of the
big hotels take dogs up to 15 pounds, but some would
even take a German Shepherd. You will want to check
with the hotel for fee information and weight limitations.
www.petswelco
me.com is a wonderful resource for finding the
perfect place for you and your pet.
To
make your trip most enjoyable, be sure to follow
some simple safety tips:
- Always keep
your pet in a carrier. If you have to stop suddenly
or if you are the victim of an auto accident,
your pet can be seriously injured if they are
unrestrained. A loose pet can easily escape out
a window or if a door is opened accidentally and
can run into traffic.
- Seatbelts are
not just for us humans. Visit your local pet store
for a special harness that can be used with a
seatbelt to secure your dog. A cat-carrier can
be used to transport your cat safely. Be sure
to buckle that carrier in too.
- Visit your Veterinarian
for any motion sickness or tranquilizers your
pet may require, and to ensure vaccinations are
current.
- Leave 2 windows
partially open for cross ventilation and make
sure there is plenty of water available for your
pet. Never leave them alone in the car during
hot or freezing months. Even a short time in a
hot car can be deadly to your pet.
If
traveling by plane, check with the airline for their
guidelines and fees. Remember it can be dangerous
to let your pet out of their carrier during a flight,
not only to them but to others around you who may
be allergic to animals.
Happy
Tails to You! |
| Are
You Prepared? |
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If
you were given one hour to pack only what you needed,
could you? What if you only had 30 seconds? No one
wants to hear the word “evacuation”. It is a scary
thought, but one we must all be ready for. Fire,
flood, earthquake, tornados or hurricanes all conjure
that funny feeling in the pit of our stomachs. With
a little preparation, you, your family and pets
may all be protected.
Determine
a safe evacuation place ahead of time and let other
family members know. Will they take your pets? If
not, find a boarding facility near your safe evacuation
location to board them.
Keep
your evacuation kit in an area known to all family
members. This kit (a large duffel bag works well)
should include the following items:
- First aid kit
w/ non-prescription medications
- Flashlight with
extra batteries & battery-powered radio
- Medications
(3 days supply is recommended)
- Sleeping bags
- Bottled water
(at least one gallon per person per day is recommended)
- Important document
copies (Drivers License, Social Security Card,
Marriage Certificate, Will, Deed, Credit Card
numbers, medical records, & Veterinary records)
- Family photos
(having copies on CD is a great way to store many
photos)
- If you have
pets, leashes and carriers should also be kept
with your supplies along with rations of their
food and water bowls
- It’s not a bad
idea to keep a box of nutrition bars on hand as
well (enough for 3 meals per person)
- Roll of toilet
paper and garbage bags
If
you don’t have warning and cannot evacuate the home,
find the safest room in the home and keep all family
members and pets together. If caught in an earthquake,
find shelter under a table or in a door jam. If
a tornado strikes, stay in the middle of the house
in a closet or a bathroom. The more walls between
you and the exterior of the house, the better. If
caught in a flood, do not attempt to walk through
it, even 6 inches of rapidly moving water can sweep
you away. Get to the highest place in your home
or on the roof if needed.
More
information can be found at www.redcross.org
As the Boy Scouts say, be prepared! |
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| You
Can Do THAT For Me?! |
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As
we talk about the work we do, invariably folks are
stunned to find out about some recent task we handled.
So, each month we'll tell you about something interesting
we've done. It might also spark an idea for how
we can help YOU!
Recently
we were contacted by a bride-to-be who had a dilemma:
she had ordered the wedding cake of her dreams,
only to discover the bakery doesn't deliver! Quicksilver
Concierge to the rescue!
After
talking with the bakery to learn all we could about
the cake, we prepared our vehicle for safe transport,
and headed off to the bakery on the morning of the
wedding. The cake was loaded up and transported
without incident--40 miles over a winding mountain
road!-- to the restaurant that was hosting the reception.
The bride was thrilled and the wedding was everything
she had hoped. And wouldn't you know it, the bakery
is now sending other brides to us who need delivery
services! |
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