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| Winter
is a time for colds and flu, aches and
pains, and a malady that defies medical
intervention -- cabin fever.
It starts with a restlessness you just
can't put your finger on, and progresses
into irritability, insomnia, and quick
bursts of quarreling in the family.
If not stopped in time, it can actually
lead to real problems (as if those weren't
enough!)
What can you
do to battle cabin fever? We've
got a few suggestions for you that are
a lot more fun than taking aspirin or
drinking plenty of fluids.
We've also got information on getting
your last cold out of the house
before it takes up residence again.
And remember,
if you get too stir crazy, you're welcome
to come down and watch the clothes go
around with us -- honestly, it's not
as bad as it sounds. We're always here
to help!
See you
soon!
Ed and Mary Longanecker
Iris City Cleaners and Laundering Company |
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Blanket
of Comfort Coupon!
It's
a good idea to clean your comforters and blankets
at least once in the cold season, especially
if you've been ill. After all, what do you snuggle
up in while you've got the sniffles? This
week, have $15 in
regular drycleaning done, and we'll clean a
blanket or comforter at no charge (excludes
down.) (Include
page of this newsletter displaying coupon with
your order.
Offer expires Feb. 19, 2005. Cannot be combined
with other offers.)
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February
Fever Phenomenon
We all get it, and
there's no inoculation available to head it
off. It's Cabin
Fever -- also known as the February Blahs.
It's when we've got a good bit of the winter
season behind us already, but Spring isn't quite
in the air, and we get as surly as bears.
Combating
Cabin Fever
Just "staying busy"
isn't enough to knock cabin fever for a loop.
If it were, we'd just recommend a little house
cleaning and you'd be fine. What
we crave at this time of year is something different.
We're tired of looking at black, leafless trees
against a winter sky, winter yards, and people
in coats. So, the key to the cure is breaking
the mold.
- Go
away! This is by far the most
popular cure, but also the most expensive.
It works wonders, though, to totally change
your scene and your routine by leaving town
and getting into the sun for a while.
- Change
your world. If the world won't
change to help your mood, why not change the
part of it you have some control over? It's
a great time for some bright, new wallpaper
or a coat of paint on one accent wall, or
some new slip covers. (Be sure to use proper
ventilation for projects.)
- Bloom
where you're planted. It's
too soon to go out and turn over the dirt
for a garden (if you could even get the shovel
into the ground!) But that shouldn't stop
you from enjoying the benefits of gardening
indoors. Get some petunias or other hearty,
colorful blooms and grow them indoors (not
too close to windows, where temperature changes
can hurt them.) Get lots of green plants and
start learning to keep them alive (yes, you
CAN keep them alive!)
- Get
a new attitude. Sometimes,
all we need to break out of feeling sorry
for ourselves is to get busy helping someone
else. Especially in winter, many shut-ins
are particularly isolated. Volunteer with
the Red Cross to shovel snow off someone else's
roof, or go visit a neighbor and bring in
some hot soup with you. Go volunteer at the
local homeless shelter and serve meals --
somehow, you can't resent your "cabin" when
you're around people who don't have one.
- Feed
your brain. This is a great
time to research where you want to take your
next vacation, learn a language from tapes
you can borrow at the library, or take a short
course in something at the community center,
junior college, park system or other local
venue.
- Read
the paper. No, that by itself
won't shake the blahs, but watch for events
that are held this time of year just because
people need to get out -- boat shows, RV and
camping shows, Community Theatre productions.
Read the Lifestyle or Community sections to
find a club to join or other interest group
to get in touch with.
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Don't
Give In!
Above
all, don't surrender to the desire to hibernate.
It's great for bears, but in humans it can lead
to depression -- and that's no laughing matter.
If you are not normally depressed, you may be
suffering from SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder).
This is a reaction
to having less light in the winter, and yet
having to maintain the same activity levels,
thus upsetting your circadian rhythms.
Symptoms
of SAD
- Depression
is felt regularly during the fall and winter
months, but not other times,
especially if felt over the past 2 consecutive
years in winter.
- Changes
in sleeping and eating habits, anxiety, no
pleasure in activities enjoyed at other times,
sad or empty feeling.
- Craving
for sugary or starchy foods.
Ways
to boost your mood in winter
- Realize that January
and February have the shortest days of the
year, and so you
need to compensate with more light.
- Go
outside during the day as
much as possible.
- Rearrange your home
or work area so that you take
advantage of natural light coming in the windows.
- Get
regular exercise (outdoors,
if possible.)
- If
symptoms persist, see your
primary care physician or mental health professional.
Medication is
very often a great help, and
may not need to be taken year-round if your
symptoms are seasonal.
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Sending
Your Cold Packing!
It's rotten feeling
rotten, and being cooped up doesn't help.
But once you begin to breathe easier,
you're not out of the woods yet. Here
are a few simple steps to take to make
sure those cold germs hit the road instead
of taking up residence and waiting for
the moment to strike again.
- Sanitize
areas you touched while you had a cold.
This includes areas you might
not think of, like door knobs,
the telephone, your computer keyboard,
your steering wheel, your car keys,
etc. Use antiseptic wipes and wash your
hands after you finish.
- Replace
your tooth brush and any other oral
care items you used while you had the
cold. (If they can be
cleansed or sterilized, then do that
instead of throwing out.) It's a great
idea to change out your tooth brush
about every 2-3 months anyway, and after
a cold or the flu is a must.
- Sanitize
the places you spent time while ill.
Did you veg on the couch all
day? Clean the upholstery and
cushions. Were you sick as a
dog and stayed in bed? Wash
all sheets and the mattress pad in hot
water and soap. Wash blankets if they
are machine washable, or have them drycleaned.
(Many home
washers and dryers are too small to
do an adequate job, so either take them
to a laundromat with large equipment,
or have them professionally cleaned.)
Have quilts drycleaned.
Remember
that colds and flu are the most contagious
during the first 48-72 hours you have
them. So don't
soldier on and go to work --
you'll just bring down everyone around
you with your virus. Be kind to yourself
and those around you by keeping your cold
as your very own, and eliminating it from
your home, car and office as soon as possible
when it's over. Gesundheit! |
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We
are enormously appreciative of the opportunity
to share our weekly newsletters with you.
We feel that much of the content is valuable
for anyone who purchases fine clothing and is
interested in their preservations and cleaning.
Click on the symbol to the left if your
would like to send this and future newsletters
to a friend.
Thanks a million, Ed and Mary
The
Iris City Cleaners Connection is
a weekly news letter dedicated to the interest
of fine garment care, restoration, and
conservation. It is published in Mt Pleasant,
Iowa by Iris City Cleaners and is an extension
of our services described in www.iriscitycleaners.com
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