Buying an electric stairlift

Numerous models and styles of electric stair lifts are out in the market today. Each one has its own special features over the others. One model or brand can be cheaper but it does not necessarily follow that it is the best for you. Another model seems to be fine until you discover it is so difficult to maintain and the warranty is very short compare to other models. Asking and searching around are not enough to ensure you have the most appropriate lift. Below are some tips you may consider when planning to purchase an electric stair lift. • Familiarize yourself with basic information It is very helpful if at least one person in your home understands the basic information about electric stair lifts such as lifting capacity, fold up dimension, drive system, operator controls and many more. You can find such details on the Internet. This will prevent salesmen from confusing you with highfalutin technical terms. It will also help you in finding the right model to buy since you have a clear and better understanding of what you need. • Determine your requirements Obviously you are buying a stair lift because you need one. But who needs it? How many people do you expect to use it and how often? Where do you plan to put it? These are basic questions that should be answered even before you search for retailers and distributors. Knowing these important details can make you save so much time, effort, money and troubles in the future. After outlining your requirements, you will have easier time in deciding which model and features should you look for. • Request for in-home consultation The consulting team may be independent of the reseller or distributor you intend to purchase your stair lift from. They have the expertise and experience in checking and determining which electric stair lifts is best for your home. They can check flooring requirements, stair dimensions, electrical constraints, and other important things you have to know and should consider. A consulting party can even give recommendations on where to get the best deals. It may cost you an extra buck but if you end up getting a really good advice on all the features and extras you want for your lift then why not. • Check for financing programs You may have enough cash to fund the purchase of a new electric stair lift but considering some financing options would not hurt. It includes various bank loans, Federal Housing Administration and Department of Housing and Community assistance programs, health insurance coverage, and even IRS tax deductible. Using one of these financing plans may help you in getting the best stair lifts for your home. So go ahead and do not end up unhappy and miserable. That bad knee or back pain surely needs time for therapy and healing. For the meantime, your newly bought electric stair lift should provide comfort, convenience and safety to you.

Passover laugh while cleaning

Passover, or Pesach as it is called in Hebrew, is the 8 day festival where the Jews celebrate their liberation from Egypt more than a thousand years ago. One of the most important features of this freedom festival is that the Jews cannot eat anything that is leavened. They eat unleavened bread. They must also make sure that no bread crumbs exist in or around the house: the cupboards, the drawers, the kitchen, behind the bed, under the refrigerator and anywhere else where crumbs might have fallen through. To ensure that the house is clean of leavened food materials, the Jews have to clean the entire house from top to bottom as thoroughly as possible. And they do. During the week before Passover, house cleaning is what goes on in most Jewish houses. To answer this demand and to ease the tension, here is a joke on this subject called Impossible Timing, which highlights this cleaning tension. Impossible Timing: Samuel, an observant Jew, who was also a financial wizard, left Brooklyn to accept the position of Vice President in a famous broker firm in Utah, which is well known for being a Mormon state. When they learned this, the company's directorate applied tremendous pressure on the company's president. "We are religious people here," they said. "It can't be that a Jew will handle all our money." The president tried to ward them off, but when he couldn't manage it anymore, he called Samuel to his office and explained the situation to him. Samuel was offered the choice of either converting or leaving the attractive job which also had a six figure salary quote attached to it. Samuel had no choice but to convert, and he went home and told his wife that from Sunday, they will start attending the Church services. A few months went by and his wife kept troubling Samuel about the conversion. "This is too difficult for me. I miss the Sabbath: lighting candles and blessing the wine. I miss the holidays. Money is not everything, Samuel dear." And with each time that his wife complained, Samuel's conscience increased until he could not take it anymore and he went to meet the company's President. "Look, I can't go on like this," Samuel said. "I am full of regret. Money is not everything. I can't sleep and neither can my wife. This is too heavy a burden for me to carry. I was born a Jew and I want to die a Jew. And if you want me to quit, I will without making any trouble." The President looked at him in wonder, "Listen, Samuel, I had no idea that this was so difficult for you. I thought it was a trivial matter. But you don't have to leave. Everything will be the same as before: you can stay here with us without converting. Samuel returned home happy and grinning from ear to ear. He ran to his wife, who was watching Ricky Lake, "You won't believe it! It's a miracle. We are going back to being Jews, and I still retain my job." His wife looked at him with eyes that spat fire, and said," Are you mad?" Samuel was shocked. "But I thought that this is what you wanted!" He cut in. "All this while you have been crying and complaining. Don't you wish to go back to becoming a Jew"" His wife looked at him with ever more fury, "Of course I want to. Of course I want to," she said. "But now? Only a week before Passover?"

Making your house a home part 2

Copyright 2006 Melissa Galt Your decorating isn’t complete until you add the finish and polish on your rooms. In part 1 of this series, we touched on ideas and sources for some wonderful window treatments, awesome accessories and collectibles. In this second and final part, we’ll address how to incorporate delightful artwork to add personality and character to your interior. When it comes to artwork, original is usually preferred. Sure it is easy to find a mass produced print that will coordinate with your decor but that lacks inspiration and creativity. Besides, good art never matches your sofa! Consider the myriad of galleries specializing in local artists’ work or even regional Southern artists. All manner of styles, subject matter and price points ($25 - $5000+) are readily available. There is never a guarantee of increase in value in art, and it tends to be difficult to sell second hand, so purchase from your heart, not your wallet. Most galleries (the better ones) will let you check out pieces for 24-48 hours on approval. This makes decisions much easier, so always ask. Don’t be concerned about creating an eclectic mix. Since you are the constant in the collecting, usually the pieces you select will all work together. Consider buying in odd numbers, again, to keep the dynamic up. And, if you can, limit yourself to no more than three pieces by any given artist, as you may be out of wall space and money when you discover your next favorite! The key to effective hanging of pictures is the height. Determine the height, based on the activity of the room. If it is a foyer, you are likely standing, so the middle of the picture should be eye level for standing. If it is the dining room, you are usually sitting, so lower the artwork to a more appropriate height. This may feel strange at first. Give it a week or two, and you’ll adjust. In many cases artwork is best served by light outside mats and wider moldings (framing). Colored mats can distract from the image, and poorly proportioned framing won’t give the piece the proper emphasis. You’ll also find that, as mentioned with accessories, it can be of greatest success to hang all gold frames together on one wall, silver on another and the like. This deemphasizes the framing and provides maximum focus on the art. Frame for the art, not the room, because you may move the piece later. Framing is an investment in the life of the piece and when done properly will not have to be redone. Do it right the first time. Be aware, too, that some images are room specific. In other words, they tend to feel more appropriate in a bedroom setting than the dining room or vice versa. Fruit and vegetables imagery is often relegated to the dining room or kitchen, landscapes are frequently found in living rooms, angelic and cherubic subjects are usually in bedrooms when used. How much art you have is largely personal. Some like very little empty wall space, others like just a handful of pieces in almost a museum like setting. Always hang pairs or suites of images together, or else they’ll appear stranded. Group pictures together using similar spacing and keeping either the top or bottom height consistent to avoid a chaotic look. Remember, you want to notice the pictures, not the way they are hung. Some of the best resources for original art north of the Perimeter are Raiford Gallery, Heaven Blue Rose, Gallery V, Main Street Gallery, Sandra Milton Gallery, Spruill Art Gallery, and Shiki at Perimeter Mall. Again, there’s something for everyone and for all ages. In personalizing your home, take your time and have fun with it. If you are more inclined to get it all done at once and don’t know where to start, call a qualified design professional. Their expertise and guidance can be invaluable, and many work by the hour, both consulting and sourcing. Your home is your castle, your haven, your place to enjoy. Make the most of it!