Charlotte, NC

they run and hide their heads, or so the Beatles’ song goes.
But, lately, we’ve been doing that … more due to the cold than the wet of the rain we’ve been experiencing. But we’re fortunate. Much of the Eastern Seaboard’s been hammered with a fierce “Alaskan Clipper” cold front that’s swept snow, ice and freezing temps around the nation.
While it appears that Pineville and Matthews have gotten the worst of it thus far, we’ve all got to keep an eye on both rising waters and frostbite temperatures:

In this type of weather (and if you’ve gotta be out in it), the first thing to remember is to reduce your vehicle’s speed! The standard “one car-length for every ten mph” is actually doubled due to the danger of skidding, hydroplaning — and, most importantly, watching the actions of the drivers in front and beside you! And, listen: stay off the cells unless it’s absolutely necessary (and even then, if possible, pull over to take/make the call!).

Next up: Be sure to lay in blankets, flashlights, candles, a battery-powered radio and non-perishable food items. These are “worst-case-scenarios” in the event of a power outage. Thousands of folks have lost power due to the ice storms that have moved through the Eastern states, and, while they’ve apparently missed us, it’s a good idea to “play it safe” — just in case!

One more tidbit or two: If you have a kerosene heater or a fireplace, be sure that both are in working order (that includes making sure your chimney doesn’t have cracks, etc. where sparks can fly through and ignite your house. That has happened before!) and have adequate ventilation. And, natch, be sure your car’s got the antifreeze it needs … otherwise, you’ll be looking at a cracked engine block, should it get a bit worse outside.

These are some tips that make sense, right? Now, if you combine these with the “patience” we talked about in the last post, you can be ready for any rough weather!!

A BIT HARD TO READ?

We have many Crown Towners who have a bit of a challenge in reading — not because they’re illiterate, but simply because they can’t see the print! It can be a frustrating experience, to say the least!

But help is just a click away! For them, the fine folks at First STREET Online provides the best magnifiers in the nation! Whether they need to “read the fine print”, watch TV without squinting, or whatever, their site offers magnifiers that will ease their embarrassment and frustration.

They have everything from pocket magnifiers to lamp and desk models, glasses, tweezers and a lot more … and at substantial savings to the buyer!
But there’s much more on this site that can help those who have a hard time seeing “close-up”. For most of the items, one can get a 90-day in-home “trial” of the product. There are many more perks available, just by visiting their magnifier page via the link you just saw.
Check it all out today, and you can be sure to have a “clearer picture” of everything before ya know it!