DEAR HELOISE: Here's a hint most people probably never thought of. If you have an elderly parent who no longer drives, or have an elderly neighbor in the same situation, think about whether there's a car in the driveway. If not, that makes the home more of a target for burglars, etc.
If you need more space to park a car, ask your neighbor or relative if you can park the car in his or her driveway. This is a win-win situation. You have a space for your car, and your neighbor has a car in the drive to help make the home look occupied. We do this for my mom, and park our second car in her driveway several nights a week.
It's also a good hint to remember if your relative or neighbor is in the hospital or rehab center for several days or weeks.
-- Amy P., Decatur, Ala.
DEAR HELOISE: I believe you had a hint on how to tell if your power was out for a length of time. It involved an ice cube.
-- John C., via email
DEAR READER: Take a few ice cubes and place them in a zippered bag and then in the freezer. If you return and see that the cubes have melted, then it's a good guess that the electricity went out for a considerable amount of time.
DEAR READERS: Waiting rooms at hospitals usually are the last place anyone wants to be. If you know you are going to be there for a while, go prepared. As the saying goes, "Prepare for the worst and hope for the best." With that being said, bring your cellphone charger in case you drain the battery waiting. The old-fashioned way would be a crossword puzzle or a good book you've been longing to read. Maybe now would be the time to take up crocheting.
Please do not forget about etiquette in the waiting room. If you have children with you, please bring something to entertain them. Also, don't let them run wild or make a lot of noise.
DEAR HELOISE: Recently, my dishwasher started making horrible noises. Because it didn't do it all the time, I grabbed my cellphone and recorded it. I played it for the repairman, who knew right away what the problem was.
-- Kris Powell,
Lincoln, Neb.
DEAR HELOISE: A couple of times a year, I clean my blinds a slat at a time with soap and water. It never fails that the phone rings, someone comes to the door or someone needs something. I can't find where I left off. Just turning the blind didn't work. Now, I clip a clothespin to the last blind I worked on.
-- Sue Pratt, via email
Send a money- or time-saving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000; fax to (210) 435-6473; or email
Heloise@Heloise.com
Style on 03/31/2015