LimaOhio.com: Tell Me About It

1. How did you get started in biking?It's cycling — that's the distinction now when you're referring to people riding bicycles versus motorcycles. Motorcycles are bikers, and bicycles are cyclists. I always liked to ride when I was a kid, but then I grew up and got my license and drove everywhere. At college we always discussed carryover sports or things you can do the rest of your life. I really didn't start cycling seriously until I moved here. I think I first started recording my rides in 1978.2. How often and how long do you typically cycle?I usually try to ride several days a week — as often as I can — it depends on how much time I have. I usually ride about 13 or so miles, but on Saturday, when I have more time, I might cycle 30 miles or more.3. What do you do during the winter months?I have a bicycle on a fluid trainer. The rear wheel actually moves. It sits on a cylinder wheel and there is a device that offers resistance. The harder you peddle the more resistance. It's not the same though.4. How many months a year can you get out to ride?It depends on the weather. I usually get a few days in March and a few more in April in a good year. I can generally ride into November. Again, it all depends on the weather.5. Do you compete at all?Nope — it's purely recreation, exercise, and relaxation. Competition would take the fun away.6. Do you take cycling trips?Every year, except for maybe two or three, for the last 20 years or more, I've been going on GOBA, which is the Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure, which is 350 miles in a week. It's organized by Columbus Outdoor Pursuits. You go to a different place or area in Ohio each year and you ride from city to city. It's about 50 miles a day. They organize towns where you will have snack stops because the more you ride, the more you eat. You camp each night in a town. Then I've done some one-dayers around here. A lot of the longer trips are on Sundays, and I try not to go on Sundays, so I can go to church. GOBA starts on a Sunday, but that's only once a year. 7. What's the longest ride you've been on at one time?Oh, I'd probably say about 72 miles or somewhere in that range.8. What kind of bike do you use?This [bike] would be considered a road bike. It has drop handle bars and thinner tires. 9. Have you ever gotten lost?That's part of the fun. You see a road and ride down it to see where it comes out. I generally know if I keep going a certain way, I'll eventually find my way home. 10. Do you ride with anyone?On GOBA there's a group that rides together, but generally, I ride by myself. I find when I am cycling, it's a good time to pray. That's the other reason I ride — it's a nice quiet time.11. What does your family think of your cycling?I'm very thankful for a wife who understands my need to get out and ride. Both my kids ride. My daughter has two little guys now so it's harder for her to get out, although she'll hook up this trailer to pull them in. I even got my son-in-law to start cycling. My wife likes to ride, but she's not as into it as I am. GOBA used to be a family thing — I'd go with the kids.12. Is cycling dangerous on the roads?Sometimes, it can be, but some have had more trouble than I have. Bikes go by the same rules of the road as cars. I try to stay out of people's way — you gotta be smart about it. I always ride with a mirror so I can see what's behind me, but I still get surprised sometime. People do honk and yell, but I just smile and wave.

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Tell Me About It: Fit to party

Posted: April 30, 2012

1. What's involved in renting a tuxedo for prom?First, they typically pick out a vest and tie that match their date's dress. They can do that by selecting something from the four companies we offer tuxes from. Then they pick out their tux from that company's choices.2. What is the pricing for a tuxedo?They are $60 and up.3. How long does a fitting take?Usually about 10 minutes.4. What's involved with a fitting?Here, when we fit customers, they try on each piece — the shirt, the pants, the coat, the shoes if they are renting those too. We measure and then order the size that will work for them.5. Do most guys know their size coming in?No, most of them don't know — that's why we don't just ask and order what they say. We measure them first to find the size. We also have to sometimes show them where a tux pant is supposed to be worn. Some kids really like to sag, but usually, they can be talked into wearing it correctly. We measure before we order, and then when they come to pick up the tux, we always ask them to try it on just to be sure.6. How many guys do you fit for tuxes for prom?We don't count them because we also have a lot of weddings we fit for during this time. I'd say we have several hundred come through here in the spring for a tux — either prom or wedding.7. Do most go the tradition route or do they want to get creative?You know, most are pretty tradition. They all pretty much wear a long tie, although I get a few who want a bow tie. Occasionally, I get someone who comes in and requests the unfillable — like they want an orange or blue tux. Every year we always get one couple that wants to really stand out, but tux companies don't stock what isn't in demand. Every place that does tuxes around here gets them from a company in Cleveland — nobody has stuff in the backroom except samples.8. Do the guys pretty much pick out what they want or do the girls kind of tell them what to wear?The girls sometimes come in with their dress. If it's more a boyfriend/girlfriend relationship, the girl will sometimes come in, but if it is just a date for the prom, usually the guy comes in with his mother and has a picture of his date's dress on his cellphone. Ultimately, they have to pick the colors, and we have literally hundreds of colors to choose from. We even have camo.9. Can you handle extremes in height?I've never had anyone come in that we couldn't get a tux to fit them.10. What happens to the tux when it is returned?We ship it back to the supplier. They send us a clean tux, and we send them back a dirty one.11. What's the worst shape in which a tux has come back to your store?Well, once a whole bridal party tore the tails of their tuxes up to the collar. People think since they sign a damage waiver, they can do whatever they want to it, but that is only for accidental damage. If you destroy a tux on purpose, you have to pay for it. Most people are pretty responsible.You can comment on this story at www.LimaOhio.com.

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Tell Me About It: Nuts for squirrels

Posted: April 22, 2012

1. What exactly is a flying squirrel?It’s a nocturnal squirrel — a southern flying squirrel is the official name. They are native to Ohio and the surrounding states. There is a northern flying squirrel but it’s a lot bigger — about the size of a red squirrel. People keep the southern flying squirrels for pets. These are different than sugar gliders. Those are from Australia.2. How did you get interested in them?When my daughter was about 10 years old, she wanted something different. I said, “Let’s get a flying squirrel.” At that time, you didn’t need a license or anything, so I got a cage from this lady who built rabbit cages. My daughter saved up to get one from this lady in Texas. Well, about a week before that happened, she called me up at work, and she said she had a flying squirrel. She found it in the corner of our garage window. It lived quite a long time, although it never got super tame since it was from the wild. My daughter breeds flying squirrels in Kentucky now. 3. How long have you had flying squirrels?I’ve had them over 25 years. 4. How many do you have now? How many do you usually have?I only have five right now, but usually I have eight — four breeding pairs. 5. How many do you sell each year?I used to sell about 10 babies a year, but last year we didn’t have any, and the year before that, they only had three babies. Most breeders only keep four or five breeding pairs because you have to take the babies away at five weeks and bottle feed them and then the people pick them up when the babies are 7 weeks old. If I had 50 squirrels, you wouldn’t get a tame squirrel. You can’t find these in pet stores at all, either.6. How much do you sell them for?I sell the males for $125 and the females for $150. Others sell them for a bit more than I do.7. Where do you sell them?People find me over the Internet even though I don’t have a website. Basically, if you Google flying squirrels, my name comes up. I’ve had people drive from as far as West Virginia or Wisconsin to pick up a baby. I usually have a waiting list — some people wait as long as two years for one.8. Do you have to have a special license or anything since they aren’t a domestic animal?I have a commercial license — it’s called a wild animal propagation permit license. It’s through the Division of Wildlife. Any native legal animal, you have to have a license in Ohio. By legal animal, I mean one you didn’t get from the wild — you have to get it from a licensed breeder. I have to keep track of who buys my squirrels and turn that into the Division of Wildlife. To keep one as a pet, you have to have a license, too. I give them the information, but it’s up to them to do the paperwork to get a license. Each state is different how they do things, too.9. What kind of equipment do you need?You just need a cage and proper vitamins. Since they are nocturnal, you have to give them Vitamin D and calcium. Most of their food, you can get from the wild. They eat acorns, hickory nuts, black walnuts — I give them to them raw because their teeth are always growing and chewing through the hard nuts wear their teeth down. 10. What kind of pet do they make? Do they bite?They are a bonding squirrel, so if you only get one of them they will bond to you and want to be with you all the time. If they are bonded to you, you could put them up on the curtain rods and they’d glide right to you because they’d want to be with you. They can glide up to 200 feet from a big tree. If you get more than one, they will bond with each other. In the wild, they live in groups of 10 or 20 in the same den. Males and females make equally good pets. I wouldn’t really recommend them for young children, like under 5 or 6, because the kids might squeeze them too hard and they will bite then. 11. How long do they live?In captivity, they live about 15 years. 12. Are there any special health issues to watch out for?As long as you give them the proper vitamins, they pretty much take care of themselves. They don’t have an odor and they don’t have parasites either. They are a very clean little animal. They would probably be a popular pet, but they are hard to find. 13. Are there vets around here who will treat them?I’ve only ever been to a vet once and that was to get a certificate of health to transport one across state lines to my daughter. The problem is vets don’t really know anything about them. I suppose they’d treat them like they would a hamster. I haven’t really ever had a need for a vet — they don’t need shots or things like that.

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Tell Me About It: Let the growing begin

Posted: March 18, 2012

1. How long have you been gardening?Probably since I moved out of my parents' house. I watched my mom gardening as I was growing up. I've gardened pretty much everywhere, except for a brief time we lived in a trailer home. There just wasn't anyplace available, but basically, if it is at all possible for me to garden, I try. I love the whole process, the cyclical nature of gardening and being a part of it.2. Have you always grown vegetables?When I first got married, I did mostly flowers. My husband was the one who grew the veggies. Over time, I've taken over the vegetable patch.3. Why do you grow your own vegetables?I garden for many reasons. One reason is that I wanted more control over what goes into what I eat. I have a history of many food allergies and in the year that I was completely avoiding multiple botanical food families, I learned a lot about the food industry — more than I ever wanted to know. Ignorance is truly bliss in this case. We also want to live a more sustainable lifestyle. 4. What do you plant and how much?We plant burgundy bush beans — they are like regular beans but are purple. They are not as prone to the bush beetle. I used to do tomatoes, but most of our family has allergy issues with them, so we don't plant very many anymore. I plant cucumbers, zucchini, dry beans of some kind, herbs, beets, onions — a little bit of everything. I like to experiment.5. Some of those are heirloom varieties, aren't they? What are heirloom vegetables?We try to do heirloom, although we have some hybrids too. With heirlooms, you can save the seeds and plant them next year. Sometimes I do that, and sometimes I don't because I like to try different things. They have better flavor, especially the heirloom tomatoes and lettuces. There is also a lot more variety than you can find at the grocery store.6. How early do you start your seeds?Usually mid- to late March for the ones I start indoors. I don't have a setup with lights, so I usually put them in the one room that is very sunny and that works pretty well. I put seeds in the garden on Mother's Day. Last year, it was really wet, so I was late getting things planted. I was so desperate to get something in that I planted cucumbers and zucchini in a tiny patch that was a bit drier. My husband thought I was crazy, but those were the best cucumbers we ever had!7. Do you use any special equipment?Not really — I mean sunny windows are about the extent of it. You can buy those seed kits, and I've done that. You can also do it on the cheap. This year, I put the seeds into empty toilet paper tubes, and then I guess dirt and a trowel are about it.8. Do you can or freeze any of your produce?I've been freezing for a while. I started experimenting with drying things last year. I have an Excalibur food dehydrator and I dried corn, onions, apples — those were not from our farm but purchased in the fall — summer squash. I also made some freezer pickles and froze some basil. Oh, and I shredded zucchini and froze it — I use that mostly for zucchini brownies. There are links to most of these things on my blog — livinghealthyinthemodernworld.blogspot.com. This year, because the genetically modified corn is going to start being sold at stores, I want to freeze enough corn to last us through the winter, too.9. How big is your garden?I don't know the exact size, but it is a pretty large plot out there. My husband has his own plot because his pet vegetable is corn. He's been working with a type called Mandan Bride — it's an heirloom variety — for about 13 years. He's dried and reused the seeds to plant each year. 10. So, do your kids like vegetables?I have three kids. The oldest two are boys and our youngest is a girl. My oldest loves vegetables; my second boy is more picky and the youngest just sort of follows the rest. She does love cherry tomatoes though and will go out and eat them right out of the garden.11. What's your favorite vegetable?It used to be tomatoes, but I found out I'm allergic to those. Now, I really like fresh green beans and also chard. I always have to have squash too because there are so many varieties. 12. What's the best thing about gardening?Providing for ourselves and knowing that it is organic, but not having to pay the high price for that at the store. It's a good way to exercise, and it just gives you a sense of satisfaction that you did this.

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Tell Me About It: Play me a song

Posted: March 11, 2012

1. What made you want to play the harmonica?I don't know for sure. I'll just say it this way. I went to the S&H Green Stamp Store with my mother. I asked her if she would buy a harmonica for me, and she did. You probably don't remember the S&H Green Stamp Store. When I was a little girl, you would get these stamps when you bought gas. You'd stick the stamps into books, and when you got enough books, you could go to the Green Stamp Store and redeem the stamps for different items.2. How old were you at the time?I'm not sure the exact age, but I was in junior high at the time. 3. How did you learn to play?I just learned on my own. I would go out in the backyard and sit in the grass and see what kind of songs I could play.4. How long did it take you to become proficient?When I got the harmonica, I went out in the backyard and just started to learn to play — try to figure out different songs on it like “Old Susannah” and things like that. It took a couple months maybe. My dad was a minister so I'd play at church for special music.5. What was the hardest thing about learning?I don't really think it was hard. I think God gave me a talent for it, but really, I think anyone could play. It's just blowing air in and out over a specific hole to get the note.6. Are there different kinds of harmonicas? Do you use a specific kind?I have a variety of harmonicas. My first one was just a small one — a marine band in the key of C. Along the way I've picked up others. Harmonicas come in different keys. 7. What keys do you have?I have another key of C one but it is a chromatic C — that means it has a slide on the end so I can play sharps and flats. I have a couple that are double-sided, meaning I can play on both sides and both sides are a different key. Like this one plays the keys of D and A, and this one plays the keys of F and B flat. 8. How many harmonicas do you own?I have six, including the one my mother bought me. It doesn't work very well though. It's worn out. 9. Where do you play your harmonica?I play at church for special music. I've played at the nursing home and for people in the hospital, acquaintances.10. How often do you play for enjoyment?Well, actually, not very much. Usually, I get them out when I'm asked to do special music for church. I'm too busy learning to play the violin at the moment.11. When did you start learning the violin?In February, it was two years that I've been taking lessons. I've had my violin since back when I was in the Navy though.12. Are there any other instruments you would like to learn to play?Not really — I'll be doing good if I can get the violin mastered.

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Tell Me About It: On the hook

Posted: February 19, 2012

1. What kind of fishing do you do?Bass fishing — rod and reel. What I do is I compete in bass tournaments all over the country. Actually, last week, I was just down in Florida on Okeechobee.2. How did you get started fishing?It's kind of a mystery. Neither one of my parents fish. When I was in about second or third grade, I remember Mom taking me out to a pond. Really, from there it just started where she bought me a magazine subscription — this bass fishing magazine that I read constantly. It was one of those things. I was young, if I was willing to read a fishing magazine; she was willing to buy it for me.3. How many tournaments do you enter each year?Generally, I fish 13 to 15 tournaments a year. This year, I plan on doing right around 13 or 14. 4. What's involved in a tournament?A tournament can be anywhere from one day to four days. You launch your boat from a designated area and then have to be back in by 3 p.m. You have eight hours to fish. You are allowed to bring back five fish and it is the combined weight of those. You have a height minimum — usually the fish has to be at least 12 inches. All your fish must be alive. I have these compartments in my boat called live wells that pump water in and circulate it. You are penalized if any of your fish are dead.5. Where are the tournaments held? What is the farthest you've gone?Okeechobee is the farthest I've been — it's 1,200 miles. I go all over — Lake Erie, Lake St. Clair. I've been to lakes all over Ohio.6. What kind of equipment do you use?If I'm fishing as a pro on my boat, I usually have 10 to 15 rods in the boat. I probably have six to eight boxes full of hard lures and four to six Ziploc bags of soft lures. One thing about tournaments, you can't use live bait. You have to use artificial lures.7. Do you use live bait when you fish for fun?No, I pretty much only use artificial bait.8. How often do you fish for fun?I am probably on the water fishing for fun at least 80 days a year easily.9. What's your biggest catch?Last year, I did catch a 5 pound 11 ounce smallmouth bass. I've caught several largemouth bass in the 8- to 9-pound range, but I haven't hit a 10-pounder yet. Typically, a smallmouth bass at 6 pounds or a largemouth bass at 10 pounds is a once-in-a-lifetime type of fish.10. What do you do with the fish you catch when you are fishing for fun? Do you like to eat fish?Generally, I release any bass I catch, and yes, I like fish — just not bass. I prefer walleye or perch. If I catch a walleye, it's supper that night.11. How many tournaments have you won?Last year, I won two of my club tournaments. 12. What's your favorite part of fishing?It gets me out of my normal job as an attorney.

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Tell Me About It: Therapy on four legs

Posted: February 13, 2012

1 How long have you been visiting people with a therapy dog? My first therapy dog was a shepherd named Bogart. A therapist friend of mine asked me to come visit some of her clients. That was probably in the mid-’90s — maybe 1993 or ’94.

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Tell Me About It: Therapy on four legs

Posted: February 12, 2012

1 How long have you been visiting people with a therapy dog? My first therapy dog was a shepherd named Bogart. A therapist friend of mine asked me to come visit some of her clients. That was probably in the mid-’90s — maybe 1993 or ’94.2 How long has your dog Bart been doing this? He’s been doing this since he got off the plane when he was 9 weeks of age. I carried him as a baby in to do visits. A dog has to be over a year old to take the therapy dog test, and since I couldn’t test my own dog, Bart was over a year old by the time I could get out of town and get the testing done.3 Tell me about Bart.His name is Bartholomew, but we call him Bart for short. He is 5 years old and is a harlequin Great Dane. He’s my second Great Dane. My first is Isabella; she is also a therapy dog. If she makes it to September, she’ll be 11 years old and that is quite a feat for a Great Dane. 4 What does it take to certify a therapy dog? It depends on the organization that you use. There are tons of therapy dog groups and each has their own guidelines. Around here, you mainly hear about Therapy Dogs International and Delta. The AKC now gives out a title for a therapy dog if you do 50 visits.5 What kind of dog makes a good therapy dog? The dog has to show no signs of any kind of aggression. They have to not be shy, but not overly exuberant either. You don’t want a dog that is jumping all over people. They have to have obedience training and have to be socialized. I got Bart in February and in March I took him to a St. Paddy’s Day parade. They have to be able to handle distractions and crowds. The dog has to enjoy what they do.6 Are there certain breeds that make good therapy dogs? Do Great Danes usually make good therapy dogs? Both of my Great Danes made good therapy dogs. I know there are other Great Danes that are therapy dogs, but it has more to do with the right temperament and the right training. Any dog can be a therapy dog if it has the right temperament.7 Where do you visit?On a regular basis, we visit Elmcroft Assisted Living, Van Crest in Delphos, Lima Manor and Golden Living. We have occasionally been to a place in Shawnee and in Cridersville. You don’t have to just go to nursing homes and places like that. There are all kinds of places for therapy dogs. 8 What’s the most challenging thing about visiting with a dog? I don’t really have any “challenges” because my dog is trained. I can handle him, and I enjoy doing it. It can be hard when you have visited with someone for a long time and they pass away. That is hard on you and your dog.9 Has anyone been afraid of Bart because of his size? Most of the time, the people freaked out are the employees. … The residents aren’t usually afraid at all. In fact, his size makes him very accessible for a person who is lying in bed to pet him.10 What’s the best thing about visiting with your dog? The best part is you think you are actually doing something to help someone — and you are — but it also rewards you. It takes your mind off of problems you have.

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Tell Me About It: Elida's greatest fans

Posted: February 05, 2012

1. So, how long have you been in the Elida Athletic Boosters?Noni: We were both in band boosters and then when our son went to football, he went to the athletic boosters and I stayed with the band boosters because our daughter was still in band. Ivan: I was in the athletic boosters after 1985.Noni: That's right. You were in the athletic boosters a couple years longer than I was, so you've been in it 32 years and I've been in it about 30 years.2. How did you get involved?Ivan: I was the president of the [Parent Teacher Organization], and I was on the advisory committee for the middle school construction and I was on the middle school board when it was built. I also was on the Apollo school board. Noni: He's always been very active with the school. I've just followed him around. After our kids graduated, I went to athletic boosters because they needed people for concessions3. What do you do exactly?Ivan: I mostly sell tickets and she takes care of the concessions. I sell tickets for soccer, basketball, football and all the tournament games. Noni: Basketball and football concessions is mainly what I do.4. What's one of your favorite jobs?Ivan: I guess being with the kids.Noni: We used to follow them [the students] as they would go on to college. We even went to some of their games, but we don't travel well anymore.5. Do you have any family that still attends Elida schools?Ivan: No, not anymore. Our daughter had three kids who were, but she had to move. The only apartment she could find that would work for them was in Shawnee. 6. What's your favorite memory from the years you have been involved with the boosters?Noni: I'll tell you what — we were honored as the Grand Marshals of the football game in 1993. That has to be one of our favorite memories isn't it?Ivan: We were the first ones not employed by the school to be Grand Marshals.7. What's been the hardest thing about being involved?Noni: Getting volunteers is the hardest thing. We do have about a dozen that are faithful and dependable and always show up. You make good friends and the kids keep us young.Ivan: I can't physically do what I used to do.8. You have received several honors for your work in the boosters. Can you share some of those?Noni: We received the Paul Smith Award in 2007 for sports volunteerism. Is “volunteerism” even a word? Ivan got to throw out the first pitch at the girls' softball game one year. We really can't count all the honors. It's been overwhelming, really.9. Do you see yourself retiring from the boosters any time soon?Ivan: We've slowed down a lot and we've had some people take over some things. I've had a lot of sickness and [Noni] has waited on me hand and foot.Noni: I guess we won't do it forever, but we're not planning on quitting any time soon. We just have fun.

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Tell Me About It: Just keep pedaling

Posted: January 29, 2012

1. What exactly is an indoor cycling class?Indoor cycling is basically a cardiovascular workout that simulates outdoor riding. It really uses every body part. While it is cardiovascular, you are using all your muscles, your core, everything. We sit. We stand. We do things called jumps, which are four- to eight-second intervals of sitting and standing using heavy tension and light tension on the bikes.2. How is it better than just riding your bike on your own?It's a different workout. Outdoor riding really depends on where you are riding. Around here, there is a lot of flat land. We can simulate an outdoor ride on hills by using heavy tension on the bike. I have a lot of outdoor riders, especially in the winter when they can't get out for long rides. A lot of them say they feel stronger when they get back out on the road. 3. How did you get started doing indoor cycling?Well, I always enjoyed outdoor riding, but when I had my kids I didn't have the flexibility to just get on my bike and go for a long ride unless I found someone to be with the kids. Indoor rides offered me the opportunity to ride, but not to worry about the kids. I can put them in baby-sitting and know I'll be done at a certain time. Teaching always interested me, too. I quit my regular full-time job when I had my kids, so teaching fitness classes lets me get my workouts in and also share my passion for fitness. In fact, we've had several instructors who started out in a class and loved it so much, they went and got certified to teach others.4. What's the difference between spinning and indoor cycling?Spinning is a trademark. I am Spin certified and Reebok certified, but the YMCA is not a Spin-certified facility. The generic name for Spinning is indoor cycling.5. How did you get certified?I have both a Spinning and Reebok certification. Reebok is more what the YMCA — that is the certification for the facility. The Reebok certification was a day course. The Spin certification — I can't remember if it was a one- or two-day course — but it also has a bunch of continuing-education courses. You have to do continuing-education courses to keep up your certification for both Spin and Reebok. It's a pretty intense certification. It entails book work and also hands-on.6. What kind of equipment do you need for a class?The two most important things you need are a water bottle and a towel. The Y provides towels or you can bring your own, but you definitely need a water bottle. I also tell people to get there a little early because it takes a few minutes to get everyone set up on a bike. It's really important to get the person set up on the bike properly. 7. Have you ever had anyone pass out in your class?No, I've never had anyone pass out. I, personally, am very aware of new people. I always give options. I have some who have been cycling a long time, and they want a really hard workout, but I give new people lower intensity options. I have to cater to all the levels. I have had some people get lightheaded from working too hard, but those are usually the people who have been cycling a long time. It can be a beginner's class or an advanced class, depending on the intensity level. I've not had to perform any CPR in any of my classes, though.8. What's the most challenging part of leading an indoor cycling class?I think sometimes the motivation, especially at that early hour. People come in tired or dragging themselves in. I've gotta really turn on that “wow” factor to make them want to be there and want to come back. A lot depends on the personality of the class. It's hard to read how a class is feeling sometimes. They don't always communicate if they are getting what they want from the class. So, that can be hard.9. How many cycling classes do you teach?I teach Mondays and Wednesdays at 5:15 a.m.10. How many people come to your cycling classes?Right now, we average around 12. We have 16 bikes available and it fluctuates between 10 and 16.11. Do you teach any other classes?I teach a Les Mills Body Pump class on Tuesdays and Thursdays at noon. That is basically a choreographed barbell class.

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Tell Me About It: Life as an EMT

Posted: January 22, 2012

1. So, what does EMT stand for anyway?It stands for Emergency Medical Technician.2. What kind of training is involved in becoming an EMT?I'm a basic and for that level of certification, it usually requires about 150 hours of classroom instruction, an eight-hour hospital clinical, an eight-hour ambulance clinical, and I had to pass a written and practical exam. Each level has more requirements. 3. So, how many levels are there?There are first responders, basic, intermediate and then paramedics. Each one has specific training that's required. As a basic, I am trained to respond to respiratory, cardiac and trauma-related calls. When EMTs arrive at a call, they are usually basics.4. How many hours do you typically work?I work for the Perry Township Fire Department and also at a private company. At the Fire Department, as part-time employees, we are required to put in 12 hours a month. You may work up to 32 hours a week. The schedule is broken up into four-hour shifts and you may work up to 24 as a part-time EMT. As a full-time EMT, at our Fire Department you work a rotating 24-hour shift. You must be a paramedic to be full time, which I'm not. The private company I work for there are several different shifts, but I work an eight hour Monday through Friday shift. I seldom get off after only eight hours, but for me, the overtime is nice. I average about 45 hours a week there. A lot of weeks I work over 60 hours between both places.5. What does a typical day look like?At the Fire Department a typical day starts with us checking off our medic [the ambulance]. That means making sure our equipment is on the medic and working properly. We check the fluids, radio, lights and sirens. We also have station chores to fill in the time at the station. Depending on what kind of calls come in makes up the rest of our day. At the private company I work for a typical day consists of first checking off our medic, station chores and waiting to be dispatched out. The type of calls mostly consists of transporting from nursing homes, but we also get some residential transports. We transport them to the hospital, all kinds of doctors appointments, dialysis and radiation treatments. We also have emergency calls, sometimes.6. What are some of your primary duties?Each level of EMT has different responsibilities when we reach the patient. As a basic, my job is to make sure the patient has no life-threatening issues. The ABCs of airway, bBreathing and circulation is first priority. I have to make sure the airway is clear, breath sounds can be heard and bleeding is under control. We take vitals, which is blood pressure, SpO2 [measures the oxygen that is circulating in the blood stream] and pulse. We do a head-to-toe assessment of the patient trying to assess and pinpoint any issues that need to be addressed by us or the [emergency room] upon arrival. As a basic, I'm allowed to assist patients with certain medication. ... We have to be able to administer and regulate high-flow oxygen. If CPR or defibrillation is required, I have to be up on my certification and be able to recognize the time it is needed. There is so much more, but I think I have the “basics” covered.7. How do you deal with the difficult or disturbing things you must see on the job?I repeat to myself, “Suck it up, Heather, and do what needs done and then go home and hug your family.” I always try to keep in mind how I would want my family members treated. That helps me keep things in perspective. I have went home and cried, but really who hasn't at one time or another?8. Has anyone ever thrown up on you?No not yet, but now that I have said that it will probably happen. I have seen my partners get soaked. It is not pretty.9. What's the hardest thing about your job?With the Fire Department, wanting to do more but having my hands tied by regulations. What I do get to do, I want to do it correctly and as quickly as possible in order to move on to the next task or issue that needs to be address. At the private job, the hardest part is seeing some of the patients in the nursing home that call out, wanting someone, anyone to come in and just talk to them. Also, waiting at doctors appointments. I don't sit still well.10. What is the best thing about your job?Talking to the patients is the best part of both my jobs as an EMT — making them feel not alone. I have learned so much from the elderly patients I transport. I like that each day is a new adventure and a chance to learn. I also like to drive with lights and sirens, but really who wouldn't?11. Why did you become an EMT?It's just something I always wanted to do. I had the opportunity to go to school, and I went for it.

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Tell Me About It: Putting it on the shelf

Posted: January 15, 2012

1. How did you get started in woodworking?A few years ago I had a heart attack. I got started building some small things and little by little I did more. Then my daughter, Rachel, got with me and said I should build shelves and she would do the floral arrangements for them.2. What do you make exactly?I do mostly shelves, but I also do furniture like side tables, nesting tables, things like that. I do shelves of all different sizes and styles. I make shelves from eight inches up to 42 inches.3. How do you decide on a design? I have different kinds of designs that I use. My wife and I sit down together and draw up what we like. We've built up the types of designs I use little by little.4. What kind of wood do you use primarily?I use walnut and cherry, and I use oak a lot, too.5. How long does a project take? It depends on what I'm doing really. The little, tiny shelves — the round or corner ones — I can make those pretty quickly. It takes a while to set up the saw, so once I do, I generally cut out three or four pieces. It's hard to say how long because usually I'm working on about four different projects at once.6. What kinds of tools do you use?I use sanders, routers, planes, saws and some band saws, too. The band saws are what I use to cut out a scalloped or curved edge on something.7. Where do you get your wood from?I get most of my wood in Elida from Siefker Sawmill. 8. What's the most challenging part of woodworking?I guess getting it cut out right. The most challenging part is getting the blueprint of it before you get started. I get people who want a custom shelf, and I tell them to draw up a print of what they want. You have to have that blueprint so you know what you're doing.9. What do you do with the things you make?My daughter and I sell them on the Internet now. We used to do a lot of the big craft shows. We went to Chicago, Iowa, Minnesota, New Jersey and New York, but it got expensive with the gas prices. It would cost $800 just to rent a booth space in the New York area. So, now we sell them on the Internet. I don't make big money on them. I make some, and it will keep me busy when I retire eventually. 10. So if someone wants to see your work, what is that Web address?They can go to http://sugarcreekhomedecor.com.

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Tell Me About It: Booty Butter for baby's behind

Posted: January 08, 2012

1. So what is Booty Butter exactly?I started cloth diapering in May or June [2010]. I started because Evie, my youngest, had a nasty rash that would not go away. It ended up being from the Pampers so I started using cloth diapers. You can't just use Desitin with cloth diapers because it builds up in the cloth. Only certain creams work with cloth. 2. So, Booty Butter is a diaper cream and how did you end up making it yourself?Yes, it's a cloth-friendly diaper cream. I couldn't find any diaper cream that was OK to use with cloth diapers around here, so I had to order some over the Internet. With shipping, it was something like $20 for about 2 fluid ounces. It lasted about a month. We really couldn't afford to do that every month, so I started looking into how to make my own diaper cream. 3. Where did you come up with the recipe for Booty Butter?I started researching on the Internet and found that shea butter and coconut oil were really good for diaper cream. I added olive oil, tea tree oil, which is antibacterial, and lavender, and arrowroot powder.4. Where do you get your ingredients?I buy a lot of them over the Internet in bulk. I get my arrowroot powder from the health food store.5. What is the production process like to make Booty Butter?It depends on how many batches I'm making. I usually make two big batches each month. A big batch makes four full-sized jars and two sample-sized jars.6. How long does it take to make the Booty Butter?It's mostly a matter of melting the ingredients down. Once they melt together, I have to solidify it. If I'm using the refrigerator to speed up the process, it takes about four to five hours. As it solidifies, I add the arrowroot powder to make it the right consistency.7. How big are your jars and how much do they cost?They are 2 ounces net weight, which is a lot more than 2 fluid ounces and that is $8.50 plus shipping, which makes it $11. The sample sizes are a half ounce and cost $3 plus shipping.8. How can people buy the Booty Butter?They can order it from my page on Facebook which is called Booty Butter by Jessica, and then they can order from there, or they can email me at bootybutterbyjessica@gmail.com.9. About how much do you sell per month?I really don't know what to tell you my average is because it varies drastically. Some months, I sell three or four and other months I'll sell like 20 jars. It really just depends. 10. How do you ship it out?I use padded envelopes but if they have more than three jars, I'll look around the house for a box to put them in. 11. When you created Booty Butter, were you thinking of this as a business?No, I wasn't really expecting to build a business. My friends who cloth diapered asked me for some when they found out I made it. So, I decided to make a page on Facebook. I went from a few friends as fans to 1,100 fans in just a few weeks. That was in March or April.12. Are there other uses for Booty Butter besides the obvious?Oh yes. I've given it to friends with psoriasis and eczema, and they say it works great. I have two people who melt it down and use it on their hair. It soothes burns and bug bites. Nursing moms can use it as a nipple cream. It clears up rashes, cradle cap and ringworm. I've had people tell me it helps with their arthritis when they rub it into their joints. I like to use it as a moisturizer.13. So, any plans to expand what you offer?I'm working on a Bedtime Butter right now. I had a lot of people tell me they love to use it to moisturize their baby or use it to massage their baby, but the tea tree oil smell was sort of strong. So, this one will have no tea tree oil. It will have a lot more coconut oil and less shea butter. It will also have essential oils — lavender, jasmine and lemon grass.

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Tell Me About It: A purse for every occasion

Posted: January 01, 2012

1. How long have you been sewing? How did you get started?I got started in 4-H when I was 9 years old. I sewed a tote bag and scarf. I got an A on it.2. What made you decide to make your first purse?It was cheaper than buying one, and I can make it any size or color that I want. I can make one to match a specific outfit, if I want to.3. When did you decide to make your first purse? It's been about five or six years ago now. 4. How many purses have you made?I don't know. Probably about a dozen. I give them as gifts. My daughter, Michaela, her friends thought her jean purse I made her was cool, so I made some for their birthdays. I make them mostly as gifts, but my favorite ones, I keep.5. Do you use a pattern or come up with your own designs?I do both. I have about three patterns I use, but this one [holds up quilted tote], is just basically a square, so I didn't really need a pattern for it. I do simple patterns though.6. How long does it take you to make a purse?Some of them take only an hour or two, but if it is lined or something a bit more complicated, it might take three hours. So, I'd say one to three hours. That's another reason I enjoy making them — it's a quick project. It's not like making clothing, which takes forever.7. Where do you get your ideas?Most of the purses I make, I see in stores or at craft shows. Sometimes, I see a fabric I like but I wouldn't want to wear it as a piece of clothing, but it would make a great purse.8. About how much does it cost you to make each purse?These two [points to quilted purse and floral purse] cost less than $3 each to make. Mostly, I look at remnants at the fabric store, or I'll buy clothes at the thrift store or on clearance and use that. You can also save scraps from other projects and use it for details or handles or what have you.9. What's the hardest part of the process for you?For me, figuring out the handle — whether I want cloth or something more sturdy — is the most challenging part. I have to decide what kind and how long to make it.10. Do you sew the purses by hand or use a machine?Both. I guess I try to hand sew as much as I can, but some of these were done entirely on my machine.11. What is the process of making a purse?First, I have to decide what I'm going to use it for — where will I be carrying it? What will I carry in it? Then I look at what material I will use, and based on what I'll be using it for, I look at what pattern and style. The patterns come with pretty simplistic instructions. They tell you what piece to sew when. I don't want to say they are self-explanatory because they might not be to someone who has never sewn before, but it's basically cutting out the material, piecing it together and sewing it. 12. What other kinds of sewing do you do?I used to make Michaela's dresses when she was small, but now that she is in high school, that's definitely out. Once in a while, I'll make a skirt. When I used to work, I made blazers and blouses. Blouses are a lot of fun to make, too.13. Do you think you'll ever do anything more with this than gifts — like sell them as a business?No, I don't think I'd ever start a business on my own. I like to make them when I'm in the mood, and when I'm not in the mood, I don't.

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