It’s cold in here!
Today’s Sound Off is about places that are too cold:
DEAR HELOISE » I love air conditioning, as I’m sure many people do, but I’ve been in far too many restaurants, theaters and stores where the air is absolutely freezing!
My husband and I recently went to a live performance at a theater where the air was so cold that people left at intermission. My hands ached from the chill, but we stayed until the end of the performance. I’m not sure I’d ever go back to that place again if that is how cold they keep their building.
I still like air conditioning, but not to a point where people are so cold they are either terribly uncomfortable or feel they need to leave because the cold has such a negative effect on them.
— Grace T., Hollywood, Fla. Grace, I’ve been in the same situation. I know that an audience of warm bodies will warm up a room, but there is no need for the temperature to be so low that people shiver and can’t enjoy the performance.
Heloise
Fast facts
Here are some uses for those lone earrings we all have in our jewelry boxes:
Cream of tartar
DEAR HELOISE » What is cream of tartar used for?
— KSK, Burbank, Calif. KSK, cream of tartar is a byproduct of fermenting grapes, but it’s acidic, not creamy. You can combine cream of tartar with baking soda to make a leavening agent. Or add a pinch of cream of tartar to boiling vegetables to retain their color. It also will stabilize whipped cream and strengthen meringues. You can use it as a nontoxic cleaner as well. Add a little water to cream of tartar to make a paste to clean steel and aluminum pot and pans.
Grease
DEAR HELOISE » When I have leftover grease from frying meat, I pour it in an empty vegetable can and refrigerate it until it’s solid. When the can is full I throw it out in the trash.
— Elizabeth C., Hamilton, Ohio Elizabeth, that’s a good idea, but in this warmer weather you might want to place the can in something, such as a bag or old piece of plastic so you don’t have grease melting in the bottom of your trash can.
Greeting cards
DEAR HELOISE » When shopping for greeting cards, put the envelope inside the card so that the barcode is exposed. This will make checking out faster and is appreciated by the check-out clerk.
— Betty C., Selden, Kan.
Scratch paper
DEAR HELOISE » When my kids were younger, any correspondence that I received that had a nearly blank page, I would save it for them to write or draw on. They knew that was for them rather than writing or coloring on the wall.
— Wayne W., Garden City, Kan. Wayne, this is a great idea, and it gives your children room to be creative!