Tag: help

  • Tips and Links for Dealing with Allergy Season

    Everything is coming into bloom all at once and the experts are saying that this means a rough time for those of us with allergies. Here are some of our coping mechanisms and links to help you find more advice.

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    Set Your Goals

    As you visit the various links we provide below, you'll find that setting a few allergy battle goals may help you follow through on tips and think of a few new ways to stay ahead of the issue.

    • Know the Enemy: If you suffer, then you should have a basic idea of how allergies work and how you can lessen your misery. This can mean choosing the time of day when you exercise or simply knowing which allergens impact your life and tracking when they are out and about. 
    • Keep Them Out: There are lots of things you can do to filter, remove, or leave outside your home the particles that make you suffer.
    • Treat the Symptoms: Talk to your doctor about your best approach to treating allergies. Depending on the severity of your reaction, you may need to premedicate to stay ahead of the problem. However, those with milder cases may be able to just treat the symptom or symptoms that bother them most. 

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    Know the Enemy

    The Mayo clinic is one site we turn to for medical advice. They have published: Seasonal allergies: Nip them in the bud for those who just want a light version of allergy information. For a deeper look at the issue, we recommend the National Institutes of Health information on Allergic Rhinitis.

    Keep the Allergens Out

    We do a lot of simple things to avoid bringing the particles that bother us into our home. We use Ultra Allergen Reduction Filters in our heat pump. We use a vacuum with HEPA filtration to clean our home. Our outdoor shoes stay in our entry area and this time of year we may change clothes or at least wipe down ourselves and our dog when we come back from a walk in the pollen laden air.

    Treat the Symptoms

    We both fall on the take-as-little-medication-as-possible side of the treatment spectrum. If rinsing with a neti pot will help, we'd rather do that than take any medication that may have side effects. 

    Links to More Tips

    Boston-based writer Jacqueline Church has a great post on this topic. With some serious allergy issues of her own, Jackie is someone we depend on for expert advice on this topic and on food allergies. 

    Top Ten Tips to Ease Allergy Symptoms During Pollen Season – AKA Spring

    We addressed the issue of allergies, when both you and your dog suffer, in our post:

    Allergy Season Tips for Dog Lovers

    The American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology has great tips on their site:

    Cleaning Tips for Allergy and Asthma Sufferers

    From the Atlantic's City Lab comes a post that includes what a city can do to help with this problem.

    The Complete Guide to Fighting Seasonal Allergies Where You Live

    Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

      

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: © 2011-2012 Penny & Ed Cherubino  

  • Ollie Says, Time to Get a New Dog License

     
    CHE_2513 - Version 22013-03-04-ollie-poodle-begging-dog-license-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Here's our pal Olivier – better known to the local dog pack as Sir Ollie. Today, he's here to remind you to get a shiny, new dog license to add to that collection of tags on your collar. 

    It's the Law

    The law says that by April 1st of each year, all dogs in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts must obtain a new license from the city or town where they reside.

    Ollie says, since most dogs can’t write out a check or fill out forms, responsibility for following this law falls to the people who love them and choose to have a dog in their life.

    CHE_2501 - Version 32013-03-04-ollie-poodle-begging-dog-license-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    A Few Tips & Links

    • Applications for the 2013 Boston Dog Licenses arrived in homes earlier this month.
    • You can also download the forms on the city's website.
    • Those who mail in their applications should be certain to include copies of the requested neutering and rabies vaccination certificates, a check payable to animal control, and a stamped self-addressed envelope. 
    • That envelope will be used to return your dog’s license and tag to you.
    • Once your dog is registered with the city, Animal Control will provide a business reply envelope for you to mail in your application and you will only have to pay the postage one way.
    • Boston has a two-tiered price structure for dog licenses.
      • It costs $6.00 per year to license a neutered male or spayed female dog.
      • That fee jumps to $17.00 if the animal is intact.
      • The ordinance that set a separate price for pit bulls was voided by a new state law that went into effect on November 1, 2012.
    •  If you happen to be near city hall, you can bring everything you need with you and pick up the forms and obtain a dog license in room 811.
    • Only checks are accepted for payment, in person or by mail – no cash or credit cards. 

    CHE_2529 - Version 22013-03-04-ollie-poodle-begging-dog-license-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Don't worry, Ollie did get a little reward for helping us with this message. And, he said to tell you that it's really important to let the city know how many dogs live here and should be considered when the politicians do their planning and spend our money. Getting everyone to license will send a message. 

    So, stand up and be counted!

    Related Posts:

    Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs!

    Tips on "Being" from Sunday Dog Ollie

    Sunday Dog New Year's Resolutions (including one from Ollie)

     

    Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or, do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

     Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: © 2013 Penny & Ed Cherubino  

    Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

  • Ollie Says, Time to Get a New Dog License

     
    CHE_2513 - Version 22013-03-04-ollie-poodle-begging-dog-license-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Here's our pal Olivier – better known to the local dog pack as Sir Ollie. Today, he's here to remind you to get a shiny, new dog license to add to that collection of tags on your collar. 

    It's the Law

    The law says that by April 1st of each year, all dogs in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts must obtain a new license from the city or town where they reside.

    Ollie says, since most dogs can’t write out a check or fill out forms, responsibility for following this law falls to the people who love them and choose to have a dog in their life.

    CHE_2501 - Version 32013-03-04-ollie-poodle-begging-dog-license-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    A Few Tips & Links

    • Applications for the 2013 Boston Dog Licenses arrived in homes earlier this month.
    • You can also download the forms on the city's website.
    • Those who mail in their applications should be certain to include copies of the requested neutering and rabies vaccination certificates, a check payable to animal control, and a stamped self-addressed envelope. 
    • That envelope will be used to return your dog’s license and tag to you.
    • Once your dog is registered with the city, Animal Control will provide a business reply envelope for you to mail in your application and you will only have to pay the postage one way.
    • Boston has a two-tiered price structure for dog licenses.
      • It costs $6.00 per year to license a neutered male or spayed female dog.
      • That fee jumps to $17.00 if the animal is intact.
      • The ordinance that set a separate price for pit bulls was voided by a new state law that went into effect on November 1, 2012.
    •  If you happen to be near city hall, you can bring everything you need with you and pick up the forms and obtain a dog license in room 811.
    • Only checks are accepted for payment, in person or by mail – no cash or credit cards. 

    CHE_2529 - Version 22013-03-04-ollie-poodle-begging-dog-license-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Don't worry, Ollie did get a little reward for helping us with this message. And, he said to tell you that it's really important to let the city know how many dogs live here and should be considered when the politicians do their planning and spend our money. Getting everyone to license will send a message. 

    So, stand up and be counted!

    Related Posts:

    Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs!

    Tips on "Being" from Sunday Dog Ollie

    Sunday Dog New Year's Resolutions (including one from Ollie)

     

    Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or, do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

     Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: © 2013 Penny & Ed Cherubino  

    Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

  • Ollie Says, Time to Get a New Dog License

     
    CHE_2513 - Version 22013-03-04-ollie-poodle-begging-dog-license-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Here's our pal Olivier – better known to the local dog pack as Sir Ollie. Today, he's here to remind you to get a shiny, new dog license to add to that collection of tags on your collar. 

    It's the Law

    The law says that by April 1st of each year, all dogs in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts must obtain a new license from the city or town where they reside.

    Ollie says, since most dogs can’t write out a check or fill out forms, responsibility for following this law falls to the people who love them and choose to have a dog in their life.

    CHE_2501 - Version 32013-03-04-ollie-poodle-begging-dog-license-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    A Few Tips & Links

    • Applications for the 2013 Boston Dog Licenses arrived in homes earlier this month.
    • You can also download the forms on the city's website.
    • Those who mail in their applications should be certain to include copies of the requested neutering and rabies vaccination certificates, a check payable to animal control, and a stamped self-addressed envelope. 
    • That envelope will be used to return your dog’s license and tag to you.
    • Once your dog is registered with the city, Animal Control will provide a business reply envelope for you to mail in your application and you will only have to pay the postage one way.
    • Boston has a two-tiered price structure for dog licenses.
      • It costs $6.00 per year to license a neutered male or spayed female dog.
      • That fee jumps to $17.00 if the animal is intact.
      • The ordinance that set a separate price for pit bulls was voided by a new state law that went into effect on November 1, 2012.
    •  If you happen to be near city hall, you can bring everything you need with you and pick up the forms and obtain a dog license in room 811.
    • Only checks are accepted for payment, in person or by mail – no cash or credit cards. 

    CHE_2529 - Version 22013-03-04-ollie-poodle-begging-dog-license-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Don't worry, Ollie did get a little reward for helping us with this message. And, he said to tell you that it's really important to let the city know how many dogs live here and should be considered when the politicians do their planning and spend our money. Getting everyone to license will send a message. 

    So, stand up and be counted!

    Related Posts:

    Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs!

    Tips on "Being" from Sunday Dog Ollie

    Sunday Dog New Year's Resolutions (including one from Ollie)

     

    Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or, do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

     Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: © 2013 Penny & Ed Cherubino  

    Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.