PRIMETIME of your life FREE | VOLUME 5 • ISSUE NO. 10 | OCTOBER 2016 Interesting features for our 50+ audience
June Engblom Part of the Solution By Lucinda Sue Crosby For PrimeTime of Your Life
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f you ask anyone who knows her, a description of June Engblom would have to include the following: friendly, helpful, organized, animated, bright. Slight of build, with pixie cut strawberry blond hair and a ready smile, June is exactly the kind of neighbor we all hope for and rarely get. No wonder she has spent most of her life dealing day in and day out with an aggregate thousands of satisfied customers. But more about this later. Born in St. Louis to parents Marge and Bob, June was one of four children who all attended St. Catherine of Alexandria Grade School. Because class sizes were small, the steadfast bonds forged among fellow schoolmates were unusually strong, making a family move to Carrollton, Texas just in time for June’s high school years particularly difficult. “Dealing with a public school environment was one thing – lots of my friends did that. But I had to start from scratch in another state,” she said. One most comforting pastime proved to be golf. At age 12, June had received a Christmas gift from her scratch-golfing Uncle Bud consisting of a bag with some clubs and six half-hour lessons. A lifelong passion for the links developed via Sunday afternoon tee times with her dad and to this day, June plays
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often and carries a fourteen handicap. “It’s no accident that I live on a golf course across the street from a practice tee!” she told me. When June attended the University of Houston, she embraced an array of collegiate activities. “I recognized that in an environment like that, I had to become more outgoing,” she said, “and getting involved was a great way to make friends.” She joined and eventually became both Rush Chair and President of Alpha Chi Omega sorority. She also volunteered for student orientation efforts and was even named a Sweetheart of Sigma Nu.
At this point, a journalism degree seemed like the right move. “I come from a family of sports fanatics,” June said, “and I’d been the copy editor of my high school year book. So I pictured myself the intrepid sports reporter. Unfortunately, the only woman in the field at that time was beauty pageant winner Phyllis George … and I was no Phyllis George.” After graduation, June’s outstanding college achievements landed her a recruiting job at her alma mater but the pay was dismal. Continued on page 5
WHY DOES YOUR DOG BARK SO MUCH? – PAGE 7
THIS MONTH IN HISTORY PAGE 10
Modernism Week Fall Preview. October 21 – 23. A celebration of mid-century and design. www.modernismweek.com.
PrimeTime of Your Life provides local editorial and advertising content for our active adults (50+). We strive to educate and inform through lifestyle features and human interest profiles. PrimeTime is distributed throughout the Coachella Valley.
Deb Geissler - Publisher
dgeissler@desertentertainer.com
Jose De La Cruz – Editor
news@desertentertainer.com
Kimberly Brucks - Advertising Manager kbrucks@desertentertainer.com
Judy Telander - Marketing Specialist
jtelander@desertentertainer.com
Lucinda Sue Crosby Feature Writer
(760) 776-5181 | 41-995 Boardwalk, Suite L2 Palm Desert CA 92211 A Product of the Desert Mobile Home News. Titles registered and all contents copyright 2016 by Hi-Desert Publishing Co. All Rights reserved.
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Desert Trip. October 7-9 and October 14-16. Lineup including The Rolling Stones, The Who, Paul McCartney, Roger Waters, Bob Dylan and Neil Young. Empire Polo Club, 81800 Avenue 51, Indio. www.deserttrip.com. La Gran Fiesta at The Living Desert. October 15. A fun filled event that highlights Hispanic culture with games, live music and dancing, animal enrichment delicious foods and more! 47-900 Portola Ave., Palm Desert. (760) 346-5694, www.livingdesert.org.
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Jekyll and Hyde. October 21 – 31. An evocative tale of two men. One a doctor, passionate and romantic while the other is a terrifying madman. Palm Canyon Theatre, 538 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs. (760) 232-5123, www.palmcanyontheatre.org. Arsenio Hall. October 22 at 8 p.m. The versatile, actor, comedian, and producer. Spotlight 29 Casino, 46-200 Harrison Place, Coachella. (760) 7755566, www.spotlight29.com. Brew in LQ. October 22. Craft brew festival from a wide variety of local and regional breweries as you treat your taste buds to some of the best eats from the Coachella Valley. Festival includes music, food, games and art. SilverRock Resort, 79-
Jane Lynch
179 Ahmanson Ln., La Quinta. www.playinlaquinta.com/ brewtickets. “See Jane Sing” with Jane Lynch. October 29 at 8 p.m. Emmy and Golden Globe Award winner solo concert. McCallum Theatre, 73-00 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert. (760) 340-2787, www.mccallumtheatre.com. For an up-to-date calendar of events and performances pick up an issue of the Desert Entertainer every Thursday. Visit www.desertentertainer. com to read the full issue online.
• The average person in Italy eats more than 51 pounds of pasta every year. The average person in North America eats about 15-1/2 pounds of pasta per year. • Approximately 2.75 million tons of pasta is made in Italy each year, while the United States produces nearly 1.9 million tons per year.
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ama Mia! October is National Pasta Month! Here are some fun and interesting facts about one of your favorite foods. • The Chinese are on record as having eaten pasta as early as 5,000 B.C. • Thomas Jefferson is credited with introducing macaroni to the United States. It seems that he fell in love with a certain dish he sampled in Naples, while serving as the U.S. Ambassador to France. In fact, he promptly ordered crates of “macaroni,” along with a pasta-making machine, sent back to the States.
• The first American pasta factory was opened in Brooklyn, New York, in 1848, by a Frenchman named Antoine Zerega. Mr. Zerega managed the entire operation with just one horse in his basement to power the machinery. To dry his spaghetti, he placed strands of the pasta on the roof to dry in the sunshine. • Pasta is a good source of carbohydrates. It also contains protein. Carbohydrates help fuel your body by providing energy that is released slowly over time. • To cook one billion pounds of pasta, you would need
2,021,452,000 gallons of water enough to fill nearly 75,000 Olympic-size swimming pools. • Cooked al dente (al-DEN-tay) literally means “to the tooth,” which is how to test pasta to see if it is properly cooked. The pasta should be a bit firm, offering some resistance to the tooth, but tender. • Pasta is an ideal partner for other nutritious foods that are essential to a healthy diet. It’s great to pair with fiber-filled vegetables and beans, heart healthy fish and oils, antioxidant-rich tomato sauce and proteinpacked, poultry and lean meats.
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• There are more than 600 pasta shapes produced worldwide. • The three most popular pastas’ are: penne, spaghetti and macaroni. • The three most popular pasta dishes are: macaroni cheese, spaghetti bolognaise and lasagne. • You can enjoy pasta on any budget, and thanks to its incredible versatility, you can have a different and delicious low-cost meal every day of the week.
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CROSSWORD
? KNOW DID YOU
There is a card game called Mao in which new players are just told “the only rule you may be told is this one”. Which means that new players have to discover the rules by themselves. The ultimate goal of the game is to be the first player to get rid of all the cards in their hand.
One of the world’s first known songs is a love song found in an 4,300-year-old Egyptian tomb. An inscription on the tomb reads: I love and admire you beauty. I am under it. There is an island in the Scottish Hebrides that is owned entirely by its people. With a population of 83, the Isle of Eigg has been owned by “COSTUME PARTY”
Across 1 Lima’s land 5 Bit of parsley 10 Cruel person 14 Astronaut Shepard 15 Khan of R&B 16 Baseballer Rizzuto 17 Astringent lotion 19 Senate attire 20 Let fly 21 Money in the bank, say 22 Hiker’s bag 25 Airport vehicle 27 Popular printer type 28 Five o’clock ___ 29 Brace 30 Garlicky mayonnaise 31 Piña colada ingredient 34 Maintained 35 Fingerprint pattern 36 Ready to eat 37 Lionel Richie’s “You ___” 38 Full range 39 Some kind of a nut 40 Where the heart is 42 Instant
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Served, as soup Facing Slight color Like some kitchens Singer Paul Ground sandwich meat with cayenne Sharp Woolly Coin featuring Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man Sealtest alternative Beer flavor Johnny of film
Down 1 2 3 4
Kit mitt Biblical high priest Double-crosser “The Beverly Hillbillies” sobriquet 5 Reds’ owner Marge 6 New moon, e.g. 7 Bring down the house 8 White House nickname 9 Guy’s date 10 Decides one will 11 Autobiographer, often 12 Star in Orion
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Fill with joy Suite spot German auto Baryshnikov, to pals Beneath, in Berlin It opens all doors Lacking Campus building Crazy Horse, e.g. Rashad of sports Turn over Cheesy sandwiches Pottery Ordered back No longer around “Fame” singer David “___ Heroes” (TV sitcom) Kind of crew Investment Yearned Tarnish Base Monk’s title Zsa Zsa’s sister Peach or plum Sculptor Jean Floor cleaner
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its community since being bought in 1997. After decades of issues with absentee landlords, and generates 100% of its electricity uses renewable energy. The world’s deepest, darkest, oldest and quietest motel room is 220 feet underground, at Grand Canyon Caverns, in a 65-million-year-old cave. The most isolated human being ever was Al Worden, command module pilot of Apollo 15, who in lunar orbit was at a maximum distance of 2,235 miles from his fellow astronauts on the surface. While on the other side of the Moon, no communication with Earth or his comrades was possible.
Continued from page 1 So, when she learned of an opportunity with UPS, she jumped at the chance. Few women were working for the company at that time and because of her degree, June sensed potential for promotion to a management position. Not long after, she was offered an even better job at FedEx – earning two promotions early on. However, she discovered management wasn’t her cup of tea when she had to fire a colleague and happily chose to spend the rest of her working years as a delivery driver instead. “I had some crazy things happen to me,” June said, “like the buck naked man standing behind his front door … who’s slipping hand towel was evident in a hallway mirror! Yeah, he was a regular.” Or the discovery of folks on her Rancho Mirage route who’d been FedEx customers and friendly acquaintances in Missouri. “Every day was the same and every day was different,” June said. “Sometimes life just seemed like a circle turning over and over on itself.” Due to relationships and the ease
of transferring within the FedEx network, June relocated betwixt and between Missouri, Texas and California. And, when somewhere along the way, she realized that the time had come for some reinvention, what better place to inspire a renewal and recharging of self than the western deserts of California? In 1988, June visited Palm Springs for the first time during the Dinah Shore golf tournament, falling in love immediately with the desert landscape and the warmth of area residents. Over time, she vacationed in the CV often and decided a few years ago that it would be a great place to retire. “Palm Desert is affordable. Senior friendly. It has world class medical and great golf courses. I made a plan and here I am!” Since retiring from FedEx in January, June has found plenty of ways to remain involved. Her strong sense of community has landed her on a number of committees at her country club. She is reconnecting with grade and high school friends, college pals and seeing her far flung siblings more frequently than in the past. With partner and
June Engblom and Ginger fellow avid golfer Diane, she devotes much time to her beloved driving, chipping and putting and also dotes on a darling rescued terrier mix appropriately named Ginger and two cats named Archie and Caramel. And, true to her giving nature, June can be counted on to lend a helping hand to her neighbors, especially those who are part time desert dwellers.
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“I have always believed in looking for solutions to problems and being part of the solutions to problems,” June said. “Making the world a better place in big or small ways can be fulfilling.” Obviously, this woman’s upbeat and positive philosophy is still intact and still inspiring her actions. Don’t you wish she lived next door to you?
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SCAM ALERT!
Fake ‘Referendum’ Scams Target Seniors
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new scam is targeting seniors, preying on fears that they could lose Social Security benefits. Seniors are scared into donating to this fake cause and providing their personal information.
HOW THE SCAM WORKS You get a letter in the mail. It seems to be from a nonprofit advocacy group and claims that Con-
gress is attempting to abolish Social Security. Fortunately, this group is working to save the benefits. They are allegedly mailing referendum ballots to every senior citizen in the country, allowing them to vote to keep the government program. To keep up its work, this group needs your donation. A donation of $16.45 will pay to mail “an additional 36 referendums on Social Security to citizens across America who feel
the same way as you and me.” Of course, the donation is a scam. If you send money, you will be out $16.45. Victims who fill out the form to make a credit card donation, open themselves up to ID theft and additional fraudulent charges. As usual, the scam varies slightly in different reports. The name of the advocacy group often changes and so does the exact language used.
PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THE SCAM Be wary if you are being asked to act immediately. Scammers typically try to push you into action before you have had time to think. Don’t share your credit card information. Paying by credit card is typically a great way to protect yourself when purchasing online. But sending your name, address and credit card information to scammers opens yourself up to ID theft and other cons. If it seems too outlandish to be true, it probably is: Many cons snare victims by offering deals too good to be true. But some, like this, scare targets into taking action. Either way, use common sense and a quick web search. Know your government: In the United States, referendums are not held on the national level and differ from state to state. Outside organizations do not pay for referendum ballots to be sent to voters. To report a scam, go to BBB Scam Tracker (bbb.org/scamtracker).
SUDOKU PUZZLE ANSWER ON PAGE 11 6
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• Immediately after saying “be quiet,” give your pup a treat. Your dog should stop barking if it wants to have the treat, and this way it will associate obeying you with getting a reward.
Why does your dog bark so much?
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o you feel that your dog spends its entire life barking? You need to understand that it’s natural for dogs to bark, the same way as it’s natural for humans to talk. Indeed, some people—and dogs—love the sound of their own voices. However, if you’ve noticed that your pet’s barking is excessive and that you’re un-
able to silence it, or if it barks incessantly when alone, there are ways of remedying the situation. • Always use the same word to silence your dog. For example, you could say “be quiet” in a low voice. Above all, do not shout, because your pet may bark even louder.
• Teach your pet to be quiet when it stays home alone. Leave the house without speaking to it or petting it, and then come back in a few minutes, continuing to ignore it. Wait for your pet to calm down before giving it any attention so that it does not think that its barking made you come back. • If you have to go out for a few hours, allow your pet to burn off some energy before leaving. Take it for a walk, play with it or go through some obedience training exercises. A tired dog will spend more time sleeping than barking. Before resorting to an anti-barking device, it is preferable to talk with a canine behavior consultant. Above all, remember that your dog always barks for a reason: your pet is stressed, excited, anxious, or maybe just happy.
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How can I encourage my cat to be active? There are several ways to stimulate your cat and encourage it to be more physically active. Playing with your pet is just one way to get it moving and spending more energy. Encourage your cat to be active by playing “hunter and prey” or by racing around when your cat’s in the mood. Do this two or three times a day for ten minutes, and you’ll be doing your cat a big favor. You can also develop its hunting instinct by hanging a toy or a ball on a stick. Rotate the various toys so you can keep your pet interested in them. Your cat will get more exercise if you make it work a little for its food. For example, you could leave your pet’s food and water bowls on a different floor to the one where it sleeps; that way, it will have to go up and down stairs more often. You could also use a food-dispensing ball for its kibble. Set up several structures for your cat to climb or jump on, such as a cat tree, window shelves and bookcases. Your veterinarian will be glad to offer more suggestions for getting your cat in shape.
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Conquer Tough Financial Times
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ven the most savvy money handlers can fall on hard times when unexpected circumstances push your budget beyond its limits. These ideas may help you emerge from a tough financial situation and get back on track.
Cut non-essential spending When you’re comfortable in your lifestyle and finances are flowing, you probably give little thought to the extras in your life. But when money gets tight, this can actually be one of the easiest ways to help bring your finances back under control. Start by taking a close look at where your money goes by listing every bill you pay each month and the amounts you pay. Then include all the day-to-day extras, such as eating out, shopping and other entertainment. If the total of your bills and extras don’t match or exceed your income, it’s time to make cuts, and the extras are the best place to start.
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Eliminate overwhelming debt
Substantial balances on your mortgage can be crippling. It’s a feeling Jeri Smith knows all too well. The 68-year-old needed to sell her house, pay off her $120,000 mortgage balance and move into an apartment to avoid falling behind. Fortunately, Smith recalled a conversation with her neighbors John and Corinne Tesh, owners of Citygate Homes LLC in Greensboro, North Carolina, an independently owned and operated HomeVestors franchisee.
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The Tesh’s toured the house and felt it needed a lot of renovations, but they knew it would sell quickly after they rehabbed the property because of the neighborhood. They made an offer to purchase the home in cash. After the renovation was complete, they listed the home and received a full-price offer the first day on the market. Extending their sensitivity and kindness, HomeVestors - largest home buyer in the U.S. with more than 65,000 houses bought since 1996 - hired movers for Smith and paid for six months of storage for items that did not fit in her new place. This allowed Smith to move without the burden she was expecting, including costly, time-consuming repairs and showing the home to potential buyers.
Examine insurance
Another area that can really affect your overall budget is the money you’re paying for insurance. People
tend to choose an insurance policy and let it sit, but it’s good idea to analyze your insurance coverages at least annually (more often if you have a major life change or new purchase) to be sure they still fit your needs and budget. Don’t be afraid to shop for the best value and switch providers if needed. Learn more about the real estate resources available to help you overcome a difficult financial situation at www.homevestors.com.
SUDOKU PUZZLE ANSWERS
Want to be a smart cookie? Here are some cooking-baking tips from the Relish test kitchen: • Use self-rising flour, which has leavening agents and salt in premeasured proportions. No need to worry with measuring out baking powder and soda. • Make sure your ingredients are room temperature. • Use an insulated baking pan. • Don’t “fluff “ the creamed mixture. This whips too much air into the dough. Beat just until creamy. • When adding the flour, beat the mixture just until the flour disappears. • Remove your cookies from the oven just before they look done. A tan cookie will be more dense and pliable than a golden cookie. • Don’t cram extra cookies on the baking sheet. Each sheet should hold one dozen. • Use a small or medium scoop to measure your dough. • Make sure your baking sheet cools down before scooping a second batch onto it to keep your cookies from spreading too much.
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• A metal cake spatula is better for removing cookies from the pan—it’s less sticky than a rubber cookie spatula.
Maple Walnut Cookies • 1 cup butter • 1 cup granulated sugar • 1 cup brown sugar • 2 large eggs • 1 cup whole-wheat flour • 1 cup self-rising white flour (plus 1/2 to 1 cup more if needed) • 2 cups coarsely chopped walnuts • 1 tsp maple flavoring • 1 tsp salt Icing: • 4 Tbsp butter • 2 cups powdered sugar • 1 tsp maple flavoring • 3 to 4 Tbsp milk
1. Preheat oven to 350F. 2. Combine butter, sugars, eggs, flavoring, and salt and beat until just combined. Add flours, 1 cup at a time. If dough is sticky to touch, add more self-rising flour in 1/2-cup increments until smooth. Stir in walnuts. 3. Scoop onto a baking sheet one dozen at a time. Bake in center of oven 10 to 13 minutes, until cookies are puffy and beginning to turn tan. Remove and let cool. 4. Mix icing ingredients until texture is smooth and thick. Add more milk or sugar to achieve a creamy texture. Ice tops of cookies. Makes 2 dozen.
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October 1, 1890: An act of Congress creates Yosemite National Park, home of such natural wonders as Half Dome and the giant sequoia trees. Environmental trailblazer John Muir and his colleagues campaigned for the congressional action, which was signed into law by President Benjamin Harrison and paved the way for generations of hikers, campers and nature lovers. October 2, 1985: Actor Rock Hudson, 59, becomes the first major U.S. celebrity to die of complications from AIDS. Hudson’s death raised public awareness of the epidemic, which until that time had been ignored by many in the mainstream as a “gay plague.” October 3, 1995: At the end of a sensational trial, former football star O.J. Simpson is acquitted of the brutal double murder of his estranged wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman. October 4, 1957: The Soviet Union inaugurates the “Space Age” with its launch of Sputnik, the world’s first artificial satellite. The spacecraft was launched at 10:29 p.m. Moscow time from the Tyuratam launch base in the Kazakh Republic. October 5, 1947: President Harry Truman makes the first-ever televised presidential address from the White House, asking Americans to cut back on their use of grain in order to help starving Europeans. At the time of Truman’s food-conservation speech, Europe was still recovering from World War II and suffering from famine. October 6, 1866: Reno gang carries out the first robbery of a moving train in the U.S., making off with over $10,000 from an Ohio & Mississippi train in Jackson County, Indiana.
PUZZLE ANSWERS
History
This Month in
October 7, 2003: Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger is elected governor of California.
October 8, 1871: Flames spark in the Chicago barn of Patrick and Catherine O’Leary, igniting a twoday blaze that kills between 200 and 300 people, deEARL LLOYD stroys 17,450 buildings, leaves 100,000 homeless and causes an estimated $200 million in damages. October 9, 1967: Socialist revolutionary and guerilla leader Che Guevara, age 39, is killed by the Bolivian army. The U.S.-military-backed Bolivian forces captured Guevara on October 8 and assassinated him the following day. October 10, 1985: The hijacking of the Italian cruise ship Achille Lauro reaches a dramatic climax when U.S. Navy F-14 fighters intercept an Egyptian airliner attempting to fly the Palestinian hijackers to freedom and force the jet to land at a NATO base in Sigonella, Sicily. American and Italian troops surrounded the plane, and the terrorists were taken into Italian custody. October 11, 2002: Former President Jimmy Carter wins the Nobel Peace Prize “for his decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.” October 12, 1492: After sailing across the Atlantic Ocean, Italian explorer Christopher Columbus sights a Bahamian island, believing he has reached East Asia. His expedition went ashore the same day and claimed the land for Isabella and Ferdinand of Spain, who sponsored his attempt to find a western ocean route to China, India, and the fabled gold and spice islands of Asia. October 14, 1947: U.S. Air Force Captain Chuck Yeager becomes the first person to fly faster than the speed of sound.
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October 23, 2002: About 50 Chechen rebels storm a Moscow ARNOLD theater, taking up to 700 SCHWARZENEGGER people hostage during a sold-out performance of a popular musical. October 16, 1934: The embattled Chinese Communists break through October 24, 1901: A 63-year-old Nationalist enemy lines and begin schoolteacher named Annie Edson an epic flight from their encircled Taylor becomes the first person to headquarters in southwest China. take the plunge over Niagara Falls in Known as Ch’ang Cheng—the “Long a barrel. March”—the retreat lasted 368 days October 26, 1881: The Earp brothand covered 6,000 miles. ers face off against the ClantonOctober 17, 1931: Gangster Al Ca- McLaury gang in a legendary shootpone is sentenced to 11 years in pris- out at the OK Corral in Tombstone, on for tax evasion and fined $80,000, Arizona. signaling the downfall of one of the most notorious criminals of the October 27, 1904: At 2:35 on the afternoon of October 27, 1904, New 1920s and 1930s. York City Mayor George McClellan October 18, 1867: U.S. formally takes the controls on the inaugural takes possession of Alaska after pur- run of the city’s innovative new rapchasing the territory from Russia for id transit system: the subway. $7.2 million, or less than two cents an acre. The Alaska purchase com- October 28, 1965: Construction is prised 586,412 square miles, about completed on the Gateway Arch, a twice the size of Texas. spectacular 630-foot-high parabola of stainless steel marking the Jefferson October 20, 1947: Notorious Red National Expansion Memorial on the Scare kicks into high gear in Wash- waterfront of St. Louis, Missouri. ington, as a Congressional committee begins investigating Communist October 29, 1998: Nearly four deinfluence in one of the world’s rich- cades after he became the first Ameriest and most glamorous communi- can to orbit the Earth, Senator John ties: Hollywood, Hershel Glenn, Jr., is launched into space again as a payload specialist October 21, 1959: Thousands of aboard the space shuttle Discovery. people line up outside a bizarrely shaped white concrete building that October 30, 1938: Orson Welles resembled a giant upside-down cup- causes a nationwide panic with his cake. It was opening day at the new broadcast of “War of the Worlds”— Guggenheim Museum, home to one a realistic radio dramatization of a of the world’s top collections of con- Martian invasion of Earth. temporary art. October 22, 1962: In a televised speech of extraordinary gravity, President John F. Kennedy announces that U.S. spy planes have discovered Soviet missile bases in Cuba.
October 31, 1950: 21-year-old Earl Lloyd becomes the first AfricanAmerican to play in an NBA game when he takes the court in the season opener for the Washington Capitols.
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ith the abundance of home improvement shows on TV, DIY has evolved from an intimidating trade for the pros to an easy-to-manage project for even the least handy of humans. Transforming a home from disaster to delightful through simple DIY projects and repairs is much easier than you may think and can save you a bundle in the process. If the thought of doing your own handy work has you wiping your brow, think again with these easy improvements.
Stained tubs
Nobody likes to look in the bathroom and see a dirty, grime-stained bathtub or shower. Most of the time, that grime and grit builds up and becomes difficult to remove, making an already annoying mess even more of a headache. Depending on the type of material your tub is, you can opt for an abrasive powder, baking soda or even a pumice stone to rub out those nasty spots.
Wall dents and holes Wrestling matches among the kids, rambunctious pets and mov-
ing furniture all take their toll on your walls. The dings and scratches are easy to fix with a little spackle and paint, but with the right resources, so are bigger blemishes even outright holes. When you use a kit such as the 3M Large Hole Wall Repair Kit (Lowe’s, $15.98), there’s no need to hire a pro or buy a bunch of tools for holes up to 5 inches in diameter. The kit includes everything you need to fix anything from a can-light hole in the ceiling to a door knob hole in the wall - no experience required. Unlike mesh
screens that can leave lumps on the wall, this product uses an innovative behind-the-wall back plate for a flat fill that generates the same results as hiring a professional.
Dripping faucets
Plumbing can be especially intimidating, but one of the most common plumbing annoyances - a dripping faucet - can be fixed in just a few minutes with just a few dollars. Usually the cause of a drippy faucet is a washer or O-ring that has gone bad and you can simply replace
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those parts. Turn off the water then use a screwdriver or hex wrench to loosen and remove the faucet fitting. You should be able to easily see the washer and ring fittings. Just replace the old with the new and reassemble. Note that if the drip is coming from a faucet with separate handles for hot and cold, you’ll want to isolate which handle is the culprit before you get started. Find more cost-saving DIY home repair solutions at www.diy.3m.com.
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