11-25-2019
01:27 PM
11-25-2019
01:27 PM
Some Thanksgivings are more memorable than others. I remember my first time preparing the feast. My mom said that if I was going to put stuffing inside the turkey, it needed to be removed immediately or my guests could get food poisoning. Yikes! It was at that moment, I decided I would never put stuffing inside the turkey. Before you strut your stuff(ing), here are some important Thanksgiving tips.
1) Keep an eye on the kitchen
Thanksgiving is a peak day for home cooking fires. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), there are four times as many fires on Thanksgiving than on a typical day. When boiling or baking, do not walk away from the kitchen for long periods of time. Use back burners when young children are present, turn pot handles in, and enforce a kid and pet-free zone of at least three feet from the stove or oven.
2) Food poisoning
One of the biggest contributors to food poisoning is improper handling of raw meat, or undercooked meat being exposed to already cooked food. After you feast, refrigerate leftovers promptly—no more than two hours after food has been served. Leftovers are most safely eaten within three days or should be moved to the freezer.
3) Protect your pets
While your family enjoys a special meal, give your furry friends a small feast of their own. Offer them made-for-pets treats. Alternatively, stuff their usual dinner perhaps with a few added tidbits of turkey, vegetables, and dribbles of gravy.
4) Travel safely
The Thanksgiving holiday is one of the busiest travel times of the year. It is best to plan travel outside of the heaviest days to avoid congestion the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Sunday afterward. No matter when you leave or how you plan to get there, leave plenty of time, and drive carefully if you decide not to fly.
Southwest Airlines wishes you and yours a happy and healthy Thanksgiving—gobble til you wobble!
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Ever since I watched the first episode of the series “The Kindness Diaries,” I became obsessed with Leon Logothetis, who is featured in the show as he travels all over the world seeking random acts of kindness. I binge-watched both seasons. Each episode tugged at my heartstrings, made me laugh, made me cry, and made me think about how I would react if a random stranger asked me to fill up their gas tank or asked if they could sleep in my house.
So when Leon was invited to speak to Employees for World Kindness Day earlier this month, I was giddy at the chance to see him in person, and maybe have the chance to ask a question or get my picture taken with him. I was excited about his presentation and was so inspired by what he shared with us. Here were a few takeaways I had from Leon’s presentation:
The kindest thing you can do is to SEE another person
Kindness is helping someone feel less alone
It’s etched into our DNA—it’s part of what makes us human
We are all capable of speaking the international language of connection
Kindness + You = Happiness
Unless we have a foundation of love and service, we’re not truly living
After his presentation, it was time for Q&A. Although I probably embarrassed myself, I did tell him that I was obsessed with him and asked if there was going to be a season three for “The Kindness Diaries” (spoiler alert … there is!)
Now before you think that I am a complete weirdo, I am not obsessed with Leon as a person—I am married to a Dallas Police Officer after all—it’s Leon’s mission that I am drawn to. His mission has inspired me to give to others who may be faced with uncertainties in their life. His mission helped me connect on another level with the Guest Families at the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas where I volunteer. His mission has restored my faith in humanity.
Kindness isn’t complicated. When we demonstrate kind acts for our friends, family members, Fellow Employees, or strangers, they will remember you and what you did for them, and in that fraction of a second, you just might change not only their lives but yours too.
And before I forget, to the Employee who was the lucky recipient of the giveaway of Leon’s book “Go Be Kind” and gave it to me, I just want to say “thank you!” As Leon wrote in my book when he signed it … “Never stop sharing your heart with the world.”
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I love when the temperature starts to drop. For me it means pumpkin spice everything, football, and my favorite sweatshirt. However, if you live in a cold weather region, then you may not share my same enthusiasm. That said, no matter where you call home, “Old Man Winter” may stop in for an unexpected visit and it is time to get prepared.
Stay Warm and Look Cool
In cold temperatures, your body loses heat faster than it can be produced, which can lead to serious health problems. It is important to wear several layers of loose clothing, which provides better insulation in colder climates. Layers should include:
A base layer is the layer closest to your skin and should act as a constant ‘second skin’ throughout your day. Base layers provide a layer of warmth while absorbing and evaporating your sweat to keep you feeling warm and comfortable.
An insulating layer, such as a fleece pullover or jacket, will trap the heat and keep you warm.
An outer shell layer protects you from the elements such as wind, rain, and snow.
Avoid Hypothermia
Prolonged exposure to the cold eventually uses up your body’s stored energy, which can lead to a serious medical condition called hypothermia. Signs and symptoms of hypothermia may include shivering, exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, slurred speech, and drowsiness. If you suspect someone is suffering from hypothermia, it is important to call 9-1-1 and move the victim to a warm/dry area, remove any wet clothing, and place warm bottles in the armpits, beside the chest, and groin.
How the Frost Bites
Frostbite is an injury that causes a loss of feeling and color in the affected areas. It most often affects the nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers, or toes. By wearing proper clothing such as a hat, mask that covers the face and mouth, gloves, and water-resistant footwear, you can decrease your chances of getting frostbite. If you suspect that you may have frostbite:
Remove the wet clothing and replace with dry clothes, taking extra care not to rub the affected area.
Do not try to rewarm the area before getting medical help.
Loosely cover and protect the area from further contact or exposure to the elements.
Before “Old Man Winter” visits your town, take a few simple, preventative steps to keep yourself healthy all season long.
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05-27-2011
09:55 AM
466 Loves
Let me start off by saying “I wasn’t born in Texas, but I got here as fast as I could.” In August 1991 my husband David was accepted to the Dallas Police Academy. So, we got married, packed up our belongings, and moved to Dallas from Aurora, Colorado. We had never been this far away from home, so being in a Metroplex that had just as many people in it as the whole state we moved from was a bit overwhelming, but we quickly adjusted to our new life in such a great city! In the summer of 1993, we decided to become homeowners for the first time. Then a few days before we were to close, one of my worst fears came true: David was critically shot three times while in the line of duty. At the time of his injury, I was working for a temporary employment agency. Anyone who has worked in that capacity knows that sometimes you just don’t know when your next assignment will be. I knew I needed something permanent. Miraculously, David made a swift recovery and was back on the job two months after his shooting. During his recovery, I attended the Dallas Women’s Expo and, as I was milling around, I spotted a table for Southwest Airlines. Suffice to say that I was still a bit ignorant to that point as I had no clue about Southwest Airlines or even where Love Field was! I figured what the heck, so I filled out my application and mailed it in. A few weeks later, I got a letter stating that my application had been received, and shortly after that, I got a phone call from a Southwest Airlines Recruiter asking me if I would like to come in for an interview for the position of Receptionist at the Dallas Reservations Center. I was so excited I could hardly contain myself! But there was one big dilemma: the trial for the guy who shot David was the same week. Nevertheless, David encouraged me to go to my interview, so I did. The rest, they say, is history, because here I am writing my story in a blog! Oh, and might I add that I got hired a week after my 22nd birthday so I always say it was the best birthday present I ever received! Me With Herb Kelleher! In 18 years with Southwest Airlines, I have had the opportunity to work in a few different Departments and they have each given me the chance to learn, succeed and grow. Currently, I am a Senior Communication Specialist in the Safety & Security Department and I absolutely LUV it! Our Company has been a blessing to me in more ways than one. It’s given me the chance to be part of and experience some really tremendous things! So, thank you Southwest Airlines for taking a chance on an unknown girl from Colorado. Oh, and before I forget…GO BRONCOS!
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