Exotic & Imported Wood Flooring is more popular than ever as consumers search for a unique product with a look unlike anything they’ve seen before - something different to suit their taste and lifestyle. But it comes at a price!

Exotic flooring is made from some of the world's most treasured and beautiful woods, originating in South America, Australia, the Far East and Africa. The most obvious reason for it’s popularity is the wide range of unique grain patterns, grades, sizes and colours - not only from wood species to wood species but even from tree to tree. Each and every board has its own story to tell. From the dark richness of Brazilian Walnut to the warmth and character of Caribbean Heart Pine, one is sure to compliment any décor, from warm rustic country to clean sparkling contemporary.

Another significant attribute of many exotic woods that makes them particularly well-suited for use as flooring is their hardness. Some are even too hard to drive a nail through! That’s durability that will stand the test of time. For this reason, and because of their aesthetic appeal, you’ll find exotic wood flooring adds to the value of your home, making installation an ‘investment’ rather than simply an ‘expense’.

On the flip side, there are a couple of very real cons of using exotic woods for flooring, the first of which is cost! That strive to have a unique looking floor can cost many more times what a good old-fashioned oak strip hardwood solution will cost. The range of price is significant, so if you are considering exotic wood, check pricing carefully.

The other concern for the proliferation of exotic wood flooring is it’s impact on the global environment. Exotic wood is often harvested from areas of the world where poverty is the norm, and big business is taking advantage of the land and it’s people. Little regard is given to the conservation of flora or fauna, and sustainability is not a major issue. But there are exceptions, so if possible, check out the source of the wood you plan to use and see if there is a sustainable alternative source.

The internet is a wonderful way to see some of the options available, but I urge you to see the actual wood before buying or ordering. Wood needs to be seen and touched to truly appreciate it’s qualities. So visit this site to narrow your scope only - before visiting a showroom.

For all you pool owners out there, here’s a great site for calculating the volume of your pool for accurate chemical application, for converting gallons to litres and vice versa:

http://www.havuz.org/pool-calculators.htm#pool_volume

Summer may not officially start till the 21st, but summer temperatures have already arrived! Is it a sign of a hotter-than-normal summer to come? Possibly, but even in normal summer temps most Canadians will experience a number of extremely hot days — with temps over 30 C (86 F) and high humidity. Those are the days we need to mindful of Heatstroke!

Heatstroke is the most serious of the heat-related problems that often result from heavy physical exertion in hot environments, usually accompanied by inadequate fluid intake. Older adults, people who are obese and people born with an impaired ability to sweat are at high risk of heatstroke. Other risk factors include dehydration, alcohol use, cardiovascular disease and certain medications.

What makes heatstroke so severe and potentially life-threatening is that the body's normal mechanisms for dealing with heat stress, such as sweating and temperature control, are lost. The main sign of heatstroke is a very elevated body temperature — generally higher than 40 C (104 F) — with changes in mental status ranging from personality changes to confusion and coma. Skin may be hot and dry, although in heatstroke caused by exertion, the skin is usually moist.

Other signs and symptoms may include:

 Rapid heartbeat
 Rapid and shallow breathing
 Elevated or lowered blood pressure
 Lack of sweat, dry skin
 Irritability, confusion or unconsciousness
 Fainting, possibly the first sign in older adults

Victims of heatstroke must receive immediate treatment to avoid permanent organ damage. First and foremost, cool the victim. Get the victim to a shady area, remove clothing, apply cool or tepid water to the skin, fan the victim, even place ice packs under armpits and groins. Monitor body temperature and continue cooling efforts until their body temperature drops to 38 C (101 F) degrees. Always call 911 immediately, and ask for further instructions. 

The most important measures to prevent heat strokes are to avoid becoming dehydrated, and to avoid vigorous physical activities in hot and humid weather. If you have to perform physical activities in hot weather, drink plenty of fluids (such as water or Gatorade), but avoid alcohol, coffee, and tea which may lead to dehydration. Take frequent breaks to hydrate yourself. Wear a vented hat and light, pale coloured, loose clothes.

My Father's Face

I looked up and saw my father's face.
I smiled and it smiled back.

I looked close and studied it for a moment.
The eyes looked tired and somewhat lonely, but seemed to smile at me.

There were some wrinkles and laugh lines at the corner of those eyes.
The corners of the mouth were drawn up in a smile, and I wondered if he was remembering his first love, or the birth of his children and grandchildren.

Then I noticed a tiny tear start to form in the corner of his eyes.
The smile seemed to disappear and his chin quivered ever so slightly.

There was a loneliness in those eyes that only a moment ago were smiling.
I knew it wouldn't last long, but there it was, and there was nothing I could do.

In a moment it was gone, and the tired old smile I’d come to know so well, returned.
I knew the thoughts were once again of what that man had, instead of what he didn't.

I turned away from that face, turned off the light, and left the steam to once more fog the mirror.

By Charles E. Jensen

“Fathers, like mothers, are not born. Men grow into fathers - and fathering is a very important stage in their development.” ~ David M. Gottesman

Happy Father’s Day!

Cool Sites

Warm Weather Boredom Busters – Jenna, age 7, says, “Mom and I found this website when we went looking for some games to play for my birthday party at the end of the month. It’s got a whole bunch of games and other stuff, too.”

Father’s Day Ideas – Ricky, age 10, says, “Dad’s so hard to buy for. But this website has all sorts of ideas for gifts for him. Mom’s going to help me make a great big cookie in the shape of a football for him. He loves football. He loves cookies, too!”

Make a Cool Terrarium – Clarisse, age 12, says, “I made one of these and just love it. It is so cute. We put different plants in there for variety. I love having it in my room.”

Kids Fish Photos – Andre, age 8, says, “You should see the pictures of the fish some kids caught. They’re huge! I caught a big sunfish off Grandpa’s dock, but not as big as these fish. But if I do, I’m going to get it put on this website.”

Weird and wacky facts:

• It is impossible to lick your elbow.
• The liquid inside young coconuts can be used as substitute for blood plasma.
• A shrimp's heart is in its head.
• A Boeing 747’s wingspan is longer than the Wright brother's first flight.
• Horses can't vomit.
• Rats multiply so quickly that in 18 months, two rats could have over a million descendants.
• A crocodile can't stick its tongue out.
• Venus is the only planet that rotates clockwise.
• Slugs have 4 noses.
• The word "Checkmate" in chess comes from the Persian phrase "Shah Mat," which means "the king is dead."
• Starfish have no brains.
• The average human body contains enough iron to make a small nail.
• The symbol on the "pound" key (#) is called an octothorpe.
• A group of kangaroos is called a mob.

‘The True North Strong and Free’, will be 139 on July1st. Celebrate Canada’s birthday with a test of trivia and timely tidbits that are truly Canadian (answers at bottom of quiz – but don’t peek):

1. Who composed the music for "O Canada"?
a) William Lyon Mackenzie King b) Calixa Lavallée c) Adolphe-Basile Routhier

2. What are the animal figures that stand on either side of the shield on the Arms of Canada?
a) A lion and an elk b) A lion and a horse c) A lion and a unicorn

3. How many U.S. states have at least part of their state north of Canada's southernmost point?
a) 0 b) 5 c) 18 d) 27

4. Beaver Creek, the westernmost community in Canada, is in which province or territory?
a) British Columbia b) Northwest Territories c) Newfoundland d) Yukon

5. Niagara Falls is the highest waterfall in Canada.
a) True b) False

6. Approximately what percentage of Canada has never been permanently settled?
a) 11% b) 37% c) 66% d) 89%

7. In what year was the last spike of the Trans-Canada railway driven?
a) 1867 b) 1885 c) 1901 d) 1930

8. Which of the following slogans is associated with Canada's constitution?
a) liberty, equality, fraternity  b) peace, order and good government c) life, liberty and the  pursuit of happiness

9. In what year was The National Hockey League established?
a) 1917 b) 1925 c) 1931 d) 1946

10. Which city has tunnels under it that Al Capone apparently used to hide out during the prohibition?
a) Regina b) Windsor c) Saskatoon d) Moose Jaw

Answers: 1b, 2c, 3d, 4d, 5b, 6d, 7b, 8b, 9a, 10d

Software drivers let your applications talk to important peripherals. It's a good idea to check with your computer's manufacturer at least four times a year for the latest updates. The easiest way to do this is to access the manufacturer's Web site; most companies make updated drivers available for download.

You should also keep your Windows-based operating system up-to-date via the Windows Update Service on the web. In addition, there are online sites that help with PC maintenance such as PC Pitstop.

‘Rock and roll’

Meaning - a form of popular music that came to prominence in the 1950s.
Example – “The Tragically Hip is a great Canadian rock and roll band.”
Origin - Disc jockey Alan Freed is generally given credit for popularising the term. He had a radio show called 'Moondog's Rock'n'Roll Party' in 1951, but the film Transatlantic Merry Go Round included the song 'Rock and Roll' in 1934.

Planning to build something for your outdoors out of pressure-treated wood? Make sure you use corrosion-resistant nails, screws, and connectors – now more than ever! The new pressure-treated wood mandate the government brought in a couple of years ago means wood now has much higher levels of copper, which makes using non-corrosive hardware even more important than with the old pressure-treated boards.

By the way, there's no need to panic about existing structures treated with chromated copper arsenate – the now banned chemical used in the original pressure-treated wood. If you're nervous about the impact of leaching chromium and arsenic, coat your deck or swing set with an oil-based penetrating stain every couple of years.

“Fatherhood is pretending the present you love most is soap-on-a-rope.” ~ Bill Cosby

“When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much he had learned in 7 years.” ~ Mark Twain

“A man knows when he is growing old because he begins to look like his father.” ~ Gabriel García Márquez

“Never raise your hand to your kids. It leaves your groin unprotected.” ~ Red Buttons