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Cozy Newsletter
Cozy Newsletter
CorcoranHeating.com 24/7 Emergency Service: (847) 397-5888
Monthly Notes:
April 2014
National Humor Month
International Guitar Month
Keep America Beautiful Month
Lawn and Garden Month
National Poetry Month
National Pecan Month
National Welding Month
Stress Awareness Month
Sexual Assault Awareness Month
1
st
April Fools Day &
International Fun at Work
2
nd
Childrens Book Day
3
rd
Dont Go to Work Unless its Fun Day
7
th
World Health Day
10
th
Golfers Day
14
th
Moment of Laughter Day
16
th
National Stress Awareness Day
17
th
Pet Owners Independence Day
24
th
Take Your Daughter to Work
29
th
National Shrimp Scampi Day
If you ask me, whoever named April
as National Humor Month came from
somewhere like Chicago. Who else could
have dedicated a more appropriate time
to smile and be happy than one who has
lived through all the damn snow and can
truly appreciate the sun and the melting
and the shedding of layers and layers of
clothing. One who is happy, too, to trade
of a temporary darkness in the morning
for that light we now see when the work
day is over!
Regardless of whether or not I can prove
my theory of where the creator of the
month-long tribute originated, the mes-
sage is whats important to embrace: Hu-
mor and Laughter are GOOD for us. Id
like to share with you a great article about
the functions and benefts of celebrating
April as National Humor Month. I think
we could use these tips all year long!
Posted to Huf ngton Post.com by:
Marlo Tomas
Are you stressed out? Unable to relax?
Feeling gloomy? Well, you might consider
going for a long and exhausting jog, or
engaging in a frantic game of paddle ball
to work out those frustrations. Or, if you
want more immediate results, you can just
laugh it of!
April is National Humor Month, so this
is the perfect time to add a little humor
into your daily routine. Founded in 1976
by author and humorist Larry Wilde,
the original idea was to heighten public
awareness of the therapeutic and restor-
ative values of joy and laughter. Afer all,
many studies have shown that laughter can
actually improve our health. And laughter
is fun! Afer all, you cant feel sad or angry
when youre laughing, right?
Te fact is that laughter itself changes us
physiologically. Like exercise or waving
your arms around, it boosts the heart rate
and increases blood fow, so we breathe
faster and more oxygen is delivered to the
bodys tissues. Our facial muscles stretch
and we actually burn calories when were
laughing. In fact, the mere act of smiling
can alter your mood almost immediately.
Of course, there are always skeptics out
there, like that cranky co-worker across
the way or that grumpy relative you try to
avoid at the holidays. But here are a few
fun facts that you might want to mention
to them:
Laughter Reduces Stress: When stressed,
we produce a hormone called cortisol.
Laughter can signifcantly reduce cortisol
levels.
Laughter Can Reduce Pain: Laughter
causes us to produce endorphins, which
are natural, pain-killing hormones.
Laughter Strengthens the Immune Sys-
tem: A hearty laugh decreases stress hor-
mones and increases production of T-cells,
immune proteins and infection-fghting
antibodies.
Laughter Helps the Heart: When we laugh
we increase blood fow and the function
of blood vessels, which can help prevent
cardiovascular problems.
Laughter Relaxes the Whole Body: One
good belly laugh can relieve physical ten-
sion and relax your muscles for up to 45
minutes.
Laughter Helps You Recharge: By re-
ducing stress levels and increasing your
energy, laughter can help you focus and
achieve more.
So, not only is a great giggle a lot of fun,
its good for you! And like yawning, laugh-
ter can also be contagious. So by opening
yourself up to more humor in your daily
life, you may also have a positive efect
on those around you. And the great thing
about humor is that there is a bottomless
supply out there. You dont need to sign
up for anything. It doesnt cost a thing. Its
fat-free and you can have as much of it as
you like.
http://www.huf ngtonpost.com/
BULLS
4-2 @ ATLANTA 6:30 PM
4-5 @ WASHINGTON 6:00 PM
4-9 @ MINNESOTA 7:00 PM
4-11 DETROIT 7:00 PM
4-13 @ NEW YORK 6:30 PM
4-14 ORLANDO 7:00 PM
4-16 @ CHARLOTTE 7:00 PM
BLACKHAWKS
4-3 WILD 7:00 PM
4-4 @ BLUE JACKETS 6:00 PM
4-6 BLUES 11:30 AM
4-9 CANADIENS 6:30 PM
4-11 @ CAPITALS 6:00 PM
4-12 @ PREDATORS 7:00 PM
CUBS
2-3 @ PIRATES
4-6 PHILLIES
8-10 PIRATES
11-13 @ CARDINALS
15-16 @ YANKEES
18-20 REDS
21-24 D-BACKS
25-27 @ BREWERS
28-30 @ REDS
WHITE SOX
2-3 TWINS
4-6 @ ROYALS
7-9 @ ROCKIES
10-12 INDIANS
15-17 RED SOX
18-20 @ RANGERS
21-24 @ TIGERS
25-28 RAYS
29-30 TIGERS
Recognizing National
Humor Month
Laughter is the best
medicine!


24/7 Emergency Service: (847) 397-5888
info@CorcoranHeating.com 2
How to solve:
To solve a Sudoku, you only need logic
and patience. No math is required. Simply
make sure that each 3x3 square region
has a number between 1-9 with only one
occurrence of each number. Each column
and row of the large grid may only have
one instance of 1-9.
This round of contest coupons are already
fying out the door! Everyone who sends us
their raving fan testimonial or refers us to
friends and family are already being entered
into the next drawing. To enter, simply refer
us to a friend/relative/neighbor. Be sure that
anyone you pass along to us communicates
that YOU were involved in the referral. For
further assurance of your entry, send us
a note with the name of the referred. You
can also enter the drawing by submitting a
testimonial of how happy you are with our
work. Either way, it takes only a few minutes
to enter. You can just drop us a line at: info@
corcoranheating.com. One ticket is given for
each testimonial or referral; ten tickets for every
raving fan video. You determine your odds of
winning, as there is no limit to entry tickets -
plus - every referral nets YOU a gift as well!
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S UDOK U BRE AK
With spring fnally arriving (at least in
name) it makes us wonder just how hot
it may get this summer. Will it be an
overly hot season or one with milder
temperatures? Hard to say, but afer this
past winter, my money is on a long, hot
summer.
As a month dedicated to stress aware-
ness, I thought April might be a good
time to look at something you may not
expect to sufer from stress, and that
would be your HVAC equipment and
ductwork. Because your comfort, sanity,
and pocketbook are afected by your sys-
tems performance, here are some steps
you need to take now:
Change or clean your flter.
Its one of the simplest and cheapest
ways to directly reduce the stress your
system will be facing. Tese long cold
winters keep our houses closed up and
our furnaces running constantly. Spring
cleaning time is the perfect time to get
your flters checked, changed, or cleaned.
Beware of overly priced flters that pro-
mote high capture rates without doing
your research frst. If you have a 1 flter
we recommend the fberglass dispos-
ables. For 5 flters, stick with Honey-
well or Air Bare brands. Electronic flter
models require thorough cleaning every
1-3 months depending on your space.
Some of the newer ones not only require
cleaning, they also have replaceable
flters that need to be changed regular-
ly. Address allergy concerns with RGF
lights.
Uncover your units
OK, frst know its rare that we would
have ever told you to cover them. Maybe
for certain residential and commercial
locations, but typical installations are
with units are built to be outdoors. Te
problem with covering them is that
makes for a great home to a local mice or
rodent family who like to snack on the
insulation and wiring inside the con-
densing units.
Unblock your vents
De-cluttering and cleaning things out
is a typical spring chore and one rec-
ommended for your HVAC system,
too. Start by removing things that may
have piled up or blocked fow to supply
and return vents. Te easier it is for air
to move through your system, the less
stressed it will be. Youll be happier too
as youll not be wasting money. Another
tip: if you want to close vents in rooms
you do not use, check to see if there is a
damper in the ductwork as opposing to
just closing the grill. For the majority of
cases, switching the dampers does a bet-
ter job of diverting airfow at the source.
Once it gets a bit warmer, clean the
coils
Taking a hose to your outdoor units at
CONTEST CORNER
l d
home or your place of business is a big
stress reducer for your equipment. Te
outdoor coils are vital for the transfer
of heat from indoors to outside which
is what makes air conditioning a reali-
ty. Te outdoor coils have many small
grooves which air must travel through,
and these same grooves are perfectly
sized to become packed with pollens,
vegetation, and other unwanted debris.
Te more build up on the equipment, the
worse of the system will be.
Tese are all things you can do yourself,
and we recommend them. We also rec-
ommend that you have things looked at
professionally as well. During an annual
inspection and ef ciency adjustment
we can ensure your equipment is on the
right track for the upcoming season as
well as point out ways in which you can
improve on the systems performance
and your comfort. We are excited to
show our savvy clients how to get the
most out of their system this summer.
Just give us a call!
April Is Stress Awareness Month: Reduce the stress
on your HVAC equipment starting this month!
24/7 Emergency Service: (847) 397-5888
CorcoranHeating.com 3
Ingredients:
1 pound linguini
4 tablespoons butter
4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil,
plus more for drizzling
2 shallots, finely diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
Pinch red pepper flakes, optional
1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
Kosher salt and freshly ground black
pepper
1/2 cup dry white wine
Juice of 1 lemon
1/4 cup finely chopped parsley leaves
Directions
For the pasta, put a large pot of water on the
stove to boil. When it has come to the boil,
add a couple of tablespoons of salt and the
linguini. Stir to make sure the pasta separates;
cover. When the water returns to a boil, cook
for about 6 to 8 minutes or until the pasta is
not quite done. Drain the pasta.
Meanwhile, in a large skillet, melt 2 table-
spoons butter in 2 tablespoons olive oil over
medium-high heat. Saute the shallots, garlic,
and red pepper flakes (if using) until the
shallots are translucent, about 3 to 4 minutes.
Season the shrimp with salt and pepper; add
them to the pan and cook until they have
turned pink, about 2 to 3 minutes. Remove
the shrimp from the pan; set aside and keep
warm. Add wine and lemon juice and bring
to a boil. Add 2 tablespoons butter and 2
tablespoons oil. When the butter has melted,
return the shrimp to the pan along with the
parsley and cooked pasta. Stir well and season
with salt and pepper. Drizzle over a bit more
olive oil and serve immediately.
COOKING CORNER:
Get Your Golf Swing in
Spring Shape
http://foodnetwork.com http://www.teetimes.info
http://www.healthline.com
RANDOM HUMOR:
A DOGS
WORLD
By the time you read this Murphy and I will be
enjoying some quality time away from my parents
at Whispering Winds. My parents call it our time at
the spa, I call it time for Murphy and I to romp
around the farm. My parents think we are sad they
are leaving us, but little do they know how much
fun we get on the nice big play area. Who could ask
for any more time outside than we get.
Anyway apparently they are leaving us to go to
Boston. We hope they have a good few days away,
and all goes well with Jacks rst plane ride. From
me to you I think the kid will do great, he has
been a blast to be around. The walks have kicked
up and he is a great addition to our crew.
I hope that all my fellow pets out there get to
enjoy the nice weather ahead. Dont be too mad
at us when you nally go outside to clean up the
dog poop. It is not our fault it snowed and you
have been putting off clean up until now. Just lift
with your knees and plug your nose.
Well I can see my stuff getting packed up now so
I better go stick my nose in it. I am a great
packer. I can t my nose anywhere and slobber
into any compartment. It is our little way of
ensuring we are not forgotten. Until later, FRANK
Celebrate Shrimp
Scampi Day!
Standing Wood Chop
Tis exercise integrates the movements of the
hips, back, and shoulders, while increasing
strength and improving fexibility. Its best per-
formed with a cable system, like a resistance
band, but can also be done with a medicine
ball or free weight. Place the resistance band
beneath your lef foot. Slightly bending your
knees, pull the band overhead to your right,
like youre about to swing an axe. Perform 8-12
repetitions, then rest for 30 seconds. Switch
sides and repeat one to three times.
Lateral Lunges
Tis exercise can improve the range-of-mo-
tion, strength, and power of the hips by work-
ing them in the frontal plane with side-to-side
movement. Keeping perfect posture through-
out, take a large step to your lef, shifing your
weight to that side. Your lef leg should be bent
while the right leg is extended to the right.
Make sure to keep your toes pointing straight
ahead. Alternating legs, perform 8-12 repeti-
tions then rest for 30 seconds. Repeat one to
three times.
Glute Activation Lunges
Tese standard lunges can be used to improve
mobility in the hips, which can result in great-
er strength and a more powerful swing. Start
with your feet together and your hands on
your hips. Take a giant step forward, bending
your front leg at a 90 degree angle (or until
your thigh is parallel to the foor). Your back
leg should remain strong and straight. Step
back into a standing position and repeat 8-12
times. Alternate legs one to three times, resting
in between.
Front Plank/Side Plank
Tis series helps to activate core muscles,
which promote stability and strength in the
torso. Lying face down, place palms fat on the
foor. Tuck your toes under, roll your shoulders
onto your back, away from your ears, and push
away from the foor. Keep your back fat and
engage your abdominal muscles. Hold for 20
to 60 seconds and release back down onto the
foor. Repeat three to fve times.
Supine Spinal Twists
Tese twists are an excellent way to increase
core strength while enhancing torso mobility.
If performed correctly, the shoulders will also
receive a good stretch. Begin on your back
with your feet raised and bent in a 90 degree
angle, or so that your calves are parallel to the
foor. Extend your arms out wide, with palms
facing down. Slowly lower your legs to the
right side of your body, keeping your knees
together. Hover above the ground for about
20 to 30 seconds, then return to center. Switch
sides and repeat one to three times.
Combine your workouts with whole foods and
plenty of water, and youll be well on your way
to the perfect swing.
By the t
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Cozy Newsletter
Cozy Newsletter
CorcoranHeating.com 24/7 Emergency Service: (847) 397-5888
Toms Two Cents
PG.1
Recognizing National Humor Month
Sports Corner
Unique Holidays & Monthly Awareness
PG. 2
April Is Stress Awareness Month
Get Your Golf Swing in Spring Shape
Sudoku Break
Contest Corner
PG. 3
Cooking Corner: Shrimp Scampi Day
Random Humor
Dogs World: Quick note from Franklin
Te calendar says winter is over. As
I write this, though, I think Mother
Nature is either pretty p.o.d or her
Chip and Dale calendar is stuck on
Mr. January. Either way, she cant
quite let go of her obsession and fip
the pages to spring. Im guessing shell
overcompensate and take us from 40-
70 overnight.
College basketball is in full swing and
for me great entertainment. Like
many of you I flled out a couple of
brackets, purely for the fun of it. John
went to Kansas. Well see how far
they can get. I like their team but
am thinking maybe next year. For
those of you with Alma maters in the
tournament, or schools you follow,
enjoy and good luck!
Play-of atmosphere hockey should
be especially enjoyable. Im hoping
that and a few good books will keep
me entertained. Not to mention my
grandson, Jack. Hes getting older
and the time I spend with him is very
relaxing. I cant wait until the day
when he starts wearing me out.
I guess its time to make a list of all
the things that need attention at
the house and the of ce this spring.
John has redesigned our website and
implemented a new telephone system
which went live this week. Our goal
with these changes is to make it
easier for our clients; to fnd useful
information, and, to contact us.
I know that this upcoming spring and
summer season will be tough on a
lot of you allergy suferers. We have
great success in assisting our valued
clients who look at tackling these
problems head on. Some solutions are
simple, others may involve a few more
steps. Regardless of your allergies and
situation we can customize a solution
to protect you and your loved ones
this season.
We ofer free estimates on solutions to
these and other comfort related issues
and are happy to customize a solution
for you. TO learn more or get started
visit us online or give the of ce a call.
We are already getting people ready
for the spring, so be sure to get a hold
of us now if we can help!
Until next time! - TOM
In This Issue:
2137 Hammond Dr.,
Schaumburg, IL 60173
info@corcoranheating.com
CorcoranHeating.com
(847) 397-5888