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Greetings!
At Home
You Just Never Know What You're Going To Find
July
Thanks.
We want to start the month off on a positive note. First, to say thanks to Mr.Libby, and Ms.Edelwich. Messrs.Karpel, Perra, Barrett and Hunter and Ms.Forish and Ms.Hebert. Bob P and Joann A and Mr.Corliss and Pat B and Mr.Cohen and Simsbury's CT Yank and so many other folks who - every month - take the time to read At Home - and play along.
They'll take a guess at one of our quizzes, make a suggestion on a new book or film and hey, occasionally even call us for an air conditioning tune-up or to fix a bit of plumbing. And they never point out the typos!
We created At Home to be a bit of "mildly diverting fluff" in your busy day. No hard sell. Okay, sure we will feature a monthly special or two, this is commerce after all, but we want it to be a little escape, something fun that you might actually look forward to receiving.
About a thousand of you are kind enough to open our epistle every month - and to you we say, sincerely, thanks for reading At Home
Now - on with the hard sell. |
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Hottest day 2011 - July 22 - 103 degrees at Aiello in Windsor Locks (at Bradley too!)
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The Best Ever!
July 4th means one thing to millions of people. Fireworks! Great exploding, magnificent, loud, colorful, blindingly gorgeous firework displays. If you love firework displays of course you will probably attend one in your town. Maybe see the display on the CT River in Hartford.
But if you love fireworks - can't get enough of fireworks - then you have to travel to Jaffrey, New Hampshire for their annual Fireworks event. It's Saturday August 18th and having visited and been thrilled by the massive show last year, we can tell you that it is without doubt one of the greatest displays we've ever seen. And we've seen New York's best.
- and then drop us a line when you get back and tell us what you thought.
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Hottest location ranked by highest average annual temperature: New Haven 53.6 F
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One Last Chance
Aiello is having its annual Procrastinator's Special.
All those folks who have put off tuning-up their air conditioners - you're patience is being rewarded! Aiello is extending our basic A/C tune-up offer through July 31st.
Aiello's Procrastinator Special
$99 A/C Tune-up
We don't suppose encouraging you to call today will help, but this offer will be on a first come - first scheduled basis only. And remember the great caveat - can't be combined with other offers, discounts or coupons. We will, however deduct the cost of the tune-up from any subsequent A/C system purchase made within 60 days of the service.
How can you get these great savings?
Call: 1.866.413.5434
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Arguably - the hottest day in CT ever - July 15, 1995 - 106 in Danbury but...not everyone agrees.
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Where In The World?
 The 973 of you who open this e-mail are tough.
You cannot be fooled (except for the Babe Ruth question in April). So, we decided to play hardball.
Tell us where "we" are in the picture below and you'll be eligible to win a $50 Restaurant Dot Com Gift Card. C'mon, you're here for the challenge, right? (Hint: that is not Connecticut River.)
Enter Here
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Hottest average day is July 25 with an average high of - 85 degrees
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Tux is still working!
You came.
You played.
You won.
Tux, Aiello's AC Penguin has been traveling all over CT to bring cool wherever he goes. He's made more than 500 new friends and we thought it might be fun to continue his travels through August.
So... beginning July 2 - Tux will visit one location - per week - rather than every day.
You have all week to visit: www.whereisthepenguin.com
- figure out where Tux is - and enter to win a $25 Target Gift Card. 40 people have already won - are you next?
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Second hottest day - July 3, 1996 and Aug. 9, 2001, July 6, 2010 - 102 degrees
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Wow
Okay we admit that we are a sucker for old photos.
Recently we found a treasure trove on the Denver Post photo blog. They were photos of the US taken by Charles Cushman from 1938-49. He traveled the country on an extended trip and took thousands of Kodachrome slides. There are more than 100 color photos that show what life was like when there were only 132+ million of us. (About 190 million fewer than today!) We hope you enjoy these.
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The Muggiest Day on average - July 26
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Summer Reading
We've scoured the universe for suitable summertime savories.
Succinctly:
 Hide & Seek, by Korean illustrator Il Sung Na is the perfect choice for an afternoon of play with your child - inner and otherwise. Finding the chameleon in these artfully arranged illustrations makes the perfect pastime for a rainy summer day. If, somehow, the universe has smiled on you and you have a solid week of R&R&R (rest, relation and reading) then we are incredibly jealous and happy to provide these suggestions:
 From Kathryn Harrison's review of Pure, by Andrew Miller in the NY Times Book Review: Some stories are too wonderful - too filled with wonders - to set in the present. They can't really be called historical fiction because they don't serve history so much as plunder it to invent what might have been. Such is the case with "Pure," by Andrew Miller, a novel set during the Age of Enlightenment that pays homage not to the dawn of reason but to its witching hour, teeming with all that reason mocks - hobgoblins, specters and whatever else might be lurking in the dark. A novel of ideas disguised as a ghost story, voluptuously atmospheric, "Pure" exerts a sensual hold over the reader.
A Difficult Woman, by Alice Kessler-Harris, a biography of Lillian Hellman;
 Canada by Richard Ford examines the lifetime effects on a child when his parent decide to rob a bank; Blaze of Glory, by Jeff Shaara about the Civil War Battle of Shiloh and General Lew Wallace. Want something light? Try, My Happy Days in Hollywood by Garry Marshall who created "The Odd Couple," "Laverne & Shirley" and "Mork and Mindy."
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Highest probability for rain in July - July 2 - 48%
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The Dog Days
Who knew?
The phrase "dog days of summer" (from mid-July to mid-August from the Romans) comes from the ancient belief that Sirius (not the satellite radio network) also known as the "Dog Star," due to its close proximity to the sun, was responsible for hot, humid weather.
Sirius was the "Dog Star" because it was the brightest star in the constellation Canis Major (Large Dog) and is also the brightest star in the night sky. Sadly, the Romans felt compelled to sacrifice a brown dog at the beginning of the Dog Days to appease the rage of Sirius.
Today we have AC and a lot more brown dogs.
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Highest probability for thunderstorms - entire month of July 14%
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Electricity is our friend
This is one of those mild self-promotional moments we rarely indulge in. But, we feel we should because we have a few really great electricians! In June they performed just about every electrical job you could imagine.
From installing outdoor outlets to hooking up whole home generators to installing GFI kitchen outlets to a complete 400 amp upgrade to provide more juice for a customer's home. From simple to complex - our electricians can do it all.
All you have to do is say,
"Hello, Aiello."
CALL NOW: 1.866.413.5434
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2012 - Warmest Spring since 1895, following second warmest winter ever in CT
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You're Not That Special
Don't know if you saw this.
It's been all over the web and on a few morning shows, but it is so worth hearing. David McCullough Jr., an English teacher at Wellesley High School in MA giving a commencement address. He made the startling suggestion that the graduating class - and each of its members - were "not special." If you haven't seen it, it is well worth the few minutes he takes to make his point.
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Avg. July temperature in CT - 84 degrees
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Esquire Covers
 Where were you in late October, 1970?
If you were near a newsstand you couldn't miss George Lois's famous Esquire cover featuring Lt. Calley and the four Vietnamese children.
How about, The Passions of Men June 1987 cover?
 Or perhaps you were sitting on the beach with America's Magazine for Men in August, 1945 just as V-J Day was celebrated. For a look back at all the covers - more than 100 designed by Lois, visit http://www.esquire.com/cover-archive - there's so much to explore.
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Average number of tornados in CT each year - 1 (rank 42nd)
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Aiello Home Services has been a vital part of the communities it serves for more than 80 years. We've supported many, many different charitable organizations, non-profits, museums, boy and Girl Scout organizations, Rotary and other civic organizations.
Today we'd like your help in identifying local organizations that need assistance. Each month Aiello Home Services will award a $1,000 cash award to an organization or individual whom we think we can help. If you know of a group or individual who may benefit from this donation please click here and tell us about them. We want to help others make a difference and with your help we can.
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82 Days till autumn begins
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Something Sweet This Way Comes
It's summer.
We need ice cream. Homemade ice cream.
Don't thank us. Just bring some up to Windsor Locks, please!
Mocha-Latte Ice Cream - from Coastal Living Magazine.
 Yield: Makes about 1 qt.
Hands-on: 20 Minutes
Total: 9 Hours, 20 Minutes Ingredients
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1 egg yolk
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1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste*
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1 cup chopped pecans
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2 ounces finely chopped semisweet chocolate
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Garnish: dark-chocolate sticks
Preparation
Whisk together first 4 ingredients in a large heavy saucepan. Gradually whisk in milk and whipping cream. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, 10 to 12 minutes or until mixture thickens slightly. Remove from heat.
Whisk egg yolk until slightly thickened. Gradually whisk about 1 cup hot cream mixture into yolk. Add yolk mixture to remaining cream mixture, whisking constantly. Whisk in vanilla bean paste. Cool 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
Place plastic wrap directly on cream mixture, and chill 8 to 24 hours.
Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350°. Bake pecans in a single layer in a shallow pan 8 minutes or until toasted and fragrant, stirring once halfway through. Cool completely (about 30 minutes).
Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350°. Bake pecans in a single layer in a shallow pan 8 minutes or until toasted and fragrant, stirring once halfway through. Cool completely (about 30 minutes).
Pour chilled cream mixture into freezer container of a 1 1/2-qt. electric ice-cream maker, and freeze according to manufacturer's instructions. (Instructions and time may vary.) Before transferring ice cream to an airtight container for further freezing, stir in pecans and chocolate. Garnish, if desired.
Enjoy. Then bring some to those sweet people at Aiello Home Services in Windsor Locks. *Vanilla extract may be substituted.
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Average number of days over 90 degrees in Central CT - 18
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One of the most famous and haunting covers of National Geographic from 1985. And the cover star, Sharbat Gula, 17 years later.
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July 1994 - hottest on record. Avg temp: 84.8
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This Just In - Final Quiz
Who Is This Guy?
And what was he doing? If you think you know...email us here. Someone is going to win a $100 Restaurant Dot Com Gift Card.
(Hint: he was a member of the American Physical Society)
Sincerely,
Aiello Home Services
PS- One last, last thought. Have you checked out our blog? It is sensational. Really. Don't take our word for it. Decide for yourself. Here. 
Like us on Facebook. Please!
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