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Greetings!
At Home
You Just Never Know What You're Going To Find
October
Is there a better time of year in Connecticut than October?
It begins with the final gentle breezes of that late Indian Summer and ends with crisps nights, colorful leaves, terrified children (we're thinking Halloween) and apple festivals! We're loving the apple festivals.
Not to pick one apple festival over another but oh, boy does Southington do a great job. For two glorious weekends (Sept 28-30 and Oct. 5-7) you can enjoy a bounty of parades, musicians, floats, drum and bugle corps., apple puffs, apple fritters, apple pies, apple bobbing, apple queens, apple eating, a road race, a bed race (one wonders if it features an apple bed), kiddie rides and enough arts and crafts to whet your appetite for another apple or two.
Other October Fairs include: Berlin - Oct 5-7, Harwinton - Oct 6&7, Portland Oct 12-14, Riverton Oct 12-14.
This was not a paid promotional announcement as much as our sincere admiration for the efforts of so many volunteers who make this - and the many country fairs and festivals - so much a part of our enriched lives. We salute them and hope that you will get out in the days ahead and enjoy their efforts to the fullest.
Now, on with the show.
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Quiet dinners by the fire
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Help Us Help
Beginning October 1 through November 15 - Aiello service personnel will be providing a $20 instant discount on any service performed on the day - in exchange for non-perishable food items. For the 8th year Aiello will be collecting food for our area food pantries and the need for foodstuffs has never been more acute. Please help us help. We're happy to discount our service in the service of helping others.
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Tailgating at UCONN games
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R.I.P. Neil
We lamented the recent passing of a true American hero, Neil Armstrong. Perhaps distance has numbed or jaded us, but the astonishing nature of sending Neil and Buzz Aldrin to the moon - and bringing them back safely - has to be remembered in context.  This was before the space shuttle made slipping the bonds of earth so seemingly routine. This was, in their words, a tin can tied to a nuke. And then there was the very real possibility that even if the landing was a complete success, that the lunar module might not fire and they would have been left on the moon. To put this in perspective, the following is the statement that would have been made by President Nixon (penned by William Safire) in the event of a disaster:
"Fate has ordained that the men who went to the moon to explore in peace will stay on the moon to rest in peace. These brave men, Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin, know that there is no hope for their recovery. But they also know that there is hope for mankind in their sacrifice. In ancient days, men looked at the stars and saw their heroes in the constellations. In modern times, we do much the same, but our heroes are epic men of flesh and blood. Others will follow, and surely find their way home. Man's search will not be denied, but these men were the first, and they will remain the foremost in our hearts. For every human being who looks up at the moon in the nights to come will know that there is some corner of another world that is forever mankind."
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Spider webs bejeweled with dew on Autumn mornings
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Our Promise
We want to make this one thing - perfectly clear. We will not be undersold.
Aiello wants your business and we've sharpened our pencils to get it.
Aiello is prepared to meet or beat the price for any residential, warm-air gas furnace - or pay you $325. The only condition is that we compare apples with apples. Btu to Btu, against similarly licensed, insured, and NATE-qualified contractors. Complete qualifications and program limitations can be found here. If you are ready to buy a new heating system for your home - you need to call us first.
Call: 888 735 4752
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Reading mystery novels in darkened rooms
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The year is 1940.
The smell is instantly recognizable to anyone who ever enjoyed its distinctive, dare we say joyous, aroma. The town, like so many others in Connecticut, was sleepy and steeped in tradition. One of its most famous sons was America's first traitor. So...for a $25 Target Gift Card...which town is this? Tell us here.
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Swishing and kicking through drifts of fallen leaves
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Your Tart is Here.
 We need tarts. Chocolate tarts for fall. Chocolate with pistachios. And Orange. And butter. Lots of butter. Oh my! Somebody, please make this and deliver a slice to Windsor Locks. We will find ways to thank you! For the Tart Shell: 4 oz. (8 Tbs.) unsalted butter, melted 1/4 cup granulated sugar 1 tsp. finely grated orange zest 3/4 tsp. pure vanilla extract 1/8 tsp. table salt 4-1/2 oz. (1 cup) unbleached all-purpose flour For the Filling: 1 cup half-and-half 2 Tbs. granulated sugar Pinch table salt 7 oz. semisweet chocolate (up to 64% cacao), coarsely chopped 1 large egg, lightly beaten 1 recipe Salted Caramelized Pistachios Fleur de sel or other flaky sea salt Make the tart shell: In a medium bowl, combine the butter, sugar, zest, vanilla, and salt. Add the flour and mix just until well blended. If the dough seems too soft to work with, let it sit for a few minutes to firm up. Press the dough into a 9-1/2-inch fluted tart pan with a removable bottom. Start with the sides, making them about 1/4 inch thick, and then press the remaining dough evenly over the bottom, pressing well into the corners. Let rest at room temperature for 30 minutes or chill until ready to bake (you can make the crust up to 3 days ahead). Position a rack in the lower third of the oven and heat the oven to 350°F. Put the pan on a cookie sheet and bake until the crust is a deep golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes, checking after about 15 minutes to see if the dough has puffed. Press the dough down with the back of a fork and prick a few times if necessary. Meanwhile, make the filling: In a small saucepan bring the half-and-half, sugar, and salt to a simmer. Off the heat, add the chocolate and stir with a whisk until completely melted and smooth. Cover to keep warm. Just before the crust is ready, whisk the egg thoroughly into the chocolate mixture. When the crust is done, lower the oven temperature to 300°F. Pour the filling into the hot crust. Return the tart (still on the baking sheet) to the oven and bake until the filling is set around the edges but still jiggles a little in the center when you nudge the pan, 10 to 15 minutes. Cool on a rack. Serve at room temperature or slightly cool. Garnish each slice with crushed Salted Caramelized Pistachios and a light sprinkling of fleur de sel. The tart is best on the day it's made but may be refrigerated for 2 to 3 days. Once the tart is completely chilled, cover it, but make sure no plastic wrap touches the surface by first putting the tart pan in a larger cake pan. Or cover the tart with an overturned plate. nutrition information (per serving): Calories (kcal): 260; Fat (g): 15; Fat Calories (kcal): 140; Saturated Fat (g): 8; Protein (g): 4; Monounsaturated Fat (g): 5; Carbohydrates (g): 31; Polyunsaturated Fat (g): 1; Sodium (mg): 95; Cholesterol (mg): 40; Fiber (g): 2;
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Flannel sheets at the end of a long day
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Say What?
Yo! 'sup? Sorry, we promise never to do that again. We do have a few words that have, perhaps sadly, entered into the lexicon this past year. We suppose every generation has questioned the language choices of the next. Here are 35 new (omg, they're horrid) words with which we will all to soon become familiar.
- Bling (n): Expensive, ostentatious clothing and jewelry.
- Bromance (n): A close but non-sexual relationship between two men.
- Chillax (v): Calm down and relax.
- Crunk (adj): Very excited or full of energy.
- D'oh (ex): Exclamation used to comment on a foolish or stupid action, especially one's own.
- Droolworthy (adj): Extremely attractive or desirable.
- Frankenfood (n): Genetically modified food.
- Grrrl (n): A young woman regarded as independent and strong or aggressive, especially in her attitude to men or in her sexuality (A blend of "Grrrr" and "Girl.")
- Guyliner (n): Eyeliner that is worn by men.
- Hater (n): A person who greatly dislikes a specified person or thing.
- Illiterati (n): People who are not well educated
- or well informed about a particular subject or sphere of activity.
- Infomania (n): The compulsive desire to check or accumulate news and information, typically via mobile phone or computer.
- Jeggings (n): Tight-fitting stretch trousers for women, styled to resemble a pair of denim jeans.
- La-la Land (n): A fanciful state or dream world. Also, Los Angeles.
- Locavore (n): A person whose diet consists only or principally of locally grown or produced food.
- Mankini (n): A brief one-piece bathing garment for men, with a T-back.
- Mini-Me (n): A person closely resembling a smaller or younger version of another.
- Muffin Top (n): A roll of fat visible above the top of a pair of women's tight-fitting low-waisted trousers.
- Muggle (n): A person who is not conversant with a particular activity or skill.
- Noob (n): A person who is inexperienced in a particular sphere or activity, especially computing or the use of the Internet.
- Obvs (adv): Obviously.
- OMG (ex): Used to express surprise, excitement, or disbelief. (Dates back to 1917.)
- Po-po (n): The police.
- Purple State (n): A US state where the Democratic and Republican parties have similar levels of support among voters.
- Screenager (n): A person in their teens or twenties who has an aptitude for computers and the Internet.
- Sexting (n): The sending of sexually explicit photographs or messages via mobile phone.
- Textspeak (n): Language regarded as characteristic of text messages, consisting of abbreviations, acronyms, initials, emoticons. (wut hpns win u write lyk dis.)
- Totes (adv): Totally.
- Truthiness (n): the quality of seeming or being felt to be true, even if not necessarily true.
- Twitterati (n): Keen or frequent users of the social networking site Twitter.
- Unfriend (v): Remove (someone) from a list of friends or contacts on a social networking site.
- Upcycle (v): Reuse (discarded objects or material) in such a way as to create a product of higher quality or value than the original.
- Whatevs (ex, adv): Whatever.
- Whovian (n): A fan of the British science-fiction television series Doctor Who.
- Woot (ex): (Especially in electronic communication) Used to express elation, enthusiasm, or triumph.
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You know how we go to the ends of the world for ways to entertain you, right? Well, where do you suppose we went for this photo? Tell us and be eligible to win a $25 Target Gift Card.
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The first cold, nasty rain
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This Month's Bragging
Aiello Home Services has been named the USA Dealer of the Year for Energy Kinetics. Energy Kinetics manufactures the incredible System 2000 home heating system that promises to reduce oil heating costs by as much as 40%! Recently EK Territory Manager John Schultz awarded Aiello a very nice plaque. Enjoying the presentation (l-r) were Stephen Birch, GM, Randy Weidig, Installation Manager, Mike Jezouit, President, and Mr. Schultz.
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Fluffy feather beds on a cold night
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"Like Us" Non-Profit Promotion 
Who doesn't want to be liked? Aiello thought that a nice way to invite people to "like us" on facebook wasto open up a bit of competition. From now til the end of November we're inviting people associated with non-profit organizations to like us.
The non-profit with the most "votes or likes" will be given a $1,000 Make a Difference Grant. It's simple.
Visit the Aiello Facebook page and sign up. That's it. We think it's a fun - simple - and positive way to say thank you for "liking" us.
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Smell of burning leaves (remember?)
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Go Aiello
We're live - on your phone! Aiello now has a mobile website that's easy to read and easy to use.
And a direct number you can click and call: 888 486 3836.
So give us a ring...you know what to say.
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Smelling cinnamon, oranges & cloves
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Budget Lunch 
His father was famous.
We just had salad, thank you, and for five bucks it was pretty solid. Of course, Subway's been hawking foot longs for five bucks for two years and I gather a nice bowl of soup can be had for just under $3.99 at half a dozen diners across the state. Which brings us to how the other half lives. The art of the meal - the expensive meal - is on display with this poster which provides details on some pretty pricey comestibles. From $12,000 for pizza to $110 for Ramen Noodles! - this is what the one half of one percenters have for lunch!
Click to download a full size copy of this menu poster.
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Five Ways To Stay Warm
We love the simple things in life. Here are some of the easy, simple things you can do to stay warm this winter. 
Towel warming racks - ubiquitous in Europe, they are easy to mount to the wall or tucked in a corner. They range in price from $100 to $500 but cost only .50c for 24 hours of use. Plus there's nothing like a nice warm towel when you get out of the shower.
Unblock your vents - way too simple? Move the furniture so that you get that warm air moving. Have you any idea how many times we've found the cat hogging the heating vent. Sure she's happy, but you have to ask her to share. 
The ceiling fan goes both ways. It plays offense and defense - just switch the setting to spin the blades clockwise so you push the warm air (which has risen) down from the ceiling where it does no one any good - right to where you live or sleep.
Make a chicken. Bake it in the oven. Enjoy the meal - and leave the oven  door open while it cools - so that the heat warms your kitchen while you're enjoying dinner!
Socks. Sorry, but it's true. If you wear nice fuzzy, warm socks, your feet won't get cold and you will feel so much warmer. Sorta like wearing ear muffs when you go out. Ever notice that when you're head is covered you don't feel the cold as much.
Bonus! Leave the curtains open. Find out where the sun shines in your home. When it's streaming in - open those curtains and let the warm air flood the house. Close them when the sun leaves and you will be ahead of the game.
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Roasts, Potatoes & Carrots
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You think the honking on your commute on I -84 or I-91 is loud? |
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Enjoy Your October
Sincerely,
Aiello Home Services
Like us on Facebook. Please!
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