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Greetings!
At Home
You Just Never Know What You're Going To Find
December
It's the most wonderful time of the year.
(Alas, Andy Williams is gone, but his song lives on.)
The holidays are here. And whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, St. Lucia Day, Kwanzaa, Ta Chiu, Omisoka, Ziemassvetki, St. Basil's Day, and of course the Winter Solstice we hope this season finds you in good health, good spirits, surrounded by family and friends.
And...we have a gift for you.
This issue of At Home will feature all sorts of strange and arcane information about the holidays gleaned from every imaginable source on the world wide intrawebnet. And you'll have three chances to win a great holiday gift.
So...please have a safe and joyous holiday season and thanks for reading At Home.
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OK, So There's Krampus
 According to Travel & Leisure Magazine a counterpart of old St. Nick is the devil-like figure of Krampus.
Apparently in Bavaria, Austria, Hungary and Slovenia nasty old Krampus exists to punish naughty children with coal in their Christmas stockings or -- hello - whacking them with a birch switch.
Merry Christmas, indeed. Instead of arriving on Christmas Eve like Santa, Krampus shows up on Dec. 5th. So you better watch out...you better not cry...
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Get Tuned Up For The Holidays
$99
12 Pt. Gas Furnace Tune-up*
$149
12 Pt. Oil Furnace Tune-up*
Call Now: 888 841 0743 *some restricitions apply. Residential gas system tune ups $99 plus tax and disposal fees if applicable. Oil tune-ups $149 plus tax and disposal fees if applicable. Must mention this offer when you call. Subject to availability during the holiday period. Aiello reserves the right to take no-heat calls on a priority basis. Cannot be combined with any other offers, discounts or coupons. Offer ends 12/31/12
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 | | l-r James Wood, Sales Mgr. Tim Lynch, replacement specialist, Ms. Gayson, Eric Fiengo, Bender Plumbing Supply |
Feel Good & Warm
When Marilyn Gayson, a semi-retired homeowner flicked the heat on in her Manchester home in early October, she suddenly found it no longer worked. In a bit of a panic with her disabled husband convalescing at home, she called us.
Technician Todd Nemic determined that the 30+ year old electric boiler had seen its last hot water. In stepped replacement specialist Tim Lynch. Tim suggested a new boiler. Within a few days it became clear that Ms. Gayson's part time job would both preclude her both from financial assistance from the town of Manchester and exclude her from receiving a bank loan. It also left her home cold.
That's when Tim met with Aiello Sales Manager James Wood. Together, and with the blessing of Michael Jezouit, President of Aiello, they worked with Eric Fiengo of Bender Plumbing Supply and Howard Dyson of Dyson Associates to get a donation of the rare electric boiler.
While they waited for delivery, Tim installed portable heating system to keep the house and its occupants warm. A few weeks later, Todd was back with his mates Robert, Randy and Jeff who went to work installing the new system for free.
"As part of our Make A Difference Fund, each month we seek out non-profit organizations and special situations where our cash and services donations can actually have a real impact. This seemed like just the perfect opportunity, especially at this time of year," said Michael Jezouit.
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Is That You Dotty?
On New Year's Eve, men and women in this country wear polka dots, keep coins in their pockets, and adorn their tables with round foods, such as grapes.
Why?
According to tradition the circles symbolize future good luck and riches.
So...where does this happen - exactly?
Tell us here and win a $25 Big Y Gift Card! Winners tell us here. - and may win a $25 Target Gift Card
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Favorite Holiday Drinks
Some people prefer eggnog. Others, mulled wine. Still others hot buttered rum. Here are two holiday-inspired drinks for your imbibing consideration. Let us know what beverage you prefer at this time of year. Us...we're big Ginger Ale fans!
The Grinch
This green cocktail has none of the nasty elements of Dr. Seuss's classic holiday character.
On the contrary, it's reminiscent of the changed Grinch with the sweetest flavors; melon-flavored Midori and lemon juice.
It's all sweetened even further with a little simple syrup.Add a maraschino cherry for the garnish for color and to represent the changed heart of the green man.
Prep Time: 2 minutes
Total Time: 2 minutes
Yield:1 Drink
Ingredients:
- 2oz Midori
- 1/2 oz lemon juice
- 1 tsp simple syrup
- maraschino cherry for garnish
Preparation:
- Shake well.
- Strain into a chilled cocktail glas
- Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice.
Angels Delight 
Creamy, pink and absolutely delightful, the Angel's Delight is a semi-classic cocktail ideal for dessert.
Ingredients:
- 1oz cream
- 3/4 oz triple sec
- 3/4 oz gin
- 2-3 dashes grenadine
Preparation:
- Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice cubes.
- Shake well
- Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
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 Thank You The 7th Annual Aiello Home Service Food Drive was a smashing success.
Thanks to hundreds of Aiello customers who donated thousands of items, we were able to provide more than 2-tons of non-perishable food items to five food pantries in the Greater Hartford area.
 Plus, Mike Jezouit, President of Aiello, continued the tradition of delivering 100 turkeys to Food Share which distributed them to needy Connecticut residents just in time for holiday feasts. Again, our sincere thanks to all who helped us help. |
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Five Winter Home Safety Tips
You're closing up the place. Nice and tight. Just want to get through winter safe and sound. Well, here are a few safety tips to keep in mind. - Be sure to tune-up your furnace to make sure it operates effectively and efficiently all winter. At the very least - change your filters to be sure your furnace provides enough heat to keep the place warm. (Aiello customers can go to www.AielloFetch.com to get filters sent directly to their homes)
- Make sure that you close off the water to the outside of the house. Open the spigots outside and close them off from the inside so water drains and pipes don't freeze.
- Check your hot water heater. If it is 8-10 years old in particular. They usually corrode at the bottom of the tank - and if they let go - you could have 40-50 gallons of water on your floor.
- Make sure that you install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and that you have fresh batteries for emergency lighting - just in case you lose power this winter.
- Make sure your dryer vent is clear. If need be - vacuum it out. Dryer lint can reduce the effectiveness of your dryer - and can even cause fires.
Bonus: Keep Aiello's main number - 860 292 2600 handy - just in case you need heating, plumbing, electrical, well, water or generator help. Just call and say...Hello, Aiello
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Last Month's Winners
Robert Fisher knew that the first McDonald's icon was Speedee and
John Libby knew the locations of Kangaroo Island and the Dolomites in Italy
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In Case You Weren't Invited.
One of the all-time strangest Christmas customs takes place at the Rumpke Sanitary Landfill near Cincinnati, OH. Every year workers string 30,000 Christmas lights across the garbage mound which stretches over 234 acres and rises 279 feet high topped with a 25-ft tall candy cane.
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Let There Be Light. Outside.
If you're thinking about lighting up the house, or the entire neighborhood, for the holidays say...
We can install outdoor lighting from pathways, gardens and decks to waterproof bell boxes that allow you to hook up that giant Santa and 8 Reindeer the kids love so much. Ready?
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It's Christmas - Get the Spiders! 
This tradition harks back to a fairy tale in which spiders decorated the tree of a family too poor to afford proper yuletide ornaments.
The rising sun on Christmas morning makes the tree sparkle and glisten in the same manner as modern lights and tinsel.
Nowadays, Ukrainian Christmas trees are covered in spider webs made from various materials including crystal, paper, metal, and plastic.
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Favorite Holiday Movie
"Christmas in Connecticut".
Real life and...the movie!
One of the great joys of the holidays is sitting in front of the TV with your favorite holiday movie. Maybe it's "A Christmas Carol" or "A Christmas Story". Maybe it's "Miracle on 34th Street", "It's a Wonderful Life", "The Polar Express", "Scrooged," or even, hey, "Bad Santa".
Our question is...what's yours? Tell us and we'll select one winner and get it for you - wholesale. OK. FREE. Consider it a gift.
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Leave Room at the Table
In Portgual, Consoada is a traditional holiday dinner on Christmas Eve that honors dead friends and relatives who can no longer join in the holiday celebration.
One normally leaves an empty chair at the table for the alminhas a penar ("souls of the dead") who may be present at the feast. Leftovers remain on the table overnight for hungry ghosts who might drop in later.
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Believe it or not - THIS is the first photograph ever uploaded to the world wide web. 1992. You could look it up - and you should! |
NEVER BE WITHOUT POWER AGAIN
December Special*
$400 OFF
GE Stand-by Home Generator
Call today:
888 841 0743
*Must purchase unit in December, 2012. Can not be combined with any other offers, discounts or coupons. Offer ends 12/31/12.
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Enjoy Your December
Sincerely, Aiello Home Services   | | Please like us on Facebook |
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