Category: How To

  • Do You Have Eosinophilic Asthma? The Signs

    Do You Have Eosinophilic Asthma? The Signs

    Eosinophilic asthma, as opposed to allergic asthma, has some distinct differences. People suffering from eosinophilic asthma typically experience shortness of breath and wheezing due to an elevation of blood eosinophils.

    Allergic asthma, by contrast, tends to occur when someone is exposed to animal dander or another allergen. Could you be suffering from eosinophilic asthma? Here are the common signs and symptoms.

    Eosinophilic Asthma

    History

    Eosinophilic asthma has been known about for about 100 years. As long ago as the 1950s, it was known that severe chronic asthma shows an elevation of eosinophils. Recently, there’s been even more focus on reducing eosinophils in order to help treat this type of asthma.

    Details

    Eosinophilic asthma is often rather severe and is more commonly seen developing in adults. Inflammatory cells infiltrate airways, blocking the passage of air, leading to shortness of breath and wheezing. A lot of people with eosinophilic asthma have no history of allergies, though allergies are another common cause of asthma.

    Those of have eosinophilic asthma have increased eosinophils in their blood and tissues, meaning that their entire respiratory system is being affected. Chronic sinus disease is common among those suffering from this type of asthma.

    Those with higher levels of eosinophils in their blood have been shown to have a higher risk of future asthma attacks. These can range in severity a good bit from patient to patient. If you think you may have asthma, speak to your doctor about it.

    Causes

    It’s unknown, at present, what causes eosinophilic asthma. Typically, patients don’t have allergies, and modern medical science is unsure of how this type of asthma starts. However, there are treatments that involve combating the high number of eosinophils.

    Symptoms

    Those suffering from eosinophilic asthma tend to have symptoms like coughing, wheezing, tightness of the chest and difficulty breathing. Airflow obstructions are also common. Notably, those suffering from this type of asthma typically don’t have allergies and their asthma attacks are unrelated to outside factors.

    Chronic nasal polyps and inflamed nasal membranes are also common symptoms. If you’re suffering from symptoms like this, speak to your doctor. They may be able to diagnose the issue and could prescribe you medicine to combat this type of asthma.

  • Best Ways to Deal with Dry Eyes

    Best Ways to Deal with Dry Eyes

    Dry eyes are a huge pain, especially during allergy season. It’s hard to work when you’re constantly worried about your eyes being dry and itchy. What are some of the best ways to fight dry eyes?

    Today we’re looking at some easy and convenient solutions to your dry eye problem to help you keep on track.

    Best Ways to Deal with Dry Eyes

    Over-the-Counter Drops

    Simple, over-the-counter eyedrops can be a great solution for mild dry eye. If you’re experiencing seasonal allergies, mild dry eye or general eye strain, OTC drops can be a huge help. Keeping a bottle at your desk at work, on your nightstand and/or in your car can help you get instant relief for dry, itchy eyes.

    These OTC drops are usually simple saline and can help with mild cases. Usually, they’re quite inexpensive and they’re a great first step for combatting typical dry eye. However, if you find these alone aren’t helping, there are a few other things you can try.

    Eyewear

    Some find that a bit of new eyewear can help a lot with eye strain. Wearing lenses that are the right fit for your eyes are a huge help. If you need reading glasses, or glasses for seeing far away, don’t hesitate to speak to your eye doctor about your concerns.

    Additionally, if you use a computer for work and find yourself experiencing eye strain, consider getting a pair of blue-light eliminating glasses. These yellow-green tinted glasses cut the blue light out of any light coming to your retinas, helping to reduce eye strain. Such lenses are available over-the-counter and don’t require a prescription, as they’re quite safe to use.

    Prescription Drops

    If you have severe dry eye that isn’t helped by simple over-the-counter drops and isn’t related to eye strain, speak to your eye doctor. It’s possible you’ve got a chronic condition that is causing your dry eye to stay around in spite of normal solutions. In such cases, your eye doctor can diagnose your issue.

    If your eye doctor diagnoses you with a serious eye issue related to your dry eye, then they’ll likely prescribe you medicated eye drops. These should only be used at your doctor’s direction and will likely have instructions on when and how to take them.

    Medicated eyedrops can help with even severe dry-eye by adding medicine to the surface of your eye. These should be used a last-resort if traditional methods don’t work, however, as they’re a good bit more expensive than OTC drops!

  • Empty Nest Syndrome: How to Fight It

    Empty Nest Syndrome: How to Fight It

    This is the moment: the kids have finally all moved out. How do you feel? Probably some combination of proud, wistful and nostalgic. It’s hard to wrap your head around.

    This chapter of your life has come to a close, and now you’ve got the house to yourself again. How do you fight off the empty nest blues?

    Here are a few of our tips.

    Empty Nest Syndrome

    Hobbies

    Consider picking up some new hobbies to help you focus on something else. Painting, playing an instrument, learning a new language, gardening and learning a new sport are all popular choices. Health and fitness pursuits are also great at this stage in someone’s life.

    Not only will these hobbies provide a good outlet for your complex feelings about this stage of life, but they’ll likely help you meet new people or find new common ground with old friends.

    Vacation

    If being in your home without the kids is bumming you out, consider taking a vacation. Get on a cruise ship and travel to the Caribbean for a week. Head up to Aspen and enjoy some skiing. Heck, just head to the beach or the mountains for a weekend. It’s hard to get used to the new status quo, so why not take a break from the usual for a while?

    Downsize

    Maybe you’re finding your current place is a bit big now that all the kids have moved out. Maybe you don’t need all this room, and you’re sick of seeing the empty bedrooms where the kids used to sleep. Consider moving into a new, smaller home. Not only will you have a smaller mortgage, you’ll also get a fresh start on a new chapter in your life.

    If you’ve found it hard to move on from your kids moving out, maybe it’s time for you to move out too. You can even opt to move somewhere more central, like downtown or closer to the city center, to get into more social activities.

    Reflection

    Life isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. When all is said and done, some things in life are hard to wrestle with. The blues you’re feeling now that the kids have moved out could be simple angst that time keeps passing. Aging and, eventually, dying are just natural parts of being human. If these are the underlying issues to your empty nest syndrome, we’ve got advice.

    The best way to deal with these emotions is by sitting with them and reflecting on them, honestly. Aging isn’t glamorous or fun. It is, however, what makes you human.

    Consider meditating on your life’s path, and think about your children and their role in shaping who you are now. Accepting life, even in the moments where it hurts, is key to living happily.

  • Best Places to Find Deals on Baby Formula

    Best Places to Find Deals on Baby Formula

    Baby formula can be really expensive. It’s hard to find good deals on this product, as it’s universally needed and you can’t exactly skimp on it. If you have a baby, you need formula.

    For those who are struggling with the high costs of baby formula, you’re likely looking for the best places to find deals on it.

    Here are some of the best places to look for deals on baby formula.

    Best Places to Find Deals on Baby Formula

    Dedicated Sites

    Many people prefer to use dedicated websites for buying their baby formula. These sites, like BabySavers, tend to focus on finding discounted rates for baby formula so new parents can save more money. Buying online through these kinds of retailers can be a huge help for people with infants, too.

    For one thing, shopping online offers you the comfort of comparing prices from home. You can quickly judge what the best deal is without having to go all over the place looking at different in-store prices. For another thing, you’re able to have the formula delivered right to your home, allowing you to forego traffic.

    Amazon

    As with most products, Amazon can be a life-saver for buying in bulk online. Using plug-ins like Honey, which helps to find coupon codes, you can likely save big on bulk baby formula. As with buying from dedicated sites, you get all the benefits of buying online, which can be huge for new parents.

    Amazon also often offers free shipping for existing Amazon Prime users. Many new parents love Amazon Prime for getting supplies like diapers and other new-parent staples. If you haven’t looked into them yet, consider looking at Amazon to see if they could help you with all the things you need for your new baby.

    Membership Stores

    Big warehouse membership stores like Sam’s Club and Costco often have great deals on bulk items. Baby formula is no exception. If you happen to already have a membership to one of these stores, check in and see if the in-store price for formula is better than the online price.

    While you don’t get the benefit of shopping from home and avoiding traffic when you shop in-store, there are some upsides. You don’t have to wait for shipping with in-store purchases, so you can get your formula right away if you’ve run out. You also get to stock up on other supplies while you’re out, allowing you to roll your grocery shopping into your formula run.

  • What You Should Know Before You Remodel your Kitchen

    What You Should Know Before You Remodel your Kitchen

    If you’re serious about your house looking its best, one of the first places to focus is the kitchen. Who wants to have an old, worn-out looking kitchen? Certainly not us! If you’re looking into getting a kitchen remodel, here are the top things to keep in mind.

    What You Should Know Before You Remodel your Kitchen

    Research the Contractor

    When you start with any project like this, make sure you know who you want to do it. If you’re looking at certain contractors, make sure they’re experienced and accredited. You don’t want some shady contractor coming in and charging you too much for shoddy work.

    Make sure you know up front how the contractor charges. Do they accept a flat fee up front? Do they charge by the hour? These are details you want to have before they walk into your home. Also, make sure you know their policy on unexpected wrinkles. How do they handle unexpected damage, or if one of their guys breaks something?

    Make sure the contractor is also experienced in the kind of work you want done. If they’ve never redone floor tiles, then maybe you should consider someone else for your floor-tile centered remodel. You want a contractor who knows the work you want done.

    Costs

    It’s important you make sure you know what the project is likely to cost. Get in touch with a contractor and see if you can get a good ballpark estimate of how much you can expect the project to set you back. Of course, this is going to be an estimate at first.

    The cost of the project will be directly related to just how much you want done. If you just want new cabinets, that shouldn’t run you too much. If you’re get new counters, new flooring and new appliances, too, then expect to spend a pretty penny.

    Get a Time Table

    Make sure you know before the contractor gets started just how long to expect the work to take. How will the contractor company handle it if one of their workers falls ill or has an emergency? What is their contingency plan if some unexpected damage occurs?

    Another important thing to know is whether there will be parts of your house inaccessible, and for how long. It’s hard to plan around contractors as-is, let alone without knowing when your kitchen might be inaccessible. Get this info up-front so there’s no surprises. That way you can plan your weeks around the schedule of the remodel!

  • Make What You’re Worth: Top Jobs that Don’t Require a Degree

    Make What You’re Worth: Top Jobs that Don’t Require a Degree

    College isn’t always right for everyone. That’s just the way life is. Not everyone can afford it, and some people can take the time off to got to school when they have bills to pay. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t make decent money without a college degree. There are tons of great jobs out there for those looking to move up without a college degree.

    Top Jobs that Don’t Require a Degree

    Retail Management

    It might sound strange, but retail management is a great path for those looking to move up without a degree. While you might have to bust your tail working hard in the entry level retail positions, good retailers notice hard work. Those who work hard and keep their sights on moving up tend to get promoted pretty quickly to higher positions.

    A job as a manager in a retail environment provides a lot of the same benefits that most degree-requiring jobs do. This includes time-off, insurance and full-time hours that are all critical to moving forward in life. Keep in mind, however, that retail and customer service isn’t for everyone.

    Web Developer

    Maybe you didn’t go to college but you’re killer at making web pages. If so, a job as a web developer would be a great fit for you. In fact, you can make great money designing webpages as either a contractor or an employee.

    Many web developers like the freedom and flexibility of working as a contractor. Others, however, prefer the benefits and security of working for a company. In any event, usually web development positions are entirely based on merit. If you can design a good page, you’re likely a cinch for the job.

    Hotel Management

    Hotel work is great for people without college degrees. After all, they’re consistent jobs with opportunities for advancement and tons of demand. Every city has hotels, and hotels need managers! Getting in on the ground floor with a hotel isn’t terribly difficult, as they always need people to mind the front desk, perform night audits and otherwise cover the administration of the building.

    Promotion to higher positions in hotels is comparable to that found in retail. Those who are on time, good at their jobs and cultivate good relationships with their bosses find themselves promoted to higher positions readily. Much like retail, management affords benefits like medical and paid time off, making it a great path for many without degrees.

    Don’t feel as though you have to go to college if you don’t want to or can’t afford it. Remember, there are tons of opportunities out there for people of all education levels.

  • Natural Heartworm Treatments that Could Save your Dog’s Life

    Natural Heartworm Treatments that Could Save your Dog’s Life

    Heartworms can be very dangerous for dogs of all sizes and ages. Depending on the stage of heartworms in your dog, the symptoms could vary. In the case of severe heartworm infection, your dog could be displaying a cough, intolerance to exercise, and even weight loss. If your dog has been tested positive for heartworms but has no symptoms, then they are likely still early in the infection.

    No matter what stage your dog is at, there are steps you can take to help them. In addition to the treatments your vet suggests, you can try some of these natural heartworm treatments. In conjunction with traditional treatment, these could even save your dog’s life.

    Natural Heartworm Treatments

    Homeopathic Remedy

    While homeopathic remedies have hit-and-miss results in helping dogs with heartworms, they’re generally quite safe and worth trying. Many suggest using combinations of the following homeopathic treatments in conjunction, using them twice a day and over the course of a few months.

    The remedies suggested to be used in concert are Croton tiglium, Lycopersicum, Tanacetum, Allium cepa and Allium sativum. These are suggested to be mixed together and given to your dog orally via a dropper. Two or three drops twice a day is the suggested dosage.

    While giving these remedies to your dog, it’s recommended you consult your vet and have your dog regularly treated to see if they still have heartworms. In the event that they don’t take to this treatment, consider other remedies.

    In Older Dogs

    If your dog is older, or quite sick, it could be advised to also use Crataegus, or hawthorn, herbal tincture. This herbal tincture has properties that help the metabolism and strengthen the heart. This can be used in conjunction with the above homeopathic remedy, helping your dog’s organs during the progress of the remedy.

    Conventional Treatment

    The reason many owners opt for natural remedies for heartworms is that the conventional remedy can cause organ damage in some dogs. Older dogs, especially, can have a lot of stress put on their heart by such procedures. However, no treatment is without side effects or risks, and heartworms can be life-threatening for your dog.

    When you’re considering how to treat heartworms, make sure you consult your vet. It’s very important that you take the disease seriously and take any steps necessary to protect your dog. Depending on the stage the heartworms are at, it could be better to opt for conventional treatment due to the amount of time your dog might have left to be treated.

  • Computers and Smartphones Explained: Take the Fear Out of Tech

    Computers and Smartphones Explained: Take the Fear Out of Tech

    Some of our older generations are still hesitant to jump onto the latest tech. Who could blame them?  Some of this stuff seems terrifying if you don’t understand it. Take the A.I. assistants for example. It’s hard to wrap your head around a strange voice in a box listening to everything you say. I’m talking about senior cyberphobia.

    Cyberphobia is a real condition among our seniors today. Cyberphobia is the fear of computers or working on a computer. Senior Cyberphobia is a combination of cyberphobia and a disconnect with how tech operates. Attempting to overcome this phobia often leads to frustration and tech abandonment.

    Rejecting the tech can leave you aging at a much faster rate. Doctors are even going as far as to say the health risks for those who remain technologically and socially disconnected are close to smoking and obesity. It doesn’t have to be this way, as tech has come a long way in the last decade and can really improve the quality of life for seniors. Today we are going to talk about a few crucial pieces of tech that every senior should consider, as well as a crash course on how to use them.

    Apple Watch

    I know you think this tech is way beyond your level of comprehension. That is just not true. The Apple Watch, while it has some fairly advanced functions right out of the box, it is actually pretty basic and easy to use. It has many of the functions you would find in a medical alert bracelet, just a lot better. Like the fall-detection technology that works with the help of an accelerometer and gyroscope. The tech will work to identify when hard falls occur; then if you remain on the ground for a certain period,  it will even call for help.

    Apple says it does this“By analyzing wrist trajectory and impact acceleration, Apple Watch sends the user an alert after a fall, which can be dismissed or used to initiate a call to emergency services.” According to Apple “If Apple Watch senses immobility for 60 seconds after the notification, it will automatically call emergency services and send a message along with the location to emergency contacts.”

    Echo Show

    If seniors like you can get past the idea of talking to a robot, the Echo Show is an excellent way to video chat very easily. You are probably always saying you don’t see your grandkids enough. Well, with simple set up, you can easily say”Alexa, Call Jaxon,” and boom – you are looking at a live feed of your grandchild and hearing all about his day. Receiving calls is just as easy, Alexa will clearly state who is calling, and you just say answer or ignore.

    There is a great safety feature too; you can set up a password that will alert certain selected loved ones to “drop-in” and check on you via the video feed. With simple set up, Alexa and the Echo Show can read the news to you daily, play games and music with you, and even get you sports and weather updates – all automatically.  The Echo Show has an easy to see 7-inch color touchscreen and is available at Amazon.com for $230.

    The Colombo Method

    I bet these are starting to sound pretty enticing, but you might be worried that you won’t be able to use them. The most significant disconnect with seniors and their ability to learn tech today is the process in which seniors learn to do things. They were taught from a young age that everything has an order or set of steps involved. You start with step 1, then 2, and 3, and you memorize these steps.  This is not the case with technology. You cannot remember how an entire smartphone or computer works, the order, as the steps can be different based on any number of variables.

    When you look at your computer or smartphone, you need to think like Columbo. “What is there that wasn’t before, what is not there that was before, and what has changed?” Keeping a flexible mind and knowing the device only does what you tell it to do will help keep any frustration at bay. The most important thing to remember is that you can break anything by pressing the wrong button.

    All tech has a “home” button, so if you find yourself at a place or screen you don’t understand or didn’t intend to go to, just go home and try again. Try to have fun, and realize that you are in complete control.  Your device may not do what you “want” it to do, it will only do what you tell it to do. And one more thing… don’t forget to simply play around!  You will be surprised at what you can do and learn.

  • Essential Bathroom Aids for Seniors

    Essential Bathroom Aids for Seniors

    One of the things everyone dreads about getting old is not being able to take care or yourself, especially in the bathroom. It is a substantial ongoing fear for all adults, having to have bathroom assistance. Once seniors accept they need help a large part of there dignity dies.

    You don’t have to accept this fate just yet. With the advance bathroom aids for seniors, you can delay this unfortunate moment of your twilight. Here are some of the essentials you will want to equip in your bathroom as you age with grace. In addition, we have included some tips to seniorfy your bathroom as well.

    Lighting

    The first thing you will want to do upon entering seniorhood is to update the lighting in your bathroom. You will want to add bright automatic lighting as well.  Kohree automatic plug-in LED automatic night lights can really help seniors see in the bathroom at night, reducing fall risk. Cutting down your fall risk is one of the big priorities in seniorfying your bathroom. Kohree’s Automatic Plug-in LED Night Light Lamp is a great pickup for only $16 from Amazon for a two pack.

    Next, we will need to upgrade the toilet. You will want something up a little higher off of the floor. A commode that will make you feel like a gargoyle perched on the top of the Notre Dame. Drive’s Medical raised toilet seat with arms is precisely the toilet you will want for your senior bathroom. It’s an easy-to-install, raised toilet seat making it very easy for seniors get up and down. When it is easier to get on and off the toilet, you will reduce the risk of falls.

    The Tub is a Prime Place to Fall

    The next thing you will want to do is make getting in out of the tub easier. Your bathtub is a prime area for falls, which can be devastating in your later years. The Medline bathtub safety grab bar locks to the side of the tub for an easy in and out gripping handle. The bar simply locks into place on the side rail of the bathtub with a secure clamp. You will not need any tools for installation. It will also come with some rubber-lined pads to prevent the tub surface from being damaged by the bar.

    While we are on the subject of handles, it would be a good idea to install a few others around the bathroom. You never know when or where you will need to catch yourself before a fall, but rest assured it will always be the last place you would think. I recommend the Moen bathroom grab bar. They run around $20 and come in varying lengths.

    Now you’ll want to do smaller upgrades that will not only make using your bathroom easier but more enjoyable. Upgrade your shower head with something designed for seniors. The deluxe handheld showerhead 12041 by Lumex is a great bathroom addition. Six spray options provide ease of bathing for everyone. They list the six options as saturating, saturating & bubbling, bubbling, massage, saturating & massage, and pause spray functions. They all sound delightful.  It also has an 84-inch reinforced hose for extra convenience. You can pair it with the Lumex bath chair, it’s long enough and a bath chair will, of course, reduce your fall risk.

    If your mobility is getting limited, you may want to look into the Neptune Reclining Bathlift.  This bath lift will lower you securely into your tub.  It will help you to remain upright as it provides a  firm back support. It also has a great recline option to gently and gradually ease you into a comfortable, relaxing, position.  You can pair it with a nice bathboard to enjoy a little extra leg room.

    A Step Up

    All seniors should think about adding a bath step as well; as tubs seem to be getting higher by the day.  A good bathroom step with a large platform with comfortable, slip-resistant will provide a convenient measure to assist getting in and out of the bath or shower. This step will again, help you from slipping a falling. I think an on-going theme is emerging. The Council on Aging says that a senior falls every 19 mins.

    Last, let’s talk about the walk-in tub option.  A walk-in tub is a great option to reduce the risk of falling while getting into or out of the bathtub. These tubs have doors that allow users to walk in and sit down without having to worry about climbing over a traditional tub ledge. While these tubs are a little costly, the investment could very well help prolong your life.

  • Pulling a Six Figure Income Without a College Degree Could be Easier Than You Think

    Pulling a Six Figure Income Without a College Degree Could be Easier Than You Think

    No one will argue that a college degree can be worth its weight in gold, however unlike in the past, one can still get a lucrative six-figure job without the degree. It remains true that with associate’s or bachelor’s degrees employees do earn more on average but you can even get a relatively high-paying career without a college education.

    The focus has always been on getting students to focus on higher education; today we see a shift and demand back to skilled labors. Statistics show America’s labor shortage is approaching epidemic proportions. These statistics mean employers will end up paying more for the right employees. We are seeing nearly 80 percent of construction businesses are having a hard time finding qualified, skilled labors.

    Skilled labors on average earn 62,000 per year, but the potential is much higher in a few key areas. These are the skills that never go outdated and are always in need, learning one of these means you will still have a trade to fall back on. Five skilled labor professions do have a higher earning potential. These trades are plumbers, electricians, brick masons, painters,  and truck drivers.

    Brickmason

    Brickmasons and block layers. Currently, the top 10% of bricklayers and block masons are making over $100,000 per year.  10%  means 1 in 10 at this skilled labor position is in six figures. The average starting pay is significantly lower, and the annual average wage of Brickmasons and Blockmasons is $53440.

    No education is needed to lay and bind building materials,  brick, structural tile, concrete block, cinder block, glass block, and terra-cotta block. Just a good work ethic and a strong back, you could be in that 10%.

    Electrician

    We know power is crucial these days and electricians install the electrical systems that power our homes and businesses. Electricians also handle all the necessary maintenance, repairs, and power upgrades that these buildings require. The skill to wire a building for electricity is a valuable commodity in 2019.

    Electricians earned an average of $62,910 per year. This number is according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The average hourly pay for an electrician was estimated to be $31.68. The top 25 percent earn more a lot more, 1 in 4 electricians is pulling in over 100k.

    Painter

    Construction companies rely on painters to put the finishing touches on new homes and building. Interior painters are also in demand to paint houses, apartments and office building interiors as well as complete remodeling projects for existing structures. The Department of Labor says median annual income for painters is just $37,960 a year.

    For the 42% of painters that are self-employed, the pay is much higher. Over half of them make over 100k, and the expected demand growth for construction painters is 16%.

    Plumber

    Good plumbing is the cornerstone of the infrastructure and sanitation of civilization as we know it today. The plumbing profession has come along way since ancient civilizations first needed to provide clean potable water for a large number of people. From unclogging a toilet to designing complex pipe plans for new construction projects plumber are essential in all forms of construction today.

    To be a master plumber, you will have to a plumbing apprenticeship program through a union or trade school, but the income is worth it. A master plumber makes on average 79,000 per year, and the top 14% are over that 100k mark.

    Truck Driver

    Few other careers offer such a fast track into financial viability coupled with long-term job security and satisfaction as a truck driver. Throw on your trucker hat, make a thermos of coffee and enjoy the road. Truck drivers are on the high average of non-college educated employees. Over the road truck drivers are in increasing demand with half the current OTR driver set to retire in the next ten years.

    The national average for truck drivers is $63,464. OTR team drivers are averaging $71,065, while the top companies like; Wal-Mart, Hobby Lobby, and Amazon are paying their drivers over 100k. Over half of the self-employed drivers with their truck are bring home over 100k profits.

    The Final Thought

    This cost of higher education is growing by the day, and with less guaranteed upon completion of your degree. Skilled trade laborers will always have a demand and an option for work.  With far less money spent on schooling, you would be surprised to learn that being a tradesman could get into that six-figure salary bracket in much less time than just about any other field of work.

    The potential is still higher than only six figures; there are plumbers, electricians and brick masons making a million bucks a year.