 |
||||||||
 |
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
Pack these items, and pamper yourself
By JUDI DASH
New items can ease the way in a variety of potentially uncomfortable situations. These products have been tested by the author and may be available in stores. Price does not include shipping. COZY ZZZZZ'S: The new Airline Comfort Set, which is just as good for a car or train trip, includes a satiny washable silk pillowcase (travel- or airline-pillow size), a padded eyeshade and a soft, 72- by 43-inch silk blanket that includes a 10-inch pocket to keep your feet warm. The set, which rolls into an included 12-inch silk bag with draw chord, is available in matching sets of midnight blue or lilac. Makes a great bon voyage present. Airline Comfort Set (BL200) is $55 from DreamSacks; toll-free 1-800-670-7661; www.dreamsack.com. EZ PHONE HOME: The easy-to-install Walker Portable Phone Amplifier is fine for raising the sound level on phones at home or away. The battery-powered, 31/2- by 2- by 1-inch amplifier connects between the base of the telephone and the receiver, via an included modular phone jack. You can increase high-frequency sound (the most common casualty of hearing loss) using the volume slide button and/or push-button sound booster for up to 28 decibels of gain. The amplifier works only with corded phones in which the dial pad is in the base of the phone. Runs on two, included, AAA batteries. Works quite well, although the unit can feel a little clunky hanging from the telephone cord. Walker CE125 Portable Telephone Amplifier is $29.95 in stores. Toll-free 1-800-552-3368; www.mywalker.com. READ THAT MENU: Here's a little visual aid for people who need -- but are resistant to getting -- serious reading glasses, or for those who can use an extra emergency pair. Zelco's tiny SlimStix Reading Glasses are featherweight, scratch-resistant lenses that come nestled in their own tote tube. Available in red, blue or graphite frames, they come in four strengths:+1.00,+1.50,+2.00 and+2.50. A display chart helps you pick the right strength. Obviously, this is no substitute for an eye exam and professionally prescribed corrective lenses, but for many folks of a certain age, this can make a decent back-up to keep stashed in a car or carry bag when confronted with maps, menus, telephone books or other reading matter that seems to have been printed in fuzzy type. SlimStix Reading Glasses are $13 in stores or from Zelco; toll-free 1-800-431-2486; www.zelco.com. PORTABLE JOHN: Sometimes nature's call comes when you lack a place to discretely answer. That's where the TravelJohn Disposable Urinal comes to the rescue. The leak-proof, gel-filled pouch absorbs up to 28 ounces of liquid and has a soft, contoured cup-top that securely channels flow for men, women or children. A built-in zip-lock closure secures the pouch and eliminates odor. Each pouch includes an antiseptic hand-wipe, and the whole thing is nontoxic and disposable. Use it in the car or in lieu of questionable public toilet seats (use the toilet stall for privacy but the TravelJohn for sanitation). TravelJohn Disposable Urinal is $5.99 for a three-pack at drug stores or $22.50 per 10-pack at www.traveljohn.com. Retailers include Campmor, toll-free 1-888-226-7667. NEAT HEAT: Thanks to this compact heater, you need never again shiver as you exit a shower at home or on a road trip. The 91/2- by 8- by 5-inch ThermaFlo heater mounts directly onto the double electrical outlet of any room via a locking system that uses the top outlet to secure the unit and the bottom outlet for the electrical plug. The adjustable unit, which provides 1,000 or 1,500 watts of warmth, has a spare outlet on the side for powering an additional small appliance of up to 500 watts. (Any additional outlet cannot be used when the heater is at full power). The heater requires no installation tools, and it has overheat protection and a safety shut-off to prevent electrical circuit overload. Not quite as toasty as one of those overhead heat lamps, but this one will follow you home -- and away. Cordless Bathroom Heater (T354555) is $59.95 from Brookstone; toll-free 1-800-926-7000; www.brookstone.com. -- Judi Dash ia a freelance writer living in Beachwood, Ohio.
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111 
|
From the Times Travel page
From the AP | ||||||||||||||||||||||
