Summarize the following:
Although Halloween excitement can build early in October (especially for children), do not buy your pumpkin too early. Most pumpkins will be rotten beyond recovery after a week and a half to two weeks. With this in mind, buy your pumpkin about a week or less before Halloween. Many venues will sell carving pumpkins as Halloween approaches. Visit your local supermarket or pumpkin patch for a good offering. If you live near a farmer's market, vendors there may also sell pumpkins. Find a location with a healthy selection of pumpkins and a range of sizes. If you're pumpkin hunting with young children, a pumpkin patch may be the most fun for them. You can find a local pumpkin patch by searching online or keeping an eye open for advertisements around the area where you live. When you're choosing a pumpkin, try to pick one that's free of nicks, bruises, and cuts. Look for a sturdy stem that doesn't feel too bendable, and for a mostly consistent color all the way around. Knock or thump on the skin like you would a melon; if you hear a hollow sound, the pumpkin is ripe.  Look for a pumpkin with a flat base. This will make it easier to display the carved pumpkin on Halloween night. It's not important if the pumpkin you like is clean or dirty. Remember you can always wash the pumpkin with an old cloth when you get home. If you're planning on an elaborate pumpkin carving, note that a larger gourd will provide more surface space, but also takes more work to carve. Selecting a round, medium-sized pumpkin is a popular option. If you have kids and simply plan on drawing faces on your pumpkins with a permanent marker, try picking up several small to medium samples for them to put different designs on.

summary: Buy a pumpkin shortly before Halloween. Select a pumpkin from a pumpkin patch or supermarket. Select a healthy pumpkin. Pick the size you need.


Summarize the following:
When you are air-drying your wood, the lumber is left outside, exposed to the elements, to cure.  Search for a location that meets the following requirements:  To maximize airflow, select an outdoor location that is not surrounded by buildings or foliage that block the wind. Choose a location that has a slight slope to prevent water from gathering below the lumber. Find a spot that is not covered in foliage—foliage will expose the bottom layer of lumber to moisture. Lumber stacked on asphalt or concrete cures faster. In order to cure properly, lumber must be stacked in a very specific manner. Begin by creating a secure base for your lumber:  Lay out two rows of three evenly spaced concrete blocks. The rows should be the same length as the lumber. The columns should be approximately 1 ½ to 3 feet apart. Lay a bolster, a 4x4 piece of wood, across each set of two concrete blocks. To allow air to flow freely through the pile of lumber, stickers, ½ inch to 1 inch (2.5 cm) strips of wood, are inserted between each layer of lumber.  Place 5 to 6 pieces of evenly spaced wood on top of the bolsters. Each piece of lumber in a pile should be approximately the same length. Place one sticker across each set of ends. Place additional stickers every 18 to 24 inches (45.7 to 61.0 cm) down the length of the lumber. Repeat the process, stacking the successive layers of lumber and stickers in exactly the same locations as the previous layer, until all of the lumber is in the pile. A weighted roof covers the lumber to protect it from rain and snow. To make the weighted roof, do the following:  Retrieve several 4x6 inch timbers that are 6 to 8 inches (15.2 to 20.3 cm) longer than the width of your pile. Place one timber across each end of the pile. Place the remaining timbers evenly down the length of the pile. Retrieve a sheet of metal that is 3 to 4 inches (7.6 to 10 cm) longer than the pile on each side. Place the metal sheet on top of the timbers. Place cement blocks on top of the metal sheet to keep the roof in place. Place the cement blocks in direct alignment with the stickers.

summary: Identify an ideal curing location. Prepare the foundation of the stack. Stack the wood and stickers. Create a weighted roof.


Summarize the following:
Speeches don't have to be invented from scratch. Telling a personal story is a great way to come up with something quickly: since you already know what happened, you'll know what to say. For example:  At a wedding, you could tell a funny story about growing up with the bride or groom. At a funeral, you could tell a story about how kind or generous the deceased was, or about how they influenced you. This is another way to rely on something that's already out there, rather than having to come up with something on the spot. Think of an inspiring quotation, some lyrics to a song, or a famous saying that applies to the situation when you're speaking. Start off with that, and then discuss it a bit. For example, imagine you're giving a toast at Frank's 70th birthday. You could say something like: “They say you can't teach an old dog new tricks. Frank here's proving them wrong. Who else would have the courage to start running marathons in retirement?” Rambling on too long is the number one thing that can go wrong when giving a personal speech. It's much better to avoid saying too much. Keep your speech brief, focusing on two to five main points or examples.  For example, if you're toasting the groom at a wedding, stick to just two good stories about your friendship. If you see people in the audience do things like turn away, talk to each other, check their phones or watches, or fidget in their seats, you might be rambling on and losing their attention. If this happens just quickly cut to your main point and say “thank you” as a way to close. Even practiced speakers can get nervous when asked to give a talk on the spot. Control your nerves by taking a deep breath before you begin, and taking brief pauses every so often while you are talking. Focus on pronouncing your words clearly, and not speaking too quickly. Many people feel nervous about giving a speech, especially with little notice. But if you show the confidence to give one, they'll applaud you. Plus, they'll all be so happy not to be the ones giving the speech that they'll probably be super supportive!  Simple ways to find your confidence before giving a speech include taking some deep, slow breaths, or closing your eyes and visualising a happy place before you begin. You can also look out in the audience and find a few friends or people who seem supportive, and focus on them. If you're nervous, you could also try the old standby of imagining everyone in the audience naked! Above all, just remind yourself that most people will naturally admire the courage of someone who shows the confidence to get up and speak in front of a crowd.
summary: Tell a story you know well. Kick things off with a quote. Keep it short and sweet. Speak clearly and calmly. Shore up your confidence.