Friday Afternoon Archives - Kowalski Heat Treating

Conversation Hearts

February 13, 2026/0 Comments/in Friday Afternoon /by Steve Kowalski

With Valentine’s Day coming up, you can show your love in a bunch of different ways – a dozen red roses, a heart-shaped box of chocolates, a home-cooked meal, a candlelight dinner night out, a love letter (not email!!), or a classic gesture, a little sweeter … a box of Sweethearts conversation hearts. These classic treats are the only ones to state right on the candy how much you adore that special person in your life, sharing simple messages such as “Kiss Me,” “Be Mine”, “Love U,” and more with your valentine. I still remember as a kid having these candies around the house and at school (they sort of taste like sweet chalk). My girls would bring them home from school, organize them by saying and color, and then begin trading! My grandkids enjoy looking through the bowl for just the right one, running over to say “hey Grandpa”, showing me what they found, then quickly eating it while running away giggling. Of course, I need to do the same while adding chasing, yelling, and tickling to the mix! Originating in the mid-19th century, these little “messages” remain one of the most popular ways to share a Valentine’s Day “kiss”. Here is some history and facts about the candies, and the meaning behind signing cards with “XOXO”. SMOOOCH – Enjoy!

Winter Words

February 6, 2026/0 Comments/in Friday Afternoon /by Steve Kowalski

“Winter” means different things around the United States. Here in Cleveland, it is associated with snow scrapers, salt trucks, slush (Ugh!), heavy coats, and frozen faces. Folks in New England can almost guarantee they’ll have lots of snow, while Floridians might see a few flurries every few years. On the West Coast, in Los Angeles, temperatures might not even dip below 50 degrees Fahrenheit most days- that would be so boring! As regions across the country experience winter weather very differently, weather forecasters have developed special language for winter weather occurrences (my favorite is bomb cyclone, but I think that is a little dramatic)! I did some research and found some of the more popular storm names and definitions, along with winter words no longer in use. You will really be able to impress your friends with some of the following words! Stay warm and enjoy!

Wham-O & The Pluto Platter

January 30, 2026/0 Comments/in Friday Afternoon /by Steve Kowalski

Just the word Wham-O, and I immediately think of my childhood and fun toys – hula hoops, super balls, slip n slide, hacky sacks, and of course, frisbees. There are not many toys out there as easy, fun, and everlasting as a frisbee. Before it was a staple of college quads, picnics, beach days, and backyard games, it was actually just a pie tin. My kids and now grandkids love throwing/trying to throw the frisbees – especially AT Grandpa and Grandma! Read more

Drifting Away

January 23, 2026/0 Comments/in Friday Afternoon /by Steve Kowalski

Growing up and living most of my life in Northeast Ohio gives me a somewhat unique perspective on snow, snowstorms, and snow drifts. I can’t count how many times I’ve ventured down the driveway to shovel, only to find a big drift wrapping around the car or garage. Part PIA (pain in the @%$) and part beauty, I find myself slice carving sections out with my shovel to then throw the snow onto the lawn, clearing the driveway (for a little while). I can remember, as a kid back in 1978, before I-480 was opened, we were driving down Brookpark Road by the Cleveland Hopkins Airport – the snow was so high that we could not see over the fences on either side of the road, just a long white tunnel! That year, we also had drifts of almost 40’! For those of you who live in the northeast, you’ve likely noticed how storms are less severe than years ago (“when I was a kid, we walked 8 miles to school, barefoot, against the wind both ways, without jackets…”). Even though I’m fascinated by the drifts, at times, I must admit, sometimes they are a “pain”. These days I have a very nice snowblower, which allows me to occasionally start at my driveway and proceed down to the corner of the street and come back!! Yup -a man with his toys! Here’s some cool science about snow and drifts I think you’ll find fascinating, along with a bit of big storms trivia. Stay warm and enjoy!

Body Beautiful

January 16, 2026/0 Comments/in Friday Afternoon /by Steve Kowalski

It’s easy to take our bodies for granted, but if you stop and think about it, they’re home to an array of wonders. Consider, for example, that our eyes can see distant galaxies, our hair contains traces of gold, and our veins could stretch for 60,000 miles if laid end to end (that’s enough to go around the world twice). I did some fact-finding and gathered some fascinating facts about the human body. Now I realize that this post is much longer than most. I couldn’t help myself; there are so many incredible facts! Perfect for wowing your friends or, in my case, making my girls and Jackie just shake their heads! Enjoy!

Time To Step Up

January 9, 2026/0 Comments/in Friday Afternoon /by Steve Kowalski

Now that we’ve turned the corner on 2026, you’re likely thinking about starting the year off right with better exercise and diet. Did you know next Wednesday is National Take the Stairs Day? It’s a quirky, uplifting celebration that encourages everyone – office workers, students, and public officials alike – to skip the elevator and climb the stairs for a healthier lifestyle. For me, I’m lucky that my office is on the second floor here at KHT World headquarters (that’s fun to write!). So often during the day, I scoot down the back stairs, onto the shop floor to check on your PIA (pain in the @%$) Jobs! It’s not a long descent or climb, but it does get me out of my chair and moving. In the town I live in, I’m blessed to have stair access to Lake Erie. Jackie and I love to head over to the lakefront and make our way down to the sand and surf. I’ll admit, the walk back up does test my lungs every time I do it! I can feel it in my calves too! At first, I thought the celebration day was a bit silly, but thinking a bit more about it, it made sense to share. Here’s some fun info on the day, and more about “steps” I hope you enjoy – I sure learned a lot doing my research. Enjoy!

Scoooore!

January 2, 2026/0 Comments/in Friday Afternoon /by Steve Kowalski

With all the sports on TV over the past month, I’m really enjoying one thing – the celebrations. Seems like every sport has created its way to celebrate. And once it’s set, the kids come up with something new. If you’ve ever played, there’s nothing like celebrating a win (you should see my Euchre shuffle) – and we do it all the time here at KHT – when one of our engineers “nails it”, or one of our gang on the floor figures out a way to do it better. A nod, smile, or traditional “pat on the back” is good, but it’s more fun when we go the extra mile. I got a big kick out of the Mariners handing the home run hitters a giant gold trident and the Blue Jays dug out jacket. From college helmet awards to the hockey bench fist bumps, it’s just fun. I did some internet searching to find some of the traditions we’ve all come to enjoy and got a kick out of the ones I remember as a kid. What started as a gentleman’s handshake “back in the day” to tearing jerseys, back flips, and fist bumps, it’s all a blast. I have to admit, in football I’m still partial to a quick kneel – sign of the cross and tossing the ball to the ref does it for me! ENJOY!

AAAAAhhhhhh

December 26, 2025/0 Comments/in Friday Afternoon /by Steve Kowalski

There’s something special about the week between Christmas and New Year’s. Sure, it triggers all of those “I gotta get this done before the new year” thoughts, but it also has a bit of a relaxing exhale to it – kind of a quiet rhythm all its own. Around here, winter begins to settle in, the fireplace gets used a lot more, and we just sort of look forward to chill. I thought about it to see what I’d plan, and suggest, rather than rushing into resolutions (I have just a few this year!) I’d take some time to reflect and enjoy. Searching the web to see if others do the same, I stumbled on some cool traditions from other countries and made up a list of my own. I hope you, too, can think of this week as your reset window – a quiet space to wrap up loose ends, enjoy small pleasures, connect with those we missed the past few weeks, and get our mind and heart ready for a fresh start. Enjoy the tips!

Merry Christmas!

December 25, 2025/0 Comments/in Friday Afternoon /by Steve Kowalski

Wishing you and your family a Christmas filled with peace, joy, and the quiet blessings that matter most. May this season remind us of the goodness around us and the hope we carry into a new year. Thank you for letting KHT be a part of your success.

Sneak a Kiss

December 19, 2025/0 Comments/in Friday Afternoon /by Steve Kowalski

I just love the holidays and holiday traditions. For me, they never get tired – all the fun, music, nostalgia, and decorations just add to the holidays. So, after taking down the Halloween decorations and putting away the Thanksgiving decorations, it’s now time to be sure we decorate for Christmas in my house. Jackie does a wonderful job, mixing in things we’ve inherited from the family with things of our own, to one day pass along to the kids and grandkids. And one of my favorites is to hang some mistletoe in the doorway, with hopes of stealing a kiss here or there again and again from Jackie! I wanted to learn more about where mistletoe comes from, and the history behind it, and of course, I turned to the internet. I hope you enjoy the info and make mistletoe a tradition in your home, too. ENJOY!