Roger) sodium hydroxide indeed does have a shelf life. The problem
with it is taht it will absorb CO2 out of the air and form bicarbonate
buffer, which will dink with your titrations.

Jason) When dealing with NaOH normality and molarity are the same
thing. Normality is a term that deals with molar equilivants. Since
NaOH only has one OH equivalent a 1 N solution is the same as a 1 M
solution. Now, Calcium hydroxide Ca(OH)2 has two basic equilivants, so
a 1 M solution of Ca(OH)2 is a 2 N solution. That page you supplied
is misleading. Look instead at:
http://environmentalchemistry.com/yo...Normality.html