Living Rural

This morning I checked my email accounts, as I do every morning, and this video was in one from a dear friend, who BTW has no children. This concept is totally new to me - I truly wish it has been available when my girls were small and constantly in or near our pool. It takes a deep breath and some constraint with a lot of will power to watch it through. I want you to know it is so very worth watching it with your family and passing it on to others.

If you are still raising small children, or have grandchildren in and around your pool… then please take the small amount of time it takes to watch. The video gives links to the home site, etc., if you’re interested in having the program come to your area. The program is infant rescue swimming (IRS.)

Swimming Then go to near the end page and watch the three videos there.

Remember… “Y’all come back, ya’ hear!”

THOSE BORN 1920-1979

READ TO THE BOTTOM FOR QUOTE OF THE MONTH BY JAY LENO. IF YOU DO NOT READ ANYTHING ELSE—VERY WELL STATED

TO ALL THE KIDS WHO SURVIVED the 1930’s, 40’s, 50’s, 60’s and 70’s!!

First, we survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank while they were pregnant.

They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can, and were not tested for diabetes.

Then after that trauma, we were put to sleep on our tummies in baby cribs covered with bright colored lead-based paints…

We had no child proof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets, not to mention, the risks we took hitchhiking.

As infants & children, we would ride in cars with no car seats, booster seats, seat belts, or air bags.

Riding in the back of a pick up on a warm day was always a special treat.

We drank water from the garden hose and NOT from a bottle.

We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and NO ONE actually died from this.

We ate cupcakes, white bread and real butter and drank Kool-aid made with sugar, but we weren’t overweight because,

WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING!

We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on.

No one was able to reach us all day. Moreover, we were OK.

We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then ride down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem.

We did not have Play stations, Nintendo’s, X-boxes, no video games at all, no 150 channels on cable, no video movies or DVD’s, no surround-sound or CD’s, no cell phones, no personal computers, no Internet or chat rooms…….

WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them!

We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones, and teeth and there were no lawsuits from these accidents.

We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever.

We received BB guns for our 10th birthdays, made up games with sticks and tennis balls and although we were told it would happen, we did not poke out very many eyes.

We rode bikes or walked to a friend’s house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just walked in and talked to them!

Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who did not had to learn to deal with disappointment. Imagine that!!

The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law!

These generations have produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers, and inventors ever!

The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas.

We had freedom, failure, success, and responsibility, and we learned how to deal with it all!

If YOU are one of them CONGRATULATIONS!

You might want to share this with others who have had the luck to grow up as kids, before the lawyers and the government regulated so much of our lives for our own good.

While you are at it, forward it to your kids so they will know how brave (and lucky) their parents were.

Kind of makes you want to run through the house with scissors, doesn’t it?

The quote of the month is by Jay Leno:

‘With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?’

For those that prefer to think that God is not watching over us…go ahead and delete this.

For the rest of us…pass this ON!

Remember… “Y’all come back, ya’ hear!”

Thanks to my friend, Sally, for sharing this today.

I frown and I am in the South! We are having a very cold week and we are not suited for this much ‘coldness’, so we complain - a lot!

Of course, our youth live for “Snow Days” - teachers, too! And once every five years or so, isn’t to bad…

For die-hard Southerners, snow belongs up North with temperatures below 40. We live here for the warmth and the sunshine. Like I said, we complain a lot! I love the    

South.  

See what can happen when you least expect it! Quite a surprise this morning, yet so beautiful… maybe this would be nice everyday for several months… naw, just for special Snow Days! It is light and fluffy, just the kind of snow you want, without any ice problems. So the children and the adults with their ‘child’ self will be out and about - throwing snowballs, making snow cream, and building snowmen/women (equal time)! 

So funny, for us to have actual snow on the ground it is a big thing - phone ringing with calls from friends making sure I know it’s snowing, emails coming in, everyone so excited… we are a funny breed, aren’t we?

In case you want to see other photos of our area when it snows, go to http://www.scnow.com/

Remember… “Y’all come back, ya’ hear!”

Garfield has the right idea.

Our weekends should be relaxing - giving our mind and our body time to recover from the busy-ness of our lives. Saturday should be filled with whatever de-stresses you: mind, body, and soul. Sunday should be spent in YOUR CHURCH; whatever that means to you - in the Church of your choice, walking in nature, being creative, meditating, exercising, etc. A time to reconnect, rejuvinate your inner self, and dream of things to come.

Weekends should be about family and friends; sharing together; playing together; and loving one another without any expectations or conditions - the true meaning of kindness.

Just think about how we treat strangers during the week… with respect. Do we treat the people who mean the most to us the same way? Usually not. In the presence of those we care about we feel safe which allows us to let go and “be ourselves.” When stress builds up, we take it out on those we love. Let’s make a conscientious effort to treat the people we love with respect everyday this week.

Deal?

Check out The Quote Garden

Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see. ~Mark Twain

Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for a kindness. ~Seneca

A kind word is like a Spring day. ~Russian Proverb

Let’s set the example.

Remember… “Y’all come back, ya’ hear!”

Snow and I.C.E.

For all frozen readers everywhere…

Frozen Ice Car

It’s FRIDAY!!!!

Apparently, ‘Global Warming’ is on vacation!  One of those
“hmmmm” moments.

Since it is weekend, what special plans do you have besides
staying warm, shoveling snow, or sitting by the fire – be creative and share in
the comments, please.

I plan to see Clint Eastwood in “Grand Torino.” I love his
work and it will be wonderful. The reviews have been excellent, as have his
talk show appearances.

“… of Benjamin Buttons” is still on my list, not sure
there will be time for two movies in this busy weekend. Projects at home
include cleaning and organizing our bedroom to get ready for our new “Memory Foam Mattress” by Bragada. Check
it out, comparable to TempurPeadic, yet less expensive!

As always, Remember …
“Y’all come back, ya’ hear!”

… sounds strange, I know.

Now that winter is in full swing in most parts of the country, all types of heat sources are being used to keep our homes warm. Most of these heat sources cause the air in our to be extremely DRY. This causes problems for some of us. The problem can be solved! How you ask… by using a humidifier. You have many to choose from, information on types and reviews of each can be found HERE.

HUMIDIFIER: You may choose warm or cool mist, both work - it is your preference

• it will help soothe scratchy throats

• prevents static electricity

• keeps wood floors and wood furniture from cracking, but furniture polish will still be required

When looking for your humidifier, check for these features:

• refill container - needs to be easy to remove for cleaning, short enough to fit under the faucet with an opening large enough for a hand and scrubber to get inside

• indicator light - a light to signal when it is time to refill the tank and automatice shut off when the tank is empty

• antimicrobial system - filter or a UV light designed to kill mildew and bacteria

• adjustable moisture control - if room is to humid, condensation and peeling paint will occur

Best humidifier overall                                 Best warm mist humidifier                                   Quietest humidifier

There is a cool mist humidifier, but a picture was not available. Also, a whole home system is available.

I hope this helps in your search for the right unit for your needs.

Remember, “Y’all come back, ya’ hear!”

SUCCESS

You will need the help of others… connect.

• Focus on people
• Be likable
• Show others you  care
• Remember every one’s name
• Walk slowly through the crowd
• Be generous

Do more than exist … LIVE.

Do more than touch … FEEL.

Do more than look … OBSERVE.

Do more than read … ABSORB.

Do more than hear … LISTEN.

Do more than listen … UNDERSTAND.

Do more than think … REFLECT.

Do more than just talk … SAY SOMETHING.

Author Unknown

Remember, “Y’all come back, ya’ hear!”

With the cost of gas and the state of the economy - vacations are not a priority this year; however, vacations can be Enjoyable AND Affordable! Living in the country adds to the decision simply because we are a minimum of  twenty miles from everything. Here are some ways we have saved money yet still considered ourselves having a vacation.

STAY CLOSE: Research your state or region for attractions and accommodations that are CHEAP!

PICK THE RIGHT DAY: NO holidays or weekends. Hotels and flights are cheaper during the week.

MAKE THE DRIVE: To larger airports where flights might be flexible with times, carriers, and price. Don’t forget to figure in gas, time , and parking for your car.

PACK LIGHTLY: Check with airline for restrictions, rules, and regulations.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION: Bus and rail systems are designed to get you where you want to go and cost much less.

LOAD UP AT LUNCH: Eat your largest meal at lunch. This time of day, also, lets you sample local fare at a reasonable price.

PACK A SNACK: Request a refrigerator in hotel room, shop at local grocery store, and save $$$.

LOCAL ATTRACTIONS: Take advantage of free museums, historical sites, go for a hike, swim, park, or beach for a “thrifty” way to spend the day.

GO HOME EMPTY HANDED!: DO NOT GO HOME WITH OVER PRICED SOUVENIRS - PICTURES AND MEMORIES ARE FREE!

PHONE WISELY: Use a calling card, limit cell phone use while roaming..

“SMART TRAVEL MAKES for SUCCESSFUL TRAVEL.”

Remember, “Y’all come back, ya’ hear!”

It is official - I have completed the first leg of my journey … by completing my Associate Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Health-care Management. Whew, I did it. The next step began on Monday, July 21, when I began my Batchelors Degree.

As I traveled, the journey seemed long, now looking back it was a fleeting span of time. A time of hard work, new friends, late nights, “Hubby” taking over cooking, cleaning, and everything in between! Thank you, honey!! Anyway, this is a milestone for me, one I am proud of and wanted to share with you … *patting myself on my back*

My last post was July 4 … no, it is not my fault … in fact, it can not be blamed on any one person or event. Simply put, 451press was experiencing growing pains! I do not think TPTB really had a clue as to what to expect with the upgrades, new servers, … pretty much new and improved everything!

The really “new look” of the site and blogs themselves took my breathe away. Hats off to Steve S., Captain of this ship, great job! I know we whined, emailed over and over, and talked about the l. o. n. g. time it was taking, among ourselves, but I(we) hung in there … despite all of it! I, for one, am glad I did. Thank you for the hard work you put in on this project. Now, we can all get back to WORK and write, write, write.

I have to admit I was surprised when I logged in without any “heavy load” message, so much so, that I have totally lost my thoughts which had been processed with a great idea for my first blog back … That surely means it would have been outstanding (loosing thoughts has to be the down side of growing older). Of course, getting the “Senior Discount” makes up for loosing your mind!

This is so much fun - being back and working hard for the money! It’s not so much the hard work as it is finding the time to sit down and actually write … hang in there! I’ll be in the groove with the next post, I promise! Until then … Remember, “Y’all come back, ya’ hear!”

If you have tried to get here over the past few weeks, you probably had trouble. The reason for the delays,“experiencing high load” message, and “unable to load page” is a change of server, upgrading the system, and upgrading software, etc. The inconvenience to each of us should be worth it once it is complete. That is my story and I am sticking to it! Insider humor, bear with me it has been a long, hot week. Thank you for continuing to try, it is good to have you here!

In honor of the Fourth of July, here is a salute to our freedom and those who protect it and a little history lesson from my long distance carrier, AmericanFone …

INDEPENDENCE DAY!

We declared our independence, our right to be free as a nation, 232 years ago this month. If there is one lesson we have learned in that time, it is that freedom and independence are not solid and eternal. They are slippery and constantly changing. You cannot put them in an air-tight viewing box, like the Declaration of Independence itself. If you do not watch carefully, if you do not tend them and keep them alive, they die out. They go away.There may always be people with less-than-honorable intentions ready to chip away at your freedoms and usurp your independence if you let them. But thankfully, America is also full of people who are fiercely protective of what our forefathers’ and patriots throughout the generations since have fought to protect. Not only in wars, but by writing, speaking out, voting and battling injustice in the courts. A salute to the courageous patriots who Keep the flame alive!

A SHORT HISTORY OF INDEPENDENCE DAY  “Taxation without representation is tyranny!” That was the rallying cry of the American colonists rebelling against British rule. The colonists were being forced to pay taxes to England with no representation in British Parliament. They had no say about how much tax they would pay no say as to how their tax money was to be spent. With rumors of rebellion, growing, British troops went in to keep the colonists in line. The colonists tried to broker a peaceful solution, but their attempts were repeatedly rebuffed. On June 11, 1776, the colonist’s Continental Congress met to declare officially, in writing, that they were no longer willing to live under British rule.Thomas Jefferson, known for his great eloquence and statesmanship, was given the job of creating the document. In addition, a difficult job it turned out to be! More than 86 alterations were made to the document before it was declared complete. On July 4, 1776, the final version of the Declaration of Independence was signed and copies were sent out among the colonists. The Fourth of July has been celebrated in the United States every year since, but it was not until 1870 that Congress officially declared it a National Holiday. In 1938, Congress re-affirmed Independence Day, making it a paid holiday for all federal employees. Today, people across the country celebrate and acknowledge their priceless gift of freedom they enjoy with parades, picnics and glorious fireworks displays.

the PEE DEE and the GRAND STRAND.

The summer is definitely coming. The attractions and cool stuff is getting ready for Memorial Day, for sure.

The Bikers on Harley Davidson’s are enjoying the beach, and more, during the Myrtle Beach Spring Bikers Rally through May 18th. Traffic is traffic, traffic, traffic, in other words, it is everywhere. Drive safely, please. Bikers remember to wear your helmet, riders, too!

Two events in our area this weekend promise to be real crowd please-rs! The Annual Blue Crab Festival in Little River, SC. The Blue Crab Festival features quality “art and crafts” with lots of Coastal Carolina Country Cuisine. Many recipes feature the famous Low Country Blue Crab. The beautiful “walk about” setting in Little River, SC is a “scenic fishing dock” on the Inter-coastal Waterway.

The second event, May FLY, in Florence at Florence Regional Airport (I think) on Saturday. The weather is supposed to be wonderful for both events.

And in Marion, SC, on Saturday is the Foxtrot Festival with a parade at 10 AM and Street Dance between 7 PM and 10 PM.

Oops! You just missed McCain’s fund-raiser on May 9 in Columbia, SC at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. It was price-y$. Patron tickets - $2300 and general reception a mere $1000! Thus far, McCain has raised $60,594 in South Carolina through March, 2008, if I understood the wording in the article.

Back to the Grand Strand …

As mentioned earlier, the Harley Davidson Bike Rally during Myrtle Beach Bike Week until May 18 is a huge event, not to be missed, if you are a “Biker” or a lover of fun and excitement!

Good Vibrations! is a kid friendly show running until October featuring a virtual tour of the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s at The Carolina Opry. Check it out at www.TheCarolinaOpry.com

LeGrande Cirque, at the Palace Theatre is for all ages and is Spellbinding! It runs until the end of December. Shows are Monday through Saturday at 8 PM; Wednesday at 10 AM; Thursday at 2 PM. Find out more at www.Palacetheatremyrtlebeach.com

One the Show is kid friendly at the Alabama Theatre through October 24, 2008 and the kids are free Monday, Wednesday, Saturday at 7:30 PM. Look here for all the details at www.alabama-theatre.com

Legends In Concert featuring “five legends” is here until October 31, 2008. Check for details at www.legendsinconcert.com/locations/myrtle-beach/

For ART Lovers …

Art Exhibit: “People Reading: Selections from the Oresman’s collection” is 60 works of art featuring “people reading” through October 5, 2008 at 3100 S. Ocean Boulevard, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577. Get the details here www.MyrtleBeachArtMuseum.org

The Artist of the Month exhibit features photography of Suzanne Goff’s “Flower Power” until May 30, 2008 at 532 Broadway Street, Myrtle Beach, SC from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM. A good family outing! We were not able to get any photography by Ms. Goff. Luckily my niece, Gwen, in Florida is allowing the debut of her latest art piece. Thanks, Gwen!
UP COMING:

Sun Fun Festival, June 5 - 9, 2008

Tickets to EVERYTHING at http://www.ticketsnow.com

WOW, lots of choices for some good old Southern FUN! Hope to see you at all of them!

Remember, “Y’all come back, ya’ hear!”

 Laughter keeps us young … enjoy!     

         TOP 8 MORONS OF 2007

        1. WILL THE REAL DUMMY PLEASE STAND UP? AT&T fired President

        John Walter after nine months, saying he lacked intellectual

       leadership. He received a $26 million severance package.

         Perhaps it’s not Walter who’s lacking intelligence.

         2. WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM OUR FRIENDS: Police in Oakland, CA

        spent two hours attempting to subdue a gunman who had

         barricaded himself inside his home. After firing ten tear gas

         canisters, officers discovered that the man was standing

        beside them in the police line, shouting, “Please come out and

         give yourself up.”

         3. WHAT WAS PLAN B??? An Illinois man, pretending to have a

       gun, kidnapped a motorist and forced him to drive to two

         different automated teller machines, wherein the kidnapper

         proceeded to withdraw money from his own bank accounts.

   4.. THE GETAWAY! A man walked into a Topeka, Kansas Kwik Stop

         and asked for all the money in the cash drawer. Apparently,

         the take was too small, so he tied up the store clerk and

         worked the counter himself for three hours until police showed

        up and grabbed him.

       5. DID I SAY THAT??? Police in Los Angeles had good luck with

       a robbery suspect who just couldn’t control himself during a

        lineup. When detectives asked each man in the lineup to repeat

         the words: “Give me all your money or I’ll shoot”, the man

         shouted, “that’s not what I said!” .

         6. ARE WE COMMUNICATING??? A man spoke frantically into the

         phone: “My wife is pregnant and her contractions are only two

        minutes apart”. “Is this her first child?” the doctor asked.

         “No!” the man shouted, “This is her husband!”

       7. NOT THE SHARPEST TOOL IN THE SHED! In Modesto, CA, Steven

        Richard King was arrested for trying to hold up a Bank of

         America branch without a weapon. King used a thumb and a

         finger to simulate a gun. Unfortunately, he failed to keep his

         hand in his pocket. (hellooooooo)!

        8. THE GRAND FINALE!!! Last summer, down on Lake Isabella,

         located in the high desert, an hour east of Bakersfield, CA,

         some folks, new to boating, were having a problem. No matter

        how hard they tried, they couldn’t get their brand new 22 foot

         boat going. It was very sluggish in almost every maneuver, no

        matter how much power they applied. After about an hour of

       trying to make it go, they pulled into a nearby marina,

         thinking someone there might be able to tell them what was

         wrong. A thorough topside check revealed everything in perfect

         working condition The engine ran fine, the out-drive went up

        and down, and the propeller was the correct size and pitch.

        So, one of the marina guys jumped in the water to check

       underneath He came up choking on water he was laughing so hard.

         NOW REMEMBER…THIS IS TRUE.

        Under the boat, still strapped securely in place, was the

         trailer!

Thanks again to my friend, Mona, for sharing her connections to laughter!

 Check out the humor of  squiffy2 here   http://cre8buzz.com/profiles/847

Remember, “Y’all come back, ya’ hear!”

• Comments made in the year 1955!
• That’s only 52 years ago!
• “Have you seen the new cars coming out next year? It won’t be long before$2, 000.00 will only buy a used one.”
• “If cigarettes keep going up in price, I’m going to quit. A quarter a pack is ridiculous.”
• “Did you hear the post office is thinking about charging a dime just to mail a letter”
• “If they raise the minimum wage to $1.00, nobody will be able to hire outside help at the store.”
• “When I first started driving, who would have thought gas would someday cost 29 cents a gallon. Guess we’d be better off leaving the car in the garage.”
• “Kids today are impossible. Those duck tail hair cuts make it impossible to stay groomed. Next thing you know, boys will be wearing their hair as long as the girls.”
• “I’m afraid to send my kids to the movies any more. Ever since they let Clark Gable get by with saying DAMN in GONE WITH THE WIND, it seems every new movie has either HELL of DAMN in it.”
• “I read the other day where some scientist thinks it’s possible to put a man on the moon by the end of the century. They even have some fellows they call astronauts preparing for it down in Texas.”
• “Did you see where some baseball player just signed a contract for $75,000 a year just to play ball? It wouldn’t surprise me if someday they’ll be making more than the President.”
• “I never thought I’d see the day all our kitchen appliances would be electric. They are even making electric typewriters now.”
• “It’s too bad things are so tough nowadays. I see where a few married women are having to work to make ends meet.”
• “It won’t be long before young couples are going to have to hire someone to watch their kids so they can both work.”
• “Marriage doesn’t mean a thing any more, those Hollywood stars seem to be getting divorced at the drop of a hat.”
• “I’m afraid the Volkswagen car is going to open the door to a whole lot of foreign business.”
• “Thank goodness I won’t live to see the day when the Government takes half our income in taxes. I sometimes wonder if we are electing the best people to congress.”
• “The drive-in restaurant is convenient in nice weather, but I seriously doubt they will ever catch on.”
• “There is no sense going to Lincoln or Omaha anymore for a weekend, it costs nearly $15.00 a night to stay in a hotel.”
• “No one can afford to be sick anymore, at $35.00 a day in the hospital it’s too rich for my blood.”
• “If they think I’ll pay 50 cents for a hair cut, forget it.”

Thank you to my friend, Sally, for the quotes and the memories!Remember, “Y’all come back, ya’ hear!’

• “

Wow, my very first game of online tag! How COOOL is that?I was tagged by Jean Lockwood at Parenting and Religion  and now I will tag five other people … and the beat goes on … you get the picture, right?   H ere are the questions:

*How long have you been blogging?
*What inspired you to start a blog and who are your mentors?
*Are You trying to make money online, or just doing it for fun?
*Tell me 3 things you LOVE about being online.
*Tell me 3 things you STRUGGLE with in the online world.          

Answer #1: I started blogging in May, 2007 with 451Press.com.  Answer #2: My daughter, Leslie, is awonderful writer. She is my inspiration and who brought me to 451 Press.    Answer #3: Am I writingto make money? You mean we get paid! JK. Of course, I would like to make money … have I, yet? Notenough to report to anyone, not even “Uncle Sam”. But I am not giving up!  Answer #4: I adore thepeople I have met. I like the good feeling I get when someone leaves a good comment on a post. I lovelearning something new everyday - through my research or through reading a fellow blogger’s post. Answer #5: It is hard finding the time needed to have a great post every time. It keeps me up waypast my bedtime! Not getting many comments on my posts.  OK, now to tag 5 lucky people!!!Heather at WatchingVH1    Sandra at Globally Green Living     Jason at AnimeFansOnline   Jaime at FictionScribe   Elizabeth at Rachel Ray  Have fun and remember, “Y’all come back, ya’ hear!”