Living Rural

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!”

as I sat thinking, my friend Mona sent this email … talk about timing, pretty good!

Enjoy, please read to the end.

Q: I’ve heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life; is this
true?

A: Your heart is only good for so many beats, and that’s it… don’t
waste them on exercise. Everything wears out eventually. Speeding up
your heart will not make you live longer; that’s like saying you can
extend the life of your car by driving it faster. Want to live longer?
Take a nap.

———————————————————————-

Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables?

A: You must grasp logistical efficiencies. What does a cow eat? Hay
and corn. And what are these? Vegetables. So a steak is nothing more
than an efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system.
Need grain? Eat chicken. Beef is also a good source of field grass
(green leafy vegetable). And a pork chop can give you 100% of your
recommended daily allowance of vegetable products.

———————————————————————-

Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake?

A: No, not at all. Wine is made from fruit. Brandy is distilled wine,
that means they take the water out of the fruity bit so you get even
more of the goodness that way. Beer is also made out of grain. Bottoms
up!

———————————————————————-

Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?

A: Well, if you have a body and you have fat, your ratio is one to
one. If you have two bodies, your ratio is two to one, etc.

———————————————————————-

Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular
exercise program?

A: Can’t think of a single one, sorry. My philosophy is: No Pain…Good!

———————————————————————-

Q: Aren’t fried foods bad for you?

A: YOU’RE NOT LISTENING!!!…. Foods are fried these days in vegetable
oil. In fact, they’re permeated in it. How could getting more
vegetables be bad for you?

———————————————————————-

Q: Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the
middle?
A: Definitely not! When you exercise a muscle, it gets bigger: you
should only be doing sit-ups if you want a bigger stomach.

———————————————————————-

Q: Is chocolate bad for me?
A: Are you crazy? HELLO Cocoa beans! Another vegetable!!! It’s the
best feel-good food around!

———————————————————————-

Q: Is swimming good for your figure?

A: If swimming is good for your figure, explain whales to me.

———————————————————————-

Q: Is getting in-shape important for my lifestyle?

A: Hey! ‘Round’ is a shape!

——————————————————————————–

Well, I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you might have had
about food and diets.

And remember:
“Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of
arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather
to skid in sideways - Chardonnay in one ha nd - chocolate in the other
- body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming “WOO HOO!
What a Ride”

AND……

For those of you who watch what you eat, here’s the final word on
nutrition and health. It’s a relief to know the truth after all those
conflicting nutritional studies.

1. The Japanese eat very little fat and suffer fewer heart attacks
than Americans.

2. The Mexicans eat a lot of fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than
Americans.

3. The Chinese drink very little red wine and suffer fewer heart
attacks than Americans.

4. The Italians drink a lot of red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks
than Americans.

5. The Germans drink a lot of beers and eat lots of sausages and fats
and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

CONCLUSION

Eat and drink what you like. Speaking English is what kills you.

Kudos to my friend! Enjoy your afternoon … BUT WATCH WHAT YOU EAT!

Real integrity is doing the right thing, knowing that
nobody’s going to know whether you did it or not.
– Oprah Winfrey

We must be the change we want to see in the world.
– Mahatma Gandhi

The most important human endeavor is the striving for morality in our actions. Our inner balance and even our very existence depend on it. Only morality in our actions can give beauty and dignity to life. - Einstein

Triumph often is nearest when defeat seems inescapable. -
B. C. Forbes

A few of the quotes that I have read over the past few days that have stayed with me. I kept a ‘Book of Quotes’ in my youth, what fun it would be if I could find the book now! If I ever find it, we will read it together …

Until then, check out Wisdom Quotes. Quotes for every one.

This has nothing to do with quotes, but it made me laugh!

“Y’all come back, ya’ hear!”

Like I said … mercy me!

You know you laughed, OK, it is PG-13, but it is so funny. Girls, especially, if you are there, been there or headed there …

“Y’all come back, ya’ hear!”

NEVER ENOUGH MAXINE

OK, yes I know this is taking the easy way to do a post, but today is Sunday, I have two extremely hard classes this session, I am tired and Maxine says things so much better than I, so indulge me, please?

“One of my co-workers has an annoying habit: she works! Makes me look bad.”

“The only thing worse than a Monday is a decaffeinated Monday.”

“There should be a support group for women who will not put their dishes in the dishwasher DIRTY”

“A household hint: Stop dusting and you can use your coffee table as a message board.”

“Homemade gifts are the perfect way to say, “I’ve got lots more time than money!”

“I’ve finally found an honest mechanic. He honestly doesn’t know how to fix ANYTHING.”

“Finally, I think conservatives and liberals should move toward the middle of the road. Makes it easier to run ‘em over.”

Maxine<

As I said, Maxine says it much better than I … except for …”Y’all come back, ya’ hear!”

Exercising in the South!

Thanks, Sally for the humor!

chewing gum, exercise, South, humor, Balance Ball

In South Carolina!

It happened quietly around midnight last night. The upper part of the state was expecting the lovely, white stuff, but not in the Pee Dee area, closer to the coast … well, mother nature said, “Snow in the Pee Dee!” and it did.

It was not much, enough to cover everything in white and then the rain started and the wonderful white stuff was gone!

SNOW, South Carolina, Pee Dee area, winter

Well, Friday was the day we took our youngest to the airport to fly back to school in the frozen tundra, Maine. Now with the security systems in place, you can no longer watch the plane take off, which somehow makes a mom worry just a bit - I liked seeing the plane disappear safely into the clouds . It is reassuring . Now, I wait for the phone call that she is safely back in her “home-away-from-home” .

The traffic was awful. Naturally we did not allow enough time for Friday afternoon traffic in a large southern city and arrived at the airport 40 minutes before take-off - not good, but it all worked out. Thank goodness!

So, once again our “nest” is EMPTY.

I miss the laughter immensely, but school starts again on Monday for me. I am looking forward to studying, writing, research - brain growth!

It is almost morning. I must get some sleep now.

Remember, “Y’all come back ya’ hear!”

Hi,

2007 was a unique year. Many changes - good and bad, happiness, sadness, love, dislike and hope. Hope that 2008 will be better.

So far, so good! I hope yours is, too!
Life after SAHM

“Y’all come back, ya’ hear!”

New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, Apple, iBook, repairs, track pad, hope