Living Rural

Inauguration, Part Two

Inauguration, Part One

The second day of  NaBloPoMo *National Blogger Post Month* and I am 2 for 2 … WTG, Pamela!

This cartoon cracked me up … if you are a “Baby Boomer” with an empty nest … you should be ROFL, I am! Sorry, girls, I know it does not really apply to you, but the cartoon is FUNNY. They are waiting for their ride to the polls to VOTE for their MAN -  John McCain.

Please DO NOT FORGET TO VOTE TOMORROW, this election will go down in the history books for sure. “You betcha! :)  I love the Christianity Today and their webiste. Be sure to check it out before you VOTE tomorrow.

Today is the first day of my last week in this course, The Psychology of Judgement and Decision-Making, at AIU - only nine more classes to go and I will have my Bachelors Degree in Business Administration with Healthcare Management - yay, ME! Wow, I am “tooting my horn” today!

But I want to give a shout out to all the bloggers at 451press to get out and support your candidate tomorrow. In this election, EVERY VOTE WILL COUNT!

Remember, ” Y’all come back! Ya’ hear?”

After posting last night (very early this morning) and putting our economy “to bed”, I awoke at 11 am to hear Congress did NOT pass the President’s Bill. I guess, we are back to square one. And is it a chess move? I was not happy about the bail-out, but I did think the President and his advisers were honestly trying to do the “right thing” for all concerned. I, also, thought that Congress was in agreement with the proposed plan yesterday … what happened? Did the Speaker of the House out fox everyone? And why? Could the party politics not be put aside for the good of America? Apparently not. Could this be one of the reasons we find ourselves where we are tonight? Politics, interest me, but at times are past my understanding … remember, small town Country Gal writing this post. 

On the way home, later today, what is being discussed on NPR? My bank, Wachovia, has been bought by Citigroup, Inc.! What next? Then I read how  Charlotte, NC - home of Wachovia reacts to news … After following the link and reading the article did you wonder, as I did, was the corporate office in denial or suffering from a big case of stupid? Wachovia, forgive me, it is my anger over once again getting to know yet another “hometown bank” while wondering - do I stay or do I go?

What will be in the news tomorrow? Congress works out differences and moves forward … Wall Street rallies … Palin is given a chance to let viewers form an opinion of her “worthiness” as a candidate - after the debate on Thursday … guess the morning news will not be dull. Goodnight all.

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

Because our economy is the talk EVERYWHERE consider these tips:

1. Banks are insured up to one hundred thousand dollars per account. If you have more than that amount in a single account … move your money around with no more than the insured amount in each account. Also, using more than one bank (BB&T, Wachovia, NBSC, etc.) is a good idea.
2. US Treasury Bills or Bonds are insured and safe … no interest, but SAFE. Seriously, consider this option.
3. Now is the time to go over your portfolio with your banker, accountant, estate planner - get the best advice from each … for your needs NOW and the FUTURE.
4. Do Not Panic. Do Not React. Do Not Act Without Advice.
5. Stop living on “credit.” If you cannot pay cash, you do not need it!
6. If you have outstanding bills, pay twice the minimum amount each month.
7. If you do not have your “safety net” set aside, BEGIN now to get three to six months of living expenses in an account with immediate access.

This is a frightening time … remain calm … concentrate on family, friends, church, work, and helping someone in need outside of your normal contacts. Remember our leaders, our country, our families (both immediate and church) in prayer.

In the meantime look around and be thankful for all God has given us. Autumn is such a beautiful time of year, get out and enjoy the changing colors, the cooler weather and FOOTBALL!

Also, remember we are all in this together. Americans will persevere and solve our countries financial woes. Have faith.

For additional information go to Reuters

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

This is an article I found on AOL News this morning. It gives additional information on retirement and the economy today.

Sure to Wreck Your Retirement posted: 12 HOURS 58 MINUTES AGO-comments: 0 filed under: Lifestyle, Money

With the financial markets taking a beating of late, working men and women are keeping a close eye on how it affects their retirement plans. In addition to that, they should also watch out for retirement scams that could put them in the poor house. Walletpop has a look at these little-

Full article. 

Original post appeared here as known loopholes and how to avoid them.Will we look like this at 65? Enjoying the retirement we worked so hard for with our spouse, significant other, friend, or whomever you choose? Or is this a long-earned vacation that will end and we both will return to work?

I hope it is our long-earned retirement!

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

Retirement?

not in our household! Oh we thought this year would be ‘THE YEAR’… hahaha - the joke is on us. The housing market is in a steady decline which for baby boomers thinking about downsizing is causing a longer selling time of homes and at a lower price! This changed the projected figures in most portfolios; however, this was offset by the purchase of a smaller home at a stealdeal. For some, the economy has taken homes, lifestyles, and dignity. Retirement is changing for lots of “Boomers”. Many are finding they will work longer than planned. Some will retire, but find the need to work ‘filler’ jobs to make ends meet. Many will be offered packages to retire early … and will take them. Somehow this picture does not look, feel, or seem right. Is it because the news is filled with another bail-out by the government of another huge financial corporation, in my opinion, that mismanaged their business. Everyone says it is a direct result of our economy, probably … but, at some point - sooner, rather than later - these corporations need to operate within their means … a balanced budget for business and government would be wonderful! Does any of this affect retirement?

Possibly. Especially if your retirement account/plan/pension is associated with one of the companies about to declare bankruptcy. However, the Government continues to bailout these companies, the latest, AIG. Please follow the highlighted link and read the full story which tells the figure has reached $900 billion! Impossible to truly comprehend. And happening in an election year. “Baby Boomers” need to research how this may affect them and their retirement - Will the retirement accounts, 401Ks, IRAs, pension plans and bank accounts be there when they are needed? Retirees hope so. One of the best organizations offering help with all aspects of retirement is The Lure of Money

Kingsburg is a small community in SC where Santee  Cooper is planning to build a huge coal burning plant. There is opposition to this coal burning plant due to the quality of air that it will produce. Santee Cooper is naturally presenting a “pretty” picture to the community and surrounding areas siting the number of new jobs that it will bring, how it will help met the energy needs of many customers and the money it will save their customers. Of course, not much is said about the amount of money it will make for Santee Cooper. Check out their annual reports HERE and form your opinion.

We have an energy challenge in South Carolina. It’s time to come together and change our future.
When it comes to finding solutions, we must meet climate change goals while keeping costs down and electricity available. America needs a plan. Immediately. Because we all know that our energy needs keep on growing - every day. Now is the time to have a candid conversation with your elected officials. Together, we can find answers and take action. Start the conversation today at Our Energy.
Our Energy, Our Future, A Dialogue with South Carolina

Source: Ad from, Living in S. C., August, 2008

It took many years to grow the trees above. It will take only days to chop them down to clear the land for the new coal burning plant proposed by Santee Cooper. Watch your local news for dates and times of the meetings being held to show convince us how wonderful the new plant will be for our energy needs and our economy, put them on your calendar and ATTEND. Listen to what Santee Cooper has to say, then research coal burning plants used for energy and form your opinion and then talk to your elected officials. We are being pushed to this source as the only source - it is not the only answer.

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

Oops, I made an error - I know I can not believe it either!

Correction: I  mixed-up the names of the two power suppliers, SEC and Santee Cooper. I apologize if this may have caused any inconvenience to SEC or Santee Cooper. The company responsible for building the new plant near Kingsburg is Santee Cooper.

Not much going on this week - resting. Not sure if it is recovering from surgery or just an awfully L. O. N. G. week, but I am thrilled the week-end is here . I never knew resting could be so exhausting! I have found a photo I really like and it reminds me of “my little piece of heaven” here on our wonderful earth. I am going to use it for until I tire of it! It is peaceful, it reminds us - we are not in control … but a much higher power, our Heavenly Father, and all the glory goes to Him!

A lot going on in the news - politics, are YOU ready for November 4th?
Election Day “>

Oops, time sure flies when you’re having FUN!

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.

My goodness, it was just a trip to the Super Wal-mart to pick up medications from our friendly pharmacy staff and a few grocery items. Then waiting in the check-out line, “it” caught my eye - TIME 1968 - the flashbacks immediately started … because that was the best year of my life, I promise.

HOW MANY OF YOU REMEMBER …

The TET Offensive

Signs of the Times, LOOK - FEEL - STYLES - SMILES

Johnson will not, not run for President

REV. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. assassinated in Memphis, TN

BLACK NEIGHBORHOODS EXPLODE

Pop Music - RAP

The siege of the KHE SANH

HAIR!

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY TAKEN OVER BY STUDENTS

Senator Bobby Kennedy wins the California Democratic Primary … and is gunned down!

Pop Artist, Andy Warhol is shot in NYC Studio, called THE FACTORY…

“In the future, everyone will be famous for 15 minutes.” AW, 1968

2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY

The Graduate

Screen Scene 1968:Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?; Rosemary’s Baby; Night of the Living Dead; Barbarella; Funny Girl; Planet of the Apes

Czechoslovakia freedom for one brief moment …

Chicago Riots - 7 Tried

DISSENTERS: Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin Yippees, Tom Hayden

OLYMPICS

Sport Greats: OJ Simpson :(, Jean Claude Killy, Peggy Fleming, Arthur Ashe, Detroit vs St. Louis - World Series, Vince Lombardi, Mohammed Ali

FAREWELL CAMELOT: Jackie Kennedy and Onassis

TV: Laugh In - “Sock it to me!”; The Mod Squad; Elvis; 60 Minutes; The Andy Griffith Show; The Prisoner

LAW, ORDER, NIXON? Nelson Rockefeller, George Wallace

Julie Nixon weds David Eisenhower

Ronald Reagan

THE BEATLES: “Hey Jude” and “The White Album”

Norman Mailer, Author

Destination: HELL - North Korea seizes US spy ship

Borman, Anders, Lowell - First Generation Astronauts

Year’s End - New Perspectives - Where were you in 1968?

Courtesy of Time, Inc. “Specials: 40th Anniversary Special, TIME 1968″

whatever THAT is! For me, it is a total lack of things to say … no energy to research to FIND things to say … and feeling totally DETACHED about the whole thing. This is not good for someone responsible for fulfilling a contract. If anyone has an answer for this ailment, please pass along. I am tired of being “stuck’ with nothing to say!

POLITICS - Primary in Indiana and North Carolina on May 6

EDUCATION - Schools will be out for the summer soon. Most colleges are out already.
GRADUATES - Class of 2008 - Degrees, what is next?

MOVIES - Summer fluff, but the popcorn is always good!

TV - HDTV - February, 2009 - no cable for me since 1993, not going to change much at my house.

FAMILIES - Can be very cruel.
GRANDCHILDREN - None… and not any in the picture any time soon.

Gee, still thoughts in my head, now to get them on paper. Here is a website that might help … The Owl at Purdue

a picture tell is all.   John works at the Cargill plant in Eddyville, Iowa. 

Wouldn’t it be fitting if this went completely around the world!…..    John Gebhardt’s wife, Mindy, said that this little girl’s entire family was executed.  The insurgents intended to execute the little girl also, and shot her in the head…but they failed to kill her.  She was cared for in John’s hospital and is healing up, but continues to cry and moan. The nurses said John is the only one who seems to calm her down, so John has spent the last four nights holding her while they both slept in that chair. The girl is coming along with her healing. He is a real Star of the war, and represents what America is trying to do.This, my friends, is worth sharing.  Go for it!!   Please keep this going.  Nothing will happen if you don’t, but the American public needs to see pictures like this and needs to realize that what we’re doing over there is making a difference.  Even if it is just one little girl at a time. James Gates U. S. Navy   

Yes, February is National Heart Health Month. I am a member of the Advocacy for the Cure campaign. AHA has made tremendous strides in making the public aware of heart disease and stroke. Our area, the Pee Dee and surrounding counties in South Carolina, have one of the highest death rates due to heart disease and stroke in the nation, yes, in the NATION. This is the reason I have chosen the AHA as my focus this year for volunteerism. “You’re the Cure” as one campaign is known has been instrumental in a letter writing campaign to all legislators, keeping them aware of bills in our legislature concerning these diseases. It has been very successful. We have met with the legislators in our state for breakfast, sharing and getting to know one another.

Now, the AHA is looking for actual stories of how heart disease and/or stroke has impacted lives. I received this letter asking for my help or the help of people in my circle.

Share Your Story of Heart

Dear Pamela:

Our advocacy efforts can make a greater impact with legislators when the message comes from the heart – from people whose lives and families have been touched by heart disease or stroke, or have a personal stake in this fight to save lives. Are you one of these people?

Please share your story with us. Submit your personal account of how heart disease or stroke has affected your life or that of a loved one.

We have been working nonstop during American Heart Month to raise awareness about what can be done to beat heart disease and stroke – and your story is a powerful tool in this fight.

Why do you advocate for the cure? Did you or a loved one survive heart disease or stroke? Are you concerned about the toll cardiovascular disease is taking on our country and the affect it will have on the next generation? We could use your story as part of a future campaign to help fight cardiovascular disease – the No. 1 killer in the U.S.!

There are people just like you, living right in your community, who have already shared their story. Won’t you do the same?

It’s these kinds of personal accounts that really hit home and bring the facts to life for your lawmakers. By sharing your experiences, you’ll help encourage more people to get involved in the fight against cardiovascular disease – so please, share your story with us!

Thanks for your support this American Heart Month … and for all you’ve done to help the American Heart Association save lives.

Sincerely,

Clarissa Garcia
American Heart Association

P.S.- Do you know someone with a great story to share as well? Forward this message on!

Heart Disease and Stroke. You’re the Cure.

Sign our “ballot”, simply a contract with yourself to do what YOU can for yourself and your loved ones, you ARE THE CURE!

Healthy Heart!

“Y’all come back, ya’ hear!”

Our GOP Primary in South Carolina today, Saturday, January 19th.

In previous years, the candidate that wins SC wins the election in November … talk about pressure!

My personal choice is Mike Huckabee. Please check out his web site, http://www.mikehuckabee.com and see what you think. I had the honor of greeting Mr. Huckabee in Florence on Thursday at our airport for a short press junket stop. I must admit I was undecided. However, he represented all the characteristics of the man I want in the White House and his issues are my issues. My decision is now one of pride to be casting my vote for the next President of the United States in 2008, Mike Huckabee!

If you are a registered voter in the US, please exercise this special privilege and vote in your primary and then in the election in November, 2008! EVERY VOTE DOES COUNT.

Election 2008, GOP, Mike Huckabee President 2008, South Carolina GOP Primary, SC, vote