Friday, September 17, 2010

LIFE STYLES

CAMP THE GREAT OUTDOORS

When this kind of cooler weather comes to the desert as fall begins to surface, some of my friends and I like to go camping on the weekends. I was just reading in an outdoors magazine that The Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association estimates 34 million Americans go camping annually. It's fairly inexpensive, and the whole family can enjoy time together. We all leave any games etc. at home. We play cards, checkers and word games. With a little planning, some gear, and a sense of adventure, camping can be a great way to spend any weekend.

Before heading out be sure to familiarize every camper with the campground rules, such as those regarding fires, pets, and vehicles. And don't forget the First Aid kit.

Remember to tell someone at home where you'll be camping and when you will return, even if not far from city limits.

Necessities, of which water seems obvious, but take into account the number of campers, weather, and activity levels. Note whether portable water will be availabe and decide how you'll clean cooking utensils. You should NEVER clean items in the river or a stream. Next is to make sure you pack for each camper a multi-tool knife, a lantern or flashlight, bugspray, sunscreen, a map of the area and well charged cell phones. You can go to http://www.koa.com/ a nationwide campground operator for a list of other must-haves, including the all important tent and sleeping bags. Be careful how much stuff you pack as some campgrounds do not allow you to drive onto the campgrounds, you have to park the vehicle and walk the rest of the way which can be quite a far distance when loaded down with gear.

Expect to see wildlife, and enjoy it. They usually won't bother you if you leave them alone. In fact bring along binoculars and a camera. Always follow the essential rule for the out of doors and never feed wild animals. Ans make sure everything you brought in, leaves with you.
ENJOY!!!

This is the part I hate but it must be done or you'll be sorry next year. . .

Dry out tents, tarps or anything else that may have gotten wet. Record your trip, note wildlide delicious wild type meals, and funny moments. (optional)

This is also optional but a couple of us who can shot well carry a pistol with us just in case. One year we encountered a starving, wounded racoon who was viciously trying to attack anyone of us that moved. He was shot, it was him or one of us. We saved the body and reported to the Game Warden as we were leaving. You never know, and it is always; "better to be safe than sorry."

I am all packed and ready to go. This will be Sassy, my Chihuahua's first camping trip. It should prove very interesting, her being the size of a squirrel with the temperment of a mountain lion!

Welcome Barbara as a new follower, I am also following you at 'Musings by Barb.'

Friday, September 10, 2010

Boggled Mind today...

Well here I sit starring at the computer screen fingers on the keys with no idea what to write. I had several ideas but my hands just don't want to type what is in my head. I believe it's because my thoughts are so scrambled lately, so please bear with me as I surf through my brain for something to put down...

One, I am happy to be following my 89 year old Uncle John Thomas with his very first blog he calls VIEW FROM MY WINDOW. You can take a peek too by going to:
www.aerialrefeuler.wordpress.com/ He is an interesting, well traveled individual. He spent nearly 30 years in the United States Air Force serving his country, and he's just written a book about his experiences. Look out ladies, this silver haired gent is quite a hand full...

Next, I received the most interesting email today regarding the Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd. The email stated that this man is a hero and should govern America and Canada as well. I found that quite a statement but after having read the artilce I agreed 100% and immediately went to Twitter/Facebook to spread the word. This man stood up tall and told the Muslims that if they didn't like Australia and her laws, to go somewhere else and that he would not be blackmailed the way these Muslims threats are blackmailing America and Canada and our wimpy/weak leaders. It made me sick after reading all that we have done to accomodate these interlopers into our countries. Check around on line and you should be able to find the articles. God Bless, and Bravo to KEVIN RUDD, Prime Minister of Australia...

I am not generally a person who gets involvewd in politics even though I read everything and watch the major TV stations. I do have friends where I once worked in Washington, D.C. at The Washington Times newspaper. I get a lot of scuttle-butt from friends there even before it is on the news. I am passionate about my country and hate what is being done to it by those who swore to protect it. The sooner we get rid of O'Bama and his butt kissing czars the better it will be for us all!!! That's all I am going to say about that!

The weather here in the Nevada desert has changed dramatically. It is not going above the 90's in the daytime and goes down into the 70's and 60's at night. Fall and Winter are the best months here. I look forward to those two seasons and some of early Spring, but definitely not summertime, yuk!!!

I am trying to make the best of growing older. I never thought about it much before the years began to fly by! I have been in a real funk of late when I realized I am virtually alone, my fault as I was the one to marry and move away from my girlhood home. If I died tomorrow there would be no one standing by to mourn my passing. Pretty bad when all one has to look forward to after living a very interesting, full life is to die alone. Hey don't get me wrong, hopefully there are still some good years in this old gal. Heck my mom, bless her heart, is 90 and going strong. and her sister, my Aunt June is 91. They are both the most remarkable women. Their brother is my Uncle John mentioned above.

I would love to move back to the Midwest near a lake so I can go fishing and walk in the rain. I have always missed the changing seasons...

Well for someone who didn't have anything to say, this is quite something. No wonder my friends in cyber space call me Chatty Lady...

See you all next time, and if anyone has a place in the Midwest near water let me know, I would leave here gladly in a heartbeat!

Friday, September 3, 2010

Things to ask yourself about...

WHY????

Why do we press harder on a remote control when we know the batteries are almost dead?

Why do banks charge a fee on 'insufficient funds' when they already know there is not enough money?

Why does someone believe you when you say there are four billion stars; but have to check when you tell them the paint is still wet?

Why doesn't Tarzan have a beard?

Why does Superman stop bullets with his chest, but ducks when someone throws a revolver at him?

Why do Kamikazie pilots wear helmets?

If people evolved from apes, why are there still apes?

Why is it that no matter what color bubble bath you use, the bubbles are always clear?

Is there ever a day that mattresses are NOT on sale?

Why do people return to the refrigerator umteen times a night, is it in hopes something new to eat will have materialized?

Why is it that no plastic bag will ever open from the end you try first?

How do all the dead bugs get into those enclosed light fixtures?

In winter why do we try to keep the house as warm as in summer when we complained about the heat?

How come we never hear father-in-law jokes?

The statistics on sanity is that one out of every four persons is suffering from some sort of mental illiness. Think of your three best friends - if they're okay, then it's you!!!!

A day without a smile is a day wasted. . .


Friday, August 27, 2010

HIDDEN TREASURE

I found this very interesting when learning about it in Consumer Tips...and I decided to pass it along. . .

It began, you may be rich and not even know it, (yeah sure) but I read on anyway. There is nearly $33 billoin in unclaimed property, including stocks, uncashed checks, insurance policies, CDs, trust funds, utility deposits, and escrow accounts that are waiting for someone to claim each and every one of them. It could be you. Sure as heck ain't me!! All you need is proof the money belongs to you! (I knew there was a catch!)

Where do you start your inquiry you ask? Two websites get the ball rolling and they are free of charge. http://www.unclaimed.org/ and http://www.missingmoney.com/ both of which are endorsed by The National Association of Unclaimed Property Administration, (wow, quite a mouthful!) Just type in your NAME and STATE to see if you have money owed to you. It could be worth your time. . .

A person in St. Louis who lost track of stock holdings recovered $1.6 million. This is not the only success story either, in 2006, $1.75 billion was returned to it's rightful owners from 1.9 million different accounts.

The law requires companies to send unclaimed funds from inactive accounts to the state of the owners last known address, so check other states if you have moved. Claims can be made into perpetuity, even by heirs. The information on line is refreshed monthly.

Log on today to see if any money is owed to you. Your piggy bank just might thank you. Oh, and if you do find treasure because of this blog, I accept any and all size finders fee's and gifts!

Friday, August 20, 2010

THE REST OF THE 25 TIPS TO LIVE BY

I started this LIST in July and then got busy with other topics, sorry, so here are the best of rest...

13.) To clean artificial flowers, pour some salt into a paper bag then add the flowers. Shake vigorously and the salt will absorb all the dust and dirt leaving your artificial flowers looking like new. Works like a charm!!!

14.) To easliy remove brunt on food from your skillet, simply add a drop or two of dish soap and enough water to cover the bottom of the pan, then bring to a boil on stovetop.

15.) Spray your plasticware, like Tupperware with nonstick cooking spray before pouring in tomato sauces and there won't be any stain.

16.) When a cake recipe calls for flouring the baking pan, use a bit of dry cake mix instead and there won't be any tasteless white mess on the outside of the cake.

17.) Wrap celery in aluminun foil before putting in refrigerator and it will keep for weeks.

18.) When boiling corn on the cob, add a pinch of sugar to help bring out the corns natural sweetness.

19.) Don't throw out all that leftover wine. Freeze it into cubes for future use in casseroles and sauces.

20.) Cure for a headache. Take a lime, cut it in half and rub it on your forehead. The throbbing will go away.

21.) To get rid of itch from mosquito bites, try applying soap on the area. You will experience instant relief.

22.) Ants, ants, ants everywhere ... Well they are said to never cross a chalk line. So get your chalk out and draw a line on the floor or wherever ants tend to march and see for yourself.

23.) When you get a splinter reach for the scotch tape before resorting to tweezers or a needle. Simply put the scotch tape over the splinter, press, then pull it off. Scotch tape removes most splinters painlessly and easily.

24.) Use air freshners to clean mirrors. It does a good job and better yet leaves a lovely aroma behind with the shine.

25.) Now just look what you can do with inexpensive ALKA SELTZER TABLETS. . .

* To clean a toilet drop in two alka seltzer tablets, wait 20 minutes, brush and flush.

* To Clean a glass vase or cruet, and remove the stain from the bottom fill with water and add two tablets, wait 20 minutes, shake and wipe clean.

* To polish jewelry, put two tablets into a glass or bowl of water. Immerse the jewelry for two minutes, remove jewelry, rinse, and wipe dry with soft cloth.

* Clean an old thermos bottle by filling it with water then drop in four (4) tablets and soak for one hour. If necessary.

* To unclog a drain, clear the sink clean by dropping three (3) tablets down the drain followed by a cup of Heinz White Vinegar. Wait a few minutes then run the hot water.

Do your friends a favor by passing along this list of inexpensive and safe tips to make life easier . . . Have a wonderful weekend!!!

Friday, August 13, 2010

ARE YOU READY FOR THIS?? IS ANYONE???

The following questions were set in last year's (2009) GED examinations across the United States. These are GENUINE answers (from 16 year olds.) and they will someday BREED!!!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q. Name the four seasons.
A. Salt, pepper, mustard and vinegar...

Q. Explain one of the processes by which water can be made safe to drink.
A. Flirtation makes water safe to drink because it removes large pollutants like grit, sand, dead sheep, and canoeists...

Q. How is dew formed?
A. The sun shines down on the leaves and makes them perspire...

Q. What causes the tides in the ocean?
A. The tides are a fight between the earth and the moon. All water tends to flow towards the moon, because there is no water on the moon, and nature abhors a vacuum. I forgot where the sun joins the fight...

Q. What guarantees may a mortgage company insist on?
A. If you are buying a house they will insist that you are well endowed...

Q. In a democrati c society how important are elections?
A. Very important! Sex can only happen when the male gets an election...

Q. What are steroids?
A. Things for keeping carpets still on the stairs... Shoot yourself now theres little hope!

Q. What happens to your body as you age?
A. When you get old so do your bowels, and you get intercontinental...

Q. What happens to a boy when he reaches puberty?
A. He says goodbye to his boyhood and looks forward to his adultery...

Q. Name a major disease associated with cigarettes.
A. Premature death...

Q. What is artificial insemination?
A. When the farmer does it to the bull instead of the cow...

Q. How can you delay milk from turning sour?
A. Keep it in the cow... (simple, but quite brilliant)

Q. What is the fibula?
A. A small lie...

Q. What does 'varicose' mean?
A. Nearby...

Q. What is the most common form of birth control?
A. Most people prevent contraception by wearing condominium...

Q. Give the meaning of 'Caesarean section.'
A. The Caesarean section is a district in Rome...

Q. What is terminal illiness?
A. When you are sick at the airport...

Q. What is a seizure?
A. A Roman Emperor... (Yeah likeJulius Seizure, he came, he saw, he had a fit!)

Q. Give an example of fungus. What is a characteristic feature?
A. Mushrooms. They always grow in damp places and look like umbrellas...

Q. What does the word benign mean?
A. Benigh is what you will be after you are eight...

Q. How are the main 20 parts of the body categorized? (e.g. The abdomen)
A. The body is consisted into 3 parts - the brainium, the borax and the abdominal cavity. The brainium contains the brain, the borax contains the heart and lungs and the abdominal cavity contains the five bowels: A, E, I, O, U...

Q. User the word 'judicious' in a sentence th show you understand the meaning.
A. Hands that judicious can be as soft as your face... (OMG!!!)

Last but certainly not least........

Q. What is a turbine?
A. Something an Arab or Sheik wears on his head...

These are pretty funny until you realize they are NOT jokes and these are someones stupid kids. They are either going to college (WHAT???) or will be flipping burgers and trying to make change for a dollar.... Very Scary!

Friday, August 6, 2010

The WORST kind of DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

I attended a church function recently and the topic turned to Domestic Violence as it is on the rise. Several members of our congregation are in Law Enforcement and they are witnessing the rise first hand. I also volunteer in a Woman's Shelter that is quite large and unfortunately it has become overcrowded for the very first time.

The conversation and beliefs among the group is that the economy and fear of job loss, home loss and those who are unemployed and have already experienced these losses are afraid this will become the norm and we are heading for another great depression.

These thoughts and experiences cause terror in the hearts of men who are usually good providers, it also unfortunately causes more violence in those who are subject to rages. It also causes bad decisions when women fear being all alone and unable to care for their children and sometimes due to that fear causes them to invite the wrong men into their homes...

That reminded me of a poem I had published sometime ago and decided maybe this would be a good time to post it for all to see and hopefully think seriously about.
The poem is called:

FOOTSTEPS IN THE DARK

Mommy says, angel it's time for bed,
Put on your nightgown and lay down your head.

I'll finish these dishes and come tuck you in,
I'll read you the story of The Fishes Pink Fins.

I ran up to my bedroom where my dollies live,
Put on my nighty and to each a hug I did give.

I hear mommy coming to say her goodnight,
After she reads me a story she'll turn out my light.

I shudder to think I'll be left all alone,
I wish I were a little frog that could hide under a stone.

I her mommy and her boyfriend talking real loud,
I hope they aren't fighting again about "three's a crowd."

Finally it's quiet, they must be asleep,
I've been a very good girl, never uttered a peep.

That's when I hear his footsteps in the dark,
he enters my room and on my bed he does park.

He tells me to be quiet, that I'm his little dove,
I feel his hands on my body, he says he's showing love.

I remember to this day, the pain and that sensation,
My childhood stolen with that feeling of degration.

The offensive behavior went on for years,
Until finally at eighteen, I left home in tears.

Why didn't she save me, instead of turn a blind eye?
I will never forget or forgive her; until the day I die.