ozzzyyy

I'm the kind of mom that cries when school starts! I miss my DD when the school has her more than we do! Our school's start August 26th. I sure do love the laid-back days of summer! Wow, school starting in July is much too soon!

((((Theyd))))) It sounds like a really nice dream. I'm simply amazed at how you knew *who* we were without ever meeting us. On a futuristic note, my 13 yr. old DD and I do need to go school shopping!! We certainly do have a good time together...and maybe I'm getting a new car?? for sharing!

Nana, Love you,

Blessings and prayer as you seek what is truly best for your family. It's a good product.

First off

Everything already said...... and the wealth of life experiences and knowledge that is evident in the all members of Mrs. Survival. She is one well-balanced gal

HOW TO MAKE AN ELEGANT FOUNTAIN FOR YOUR GARDEN You've weeded the flower beds, planted the vegetable garden and dusted off your patio furniture. Now comes the fun part: adding some decorative elements to your garden. And what better way to pull your design together than with an elegant fountain. http://www.pioneerthinking.com/ara-gardenfountain.html

It sure is great to see you, Twila!!

You Can If you can't feed a billion people, then feed just one. If you can't hire twenty million unemployed, then hire just one. If you can't support an army, then pray for one soldier. If you can't cure disease, then visit one person in the hospital. One smile provides healing. If you can't save the world, then improve your community; and if you can't improve your community, then help your next-door neighbor. We can't save the world, but we can save those within hugging distance. Don't give up. Don't become overwhelmed. We are responsible only for the people in our breathing space. Charity begins with the next person you see. Charity begins with just you and just me. If everyone on earth felt this way, what kind of planet would it be? ~A MountainWings Original by A Lisa Lindsey, Cincinnati, OH~

Good for you, Mommyof5! I do hope the job transition goes well and your new career adventure is a blessing to your family. Glad to hear of your positive attitude.

Happy Birthday, I hope this year holds many blessings for you and yours.

I think we should make an update post on our loved ones at war. My friend Rick is still in Iraq, his tour has been extended until this coming Fall. He has been away from his wife and family since March 2003. They very much want to start thier family soon. Please continue to keep him in prayer. There a song on Christian radio by Mark Schultz called "Letters from War". Have you heard it?? It's a tear jerker and everytime we hear it played we are prompted to pray for Rick, his safety and homecoming. The chorus goes something like this... You are good, You are brave, What a father you'll be some day Make it home, Make it safe, Everynight I write here and pray Mare, thank you for your heart in this forum. I really appreciate that this is still here...Many of us still have loved ones over there and we very much enjoy the positive uplifting posts you share!

This is such great news, Mare! Honor is alive and well in the hearts of men!

Me, too! This is a grand idea!

Be aware I never dreamed slowly cruising on my motorcycle through a residential neighborhood could be so incredibly dangerous! Little did I suspect. I was on Brice Street - a very nice neighborhood with perfect lawns and slow traffic. As I passed an oncoming car, a brown furry missile shot out from under it and tumbled to a stop immediately in front of me. It was a squirrel, and must have been trying to run across the road when it encountered the car. I really was not going very fast, but there was no time to brake or avoid it -- it was that close. I hate to run over animals, and I really hate it on a motorcycle, but a squirrel should pose no danger to me. I barely had time to brace for the impact. Animal lovers, never fear. Squirrels, I discovered, can take care of themselves! Inches before impact, the squirrel flipped to his feet. He was standing on his hind legs and facing my oncoming Valkyrie with steadfast resolve in his beady little eyes. His mouth opened, and at the last possible second, he screamed and leapt! I am pretty sure the scream was squirrel for, "Bonzai!" or maybe, "Die you gravy-sucking, heathen scum!" The leap was nothing short of spectacular... He shot straight up, flew over my windshield, and impacted me squarely in the chest. Instantly, he set upon me. If I did not know better, I would have sworn he brought 20 of his little buddies along for the attack. Snarling, hissing, and tearing at my clothes, he was a frenzy of activity. As I was dressed only in a light T-shirt, summer riding gloves, and jeans this was a bit of a cause for concern. This furry little tornado was doing some damage! Picture a large man on a huge black and chrome cruiser, dressed in jeans, a T-shirt, and leather gloves, puttering at maybe 25 mph down a quiet residential street, and in the fight of his life with a squirrel. And losing... I grabbed for him with my left hand. After a few misses, I finally managed to snag his tail. With all my strength, I flung the evil rodent off to the left of th e bike, almost running into the right curb as I recoiled from the throw. That should have done it. The matter should have ended right there. It really should have. The squirrel could have sailed into one of the pristinely kept yards and gone on about his business, and I could have headed home. No one would have been the wiser. But this was no ordinary squirrel. This was not even an ordinary angry squirrel. This was an EVIL MUTANT ATTACK SQUIRREL OF DEATH! Somehow he caught my gloved finger with one of his little hands and, with the force of the throw, swung around and with a resounding thump and an amazing impact, he landed squarely on my BACK and resumed his rather antisocial and extremely distracting activities. He also managed to take my left glove with him! The situation was not improved. Not improved at all. His attacks were continuing, and now I could not reach him. I was startled, to say the least. The combination of the force of the throw, only hav ing one hand (the throttle hand) on the handlebars, and my jerking back unfortunately put a healthy twist through my right hand and into the throttle. A healthy twist on the throttle of a Valkyrie can only have one result. Torque. This is what the Valkyrie is made for, and she is very, very good at it. The engine roared and the front wheel left the pavement. The squirrel screamed in anger. The Valkyrie screamed in ecstasy. I screamed in .. well .. I just plain screamed. Now picture a large man on a huge black and chrome cruiser, dressed in jeans, a slightly squirrel-torn t-shirt, wearing only one leather glove, and roaring at maybe 50 mph and rapidly accelerating down a quiet residential street on one wheel, with a demonic squirrel of death on his back. The man and the squirrel are both screaming bloody murder. With the sudden acceleration I was forced to put my other hand back on the handlebars and try to get control of the bike. This was leaving the mutant squirrel to his own devices, but I really did not want to crash into somebody's tree, house, or parked car. Also, I had not yet figured out how to release the throttle... my brain was just simply overloaded. I did manage to mash the back brake, but it had little effect against the massive power of the big cruiser. About this time the squirrel decided that I was not paying sufficient attention to this very serious battle (maybe he was an evil mutant NAZI attack squirrel of death), and he came around my neck and got INSIDE my full-face helmet with me. As the faceplate closed part way, he began hissing in my face. I am quite sure my screaming changed intensity. It had little effect on the squirrel, however. The RPMs on the Dragon maxed out (since I was not bothering with shifting at the moment), so her front end started to drop. Now picture a large man on a huge black and chrome cruiser, dressed in jeans, a ver y raggedly torn T-shirt, wearing only one leather glove, roaring at probably 80 mph, still on one wheel, with a large puffy squirrel's tail sticking out of the mostly closed full-face helmet. By now the screams are probably getting a little hoarse. Finally I got the upper hand ... I managed to grab his tail again, pulled him out of my helmet, and slung him to the left as hard as I could. This time it worked ... sort-of. Spectacularly sort-of ...so to speak. Picture a new scene. You are a cop. You and your partner have pulled off on a quiet residential street and parked with your windows down to do some paperwork. Suddenly a large man on a huge black and chrome cruiser, dressed in jeans, a torn T-shirt flapping in the breeze, and wearing only one leather glove, moving at probably 80 mph on one wheel, and screaming bloody murder roars by, and with all his strength throws a live squirrel grenade directly into your police car. I heard screams. They weren't mine... I managed to get the big motorcycle under control and dropped the front wheel to the ground. I then used maximum braking and skidded to a stop in a cloud of tire smoke at the stop sign of a busy cross street. I would have returned to 'fess up (and to get my glove back). I really would have. Really... Except for two things. First, the cops did not seem interested or the slightest bit concerned about me at the moment. When I looked back, the doors on both sides of the patrol car were flung wide open. The cop from the passenger side was on his back, doing a crab walk into somebody's front yard, quickly moving away from the car. The cop who had been in the driver's seat was standing in the street, aiming a riot shotgun at his own police car. So, the cops were not interested in me. They often insist to "let the professionals handle it" anyway. That was one thing. The other? Well, I could clearly see shredded and flying piec es of foam and upholstery from the back seat. But I could also swear I saw the squirrel in the back window, shaking his little fist at me. That is one dangerous squirrel. And now he has a patrol car. A somewhat shredded patrol car ... but it was all his. I took a deep breath, turned on my turn-signal, made a gentle right turn off of Brice Street, and sedately left the neighborhood. I decided it was best to just buy myself a new pair of gloves. And a whole lot of Band-Aids

Great ideas, Theyd! Thank YOU!!

Dear One, you are a dear one! Your family is blessed to have you. Keep chipping away and they'll come to see the value of preparedness. Hardship comes in many ways and none of us are exempt from needing to fall back on a pantry of plenty to get throught the tough times. ((((Dear One))))) Glad to have you here!

Your family and dear cat are in my prayers! Bless you for asking. Please keep us updated. Pray today is more restful.

Yeah! Thank you so much!

Thanks for your help, Old Pine and Caveman! WE sure do appreciate you both!

*Giggle* I know that his dad doesn't like broccoli.

Walk For Your Life BY EDEL JARBOE There is a common misconception that walking is not exercise. A lot of people believe that in order to be healthy and to lose weight, you need to do high impact exercise. Luckily, this is not the case. Studies have shown that walking provides great overall cardiovascular fitness, reduces the risk of cancer and heart disease, lowers cholesterol levels, lowers blood pressure, helps alleviate lower back pain, and reduces the risk of arthritis and osteoporosis. Walking also alleviates stress and depression and improves your immunity as well. Additional benefits of walking include stimulating creativity and problem solving skills, as well as being used as a form of meditation. Walking gives you the opportunity to be outdoors in the fresh air and the chance to watch the seasons change. It is also the perfect way to get away from phones, pagers, faxes, e-mail, and other interruptions. And, in addition to all these great benefits, walking is safe, easy, and cheap. What more can you ask for? Get out there and start walking! Getting Started (Consult your doctor prior to starting any exercise program if you are sedentary, a 40+ male, or a 50+ female.) Stretch first to warm up your muscles. You should concentrate on stretching your torso, quadriceps, hamstring, gluteal muscles (buttocks), calves, and Achilles' tendon (heel). Hold each stretch for 15 to 30 seconds each, repeating at least once for each muscle group and being careful not to bounce. 1. Wear loose fitting garments 2. Always carry water when you walk. 3. For beginners, walk 30 minutes a day 3 days a week, gradually increasing to 5 days a week. How to Walk 1. Start slow and easy, at your own pace. 2. Push off from your back foot. 3. Walk heel to toe with a rolling motion of the foot. 4. Keep arms close to body and bent at an almost 90 degree angle to your body. 5. Hold your head high, keep shoulders down and relaxed, chest should be out, and eyes looking straight ahead. 6. Concentrate on breathing evenly and swinging your arms naturally. Walking Gear Shoes- Choose a comfortable, lightweight shoe that has shock absorbers in the heel and in the ball of the shoe. It should also bend at the widest part of the shoe. The back of the shoe should be soft and contoured to help your foot roll forward. Socks- Wear white synthetic socks or white synthetic/cotton blend socks because colored dyes can aggravate athlete's foot. The heel and toe should be padded and, to prevent blisters, there should be no toe seams. The center of the sock should also have a tight weave to prevent bunching and slippage. Hat/Visor - Wear a hat in the early morning hours to keep warm and a visor on hot days to protect your face from the sun and to allow the heat from your head to escape, keeping you cool. Pedometer- for keeping track of how many miles you are walking. Calorie Burn Counter- to help keep you motivated if you are trying to achieve weight loss. 10 Walking Tips 1. If you don't have a solid block of time, break your walking into smaller chunks. For example, instead of walking 1 hour, walk for 30 minutes twice a day. Studies have shown that this is as beneficial as walking for 1 hour at one time. 2. Wear reflective clothing at night and, if you must walk on a road or street that does not have a sidewalk, always walk facing traffic. 3. Incorporate hills into your walking route. This adds variety and challenge to your workout and raises your metabolism by at least 10%. 4. Interval train to get more out of your workout. Increase your walking speed for 1 or 2 blocks and then slow back down to your regular pace for the next 1 or 2 blocks. Continue to alternate between walking and speed walking. 5. If you are walking solo, listen to music or an audio book but always make sure that you can still hear what is going on around you. 6. Find a walking partner. In addition to the companionship provided, it will help keep you motivated as well. 7. Alternate your route to prevent boredom. Take one route every other day and another one in between. In addition to neighborhoods try the beach, a park, or a trail. 8. Another way to get more out of your walking routine is to swing your arms more. This helps burn more energy and helps you to walk faster. See power walking below for more information. 9. Add push ups, sit ups, and weight training to your pre-walk stretches to build muscle and strength. 10. Keep a log of your time, distance, and calories burned for motivation. ____________________________________ Edel Jarboe is the founder of Self Help for Her.com (http://www.selfhelpforher.com), an online self-help magazine helping you create your better life. She also publishes a free weekly newsletter, which features advice on goal setting, stress management, coping with difficult people, and overcoming obstacles: Subscribe (mailto:subscribe@selfhelpforher.com) and receive a FREE stress report. Copyright © 1999 by Edel Jarboe. All Rights Reserved. ____________________________________

Fran, what a true blessing you are! Always thoughtful of so many. Let us pamper you silly as you recover. We love and miss you so very much! I cannot wait to see your post letting us know that all is well. My prayers are with you, God is sooooo faithful! I thank Him for giving us another day with you, my friend!

Yes, I would try for more lettuces, baby spinach and do radishes again.

(((((SeldiesGirl)))) Happy Movin'