HOT & HUMID - LET'S HELP OTHERS

Two days ago I wrote about all the rain we've had, and how badly I need sunshine, and that I wouldn't complain about the heat & humidity.......well.....We have a "Heat Advisory" today! The following is from http://www.weather.com/

"THE HOTTEST WEATHER SO FAR THIS SUMMER IS EXPECTED TODAY ACROSS EAST CENTRAL MISSOURI AND SOUTHWEST ILLINOIS. HIGHS IN THE MID TO UPPER 90S COMBINED WITH VERY HUMID AIR WILL PRODUCE AFTERNOON HEAT INDEX VALUES AROUND 105 DEGREES."

I realize these temperatures and humidity levels may be normal for some people, or unthinkable for others, but here in my part of the world it's pretty normal to experience, at least a few days every summer.

I will do my best not to complain.....which should be pretty easy since most of the time I'm so very fortunate to be surrounded by air conditioning. Anyone interested in helping people withstand the heat, by donating dollars and/or air conditioners, a couple of suggested sites are below.

If you don't live near the St. Louis area, please check out agencies in your part of the world.

http://www.habitatstcharles.org/

http://www.heatupstlouis.org/CoolDown.html

RAGBRAI -- I'M GOIN' TO GREENFIELD JULY 2009

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RAGBRAI is an acronym for:

Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa

It is a non-competitive bicycle ride across Iowa that draws recreational riders from across the United States and overseas.

The 2009 is schedule to start in Council Bluffs and visit the towns of Red Oak, Greenfield, Indianola, Chariton, Ottumwa, Mount Pleasant, and Burlington from July 18 - 25.

**Greenfield, Iowa is home of the Adair County Free Press, owned by the Sidey family since it was founded in 1889 by Edwin J. Sidey. I am honored to write a weekly column for this historic newspaper. **

~~ Note the Greenfield Opera House on the left side of the logo....and the photo I took of the Greenfield Opera House last fall when I was there! It's another historic site. ~~

ONLINE WRITING COURSE

Hey Everyone.....I signed up for Kelly L. Stone's online writing course. I think it will be a great class. I hope more of you will also sign up. It sounds like a fabulous deal for only $25.00. I 've never seen anything online for such a reasonable price!
**Scroll just a little farther down and click on the area to sign up**

Living in "Some-Kind-of-Ville

Yesterday morning I wrote about my Blahs, due to the gloomy weather. But after I arrived at work at 12:30 for my afternoon shift, I was so busy there was no time to think about anything other than chatting with customers and ringing up those sales! We were soooo busy it felt like Christmas time. I loved it! I much rather be over worked, than under worked!

When I arrived home, Ron and I talked about our busy days. Somehow the word Margaritaville popped into our conversation. And that led me to say I had been in BarnesandNobleVille all afternoon......

Well, it was funny at the time. I guess you had to be there......

Online Writing Class, with Kelly L. Stone

Mid-Willamette Valley RWA Presents:

Title: No Matter How Busy You Are, You Can Find TIME TO WRITE!
Instructor: Kelly L. Stone
When: July 1-31, 2009
Cost: $25

For more info or to register go to:
http://www.midwillamettevalleyrwa.com/online.classes.htm

Fabulous Weekend Ends the Month of May

It's been a whirlwind weekend and I'm so tired, I can barely hit the correct letters on my laptop. If not for the backspace, some of my sentences would look like this: "Thek vame fro tje suppwr tope."

Friday night I spent about 4 hours (until 1:00 am) putting together a special graduation card for my grandson, Todd. If I do say so myself, it looked pretty darn good. I almost came across like an expert "Scrapbooker".

His graduation ceremony was on Saturday afternoon. A fabulous party was held in the evening, with wonderful food, friends, family and fun.

Then this morning, Ron and I got up B & E (bright and early!) and drove to "The Lake" to spend the day with our great friends B & S (I have to get their permission to use their names!)

I am looking SO forward to tomorrow: June 1st! That's when I begin my new, disciplined way of writing. I'm ready to begin!

* Gettin' Motivated.....Again! *

Thanks to a few writer friends, I have once again been motivated to get going on my book, the memoir, remember?

And, ahhh...they've given me some deadlines to meet! Yippee! That's definitely what I need. I'll keep ya'll posted on my progress...

By the way, I found this photo of myself when visiting my dad one of the last couple of times. I don't remember anyone taking the picture of me, nor do I remember ever seeing it before then. Dad said it was one of his favorites of me, and I can see why. Check out that high forehead...definitely a sign of intelligence! ;-)

** Decoration Day & Our Current War **

Decoration Day, as it was called for many years, is really all about remembering and honoring those who died during our many wars. Its name is the definition of what it was all about.....decorating the graves and tombstones of our fallen soldiers and sailors.

Like so many of us, though, I didn't give it more than a moment's thought over the years. It was mainly a 3-Day weekend and a rest from work.That all changed for me a few years ago, when my sister Marian and I, attending a Memorial Day celebration in Greenfield, Iowa. It was very inspiring to say the least.

One of the many things I find very disturbing about this current "war" we are involved in, is the fact that the news we receive concerning it, is determined by the various news stations. Yes, they inform us of the sad news of another "casualty"........is that word used to make it sound less like "death"?....But what we aren't told, are all the horrific wounds and burns our military personnel are living with.....mostly due to road side bombs. Shouldn't there be a way to detect those bombs, before they wound or kill people??? In our world of technology.....shouldn't there be a way?????