Are You Ready?

How does one prepare for a pandemic that could kill 1 of every 10 people in your community?

I was prompted to do a little research after I heard an ad on the radio while zipping around Branson today. It was an public service announcement on a small radio station out of our hometown, in Harrison, AR for pandemic preparedness. My quick and simple research yielded me tons of information.

I think the most amazing thing I found so far is that right here in the state of Arkansas, there has been an official 147 page Influenza Pandemic Response Plan drafted within the last 14 months. It's 147 pages long folks! That's a huge document guys (yes, I printed it). It includes everything from Influenza Suerveillance to Information about Influenza to Clinical Guidelines and even an example of an Home Quarantine Order and Facility Quarantine that Communities can use. Yikes!

I just watched a very interesting and disturbing documentary which showed the effects of a possible future outbreak of avian flu and how it would spread across the world. It's a 1 1/2 hour YouTube video and if you've got the time, watch it. You can see it by clicking here.

Well, I won't make this too long. I just thought I'd let you know my most recent tangent. Besides, I have to go to the store right now and buy some rice and water. Later.

Friday Flashback

POOL PARTY

AUGUST 1965

Vehicle Needed

I'm just going to throw this out here and see what happens. My stepson Bo is in desperate need of a different vehicle. Although Chris and I have taken a firm stand with all three of the kids that they were responsible for purchasing and insuring their vehicles, if they choose to have one, we have been supportive of their efforts as well. So in that light I am trying to assist him in locating a vehicle for him that might be for sale.

Bo currently has truck that is on it's very last legs and would like his "new" vehicle to be more fuel efficient. If you or someone that you know has an older vehicle for sale that you might think would fit the bill, please let me know. He needs something extremely inexpensive as he has very limited funds at this time; something that would get decent gas mileage; a vehicle that would hopefully run for at least one year. It doesn't have to have bells and whistles, just be reasonably dependable.

Again, please can call me if you think you can help him out: 870-365-5711

Thanks!

PS Bo is willing to travel for the right deal, so don't let distance deter you if you live away and think you have something. Thanks.

Cornerstone of Good Citizenship

I am posting a podcast today. It is a chapel address to the student body of Olivet Nazarene University by former Assistant Secretary of State of Ohio, Monty Lobb. Monty and I were classmates at Olivet. I never really knew Monty well but we had several mutual friends and I remember he was tall; and wore interesting glasses; and he was a super terrific nice guy.

Anyway, I found his chapel address inspirational and I thought I would post a link. I think there are a few of you that read me that might also enjoy it and take the time to listen. It's about 25 minutes long. Not too bad. Click here to listen to the message. You can also see the "Declaration of Uncommon Sense" that Monty talks about in his address by clicking here.

A Different World

I was listening to the radio on my way home from work the other evening and I heard that someone has invented a flying car that should be on the market in less than 2 years. I'll have to see it to believe it, but I hope it's true. Perhaps one of my lifelong dreams will come true, to drive a flying car.

I love this picture of my dad and grandpa. It was taken c. 1942, on the farm where my dad was born and raised. It reminds me just how much our world has changed in my father's lifetime.

25 Amazing Things I've Already Done

I've watched a sea turtle lay her eggs in the sand...
... it was amazing!
I've climbed a pyramid in Giza, Egypt...
... it was amazing... x10!
I've snorkled in the Red Sea...
... it was an amazingly beautiful and brief experience!
I've read The Agony And The Ecstasy...
... it's amazingly long... and amazingly interesting!
I've seen the Sistine Chapel...
... it was an amazing feat!
I've crocheted a blanket (several)...
... they are amazing! (okay... maybe not so much)
I've lived in Santa Barbara County, California...
... it is amazing how much I still miss it!
I've shaved my head bald...
... it was an amazing feeling!
I've rode a camel in the Sahara Desert...
... it was also an amazingly feeling!
I've watched a spider spin an entire web...
... it was truly amazing!
I've stayed in a 5-Star hotel for 2 weeks...
... it was amazingly lavish!
I've walked down the middle of the Reflecting Pool in D.C....
... it was amazingly cold (It was January and it was frozen!)
I've taken a Castle tour on the Rhine River...
... it was an amazing gift! Thanks Steve & Nancee!
I've stood on the 50 yrd. line of Notre Dame Stadium...
... it was an amazing shared experience! Thanks Dave!
I've shook Rosa Parks hand...
... it was amazing and humbling!
I've lived in 5 states...
... that is amazing! (okay... again, maybe not so much)
I've stood inside the Colosseum in Rome...
... it was amazingly sobering!
I've crossed the Aswan Dam...
... it is amazingly BIG and secretive!
I've visited Abu Simbel...
... it was amazingly old! (Did you know they moved those suckers?)
I've had open incision, lower back surgery...
... it was amazing that it was an outpatient surgery!
I've seen Michael Jackson in concert in Paris, France...
... it is amazingly embarrassing to admit!
I've spent a night on top of Mt. Sinai, Egypt...
... it was amazingly cold and amazingly, my 35th Birthday.
I've researched my family tree and met family I didn't know I had...
... it was amazing how much we looked alike.
I've remained close with high school friends ...
... it's because they are amazing people.
I've fully recovered from Barrett's Esophagus...
... it's because of an amazing product, AmbrotoseTM by MannatechTM

Hillary's Health Choices Plan

Click here to see Hillary Clinton's proposed health care plan. I think it's time, folks!

Friday Flashback

Gotta love those 80's!

Mail Order Madness

There is a hilarious line in the movie "Best In Show" where Parker Posey, playing Meg Swan, is dialoging with her husband Hamilton, played by Michael Hitchcock and she says, "...We are so lucky, we are so lucky to have been raised amongst (mail order) catalogs." Ha. Michael adds, "It's so much easier, because, especially you don't have to deal with people as much. You can just talk to the person on the phone..." and then Parker adds, "Or not." It's a very, very funny scene.

This weekend I was doing some sorting and cleaning and I decided to attack our ridiculous stack of mail order catalogs. I am embarrassed at the number of catalogs we get. And how we ever started getting some is a mystery to me, but I enjoy them all. I think I will probably call them bulk of them though and ask them to take us off their mailing list. Now with the internet, it's just as easy to shop online. And I'm sure we'll save a few trees.

I thought I'd post my collection here for you to enjoy. Check them out online if you feel so inclined. There are some good ones. I have to say, I feel as do Meg & Hamilton, so lucky to have been raised with the catalogs!

Allergy Control Products, Inc.
800-422-3878
allergycontrol.com

Allergy Solutions, Inc.
800-491-4300
allergysolution.com

American Girl
800-845-0005
americangirl.com

Atlas Pen & Pencil Corp.
800-342-8889
atlaspen.com

Ballard Designs
800-367-2775
ballarddesigns.com

Bass Pro Shops
800-227-7776
basspro.com

Baudville
800-728-0888
baudville.com

Best Impressions
800-635-2378
bestimpressions.com

Bits and Pieces (puzzles)
800-884-2637
bitsandpieces.com

Blair (women’s fashion)
800-458-2000
blair.com

BOMBAY
800-829-7789
bombaycompany.com

Bose
800-414-2073
catalog.bose.com

Boston Proper
800-243-4300
bostonproper.com

Brookstone/HardtoFind Tools
800-926-7000
brookstone.com

BrownCor International
800-343-9228
BrownCor.com

Campmor (camping)
800-226-7667
campmor.com

Champion America (Safety)
800-521-7000
championamerica.com

CHARNSTROM
800-328-2962
charnstrom.com

CHEF’S
800-338-3232
CHEFScatalog.com

Conney Safety Products
800-356-9100
conney.com

The Container Store
800-733-3532
containerstore.com

Cooking.com
800-663-8810
cooking.com

Country Curtains
800-456-0321
countrycurtains.com

CRAFTSMAN Power & Hand Tools
800-377-7414
sears.com/craftsman

Crate & Barrel
800-323-5461
crateandbarrel.com

Crutchfield
800-955-3000
crutchfield.com

DansComp (bikes)
888-888-3267
danscomp.com

Day-Timer
800-225-5005
daytimer.com

Eastbay (Shoes)
800-826-2205
eastbay.com

Eddie Bauer
800-426-8020
eddiebauer.com

Figi’s
800-422-3444
figis.com

FranklinCovey
800-514-1776
franklincovey.com

Garage Equipment Supply
800-261-7729
GESForLess.com

Grill Lovers
800-241-8981
grilllovers.com

Hammacher Schlemmer
800-543-3366
hammacher.com

Harry & David
800-547-3033
harryanddavid.com

Hershey’s Gifts
800-233-2168
hershysgifts.com

Hickory Farms
800-222-4438
hickoryfarms.com

Hold Everything
800-421-2264
holdeverything.com

Home Decorators Collection
800-245-2217
homedecorators.com

The Irish Rose
888-298-5301
TheIrishRose.com

J.Crew
800-562-0258
jcrew.com

L.L.Bean
800-221-4221
llbean.com

Land’s End
800-356-4444
landsend.com

Levenger
800-544-0880
levenger.com

Lillian Vernon
800-545-5426
lillianvernon.com

Linen Source
800-431-2620
LinenSource.com

Midnight Velvet
800-398-3020
midnightvelvet.com

National Allergy
800-522-1448
nationalallergy.com

National Business Furniture
800-558-1010
NationalBusinessFurniture.com

National Geographic
888-225-5647
shopNG.org

NORDSTROM
800-285-5800
nordstrom.com

Northern Sun Merchandising
612-729-2001
northernsun.com

Old Glory
800-892-3323
oldglory.com

Omaha Steaks
800-960-8400
omahasteaks.com

The Paragon (Gifts)
800-657-3934
paragongifts.com

Pin Gallery
800-896-9219
pingallery.com

Pottery Barn/Kids
800-922-5507
potterybarn.com
potterybarnkids.com

Quill
800-789-1331
quill.com

redENVELOPE
877-733-3683
redEnvelope.com

Restoration Hardware
800-762-1005
Restorationhardware.com

Sales Guides, Int’l
800-352-9501
sales-guides.com

Seventh Avenue
800-356-9090
SeventhAvenue.com

The Sharper Image
800-344-4444
sharperimage.com

Siegel Display Products
800-626-0322
siegeldisplay.com

Sierra Trading Post
800-713-4534
SierraTradingPost.com

Sketchers (shoes)
800-746-3411
sketchers.com

Smith+Noble
800-248-8888
smithandnoble.com

Sticker Planet
800-557-8678
stickerplanet.com

Successful Events
800-352-9501
Successfulevents.org

Successories
800-535-2773
successories.com

The Swiss Colony
800-544-9036
swisscolony.com

The Territory Ahead
800-882-4323
territoryahead.com

Times to Cherish by Current
80-848-2848
TimesToCherish.com

Thompson Cigar
800-216-7107
thompsoncigar.com

Touchstone
800-745-9159
touchstonecatalog.com

Design Toscano
800-525-0733
DesignToscano.com

ULINE
800-295-5510
uline.com

U.S. Chess Federation
800-388-5464
uscfsales.com

USI (Lamination & More)
800-243-4565
USI-Laminate.com

Victoria’s Secret
800-888-8200
VictoriasSecret.com

Viking Office Products
800-421-1222
vikingoffice.com

What On Earth
800-945-2552
whatonearthcatalog.com

William-Sonoma
800-541-2233
william-sonoma.com

Wine Country Gift Baskets
800-394-0394
winecountrygiftbaskets.com

Wissota Trader
800-833-6421
wissotatrader.com

Z Gallerie
800-908-6748
zgallery.com

Amalfi Coast

This is cool, too:

10 Years Ago

Enjoy this clip I've put together of my good friend, Roberto. He was a SERVAS host that I stayed with in Savona, Italy in 1997 and we've stayed in touch over the years. Chris and I stayed with him for a week when we were in Europe 2 years ago. He's a beautiful and generous person. It's hard for me to believe that it's been 10 years since we met. Enjoy my first attempt at video editing:

A 4th to Remember... A 5th to Forget!

I may regret doing this but I could not resist. For the few of you who will, enjoy:

A Day No Pigs Would Die

I just finished reading this book last night and I LOVED it. It should be made into a movie!

I'm sure many of you may have read it during High School or Jr. High. It's one of the top 100 books recommended for students to read. I had never heard of it when Mom gave it to me a few months ago.

I've kept it on my nightstand and it's taken me forever to read. It's not a long book, it's just that I can only ready a few paragraphs in bed before I'm out like a light. But last night I got on a roll and read until I finished the book.

I won't spoil the story should any of you want to pick it up and read it. But if you grew up on a farm, like I did, you will really enjoy the story.

Daylilies at Work

My good friend and pal Dean Reusser inspired me to share some picutures of daylilies. I don't quite have his green thumb but I will try and share some of the calalilies that are in bloom in my front yard. These are flowers that are on property at the resort where I work. Here are a few of the daylilies that are in bloom at Thousand Hills in Branson. There are so many and they are really very beautiful. Enjoy!

What the...

Niki Delivers

It was about 10pm Thursday night when I got the call. Chris was on the other end of the line and in a very excited voice she practically shouted, "We're having babies!"

I can't believe it but Niki only had 2 kittens and unfortunately one did not survive. At least we have one healthy baby. I guess it's not unusual for a cat to only have 2 or 3 kittens her first litter. I thought she seemed bigger than only 2 kittens though.

Mommy and baby are doing well and hopefully I can put up a picture of the little critter soon. It's as cute as... well... not so cute yet. Have you ever seen a newborn kitten?! Not so cute.

Bathroom Remodel

Our Master Bathroom project that I started, um... well, too long ago, is once again in motion. I took some time this past weekend and stripped the walls and started to tear out the drywall around the tub. I'm going to tile the entire bathroom and since there was never any backerboard around the tub, I am putting it in.

We haven't picked out the exact tile yet but have had fun looking for ideas. I think what we're going to do is a combination of 12"x12" Travertine tiles around the tub and 1"x1" Travertine mesh mounted tiles in the rest of the room.

I would also like to use a large amount of mirror in the bathroom.

I LOVE the bathrooms at the new Andy Williams Moon River Grill in Branson. They used mirrors to make a rather small bathroom look twice as big. And that is what we need in ours because it's very small. Hopefully I can get a good price on some mirrors to create the same effect.

I think that I am going to have to have the bathtub professionally refinished. It's a very nice tub but there are a few chip in the porcelain finish. I have heard that you can do it yourself, but I think in order to get a professional looking job, I need to hire a professional. I'm going to research it anyway and find out what it will cost.

Well, stay tuned for bathroom updates too!

Tuesday has come and gone ...

... and Ms. Niki is still with kitten! And playful as ever. I took these snapshots just minutes ago. I can't imagine she can go much longer. I'll keep you posted.

Kitten Countdown

Our petite, Ms. Niki is about to pop! She is VERY pregnant and I expect will give birth in the next few days. I'm am predicting she will deliver on Tuesday. We'll see. Hopefully she'll have less than six kittens but our veterinarian told me on Wednesday that she could have as many as ten! ZOINKS! :-o

mycokerewards.com

dude... i have like 1,543 coke rewards points! AWESOME!

i think i'm gonna buy like some kitchen knives or something. SWEEEEEEET!

anybody else save coke points?