Video Tip For Retrieving Something You Dropped Down the Sink

This is one of those tips you wish you had known about before you took the sink apart or called the plumber!!!!!


It is a great tip and it saves money....how much better can it get?!

WWW.familyhack. Com/2007/ 08/29/drain- tip

The site looks pretty interesting too.

Is Anyone Listening

I think sometimes in our hurried worried we forget to listen both to the things being said and the things left unsaid. Perhaps we should learn to listen with our hearts as well as our ears.

"Is Anyone Listening?"
By Bob Perks

"How are you today?"

"I'm fine, how are you?"

"I'm not so good today."

Silence.

Most of the time we take conversations like this
as simple chit-chat. Nice words spoken as a
courtesy without real concern or obligation.

"How are you today?" he asks the next person.

"I'm doing great! How are you?"

"I've been better," he replied.

He rings up the sale, hands her the bag and
she leaves.

The next person moves up, "How are you today?"

"I'm doing fine," she said. But she never asked
him. I could see this empty look on his face.

I was in a local discount dollar store. I
was looking for wrapping paper which was
located near the front register.

Over and over I heard the same conversation
as customers were leaving the store.

No one took the next step. No one asked the
clerk why he was having such a bad day.

In my presentations I often speak about the
fact that in general we go through these
niceties but we really don't want to know
how someone is doing. Most times we don't
really tell the truth anyway because we
figure it's none of their business or
no one really cares about our troubles.

So, when I checked out I took it a step
further. I always do.

"How are you today?" he asked me.

"Wonderful, thanks. How are you?"

"Not doing well today," he replied.

"Work getting to you?"

"No, well, I don't want to be here."

"The day's almost over. I hope it gets better,"
I told him.

"This won't get any better."

"I'll say a prayer for you."

"That won't help. I have someone who is dying."

I set the bag on the counter, leaned in and
said, "I'm so very sorry. Is it a family member?"

"My grandfather. He's filling up with fluid.
His body is swollen and they say he only has
a few days."

I went on to tell him that my Gramps was my
favorite. "I really loved that man."

"He's my last grandparent," he added.

We talked a little more and looking at his
name tag, I reached my hand out and said,

"Clark, I am so very sorry. I promise to
remember you and your grandfather in my
prayers.

We shook hands and I left.

I wondered how many other people didn't ask.

How many times have you heard someone express
sadness, frustration or disappointment and
you didn't respond.

Sure, the line might be long. Step aside and continue
the conversation.

Sure, you might be in a hurry. This will only take
a few minutes.

Sure, in essence you might not really care. You'll
need someone to care one day, too.

But when someone is honest enough to tell you
things aren't so good today, they are hoping
that someone cares enough to ask why.

"Is anyone listening?"

J

Bob Perks

I encourage you to share my stories but
I do ask that you keep my name and contact
information with my work.

If you would like to receive Bob's Inspirational
stories, please visit http://www.IWishYouEnough.com

and submit your email address.

"I Wish You enough!"
© 2001 Bob Perks

I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.
I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear
much bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough "Hello's" to get you through the final "Goodbye."

Mother's Day Thoughts

Ok gang,


Today is the day that we honor mothers of all types - foster moms, stepmoms, good old moms, mothers-in-law, grandmothers, and those who stepped in and acted as mom when we needed ours and she wasn't around.

I've been considering what really makes a person a mother, biological or otherwise. There is only one word - love. The worry, caring, nurturing, taxi services, counseling, and understanding, and sacrifice can only be described with that word.

My own relationship with my mother was difficult and she was mostly absent from my life but I truly believe that when she had my grandparents raise me, it was a decision born of love. When I think of my mom now that I'm older and can better understand some of the choices made, I'm grateful that she didn't raise me because I don't believe that I would have been the admirable person you know now. My mom was a bit mentally challenged and an alcoholic; she could barely handle herself, much less a child. When my brothers came along, she was in a different place - no longer a single mother, older, presumably wiser. I realize that she was closer to my brothers because it's easier to be closer to those you have custody of. I was remote in her mind. It remained that way until she died. I always wanted a close relationship with a mother figure but eventually came to realize that I could want her to be MOM all I wanted, but she was not capable of that so I just had to settle for being acquaintances.

My grandmother, while not a touchy feely kind of grandma showed love in a myriad of ways: Teaching me to crochet, cook, garden, fostering a love for music and singing in me that carry me to this day. My grandmother was always there: caring, nurturing as best she knew having come from a dysfunctional family herself. She taught me manners, cooking, how to excel and reach goals, a love for beauty, music, flowers, and how to create a sense of home. She WAS home. The thing I needed most, though, she couldn't give: She couldn't tell me that she was proud of me. I so need to hear that the person I am today would have made her proud and there's no one to tell me that. That's the thing that's really getting to me today.

While I'm not a mother myself, I do try to offer guidance and love to underprivileged kids because if I don't, who will? Children need to know they matter and while it is best that their parents let them know, that isn't always possible. So hug a child today and if mom is around, give her a hug too.


.

Parading Around

Good morning friends,

Well today is the day! David and I are walking in the Florence Days parade. Throughout the summer, many of the historic neighborhood have a festival and some also have parades. We have gone to the parade many, many times but this is our first time walking in it. It should be fun!!!

Here's a picture of the float; the white things at either side are supposed to be hands (yes I had to ask!!!). It was a ball and the parade lasted 2 hours so I'm a little weary now. . .

That may very well count for my exercise today; I do have a couple of hostas to get into the ground but that will depend on how much energy I have when I get back.

Cleaning the BBQ Grill

Yes I know this isn't a cooking tip or a weight loss tip per se, but since grilling is a healthy way to prepare food I thought I'd pass along this tip for an easy way to clean the BBQ grill:

Cleaning the Barbecue Grill

Use a large heavy-duty plastic garbage bag.
Put in the grill's grate with 1/4 cup of ammonia
and tie it shut.

Let sit overnight and the crud
will have been softened.

Crumple up aluminum foil
and rub off the debris.

Wash grate in soapy dish water, rinse, and you're ready to go!

Stock Up For Illnesses

In light of the various different flus, noroviruses, and the occasional bouts of eating something that doesn't agree with us, I thought this tip from the Make A List newsletter was worth passing along:

STOCK UP FOR ILLNESSES
We're taking time out from a regular recipe this week, to make some suggestions for things you should have around the house at all times, in case of illness. Because, let's face it, if you're at home alone, there may not be anyone to run to the store for you if you get sick, and you may not feel like doing it. Or if you are caring for someone who is ill, you may not want to leave them to run to the store. So make sure someone has a key to your home in case of emergencies, but also keep those favorites on hand that you like to have when you are sick. Here are some possible ideas to get you started...soup (esp. chicken soups and preferably in the ready to heat/eat cans), pudding (esp. fat free), crackers (or if you are watching your calories try fat free pretzels), bread for toast (can be stored in the freezer for longer storage), applesauce, raisins, prunes, heat & eat rice, ginger ale (canned), your favorite immune system boosting herbs (some people like to take extra C, Echinacea, or Elderberry), hard candies or better yet the vitamin C lozenges, Cold Eeze lozenges, Cough-Gels, Tylenol, tissues, popsicles, jello (ready to eat), pineapple juice (for sore throats), salt for salt water throat gargle.

Many illnesses strike without warning, and you may not have time to go later. If you start feeling sick and can get to the store before it hits you full force, you might want to get bananas, grapes, and lettuce too. POST IT...on your shopping list, and on the inside of your medicine cabinet.

How Does Your Garden Grow?

I hope the morning light finds you well-rested and in good spirits.


Well the "hill to kill" is slowly getting tamed. The unfamiliar should know a few things about the "hill to kill". The hill is 30 feet long, 2 -1/2 feet wide and a 6 ft. drop onto the neighbor's driveway if you lose your footing. So we decided a couple of years to fill that side in with ground covers, etc and naturalize it so we don't have to mow it (eventually). So following that plan, last weekend's purchases are mostly for that hill.

We got all of the flowers I bought last weekend planted and the hill to kill is shaping up. I put the pansies and petunias along the steps that go down the hill and the lisianthus, alstilbe, sage, etc around it. The lilies I planted last year are really taking off which is awesome!!! The violets are really taking off on the hill and are looking soooooooo pretty-see!!!!

I saw the ferns and hostas peeking up a bit. The columbine went in the back yard around the tree and the hen and chicks and moss roses went into the rock garden in the back. Landscaping is slowwwwllllly shaping up. The balloon flowers are kind of hanging out and hopefully will take off well; I bought some bluish/lavender ones.

I want to get more hostas, columbine, and lilies of the valley for the back yard along the fence line. My peonies I got last year from my friends are budding!!! I can hardly wait!!!!

I want to try my hand at container gardening and plant some calla lilies. They are soooooooooo pretty.

The tutoring candidate comes by today at 5 and we'll see how it goes. I hope we communicate fairly well because I'd like to understand the remaining concepts this quarter and have continuity of tutoring set up for next quarter.

Tomorrow after church I'm heading to the garden center again and picking up some potting soil, spray weed and feed, grub and snail kill, and hopefully, an electric hedge trimmer. I want to rent a tiller so I can tear up the area out by the curb and plant flower seeds in it without doing the back breaking digging. My knee is quite cranky today!!!!