Stretched To The Limit

Thursday February 25, 20120

Does anyone else, besides me, feel stretched to the limit? I am not talking about the normal post holiday weight expansion. I am referring to not having enough time, energy, or money to take care of all the things which need tending to. I can't be the only one torn by both the medical needs of older family members and the child care needs of young grandchildren.

I believe there have to be a lot of other people out there in similar circumstances and I think we should form a support group for ourselves. Just consider the possibilities, the power, should we band together and organize. There would be strength in our numbers. We could use this strength to lobby for a fairer and simpler system. We could start with a universal diaper coupon; a coupon good on any size from preemie to adult extra large. The same fairness should hold for buying formula whether it is similac or ensure. And what about day care? Why can't we drop everyone off -babies and old folks- at the same place. Their needs of diapering, feeding, and nap time are basically the same.

Okay all kidding aside, if we can become this frazzled with our family responsibilities during normal times can you imagine would happen during an evacuation? I can certainly imagine the scene and it is not a pretty one. Our only hope is to get organized now. You should start by compiling a list of the basic supplies necessary to care for each family member you are responsible for. As you do your grocery shopping each week purchase a few items from the list and store them with your personal evacuation supplies. This preparedness won't make all of the stress disappear but hopefully it will reduce it.

Additional evacuation information available at www.wineandchocolateplan.com

Southern Snow

Friday February 12, 2010

I grew up in Memphis, Tennessee where (at least during my childhood) the term southern snow referred to year's cotton crop. During the baling and transport of the harvest many fluffy, white cotton bolls managed to escaped and fill the warm, blue, southern skies. Soft cotton spheres would be carried by the winds and collect in cotton drifts on the curbs. A child could construct a cottonman in bare feet and not worry about the creation melting. Snow was an unfamiliar weather condition which came rarely in my childhood.

Well obviously that was long ago and a much different world. Nowadays cotton is plastic wrapped so not to lose a single boll and the entire South seems to be blanketed in snow for long stretches during the winter. Every day a new snowfall record is reported. Take, for example, the Dallas-Ft.Worth area which reported 12.5" of snowfall in a 24 hour period from February 11-12th. This was the snowiest period of time in the area's recorded history.

All of this extreme weather makes it vital to learn some cold weather terms.
1. Frost/Freeze Warning-below freezing temperatures should be expected
2. Winter Weather Advisory-your area is likely to have snow, sleet, and
freezing rain. The roads may become hazardous.
3. Winter Storm Warning-All of the above weather conditions will happen.
Take precautions to prepare for them.
4. Blizzard Warning-Go to a safe shelter at once. The area will experience
snow accompanied by strong winds. These weather conditions will combine to
produce limited or no visibility, high snow drifts, and life-threatening
wind chill temperatures.

Additional evacuation information available at www.wineandchocolateplan.com