My Alone Time- Off Running!

 Guest post by Felicia Pittman


My favorite form of exercise is running. When I was in high school, I ran on the track team for three years, and cross-country for four. Nowadays, with a husband, family and a job, as well as every other form of commitment and errands, my time to run is limited. My running is centered around when my kids are in school, so I typically go after the bus picks them up. Since I work sporadically and different hours, my times change frequently. However, I always make sure that before I leave the house, I set my home alarm security system (ADT Home alarm offers). Then it is time to pound the sidewalks!

I try to run at least 3 miles when I go out. This generally takes me about an hour, although on a good day it can be much less. I jog leisurely, and then speed up for my workouts, so I get my heart pumping. I do prefer to run by myself, as it is one of the few times that I have some time to myself. It gives me a chance to not only get in a good workout, but to clear my head, as well. I like to run out to the small park that is about a mile and a half away, as they have a small jogging/walking trail that surrounds it. All in all, my runs are energizing and fun, and I look forward to the break I get from every day stresses.

A Country Divided...yet again

We live in a society that just can't seem to get along and most of the blame lies within the media. On a day that the country should rejoice the capture and ultimate death of the most vile terrorist on earth, the republicans continue the blame game with President Obama. Hell, I don't support everything he does, but I at least give him credit where credit is due.
The praise of Obama giving the final orders is justified, but the glorification of Obama and Bush is misguided at best. We have far too many soldiers to thank for the painstaking work they have been dedicated to in order to eradicate the evil monster they call Bin Laden.  His death signifies the justice of 3000 innocent victims that he ordered murdered. His death begins the process of families of soldiers who have been killed to finally realize their death was not in vane.  We are a country still at war and we should never lose sight of the targets. We are a country, like it or not, that will be at war with terrorists for many years to come. We should never be complacent with the death of Bin Laden. The terrorists should shake in their boots because somewhere, somehow, someday, they will each face the same demise as their gutless, spineless now deceased leader.
Any moment, a Navy Seal, Green Beret, Delta Force man will slam open the door to a terrorists home and that terrorist will face the same grim prospects as Bin Laden. Hopefully, terrorists world wide will pay attention to the stealth and swift actions of our special forces and live in fear that today could be their last. Everytime a terrorist looks out his window he doesn't know if he will be alive another second to breath the air.  Talk about a major victory over terrorism.

Now, back on point. As a country we need to work together to solve the problems. I assure you the Seal Team members all came from different walks of life but when it came time to execute their mission, they did it as a team, no matter their differences.  Imagine what we as a country could accomplish if our politicians acted llike a team and worked together to solve a problem

So, Hannity, Limbaugh and all you other disgusting, vile, talk show hosts who continue to divide the country, I hope you learn one lesson from the brave soldiers in the armed forces. Put aside your differences and work together for a common goal.

Stay Safe and Warm When Temperatures Drop

Stay Safe and Warm When Temperatures Drop

Contribution by Terrance Kirby

Winter is the most difficult season for people of all ages. As the temperatures drop, it becomes increasingly important to take care of your health and safety.

The first step to staying safe in the cold season is to make sure your home is prepared for freezing temperatures and occasional winter storms. Your house should be properly insulated. Winter drafts not only waste energy, but can also lead to reoccurring common colds. There are many materials available for insulating the home. If you are unsure of how to do it yourself, ask for help at your local home improvement store.
Another important household safety tip is to install a security system (www.securitychoice.com/home-security-and-safety-facts.html) that will keep intruders out of your house. You should set your home alarm before leaving your house. Your home will be protected and you won't have to worry about anything going wrong in your absence.
When you do leave the house in the winter, always dress appropriately. If you are in a rush, you might be tempted to throw on a coat and head out the door. However, by doing so you may be compromising your health.
Always be prepared for winter storms. When a storm is approaching, make sure that you have necessities such as food and water. Do not drive in hazardous conditions unless it's absolutely necessary. If you have to drive, be extremely cautious.

Winter is a challenging time of the year. Remember to always be safety conscious during the cold season. Take extra care of yourself and those around you.

CHARLIE SHEEN...CANDID AS CAN BE

Wth the media abuzz about Charlie Sheen, one has to wonder if this was the best acting he has ever done, or is he just that refreshingly honest?  Who really knows, but the fact of the matter is, you don't have to approve of his lifestyle because frankly, he is only an actor who brings his talent to the television.  It really is not the busineess of the public to judge him. Yes, it would appear Mr. Sheen brought the media firestorm to his own front door, but in the end, his llifestyle has no bearing on the average citizen.

Lets be honest, just because Charlie Sheen drinks and may have done drugs, certainly will not influence any adults to do the same. In fact, as adults, we have to understand Sheen is simply an actor hired to portray a certain role, which provides the public with entertainment. What he does in his personal life is not for you or me to judge. Sure, we can all have an opinion, but the opinion we may all walk away with has no affect on our life.  Sure, putting his kids on prime time television was probably not the bst momet in his career, but let us not forget, actors are narcisistic by nature and are self-indulging egomaniacs who look for the spotlight wherever they can find it.

POLITICIANS AND EXCUSES.....ONE IN THE SAME

Right now, we are all facing a very uncertain future. No, I'm not talking about illness or anything like that. I am talking about the country as a whole.   We have a major problem in this country, and it is called being "dis-jointed". We have elected leaders in both the House and the Senate who simply can't get along.  We have Republicans on one side saying....cut cut cut....we have Democrats saying: Where where where.    Alot of mudslinging takes place with very few solutions.   What I find most amazing is how Republicans want to cut the budgets, but then vote to send money to Israel and other countries.  Hey, I am all for helping out, if the country was in a position to do so...problem is, we are not in any position to loan money or even give money to other countries.

Now, obviously, we know where a majority of the country's expense is really at. We know that funding the war is costing we the tax payers trillions of dollars.  Whether or not you support the war (or not), we need to take a good long look at the financial aspect. We need to figure out if the massive amounts of spending can be justified....or do we bring our troops home and truly tell them what a great job they have done.  See, this is the problem. The troops get caught in this catch-22.  If you say anything about ending the war, then you are anti-soldier. If you support the spending on the war, you are pro-soldier.   Why should this be?   People support the troops,but can no longer justify putting our troops in harms way when there really is no measuring stick for victory.  The troops need to be home with their families, where they can kiss their husband's, wives, kids, or parents good night, and wake up the next day without fear.  My opinion is, bring the troops home, give them as much love and support as possible...and stop spending billions on this war.  But, hey, that is only my opinion.

ALWAYS IN THE MARKET FOR A DEAL

I am the last person anybody would consider a savvy shopper, but when it comes to deals, I tend to sniff out the competition and find the best possible deal available. For example, we fly to Florida every other year. I tend to get the best airfare, hotel, and rental car rates.  People always ask me how I do it and I tell them it takes time. Time is money, money is time.  I like to look for a deal while others are happy paying the status quo. One website I use is through Groupon http://click.discountclick.com/go/click.php?tid=579672. There are so many tools you can use to research for deals, I tend to like web sites that direct you where you want to go.

Recently, when we visited Florida, I was looking for some fun odds and end things to do. We hung out on I-Drive (International Drive) and found a host of little known gems to visit. Just walk up and down I-Drive in Orlando and you will find just about anything you want to do. Walking around for quite some time tends to get me hungry. Well, there is nothing better than showing up to a restaurant and eating a meal….only to whip out a coupon that saves you money.  Of course, I am not one who likes to order my steak from a menu where instead of words; there are pictures of the food…because honestly, does the food ever truly look like the professional photograph? Of course not. So, why tease me with this fascinating looking dinner only to be disappointed the food does not look like it did in the picture?  Of course, that is not to say I have not been to a restaurant where I ordered off a menu of pictures…LOL  No no no, I tend to look for deals before I travel. You too can look up deals right here: http://click.discountclick.com/go/click.php?tid=579672.

Ok, so you may think I am cheap. Fact is, I am thrifty. I mean really, who goes out to eat without looking for a deal? Not me. Then again, I don’t go out as often as I would like. When we do travel, whether it be locally or to another state, it is always nice to go out with friends or family. My wife and I were testers not too long ago for a steakhouse. We did the whole secret shopping thing. Well, all I can say is we ate for free and provided a great review because the service was excellent, the food was great…and…on top of it all…we had a night out away from the kids.  What more could you ask for?  LOL  If you want to save a little bit of money, entertain friends or family, then check out http://click.discountclick.com/go/click.php?tid=579672.  If you are like me, you may enjoy saving even just a little bit of money. Then again, if you are like me, you just like saving money period…LOL.

Well, my family and I will be traveling to Florida in a few months and I can assure you, I will be seeking out deals ranging from discount Disney tickets (by attending a time share tour), to discount hotel stays, to discount rental cars.  All in all, if I can save a few dollars, enjoy time with the family, and call it a vacation….I guess I am one step ahead of others…LOL

UNION BUSTING IS A BAD IDEA......

Wow. To think a state government wants to put the kibosh to collective bargaining is like waking up and realizing the Easter Bunny isn't real.  What a sad state of affairs when politicians feel it is within their power to end collective bargaining. Wisconsin is just one of many states that will try to invoke this crazy line of thinking.  There is a reason it is called "bargaining". When you bargain, you negotiate.  Is it the fault of the union members that the politicians in Wisconsin don't know how to negotiate properly?  No. 

While everybody agrees spending needs to be curtailed, doing it on the backs of hard working citizens is not the right way to go about it. Every time cut backs are announced, the cuts always seem to affect the middle class, the poor, and the elderly. When will politicians realize that cutting programs that aide low income or elderly people will only make matters worse, not better. Why cut the programs that do the most for people?  Why I ask....WHY?   Well, my theory is there are many today who do not want to be associated with the poor or the elderly. In fact, the way I see it, the Republicans like the Governor in Wisconsin don't want poor people to thrive in any way.  keep the poor ...poor.....and let the elderly move on by, all the while, the rich can keep their money, stockpile it, and get all the benefits of tax breaks.