One-Hundred Percent Living

One-hundred percent living... needs no further comment from Lorraine. I encourage you to click and read.

Serenity Prayer

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
enjoying one moment at a time;
accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
that I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
forever in the next.
Amen.

- Reinhold Niebuhr (1892-1971)

Lorraine here and I repeat:
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Weekend at Grandfather Mountain

12 noon Monday, 6/29/09, and Little Guy is unhitched from the KIA, at the apart-ment complex. "Little John" has been emptied and ready for another trip. Soiled clothing is in the hamper; trash is in the dumpster. With the exception of some laundry, we are ready for another trip.

Be it ever so humble---and cluttered---there's no place like home. I agree---and I disagree!! I sleep much better in my bed, in my apartment!! The mattress is comfortable in Little Guy but, each night, I always hear unique sounds and have unusual neighbors. Wherever I travel, I make new friends with fellow campers. ~~ It was so beautiful "on the mountain," I hated to leave. ~~

I was en route to Grandfather Mountain at 10 o'clock Friday morning, 6/26/09. It was a beautiful eighty mile drive. My only lament: I forgot my food!! When I walked out of the apartment, my arms were full. I set down the cooler full of salad, apples, bananas, and water, when I locked the door. I did all my last-minute check of lights, turn signals, etc.--and drove away. One-and-one-half hours later I suddenly realized my blunder!! I decided it was not worthwhile to retrace my route to retrieve my food. ~~ I parked the trailer on a free camp site across the highway from the meadow where the "singing" would take place. Then six miles into the tiny Grandfather Village for a few groceries. (A small prepackaged salad cost me almost $5.; by comparison my homemade salad was worth $15.!!)

Each day, I walked the meadow, and the campgrounds, and visited with fellow travelers. Good exercise; entertaining conversation!!

Saturday morning, 6/27/09, 8:51, I paid $13. admission and drove slowly up a narrow winding highway, around hairpin curves, to the Visitor's Center. I spent hours viewing the displays and watching two excellent films. I visited the large variety of animals in their natural environment. Later I traversed the remainder of the route to the top of Grandfather Mountain. The view is spectacular!! However, I remained on the parking lot side, I did not walk across the swinging bridge!!

After hours on Grandfather Mountain, I turned left when I exited the Park and slowly drove 23 miles, on highway 221, to the quaint community of Blowing Rock. Then 32 miles via highway 221/321 to Boone, and highway 105 for the return to Grandfather Village. Fifty-five miles total and a beautiful drive!! Back to my campsite at 5 PM. The evening spent near a fire circle with new acquaintances. My RVing neighbors had been coming to "Singing on the Mountain" for many years!! Campers were sharing information with one another since they had seen one another in 2008.

Sunday morning, 6/28/09, about 7:30, I positioned my folding chair at a good location on the meadow. Again, Praise the Lord, I met a new friend!! Throughout the day, a wonderful variety of gospel musicians and beautiful music!! Part of the morning I was bundled in a small blanket, wearing a sweatshirt and jeans because the wind was chilling. I don't know the temperature but mention this because later (5:00 PM) it was about 90 degrees, and very humid, when I stopped for a Subway sandwich in Morganton (off the mountain). FYI: I didn't shed my sweatshirt until late afternoon when I hitched the KIA and Little Guy for the return trip to Shelby (via highway 181 and 18). Home at 6:50 PM; total trip miles: 223. Three days: No computer, no television, no radio, no CD music; precious time for communion with my Lord. On the mountain, I felt so close to heaven!! I descended from the meadow elevation of 4300 to 869 in Shelby.

Grandfather Mountain ~~ As I saw it.

Top left: The Swinging Bridge that I did not walk across!!
Top right: The descent from the top; elevation 5,946 feet.
Lower left: "Singing on the Mountain" from the meadow with Grandfather Mountain in the background.
Lower right: Just a portion of the crowd enjoying the 85th Annual Singing on the Mountain.
For a professional tour, click this link.

On Sunday afternoon an inspirational message was delivered by Rev. Freida Hartley Hobson, granddaughter of the founder of "Singing on the Mountain." Among other things, she told us there is a Celtic saying about "thin places"--and she feels Grandfather Mountain meadow is one of those places--a place where we are close to heaven!! It took some searching but (thanks to Google) I found this interesting article titled "Where Can I Touch the Edge of Heaven?". Here is a brief quote: "In the Celtic tradition such places that give us an opening into the magnificence and wonder of that Presence are called 'Thin Places.' There is a Celtic saying that heaven and earth are only three feet apart, but in the thin places that distance is even smaller. A thin place is where the veil that separates heaven and earth is lifted and one is able to receive a glimpse of the glory of God."

The Cure is in Your Food

By Delia Quigley

I like to think that America is in the midst of a food revolution. All the books available on improving one’s health by eating a good diet, and books about how to green the home and save the planet, articles on health and nutrition in magazines and newsletters, helps me to maintain the illusion that progress has been made and victory is within our grasp. Then The New York Times comes along and bursts my bubble with an article by Roni Caryn Rabin, showing the latest statistics for Americans eating habits.

According to a national survey of Americans age 40 to age 74, those eating five servings of fruits and vegetables per day has dropped from 42 percent to 26 percent. At the same time the obesity rate increased from 28 percent to 36 percent and the percentage of people who exercise dropped by half. The study, reported in the June issue of The American Journal of Medicine, proved disappointing to its lead author, Dr. Dana E. King, who was concerned that people are using medication to control their cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease, rather than eating a high quality diet and getting regular exercise.

It is the nature of the human mind to deceive itself into believing what it wants to believe, and one of the greatest deceptions is that ultimate health can be found in a pill. Sorry to burst that bubble, but the only one benefiting from this lie is the pharmaceutical companies who indulge Americans addiction to greasy burgers, fries, sugar, and soda pop. Author Eric Schlosser wrote in Fast Food Nation how, “In 1970 Americans spent about $6 billion on fast food; in 2000 they spent more than $110 billion dollars. Americans now spend more money on fast food than on higher education, personal computers, computer software, or new cars. They spend more on fast food than on movies, books, magazines, newspapers, videos, and recorded music combined.”

Taking a pill in place of eating a whole foods diet, only creates a build up of toxins and poisonous sludge in the blood. It is not much different than how a river or ocean becomes contaminated, and when this happens there is only one thing to do. Cleanse, detoxify, go on a diet, renew, rejuvenate, recover. Now, I’m not talking about doing a quick seven-day laxative induced, fasting binge, which is just another illusion that there’s relief to be found in pill form. No, I’m talking about a gradual shift off of stress causing foods: refined wheat flour, refined sugar, pasteurized dairy products, caffeine, alcohol and artificial sweeteners, flavorings and colorings. To a diet consisting of alkaline forming foods found in organic fruits and vegetables, plus whole grains, small amounts of animal protein, beans, legumes, nuts, seeds, probiotic rich fermented vegetables and fresh herbs.

This way of eating allows your filtering organs time to cleanse gradually, so the liver can purify the blood in order for the cells to rejuvenate and rebuild. With enough time the entire body, including DNA can remake itself. A good cleansing program should last five to six weeks to really be effective. However, in order to remake and heal the body, plan for at least a full year. Perhaps not as fast as you were hoping to find in pill form, but most pharmaceutical medications will only mask the symptoms. Better to take the time, provide all the needed nutrients in the form of whole, organic food and let your body do the healing work. After all that’s what nature intended.

Delia Quigley is the Director of StillPoint Schoolhouse, where she teaches a holistic lifestyle designed to achieve optimal health and well being, based on her 28 years of study, experience and practice. She is the creator of the Body Rejuvenation Cleanse, Cooking the Basics videos and classes, and Broken Bodies Yoga. Delia’s credentials include holistic nutritional counselor, natural foods chef, yoga instructor, energy therapist and public speaker.

Quigley is the author of seven books on health and nutrition, including:The Body Rejuvenation Cleanse, The Complete Idiots Guide to Detoxing Your Body, The Everything SuperFoods Book, and Empowering Your Life With Meditation, available on Amazon.com. To view her website go to: www.deliaquigley.com

Middle Class vs. World Class

1. The Middle Class competes…the World Class creates.

2. The Middle Class avoids risk…the World Class manages risk.

3. The Middle Class lives in delusion…the World Class lives in objective reality.

4. The Middle Class loves to be comfortable…the World Class is comfortable being uncomfortable.

5. The Middle Class has a lottery mentality…the World Class has an abundance mentality.

6. The Middle Class hungers for security…the World Class doesn’t believe that security exists.

7. The Middle Class sacrifices growth for safety…the World Class sacrifices safety for growth.

8. The Middle Class operates out of fear and scarcity…the World Class operates from love and abundance.

9. The Middle Class focuses on having…the World Class focuses on being.

10. The Middle Class sees themselves as victims…the World Class sees themselves as responsible.

11. The Middle Class slows down…the World Class clams down.

12. The Middle Class is frustrated…the World Class is grateful.

13. The Middle Class has pipedreams…the World Class has vision.

14. The Middle Class is ego-driven…the World Class is spirit driven.

15. The Middle Class is problem oriented…the World Class is solution oriented.

16. The Middle Class thinks they know enough…the World Class is eager to learn.

17. The Middle Class chooses fear…the World Class chooses growth.

18. The Middle Class is boastful…the World Class is humble.

19. The Middle Class trades time for money…the World Class trades ideas for money.

20. The Middle Class denies their intuition…the World Class embraces their intuition.

21. The Middle Class seeks riches…the World Class seeks wealth.

22. The Middle Class believes their vision only when they see it…the World Class knows they will see their vision when they believe it.

23. The Middle Class coaches through logic…the World Class coaches through emotion.

24. The Middle Class speaks the language of fear…the World Class speaks the language of love.

25. The Middle Class believes problem solving stems from knowledge…the World Class believes problem solving stems from will.

SOURCE --Steve Siebold (177 Mental Toughness Secrets Of The World Class)

Square Peg in a Round Hole

In my humble opinion, I have always been upbeat in my messages. (What do you think?) Today I am feeling depressed and plan to explain why I feel like a "square peg in a round hole."

I've put a lot of time into preparing these blogs!! I want them to sound good, look good, error-free, etc. Hopefully the reader has a sense of who I am and what my values are. But family, friends and acquaintances never access my blog!! (At the bottom of my site, there is a feature called StatCounter. That program documents [elsewhere] my visitors.) ~~ My family, friends and acquaintances profusely forward messages; I read them before I delete them. I hate forwarded messages!! (I read theirs, why don't they read mine?)

I'm prompt replying to the e-mail messages of family, friends and acquaintances. They have a health problem..., I offer suggestions and tell them I will pray for them. My blog address is a live link in every message but they don't use it. ~~ Via the U.S. Post Office, I mail greeting cards and gifts but rarely receive acknowledgement.

I beg your indulgence because the following comment is not my usual vocabulary: Life "sucks" when we get old!! I bring so many talents to a job!! I'm a hard worker; I'm loyal; I'm honest!! But two employers rejected me in the last sixteen months. I wasn't working for the paycheck; I was at the location to serve!! Square peg??

I'm generous with my time, money and my possessions. How quickly a friend forgets who supplied the computer, printer, office supplies--and many hours of physical labor to open a health business. Love abused!! ~~ I "house sit" and "pet sit" (free).

Was I born on another planet?? Why am I a square peg in a round hole world??

"Square peg in a round hole
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"A square peg in a round hole is an idiomatic expression which describes the unusual individualist who could not fit into a niche of his society."


A Prayer for Resting in God's Love
Father God, I come into your presence so aware of my human frailty and yet overwhelmed by your love for me. I thank you that there is no human experience that I might walk through where your love cannot reach me. If I climb the highest mountain you are there and yet if I find myself in the darkest valley of my life, you are there. Teach me today to love you more. Help me to rest in that love that asks nothing more than the simple trusting heart of a child. In Jesus name, Amen

Source: Written by Sheila Walsh author of "Let Go"

Weathering the Storm
Father God, Today I am afraid. I look around me at this world that is changing so fast and I feel lost like a small boat in the midst of a storm. I am not built to weather the battering waves or the howling wind. So I wait now in your presence. You spoke the oceans and the four winds into being. You threw the stars in the sky and separated the sea from dry land. You took the hand of Peter who was sinking into the depths of the water and walked him to safety. I choose now to fix my eyes on you and not on the storm. I settle my heart on your love and not on the current that threatens to pull me under. Thank you that you are my firm anchor even through the darkest night, Amen

Source: Written by Sheila Walsh author of "Let Go"


God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Grandfather Mountain

This morning I washed the little Teardrop trailer from a pail of water. I didn't want to "mess up" yesterday's professional KIA car wash by taking Little Guy to a self-service. I'm getting ready for the trip, this weekend, to Grandfather Mountain and attractions in that area. ~~ I'm feeling very good; no aftermath from the extraction!! ~~ Another hot and humid day but I'm not complaining!! Weatherman says 88 to 91 degrees.

85th Annual Singing on the Mountain - June 28, 2009
The "Singing" is a day-long gathering held out-of-doors in a meadow at the base of Grandfather Mountain. Music begins at 8:30 a.m. and continues throughout the day, with a break at mid-day for the sermon. Many families bring lawn chairs and picnics and make a day of seeing old friends and enjoying performances by top Southern Gospel groups.

The Reverend Freida Hartley Hobson, pastor of the Forest Hill United Methodist Church in Concord, North Carolina, will bring the message at the 85th annual gathering. Mrs. Hobson is the granddaughter of Singing founder Joe L. Hartley and uniquely qualified to lead the faithful as they celebrate the longevity and tradition of her grandfather's legacy.

In tribute to the contribution that long-time Music Master Arthur Smith made to the Singing on the Mountain, Grand Ole Opry member George Hamilton IV will be joined on stage by his son, George Hamilton V, and by Arthur's nephews Tim & Roddy Smith, sons of Brother Ralph Smith. The old friends will share warm memories with the crowd as they celebrate the hymns of Arthur Smith.

The Greenes of Boone, NC, welcome a host of other great entertainers including The Primitive, The Cockman Family, Jubilee, Four Anointed, The Melodyaires, The Gospel Enforcers and Michael Combs. In honor of the 85th anniversary another great group from long years past is returning to wow the crowd with their southern-style praise: Naomi and The Segos.

Admission to the "Singing on the Mountain" is free, and camping (without hookups) is available on the grounds on a first come basis. The "Singing" grounds are located on US Highway 221, two miles north of Linville and one mile from the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Read more at 85 Years of Memories .

I also plan to visit Linville Caverns and Blue Ridge Parkway.

What You Can Bank On in Hard Times

By Juliet Heeg, Organic Spa

Our economic style is a natural expression of who we are. Hoarder. Spender. Philanthropist. Cheapskate. Gambler. Shopaholic. For richer or for poorer, your money is a measure of how you see yourself. For many of us now struck by financial woes, our relationship to money may be changing.

Perhaps, it went something like this: The job you loved to hate…”poof” and with it the perfect getaway, gone. As for your 401(k), there’s that misty cabaret song “What Did I Have That I Don’t Have Now?” Maybe you lost something tangible or maybe just the fantasy of something. Whether it was a house made of stone or one built on the sands of your imagination, losing something changes things. Maybe you mourn the sense of confidence or safety that a certain amount of wealth inspired. You may tell yourself that its absence can make room for new things, but you’d prefer 25 cents on the dollar. Whatever your sense of loss is, chances are you are re-evaluating your own “fundamentals” and trying to figure out how to grow your green - and nurture yourself - more wisely.

Now is a good time to reflect on the emotional currency of your financial attachments. Some folks are learning to let go, others to fight back, while others simply panic. Rightly or wrongly, the value of money is so entwined with notions of love, security, and worth that it is difficult to separate. And yet the present is demanding that we make do with less and inviting us to find a way to make the most of it.

While this is not The Great Depression, it may feel like it to people who have never lived through it. Irving Weinstein, Ph.D., a New York psychologist who grew up during the Great Depression, sees this as yet another wave (albeit severe) in the economic cycle. He’s disturbed that the media is portraying this downturn as an “epidemic.” That said, he suggests that people try to be realistic about how they have been affected and take steps to “immunize” themselves financially and emotionally. As he puts it, there is a constant “menu of stressors” which can occur at any time (loss of a loved one, divorce, illness). This economic dip is one more item on the menu, but it is not the menu. In Dr. Weinstein’s office suite, there is an illustration of Charlie Chaplin as “The Little Tramp” character. The caption reads, “Downtrodden, But Irrepressibly Optimistic.” Dr. Weinstein talks about how people identify with the victimized Tramp character who stood up to towering bullies and showed audiences there was a way in which the scrappy “little guy” could hold on to his integrity and not just do the right thing - but do the nobler deed. He references the movie City Lights in which The Tramp secures a much-needed penny on the floor, but gives it to the poor blind girl who needs it even more. In giving it to her, he gives himself-and the audience-a certain faith in humanity.

So while there may be an epidemic of fear, it may be counterbalanced by one of hope.

On matters of spirit and change, The Reverend Thomas Synan of The Church of the Heavenly Rest in New York City, has some words of wisdom. While not discounting the financial hardship many face, he sees the current climate as offering “spiritual opportunities.” On this subject he notes, “Money is only worth the value we give it. Now is not the time to mourn its loss of value. It is in times like these that we prioritize properly and realize what is of great value - not wealth or possessions - but family, friends, a strong supportive community. In times of overabundance, these things can be lost.” While people may need to cut back on what they can give charitably, other ways of giving arise. While our culture prizes money for the independence it may offer, there is also a way in which tough times can bring people closer.

A greater sense of empathy and financial interdependence can arise. The Reverend Synan relates a story told to him by an acquaintance of how, during The Great Depression, “neighbors looked out for each other and even paid each other’s bills.” Identity became more collective and less individualistic. While schadenfreude - “delighting in the misery of others” - no doubt existed, there was a strong sense of “there but for the grace of God go I.” Counting your blessings - not your losses - can add to an enhanced appreciation of life.

Lorraine here: I really like the last couple of sentences. Read the entire article at What You Can Bank On in Hard Times. For me, this was a very encouraging article. I've kicked myself for the clutter and I've felt depressed because I'm alone and forgotten. But long before I read this, I was giving food items for those less fortunate. I was giving gifts to the Senior Center because gift-giving has dwindled. Strange to say, perhaps, but I feel I've received an affirmation!!



God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Dental appointment

6:15 AM: I'm almost ready to leave for the 7 AM dental appointment. I'm checking my e-mail...; I'm drinking organic green tea. TV weatherman says: "No showers out there; none in sight! Sunshine, blue skies...." It's 69 degrees right now headed for 90 degrees.

$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $

10:10 AM and I'm back home. Remember, yesterday, I asked "How can one tiny tooth cause so much pain?" Today I ask "How can removal of one tooth leave such a big hole?" X-ray showed decay inside the tooth, beyond the existing filling, close to the nerve. The doctor said a lot of work to save the tooth--so he extracted it.

$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $

See all those dollar signs? I spent a lot of money this morning!! (I won't tell you how much the appointment cost me; no dental insurance.) Next, to the Post Office for 44 cent stamps and mail several letters. (I bought Bob Hope commemorative stamps.) Then to the car wash where my KIA got the "royal treatment." (Funny how a vehicle runs better when it is immaculately clean!!) Finally, to the Senior Center where I dropped off food items for their Food Pantry.

$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $

Here I am, with my cup of organic green tea, sitting at the computer. No pain, no dis-comfort. A beautiful morning!!

$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $

5:55 PM: For the diversion, 1) to beat the heat, 2) for exercise, 3) to take my mind off the taste of blood in my mouth, 4) etc., etc., I drove to our local indoor Mall. I walked 1.13 miles and over 2700 steps. I browsed several stores but didn't see a single item I wanted to purchase. ~~ Honestly, I "wanted" ice cream but it isn't on my natural foods diet. My mind thought ice cream would taste so good!! Fortunately, I had something better in my refrigerator: juicy, cold, fresh pineapple!! Yum, yum!!

Tooth ache !!

Question: How can one tiny tooth cause so much pain?? It even hurts when I drink water!! I don't know the source of the problem but have an emergency appointment for 7:00 tomorrow morning. I don't drink sodas; I rarely have candy or sweet deserts. I hoped and prayed (with my healthy eating habits) I would never get more cavities (and need more fillings)!! ~~ Imagine the pain as I attempt to eat my large green salad--my large salad with olive oil and vinegar dressing!!

Prime Outlets Mall, Gaffney, SC

Again this Sunday, I took a drive into South Carolina. I visited the Prime Outlets Mall in Gaffney. I arrived about 12:30 and the parking lot was deserted!! The stores didn't open until 1:30. Over 80 retail stores, and over a mile walking past each. Now I can say "I've been there." The best part: I didn't spend a penny on things I don't need!! The parking lot was full when I left--and lots of people outside the stores waiting for them to open. Perhaps some good buys--if you need clothing and shoes--because signs everywhere saying 50% off, or 70% off, and "up to 75% off." Times must be pretty bad when "outlet" stores advertise major discounts!! So I walked over a mile, in 88 degree heat (but feels like 93 according to TV weather report) and 52% humidity. I drove sixty miles round trip. ~~~ FYI: Yesterday I replaced the battery in my pedometer so I can accurately report "over one mile, and over 2600 steps."

Being well is a journey...

"Being well is a journey---of the body, mind, and soul. Each step takes us to new places of discovery about ourselves. As we exercise our freedom to make healthy choices in how we use our body, tend our soul, and enrich our mind, we draw closer to the Creator." ~~ Acquired by Lorraine, source unknown.

More declutterizing !!

1:11 PM: Another day, weather-wise, designed for my downsizing project. The hottest day of the year so far (90+ degrees). The heat, and humidity, is extreme!! Nobody wants to be out in this weather!! I'm using the air conditioning for the first time this season. More boxes, or suit-cases, opened and examined. Items washed (if necessary), priced and put into boxes destined for another Flea Market. Yes, I have decided (at least for today) that I will continue to do the "Junk in the Trunk" event when it doesn't interfere with a planned trip. (The space is already paid for through October.) After all, at a moment's notice I CAN haul the things to a Thrift Shop!! To my frustration, one bedroom is a disaster because it is now the "staging area."

$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $

Comment 3:33 PM: I'm such a "idiot"!!!!!! While I've been focusing on this project I inadvertently failed to pay a $10. charge. So I received a $29. late fee!! It just does not make sense to spend days downsizing and hours at Flea Markets. On 6/12 I only received $5. from sales. I've never had a $29. day!!! This is insane!!!!!! Again I ask a question that I've asked previously: "What's a gal to do??" ~~~~ At moments like this, being an old lady, I'm frightened!!

Postscript 4:44 PM: In the mail, a "Thank You" note from the Director of the Senior Center. In this age of e-mail messages, and e-cards, it is such a joy to receive a handwritten note with kind words!! The note could not have come at a better hour (I was so depressed).

Declutterizing !!

The word "declutterizing" does not exist in the dictionary. I made it up to describe my process of getting rid of clutter. This week I have transported a sizeable quantity of new items to the Senior Center. The first trip (Monday) with things "in general" for door prizes.

Yesterday I learned of an upcoming Senior Center event for the local Red Hat Society--and more door prizes needed. So I spent hours digging into everything I own that is remotely "Red Hat Society." In California, my RHS wardrobe was extensive!! This last year I sold, or gave away, most... but I still have more than I will ever wear. Out came RHS pins and jewelry still in their original packaging. Necklaces, bracelets, earrings, watch, belts, purple purses--and a beautiful red crochet hat. Into the donation bag went the most adorable purple teddy bear wearing a tiara and a boa. Also a picture frame with simulated diamonds. I kept searching in boxes and closet. A gift package of three bottles organic milk bath (I take showers). Avon gift box of personal-size perfumed soap with decorative soap dish. New key chains in their original wrapping. Adorable angel from an arts and crafts store. Six decorative magnetic photo frames in their original packaging. Crystal jar full of fragrant potpourri. The list goes on and on, sixty-four items in all.

After delivering the RHS donation, I drove to the local Recycling Center and unloaded glass and plastic. My apartment complex does not facilitate recycling but I believe in it and keep a receptacle on my porch. My contribution is small because I don't use many glass or plastic containers but, hopefully, every little bit helps (litter hurts).

Then thirty miles to Gastonia, to Sam's Club, for gas and groceries. Fruit and veggies for me and canned goods, and Mac 'n Cheese, to donate to the Senior Center Food Pantry. To my credit, I did not stop at my favorite store, Tuesday Morning, nor my favorite Thrift Shop, Value Village. Straight home!!

For the first time in months, the back of my KIA is free of things to sell at Flea Markets. So I loaded window screens... and drove to a self-service car wash. (Not a single outdoor water faucet available to tenants at this complex.) In a day or two I'll hitch the trailer and return to the self-service and wash KIA and Little Guy.

I'm feeling so energized by my "declutterizing" project. I have a long journey but according to a very old saying from Chinese philosopher Lao-Tzu (c.570 BC-??):
A journey of a thousand miles starts in front of your feet.
A tower nine stories high is built from a small heap of earth.
A journey of a thousand miles starts in front of your feet.

You can have everything you want in life...

Tornado damage locally

Only a few pictures, of many, downloaded from TV stations.


I prepared this message in long hand over a period of time Tuesday evening. I could not access my "blog" because I suspect the source of my WiFi must have shut off their computer.

Charlotte TV stations abandoned their regular evening news programming (from 5:45 until 7:30) to show details of tornado warnings for Shelby and surrounding areas. We experienced "severe thunder and lightening" per weatherman. Also about three miles away "nickel-size hail (1" wide)." In other areas hail reported as golf ball and ping-pong ball size! One viewer phoned to say he had baseball-size hail!!

The reporters warned TV viewers "Get to an interior room, stay away from windows, crouch down, cover yourself with blankets." I did not retreat to the hall closet or bathtub; I watched the TV coverage. It was so interesting to see a "graphic" of my neighborhood displayed on TV--via sophisticated satellite imagery.

We are approximately 45 miles from Charlotte but our local weather monopolized the news!! Several people phoned the TV stations to report a tornado touched down at 6:20 in Kings Mountain (about 15 miles from my apartment). Trees were blown down. A 5 foot wide old Oak tree fell and the lady reported "It looks like a war zone." Visibility was severely limited during "tornadic thunder storm" (words by weatherman).

The Southbound lane of Interstate 85 (near the North and South Carolina state line) was blocked by a fallen tree. Actually the unstable atmosphere spawned "back-to-back storms" and a second tornado warning was issued for counties south of us in South Carolina.

Our weather had calmed by 7:30; the rain had stopped. However the TV news reported that there were over 3300 power outages in our county. (Still 3000 homes without power at 8:00 AM Wednesday morning per weatherman on morning news. Specifically, 1200 homes, in Kings Mountain that suffered the most damage.)

It's 8:00 AM Wednesday as I type this into my "blog" but it was 8:00 PM Tuesday when I composed and revised this message from many scribbled notes. The air had cooled and was so fresh and clean!! It was delightfully cool after a very humid day. It is still blissfully cool! It is raining, with rumbles of thunder.

The morning local TV news showed pictures of large hail, trees down, collapsed barns and sheds, windows blown out of homes. Comments like "So much damage" and "Worse than Hurricane Hugo." One house in Shelby was struck by lightening and burned beyond repair.

I write about this experience because it is new and fascinating to me. I spent over forty years living in the desert of Southern California. Rain was rare, humidity was nil. Our only enemy was proximity to the San Andreas fault and the danger of an earthquake. Honestly, in North Carolina, I never tire of the beautiful green grass, green trees, and flowers. I have vowed to never complain about the humidity.


Tornadoes, severe storms cause major damage

08:00 AM EDT on Wednesday, June 17, 2009

By News Channel 36 Staff

KINGS MOUNTAIN, N.C. -- Severe storms ripped through the area Tuesday night causing major damage. Cleveland County was one of the areas hardest hit.

The Murray family was watching the rain from the front porch of their Kings Mountain home and ran inside when hail started covering their yard. Seconds later the porch collapsed onto the house.

“All you could hear was just boom boom glass blowing in the house,” said Melody Murray. "It happened so fast, there was nothing you could do. Things were snapping like dominoes and the roof felt like it was about to come off," said Deena Bagwell.

The porch collapsed onto the house. The home's front windows were blown in as hail rained down and the wind blew. Bagwell clung to her ten-month-old daughter the whole time.

"I was holding her and water smashing me in the side of the face," she said.

Across their community there were similar stories. Power was knocked out as power lines down and trees fell to the ground.

“It busted our windows, but we're all OK,” said Murray.

Trained storm spotters confirmed that a tornado touched down in Kings Mountain Tuesday evening as a line of severe storms moved through the area.

The Kings Mountain Fire Department chief reported large trees down and windows blown out of mobile homes.

Chief Frank Burns said at least 10-15 mobile homes were damaged. Residents also reported golf ball to baseball-sized hail.

Also in Cleveland County, multiple trees were uprooted causing one lane of Interstate 85 to be blocked between mile markers 3 and 8.

A trained spotter also reported a possible tornado with several trees down at Fallston-Waco Road and Cedar Lake Farm Road in Cherryville.

The storm then moved into York County, where Emergency Management Director Cotton Howell says it caused about 5,000 power outages and knocked down hundreds of trees as it moved across the more rural western part of the county.

At about 6:57 p.m., a public official reported a tornado on the ground near the intersection of Beersheba Road and Black Highway in York.

“I saw the funnel right as I was coming to the intersection,” Kimberly Sutton said.

She followed it along Beersheba Road and noticed it had knocked down trees in the old cemetery where her ancestors are buried. “The oldest one of my relatives—he died in 1818,” she told Newschannel 36. “I was panicked that it had hit the family because I’m the family genealogist.”

At least two large cedar trees had fallen, but the cemetery was practically untouched. “The amazing thing is of every tree that fell, not a single tombstone that is knocked down, chipped, broken or pushed over.”

Just next door, trees landed on a car, a garage, and a bar. Further up Beersheeba Road, a work shed collapsed—with Jeff Falls inside it. “It started blowing forward the roof off, and I said, ‘Well,’” he told Newschannel 36. “I stood over there to the side, thought I’d be alright, and then the building started moving so I run.”

Residents in York also reported large hail and several trees down.

No injuries were reported.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The evening news stated that the National Weather Service confirmed two tornadoes touched down in Kings Mountain. Funny how it takes a team of experts to validate the event. Also in the news, locally over 6000 residents without power. Interesting that the number doubled since last night. ~~~ For the record, a similar weather situation played out today in the mountains north and east of us, closer to the Virginia state line.

Nostalgia Popcorn Popper

Despite a 37 cents per gallon increase in gasoline price this last month, I took a long drive Sunday afternoon. Most of the 128 mile trip was over rural routes in areas that I have not traveled. Beautiful scenery!!

In Spartanburg, South Carolina, I saw one of my favorite stores: Tuesday Morning. Actually, I passed it and had to turn around.... In earlier "blogs" I have talked about reducing my over-abundance of "stuff." Items are supposed to be going out my door!! You guessed it: I carried a purchase home. It is a hot air popcorn maker--and the perfect compliment for camping events with a group of people owning Teardrop trailers.

Actually, air popped corn has been my usual contribution (over the years, at RV events) because I like to provide a snack I can eat (no chips or candy from me). My faithful old West Bend lacks the appeal of this cute model.



This classic Pop-O-Matic Juke Box Popcorn Maker com-bines the nostalgic look of a 1950's diner jukebox with the functionality of a high-tech popcorn maker. Makes movie theater style popcorn using healthy hot air. Looks incredibly cool on the kitchen counter top or in the entertainment room. Either way the eye catching retro design suggests, "Let's make popcorn." Remember popcorn can be a great low fat snack alternative. No oil, no mess and easy to clean. Takes up very little counter space. Measures approx. 12" x 13" x 6''


~~~~~~~~~~~
Postscript 2:22 PM: It started raining a few minutes ago. Earlier... I documented the items that I am donating to the Senior Center. I emptied the Flea Market "stuff" out of the KIA and loaded the two boxes and several grocery bags destined for door prizes. Next: Documentation (in Turbo Tax It's Deductible) of the many things I plan to donate to a local Thrift Shop. I'm so thrilled that I'm making progress "down sizing." Maybe I will divest myself of merchandise and cease to be a vendor at local Flea Markets?!?!
Postscript 5:55 PM: This afternoon, I delivered the donation to the Senior Center.

Rainbow... and more

Yesterday, early eve-ning, we had another torrential rain storm. At 7:15 we experienced a lightening strike near-by, and a deafening clap of thunder. Our electricity was off until 8:30.

By 7:30 we had bright sunshine DURING hard rain!! Strange!! A beautiful rainbow arched across the evening sky. Picture one (top) is the left end of the rainbow. That is the view from my front porch and living room. The building is a Church. Picture two is the right end of the rainbow and my KIA and trailer. Can you see the rainbow?? The colors were vibrant to the human eye!!

The air was invigorating!! I walked 1.3 miles in 30 minutes. A repairman from the power company was in our driveway when I returned. Lightening struck the pole to the right of the right end of the rainbow.

From my living room, until after 10 PM, I saw numerous lightening flashes in the far distance.

Going camping with my Teardrop Trailer

11:11 AM: It feels like 100 degrees!! Perspiration was dripping off my fore-head. I have been busy unloading the Flea Market merchandise from my Little Guy Teardrop travel trailer. Perhaps I will load some items back into the trailer for a brief trip to a Thrift Shop--as a donation. I am so "ready" to visit some of the spectacular beauty of North Carolina!! (I regularly watch UNC-TV [public broadcasting] and see programs detailing sites from the coast to the mountains.) I particularly want to spend time along the Blue Ridge Parkway.

For your information: Most Teardrop Trailers have a "kitchen" when the hatch is lifted. I intentionally purchased a utility model because I preferred the space to haul things. I don't need a kitchen; my diet is primarily fruit and veggies. I have a one-burner Coleman propane stove to heat water for green tea, or an occasional can of soup. I have small ice chests to keep a few things cold. (I'm not planning long trips.) The mattress is very comfortable, and originally designed for a hospital bed (where comfort is King?).

Honestly, when I'm traveling, I rarely open the hatch. See the doors on each side of the trailer? I crawl in from one side or the other depending on where I am parked. And, to the horror of most people I tell, I park for the night in Walmart parking lots!! Of course, when I travel the Blue Ridge Parkway--or visit the Great Smokey Mountains--I'll stay in Forest Service campgrounds (because, Praise the Lord, no Walmarts).

See my little yellow dog in the foreground?? I have signs that I put in the window of each door saying "Beware of the dog." I trust that is adequate security. When someone asks, I can honestly show them one (of two) dogs that are in the trailer.

To see Teardrop trailers from the company I bought from, visit the Little Guy web site. To see a variety of new, and vintage, Teardrops visit Teardrop Trailers Hall of Fame.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Postscript, 3:33 PM: I broke a promise!! I was not going to bring anything back into the apartment. I transferred things from the trailer to the porch. That wouldn't do, however, because another severe thunder storm is on the horizon. So, reluctantly, I brought things indoors. The KIA is still full of "for sale" items so no room for things from the trailer. With the shuffle, I found some more items that I can donate to the Senior Center for door prizes. Other stuff to a Thrift Shop for a donation. I'm making progress (cross my heart!!).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Postscript 4:44PM: Reservations made for a Teardrop campout at Shenandoah Valley Campground near Verona, Virginia. Suddenly I feel as though a great load has been lifted from my shoulders. Taking a break from my labors, and the heat, I searched for a Teardrop Trailers camping event within reasonable driving distance. Gratefully, I found one scheduled and quickly phoned to make a three-day reservation!! No more procrastination about summer travel!! To my further credit: That Friday, July 10th, is one of the days that I have paid to be a vendor at "Junk in the Trunk" Flea Market at the Senior Center. Frankly, when I started unloading the trailer early this morning, I never dreamed I'd make such progress. (Obviously, some of the suggestions about disengaging from clutter had an impact on me!!)

Postscript 2:22 PM, 7/12/09: Read about my recent travels by visiting these links: Blue Ridge Parkway, Shenandoah Valley Campground, and In the minority?!

Junk in the Trunk

"Junk in the Trunk" in the parking lot of our Senior Center; our twice a month Flea Market. Sadly, very few customers. Many vendors packed up and left early. Very hot and humid because severe thunder storm last night--and another severe thunder storm anticipated for this evening. I came home wilted and tired.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

I was "ready" for the "Big Switch" from analog to digital. This was the day!! Thank goodness, now we won't have to listen to those relentless advertisements on TV (and receive ads from the web). No, I didn't buy a new TV nor did I sign up for cable or satellite!! I'm still receiving programming; I still use an antenna!!

Prayer to Live by Grace

May we discover through pain and torment,
the strength to live with grace and humor.
May we discover through doubt and anguish,
the strength to live with dignity and holiness.
May we discover through suffering and fear,
the strength to move toward healing.
May it come to pass that we be restored to health and to vigor.
May Life grant us wellness of body, spirit, and mind.
And if this cannot be so, may we find in this transformation and passage moments of meaning, opportunities for love and the deep and gracious calm that comes when we allow ourselves to move on.

- Rabbi Rami M. Shapiro

Maxine

Clutter & Chaos

It's a conspiracy [big grin]!! I had saved an old Reader's Digest for two articles: Michael J. Fox' struggle with Parkinson's (my mother died from Parkinson's), and information about allergies (I suffered from an allergy last Fall). Much more prominent on the cover "Clutter Free, Stress Free, 21 Ways You Can Take Control." It's lengthy (and you had more than your share of "lengthy," on 6/08/09, with the AARP article, "Conquering Clutter") so I'll only list a few points.

Excerpts from: How I got out from under this mess.
by Shea Dean, Reader's Digest, May 2002, pp. 90-97.

The Clutter-Stress Syndrome

Mountains of junk mail and overstuffed closets aren't just eyesores; they can also increase anxiety. "Clutter makes it impossible to get anything done on time," says Barry Izsak, founder of Arranging It All in Austin, Texas. "As a result, we miss deadlines, forget appointments, and annoy our friends and work associates--all of which cause stress that makes it even harder to get organized. It's a vicious cycle."

Messes, however, often serve a subconscious purpose: "They hide problems in our lives we don't want to confront," says Sheila McCurdy, owner of Clutter Stop in Upland, California. Recognizing this root cause is the first step to staying organized.

1. You're avoiding something.
Bills and statements, for example, may be piling up because you don't want to confront money woes, says Ramona Creel, founder of Onlineorganizing.com. "People think, 'If I get organized, I'm going to find out my finances are in horrible shape.' Then they're going to have to change their spending habits." Similarly, a client of Creel's who was selling her house kept it so unsightly Realtors refused to show it. "My client didn't really want to move, and the mess was her way of staying put."

2. You fear failure.
"I've had clients say, 'If only I were organized, I'd go back to college or finish a book proposal'" says Stephanie Denton, owner of Denton & Company, and organizer firm in Cincinnati. But the mess lets them put off taking a shot at their dream. "If they failed, they'd have no one to blame but themselves. Blaming a mess is easier."

3. You've changed--and aren't prepared for it.
"Possessions let us hold on to a part of ourselves we aren't ready to give up," says McCurdy of Clutter Stop. Clothing is often the culprit: Keeping "skinny" clothes you hope you'll squeeze into again shows you're unhappy with the extra pounds you've put on. And holding on to "fat" clothes is a sign you're sick of your workout regimen or diet. But old apparel can subtly undermine your identity. "The sight of your 'skinny clothes' will quietly convince you you're fat," McCurdy explains. "The sight of 'fat clothes' after you've lost weight may beckon you to relapse into your old eating habits."

4. You want to retreat.
Can't throw a dinner party because your house is a pigsty? Deep down, you may want to withdraw from friends and family--even from people in your own home. "Women will deliberately not do housework if they're having problems with their husbands," says Sandra Felton, founder of Messies Anonymous, which hosts an online chat group, Mates-of-Messies, with 127 members mired in clutter-related marital strife. "The home is often where women have power, so this is a way to express their hostility," says Felton. But such passive-aggressive tactics rarely solve problems. Instead, they fuel the fire--Felton has seen disorganization lead to divorce.

5. You're holding on to someone.
While it's natural to save mementos of a loved one who's recently died or moved out, keeping too much can keep you from moving forward, whether that's finding new friends or a new career path. "When you have too many 'memory joggers,' you become distracted and overwhelmed," says Denton. "One client whose kids had gone to college kept every outfit they'd ever put on," says Creel. "What these people don't realize is, their memories aren't in these objects, it's in them."