Friday, August 26, 2016

Avoid the Burn




Sadly, this is the time of year when things die. It sounds morbid, but it’s true. In June, everything is beautiful, green and healthy. By August, the lack of water coupled with a series of ninety degree temperatures leaves our lawn riddled with burnt spots. In a few weeks, the leaves will turn vivid reds and oranges, and what happens next? Brown crunchy leaves will litter the ground, forcing us to dig out the rakes and leaf bags. Maybe there’s a way to bring the greenery back. Take a look:


                                     https://youtu.be/-W92Ux9GKAI



The grass looks green from afar, but of course it comes with a cost. There are other ways to revive a lawn, and each one takes time, patience, money, or all three. Maybe we’re not willing to put that much care into our lawns, but what about relationships? Which one of your relationships needs watering?





Saturday, August 20, 2016

Missing the Catastrophe




We’re in a bubble. I can’t recall the number of times weather forecasters predicted storms and while we watched dark clouds roll in, increased winds, and thunder, no rain came. I’m not complaining, though. It feels good to have a covering, a protective bubble shielding us from the storms. My heart goes out to people in areas damaged by natural disasters. Scientists agree that the overall level of protection we enjoy is amazing. Take a look:  

                                         https://youtu.be/WaXKL5eWYTc 



Regardless of the tornadoes, floods, and fires that surround us, we’re still alive, and often uninformed about the bigger catastrophes that bypassed us. In short, things can always be worse than what we’re going through. How were you spared from an awful situation?     




Friday, August 12, 2016

Oh No! Here It Comes



You haven’t been annoyed until you’ve had to stop on a particular road in our town. See, we have a slew of railroad tracks stretching across our community, but there’s one special track spot you want to avoid. Here’s what happens: You’re zipping along on a sunny summer day with the car windows rolled down. Suddenly, you hear the ding-ding of the warning bell and see the red flashing lights signaling an oncoming train. Of course, you stop the car as the train rumbles down the track. Lo and behold, it’s not any ole train. No, it’s a freight train; the kind of train that transports massive boxes of cereal, soaps, and soup. You shrug and figure you won’t be there long. Wrong!



The train will slowly lumber by while vehicles line up behind you. When the train pauses, you sigh and wonder how much longer you’ll be there. You wait and wait and wait. About the time you consider making a U-turn, the train begins moving again—only it goes backwards, retracing its tracks. And so, you wait and watch the railroad cars you just saw heading right, go left as they lumber back in the opposite direction.  



Unfortunately, I’ve lived through that train crossing at least three times. In fact, to my horror, we approached it this week. The bell rang, the lights flashed, and if the conductor had looked my way, he would have spotted me doing the famous Home Alone face. But, this time was different because within a minute the freight train was gone. Annoying, but not the usual horrifying time. Sometimes, we just have to grin and bear it. Speaking of bearing it, I betcha can’t watch this entire video:


                                     https://youtu.be/1V6N6kh4oOQ



Are you screaming yet? Don’t buy a house in that community. When you’re especially annoyed, what keeps you from resorting to the Home Alone face?



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Saturday, August 6, 2016

Waiting for Cold Water


The waters at Hilton Head beach felt as warm as ocean temperatures should ever get. In fact, it’s difficult to imagine a more comfortable time in the water, but I wonder if the aquatic life felt the same way. Placed on a spectrum, ocean waters will feel cold, cool or warm, and looking at whatever skews toward the end of the spectrum is always interesting, like this:
                                     https://youtu.be/raMILbHdhZs

Although standing knee-deep in ultra-warm water with the sound of waves lapping the shore is enough to lull me into dreamland, it’s not an ideal sleeping situation. Some things feel good, but are bad for us while things that we don’t enjoy may be highly beneficial. It takes courage to admit that we’re in a negative space. When have you disliked where you were and what helped you move past it?