Hurricane Dolly May Become Category Two Near Texas and Mexico

According to the National Weather Center, Hurricane Dolly sustained winds are at 85 miles per hour and warnings have gone out for the Texas coast (Brownsville) and Mexico up to Corpus Christi.  The weather center also reports that there is a hurricane warning for the Northeastern coast of Mexico from San Rio San Fernando to the Mexican border.  Visitors and residents are urged to get to safety.

Dolly may become a category 2 hurricane later today, and widespread flooding is expected,along with isolated tornados Texas, the National Weather Center Reports.

Have A Plan

Please everyone, if you are asked to evacuate, please do so immediately. According to the National Weather service, you should also have a plan for your pets. I remember when I was in North Carolina (two hurricanes hit one after the other when I lived there) and this poor woman was sitting in the car with her dog during a hurricane warning. She was in the parking lot of a hurricane shelter, which was a local school.

Where is Your Emergency Kit?

The National Weather Service has a list of some items that you should have in an emergency kit. In addition to the kit, the NWS recommends that your car tanks are full.

Prepare Your House for a Hurricane

Yes. The National Weather Service also has information on how to prepare your house and other property for a hurricane. If you are not in danger, make sure that you have the supplies you need in case there is a hurricane in your area.

Do You Have Flood Insurance?

Hey, you all, remember flood insurance if often not included in typical insurance plans. Check with your insurance company now. And make sure that if there are any levees near you, see if those burst it would be covered. There is a number that you can call for flood insurance information if you are in the United States. Call 1-888-CALL-FLOOD ext. 445.

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Gas prices are out of this world. We all know that. Gas in the Atlanta metro area is around $3.99 a gallon. You can, however, salvage some summer fun by going on a staycation. There’s nothing wrong with going to your local zoo, a museum, or spending the weekend at a state park this summer. Some critics claim that these short, hometown vacations are nothing more than day trips and are not true vacations. Whatever you want to call it, I find that most people don’t take advantage of attractions, culture, and fun, right in their own hometown. And, hey, if you feel that you must glamorize your staycation by spending a week in a hotel, so be it. When the hotel attendants ask you where you are from, tell them that you are local. If you get the munchies in your hotel room, I bet that you’ll know where to find the nearest grocery store.

I took a staycation this summer, and had no shame in telling the front desk at a hotel that I’m local. What about you? Have any of you taken a staycation? Let me know, even if you didn’t stay overnight, but spent a little more time exploring your own town. I’d love to hear from you.

Smithgall Woods is a Georgia State Park. There is a lodge and several cabins on the property. You actually share the lodge with other people. You have your own bathroom of course. There are also smaller cabins on the site, so I am sure that you can arrange to have a private get-away with your loved one if you inquire. I visited the park last month and stayed in a cabin. The room was comfortable, and it felt very Waltons or Little House on the Prairie to eat breakfast at a long table with new friends at the lodge. The experience reminded me of eating in a bed and breakfast. The park was serene.

Boy Scouts learned how to fish at the catch and release ponds. Flowers were in bloom throughout the park. Near the lodge,  the nearby stream lulled me into a comfort zone.

I do not recommend arriving to the lodge after dark. The road into the lodge area is curvy, narrow, and one way. That’s one way in and one way out. The drive to the lodge was dark. I mean it was darker than midnight dark. For a moment, I felt like I was in the middle of the making of a horror movie, with me playing the role of the hapless lost twit who gets killed off first. But… the lodge manager on duty was nice as could be, waited for me to arrive, pulled over when I ended up on the aforementioned road and directed me to my lodge.

Just in case, I scared you all to death, watch the video of the lodge. I felt safe there, happy, when I got to the lodge which was well illuminated, by the way. The video was taken at night.  I had covered parking, too. Wireless Internet was available. I could have kicked myself for overreacting. I am a more city girl, than I thought.

Complimentary services were utilized for this review.

I worked out at a brand new gym today. I did 30 minutes of cardio on a elliptical machine. I also weighed myself. It looks like I am now at 130 pounds. I still have a ways to go to get fit enough to jog a 5K or have that coveted Bikini Body for vacations to come. I am happy with my progress, because I was actually able to move up to level three on the machine. Usually, I work out at the first level or maybe the second level.

I haven’t made a trip to the farmer’s market as I had hoped. I would like to go this week and stock up on fruits, vegetables, and other staples that I would need according to the Abs Diet for Women book by David Zinczenko.

A Confession

I am a Klondike Bar addict. There, I’ve said it. I can inhale an entire box of Klondike bars. I buy the 100 calorie bars. They are so good. I always loved ice cream sandwiches when I was a little girl, and the 100 calorie bars taste just like the real thing. The only problem is that I can’t stop at just one! Soooo… I have decided not to buy any more boxes because when it comes to those, my willpower is just not there! I am also a cotton candy fiend. I used to get up in the middle of the night and buy cotton candy! I know that sounds strange, but something about that light soft sweetness. Yum. I quit cold-turkey. I can’t even have one taste of cotton candy.

Now, I’ve told you some of my weaknesses. We all have weaknesses when it comes to food. It’s time for you to spill the beans. What is your food obsession?

Everyone, please keep safe while enjoying those fireworks. Get out to the parks, beaches, and other gathering spots early. You know that everything is going to be packed and crowded. Keep small children away from harmful fireworks, please. Monitor your children and others’ children at all times. Remember, when it’s too quiet, they may be up to something…

Please make sure that you and your family have plenty of water. If the temperature is warm where you are, it’s probably going to be hotter than you think. Some areas may need the rain, but I hope that the rain holds off just until the holiday is over. That also reminds me to remind you all to be careful of lighting fireworks near dry brush. If fireworks are not allowed in your area, please don’t light them.

Don’t drink and drive. Every year a number of people die during automobile accidents around the holidays. Even if you think that you are okay to drive, don’t do it. A smart person asks someone else who has not been drinking to do the driving. If you are with someone who has been drinking and they want to or insist on driving, be brave and don’t get in the vehicle. You may be saving your own life. Don’t worry about hurting anyone’s feelings, and don’t believe that person when they say that they are okay to drive. People who end up in fatal car accidents due to drinking and driving were on the road because they thought that they could handle their liquor, beer, or whatever.

Okay. That’s enough preaching from me. Have a safe and happy 4th of July!

While driving through Georgia to get to Helen, I saw a curious sign!

There was a huge picture of a stork with the notice that babies were delivered daily. I couldn’t help but turn the corner and check this place out. It turns out the Cleveland, Georgia, the small town a little ways from Helen, is where about 70 or so work at home moms craft actual Cabbage Patch Kids. This is the original home of the Cabbage Patch Kids and where Xavier Roberts, a former young art student developed them.

In addition to touring downtown Savannah, I headed down to the river, strolling along and peaking into shops. My favorite shop was the Praline Candy Store. I was tempted to buy a few pounds of chocolate, but I resisted. It was hot and humid in Savannah. I was so thirsty that I would have gladly paid $5 for water. I didn’t have, too. The prices were relatively reasonable. I bough a slush for $4, and I admit that was steep.

My only regret is that I didn’t take the steamboat tour. I didn’t arrange for the trip, and was in the basement of a museum riding out a tornado scare when the last sightseeing tour had passed. If you have money to spend, the shops along the river has souvenirs to take back home. There’s also some interesting people, good music and restaurants there. I stopped in at Huey’s on the River at 115 East River Street and had an unpleasant experience.

When I arrived, I looked over the menu and found a salad (remember, I’m on the bikini challenge) to enjoy. It was a shrimp salad with blue cheese that was probably not low fat. Anyway, I was seated and asked for directions to the restroom which was through double doors and in a lobby area. I’m trying to remember if I had to climb stairs, but I don’t think that I did.

After taking my restroom break, I headed to my seat. There was another couple sitting there. What? My host/server gave my seat away. Yes. There were plenty of other seats there. I started to leave, but another host came up to me and asked me if I wanted another seat. So, she knew what had happened. I was tired and hungry. I agreed to take another seat. I sort of regret that.The salad was great. I even chatted with a couple nearby from the Midwest. I just think that it was rude to give away my seat because I went to the restroom. I don’t think that would have happened if I were not a single woman. The server didn’t even apologize. What do you all think? Should I have eaten at Huey’s on the River in Savannah or should I have went to another restaurant? What would you have done?

Get to secret to getting through the airport on time, how to handle security checks, and what will make you least likely to be checked while in the airport, prevent jet lag and keep your children entertain while on the plane. Pilot Karen Kahn also discusses how to pack light and the thought process that goes into packing, since many airlines are now charging for extra check-in baggage. Dr. Kahn divulges secrets to handling airport check-in, airport security and flights in this podcast. Dr. Kahn is extremely knowledgeable on this topic, so you don’t want to miss this.

Interview with Pilot Karen Kahn

I also have a mp3 version of the podcast. Be warned. There is about 10 seconds of dead air space in this version.
Interview with Pilot Karen Kahn, mp3

Listen to all of my Radio Shows! You can also choose to listen in live.

If you spent your Father’s Day away with your dad or your children, I hope that you had a fun, safe trip. If you stayed home, grilled, and relaxed at home, I hope that you had a relaxing time with your loved ones. Enjoy this Father’s Day message as another tribute this year to dads who are working hard to take care of their families.