It’s not very funny when we get out into the yard and start on that do-it-yourself project and are short of breath and the knees hurt and the back aches and it’s not even lunch time yet!  You know what you should have done months ago to get yourself in some kind of condition to be able to work out in the sun for a few hours at a time.  Now it’s too late and you have things to do!

You will want to make sure that you are well hydrated and take it easy out there.  You don’t want to over do and tax yourself beyond what you are capable of.  In fact, you might want to use this as a starting point to get yourself and your kids into a routine to get a little exercise because the truth is; family fitness is up to you! You are passing on habits to your children and if you don’t like the way you feel or how your body is currently working then you want to change it sooner than later.  We never think our kids are really watching us but statistics tell us otherwise.  You can do it and the kids can too!

Growing up beside a running creek was so much fun that I can’t even begin to describe the way it may me feel as a kid.  However, when we moved away from that sleepy little place right after I graduated from High School and before I went to college, I realized what I missed most was the sound of the river outside my window as I slept!  Since then I have been trying to replicate that sound so I could sleep better at night.

About five years ago my wife bought me a sound machine that was beside our bed for a long time and, as good as that was, it wasn’t the same as the real thing.  With that in mind I set out to build my own backyard waterfall last fall and it has been fantastic!  I used native rocks and stone to surround my pond.  I used a pond kit to hold the water and it had the pump I needed for the pond part and I found another l=kit for the waterfall part.  It was hard work digging up the yard because we live where there is a bunch of red clay but it has been worth it!  Now I open up my bedroom window at night and sleep like a baby!

Leave it to my wife to actually READ the warning labels on the back of the aerosol spray paint can I bought for some touchup painting for our outside furniture this year.  Her response was to go purchase a respirator, which was far more than the can of paint!  When I balked at needing such a thing she asked me this one question; “If it were one of the kids, would you make them put on protection?”  Of course I replied yes because I don’t want to cause any harm ever to my children. She responded; “Then why do you think that your health is not as important.”

She went on to say a lot more things but I got the message!  I went and bought the cheapest respirator, not mask, I could find and though it did cost me some money I am protected and can use it again and again.  Here is what it says on those cans just in case you have never read one. “Repeated or prolonged exposure to chemicals in this product without the use of a proper respirator can cause permanent brain damage as well as damage to your lungs.”  I’m sure I cannot afford damage to either of these vital organs so I will be using a respirator from now on when spray painting!

I have to write about this because I find it one of the most disturbing things I have heard of in a long time; sexting.  It’s the practice of kids sending semi nude or nude pictures to each other on cell phones.  It’s also the chance for your child to get arrested for their first felony for distributing child pornography, even if they are not the one in the picture; just one of the ones sending the photos.  I’m not sure which one of these things is worse and I guess it would depend on what side you end up on; the self exploited or just the exploiter?

What bothers me most is the fact that these kids don’t understand what exploitation really is because they have been brought up in a culture that worships the Britney Spears and Paris Hilton’s of the world.  I have nothing personally against these young women; it’s the culture of exploiting anyone that we should be against.  I am not against free speech but I am for leveling with these kids as early as possible about the consequences of these types of actions. This is something that could potentially damage a life beyond repair.  Please talk to your kids about what is going on and don’t assume your kid won’t do it.  You might just be surprised one day when the police knock on your door and then you will have to ask yourself who is at fault.

I have turned over a new leaf and will never look at prefab housing again like I have in the past.  The old picture of a run down mobile home has been replaced with a sleek, fun, do-it-yourself home with all the newest of amenities and energy efficient appliances that can be built almost anywhere and quicker than one built on site.  These are not cracker jack boxes but sleekly designed homes that will make you sit up and pay attention.

There are a couple of websites where you can get some great information on the manufactures, news and resources when it comes to prefab homes.  You can go to www.prefabs.com or www.fabprefab.com and check out what they have to say about this growing industry.  You will need to be careful as several companies have gone out of business with the downturn of the housing market but there are still plenty to choose from that are doing business. When dealing with any building company, caution is always recommended and you want to do your due diligence before money is ever exchanged.

I have been reading lately about all the closings of retail stores from places like the upscale Home Depot Expo Stores to the Goody Family Clothing Store as well as so many others that are closing under producing stores or pulling out of shopping malls.  In fact I have even heard that malls may be the next big victim of this recession.  So what will become of the malls and the retail stores that have been a staple of life for the last 30 to 40 years?

I know in my city one of the malls that had turned into tombstone has been bought by a medical center and redone to house doctor’s offices, dentists and other medical related businesses.  I laughed but I had heard they did it for the parking!  Now they have bought the Home Depot Expo building and are transferring it as well.  This is far better than the lonely, vacant buildings I have seen scattered around in other areas.  So what’s happening in your town or city?  Let us know.