DISTANCE (Official Short Film)

In the midst of all the COVID-19 stuff that is going on right now, remember what's important.


Take care of your families; take care of your friends; take care of your neighbors. Let's all come out on the other side of this as better people. Learn the lessons; use the time; love the people God puts in our path.

Be Aware of What They're Selling

Recently I've been seeing these Cascade commercials encouraging people to 'do it every night' because running the dishwasher only takes 4 gallons of water while washing dishes by hand uses 4 gallons every 2 minutes. As I mentioned a while back, I never had a dishwasher until we moved into this house, and I still haven't figured out what's so great about having one. Occasionally we'll have a house full of people, and it does come in handy, but the rest of the time it really is easier just to wash the dishes and get them done.


Still, this commercial had me intrigued. My view is that it takes the same amount of water, power, and dishwasher detergent to run the dishwasher no matter how many dishes you put in it, but maybe it really is better to run it every night, or a little more often, whether it's full or not. Still, I can't imagine that washing my dishes in the sink every night really uses that much water. Am I really wasting water by washing my dishes by hand?

So, today I thought I'd measure the water it takes to fill my sink up - just to see. And what I found out is that the most I use is about 5 gallons of water - and that's when I have a lot of dishes. Believe me, I can stack a drainer. I'm not sure why loading a dishwasher seems so much harder for me, but it does...

When I'm washing a regular amount of dishes, my sink doesn't get even as full as that 5 gallons. I might actually use the 4 gallons my dishwasher is supposed to use, but that's for all of the dishes. I'm certainly not using any 4 gallons every 4 minutes. What in the world are they talking about? Who does that?

But then, they are trying to sell dishwasher detergent. You won't actually be saving water or energy, but the more often you run your dishwasher, the more dishwasher detergent you'll need to buy...

Betty Reads Harry

How cool is this? Two things I love - Betty White and Harry the Dirty Dog. This video has been around for a while, but this is the first time I've seen it.


Of course, there's nothing quite as special as sitting down with your kids or grandkids and reading books together. Now you can just let Betty read one of them!

Camp Outreach 2019

For the past 5 years, I've been spending a week every summer serving at Camp Outreach. Here's a video of pictures taken this year. I even show up a time or two.



Camp Outreach is a missionary camp focused on improving the lives of those living in the inner-city neighborhood of Stingtown Indianapolis and working on the hearts of those young and old who volunteer to serve in the community. 2019 was a great year for Camp and we can't wait for next year!

Had to Share

Shortly after posting that last post on whether to buy wooden or vinyl horse jumps, I came across this video on Facebook. It seemed almost too coincidental, so I just had to share.


Is that wood or vinyl?

Winter is Here

But we still have to wait until April 14...



Who's getting impatient excited?

I think it's time to watch last season over again - just so we're ready. Or maybe we should just start over again at the beginning?

They Could've Told the Kid

This young man is doing a good thing. He decided to walk almost 100 miles in hopes of raising at least $10,000 for the Tyler Trent’s Cancer Research Endowment, which funds cancer research at the Purdue University Center of Cancer Research.

The news team filmed him on Sunday. Anybody see anything wrong with this video?

There he is - walking on a busy road, planning to walk 100 miles along busy roads - with earbuds in his ears and his back to traffic. And the news crew talks to him and films him walking along - and nobody bothers to tell him that he's on the wrong side of the road.

Does nobody know that you're supposed to walk facing traffic? That bright yellow vest is good, but it's not going to warn him if a distracted driver starts to get a little too close. Being able to actually see the cars that are coming toward you is important for your safety.

I haven't heard any different, so I'm assuming that Aaron made it to Bloomington tonight - they showed a bit of the video on the news again this evening and said he was running a bit behind so he had to do some running to make up time. Thankfully he's safe, and he raised quite a bit of money for cancer research. (if you're interested in reading more of his story and donating, please click the link)

And be sure you're walking on the proper side of the road when you're out walking - especially on a busy road - and teach your kids which side of the road they're supposed to be on. Their safety (and yours) depends on it.

Obviously, this boy's mama didn't teach him.

That'll Teach Them to Steal Packages!

Glitter is evil. It's exactly what those people deserved.


Have you ever had a package stolen off your porch? Thankfully I'm usually home, and our porch is shielded from view, so we haven't had that problem. But, wow - I would really want to do something to the people who would dare to do something like that.

I've also seen the posts going around that recommend putting some of your old junk into Amazon boxes and putting them out on the front porch for the porch pirates. Might be a convenient way to get rid of some stuff you don't want...

I Just LIKE to be Barefoot

But it looks like there are plenty of benefits too!


I'd heard that walking barefoot outside is very beneficial, but this video shows much more than I was aware of. I'm going to have to make a point of walking barefoot on earth more often. Though, with winter fast approaching - it was 18° this morning - I may have to wait a bit. Unless I want cold toes.

I have been known to put my bare toes into the snow... (though that was a warm and sunny day and most of the snow had melted except for this little pile right here)

Oh, By the Way, They Have Books

I just finished reading The Library Book by Susan Orlean. I loved the book, which reminded me of how much I love the library. Sadly, I haven't been spending nearly as much time there as I used to...

While the book was primarily about the Los Angeles Public Library, it could also serve as a love letter to libraries everywhere. Yes, libraries are places where you can check out books - and who doesn't love taking home a whole stack of books? But libraries are so much more, always adapting and changing to meet the needs of their communities.

This morning on Good Morning America, one of those libraries was featured as a finalist in the Reader's Digest "Nicest Places in America" search.


I would have enjoyed the story anyway, but I just thought the timing was perfect, having just finished reading The Library Book yesterday. (which, by the way, was not a library book but an advance copy I got from NetGalley, which pretty much explains why I'm not in the library as much - ebooks!)

I'd like to believe that all libraries are among the nicest places in America...

and it's really time to get back into the habit of going regularly.

I Love This Idea!

I shared this video on Facebook 4 years ago. Thanks to Facebook memories, I was reminded again this morning. I loved it 4 years ago, and I love it just as much today! This is such an awesome idea. I really, really hope that this program is still going on and perhaps it has grown a bit.


What do you think? Great idea, isn't it?

Hiring a Waste Disposal Company

Do you need to rent a large dumpster for a large renovation project? Every year for Camp Outreach we rent one. The first year I went, I spent an afternoon working to fill it up with all the debris from the projects we worked on that week. This year, I just happened to be in the parking lot when the dumpster was delivered, so I got the process on video. If you've never seen this, it's quite interesting.

You may not need an entire dumpster, but perhaps you need someone to come pick up an old appliance that you are throwing away. For either one of these situations, you could require the services of a waste disposal company. There are many companies that are in this line of work. However, it would be a mistake to simply hire the first one that you come across. Thoroughly check out each waste disposal company in your area before making a decision.

Here are a few tips for hiring one of these companies:

1. Reach out to some of the people you know who have done business with waste disposal companies in the past. These people will know more about hiring a waste disposal company than you do and can be an invaluable source of advice.
   Here is a list of questions to ask:
• What was the name of the company they hired? 
• What services did the company perform for them? 
• Were they generally pleased with the quality of the company's service? 
• Did the company charge a fair price for the amount of work they did? 
• Would they hire the same company again in the future? 

The Better Business Bureau can be very helpful in situations like this. Go to the BBB site and look for companies that perform waste management Pasco County. The BBB should have a few waste disposal companies in your area profiled on their website. Read through everything they have posted about each company. You'll be able to learn about the history of the company and get some helpful information to determine if the company is good or if they should be avoided.
 

Talk to each company to find out what their specific price is going to be. Have a firm understanding of the price you will need to pay and exactly what the company is going to do for you before you agree to hire any waste disposal company. And get it in writing, so there won't be any surprises later. 

The more information you have, the more equipped you will be to choose the company that is best for your needs.

Ow, Ow, Ow...

It was raining yesterday morning, so I didn't think I was going to be able to walk. When that happens I pick a couple videos from BeFit and do those. I've added several to my Workouts playlist on YouTube so I can find them easily on my smart TV. This is the one I did yesterday, and I'm feeling it today in my abs and in my legs. It's mainly when I try to sit down. Or climb the stairs.


But, of course, it's a good kind of pain.

Most days I walk 2 miles and then come back and do a 10-minute video. I have a few favorite videos I seem to do more often than the others - Ripped Arms and Abs Workout and Ab Power Workout 2 are a couple of them. My legs usually feel that 2nd one for a few days afterward too. Which is a good thing, right? If I'm not feeling it, it must not be doing anything. Thankfully BeFit has lots of videos to choose from so I can mix it up - which I probably should do a bit more so I can continue to embrace the pain get the benefits.

What are your favorite exercise videos? Do they still cause you pain?

‘so good, so good, so good’

After hearing the news today that Neil Diamond is retiring because He's been diagnosed with Parkinson's, we're really glad we got to see him when he was here last spring.  He is canceling the rest of his 50th Anniversary tour, so there are quite a few people who won't get the chance.

We've been Neil Diamond fans for years, but it was the first time we'd seen him in concert. It was awesome. That man can certainly put on a good show! Sorry to hear that he has to stop because it was definitely something he (and all his fans) enjoyed.

In a statement on his website, Diamond, 76, says, "It is with great reluctance and disappointment that I announce my retirement from concert touring. I have been so honored to bring my shows to the public for the past 50 years."

Thankfully he plans to continue writing, recording, and being involved in other projects for a long time to come.

Watching Some Dancing

Our local ABC station decided we'd rather watch football last night than watch Dancing with the Stars. They were wrong. I don't mind attending the occasional Colts game, but when it comes to my Monday night television viewing, I really want to see DWTS. (and seriously, I saw on the news that the Colts stopped playing before the game was over and lost. Again. So we would have all been better off watching Disney night on Dancing with the Stars.)

Anyway, we're watching it now and I just fell in love with Lindsey and Mark's dance. It was just so good - and even earned that "10 from Len" - and in my opinion should have gotten all 10s.


So far Lindsey is definitely my favorite. I'm also really liking Drew from Property Brothers. I wasn't so sure at first, but he's really improved and really seems to be having a great time out there.

Who's your favorite this season? Have you started voting yet? I often don't start until later in the season, waiting to see how everyone will do - and obviously I could not have (knowledgeably) voted last night since I wasn't even able to watch. </pout>

It's Definitely Not the Venue

We attended another concert last month. After our disappointing Soul2Soul tour experience in April, I was a little worried. I knew it was Tim & Faith's sound guy/crew that was the problem, but still...

We had tickets for Neil Diamond's 50 Year Anniversary Tour, because we've been listening to Neil diamond for not quite 50 years - and how could we miss seeing him when he was going to be so close?

Once again we had seats up on the balcony level - this time on the side. (We're still trying to figure out where the best seats in the house would be - besides perhaps front row on the floor.) And there was no problem whatsoever with the sound at this concert. We could hear every word that was spoken, every word that was sung, and every instrument in the band. It was great. Neil Diamond has a sound guy who knows what he is doing. It makes all the difference in the world.

Also, Neil didn't bother with an opening act. Why should he? He's celebrating a 50-year career, and he's got plenty of songs to fill up an entire concert - and then some! Here's the complete setlist from the Indy concert. I've looked at the lists for some of the other concerts, and he varies it a bit each night - probably because he does have so many songs to choose from.


It was an amazing concert, and we loved every minute of it!

Falling...

Sometimes I just stand and watch the leaves fall.

Yes, I'm easily entertained.

Of course, all those leaves hurling themselves from the tree to the ground mean that someone's gotta rake them up.  Jeffrey and I raked all of them into a pile before we went out on Sunday afternoon.  There were quite a few more on the ground by the time we got home, and by Monday afternoon there were almost as many on the ground as we'd already raked up.  I put all the leaves we'd raked on Sunday into the trash toters and raked up enough more to fill two of those big leaf bags on Monday afternoon.

Not that I'm complaining - it was a gorgeous and glorious day, and I was taking any excuse to be outside.  The laundry wasn't going anywhere.

He's a Bike Rider

Jason doesn't have anywhere to ride his bike at home, so he doesn't get much of a chance to learn to ride.  We have a nice driveway with lots of riding space, so his Uncle Cory brought the bike along when they came to visit.  At first Jason was having some trouble peddling and spent most of his time looking at his feet to see what they were doing.  That made it a bit tough for him to steer, too.

After a few days of practice, the boy was peddling like a pro and riding that bike all over the driveway - down the driveway, up the driveway, into the garage.  One of his favorite games was to chase me all over the driveway while I gave him a hard time about how he'd never catch me.  He might not have been able to catch me at first, but I was having to run to stay away from him by the end.

And sometimes I had to take a break.  Four-year-olds have more energy than the rest of us, I think.  While I took a break, he'd keep riding around the driveway and playing his other favorite game.



This little boy really does crack me up.

Review: David Gray Mutineers

I received a free download of the new David Gray CD Mutineers to review from One2One Network.  All opinions are mine.

David Gray is best known for his hit Babylon from the album White Ladders, which I had to look up on YouTube because I hadn't heard it. I really don't think I've heard any of David Gray's music before.  That's OK, though, because I always love discovering new music and artists, and this album is a bit different from David Gray's previous albums.  Mutineers "finds Gray steering into unfamiliar territory while cultivating a pugnacious but respectful relationship with his own history."   The album stretched David's creative boundaries as he strove to create music that he had never made before.

I've now listened to the entire CD several times, and I am really enjoying it.  Here's the official video for Back in the World, the first track on the CD.  I really like this song.  I'm not sure I understand the "naked as a tree" thing, but the song is really catchy.


Mutineers track listing:

1. Back in the World
2. As the Crow Flies
3. Mutineer
4. Beautiful Agony
5. Last Summer
6. Snow in Vegas
7. Cake and Eat It
8. Birds of the High Arctic
9. The Incredible
10. Girl Like You
11. Gulls
12. Nearly Midnight (bonus track)

I'm also really enjoying Beautiful Agony, Snow in Vegas, Gulls, and pretty much all of the tracks.  Give it a listen.  I think you'll like it, too.

Mutineers is singer/songwriter David Gray's tenth studio album, his first in four years, and it will be released in the U.S. on June 17.   You can pre-order your copy here:

• iTunes- http://bit.ly/DavidGrayMutineersiTunes
• Amazon- http://bit.ly/DGMutineersAmazon

 OR, buy tickets to see David Gray in person, and get a free download of the CD on June 17.

Concert goers will receive a digital download of "Mutineers" out June 17. Please note: Valid for tickets purchased online only. One download per ticket. You will receive an e-mail on June 17 with instructions on how to redeem your album. If you purchase your tickets after June 17 you will receive an e-mail within 24-48 hours after your purchase.

How cool is that?  Check the Official David Gray website for the tour schedule and for more information about David Gray and his music.

White Cloud’s New Luxuriously Soft Bath Tissue

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of White Cloud for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Toilet Paper.  We find a brand we like, and we stick with it.  Right?  I know I've been buying the same brand for years.  I just don't want to take the risk of buying something I'm unfamiliar with and then being stuck with something that's not soft or not strong enough, or that doesn't last very long.  At least until that package was used up.

So I jumped at the chance to sample this new White Cloud bath tissue. I could try something new risk free - and I'm so glad I did.  If you're like me, you'd read this:

White Cloud Luxuriously Soft Bath Tissue is made using an innovative manufacturing technology called “TAD.” TAD, or “Through Air Dried,” is super-premium technology in the bath tissue world. It uses a special machine to blow air through single-ply sheets, creating a two-ply product with amazing thickness, softness, strength and absorption.

-- and you'd say, "Yeah, right."

But you know what?  Whatever technology is involved, I really like this stuff!  It's soft and strong, and I think it will last longer than my regular brand.  You know how you always pull a certain amount of toilet paper off the roll every time?  When I do that with this White Cloud bath tissue, it feels like I have too much.  What that means is that I can use less to do the same job, and therefore the roll will last longer.  After I get used to pulling a bit less off the roll, that is.

You can Find White Cloud products near you when you shop at Walmart, so you know you can get this premium quality product at a not-so-premium price.  Right now when you Like White Cloud on Facebook you can get a $1.00 off coupon so you can try White Cloud for yourself and your family.  Also be sure to Follow White Cloud on Twitter for more information and savings.

And now a few words from my bathroom: