School is out. Sandals are in. Temperatures are up. Windows are down. It must be summer. Funny how it sneaks up on you; one day it’s a breezy 65 degree spring day then BAM!-93 and hot. Not sunny-hot. Might as well enjoy it while it lasts…winter is coming.
There is plenty to do now that we can get out of the house and enjoy the great outdoors. Though you must be careful because while it may be fun to run in the sun, it can be deadly too. The sun’s rays may feel good on your skin in small doses and you actually receive quite a bit of your daily dose of Vitamin D from the sun-but you must take precautions. Too much sun can cause sunburn which can be very painful and lead to melanoma-which is another term for skin cancer. If you are going to be out in the sun for long periods be sure to apply sun block regularly to ensure you don’t get sunburned.
It is also very important to stay hydrated while out in the summer heat. Dehydration, especially in the young and elderly, can be fatal. Dehydration occurs when your body basically runs out of usable water and fluids. The main cause of this in the summer is excessive sweating. Make sure you are drinking water constantly while you are outdoors. The main rule is if you feel thirsty you’re already dehydrated.
There is fun to be had each and every summer-to be sure. Amusement parks, beaches, cook outs with family and friends and the ‘ol swimmin’ hole are all favorite haunts when the sun stays out and the air is warm and dry. Just make sure you are taking the proper precautions so that this summer is one to remember, not regret.
Ties, and Golf Clubs and Tools-oh my! Father's day has become synonymous with gifts for men that are hard to please but happy to receive. While Father’s day is not as busy as Mother’s day, it is still a day full of love and celebrating the #1 man in our lives that has guided, protected and goofed off with us our entire lives.
Images of silk robes and polka dot ties-maybe a new riding lawn mower on a sunny June morning is what most Father's remember. Smiling faces and hugs and the warmth of a loving family is just as important as that 150-piece tool set. But what do you get the man who has everything and asks for nothing?
There are gifts ranging from yachts to tie clips-depending on you budget-that you can get for your dad. Here are some wild examples of gifts:
- Stock Car Ride Along
- Customized Bobble Head
- Fighter Pilot for a Day-flight experience
- Monogrammed Brander-for BBQ’s
These are just a few examples of what can be done with a little creativity and a budget. Most Father's will be happy with a homemade card and a little peace and quiet. Though we like to show our love with material things we know it is not necessary. What will you get the 1# Dad in your life this year?
The open road is calling. The sights and sounds of America beckon to our senses. Hitting the road is as American as well, hitting the road. The road trip is a slice of purely American culture that has been appreciated since the dawn of our country’s manifest destiny and the Lewis and Clark expedition.
The Oregon Trail can be considered one of the first and greatest road trips in history. People from all walks made the trek across the breadth of the country to head to the fertile soil of Oregon, Washington, California, Utah and Idaho in hope of a better life. Many made the trip by wagon; some hauled their own wheelbarrows across the entire 2000 mile journey. It has been reported that those who walked the entire journey did so barefoot!
The modern road trip is a bit less daunting but not at all easy. A trip across the United States requires a great deal of planning and saving for the costs of the journey. Not the ton of food necessary to make the Oregon Trail journey but close. The goal of the modern road trip is fun and educational, not survival. The modern road trip allows us to survey the natural beauty and splendor of America from the safety of our air conditioned seats.
With the school year ending this month for many students and teachers, families usually hit the road in June to enjoy the many road side oddities of America such as the Worlds Largest Cowboy in Texas, Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox in Minnesota, or the World’s Largest Ball of Twine in Cawker City, Kansas. Where ever your travels take you remember to buckle your seat belt and unleash your inner explorer.
The weather is usually an area for hotbed discussion but it seems that recently the weather has become less of an over coffee topic and more of a matter of survival. Granted, the months of May and June usually see an increase in severe weather but it seems a bit too severe this year.
This April we saw the deadliest outbreak of tornados in the nations history with more than 200 confirmed tornadoes in one span from April 14th to the 16th. A few weeks later, from April 26-28, an unprecedented amount of tornados-322-covering 21 states from Texas to New York hit and has now been dubbed the 2011 Super Outbreak. 344 people were killed during this outbreak due to tornados and subsequent damage.
Tornados are just one of the oddities occurring this year. Torrential rains have flooded the Midwest turning farmlands into marshes and levees into sediment. Damage from flood waters has eradicated crops and homes leaving a swath of devastation from Minnesota to Louisiana. To add insult to injury, just west of the flood waters massive droughts have lead to forest fires that are raging out of control. Thousands of acres have burned this summer already with no end in sight.
Why is this happening? Some say it is just a freak event where the conditions have been right for such weather patterns to exist. Others blame global warming and the increase of water vapor in the atmosphere allowing for such strong storms and torrential rains. The reason will be debated and each side will have their counter argument to the other but the fact remains the weather is becoming increasingly violent. This month is considered to be the birthing month for Hurricanes in the Atlantic. With the weather this wild already, who knows what hurricane season will bring.