Safety and Common Sense

Did you know that Steve Jobs did not have a license plate on his car? When asked why he said that people followed him sometimes and if they got his license plate number they could find out where he lived. Even Steve Jobs had safety issues.

Vietnam Vacation...no worries?

We all know that we need to have a license plate on our car. It is the law and common sense tells us that if we want to protect our car from thieves, police need to be able to identify it in rush hour traffic. The lesson is that we need to think about and take logical steps to keep our belongings and ourselves safe.

Keeping Our Home Secure

A life style that does not follow the normal patterns has some unique issue and we wonder; how do I keep my home safe when I am gone and myself safe when I am at home? I don't want to worry about my home and safety ever. I especially don't want it weighing on my mind when I am vacationing. I am well aware that even those of us that don't have a lot of valuable things should be concerned about intruders in our homes. The feeling of helplessness left behind by a home invasion or even the worry about an intruder tells us that this is the place where we need to spend a little time and money to keep it from ever happening. I suggest:

1. Technology can be your friend. I have a family member that leaves her computer camera open when she is gone. If you think that someone may be using your home as a motel and stealing a few items while they are at it, this may be the perfect choice for you. Home security systems can help with this too. You can even use your smart phone/iphone to control your system when you are far away.

2. If you recently moved, be sure that your locks are changed. Extra keys can be your undoing.

3. Keep your house locked at all time when you are not at home, especially back or side doors. Thieves don't mind the daylight as much as we think they do.

4. If you are leaving for an extended period of time, be sure the neighbors are aware. I have visions of a moving van pulling up and taking everything. In my worst nightmare the neighbors offer them coffee and lunch.

5. Stop the paper and have mail forwarded...this is such a commonly held knowledge but you would be surprised how many people (including me) neglect to do this. I had a postal carrier steal items from my stacked up mail.

6. Leave the window coverings in a semi-normal position. While we don't like people peaking in, drawn blinds screams "no one is at home".

7. Move any really valuable items that might be visible from windows when you are gone. Hide the computer. When we are home, windows that show valuable things are kept closed at night.

8. Take advantage of technology. Be sure you are safe in your home when you are there and your home is safe when you are not. So one last way to obviously help protect you and your home is with a home security system through companies like ADT.

Just a thought.

Five Little Ducks...stories played out!

The children's song about the little ducks leaving the nest to fly away has always been one of my favorites. Every mother has seen their babies fly away and rejoiced. Life comes full circle. Animals live that same cycle. Babies grow up. Birds leave the nest. Life goes on. So when the three ducks show up every year near my patio I am not surprised. But I am puzzled that it always seems to be the same three. Something just doesn't seem right. It appears the one did not fly away at all. Five little ducks Went out to play Over the hills and far away. The mommy duck went "quack, quack quack," Four little ducks came swimming back... And then Three Two and One. A drake, a female duck (a hen) and a not quite a drake but still not a hen gather here on the 5th green of the golf course. She leads and the other two follow along obediently. They eat, sleep, and guard each other. Each and every day this time of year they come. I have not named them. Jinxing them would be very pos...

How to be a 12 Month Snow Bird

Vacation Rental in Mexico I live around snowbirds 6 months of the year. I have heard those people say that they all want to live the "snowbird" lifestyle when they go home. But it just is not possible. They are isolated and cold. Social activities with friends and beautiful weather are greatly missed when they return to the realities of their "real" life. One couple I visited with lately returned to Florida this morning where they own a home. The woman is a nurse and works in the summer. They are not going home until May this year. It is too cold in Michigan in the spring so they are hoping to extend their good weather season by simply staying away. Besides that they love their Florida lifestyle a lot. Last week I visited with a woman that lives the snowbird lifestyle year around. No going home to the Midwest in the spring. They essentially vacation 12 month out of the year. And I thought their solution for avoiding unpleasant weather and keeping their lifestyle in...

If You Build It, They Will Come...Maybe!

It all began with a antique window in front of a local shop. It had been painted yellow, the glass was loose and all of the hinges and latches were gone. My old friend Betty would have approved...she would tell me it was just broken enough and damaged enough for me to drag it home. When my dear husband saw it, he wondered what he was meant to do with it. Imagine his surprise when he was presented with the plan to build a small neighborhood library exchange. It wasn't the first time he had heard me ask "How hard could it be?" Now it is six weeks later and we mounted the darling little library exchange on two posts in our front yard. I love it. Now the question is, will they come or has the time passed when people actually read something made of paper? Our association president stopped by and admired the box but left after telling me that he only read books on his Kindle. We will see. Would you bring a book and take a book? b+

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