Amortising

Yesterday was the day I finally got the cost of my treadmill down to $5.00 per mile. Quite a milestone for me. I hate using the damn thing even though I know how good it is supposed to be for me. I have tried listening to talk radio, Squizz (for you XM fans), television shows, or nothing and they all make it just as boring. Any suggestions? After all, I still have to get the cost down to $4.00!

The Other America

I was at my sister's this weekend, watching the local news, when a story came on about a man who had received a notice from the state of S. Carolina that his license was about to be suspended for a ticket he had received 21 years earlier in Maine. The man had a very common name, William Jones. When the newscaster asked him if he had ever even been to Maine he replied, "Nope. I 've never been to Canada."

Ambulance chasers

On 2/7/8, this area experienced an explosion at the Imperial Sugar Refinery (known locally as Dixie Crystal). Seven bodies have been recovered, 1 body is still llisted as missing, and 1 person has died at the Augusta Burn Center. 15 people are still in critical condition and 2 are in serious condition at the Burn Center.
Imperial Sugar set up an account accepting donations for the victims. At least 3 hotels offered free lodging for out of town family members. Blood drives have exceded expecations. The Red Cross and Salvation Army were onsite offering their services almost immediately.
The location of the plant is in a fairly small community of 5,000. Almost everyone in the community has some connection to the refinery. Port Wentworth is hurting.
On 2/12/8, less than one week after the explosion, the greedy ambulance chasing attorneys began advertising in the area. A full page ad in the Savannah Morning News and television ads on the local affiliates. Mark & Associates with offices in NY and Boston and Dallas attorney Jeffrey D. Slakters were two of the offending firms.
This has not set well with the general public. Not in Port Wentworth, not in Savannah, not in the South Carolina low country. There has been so much angry reaction that Mark & Davis closed their http://www.sugarrefineryexplosion.com website. The local NBC affiliate decided to no longer accept such ads.
It makes me sad to know that we have vultures such as these attorneys. It delights me that the community pressured these firms that they backed down a bit. I'm so proud of this area for taking the higher road. May they be an example to the rest of the country.

Saliva

Another fine evening at what used to be called Monkey Business but has since be renamed Stages. I love the fact that, on this small island, there is a venue where I can see great bands at a completely reasonable price. My only complaint is that it is so small and we really get packed in.
Tuesday night my daughter and I had our usual spot at the end of the bar, directly in front of the stage. For the first band (whose name escapes me at this moment) it was a great place to be. When Drowning Pool made their appearance, it got a bit more crowded. Hotter too. But they sounded great and the crowd loved them. Lots of energy all the way around.
Then Saliva came out. The crowd doubled in size but the room didn't. We were jammed in like, well, like sardines I might say if I didn't mind using a cliche. Tight. Close. Hot. Our little spot at the bar became the edge of the mosh pit.
This is not the kind of band I expect moshing at. Powerman 5000 didn't even get head bangers and Saliva has hard core moshers? What is the world coming to?
We stuck it out as long as we could but the heat, slamming, and body odor finally drove us to the back of the room. In front of the open door. The best place to finish the evening.
Even so we were some of the last ones out of the joint. Which was great news for Stacy since it meant she got to meet the guitar player. Good time.
And I didn't even talk about the chicks making out in the bathroom!

Gators & Golfers

It's Feb. 5th and 80 degrees! Definitely not what I am used to. This weather has brought out every gator and golfer within a 200 mile radius.
The big boy gators have been out all winter but the babies (less than 3') have been spending their time buried in the mud. For today they seem to have had enough of that snoozing.
Golfers have been out all winter too but not in this number. You can't drive down the street without being in danger of running over a cart. I also have to watch for errant golf balls on my upstairs porch. The danger of living on a course.
On a side note, tonight is another show at the former Monkey Business club (now Stages). Saliva and Drowning Pool. What this means is that I won't be able to hear a thing tomorrow. I love these kinds of nights! My 30 year old daughter will be going with me. It has been great watching her at all the wonderful shows we have attended this year. It's a whole new world for her.

newbie

First post, first time, first blog. As I am just settling in to this, don't expect much in the beginning. I will get better!