Rip Currents

Rip Currents are prevalent in our area of Florida, be smart and you will be safe.

When at the beach:

1. Whenever possible, swim at a lifeguard protected beach
2. Never swim alone
3. Learn how to swim in the surf. It's not the same as swimming in a pool or lake.
4. Obey all instructions and orders from lifeguards. Lifeguards are trained to
identify potential hazards. Ask a lifeguard about the conditions before entering the water. Our lifeguard stands here in Volusia County offer the surf conditions, they can also be found at each drive on beach ramp.
5. Stay at least 100 feet away from piers and jetties. Permanent rip currents often exist along side these structures.
6. Consider using polarized sunglasses when at the beach. They will help you to spot signatures of rip currents by cutting down glare and reflected sunlight off the ocean's surface.
7. Pay especially close attention to children and elderly when at the beach. Even in shallow water, wave action can cause loss of footing.

If caught in a rip current:

1. Remain calm to conserve energy and think clearly.
2. Never fight the current.
3. Think of it like a treadmill that cannot be turned off, of which you need to step to the side.
4. Swim out of the current in a direction following the shoreline. When out of the current, swim at an angle -- away from the current -- towards shore.
5. If you are unable to swim out of the rip current, float or calmly tread water.When out of the current, swim towards shore.
6. If you are still unable to reach shore, draw attention to yourself by waving your arm and yelling for help.

If you see someone in trouble, don't become a victim:

1. Get help from a lifeguard.
2. If a lifeguard is not available, have someone call 9-1-1.
3. Throw the rip current victim something that floats -- a lifejacket, a cooler, an inflatable ball.
4. Yell instructions on how to escape.
5. Remember, many people drown while trying to save someone else from a rip current.

Battens Disease

These two beautiful little boys have Batten's Disease, this is not a well known disease but causes blindness, seizures and has a variety of other symptoms, it results in death, there is no cure. I have been lucky enough to know these boys and their wonderful parents. My children went to school with them in NC. We were involved in helping with a few fundraisers and got to know the family a bit.

Please take a look at their website www.ourboysjourney.com and get to know them too. They are selling cookbooks for a fundraiser and they have t-shirts etc that you can purchase if you wish.

But most importantly, read the blog, go through the website, get to know them and say a prayer tonight for these little boys and their family. Then thank the lord that your children are healthy.

Set a Perfect Holiday Table

I was stumbling around the internet today and found this interesting site. I have never been quite perfect at the table setting thing, this site will show you how to do it perfectly depending on what you are having. They also sell discount linens if you are interested.


Proper Table Setting

Home Organization & Cleaning

Here are some great websites for organizing and cleaning your home:

Organized Home

Life Organizers

Do It yourself Network

And the mac daddy of them all ` Flylady

Remember you can do it all in one day. Take it in small steps or you will set yourself up for frustration and failure!

Holiday Organization

Throughout the year I follow the Flylady principles. This makes is fairly easy to roll into the holidays. But this year we moved, I have a garage full of stuff, a storage unit, closets that are not organized on it goes....

So I started today organizing one thing at a time. I thought I would do the kitchen today, HA, did not happen,I realized quickly I had to take it in pieces. I did the pantry. Just the pantry.

1. Remove everything, clean the shelves and doors inside and out
2. Discard anything that has expired
3. If you have not used it in a reasonable amount of time, toss it.
4. Put like items together, canned good, snacks, pasta, condiments, etc.

Now I can find everything, my kids can find the snacks, it is clean and neat. A few minutes a week to keep it that way, and to put things away properly after a trip to the grocery store will keep you together.

Flylady would be proud...now on to the refrigerator....