Putting on the Brakes for Jesus...

Life and Saltine Crackers

I did not intend to include very personal stuff on this blog in the beginning...this is my first side road off that intent... Yesterday, I visited an ex boyfriend who is dying of cancer; he is 44 and was the first man I dated after I separated from my husband. The cancer was discovered over a year ago after a visit to the emergency room...discovered at stage four. He is very thin, on oxygen and still tries to mow his grass. He also bought a fixer upper boat on Ebay. He is going through kick ass treatment every 2 to 3 weeks....3 days of it at a time. The doctor told him the cancer or the treatment would kill him before his 45th birthday, which I believe is in 7 months.

I wonder why he does the treatment which gives him extreme side effects; some wonder why he bought a boat to fix up. I am glad we made peace a couple of years before this happened in his life. I think the treatment is worth it to him to express that he is not giving up and the boat....well, the psychological aspect of having a goal has less side effects than chemotherapy, so order those parts and look towards the future...

We all have those who irk us or have "done us wrong." In the long run, it's all a journey full of lessons... it's not about winning. It's about living, dying and the honoring the growth in the process.

An Answer to "Out of Sight, Out of Mind"

York County will host an event for recycling and proper disposal of household hazardous materials and electronics on Saturday, March 29, 2008, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. The event will take place in York at the York County Public Works facility at 220 Public Works Road (off Highway 5) near the Moss Justice Center.

There are 3 -10 pounds of hazardous materials in each home in the United States and citizens are always looking for ways to dispose of these materials properly. Materials that will be collected include latex and oil based paint, used motor oil, oil filters, oil bottles, lawn and garden pesticides, fertilizer, cleaners, pool chemicals, paint thinner, turpentine, mineral spirits, landscape timbers, passenger car tires, cooking oil, automobile batteries, antifreeze, florescent lights, brake fluid and gasoline and oil mixture. No large quantities from businesses or farms will be accepted. Infectious, biological or radioactive materials, gas cylinders and explosives are prohibited. A hazardous material company will be on site to properly dispose of the materials collected.

Materials should be transported to the collection event packed in sturdy boxes and stuffed with newspaper between the containers to prevent spills. Items should be left in original containers to help the county staff identify the material. Workers will be on hand to unload vehicles and citizens will be asked to stay in the car.

If you have an old or broken computer or monitor that you would like to recycle you can bring it on March 29 to this event. No major appliances will be accepted and this program is for residents only, no businesses allowed.

Another event is scheduled for October 4, 2008. The Household Hazardous Materials Collection is funded by York County Government. For more information call York County Solid Waste Collection & Recycling at 803-628-3181.

Check for recycling opportunities in your area through your solid waste/recycling center~

Out of Sight, Out of Mind....

Over the weekend, I enjoyed the gorgeous weather while walking through a friend's woods.

One never knows what one may find while on a walk through nature...trees, birds, leaves, flowers and sometimes....the remains of living. Not dead bodies, but trash. As a child, when I visited Ma and Pa (my grandparents in Sandy Mush), one of my favorite things to do was to visit the woods behind their house. There was the remains of a homesite...and their remains. As a child, the remains became like a magical treasure hunt. Interesting bottles, pieces of plates, glasses, coins, marbles and the like....

Sometimes, what I see on the sides of mountain roads or in the woods is often different...It is not the remains of an old house, it is someone's efforts to remove something "unpleasant" from their site/sight without regards to the environment or to other's sight....

Sushi, anyone?

During my travels through rural Maryland this past summer, I spotted this delightful treat....I went a couple of miles and turned around.

I knew I had to photograph this for my Quirk file...Dairy Queen turned Teriyaki BBQ with the ultimate recycled sign!

Unfortunately, they had gone out of business...

Shucks!