Elections- Not Your Typical Post

So here in the US, it's presidential election time and while I could do a post about how important it is to vote, I'm not.  This post is about the importance of getting out and away from those ANNOYING POLITICAL ADS!

Yeah, I said it.  You can't get away from them.  Both sides, giving their points of view.  Are there really people who at this point are undecided?  Or, are these just the attention getters in life.  People who will do anything to be the center of attention and we all suffer for it!  You can't watch a stinking thing on tv without seeing at least 100 political ads and I'm not exaggerating!  Monday night football was like a debate of commercials.  Then the people on the shows and sporting events you are watching to get away from reality, start talking about the election.  Sportscasters and movie stars, we watch you for entertainment (well, sportscasters, we really don't watch you for anything).  Shut up, please!  Let us enjoy the getaway time between the 100 commercials we have to watch.

So, maybe the best thing to do is just get out.  Today the weather in Virginia is cooling off.  How about a hike?  Trout season is back in.  Go fishing, and while you're at it, take a kid with you.  Go see a live sporting event.  It doesn't have to be professional, how about pee-wee football, or a local high school game?  Fall soccer is going on now.  Nothing like seeing a bunch of elementary school youngsters chasing a soccer ball back and forth like a pack of wolves on a rabbit!  Go camping, build a fire in the backyard and roast marshmallows, spend some time together as a family or with friends.  Whatever you do, I'm sure it's going to be better than the political commercials.  Don't even get me started on the phone calls!

I'm Staci Woods and I approved this message.

Spend The Time Now!

We have all heard, or seen, the ugly side of life.  You know, when parents get older and family starts fighting over money, their care, etc...  I have come to the conclusion that part of this is due to our kids/family not really understanding us.  I think if we all spent more time in the outdoors with each other, and less at home vegging, much of this could be solved.

Let's face it, we live in a society that is dominated by electronics and the ability to be in constant contact.  There is a commercial out right now for a truck.  In the commercial, the guys are traveling around with their cell phone in the air.  One will say, "Now?" and the guy holding the phone shakes his head no.  They continue this throughout the entire commercial until they get to the end and the guy with the phone says, "Finally!"  While this commercial is about how the truck can get you to these places, it brings up a bigger question- Should we get away from technology every so often?  I think the answer is clearly, YES!  There is a problem with being constantly in contact.  There should be some time where the only people you have to talk to is your family and God.  Who knows what you have all been to busy to talk about lately?  You may even find out something new about them, or maybe some struggle they are going through.

My favorite form of this is fishing.  Taking your cell phone fishing is a big no-no!  Water and electricity do not get along well.  My form does not have to be your form of getting away.  You could go hike for the day.  You could go for a camping trip.  How about hunting?  Bird or nature watching.  How about the beach?  How about just a walk, or a game of basketball, wiffleball, football?  Anything where you have to put your phone down and get away from it.

When you are out and away, you can really talk.  There are no distractions.  Tell stories about your youth.  Let the kids tell you what is going on in their life right now.  Does this have to be some serious minded discussion like something from an After School Movie? (just showed my age there) No.  This is just being a family.  Maybe if we knew each other better, we wouldn't assume things about one another.  Maybe, we would feel comfortable asking tough questions when we need to.  We would know each other so deeply that there would not be questions about each others character.

Life is passing by us all so quickly.  The same technology that has promised to make our lives easier is, actually, making us fill every moment of our day with something.  So today, why don't you plan something with your family this year?  Plan to go hiking when the weather warms.  Or, if you live somewhere where the weather is warm, go do something on your off time with your family this week.  I can remember so many special moments with my family.  Sometimes is was just a cookout with family over, or at their house.  I remember my parents taking us sightseeing or to a huge state park for the day.  I doubt that late in life I will reminisce about playing Words With Friends on my phone with any such delight, or great feelings.

TGIC- Thank God It's Christmas?

I was sitting here throwing around ideas for my next post.  I was listening to Christmas music while I was "thinking".  "How can I think and listen to Christmas music at the same time?", you ask.  It's simple friends.  I am a multi-tasker.  I can do many things at once and none of them well!  It's how we've all learned to live in the 21st century.  What was I talking about again?  Ha, Ha, Ha! I remember.  Just testing you. 

Really, I should say Ho, Ho, Ho because that is the time of year we now find ourselves in.  Can you believe it?  I was listening to a Christmas song by Relient K called "Merry Christmas, Here's To Many More".  The first 2 lines of the song really describe how I, as well as, many people I know and come into contact with feel.  They say:

I made it through the year and I did not even collapse
Gotta say "Thank God for that."

Wow, Isn't that true?  This year has sped by.  It has also been tough.  As a small business owner, the economy is really hurting my business.  Many of my customers have had hours cut back, or even been laid off.  The other day a customer said, "It sure takes a long time to make the money, but a few seconds to spend it."  I couldn't have said it better.

The thing is, yeah the economy is bad, but maybe it's made us think about the important things.  Instead of spending money on things we don't need, we save for items we do need.  That's one of the great things about our store.  If you come here, you can buy products that will help you eat- like a fishing rod and reel.  Of course, you'll need some tackle with that to catch a fish, but you get the idea!  How about if you know someone who is an avid hunter?  Why not get them some gun cleaning supplies?  Knife sharpeners are always good gifts whether or not you hunt or fish.  How about some hot hands for folks you know who work in the outdoors?  Or, better yet, a set of gloves!  If you want to get back to when kids played outside instead of vegged out on a screen, we have kickballs, footballs, basketballs.  If you have a friend that camps, we even have items like compasses or fire starters.  Many of these gifts are less than $10.

You see, we understand how it is to use coupons and save your pennies.  We aren't a big box store offering layaway.  I don't even think we have anything that you would need to put on layaway here!  We are a business in YOUR neighborhood.  We live here too.  We shop here.  Pay taxes here.  Some of you may even know me as your child's coach!  When you shop with us, you keep that money in your community.  So this Christmas, come by and shop local.  I'm not the only small business in Broadway.  There's a lot of us.  In my building alone, there are three.  If you come here, we'll greet you with a hello and help you the best we can.  Most of all, we'll always be grateful for your business.

By the way, if you'd like to hear the song by Relient K.  Here's a link to it on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IE0s2cGVF10