TGIF ~ A Mind of It's Own

It's after lunch on Friday and I won't even ask myself where the morning went. It's cool though and there are times when TGIF just takes on a mind of it's own;-) I am enjoying a good cup of tea and the sun is out. I wasn't sure if it was going to make it.

I hope your to-do list is short and sweet. I forgot to mention that the Dave Matthews Band has a new album out this week called "Away From the World." The 11-track album is good ~check it out on AOL Music. There are plenty of other new releases this week so have a good listen to some others.

Let me mention that my brother is taking classes at a community college in Orlando, FL. He just started this fall and seems excited to be back on campus. He's very tech-savvy and I hope he doesn't mind me writing that he's in-between jobs right now. Although he had a temp help desk position that lasted for quite awhile. I tell you what, the job market is still tough. He's on the right track and is moving forward in a positive way.

Have a good TGIF and weekend coming up!

Welcome Home ~ Aimee Copeland's new digs unveiled

SIMPLY AMAZING ->Aimee Copeland's new digs unveiled for her homecoming  | ajc.com

An amazing story of recovery for the college student from Georgia who has battled back from injuries she suffered during a backyard zip line accident. She developed a flesh-decaying virus and had to have several  limbs amputated. It's going to be a welcome home indeed!

Frugal Tip for the College-Bound

It's a busy time around the house as college-bound students are heading back to college. Some of the young adults may have worked part-time during the summer break to earn extra money which is a wonderful idea.

Frugal Tip ->Hopefully, they saved some of their earnings to help out with buying dorm room items, books, and other necessities. If they already have a credit card, encourage them to use cash instead or debit card where the funds are taken out of their checking account. The last thing students need to be concerned about is the credit card bills arriving in the mail.

Today's Healthy Tip

Monday is back in town and we're gearing up for the day and week. I can't believe only two days are left in the month of July. While visiting friends yesterday, several people mentioned that their college-aged kids are heading back to college out-of-state this week as classes will begin in a few weeks and they are settling into the dorms.

As the saying goes, time sure flies when you're having fun and hope that's been the case all summer long. It got me thinking about all the cookouts, birthday celebrations, weddings, festivals, and more that we are enjoying this summer and probably every weekend.

In all those events and good eats that usually go with them, some of us may have packed on a few pounds. If so, add an extra day to your exercise routine or 15 minutes longer. For all those walkers, step it up a notch and go around the neighborhood or block a couple more times. While doing your 20 or more situps, tack on a few more to keep the abs tight, flat and firm.

You will know how to up your fitness game for maximum results from all the fun still left in the summer. Have a wonderful week!

Georgia's Graduation Rates

Good afternoon, this post is a bit off the usual topics I write about, but I was disappointed in the story on Georgia's graduation rates appearing in the Atlanta Journal Constitution today. Check out the full story here. The graduation rate for Georgia has been reset at 67.4 percent under a new formula.

While I don't have any children, I do keep an eye on the education system having graduated from high school in Georgia. I know it's a whole different experience in the schools these days from learning the curriculum to the unfortunate bullying. Let's encourage more reading & studying and less time playing video games.

Just yesterday, I stopped by a local store and often chat with the friendly cashier. Her son was in the store a few weeks ago and so I asked if he was in high school. She said "no he dropped out." I don't know if she saw the puzzled look on my face and I just had to ask why. Apparently her son has failed 5 times the graduation equivalency exam students have to take for graduating. He became discouraged. I didn't want to ask, but was thinking what are his plans now.

In this tough job market for people with a high school and college education, simply dropping out just doubled the chance of that job application ending up at the bottom of the pile. Graduation is sweet indeed!

My 50th Birthday...Count 'Em

Credit: Free images from acobox.com

Blow up the balloons and cut the cake, I'm celebrating my 50th Birthday! As I tuned the radio to my fave Sunday gospel music program, I sat on the edge of the bed in pure delight on one of the milestone birthday's in life. Being a creature of habit, the day began about the same with coffee and filling the bird feeder. The skies are cloudy and my readers know by now just how much sunshine means to me. I do hope to see it ;-)

As I look at the 50 years of my life, I can truly say it's been wonderful. A good childhood upbringing and the teen angst wasn't so bad. I completed two college degrees receiving an Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts and Bachelor's degree in Psychology. I very proud of those accomplishments. I enjoyed a successful career as an Administrative Assistant in the higher education field. After desiring a change in my life, I switched jobs and that move did not work out. It's been a tough road trying to get my footing back in the workforce, but just before the end of 2011, I landed part-time employment in retail. To simply be working again has been the best I could ever imagine. I will be working at my part-time job today. Yep, on my birthday but I don't mind.

I don't share a lot of personal things, but I am a widow having lost my husband to cancer when he was 32. I was 33 years old and we never had any children. We were high school sweethearts and shared a super life together. I remember he threw me a surprise birthday party when I turned 30. He pulled it off and my mom was in on the planning. Great memories!

As I close this post, let me add that birthday's are a blessing and I am so happy to be the bundle of joy to arrive in the world on January 8th!

Sunday Showing

Now You See Him, Now You Don't (1972) - showing on Classic Cinema Online
 A Walt Disney movie that the whole family will enjoy. See a few stars early in their acting careers like Kurt Russell and Ed Begley, Jr. It's a campus caper indeed that puts a spin on the invisible man.