Thursday, January 31, 2013

What a temperature swing!

Man, what a temperature change! Just a couple of days ago we were outside in T-shirts. Today? Coats, gloves and hats. Kentucky sure has wild and wacky weather. From tornadoes to slick roads in less than 24 hours.

The weather blog says we may even get another inch or two tonight. Oh, my! I sure do love snow, I'm just not too sure if I like it in Kentucky. Everything just kind of shuts down when it snows and that surely doesn't help our little home-based business one bit. It's a toss up about whether to get out and sell ads or not. Some business owners just shut down when it snows and that makes it hard. It's not really worth the gas - or the danger - of getting out.

Thankfully we have a great family of advertisers and we always manage to get the magazine out, no matter what. And sometimes we just have to take it at what it is and put out a smaller magazine. The winter months are really tough on small businesses, businesses that depend on even a few sales each day to keep going.

This month we've had more days of not a single sale than we have had with good sales days. And a snowstorm on the very last day we can get ads in is not ideal. But, hey, we'll just keep on going with the flow and do what we can! We've never been one to give up, and I don't suppose we will just yet either.

Through the bad months, we always have to think ahead to the good months. And thankfully Spring is just around the corner. A bit of a re-birth that we are granted each and every year. New things popping out of the ground. New leaves on the trees. Oh gosh, I'm so anxious.

It's funny because living in the West - and being snow skiers - you just hate the thought of spring. Spring signals the end of skiing season. Spring skiing can be fun, but by noon the slopes get pretty sloppy. The upside? You get a head start on your tan. Yep, you can get a suntan skiing. I was never brave enough to ski in shorts, but have seen many people do it.

Gosh, how did I get onto skiing? I guess it's the drastic temperature change, going to my head!

Have a great evening everyone. And be safe overnight and in the morning during the commute.

Blessings, Pam

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

A Rough Start to the Day

It's been a wild morning for Kentucky, at least weather wise. The line of bad stuff is past us here in Palmer .... but it's still moving eastward and I'm sure many people will be affected by this in the next few hours, not just in Kentucky but the entire East Coast as it travels that way.

The weather in Kentucky can sure be crazy. Tornado warnings this morning and then snow for the weekend. The same thing happened last March when that crazy tornado outbreak happened. All the many people who lost everything dealt with snow just a few days later. As I'm typing this up, West Liberty is in the eye of the storm again and I'm sure there are more than just a few nervous people down that way.

Our weather alert radio went off at 4:30 this morning. Woke us right up, let me tell ya! But they are certainly a good thing to have. At least they make you aware of weather headed your way. From watching the radar on Lex18, you could tell it was going to hit us right about the time that the buses ran with all the Estill County kiddos.

What a decision the superintendent must make when weather happens. It's never going to be right for all of the people. If nothing hit the county, then he was wrong for keeping them out. And vice-versa. Since we have a scanner, we were listening to the bus drivers reporting in. They had a rocky ride getting the kids to school. They deserve many, many kuddos. They were just doing their jobs. And they kept all the kids safe - with several of them pulling over to wait it out. I'd say there were some panicked kids on some of the buses and the monitors had their hands full also.

Personally, I am not sure I would have sent my child this morning - delay or no delay. As a parent, it's essentially my decision to send them or not. With a bus being a high-profile vehicle and the warnings for high winds, it just would have been my decision. Sure, everyone can't choose that option. But, hey, if you have a car and can get your kiddos to school, why not keep them until it's over.

I'm guessing they figured they could get everyone delivered before the storms hit. Which means, had a tornado hit .... the kids would have been in the school and who knows what could have happened then. Chaos for sure. I was never known to be too protective of my kidlet when she was growing up, but we never dealt with tornadoes in Idaho, Washington or Oregon either! Just snow storms. And school never closed for a snow storm, not back in my days of school. You just added another layer of clothes before heading out the door.

Well, enough of my crazy thoughts for the morning. Have a Blessed day - and stay safe where-ever you may be!



Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Another big weather day

Goodness, have you seen the weather forecast for central Kentucky? We've got a roller coaster of a ride for the next few days. But, it's not just Kentucky that is affected. The storms are starting today clear down in Texas. They'll sweep across the plains today headed right for us.

Those of you that know me, know that I love watching the weather. I subscribe to Chris Bailey's weather blog and follow along each day as he makes his predictions. They are usually pretty accurate and that's because Mr. Bailey loves the weather about as much as anyone! You can follow along at http://kyweathercenter.com/ if you like weather too.

The Facebook world has opened up weather for me all that much more! You see, I have friends all over the United States and weather affects them too. For instance .... cousin Doug Atkinson lives in Texas and they have some wild weather. Today, Oklahoma is in the bullseye .... classmate Brad Duncan and his wife live there. Not to mention, the storms will eventually reach Nashville and I've got several FB friends down there. Not to mention my MaMichele - tonight is an Opry night!

Of course, I still keep up with the Northwest's weather too since the kidlet lives back there, not to mention all my former classmates and many friends and family that still reside in the West. The kidlet has a 40 mile drive up the Clearwater River each morning to get to her teaching job and it worries me to death. It's a pretty wild drive on dry, clear roads. Throw in snow and it becomes very treacherous. But, hey, that's where I learned to drive so I have to remember that!

It's almost been a year since the horrible tornado outbreak that wiped out several small towns in Kentucky. I'm just hoping today's weather doesn't produce nearly the outcome that we experienced last year. Be safe everyone and have a great day.

Monday, January 28, 2013

Why, yes, I do have a blog.

The blog has been speaking to me lately. Wondering where I've been I guess. I get up every morning with lots to say, I just fail to sit my butt in this chair and type it up. I guess I don't figure many people read it anyways, so no one is missing me either. But, I'm going to correct this little dilemma by being more diligent in staying in touch!

Sure, I do Facebook. Lots of people do. I've found out recently that lots of people don't use it too! In fact, I've learned lots of my readers don't even have an email. Hard to believe in today's society, but it is the truth. No everyone is hooked up to a computer like it's an IV in their arm. I find it harder and harder to be on Facebook anymore anyway! It's all advertising and political views. I joined FB to stay in touch with my family and friends, not to read ads and trash talk regarding our beloved United States.

I've been trying out Twitter a bit lately. I can't say I understand it. How on earth does anyone keep up without sitting right there with the window in front of you? There are millions of 'tweets' going on and I'm pretty sure mine get missed in all the hub-bub. Oh, well. Not much of a success there either!

Another social site I'm having problems with is Pinterest. I just don't have the time! I've went there several times and tried 'cruising' around looking at ideas. Next thing I knew hours had passed and I hadn't gotten a single thing accomplished. I've kind of stayed away since. If I've got to be on this computer, I may as well do my work and be done with it.

It's deadline week here at the magazine. Always a bit rushed and hurried the week the magazine goes to the printers. Last minute ads are always a kink - yet I'll take them! I'll put your ad in the book right up to about 12 hours before I send it north for printing. That's the way it is with a small business with few employees. Between the two of us, we can't possibly hit everyone every month for an ad. Thank goodness the internet does work in that way. I'd be lost without my email.

Speaking of that, I've got about a dozen emails I need to answer so I'd best get to it! Have a great day everyone. Be safe in the stormy weather heading our way. Rain is just on the other side of Lexington as I type away..... I'm sure it'll be in beautiful Palmer, Kentucky before too long!