When did we stop accepting responsibility for our actions and start blaming others for our problems??

There used to be a time when people took responsibility for their own actions and stopped always blaming someone else. Before I proceed, I will forewarn you that this post is extremely blunt and to the point. 

Recently a 17 year old teenager was fooling around on the football field prior to the start of practice at a local high school. He was not wearing any protective gear. Coaches were not on the field - just him and his fellow players. He jumped up to catch a pass and fell. When he landed his head hit the arms of the paint machine that they use to line the football fields. He was taken into the locker room where his mother was immediately called. He was able to answer the coaches and trainers questions coherently but was still told to stay in the locker room until his mother arrived. He was not to leave.

This young man got up and left. He got into his car and drove 4 miles home. When he got home he could not dial his mother's cell phone #. He was bleeding on his brain. His younger sibling called mom and then called 911. The young man was taken to the hospital where he now lies in a medically induced coma. The injury to his brain was severe enough that the Doctors felt it best that he be placed in the coma. Right now the only thing that that will heal this young man is prayer and time.

A couple of days ago a family decided to take a cruise on Carnival cruise lines. On the day before they were to return home, they were all relaxing and lounging around the pool. Their six year old son was playing in the pool with his 10 year old sibling. The six year old ended up drowning and passing away.

In both these cases, I have heard nothing but blame for the Coaches & Trainers at the High School and subsequently blame towards Carnival Cruise Lines. Coaches & Trainers for not dialing 911, not contacting the parents (which they did), letting him drive home (which they told him not to do) etc. Carnival Cruise Lines for not having a lifeguard on duty (but the parents and family were sitting less than 5 feet away from the pool).

When tragedy occurs it is everyone's first instinct to cry wolf. It is always someone else's fault never the fault of the parents or individual involved. This is such a shame that our country has come to this. Personal responsibility should not be a choice. It should be mandatory for everyone.

And on another note, I just heard that Michelle Obama is complaining that the White House Gardens are looking shabby with overgrown weeds and squirrels running amok. Our federal government is shut down, people aren't getting paid and she's worried about the gardens. SMH ~~~~~~~

Tips before making your final decision on your patio.

There are a few tips from the experts prior to you make your final decision to go with concrete coatings. Here are some suggestions to help you with the final design and color choices to fit your budget.

1. Treat your patio like it is an extension of the room from which it is opening up to, whether it is your living room, dining room, kitchen or bedroom. Stick with the design and colors your patio area  is flowing from.
2. Don’t worry about a perfect match when considering design or color. Think of your home as a giant quilt. In a quilt, patterns are mixed with floral, stripes and dots. But the concrete or flooring colors should complement and blend together offering a pleasing vision. The overall color may be red, but there could be different shades and patterns of red. Individually, the pieces may look odd, but pieced all together they create a masterpiece.
3. When choosing a company or applying your own coating, proper preparation and installation and quality products are a must. Do not cut corners here or the life of your coating will be impacted greatly.
4. Finally, to insure the life of your coating, as you would any flooring, keep it clean and debris free.

Does the rain really affect your mood?

Have you ever noticed how a gray, rainy day makes you feel gloomy and tired, but a sunny day can leave you feeling cheerful and energized? Well, there's a scientific reason for this. Insufficient exposure to sunlight has been associated with low levels of melatonin and serotonin, carbohydrate craving, weight gain, and sleep disturbance.

Some of you may have also noticed that you find a seasonal fluctuation in your moods, feeling depressed only in the winter months. Take a look at your calendar and you'll soon see why. Each year on June 21 we experience the summer solstice, the longest day of the year. With our longest hours of sunlight in the middle of summer it's no wonder we're happier this time of year. After this date, however, the days progressively get shorter until the winter solstice on December 21, the shortest day. Is it any accident then that so many of us run for the hills when the holidays roll around? With our serotonin in such short supply, the added stresses of living up to our images of the picture-perfect holiday are just too much. The medical term for the season-long malaise that we fall into is seasonal affective disorder, or SAD.

SAD is believed to be caused by a disturbance in the normal circadian rhythm of the body. Light entering through the eyes influences this rhythm. When it is dark, the pineal gland produces a substance called melatonin which is responsible for the drowsiness we feel each day after dusk. Light entering the eyes at dawn shuts off the production of melatonin. During the shorter days of winter, when people may rise before dawn or not leave their offices until after sunset, these normal rhythms may become disrupted, producing the symptoms of SAD.

There is also evidence linking SAD to a reduced amount of the neurotransmitter serotonin. Serotonin is the feel-good substance that is increased by antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). This decrease in serotonin production may be responsible for many of the symptoms of SAD, such as depression and carbohydrate cravings.

That is why Sunshine is always good for us all. Get out and enjoy the Sun. Life is too precious to be depressed.

My blog today is of a personal nature. It disturbs me that a young girl in Polk County was bullied to her suicide. It also disturbs me to find out that this bullying has gone on for quite some time. I am NOT blaming anyone, but I do have a few questions. Why didn't the parents do anything about it? Did you not notice a change in your daughter? Were you not informed enough to know the difference? Maybe you were just scared? Or maybe you just didn't know the resources that were available to you. Maybe I am from the old school of parenting where I am highly involved in my daughter's life. I know her friends, I know who she is talking to, I know basically what she is doing almost every day. I am with her for many hours every day. I participate in her school programs, her recreational activities, and am great friends with many of her friends parents. If something was wrong (besides being tired all the time - typical teenager) I would know immediately. 

You see I was the victim of bullying when I was in middle school. Even though I went to a private school, I got teased all the time. I was 13 years old and weighed 200 pounds. My parents didn't have the money for the coolest clothes and that was okay with me. Believe me my P.E. uniform didn't look cool on anyone. But I was a great athlete. My nickname was "White Whale". I eventually moved away and lost 50 pounds in one summer. Over the years I struggled with self-esteem and self-confidence but as I have become more mature, I have realized I am as good as everyone else. When I had my daughter, she was premature and tiny. I could not for the life of me get that girl to weigh over 30 pounds until she was 6 years old. Now, She stands tall and proud at 5'10", 165 pounds, stronger than an ox and prettier than any girl I have ever seen. What makes her pretty is her attitude. She has joined a club at school against bullying. Why? Because she was bullied in 4th grade and remembers what it was like. Now she doesn't care what people think of her. Granted, she is only 14 years old but for her to have such a positive outlook now, tells me she is going to a strong woman one day. 

I know today many home struggle - single parents, two parents, two jobs, constant running. Most kids are left to fend for themselves on a regular basis. Some kids, the only meals they get are the ones that they get at school each day. I know it is a struggle. I know how tired a working mom can be. I was a single mother with my son for 11 years. I have worked a 40 hour a week job all my life up until 5 years ago. That does not excuse a parent's involvement with their child. With all the technology we have out there, communicate with your child. If you don't want to communicate via technology, do it the old fashioned way: Sit down and talk to your child. Unplug your child. Spend a day at the park with your child. Laugh with them. Eat a meal with them. All it takes it just a few minutes of your time daily to change a child's future. 

I have seen the statistics and am posting the information below. Even if you aren't a parent, sometimes all a child needs is an adult in their life who shows some interest. Can't we all work together to prevent this from happening? It is truly disturbing to me to see these statistics.

The following information is from the website http://www.stopbullyingnowfoundation.org

Bullying is when a person or group repeatedly tries to harm someone who is weaker or who they think is weaker. Sometimes it involves direct attacks such as hitting, name calling, teasing or taunting. Sometimes it is indirect, such as spreading rumors or trying to make others reject someone.

Often people dismiss bullying among kids as a normal part of growing up. But bullying is harmful. It can lead children and teenagers to feel tense and afraid. It may lead them to avoid school. In severe cases, teens who are bullied may feel they need to take drastic measures or react violently. Others even consider suicide. For some, the effects of bullying last a lifetime.

School Bullying effects us all

The overall outlook of the long term effects of bullying upon society is grim:

1. 60% of middle school students say that they have been bullied, while 16% of staff believes that students are bullied.
2. 160,000 students stay home from school every day due to bullying. (NEA)
3. 30% of students who reported they had been bullied said they had at times brought weapons to school.
4. A bully is 6 times more likely to be incarcerated by the age of 24.
5. A bully is 5 times more likely to have a serious criminal record when he grows up.
6. 2/3 of students who are targets become bullies.
7. 20% of all children say they have been bullied.
8. 20% of high school students say they have seriously considered suicide within the last 12 months.
9. 25% of students say that teachers intervened in bullying incidents while 71% of teachers say they intervened.
10. The average child has watched 8,000 televised murders and 100,000 acts of violence before finishing elementary school.
11. In schools where there are anti-bullying programs, bullying is reduced by 50%.
12. Bullying was a factor in 2/3 of the 37 school shootings reviewed by the US Secret Service.
13. According to the National Institute of Occupational Safety Health (NIOSH) (Sauter, et al.,1990), there is a loss of employment amounting to $19 billion and a drop in productivity of $3 billion due to workplace bullying.
14. Law enforcement costs related to bullying are enormous.  Since 1999, the Office on Violence against Women (OVW) has spent $98 million in assistance to address campus sexual violence.

Thank you for letting me vent here. I always welcome comments. All I ask is that you keep it clean. 

Always Remember - Never Forget

On this day 12 years ago, I was sitting at my desk at Theochem Laboratories here in Tampa. My mother called me and asked me if I had seen the news. No, I had not since we did not have a television in the office. I quickly looked up New York on the internet and Bam - there it was.

Two planes colliding into the Twin Towers - an image that I will never forget. I started shaking. My Uncle worked in the city. My husband was on a plane to Dallas. My two boys were at school and my daughter at day care. I must have stayed on the phone with my mother for almost a half and hour, not saying a lot but the comfort of just knowing she was there, made all the difference in the world to me. All I could think about was my husband and if he was going to be safe. 

Even though I know my husband was in the air somewhere, I started texting him and calling him in hopes that he would land safely and call me as soon as he landed. Finally he did. 

My boys came home from school that day and they couldn't concentrate on anything. Luckily my daughter was too young to understand. The boys had been on lockdown all day. No one in the schools no one out. After seeing all the footage and all the devastation, I finally turned off the tv. We were all pretty shook up.

As the days of rescue and recovery went by all I could think about was the victims and their families. My brother lost a very dear friend that day. Even after 12 years, this day holds heavy in his heart. 

I was lucky that day. God spared my family and I. Even though my husband had to drive back from Dallas to get home because all flights were cancelled that week, it was well worth the drive to bring him home. 

Each year I see the multiple postings of 9/11. Each year I pray for healing for those families and victims. This year I refuse to post on Facebook about 9/11. Life is for moving forward. Not falling backwards. To find true happiness and peace in such sorrow we must go on. I know everyone grieves differently. I choose to celebrate life. 

And one thing that helps me with that celebration is that tomorrow 9/12 marks the 55th wedding anniversary of my parents. I just hope that I make it that long with my husband. 

Love the ones who are here with you now. Honor those that are in Heaven. Live life - you only have one.

God Bless. 

Why do concrete floors & foundations crack in Florida?

Many builders and Realtors in Florida when asked by clients about floor cracks often state that cracking of the concrete floors is common. Unfortunately this is true but it is generally caused by poor construction management rather than a natural occurrence. Most properties now built in Central Florida are built upon a solid concrete slab and foundation called a Monolithic slab and the speed and drying process is unfortunately not the most important consideration to many builders. Many people are actually unaware that the floor beneath them has cracks inviting a selection of problems over a period of time. If you have flexible floor coverings such as carpet, wood or vinyl you probably will never know until you get a structural defect, moisture or insect problems. If you have a non flexible floor covering such as tile and you have concrete cracking you will know very soon after the tile has been installed. Concrete is a carefully measured quantity of cement, sand, rock aggregate and water. The strength of concrete is determined by the mixture ratio and is often based on the primary requirement for the structure and the load bearing requirements. As concrete sets, the water in the mixture forms a chemical reaction with the cement; although the concrete dries in a sense that no liquid water remains the water is still there and is a very important element of the structure. The drying or setting of concrete is normally known as the Curing. In fact it is more important to keep the concrete wet during the early stages of curing. This is because of  the chemical reaction produced called Hydration which is the generation of heat produced in the curing process, while bonding the raw materials of the concrete together. The heat that is self generated by this process together with the ambient temperature and direct exposure to the sun can cause the concrete to have what is known as accelerated drying causing expansion cracks to appear on the surface and often run deeper into the concrete slab. Prevention is the best cure, it is important to try and reduce the accelerated drying process as the excessive heat will prevent the natural bonding together of the raw materials and cause the concrete to crack becoming weaker. A heat reduction process can be as simple as covering the concrete reducing the sun’s exposure but the most effective method is spraying the concrete with a fine mist or water when the surface has become hard to touch. Ideally 7 days would be a satisfactory time to leave the concrete before building upon it. Unfortunately we often see contractors in Florida building on it after just 24 hours. The stress produced on the concrete at this stage will defiantly produce cracking and effect the structural integrity of the structure. Expansion joints should be cut into the concrete as soon as it has been set to allow for the continuous movement from expansion and contraction generated by the heat. The joints should be spaced correctly to be effective and they should be no more than 2-3 times the slab thickness (in inches). Therefore a 4 inch slab should have joints 8 -12 feet apart. The joints should be cut 25% of the depth of the slab; therefore a 4 inch slab would have joints cut 1 inch deep. In hot weather the concrete will crack if the joints are not cut within 6 -12 hours after finishing the concrete pour. Once the joint is cut a material with less density than the concrete can be inserted as an expansion joint material. Specialist joints can also be used which is basically a plastic or aluminum type material which is in the shape of a V inserted into the cut joint.

Cleaning Bare Concrete

When it comes time to clean concrete, you don’t need to be delicate; after all, it’s a very hard material.

In order to clean concrete outdoors, you can rent a pressure washer for use in combination with a biodegradable detergent. Indoors, your supplies are likely to be a bucket, detergent, and scrub brush, with or without a wet/dry vac at job’s end.

These approaches will enable you to get a long way toward removing ground-in dirt, mildew, spilled paint and most food stains. But the bad news for the fastidious homeowner is that concrete is a porous material with innumerable tiny voids that can harbor dirt, mold, and all kinds of deep, stubborn stains.

I once tried cleaning a concrete floor that had been exposed to leaky oil pans and transmissions for years and years. Power washing did very little. What helped a little, though ultimately not enough, was scrubbing the area with TSP (tri-sodium phosphate), then hitting it with the hose. As a last resort, I used an application of muriatic acid, which successfully vanquished all of the remaining oil spots.

Muriatic acid is also useful in cleaning excess smears of dried mortar and grout, or when attempting to alleviate tough rust stains. But please be advised that you must be extremely cautious with this powerful acid. Don’t even use muriatic acid unless you really need to. If you must, then be sure to wear protective gear (including protective clothing) and always follow the manufacturer’s directions for dilution. Allow for plenty of ventilation.

My preference is to begin with the least toxic cleanser and up the ante as needed. Try applying common detergents directly to the tough spots and scrubbing with a bristle (not wire) brush. Hydrogen peroxide or ammonia also work well.

For indoor jobs, you might try scrubbing with TSP before rolling on a masonry primer and a masonry topcoat. Such a coating would hide the old stains and seal the concrete to prevent further staining.