First, let me thank everyone for their contribution to this topic. In these trying times, with so many people homeless and with the crazy weather we are having, we need to ALL be our brother's keeper. "Except for the grace of God, there go I" definitely applies, even if you don't believe in God. Secondly, this is a very rural area. Towns are scattered and small (less than 1,000 people in most). There are only 285 people within the city limits in the town nearest us. When I called it a hamlet in the past, I meant a hamlet! Three churches, a city hall-library combo, a convenience store-gas station, a post office and that's it. We used to have a feed store, but he closed down this spring. There's a tire repair shop there now. The local school closed in the 70s and combined with another town's school system 12 miles away in another county. Until this past year, we didn't even have a police station or a building to house our fire department's pumper trucks. Lots of bean suppers, weeny roasts, and chili cookouts helped us raise the money to finally get our little building. We are all so proud of it too. The president's stimulus package gave us sidewalks downtown. We didn't have any before. That is so nice, especially for children, the elderly, and the disabled. The little town where I saw the man laying in the ditch is more of a village. It has a thriving school system and a Senior Citizen meeting place and a new home-style cafe, plus the Convenience store-gas station-laundry mat combo. I think it has at least a a thousand residents, but taking in all the rural folks, that could double the population. There is no Salvation Army, Homeless Shelter or any other services to help the homeless or poor. The only town around that is big enough to support a homeless shelter in Stillwater, and it is abt. 30 miles from there. They only have one that I know of and it is full to capacity and has been for several years. There is a long waiting list. Sad situation. Thirdly - All the fire departments are volunteer with pumper trucks. All the little towns within a 60 mile radius or maybe more, come to one another's aid when there are fires or natural disasters. The nearest town of any size with Ambulance services is Chandler, the county seat, about 14 miles away. They are fast to come though, when you call. I have called them for my dad a couple of times. Such nice young men and so tender with my Papa and helpful. Fourthly - I was in my husband's car that day. His AC is out, so it was probably 120 degrees in my car, even with the windows down. Keeping water or food was no option. Also, I had accidentally left my cell phone at home that day for some reason, I NEVER do that! If I would have had my cell, I would just have pulled over there and called 911 and waited for them to come help. However, I was already feeling sick myself, so quickly drove to the convenience store to seek help for him and get something to drink for myself! * I will remember that info about not giving fluids or food. Thank you! I didn't know that and I used to be a trained nurses aid! Just common-sensical though. Doh, on my part! These days, it isn't wise for a person, especially a woman alone, to stop and help someone. I have heard of people being ambushed in a sucker-trap set up to rob people and do they harm, and even of people being attacked when trying to help someone, but sometimes you just feel you have to do something! There were shade trees higher up on the bank and maybe when he laid down there he was in the shade, but he wasn't when I drove by. And lastly, as for the school situation - We have snow days here, too, bt no "Heat days". This year they started schools early, but the new governor and majority party in the state Congress decided they needed to cut back on expenditures, so they decided one area they could cut costs was to eliminate buses for city or town kids. Kids who live within a mile of school will no longer be provided with bus services. (I don't know if this applies to handicapped or special needs children or not). So those kids have to walk to and from school in this heat, (or rain, tornado, floods, snow or ice) for the first time probably in their lives. Also, think of the little ones who have no other way to get to school or kids who have no one to walk with to school. What will happen to them? A lot of parents are really upset over the whole situation, as they should be. Those children could end up as prey to the crazies, if not merely the victims of the weather, especially right now. That's why I said earlier that it was a case of indifference or stupidity or BOTH! They did not plan ahead for these things before they changed the laws. It just makes me so angry! When I was a little girl, buses only ran for the country kids. In California, I rode the bus to school as we lived out in the country, but when we moved back here, we lived in town, so I walked, come rain, shine or snow. We didn't have snow days either. It was awful sometimes. (I actually fell through a snowbank once and had an older boy not seen it and pulled me out, I might have frozen to death.) But, for the most part, kids back then played outside - all the time! We were used to walking everywhere we went and being out in all kinds of weather. Not so with children today. Most parents are afraid to let their kids run all over the neighborhood and town like we used to do. We roamed the hills and dales and mother never worried about us. We all played together outside until dark every night. She had to call us to come in. But it isn't safe anymore. Too many crazies! Cars go faster now too, and frankly, neighbor people and people in general don't watch out for one another's children like they used to do. Everyone is in their own little world. Those who have their own vehicles and women who don't have to work out of their homes can manage to drive their kids to school - they probably already do anyway. But the poor and the working poor probably don't have that option. Riding the school bus was the only way for their kids to get to school safely. It's cruel to do that to the poorest of the poor people. Just plain cruel and calloused. ~Annie

$25.00 3/15/2008 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM St. Olaf College - Buntrock Commons Building 1520 St. Olaf Ave Northfield, MN 55057 Rice County Annual Horticulture Day Lisa Holling 507/332-6109 holli021@umn.edu Additional Information Dr. Mark Seeley, Climatologist our featured speaker and will adress "Minnesota Zones in the Context of Climate Change. Well known writer for the "Northern Gardener" magazine, Terry Yockey will help us to "Plant for Fall and Winter Color. Jim Bull of Winsome Orhirds will show us how easily we can care for orchilds at home. Our own Cheryl Steinberg and Pam Strouth, owners of BLOOM Floral Designs will give a demonstation using their unique techniques for arranging. Continental breakfast and lunch will be served. Many door prizes. Registraion brochure will be on the Rice County webpage. Or call 507-332-6109 for more information. Here is a link that might be useful: Rice County MG website...click on link for brochure

Lynn, Thanks but didn't I just describe most of us who urge our kids to conquer their fears, handle their lives and step up to take their place in this world? I think Max seriously wanted to marry me when he was very young. Now? Not so much. LOL! Max's job is new. He gets his first paycheck tomorrow. He's officially off the dole but he is still learning about this little concept. Phone call earlier this week: (Setting: After his first day of school) "School is great. I really like my classes.", "That's great, Max!" "Well, I have an opportunity to work tonight but I'm not scheduled and they won't hold it against me, so I'm not going in." (My wheels start to spin) "Max, it would look really good if you went in." "Yes, and I'm willing to work on Mondays but they need to schedule me." Blah, blah, blah about books he needs to buy, etc. and then: "Do you think you could send me about $70. this week so I have a little extra money?" (my brain "!!!!!!!!!!", but again, joyfully) "Hmm, you are saying you need extra money but you don't want to work extra? Papa works extra to provide you with *your* extra. Maybe you should let Papa have a little time off and you can work in his place." Utter silence. Joyfully, I said: "Is there anything else? I'm just running to the store." "No, that is it." "OK. I love you and am so happy you like your classes. Call soon!" "I love you too and I will." Hey, I may have fallen off the potato truck last night but I was awake all night.

We use a few methods to keep our Family Calendar/Schedules in order. In our case, the second is an extension of the first. 1) I am in charge of the "Master" calendar which is on a Palm program. Family members can add information on the computer, or, if we are out and about and one of my kids or DH tells me of an upcoming event, I just hand them the Palm Pilot. (If your kids are young then you would add this info.) A nice feature is that I can create and view individual categories (created by me i.e. each family member, occasions, church events, etc) but typically I view "ALL" so that I can see if there are conflicts. So, as an example, at the beginning of each month I can choose the "Occasions" category to see what cards and gifts I need to buy, and view it without the visual clutter of other schedules. The Palm information is continually updated as needed -- and having it with me allows for any family member to call at any given moment to ask about upcoming events, etc. 2) Each Sunday I post a Weekly "Word" document on the refrigerator, a single 9 x 11 page. It is interactive in that all family members can add to it. It is in table format with 4 columns: Day, Schedule, Notes/Updates, Daily Chore. "Day" is narrowest. No additional info here, just lists the days of the week, Monday through Sunday (for 7 rows). "Schedule" is for the kids' activities and is color coded for each child. Typically, the items listed here are those that require transportation (usually provided by me). "Notes/Updates" is for family members to add info that might be useful. I ask the kids to post upcoming tests, etc. to remind them to study or to remind me to ask about it afterwards. This column might also note extended family members' birthdays (so we remember to call) or to add a note "Call about AC maintenance" or "Need $$ for track t-shirt" or "Hot lunch not served today" or "Don't forget to tape American Idol" -- things that might come up during that week and pertain to that week. The third column reminds the kids of their "Daily Chore" with a space to check it off. There is space underneath the table for additional notes, or a phone #. This Word document is saved on my computer and takes all of 5 minutes to update and print off for the upcoming week. (Quite often the schedule stays the same, piano on Wed, dance on Thurs -- just adding an orthodontist appt or another once-in-a-while event). This document is posted along side a narrow dry-erase board to add additional notes or reminders for that day only. (It gets erased every night.) The Weekly Calendar format could be used by anyone and is not dependent upon using an electronic calendar. 3) I do have a large day-runner calendar on the side of the fridge. This is filled in at the beginning of each month (from info on the Palm), but is rarely updated throughout the month. This calendar is entirely unnecessary to our system of maintaining a family calendar, and should not be used as a reference for what is going on during any given day or weekend. The family knows this, and knows that the Palm is the most updated schedule. I keep the wall calendar because it is what I used for years BEFORE going electronic. I like filling it in at the beginning of each month (have always preferred pen and paper, but the Palm is so much more useful). Things like "Reference" info, that I do not need to have with me on a Palm program because it does not affect anyone's schedule, is posted here.... It has the recycling stickers for the Recycling Schedule. I might put a phone # here of someone I might need to call upon to carpool at the last minute because I'm stuck at home and misplaced my keys. The schools' A/B Day schedule is on this calendar... that sort of info. Knowing that it is superfluous, I took it down for few months and just printed off a Monthly view of the Palm calendar -- that worked OK, but I missed my bigger calendar. (If I were only using a paper calendar and requiring family members to keep it updated, this is the only one I would use. I like it because it has a lot of space and it is ruled.) Hope this is helpful to someone. I'd be happy to share the Word version of our family calendar, just email me :-) Here is a link that might be useful: DayRunner wall calendar