Tag Archive for vacation

They’ve Got it Made!

“They’ve got it made!”  We’ve all said this as we watch people doing their jobs.  We’re convinced they’re overpaid for what they do. Are they? Teachers have short days and long vacations (when do they do lesson plans and grade papers?).  Garbage men ride around all day, doing nothing but picking up trash (what health hazards do they face?).  Cops sit around eating donuts and are never there when you need them (except when they are).  Priests get to hear juicy confessions (how interesting can a story be on the 500th telling?).

Next time you hear yourself saying, “They’ve got it made,” assign yourself the task of finding out about their job: salary and benefits; required education and training, both original and ongoing; hours and duties expected from those hours; health and safety issues the job poses; job security and working conditions.  The Bible says that even Jesus called on a variety of workers, from fisherman to tax collector to tent-maker.  Seems like there’s a lesson there, that we must respect all work and value the worker.  After all, this is a pretty big vineyard we labor in.

Follow Them on Vacation

Have something you want your Congress persons to hear?  Then, follow them on vacation.  August is their “vacation” time—away from Washington but closer to their constituents.  During the entire month, they come home to get back in touch with us. They’re more available and open to contact in August than during any other month of the year. Now is the time, in other words, to get them to listen to you about that issue that is so important to you, your family, and your community. Call, write, email, send smoke signals, or whatever to their local offices.  Write a letter to the editor (they’re more likely to read and respond to it in August) and send a copy to your representatives and senators.  Arrange a meeting with them.  Go onto their websites to find out when they’ll hold a town hall meeting you can attend.  Start right away composing those letters or arranging for meetings.  Why are you sitting there reading this?  Get going!

Protect Your Kids from Cyber Space

This is good for everyone, but I worry more about our kids.  They see the power draining out of their phone or tablet, spot a public charging station, and say “why not?”

The reason “why not” is that hackers are getting into those stations and waiting for someone to use them.  At that point, they hack into the phone or tablet and install malware or suck up all the data contained on it.  Despite what we’d like, kids store pictures nobody else should see, personal data that can be used to open a credit account, family information that could make it easy for buglers to visit our home while we’re on vacation, passwords and security codes, even show a pattern of behavior that gives potential evil-doers more opportunities to abduct our child.

Using any charging station should be safe IF the phone is turned off while charging.  That’s a big IF with kids, though, who don’t want to miss a single tweet.  Consider protecting your kids (and your family) with an inexpensive USB cord that allows charging but not data-transfer, and make sure they carry it with them and leave their other cord home.

Yes, parenting is getting harder and harder.  Our kids are sure worth the effort, though, aren’t they?

Picture those Important Family Activities

With upcoming family activities–graduation, wedding, vacation trips–you may be looking for new camera equipment. Consider a bag that has a built-in solar charger. Both it and rechargeable batteries are convenient for you and healthy for the Earth.

 

Leaf 6

[For more easy, money-saving, earth-friendly tips, download a FREE copy of Green Riches: Help the Earth & Your Budget. Go to www.Smashwords.com/books/view/7000 or your favorite e-book seller and download to your computer or e-book device. Totally free, with no strings attached.]

Follow Your Congress-people on Their Vacations

Have something you want your Congress persons to hear?  Then, follow them on vacation. 

August is their “vacation” time—away from Washington but closer to their constituents.  During the entire month, they come home to get back in touch with us. They’re more available and open to contact in August than during any other month of the year.

Now is the time, in other words, to get them to listen to you about that issue that is so important to you and your family. Call, write, email, send smoke signals, or whatever to their local offices.  Write a letter to the editor (they’re more likely to read and respond to it in August.) Arrange a meeting with them.  Go onto your representatives’ or senators’ websites to find out when they’ll hold a town hall meeting you can attend.

You have only a week to start composing those letters or arranging for meetings.  Why are you sitting there reading this?  Get going!