Backup Data Important Preparation for a Disaster

I've been enjoying the beautiful cool weather here in South Florida and today was no exception. In actuality, it was warmer today than it has been. I don't think there are going to be many more cold days left. On top of that, now that we're in the new year, we're getting closer to the 2009 Hurricane Season. I'm sure you're not looking forward to seeing what this year brings on that note.

However, if you are thinking about hurricane preparation, that's not a bad thing at all. We have to be prepared for a disaster the best way possible even if, when it happens, you still feel the shock. So, one of the things you can start thinking about is backing up your computer data. In this day and age, you can save lots of data onto backup instruments like
micro sd disks and flash drives.

I actually just found out how to work a micro sd into my cell phone, LOL! It was so cool. Now I can get my pictures out of my camera and onto my desktop. I was so excited. Anyway, it's amazing how small these things are and how much data they can carry. So, you can backup your very important information and safely keep it in your wallet so that while you may feel the hurt of losing your computer(s) in a disaster, you won't lose your life.

Vacationing Spots in South Florida

Now that the New Year celebrations have come and gone, people are starting to think about when they will be taking their next vacation. Central and South Florida are both known for their tourism industry. One of the things that has become extremely popular down here is time sharing. In fact, I've stayed in several time shares over the course of the last five years or so since my in-laws purchased into one of those Westgate packages.

I have to tell you that for the most part, I've enjoyed my stays at all of the resorts. They do seem to try to treat their customers/owners special and make you feel at home. On the other hand, I still wonder how people have continued to invest in property in Florida while it is such a hurricane prone State. I can't say anything though since I myself moved down here the year right after there were four hurricanes that his the State. I guess I like to live on the edge. :-)

Armor Screen Wind and High Impact Protection

OK, so I checked out armor screen and spoke to my husband about it. It looks like it might be pretty economical. I saw where you could get a free estimate, so I'll be calling in the next month or so. Perhaps this year, I will be more prepared than ever. I'm hoping to have this in place if it's not too expensive.

I guess I can forget about getting a new tv stand, LOL! I'm going to have to use my tax refund, that is if I get a refund, for this new armor screen protection. I was hoping to see some video of the effectiveness of it, but it looks like the videos have all been taken down. I wonder if there are any videos on YouTube.

If you know anything at all about armor screen or can provide any type of feedback, please let me know by commenting below. I look forward to hearing from you.

Rest and Relaxation out of Hurricane Season

Winter in Florida is one of the best times of the year. There is usually a cool light breeze and not so humid air. The temperature ranges from the low 60s to the high 70s most days. It's perfect. The best part of this year is that there are no hurricane threats to think about. This is the part of the year where you can think of more basic necessities like car insurance, painting your house, buying new dishes and maybe even new furniture. OK, those last two are probably not really necessities, but you know stuff like that.

I say this every year, but I'd love to find some money to invest in getting shutters for my home. I can't even tell you how badly my husband worries when a storm is coming just because he doesn't have the proper protection. We constantly think about getting plywood, but haven't even invested in that. It's the cheap way to fly, but in these hard economic times, it's really all we can afford, you know?

Anyway, you don't have many months to relax now that hurricane season is gone. If you are going to invest in shutters and things that take time to order and measure and buy and install, now is a good time to do that. I'm going to look into Armor Screen. I'll let you know how it goes.

I'd love to Enjoy my Vacatiion.

My husband had almost a four day weekend and, although we had so many things to do, we just lounged around. I was able to read two books and rested a little. However, today I finally got to do some of the things I was suppose to do, like finish up some gifts that had to do with a business promotion I've been working on. I was also able to organize a bit and get my numbers together for next month's taxes. That always takes me a while.

I remember it being so much easier when I worked outside the home for someone else. I didn't have to worry about anything after work except going back to work each day. I worked as an interpreter for the deaf. There were also some students in the class that suffered from cerebral palsy, but I didn't have to work with them. They were taken care of by a colleague of mine.

Anyway, the point is that I use to really enjoy my vacation days. Now that I work at home, although I do have more time and I'm flexible as far as how I spend my time, I just can't get myself to relax. I'm always working on the business. Maybe that's definitely something I should change in 2009.

Hmmmm...one more New Year's Resolution.

New Years Resolutions and Old Years Accomplishments

WOW! It's been so long since I posted on here. What can I tell you about hurricanes. We've been out of hurricane season for almost a month now and let me tell you! What a relief it is not to be worried about some crazy storm coming our way. I love that! It's also very nice to report that here in South Florida, we've been experiencing consistent cool weather days. It's not unbearable by any means.

So, weather aside, aren't you looking forward to 2009? I am. I don't want June 1st to get here anytime soon, but I have always liked the idea of a new start. Every year I work on my inside and outside image. I try to diet and I try to be more positive. I actually came across a good diet pill review website that you might benefit from here: Leptovox. Anyway, throughout the year, situations come up that take away my peace and my motivation to diet. When I'm stressed I do tend to eat, so all my work in the beginning of the year seems to go downhill.

This year though, I'm proud to say that I did do one thing. I lost some weight. I still have more weight to lose and am looking forward to the coming year so I can have that sense of motivation again. I guess I don't have to wait two more weeks, but I have given myself the excuse so that I can continue to eat whatever I want, LOL! Oh, and so I can be a little lazy.

Next year at the end of the year, I hope to be able to report more good news. How's your year been?

Another Nice Day!

Today, after three days of waking up to rain and cold weather, it's turned into a beautiful day. This morning we were in the 40s which is rare for South Florida, but the sun quickly burned up the cold and now it's got to be in the low 70s again. The sun is out and there's a light breeze. It's just beautiful.

I am still wearing a sweater though, so I don't think it's time to kick out the outdoor bar stools just yet. Give it a few more weeks and we'll be back to warm weather before you know it. I'm in no rush though.

Baby It's Cold Outside!

Over the last two days or so, we've had some surprising weather. It's been rainy and then cool and then a little warmer and then cool again. I am sure that is why my children and husband have colds. They've been passing them around to each other. I think I'm the only one who hasn't had a really bad cold out of all of us. I was just telling my mom that mothers are not allowed to be sick. It's against the law.

Anyway, today's weather has been beautiful after the first part of the morning when it was raining. I wish it was like this all year round. I can deal with low 70s any day!

Hurricanes of Another Sort

I'm sure you are very intimately familiar with the highs and lows in the stock market over the last year. I guess it's actually been about six months or so since things really starting turning towards the disaster zone. Well, I was reading the news online and read some very good news.

The stock market has been doing well over the last four days. It was said that that hasn't happened since this past April. WOW! That's a long lasting hurricane! I'm sure that one could really analyze all of this and say it has something to do with recent announcements on a new economic staff in the White House in the coming months, but it's probably also related to online trading and even holiday spirits. The market is such a volatile animal that once just never knows. I'm certainly no expert. LOL!

Is It What Goes Up Must Come Down?

Now that hurricane season is pretty much over, south Floridians are back to fretting about the lowering real estate values and loss of business jobs. As you know, adding to the hardships are loss of employment. I can tell you from experience that ever since hurricane Wilma hit South Florida a few years back, we have yet to recover financially. Things are slowly coming back to normal and I am finally seeing fewer and fewer blue tarps on roofs, but still, economically things are strapped to the hilt. I can't wait to see a turn around. I heard or read that we won't see improvement until at least the summer of 2009. Great! Just in time for the next hurricane season, LOL!

Well, I hope you are doing well and keeping your head above water. We will get out of this slump. Things eventually have to start going up again. In the meantime, enjoy the lowering gas prices and retail sales as long as they last, because with money, it's not what goes up must come down, but rather, what goes down will definitely go back up.

What Do You Do on Hurricane Down Time?

The last few days of hurricane season are fast coming to an end. What do you do on the down time? I'm sure you are less anxious about the weather and forget all about your hurricane fears, but have you thought about the idea of preparing for next year? Now is the time to get all of your plans together for the bigger projects like hurricane shutters and replacing your windows for high impact glass. Things like that are perfect projects for Hurricane Season down time.

Of course, you're probably also thinking about gaining and losing weight, especially now that holiday season is in full swing. Maybe you're even preparing for all of that eating by taking a few diet pills ahead of time. I don't know if that really works, but I guess anything is possible. I can't believe next week is Thanksgiving and then after that, the end of 2008. WOW! How time flies!

Consistent Cold Weather in the South

O.K. so what's going on with all of these days being in the 40s and 50s here in Sunny South Florida? What's up with all of this cold? I'm sure you must know that there have been a few cold fronts that have come through over the past few days, so that's what is up. You would think that with all of this cold weather, there can't be any reason to fear tropical storms or hurricanes even though technically we're still in Hurricane Season. Well, your thinking is right. I just checked the hurricane center website and there appear to be no new disturbances in the tropics. I'll update you if I hear of anything new.

No Named Storms to Report - Hurricane Tracking.

After the last blog I did on Paloma, I'm happy to share that there are no tropical cyclones reported in the Atlantic Sea Basin at this time. It was surprising to have to report such a powerful storm in the month of November as it was. The last time that happened, I read or heard on the news, it was around ten years ago. That really wasn't such a long time ago, but still things have been pretty crazy this year, haven't they. Three or four storms hit Cuba. It was like they were in the bacon of the month club for hurricanes.

Let's see. There was Ike, Gustav and Paloma. I guess there were three. I remember when Florida got hit with four storms a few years back -- was that in 2004? Anyway, hurricane season puts us all on alert, so when there are only 14 or 15 days left to the season, I'm a happy camper. Hurricane Season ends on November 30th. Remember though, that's not to say a hurricane can't strike any time of the year. It just means that they are more likely to develop during the warmer months of June through November.