Hands-Free - It’s the LAW!!!

Yesterday, July 1, 2008, marked the first day of California’s new cell phone law!  We no longer will see drivers with one hand on their wheel and the other holding the phone.  Will this hands-free law cause less distractions for drivers?  I hope it will.  I personally cannot stand driving behind someone when they are talking on the phone and not paying attention to the road.  I think this law will make a difference and have a positive impact on reducing the number vehicle accidents.  Watch out because local law enforcement agencies, CHP, Sheriff, and Police, are looking for those with the phone to their ears.  Madera County Sheriffs and Highway Patrol said they would not be giving any warnings, you will just be cited. 

***Texting is also no longer allowed while driver

***Remember if you have a child under the age of 18 they are not allowed drive while using a hand-held device.

 What a miracle.  After 6 years of captivity 14 Hostages were rescued from the jungles of Columbia.  This daring rescue was unbelievable.  What bravery the national army exhibited.  I could not imagine the emotions the hostages felt as they were airlifted above the jungle and heard the words, “We’re the national army…You’re free.”  I will never be able to imagine the emotions those hostages experienced in that moment.  I wanted to share this story because it is unbelievable and it touched my heart to see some of the hostages as they were reunited with their families on American soil.  What an amazing and daring rescue.  Miracles do happen!! 

In continuation to the post on Monday.

Is your “behind” like a triangle?  If so, heavy weight denim with only a little stretch is the way to go.  It will help round out your backside.  Pockets that are set high toward the waist will help keep a balance in your rear appearance.

If you have a “low behind”, you will find that you might need a little lift.  Avoid jeans without back pockets.  Those jeans will make your backside look lower and thereby bigger than it actually is.  Slim fit jeans give the illusion of a higher backside because they make legs look longer and sleeker. 

If you find that your “behind” is a bit wide, you should avoid wide-leg jeans which cling to your widest point and no place else.  You should buy straight-leg or boot-cut shapes that have pockets that are closely set.  You don’t want too much fabric on the jeans.

According to About.com…. “In 1853, the California gold rush was in full swing, and everyday items were in short supply. Levi Strauss, a 24-year-old German immigrant, left New York for San Francisco with a small supply of dry goods with the intention of opening a branch of his brother’s New York dry goods business. Shortly after his arrival, a prospector wanted to know what Mr. Strauss was selling. When Strauss told him he had rough canvas to use for tents and wagon covers, the prospector said, “You should have brought pants!” saying he couldn’t find a pair of pants strong enough to last.  The rest folks…is history!

Jeans should highlight your fine points and hide your faults.  Now everyone….get out there and shop!

This post is mostly intended for the female readership, but perhaps some of the guys have experienced some of the same problems that the gals have.  If not, I hope that you enjoy the comic relief!

Ladies….who among you has not tried to wiggle into jeans that are a bit to tight?  Have you ever had to lie down to button your jeans and then walk around like a stick figure until your jeans loosened up?  Do you ever try jeans on and go “Yikes, these don’t fit either!”?

Jeans have been around for since 1853.  Only now do we all have choices that make buying jeans fun.  A recent study on jeans was done.  Here are some helpful hints on picking out the perfect pair of jeans…..

If you have a “bubble behind” jeans that have a high waist and/or a contoured seam above the back pockets are most likely to look the best on you.  Jeans that have some stretch in them are recommended.

If your “behind” is non-existent, you should wear jeans with eye catching posterior details.  Pockets with buttons, flaps or designer stitching will help give the illusion of having more backside than there actually is.

If you find that you have a “flat behind”, you will find that jeans with some spandex or Lycra will give the lift you need.  Wide set pockets and embellished stitching will help keep things round looking.  Don’t wear stiff denim as it will flatten you like a pancake!

Please check back Tuesday for the conclusion to this post.

With central heating and other modern comforts, the necessity of quilts has diminished, but that doesn’t mean we need to complete lose the art of making them. Besides keeping people warm, quilts were (and still are) an artistic form of expression. In recent years, the art world has paid more attention to the beauty of quilts. Quilts are also a good focal point for social gatherings.

Since 1980, members and guest of the Sierra Mountain Quilters Association have been coming together to practice and promote the fine art of quilting. They meet the first and third Thursdays of each month. Meetings may include technique demonstrations, videos, a guest speaker or a “Show-n-Tell.” They also hold quilting circles at members’ homes to work on quilting projects.

This coming Thursday, June 19, the Sierra Mountain Quilters Association will be getting together at Whittenburg Hall (Community Church of Oakhurst) from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Attendees at this meeting will be treated to a trunk show by artist Susan Turner. To learn more, you can call 559-693-4586) or visit the group’s website, www.smqa.org.

We know that picking up trash and keeping our local trails clean is not the most glamorous occupation in the world. Although, keeping our natural resources clean does add a certain glamour to the area. With this in mind, this weekend you will be able to help our area sparkle and have a little fun in the process.

This Saturday, June 13 is the American Hiking Society’s National Trails Day. Participants will meet starting at 9 am to spruce up the 3 and half mile trail along with Fresno River, China Creek and Oak Creek. The event, held with the help of the Oakhurst River Parkway committee, starts at the Oakhurst Library parking lot and trash bags, water and tools will be provided. You will need to bring your own gloves, though.

To thank you for your efforts, there will be prizes given to those who attend and a prize for the most unusual item retrieved from the river. Plus, there will be an extra-special prize for people willing to do weed-eating.

You can help solo or bring a long a group. Call Sandy Brinley at 559-683-7027 to learn more.

Do you feel as if you have all kinds of stories in your head just waiting to be told? Do you think you need a boost to get started? Or maybe you already write in one genre, but you want to switch to another kind of writing.

If this is you, then this summer is the time to let the author in you roam free. The Oakhurst Branch Library will be the site for an eight week creative writing workshop for adults. The sessions start on July 9 and run until August 27. On each of these Wednesday night from 5:30-7pm, you will go through lessons that will foster ideas and improve your writing skills.

You don’t need any experience and you do not have to be published to participate. This summer of writing is sponsored by Poets & Writers, Inc. (thanks to a grant from the James Irving Foundation) and the Positive Living Center. There are a limited number of spaces, so register as soon as you can. Call Mary Lee Gowland at 559-683-6876 to register and get ready to write!

If you have young hoopsters in your house, you might want to think about enrolling them in this year’s Basketball Camp for Boys and Girls. The camp will admit students in all grades and will take place at the Yosemite High school gyms. This is not all an all day, every day camp. Instead, program hours are from 8:30 a.m.-12 noon, Monday-Thursday.

The experience staff for this camp includes the coaches and players who have graduated from the championship Yosemite Girls Basketball program. At the camp, students will have an opportunity to get coaching on basketball basics, with a focus on shooting and on having a good time while playing the game.

The cost for the camp is $60. This money may be paid on ahead of time or it can be paid on the first day. To pay ahead of time, send monies to Gary Blate, P.O. Box 2253, Oakhurst, CA 93644.

Be sure to register early! The first 72 participants will get a little prize pack: customized Badger shorts, t-shirts and sling backpacks.

Written by Chuck from Good Ol Daze

Good Morning Family and Friends,

I am writing this on behalf of my neighbor, Danny Zabicki, age sixteen.  Fifteen months ago Danny was diagnosed with stage 4 Rhabdomyosarcoma, a soft tissue cancer.  It has been a tortuous year long battle for Danny and his family to fight this monster.  He had just completed the last of the chemo and radiation treatments last week and went in for tests/scans to determine the success of the treatment.  Unfortunately, a tumor at the base of his brain in the lining was discovered.

They came home and had an evening with friends to take their minds off the situation.  About 8 a.m. on Saturday (5/31), Roman (Danny’s dad) called and asked us to watch for the ambulance.  Frank jumped in the truck and went down to the main road to direct the fire trucks/ambulance.  Danny had woken up with a severe headache that went into seizures.  When the medics brought Danny out on the gurney, he was unconscious.  All we could do was hold onto his parents.

About 4 p.m. that afternoon, brain surgery took place to drain off the blood that was inside his head.  The neurosurgeon was successful in getting the blood/blood clot out but was not able to do anything at the time about the tumor.  He has a shunt to drain off additional bleeds (if any) and is on a ventilator.  He does respond to pain and the presence of family/friends.  Further tests will be done shortly once he has gathered more strength to fight this monster.

I am asking, begging, pleading with all of you to pray for Danny, his Mom and Dad (Roman and Laura) and his brother, Andrejz (Onjy).  His Polish family in Michigan has started Danny’s Army and is praying every day at 9 a.m. (PDT).  The power of prayer is wondrous and has brought Danny this far.  The family’s faith in God is powerful but I am sure they are doubting now.  Danny is in the arms of an angel now and desperately needs your prayers.

Thank you so much for listening to me.  We have no more words for the family…just hugs and prayers.

Love to all of you,

Dianne & Frank

P.S.  If you want to spread the word even further, that would be most appreciated!  If you want to follow his story, you can go to www.carepages.org.  His story is under patient dannyzab.

Have you been at home tapping your toes to the radio or looking wistfully at some of those reality shows that feature dance competitions? Why are you sitting at home? Our area is serving up plenty of opportunities to get out and show off your dance moves.

The Bootjack Stoppers Hall will have a ballroom dance on the third Saturday of each month. You pay just $5 for dancing instruction and $5 for the dance itself. Call Nancy (209-966-5552) or John/Trisha (559-685-3412) to get more details about the dances or to learn how you can join the Big Band Dance Club and save on admission.

There will be a ballroom dance party every fourth Sunday at the Oakhurst Community Center from 2-5 pm. These events are sponsored by Ed Bailey and the Vision Academy of the Arts. A half an hour of dance instruction is included with the $10 admission. The Oakhurst Community Center is located in Oakhurst on Road 425B. Call Lori (559-658-8541) or send an e-mail to Ed Bailey (edbailey@sti.net) and they’ll be happy to give you more information.