As I am a punctual person, I tend to leave for work at about the same time every day. At 7.15, I start my car and am ready to leave. Like clockwork, I pull off down the street and am caught behind the school bus. There is only one way out of our neighborhood, so I can’t go around.

Running late one day, I left at 7.20. Finding no bus to sit behind was a nice change of pace! It turns out that I can reach the highway at the same time as I usually would had I left on time! I guess I’ll have to find a way to utilize those extra five minutes!

One of the most important things to me is a good night’s sleep. There is nothing worse than waking up tired and dragging through the day. No amount of coffee can give you the feeling of being rested. There are numerous tips for getting to sleep. Not drinking too much or too little before sleep and making sure all is quiet when you do sleep are important. One of the key components to sleeping is your bed.

We had gotten a pretty good bed years ago. It has served us well throughout the years, but now it has seen better days. We were thinking about replacing it with something new. We were looking into the benefits of adjustable beds. We were thinking that it would be a great asset to have the ability to adjust our bed to accommodate our needs. We could be more comfortable while watching TV or reading.

Another benefit would be the added capability to have a built-in message machine. This would come in handy after a long day and some relaxation is required. We both like the idea of waking up refreshed and alert. We feel that our days will be improved as well as our nights. I can’t wait to reap the rewards that our decision will bring in changing out the old for the new!

Over the years, I have accumulated a number of candles. I’m not sure how it started, but I get them for Christmas and birthdays and they have become a standard gift for me. Nearly every color is represented as well as every shape. I have square ones and round, triangles and tall. One’s like a tower and one’s like a cat.

The scented candles are my favorite. I especially like the scent of apple orchid. The way it fills the house reminds me of the apple tree in our old backyard. I still don’t know what I would do if the power went out. I would probably run around the house saying “Don’t light that one, it’s my favorite”. I guess I’d better make sure we have batteries for the flashlights!!

The kids seem to grow up so fast. Every year they get taller and bigger. I remember when they were so little I could hold them in my arms. Now, I can’t even pick them up! Anyway, I was thinking about my sister’s children who are still just toddlers. I wanted to get them something they could use. I found a cute little dress for sally who will be two in May. I was looking for some shoes to match the dress.

As usual, I went online to see what I could find. After a little research, it was clear that I had only one choice. I found a site that has been making baby and kid shoes for many years. The shoes are called Stride Rite. These shoes are always available in all the hard to find sizes and there are many types to choose from. I also like the fact that they are high quality and made by the best manufactures.

Anyway, I ordered the shoes I wanted and ended up getting a pair for Sally’s little brother as well. I can’t wait to see her in the new dress and shoes I bought. I know she will look so cute!

One of today’s most endangered large species is the Javan Rhino. With only two known populations in the wild, they are in great danger of becoming extinct. There is a small population in Vietnam and a larger population on the island of Java. Even though they are now protected and living in national parks, they are still at risk from disease and inbreeding.

Their highly valued horns are used by the Chinese as traditional medicine. The poaching of the animals is the chief reason for their decline. Extremely reclusive, the animals are difficult to study. Unfortunately, the animals captured have not fared well in Zoos. It would be a great disaster if these wonderful animals do not survive. I hope the world will come together and redouble efforts to save their habitat and give them a chance to survive!