War on driving while texting (texting while driving?)

This is one of those things like they say about the weather, "everyone complains about it, but no one ever does anything about it." Well, looks like the powers that be are finally doing something about it. Laws being proposed and enacted, which helps, but you always see those folks still proudly phone chatting or texting while driving. Finally, OPRAH has gotten on the big bandwagon. Queen Oprah had a very informative and VERY SCARY show about texting and chatting while driving a week ago, including gruesome photos of horrible wrecks, and testimonials by texters that caused mayhem and death. Seems that texting while driving is the equivalent of .20 DUI, or 4 drinks in one hour. . . . emails are pouring in to her from those who saw the show vowing never to combine the two again. Holly Peete (actress) and daughter came up with a bumper sticker "Honk if you love Jesus. Text if you want to meet him." How about "Dying to Text? Don't take me with you." Oprah has great power. Let's hope it helps. If you are one of "them" how about taking the vow?
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Little town of Washington has been without power since the storm hit, 6 days now. Whew, I though 24 hours was tough. I guess that's how it is when you live at "the end of the line." Pray for them. How many showers will be taken in the first 10 minutes of power back on????
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So many great movies, so little time. I can't remember this many interesting movies out at once.
When will CrazyHeart with Jeff Bridges be shown here? Now that it got the Golden Globe and the Oscar nod, can't we see it?????

Feeling abused by your cell phone company?

I have to share this. We have had Sprint cell service for about 4 years. I have NEVER been able to use the thing in the house, and rarely can catch a good signal in the yard. Nonetheless, I kept paying that $63 a month to "not use my phone." It really is an emergency/out of town phone. But I have felt really stupid about it for about 2 years, since we use about 60 minutes a month, thereby paying about $1.05 a minute. Kinda like writing that check to the Gym, but never actually going to the Gym. Anyway, I just said "hasta la vista" to Sprint, and bought a Tracfone. You go to their website, order a phone and kit (all the little charging and headset goodies) for about $29.99. Depending on what deal they are offering, they may also include for free a "double minutes plan" or you might have to pay a little extra for that. Then, you pre-purchase minutes for about 10cents a minute. You can transfer your old number (make it very clear that you want to do that). Everytime you buy minutes (like a 60 min card) they will automatically double them (60 = 120). When you get low on minutes, you buy more, via your phone, internet, or buy a card at radio shack, walmart, or wherever they carry. OK, the best part, IT WORKS EVERYWHERE IN MY HOUSE! I think it's because they contract with many service providers, so you're bound to catch a signal. BRILLIANT. I WUV MY TRACFONE. Buying one for my techno challenged mother too. OOOOOH, who else can I buy one for?????? So fun. . . .

Service Provider List/power outage

Don't forget to check our service provider list on main page if you are needing auto repair, home repair, housecleaning, tree service, ect. It's always helpful to be able to call someone from within Cascade Shores to get the job done. The list was just updated and a few new providers added.
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High-tailed it home yesterday from the Bay Area to find power out here. Tree down on Quaker Hill Cross Road took it out. Power restored at 12pm today. Ice Cream mushy. That's the worst of the damage. This is a fairly warm storm. Snow good for building snowmen and igloos. Chris, Cathy and Jaden over on Nugget have been slaving for 2 days, and have made a pretty cool igloo.
Hill is passable. No ice, just snow. About 8" on the ground right now.

CSHA BOARD ELECITONS 2010

Fourseats will get replaced this year (at least). Folks not rerunning are Caroline Inglis (secretary) Annette Murphy (member at large), Kent Rees (president) and yours truly, Denise Cain, (goddess of the lake, a/k/a Lost Mine Lake mgr). Residents in the running are Chuck Jaffe, Larry Marvin, Pam Herrenkohl and Sharon Hogan. Incumbents are John Jiminez, (treasurer) Robert Crabb (VP), Harry Wander, (roads) and Mike Iglis (security patrol). I will update you on when ballots will be mailed. If you are interested in the process, CSHA meets on the first Wed of the month, 6:30 at the Firehouse. Peggy Davidson of NID (which owns and manages Scott's Flat Lake) will be there.
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Yippee, it's snowing (but so far not sticking). My ther-mo-meter reads 35, but it feels like 20!
I'm back. It's 2:10pm, and the snow is definitely sticking. Big Hill getting covered. Guessing it's even heavier on BQH Crossroad. Careful out there!

HAITI

Here I sit, with an embarrassment of riches, whining about taco's, when the news comes of a 7.4 earthquake in the impossibly impoverished country of Haiti. Real life, real tragedy, and only 700 miles from our shores.
Picture a football stadium, full to capacity with men, women and children, all parents, grandparents, children, couples and singles. Now close your eyes, and picture them all dead,
x 2. Parents, grandparents, children, couples and singles. Pictures your favorite city, Nevada City, Sacramento, San Francisco, Berkeley. Now pictures 1 out of 3 of the buildings completely destroyed, with it's inhabitants crushed to death, or hopelessly buried beneath, trying desperately to stay alive until help arrives. Imagine, if you even can, that these are your family members, your neighbors and shopkeepers, that this is your city. Now review your resources, and see how many dollars you can spare to help the Haitians. Red Cross and Habitat for Humanity are two wonderful organizations collecting and helping.
On Saturday I stopped at Florio's Speciality Shop on Mill street to grab my favorite Fig Basamic vinegar. When I went to the counter to pay, the owner, a very young man named Neil let me know that ALL SALES for the day would be donated to Red Cross for Haiti. What an extraordinarily generous gesture for a new business owner to make. Thanks Neil for your caring and sharing. (I actually saw a report of this on the news later that night. Someone noticed).

Whah, where will I get my fish taco's now?????

I was walking by my FAVORITE mexican food restaurant the other day, Tortilla Grill, and saw the chairs being removed and loaded into a flatbed truck. ?????. Then I asked Dixie (who knows all) and she said that due to a "change in marital status" the owner, Andrew, has put the Commercial St. and GV Highway stores up for sale. I guess they will not be operating while on the block. Bummer. In my opinion, they had the best food and business plan in their catagory (being fresh, good, cheap food with a great casual atmosphere). Wish he'd reconsider.
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Friday begins the Wild and Scenic film festival. It's our little "Sundance Film Festival." Great nature, adventure and state of our food industry films, etc. Some as short as 5 min, as long at maybe 1 hour. If you have never been, try. It's great. Later, you can rent the films from Syrcle office on Main St.
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OXYGEN BAR. OMG! Dropped by there last night with the Inglises. It is in the bldg that hangs over Deer Creek at the foot of Broad St. What a great place. First of all, don't be fooled by the small storefront. The business is actually about 4 rooms, each offering a different twist. One is a great big room with a coffee, tea, smoothie, bagle bar, (+++++) with wifi and a great assortment of newpapers to peruse. Also offers outside creekview tables. Then there is a relaxing room, with 6 FULL LENGTH massage loungers and a BIG ol' screen. You pay by the minutes for massage chairs and the option of oxygen, and I'll bet 15 minutes in one of those chairs would make you a new person. Must try soon. It even massages your calves! All the while you can choose a relaxing nature film, or bump it all the way up to snowboarding scenes, your choice (think suicide scene in Soylent Green, but in a good way!). The staff is friendly and helpful. We immediately felt like family. What a great place to meet up with folks and just hang comfortably while making plans. Great choices of snackies too, and all really fresh ingredients. Check it out! If we don't use these great places, they disappear.
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Snow predicted for next week. We'll see! Oops, just looked up and saw a few flakes land on skylight!

Doggie Personalities

Dixie dropped off her golden lab, Jackson today. I take care of alot of neighbors dogs, and each time they arrive, I have to recall their "pecularities." Now, Jackson is afraid of hardwood floors, and shiny bowls. Soooo, I have to bring out the throw rugs so he can traverse the living/dining rooms. He WILL NOT eat out of a shiny bowl, so I round up another ceramic bowl for his meals.
Frankie the beagle has a passion for squeaky toys, and will search every floor (all 4) of our house looking for a toy with a working squeaker, then run laps around the yard making it squeak until tackled and removed from his mouth. He also loves to corner the cats, so I have to remember to shut doors when he's around. Beautiful Bonnie the dalmatian gets 3 or 4 walks a day by her doggy daddy, Kent. When she comes to stay, she makes no bones about telling me it is time for her walk by pacing, sighing, and bumping me until I grab the leash, 3 or 4 times a day! Jasper the Aussie is a quiet and blends in to the point I forget he is here, until he helps himself to a large slice of our bed at bedtime. We always go for a long unleashed run in the woods or to explore little lake. When he is returned to Susan, he spends a good 10 minutes "talking" to her to tell her about his great time. He just gurgles and barks and rocks and paws his way thru the whole story. Duffy the shepherd is a perfect lady, quiet and polite, takes her treats quiet daintily, and attaches herself to me like a leach, (a very pretty leach). In the evening, she prefers to go to her comfy crate with her banky and her special "baby." When Carol and Bill pick her up, she always turns and cocks her pretty head as if to say, "thank you so much for the hospitality." Josie the border collie just hates to be separated from her people, Terry and Pete. She spends the first day laying by the gate, willing them to return for her. Then she makes herself a corner in our bedroom, and passes the days sleeping and dreaming of them returning. I have to coax her out for a walk, and once she tricked me and jumped out of the car and ran home. After a few days she relents, and joins the family and the other dogs for snuggling on the sofa during tv, and sharing special treats. However, her heart is always at home. For sure, every one of them is wonderful in their own way, and bring joy and comfort to their families. I love my sign that says, "Lord, please help me be half the person my dog thinks I am."