Perhaps you are looking to really get away from it all for a quiet vacation. Or, maybe you are considering retirement in a rural or even rustic environment. Those weary of the crowds and stress of city living may long for the peace and quiet of a cabin in the woods. If this is your idea of fun, you should definitely run with it. There are a few things, however, to think about before taking off for the wilderness. While you may not miss your daily latte from the corner cafe, probably you don’t feel the same way about giving up basic creature comforts such as warmth and water.

The first thing to think about with regard to life in a rural setting is being well stocked with supplies of all kinds. Depending on how far you are from the nearest town, it may be difficult to get to a store very easily if you run out of something. Food and other supplies should be stockpiled and managed carefully so that you don’t need to make an emergency trip for an item or two. Instead have planned shopping days and make sure you have enough to last for the periods in between.

Having a well on the property, as is likely, is a wonderful source of water as long as it works. Should anything go wrong, though, either with the water or the means to pump it, you could be in dire straits. Protect yourself from this situation by having a large storage tank that the well constantly tops off, and also have a generator on hand for emergency electricity. Also stash bottles of water for drinking, cooking and washing, enough to last until you can get into town or fix the problem with your well.

Being out in the country means that emergency personnel such as paramedics and firefighters will not be able to get to you immediately should you need them. For this reason, have on hand a good range of first aid supplies. At least one family member should also have first aid training, including knowing how to administer CPR.

Avoid emergency situations whenever you can, of course, both in terms of your own and your family’s personal safety, and that of your house. Keep a large area all around it clear of brush as well as overgrown trees and bushes. You can easily accomplish this with a light duty Homelite chainsaw. In the event of a forest fire, the cleared area will serve as a barrier until firefighters can put out the blaze.

You might also want to use some cleared space around your house to have a garden. Growing your own fruits and vegetables is an excellent endeavor whether in town or country. But, in the country it can also save you trips to the supermarket, which may be some distance away, to get fresh produce. And, if you really want to extend this self-sufficiency, canning the extra bounty from your garden can be fun as well as practical.

You are likely to need and want a good supply of firewood when the weather turns cool. The only source of heat for your home may be an air-tight fireplace. Or you may prefer it even if other heating options, such as gas or electric, are available. And even an open fireplace is a source of some heat as well as enjoyment. An afternoon in the woods with a heavy duty Husqvarna chainsaw will produce all the firewood you need, after, of course, you have split it with your axe.

So here you are, in your rustic country home. You have a full pantry, a storage tank brimming with water, plenty to eat and drink, a nicely cleared and landscaped yard and a garden area. Next to the fireplace is a stack of firewood, and out in the utility shed are several more cords, enough to last all winter. Relax, have a cup of tea, perhaps settle down to do some sewing on the patchwork quilt set you’re making for your sleigh bed. The country life is a good life.

Dante was a eighteen year old high school senior who was displaying quite a few alcohol-related difficulties at school. For that reason, the principal explained to him that he had to see Miss Johnson, the school psychologist, before he would be allowed to return to school.

Later that day when Dante went home after school, he had to explain his school situation to his parents. His Mom and Dad were “relatively conventional” and informed Dante that getting kicked out of school was not a practical educational plan of action. They explained to Dante that failing to graduate from high school would likely be like a lead weight around his ankles that could probably hinder his educational attainment for the rest of his life. Not only this, but Dante’s Mother and Father were quite unhappy that he was drinking in the first place and drinking with his pals in the second.

His parents told Dante that even though he may be young, he needs to realize fairly promptly that drinking is the pathway to failure, financial problems, ill health, and pain.

It was plain to see that his Mom and Dad were absolutely in accord with Dante’s principal and told Dante that he had better make up his mind to see Miss Johnson, the school counselor. After his chat with his parents, Dante at last agreed to see Miss Johnson the next day. So Dante phoned the school and scheduled an appointment to see Miss Johnson the next afternoon after school.

The Psychologist Asks Dante if He Understands Why His Recent Alcohol-Related Activities Made the School Administrators Uneasy

When Dante went to see Miss Johnson, she immediately analyzed all of the alcohol-related issues Dante had gotten into and asked him if he comprehended why his recent alcohol-related behavior made the school administrators uneasy.

Quite honestly, Dante was unsure why the principal suggested that he see a school counselor. As he stated to Miss Johnson, why should he see a professional psychologist about his drinking situation? In view of the fact that just about all of his buddies drink about as much as he does, essentially, drinking shouldn’t be such a big deal. Stated more directly, if nearly everyone is drinking, why is this such a major concern?

Miss Johnson asked Dante when he started to drink. He said that some of his older pals introduced him to drinking wine coolers when he was twelve or thirteen years old and getting ready to enter the seventh grade.

Miss Johnson explained to Dante that while his pals may indeed drink as much as he does and that they may be an unhealthy influence on him, the facts are that he is the one who is getting expelled from school due to alcohol-related fighting, delinquency, and absenteeism, not his buddies. Not only this but Miss Johnson also highlighted the fact that Dante, and not his peers, is the one who is failing and who is missing at least two days of class every week because of his alcohol related issues. Lastly, Miss Johnson emphasized the fact that because of his drinking circumstances, Dante is getting into a negative cycle of abusive drinking that can finally wreck his dreams, hopes, and aspirations.

In a word, Dante’s involvement with teenage alcohol abuse was beginning to impede his ability to behave like an accountable young man. As conveyed by Miss Johnson, “Just because most of your peers drink hard liquor, wine, wine coolers, or beer does not mean that it is the correct behavior for you.”

Dante Learns That At the End of the Day He Must Claim Responsibility For Himself In Order to Avoid Destructive, Damaging, Dangerous, and Unhealthy Situations In the Future

Miss Johnson informed Dante that other individuals can definitely influence a person in an unhealthy way, but that the person herself or himself has to finally take responsibility for himself or herself in order to avert damaging, destructive, unhealthy, and dangerous effects in the foreseeable future.

Luckily, Miss Johnson was very well prepared for her appointment with Dante. She showed him reports and research studies she had underlined that outlined diverse drinking statistics and facts that targeted most people in general. Then she showed Dante quite a bit of figures and reports that applied chiefly to underage drinkers.

For instance, Miss Johnson stressed the difference between alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction and told Dante that people who continue to drink abusively commonly become alcoholic.

Miss Johnson also went over the concept of binge drinking which she defined as follows: consuming five or more drinks in one sitting for males and drinking four or more drinks in one sitting for females.

The Counselor Articulates Several Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Statistics and Facts

Then Miss Johnson verbalized various alcohol facts and the following eight alcohol abuse statistics:

1. As revealed by the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, there are 105,000 yearly alcohol-related deaths in the U.S. because of inebriated drivers and related medical conditions, injuries, or diseases.

2. Approximately one-fourth of all U.S. people who are admitted to general hospitals have drinking problems or are undiagnosed people who are alcohol dependent who are being treated for the consequences of their irresponsible drinking.

3. Alcohol dependency and alcohol abuse are the third leading cause of preventable deaths in the United States.

4. More than 7% of the population that is 18 years old and older — around 13.8 million Americans — has drinking problems, including 8.1 million drinkers who suffer from alcohol dependency.

5. 500,000 Americans who are alcoholics are between the ages of 9 and 12.

6. As revealed by one U.S. survey of 18 to 24 year-old current drinkers who did not complete high school, around sixty percent started to drink before they were 16 years old.

7. Currently, about 14 million Americans, 1 in every 13 adults, are alcoholic or abuse alcohol.

8. According to the research literature, non-alcoholic members of alcoholic’s families use 10 times as much sick leave as families who do not display alcohol abuse or alcohol addiction.

Dante Gets A Relevant Jolt of Reality About the Long Term and the Short Term Results of Teen Alcohol Dependency and Alcohol Abuse

After Miss Johnson presented the aforementioned alcoholism and alcohol abuse facts and statistics, it was plain to see that what Miss Johnson disclosed to Dante was a real bombshell to him. Why? Because for the first time in his young life, someone not only took the time to give an explanation of the short term and the long term outcomes of alcohol abuse and alcoholism, but she also took the time to support what she was saying with alcohol abuse and alcoholism facts and statistics that related to everyone, and mainly to today’s youth.

In actual fact, it was almost as if a light went on and Dante instantaneously grasped why he should not be engaging in excessive and abusive drinking with or without his buddies any longer. Dante thanked Miss Johnson for her concern and for the material she reviewed.

Miss Johnson then asked Dante how he felt about getting a physical examination and an alcohol evaluation for the alcohol abuse or alcohol dependency rehabilitation he would probably need. Dante thought about this for few minutes and then agreed to get a complete physical examination and to go through a complete evaluation of his drinking circumstances so that he could start an alcohol abuse or alcohol addiction treatment program immediately. After meeting with Miss Johnson, not only was it obvious that Dante’s self esteem and personal happiness had been enhanced as he began to face his abusive and hazardous drinking, but it was also obvious that he could assume a positive leadership role with his friends.

As Jennifer placed the plate of beef stroganoff and green beans down on Fred’s Television holder, his channel browsing suddenly ground to a halt. It was the local news channel and something had captured his attention: a video preview of a scantily-clad young blonde and definitely nubile woman of Scandinavian decent. She was ‘car accident pretty’ yet Fred couldn’t quite understand the scene on the TV; from the grainy quality and the somewhat washed-out look of the video along with the unfamiliar environment she seemed to be broadcasting from some type of spacecraft.

Jennifer sat on the family room couch next to her hubby of 2 yrs and, looking over at the TV she watched the lithe young woman grinding and also gyrating. Even though the media team had made an apparent effort to make the movie family-friendly by way of cropping and zooming in the video in order that just the young woman’s shoulders and face showed over the viewing monitor, she could discern that the initial video had without a doubt been NSFW! “What’s on?” she questioned her husband.

“UmmMMMmmm,” Fred responded, turning up the sound.

“….an astonishing report of just how one particular daring young woman had more than enough of the current market crisis consequently she took matters into her own hands.”

“That’s right, and I have to tell you, this unique tale seriously gives me the goose bumps. Why don’t we go to Michael who is live on location for more.”

(The media transmission cuts away from the newsroom studio to some formal government-looking location in front of which a twenty-something anchorman with neatly clipped sideburns was standing attired in a blazer holding a mic and standing next to the good-looking youthful gal from the clip. the woman was presently donning sophisticated dangling golden earrings, movie star sunglasses along with a small yet smart cashmere shirt which accentuated her firm bosom flawlessly)

“Leslie, Erin, I am talking with Anastasia Kornienko, a cosmonaut with the Russian Space Agency. The amazing experience all started off with a freak asteroid near-accident, is that correct Anastasia?” the anchorman inquired, holding up the microphone so the lady might speak.

“Yes, is definitely accurate. Asteroid was constructed of ice so did never show up on radar. We used much fuel to avoid last moment impact.”

“Amazing,” Michael interjected, “Exactly what happened after you knew you could not contain adequate energy resources to make sure you get back to our planet?”

“Well,” the female cosmonaut chuckled to herself, “This predicament went from – how do you say – bad to worst. After I announced data concerning fuel problem to base they claim that delivering new energy supply ship is not even likely. Due to global financial trouble, Russian Space Agency could not buy fuel supply vessel.”

“So Anastasia, help me make sure that I have this so far,” Michael interrupted. “You are in space, operating a rocket from the Russian Space Agency. You swerve to stay away from an out-of-the-ordinary asteroid and additionally by the time you’ve maneuvered for you to get back on course, greater fuel has been used than has been given for the round-trip mission, is this correct?”

“Yes, is accurate,” Anastasia nodded her head with excitement, the earrings bouncing in the light of the news camera.

“Please reveal to our people at home what exactly happened next,” the news anchorman encouraged.

“Well, allow me say first factor – I have family. Not seeing them again was not okay with me. And so I needed to – how do you say – think outside your box. All I had to work with is myself, communication equipment, as well as big spaceship who has no fuel. So only resolution I could imagine is become webcam model girl and raise cash for Russian Space Agency to send energy resource supply ship.”

“I see. Exactly what made you feel you could pull it off?” Michael wanted to know.

“Well, I have sister and cousins who are webcam models. They like it. Our family have fine genes, everyone in family is beautiful. Consequently sister and cousins make really excellent money webcam modeling.”

“I see, and I expect that being the only Russian cosmonaut to actually come to be a webcam girl literally afforded you an exclusive area of interest to perform in. Was it sufficient in the end to pay for the fuel supply ship?” the anchorman asked.

“Well do you see me here now?” the Russian beauty queen shot back, smiling.

“Yes we certainly do,” Michael responded in a deep tone of voice, quickly looking down and back up again into her eyes. Then, turning back to the camera he continued, “And there you have it, our galaxy’s very first interplanetary – and also sexiest webcam model. Leslie, Erin, back again to you in the studio.”

“Wow! It’s such an awesome tale,” Leslie pronounced in appreciative wonder, looking at Erin.

“Yes indeed. Quite the entrepreneurial spirit she has. Anastasia, you should tell our audience back home how they can become a web model also. We’ve to do something regarding this global financial debacle, all kinds of individuals are even now seeking job opportunities,” Erin said.

“Yes, you can easily go to Webcam Modeling website and here you get tips regarding webcam model postings. Is usually incredibly straight forward process and easy to get going; we make cash right away.”

“Thank you Anastasia, our collective hat is off to you. You undoubtedly made your country proud. What a brave girl!” Erin exclaimed, and referring to her notes swiftly added, “Ever since her return landing, Anastasia also has founded her own internet dating company. She reveals that her webcam modeling career has paid her a considerably larger income when compared with her former employment as a Russian cosmonaut and she plans on following this more highly profitable route her fine family genes and also appearance have allowed her to experience. We all truly wish her the best of luck. If you would like to get in touch with Anastasia, you can find out more by going to WebcamModelingTalk.com and clicking her image at the bottom on the left hand side. What an extraordinary girl, she really has a lot going for her. Well stay tuned, immediately following the break while we cover the bank-robbing carjacker which law enforcement officers shot forty-two rounds at in a Wendy’s drive-through in order to attempt to save mother and child…”

Eating another mouthful of Stroganoff, Fred pushed the decrease switch on the Tv remote control volume and thought for a moment. “You know, that’s not a bad idea.”

“Yeah, that’s exactly what I was thinking about,” Jennifer agreed, and looked in the direction of the vacant baby room.

A couple of years ago I finally met a person I had known for several years, but just on the internet. I noticed that this person often wore the same pendant, an unusual shape with an elephant’s head.  I wondered why such an elegant lady would be so enamored with what appeared to be a lighthearted plastic figure.  When I ultimately was able to ask the woman about this, I was ashamed of my lack of knowledge. It was the first time I’d been aware of the Hindu God Ganesh.

To a western eye, Ganesh seems to be very strange; an almost comical figure who’s a male’s body (and a little bit of a paunch) an elephant’s head, 4 hands (at least), a single tusk, who spends his time traveling around on a very small mouse. But Ganesh is not a clown and to see him being a joke would be to misunderstand centuries of belief and symbolism.  He’s viewed with reverence in the Hindu faith, where the very same characteristics, looked at in an alternative way, make him the embodiment of knowledge and learning, the patron of scientific discipline as well as the arts, the remover of road blocks, and therefore summoned at the beginning of every undertaking as the god of success. It turned out as such that my friend donned her Ganesh charm, not plastic but very old jade, a talisman designed to convey a favorable outcome to each of her undertakings.  Like many other Hindu statues and talismans, a Ganesha statue represents specific aspirations of a productive life. 

The Hindu faith is extremely old and practiced over a broad area, so it isn’t really unexpected there are several tales about the source of the Hindu gods. Generally in most Hindu traditions, Ganesh is the son of Shiva and his wife Parvati. Hindu’s recognize 4 main sects all of who value Parvati and Shiva as significant, but for the Shakta, Parvati, whose name implies ’she of the mountains’ is the Supreme Being and Shiva is her consort. It was Parvati who spawned Ganesh.

Parvati has been said to value her seclusion, so one day when she planned to wash and had no-one nearby to help keep watch for her, Parvati used turmeric paste to create a boy. The goddess gave him life and asked him to protect her security, and this is how Ganesh came to be, without any real intervention from his ‘father’ Shiva.

When Shiva returned home he wanted to go inside, yet Ganesh followed his Mother’s directions and stopped him.  There was a battle, and Shiva, who is Lord of Destruction, cut off the child’s head.

When she discovered what had occurred, Parvati’s anger knew no bounds. She commanded that Shiva amend the situation, so he directed his servants to retrieve the head from the first living thing they found. The head belonged to an aged elephant they’d located just as he was going to perish, so Ganesh was brought back to life and given the elephant’s head.

By association Ganesh is regarded as potent, affectionate and loyal. Such a sizeable head can only be a sign of wisdom and cleverness, and the enormous ears are used to very carefully distinguish the good and the bad and to hear the requests of supplicants. Like the elephant Ganesh is powerful if provoked, but loving when shown kindness. Unlike most elephants, Ganesh has only one tusk.

There are many tales of the reason for the shattered tusk; the most famous is Ganesh was given the job of recording the epic account known as the Mahabharata. At one point his pen failed and rather then stopping, Ganesh detached his tusk and carried on, showing he was willing to make a sacrifice to acquire knowledge. Some other, less poetic stories state that the tusk was taken by a villain who stole it to make ivory earrings for lovely women.

It is not always immediately apparent that a Ganesh statue has four (and sometimes more) hands. One is shown in abhaya pose that’s held up with palm out and fingers directed upwards, as the second holds a sweet, a symbol of the inner self. And the second two hands will most likely contain a goad and a noose, the former being used to prod followers down the way of truth, as the latter represents the snare of earthly desires. At his feet most statues of Ganesh show a mouse, his classic steed. The mouse is a symbol of the intellect, wandering in and out, but tamed from the greater power of the whole.

A number of devotees believe the odd shape of the one tusked elephant headed God mirrors the symbol AUM, a symbol that connotes the primeval sound which was the very first thing to be created and from which the rest of the world arose.  This is the symbol that is commonly employed to signify all of Hinduism and its beliefs.

Even though the Hindu religion has four major sects, all worship Ganesh, whose image can be found across India, Nepal and many areas of the Far East. For Buddhists Ganesh looks like the god Vinayaka and is usually shown dancing. His statues appear in Nepal and Tibet. In Japan he is seen as a minor god and young adults call on him when searching for success in love. All through Malaysia, Java, Bali and Borneo you will find temples to Ganesh and in Thailand.  There his position as remover of obstacles and patron of the arts mean that there’s a ceremony where offerings are made to Ganesh just before any movie or TV series starts shooting.

Indonesia is a Muslim region, however even there Ganesh is adored and his image can be found in many Cambodian temples. Yet despite spreading throughout the Eastern world Ganesh was unknown in Europe until relatively recently, though some scholars, commenting on a statue of Ganesh where he’s shown with two heads (one of an elephant one of a man) facing in opposite directions have compared the image to that of Janus, the two headed God of the Romans, but no actual link between the two have been found.

Whatever your own view on the gods from the east or of the ancients, their sculpture and associated symbolism will always be thought provoking. However we look at something, other nationalities usually saw it in another way; one reason why museum quality statues along with other artifacts make fascinating and artistic conversation pieces for any home.

Nanette Geiger, Law of Attraction Expert , writes… …

Few of us function on a daily basis actually knowing how we are feeling in every moment. We’ve all understand being on auto-pilot and lulling through the motions of life. In fact, it can be extremely useful to put our efforts on auto-pilot. Most likely if the effort includes finishing a simple project like cleaning the yard or peeling potatoes. When you get into the habit of a repetitive routine, the thing almost becomes a kind of meditative state. Provided you aren’t repeating a complaint or negative thought around in your thoughts, becoming very present with a repetitive task can be incredibly calming and centering. Relationship Attraction has never been more powerful as a result of the discovery of the Law of Attraction.

Being on automatic may be ok for repetitious kinds of things, however, when speaking of deliberate creation, you want to hone in a little more carefully to what is actually happening to your energy level. Starting some personal private eye work on your current vibration will assist you in seeing where you should remove some resisting energy or static off the wire. When you attain a clear, uncluttered transmission, what you want comes more smoothly and excluding the mixed bag of things you are accustomed to receiving. For example, say you desire a lover. You create a love partner, but because you’re scared of being truly emotionally attached, he lives half-way around the world. Maybe you think you’re emotionally available, but if you’re getting a mixed result, then you’re sending out a muddled message. A Law of Attraction Coach can assist you in completely changing your experience with great life coaching.

Take a look at your firmly held beliefs. Ask your inner monologue. Is it actually true? Does clinging to a limiting line of thinking serve you? Can you find some of your self-sabotaging behaviors? Ironically, most of the beliefs we have concerning the world around us are simply not true. They are beliefs we’ve inherited. Ask a question about yourself and then hone in to listen to an answer. Your inner guide will show you wonderful insights if you’re willing to be quiet and listen. Law of Attraction Love Relationships are supremely rewarding and fulfilling beyond your most wonderful fantasies! Think of someone who has every quality you have ever desired in a partner.

Life was originally designed for you to be successful, happy, and fulfilled. We all came into the world with perfectly intact guiding systems pointing us in the direction of our joy and self-expression. Hone back in to your mind and feelings. Choose the brightest and best thoughts and feelings possible. Create with a clear signal and you will put yourself back in the creative cockpit of your life.