A bus stop?

I sometimes see school buses in the parking lot at the Wal-Mart in Lower Salford during "normal" hours, and have wondered why they might be there. Running into McDonald's perhaps?
But this morning, shortly after 6:30 a.m., I saw one turn into the parking lot for Wal-Mart/Giant -- is there an early morning bus stop there?
Makes you wonder why they would be stopping off there otherwise!

Fires

Today was a crazy day at The Reporter -- not that there is ever a "normal" day at a newspaper.
But FIRE was the word of the day, with fires in Lansdale, Montgomery Township and Ambler. It seemed as soon as one was covered, another was called out.
NEVER a good thing for anyone, and we worry about all the people affected by these fires.
Yes, coverage of these incidents do sell papers... but the tragedy is never one we like to report on.
Please, let's all be careful out there.
Our firefighters are great, but we're sure they would rather never have to see people left homeless like this.

Strange January

OK, it's Jan. 12 and this has been a weird week for weather. Up near 70 a few days, thunderstorms ... and are they saying snow may be coming? What the heck is this? Farm Show Week is supposed to be THE week when the weather is cold and snowy. This past week ... a wimp!
I know I shouldn't complain. I really don't want to have to shovel snow... especially since it's been determined that I have not one but two herniated disks in my neck and I have to have epidural shots in by spine, starting Monday. Hoping that helps!
Oh, for the good old days of being 18 and not having a pain in the world.
Of course, we used to have snowy winters back then... but who cared?
And now that Farm Show week is over and I can't watch tractor square dancing anymore, what will I do with my time?
Anyway... perhaps the snowman with cometh this week.

farm show geek

OK, I'll admit it... I'm a Farm Show geek, or freak, or whatever you want to label me.
I used to LOVE going to the Pa. Farm Show -- it was a tradition for years, including staying there a few times when both I showed a heifer WAY back when I was in 4-H, and then when my daughter was a 4-H'er.
Those days are past, but heading out to the Farm Show was an annual ritual for years.
I was disappointed when they added the new part of the complex several years back and rearranged far too many things -- even though now it's "24 acres under roof" instead of the "14 acres under roof" that they would proudly, and repeatedly, announce during the various events.
So we haven't headed out to Harrisburg for a few years.
AHHH, but there IS PCN... thanks goodness! I can get my Farm Show fix simply by switching on Channel 78 this week -- something I've been doing quite often. And I know there will be reruns ... glorious reruns.
It's the one good thing about TV these days.
I know... pathetic. And not too many people may be thrilled to see draft horses pulling huge wagons, cows being judged or the sheep to shawl contest under way.
But I love it... there... I admit it.
The Farm Show rules!

Britney, Britney, Britney

It's kind of like Marsha, Marsha, Marsha on the Brady Bunch. It seems she's all we ever hear about -- well, her and her ilk.
She's definitely got problems, but her family should be getting her into a program where she's out of the public eye for a LONG time. Of course rehab, etc., doesn't work for many of these high-profilers. Supposedly Lohan was out partying and drinking on New Year's Eve -- or perhaps that doesn't count because it's a holiday.
I am SICK of these "celebrities" whose only talent seems to be getting into trouble or posing for the camera.
I wish the photographers and all of those rags that parade as magazines would ignore these boorish louts.
Britney, get help. I truly do fear for your children.
The rest of you ... please, give us a break in 2008 and get a real job ... or at least do something worthwhile like helping out a charity and doing community service.

Back to business

The holidays are over, people are slowly taking down their decorations, some of us are trying to work off those Christmas "presents" from too many cookies and actually keep a few resolutions.
Next week area municipalities will be reorganizing, and there are quite a few new people taking seats on governmental boards. It will be interesting to see how they feel about running the show after they've been in office a year or two.
It probably will be tough for some -- including Don Lodge of Salford township, who was in office for more than 30 years -- to face evenings without having to head to the municipal building.
Seriously, though, I hope the newcomers are up to the challenges and perhaps will even have a newfound appreciation for the jobs that their predecessors have done.
It's always interesting to see what new leaders will do. I wish them all well. And also hope the public will make more of an effort to become involved in their communities.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

It's officially 2008. It doesn't feel any different yet, but that's par for me.
But I want to wish everyone a blessed 2008.
Every year, for the past several years, I keep saying, "Maybe this one will be different. Maybe this one will be better."
It's all relative, to be sure. But hope springs eternal. I firmly believe that.
So, I wish all of you a wonderful 2008, filled with hope.
And I hope all of you will continue to visit our Web site, and especially look at our multimedia archives from the past year.
No, this is not an advertisement. It just may make you feel good to remember what has been captured as snapshots from our area.
If nothing else, check out the Thanksgiving element again. Remember why so many of us have reason to give thanks.
And pray that the new year will give us even more reasons to rejoice.
Life is bittersweet. But take heart in the sweet; even the bitter can make us stronger.
Happy New Year.