Can't complain

We’ve all heard that stock reply when we ask people how they are.
“Oh, I can’t complain. And no one would listen if I did.”
Then you both chuckle and move on to other small talk or, if you’re simply passing each other in the hall, that’s the extent of the “conversation.”
But as I was watching and reading about the horrific destruction in Haiti this week, I realized that, truly, I can’t complain.
At least I shouldn’t.
It’s almost impossible to process in our minds the amount of death and devastation that this earthquake has wrought.
You hear the numbers being tossed around, you see the wreckage, the bodies, the coffins, the people crying and wandering around in a daze.
But can any of us actually picture ourselves there, in these people’s shoes?
How would we react if suddenly we had nothing, if loved ones were missing or dead, if all of the basics of life were destroyed?
You have to wonder how the human spirit can survive.
Many of us feel helpless at this point, not knowing how we best can help during this catastrophe.
Many churches, no doubt, will set up their own funding channels and, later, when it’s possible, relief crews will be sent, just as they were after Hurricane Katrina.
And the Red Cross offers several venues for donations, including calling (800) REDCROSS or (800) 257-7575 (Spanish); or sending donations to American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013.
It’s one small way we can immediately reach out to help an effort that so badly needs every bit of aid it can get.
So the next time I catch myself complaining about having to get up early in the morning, or having to clean the house, do the laundry or shop for groceries, I hope I can stop myself.
And I don’t want to hear my self-pitying moans about this ache or that pain, or how old I am or that it’s too cold outside or that there’s cat hair everywhere in our house (hey, it’s my fault that we have a feline “zoo”).
Instead, I hope I realize how lucky I am to have a job and a home, a family — a life itself.
Because truly, when I consider the tragedy that has befallen Haiti, my complaints are far too trivial to be uttered.

another great reason

TO GO TO THE PA. FARM SHOW!!!


If you were among the lucky 10,000 people to get a free pig hat at the Farm Show in Harrisburg this week, you may have looked like this... The Pennsylvania Farm Bureau (PFB) provided the free hats as part of its "Be a Pig Professor" challenge. Here, Carly and Renee Sollenberger (right) of Franklin County show off the pig hats. Children and adults were asked questions about pork products as part of the "Be a Pig Professor" challenge.

wow! a bobcat!

If you've always wanted to see a bobcat up close and personal, here's your chance.
The newest addition at the Elmwood Park Zoo, 1661 Harding Blvd., Norristown, is a bobcat named Moose.
According to zoo officials, Moose was rescued by wildlife rehabilitators after he fell from a section of metal pipeline being transported by truck.
Now he's making his home at the zoo. So if you want to visit, the zoo hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission is $11.50 ($5.75 weekdays in January and February), $8.50 for seniors and children 2-12 ($4.25 weekdays in January and February).
In you need information, call (610) 277-3825.
I doubt Moose will answer, but who knows?

FARM SHOW WEEK!!

Yes, it's that time again ... time to head to Harrisburg and the Pennsylvania Farm Show.
These photos from the Farm Show media service show this year's great butter sculpture... but there's much more to the show than that (although these sculptures ARE amazing!)
If you've never been there, you must go. And be sure to check out the food court!
From cows to cooking demos, sheep shearing and mushroom munching -- the 2010 Pennsylvania Farm Show offers all this and more.
The 94th annual Farm Show is set for 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday through Jan. 16 at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center, North Cameron and Maclay streets, Harrisburg.
By the numbers, visitors can see up to 6,000 animals, 10,000 competitive exhibits and 270 commercial exhibitors. With a theme this year of “Keeping Pennsylvania Growing,” Farm Show highlights include cooking demonstrations by the Pennsylvania Iron Chef Team, Eli Kirshtein from Bravo, Top Chef Las Vegas competition and the “World’s Fastest Omelet Maker” Howard Helmer.
Young visitors can investigate Pennsylvania agriculture by visiting 21 learning stations around the complex. There will also be a renewable energy exhibit, a puppet show and a Broadway musical series, and favorites like the annual butter sculpture, Sheep-to-Shawl contest, high school rodeo, and baking contests.
Admission is free and parking is $10. For the complete schedule, visit www.farmshow.state.pa.us.

it could be worse...

A lot of us probably were none too pleased to be cleaning off our cars this morning and cautiously making our way to work.
But we have NOTHING to complain about.
Just consider these Associated Press photos.

One shows buses encrusted in ice and snow at the back lot of a bowling alley in the Omaha, Neb., suburb of Elkhorn, where a fire was being put out Thursday. A winter storm with bitter cold temperatures and blowing winds was traveling through the region.
In the other photo, a farm is shrouded in morning fog near Boulder, Colo., where overnight temperatures dipped to 16 degrees below zero.

Now, feel better?

feeling a bit 'swine-ish'?

If you've been wanting to get a swine flu shot -- or H1N1, as it's now called -- you can get one on Friday in Lansdale.
The Montgomery County Health Department will hold an H1N1 flu clinic from 2 to 5 p.m. Friday at Trinity Lutheran Church, 1000 W. Main St., Lansdale, for any resident who would like to decrease their risk of contracting the H1N1 virus.
There is no charge for the immunization.
Contact the Health Department at (610) 278-5117. A screening form can be found at www.health.montcopa.org. Residents can download, print, fill out the form and bring it to the H1N1 flu clinic. Residents must bring their driver’s license.
Hope this helps!

Condolences

Fortunately no one was hurt in the fire that swept through and destroyed the home of state Sen. Stewart Greenleaf. But that can't make the early morning fire on Sunday any easier to swallow for Greenleaf and his family.
Authorities don't believe it was arson; it was not deliberately set. As the investigation proceeds, it is being considered an accident.
But our condolences go out to Greenleaf and his family. Greenleaf, by all accounts, is one of the "good guys" in government, and it's sad to see this tragedy hit him.
We hope that Greenleaf and his family recover from this tragedy quickly.
Our thoughts are with them.