Jobs..Cellphones..Cars and the Law

There are many jobs that require one to carry a cell phone. Some even give you a cell to use. They're stringed to you even when you are in your Car. You are at the whim of the bosses voice. Whether you are driving, shopping or at home, work is at you finger tips. In this day of work 24/7 there is no down time.

Well all that is about to change in the state of Maryland. Starting the first of October, while in a car, behind the wheel you will not be able to use that phone. It's a new law about to become enforced. If the police see you holding a phone to your ear and driving you will get a 40 dollar ticket and even more depending on the circumstance. I wonder if they will use those cameras to check on you also.

Hubby's company is having a Mandated meeting on this today. So I guess the only place one can be completely free from work now, will be in the car while driving. For us folks who can not stand that bosses direct line ... Let's get in the car and have some down time, one on one time and not have the boss interrupt. Road trips here we come.

Oh by the way, let's not talk about the hands free devices. What the bosses don't know can't hurt us. Now do you think the companies will start purchasing those hands free items for their employees? What about CB's, will those make a come back. Don't get me wrong I like the Law. How many times have you been almost run of the road because of cell phone usage. This is a problem indeed.

Just be informed if you are in Maryland, do not put that phone up to your ear, text on it or have it in your hands while driving.

Any other States implementing this law or one like it? What do you think about this Law?

Fall Strolling

Now that Fall has officially arrived we can get out to those Festivals and exercise. Fall Strolling ,I call it. We have all sort of festivals going on ; Renaissance, Oktoberfest, Fall Bazaars, And the Williamsburg village fall changes. Let's not forget those walks through the changes of the leaves. Parks are a great place to start the process. Pack a lunch and go. Take the bikes, skates, boards and just a plain walking stick. Whatever your fancy this is the season for starting that walking routine. With the heat behind us and the cool breezes ahead, our walking will be easy body friendly. Oh I just love that cool breeze, well I'm off to the Oktoberfest. As my Hubby Says "and we're walking".

Photo: a live cam shot of Oktoberfest Munich.

It's Still High Fructose Corn Syrup!

A new trend is happened and it's time to beware of name changes!

Heard something today that did not sit well. The manufacturers want to rename High Fructose Corn Syrup(HFCS), an ingredient name listed on the Nutrient list of food and drinks. The New name will be something like Corn Sugar. This change is because of the bad rap the Fructose syrup has been having on sales. With the nation now looking at the amount of HFCS and steering away from this ingredient, the sales of companies using this product as sweeteners has fallen down. It is used in a lot of foods from cereals and snacks to juices and sodas.

Oh, I see.. folks are now reading the labels and choosing healthier products with natural sweeteners. Good for them! The industries think by changing the name to Corn sugar it will imply that this is a natural sweetener. True it is made from corn, however it is processed into a chemically enhanced sweetener. Too Much of this product can cause excess weight. Which can lead to other health issue in the future. I think folks are choosing wisely and deciding to cut back on products with High Fructose Syrup in it. This is a good direction to go. Have you seen the commercials on this HFCS? The one with the lady serving a drink with HFCS? She states that it is good for you in moderation. Those were done to help the sales return to the upward trend. That did not seem to work , so now the name change in order to increase the sales of Products using High Fructose Syrup in them.

So, Be forewarned you might see a new ingredient name for an old ingredient. Also a new promotion of the new ingredient, which is the old ingredient. The product is still the same nothing has changed but the name of the ingredient.

Only the name has been change to protect the selling revenue of their products.

What do you think about this plan? Are you For or Against?
The FDA has not approved the name change as of today. So the debate is still out there. Also be advised that other companies have already done some fancy wording to make their product look healthier, however the product ingredients has not changed at all.

Editorial on "Closure" Can we really have it?

"Closure " a word used in our world to describe moving on with life. Every one has heard the phrase; "You must have closure to heal". So I now question this theory. It has been nine years since the Trade Tower, Pentagon and Pennsylvania plane crash event. Each year I see the videos and photos plastered on the Networks. Recently I heard a lady say.. She knows she needs to have closure, but it hasn't come to her yet. Her husband was on flight #77 that hit the Pentagon.

Now I ask is this term "Closure" really important for one to move on in life? When we lose a loved one by an act of terror, through illness or natural causes are we expected to just forget about them, lay them to rest and continue on. For that is truly what Closure means. To close that chapter of your book for life, so one can move forward.

How can one forget about such a loss? I think it is not possible. Many times when folks lose a loved one, they were close to, a part of that person stays with them. You might say they became entwined at some point. It is not uncommon to think about the person throughout the years. With an anniversary of their departure having been impregnated in your mind.

Is this a Healthy state of mind? Yes I think so. Remembrance is a core of who we are. The things we do are done with the memory of things once done. Our whole life is based on things past. Isn't it common to hear phrases like..When I was younger... Way back When.. When I was your age... I remember when...We have always done it this way... It's Tradition that's why we do it. All these phrases have to do with the past. We grow up with the knowledge of former years. Therefore Closure in its form of the pain of loss going away will not happen. Oh yes we will go numb at the thought of crying and we will be able to handle our life without the loved one. However the anniversaries and certain places will affect our emotions.

I want to close with a story about me. Several years back my Mother took me to a Support Group for Fallen Officers. I thought this will be fine. I was very young when Grandfather was murdered and I have never been emotional about it. So off I went. During the session I got so upset. Never realizing that his untimely death would trigger so many things in the future. For you see, He would never be able to see me grow up, graduate college, get married, have a child or any other things that happened or will happen in my life. I was so upset that it took me months to sort though those thoughts. Now every year when I go to the Memorial Service I get that feeling in the pit of my stomach, a tear or two might leak out and I remember my Grandfathers life and how it affected mine. Today my Daughter knows her Great Grandfather even though she has never met him. She knows the history of him and about his untimely death.

So you see "Closure" is not the word to use here. For it is not really putting an end to it or forgetting about it. The main thing is to hold it dear and close to us, Lest we forget how that person or thing affected our lives today.