Observations, Questions and Tips About Life: July 31

Featuring Bill Rhoads

Each week, Sun City resident Bill Rhoads shares with us some of his "tips about life." Bill keeps a written record of "tips" that come to mind and has a strong motivation to share them with others. His purpose in doing so is to stimulate his own thinking and to stir some ideas into the pot of life. He believes in God and the Golden Rule.


Opportunity knocks once;
Flim-Flam raps incessantly

It’s easier to lift a man up
Than to hold him down

Some people are running so hard,
It seems they’re just anxious
To get this life over with

If you have thoughts and/or responses to Bill's tips, leave a comment here or send emails with your feedback to menifee247info@gmail.com.

Man About Menifee: 'Raingutter Regatta' Brings Boys Together

Jeremiah and his friend Cesar race their Regatta boats.

By David Baker

It means several things to us when summer time comes to our house. For example, kids getting out of school, unavoidable heat, and of course, an impending Cub Scout Raingutter Regatta®. My kids always get a kick out of it and as a parent, I like to see them strutting their stuff.

Everyone knows that if you get a group of boys together in one place, the tone quickly turns competitive. Whether they are feats of strength, speed, stamina, or just plain foolishness, boys are always trying to one up each other.

For those unfamiliar with the Scouting program, Cub Scouts are boys in first through fifth grades. Among the common activities Cub Scouts participate in to develop a healthy sense of sportsmanship and positive competition are the Derbies. We have a Pinewood Derby® with wooden model race cars, a Space Derby® with wooden model rockets, and of course a Raingutter Regatta®, which is a lung-powered wooden model sail boat.

Most Cub Scout Packs today use an inflatable “gutter,” though we have used traditional capped rain gutters before as well.

This year was the first year we used the newer “Trimaran” style boats. (Seen at left – photo courtesy of ScoutStuff.org)

I have to say that these are far more stable than their predecessors, which have a tendency to tip over.

The boys start with two wooden pontoons, sand them down, attach the plastic body, affix the mast and sail, paint and decorate. This last Sunday, July 21, the boys of Pack 374, chartered by Menifee 24/7, descended upon La Ladera Park in Menifee. We set up canopies and tables of food. The afternoon kicked off with a potluck, while some of the leaders set up the “track” and got ready for the fun.

After a healthy dose of hot dogs, hamburgers, and potato salad, the boys pledged their Allegiance to the Flag. The boys raced, had a good time, displayed good sportsmanship, and won some awards. When the boys were done with their races, the track was opened up for friends and family members, who also made boats and wished to race.

As the race came to a close, the skies opened slightly and it began to drizzle, breaking up the slight humidity that had been present all day. We closed with a prayer, packed up our belongings, and had the boys do a “Leave No Trace” sweep of the ground. We left the area as good or better than we found it, and went home.

To the boys, it was a day of fun and competition, but whether they know it or not, the crafty parents snuck in some lessons, too.

David Baker, our Man About Menifee, writes about his adventures in and around town every Friday in this space. You may leave comments for him here or email him at manaboutmenifee@gmail.com.

Cubmaster Chris and the boys of Cub Scout Pack 374.

Menifee Mom: Room Switches Can Be One of Life's Challenges

By Karen Thomas

I still haven't finished my spring cleaning, but this week I accomplished a much bigger task: I cleaned out all of my kids' bedrooms!

It started out as an idea that maybe we should move the bunk beds into the bedroom with the larger closet. My thought, for multiple reasons, was to put the two oldest together. I mentioned this to my kids and before I knew it, they all had come up with a plan. I shall call it "The Great Room Swap."

Wait, I need to back up. My oldest two, who currently had been enjoying their own rooms, were not thrilled. I heard from one child, "But I'm 13 years old and I need my privacy!" I looked at her for a moment and replied, "No you don't. Soon you'll be in college and will have a roommate. Then you'll get married and have a roommate for the rest of your life. What you need is to get used to it."

Amazingly, for once she didn't have a lawyer-like rebuttal.

About two hours into the job, my husband comes upstairs to survey the scene. I can imagine what he's thinking. The hallway and floor of every room is now covered with drawers, piles of clothes, and toys. (Thankfully, I am able to keep the kids from emptying out the bookshelves, too.)

My husband sees the mess, smiles, and asks how it is going. Mess makes him anxious, so I quickly assure him that we are making great progress and though it looks crazy, at least all the closets and dressers are now empty and everyone's stuff is now in their new rooms.

I smile and act optimistic, though inside I am about ready to scream! The look on his face tells me he is quite happy that he is working today and doesn't have to help sort through it all. It was one of those days when I wished I could go to work for him! But, I can't. It was my idea after all, and now we just have to finish what we've started.

I begin to help the 5-year-old put her things away and the barrage of questions and pleas for help I have heard all morning continue. Think of a typical mom's day, and multiply it by like a million. I hear in the midst of chaos: "Mom! Which lamp do I get to have in my room?" and "Mom, we need to put the flower stickers on the wall of my new room," and to a sister, "Get out of my room!" and "Stop touching my stuff!"

I tell them for the fourth time, "Accessories and decorating are at the bottom of our priorities ... we don't even have clothes in your dressers yet!" I also remind them, "Everyone's stuff is everywhere and your stuff is GOING TO GET TOUCHED so stop freaking out about it!" And finally, "If I hear you tell someone to get out of YOUR room one more time, then I'll just make it so you don't even have a bedroom. You can just sleep in the hallway!"

Eventually, it all does get cleaned up and put away, I regain my sanity, and at the end of it, we all still love each other. The best part is that we have gotten rid of a lot of unnecessary stuff and managed to increase the storage and floor space for all children involved.

It was an exhausting day and my back still hurts, but it was worth it. There is a sense of freshness and newness that comes with changing rooms. I am reminded that it feels good to clean out the clutter in our life, whatever kind it may be. While the task may be difficult, the feeling of peace and simplicity is well worth it.

Karen Thomas is a stay at home mom of four daughters, has been on the PTA board at her kids' school for four years, and is a volunteer at her church, in addition to her activities as a volunteer soccer referee, a piano teacher, and a runner. Her column will appear here every Thursday. Comments are welcome.

Observations, Questions and Tips About Life: July 24

Featuring Bill Rhoads

Each week, Sun City resident Bill Rhoads shares with us some of his "tips about life." Bill keeps a written record of "tips" that come to mind and has a strong motivation to share them with others. His purpose in doing so is to stimulate his own thinking and to stir some ideas into the pot of life. He believes in God and the Golden Rule.


Seems ironic that the two biggest businesses in the world are
Killing people (war and preparation for war)
And keeping people alive (drugs and doctor bills)

How you treat others is a direct reflection of how much you like yourself

Those who badmouth others to you
Always do…
Badmouth you to others too

If you have thoughts and/or responses to Bill's tips, leave a comment here or send emails with your feedback to menifee247info@gmail.com.

Man About Menifee: Fires Remind Us to Be Prepared

By David Baker

Every area of the world has its own geographical concerns residents must face. From extreme cold and heat to wind, rain and fire, wherever you live, it pays to be prepared and know what to expect.

Here in Southern California, we must endure and be prepared for wildfires and earthquakes. This means a lot more than the typical stop-drop-and-roll or duck and cover that we learn in school. With recent fires in Idyllwild and Murrieta and temperatures reaching their peaks, it is clear that fire season is upon us. We even had a small brush fire by my house near La Ladera Park.

Here are some simple steps you and your family can take in the event of such a disaster:
 
1. In the event of a house fire, have a predetermined meeting place, just in case people get separated. This can be a friend’s or neighbor’s house, a neighborhood landmark or possibly a park. It shouldn’t be too far, but it should be far enough to be out of the way of fire crews and flames.

2. If a wildfire is in your area and you know that evacuation could be a possibility, keep valuables, picture albums, or anything else precious conveniently packed, near a door, and easily portable. This will make evacuation far less stressful.

3. A well-stocked, easy to reach and carry disaster supply kit (they tend to fit well in a small Rubbermaid-type trash can) complete with:

A three-day supply of water and non-perishable food.

A battery-powered or hand crank radio, a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and a flashlight, with extra batteries for all of the above.

First aid kits are a good rule on so many levels. For more details on what can be found in a well-stocked first aid kit, click here.

A whistle should be in your emergency supplies to signal for help. Remember, the universal SOS signal with a whistle is three sharp blasts.

Also consider dust masks for potential air contaminants. Baby wipes with some garbage bags and ties can take care of waste situations.

A simple set of tools that is portable will come in handy, especially a wrench to turn off utilities.

Local maps, cell phones with chargers, inverter or a solar charger will help you communicate your position if you need to.

Have extra clothes and blankets for family members.

These tips, along with a healthy dose of common sense and thoughtful action, can help you and your families make the most of a bad situation. There is a big difference between being prepared and being scared.

David Baker, our Man About Menifee, writes about his adventures in and around town every Friday in this space. You may leave comments for him here or email him at manaboutmenifee@gmail.com.

Menifee Mom: Children Learn Quickly About Realities of Life

By Karen Thomas

My family has been in awe at the way our community reaches out to those in need. With all we hear in the media, it is easy to become numb to the tragedies people face. It's nice to see that when something affects someone in our town, we not only sit up and take notice, but we take action as well.

Normally, I shield my children from news media, choosing print material over television. So much of it is filled with horrific depictions of crime and tragedy that it can cause even adults to live in fear.

I do teach my children about stranger danger, fire safety, and what to do in an earthquake, but I figure those things, combined with childhood fears of monsters under the bed or spiders, are enough to deal with. Besides, I'm still waiting for the day when nightmares will no longer send my children climbing into my bed in the middle of the night!

However, when tragedy strikes in your hometown or people close to you, it can't be ignored. Most recently, we saw adults and children in our community come together in search for Terry Smith Jr. When our worst fears became reality, we again came together to mourn.

When 2-year-old Zachary Nahsohn of Murrieta drowned, it wasn't just friends who flew yellow balloons for him, but strangers as well. This last week, a member in the community put together an event to remember Zachary's birthday and yellow balloons flew again. Several months ago, when a Menifee family lost everything in a house fire, donations from the community poured in.

Certainly if these things had happened in a large metropolitan area, which sadly they do all too often, they probably would have been just a sidebar in the newspaper or a short spot on the news. But here in Menifee, these events were treated like the tragedy they were. Just like in "Leave It to Beaver," family, friends, neighbors, and strangers came together to support those in need.

It can be difficult for our children to see bad things happen, especially when they have been part of a search effort or have offered heartfelt prayers for those in need. When the outcome is sad and difficult to explain, some may question whether involving their children was a mistake. I don't think it is.

Even if our efforts don't affect the outcome, they certainly mean something to the people we serve and our families are changed for the better for having worked together to support a good cause. The outpouring of support goes a long way in helping the people affected to heal and know that they are not alone.

A few days ago, a simple lemonade stand showed my family the value of a simple gesture. I've hesitated to let my kids have a lemonade stand, thinking they would only be disappointed. But in an effort to be supportive and because there was nothing else to do, I let them go for it.

At first it was VERY slow, but after some loud campaigning, a few neighbors came out. Then complete strangers stopped their cars to purchase lemonade and let them "keep the change." It was clear they weren't buying it because they were thirsty, but rather because they wanted to make a few kids happy. (Though I must report that as a result, they think they should have one EVERY day!)

I'm so grateful to raise my kids in an area that has shown such good old-fashioned neighborly kindness. We all hope the tragedies are over for a while, but I hope the feeling of community continues as we show our children the value of small gestures of kindness and that when life gives you lemons....a little sugar never hurts.

Karen Thomas is a stay at home mom of four daughters, has been on the PTA board at her kids' school for four years, and is a volunteer at her church, in addition to her activities as a volunteer soccer referee, a piano teacher, and a runner. Her column will appear here every Thursday. Comments are welcome.

Man About Menifee: There is Never an Excuse Not to Help

By David Baker

I've always been a big believer in the old sayings that proof is in the pudding, and actions speak louder than words. I've always tried to pass the pass this belief on to my children. Recently, Nikkolas took a trip that exemplifies that theory.

I've heard a lot of people talk about being a good person. That means different things to different people. To me, one of those attributes is selfless service. We've seen our share of selfless service and volunteerism in Menifee this week.

In order to instill this value, the youth of the United Methodist Church gather every summer for Sierra Service Project, or SSP for short.

SSP is an interdenominational service project where youth from many Christian churches gather for worship and to repair or improve homes for those in need. They've grown to the point that each church gets one week, but the event is four to five weeks long. It's open to youth in junior high and high school. Since he just graduated high school, this will be Nikk's last year as a youth member. However, he has talked about going back as an adult volunteer or even a paid staffer all summer.

This year, they descended on the town of Stockton, Calif. Nikkolas was assigned to a team that was building a deck and wheelchair access ramp for an elderly woman who is now blind. He even got his picture in the local paper (above; photo courtesy Stockton Record).

Each year, he has learned something useful and new. Sometimes it's a new skill with a tool and sometimes it's a skill related to building. This year he learned the importance of a properly stocked first aid kit.

As he was heading out the door ready for his trip, I handed him the large first aid kit we take with us on family campouts. It's not incredibly bulky, about the size of a lunchbox, but it is generally pretty well stocked. Being a typical teenager, he rolled his eyes but humored me anyway and placed the first aid kit with the rest of his gear.

A few days into his trip, his friend walked up to him and said, "Do you have any Benadryl? Because you know I might die." His friend over the last several years had developed an increasing allergy to bug bites and had just been stung by a bee; he was beginning to swell.

The year prior, Nikk had developed a reputation for being prepared, so he was the first person his friend went to. It just so happened that due to luck and good planning, I had restocked the Benadryl a few weeks prior. Nikkolas gave his friend some. This bought them some time to get him the proper medical care.

His friend is fine and everybody else also made it home without any further injury, although his friend now has to carry an EpiPen.

So that's what Nikkolas did this summer.

In light of recent events, I want to encourage everyone to find a cause, to find something you believe in and do it. Make your summer count, have fun, and stay safe.

David Baker, our Man About Menifee, writes about his adventures in and around town every Friday in this space. You may leave comments for him here or email him at manaboutmenifee@gmail.com.

Menifee Mom: Family Time Can Have Many Meanings

By Karen Thomas

This week I am reminded of the value of friendships. Not just friendships for our kids, but for ourselves as well.

We have never lived near relatives and while we would love to have family around, we have rather enjoyed spending most of our free time with just each other: Me, my husband, and our kids.

This summer, however, has been different. On a few occasions, we've gone to the beach with several other families and their kids. Recently, we even ventured on a multi-day campout at Kern River with a large group of families. Through these experiences, I've discovered that there are many benefits to sharing vacations and outings with other families.

Benefit #1: Your kids whine and complain a whole lot less! I can't tell you how many "fun outings" have been ruined by one kid in a bad mood. All parents know the formula: Bad mood=whining=unhappy parents=unhappy family. We could be guaranteed hearing things like, "It's too hot! Why did we have to come?" or "I hate the sand. You should have let me stay home," or "There's too many bugs....I'm just going to sit in the car the whole weekend!" (Yes, one tried that. It didn't work out so well for her.) I don't know if having other kids around brings distractions from the issues or what, but I've noticed the complaining is almost non-existent when we're in a group.

Benefit #2: The kids actually toughen up and do things they normally wouldn't. This is a rare case of positive peer pressure. On our campout, instead of freaking out about the less than clean conditions of the water, the smelly bathrooms, or the swiftness of the current, my girls just went for it and had fun like everyone else. If it was just us, I guarantee we would have heard, "Ooh, gross! I'm not going in there!" or "I'll be swept away by the river and die!"

Benefit #3: Getting a break from siblings. I love my girls to play together and want them to be the best of friends, but sometimes a kid just needs a break. They enjoyed being with friends and their friends got to know their sisters better. Without even knowing it, their bond was strengthened as they enjoyed experiences together without the sibling stress.

Benefit #4: Getting a break from the kids. All moms enjoy a chance to engage in adult conversation. With the kids occupied AND happy, moms get a break too!

Benefit #5: Finding that good friends can be just as valuable as family. Our kids benefit from the positive influences other adults can have on them, especially when aunts and uncles don't live nearby. It never hurts for them to have other trusted adults to turn to.

I've come to understand better that someone doesn't have to be related by blood or marriage to be considered "family." What really matters is that people care for each other and support each other. In the end, that's what it means to be a family.

Most of all, it's just a whole lot of fun to hang out with friends. At the end of our campout, one of my kids announced, "I want to come here again!" And just to be sure we understood, she clarified, "But we have to come with everybody, not just our family." We agreed. In the end, it felt like an actual family reunion that needs to be repeated.

I'm not saying you shouldn't have family only time, but it's good to branch out. You just might find that you start referring to others as your "Menifee Family."

Karen Thomas is a stay at home mom of four daughters, has been on the PTA board at her kids' school for four years, and is a volunteer at her church, in addition to her activities as a volunteer soccer referee, a piano teacher, and a runner. Her column will appear here every Thursday. Comments are welcome.

Man About Menifee: Even the Little Ones Enjoy a Hike

By David Baker

Someone once told me that God gave us wives because he needed someone to correct husbands’ behavior and shock collars weren’t invented yet.

My wife recently offered up a correction of my behavior that I couldn’t ignore even if I wanted to.

Since I began writing for Menifee 24/7, my wife has been one of my biggest supporters. She has dutifully re-posted and commented on all my columns. As we were talking recently about my columns, she pointed out a glaring blank spot in my subjects.

I’ve written about improving a house and about maintaining a family. I’ve had columns regarding community events, scouting events, and public safety. I’ve introduced my readership to my wife, Jennifer, and my three older children, Nikk (18), Alexandra (12), and Jeremiah (9). The missing component here is that I have four children. Joshuah (16 months) was born on Leap Day last year.

One activity that we enjoy as a family is a good hike or nature walk; Joshuah especially loves it. I like to think he expands his world with each walk. With the older kids it is pretty easy, but with Joshuah a little prior planning prevents poor performance.

When he was a brand new baby, we had him in a little cloth baby carrier that mounted to my chest, but the moment he was old enough to support his own head, he graduated to a framed backpack style carrier, which he loves to this day. I’ve found that this is always the best way to transport him. I even carry him in it in lieu of a stroller sometimes.

Packing for a toddler is a little different than packing for oneself. Some things I try to carry include a diaper and wipes, a first aid kit, small snacks that I can easily pass over my shoulder to him, sunscreen, and of course lots of water.

As far as where we go, there are several trails that are age appropriate around town. The first he went on was at Roy W Kabian Memorial Park in Canyon Lake off of Goetz Road. Aside from picnic and playground areas, there is also a series of small manageable trails around the park. There are a few slight inclines, but all were easily attainable.

Some parts of the trail were shady, but more were in the open, so a good move would be to prepare for a lot of sun. Joshuah seemed to really love the ground squirrels, and there were plenty of those little guys all around.

Where is your favorite place to hike in Menifee with kids? Post below and share your thoughts.

David Baker, our Man About Menifee, writes about his adventures in and around town every Friday in this space. You may leave comments for him here or email him at manaboutmenifee@gmail.com.

Menifee Mom: Small Town Charm and a Patriotic 4th

By Karen Thomas

Last weekend, my family and I braved the scorching heat and enjoyed the traditional city of Menifee 4th of July celebration. You know the one, the big event that is never actually ON the 4th of July, but held the weekend before because apparently it is a lot cheaper.

Some may call it lame, but I think it just adds to the charm of our small town. (Well, it's small by Southern California standards.)

When we moved here eight years ago, it was just days before the big party at Wheatfield Park. We dressed in our red, white, and blue and carried flags. I'm sure we got there early to get a good spot to watch the parade, which I think lasted about 15 minutes. But, we were thrilled with the cute parade entries and the very cheap booths set up in the park. Everything just screamed "small town" and, being from small towns, we felt right at home. That evening, our new neighbors invited us to watch the fireworks from their front yard with them.

Time has passed and I'm happy to say that most of the small town charm hasn't gone away. However, we did notice that the parade has gotten much longer (a plus) and the booths no longer sell cheap food (a minus). But, the fact that you can walk around without feeling suffocated by large crowds and that you always run into several people you know just makes you happy to be there.

My kids were really looking forward to the parade most of all. Early in the day, the younger ones started picking out which bag they were going to bring to collect candy. I, remembering that first parade eight years ago, told them they'd be lucky to get more than a couple pieces and that a bag really wasn't necessary. Well, they proved me wrong! Thanks to mastering the art of cheering loudly for the candy throwers (and learning not to sit at the end of the route, where everyone was out of candy) they came home with a pretty good haul.

As a mom, I think my favorite part of the parade this year was the many parade entries that involved spraying water at people. I don't know if people were scrambling to add that at the last minute after hearing the weather report or if they were just inspired, but it was brilliant. Not only was it fun for the kids, but the adults appreciated a bit of cooling off as well!

When night fell, the fireworks came. We've gone to the fireworks show actually ON the 4th in Temecula, which is amazing. But by the time we've fought the crowds to get a parking spot and then to get home, we always vow we'll never go back. We haven't established a traditional viewing spot when it comes to watching the fireworks in Menifee. I know some people arrive very early and stake out their place in the grass. But, living close gives us more options.

We've watched them from a friend's backyard pool, our upstairs bedroom window, and the front yard. This year, we decided to climb up our backyard hill and watch from there. Thanks to a portable stereo and a CD of patriotic music, I figured we'd have a bit of ambiance too!

As we climbed up the hill, my kids worried about rattlesnakes and insisted that it would be "way better at the park." But, once we settled in and the fireworks started, that was all forgotten. In addition to the classic "oohs" and "aahs" we traditionally share, my kids (and even the neighbors) joined me in singing "The Star Spangled Banner", "My Country 'tis of Thee", and "You're a Grand Old Flag."

Really, it doesn't matter where (or even when) you celebrate our country's independence. What matters is that you take the time to pause and reflect on how lucky we are to live in the USA and a "small town" like Menifee.

Karen Thomas is a stay at home mom of four daughters, has been on the PTA board at her kids' school for four years, and is a volunteer at her church, in addition to her activities as a volunteer soccer referee, a piano teacher, and a runner. Her column will appear here every Thursday. Comments are welcome.

Observations, Questions and Tips About Life: July 3

Featuring Bill Rhoads

Each week, Sun City resident Bill Rhoads shares with us some of his "tips about life." Bill keeps a written record of "tips" that come to mind and has a strong motivation to share them with others. His purpose in doing so is to stimulate his own thinking and to stir some ideas into the pot of life. He believes in God and the Golden Rule.


The problem with hanging out with people who think like you …
Is that they think like you.

Our politicians should be paid about as much as the average person they represent.

If you've got a lot of brain cells...
You've got to make sure they are not bouncing around in too many different directions.

If you have thoughts and/or responses to Bill's tips, leave a comment here or send emails with your feedback to menifee247info@gmail.com.