Festival of Flags

Davison's annual Festival of Flags is one of the reasons I love living in a small town. Here's what this year's festival included, courtesy of the Davison Chamber of Commerce:

Festival Of Flags 2006, July 26th - 30th

In Park
Ice Cream Social...Wed 26th.
FREE Train Rides...Wed 26th.
Pony Rides & Petting Zoo...all 5 days.
Davison Karate School...show Wed 26th.
Fireworks...Wed 26th at dusk.
Art-In-The-Park. Sat. & Sun. 29th & 30th.

Downtown
5-K Run...Wed 26th before parade.
Parade...Wed 26th, Largest in Genesee County for three years.
Car Cruise...Fri. 28th Main St.
M-15 Car Show-Swap Meet. Sat. 29th, prizes.
Motorcycles...during car show.
Moon-Walk...Sat. 29th for care & share
Lunch...Demolay.

New Kroger Lot
Moon-Walk, Games, Kids Music...Thurs 27th -Sun. 30th.

St. John's Family Center
Talent Show...Thurs. 27th, get applications at 810-653-6266.

Hahn Middle School
Carnival... all 5 days.
Battle of The Bands...Sat. 29th Collins Field. Info & applications-810-653-6266.

*****

My only complaint about the Festival is the timing. Since it's the Festival of Flags, I think it should revolve around a patriotic holiday, like Flag Day or July 4th. It used to be centered around Flag Day but someone decided June was too cold for evenings in the Entertainment Tent. I hope whoever made that decision is happy! This year we had near record-breaking heat and humidity just in time for the festival. There were heavy rainshowers Wed. afternoon which stopped just before the parade. Instead of cooling things off, it only got more hot and humid when the rain stopped and the sun came back out. I have no idea how the people in the 5K run or the parade could stand it. I was sweat-soaked just sitting still and watching the parade! Despite the heat & humidity it was five days of fun.

I Want This Mac!

Apple e-mailed me this ad a few days ago. Think I can convince the university to buy me a computer that grades term papers for me? :)

If only it did grade term papers...

Deadly Nigerian Scam

Today on CNN: "Slain preacher's wife fleeced in scam, lawyer says." Mary Winkler, charged with murdering her minister husband in Tennessee in March, may have been motivated by financial problems. She "had gotten tangled up along with her husband in a swindle known as an advance-fee fraud, or the 'Nigerian scam.' Scam victims are told that riches are waiting for them if they send in money to cover the processing expenses, Winkler's lawyers say."

How sad that they not only fell for this scam, but he died for it! People please, say it with me: "No foreigner is going to reward me for allowing him/her to move money into my American bank account."

If you are a victim of this scam the proper response is not to kill your spouse. Instead, contact the Better Business Bureau and the National Fraud Information Center and the Secret Service Financial Crimes Division.

As The Urban Legends Reference Site reminds us: "The Secret Service asks if you have been victimized by the Nigerian scam to forward appropriate written documentation to the United States Secret Service, Financial Crimes Division, 950 H Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20223, or telephone (202) 406-5850, or contact by e-mail. Per their automated response system, they no longer want faxed copies of the various Nigerian scams."

Remember, there's not much anyone can do to help you once you've been scammed, so don't get taken in.

"If somebody tells you you've won something and they want even a nickel before you actually have the money in your hand, they're crooks. It's as simple as that," said Steve Baker, Midwest regional director of the Federal Trade Commission [in the CNN article].

Too bad Matthew and Mary Winkler didn't know that.

Summer Hibiscus

My hibiscus obviously enjoys heat and humidity more than I do. It's thriving on our balcony and has too many buds to count!

Longing for Fall

If you have allergies, this is going to be a long summer. The mold levels have been really high since we got a lot of rain at the end of May/beginning of June and the mold level shows no sign of dropping any time soon. This aggravates me because I'm severely allergic to mold; even when it's cool I can't really enjoy being outside (unless I decide to give up breathing).

Ragweed (the other bane of summer allergy sufferers) usually starts in late July, so allergen-wise, things are only going to get worse. The ragweed will pollinate until the first hard frost, usually the first week of October in this part of Michigan. The mold will last a little longer.

SIGH.

October is nearly three months away and it can't get here soon enough for me! In the meantime, at least I've got my air condition and, thanks to a great summer sale at Yankee Candle, my favorite autumn scents* to remind me that October will get here eventually.



* Harvest, Pumpkin Pie, and Pumkin Spice by Yankee Candle. I also like Mulled Cider by Root Candles. Cookie- or coffee-scented candles make me hungry but, weirdly, the pie-scented ones do not.