How to Kill a Bee without Being Stung

A bee just flew into your home!  You don’t want to get stung, but you need to get it out of your home or kill it. What are you going to do?!!!

Remain calm and start closing doors in your home to isolate the bee.  Follow the bee with your eyes and try not to lose it.

If you have flying insect spray and if the bee is not sitting on anything that will be damaged, then unload on it!  Don’t spray insecticide on any surface that cannot be cleaned.

If spraying is not an option, and if your reflexes are good, try throwing a phone book at the bee.  The phone book is heavy enough to squash the bee.  If you manage to hit the bee, you may want to step on the phone book for good measure.

You could also use a vacuum cleaner.  If you have a long attachment and you move very slowly, you can sometimes sneak up on the bee and whisk it quickly away.  If you successfully suck one into a vacuum, though, be sure it is dead before you dump out the vacuum bag or canister.

How to Host a Successful Baby Shower


A close friend or family member is having a baby and you want to host a memorable baby shower for them, but you’re low on ideas.  Here are some ideas to help you plan for the special day.

Decide who will be involved in hosting the shower. Organize a group of people and decide who will be in charge of keeping the shower planning on-track. The main host of the shower should be a friend and not a family member, as etiquette dictates, but family may certainly be actively involved in the entire process. Good communication is essential to success. The “lead planner” should coordinate with the expectant parents and determine the best date for the shower. Most people throw baby showers in close proximity to the due date of the baby, but don’t wait too long as some babies do come early. At least one month before the due date should be fine as it allows time for the parents to evaluate the gifts they receive and determine which ones to keep and what they will still need to buy for the baby.

Keep all receipts for the money that everyone involved in hosting the party spends on the shower so that all expenses can be equally divided.  Choose the cutest invitations you can find and try to decide on an overall theme for the shower.  Knowing the sex of the baby in advance is helpful, but not required.  Buy a bouquet of balloons and enough separate balloons to tie in strategic locations throughout the shower.  Be sure to have enough balloons to tie a few to the mailbox in front of the house where the shower will be held.  Request a guest list with mailing addresses from the expectant parents and mail the invitations no later than six weeks before the event.  Include an RSVP as it will help you to plan the necessary food and refreshments more carefully.

Arrange several activities for the shower and have a few back-ups just in case the shower lasts longer than expected.  Some fun games to play are baby trivia, unscrambling words that refer to baby terms, writing cute messages on diapers for the baby, and creating custom outfits for the baby using white onesies and fabric paint.  If the shower includes both men and women, have two baby dolls and some props, like diapers, clothes, bottles, etc. and make the men try to care for the baby while the women shout instructions to them.  Simulate all of the distractions that would normally happen during the day, like preparing a meal, a phone ringing, or a visitor at the door.  This is almost always amusing.

Set up for the shower early in the day to allow time for someone to go pick up anything that was overlooked. The day of the shower should be fun and completely stress-free for the hosts, the expectant parents, and the guests. While the expectant parents are opening gifts, have someone write the names of the gifts as well as the gift givers on a sheet of paper. This will be a great help to the couple when it’s time to write thank you notes. After the shower, each host should total the amounts that they spent and report them to the lead planner. They can determine who owes money and who gets a refund.

Get into Carowinds at a Reduced Rate or for Free


Carowinds theme park, which resides on the border of North Carolina and South Carolina, is a great source of family entertainment including rides and attractions for the entire family. Enjoy all the thrills and adventure at a fraction or the cost or even for free.
Believe it or not, you may know someone or even know a friend of a friend who works for Carowinds theme park. It never hurts to ask around. Employees of the park are given free admission tickets and they are allowed to give them out at their discretion. Often just asking someone for a ticket or two will gain you free access to the park or you could do something nice for that person and still get in for almost nothing. Also, many companies are corporate partners with Carowinds and offer their employees discounts using a special company code that may be entered on the Carowinds website. You may know someone who works for one of these partners and not even realize it.
Check the Carowinds website for discounted rates. Often, they will have a special that rewards you with a discount just for purchasing tickets online. If you can find a group of fifteen to forty-nine people to go together, you will enjoy a group discount. An even better discount is available for groups of fifty or more. If you are a senior citizen of sixty-two years or older, then you are in luck because they offer a great discount for you too. If you will be visiting the park for two consecutive days in a row, save your original ticket and use it to purchase a "next day ticket" as you leave the park. The price for these tickets is less than half of what you paid for the first. If you have plans for earlier in the day, but you want to ride some roller coasters at night, wait until after 4:00 pm and the price of admission is about half.
Quite often, Carowinds vendors will offer discount coupons for admission to the park. Coco Cola frequently offers discount coupons which are printed right on the side of the drink cans. Check the supermarkets in the cities close to Carowinds, like Charlotte and Gastonia, North Carolina and also Rock Hill, South Carolina for these special cans.

Teaching Others Good Social Behavior



Don’t be discouraged when you encounter people who aren’t courteous to you.  Teach them the right way to act by setting an example of good social behavior.  You may just be the person who changes their life for the better.

Do your best to be a good person all day; every day.  Be the kind of person that you wish everyone else was.  It’s hypocritical to complain about the way that other people behave if you act the same way.  Start by wearing a smile instead of a frown.  Even a smirk will do.  It’s contagious.  Be friendly and complimentary of people.  Say kind things whether they are deserved or not.  Be the first person to speak when you encounter someone new, whether it’s a salesperson or a random stranger that you pass in the grocery store.  People are affected by compliments, whether they acknowledge it outwardly or not.  A kind and gentle word from you can make a world of difference to someone who is having an otherwise bad day.  Do the same thing for your family and friends.  Pick something about that person; their appearance or something good about their character, and give them a little praise or just tell them how much you appreciate them.

Stay aware of your surroundings.  Each time you walk through a doorway look ahead and then behind you and hold the door for the next person.  Let people with fewer items ahead of you while waiting in a check-out line.  Always watch where you are going so that you don’t bump into people and be sure to look behind you when you’re walking backwards.  If you are pushing a shopping cart around a store, park it in strategic ways so that it will not block other people who wish to pass.  If someone near you drops something, pick it up and give it back to them.  Offer to help children, the elderly, or those with limited abilities to reach something on a high shelf or to carry something that is too heavy for them to handle.

Drive like every car around you is transporting someone you care about.  Don’t cut people off or give nasty hand gestures.  Give people, especially motorcycles plenty of room by allowing a safe following distance.  When you stop in a line of traffic, be sure not to block entrances and exits.  Leave enough space for people to pass.  Drive slow and safe through parking lots and if you see people about to cross in front of you, allow a few extra seconds for them to cross safely.  Don’t try to speed up and get by before they step in front of you.  When parking your car, check before you walk away from it to see if you are parked correctly.  Use your horn only in the worst scenarios.  If people around you do stupid things, take a deep breath and forgive them rather than acting out on your anger to make sure they get your point.

Don’t talk louder then you need to in restaurants or stores.  Do not use foul language in public unless you are seriously injured and then it’s forgivable in small doses.  Do not talk on your mobile phone while performing a business transaction.  This includes sales counters and drive thru’s.  If your phone rings during a transaction, silence it, wait until you’re done and then return the call.  If you are a smoker, be courteous of other people and choose the places you smoke carefully.  I realized soon after I quit smoking just how bad second hand smoke imposes on non-smokers.  Don’t leave messes for other people to clean up.  This includes restaurants, restrooms, stores, and other people’s homes.

By setting a good example and following these simple suggestions, you could influence more people than you’ll ever realize.  People may even imitate some of your good habits unintentionally.  Even the most minor improvements are a step in the right direction.   Learning to truly forgive is the best thing you can do to help you stay on the right track.

Things to Do in Gaston County, North Carolina



Many entertaining activities may be found in Gaston County if you know where to look.  This article recommends several attractions that will provide family fun at a minimal cost.
An amazing outdoor and partially indoor attraction that will provide hours of breathtaking beauty is the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden. The entrance to the garden is located at 6500 South New Hope Road in the city of Belmont, NC, which is between Charlotte and Gastonia and there is an admission fee for both adults and children. This is a fun way to spend the day while enjoying the beauty of nature. There are seasonal activities for the whole family to enjoy.  If you need a break from walking, a tram ride is available that explores part of the interior of the garden.  Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden is located just minutes from Lake Wylie.

An exciting new attraction in Gaston County is the U.S. National Whitewater Center. This multi-channel recirculating whitewater training facility has been recognized by the United States Olympic Committee. Rafters and kayakers will enjoy a full day of rafting without leaving the 300 acre facility. The whitewater center is located along the Catawba River and also provides scenic hikes, a climbing center, a restaurant, and bathroom facilities.  Pack a picnic basket and enjoy lunch beside the river.  There are fees for rafting and climbing, but no parking or admission fees.

During the Christmas season do not miss the opportunity to visit the quaint little town of McAdenville also known as Christmastown USA. Each December, this beautiful little town becomes a brilliant spectacle of Christmas lights and decorations that is known far and wide. Visitors from all over the country converge to drive or walk through McAdenville, singing Christmas carols as they go. McAdenville is located off I-85 N, Exit 22 at Lowell/Cramerton and also I-85 S, Exit 27 at Belmont/Mt. Holly.  While driving through McAdenville, be courteous to others by turning off your car’s headlights and use only the parking lights.  No matter what the temperature is outside, you will want to roll down the windows and listen to the Christmas music playing all along the route.  Keep a careful eye out for pedestrians and don’t forget to wave and wish everyone a “Merry Christmas.”
A perfect place to take a day hike and/or a picnic is Crowder's Mountain State Park, located at 522 Park Office Lane in Kings Mountain. There are covered shelters in the picnic area and several easy to moderate walking trails that wind up the mountain. Rock climbing is available for those with experience. A favorite activity of the locals is to pack a backpack with some sandwiches and drinks, hike to the top of Crowder's Mountain, and enjoy the view while eating lunch. Be sure to take all trash and food back down the mountain and only leave your footprints.

Martha Rivers Park is a beautiful park located on Neil Hawkins Road off of Union Road in Gastonia. This park offers numerous sports fields including baseball and soccer. There is a tremendous playground that resembles a castle for young knights and princesses to explore. Children will enjoy hours of fun, running and climbing on the structures and playing in the sand. There are picnic tables and covered shelters (may be reserved for special events) located near one side of the park. An ice cream shop is located just outside the entrance of the park and within walking distance. Martha Rivers Park is free to use and offers a whole day of fun for the entire family. Public restroom facilities and water fountains are available.

The Schiele Museum of Natural History is another amazing attraction located in the City of Gastonia. There are several scenic hiking trails around the facility with a replica of an 18th century farm, a Grist Mill, and an authentic Catawba Indian village. The museum has a planetarium as well as numerous exhibits featuring species of animals native to the Southeast United States.  The walking trails are free, but a modest admission fee with allow visitors access to the latest exhibits and provide much-needed support for the museum.
Tips & Warnings
  • When participating in outdoor activities, be sure to bring along plenty of water. Stay hydrated!
  • Be courteous of others when visiting public attractions. What makes you comfortable doesn't always make everyone around you comfortable.
  • Always obey posted hours for any of these attractions.
  • DO NOT LITTER!
  • Hike and climb at your own risk and be sure to register with park rangers or applicable authorities if you do plan on rock climbing.