Burn ban

Folks, please remember that White County is under a burn ban until we get some appreciable rainfall.  I urge everyone to be careful and to NOT shoot off fireworks on the 4th of July holiday.

Fireworks

Well friends, this evening, I read in The Beebe News that the City of Beebe is not only going on with their yearly fireworks show for the 4th of July, but they are going to continue to allow the use of fireworks "just as long as there aren't any fires", as the article said.  I like fireworks just like the next person, however, I believe the city isn't using much common sense.  We have not had any appreciable rainfall in the Beebe area for nearly 3 weeks and the temperatures today reached 100-105, plus, there is a burn ban, not only in White County, but for most of the state.  In the city of Jacksonville, they are not only banning the use of fireworks, but any permits that were awarded before the burn ban, have now been made null and void.  I am very very disappointed in the city's decision to allow fireworks, I really am.  I would love to read your thoughts on this subject.

Gas prices for Thursday

Gas prices in/around the Beebe area:

Beebe

- Flash Market 3.07
- Shell 3.07
- Exxon 3.07
- Valero 3.07
- Phillips 66 3.07

Cabot

- Murphy Oil 2.98

Jacksonville

- Valero 2.98
- Flash Market 2.98

Little Rock

- Exxon(Fourche Dam Pike) 3.05/3.10
- Shell(Fourche Dam Pike) 3.05/3.10

Walking on Wednesday

Well friends, it was a great morning to walk. The temperature at 6 am was around 62 degrees, so Amanda and I took advantage of the nice morning and went for a 2 mile walk. Amanda did that two miler in 36:29. Hopefully, Friday, we can get back out there and do at least 2 miles and maybe 2.6 miles.

getting back on track, walking wise

Well friends, after several days of not walking due to getting over the root canal and the infection related to it, Amanda was able to get back out there yesterday morning and walk 1.3 miles.  Tomorrow(Wednesday) morning, it is supposed to be in the mid 60s, which will be awesome walking weather!!!  Whether we do 1.3 or 2.0 miles, it'll be a great morning to walk.  I'm just glad that Amanda is feeling so much better and is back on track to fulfilling her goal of eventually running a 5K at some point in the near future.  We did do that mileage in 30:30.

2012 edition of Hooten's Arkansas Football magazine

Well football fans, the 2012 edition of Hooten's Arkansas Football magazine is out, and Hooten's has the Beebe Badgers picked to finish 3rd in the 5A East.  As it seems every year, Beebe only has about 1 page dedicated to them, with Batesville getting about five or six pages.  Either way, its hard to believe that football season is just a few months away.  Go Badgers!!!!

Article on Beebe Wal-Mart

For those that are  interested, there was a story last night on channel 7, KATV, www.katv.com., concerning the construction of the Wal-Mart Supercenter in Beebe.  Obviously, not everyone wants Wal-Mart in Beebe, however, considering that it will create 300 jobs and will generate millions and millions of dollars in revenue for the Beebe area, you can't help but be excited for the possibilities of growth for Beebe.  Although the removal of the trees on the lot located on West Center has already began, actual construction will start hopefully later this year or early next year with the Supercenter to open in the late summer of next year.

Gas prices this weekend

Here are some gas prices in/around the Beebe area:

Beebe
- Flash Market 3.11
- Exxon 3.12
- Shell 3.12
- Valero 3.12
- Phillips 66(US 64) 3.12

Cabot

- Murphy Oil 2.99
- Valero(W. Main) 2.99

Jacksonville

- Flash Market 2.99
- Valero 2.99

No 5K this weekend

Well friends, unfortunately, there will not be a 5K walk this weekend for us.  Amanda had a root canal yesterday and she still isn't feeling hot.  She has decided to sit this one out to let herself heal, plus she wants to let the infection that she had to clear up.  We were both really looking forward to this, because this 5K means a lot to us, but her health is more important.  There will be other 5K walks/runs to do. 

Thursday gas prices

Gas prices in/around the Beebe area:

Beebe

-Flash Market 3.12
-Shell 3.19
-Exxon 3.12
-Valero 3.19
-Phillips 66(US 64) 3.12

Cabot

-Exxon(Hwy 5) 3.05
-Murphy Oil 3.01

Jacksonville

-Valero 3.01
- Flash Market 3.01

Little Rock

-Exxon 3.15(cash) 3.20(card)
-Shell 3.15(cash) 3.20(card)
-Phillips 66 3.15(cash) 3.20(card)

NOTE: All of these stations are on Fourche Dam off of I-440

College World Series schedule for Thursday

 Well baseball fans, the rain threw a bit of a curve into who Arkansas would play tonight.  Because of the weather, the Kent State/South Carolina has been postponed until 11 am this morning.  Then, the winner of that game(elimination) will play Arkansas tonight at 7 PM.  If Arkansas loses, then those two teams will play again on Friday in an elimination game.  If Arkansas wins, then they wait to see if they play Arizona or Florida State in the best out of 3 championship series.

Gas prices for Wednesday

Gas prices in/around the Beebe area:

Beebe

- Flash Market 3.12
- Exxon 3.19
- Shell 3.19
- Valero 3.19
- Phillips 66(US 64) 3.19

Cabot

- Murphy Oil 3.01

Jacksonville

- Valero 3.01
- Flash Market 3.01

Little Rock

- Exxon(Fourche Dam Pike 3.19(cash) 3.24(card)
- Shell(Fourche Dam Pike 3.19(cash) 3.24(card)

Run to Remember 5K

Well friends, Amanda is definitely walking the Run to Remember 5K, which is this Saturday evening, starting at 6 PM in Little Rock.  I'm still undecided on whether to walk it or not, but regardless, I will be there.  Amanda hasn't walked much, but she's feeling better and hopefully, we're going to be able to walk tomorrow evening some, and then really get after it starting on Thursday.  We're really getting excited about this, and I'm really excited for Amanda.  The weather looks like its going to cooperate, even though its going to be a bit on the hot side, but hopefully, it'll cool down enough by Saturday evening.  It ought to be fun!!!

Arkansas v. South Carolina

Well Razorback fans, the Arkansas baseball team continues to play well in the 2012 College World Series.  Last night, the Hogs used an outstanding performance on the mound from Ryne Stanek, along with a great relief effort from Barrett Astin to hold South Carolina to 4 hits and only 1 run as Arkansas won 2-1.  Now, the Hogs will get a few days off and await the winner of the elimination game between South Carolina and Kent State, which will be played on Wednesday evening.  The last time the Hogs started 2-0 in the College World Series was 1979, which was the year Arkansas lost in the national championship game to Cal State Fullerton.   Go Hogs Go!!!!!!!

Gas prices on Monday

Today's gas prices in/around the Beebe area:

Beebe

- Flash Market 3.19
- Exxon 3.19
- Shell 3.19
- Valero 3.19
- Phillips 66(US 64) 3.19

Cabot

- Exxon(Hwy 5) 3.19
- Murphy Oil 3.03

Jacksonville

- Valero 3.19
- Flash Market 3.03

North Little Rock

-Valero(Hwy 165) 3.21

walking today

Well friends, Amanda and I did do some walking this morning, but we had to cut it short because she was feeling a little sick to her stomach.  Turns out it was something she had eaten, but we did do 1.3 miles, but did it in 29:55.  Per the tweaked schedule, we'll walk again on Wednesday evening.  Hopefully, she'll be feeling better and we can do a greater distance.

Getting ready for that 5K walk

Well, Amanda didn't do any walking this weekend, but she's feeling a lot better and we're going to get ready for that Run to Rememberance 5K in Little Rock on Saturday.  Because of the hot temperatures this week, we're going to be doing our walking in the mornings before work.  Tomorrow, we're going to shoot for either 2.0 or 2.6 miles.  Hopefully, the weather will cooperate and it won't be too humid.  We're really looking forward to this and I can't wait to see Amanda cross the finish line on Saturday.  Accomplishing an event like this is an awesome thing.  I'm really looking forward to it!!!

Happy Father's Day

I just wanted to wish all the dads out there, including my own, a Happy Father's Day.  I hope that everyone takes the time to call or visit their dad on this day. 

Gas prices this weekend

Here are a list of gas prices in/around Beebe this weekend:

Beebe
- Exxon 3.19
- Shell 3.19
- Flash Market 3.19
- Valero- 3.19
- Phillips 66(US 64) 3.19

Cabot

- Murphy Oil 3.03
- Exxon(W. Main) 3.09
- Shell(W. Main) 3.09

Jacksonville

- Flash Market 3.03
- Valero 3.03

Sherwood

- Flash Market 2.98

New Orleans Jazz?

Well basketball fans, the NBA Board of Governors approved the sale of the New Orleans Hornets to Tom Benson, the owner of the NFL's New Orleans Saints.  There are whispers that Benson wants to change the nickname of the Hornets.  Could the "Jazz" nickname be returning to New Orleans?  Personally, I would think that it would be awesome if New Orleans, Charlotte, and Utah would trade around nicknames.  I would like to see Charlotte give the "Bobcats" nickname to Utah and for the "Hornets" nickname to return to Charlotte.  What are your thoughts??

Gas prices for Friday

Well friends, here are some gas prices for stations in and around this area:

Beebe

- Flash Market 3.19
- Exxon 3.19
- Shell 3.19

Jacksonville

- Valero 3.03
- Flash Market 3.03

Cabot

- Murphy Oil 3.03

No walking this evening

Well friends, we didn't go walking this evening.  Amanda was feeling tired, so we decided not to walk this evening.  Hopefully, she'll feel much better tomorrow.  Whether we walk tomorrow evening or Saturday doesn't matter, but what matters is that she feels a lot better. 

Walking this evening

It was an awesome evening to walk, even if it was 2.6 miles.  Amanda and I walked it in 48:47.  I am so proud of that lady.  She is really determined to not only walk, but to get herself eventually into running some.  It is just a shade under 10 days to our first 5K walk.  I am really getting excited over this and she is too.  I really do believe its going to be a great day!!!

Walking for the past week

Well folks, here is the walking that Amanda and I have done in the past seven days

6/7- off
6/8- 0.5
6/9- 0.7
6/10- off
6/11- 2.0(37:43)
6/12- 2.0(39:37)
6/13- 2.6(48:47)

Total ran= 7.8 miles........that is the equivalent of walking from here to near Cabot.  Not too bad.

Gas prices-Tuesday

Here is a sampling of gas prices in Beebe and in surrounding areas on Tuesday:

Beebe
- Flash Market 3.19
- Exxon 3.22
- Shell 3.22

Cabot
- Murphy Oil 3.05

Jacksonville
- Valero 3.07
- Flash Market 3.07

Running

Well, this evening, Amanda and I did another two mile walk.  Time wise, it wasn't as good as last night, but that's okay.  Time isn't important.  We did this two miler in 39:37.  That's four miles that Amanda has done in the last two days.  Way to go Amanda!!!!!!

Arkansas Razorback baseball team

Woo hoo!!!!  How 'bout those Hogs!!!  After being dominated in game 1 of the Waco Super Regional, the Razorback bats and pitching came back to dominate Baylor and after a thrilling 1-0 win in 10 innings, Arkansas is going back to the College World Series.  The last time the Razorbacks were in the CWS, they made it all the way to the semifinals.  Arkansas will play Kent State Saturday afternoon at 4 PM and it will be on ESPN(Cobridge cable channel 32 & Dish Network channel 140).  Go Hogs!!!!!!

Last night

Well, first, kudos to Entergy for getting our power back on.  Even though Windwood was out for around 4 hours on Monday afternoon/early evening, at least it wasn't the five days like it was last spring after the small tornado that hit Beebe.  I know those linemen bust their butts, but I find it rather odd that "certain" parts of town always seem to have power restored before others.  Oh well, I'm just thankful that we're back on.  We've gotten some much needed rain in the last 12 or so hours.  Yesterday evening, Amanda and I went on a nice walk.  We did 2.0 miles in 37 minutes and 43 seconds.  And Amanda has decided(if she feels up to it) that she wants to run the Run to Rememberance 5K(walk portion) on June 23 in Little Rock.  It is very much a worthwhile cause.  If she feels up to it this evening and its raining, hopefully we can do another walk of at least 2.0 miles or more.  I'm proud of Amanda and yes, myself, because I am going to do this 5K walk with her.  I think its going to be an awesome adventure and I can't wait to do it!!!

Weekend gas prices

Okay friends, well, while Amanda, myself, and the kids were coming back from Ferndale on Saturday evening, we noticed some gas prices.  Some of it was surprising and some of it wasn't.  Here is a sample of what we saw on Saturday evening:

Sherwood
- Flash Market(Exit 5) 3.03

Jacksonville
- Flash Market 3.07
- Valero 3.07

Cabot
-Murphy Oil 3.07

Beebe
- Flash Market 3.19
- Exxon 3.22
- Shell 3.22

Recent walking

Well folks, after a three day layoff, Amanda is back walking and is slowly increasing her mileage, even though its small.  On Friday evening, we did just a half mile and on Saturday evening, we did 0.7 miles, but I'm hopeful that it'll continue to increase.  Amanda wants to do a walking 5K on June 23 and he goal is to walk 3.9 miles by Wednesday.  Hopefully, it'll happen, but I'm seeing a very determined woman looking to achieve her goals.  I'm so proud of her!!!!

Gas prices in selected towns

Well friends, I took a look around this evening on my way home from work and noticed the following gas prices.  Its nice that gas is going down, just not at the same rate though:

Beebe
- Exxon 3.22
-Shell 3.22
-Valero 3.22
- Phillips 66 3.22
- Flash Market 3.22

Cabot
- Murphy Oil 3.07

Jacksonville
- Flash Market 3.12
- Valero 3.12

Hopefully, it won't be much longer before gas goes back under 3.00/gallon.  What will tomorrow bring?  You never know.

Price of gas in Beebe compared to other towns

I thought I would have a post comparing gas prices in Beebe to other towns.  I wonder why gas in Beebe is almost always higher than in other towns around us.  Here are just a sample of gas prices:

Beebe
- Exxon 3.22
- Shell 3.22
- Flash Market 3.22
- Valero 3.22

Jacksonville
- Flash Market 3.14

Cabot
- Exxon(highway 5) 3.16
- Murphy Oil 3.14

As I said, that's just a sampling.  What will today hold?  You never know, especially around here.

Super Regionals starting Friday

Well Razorback fans, the Arkansas baseball team will begin Super Regional play tomorrow afternoon at 4 PM in Waco, TX against the Baylor Bears.  If the Hogs can win two out of three, then the Hogs will go back to the College World Series where they made it to the semifinals in 2009.  You can see tomorrow afternoon's game on ESPNU(Dish Network channel 141).  Saturday's game can be seen on ESPN2, although I'm not sure of the time.  Go Hogs!!!!

No walking/running tonight.......

Well, no walking or even any running by Miss Amanda the past couple of evenings.  She hasn't been feeling well because of the POTS, but hopefully, tomorrow, she'll feel like walking or even running a bit.  I absolutely detest POTS!!!  I am going to post a link to a site that will hopefully explain diseases such as POTS.  It is my hope that more people can understand this. www.dinet.org

walking/running

Well, in the past several days, we've been doing a lot of walking lately and there's a reason.  A couple of weeks ago, Amanda told me that she had always wanted to run a triathlon.   I had never realized that she had wanted to run a triathlon, but I think that's pretty freaking awesome!!!  So, Amanda found a training program online and now, she is following it. The first couple of weeks or so has been nothing but walking, but now, she is very slowly starting to incorporate some running within the walking.  The walking has been awesome!  We're walking no fewer than 1.3 miles and as of right now, we're bordering on doing two mile walks.  Starting on 5/31, here are the distances and times(if noted) that she has walked:

5/31- 1.3 miles
6/1- 1.3 miles
6/2- 1.8 miles (32 minutes 43 seconds)
6/3- 1.3 miles (22 minutes 37 seconds, which included running for 1 minute 20 seconds)
6/4- 2.0 miles
6/5- off

So far in this time period, Amanda has walked 7.7 miles, which is the equivalent of walking from Beebe to Garner or Beebe to just on the other side of Austin.  I will post times and distances as they will only get better and longer.  Her immediate goal is to build strength and endurance up and hopefully, before too long, to walk a 5K run and then to run one. 

I am so by her side and supporting her all the way.  You go Amanda!!!!!  I love you babe!!!!

A tribute to Pepper(December 24, 1998-December 17, 2011)

Seeing a post that one of my friends on Facebook about his dog, Roxy, suffering from cancer, made me think about my Pepper.  Its hard to believe that its been nearly five months since that heard wrenching day in December, 2011, when I made, without a doubt, the toughest decision of my life, to put my Lhasa Apso/Shih Tzu mix, Pepper, to sleep.  She was a week shy of 13.  She was dealing with dementia and was suffering mentally.  In the last several months of her life, especially, the last month or so, her behavior had become erratic and destructive.  Losing a pet is a tough tough ordeal, especially when she and Sam the cat helped me through three of the toughest years that I personally had ever dealt with.  After my now ex wife and I split up, those two four legged poop factories helped to keep me sane.  They maintained normalcy in an otherwise abnormal situation.  Pepper came to me on Super Bowl Sunday, 1999.  I missed the 2nd half of John Elway's last game ever as a pro, to play with a 6 week old puppy and to implore her to quote, "poo poo on the paper".  She became a constant in my life.  Whether it be jumping on the bed when it was time to go to bed or to take a nap, or whether she begged for food, Pepper never ceased to make me laugh.  As it became apparent that the time to make a decision was near, I prayed to God that HIS will would be done.  As a pet owner, its easy to be selfish and to try to prolong your friend's life, just for the sake of holding off the inevitable grief.  However, it was even more selfish of me to consider making her suffer anymore.  So, after much prayer and thinking, it was time.  I can still remember having that talk with her, asking her to forgive me and asking God to forgive me for the decision I was making.  It was tough knowing that on Saturday morning, December 17, 2011, Pepper was alive and breathing and that two hours later, she was gone.  I still remember sitting in that room in the Beebe Vet Hospital, petting her and telling her that I loved her before the vet came to take her in the back for that final shot.  I had to wear sunglasses inside because I was crying and my eyes were incredibly red.  I still remember taking her to my parents to her final resting place and my dad helping me to dig her grave.  As I stood out there on that sunny Saturday morning, it took so much strength for me not to totally break down.  Then, I simply said, "Goodbye Pepper".  I came home and grieved and I cried.  The house was so not the same.  No Pepper greeting me at the door when I came home from work, no tail wagging.  It was an eerie silence for a couple of days.  I cried like a baby, but............and I do believe this is important, you have to grief.  You have to have that chance to say goodbye, to celebrate the life of the one  that you just said goodbye to.  Sam the cat did some grieving.  There was about a two week period in which he would lay on Pepper's green blanket in my closet.  You see, animals feel emotion just like humans do and they grieve just like people do.  Once in a while, when Sam is on the bed and I'm laying in bed, I'll ask if he misses "sissy".  Deep inside that feline mind, I do believe that Sam misses his big sister.  I will never have another inside dog.  I base that decision on two things, one, because I don't know if I want to get attached to another dog like that, although there will never be another dog like Pepper, and two, as someone who drives 32 miles to work every day, and is gone a lot, its not fair for the dog to be alone for so many hours.  I'll always think of my "big girl", my "bigness", my "babygirl".  She will always have a place in my heart, forever and forever.  So Jason and Nikki, it will be tough and you will cry and you will mourn, but ya'll will be okay.  Its like I posted on Facebook, maybe Roxy and Pepper will play together.  To my Pepper, I'll love you always biggirl.

My soulmate and best friend

This is Amanda, my wonderful girlfriend.  She is also my soulmate and best friend.  I have never known anyone quite like her.  First of all, she is a stunningly beautiful woman!!!  Look at that premature gray.  Yes, folks, she is 32 and is going gray early.  Society thinks that to be beautiful, you have to be fake.  I totally disagree!!!!  I think natural beauty is the most beautiful part of beauty and I, for one, am glad that Amanda is electing to let the gray come in.  As far as I'm concerned, the gray cannot come in fast enough, but enough about that wonderful premature gray.  Another feature about Amanda that is so unique is her personality. She is very much a strong and empowered woman, yes, I said it!!  She is strong and empowered.  To be a single parent, raising two children on your own, and going to college, and with the other things going on in her life, she has done a hell of a job!!!!  I applaud all of the single parents out there.  It is not an easy job, and its a job you can't resign from, nor can you take a vacation from.  I am so thankful and grateful for this woman.   Quite frankly, some of the goals that she has in the future are awesome and I'll talk about those a little later.  I love you Amanda!!!!

An intro

Good evening friends!  My name is Shane Smith and welcome to my blog...........aptly called TOO, which stands for Thankful, Optimistic, and Opinionated, which coincidentially, are good descriptions for my personality.  I have blogged before, but I wanted to do something a little different.  Everyone has an opinion, but not everyone can explain their opinions, and that's what I wanted to do with this blog.  Let me describe myself.  First, I am thankful............for many things.  I am thankful for my health, my family, my wonderful girlfriend, my girlfriends two wonderful kids, my job, and so many other things.  Its real easy to gripe about all the little things in life, but instead of complaining so much, how about being thankful for the important things.  Second, I am optimistic..........optimistic that my relationship w/ Amanda will continue to blossom into something even more wonderful, optimistic that my relationship with her kids will continue to grow into something wonderful, and optimistic for so many other things.  My ex wife was a very pessimistic person...........quite frankly, I couldn't handle that.  Its easy to be down about so many things, but why not be optimistic about all the wonderful things going on around us.  Look, we know that the world sucks and its a tough place, but instead of hanging your head down, chin up, and fight fight fight.  Lastly, I am opinionated.  I can be blunt and sometimes I will be blunt, but honesty is a quality that we just don't see in society much anymore.  Its real easy to lie to protect or cover yourself up, however, why can't we be more honest and just own up to the mistakes that we do make?  It sure will make things a whole lot simpler and you won't come out looking as bad as you would had you lied.  I know a certain former collegiate football coach can attest to that, haha.  So there you go, a little insight into yours truly.  I hope that you'll enjoy the posts, photos, stories, and occasional rants and raves of a Moderate Independent who is a huge sports fan.