Volume 9, No 7
sc
Marlene Silva sees life from
a different point of view...
behind her .38 caliber
Ruger Revolver!
By Don Gordon
The tattooed ex-sailor is a NASCAR
racing devotee, likes to shoot firearms,
listens to the music of rapper M& M, and
gets unusual hair coloring. Otherwise the
63-year-old lady is almost conventional.
“I’m dangerous. I‘m an educated lib-
eral with guns,” says Marlene Silva in at
least partial jest.
Ms. Silva has been a resident of Goose
Creek for 27 years, but has never lost the
accent that betrays her northeastern roots,
Philadelphia to be specific. “You’re not
from around here, are you?” she mock-
ingly quotes some of the locals she has en-
countered.
Maybe not, but Ms. Silva apparently is
here to stay and, independent as ever, plans
to keep doing what she has been doing.
“I get up when I want, do what I want
and go where I want,” she announced.
INSIDE
Lowcountry Sun
Page 6
Home Tax Credits
Page 12
Treat Your Skin Right
Page 20
Get the Lead Out!
Caring Thru Clowning
Last month’s article on Caring thru Clowning at Roper
St. Francis forgot to give contact information for vol-
unteers interested in the Bumper T Caring Clown Pro-
gram. If you interested in additional information email
Dr Geezer at rgmason@goeaston.net.
BUILDING FINANCIAL
FOUNDATIONS
www.lowcountrysun.sc
www.lowcountrysun.
JULY, 2010
“My son thinks I’m
crazy, but he knows
I’m having fun and
wouldn’t hurt any-
one.”
The son, Doug-
las, lives next door
in Goose Creek. It
was her other son
Scott, whom she
adopted, who intro-
duced her last year
to the world of firearms.
“I love it,” Ms. Silva said simply. Her
handguns are a .22 caliber Walther auto-
matic and a .38 caliber Ruger 5-shot re-
volver. “I bought the Walther for fun and
the Ruger for protection.”
A couple of times a week one will
find Ms. Silva at the shooting range at the
ATP gun shop n Summerville, an activity
she recommends for other women. “I in-
Why in the world is Social Security so complicated?
In 1936, Social Security started out
with a couple of cut-and-dry guidelines.
But, over the years, as life got more
complicated with divorces, women in
the workforce, blended families and
disabilities, Social Security took on a
life of its own.
By Tom Margenau
If you think about it, when Social Se-
curity started in the 1930s, men worked
outside the home and women didn’t (for
the most part). Marriages lasted forever
-- more or less -- and children were raised
in two-parent homes by their biologi-
cal mothers and fathers. Today, both men
and woman work, divorce is common and
blended families are almost the norm. I’ll
always remember helping a young teenag-
er fill out his application for a Social Secu-
rity number. When we got to the question
vite all ladies, young and old, to come to he said (in apparent surprise), ‘you really
ATP,” she said. “They would be surprised listen to all kinds of music.’ “ M&M is the
at how much they would enjoy it.” only artist of that type Ms. Silva likes, list-
Ms. Silva extols the positives of gun ing rock and roll and blues as among her
ownership and use. “People with legal guns favorites.
are not dangerous because they respect and Ms. Silva retains good memories of
know how to use them,” she contends,. her upbringing. Her father died young,
Ms. Silva sees herself as different leaving her mother to raise three daughters
from other people her age. “They are really alone. “We went to Catholic school.
old,” she said. “I took a 15 year-old neigh-
Silva continued on page 2
bor boy to the shooting range with me and
about his father’s name, he asked me: “Do
you want my real dad, my stepdad or the
name of the man my mom is living with?”
Anyway, Social Security has had to change
over the years to respond to society’s trans-
formations. One of my favorite reference
works is a book entitled “History of the
Provisions of the Social Security Act.”
(Now you know how boring my life is!) It
provides a nice summary of the evolution
of the Social Security program.
Passed in 1936, the original Social Se-
curity Act provided retirement benefits for
workers (again, mostly men) age 65 and
older ... period. But even before the first Although there have been many changes
monthly benefits were paid in 1940, the in Social Security since it’s inception, very
Social Security Act was amended in 1939 few benefits have been cut, but it’s still
to add benefits for: wives age 65 and older, complicated to understand without help.
children under age 18 of retired workers, In 1950, Congress decided that a wife of a
widows age 65 and older, and widows of retiree should be able to get monthly
any age with small children.
SS continued on page 2
CORNERSTONE WEALTH &
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4975 LACROSS RD, SUITE 354
CHARLESTON SC, 29406
WWW.CSWTA.COM • 843.376.3350
• July 2010 1

Silva
continued from page 1
We all did well and all our
children have done well,” Ms.
Silva said, giving due credit to
her mother’s role.
It was military service that
brought her to the South. Ms. Sil-
va joined the Navy in 1976 and
remained nine years, serving for
a time as a drill instructor at the
boot camp in Orlando, Fla., and
also, at the rank of first class petty
officer as a crew member aboard
a submarine tender in Charleston.
During that period, her hus-
band, who previously had been a
Marine was in the Navy aboard
a submarine in Charleston. They
later divorced.
The tattoos Ms. Silva wears
are not relics of her days as a sail-
or but are of more recent vintage
owing to her admiration for race
car driver Tony Stewart. It was
after her retirement last year from
the U.S. Postage Service, where
she spent 25 years as a letter carri-
er, that Ms. Silva added body art,
one on the calf of Stewart’s por-
trait and his number, 14, and one
on the wrist featuring the number
and his nickname, “Smoke.”
Perhaps it should surprise
no one that one of the things Ms.
Silva likes about Stewart is his
combative style.
“He’s a bad boy. He speaks
his mind,” she explained.
“I’m sitting in my Tony
Stewart room now,” she said dur-
ing the telephone interview. The
room includes posters, pennants,
photos, and a cut out of the driver,
among other pertinent items.
Ms. Silva has never met
Stewart. “I’d die if I did,” she ex-
claimed.
In honor of his birthday Silva’s tattoes are a loving trib-
on May 20, Ms. Silva had red ute to her admiration for bad boy
streaks dyed into her naturally Nascar driver Tony Stewart.
brown hair, red being Stewart’s
racing color. She said that since Ms. Silva‘s philosophy is not
that time, the coloration has faded hard to figure out. Mainly it‘s a
into a combination of pink and matter of her living her life on
blonde, which does not seem to her own terms. “They say people
concern her much. mellow with age,” she said. “I‘m
Auto racing is not the only getting worse.” Referring to a
sport Ms. Silva enjoys. True to more submissive age, especially
her Philadelphia background, she for women, Mrs. Silva added,
still roots for the hockey Flyers “We kids are taking it back now,
and the baseball Phillies. She also and nobody is going to stop us.”
is fond of remembering having It‘s hard to imagine anyone
once met the St. Louis Cardinal wanting to try.
great Stan Musial in his St. Louis
Marlene Silva is just your ordinary next door neighbor with a great
restaurant. smile and a lethal hobby!

and older. ers of all ages. old woman involved in a terrible 20 years. But frustrated women
SS There was a big Social Secu-
rity amendment package in 1956.
In 1956, Congress also de-
cided to make reduced retirement
marriage in 1960. You had been
married to your husband for al-
told Congress that being married
to that no good bum for even 10
continued from page 1 It recognized that many workers benefits available as early as age most 40 years when you finally years was worth something, so in
benefits, even if she was under did not stay healthy until retire- 62 -- but only for women. They couldn’t take it anymore and de- 1977, they lowered the duration
age 65 if she was caring for her ment age, so disability benefits also allowed spouses of retired cided to get a divorce. But then of marriage rule to the 10-year
husband’s minor children. They were added to the program. Ini- workers to claim benefits at 62. imagine your shock when you mark -- where it remains today.
also realized that there were a few tially, the law restricted such pay- Furthermore, they lowered the learned that you were not eligible And on the same subject, men
stay-at-home dads out there, so ments to disabled workers over eligibility age for widows from for a nickel of your ex’s Social pointed out that sometimes they
they added benefits for dependent age 50. But just four years later, 65 to 62. Security, even though you spent are the ones who get the shaft in a
husbands and widowers at age 65 they expanded coverage to work- A lot of men must have com- four decades cooking his meals, bad marriage. So in 1983, Social
plained about pre-age 65 ben- cleaning his house and washing Security benefits were granted to
efits being made available only to his underwear. divorced husbands and widowers.
The Tri-County’s Premier Publication for the Young and Active After 50 women, because in 1961, Social In 1965, Congress finally The list of amendments to the So-
Security laws were changed to recognized this was unfair, so cial Security Act goes on and on.
grant early retirement benefits to they added benefits for divorced In the late 60s, the eligibility age
men and early husband’s benefits wives and widows. The original for widows and widowers was
to stay-at-home dads. law limited benefits to women lowered from age 65 to age 60.
Imagine you were a 62-year- who had been married for at least Disabled widows and widowers
under age 60 were added to the
Over 200 Distribution Points and 45,000 Readers roles beginning in 1968. Fathers
caring for young children without
in the Greater Charleston Area a mother finally got benefits in
The Lowcountry Sun is a monthly newspaper dedicated to informing, 1983 -- to match benefits young
serving and entertaining active senior adults in the Greater Charleston widows had been receiving since
area. 1939.
Subscriptions are available, prepaid with order, at $31 for one year. I don’t have anywhere near
Send subscription orders to: enough room to list all the chang-
Lowcountry Sun, 1961 Treebark Drive, Charleston, SC 29414 es that have happened to Social
Security since the original act was
passed in 1935. But I will make
Orders received by the 15th of the month will start with the next issue.
Publication of advertising contained herein does not necessarily consti-
tute endorsement. Signed columns are the opinion of the writers and not this interesting point. In the entire
necessarily the opinion of the publisher, advertisers or their agencies. 75-year history of the program,
Copyright 2008 - Neighborhood Newspapers, Inc. All rights reserved. I can think of only a handful of
Social Security benefits that have
been cut. For example, children
Publisher/Sales Contributing Writers Graphics/Layout
Torrey Monroe James Parker Jill Lancaster
843-345-1314 Cappy Hall Rearick of retired or deceased workers
John Schumacher used to be able to claim benefits
Liz Sharp until age 22 if they were in col-
lege. Beginning in 1981, the cut-
off date was dropped to age 18.
Also, widowed mothers and fa-
Let us mail the Lowcountry Sun to your home.
Only $31 for one year.
thers used to receive benefits un-
Name til the youngest child turned 18.
Address The 1981 Social Security amend-
City/State/Zip ments lowered that age to 16.
Phone Email If you have a Social Security
question, Tom Margenau has the
Mail coupon to answer. Contact him at thomas.
1961 Treebark Drive, Charleston, SC 29414 margenau@comcast.net.
843-345-1314 • Fax 843-278-9321

2 July 2010 • www.lowcountrysun.sc

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www.lowcountrysun.sc • July 2010 3


By Liz Sharp
FREEDOM
How free are you feeling? It’s
the month of celebrating our free-
doms and appreciating that we live
in this great country. Sometimes
you have to visit, or even live else-
where before you appreciate what
we have here. But, we can live
“in the land of the free” and feel
trapped, stuck, even imprisoned-
-by illness, negative relationships,
financial stress, and even by our
own thoughts.
Dear Liz,
I am stuck. I can’t get past
thoughts and regrets about my di-
vorce, which was many years ago!
What has changed is, the reality
of having to “share” time with my
grandchildren with my ex and his
new family. It’s like we’re back to
the divorce and sharing time with
the children. I really hated that
then, and feel that way all over
again. I can’t help but think that if
we never got divorced, I’d be en-
joying the grandchildren with him,
“full time” instead of part of the
time. How can I break free?
“Stuck” Goose Creek
Dear “Stuck,”
I’m sure there are many read-
ers who can relate. I commend
your honesty about your feelings.
The reality is what it is--your chil-
dren now (must, hopefully will)
make sure both of their parents
have adequate time to enjoy the
grandchildren and for the grand-
children to enjoy and know them.
It is one of the things that makes a
divorce, in a sense, go on forever.
But, it is important to not let this
reality contaminate the time you
DO have. And, your thoughts
about the situation are what affect
your feelings.
In order to change your think-
ing, so you can make the most of
your time with the grandchildren
(and their parents), you may need
to do some fresh work--facing the
grief and regret head-on. This may
require some short-term counsel-
ing with a pro-active therapist.
It may be important to renew
forgiveness of yourself, your ex-
spouse and the situations that led
to the choice to divorce. You may
need help of a good counselor
4 July 2010 •
advice & opinion
and/or trusted clergy member to
accomplish this. It also sounds as
though you may not have enough
balance in your life--and may
even need to take steps to deal
with loneliness. To better enjoy
the time with your grandchildren,
you may need to introduce more
meaningful activities to enrich and
round-out your life. You want to
be free to fully enjoy the kids and
grandkids, so you have no more
regrets in the future! Wishing you
the best.
Dear Liz,
Help! My newly retired hus-
band is making me crazy! I love
him, and usually enjoy his com-
pany. But, since he has retired, he
wants to do everything together.
Am I wrong to feel trapped? I
can’t seem to do anything without
him being right there. He’s always
asking me “what are you doing?”
“Prisoner of Love” Charleston
Dear “Prisoner,”
Isn’t it ironic that when we are
younger and busy with kids, work
and just making it day to day, we
crave more time and attention from
our spouses? Now, it feels like
too much of a good thing. Your
husband will go through an adjust-
ment period, after working for a
lifetime. Men often define them-
selves, their worth, by and through
their work. Then, it’s gone. He
seems to have transferred that fo-
cus to you--which can, frankly, be
annoying and smothering. Bal-
ance is needed here. Does he have
any hobbies, sports or activities
he liked before, or would like to
pursue now that he has more time?
Is there some travel adventure or
mutual activities you would like to
50
% spending.
Off!
build into your lives? You have his
attention - it may be up to you to
channel that attention to activities
and a schedule that suits you. It is
also helpful to have a heartfelt dis-
cussion (maybe with the help of a
counselor, trusted friend or clergy
member) about how he feels about
being retired, and what his new
goals, interests and desired life-
style might be. Staying happily
busy is essential for the mainte-
nance of good mental and physical
health. He may need some under-
standing help to accomplish this.
Please keep your questions
and comments coming. You can
reach Liz by e-mail at asksharp-
liz@gmail.com
Seniors Can Enjoy Summertime Safely
Many people look forward
to the warm weather, particularly
seniors. Spending time outdoors
can be healthy and refreshing, but
those exposed to too much sun
and heat could be at risk medi-
cally.
Each year exposure to high
temperatures and humidity leads
to hundreds of deaths across the
country. Boomers comprise a
large percentage of heat-related
illnesses and deaths and Se-
niors have a harder time adjust-
ing to extreme temperatures than
younger adults, which puts them
at risk. Also, certain pre-existing
medical conditions and medica-
tions could make older individuals
more susceptible to heat-related
illness.
One of the factors contributing
to seniors’ risk of health implica-
tions from hot weather is their loss
of the sensation of thirst as they
grow older. Without the desire to
drink regularly, individuals could
become dehydrated very easily.
This, factored in with changes in
body temperature regulation, can
result in confusion, falls and other
preventable adverse effects.
Safety is of utmost concern
during the warm weather. Do not
take any situation lightly because
it could impact one’s health. Here
are some precautions to follow.
8 Move slowly: Rushing around
in hot weather can cause body
temperature to rise more quickly
and make you even hotter. Slow
down when it is warm and do
Did You Know?
According to a 2010 report jointly
released by the nonprofit Trust
for America’s Health, the Robert
Wood Johnson Foundation and
the Infectious Diseases Society
of America, millions of adults are
going without recommended vac-
cinations, leading to as many
as 50,000 preventable deaths a
year. Perhaps no group of people
is more burdened by this alarm-
ing trend than the nation’s senior
citizens, who are the most sus-
ceptible to disease. Many se-
niors, in fact, should be especially
concerned about pneumonia,
the fifth-leading cause of death
among people over the age of 65.
Despite that, the aforementioned
report found that roughly one-third
of Americans over the age of 65
plenty of relaxing.
8 Know the ambient tempera-
ture indoors: The heat inside
can quickly rise. Keep curtains
and blinds drawn to reduce the
amount of heat from the sun. cooler hours: If you must spend
Check the thermostat to find
out the temperature. If you have
an air conditioner or fan, turn it on
to cool down the house if the tem-
perature is creeping above 85 F.
Otherwise, seek a cooler location
until your home cools down.
8 Drink plenty of fluids: Bever-
ages such as water, fruit juices,
decaffeinated teas and the like
can keep you hydrated and in top
form. Avoid alcoholic beverages,
soft drinks and caffeinated prod-
ucts.
Are you over 65?
Do you have a
TERM
Life Insurance policy that
will expire soon?
We might be able to
buy it from you for
CASH.
Call Wayne
843.693.9925
to see if you qualify.
www.lowcountrysun.sc
are not getting the recommended
pneumonia vaccination. What’s
more, the report also indicated
only 2 percent of adults received
the vaccinations for tetanus, diph-
theria and whooping cough over
the last two years. Much of the
blame for the dwindling vaccina-
tion rate, according to the report,
is a healthcare systemthat is poor-
ly designed to deliver vaccinations
to adults. While children get their
vaccinations in school, no such
coordinated effort is available to
adults, and even doctors often
overlook vaccinations when see-
ing a patient. In addition, many
medical plans to not cover recom-
mended vaccinations, and many
more people do not have medical
care.
8 Skip hot, heavy meals: Opt for
cooler fare, such as cold sand-
wiches, fruit and salads, to keep
your body temperature cooler.
8 Plan outdoor activities during
time outdoors, do so early in the
morning or in the evening when
the temperatures are bound to be
lower and less taxing.
8 Indulge in a little “cooling off”:
Take a dip in a neighborhood pool
or treat yourself to an ice cream
sundae. Do what you need to stay
cool.
8 Don’t ignore signs of health
problems: If you feel dizzy, have
shortness of breath, have stopped
sweating, or are confused, it could
be heat exhaustion. Call for medi-
cal help immediately.
1. Older Americans account
for $2 trillion or 50% of all
2. Older Americans control
$7 trillion in wealth.
3. We are the only publi-
cation in the Lowcountry
dedicated to reaching older
Americans.
4. The Lowcountry Sun dis-
tributes free newspapers
every month to over 200
premium locations and to
more than 40,000 readers.
5. We target one of the fast-
est growing segments of
the population.
The Tri-County’s Premier Publication
For the Young and Active After 50
843-345-1314
Check us out at
www.lowcountrysun.sc
Check us out
on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/
lowcountrysun
and follow us on twitter
@ LowCountrySun
 Shaggin’ at the Shrine
Doors and DJ
start at 6:00pm July 24 , 2010 th
Coco Loco Party Band,
C d,
a well known band
from Myrtle Beach
plays 8pm to Midnightt

Dinner*
Shaggin’ Contest! MC & DoJ n
Prizes: John Dix AM
alk 1340
dw
1st Place $700 The Boar
2nd Place $350 Door Prizes!
3rd Place $150 Free local hotel room
& dinner on
Budweiser Beer Bar Wagon!
Saturday night
2 cash bars
Free home pressure-washing
Raffle Tickets for
services & gift certificates to
2010 Chevrolet Camaro
& 3 Different Golf Carts many local businesses
(Drawing to be held in Nov.)

Omar Shrine Temple

176 Patriots Point St.
Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464
Call Omar Temple Staff Office for
Reservations or more information
843.971.1405 • 8:30 - 2:30 M-F
Call Noble Tony Lavender, Event Chairperson,
Table Reservations 843.830. 2123

Funeral - Cremation
722-8371
LEMMONS CONSTRUCTION
Handyman 345-5084 345-5048
Event sponsorships still available! *See pg. 16 for the nights’ menu.
Raffle donations are for the benefit of Omar Shriners activities
and are not deductible as charitable donations.
www.lowcountrysun.sc • July 2010 5
 ‘Where’s My Bail Out?’
Homeowner Finds Comfort in Stimulus Package
Increases Home’s Energy Efficiency by More Than 25% with 50% Covered by Incentives
Mike Sievers expected that
his home, built in 2005, was prob-
ably more energy efficient than
most but, given recent rebates
for home energy audits and im-
provements, he decided to double
check.
“I figured, if public funding
is available to off-set costs for an
energy retrofit, I should seize the
opportunity, while it lasts,” says
Sievers.
Mike contacted a home per-
formance contractor company,
GreenHomes America, to set up
the initial assessment. What they
found was shocking. Mike’s rela-
tively new home was 50 percent
draftier than it should have been.
The good news, however,
was that by focusing on energy
improvements in his attic alone,
his contractor predicted that the
home’s overall energy perfor-
mance could be improved by 25
percent. Eager to take advantage
of recent state and federal tax
incentives, Sievers approved the
work order.
The first step was to remove
the original blown-in fiberglass
insulation. They then sealed off
holes from nails, plumbing, light-
ing, wiring and duct work, with
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6 July 2010 •
two inches of BASF Comfort
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(Air sealing is an essential step
since uncontrolled air leakage is
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the U.S. Department of Energy.)
They then reinstalled the fi-
berglass insulation and added
more to give a total of five inches
of blown-in fiberglass on top of
the foam insulation to maximize
the insulating value. They also
used Comfort Foam to insulate
some attic rims and seal the rim
joist area in the basement, greatly
reducing the air leakage.
The results are impressive.
Based on three months of energy
bills, Mike Sievers and his fam-
ily are now saving more than the
predicted 25 percent on heating
and cooling bills. With a little re-
search, he was also able to offset
50 percent of the cost of the retro-
fit through public incentives in his
home state of New Jersey.
And according to Sievers,
there were some unexpected bo-
nuses, “The overall comfort was
immediately noticeable. Our
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house is not only much less drafty,
there seems to be no big differ-
ence in temperature from floor
to floor and it is so much quieter
here now. Overall, we’d say, this
is now a much better home.”
A Little Research Can Lead to
Big Change - In Your Pocket
To find available incentives,
Sievers went to a free Web site
DSIRE (www.dsireusa.org), a
comprehensive source of infor-
mation on state, local, utility and
federal incentives and policies
that promote renewable energy
and energy efficiency. Addition-
ally, as an employee of BASF, the
Chemical Company, he partici-
pated in a new company program
called the Neighborhood Energy
Efficiency Drive (NEED) that
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provided him with customized re-
ports on funding and recommen-
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To find a qualified home
performance contractor, Siev- A. Tax credits are available at 30%
of the cost, up to $1,500 total, in
ers researched contractors in his 2009 & 2010 (ONLY for existing
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the Building Performance Insti-
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tion with which GreenHomes
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fied contractors are highly skilled
and have passed a number of
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to achieve their BPI accreditation.
For more information about
BASF Comfort Foam insulation,
visit www.basf-pfe.com. To find a
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Which products
are eligible
for a tax credit?
Q. Which products are eligible for a
tax credits for energy efficient home
improvements? Are they available
for new construction also? What
about vacation homes? Rental
properties?
homes, NOT new construction, that
are your “principal residence”) for:
• Windows and Doors (including
sliding glass doors, garage doors,
storm doors and storm windows)
• Insulation
• Roofs (Metal and Asphalt)
• HVAC: Central Air Conditioners,
Air Source Heat Pumps, Furnaces
and Boilers
• Water Heaters: Gas, Oil, & Pro-
pane Water Heaters, Electric Heat
Pump Water Heaters
• Biomass Stoves
Tax credits are available at
30% of the cost, with no upper limit,
through 2016 (for existing homes &
new construction - it does not have
to be your “principal residence,” va-
cation homes are eligible.
• Geothermal Heat Pumps
• Solar Panels
• Solar Water Heaters
• Small Wind Energy Systems
Tax credits are available at 30%
of the cost, up to $500 per .5 kW of
power capacity, through 2016 (for
your existing “principal residence”
or new construction that will be your
principal residence, DOES NOT in-
clude vacation homes) for:
• Fuel Cells
Renters are not eligible for any of
the tax credits.
The installation tax credit for
HVAC, biomass stoves, and non-
solar water heaters is 30% of the
total cost (product + installation) up
to $1,500. The law specifies instal-
lation costs include: “expenditures
for labor costs properly allocable to
the onsite preparation, assembly, or
original installation of the property.”
The tax credit for solar water
heaters, solar panels, geothermal
heat pumps, wind energy systems,
and fuel cells* is 30% of the total
cost (product + installation), with
no upper limit. The law specifies in-
stallation costs include: “labor costs
properly allocable to the onsite
preparation, assembly, or original
installation of the property and for
piping or wiring to interconnect such
property to the home.
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www.lowcountrysun.sc • July 2010 7
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8 July 2010 • www.lowcountrysun.sc

 Treat Arthritis Effectively
with Natural Treatment
For those living with arthritis, you sible for the blockage of qi and blood.
know how difficult it can be to find re- Causes of arthritis from a Chi-
lief from joint pain. Reliance upon anti- nese Medical perspective include weak-
inflammatories, pain killers, and even ness of the internal organs, contitutional
surgery is less than appealing for most. weakness, physical injury, chages with
Fortunately, there is an alternative. Peo- the quality and quantity of qi, stress and
ple have been using acupuncture and anxiety, as well as invasion of pathogen-
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) ic factors such as wind, damp, heat and
for centuries with great success. cold.
According to the Centers for Disease Chiropractic is another effective way
Conrol and Prevention, an estimated one
in three Americans is affected. Osteoar-
thritis (OA) is the most common type,
affecting over 21 million adults. It oc-
curs when the cartilage between joints
breaks down, usually affecting the hips,
hands, knees, low back or neck. Another
common type is Rheumatoid Arthritis
(RA), affecting an estimated 2.1 million
Americans. This condition occurs when
the joint lining, called the synovium
becomes inflammed leading to chronic
joint pain, swelling, stiffness, warmth,
deformation and even loss of move-
ment. RA usually affects the same joints
on both sides of the body, and may be
accompanied by fatigues, flu-like symp-
toms, pain and weakness.
Accupuncture offers a safe and natural
way to control joint pain. Studies sug-
gest that patients receiving acupuncture
experience a 40% decrease in pain and Acupuncture aids the activity of your
40% increase in joint function. A Scan- body’s pain-killing chemicals. It also
dinavian study showed 25% of arthritis might affect how you release chemicals
patients scheduled for knee surgery can- that regulate blood pressure and flow.
celled their operations after acupuncture
treatment. The World Health Organiza- to treat arthritis. Using this model, the
tion concurs that acupuncture is an ef- hips are aligned resulting in less pres-
fective means to treating arthritis. sure placed upon the affected joint. Your
acupuncturist may recommend a combi-
Traditional Chinese Medicine takes nation of therapy maximizing the body’s
a whole body approach to health. Ac- healing potential. Acupuncture chiro-
cording to theory, there are twelve en- practic massage, diet and lifestyle may
ergy channels, called meridians cours- be the solutions to your health problems.
ing the body. Through the meridians,
qi (pronounced “chee”) and blood flow For more information on acupunc-
nourish every cell, tissue, muscle and ture and traditional chinese medicine,
organ. When this flow becomes dis- contact Sarah Stowers, L.Ac. at 843-
rupted pain results. A practitioner will 670-3817 or email her at sstowers@
take a detailed health history, and look ymail.com
for dysfunction(s) that may be respon-

Crossword Solution
from page 26

www.lowcountrysun.sc • July 2010 9


Today’s boomers and se-
niors might cringe at the es-
calating costs of necessities
such as prescription medica-
tion and even higher utility
bills, and understandably so.
However, savvy seniors can
save by taking advantage of a
host of discounts exclusive to
the those over the age of 55.
* Travel perks. Many seniors
love to travel, and can even
do so at heavily discounted
prices. Larger hotel chains
often offer seniors discounts
as high as 10 percent. Unfor-
tunately, many U.S. domes-
tic airlines, facing higher fuel
prices and dwindling busi-
ness due the global economic
downturn, ceased offering se-
nior discounts in 2009. How-
ever, certain airlines, including
Southwest Airlines, still offer
discounted rates to seniors.
These discounts can be as
much as 10 percent. It’s also
common for car rental agen-
cies to offer senior discounts.
* Transportation. Many com-
munities provide heavily dis-
counted, if not free, rates to
seniors for public transporta-
tion. Consult with your local
residential, commercial
move in, move out
post-construction
insured & bonded
843-225-7366
www.springcleaningservices.net
10 July 2010 •
government to determine if
you qualify for senior dis-
counts.
* Food. Grocery stores com-
monly offer discounts to older
customers, and many times
you don’t even need to be a
senior to qualify. In general,
chains offer discounts, includ-
ing special days for boomers
to shop, to anyone over the
age of 55. Restaurants are
also known to offer senior
discounts, and often these
discounts extend beyond
“early bird special” discounts
of yesteryear. While early bird
specials still exist, many chain
restaurants offer discounted
prices to 55 +’ers regardless
of time of day. In many cases,
these discounts aren’t listed
on the menu, but it never
hurts, and typically saves, to
ask.
* Arts and culture. Seniors
looking to spend a day or night
on the town and take in some
culture can typically do so at
a discounted rate. Museums
and National Parks typically
offer discounted admission to
seniors, as do movie theaters
and even some concert halls.
initial cleaning for
new customers only
Making Friends After Retirement
When you’re younger, it
seems you can’t wait until re-
tirement. After all, who wants
to deal with going to work every
day and coping with cowork-
ers and a boss? However, many
people overlook the opportuni-
ties for socialization that work-
ing provides. You get out of the
house and see people -- apart
from your family --with whom
you can converse. Many retirees
find that life can be a bit boring
after the job ends, primarily be-
cause they don’t have access to
the same level of socialization as
they once did.
Making friends can keep
you active and healthy. If you’re
a bit rusty in the friend-making
department, it’s pretty much how
it was when you were younger.
You simply must find individuals
who have similar interests and
goals.
• Volunteer in your community
and you’re bound to find poten-
tial friends who are like-minded.
• Take classes at a college or uni-
versity. Many offer free or dis-
counted rates for seniors. This is
a great way to meet people of all
ages and walks of life.
• Attend clubs at senior centers
or houses of worship. It’s likely
that there are plenty of other
people looking for relationships.
Lowcountry Senior Center
• Think about your interests. If 865 Riverland Drive, Charleston
you like fishing, sewing or boat- (843) 762-9555
ing, join a club that caters to
those interests. Others who share Charleston Area Senior Citizen
your hobbies will be there. 259 Meeting Street, Charleston
(843) 722-4127
• If you’re new to an area, host
an open-house party and invite Hanahan Senior Center
neighbors in for introductions 3102 Mabeline Road
and some socialization.
(843)266-0958
• Join a social networking site
online. You can connect with Mount Pleasant Senior
people, potentially individuals Services Center
who live close by. Thomasena Stokes-Marshall
Building
• Ask existing friends if they 840 Von Kolnitz Road
have other friends to whom they
Mount Pleasant
can be intriduced.
(843)856-2166
Here are some Senior centers in
the area to find fun, companion- Dorchester Seniors
ship and health and wellness ac- 312 North Laurel Street,
tivities: Summerville, SC
(843) 871-5053
www.lowcountrysun.sc
 Hip and Knee News
Knee arthritis is a joint disease that causes deterioration and
eventual destruction of the knee joint.

Knee Arthritis and Knee Replacement Surgery

By Eric Stem, M.D. between these implants to act after a knee replacement can Hip & Knee News
as a bearing which allows the be very problematic, often Eric Stem, MD
Knee arthritis is a joint dis-
ease that causes deterioration and knee to flex and extend. Of- requiring the prolonged use
eventual destruction of the knee ten the joint surface portion of antibiotics and possibly
joint. of the knee cap is removed additional surgery. Conse- Knee replacement
and a plastic disc is cement- quently, prevention of infec-
Osteoarthritis and rheuma-
ed onto the remainder of tion is extremely important.
surgery patients
toid arthritis are the two most
common causes of progressive the knee cap. By removing Dr. Eric Stem is a board getting younger
knee arthritis. Initial management all of the damaged cartilage certified Orthopaedic Sur-
of knee arthritis involves symp- from the ends of the bones, geon with subspecialty train- Total knee replacement
tomatic treatment with activity arthritis is eliminated from ing in joint replacement and surgery has long been used
modification, exercise, the use of the knee joint. reconstruction.
Total knee replacement
to treat severe arthritis in
a cane, braces and medications. Eric S. Stem, M.D. elderly patients. Once re-
If these treatments are ineffective, is a surgery indicated for al-
leviating or improving the The Hip and Knee Center served for elderly patients,
injections may be used to control Lowcountry Orthopaedics
the pain. Unfortunately, over pain from knee arthritis. total knee replacement
This surgery is highly effec- and Sports Medicine surgery is becoming more
time, knee arthritis can steadily 2880 Tricom St.,
worsen to the point that none of tive in improving knee pain common in the younger,
with greater than 90 percent North Charleston, S.C.,
these treatments provide adequate 29406
active population. Extreme
relief of the pain. When your life- of patients reporting dra-
(843)797-5050 sports injuries are on the
style is dictated by the knee pain, matic improvement in their
knee pain. Knee replacement rise, driving younger men
I recommend considering knee This article is for provid-
surgery may not improve the ings after surgery. In addition, and women to seek surgery
replacement surgery. ed for general information only
flexibility in the knee because starting physical therapy immedi- or non-invasive solutions to
Total knee replacement is a and is not a substitute for seeking
range of motion is a function of ately after surgery can also reduce their pain.
surgery that was first performed appropriate medical care.
the muscles, tendons and liga- the risk of blood clots. Infection
in 1968 and approximately
300,000 total knee replacements ments around the knee which are
are performed every year. This not replaced during the surgery.
surgery is a resurfacing procedure Typically, knee motion after knee
that is performed by removing replacement is similar to the knee
the damaged cartilage from the motion before surgery.
ends of the bones around the knee Knee replacement surgery
and capping the bones with metal is not without risk. Some of the
and plastic. Only a small amount risks include bleeding, blood
of bone is removed; usually 8 to clots, and infection. Since knee
10 millimeters (less than half an replacement surgery involves cut-
inch) is cut off the end of the fe- ting skin, muscle and bone, and a
mur (thigh bone) and tibia (shin moderate amount of blood loss
bone). can occur. When a person loses
Over 150 knee replacement too much blood, he or she may
designs are on the market; how- develop symptoms from having a
ever, they tend to have many blood count that is too low. This
similarities. The implants that cap can be corrected by a blood trans-
the ends of the femur and tibia fusion. It is possible to pre-do-
are made of either cobalt-chrome nate blood prior to surgery. This
or titanium alloy. These implants would allow you to receive your
are either cemented in place with own blood in the event you need
bone cement or are coated with a blood transfusion. Joe C. D. Gillespie, D.D.S.
a substance that allows bone to Blood clots are a great risk 1051 Johnnie Dodds Blvd. St. A
grow onto the implant. A high from knee surgery, but this risk Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464
density polyethylene (high can be reduced by the use of blood 1-866-GET-MINIS (438-6464)
strength plastic) spacer is placed thinners and compressive stock- WWW.SMILEMPT.COM

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 July is Solar Awareness Month
Protect your skin!
Staying healthy means using our own awareness and careful understanding
of our own health. To be healthy is to be aware of what diseases or disorders
are out there, what may affect you and what you can do to prevent it or treat it.

What Causes Skin Cancer?

What is Skin Cancer?
Skin cancer is a disease in which cancer (ma-
lignant) cells are found in the outer layers of
your skin. Your skin protects your body against
heat, light, infection, and injury. It also stores
water, fat, and vitamin D.
The skin has two main layers and several
kinds of cells. The top layer of skin is called
the epidermis. It contains three kinds of cells:
flat, scaly cells on the surface called squa-
mous cells; round cells called basal cells; and
cells called melanocytes, which give your skin
its color.
BASAL CELL & SQUAMOUS CELL
There are several types of cancer that start
in the skin. The most common are basal cell
cancer and squamous cell cancer, which are
covered in this PDQ patient information state-
ment.
Skin cancer is more common in people with
light colored skin who have spent a lot of time
in the sunlight. Skin cancer can occur any-
where on your body, but it is most common
in places that have been exposed to more
sunlight, such as your face, neck, hands, and
arms.
Skin cancer can look many different ways.
The most common sign of skin cancer is a
change on the skin, such as a growth or a
sore that won’t heal. Sometime there may be
a small lump. This lump can be smooth, shiny
and waxy looking, or it can be red or reddish
brown. Skin cancer may also appear as a flat
red spot that is rough or scaly. Not ail changes
in your skin are cancer, but you should see
your doctor if you notice changes in your skin.
MELANOMA
Melanoma is a disease of the skin in which
cancer (malignant) cells are found in the cells
that color the skin (melanocytes). Melanoma
usually occurs in adults, but it may occasion-
ally be found in children and adolescents. Your
skin protects your body against heat, light, in-
fection, and injury. It is made up of two main
layers: the epidermis (the top layer) and der-
mis (the inner layer). Melanocytes are found in
the epidermis and they contain melanin, which
gives the skin its color. Melanoma is some-
times called cutaneous melanoma or malig-
nant melanoma.
Melanoma is a more serious type of cancer
than the more common skin cancers, basal
cell cancer or squamous cell cancer, which
begin in the basal or squamous cells of the
epidermis. If you have basal cell or squamous
cell cancer of the skin, refer to the patient in-
formation statement for skin cancer.
Like most cancers, melanoma is best treated
when it is found (diagnosed) early. Melanoma
can spread (metastasize) quickly to other
parts of the body through the lymph sys-
tem or through the blood. (Lymph nodes are
small, bean-shaped structures that are found
throughout the body; they produce and store
infection-fighting cells.) You should see your
doctor if you have any of the following warning
signs of melanoma: change in the size, shape,
or color of a mole; oozing or bleeding from a
mole; or a mole that feels itchy, hard, lumpy,
swollen, or tender to the touch. Melanoma can
also appear on the body as a new mole.
What are the precautions
The following steps have been recommended
by the American Academy of Dermatology and
the Skin Cancer Foundation to help reduce
the risk of sunburn and skin cancer.
• Minimize your exposure to the sun at mid-
day and between the hours of 10:00AM and
3:00PM.
• Apply sunscreen with at least a SPF-15 or
higher, to all areas of the body which are ex-
posed to the sun.
• Reapply sunscreen every two hours, even on
cloudy days. Reapply after swimming or per-
spiring.
• Wear clothing that covers your body and
shades your face. (Hats should provide shade
for both the face and back of the neck.)
• Avoid exposure to UV radiation from sun-
lamps or tanning parlors.
Sunburn and Sunlight
Very simply, sunburn and UV light can damage your skin,
and this damage can lead to skin cancer. There are of
course other determining factors, including your heredity
and the environment you live in. However, both the total
amount of sun received over the years, and overexposure
resulting in sunburn can cause skin cancer. Most people re-
ceive 80% of their lifetime exposure to the sun by 18 years
of age. The message to parents from this is to protect your
children.
Tanning is your skin’s response to UV light. It is a protective
reaction to prevent further injury to your skin from the sun.
However, it does not prevent skin cancer.
Remember, skin cancer is very slow to develop. The sun-
burn you receive this week may take 20 years or more to
become skin cancer.
Heredity
If there is a history of
skin cancer in your
family, you are prob-
ably at a higher risk.
People with fair skin,
with a northern Euro-
pean heritage appear
to be most susceptible.
Environment
The level of UV light
today is higher than it
was 50 or 100 years
ago. This is due to a
reduction of ozone in the earth’s atmosphere (the Ozone
Hole). Ozone serves as a filter to screen out and reduce
the amount of UV light that we are exposed to. With less
atmospheric ozone, a higher level of UV light reaches the
earth’s surface.
Other influencing factors include elevation, latitude, and
cloud cover. Ultra Violet light is stronger as elevation in-
creases. The thinner atmosphere at higher altitudes cannot
filter UV as effectively as it can at sea level. The rays of
the sun are also strongest near the equator, as you might
guess. But even in Antarctica, Chile, and New Zealand, the
UV level is much higher than normal especially in the spring-
time due to the ozone hole in the southern hemisphere.
One factor that actually reduces UV is cloud cover. Climates
and micro-climates with regular cloud cover may have a
50% lower level of UV light. The actual amount is affected
by the density of the clouds.

Did You Know?

Roughly half of the American
population will have a cataract by
the age of 65. By the age of 75,
nearly all Americans will have at
least one cataract. A cloudiness of
the eye’s lens, a cataract does not
necessarily need to be removed
most commonly performed type
of surgery in the United States,
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12 July 2010 • www.lowcountrysun.sc

 July 1, 2010 and throughout July July 4, 2010 July 7-10, 2010
Basic II Shag Lessons North Charleston, SC 8th Annual HMY-Viking
7:45pm July 4th Celebration MegaDock Tournament.
Pivots 2 Beach Club Riverfront Park City Marina MegaDock
866.571.9362 3-10pm - dusk (fireworks) http://www.megadocktournament.com/
843.745.1087
July 1, 2010 July 10, 2010
Summer Concert: Zydeco dance music July 4, 2010 Defense of a Colony:
6:00pm-8:00pm Mt. Plesant - Patriots Point at Charles Towne Landing
Lowcountry Senior Center 4th of July Celebration 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM
865 Riverland Drive, James Island 5-10pm- dusk (fireworks) Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site
843.762.9555 Yorktown Aircraft Carrier 1500 Old Towne RD
http://www.patriotspoint.org/events Charleston, SC
July 2, 2010 843.852.4200
Naturalization Ceremony July 4, 2010 www.CharlestowneLanding.Travel
Middleton Place Summerville 4th of July Celebration
(843) 556-6020 Red, White & Blue on the Green July 12 – August 30, 2010
http://www.middletonplace.org Town Square, 4-7 pm Matter of Balance: Improve your balance
Summerville 9:00am-11:00am
July 2, 2010 843.821.7260 Lowcountry Senior Center
Independence Day Celebration Fireworks at 9PM at 865 Riverland Drive, James Island
Hanahan Senior Center Gahagan Sports Complex 843.762.9555
11:30am-1:30pm 515 West Boundary Street
For a complete list of activities, events July 15-August 19, 2010
& classes, 843.266.0958 or online at July 4, 2010 Health & Wellness - Living Well
ityofhanahan.com. Folly Beach Hanahan Senior Center
4th of July Celebration 1:45-4:15pm
July 2, 2010 On the beach Trish Matarese 843.266.0958 or online at
July Fourth Street Dance All day, fireworks at dusk Cityofhanahan.com.
8:00pm to 11:30pm.
Moncks Corner Train Depo July 4, 2010 July 16, 2010
Moncks Corner, SC Fifth Annual Sizzling Southern Downtown Charleston
843.899.4708 Celebration at Circa 1886 Palette and Palate stroll
Circa 1886 5:30-7:30
July 3, 2010 149 Wentworth St.,Charleston 843.819.8006
Festival in the Park Phone: 843.853.782 info@cfada.com
2 p.m. - dusk (fireworks) http://www.circa1886.com
Old Santee Canal Park
YMCA - 843.761.9622 July 7, 2010
Blood Drive for the American Red
July 4, 2010 Cross
South Carolina Aquarium 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
4th of July Celebration Rodenberg Hall, Franke at Seaside
Location: South Carolina Aquarium 1885 Rifle Range Road,
843.579.8656 Mount Pleasant, SC
http://scaquarium.org www.FrankeAtSeaside.org.

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14 July 2010 • www.lowcountrysun.sc
 July 16, 2010 July 20, 2010 July 28 – September 1, 2010
Shaggin’ on the Pier My Personal Health Healthy Living with Diabetes
Folly Beach Edwin S. Taylor Fishing Pier Record South Carolina 1:00pm-3:30pm
7-11 pm 10:00 am Lowcountry Senior Center
For tickets call 843.795-4386 Rodenberg Hall, Franke at Seaside. 865 Riverland Drive, James Island
Mount Pleasant 843.762.9555
July 17, 2010 1885 Rifle Range Road
2010 IOP Beach Run/Walk Mount Pleasant, SC July 28, 2010
4 Mile Run Begins: 8:00am www.FrankeAtSeaside.org. Jeff Perez, Vice President for External
Youth Fun Runs Begin: 9:00am Affairs at The Citadel
www.allsportrunning.com July 20, 2010 10:00 am
or at the IOP Rec Dept. Alzheimer’s Association: Rodenberg Hall, Franke at Seaside’s 1885
Learn more about Alzheimer’s Disease Rifle Range Road, Mount Pleasant, SC
July 17, 2010 12:00pm- 1:00pm www.FrankeAtSeaside.org.
Reggae Nights Lowcountry Senior Center
Evening Concert Series 2010 865 Riverland Drive, James Island July 31, 2010
James Island County Park 843.762.9555 Charleston Stage’s Sizzling
843.795.4386 Summer Soiree!
July 26, 2010 Dock Street Theatre
July 19, 2010 Pot Luck Lunch Gardening Workshop Charleston, SC
Educational Programs - presented by Master Gardener, http://www.charlestonstage.com
Hurricane Preparedness Darren Sheriff.
1:00pm-2:00pm Hanahan Senior Center July 31, 2010
Lowcountry Senior Center For a complete list of activities, events 2010 Fight For Air Climb Charleston
865 Riverland Drive, James Island & classes, 843.266.0958 or online at 8:00 am
843.762.9555 Cityofhanahan.com. 843.556.8451
www.FightForAirClimbCharleston.org
July 19, 2010 July 27, 2010
Baked Potato Bar Lunch Passport Questions
and Exploritas Presentation 12:15-2:00pm. 10:00am-11:00pm
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For a complete list of activities, events & 865 Riverland Drive, James Island
classes, 843.266.0958 or online at 843.762.9555 Please send your events to Jill at:
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www.lowcountrysun.sc • July 2010 15

By Cappy Hall Rearick
Just when you least expect
it, life can sneak up on you and
whomp you upside the head.
You can be sitting around
doing nothing, or busy doing
something when it happens. You
might be simply enjoying the fact
that you live in a world of faithful
friends who love you, family that
accepts you warts and all, or that
basically life is good.
Email comes from a friend,
the one who, when she lived
next door to you years ago, cared
about the children at her school
who were starving for knowledge
even more than their bodies were
hungry for food. She was the one
who was spontaneous and alive
at our dull neighborhood parties,
the one who could bring a smile
to the grumpy old man on the
corner who yelled at kids, kicked
dogs and wore a scowl befitting
an ogre about to eat the rest of the
neighborhood.
She was the one who loved
Knock-Knock jokes and laughed
out loud even when they were not
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funny, who opened her home on
Thanksgiving Day to someone
she had met on the street only the
day before, the one who didn’t
judge people and never got the
hang of disliking anybody. She
was the one always up for a new
adventure, for another chapter in
her book of life.
NewThetumors
latest chemo drug failed.
are growing. Sur-
gery, radiation, chemo won’t do
any good. There are no options.
Her humor is still healthy as
a horse. “I asked the doctor,” she
writes, if I was now expected to
just sit here until I pop. He mum-
bled something about drugs that
would keep me pain-free (before
I pop).”
Because she is an intelligent
woman, she considers pursuing
experimental drugs, homeopathic
remedies and such, but in the end
decides to spend what time she
has left with family and friends.
“Due to the growth pattern of
the first alien tumor, I expect that
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time will be closer to two months
than six.”
My friend is the one who
haunted the internet for days
only a year ago until she found
me again, the one who wanted
to email, share stories about her
son and new husband, and to hear
everything about my children and
family. Although I didn’t know it
at the time, she needed a dose of
my humor; today I need a dose
of her joie de vivre, her exuber-
ance, her whacky way of looking
at life.
She says that she feels more
at peace than she has in a long
time. I can almost hear her laugh-
ter as she writes, “I know where
I’m headed and I promise to put
in a good word for you!”
The summer has been hot
and I have whined about it until
everyone I know is sick of hear-
ing it. Babe’s recent knee replace-
ment surgery has made us much
too aware of the unreliability
of our bodies as our lives move
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Mom and Pops
toward to an eventual end. But
summer heat gives way to crisp
autumn air that cools the body
and calls for open windows that
freshen the house; knees get re-
placed with titanium and perform
better than ever. And life, as we
know it, goes on. Puttin’ On The Gritz
My friend’s plight, my for- By Cappy Hall Rearick
mer neighbor with the wonderful
sense of humor and a storehouse
of real courage even in the face
of hard facts that can’t change,
The Life and Times of
Cappy Hall Rearick
makes me incredibly proud of her
while making me ashamed of my- Humor writer, Cappy Hall
self for whining.
Rearick has won numerous
short story awards through-
She ends her email with what out California, Pennsylvania,
I know she hopes will bring a Minnesota, New York, South
smile rather than tears. “Keep Carolina, Florida and Georgia.
In 2003, she was nominated
sending me good jokes. This one
for the prestigious Georgia Au-
is from my sister after I asked her
thor of the Year Award. She is a
where my ashes should be scat-
member of the National Soci-
tered. She said, ‘By the pond in ety of Newspaper Columnists,
the garden, Silly. That’s where South Carolina Writers, Geor-
everyone croaks!’ gia Writers Association and
Florida Writers Association.
And then … “I love you SO
MUCH and I treasure the time we
Cappy and her Yankee hus-
got to spend together.”
band “Babe” live on St. Si-
mons Island. She is the mother
of two sons and six grandchil-
dren who all live in the South
Carolina lowcountry.
Cappy’s website: www.sim-
plysoutherncappy.com.
July 24th, 2010
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www.lowcountrysun.sc

By Terry Savage
I’m as outraged as you are
about the oil disaster in the Gulf.
The videos of oil-slicked birds
and families facing bankruptcy
are devastating. We’re all feeling
the frustration that comes from
our seeming impotence to either
cap the well or trap the moving
oil slick.
In spite of all those emotions,
I recognize some astounding iro-
nies in all the comments, exhor-
tations and threats being made
by politicians, the media and the
administration. It’s as if frustra-
tion has led to total abandonment
of reason. Many of the proposed
actions have consequences nearly
as frightening as the problem it-
self.
Take, for example, the de-
cision to create a six-month
deep-water drilling and explora-
tion moratorium, subsequently
extended to include almost all
offshore drilling activity in the
Gulf area. It was an emotional
response that created huge eco-
nomic issues.
Offshore drilling is respon-
sible for more than 200,000 jobs
in the affected area -- and the last
thing the coastal economy needs
is more job losses. And the mora-
torium was based on sensation,
not statistics. The offshore gulf
area has been under exploration
since the late 1940s, and more
than 42,000 wells have been
2.89
12 months at 3.19%
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money
The Savage Truth About Money
Responses to Oil Leak Ignore the Consequences
drilled there. Surely, $62 to the low 30s. A China, to ante up some cash?
that reaction was exces- large part of that loss And wouldn’t it be a better
sive. has come from sell- deal for China to buy proven re-
There’s an even ers who aren’t stick- serves and refineries at a discount
larger case to be made ing around for the than to hold on to U.S. IOUs
for continued drilling dividend to be cut or while the Fed prints more money
-- safely -- in the Gulf. eliminated. and promises to keep rates low?
We need that oil. Or we Long before Just asking.
need a substitute source the administration If BP is taken over by a Chi-
of energy to keep our can get its hands nese state-run company, our pres-
nation running. around the company ident will find out just how little
As I pointed out in a to squeeze the re- leverage he has in getting those
recent column explain- maining value, BP damage claims paid. He won’t be
ing Boone Pickens’ en- is likely to become a able to bully the Chinese owners
it, or take it over! It’s another case
ergy independence campaign, we takeover target at these low share around at the same time he is de-
of appealing to emotions, not rea-
are becoming more and more reli- prices. pending on China to finance our
son.
ant on imported oil. You might ask what company growing budget deficits and na-
The illogic of that strategy is
In 1970, just before the first has enough cash, and enough de- tional debt!
immediately apparent: We need
OPEC oil embargo, the United sire for BP’s global oil assets, to So now the trap tightens.
BP to survive, even thrive, for the
States imported 24 percent of our take on the risks of all those fu- America is dependent on import-
company to be able to pay all the
oil. Today, the United States im- ture claims. ed oil because we have never had
claims against it.
ports 65 percent of our oil! Well, how about PetroChina a sensible energy policy. America
It’s one thing to suggest that
Every day, 85 million barrels -- a company with a market cap is dependent on imported capital
BP -- an independent, global, for-
of oil are produced around the more than twice that of BP at because we continue to spend our
eign company -- use its cash to
world. And 21 million of that is current prices? It is the publicly way into debt.
pay reparations instead of divi-
used in the United States. That’s traded unit of the state-owned Now we have to start think-
dends to British pensioners. But
25 percent of the world’s oil de- China National Petroleum Corp. ing about what happens when the
it’s quite another to start talking
mand -- used by just 4 percent of Not only does it have $6 billion in country that has most of the mon-
about taking over the company
the world’s population. cash on its balance sheet, it also ey also has most of the oil. And
using bankruptcy laws.
Remember, most of our im- has access to the nearly $1 tril- that’s The Savage Truth.
But perhaps emboldened by
ported oil comes from countries lion in U.S. dollars now held by
its takeover of General Motors Terry Savage is a registered
that are not our “friends.” the central bank of China (mostly
(which thrashed the rights of investment adviser and is on
When you look at the facts, in the form of U.S. Treasury bills
creditors and franchisees), the ad- the board of the Chicago Mer-
it’s hard to make a case that sus- and other government securities,
ministration seems determined to cantile Exchange. She appears
pending drilling for new offshore currently yielding less than 0.25
force BP out of business -- there- weekly on WMAQ-Channel 5’s
supplies is a sensible response to percent).
by leaving U.S. taxpayers to foot 4:30 p.m. newscast, and can be
the BP spill. If you were PetroChina and
the cleanup bill. reached at www.terrysavage.
There’s another irrational re- saw a tempting half-price sale
There’s another huge risk in com. She is the author of the new
sponse coming out of Washington on BP’s $236 billion in assets,
this strategy. The stock of BP is book, “The New Savage Number:
these days -- the desire to not only wouldn’t you be asking your par-
down about 50 percent from pre- How Much Money Do You Re-
punish BP, but to actually destroy ent company, the Central Bank of
explosion days, from a high of ally Need to Retire?”
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• July 2010 17
 Beat the Heat with Outdoor Living Areas
By James Parker
Here in the Lowcountry I of-
ten find it “backwards” for people
to come here and visit in July and
August- due to the extreme heat
and humidity we experience. I am
more of a September man myself.
Here are a few outdoor living
ideas that can help you enjoy the
outdoors and beat the heat.
A gazebo or purgula could
be built in a planned spot in your
yard that could give you a nice
shady area to relax in. These can
be very simple or ornate depend-
ing upon the situation. We per-
sonally have built some that have
ceiling fans, lights, running water,
refrigerators and grills in the most
extreme spectrum. They can also
Out in the Yard
By James Parker
be simplistic, only requiring 4x4’s
or 2x6 construction. Consider
placing a flowering vine over
the top to give off a sweet aroma
during the summer months. (For
ideas and pictures you can go to
our website at www.Pleasant-
landscapes.com, under the area
titled “Portfolio”.) Your arbor or
gazebo could be a huge live oak
that you hang a two person swing
to create your own shady, breezy
spot in the yard.
Another way to cool off in
the summer is thru the use of a
swimming pool. There are a wide
variety of swimming pools on the
market. The simplest of the pools
are blow-up pools bought from
big box stores and priced under
one thousand dollars. According
to statistics, 66% of all drown-
ings occur in these above ground
pools. In addition, they are also
considered “one season” use
pools. Vinyl-lined pools would
be considered the next level up,
One of the best ways to keep your home and yard cooler during the
but are usually not recommended
summer months is to plant shade trees.
by our company due to the high
water table in the Charleston area around your house and don’t feel
and because of durability factors. like constructing one- you can al-

LOOSE DENTURES?
Some will tell you they are good
for 5 – 10 years on average.
Next are the composite pools
made out of fiberglass that are
much more durable. The speed
of construction and life time war-
ranty make this a very popular op-
tion.
Finally, on the high end, are
the concrete pools which, in our
opinion should only be built as a
piece of art. If your pool is not go-
ing to be a one of a kind piece of
art, consider one of the other op-
tions mentioned above.
One of the reasons that I talk
about pools is the unique fact that
with a heat pump addition, you
can actually chill your pool dur-
ing summer season and heat the
pool during the fall, thereby ex-
tending the season. A heat pump
can be adapted to existing pools
and is very energy efficient in
ways plant a tree.
Trees come in all shapes and
sizes. You can actually buy a full
grown Live Oak if you so choose.
The cost of trees are usually di-
rectly related to how long the
grower has had to take care of the
tree. You can imagine that a full
grown Live Oak is not for the av-
erage budget, but there is usually
a tree that will work well for your
budget and in your yard.
My personal favorites are
trees that produce fruits and nuts.
A peach tree that we planted when
my first daughter was born is
one of my favorite trees. During
July I enjoy getting a fresh sweet
peach right off the branch. We
still have a few more months of
the extreme, muggy, hot summer
weather before we will be able
to start experiencing the cooler
breezes of the fall. You can look

Now you can cooling down the water tempera-

ture.
If none of the above ideas ap-
forward to hearing about cooler
topics in the next few issues.
If you have any questions, as

have what you crave! peal to you in trying to beat the

summer heat you should think
about taking advantage of the
summer breeze we get in the Low-
country. This often requires you to
Visit Dr. Joseph Gillespie in the morning, clean out underbrush and thickets
have the “Mini-Implant System” placed in around your property. This will
increase air flow and help you to
less than two hours, then go out and enjoy the natural breezes. If you
don’t have any trees or structures
enjoy your favorite lunch.
always, feel free to send me an
email- I will respond as quickly
as possible.
James Parker
www.Pleasantlandscapes.com
Isle of Palms 843-886-9314
Summerville 843-851-8008
John’s Island 843-768-6808
Daniel Island 843-216-4796

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18 July 2010 • www.lowcountrysun.sc

 A garden can brighten your
mood and be a perfect place in
which to relax. Gardens need not
be reserved strictly for the out-
doors. Creating a sunroom garden
can bring the beauty of the land-
scape inside of your home.
Sunrooms, solariums, all-
season rooms, or Florida rooms
as they are sometimes called are
popular spaces in many homes.
They enable the homeowner to
bring a touch of the outdoors in-
side, even when Mother Nature
does not cooperate. Sunrooms
can serve as a transition between
the yard and home or simply be a
tranquil place at home in which to
retreat.
Outfitting your sunroom
with plant life is much like plan-
ning your garden or potted plants
around the house. There are a few
steps you should take.
1. Measure the area. You want
to have a balance between plants
and furniture without overwhelm-
ing the space. Don’t fill the entire
room; otherwise, it can seem clut-
tered and confusing.
2. Determine sun concentration.
Depending on where your sun-
room is located, you will have
to address sunlight. Sunrooms
facing south or west will get a
lot of strong light during the day.
Rooms facing east will get subtle
morning light, while those facing
north won’t have nearly as much
light. Once you determine how
much light your room receives,
you can choose plants that will
thrive there.
3. Choose your colors. Sun
rooms will be enhanced mostly
by the colors of foliage and flow-
ers. Thus, keep the walls and
other decor neutral in nature so
that you won’t have clashing pat-
terns. Many people choose to use
wicker furniture in sunrooms, but
you can put a comfy armchair or
a durable sofa in there as well. A
tabletop water fountain can add
the effect of a babbling brook.
Throw pillows and blankets in
your choice of color can make the
room seem lived in, as opposed to
being a glorified porch.
4. Choose containers. Remem-
ber, most of your plants will be
potted plants, and thus you should
allow for ample growth by choos-
ing containers that are larger than
your plant; ones the plant can
grow into. Choose the same ma-
terial in pots or go with a similar
color palette. Container plants
will need to be watered more fre-
quently than plants growing right
in the ground. Specimens that
are in a sunroom that receives a
lot of sunlight that is quite warm
may need even more water. Use
the finger test in soil to determine
what plants need to be watered.
5. Use window treatments. A
sunroom doesn’t have to be
exposed all of the time. Sheer
window treatments or shades or
blinds that can be pulled closed
allow you to create privacy when
you desire it. Feel free to sit in
your sunroom even when the sun
sets. A vented gas stove can be lit
on chilly nights, if you prefer to
use the sunroom year-round.
6. Purchase no-fuss plants.
Many varieties of plants are per-
fect for individuals who simply do
not have the greenest of thumbs.
If you need some inspiration and
help getting your indoor garden
to grow, consider these plants.
9 Cast Iron Plant
(Aspidistra elatior)
9 Christmas Cactus
(Zygocactus)
9 Lucky Bamboo
(Dracaena sanderian)
9 Snake Plant
(Sansevieria)
9 Pothos
(Epipremnum)
9 Spider Plant Choosing the correct potted plants is an important part of creating
(Chlorophytum comosum) a sunroom that’s sure to help homeowners relax and relieve stress.

Dig a hole, fill it with water and watch your koi grow. That’s the secret to your koi pond, right? Actually,
much like a pool or indoor aquarium, koi require some work. In fact, koi are quite sensitive fish that
require a carefully maintained environment for optimal health.
Koi are colorful fish that go by the name
nishikigoi in Japanese. They are a specially
bred form of carp, not oversized goldfish, en-
joyed for their vivid coloring. In the 19th centu-
ry, Japanese farmers began breeding decora-
tive carp, selecting brightly colored specimens
to ornament gardens in luxurious fish pools.
The Japanese consider koi good luck.
There are certain varieties that are preferred
over others. Kohaku -- the favorite -- are
white-skinned koi with a red upper pattern.
Tancho are white koi with a red dot on their
head.
Koi are cool-water fish that prefer a deep
pond. In the warmer weather they will swim
to the bottom of the pond to avoid the heat.
When planning on a koi pond, keep this in
mind. You may also want to plan your pond
in an area that is shaded from direct sun, to
moderate the water temperature even more.
Think about installing a koi pond as you
would a home aquarium, complete with fil-
tration system. This will help you maintain a
clean environment for the fish. Routine skim-
ming of the water surface can catch debris
that falls into the water and contaminates the
delicate ecosystem of the pond.
Koi should be protected overhead from
predators. Therefore, koi ponds generally fea-
ture lush foliage for their protection. Rocks or
overhangs under which koi can hide are fea-
tures you should include.
An algaecide is also a necessity, to pre-
vent the overgrowth of algae in the pond.
Consider special water additives sold at pet
stores or online that can enhance the water
environment for your koi.
Because koi generally like to swim un-
seen, their type of food is a floating pellet,
which encourages the fish to come to the sur-
face.
Start small with your koi pond. One or
two fish is adequate. Experts recommend one
small- or medium-sized koi per 500 gallons of
water. If you have too many fish, their waste
can contaminate the water if not properly fil-
tered.

www.lowcountrysun.sc • July 2010 19


It is nearly impossible to
ascertain exactly when the first
military figurines and toy sol-
diers first appeared -- way before
people started collecting diecast
military soldiers. Tiny military
figures, soldiers, horses, and
other miniature artifacts carved
from stone, bone, made of clay
or other precious metals have
been discovered by archeologists
excavating historic Egyptian
tombs, as well as ancient roman
burial sites and temples. Clearly,
these figurines have served as
children’s toys and as treasured
mementos for people of all ages
for thousands of years.
The first written references
to miniature military soldiers are
found in documents and military
strategies composed during the
Napoleonic era. Military strate-
gists used these miniature sol-
diers to plan battle tactics and
keep track of where real troops
were positioned upon a map.
In the early 1800’s a Paris-
based toy company named Mi-
gnot first experimented with
producing miniature toy soldiers
made from solid lead. These
elegant miniatures were finely
painted with precise details. Al-
though these toys were highly
sought after, they were very ex-
pensive, difficult to produce, and
ultimately did not find a footing
in the global market. Nonethe-
less, these rare, antique Mignot
sets have become highly prized
and immensely valuable collec-
tors items.
However, it wasn’t until the
late 1800’s that diecast military
soldiers became popular, and
mass produced toys and collect-
ibles. In 1893, a British toy man-
ufacturer named William Britain
invented an economical system
for mass producing toy soldiers.
This system, known as hollow
casting or diecasting, rose to be-
come the industry standard, and
the W. Britain brand name held
the world wide monopoly on
sales of military toy soldiers to
fans of collecting diecast mili-
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Winston Churchill and H.G. Wells are two of the most famous
serious collectors of toy soldiers.
tary soldiers.
These early W. Britain sol-
diers were made of lead, but hol-
low in the center and thus lighter
weight. Meticulously painted,
and etched with the details of
uniforms, insignias, and time
period hair styles, these toy sol-
diers were 54 mm (2.25 inches)
tall. In other words, sized to a
1:32 scale. Examples of these
early toys include Medieval
knights, Vikings, Roman Chari-
ots and WWI soldiers.
By the time World War II ar-
rived, diecast soldiers had taken
hold as one of the most popular
collectible trends in America.
School children learned about
collecting diecast military sol-
diers and sought out miniatures
of American soldiers, German
soldiers, D-Day landing crafts,
airplanes, and more. Equally
popular were historic soldiers
such as civil war era replicas,
Foreign Legionnaires (Arabs of
the Dessert) wild west charac-
ters, cowboys and Indians, even
astronauts and space explorers.
1966 signified a turning collecting scene as the “Second
point in the toy industry, when Golden Age of Toy Soldiers”
safety concerns about lead poi- (The first being the glory days of
soning led to bans on certain collecting lead toy soldiers in the
items, and eventually, to the end 1940s and 50s.)
of production of lead based toys. Today, toy soldiers, diecast
In 1973, W. Britain introduced a replicas and military miniatures
line of diecast, lead-free, metal continue to rank as one of the
alloy soldiers, as well as new most popular collectible trends
product lines made entirely of for adults and children alike.
plastics. Any one interested in learning
Through the 1970’s, 80’s about collecting diecast military
and 90’s, a wide variety of new soldiers should know that the in-
companies produced and mar- ternet has truly transformed and
keted new lines of metal alloy enabled the proliferation of col- Toy soldiers depict all eras of military action, from the Revolutionary
and plastic toy soldiers. These lecting in recent years.
War to Vietnam. Collectors prefer the vintage lead castings of the
companies included names such Serious collectors and toy
painted figures over other metals.
as Tradition, Herald Plastics, soldier enthusiasts have set up
Nostalgia, Blenheim, John Tun- websites, galleries, blogs, on-
still’s “Soldiers Soldiers”, Star- line communities and discussion and insight regarding how to col- your interest ranges from an-
lux, Dulcop, Charbens, Cherilea, groups devoted to educating the lect diecast military soldiers. cient toy soldiers to WWI or
Matchbox, and even the Marl- public, as well as sharing, sell- Certainly, toy soldiers are WWII keepsakes, or more con-
borough company. ing and trading items. Online far more than just child’s play- temporary plastics, developing a
By the early 1990’s, plastic auction sites such as eBay, mail things. In fact, Winston Churchill passion for these collectibles can
toy soldiers had become all the order diecast companies and and H.G. Wells are two of the become an accessible and highly
rage in both Europe and the U.S. various online sites run by expe- most famous serious hobbyists educational hobby.
Some collectors refer to this rienced collectors and historians for collecting diecast military
modern revival in the toy soldier will offer novices the best advice soldiers. Regardless of whether
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** NEW ** - PIRATES HOUSE RES-
TAURANT AND THE SAVANNAH
THEATER
JULY 17, 2010 – Enjoy a Southern
Lunch Buffet at the fames Pirates House
Restaurant before taking our seats at the historic Savannah
Theater for “Southern Nights Music Variety Show” – two hours
of high-energy music, dance and comedy, perfect for a southern
afternoon. $92.00 PP/M $97.00 PP/NM
** NEW ** - BARN DINNER THEATRE,
GREENSBORO, NC & LAKE NORMAN
LUNCHEON CRUISE
JULY 24 – 25, 2010 – 2 days/1 nights
lodging. 3 Meals. This trip includes a
stop over to visit the Billy Graham Library
in Charlotte, NC. See the all-new 32-foot
mural painted by Thomas Kinkade. After checking into our hotel
in Greensboro for a one-night stay we are off to the fabulous
Barn Dinner Theatre for a scrumptious dinner buffet before en-
joying a performance of “Harry & Larry’s Christmas in July” –
you’re sure to laugh all the way home! On Sunday en route to
Charleston we will stop in Mooresville, NC for a luncheon cruise
on the Catawba Queen as we cruise around beautiful Lake Nor-
man. We should arrive back in Charleston around 5:00 PM.
$196.00 PP/MD $206.00 PP/NMD
LITTLE SWITZERLAND, NC & THE
BURNSVILLE COUNTRY CRAFT
FAIR
AUGUST 6 – 8, 2010 – 3 days/2
nights lodging. 4 Meals. Travel with
us to the beautiful Smoky Mountains
and enjoy the cooler weather. We will do a little “prospecting”
en route to the Big Lynn Lodge for a two-night stay. We will
visit Burnsville, NC for the annual Country Craft Fair where you
will find a variety of homemade crafts and goodies from local
artisans. This is a great time to do some early Christmas
shopping. $340.00 PP/MD $356.00 PP/NMD
** NEW ** - KENTUCKY “DOWN
UNDER”
AUGUST 10 – 15, 2010 – 6 Days/5
Nights lodging. 13 Meals (5 break-
fasts / 3 lunches / 5 dinners). Come
see another side of Kentucky with
Top of the Line Tours as we do the
“Down Under” Tour. We will spend three nights at the Park
Mammoth Resort Hotel, Tours of or visits to South Union Shaker
Village and Museum, lunch at the Shaker Tavern, tour through
Western KY University Downtown Area, KY Museum with the
Duncan Hines Exhibit - Adventures in Good Eating Presenta-
tion, Lost River Cave with guided boat tour, National Corvette
Museum, guided tour of the GM Assembly Plant, guided tour
of Chaney’s Dairy Barn on the Moo Wagon and lunch, guided
tour of Hobson Grove Historic Home, dinner at the Water Mill
Restaurant, reserved seating at the KY Repertory Theater for a
production of “Mark Twain”, historic tour of Mammoth Cave Na-
tional Park with lunch at Mammoth Cave Hotel, visit Land-be-
tween-the Lakes area of KY, dinner at Patti’s 1880’s Settlement,
show at the Badgett Playhouse, one night at the Chattanooga
Choo Choo Hotel with dinner in the Gardens Restaurant and re-
served seating at the Centennial Theater for an all new variety
show. What a Great Trip!! $915.00 PP/MD $958.00 PP/NMD
** NEW ** - JACKSON-
VILLE ALHAMBRA DIN-
NER THEATRE, KENNEL
CLUB AND SAVANNAH
RIVERBOAT LUNCHEON
CRUISE
AUGUST 21 – 22, 2010 – 2 days/1 nights lodging. 4 Meals.
Our first stop will be the Alhambra Dinner Theatre for a scrump-
tious buffet luncheon before enjoying a performance of “Amo-
rous Crossing” – a romantic comedy set aboard a cruise ship
en route to an island paradise. After the show we will check into
our hotel for a one-night stay. Later this evening we will go to
the Orange Park Kennel Club for a night of fun. We will have
a private room, a fun filled class on wagering to help everyone
be a winner, our own betting window plus a great buffet meal
to enjoy while watching the races. On Sunday we will stop in
Savannah, GA for a delightful Sunday Brunch Cruise on the Sa-
vannah River. After the cruise you will have some free time to
shop on River Street before departing for Charleston. $232.00
PP/MD $244.00 PP/NMD
MACKINAC ISLAND’S
GRAND HOTEL –
AGAWA CANYON
FALL TRAIN TOUR
– PICTURED ROCKS
NATIONAL LAKESHORE
& INDIANA’S AMISH
COUNTRY
AUGUST 30 – SEPTEMBER 10, 2010 – 12 days/11 nights
lodging. 21 Meals. Tours of or visits to Lexington, KY; Flint,
MI – Crossroads Village & Huckleberry Railroad and sightsee-
ing cruise on the Genesee Belle; Star-Line Ferry to Mackinac
Island, carriage tour of Mackinac Island, one night at The Grand
Hotel with Grand Luncheon Buffet, dinner and breakfast, eve-
ning entertainment; luncheon cruise on St. Mary’s River through
the famous Soo Locks; free time in Sault Ste Marie, Ontario;
full day Agawa Canyon Fall Colour Train Tour; visit the Upper
Peninsula Area of Michigan to include Munising, Pictured Rocks
National Lakeshore Boat Tour; S.S. Badger Ferry from Mani-
towoc, WI across Lake Michigan to Ludington, MI; admission
to Historic White Pine Village with lunch; visit Nappanee, IN;
guided Shingle Shoppes Backroads Tour of Amish Country-
side; Haystack Lunch in an Amish home; tour of Amish Acres;
Thresher’s Dinner at Amish Acres; tickets to Broadway Musical
at the Round Barn Theater, plus overnight at the Cumberland
Inn Hotel. $1852.00 PP/MD $1944.00 PP/NMD
FALL IN THE OZARKS –
EUREKA SPRINGS &
BRANSON, MISSOURI
SEPTEMBER 21 – 29, 2010 –
9 days/8 nights lodging. 16
Meals. Tickets to the Pine Mountain Jamboree, Passion Play
Exhibits, Top of the Mountain Dinner Show, the Great Passion
Play, the Pierce Arrow Show, the Haygoods Show and the Brett
Family Show. Enjoy a luncheon cruise on the Showboat Bran-
son Belle; visit the Precious Moments Chapel and Showroom in
Carthage, MO; visit the Harry S. Truman Birthplace in Lamar,
MO; visit the Harry S. Truman Library and Museum in Indepen-
dence, MO and free time for shopping, sightseeing and brows-
ing in beautiful St. Louis, MO – our hotel in located across from
the Arch! This is a trip you don’t want to miss!!
$1158.00 PP/MD $1217.00 PP/NMD
** NEW ** CARNIVAL
LEGEND WESTERN
CARIBBEAN CRUISE
JANUARY 15 – 23, 2011 – One
night in Orlando with dinner at
the hotel; 8 day / 7 night cruise
on the Carnival Legend Come
join Top of the Line Tours on our annual Caribbean Cruise on
board the Carnival Legend as we sail the Western Caribbean
on a 7-night cruise!! And what a vacation itinerary: Grand Cay-
man; the island paradise of Cozumel, Mexico; Belize; and Isla
Roatan, one of the Honduran Bay islands. This means in a
single week you can enjoy golden beaches, Mayan ruins, snor-
keling along coral reefs and seeing the tropical wonders of four
destinations. Sail on a floating resort so spectacular that it has
a two-level promenade of shops, lounges and more. **EARLY
BOOKING SPECIAL – SIGN UP AND PAY YOUR DEPOSIT
BEFORE JULY 12, 2010 AND RECEIVE A DISCOUNT OF
$100.00 PER PERSON!!!!!**
PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE: INSIDE BALCONY
CAT 4A CAT 8B
MEMBER: $1116.00 $1308.00
NONMEMBER: $1186.00 $1365.00
PRICE PER PERSON SINGLE:
MEMBER: $1672.00 $2034.00
NONMEMBER: $1769.00 $2126.00

AUGUST 25 CAROLINA OPRY SHOW – MYRTLE BEACH NOVEMBER 27 FT. MILL – NARROWAY – “THE REAL CHRISTMAS STORY”
SEPT 14 – 17 FALL IN THE SMOKIES-MAGGIE VALLEY & PIGEON FORGE NOV 30 – DEC 5 CHRISTMAS IN NEW YORK CITY
SEPT 19 PIRATES HOUSE & SAV THEATER – “GOSPEL JUBILEE” DECEMBER 7 – 9 CALLAWAY GARDENS & LAKE LANIER CHRISTMAS
OCTOBER 2 – 10 CAPE COD & MARTHA’S VINEYARD DECEMBER 12 – 14 CHRISTMAS AT “THE HOMESTEAD”
OCTOBER 15 – 17 CHATTANOOGA RIVER BOAT & TN VALLEY R/R DECEMBER 13 – 15 CHATTANOOGA CHOO CHOO CHRISTMAS
OCTOBER 17 – 23 ATLANTIC CITY/CAPE MAY/PHILADELPHIA DECEMBER 17 CAROLINA OPRY CHRISTMAS SHOW
OCTOBER 29 – 31 COUNTRY CLASSICS @ RENFRO VALLEY, KY DECEMBER 18 – 19 JACKSONVILLE, FL & SAVANNAH THEATER
NOVEMBER 9 CARL HURLEY – JEANNE ROBERTSON – COLUMBIA, SC DECEMBER 27 – 28 CHRISTMAS @ BILTMORE ESTATES
NOVEMBER 12 – 14 SMOKY MOUNTAIN CHRISTMAS-PIGEON FORGE DEC. 30 – JAN. 2, 2011 NEW YEARS @ TBA
NOVEMBER 18 – 22 AN AMISH CHRISTMAS-LANCASTER, PA
CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE: www.topofthelinetours.com

Call our office for detailed brochures on all of

the above trips or for other available trips.
Save money and join
Top of The Line Tours Travel Club
Give the gift of travel • Gift Certificates
are available! It makes a perfect birthday,
anniversary or holiday gift!

1908-G Savannah Plaza • Charleston, SC • 843-766-0747 • 1-800-845-7659

www.lowcountrysun.sc • July 2010 21
 Travel to the “Rainbow Nation”
With the entire planet caught up in World Cup fever, South Africa is a popular travel destination.
Every country in the world
displays some diversity, but
South Africa, stretching from
the hippos in the Limpopo River
to the penguins waddling on the
Cape, takes some beating. It be-
fits its position at the southern
end of the world’s most epic con-
tinent, with more types of terrain
than photographers can shake
their zoom lens at. There’s the
deserted Kalahari, Namakwa’s
springtime symphony of wild-
flowers, iconic Table Mountain
and Cape Point, Kruger National
Park’s wildlife-stalked savannah
and, running through the east of
the country and into Lesotho, the
Drakensberg. KwaZulu-Natal’s
iSimangaliso Wetland Park alone
has five distinct ecosystems, at-
tracting both zebras and dolphins
If you’re interested in another
kind of wildlife, hit the nightclubs
on Cape Town’s jumping Long St
or sample African homebrew in
a township shebeen (unlicensed
bar). When it’s time to reflect on
it all, do it over seafood on the
Garden Route, curry in Durban’s
Indian Area, a sizzling Cape Ma-
lay dish, or a braai (barbecue) in
the wilderness – accompanied by
a bottle of pinotage produced by
the oldest wine industry outside
Europe.
South Africans are some of
Island House
Bedroom Set
$
1999
Includes:
Queen Poster Bed,
Dresser, Mirror, Chest,
Nightstand
22 July 2010 •
Cape Town is famous for its harbour as well as its natural setting in
the Cape floral kingdom, including such well-known landmarks as
Table Mountain and Cape Point.
the most upbeat, welcoming and Money
humorous folk you’ll encounter
South Africa’s currency is the
anywhere, from farmers in the
rand (R), which is divided into
rural north who tell you to drive
100 cents. There is no black mar-
safely on those dirt roads, to
ket. The coins are one, two, five,
Khayelitsha kids who wish you
10, 20 and 50 cents, and R1, R2
molo (‘good morning’ in Xhosa).
and R5. The notes are R10, R20,
Another point of unity in the
R50, R100 and R200. There have
diverse country is that, in malls
been forgeries of the R200 note,
and minibus taxis, bush pubs and
and some businesses are reluctant
shebeens, two popular topics of
to accept them.
conversation are the 2010 FIFA
The best currencies to bring
World Cup and recent political
are US dollars, euros or British
upheavals. Most people believe
pounds in a mixture of travellers
that hosting football’s mightiest
cheques and cash, plus a Visa
tournament is as great a moment
or MasterCard for withdrawing
for South Africa as its Rugby
money from ATMs.
World Cup triumphs in 1995 and
There are ATMs in all cities
2007.
in South Africa, most of which
Queen Mattress Sets
From $150
5 pc
Bedroom Sets
From $399
Glass Top Dinettes
From $199
Microfiber Sofas
and Loveseats
From $500
843-637-6360
www.atlanticbeddingandfurniture.com
give cash advances against cards
belonging to the Cirrus network.
Credit cards are widely ac-
cepted in South Africa, especially
MasterCard and Visa. Nedbank is
an official Visa agent, and Stan-
dard Bank is a MasterCard agent
– both have branches across the
country.
Budgeting for your trip
Travelling in South Africa is
not as cheap as in many less-de-
veloped African countries. How-
ever, it usually works out to be
less expensive than travelling in
Europe or North America, and the
quality of facilities and infrastruc-
ture is generally high. Among the
best deals are national parks and
reserves, which offer excellent
and accessible wildlife-watching
at significantly less cost than you
would pay in parts of East Africa.
At the budget level, it’s quite
possible to get by on about R250
(US$25) per day with a bit of ef-
fort, by camping or staying in
hostels or self-catering accom-
modation, and using public trans-
port.
For midrange travel – where
the best value and most choice
are found in South Africa – plan
on about R450 (US$45) per per-
son per day; more if you hire
a vehicle and less if you stay in
Queen
Memory Foam
Mattress Sets
Starting at
www.lowcountrysun.sc
self-catering places (many of
which are quite comfortable).
Life in the luxury lane starts
at about R1400 (US$140) per
person per day, and can climb to
more than five times this if you
decide to ensconce yourself in
some of the continent’s top wild-
life lodges.
Don’t leave home
without…
• Binoculars for wildlife-watch-
ing and a zoom lens for taking
great wildlife shots
• An appetite for biltong, boere-
wors (Boer sausages) and mealie
pap
• Making room in your schedule
to visit at least one township
• Your yellow-fever vaccination
card if you’ve been travelling
elsewhere in Southern Africa
• Reading up on malaria if you’ll
be travelling in malarial areas
• A torch (flashlight) and warm,
waterproof clothing for those
cold, black, starry nights in the
highlands, especially in Lesotho
• A sleeping bag if you’re plan-
ning on camping
• Books for long bus rides
Courtesy Lonely Planet
$
699
 It’s hard to leave behind those
sad, puppy dog eyes as you head
out the door, so bring your pets
with you on your vacations this
summer. Just make sure to follow
these helpful pet-travel tips.
CALMING NERVOUS PETS
If your pet shudders at the
thought of flying or jumping in
a car, these natural remedies and
medications might help calm
their traveling nerves, but make
sure to give them the proper dos-
age:
Natural remedies:
• Ginger: Either tea or powder
mixed with food is good for dogs
and cats.
• Curing pills: This is a Chinese
herb found at high-quality health-
food stores. A medium dog would
take about a quarter of a vial
mixed in warm water every 3 to
4 hours.
• Lavender oil: Try a few drops on
a cloth in the car or crate.
• Melatonin: It may help some
dogs and cats with travel anxiety.
• Dog appeasing pheromone
(DAP): This is a calming phero-
mone derived from a compound
secreted in mother’s milk to relax
nursing pups.
• Feliway: This is a product simi-
lar to DAP, but for cats.
www.lowcountrysun.sc
Medications:
• Dramamine or Meclizine: A
20-pound dog should be given
about 50 mg before starting the
trip. One dose should be enough
for most road trips.
• Benadryl: Small
dogs and cats should
receive 12.5 mg ev-
ery 4 to 8 hours, and
larger dogs should be
started at 25 mg.
• Cerenia: One dose
lasts 24 hours.
AIR TRAVEL
Two million pets
board airplanes each
year, so to make sure
you’re flying with
your pet as efficient-
ly as possible, follow these five
steps, courtesy of Consumer Re-
ports:
1. Plan ahead: You might also
need a current veterinarian’s
health certificate, plus an ac-
climation certificate if the tem-
perature will drop below 45º F.
(Note: Airlines can’t accept pet
in cargo or baggage if the outside
temperature goes above 85º F or
below 20º F.) Attach your name,
address, phone number, and a re-
cent pet photo to the carrier. Then
do the sniff test: Does Fluffy need
a bath? Airlines can reject stinky
pets!
2. Know the rules: Print out the
requirements for pet travel from
the airline’s website and take
them along. Airport workers
aren’t always familiar with all the
details, so printed rules can come
in handy if you run into trouble.
3. Compare costs and services:
Airlines frequently change their
pet-travel fees and rules. Air
Tran, Jet Blue, and Southwest
allow small pets to travel in the
cabin but won’t accept pets as
checked baggage. Frontier will
check your pet as baggage but
won’t allow it in the cabin. On Jet
Blue and Continental, your pet
earns air miles for travel. Most
airlines allow only domestic cats
and dogs, though a few (Air Tran,
Delta, Continental, Spirit Air- main cabins under the supervision
lines, United, and US Airways) of an attendant. Prices range from
will welcome your bird. Service $99 to $549 one way, depending
animals, such as guide dogs, are on pet size and flight length; the
allowed on any U.S. flight. average cost is $250. Pet Airways
(PetAirways.com, 888-pet-air-
4. Beware of the risks: In 2009,
23 pets died dur- ways) now flies to nine cities, in-
cluding New York, Fort Lauder-
ing commercial air
transit. Others were dale, Fla., and Los Angeles, and
says it plans to expand to 25 to 30
injured or lost when
they escaped from cities. And if you really can’t bear
to fly without Fido on your lap,
their crates. If your
pet is flying as bag- go to www.dogtravelcompany.
gage or cargo, ask com for info on chartering flights
the flight attendant with dogs.
to monitor the tem- ROAD TRAVEL
perature in the pet- ConsumerReports.org offers
storage area. For pet
a whole list of tips for traveling on
health reasons, some the road with pets, but we thought
airlines don’t allow
we’d highlight for readers what
bulldogs and short-
we think is the most notable and
nosed breeds, such
important tip: The temperature
as pugs or Persian cats, to travel
threshold for pets inside cars.
as cargo during warmer months.
“Never leave a pet in the car
Airlines will not fly a pet younger
on a hot day,” according to Con-
than eight weeks or ones with
sumerReports.org. “The cutoff
special medical needs. Also, most
point is when the outside tem-
vets no longer recommend seda-
perature reaches 60º F. If the
tion, which can affect your pet’s
temperature is suitable, open the
heart or breathing.
windows a few inches and the
5. Consider alternatives: At Pet
sunroof, too, if you have one.
Airways, a new pets-only airline,
Courtesy ConsumerReports.org
pets fly in the climate-controlled
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on Quarterly
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• July 2010 23
 Barbecue fans love their hamburgers. Unfortunately, hamburgers don’t make for the
healthiest fare. Those who love to grill throughout the summer might find their burger
bulge adding up. Top this tasy alternative to beef with Grandma Nora’s Salsa Verde.
Turkey Patties
Makes 8
2 pounds ground dark-
meat organic turkey
2/3 cup minced yellow
onion
1/4 cup finely chopped
fresh basil leaves
1/4 cup finely chopped
fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 teaspoon minced fresh
ginger
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon crushed fennel
seeds
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/8 teaspoon red pepper
flakes
Olive oil for coating the pan
or grill
In a large bowl, com-
bine the turkey, onion, ba-
sil, parsley, ginger, garlic,
24 July 2010 •
salt, fennel, oregano, and
red pepper flakes. Mix well.
Shape into desired sizes of
patties.
Heat a grill pan brushed with
oil and brown the patties
over medium heat on both
sides, about 3 minutes per
side. Cover and continue
to grill for 3 more aminutes
until cooked through.
Or, in a saute pan, add
just enough oil to coat a hot
pan. Saute over medium
heat for about 3 minutes
on each side to brown, de-
crease the heat, and add a
tablespoon of water. Cover
to steam the inside, about 6
minutes. Serve in a pita or
on a bun.
Top with Grandma
Nora’s Salsa Verdefor an
amazing finishing touch! I
am willing to bet you will not
make aground beef burger
again!
Grandma Nora’s
Salsa Verde
Makes about 1/2 cup
2 bunches fresh, flat-leaf
parsley
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 anchovies (optional)
2 cloves garlic, finely
chopped
1 tablespoon fresh lemon
juice
Pinch of sea salt
Rinse the parsley and
shake off any excess water.
Remove the stems. Pro-
cess the parsley in a food
processor fitted with a metal
blade for about 30 seconds,
scraping down the sides af-
terward.
Add the olive oil, ancho-
vies (optional), garlic, lem-
on juice, and salt. Process
until smooth.
Cool Off from Summer Sizzle
Refreshment plays a big
role in summertime enter-
taining. For many people,
few things are as relaxing in
summertime as kicking back
and enjoying a cold bever-
age. Whether you’re throw-
ing a party or simply looking
for a way to sit back and re-
lax, the following recipe for
a “Mint Mojito” from “Easy
Sparkling spring water (op-
Entertaining” (Ryland Peters tional)
& Small) could be just the
Mint sprigs and lime zest, to
thing you need.
serve
Mint Mojito Put the rum, lime juice,
Serves 1 sugar (or sugar syrup), mint
leaves, and ice cubes in a
1/4 cup rum
blender, zap well, and then
1 tablespoon sugar or sugar strain into a glass with half-
syrup
filled ice.
Freshly squeezed juice of 1 Serve straight or topped
lime with sparkling spring water,
Leaves from a large bunch of a sprig of mint, and a curl of
mint and ice cubes lime zest.
www.lowcountrysun.sc
 “ “
I have been asked by several
readers of this column if is a
product on the market to help me
look more refreshed and youth-
ful? One that would minimize
lines and wrinkles, in other words
firm, lift and lighten up darkened
age spots or sun spots with out
surgical procedures?
I took these questions to task
recently by contacting Steve Bur-
cham, manager of Dillards at Cit-
adel Mall. He gave me permission
to interview several qualified skin
care specialists. Mr. Burcham
was gracious to grant me the op-
portunity to conduct research
with the beauty advisor of DIOR,
CLINIQUE, ESTEE LAUDER
& CLARINS skin care line.
The first beauty advisor’s
name was Courtney. She repre-
sented the new DIOR {only in
Charleston} cosmetics and skin
care line. Courtney was very in-
formative and proceeded to give
me tips on looking ageless, start-
ing with the eyes. Mature women
should never wear anything iri-
descent on their face. It tends to
magnify lines, wrinkles, and puff-
iness around the eyes. Always use
a matte finish in eye make up,
powder, blush and bronzers, be-
ing careful to only apply bronzers
where the sun will “kiss”your
face.
Courtney advised not wearing
black eye liner around your entire
eye, as the black looks aging and
harsh. She suggested navy, deep
purple, and intensive brown for
hazel eyes, navy or blue for brown
eyes. Charcoal gray and intensive
brown goes with any color of line would greatly help. Gentle
eyes. I questioned her about eye
brows that have
thinned, due to
menopause, ra-
diation therapy
for cancer pa-
tients or lack
of hormones/
estrogen. She
told me about a
great brow liner
that has a brush
on one end and
a liner with a
powder in a
pencil looking container that nev-
er needs sharpening and shapes
and fills in your eyebrows! Uni-
versal Brown is a perfect color
for almost everyone.
I inquired about lip liner pen-
cils and was advised to always
match your lipstick shade to your
lip liner or go with a shade light-
er. DIOR has a good product that
keeps your lipstick from bleed-
ing into the fine lines around the
mouth. Try this trick...add a dab
of lip gloss to the center of your
lower lip after applying your lip-
stick and it will make your lips
appear fuller!
I asked about women who
have full or round faces for an
idea that would give definition
to their cheek bones while giv-
ing the cheeks a more sculpted
and defined look. She suggested
that a bronzer under the blush
blending to look natural is the
key to looking
great.
T h e
next interview
in my quest for
finding a “face-
lift in a bottle”
was with Tan-
ya, a beauty
advisor in the
CLINQUE de-
partment. Tan-
ya was happy
to oblige with
answers to my questions like
“how does an ageless man or
woman repair the fine lines and
wrinkles that seemingly creep up
on us rather quickly after hitting
the magic age of 50?”
Tanya recommended a prod-
uct called “Youth Surge SPF 15”.
This repairs lines and wrinkles.
Many people after using this for 4
weeks in a clinical assessment by
trained experts, showed that there
was an 8 year reduction in the ap-
pearance of the skin!
Tanya also suggested that to
firm, lift, and contour for a grav-
ity free look, use Zero Gravity
Repairwear Lift Firming Creme.
Also there is a Repairwear Deep
Wrinkle Concentrate for Face
and Eye. This product jump
starts natural collagen production
that slows down considerably in
your 20’s. This product has been
shown to visibly reduce length
and depth of wrinkles!
I asked Tanya how to com-
bat those dark age spots and sun
spots that sneak up on our face, Beauty & Fashion
hands and body. She suggested By Belinda Roberts
the Clinique “Even Better Clini-
cal” dark spot corrector. There is
a customized 3 step system that SPF 15.} This is a highly effec-
after four weeks you can expect a tive formula with rich moisturiz-
1-2 shade visible improvement in ers that helps mature skin to look
that dark spot but you should also lifted, contoured, and more radi-
use a daily sunscreen as well. ant.
There is no way to keep skin Look for part two in the next
from forming new dark spots issue in my quest for the “Foun-
with out a daily SPF, follow with tain of Youth” and “Facelift in a
“Even Better Makeup SPF 15”. Bottle”, as I have much more in-
While pursuing my quest for formation on this subject to give
a “facelift in a bottle”, I made my you.
way over to meet Barbara, a beau- Got a fashion or beauty tip
ty advisor for the ESTEE LAUD- question? Let me help! E-mail me
ER department. I explained that at gatorbug54@aol.
I needed to know what products
Belinda Roberts, resides in
were offered in this line for inten-
Charleston and is the founder/ceo
sive lifting of one’s face. Barbara
of the Hat Divas Society, Inc. An
began to explain to first treat the
incorporated non profit hat club
face, throat, and decolletage as
which co-host’s fundraising ben-
one unit.
efits for local charities. Belinda
The skin around these areas
has been in retail, clothing and
will sag and lose collagen. To
cosmetics, and has been a local-
combat this problem she suggests
business owner for 28 years, and
a product called Re-Nutriv inten-
a proud grandmother.
sive lifting creme.
For those with really mature
skin I suggest using Resilience
Lift Extreme {ultra firming creme

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CLUES ACROSS
1. 1/100 Pakistani rupee
6. Oryzopsis miliacea
11. Sous chef surfaces
14. High rocky hill (Celtic)
15. Drifted with the ocean surge
16. A round mark
18. Portions of medication
21. Catholic Un. in Kansas City
23. Edible bulb of sego lily
25. Poseidon’s son
26. Edible lily bulbs
28. Sets out
29. Beautified with gems
31. A citizen of Thailand
34. Informal term for “mouth”
35. Female sibling
36. Gives a verbal picture
39. Not to be taken lightly
40. Cause to lose courage
44. Double-dyed
45. Loin muscles
47. Downpours
48. Convent church
50. Moroccan mountain range
51. Brindled female cat
56. Founder of Babism’s title
57. Book collection work
surfaces
62. Ask for and get free
63. Set to end
CLUES DOWN
1. Handbags
26 July 2010 •
Crossword solution on
page 9
2. Indicates position
3. Something
4. Take a seat
5. Black tropical American
cuckoo
6. One point E of due S
7. 60’s style of dress
8. Farm state
9. Lawrencium (abbr.)
10. Curioes
11. Water hen
12. Gadolinium (abbr.)
13. Piloted alone
14. Touchdown (abbr.)
17. Light browns
19. Before
20. Droop
21. Earnest money
22. Small intestine projections
24. High tennis return
25. Large shooter marble
27. Slang for trucks with trailers
28. Stitched
30. A short straight punch
31. Highly exceptional
32. A native of Asia
33. Graphic computer symbols
36. Run off the tracks
37. A monotonous routine
38. Drain of resources
39. San Antonion Road Runners 43. Set typewriter columns 52. They ___ 58. Atomic #56
(abbr.) 46. Mains 53. Next to 59. Rural delivery (abbr.)
41. Made up of 50 states 49. Atomic #70 54. British thermal unit (abbr.) 60. Exist
42. Toff 51. Label 55. A sharp shrill bark 61. Natural logarithm
www.lowcountrysun.sc
 As you grow old, you lose interest in sex, your friends drift away and your children often
ignore you. There are other advantages of course, but these are the outstanding ones.”

Bubba had long heard the stories of an amazing family

tradition. It seems that his father, grandfather and great-
grandfather had all been able to walk on water on their
21st birthday. On that special day, they’d each walked
across the lake to the bar on the far side for their first legal
drink. So when Bubba’s 21st birthday came around, he and
his pal Jim Bob took a boat out to the middle of the lake,
Bubba stepped out of the boat... and nearly drowned! Jim
Bobjust barely managed to pull him to safety. Furious and
confused, Bubba went to see his grandmother. “Grandma,”
he asked, “it’s my 21st birthday, so why can’t I walk ‘cross
the lake like my pappy, his father, and his father before
him?” Granny looked deeply into Bubba’s troubled eyes
and said, “Because your father, your grandfather and your
great grandfather were born in January, when the lake is
frozen, and you were born in July, you frickin’ idiot.”
No Refills - A distraught senior citizen phoned her doctor’s
office. “Is it true,” she wanted to know, “that the medication you
prescribed has to be taken for the rest of my life?” “Yes, I’m
afraid so,” the doctor told her. There was a moment of silence
before the senior lady replied, “I’m wondering, then, just how
serious is my condition because this prescription is marked ‘NO
REFILLS’.”
The Living Will - Last night, my wife and I were sitting
in the living room and I said to her, “I never want to live in a
vegetative state, dependent on some machine and fluids from a
bottle. If that ever happens to me, just pull the plug.” She got up,
unplugged the TV and then threw out my beer.
Good Old Days - A nurse at the beginning of her shift exam-
ines an elderly and slightly deaf lady. She places her stethoscope
on the patient’s chest wall and instructs “Big breaths” The old
lady remorses,”Yes, they used to be!”
39 and Holding - Johnny asked his grandma how old she
was. Grandma answered, “39 and holding.” Johnny thought for
a moment and then said, “How old would you be if you let go?”
Put on your glasses. Double
check that your partner is
actually in bed with you.
Set timer for 10 minutes,
in case you doze off in the
middle.
Set the mood with lighting. Turn them ALL OFF!
Make sure you put 911 on your speed dial before you
begin.
Write partner’s name on your hand in case you can’t
remember.
Keep extra Polygrip close by so your teeth don’t end up
under the bed.
Have Tylenol ready in case you actually complete the
act.
Make all the noise you want. The neighbors are deaf too.
If it works, call everyone you know with the good news.
I am writing to say what an excellent product you have!
I’ve used it all of my married life, as my Mom always told me
it was the best. Now that I am in my sixties I find it even bet-
ter! In fact, about a month ago, I spilled some red wine on
my new pretty white blouse. My inconsiderate and uncaring
husband started to belittle me about how clumsy I was, and
generally started becoming a pain in the neck. One thing
led to another and somehow I ended up with the old gee-
zer’s blood on my new pretty white blouse! I grabbed my
bottle of Tide with bleach alternative, and to my surprise and
satisfaction, all of the stains came out! In fact, the stains came out so well the
detectives who came by yesterday told me that the DNA tests on my blouse were
negative and my attorney called and said that I was no longer considered a sus-
pect in the disappearance of my husband. What a relief! I thank you, once again,
for having a great product. Well, gotta go, have to take my meds and write to the
Hefty bag people.
I was sad because I had no shoes, until I met a man who had no
feet. So I said to the man “Got any shoes you aren’t using?
The Talking Frog
An 86 year old fisherman was sitting in his boat one
day when he heard a voice say, “Pick me up.” He
looked around and couldn’t see any one. He thought
he was dreaming when he heard the voice say again,
“Pick me up.” He looked in the water and there,
floating on the top, was a frog. The man said, ‘Are
you talking to me?” The frog said, “Yes, I’m talking
to you. Pick me up. Then, kiss me and I’ll turn into
the most beautiful woman you have ever seen. I’ll
make sure that all your friends are envious and jeal-
ous because you will have me as your bride.” The old
fisherman looked at the frog for a short time, reached
over, picked it up carefully, and placed it in his front
breast pocket. Then the frog said, “What. Are you nuts? Didn’t you hear what I said? I
said kiss me and I will be your beautiful bride.” The fisherman opened his pocket, looked
at the frog and said, “Nah. At my age I’d rather have a talking frog.”
1. Older Americans account
for $2 trillion or 50% of all
spending.
2. Older Americans control

Don’t even think about trying it twice. Eggs, pancakes, sandwiches, soups, $7 trillion in wealth.
3. We are the only publi-

desserts and the largest selection of

cation in the Lowcountry
dedicated to reaching older
Americans.
vegetables of anyone in town! 4. The Lowcountry Sun dis-
tributes free newspapers

3DWULFLD3%DLOH\%&+,6 More food for your dollar! every month to over 200
premium locations and to
more than 40,000 readers.
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Breakfast, lunch or dinner 5. We target one of the fast-

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est growing segments of
the population.

GLIIHUHQFHWKH Locations
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The Tri-County’s Premier Publication
For the Young and Active After 50
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@ LowCountrySun

www.lowcountrysun.sc • July 2010 27

28 July 2010 • www.lowcountrysun.sc