On The Rise

Q: What do you give a person with water on the brain?
A: A tap on the head
     What is on your brain? At this time of the year, people usually think about summer, prom, state, spring break, scholarships,  graduation, or even May Day baskets. My mind races with more than these child like concerns.
     The temperature continues to steadily increase. The sun breaks out from hibernation for the first time in months. The warmth in the air illuminates the faces of millions of people. The wonderful melting process starts again. Snow transforms into water. Lots of snow transforms into lots of water, too much water. Okay that's enough. Woah, woah. Stop! Too much, way too much water for anyone to handle.
     Flooding always races through my mind at this time of the year. If I see a big puddle in the yard, my heart drops to my gut. My side aches with anticipation. Might as well kick me in the gut now, because when our house floods it devours my insides. The sight rattles my brain.
     I pray for an easy break. Just this year, spare us from this havoc, God. I constantly remind myself to keep my fingures crossed, buy every rabbit foot in sight, and make a wish at 11:11 every morning and night. If any of these desperate pleads for good luck work, the snow will shift directly into air. Poof, no water in the process this year.
     Last year, we finally built a diversion for the creek. This little project costed us many years of fighting with the Water Board and more than enough money. The diversion's first test may appear soon.
     I hope the puddles in the yard retain there small figures. Maybe this year will be different. I continue to run through the possibilities in a desperate attempt to tell the future. Truth is only time will tell me whether the grass in our yard will be visible in a few weeks.

RECNAC -- Read it Backwards

DOCTOR: "It's bad news, you have cancer and Alzheimer's."
PATIENT: "Oh well, it could be worse - at least I don't have cancer."

     We all have had a grandparent, parent, aunt, uncle, cousin, or sibling that has had cancer. North Dakota seems to be more prone to this horrible disease. Radioactive iodine from US nuclear bomb tests may have ultimately caused between 10 000 and 75 000 cases of cancer in people who were living in the USA in the 1950s and 1960s, says the US National Cancer Institute. Most of the people at risk would have been under the age of 15 at the time of exposure, and about 75% under the age of 5. Some scientists believe the wind blew the radioactive particles right to the North Dakota area. If true, the particles would have caused thousands of people in North Dakota to eventually get cancer.
     It can not be true, no way. The government would never hide such a tragic mistake from the public. They would never try to cover up an accident to prevent them from getting sued for thousands of fatalities. Imagine the headlines, Government Kills It's Own Citizens. Since the1950s and 1960s, there have been several experimental tests on people for the results of radioactive radiation, but the results were never released. Afterwards, testing nuclear weapons was ruled illegal by the courts. I am not one to question the government, but the facts do not seem to add up in their favor.
     I believe that this explanation could account for the excessive cancer cases in our area. Proving that radioactive radiation causes cancer maybe almost impossible. There are more ways to get cancer then just by being exposed to radioactive particles, and we can no long do testing on nuclear weapons to see its results. We know what puts you at risk of cancer,  but the real cause may never be found.
     I do not wish for anyone to die of cancer, but it seems that everyone I am close to gets the disease. I begin to worry that I am next. I am soon reminded that my dad drinks atleast two cans of Mt. Dew everyday, and he still alive. As long as my dad remains cancer free, I will put my cancer worries in safe keeping for the years to come.

Be mine?

Knock, knock!
Who's there?
Sherwood.
Sherwood who?
Sherwood like to be your valentine.

     With Valentine's Day just a day away, I want to help you win your love's heart. My one simple knock knock joke will make them fall for you for sure. 61.8% of people in the United States celebrate Valentine's Day. You shoud to be 1 the nearly 200,000,000 people participating in the loving season this year. The pressure tends to get overwhelming, so I will help you out.

     53% of people would end their relationship if they did not receive a present on Valentine's Day from their lover. In other words, you need to buy a gift for your special someone. 31,190,000,000 dollars are spent on February 14th that averages to 126.03 dollars per person. The more the merrier. Go all out with your gifts. Men plan to spend 75% more than women. If you are the man, you will have to cash out more money than your lovely lady.  Flowers are the most popular gift on Valentine's Day with an accumulative price of over 403,000,000 dollars each year. Rumor has it that the aroma from a flower triggers a woman's affection. Women often enjoy jewelry and flowers. 73% of flowers are bought by men, and it doesn't matter what kind of jewelry as long as you buy the most expensive diamond in the store. If you are a woman, settle for 1 of the 180,000,000 cards bought on this red holiday. 85% of cards are bought by women. Guys never expect much more than your loving acceptance of their gift to you, but make sure to get a card with a sweet saying inside.

     You will succeed this Valentine's Day as long as you say the joke and buy the appropriate gift. My last recommendation for success is that you watch the video above on the true meaning of Valentine's Day. I would like to give a special thanks to New York Time's for providing the public with all these facts, and I wish you the best of luck on the challenging and often heart crushing holiday.