September = National Preparedness Month

The most prepared some families and individuals get is 24 hours before a major

weather event, after store shelves have been cleared of batteries, flashlights and other

essential supplies. You may not need a dumpster rental from Bin There Dump That

during a crisis, but you must craft a plan well in advance, and what better time than ~

[drum roll] ~ today!

Communication is imperative during an emergency, so have your ICE (In Case of

Emergency) programmed into every cell phone, including a contact outside your region,

in case communications are down locally. Teach everyone to text or use SMS (Short

Message Service) as it might work when a phone call does not. It is advisable to have a

contact card in every wallet, purse, book bag or backpack in case you are in different

locations and someone needs to make contact for a child or injured adult.

The most common reasons for evacuating your home or business, according to the

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are flood and fire. Determine a place

for you and family members to meet in a circumstance where you need to leave your

house, neighborhood or town at a time when you are not together. This can be a corner of

the yard, a certain street corner or a park in a neighboring community. Special

transportation needs must be addressed in advance for:

• babies and small children
• elderly folks, especially those with dementia or ambulatory issues
• tween kids and teenagers
• special needs people
• house pets
• horses and livestock

Your emergency kit can go with you if you leave your home or lose power at

home. Whether you live in a house, apartment, condo, travel trailer or high-rise, everyone

should have an emergency kit in a case with a handle or a backpack with handy items,

such as:

• flashlights and batteries
• portable radio and batteries
• bottled water
• non-perishable snacks
• change of clothes for everyone
• poncho for each person
• contact cards
• roll of toilet paper and paper towels
• basic first aid supplies
• a whistle 
• couple toys for children
• list of conditions and/or medications for each family member
• three large trash bags (in case you need to carry this through water)
• things you can toss in at the last minute include prescriptions, cell 
• phone chargers, dog and cat food

One of the most significant and challenging aspects of dealing with an emergency

or weathering a storm at home is staying calm. Children and elderly people especially are

greatly influenced by the actions and attitudes of adults and even teens around them.

Your behavior, facial expressions, choice of words and tone of voice can make a huge

difference in the response of those close to you during a crisis. Breathe, pray, move

slowly and confidently, sing, speak in a normal tone of voice and talk to your teens in

advance, letting them know you expect them to be strong and get along with everyone

during a rough time.

Gather the family around the kitchen table and pull together your emergency plan

and disaster kit. There will be greater cooperation when everyone has been part of the

plan ~ a plan you hope you never have to use. But if you do, you are well prepared.

Fall Football Fun ~ 2015..... rah rah rah - bucs and bulls!

It is fall and for many... that means Football & Hunting season has arrived!

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost to the Cleveland Browns Aug. 29 on the heels of a
loss to the Vikings and creaming the Bengals before ending preseason with a win over Miami.  So the Bucs enter the season with a preseason of 2 - 2.  Hopefully we'll see a "w" posted in the opener against Tennessee! GO BUCS!

The USF Bulls started by having home field advantage in their season opener against Florida A&M on Sept. 5 with a HUGE win!   GO BULLS!!!   This Saturday we get to see the Bulls take on Florida State which is sure to have some good Saturday rivalry talk for all of us locals.

Despite a less than stellar season (for both teams) last year, the bulls and Bucs plan to charge Raymond James Stadium with all the gusto, passion and power their mascots imply.

Almost as popular as the game itself is the forerunner to the kick-off: the tailgate party.  From the picnic basket literally perched on the tailgate of a vehicle to the ever expanding collection of portable tables, canopies, grills, chairs, coolers, banners, music and satellite television systems, tailgating has morphed into a social setting that blends sports, food, friends and fun.

Toby Keith wrote and sang a hit song for one tailgate necessity: red Solo cups.

And along with those cups, you are going to want some:

• Ice and cooler
• Beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic)
• Corn Hole set and bean bags
• Cold drink holders
• USF or Tampa Bay Buc apparel 
• Sunnies (sunglasses, useful in the Sunshine State and fashionable for all night games)
• Sound system
• Grill
• Burgers, brats, dogs + toppings, chips, sides
• Pigs in blankets
• Frisbee/football
• Aspirin
• Bottle opener, cork screw
• Binoculars
• Folding chairs
• Blankets
• Friends 
• Tickets to the game

Tailgating is not confined to parking lots or campus either. Fans tailgate in backyards, on street corners, in sports bars, man caves, neighborhoods and anywhere a few friends gather.  If you are hosting a good-sized tailgate party, you may as well go ahead and set up to rent a dumpster from Bin There Dump That because these folks have "been there" -- they know the kind of trash that can accumulate from tailgaters.  You do not want overflowing trash cans and errant red Solo cups to spill on to your lawn or driveway and roll down the street.

If all your friends are out of town on your tailgate party day, just make friends,  like Toby Keith did, with a red Solo cup.

Red solo cup, you're more than just plastic

More than amazing, you're more than fantastic

And believe me that I'm not the least bit sarcastic

"Red solo cup, you're not just a cup (No, no, God no)

When I look at you and say:

You're my friend, yea (Lifelong)

Thank you for being my friend" 

Save most of your energy for when Rocky the Bull, the Herd of Thunder and the
USF football bull players thunder on to the field for a spectacular afternoon of a uniquely
American sport.  Watch the Buccaneers in their 39th season as they hope to play right to
the Super Bowl, like 12 years ago when they captured the Lombardi Trophy in a 48-21
win over Oakland. in Super Bowl XXXVII. Rah rah rah!

Go Bucs and Bulls!

Labor Day ~ Rest and Recognition

As Memorial Day often signals the beginning of summer, Labor Day seems like the second bookend to summer time.   Many schools now resume classes in August, and Labor Day is much more than a rite of seasonal passage.   It's a storied holiday officially recognized by Congress in 1894 ~ the same year that Coca-Cola first sold its soda in bottles, the first U.S. automobile was tested [by Elwood Hayes at 6 mph], the first Sunday newspaper comic section was published [in NY World]; and it cost one penny stamp to mail a letter.

Like many American holidays, the beginning of Labor Day is disputed.   What is not in question is that Labor Day has its roots in the USA, and many countries around the world have followed suit in setting aside a day of rest to mark the achievements and contributions of workers to the economy. Though the early labor union Knights of Labor was a driving force for bringing attention to long hours and dangerous working conditions, Labor Day celebrates all workers, union or not.

Another great opportunity for parades, picnics, backyard BBQ and fireworks, Labor Day pays tribute to the men and women who have worked to make this country great.   But a small cog in the giant economic wheel, Bin There Dump That exudes the American dream of entrepreneurship.   It is, after all, the amalgamation of small businesses that runs the enormous economic engine, that creates and provides the most jobs collectively and that drives individuals to work hard.   The country was founded on the premise of liberty and justice for all ~ and freedom reigns in our job and career
choices.

Thomas Edison is famous for lots of things, and hard work was paramount. "The three great essentials to achieve anything worthwhile are, first, hard work; second, stick-to-itiveness; third, common sense," he once quipped.   Vince Lombardi embraced hard work when he aptly noted: "The dictionary is the only place that success comes before work.   Work is the key to success, and hard work can help you accomplish anything.”

Labor Day in the Tampa area is ripe with activities day and night.   The NFL and college football seasons kick off.   The beaches are open, and many take to the links for a day of golf, pitch a tent or just have a family BBQ at one of the parks in the area.   Music plays all weekend at Caddy's on the Beach, and over at Hogan's Beach, superstar DJ, Laidback Luke, hosts the party they dub as "Tampa's biggest Labor Day weekend beach bash."  Davis Islands Seaplane Basin is a welcoming park with beach and dog park.

There's another dog park and more grills over at Rowlett Park, and Desoto Park has trails, restrooms, skate park and grills.   However you decide to mark Labor Day this year, pat yourself on the back for your own hard work.  Thank the men and women who work in stores you regularly visit, and remember there are hardworking folks over at Bin There Dump That for all your short-term trash and junk clean out and debris removal needs.   Enjoy the day, the time, the family and friends, the hot dogs and ice cream.   Just chill on this day set aside to honor and validate work and workers.