Some of you may have started school already. Others of you are in "the countdown" till school starts. It's time to read a couple more books for "pleasure reading" --- or if you already are in school, grab a book for your backpack to read on the bus to and from school!

Some of your children may have started school already. Others of you are in "the countdown" till school starts. It's time to encourage your children to read another book or two for "pleasure reading" --- or if they already are in school, suggest that they grab a book for their backpacks to read on the bus to and from school!

There is something about starting a vacation as the tail of Charley came through the Outer Banks that immediately makes a trip memorable. We checked in On Saturday at noon, and the first signal that this was going to be an adventure was that the house was ready since the people in the house the week before us had hastened out of town on Friday with word of the storm coming. We were advised to hit the grocery store fast in case they closed and then get home and batten down the hatches. As we were at the store my older son informed us that they were closing aluminum blinds over the store's front windows. Let's just say that that will get you hustling.