Dow Chemical's prices are going up by 25%.

Lowe's is increasing prices. That's because the housing market is in a slump and people are selling for 17% under market value (on average).

Peanut Butter in Hawaii costs $7.95.

UPS charges are nuts.

By January 2009 it is predicted that the US unemployment rate will be up to 6%.

Blah.

A Few Things ...

First, I’ve been thinking a lot about marriage vows. This one is popular: “to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health for as long as we both shall live”. This in turn leads me to think about divorce. I’ve been really curious about why or why not certain marriages end and why some work out. I wonder a lot about what the people were feeling, what their thought process was – at the beginning, in the middle, at the end. Maybe it’s the amount of people I know getting back together with their ex. Which is interesting because I’m finding that I’m ridiculously accepting? Or maybe it was the 5 days I spent vacationing with Casey’s Dads side of the family. I wondered what it’d be like if I had ended up divorced with two boys, the one on the other side of all of this. It’d be extremely hard and I think I understand some fears now that I didn’t before. On the other hand sometimes staying in a bad marriage or relationship can be just as damaging for the parties involved so it remains a grey area. It’s just been on my mind.

Secondly, I’m going through another one of those semi weird life changes. I’m got some interesting things going on with work. I’m moving yet again, which is proving to be a forced cleansing process.

Third, the American economy is awful and unemployment is going up up up. But more about that later.

Broad River 06/07/08

Besides playing around in a kayak on Clark Hill lake as a counselor at summer camp, i admit i've never been down a river in one of the things.

I heard about the Broad River a while back from an ex-boyfriend who described his fun drunken experience to me and explained that I wouldn't be tough enough to handle it. He mentioned something about splitting my head open on a rock or not wanting me to go because I wasn't in that great of shape. I'm 103 pounds now and was admittedly around 7 pounds heavier at the time. Anyway, as I easily paddled my way down I and II class rapids past tipsy groups of college kids I found myself thinking about all of this.

Nevertheless the experience was a fun one. 7 of us went out. I jumped off a rickety 10 foot wooden driving board. I think I've caught the kayaking bug.

Location : Broad River - Danielsville, GA

Load In Location: Broad River Outpost
7911 Wildcat Bridge Rd
State Road 281
Danielsville, GA 30633

Distance: 6.5 Miles

Time: 4.5 hours (with 3 stops)

Rapid Class: I and II



next stop ... Outerbanks, North Carolina .... week of June 16th