This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Walgreens for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Over the past year Walgreen's has worked diligently to retain it's ability to provide service to customers using the Express Scripts program–for a new contract between Walgreens and Express Scripts to continue as part of it's pharmacy provider network. If you take prescription medication this recent hit that Walgreen's and it's customers is taking should be of great interest to you.

Despite Walgreen's diligent efforts, they were were unsucessful in negotiations with Express Scripts. Walgreen's offered to make a number of concessons including holding rates for a new contract flat and, regarding Express Scripts’ client Tricare, which is the health and prescription drug program for America’s military, Walgreens offered to contract separately with Express Scripts for Tricare from other Express Scripts commercial business to no avail. And still, Express Scripts refuses to negotiate a separate contract for the benefit of the Tricare program and its beneficiaries–the men and women of the American military. During negotiations, Walgreens reached out and offered Express Scripts an 'ironclad guarantee' that Walgreens prices would match or beat the average costs (per adjusted prescription) of ALL other pharmacies in the Tricare network. Tricare gave this generous overture the thumbs down as well.

Having your own local pharmacy is truly important. Many people consult with and trust their pharmacist and stay with them for years as a pharmacist provides a truly vital face-to-face service.

Folks who are covered by an Express Scripts plan now must change pharmacists, often driving out of their way to secure their medication to pharmacies that unike Walgreen's, do not offer the convenient hours of 24-hour and drive-thru pharmacies.

Of course folks are upset about this action by Express Scripts as it was not in any way done in their best interests. Express Scripts wishes to drive more sales to their own mail order 90-day prescription business that they profit from.

What can you do as a Walgreen's customer 'stuck' using Express Scripts? You can make some noise by contacting your local news outlet and sharing details of this situation. Social (online) media is a good place to voice your dissatisfaction, too.

Despite the loss of valued customers Walgreen's is trying to ease the burden and keep disruption to a minimum by offering a special discount on annual membership for its Prescription Savings Club at Walgreens. A single person can join during a special January promo for just $5 or for $10 a family membership enables savings on more than 8,000 brand name medications and ALL generics. More than 400 generics are available with a three-month supply for less than $1 a week! Regular annual membership is $20 for an individual and $35 for a family so be sure to inquire about this generous offer before the end of this month!

Finally, you can voice your support of Walgreen's in a couple of ways as well as staying on top of the latest announcements: 'Like' Walgreens on Facebook and follow Walgreens on Twitter. Go ahead. I just did!

*CLICK ALL PHOTOS TWICE TO SEE DETAIL/THEIR FULL SIZE* Maple Lake Ontario, Canada 1956 (spring)

All extended or immediate McCrackan family at Maple Lake Ontario Canada - 1956. My parents are at extreme right.

The 1956 McCrackan family compound on Maple Lake. Our (current) cottage is not shown and don’t look for ‘these’ cottages as they don’t, technically, exist.  In 1956 at McCrackan’s cottages there was no lake-bank to speak of and the trees looked really different than today–way more sparse.

Mom at Maple Lake Ontario - 'front' of the property - 1956. She was Mrs. Peggy (Jim) McCrackan by this time.

  My mom took this Maple Lake summer photo of me, my dad in the middle, and my bro at right. in about 1969. I don’t think it was posed but I like the composition, if not the pukey look on my face.

Hey everyone!

It’s been awhile since I’ve posted. I would so love to be able to visit right now. The colours must be spectacular. One day…

Anyway, Roger took these shots.* He is so much more talented than I with the scenic ones.

*Except the ones of Obi on our raft.

If you’d like a full size copy or copies email me–I’ll zip them up and send them to you.

Cheers!

Cyn

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Straight Talk for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

For those of you who have a pay as you go contract that you are happy with I say fantastic! However, for someone like me and my family with our family’s monthly cell phone bill (to which we are contractually obligated for more than another year) that seems to get bigger each month, we would really be interested in a fantastic alternative.
I think I may have found it in Straight Talk(!)

I wish that were the worst of my problems with my cellphone service provider–but it is not. The reception is awful. From everything from an important business call to being able to call a friend and have a friendly chat I must stand by either a window in the front of the house or one in the back. It infuriates me that we pay through the nose and can’t even be sure that important calls won’t get ‘dropped.’ And they do–especially if we need to be on hold for a few minutes. It’s further galling because our provider claim our ‘area’ is covered for reception’ but they can’t guarantee for example that I’ll be able to use my phone when I’m inside my home.
An ‘surfing the web’ because the reception issues impact that too, so it is hardly worth the effort to wait for the slow page load and then have the whole thing just freeze up and then start over…and over again.

I’ve learned my lesson: when this contract is up I will never again ‘sign my life away’ to another cellphone company because they have me like a fish: hook, line and sinker.
Herein however lies the beauty of Straight Talk. It’s everything you need in a cellphone without a contract. It’s that simple. And ever bit as importantly, they are affordable!

With Straight Talk, everything you need — you can expect great nationwide coverage and excellent reception/connectivity.
Have a look at some of the options that are offered to you through Straight Talk:

The ‘All You Need Plan’ meets even the needs of very active cellphone users by including 1,000 minutes, 1,000 texts and 30 MB of web data.

Unlimited Monthly service is only $45, and includes calls, text, picture messaging, and Internet–everything you need!

You get unlimited calls, text, picture messaging and web for a whole year, for under $500.00!
In addition your 411 (information) calls carry no extra fees and you don’t ever have to pay for activation, reactivation, or termination fees.

It would totally thrilled me to enjoy that NOW as I so wish I could just toss our current provider.
Each month we currently pay nearly $200 a month for the same type of services!

Finally, Straight Talk only uses names you know you can trust in phone manufacturers like LG, Motorola, Kyocera, Nokia and Samsung.

Another thing I really like about Straight Talk is their International Long Distance Service in which through using a flexible prepaid calling service you have the freedom to make international calls from your home, cellphone or office phone–all at low rates.
Wondering about the phone selection with Straight Talk? I was, and I’m happy to share with you some very enticing information about Straight Talk‘s phone selection.

First, recommended for younger cellphone users are reconditioned phones which are available from just $10.00 — and they are not bare bones! They include a camera, mp3 player, mobile web access, and blue-tooth capability! Impressive, no?

Can you not do without a Smartphone? (I can’t!) Straight Talk has you covered with super-cool smart phones; touch screen phones, and app-capable phones with features like voice navigation, camera, video recorder, music player, instant messaging, and Bluetooth®

Does Straight Talk sound too good to be true? Then why not check out one or two customer video testimonials? The links on this page you direct you to them.

My family is counting down the days until I can break free of my dumb, expensive,restrictive cellphone contract with it’s terrible service and have a go at Straight Talk. I am anticipating especially that my household budget is going to be far impacted by our cellphone bill. The money I don’t spend on my current cellphone service I can sock away for our family vacation to California next year or to do some household repairs and improvement we’ve been putting off (not quite as fun as Disney;land but fun results all the same). All good things, right? Take it from me–mom knows best! So why not check into Straight Talk–right now!?

The Art Hive - 10239 Hwy. 118, ONT, CA K0M1S0

Watermark

In my continuing showcase of fun local events that peak my interest—and hopefully yours too, presenting:

Watermark …

is a community fund-raising art exhibit between The Art Hive and Haliburton Muskoka Children’s Water Festival. Watermark show will take place May 14-June 4 at The Art Hive.

For more information call The Art Hive at (705) 754-0021 or email thearthive@live.ca.

The Art Hive’s building is rich with memories having been a 5 and dime store (or more correctly, a candy store to us kids)  in my recollection and grocery market in my Dad’s day. I think it sat pretty empty when my kids were younger.

There are some folks people there now–artists and artisans, with such a wealth of talent and community involvement.
I’m really glad the place has such an awesome tenant, though I sort of miss the candy.

Source: Thanks to County of Haliburton | 12340 Hwy 35 | PO Box 959 | Minden | ON | K0M 2K0 | Canada

They seemed to love it  on Friday: (PHOTOS)

Horseshoe Ski Resort, Ontario, Canada at sunset on 1.7.11

I stumbled across this adorable shot of Horseshoe Ski Resort, in Ontario, Canada at sunset on 1.7.11. It resembled a scene that could have been taken anytime. Ontario is so pretty!

So will the winter sports people like the weather this weekend through the next week?

Stay tuned.

Weekend Weather Haliburton Highlands 1.8-9.11

If you are in the Haliburton Highlands, you’ll wake Saturday to variable cloudiness and a temperature of only 4°F. As the day progresses the temperature will reach a high of 15°F with scattered flurries, which will continue through the evening.

Overnight, expect continued scattered flurries with a low of 8°F. In this 24-hour stretch you should expect about 0.4 inches of snow.

On Sunday, you’ll wake to variable clouds and  a temperature of 8°F.

January 9-14 Long Term Haliburton Highlands Weather

The high temperature on Sunday will be 13°F and there will be variable clouds. There is no snow in the forecast. Sunday’s overnight low should dip to 8°F.

Monday, look for more variable cloudiness, a high of 17 °F and an overnight low of 6°F. There is no snow in the forecast.

Tuesday is predicted to be ‘cloudy with sunny breaks’ with a high only of 18°F and an overnight low again in the single digits (F) –8°F.

Wednesday, expect scattered flurries and a high of 20°F. There could be close to 1 inch of precipitation accumulation. The overnight low will be 13°F.  One to two inches of snow accumulation is in the forecast for Wednesday.

Thursday: It will be cloudy with sunny breaks. The high will be 17°F and the low overnight 8°F.  No snow is in the forecast.

Friday, look for cloudy periods, a high of 17°F and a low overnight of 6°F. There should be a fresh inch of snow accumulation as well.

Sounds like a perfect week for wintertime outdoor enthusiasts. The snowfall sounds fantastic and with temperatures very nearly the same all week–single digits at night and under 20-degree F  highs during the day, there’s no worries about snow melt.

Have a great week!

Beautiful Southern Ontario Canada (01.07.11) outdoor in-real-time snow scenes, sunsets, & ski resorts including Sand Point Lake, Toronto Island on Lake Ontario, Steenburg Lake, Gilmour, Chicopee Ski Resort, Horseshow Ski Resort, Kawagama Lake, Kincardine Harbour on Lake Huron next to the Penetangore River, Lake of Bays, Muskoka, and Blue Mountain (skiing).

Download Jose`Feliciano – Feliz Navidad – 01 – Feliz Navidad

Me and Canadian dept. store Santa, 1962.

Not a bad Santa, tho’  he  looks as if he’s a tad warm in that suit.

A family Canadian Christmas get-together from about 1967. I have cousins and an aunt (my dad’s sis) and uncle and my dad as the adults in this pic. There’s me, my brother, and my cousins after that. No one in the kitchen one looks happy. My brother, the 2nd littlest, looks fearful. We may have just gotten yelled at by the host (not kidding!) It is after all the kid’s table.

Sunset June 25, Lake of Bays - Muscoka

It was an OK day for the G8 to come visiting, no? They had to work anyway.

Welcome to your weekend! Apologies again for my tardiness in getting the forecast posted, as last night I was helping my spouse celebrate his birthday weekend. (I’ve now declared a moratorium on June birthdays. Two max. My Dad and my spouse. Everyone else, we’ll wait ’till a later date. It’s one of those preserving one’s sanity measures).

OK then. If it’s Saturday when you read this I suppose you can take a look outdoors and see either cloudiness or cloudiness & showers and temperatures running in the very low 60′s°F. Until late Saturday night that is what you can expect. By overnight Saturday you’ll feel a drop in temperatures to 48°F.  The total accumulation of precipitation should be no more than 0.3 inches.

Long Term Weather Forecast Haliburton Highlands June 27 - July 2

Sunday, expect a day with cloudy periods, a high projected  to be 73°F and a low overnight of 48°F. There may be up to 0.4 inches of precipitation accumulation in total.

Monday calls for thundershowers, a high temp of 70°F and a low overnight of 59°F. Precipitation accumulation will be 0.1 inch.

By Tuesday there is a slight change in the weather with variable cloudiness in the forecast and a high temperature of 61°F. The low overnight will be a blanket-worthy 50°F. No rain is in the forecast.

Wednesday, expect more variable cloudiness, a daytime high of 63°F and and overnight low of a chilly 48°F. Break out the quilts! No rain is in the forecast, however.

Thursday is a day of celebration as the the forecast calls for a mainly sunny day! The high temperature will be a  comfortable 68°F, the low overnight 48°F (don’t forget your quilt!), and there is no rain in the forecast.

Friday, expect variable cloudiness, a daytime high of 72°F and an overnight low of 54°F.  Again, no rain is forecast. (See below for the Bug Forecast.)

Haliburton sunset June 25, 2010 (click to enlarge)

Reach Harbour Lakefield June 25 sunset - (click to enlarge)

Chapleau River - June 25 sunset (click to enlarge)

Bug Forecast

In short, both the black flies and mosquitoes are expected to be rated “high” Friday June 25 through Wednesday June 30. You can check the graph for more specifics about other flying critters.

Delawana docks at sunrise June 18 2010

Welcome to your weekend!
I’ll be back to walk you through the weather for the weekend but in short, I want to apologize for it because it comes from here in the States. We lost power today–tree limbs flying, high winds, pounding rain and your area too possibly shall see similar weather through most of Saturday. It’s full-on thundershowers NOT scattered so I’d cancel what you may have planned outdoors for Saturday morning through at least afternoon. The problem here at least is that there are a series of storm systems …so you get past the one and a short bit later…here in my house one of my dogs starts shivering and I know they are coming back before they hit.

Weekend Weather Jun 18- 19 2010

EDIT/:6.19.10 After a thorough examination other the weather forecasts in your area for the next 36 hours, I agree that  Friday overnight the Haliburton Highlands will be mainly clear and about 17­°C.

By Saturday morning thundershowers turn to full- blown thunderstorms which will last in parts of Ontario until Saturday evening when the skies are to clear. It will be mainly sunny with a comfortable temperature of 21°C on Saturday evening. Sounds nice.

It will be continue to be  mainly sunny at daybreak on Sunday after a Saturday overnight low of 15°C. More below.

Long Term Weather - 6.20 - 6.25.10

Kincardine Harbour - Pentangore River - Lake Huron - June 18 2010

[smooth=id:63;]

Insect Predictions thru June 25 2010