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REMEMBERING MY DAD THIS FATHER’S DAY
With Father’s Day just around the corner, I can’t help but think about my dad and everything he did for me, for my company, and for so many of the people he met in his life.
The most important thing Dad taught me was to focus on each day as it comes. Dad had what some call “old-school values,” but I think his values can still play a huge part in today’s world. Through my dad, I learned the importance of integrity. He taught me to live each day with honesty and to honor my word, no matter what situation I was in. I’ve seen these values leave our society as time goes by, which makes them all the more important to hold onto. One memory of my dad that sticks out to me is the way he showed people love. It was a big deal for him. You might hear people talk about caring for others or discuss someone who has a genuine nature of loving and helping people — that was my dad. He cared about everyone, especially people who were scorned from society. Dad was really big on prison ministry, and he helped a lot of unfortunate people that no one else really wanted to help. He did that up until the day he died.
he faced to visit these prisoners and let them know that someone cared about them. It was both inspiring and heartbreaking to watch.
As I mentioned in our first newsletter, my dad was a significant supporter when I started US Solar, and I always try to live by what he taught me in both my personal life and business life. I aim to show the same compassion he felt for others to every customer I help. Dad will always be a significant part of my company, both in its philosophy and in the unwavering belief he showed in me from the very beginning. A phrase that comes to mind when I think of my dad is “one day, one life.” A lifetime is created through each day and the actions we put into it. My dad was all about focusing on each day as it came and doing as much good as he could in that one day. I think that if we can focus on each day with as much care and love for each other as my dad did, we’ll live one hell of a life.
ONE MEMORY OF MY DAD THAT STICKS OUT TO ME IS THE WAY HE SHOWED PEOPLE LOVE. IT WAS A BIG DEAL FOR HIM.”
I remember quite vividly how he would go down to the prison to preach or talk to the prisoners about life, even in the six months before he passed. He found the strength through cancer, treatments, and all the other hardships
–Seann Gates
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ENJOY YOUR FAMILY TIME BY TAK I NG A BR EAK F ROM YOUR P HONE Setting some time aside to be with family is important, but it can be difficult when everyone is always on their cellphones. Constant cellphone use has become a global problem, and the habit is hard to break because we rely on mobile devices heavily for work, school, and keeping in contact with friends and family. Luckily, there are plenty of apps that can reduce how often you’re on your phone and minimize distractions. SIEMPO After you install Siempo on your phone, it will ask which apps are likely to distract you. Once you select them, the app will move those apps away from the home screen and place the important ones, such as the messaging, contacts, email, and calendar apps, on the first screen. You can also designate times for specific apps to be used throughout the day. STAY FOCUSED Stay Focused is like Siempo, but there are some significant differences. You can set times to access certain apps and put the most distracting ones on lock. Stay Focused also has a “strict mode” that prevents you from uninstalling it, so be sure to think carefully before activating the lockdown because you won’t have access to those specific apps until the timer runs out. FOREST In the time that Forest takes control of your device for a set time limit, the app starts growing a tree. Once the tree is fully grown, your time is up, and it joins the other trees that were grown during other breaks. If you pick up your phone and try to access an app, Forest will send you a notification asking you if you want to kill your baby tree by giving up. Who says guilt isn’t a good motivator? BESIDES APPS Aside from using these apps, silencing your phone and putting it in another room, leaving it in your car if you’re out at dinner, or keeping it in your purse or back pocket during a social event can also reduce your screen time. Having your phone out of sight and out of reach will keep the temptation of pulling it out at bay.
The sun is crucial to life on Earth, offering light and warmth to cultures across the globe. Because of this, different civilizations in different eras have created deities to represent the sun and its importance. GREEK One of the most well-known gods in Greek culture is Apollo, god of the sun, medicine, archery, poetry, music, light, and knowledge. Apollo was the son of the god Zeus and the titan Leto and was born with a twin sister, Artemis, goddess of the hunt and the moon. Apollo was known to lead or carry the sun across the sky during the day in a fiery chariot. EGYPTIAN In Egyptian culture, Ra was not only the sun god but also the revered being who created the world. His appearance throughout Egypt depicts a man with the head of a hawk wearing a headdress with a sun disk resting upon his head. It was said that during the day, Ra sailed the skies in a boat, and at night, he traveled the underworld, where he is portrayed as a man with a ram’s head instead of a hawk’s. HINDU In Hinduism, Surya is the god of the sun, source of all life, and maker of all things in the universe. According to the sacred texts of the Vedas, he rides across the sky in a chariot pulled by seven horses and driven by Aruna, the representation of dawn. Surya was so bright that for his wife, Sanjna, to live with him, her father had to chip away pieces of him to dim his light. NATIVE AMERICAN Most of the Native American tribes across America had their own unique sun deities. The Blackfoot looked to Natosi, who was the first of the Sky People and created by Apistotoke. He gave life and warmth to people on earth. The Chickasaw praised Ababinili, the creator and giver of life, who had no human attributes or form. Many other tribes created stories of the sun, as well. In all these legends, the sun god helped people by bringing warmth, light, and life to the earth. SUN DEITIES ACROSS THE WORLD
Spending time with your family is crucial, and with these apps and tips, you’ll enjoy each other’s company without too many screen distractions.
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WHY LOCAL SOLAR SYSTEMS WORK BEST
U N D E R S T A N D I N G T H E C O M M U N I T Y ’ S N E E D
The natural environment of the Sunshine State presents unique challenges that solar companies have to work with. As the sun beats down on us throughout the day, it’s not uncommon for the roof of your home to reach 180 F. These conditions make it vital that the equipment used for solar panels can handle high temperatures and continue to function as effectively as before. Nationwide solar companies typically lack the local, specialized attention that native Floridians need. Their focus rests on selling the same cookie-cutter systems they advertise for people throughout America, with equipment that isn’t made to withstand our extreme conditions in Florida. This can cause many of the standardized systems to eventually fail. The equipment US Solar selects for our customers’ systems must perform consistently and reliably in adverse weather.
would make navigating the small, one-lane roads of Seattle nearly impossible. Even though they’re both vehicles used to get you from point A to point B, some models are going to needlessly cause you more trouble than others, eventually breaking down completely. In the same way, solar technology is not a one-size-fits-all solution. The service behind the technology must be performed by a company that is committed, not only to its customers but also to the area in which they live. Our team understands the importance of our systems’ capabilities to oppose Florida’s heat. US Solar employees are specially trained installers and service technicians who all work, live, shop, and play right here in Florida. We are your neighbors, and we’ve experienced the Florida climate and seen the effect it has on our homes.
When it comes to installing and comprehending the significant challenges solar systems have in our area, US Solar knows exactly what to do for our customers. Our team will work with you to give you the system you need: the one that can take the heat and give you efficient energy for years to come.
It’s a common misconception that one solar system is the same as the next. Think of it as purchasing a car from a dealership. You probably wouldn’t buy a convertible sports car if you were living in northern Alaska, and a Hummer
BLT DOGS
Is a hot dog a sandwich or not? We’re not here to weigh in on the ever-contentious debate, but when you combine a hot dog with a BLT, it definitely becomes more sandwich-like — and way more delicious.
INGREDI ENTS
• 1 tbsp mayonnaise • 1 head romaine lettuce, shredded • 1 large tomato, seeded and diced • Salt and pepper, to taste
• 4 strips bacon • 4 hot dogs (ideally Boar’s Head Beef Frankfurters, but any all-beef variety will do) • 4 hot dog buns 1. Heat a skillet to medium and fry bacon until rendered and crisp. Transfer to a paper towel to drain. 2. Fry hot dogs in bacon drippings, creating a crust, and cook until warmed through. DIRECT IONS
3. Using a dry skillet or oven, toast buns. 4. Spread mayonnaise on buns, place hot dog and bacon inside, and top with tomatoes and lettuce. Serve.
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I N S I D E
LOVING AND CARING AS MY FATHER DID 1
TAKE A BREAK FROM YOUR SMARTPHONE
THE CULTURES OF THE WORLD 2
TAKING THE HEAT
BLT DOGS 3
HOW TO STAY DRY WHILE CAMPING IN THE RAIN 4
3 TRICKS TO KEEP YOUR GEAR DRY
Incoming clouds can really rain on a weekend camping trip. Getting wet isn’t just a nuisance; it can be dangerous in cold climates. Outdoor experts, like the instructors at the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), know the tricks to keeping dry, even on the wettest days. Here are three tricks these pros swear by. EVEN ON A RAINY OUTDOOR WEEKEND 1. LINE YOUR PACKWITH A PLASTIC BAG Garbage bags are an easy and cost-effective way to waterproof your pack. As you’re preparing for your trip, put the garbage bag into your backpack first and place your sleeping bag, clothing, and any other items that must stay dry inside it. Carefully twist and fold the bag inside your pack to close it up, place any items that are okay to get wet on top, and look forward to having dry, warm clothes. 2. USE YOUR BODY HEAT TO DRY DAMP CLOTHES There’s nothing like getting to camp at the end of a hard hike and taking off your pack to finally relax. But if you got caught in a rainstorm or had to cross a river, you might not feel the same sense of relief. An effective way to dry wet socks and other clothes is to use your own body heat. Once you’ve changed into something dry, place wet socks between your layers of clothing, allowing them to warm and slowly dry. Insider Tip : While weight is a consideration for backpacking, it’s worth it to carry an extra pair of socks designated for sleeping so you’ll always have a dry pair to look forward to when you arrive at camp.
wet weather. Get better sleep by using your rain jacket to further insulate your sleeping bag. Put your jacket around the end of your sleeping bag and zip it up, creating a heat trap that will keep your toes toasty. Insider Tip : Keep wet gear out of your tent whenever possible by storing it in the vestibule rather than the main space.
3. SUIT UP YOUR SLEEPING BAG Moisture that collects in the night can lead to a damp sleeping bag, and you want to do everything you can to retain heat in
Happy trails, and stay dry out there!
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