A Holiday Poem by: Karl Walters

Daylight, my friend seldom seen
Your absence tells which season’s close
Time to reflect on months gone by, but not yet
Christmas nears, no time to think.

Passing smiles caught through busy streets
Indoors we flee in front of fires
Glasses clink, we toast the year’s end
You catch my eye, next year we’ll meet.

One last farewell, down family roads we head
It’s late now, a window candle is lit
One more drink poured, the last stories shared
Another year, things change, the same warmth’s felt.

Poem Source: End Of Year, Holiday Poems http://www.familyfriendpoems.com/holiday/poetry.asp?poem=35223#ixzz19LcvjQjk

Bob's Top Ten i phone apps...

Bob's Top 10 i Phone Apps

NightStand
A great alarm clock with local weather and multiple alarms. 

Surf Report
Oakley and Surfline teamed up and created a great Surf Report.

NOAA Buoys
Find tide, wind, wave height and more.

Tune in Radio
Ever since we lost 98X here on the beach this app is where I find radio programming.  Check out Scratch N Sniff on 95 Rock out of Augusta, Ga every Saturday night 10-12...

Dragon Dictation
This is a great app when you need to text while driving.  Just tap, speak and send it.

Speak It
Don't feel like reading?  Copy & Paste the text and have it read to you.

Red Laser
 Barcode Scanner.  I was shopping for weed eaters at Sears and used the bar code scanner to compare different models and prices.  

Political GPS
Keep an on your elected Representatives.

Star Walk
I used this one last night to keep track of the Lunar Eclipse.

Skout
If you are single this app will help you find other singles near you.


I did not mention the usual but very useful apps like the Weather Channel, Google Mobile, Pandora, Dropbox, or Evernote.  I would hope you already have those.

One more app that I am hoping will help me out in the new year would be.....

Supervisors Helper
I hope this app helps me manage my employees and prepare me for evaluations.

Can you see it?

Can you see it?  Snow flurries again on the Outer Banks of NC.

Christmas at Owens Restaurant, an OAR Tradition

A great time was had by all this season at the Annual Ocean Atlantic Rentals Christmas Party held at Owens Restaurant in Nags Head, NC  27959.  The party began with drinks, friends and thoughts of those missing from our group.  We told stories, laughed and got merry.  An awesome spread was laid before us:  Prime Rib, Stuffed Flounder, Shrimp & Scallops Napoleon, the Best Fried Oysters Ever!, and all the trimmings.  When the plates were full and on the table the room grew silent as we blissfully stuffed our faces will all the goodness.  We feasted like pirates that blasted into town and took the best of everything for themselves.  When we were full more stories and laughter filled the room again until it was time for us to head out into the cold so we could get home to our beds.  We would like to thank everyone at Owens Restaurant for making our Christmas Tradition wonderful again this year.

Tis' the Season

Tis' the Season....Check it out!

Have a Merry OBXMAS

Have a Merry OBXMAS!

Christmas Lights: Outer Banks Style

At the west end of Ocean Acres Drive in Kill Devil Hills, an ordinary gravel road becomes a holiday wonderland that delights local Christmas lovers. Every year for the last 42 years, the Poulos family has transformed their home into a Christmas paradise for all on the Outer Banks to enjoy.

It has now become an Outer Banks tradition to make the trip to the end of Ocean Acres to get a dose of the holiday spirit. As the road widens, colorful arcs of light guide visitors to a home that would put Clark Griswold to shame. Multiple sets of inflatable Santas, vintage toy trains, brightly lit nativity scenes, reindeer, snowmen, and elves line walkways and fill the lawn. Children delight in the garage-turned Christmas museum filled with stuffed toys and holiday village scenes.

It takes 12 weeks to prepare for the holiday light spectacular but all the effort is definitely worth the reward. The Poulos family agrees they continue with the tradition year after year because they love to see the smiles on visitor’s faces. The lights are turned on every night at dusk from Thanksgiving through New Year’s. Santa Claus is known to make appearances at the home throughout the month so make sure you stop by and see this award winning home. (In 2005, it was named the Best Decorated Home in America by the Today Show on NBC.)

You can walk or drive through the winter wonderland. However, driving by will only give you a glimpse of the thousands of twinkling lights. To get the full experience, park before the holiday lights begin, (you’ll see plenty of parking before the lighted arches) and walk through the winter wonderland and see Christmas Lights, the Outer Banks style.

From # Sara's blog