By Dianne Lively Yost

Capital Preservation – The Ride. That’s right! I’m so ding dang poor all my money fits loosely in a small change purse! Who wouldda thunk it? I mean I was almost rich, between fortunes, nearly nouveau! Oh well! I’m not gonna let a little thing like bein’ flat broke stop me from checkin’ out the world’s wildest roller coaster! Come on Momma! Let’s jet over to Wall Street and take a ride! Wow! That flight was bumpy but honey this here roller coaster in the middle of Manhattan is gonna rock! Ok . . . We’re buckled in and can’t get out! Here we go! Hands up Momma! What the? We’re stuck on the incline! Who in the Sam Hill built this coaster? They oughtta talk with the Six Flags folks and get it straight!  Oh no! Those repairmen in white jumpsuits look like government Feds! I’m talkin’ the Feds are runnin’ this Wall Street ride just like they’re runnin’ the banks! They’ve got it workin’! Hold on ‘cause I see some loop-de-loops on up ahead! YIIIIIIIIKESS . . .  Helllllllllllllllllllp! Get me outta here!
Whew! It’s good to be home in beautiful Morgan County! I mean the world markets might be spiraling up and crashin’ down all in the span of 10 minutes, but the Fall colors at home are just a sight for sore eyes! Priceless!
Hey and Madison Fitness Center owner Greg Stewart wanted me to tell y’all ‘bout his brand new Madison Youth Fitness center that just opened at 1082 Ward Road in Madison! Wow! Kate Shepard is runnin’ the show over there and here’s what they’re offering: It’s open Monday through Friday from 4 p.m. until 9 p.m. and on Saturday from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. The best part is that Madison Youth Fitness encourages health but in a fun way! Honey, your kid is bound to like these classes: Get Out & Play with games and exercise; Strong Muscles, focusing on bands, small hand weights and stability ball; Start Your Heart, a cardio class; Step Up, a beginner step class; Boot Camp, a tough but fun class sure to get you in shape; Have A Ball, teaching muscle toning, stretching and light cardio; and Flex & Stretch Yoga for kids! I love it! Instructors are Kate Shepard, Tara Delaighle, Bobby Jean Singleton, Ken Davis, Micky Francis and Ruth Massey! Y’all call Madison Fitness Center for more info at 706-342-9200!
Hey! And, speakin’ of kids y’all are gonna flip like a chimp when you check out the new Mulberry Toys location on Main Street next to the Bubbles! Ok so Mulberry Toys, owned by Venessa Carter and Michelle Robinette, is rockin’ in its new location at 137 South Main Street in downtown Madison! Michelle says that since they’ve opened on the main drag they’ve noticed a huge increase in traffic – especially traffic. I mean from Conyers, Athens and even Monroe! And, of course honey there are droves of Morgan County citizens who flat love this cool shop! In fact, this mornin’ there was a ding dang line waitin’ on the store to open! I kid you not! Ok so this shop is double the size of the old location and has tons of toys, games, stuffed animals, play kitchens, castles, barns, board games and more. I mean they’ve got stuff for kids of all – and I do mean all – ages! Oh and Michelle said they’re gonna be gettin’ MORE TOYS from 40 new venders within the next two weeks! Y’all get over there with your youngin’ right now!
Oh . . . I almost forgot! The Madison-Morgan Cultural Center is gettin’ ready for its Cultural Treasures Yard Sale slated for Oct. 24 and 25! Honey Patricia DuBose wanted me to tell y’all to clean out the clutter and donate your treasures to the cause! Oh and no clothing items! Patricia wants y’all to call volunteer extraordinaire Beverly Abbott at 706-342-0346 or Special Events Coordinator Rhonda Smith at 706-342-4743 for info on drop-off sites and times! The Center will even come over to your house and pick up your treasures! And, honey the best part is that all donations are tax deductible!
Hey and speakin’ of taxes . . . I ‘bout did a belly buster on the bushes off the front porch when I got my ding dang property tax bill! Ouch! Now Momma wants to know why our property taxes have to be due right smack before Christmas! I mean . . . give me a break! Or better yet, give me a capital injection like those dang banks are all gettin’!
That’s a wrap! Y’all have a fun, beautiful week and remember y’all shop locally and advertise locally ‘cause honey no other communications medium reaches Morgan County residents better than your local Morgan County Citizen! And, that’s a fact! I’ll see all y’all next week: Same time. Same Number One Weekly Newspaper in the Great State of Georgia.