A water bearer in China had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which he carried across his neck. One pot had a crack in it, while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water. At the end of the long walk from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to his house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect for which it was made.

But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do. After 2 years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream...

"I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house."

The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I planted flower seeds on your side of the path. Every day while we walk back, you've watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house."

Moral:

Each of us has our own unique flaws.

We're all cracked pots.

But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding.

You've just got to take each person for what they are, and look for the good in them.

With the lingering economic downturn and reports of car thefts increasing throughout the St. Louis area, we have made the decision to hire a security guard service for our property. Twin City Security will be on duty every day to make our property more secure for all residents. We ask, though, that tenants help us by reporting suspicious activity and be on the alert especially during the holiday season. Do not leave valuables in your vehicles. Take cell phones into your home – don’t leave them in the car. Put away any navigation equipment or phone chargers when exiting your car. And, please, if you hear a car alarm going off, take a look outside to see if there are any suspicious characters roaming the parking lot. Call the police if you have a concern, or call the manager. If we all work together, we can ensure everyone’s safety and security. Thank you.

We installed some additional lights along Clear Skies and Rustic Ridge this past weekend. We have also been increasing the wattage in the building hallway lights so that the complex is brighter. We have more lights to install and we will be completing this installation over the next several months as weather permits.

To save in postage and frustration with mailing, you can make the apartment complex a payee on your online banking bill pay system. Like any other regularly paid bill, rent to Half Moon Village, Warson Garden Apartments, or Midland Garden Apartments can be mailed to us by your bank. It's simple! Just go to your online banking website, locate the bill pay section on your bank's website; list the apartment complex as the payee with the address you usually mail your rent to (see below); and use your apartment address as your account number. We will not pull any money out of your account. You tell your bank when to mail the payment and you don't have to deal with any more envelopes or postage.

If you reside on Half Moon or Sandra Sue your rent is payable to Warson Garden Apartments and addressed to P.O. Box 948904, St. Louis, MO 63195-8904.

If you reside on Clear Skies, Woody Creek, or Rustic Ridge your rent is payable to Half Moon Village Phase II and should be addressed to P.O. Box 958840, St. Louis, MO 63195-8850.

If you reside on Major Lee or Trooper, your rent is payable to Midland Garden Apartments and should be addressed to P.O. Box 958842, St. Louis, MO 63195-8842.

As we get closer to winter, it's a good time to take a look at your vehicle and get it prepared to face the colder weather. Here are ten tips to help your vehicle get through the upcoming chill:

1. Consider using snow tires.
The condition of your car's tires is critical during the winter. If the tires are worn or if they are high-performance tires, braking, acceleration and handling all suffer on slippery roads. Because of reduced vehicle capabilities, the likelihood of a crash increases. All-season tires will work to a certain point, but their effectiveness depends on their tread depth. If you have the cash, consider buying a set of winter tires. They aren't magic — even with winter tires, your car will still perform worse on slick roads than dry ones. But winter tires provide more traction on slick surfaces than all-season tires.

2. Check your tire pressure.
Tire pressure is especially important during the winter, because traction is often at a minimum due to wet or snowy conditions. It's critical to have properly inflated tires, which guarantees the best possible contact between the tire and the road. A properly inflated tire will also help protect against wheel damage that might occur as the vehicle drives over potholes. Read your owner's manual to find the correct tire pressure. In winter's lower temperatures, the air pressure in a cold tire will drop. Since air is a gas, it contracts when it cools. Keep this in mind if you are checking tire pressure. Generally, for every 10 degrees Fahrenheit change in ambient temperature, your tire's inflation pressure will change by about 1 psi (up with higher temperatures and down with lower temperatures).

3. If you have a four-wheel-drive system, make sure it is working properly.
A big selling point for SUVs is that many offer four-wheel drive, which improves traction in slippery conditions. But most people don't use their 4WD systems during the summer. And while a 4WD system requires minimal maintenance, it's still a good idea to check that it works properly before winter arrives. Make sure the system engages and disengages smoothly, and that there are no strange noises emanating from the drivetrain when the system is in use. Check to make sure that the transmission and gear oil levels are correct.

4. Check to see if your engine requires lower-viscosity oil in the winter.
This isn't nearly as hard as it sounds. Viscosity simply refers to how thick or thin a fluid is. (Tar has a higher viscosity than orange juice, for example.) Engine oils are sold with different viscosity levels. When winter arrives, the outside temperature drops. The colder the oil is, the thicker it will be. A thicker oil doesn't circulate as well in an engine during start-up as a thinner oil would. If the oil is too thick, the engine doesn't get the proper lubrication.

To solve this wintertime problem, some engines require a change to a thinner oil. This may be more necessary on older vehicles, since many new cars already come with oil that's thin enough to withstand the winter. Even when the thinner oil is cold, it is still not too thick for proper engine lubrication. Keep in mind that an oil can also be too thin.

It's easy to determine what type of oil your car should have in winter. Simply read the owner's manual. It will list the manufacturer's oil recommendations for different climates. If a dealership or local garage performs the oil change, you can ask the manager what type and viscosity of oil he'll put in your vehicle.

5. Inspect the belts and hoses.
Belts and hoses in modern cars lead long lives. But that doesn't mean they don't die. Cold temperatures can accelerate the demise of a belt or hose, so have them inspected before winter starts.

6. Inspect the wipers and wiper fluid.
Visibility is particularly key in winter, as it is often compromised by precipitation, salt build-up on the windshield and reduced daylight. The life expectancy of a wiper blade is one year. If your car's blades are older, replace them. There are a number of aftermarket wiper blades that are made for winter use.

Also check and fill your wiper fluid reservoir. You might consider adding wiper fluid that has been mixed with a de-icer. A harsh winter storm is the worst possible time for untreated wiper fluid to create ice on your windows or for you to discover your blades aren't performing properly.

7. Check the battery.
Batteries give little notice before they die, and they absolutely love to expire at the worst possible moment. Very cold temperatures can reduce a vehicle's battery power by up to 50 percent. If your vehicle battery is older than three years, have it tested at a certified automotive repair facility. Also, make sure the posts and connections are free of corrosion. If the posts are corroded, you can clean them with baking soda, water and a small wire brush.

8. Check antifreeze mixture.
The ideal mixture of antifreeze (coolant) and water inside your vehicle's radiator is 50:50. If the mixture deviates from this norm, then hot- and cold-weather performance can suffer.

If you were to put pure water in your vehicle's radiator, it would freeze at 32 degrees F. But if you combine the water with an equal amount of antifreeze, the new mixture won't freeze until -34 degrees F. Most antifreeze you'll find in stores already comes pre-mixed, which makes this process much easier.

9. Carry an emergency kit in your car.
A roadside kit doesn't take up much space and can prove invaluable in an emergency. Many companies sell preassembled kits, but if you want to save a few bucks, you may already have the key items around the house. Things you might want to consider carrying include:

• A flashlight, flares and a first-aid kit.
• Jumper cables, a tool kit and tire chains.
• A blanket, warm clothes, hat and gloves.
• Paper towels.
• A bag of abrasive material, such as sand, salt or non-clumping kitty litter. Use this for added traction when a tire is stuck.
• A snow brush, ice scraper and snow shovel.
• Extra washer fluid.
• Extra food and water.

10. Check the heater and windshield defroster.
Winter will put your vehicle's windshield defrosters to the test. It's a good idea to check that they are in working order. While you're at it, check the air-conditioner, too. An easy way to speed up the defrost process is to turn on the A/C. (You can leave the temperature dial on warm so you don't have to suffer.) And now is also a good time to make sure your heating system works.

Here's to save vehicles and a safe winter driving season!

Did you know that a sneeze travels out of your mouth at over 100 mph? Cover your mouth when sneezing or coughing.

Did you know that bullet-proof vest, fire escapes, windshield wipers, and laser printers were all invented by women? You go girls!

Did you know your fingernails grow faster in the winter? Mani-pedi anyone?

Did you know that on average, people fear spiders more than they do death? ... and frightened Miss Muppet away!

Did you know that -40 Celsius is equal to -40 Fahrenheit? That's cold no matter whose measuring!