The sale is done between organized sporting seasons to not interrupt any team play.

I got involved in the garage sale three years ago when my older son Brian was a freshman. I enjoy garage sales and flea markets, and I get to meet some great ladies.

I guess everyone is buying plasmas and flat-screen TVs, because we have dozens of televisions to resell. For fun, we set up some of the areas to look like a real department out of a store. Just proves that when you get enough moms with energy and interest together, you can do just about anything.

People stand in line, waiting to get in to check out all the items. It's an incredible sight to see.

The sophisticated Swann Lounge in the Four Seasons Hotel serves hot chocolate in two teapots, one filled with pastry chef Eddie Hale's own chocolate syrup and the other with steamed milk. Guests mix the hot chocolate to suit their own tastes and can also enjoy a selection of cookies from the pastry kitchen.

As hurricane seasons get more and more intense, I think people who live in the coastal areas have an increased awareness of what they need to do to prepare. No one wants to wait until the last minute.