Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Dangerous Times

These are dangerous times we live in. All I have to do is look in the paper or read the news. In fact, a nearby town was just ranked as the fifth most dangerous and crime-ridden place in the country to live. That's not reassuring.

I'm always looking around my home and wondering what I could do to make it more secure. It's just frightening to think about all the cruelty out there that is just waiting to happen, so I really want my house to be safe. I love my front door; it's a security door that really makes me feel safe, but securing a house involves much more than that.

While surfing the web, I came upon a nice blog that talks about home safety. I've read several of the entries (including one on 10 tips to make your home safer and another that shows the various bolts and hinges and explains their differences), and they've given me some ideas and tips that I hope to carry out in the upcoming months. I wanted to pass along the information on this site because we all need to be safe in this crazy world of ours.

I highly recommend reading this Home Security Blog and doing what you can to improve the safety and protection of your own home.


Las Vegas, Here I Come

Okay, well, I wish I were going to Las Vegas again soon. I love Vegas. It's exciting and full of things to do. I've been there several times, and some of my best memories are of the wonderful shows I've taken in. The problem for me in the past, though, was knowing what shows were being presented and where. Most of the time, I never knew until I got there. I had to spend a lot of time talking with hotel people and reading brochures to learn what was available.

I sure wish Las Vegas Shows had been around when I was planning my past trips. This is a fairly new site that has all the information you need to discover the many entertaining shows that will be playing during your trip to Vegas. They have detailed information on each show for visitors to review, and the best thing is that you can order your tickets online. No more worries about a show selling out before you get there.

Another really nice plus of using Las Vegas Shows is that they have a lot of exclusive promotions, meaning special deals at lower rates. In this economy, that's a huge plus. So, the next time I'm traveling to Las Vegas, I'm definitely surfing over to
Las Vegas Shows to book the shows I want to see. Check it out!

The Joy and Frustration of Squirrels

You know, I love squirrels. I really do. They are cute little things. Growing up, the only places I ever saw them were at parks and in the woods. Then they migrated to the suburbs, and now they are everywhere. All I ever have to do is look out my window to see the squirrels. They are running along all sides of my fences, going in and out the trees, and taunting my dogs. Fun to watch, definitely.

However, with squirrels come a variety of problems. They've repeatedly eaten through cable and phone lines, causing a tremendous amount of damage and requiring several visits from workers in both industries. I'm not just talking about the wires high up into the air, but the ones that are right up against the house. They also jump onto our roof and run across the patio cover, occasionally keeping folks awake and bringing about damage to those areas as well. Squirrels can even get inside chimneys and crawl spaces, causing stinky problems should they pass away there. So, squirrels may be fun to watch, but they can also be frustrating and expensive.

Recently, I visited Havahart to see what solutions they have to offer. They have a variety of humane traps, electronic solutions, and squirrel repellent ideas for those of us dealing with this issue. I really love that their ideas don't involve killing because I really do love the little guys and I'm a very strong animal lover. Their entire inventory is based on their name. Look at it closely -- Havahart equals 'have a heart'. Their solutions are caring; otherwise, I wouldn't be writing about them in my blog. If you have a squirrel problem, check them out.

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Over-reacting on the Swine Flu? ... and more odds and ends

You know, I'm all for not panicking over the little stuff, but when the Swine Flu story first hit and then spread so fast overnight, I actually thought the U.S. should shut down the border from the U.S. to Mexico. I don't think that's over-reacting, not when you look at how massive the Swine Flu has been to Mexicans in their native country.

No one did anything, and now it's spreading even more. As I write this, a plane is being held in Maryland because a passenger is on board who may have the Swine Flu. That means that one person could have affected hundreds at the airport. If we understood this strain and what was specifically responsible for it, it might be different, but we're dealing with the unknown.

So, why are we being so cocky? Sure, no one wants panic, and right now the situation with the incidents in the U.S. has been mild, but why isn't the government doing everything they can to protect this country? Close down the border for a few days. Mexico is in a crisis. Why would we allow our own people to enter into that mess and then come back here and spread it around?

I just don't get it. Shut down the borders and stop the flights to and from Mexico. It's common sense. Until we get a handle on what the deal is, we have to protect ourselves.

While I'm whining about things I don't understand, that idiot who ordered the presidential plane flyover in New York the other day, complete with a fighter jet, should be fired. People were hurt. If it's just a photo op, why the secret? Put in the news. It's not like Obama was on the plane. I don't understand the callousness of the person who ordered the secrecy. In fact, they should be demoted -- immediately. Anyone who is that high up that they can order that kind of flight, including the classifying of it as secret, should have more common sense than what this idiot showed. I'll stop short of firing him, but he should be demoted and start taking his orders from someone with more intelligence and sensitivity.

For my fan fic folks, I have two stories completed and in beta'ing. I've also started a third story. All are season six. Now, please give these a chance. Season six stories are often ignored, but I've really Danielized them a lot and actually changed some things, so I truly hope that once published, readers will not assume and will give them a real shot. The first two stories are in beta'ing.

Since I'm devoting so much time to the universe right now, I really hope folks will make an extra effort to 1) continue to read this blog which helps it to go up in rank and attract visitors (some posts are written to promote sites and I need visitors to keep that income coming); 2) when you shop at Amazon, please use the link at the top of the right hand column of this blog; 3) click on the link to Helium and surf over as many of my articles as you can (you don't have to be a member of Helium; just surfing on the articles helps); and 4) take five minutes a day to vote for my reviews at Review Stream; that is time consuming, I know, but 50 votes equals five dollars, and I really, really need income right now.

Onward to the next post!


Saturday, April 25, 2009

Quick Story Update

For my fan fic folks, I again want to thank you for your support in voting for my Jack and Daniel fan fics at the Blue Moon Awards. The stories as a series was one of the winners!

Also, though I should be bringing in that cash, I just couldn't walk away from Holding Our Breaths, which has been in the works for over a year. The story is almost done. The mission is over and I'm into some emotional hurt/comfort at the moment for the final part of the story. I anticipate finishing it today and then putting it out to the betas. I'm not sure how long it will take for them to do their thing, but the good news is that a story is coming!

I'm also starting a wish list over on Amazon, but it's not completed and updated yet so don't go looking for it. Though I'm always in need of money just to survive, sometimes folks have asked me to tell them about something fun that I want or need since I can't really get myself anything but essentials right now, so that is what this list is for. Once it's updated, I'll let folks know here, just in case.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

This is April?

94 degrees! That's what it's been for the last two days here. I can't wait for the cool down. I think someone let summer out the door a bit early!

I needed a break from all the review writing, even though money continues to be a desperate situation for me. I just really needed to work on some fan fic. I pulled out the Holding Our Breaths fic. That's a season 6 story based on the Descent episode, Danielized, of course. It feels so incredibly good to be writing. It's not close to being published, and I'm afraid I have to go back to survival mode now, but I have made progress.

Speaking of my universe, just watched Celtic Women on Dancing with the Stars. Some of you may remember that Celtic Women is the group that inspired Aislinn to sing, especially Chloe. Maybe there's a ficlet in there somewhere.

Still no word on the disability. It sure takes a long time. I'm lucky to have a roof over my head. How do families survive today? I just don't know. It's time to reapply for food stamps, though. I guess that's an annual thing. I can't tell you how much I hate having to do this stuff, but here I am, with no choice and trying to hold on for survival. If not for my angels who have kept me afloat, I don't know where I'd be.

I'll have more later, once it cools down!


Thursday, April 16, 2009

Remembering Sandra

I haven't written about this before, but I just have to take a moment to remember the bright young life of Sandra Cantu. This was a local story, occurring in the nearby town of Tracy, California, but it made national news. A few weeks ago, this lovely 8-year-old who lived in a mobile home park with quite a bit of security disappeared. A massive search began with nightly candlelight prayer vigils taking place without fail. Two weeks later, the tragedy's extent became apparent when a piece of luggage was found in some water being drained. Inside was Sandra's lifeless body.

Sandra captured our hearts. She was caught on videotape leaving her home that sad day when her life ended and skipping across the street. She looked happy and was just out for a fun afternoon. We know now that probably within minutes, Sandra was dead. As we also know, the alleged murderer was a woman who also lived in the mobile home park. I don't want to dwell on the monster, but on the life that was taken from us.

I didn't know Sandra, but it's hard not to smile and laugh at that beautiful little girl who was just heading out to play. Lately, it's just bothered me more and more about how innocent children are and what evil is so often done to them. I don't understand the mentality of people who do these things. It makes no sense. Why not just walk away, rather than commit this hateful acts? In this case, it's so senseless that it boggles the mind.

Yesterday Sandra was laid to rest, and this afternoon a memorial was held for the public. Close to 3,000 people showed up, and who knows how many others, like me, tuned in to watch it live on television or on the streaming feed on the internet. That's how much little Sandra Cantu has touched Northern California -- a little girl, just an average little girl, has made such an impact that her service is on television, with state dignitaries present.

Every now and then I incorporate sad tragedies like this into my fan fic, simply because it's an outlet. We need to remember, and we need to do everything we can to stop this craziness. In reality, I know we can't, but, geez, we have to try. There are just too many Sandra Cantus who are being victimized. They don't deserve that, and we deserve a better world.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Getting Your Blog Noticed

As I've maintained Orry's Orations, I've struggled with ways to make it better and to attract more visitors. Being read and seen is important. Otherwise, myself and others like me would be essentially writing to ourselves.

One of the ways that bloggers try to spread the word is with blog rolls and other similar blog-type sharing links with other bloggers, but I've just found out about a neat site that will do even more promoting our blogs, and it's free. The site is called My Blog Directory.

At My Blog Directory, you can simply add your blog to the appropriate category, or you can try to become their Blog of the Day. When you're the blog of the day, your blog appears on their home page. That's bound to bring in traffic! The blog of the day is based on unique visitors sent by the blog per day. Also, blogs are listed randomly, so each time you refresh, you see different blogs.

It sounds like a site with lots of potential, and I'm definitely going to try it out for myself.


Tough Times and a Way to Make it Better

Just about everyone who reads my blog knows I'm fighting to survive in these tough economical times. I'm having to do all kinds of creative and inventive things just to pay the bills, and yet, I consider myself lucky. I have a roof over my head and food to eat. I also have a lot of good friends, angels I call them, who have kept me from sinking into the abyss.

I find myself wondering how we're going to get out of this low place we've found ourselves in. Then I remember something I've heard my whole life -- support American made products. It's nothing against the rest of the world, but right now, America is struggling, so doesn't it make sense to support our own businesses, at least until we get back on our feet? If we don't help ourselves, we won't be able to help anyone else.

While surfing the web, I learned about a company that is extremely patriotic. The company is called American Button Machines. They do more than just wave the flag. It's an American-based business with American employees and a product that is produced only in the United States.

This company makes buttons, and boy do they have a lot of buttons available. We all love buttons! They aren't just for elections and conventions, but for all kinds of celebrations, marketing events, and even for showing your support of your favorite celebrity. I highly suspect we'll be seeing buttons of the new First Dog, Bo, very soon. If you need buttons for your business or just for a special event, you might want to check out this company's website.

American Button Machines has a great button machine blog, too, that gives tips and helps folks to make their own buttons. It sounds like a lot of a fun and a good site to check out. After all, if you feel like you need to support America, like you need to do something to help us in the long way, supporting a U.S. business like American Button Machines would be a solid way of doing so.


April Scents

Here it is, halfway through April. I've been fighting computer problems with a frustrating mouse, but I just had to get online and take care of some business, and I decided to make a post while I was here.

For the first time this spring, I've had my doors open, and that's brought in some scents of the spring, and that got me thinking about perfume. Hey, it's not a stretch! I love a perfume that reminds me of good things, that is pleasing but not overpowering. I tend to love florals with a whiff of roses. Maybe that makes me traditional, which is okay, because I am. ;} I've been experimenting with a lot of perfumes over the past year, and I've discovered some lovely favorites, such as Nina from Nina Ricci. My all time favorite, though, is still Elizabeth Taylor's Passion. I've gotten more compliments over the years on that one perfume than any other. It makes me feel good and it lasts. I really adore it.

Trying new perfumes is exciting. You never know what new personal treasure you might find in yourself with a new scent that's come out, or maybe even in an old standby that you've seen but never used. I also enjoy finding out what others think about the scents of the year. I'd like to recommend a site called Talk Perfume where you can learn more about what's available these days. I consider perfumes a delightful treat. This site is a growing place that can help to educate on the current perfume market. Drop on by and see what scents you might discover.

 
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