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Ah, my beautiful dogs. How I love and need them! They are such joys that I can't even express. Of course, just like human children, they sometimes drive me a little crazy. My youngest is a great manipulator. She's highly intelligent and thinks she has be tied around her little, pointy toenail that needs clipping. Okay, so she does, much of the time. :}
Pet odor is one thing I'm not so thrilled about, though, as being a by-product of my puppy love. I've had a long string of dogs, and I'm afraid all of them are still in this house somewhere. Sometimes I try to find something to help, but it's not always easy.
I might get the carpets steam cleaned sometime soon. It's been years since I've done that, and doing so would probably help.
Regardless, my dogs are my loves. They're both in the house right now, lying down for some dog nap time.
Ah, it's a dog's life for sure!
Don't you wish that money grew on trees like it did for Irene Dunn? I'm referring to an old movie that is seldom seen on TV these days but used to regularly be shown late night, back before the days of cable. The great Irene Dunn played a woman who indeed had trees that grew money. I tell ya, I could use that right now.
First, my burners have gone out on my oven/stove. The oven hasn't worked in eons, but I have a convention oven that works great. I also have a George Foreman grill, only I need a new one because the top part is all messed up now. However, the real point are the burners. I have four, two of which haven't worked for a long time. Last week I went to use the burners to boil water for spaghetti and nothing. Thirty minutes later -- hot water but not boiling. Sigh -- I need that money tree.
Then there's my office chair. It's an old one a friend of my sister's passed on, but it doesn't stay up to where I need it. The thing slides down all the time, and it's too low in that spot. Man, is that frustrating. I need that money tree so I can shop for a new chair. A bonus would be to get a few other pieces, but they aren't as important as the chair.
Oh, to have that money tree. My sink in the kitchen is horrid. There are cracks that need to be caulked or something. Knock against the front wood piece and crud comes out. It's just not pleasant. I don't know the answer for that, or the decaying backsplash that is driving me nuts. I hate my kitchen.
To top it off, the connector piece on the pool sweep more or less exploded apart the other day. I'm having to investigate the cost of replacing it while the pool sweep now sits idol.
All of this is on top of my decision to have a whole house fan installed. My house retains heat like mad. It'll be 65 outside and 80 inside -- at midnight. I really think this is a smart choice, but it's using up every penny of that precious money I can scrape together.
I had been saving for a new TV. I love my projection TV, but it's on its last legs. It'll be black and white for anywhere from 5 minutes to 50 minutes before the color pops on. The blue element is unfixable and way off, so the lighting is just horrid. Sometimes it's so dark now I can't even see anything. So, I'd been saving up for a replacement. Like I said, the whole house fan is a smarter, more rational choice, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that my long time projection companion will hold on for a couple more years.
Irene, how'd you make those money trees?
Have a great day all!
Morning all! We're into the summertime sizzle, I'm sorry to say. It's to be three days of triple digits. Boy howdy, I am not looking forward to this at all.
As I look back at my life, I so wish I'd made different financial choices. I was once in a position that had I been smart, things would be a lot different for me. Alas, I spent and had a great time, but the result of that means watching every penny at this stage of the game. I'm not complaining; I actually feel blessed to be where I am. Sometimes, though, I just think back and wonder about 'what if'.
That's especially true as I continue to look around at whole house fans to help with that sizzle I mentioned. It's a huge decision. I wish that purchasing one didn't mean becoming even stricter from week to week, but c'est la vie.
I hope it's cooler where you are. Have a great Thursday!
Whenever we're in the middle of these really hot days such as we are now, days that have temps well into the 90's and, gulp, some that hit triple digits, I alter the way I feed my dogs. Traditionally, they eat late afternoon and early evening, but during the summer, I worry about their dog food, which is stored in a container on our patio.
I'm not sure if it makes a difference or not, but I don't think it's appetizing to have 'hot' kibbles and such, so for that reason, they end up eating sometime before noon. Actually, I feed them a little less than normal, and then give them something for a treat at their normal dinnertime. They seem to like the system.
With temps expected to be in the mid-90's today, I actually just fed them. Oops -- time to buy more dog food. I can't believe how soon we go through 20lb or 40lb bags. Egads.
As a rule, we get Pedigree, which for my dogs is the best dog food I can get. There are several other brands that I like as well, but my older dog seems to react negatively if I change the brand. I'm not sure why, but after watching her when I changed brands, about a year ago I just decided to stay with Pedigree.
Interestingly, in talking with other owners, they've said the same thing. Some of their dogs are the same way, with stomachs that have adverse reactions to other brands. Who knows why, but the point is, it's time to get more Pedigree. Looks like I need to find a cool morning to get to the store.
And that's all there is for now. Have a great Tuesday!
Protection means all kinds of things to people, and it does involve a variety of issues. Primary to this blog and where we are, though, is the safety of utilizing the internet.
We have to be cautious and we need to ensure that we have as much protection on our computers as possible. There's virus scan, spyware, adware, trojans, and a host of other nasty bugs trying to interfere with our conversations and business.
Regardless of what you use, the smart thing to do is use something to cover as many of the bases as possible. Businesses of all kinds and individuals who use the computer for a half hour or twenty-four hours in a day all need to be their own heroes to keep guard against invasion.
Whether you need a big professional job or a small scale freebie program, the cool thing to do is to get it.
Speaking of cool, we've enjoyed a tiny cool down the last few days. It was a big surprise three days ago when we had 84 degrees for the temp. Now that was cool! Back up to the 100's in a couple of days though and I won't be cool then, sadly.
Happy surfing!
It's baby time in NASCAR. Jeff Gordon's wife is due soon and several other racers have wives who are with child as the term used to be once upon a time. I think it's great. Babies are a joy. There's just nothing like holding that new life and watching it grow.
Of course, then there's nursery issue. I'm very traditional and tend to enjoy the classic themes, like Winnie the Pooh. These days, the possibilities are endless. There are so many stores and websites where parents can shop around for furniture and accessories, be it a nursery crib or changing table.
In today's world, parents like to know the gender of their child before birth so they can decorate. I'm not one of those. I got a kick out of racer Matt Kenseth and his wife last year. They had their doctor tell their decorator the gender of the baby and then gave her the key to the nursery, making sure that they themselves didn't have it. The decorator kept it a secret so that they could be surprised when the baby was born. I thought that was so cool.
Baby love: it's a great thing.
I am a huge fan of NASCAR driver, Jeff Gordon. I remember a couple of years ago I saw these terrific wall stickers of Gordon and his #24 Dupont Chevy. It was so cool. I always thought it would make for an exciting wall piece. The best part about it is that it's a sticker -- easy on, easy off.
The art of wall stickering is growing, and that makes perfect sense to me. Just think how easy and inexpensive it would be to keep your child stimulated and happy by the use of wall stickers.
Wall stickers just make sense. No paint to worry about, and if you're child likes fluffy and pink this year, but tigers and brown next year, it's so easy to make them happy. Don't you remember being a kid and wishing your parents would paint your room a different color, or wanting a castle on your wall, or that favorite character?
I just think it's a process that makes sense. Of course, you have to make sure you have the right wall type and such, but, wow!
Go wall stickers!
Justice has been served! The little girl has little Rex back, and he appears to be okay. The teenager who stole him right in front of the child was just 13. He'll get a slap on the wrist, except I hope that his peers give him holy grief from now on. He deserves to serve some detention for upsetting that little girl and doing such an unthinkable thing.
Kids are precious and they just should not be abused and hurt like this. Okay, enough of the negative. Let's think about some good stuff, like making our kids rooms a special place. There are so many neat things we can do to make their rooms special.
I remember seeing a really terrific setup where curtains actually extended outward and formed a tent. This allowed kids to have their own secret place. It's just an awesome concept.
Something else I was looking at were beds. I'm partial to the racing car beds, but those fire trucks are cute, too. There's also the possibility of using a bed made of logs which can fit an old west or pioneering field. Some girls prefer that princess feeling, canopies and all.
For me, I like seeing the little ones smile as they play in their rooms, using their imagination in the process.
Oh yeah, that's what I prefer. Fun rooms and puppies who are safe at home with their child owners.
I'm just boiling upset, and it's not because it was 104 degrees today, which followed 103 degree temp from yesterday, but from a news story on TV. A little girl with her puppy, Rex, was at the park, watching her father play soccer. Many people were there.
A teenager approached her, asked to pet the puppy, and then unclipped him from his leash and took off running to a waiting van. The little girl screamed which got a lot of people looking.
The police do have leads, but no arrest. Two news stations thus far have carried the story, showing the little girl, who just wants her puppy back.
What kind of a world are we living in? This beautiful little puppy was just snatched from this girl's arms, by a freakin' teenager.
Our society is so sick. This makes me ill. I just hope that there is justice. I do know that a higher power will eventually give that teen a lesson.
It's Friday, and the living is easy. Well, it's not bad, but it could be better if we weren't endearing these high temperature days. Fortunately, yesterday and today we are benefiting a bit from the Delta breeze. We're still high 80's, low 90's, but the breeze keeps it fairly decent.
The dogs love it. On days like this, they love to be outside, chasing the squirrels and such. I almost forgot to feed them because the weather was so good. I've been feeding them earlier than normal so they aren't eating in the heat, which I just don't think is healthy.
Fortunately, a look from my youngest caught my attention and out I went, to their delight. They do like their food. It's not a natural dog food, but it's a food I've trusted for quite a while. Part of me would like to shift their food to something a tad healthier, but my oldest has a sensitive stomach sometimes, and she hasn't responded well to change in diets. I still think about it from time to time, however.
Speaking of Cassie, there she is. She just emerged from her dog house and her post-meal nap. Dogs are so cute, and my two just fill me with love.
Until later, have a great day.
Welcome to a very hot blog. Well, it's hot where I'm writing it from. Our comfortable spring weather has finally turned hot, low to mid-nineties. I want my spring back. Have I whined about that before? Probably.
I watched a show that featured Broadway play excerpts, all scenes that had been part of the Tony Awards. I saw some really fine performances. Art Carney was in one presentation, and I was really impressed by what he'd done.
I've also been some time looking around for some things for my car. Car parts are admittedly not my expertise, but there are some pieces I need to spruce up and keep my car in one piece. It's not easy to find seatbelt buckles and roof liner, especially when you aren't sure exactly how to buy it. At least I can research on the internet and learn a lot about it in advance of purchasing. Pricing is so important, too. There are certainly some great deals on the internet.
That was pretty much my day -- plays and parts, and heat, too!
Have a great morrow!
Welcome to Friday, the end of another work week. Our temperatures indicate a very pleasant Father's Day weekend. I sure hope all the fathers out there have a wonderful time.
One of the things that has occupied my brain this week is the topic of scent, aroma, fragrance, and odor. It's not as simple of a topic as you may think. First, I read about how some top perfume brands are putting dangerous chemicals in their products which bring on complications like allergic reactions. It was shocking.
Then I was looking around for a decent home fragrance, something to make the place have a pleasant scent. Odor and scent products are numerous these days. My problem has been that they just don't last. I've used a number of these over the years and while I'm happy with the aromas produced, they disappear why too quick, no matter what the commercials say.
Hopefully, I'll find something that really works. I'm pretty skeptical now. There's only so much money you can invest before you give up. Suggestions welcome.
That's about it for this quick update. I'll be watching some NASCAR events today while also working on some SG-1 fan fiction. Have a good one!
Over the last couple of years, I've really cut back on how much of the reality contest shows I watch, and there's a reason for it -- the judges. I'm really sick of their insanity. Here's a prime example.
The one thing I liked about David Hasselhoff on America's Got Talent is that he listened to the audience more than anyone else. Now that the Hoff has been dumped by glove wearing Howie Mandell, there isn't anyone who takes up the audience's voice.
On tonight's show, Sharon Osborne put through this ridiculous act early on. The lady was nice, of course, but a) she could barely play the keyboard and b) she couldn't sing. Yet Sharon put her through. Thirty minutes later, a sharp, personable, entertaining young girl rocks the crowd and Sharon says no. She rationalized it with the girl wasn't ready yet. And squeaky, mis-playing funny lady at the beginning was?
I'm just sick of this kind of judging. Now we can't blame Howie. He voted her through. It was Sharon who got on her high horse and voted no, along with Pierce who is always cantankerous.
Still, the audience was screaming Vegas, and the Hoff would have responded. Sharon went deaf.
Welcome to another week at Orry's Orations, where the outside temperature is in the low 90's, and we're not happy about it at all. Where are those lovely 70 degree days? Please bring them back.
I've spent my morning working on some fan fiction, enhancing a story about Daniel Jackson's basic training experience, an unwanted but necessary experience for Stargate SG-1's archaeologist.
Then I spent some time surfing the web. Surfing around turned up reviews for last night's Tony Awards show, which was a change of pace for what we normally see. Leah Michele was the standout, and she wasn't even in a Broadway show. Go figure!
I also found a neat site for the dog version of an Amber alert. It's called Findtoto.com, and it looks neat.
So, it's been a productive day so far with writing and successful surfing for scholarships, reviews, and dogs.
Have a great rest of your day.
As I've been sitting here working on various things on line, my poor office chair is crying out to me to let it rest in its misery. I really do need a new one. The last one I bought was purchased about 12 or 13 years ago at Office Depot. I liked that chair, but it became unstable so junked it.
A friend of my sister's gave us one of their old chairs, which was okay and better than mine, but still had some problems. That's the one I'm using now, but one of these days, I'm really going to have to get a new one that is more secure.
Office chairs are really important when you spend a lot of time like I do at the computer. Ergonomics come into play here big time. Of course, then I run into that money issue again. Still, the day will come, out of necessity, if nothing else.
Now that I've whined about my chair, I see the wind is blowing mightily outside, and I think perhaps it's time for lunch. Hmm - the weather, furniture, and food, all in one sentence. It's been one of those days. :}
Happy Friday Readers!
I was up early this morning after a nice long night's sleep. I was hoping to turn on the news and find a peaceful resolution to a hostage situation that is going on not far from my home. A man has been holding his 16 month old cousin hostage as SWAT teams surround the apartment complex where he is. Everyone is holding their breath, praying that baby survives this ordeal. He says he's taking care of him, and he's been seen and heard. The family swears the man won't hurt the little guy. I hope they're right. It's been going on for three days now.
After news time was over, it was time for a little diversion. You know, games are good for keeping minds sharp. Of course, it's never a good idea to become consumed by them, but a game a day can do super things for your mental reflexes.
I made the mistake of doing some shopping yesterday. My knees are just horrid, but there was no one around to help bring the things in. I had soft drink boxes and cases of water. I'm still exhausted from it. I think that's why I slept so well last night. My body needed it, but my knees are just shot today. With their condition so bad anyway, it's not a good idea to really do this thing, but I was essentially without other options. You know how it is when you say, 'I think I'm gonna die now'? That's what it felt like when I finished yesterday. As it is, everything's scattered around the living room, where they are likely to stay for days.
Just typing this has made me tired again. Maybe I'll play another game.
Now we know how much it takes to buy a California primary -- $71 million. Actually, it was $90 million, but the $71 mil was how much Meg Whitman used of her own money to buy voters. It's sad to think that money and negative advertising could buy votes, but it did.
She's prepared to spend another $150 million to beat Democratic candidate Jerry Brown. Brown once was the governor of the golden state. I didn't always agree with everything he did, but I liked his uniqueness and how he pushed away the perks of the job. Whitman doesn't have the guts to do that, but I'm sure she'd hire someone to pretend to be her and do so, if she could get away with it.
Brown isn't going to spend $150 million to win the election. He's off the map to an extent so I don't know if he has the backing to get another shot at the office.
Well, at least we learned what it cost to buy a state.
Good morning, campers. Just a few ramblings before I open the windows to let some of that cool air in to circulate before the dang heat rises to spoil the fun.
I don't watch General Hospital very often anymore, but I just read that Vanessa Marcil is returning indefinitely soon. She played Brenda. Apparently, Maurice Benard has been advocating her return for a while, too. She's said to be right in the middle of all that goes on with Sonny, Jax, and Jason, and she's got a secret. D'oh! Like that's new.
I just don't get parents who think their kids are toys. Some crazy mom left a young kid to take care of an even younger sibling in heat that reached 100 degrees in the car. Frankly, she should lose her kids. This isn't news people. Kids are a precious commodity. Treasure them before they're taken away from you, one way or the other.
The auditions for So You Think You Can Dance have been pretty entertaining. The one thing I'm looking forward to when they get to the top 20 is no more screaming by Mary Murphy. I honestly think that did her in. What was a fun gimmick a couple of times way back when developed into an obnoxious habit.
The dogs are having a great time running around in this good weather. The squirrels love taunting them, too.
For those who have hopped in here, thanks for reading.
Happy Monday morning. It was a very hot weekend for me. It's the first time this year I've turned on the A/C, but the fact that it was this late in June that I did that was a good thing.
The Pocono race proved to be full of fireworks, even though it had a long rain delay. I was crushed when my favorite, Jeff Gordon, ended up with nowhere to go and plowed into Kasey Kahne on the last lap. It was a bummer.
I've been moving video tapes around. I have so many of those things on hand. I wish I had one of those units where you can put in your VHS tapes and record it onto a DVD that is part of the same unit. The space I could save is absolutely incredible.
In the past, I've had some things transferred professionally. It's a very handy and easy way to convert precious items recorded on a video tape, but it can be an expensive proposition to do such a thing. Still, the product received back is always top notch and so easy to store because DVDs are so much more compact.
My sister recently had a number of things put onto DVD as well, including old family 8mm films. I use a company that has proven to be ultra reliable over the years.
Oh my gosh. I have the news on and just heard it was 93 degrees yesterday. I knew it was hot, but I didn't realize it had gotten that high. Now I understand why I was compelled to hit the 'on' button for the A/C.
Until later, have a good week!
Howdy everyone. We've had another weather reprieve, and I'm loving it. We went through May with sub-par temps, which meant lots of awesome days in the 70-75 degree range, versus 90+. They've been saying we'd be in the mid-90's now, but we've managed to stay in 80's instead. This means the dogs are having a great time outside.
I can't express the joy I get from watching my girls run and play outside. They have a lot of fun being taunted by the squirrels, which is a real hoot. With the longer days right now, they have more time to do so, too.
They were out this morning and then I let them in just to cuddle for a while. Then it was time for the them to eat. Because it's heating up, I'm feeding them much earlier in the day. As always, I'm feeding them Pedigree, which I feel is the best dog food for thing. Cassie has a sensitive tummy, and for whatever reason, she does best with this brand.
It's really hard to know what the best dog food is. There's a site that you can go to and read about how each brand does in terms of ingredients and such, but as it turns out, there's still a lot of mixed opinion. I think in part you just have to go with your gut on this one. I had to make a decision some time back on the brand simply because of how Cassie reacted to other food.
At any rate, they've eaten and are outside, roaming around and awaiting a squirrel to chase. They're just so cute!
From the time I was a young child, I always loved getting mail. In fact, I was part of the pen pal craze that captured readers of so-called teen idol magazines. There was a point in time when I had over 150 pen pals. Boy, am I glad I wasn't the one paying the postage bill. It was fun, though, and so educational. I actually stayed in touch with the first person I ever wrote to for many years and with the person who first wrote to me. We even met and even after disconnecting found each other online a couple of times as much more mature adults.
So, mail is a fun thing, especially during the holidays. I have always enjoyed sending cards for just about every special day in the book. It's a feel good thing. Christmas cards were a must, especially unique ones and sometimes those that were even personalized in some way.
Sadly, with my economic demise in recent years, I had to stop using the postal service for fun mail like cards. It appears I'm not alone in that, either, but even so, there's nothing quite like holding a card in your hand that you weren't expecting and smiling at that special hello from a friend.
As luck has it, that hot weather I mentioned before came but then went away. Our May has been way below norm, and while some are bemoaning that fact, I'm loving it. It allows me to function better.
There's been a lot to do and a lot going on. I'm aware that people are still struggling to get by. Hey, I'm one of them, but my stress is less these days. My neighbors were finally able to move, something they'd wanted to do for a long time because they need more room. I miss seeing them.
I'm just trying to make smart choices as much as possible. They say our economy is improving, but our local unemployment rate is up again, so I'm not sure I believe the hype about things getting better. I want to, I'm just doubtful.
That's it for now. I'll have more later!
Spring is here and summer is approaching, and that means I'm already thinking about how to deal with the heat that permeates through the back of the house where most of the living is done, so to speak. Years ago, a giant oak had to be cut down, and since then this part of the house just gets so ridiculously hot. There's nothing to shield it.
Fortunately, things have happened to help the situation. Friends helped me to get some really good sun screens, and they have done their job. More importantly, they also helped me to get modern windows in that area of the house. That's been a really big difference.
Still, it gets very hot in that part of the house, so I keep looking at options. We considered another tree, but with a pool, trees tend to have shedding leaves, and the small trees blossom and I don't want more bugs and bees in our yard.
Could awnings be the answer? Perhaps an Evergreen (but it would block the view)? How about something like vinyl shutters? Would they help at all? I just really need something that will block the sun from beating down on those windows.
Sadly, I have that financial issue and can't afford to really do anything, but I keep hoping I'll find a solution that doesn't cost much. I'm so not looking forward to those high temps.
Suggestions welcome!
I'm so happy that it's the weekend again. It's going to be a very springish one for us with lots of sunshine, and that's a good thing after having some dreary and rainy days.
Speaking of dreary, finances are still such a difficult topic for everyone. Gas prices are skyrocketing again. Of course, that could have been predicted with the turn to nicer weather.
I've been doing some reading lately about finances, ways to save and management tips. It just makes sense to pay attention to this stuff. I would think that the more you have, the better it would be to utilize a financial service to make sure the choices being made are wise ones.
Frankly, I don't know how anyone keeps up with all the possibilities out there. All of this reminds me I have some errands to run, including a trip to the bank.
Have a great weekend, everyone!
Man oh man is it the pits when you wake up with an aching back. I know, because it sometimes happens to me. Part of it is related to physical conditions, I believe, but I also have no doubts that it's ergonomics since I spend a lot of time at the computer. Over the years, I've read a lot about it, and at work, there have been numerous meetings discussing it.
I really think that it's important to have a good chair, one that is appropriate for a person's height and weight as well as placement against their desk or working area. I actually need one now, too. The chair I'm using was made for a shorter person with a different body type than mine, and it isn't always the most comfortable. It can only be adjusted so much.
Leather office chairs come in many different styles, and this one isn't the right one for me. When I get a chance and save up enough money, I need to get a chair that's going to help with my back.
Believe me, when you're at the computer as much as I am, it's important to have a good chair to sit in.
The sunshine has returned, at least for a few days. We've had great weather here in Northern California. I've been enjoying it, especially since my email issues were resolved. It was a scary thing not to be able to reply, forward, or compose email. I'm thankful someone new their stuff and solved the problem for me.
April 8th is the latest episode of Supernatural. I don't watch this series but I will be then because Michael Shanks is guest starring, and he's a big favorite of mine. There's a chance his Hawkman character could recur on Smallville next season, and I'm thrilled about that. Michael's wife, Lexa Doig, is on the new V and while I love to watch Lexa, I just can't convince myself to watch the new updated V.
I just read an interview with Lisa Niemi, the widow of Patrick Swayze. She's hanging in there, but still going through a lot of pain in dealing with the blow in life that Patrick's early death has caused her. She's strong; she'll get through, but right now, those are just words for her. She has a lot of people praying for her, though. She's very much loved, as Patrick still is, too.
My dogs are loving their Kongs. In fact, Kong Classic just came out with a new X-tra large size, and I'm so glad because that's exactly what they need.
Onward to the next post!
It's been a miserable day with April Showers falling down and lightning strikes and such. For me, I've been dealing with two very nagging computer issues -- a router that isn't reliable and an email update that has made so that I can't reply, forward, or write new emails. I feel extremely frustrated and agitated.
That said, it's been otherwise positive lately, and my adorable girls are still adorable and keep me laughing and smiling.
I've caught up on a couple of films. I just love two Patrick Swayze movies I'd never seen until recently -- The Fox and the Hound 2, in which Patrick duets with Reba McEntire (that's a howl!), and Jump! which is not to be confused with the Chinese film of the same name that is without the exclamation point. This Jump! is about a Life photographer's imprisonment in Austria in pre-World War 2 days.
Have a good April!
With the arrival of Spring and summertime just around the corner, it's time to take a look at things outside the home and make sure everything is up to snuff, so to speak.
I just put out four solar lights. I've had them for years, still in their original box. Amazingly, they work, to an extent. I probably should get new batteries for them since it's been years that I actually purchased these. They charge, but the lights only stay on for a few hours and not all night.
It's about time to take the cover off the patio bench that I've been protecting from the rains. I'm not sure I want to do it just yet. Besides, I actually need to get a pad for the bench. Any ideas of a place to get good but inexpensive bench pads? I can't afford much.
Another part of the yard that needs attention is the fence. Fortunately, it's not too bad. I noticed a couple of boards that need a hammering to keep them secure. The good news is I don't need major repairs or a new one. If I did, I'd have to start researching companies. I'm not actually up on what wood is best. We use to have redwood that was colorful; now it's just brown boards. There's probably something better.
I'm glad Spring is here. I just hope it doesn't heat up too much this summer. My house tends to overheat during the summertime.
I mentioned in my last post that I'm finally using an up to date computer, which also means I've been very busy setting up the computer. There's been a lot of hours dedicated to finding replacement software for programs that worked on Win98, but are no longer compatible with the new operating system. It's really a long process as those who have gone through this know.
When you're in this position, you look for solutions like website software. It all depends on what you need, and how your computer will be used, whether it's for personal or business use, or maybe even a combination of the two.
There are lots of choices out there. The main thing is to make sure you have a good virus program already up and running as well as an excellent spyware and adware system. Also, be very careful when installing. If you don't do custom or just fly through the installation, you're liable to find yourself with a number of unwanted programs.
I'm still setting up my computer and trying to find things that work. I desperately need a good composer program, something like Netscape's old composer. I've found a few things, but they aren't as reliable or easy to use as that composer was.
Good luck to all of us in our hunt for software that works.
My biggest news of the month is that I've finally joined the modern age of the computer. My last computer purchase was a decade back, and until a week or so ago, I was utilizing Win98, which just wasn't supported by anyone anymore. It was hard to even find virus scan protection for it, and on almost any site I was having access problems. Then there was the slowness. I just couldn't take it, especially the 5-minutes it took to boot my computer (and I'm not exaggerating).
Now though I finally have the latest thing; well, closer to it anyway. I have a ton of space and a bunch of memory. Everything has been moving fast. I'm just in computer heaven about it all.
As a result, I've been considering doing some computer games. I'm looking for recommendations. I know there are places where games are located, so whether it's a trusted website or an actual game to purchase, I'm in the 'maybe' stage of getting a couple or finding places to go. Nothing grotesque or horror, though. I'd like things like the ancient centipede and pac man.
We all need to have fun, and a few computer games or arcade sites might provide the occasional distraction.
I have lots to write about here; it's just a matter of getting to it. One of the things going on in the news is the marital woes of Sandra Bullock and Jesse James. He's admitted to cheating on her while she was making the film that just earned her an Academy Award. Personally, I never understood the attraction between these two. I adore Sandra, but I have no clue what it is that she sees, or saw, in James, who was unimpressive last year on Celebrity Apprentice.
No one knows what will ultimately happen in that marriage, but it's a reminder that a relationship, any coupling, requires a lot of work, and you just can't take anything, or anyone, for granted.
Dating today is hard stuff. It seems like you have to look around carefully at dating sites. Can you trust what you see, be it the online word or those eyes staring in your face? That's the 100 dollar question.
Sandra is apparently hiding away right now, and I don't blame her. I just hope that her future is bright and that she finds the sunlight again.
Shame on the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, aka: The Oscars, for botching the tribute/memoriam to those who have passed in the last year. They ridiculously chose to stay focused on singer James Taylor, who was seated and playing guitar, and then the audience, rather than putting the camera on the screen. Hence, we barely got a look at Patrick Swayze. In fact, many I know didn't even notice him because it was done so fast.
How horrible of the Academy to have such disrespect and disregard for the viewers. Swayze was the big lead in, and we didn't even really get to see him. It was sinful how they handled it.
And where was Farrah Fawcett? Michael Jackson was included, but Farrah was ignored.
Are you as angry as I am? Let the Academy know by contacting them at this email.
I was talking with some friends a while ago about cell phones. They are in the modern age, with Smartphones and sophisticated systems that have apps galore for just about anything. I, however, am still in a passing age where a cell phone is just a phone. There's internet access, but I don't use it. A big part of this is probably financial. I like the feeling of having a phone at the ready, so I have one for emergency use only, which is economical for my very limited budget. I have a huge carry over balance because I just don't use the phone. I barely remember to charge the thing.
On their phones, my friends do everything from email to games and now TV and movies are getting into the race. I love the entertainment world.
It seems logical that the mobile phone world and the still popular movie world are going to intertwine. Creative folks might want to get into this thriving combination and can get an idea of what it's like to obtain film licensing to make a go at this as a career.
I'm not that creative myself, and since I still have a regular cell phone, it wouldn't work for me. Still, I am just amazed at the focus and continual upgrades in the mobile world. Technology just never ends.
I'm so disheartened. One of my neighbors are moving, or trying to move. I say that because they actually were going to move a couple of years ago, but that's when the market really dried up. She was pregnant, and they had put in a bunch of modifications to their home, so they decided to wait and took the house off the market. Now with their toddler and things shaping up, they are trying again.
Moving is not an easy process. Once they get the home sold, they have to start the packing process and searching for a moving company. That selection process isn't easy these days, so I'm glad I'm not a part of it.
Actually, a friend moved around so much as a kid, teenager, and young adult, that she could pack up a house in about an hour, literally. That's because she had a great ability to sort through the junk and keep with her only things that truly mattered.
Regardless, I'm gonna miss the neighbors once that 'sold' sign pops up.
Earlier this week, I saw an interesting story about a couple who got married at a White Castle restaurant. Apparently, the bride works there, and she didn't have money to have a wedding, so her co-workers got together and arranged for her to have the wedding there. Another couple made the news for getting married at McDonalds.
When I watch Bridezillas and see how demanding and ridiculous those women are (and don't get me started on the idiot grooms -- these marriages will be lucky to last a year and certainly not a one will make it through a lifetime) in planning their weddings, it makes me sick.
I'm all for having the wedding of your dreams, if you can afford it. These days, though, parents of the bride don't have tens of thousands of dollars to pay for these magical weddings. People get so stressed. Is that really what a wedding is about? Screaming and yelling and saying awful things to people who you supposedly love? Is that one day more important than a lifetime?
A lot of couples today do what they can to cut wedding expenses. I actually heard one couple recently say that their wedding day was just one day, and while they wanted it to be memorable, they had a lifetime to live together. They couldn't justifiable spending $10,000 on a wedding. If they did, they couldn't buy their home. A one day event or a home to begin a life of forever together with? For them, the answer was simple.
Personally, I like their choice. It's a good perspective.
One thing I'm really grateful for in these difficult economics times is that I own my house. Having a roof over my head without a mortgage due is such a blessing. Through my worst struggles over the last few years, that assurance was so important.
Today, I continue to hear on the news, sad stories about families being put out of their homes. The foreclosure crisis may have calmed, but it's still out there, changing people's lives every day.
With the economic situation still risky, families continue to struggle with survival. I thank my lucky stars that I can now pay my bills and that I have a home to be secure in. That's my hope for anyone who reads this blog as well.
People are so concerned with image and style and sometimes that gets in the way of doing something simple and easy that would make their space more livable for them.
One thing we finally did last summer was review the dining room area. My mom had a classical looking set. It was her style. My parents bought it second hand as I recall. I wanted something different, more modern. Dining Room Tables are in our direct focus every day of our lives. We wanted something that didn't make us cringe or take us back to memories of childhood.
While I'm not really concerned with what others think, I just wanted something more functional. This is a small house, so I didn't want such a long table like my parents used.
It may be unconventional, but we actually took the small circular table from the crowded kitchen and put it in the dining room, replacing the table that was there. You know something? It looks great and is functional, how we want it to be.
It didn't take long. It will probably only get worse. Not only has California was ordered to release a chunk of its prison population, but the governor put into an effect an early release program. Why? Money, of course. California is drowning and some idiots think releasing convicted prisoners is a way of solving the problem. The sheriff isn't happy. Citizens aren't happy. The stuffed shirts said it's okay. These guys were in on misdemeanors. Blah Blah Blah.
Well, tell that to the woman who went through this nightmare. This isn't the answer. Politicians need to have their perks cut. That will save a ton. We are paying these officials ridiculous amounts and then giving them perks galore, and they aren't even reporting their gifts. 38 of them were recently slapped with a teeny $200 fine for non-reporting. Let's up that to $10,000 and see how often they fail to report. $200? That's petty change for these guys.
I can only speak for me, but I'm angry and upset at the early releases, at the mandate to reduce the prison population, at the governor for thinking this was an answer, and at the politicians who should all be kicked out of office so we can start over.
Let me admit up front that I'm old fashioned. I like people who have taste, who respect values and morals. Beyonce Knowles is one of the greatest talents on the music scene today. With Destiny's Child, she had some incredible hits and then she went solo. She can act, and she is absolutely hands on with every movement and beat of her performance. She works hard, and make no mistake, she is the woman in charge of each dance step, gesture, and note played by her musicians.
This is why I don't get it. She starts out with such a dynamic entrance for her number of the Grammy's. Her powerful voice is belting it out, and I'm focused on what I believe will be a 'wow' performance. Then she makes a gesture that lasts several seconds to punctuate her song, and it just turns me off big time.
There was no need for that crude move. She put herself on the level of Roseanne Barr. It disgusted me, and it lowered my respect for her.
As nice and generous as I've heard Beyonce is, I also hear that she is quite the diva, with a demand list that is ridiculous. A demand list is what she insists be present when she does an appearance. I also recall a couple years back she backed out of a tour overseas because the government simply asked her to dress more appropriately. The woman couldn't keep her clothes on for a couple of hours so she could bring her music to those people. That went down the wrong way for me, too.
I guess I'm just very confused over Beyonce. Maybe she's a generous diva and a crude talent. I just can't like her the way I would if she had more class in her performance and decisions.
I am really upset by what is happening in Haiti, and I'm not talking about the search for victims or the help to rebuild.
There is a local family who has been working on adopting a Haitian boy. After the quake, they didn't know what happened to him. An NBC news crew tracked the boy down and shot video to send to the parents. Since then, they've been trying to get their boy to the United States, as have several other potential parents.
The parents were set to fly to Salt Lake City to meet their new son on Thursday only they got word that the flight was off. It seems the Haitian Prime Minister was in Canada and refused to signed the documents. Excuse me? His country is in shambles. Little kids have no where to go. People want to help. And the PM is in Canada? I'm outraged.
I'm even angrier because all through the night, negotiators were working with the Haitian government to make this flight happen and bring these kids to the US. Now we're there, investing our hearts, minds, souls, equipment, time, food, supplies, etc. -- all in the name of human compassion and goodness, and the PM and the government of Haiti won't release these kids? These homeless, hungry children?
Outrage! Then today, they let the kids on a plane, saying they could go to Florida and while on the plane, they forcibly remove the children because they can't match the names.
Well excuse me. I thought we were helping a nation to rebuild, but apparently they would rather squabble over names. I don't freakin' care who these kids are or what their names are. They are little children, hungry, hurting, in need of care that Haiti can't give them and who have people here wanting, anxious, and hopeful to give them homes.
What the heck is going on? This makes me question everything we're doing.
Let those children go. Let them out of that nightmare.
Or maybe we should just come home and let them deal with their destruction themselves.
Veteran actor James Mitchell passed away this weekend. Mitchell is best known for playing the wicked, wealthy, and otherwise sneaky and domineering Palmer Cortland on the soap opera, All My Children. It was a role he played for three decades. Personally, I couldn't stand the character, except for one or two brief moments when his first wife showed up on the show.
Mitchell's last appearance on AMC was for their 40th anniversary on January 5th. He showed the signs of illness, but he still had those strong facial features.
The movie role I always remember of Mitchell's was the hit musical, Oklahoma! He played the fantasy Curly dancer in a long sequence.
While not really a fan, I appreciate Mitchell's contribution to AMC and he was from my hometown, so I felt a mention was appropriate here.
Farewell, Palmer!
Happy Monday Everyone!
I heard on the news last week that there is a deal in the works to have Bing replace Google as the default search engine for most computers. I'm not sure if that will go through or not, but it does show how Bing is continuing to improve and make a drive to be the #1 search engine for the internet.
When Bing first came out, I used it and wasn't impressed. I've continued to use Google. I also like a place called Dogpile, which a friend introduced me to several years back. I like the way it sorts through various sources to get to its results.
I can't say I'm a big fan of Ask.com which never seems to answer my question. There certainly are a number of places to search. Remember Lycos? Or Looksmart? I've used a ton of them. Music, Video Search Engine is another one that's out there. These days, searches can be specialized, like just for pictures, sounds, or videos. We've come a long way with our searches.
For now, I'm sticking with Google, but at some point I'm going to check out Bing again and see if it's improved since its debut.
By the way, we're on day nine of rain where I live. We've had pockets of sunshine, but there's been rain every day, and there's more coming.
Have a good week, and tune in for more posts!
Tonight is the Hope for Haiti benefit organized by George Clooney. I've been watching the live feed on CNN, though the west coast viewing on networks doesn't start for a couple of hours yet. Though I've been struggling to get by myself, I had to give a few dollars. I, at least, have a roof over my head. Those people have nothing at all now. It's been so hard to watch on the news.
I did get to have some fun. For the first time in my life during one of these celebrity things, I actually got to talk to a celebrity. Molly Sims of Saturday Night Live was the one who got my call. Then all of a sudden, there was Chris Pine of Star Trek. It was a two-fer as Molly called it. Then all of a sudden, Olivia Wilde of House, M.D. got into the act. How fun as that? Pretty fun.
I know it's hard when we're all struggling, but I hope we all come together to help this country in need.
I watched the Golden Globes last night and found it to be one of the more enjoyable award shows of recent times, and it had nothing to do with the host. I just adored Mo'Nique's speech at the beginning and then Sandra Bullock's and Jeff Bridge's. There was such humility in these expressions. For humor, we had Robert Downey Jr. For going with the flow, there was the amazing Paul McCartney. It's just too bad he didn't win, but I love that he attended. I even liked how George Clooney tried to keep that low profile, not even wanting to acknowledge his role in getting the Hope for Haiti charity event set up (it will air on several channels net Friday). Those were the highlights for me.
Happy Friday, one and all! I just got back from doing a bit of shopping. While I was out I couldn't help myself and bought a couple of Valentine Day's hearts. We're talking those little things at the store that cost about 59 cents or thereabouts.
If I get anything more expensive, I think I'll shop for coupons, like this one -- Proflower code. Actually, I've discovered that there are a lot of coupon sites on the internet, so that if you are planning to shop somewhere, you can just google the place or the item and add 'coupon' or 'discounts' and come up with some good deals. It doesn't work all of the time, but it does some of the time.
With so many of us having to cut back on luxuries, coupons and discounts help a ton, so if you're shopping the internet, google and see what you can find.
I do love Valentine's Day, though. It's a nice day for watching some romantic films and listening to good love songs.
Until later!
Now that the Christmas and New Year holidays are over, it's time to start thinking about Valentine's Day. I remember years ago, back in school, when everyone would give cards to each other. It was a lot of fun. Do they still allow that in elementary school? They've cut so much out I'm not sure if they do or not.
I read the other day that people are looking for more unique gifts, things that are different than the traditional flowers and candy. That's why you see things like Valentine Gifts and other articles, even websites, devoted to how to have your Valentine's Day be even more special. Sometimes, it's just how you do it.
You know what? I'm traditional. I love flowers and treasure getting them, and I adore candy. Buy me a box of Sees or Godiva chocolates, no fruits, no nuts, just that luscious chocolate bordeaux or mints, and I'm a happy camper. I don't need unique. I just need the love of the tradition.
Is that really that crazy?
As the rain continues to splash down around me, I'm just sitting here thinking about having fun. I'm probably going to work some more on my fan fic later. I have a long story about India almost done.
I missed American Idol tonight. Have you ever used torrent technology to find shows you miss? I have from time to time. There are a bunch of sites out there where you can get show torrents. You can get game torrents as well, if you're into games.
There was a time when I was using torrents a lot to get Stargate SG-1 episodes, back in its seventh and eighth seasons especially when I couldn't wait months for America to air the shows (England was getting the shows before us; go figure.).
I don't know that I care that much about seeing the trials of American Idol, anyway. What they show isn't really representative of who will make it. Nowadays, it's more a spectacle of who can be the worse.
Maybe I'll go back to bed. That's fun; it's relaxing, anyway!
As I'm sitting here listening to the Canadian Brass doing their stirring rendition of The Saints' Hallelujah, I'm pondering the state of the state of the economy, my personal economy, and the promise of the future. I do believe in that promise; I have to. After all, the future is all we have, right?
So, even as I consider that small business and how I might or might not go about it, I find myself hopeful and optimistic. Now the truth is that I don't think my little potential star clips business would need its own space, though if it did, I might have to check into something locally that was like this Property Manager in Cincinnati. What I'm contemplating doing is just an at home, as I can type of thing.
I have a friend, though, who has always wanted to open up a pet business of some kind. The hard thing for her is figuring out how to go about it and how to get the financing for it. She definitely has more problems than I do in that regard and she's the one who might need that property management firm.
For now, I'm content to have a roof over my head and simply think about the future and try to be positive about it.
Oh, and it's raining outside today, so you know what they say about rainy days -- gives you a lot of time to think.
Happy Tuesday all!
What an interesting week. No more Walter Cronkite to lead into the CBS news, Leno's back in a true late night time slot, and Mark McGwire finally admits to use steroids, something we all knew. All of this has generated even more articles and tidbits that I could use if I ever do decide to go ahead with my star clips small business.
There's just so much to be considered. I chuckled, though, when I found out there are actually companies that help you start a business. I just stumbled upon this one, Nevada resident agent and was amused that this type of business existed. I guess there's a business for everything apparently.
Well, why not. We have career placement and job agencies, so why not this? Goodness knows, sometimes we need the help.
Maybe I'll make my mind up one of these days. I'm just not much of a gambler and that's what keeps holding me back.
So, still thinking about whether or not to get into the star clippings biz again, I'm not sure if it's worth the hassle or not. Actually, it's a lot of fun, and as I said in my last post, I know how it is to find something new you didn't have before.
Then there's the hassle of the shipping, especially figuring out shipping cost. It's easier in the States, but when you go overseas, it's harder. Quite honestly, the market is bigger if you go international.
On top of that, there's the payment thing. PayPal has fees, and that irks me big time. If you take checks, there's a huge risk there. I've been stiffed a few times in the past, and it's hard to let that go. When you're not an official business, there's no comfort zone. So, you could go the credit card route, but as a small business, that's hard to do, too. Then you have to worry about merchant credit card processing services and all that entails. It's not an easy process. There's a lot that goes into what cards to accept and the fees they have.
There are just so many decisions. Wouldn't it be nice if life were simpler and didn't give you headaches?
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