This is a blog about life, entertainment, animals, Patrick Swayze, Alfie Boe, Stargate SG-1, Michael Shanks, and whatever is happening in the world, or at least my part of it. It's my views and the bits and pieces of my daily life, for whomever would like to hear them.
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.
March is ebbing and April is about to dawn. It's a trying time for me as I'm getting down to my last means in terms of survival. I'm trying not to think about it too much, but I don't know if that's smart or not. It's just scary. There's only so much I can do anymore, and asking for help is tearing at me, too. To top it off, folks have their own problems, and they've already helped me out beyond my wildest expectations. The well is about to dry up and I'm honestly not sure what will happen by month's end.
I'd rather be worrying about the judges scoring on Dancing with the Stars or dissing on the powers that be who ruined my favorite TV show, and I'm trying to do that as much as possible. At some point, though, a person has to face reality.
My entire future seems to hang on whether or not the disability will come through. The odds aren't on my side, but without it, I'm totally lost. Enough of my sad reality.
I thought Jeff Gordon might finally win a race on Sunday. He had the lead for a long time in the first third of the race, but couldn't quite pull it off. He finished fourth and actually gained some points as he continued to be the leader in points.
I'm on season five of MacGyver as I try to work my way through the DVD problems. It seems that the set was definitely put together by taking individual sets and putting them into the complete set. From what I've read, Paramount has had a ton of problems with DVDs from those thin pack cases. I wasn't that worried about the first two seasons because I have those already, and the third and fourth seasons weren't all that bad. There were just a couple of places where there problems. Season 5 seems to have some problems though. One disc that has one of my very favorite MacGyvers (The Log Jam) will barely play. I've tried rubbing alcohol and have switched over to Windex, which is helping but not enough. I want to try the toothpaste thing, but mine has whitening formula in it and everything I've read says to use a regular toothpaste. I can't afford to buy toothpaste just for my dvds so this is going to have to wait. In the meantime, I keep applying Windex, but I'm worried about overdoing it.
I'm going to stop with the daily articles and reviews; didn't really look like it was having any effect. If you want to vote for my reviews, many are listed on the right hand side of this blog (you can't miss it - right under the big smiley face), and the link to my articles at Helium is also on the right. Thanks for those who spend time doing both for me.
Hump Day! Well, actually it's almost Thursday. I've spent most of the last couple of days just trying to write reviews. Sounds repetitive, but when you're out of a job, you have to do what you can to get by, and that's what I'm desperately trying to do. At least I can have MacGyver on in the background as I'm reviewing. He makes a nice backdrop.
My racing favorite, Jeff Gordon, was honored by the Boy Scouts on Tuesday night for all that he's done for the Scouts. He's raised a ton of money (over a million dollars) for them, has attended events, and the like. The Silver Buffalo is the same honor that's been given to past US presidents for their contributions, so it's quite the big deal. Way to go, Jeff!
Just saw a clip on ET with Julianne Hough, Derek Hough, and Mark Ballas. They're three of the fun ones on Dancing with the Stars. Apparently, the three have a band that performs every Tuesday evening at The Grove in Los Angeles. Julianne is quite good. I didn't know Derek sang, so that was interesting. Sounds like he plays a mean guitar, too.
For my fan-fic readers, I might have a new ficlet soon. I have an idea that I've wanted to do for a long time, just a silly little Munchkin thing from when they were babies. We'll see if I can get it together. It's a time thing right now since I'm having to do so many reviews to bring in income. The muse is still swaying back and forth with exactly how this little ficlet plays out. It involves Jack, Daniel, the babies, and, hmmm, candy.
Today's article at Helium is located here (poor thing is last right now; not my best apparently), and today's Review Stream review is located here.
First off, a quick thanks to Adrienne, one of my fan fic readers who caught some goofs in my story published early this morning. I've already made the corrections and updated them. I only had a couple of folks beta this story, so I really appreciate her taking the time to point out the mistakes. I love my stories to be as correct as they can. I don't know what the next story will be. My chivalry story stalled after a few paragraphs, and the muse is being silent. If anyone wants to try and spur my muse onward, please feel free to do so!
Just received another payment today from Review Stream. This is really a great way to earn some extra morning, especially for folks who like to critique things and/or are fast writers. I highly recommend it. Use this link to sign up and that way, you help me as I get a teeny percentage on referrals. Review Stream is very reputable. I've never seen anyone pay out so quick so consistently.
I'm still watching my set of MacGyver. I'm towards the end of season two. The problem is the blotches has continued, though it hasn't been as bad on subsequent DVDs as it was in the season one set. They're there, but not causing as much havoc. Had a couple of disks with no problems and a couple with just one or two shows affected. I haven't tried the toothpaste bit yet, but I plan to. I've sort of decided to watch the entire set first and then see what I can do.
Today's article of the day is located here. Please surf on over and read. Today's review of the day is right here. Remember to vote that the review has been helpful; that's what counts here. This one has 28 votes, so is over halfway to where I need it in order to pay out.
My doggies could use a doggie care package -- Frontline for dogs in that 40-50lb range, Priority or Salix rawhide bones, and Milk Bone dog biscuits. Finances are strapped right now, so they're having to go without, and that's hard on Mom here.
Back to my writing and trying to earn some of that much-needed money. Times are getting tougher and tougher.
It's Friday, and I'm still here, kickin'! I survived my root canal, obviously. It's probably the smoothest root canal I've ever had, and I"m hoping it stays that way. I'm feeling okay at the moment, and I want that to continue. I have a great dentist. It's so nice to be reminded that there are caring people in this world. This guy skipped his lunch hour to make sure I was taken care of before my insurance ran out today. That's pretty cool.
I'm still stunned at the death of Natasha Richardson. It sure does impress upon folks the importance of wearing helmets on the slopes, even when just learning, like she was. It also points out how any fall should be looked at. I'm sure there are going to be many painful days of second guessing going on from the people around her on that fateful day. What if they had insisted Natasha be checked out? No one can say for sure what might have been, but it's a horrible thing to have to live with. There's no guilt to be assigned here, and from all the reports about this kind of injury since the accident, maybe some good can come from this.
The lessons to be learned here are simple. Wear a helmet and if you fall, get checked out. Natasha had that lucid period doctors talk about and after that, it was too late. Hopefully, someone will learn from that and not lose their life.
I'm very excited! When I got home from the dentist on Thursday, I had an email from Helium. One of my articles on NASCAR won a contest. That's some desperately needed cash, so I was and am thrilled. I appreciate everyone who takes the time to surf over to my articles.
For my fan fic folks, I'll try to get the next story published this weekend, Monday at the latest. I do hope everyone enjoyed the story published late Wednesday night. It was just a short ficlet. This next one is a bit longer, and it's a beyond the series fic that has a potential new revelation for some of the brood. It could be interesting for the future. Then again, maybe it's nothing at all! Only the muse knows for sure.
I do have two longer stories that are in process. I actually was in the middle of incorporating the Ori story into the universe. However, it's a major undertaking because I'm writing the real story, not what we saw in canon. :} Also, the entire two years is being condensed into less than two months, so it's a fast paced series of events that have our heroes in crisis. I was about halfway through it when my disability claim was denied and I went into a panicked downward spiral. I am still having to focus on trying to earn money, somehow, in order to pay the bills. Right now I'm okay through March, but at mid-April, I'll have big, big, big problems. Until things settle, which hopefully will mean having my disability appeal approved (I hope and pray), I just don't have the time to work on any lengthy story. I hate that because I need my universe, but it's just how it is. The stress is tremendous.
Anywho, the other story is also beyond the series. Alex gets to work more magic in it, something required after a lot of toe-bumping in the middle of the night. It'll make sense when you read it. Of course, I have to finish writing it first. One of these days, and hopefully, that will be sooner rather than later.
Today's Helium article is located here, and today's featured Review Stream review is right here. Once again, just going to the article helps me, but you need to vote for the review as being 'helpful' to make it count with the review. Feel free to pass these links on to your family and friends! :} By the way, a reminder. If you'd like to write reviews or write articles for Helium, please let me know so I can refer you; that way, we both win!
It's a NASCAR weekend. The racers are in Bristol. I sure hope my favorite, Jeff Gordon, has a good race. He didn't qualify as great as I was hoping he'd do, but qualifying isn't nearly as important as taking that checkered flag. Go Jeffy go!
First of all, I was so saddened to hear that Natasha Richardson died today. What a tremendous shock. I enjoyed her work so much, and both she and her husband, Liam Neeson, worked with my favorite actor, Patrick Swayze. It's just shocking the way their day must have started, so calm and innocent, to have ended up so tragically. I don't even know what to say. It's just so very sad.
My dentist called today. He really wants me to have that root canal, so even though he's stacked up with appointments, he's going to squeeze me in tomorrow (Thursday). He's really a nice guy, and he knows my insurance runs out on Friday and I'm just extremely hesitant to go to anyone new at this point. So, think positively for me that it goes well. I've had smooth root canals and tortuous ones. I'd like this one to be smooth.
Today's Helium article is found here, and today's Review Stream review can be found here. I know this voting thing is a hassle, but 50 votes for an item is $5, and right now, I really need those $5. Please vote, folks. For the articles, just surfing there helps.
I read today that the AIG CEO is asking some of the executives to return "some" of their bonuses. That whole thing just irks me big time. We bail them out and they give each other bonuses? I really don't care about the legalities angle. Had we not saved their butts, they'd have squat because they wouldn't even exist. Where's the justice for all of us here?
American Idol had a bit of a shocker with Alexis Grace being voted off. She just didn't sing up to her potential, and that was the real problem. I loved Carrie Underwood's appearance and that she continues to acknowledge the place that Idol had in her career.
I watched Dancing with the Stars tonight. The stars are dropping like flies on that show. They really don't have a stellar cast this season anyway, so it's a little dull. I do like Shawn Johnson. She's just 17, but she has a shot at winning. She's got competition, though, so it won't be an easy battle for any of them.
The article of the day is right here, and the review of the day is right here. For the articles, just going there works. For the reviews, you need to vote.
I'm still so unsure about the dentist thing. I feel very stressed about it, and believe me, stress is something I don't need any more of. Time to stop thinking about it again. I need to go write some more reviews to try and get some money to pay these pesky bills.
And shouldn't the AIG big wigs just be drawn and quartered for their latest antics? We bail them out and they give themselves bonuses? And then they dare to say they have to legally? Without the bailout, they wouldn't be employed! I want to see Obama get some action here. Stop blaming the old administration (not that they aren't guilty) and do what you promised, Mister President.
Just a few more minutes left in this Sunday day. I started my day by writing a few more reviews, which was enough to get another pay out over at Review Stream. Right now, it's the easiest way for me to get a few bucks. I highly recommend it, especially if you're a fast writer. You can use this link to start writing.
For my fan fic folks, I'm going to try and get one of the stories published in the next couple of days. I've been hoping to get a few more people to beta, but haven't had any luck. It must be a busy time of year for some of them. My betas spoil me; I really believe in what they do, but I think I need to go back to just publishing the best I can make it and just let it go at that. I'm not a perfectionist; like I said, just spoiled by what a good alpha beta can do to a story, even a ficlet.
Let's make a goal -- we'll shoot for a Wednesday story. Don't let me forget! ;}
Calm day in the news around here. The most exciting thing has been Celebrity Apprentice, and frankly, that wasn't exciting. Why Dennis Rodman is even on this show, I'll never know.
The Amazing Race was entertaining to a point. I do like Luke and his mom. I don't know that I'm rooting for anyone at this point, but I 'hope' for them. Mel and his dad are fun, too. I did like Victor and his sister, but they played a little dirty today, and I like to root for the good guys.
The Helium article of the day is right here. Remember, just surfing there to read helps me.
The Review of the day is right here. Remember, here you have to vote for it to be helpful.
It's back to the dentist tomorrow for that nasty problem I had. I'm so glad the antibiotic worked, and hopefully, I won't need any more.
Not a lot going on today. I've been sorting through magazines and going through papers, getting rid of a lot of stuff that is just taking up space. However, I've had fun while I've been doing it. A very nice person just gifted me with copies of the Legend TV series with Richard Dean Anderson, so I've had gorgeous RDA during the afternoon to help me with my projects.
Friends and I have also been debating the big scene at the end of the Burn Notice finale when Victor (Michael Shanks) was killed. Who pulled the trigger -- Michael or Victor? It's a huge debate, and there's evidence on both sides.
Today's featured article on Helium is right here. Remember, just surfing there helps me out. This is my thoughts on the whole Paul McCartney and Heather Mills divorce thing. In a nutshell, I think Mills is nuts.
Today's featured review is right here. Remember, in order to help me, you have to vote on that page that the review was 'helpful' to you. The page is timed; it's usually best to let the page stay open a couple of minutes before voting. This was my take on The Ark of Truth, which is scheduled to finally air on TV later this month. There are 27 votes so far. 50 is the magic number for all reviews.
It's really hard sometimes to keep a blog going when life looks gloomy. That's been my experience, anyway. As I continue to struggle to get by, it's get tougher to write about silly little things, even if they make me smile. Still, I think it's important to try. As I continue to try and figure out how to survive, now as a displaced, laid off worker, it's more important to try and keep a healthy mental attitude. As such, I'm going to try a bit of a new approach here. Maybe just share one tidbit I've learned or read about, or something that's made me laugh. Maybe then I can post more frequently and give this blog some meaning. I'm also going to highlight some of the things I do that bring in money for me in which you can help, just for surfing or voting, or whatever.
My beautiful dogs are doing great. They continue to make me smile just by being themselves and playing. They are joy, pure joy. I totally believe in the love and power of pets. They are amazing.
Helium article of the day! Just surfing over to this link helps me earn money. You don't have to vote or anything -- just go there and read! This article concerns the safety features in NASCAR. I am a big NASCAR fan, and this short piece details some of the reasons why it's a much safer sport than it used to be. Click here to read!
Review Stream item of the day! Now here, you need to go to the site and then vote that the article is helpful to you. This is a little box, currently shown below the article, over on the right hand side. It says 'has this article been helpful'. You have to click the circle with 'yes' and then hit 'submit'. Then you'll see the page refresh and the number of votes will increase. If you get a message that says to read the article, it means you need to just let the page sit for a minute or two. It is timed. Then vote. Today's review is for Wendy's Restaurant. It currently has 17 votes, and to pay off, I need to get it to 50, as I do all of my reviews. You can only vote once per ISP. Click here to read and vote!
I must admit that I was thrilled to see that California is going after Howard K. Smith and the doctor who gave Anna Nicole Smith all those pills. I don't see how he can say he loved her when he abetted her by giving drug after drug after drug to her. It'll probably plea out or something, but Smith and the doctor deserve to be held accountable for their part in keeping Anna Nicole drugged to the core.
I was reading an article over at Helium about chivalry. It was a debate on whether or not it was dead. That got me thinking about a possible story for my fan fic universe. I'm thinking of doing something with Aislinn and Jenny, and some of the boys on the block. Aislinn is a boy magnet, and Jenny doesn't really care. It might make for interesting contrast, if I can do it right. Is chivalry really dead? Maybe the girls and boys of the neighborhood will answer that question for us.
Fan fic wise, I do have two stories that are about to be published. One is beyond the series and one is from season two. The latter is just a short ficlet that takes place the day after the One False Step episode, but it popped into my head the other night, so I wrote it. The first one is a short story about a couple of the brood who have an unexpected adventure. I'm wondering if my beyond the series stories focus too much on the brood and not enough on Jack and Daniel. Shrug -- don't know, but sometimes it feels that way, but I do love those kiddies.
A final note. The tabloid trash is just that -- trash. Please do not patronize junk like the National Enquirer, publications that thrive on the bad times of others. Their latest attack on Patrick Swayze is just shameful. It's full of lies and untruths. Patrick is fighting and doing just fine, all things considered. He told People Magazine that he even has a new dog, another Rhodesian Ridgeback. People's time, energy, and money would be much better spent sending up prayers for Patrick and donating the money they'd spend on the trash to StandUP2Cancer or some other reputable organization.
Hey all -- just a quick reminder for those who so kindly are voting for my reviews over at Review Stream. They only allow one vote per review. Apparently, someone was a little over enthusiastic on one of my reviews and voted a few times for it. That's a no-no. Your votes are definitely needed, though! Just make sure to only vote once per review. Thanks much!
It's almost race time at Lowe's, and I'm thinking positive thoughts for Jeff Gordon. He's due for a win. They've had a couple of great stories on Jeff on the racing shows this week, and it's been nice to see them. I really love hearing him talk about his daughter, Ella.
With a few minutes to spare, thought I'd tell everyone about my favorite recreational site on the web right now. It's Winster, and you can play all kinds of games there. It's a new site, and it does have some server issues, but I'm sure that will improve with time. My favorite game is the slots (think slot machine). You get 200 free spins a day, and that's good enough for a couple of hours of fun. If you want more, you can buy them. You also win prizes as you accumulate points. I've already won one and am working on my second one now.
Anywho, if you like some online fun that isn't as complicated as some of those fancy videogames are, try out Winster.Com (using this link will help me, too, as I get bonus spins for everyone who signs up).
I feel like Winnie the Pooh these days. It's been very blustery, the wind blowing pretty dramatically for the last few days. Otherwise, it's been nice, albeit a bit chillier. I've put on my sweatshirt for the first time this fall. It may be time to put on the winter bedding!
I have a few children's books that are new that I'm offering for sale, plus a couple of used videos that I no longer need. The books are from Disney's 'Wonderful World of Reading' and are:
1) Bambi 2) Cinderella 3) Peter Pan 4) Lady and the Tramp 5) A Bug's Life 6) Cars
The used videos are:
1) How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying 2) White Christmas
I'm asking $2.25 each plus shipping for the books and $1.50 each for the videos. Payment through paypal (if you're linked to a credit card, you'd have to add the fee they charge, too). If you're interested, please contact me.
There are a lot of new reviews listed on the right side of this blog, under the Review Stream smiling face. Also, if you haven't read my articles on Helium, please do. I'm trying to reach the payout there, and it's based on traffic. If you can, send the folks over to my Helium page and spend a couple of minutes to read the articles or stay landed on the page. I'm very close, but I need traffic! Thanks!
The race is about to start! Everyone have a great weekend!
It's the start of a new week and the end of a month. Most of my time on the internet these days is spent doing whatever I can to earn money for my survival. I missed my time on the web doing my passion, though - writing my fan fic. So, I took a lot of September off. I still did a lot, but I let the pressure go of "I've got to do this or I won't be able to pay the bills" go. I had to, I needed my passion.
I've been giving a lot of thought to time management and scheduling. I don't really have a set schedule anymore, so it's a little difficult to really plan, but I'm struggling to find a happy medium between that urgency of needing money and still enjoying the internet and being able to fulfill my passion. I still don't have it figured it out, but I hope to find a way because spending every waking moment 'working' makes it a hardship and takes the fun out of being online. Yet, I have to earn money, or I'm stuck. My financial situation isn't pretty. I have to do all the little things I do to stay afloat.
This is why I have the ads here and why I plug the sites I believe in and the links that appear all along the right hand side of this blog. Please support me by using these links whenever possible for your purchases. This week, I received my first affiliate check from Amazon, thanks to those of you have used the link. I realize the list is long on the right, but again, I'm trying to stay afloat. Remember, there's a link to DeepDiscountDVD here, too, and that's a great place to get the best prices on DVDs.
The site that has helped me the most to survive in recent months has been GPTCashcow.com. If you are in need of extra cash, please consider signing up and earning money there by doing various offers. It's a proven site -- they've been paying a lot of my bills since I joined earlier this year.
GPTCashcow has just opened a sister site, today, too. You can advertise your own sites or businesses there, and create/build your own downline. The site is called Blazing Referrals. Again, please sign up and participate. It really helps me.
There are a bunch of new reviews listed on the right, items and such that I've written about at Review Stream. Remember to vote, saying that the review was 'helpful' to you. Also, it's a great way to make money. Reviews are quick and easy to write. They have to be roughly 250 words or thereabouts, which isn't really much, and they are more interested in your opinion and not the 'how to', which is what really lures me to the site. When you're ready to write your first review, just click here.
Thanks for all the support!
I was so very sad to hear about the passing of Paul Newman. He is one of my all time favorite performers. I think I saw "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" about 100 times in the theater (seriously) when it was first issued. He was a class act, using his Newman's Own to donate hundreds of millions of dollars to charity, and he did it quietly. He was never part of the Hollywood scene and really didn't understand the fuss surrounding the moniker of 'celebrity'.
I'll never forget his appearance on "The Mike Douglas Show" many years ago. Mike was talking about the lure of Newman's blue eyes. The women were swooning, and Paul was just blank. To him, eyes were eyes. What was the big deal?
Paul Newman was one of the last real genius actors, with performances that will be remembered for decades upon decades, instead of just this year, if that. He'll be missed, that's for sure!
Jeff Gordon had a good finish in today's NASCAR race, finishing fourth, in spite of the fact that he was really sick. I'm still hoping he can pull through and win the Chase. He's within striking distance, but you just never know. Carl Edwards almost won today, and I was sure hoping he would. He pulled a miracle pass on the leader on the last corner, but slid into the wall harder than he thought he would (yes, he planned on the wall and his car coming together), and it slowed him down more than anticipated. Darn, that was fun to watch, but I really wanted him to be successful (I'm not a fan of the person who ultimately won).
The craziness continues. A mother tried to drown her little girl last night. She calmly called the police and waited for them outside. The husband wasn't home; he's stated his wife is mentally ill. Okay, no arguments there. The little girl is fighting for her life.
I do not understand this world. If you can't handle being a parent, take your child to a shelter and walk away there. What is the point in trying to kill them? This aspect of our human existence is beyond my understanding. I don't get it.
Michael Shanks' first episode of "Stargate Atlantis" aired on Friday, and it was pretty fun to see. I hated his hair, though, and I don't understand why he went to Atlantis in his civvies instead of his SG-1 uniform. He was on duty, so that is very confusing. Part 2 of this episode will air in a week or two weeks, depending upon whether you believe Sci Fi's website or the TV promo.
I adored the scene where Daniel was standing in front of the three bell lights and trying to figure out the correct sequence that would open up the door to the secret lab. It was like a kid playing. Very cute.
Transcribers of these episodes have my sympathies. Michael Shanks and David Hewlett of SGA are two of the fastest talkers in show biz. I recall the producer or director commenting that the show was about 5 pages over time, but because Shanks and Hewlett naturally talk fast, the shows actually came in on time.
Just a quick note to let anyone looking to make extra cash that I can now verify that Review Stream is a winner. You can write reviews about anything -- people, websites, food, pets, TV shows, phones, clothes -- you name it, you can review it. They pay out at $50 for the reviews (this is separate from the vote earnings). Just a half hour ago, I wrote the review that took me to $50. I emailed them, asking for payment, and it's here! I received payment through PayPal almost immediately. I highly recommend them. If you've read my reviews, you know they are easy to do. Go here and write your first review today!
Whoa! Did y'all see Michael Phelps win his 7th gold medal just now? I was sure he was second behind Cavic. His mom looks like she was gonna pass out. Unreal. He was behind the whole way. Phenomenal! One-hundreth of a second -- just wow!
Hot! Hot! Hot! Michael Shanks' appearance on "Burn Notice" last night was just that -- steaming hot! He was great as the crazy bad guy, "Victor". This is a recurring role, and boy am I looking forward to the next episode! There was the New York accent for a moment, the little Danny Dance, the evil cackle, the snark, and just lots of zany, wonderful moments! I love this bad guy!
I'd never watched "Burn Notice" before. It's a little MacGyver-like, but that's not necessarily a bad thing because I love "MacGyver".
If you missed it, catch one of the reruns! It's a must see! To see more photos of Michael on "Burn Notice", go here.
Happy Birthday to NASCAR's Carl Edwards, driver of the 99 car in Sprint Cup and the number 60 car in the Nationwide series. Carl's a great guy and just loves to race. This year, he's racing for the Sprint Cup championship, too! Today, Carl is a whopping 29 years old. "I've never been this old before," he told a reporter earlier today. That's Carl -- full of humor!
Wow, what's with these new extra innings rules for baseball in the Olympics? You start each half inning with two men on base. Well, I guess that's one way to avoid multiple extra innings.
Congrats to the ladies of the US gymnastics team. Nascia and Shawn did a great job last night as they won gold and silver in the all around competition. Super floor routines wrapped up their evening, and it a lot of fun to watch!
By the way, I had some clarification this week on how I get paid for your votes at Review Stream. The payment qualifies when each review reaches minimum payout, which is essentially 50 votes. So, when an individual review reaches 50, then I can get payout for it. I had thought it was the cumulative total of all reviews, but that's incorrect. Thus, I really could use your help to vote for each of the reviews when you can. The most votes as of yesterday was for the Bayer Aspirin, at 31. My Michael Shanks review had 21 votes. Under the Mistletoe has 18, Crystal Geyser and The Ark of Truth both have 14. Every thing else is less than that.
I'm really needing this income, so please, when you can, vote for reviews. It does have a timer to it, so if you get the 'please take time to read the review' line, just wait another minute and resubmit.
To vote, go to the review page (all my reviews are listed on the right hand column of this blog) and about 2/3rd of the the way down, in the center, you'll see the 'was this review helpful' question. Click the round circle and then hit the 'submit' button. The page will refresh, and you'll see the number of votes increase by one.
My latest review is up at Review Stream, and it's for Michael's movie, "Under the Mistletoe". Sure wish I had that on DVD. I'd be watching it over and over again, if I did. It was on again last week. Last night, "Judicial Indescretion" was on, but I didn't realize it and missed it. Wish that would come out on DVD, too.
Remember to look for the box below which is always after the reviews and the series of google ads -- click the circle and press the 'yes' button and then you'll see the number by 'votes' go up after the page refreshes. I get paid 10 cents per 'yes' vote. It may not seem like a lot, but it adds up quick! You do have to be on the page long enough for them to think you've read it :}
Every vote pays ! Did you find this review helpful?
VOTES :
I also was approved to join up with Pay Per Post, which sounds like a neat way to earn some money by blogging for various sponsors. I didn't really see any good opportunities for a newbie there last night, but I'm remaining hopeful and will chart my progress here, as I do all of my attempts at working at home to earn money to pay those pesky bills and buy the groceries.
I'm also excited because I'm just 39 cents away from my very first affiliate check from Amazon! Thanks to all my supporters who are using my link here on this blog to shop from Amazon. One more order should give me that first pay out. I'm very grateful!
As an update on my GPT fortunes, I did receive another check from Cashcrate today for my participation there. That's two. It is a proven site, so if you are interested in GPT, please don't hesitate to try them out.
Of course, my favorite is still GPTCashcow. We're in the middle of our second weekly team race there, which just adds to the fun. The forum there just hops, and I'm really hoping people will continue to try it out.
Two more reviews up at review stream. Remember, I get 'paid' here when you answer the question 'yes' to 'Did you find this review helpful?' You click the button and press the 'yes' box. You will then see that the number has gone up. That's how you know your vote went through.
I've also been making the rounds at various work at home forums, trying to find something to bring in some money. It seems like that's my main focus anymore. I miss writing as much as I was for my SG-1 fandom. I've had to cut back on that a little to try and bring in cash. I did just publish a new story last night - "Lifesigns", based on the "Lifeboat" episode.
Right now, Cassie and Tessa are outside, playing, even though it's late. I continue to be so grateful that Cassie has recovered for the most part. Her stool is still loose a bit though. I'm thinking I might get her some more rice and see if that helps. It made a huge difference last week. Too cute -- just as I am typing this, here comes Tessa, looking in the window. I think that's the 'let us in now' request, so I suppose it's time.
"Zero Hour" was on for the 6pm Sci-Fi showing. It's a nice episode featuring Richard Dean Anderson when his character adjusts to becoming the general. I have issues with the final scene, but mostly, Rick shines in it. His presence was so missed when he left the show to be with his little girl.
Patrick Swayze continues to improve, from what I'm hearing, and unless a strike by SAG prevents work for going on, "The Beast" will start filming in Chicago soon. I'm so glad Patrick is beating his cancer. It's still very scary, and certainly no guarantees, but he's a strong man. If anyone can beat this pancreatic nightmare, it is Patrick!
I love using the name Orry Main as my 'handle' at most every site that I sign up for. People recognize it. In fact, just this week, I sold an old Philco radio to a man who brought up North and South (the mini-series where the name comes from). It's a great conversation starter, and I like honoring Patrick by using this name as my handle.
We've had two good air days in a row, so now if my knees would just cooperate, maybe life can get back to normal. I really overdid things when Cassie was ill, and boy, can I tell. It reminds me of my mom years back. She couldn't carry a box, but one time, when visiting her hometown in Oklahoma with her twin sister, who has MS, a tornado was coming. Her sister fell, and my weakling mother, picked her up and carried her to the shelter. It was a life or death thing. That's what I keep thinking about right now. Cassie is my baby, and I did what I had to do. It was fine then, but now my body is rebelling.
I added a Technorati banner on the right side of this page. If you like my blog, please click there to vote for it. Thanks!
Just one quick note -- I have another review up at Review Stream. All of my reviews, including this one, are listed on the right hand side. Please go to *each* review and when towards the bottom, in the middle, it asks 'Was this review helpful to you?', click on the dot and press the 'yes' button. You should the number below that box increase in number. That's all you have to do -- vote 'yes', click, and see the number increase.
It's been a long three days. My black lab, Cassie, was very sick and scared the living daylights out of me. We narrowed it down to one of four things, including the new dog food I had just purchased (Purina). I called Purina, and they said they hadn't heard about any problems, but they did recommend discontinuing the food. I did, and since I had it delivered, I had Safeway come and pick it up, which they did because it was the manufacturer's recommendation.
The concern about the food on my part wasn't ingredient based, but storage based. As has made national news, our hot temps and smoky conditions has made it very unsafe. Safeway does not use air-conditioned vehicles. My delivery was at 8pm at night, and they load those vehicles at 6am. I believe something could have happened either then, or somewhere else in the storage process, considering regional conditions. The bag itself says the food should be stored in cool areas.
I was suspicious because Cassie only ate half her food. Not only that, but Tessa didn't eat all of her dinner either. Now that's a first. My dogs are not finicky eaters. They both run to their food and gulp in down in one swoop; no exceptions, so for both of them to do that at the same time, well, it got my attention.
However, my sister also just cleaned out our pool and retrieved a large rawhide bone that they dogs had apparently knocked in there. It's been there for months probably, and in that time, she's put a lot of chemicals in the pool, including algae killer. When she got the bone out, she just let the dogs have it. We've thrown it away now, but it's possible that the rawhide was infected with the chemicals, and eating a part of it could have made her sick.
It could also have just been the heat and particulates in the air because of the fires. They had just said that even the healtiest of folks could start getting sick if out and about.
Regardless of the reason, she was really sick, and it scared me because of how sluggish she was. Tessa has seemed fine, though. Anywho, lots of good vibes, prayers, Gatorade, and rice later, Cassie has rebounded and is almost 100%. Tessa is outside eating grass at the moment, but she has been okay.
The two related downsides to all of this is that my knees are really hurting more this week. I had to move quickly and do more than usual in caring for Cassie over the past three days, and it's made an impact on my poor knees. Ouch!
Then there's the A/C that I've kept on and low because it's so hot in this part of the house anyway, and Cassie was lying there with her tongue hanging out. I had to keep it cool for her. I'm soooo afraid of the next A/C bill. Not sure I'll be able to pay that one.
So that's been my dog trauma and why I haven't updated this.
On the 'I'm so excited' front, I mentioned in a prior post about Review Stream. This is so great! You can review everything and get paid for it! In addition to that, there is a reader vote. If you read the review(s), at the end of each, towards the bottom of the page (you have to scroll down past the google ads), there's a square box that says:
Every Vote Pays!
Beneath it, it says:
Did you find this review helpful?
Goodness, click yes! That's *more* money. This one doesn't pay pennies; it actually does add up. I have 7 reviews there already, and you can see them listed on the right side of this blog. Please click on each of them, read them, and vote. Also, you can just go to http://www.reviewstream.com on a regular basis and in the search box type in "by Orrymain" and that will get you all of my reviews, too.
PLEEEEEEASE do this regularly and frequently. Keep supporting my Helium articles, but these reviews are super fast, super easy, and pay soooo much better!
Hey, guess what I found? A website for reviews. They aren't complicated or involved, but just every day reviews, as if we were all sitting around at the table talking. It's great! The place is called Review Stream. Click here to start writing your own reviews and getting paid!
Posts
