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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?
I may have talked about this before but back in the day I used to auction off clippings on eBay. The clippings were articles and photos of stars that I had accumulated on celebrities and famous people. As a fan and collector myself, I know how fun it is to acquire articles I missed or perhaps never had access to because they come from overseas.
In recent times I've thought alot about doing that again, only not through eBay. They have changed their rules so much and I really don't like the way they handle things now. So, I've considered offering them myself through a separate website.
That's where so many of decisions come in. A website and domain cost money. Is it worth in these troublesome times? Would people find 'me' and would they take a chance on someone who doesn't have that eBay guarantee. I'd need a good site and probably a logo. Every type of company, big or small, unofficial or hobby, needs a logo. Look at this - Real Estate Logos - even these guys have logos. It's all in the eyes.
So, do I take a chance or not? It's a risk, and I've got a ton of stuff, waiting for a home. Decisions, decisions.
You hear about this kind of thing all the time, but now I know it really happens. I received some papers from Social Security over the weekend, and stapled to my papers were someone else's papers. Can you imagine? I have their address *and* their social security number. People, beware and be very careful. Our government tries, I'm sure, but this was a careless mistake made by a worker following protocol. It's just scary to think who might have ended up with copies of my papers. As my sister said, they are lucky it came to someone like me, who would never do anything wrong with it and who will even notify Social Security as to what has happened. Scary, scary, scary!
First of all, happy new year, folks! I hope it's a good and peaceful one for all of us.
Second, I found the neatest website today. It's a place where you can send old crayons. They melt them down and make new colors. It's really exciting from what I've read. So, I want to start the new year by passing the information about Crazy Crayons on and urge you to take a look.
There's a notice on the website that they have an abundance of good crayons that have been donated that don't need to be melted down. They want to give these to schools, shelters, or any 'caring organization'.
I haven't actually dealt with the organization, but I stumbled upon it doing research for my fan fic. It looks worthwhile, so if you have old crayons or need some, give them a look.
The Sea Lions have disappeared from San Francisco, and it's made the news just about everywhere. There's only a dozen or so remaining now. I hope they come back. It's so sad that there isn't enough food in the harbor to feed them. It's a low herring year apparently. How sad is that?
What the heck is going on? In my region over the holidays we had not one, but two grocery stores left unlocked during closed hours ... and a bank!
It sounds crazy, doesn't it? Two Safeway stores both were found open by customers. In what may be a resurgence of holiday spirit and honesty, some people actually did their shopping and left money at the checkout counters! Others shrugged and left. Fortunately, consumers also called the police. According to Safeway, they believe that it was a failure in the locks. Survelliance footage shows the stores being locked. However, both are 24/7 stores except for holidays and they think people showing up and yanking on the doors just caused them to open. Me thinks new locks are about to be installed in Safeway stores using this current system.
And now comes word that on Christmas Eve a Wells Fargo Bank was left unattended. A customer say a sign that said the bank was closing at 2, but the doors were open. She went inside. No one was there. She called the cops, and the bank manager was on the scene in less than a hour to close the place down.
Are we just in a hurry, or what? I sure am glad I don't bank at Wells Fargo!
This was a 'wow' moment for me when I read about the dishonesty of Energizer with their 'D' batteries. Who knows? Maybe it even extends more than this. It also probably even is done by other companies. Consumers, we need to get on our toes here. This is just wrong.
For the details, go here Energizer "D" Battery Exposed. It's just amazing and not in a good way.
It's official! K. Kringle's reindeer can land in California! This is big news! The full story is here.
Well, it was back to the dentist today. Would you believe it? I broke a tooth, vertically yet. There's always something to interfere with my fun. I have a great dentist, though, so that's the good part.
Balloon Boy's parents were sentenced today to jail time, 90 days for him and 20 for her. Personally, I think she should have had 90 days as well. She did nothing to stop it and was as complicit as he was, so why the lighter sentence?
Did you hear about the otters that delayed a plane flight after escaping from their cages? I would have loved to have seen that. Apparently, some passengers found little 'presents' from the otters afterwards on their luggage.
Onward!
Here I was all set to update frequently and right off the bat, things just piled up. Short form, had a company fraudulently make three charges on my credit card, had a problem with my computer and mouse operation which nearly killed the computer and have been going back and forth with a tech about it, and wasn't feeling well most of the week. Ugh!
On a brighter front, I'm making a lot of progress with my fan fic. It's so good to be actively writing again. There will be a bunch of new stories for the new year.
Does anyone ever use Sam's Club Click'n'Pull? I have to tell you that it's supposed to be a smooth process, but I've only had two experiences when it went as planned. Most of the time, including today, it's a freakin' nightmare. I have to use it, though; it's the only way I can shop there, but I really wish they'd get their act together. Most of the time, they can't even find the order, or they have it in three different places and never remember to bring all three orders. It's a pain in the mik'ta.
More later!
Wow! Yes, I've been neglectful over the past five to six weeks, but I'm back in business and out to keep up my blog much better than over recent times. I think about coming here so often, but then get distracted.
Here's a recommendation for the day. If you're interested in e-readers and other types of things, there's a new forum and blog site called Read Gadget where I've been helping out a little. I actually have a blog there, too, so drop on over for all kinds of topics there.
I'm loving the festive holiday music I'm hearing everywhere, especially on a local radio station that it is playing nothing but Christmas music. They started the week before Thanksgiving. Some may call it overkill. I just call it joyful.
Drop on by this blog more regularly as I intend to make lots of little blog entries much more frequently! In the meantime, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to All!
Amsterdam is a quality oriented company that provides promotional items and human resource forms at great prices. I had a look through several of their pocket calendars and found so many neat ones of interest. I was impressed with their varied selection. They can customize these calendars to fit the needs of your business, charity, organization, or event. The prices seemed pretty good and are on a sliding scale. The more you purchase, the less the price per unit.
The site is easy to navigate and everything is crisp and clear, making it easy to read. I loved that it wasn't cluttered, either. It was very easy to find the pocket calendars I was interested in and then to move on and explore other items in their inventory.
This is a company that began as one man print shop in 1898 and has blossomed into a super store of promotional items. They are definitely worth checking out.
This is just shameful. Just a couple of weeks after her fiasco being caught talking on her cell phone while driving, which is illegal in California, now she apparently parked in a red zone for over an hour while visiting the doctor.
Maria, you are the supposed to be the First Lady of California. People look up to you, not just for that respected position, but as a representative of the Kennedy family. You are disrespecting all of us, and your heritage by doing these outrageous things. You are not beyond the rules. What would Uncle Teddy say?
Get it together, Maria. You certainly aren't doing your husband any good right now. In fact, you're dragging him done. What a shame. I used to respect you so much, but your disrespect of the law and your meek and lame apologies just aren't cutting with me anymore.
Sadly, the reality is that we are often more vested in our relationships with our significant others than they are in us, and that sometimes means they cheat. Getting the proof on your cheating spouse isn't easy, but by going to www.CallerIDFaker.com, you can find a tool that can help you. Basically, you use the Caller ID of the person you believe your husband or significant other is cheating on you with, using your husband's phone. See how your partner answers the phone, and that will answer your questions. Visit www.CallerIDFaker.com for all the details.
As the saying goes, first impressions are so very important, and that goes way beyond our initial opinions of meeting someone in person. It also includes announcements and invitations. A lot of people will pre-judge an event simply by the quality and look of their card or invite, and that's why when you need to spread the word, you want to go with the best.
If you are in need of holiday cards, Invitation Professionals deserve a look. For over a decade, they've supplied their quality products through Carlson Craft, Regency, and Birchcraft. Their prices are awesome and most are discounted some 35% from the retail pricing. Naturally, their quality is high.
So, whatever your need is, holiday cards, wedding invitations, birth and graduation announcements, or even Bar Mitzvah invitations, give Invitation Professionals a look.
I read a couple of days ago that the ratings for The Forgotten haven't been that great. I suppose that's not a big surprise. TV shows that I like in this modern day don't tend to last long. I like good, old fashioned drama, the kind without vulgarity, profanity, and too much realistic grit. If I want to see that, I can watch the news or surf to a lot of places on the internet.
The Forgotten stars Christian Slater. Now, I'm not a fan of Slater's. I haven't even ever had a positive thought about him float through my mind. But, let me say up front, he's great in this show. He's surrounded by several other actors I've never heard of before, but they all fill a function in the series.
This drama deserves a shot. Viewers, you haven't seen this angle of the crime drama done on television before. It's new. Slater and his pals work for The Forgotten Network, people across the country who work to identify John Does and Mary Does after the police can no longer work the cases. This is fascinating. It's good drama, and we haven't seen it done this way before.
As I said, there is little blood and gore, and that's why I'm watching it. I don't like the Law and Orders and ERs that think that you have to have blood everywhere and cuss every paragraph to have good drama.
I sense the show is doomed because I love it. I really do love it.
For the record, it's on Tuesday evenings after Dancing with the Stars. Give it a shot; set the DVR. I'd like to see it at lease survive the season.
Hi Everyone,
With the holidays close at hand, I just wanted to do a reminder post to say that if you use the Amazon link on the right hand side of this blog to start your shopping, that no matter what you purchase, as long as you start by clicking on that Amazon link, I'll get credit for it. That's actually true for any ads you see on the right hand side.
Thanks for your continued support!
There's a time and a place. I love NASCAR and I'm sitting here, working on a fic for my universe while watching the opening ceremonies for the Nationwide Race. It's at Concord, North Carolina. Well, we start with the invocation, a pretty standard little thing, spoken by some local pastor or faith person. This guy thought he was at a holy rollers meeting or something, though.
Honestly, I've never heard a prayer like this before for a race. He was almost in song, going on about having three-wide racing of banging and thrills. I was like, 'huh'? This is a moment that the drivers are with their families, and trust me, the wives don't want to hear what this guy was praying for.
I didn't pay attention to the name -- Joe Andresen, or something like that. I hope to never hear another word of praise from him because it was just in poor taste.
Last week during the NASCAR Cup Series race, Jesse McCartney messed up the national anthem. I mean, it was bad. He forgot the lyrics and ended up repeating, but at least he was singing the song he was supposed to sing. This Andresen fella needs a lesson in being appropriate.
Fortunately, Trace Adkins did a very nice rendition of the national anthem to get us through the opening ceremonies.
I just heard that one of my favorite NASCAR drivers, Carl Edwards, is soon to be a daddy. His wife Kate is expecting their first child sometime next February. I adore Carl and think this is very exciting news.
Carl is fighting to beat Kyle Busch for the Nationwide Championship. Last week he could the lead down to 155. It's a big number, but nothing is impossible.
Go get him, Carl!
I keep hearing that things are getting better. Prices are starting to go back up as well. The recession is either over or about to be over. That's what they are saying. However, today California's unemployment rate is a whopping 12.2%. Where I am specifically, it's not quite there. It's just 11.8%. I wonder what these unemployed folks think about the news that things are getting better.
When it comes to cooking, I value convenience and as little cleanup as possible above everything else, which is why I'm a huge fan of the George Foreman Grill. I only have a little one, but I've had it for years. Lately, though, I was wondering if it was possible to grill eggs on the grill. Typically, on a basic Foreman grill, that's not something you can do.
I did a quick search because, hey, you can find everything on the web, and sure enough, I found a site of someone who had experimented and come up with a way of making scrambled eggs on the grill. I tried it the other day, and it works! I actually e-mailed the webmasters to say thanks, but haven't received a reply back, and that's okay. I'm thrilled about my new option and decided to share it.
So, if you are curious, just click here and enjoy!
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