Well, this book can help you and change your life! Blast Off! was recently released and is on the best seller list already, because of the quality of information that Allison Maslan provides to us all. In this great book you will find not only helpful tips and ideas to make your dreams come true, but real life experiences that you can draw off of to help you in your own quest to fulfillment and happiness.

$24.00 is a small price to pay for the heaps of information that she provides in this book, and it is also available on Amazon for a bit cheaper than the cover price. It is available in all the major retail bookstores, and I have even seen it here in town at a small bookstore.

I have been trying to get my business off the ground for some time now, and with the information that I have gathered from this book, I think I will be successful this time. She has shown me some of the important details that I didn’t even know about, in starting a business!
Also, once I get the business squared away, I think I will have to try to find my soulmate next!!

Please check out this book and see how it can help you too!

There are many people out there who do not believe, and that is their choice. You can not force someone to believe in something that they don’t, just as you can not force someone to eat broccoli if they don’t want to. But…
Do those people just have a closed mind? Have they maybe had a bad spiritual experience? Or are they maybe just lost? Maybe they don’t believe that salvation is an attainable outcome to their lives? Maybe they don’t feel that they are worth saving? Or perhaps they feel that their sins will not be forgiven and therefore, continue on the path that they are on? Whatever the reason, everyone needs to know that God is forgiving, and if you believe and ask for salvation, it will be given to you. We are all worthy. We are all worth saving.

It doesn’t matter if you go to a Christian Church and pray with others, or if you pray at home, He will hear you and listen. Many people love the idea of being around others who feel the same way, and the church setting provides that. Others prefer to honor Him in their own way, in their homes for example, and one way is not any better than the other, for when you believe, it is that belief that is the most important thing. Not where you go.

As long as you have hope and love in your heart, you will be alright.

- Charles A. Beard

My take: Ok, I’ve been having fun with these lately, but this one actually says a lot, and I think it’s very important to maybe try to plant this little seed of a reminder: I truly believe you can not know how excessively blessed we all are unless you’ve seen adversity. To everyone it is different. What ever your comfort zone, what ever your tolerance…to go beyond and/or below your personal comfort is the only way to experience how comfortable you ARE. In the case of children specifically, they simply can not appreciate that which they acquire with out effort. Our stories of ‘When I was a kid …’ will fall on deaf ears. And not just because the sound of their eyeballs rolling around in their head will drown out the sound of our voice. But because they truly and innocently just don’t know how to relate. So I hope that I can be strong for my daughter and make sure that she learns to appreciate all that she has and gets as well. There is so much to be said for what’s wrong with this world in regards to entitlement and lack of appreciation. But I won’t go there.

As for me, I love a starry night because I’ve seen some dark ones. I love a pristine snow scape because I’ve seen some wastelands. I appreciate the warmth of a cozy fireplace because I’ve been too cold to sleep. Even toes warmed by a measly little space heater is something to be thankful for. I appreciate the existence of Ramen Noodles, 10 lb bags of potatoes and canned chili because well… sometimes you can’t collect enough cans for much more. And there was a time when I was just happy to get RECEPTION on my television. Even if it wasn’t 60 inches of high definition.

So yes, bring on the night. I know it’s cold- but it’s the lack of cloud cover that makes it a beautiful night for star gazing.

Laura Leigh

Our little Angel graphic depicts an angel spreading Christmas spirit dust down from the heavens, but we are hoping that you already had the true spirit of Christmas in your hearts, and that dust is meant for someone else!

The world would be a much happier place, if we all looked out for one another, not only at this time of the year, but all year long. Here’s hoping for that.

So, A: If you don’t live in MY viewing area, too darn bad for you I guess. Your purchase will be a risk. B: Even though every other company offers a ‘Risk Free Trail’ - also known as a ‘Money Back Guarantee’, Hydrolyze only offers it to the first 100 hundred callers? That’s one way to be different.

First Response  (makers of home pregnancy tests) proudly advertise their new product… a home fertility test that’s ‘JUST for women’. So men, don’t even think about it. Next time you are wondering…’Am I fertile? Could I conceive this month?’, sucks to be you because you’ll just have to buy YOUR test from some other company.

Weight loss commercials always use the svelte hard ‘After’ bodies of successful clients to… show you what is ‘NOT typical results’ ??? Sooo… even if I buy your product (because I want to look like those people, which is the point right? I think.) I’m more likely to be disappointed than to be one of your ‘After’ photos. Ok. Got it. I think.

And last but not least, I have great news! I’ve been hired by Google, Ebay AND UPS! Wow.  I mean, I don’t know how they all knew about me and my fine skills in … googling, ebaying and receiving packages, but apparently they all want me to work for them according to what’s in my email box. Am I good or what?!

Laura Leigh

Let’s face it, anyone can write. You don’t have to be a good writer or an excellent speller to use writing as an important tool to cope with the death of a loved one. Nor do you have to write a lot each time you sit down with the pen in your hand. Simply write what you feel at the time that you feel it…is the basic rule.

So why is it important for you to consider writing as a coping technique? Here are some very good examples for you.

1. Writing leads to healing. It helps you obtain and understand new insights and ideas that often surface when you are alone and in a contemplative mode. It can jar your memory. You may discover a tinge of anger, hidden resentment, or even clarify some of your guilt feelings.

2. Writing a letter to the deceased loved one can also be an excellent way to finish unfinished business. Many people have written about their sorrow over not having been with the loved one at the moment of death or for things that were said in anger. Others write to tell of their love and concern.

3. Write to the person who has been most faithful and understanding of your needs. It can also be therapeutic to tell your best friend or family member in writing how much you appreciate all that they have done for you and that you love him/her. Be sure to give specific examples of how their support was comforting to you.

4. Write a letter to God. Ask for assistance in trying to find meaning in the death of your loved one, which is an important task in dealing with your grief. You may wish to ask for a sign that your loved one is okay or for the courage and strength to make the adjustment to life without the physical presence of the loved one.

5. Consider a daily diary. You may want to consider starting a daily diary where you record and reflect on your day, and the most difficult as well as the most helpful things that occurred. Daily writing can be especially useful as you look back over earlier entries and realize how far you have come in your efforts to adjust.

6. List the inspirational and loving statements that you can remember your loved one saying. As you review your life and relationship with the loved one, writing down key phrases or ideas that were spoken can give you so much information to think over as to how you would like to keep his/her memory alive in your life.

7. Write to clarify your goals. You can also write out the way you think you will deal with certain issues associated with reinvesting in life. Developing a plan to deal with your new life (the concept of a new life is an important one to adopt) can give you needed direction and a sense of accomplishment. It can be especially useful to make a “to do” list at the close of each day as a guide for the following day. This also helps you in limiting the time spent on focusing only on your loss.

It is very important to understand that the more attention you give to your loss the more power you give it to dominate life. Since the grief process is a series of making choices, at some point in your mourning it becomes essential to decide whether you will be continuously loss oriented or restoration oriented. Loving in separation and reinvesting in life are not mutually exclusive. Together they are part of moving forward.

Through trial and error decide when it is best for you to write. Some like to do it in the morning, others before they retire for the day. By using writing as an outlet for your thoughts and feelings, it will also help physically because every thought and emotion affects you at the cellular level as well. You will never forget your beloved, and writing will insure that this proves true.

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Dirt Devil. All opinions are 100% mine.

Dirt devil is one of the best at picking up dust and debris for my household, and when I just went to look at the buying guide, I was pleasantly surprized to find not only information about the Dirt Devil, but also some really cool tips and hints about finding the best deals on anything you could want online!

There is a great section about promo codes and how to find them, and then, how to use them. There are lists of websites that offer promo codes for many different items and stores. They even tell you how to google to find the best deals!

There is also something I didn’t know in the guide and that is that there is a general “free shipping day” of December 17th, where most retailers will offer free shipping, and delivery by Christmas. That is useful information and something I now will be looking out for.

There is also a good section on rebates and how to get the most from them, with a great list of rebate sites.

I also loved the fact that in this guide there are hundreds of sites listed where you can find just about anything you can think of for Christmas. There are some very interesting sites listed that I am going to check out for unique gifts.

I also loved the section from Dirt Devil that had the “gifts for her, gifts for him” section. There are a lot of good ideas in there. Why don’t you have a look at the guide and see for yourself? It will open in Adobe, just so you know.

Besides, being in the Northeast, right now is not the time for golfing, and I miss it. So I wanted to see what they had available for Myrtle Beach Golf Packages, and I was pleasantly surprised to see that they had some really great package deals for me to choose from! I like the all inclusive package deals that offer travel, lodging and golfing, that is one of the best deals around.

Have you ever tried Myrtle Beach Golf? The courses that they have down there are some of the best I have seen. They maintain them very well, and they are fun, but also a challenge to play on. I don’t generally like my courses too hard, or it takes the fun out of it for me, but I also don’t want a course that is way too easy either. Here, there is a nice variety of courses to choose from.

If you are thinking of taking a late year vacation, or even an early New year vacation, please consider going for one of the Myrtle Beach Golf Vacations, I am sure you will be happy with your choice. And who doesn’t want some nice weather this time of year? You can get away from the hustle and bustle of the holiday rush and just be out there on golf course letting your stress slip away with each and every swing. Now, doesn’t that sound relaxing?

We are sending this Thanksgiving Angel to watch over you.
From our families to yours, have a safe and Happy Holiday!

My heart is yours now and forever,
To you I’ll gladly surrender,
May these feelings leave me never,
For I know you’ll treat me tender.

We’ll take each others hands,
And walk through times golden sands,
Forever and just one more day,
In this cocoon of love we’ll stay.

My heart is yours and yours alone,
Only to you will it be known,
For you hold the key to my very soul,
It now chimes a love giving toll.

My heart can see no other clear,
You’re the treasure that eases my fears,
That will let me hold you forever near,
In a love that’s brightly sincere.

© Bobbi

We have a new quiz every week, and they include all kinds of movie trivia, from quotes to tag-lines to selecting who was in the named movies….

Try our newest quiz and let me know how you do ??  Oh, and you can go back and play the ones you might have missed too!  Just go to the Movie Trivia Page.

.

One of the ways to manage your depression is to challenge your negative thinking with positive statements and realistic thinking. When encountering thoughts that make your fearful or depressed, challenge those thoughts by asking yourself questions that will maintain objectivity and common sense. For example, your afraid that if you do not get that job promotion then you will be stuck at your job forever. This depresses you, however your thinking in this situation is unrealistic. The fact of the matter is that there all are kinds of jobs available and just because you don’t get this job promotion doesn’t mean that you will never get one. In addition, people change jobs all the time, and you always have that option of going elsewhere if you are unhappy at your present location.

Some people get depressed and have a difficult time getting out of bed in the mornings.  When this happens, a person should take a deep breath and try to find something to do to get their mind off of the problem.   A person could take a walk, listen to some music, read the newspaper or do an activity that will give them a fresh perspective on things. Doing something will get your mind off of the problem and give you confidence to do other things.

Sometimes, we can get depressed over a task that we will have to perform in the near future. When this happens, visualize yourself doing the task in your mind. For instance, you and your team have to play in the championship volleyball game in front of a large group of people in the next few days. Before the big day comes, imagine yourself playing the game in your mind. Imagine that your playing in front of a large audience. By playing the game in your mind, you will be better prepared to perform for real when the time comes. Self-Visualization is a great way to reduce the fear and stress of a coming situation.

Another technique that is very helpful is to have a small notebook of positive statements that makes you feel good. Whenever you come across an affirmation that makes you feel good, write it down in a small notebook that you can carry around with you in your pocket.  Whenever you feel depressed, open up your small notebook and read those statements.

Take advantage of the help that is available around you. If possible, talk to a professional who can help you manage your fears and anxieties. They will be able to provide you with additional advice and insights on how to deal with your current problem.  By talking to a professional, a person will be helping themselves in the long run because they will become better able to deal with their problems in the future. Managing your fears and anxieties takes practice.  The more you practice, the better you will become.

The techniques that I have just covered are some basic ways to manage your depression, however your best bet is to get some help from a professional.

BIOGRAPHY:
Stan Popovich is the author of “A Layman’s Guide to Managing Fear Using Psychology, Christianity and Non Resistant Methods” - an easy to read book that presents a general overview of techniques that are effective in managing persistent fears and anxieties. For additional information go to: http://www.managingfear.com/

I found dance shoes just like the ones that the ladies wear on the show, and I am so excited!  Now, not that I am going on the show, or that I will be dancing in these gorgeous shoes, but I just like them for the style and for the look that they give when worn.  I also figured that if dancers can wear these and dance in them, then they must be very comfortable, right?  So I have decided to purchase a pair for myself, so that I can wear them with a nice dress, and look stylish when I do.

While looking at all the different dance shoes that they have, I noticed that they had tap shoes too, and it brought back fond memories of when I was younger and was in dance class, and I loved the tap portion of class.  We had ballet, modern jazz and tap, and once I was told that my ankles were too skinny to support me in ballerina toe shoes (a devastating revelation, let me tell you!) and that I would never be a ballerina, my dream was shattered, and I grew to love tap dancing.  I was always better at tap anyway, but I always dreamed of being a beautiful ballerina, only, I am not the most graceful girl, and I stumbled a lot.  But with tap dancing, I could stumble and just flick my toes, and it made a clicking sound and I could still dance.  Yes, fond memories for sure…. with my little red, white and blue flag outfit on, coming out on stage waving my mini flags in each hand, and tapping my heart out.

So now, I will have a pair of beautiful dance shoes, just like the stars and the pros wear, and I can relive my childhood dreams of dancing like there was no tomorrow!!

Let me care,
Because you mean the world to me,
Let me take your hand,
For I need the warmth.

Let me give you my heart,
For it’s all I have to give,
Let me keep you in my soul,
For it’s where you will always live.

Let me honor your caring,
For it’s all I want to do,
Let me love you forever,
For it’s where my heart feels safe.

© Bobbi

In all your goodness, sincerity and honesty, you are the sweetness that life has promised me.

Sugar in my blood puts a smile on my face.
With a grin and a wink you make my heart race.

The sound of your voice sends a sweet tooth chill that makes my pulse quicken.
This is the heavenly rush you’re inflictin’.

How can I say what words can never imply?
How can I imagine ever having to deny?

You know me and the sap that I am.
You could lead me to heaven like a little lost lamb.

But you needn’t take me far… heaven is always near to where ever you are.

For sweet things on this earth are few.
And I know I’m blessed because I’ve had a taste of you.

Laura Leigh

When facing a current or upcoming task that overwhelms you with a lot of anxiety, the first thing you can do is to divide the task into a series of smaller steps. Completing these smaller tasks one at a time will make the stress more manageable and increases your chances of success.

Sometimes we get stressed out when everything happens all at once. When this happens, a person should take a deep breath and try to find something to do for a few minutes to get their mind off of the problem.  A person could get some fresh air, listen to some music, or do an activity that will give them a fresh perspective on things.

A person should visualize a red stop sign in their mind when they encounter a fear provoking thought. When the negative thought comes, a person should think of a red stop sign that serves as a reminder to stop focusing on that thought and to think of something else. A person can then try to think of something positive to replace the negative thought.

Another technique that is very helpful is to have a small notebook of positive statements that makes you feel good. Whenever you come across an affirmation that makes you feel good, write it down in a small notebook that you can carry around with you in your pocket.  Whenever you feel depressed or frustrated, open up your small notebook and read those statements.   This will help to manage your negative thinking.

Learn to take it one day at a time. Instead of worrying about how you will get through the rest of the week, try to focus on today. Each day can provide us with different opportunities to learn new things and that includes learning how to deal with your problems. You never know when the answers you are looking for will come to your doorstep. We may be ninety-nine percent correct in predicting the future, but all it takes is for that one percent to make a world of difference.

Take advantage of the help that is available around you. If possible, talk to a professional who can help you manage your depression and anxieties. They will be able to provide you with additional advice and insights on how to deal with your current problem.  By talking to a professional, a person will be helping themselves in the long run because they will become better able to deal with their problems in the future.  Remember that it never hurts to ask for help.

Dealing with our persistent fears is not easy.  Remember that all you can do is to do your best each day, hope for the best, and take things in stride. Patience, persistence, education, and being committed in trying to solve your problem will go along way in fixing your problems.

By: Stanley Popovich

BIOGRAPHY:

Stan Popovich is the author of “A Layman’s Guide to Managing Fear Using Psychology, Christianity and Non Resistant Methods” - an easy to read book that presents a general overview of techniques that are effective in managing persistent fears and anxieties. For additional information go to: http://www.managingfear.com/

Editor’s Note: I loved these articles so much and feel that they can help so many of our readers, that I have chosen to overlook the fact that a man wrote them.  A great article shouldn’t be held from publishing based on gender, and Stan offered this one and a few other wonderful articles that I will be publishing in the future.  Thank you Stan, and I hope our readers feel the same way.

Kat

I have to say that looking at the photos that they shot, they really upped the glam level, and also the playful side of them both too!!

You can see another photo from the shoot over on Soy Wax Candles Blog, where I did a quick writeup of the photo shoot.

There is also a video of the different shots that they took, in the article in case you would like to see those too! There are some of them on a motorcycle, and laying on a bed of roses….. Yum!

I don’t know about you, but I have been counting down for this movie to be released!! I can’t wait!! I know it will be fantastic!!

Are you going to see it?  Let me know…

It can happen to anyone– your mom, your best friend, your neighbor or office mate. Or, worse, it can happen to YOU.

This ugly truth is called Domestic Violence.

At first, the victim refuses to speak up and bears the brunt of the brutality alone. She suffers in silence—all in the name of love. She would even go to the extent of covering up the bruises with make-up and concealer, reporting for work wearing a long-sleeved shirt and acting as if nothing atrocious and perilous had happened to her. She pretends that everything is normal because she herself is still aching in disbelief that this could happen to her.

According to the United Nations Population Fund, one in three women will experience domestic violence during her lifetime. In the US alone, a woman gets beaten up every nine seconds. Elsewhere in the world, one woman is battered approximately every hour.

But the more shocking truth now is that more and more battered women choose to remain mum about their unfortunate situations. Why? They are simply terrified and too traumatized.

So, despite the global efforts to uphold women’s rights and dignity, why do present-day educated, independent, strong-willed women still put up with violence?

Self-blame. The woman blames herself for provoking the act, like “I saw it coming when I started nagging him” or “I shouldn’t have answered back.” She starts believing that she did something wrong to deserve the beating.

Social acceptance. Some people would dismiss it as a simple family skirmish and readily blame the woman for provoking the fight. When people hear of domestic abuse, their first question is “what did she do?” as if she deserved it. It is this kind of social tolerance that sends the woman to look inward, blaming herself for her injuries.

Romanticizing the flaw. There are women who have a misguided belief that “bad boys” can be changed by the right woman. So despite the loud pealing of alarm bells in their heads (as well as from friends), they continue to trust that they are the “right woman” to change this lost, lonely, angry soul. They cling to the hope of having their own “happily ever after” ending. Thus, they are forced to tolerate much more than they should.

Shame. She has been warned about this guy. She has heard of his sordid past. But she still went for it in the hope of making things work out because “love conquers all.” Now she cannot bring herself to admit that she was wrong about him. She dreads to hear the words: “I told you so.”

Fear and Social Stigma. Battered women fear that speaking up and complaining will destroy further the little peace that they have, if there is still any. But it is precisely this secrecy that perpetuates and strengthens the abuse. We can’t blame them though. We have seen women who finally found the courage to speak up and leave the destructive relationships they were in. Instead of being extolled, these women ended up being blamed by an unforgiving society for the break-up of a family or marriage.

If you are a battered girlfriend or abused wife, let me assure you that you will eventually come to your senses and realize that you have had ENOUGH of the beating. You will get tired of being scared of him all the time. You will run out of cosmetics to conceal your bruises. In the long run, you’ll wake up from your nightmare. You will realize your worth and decide to redeem your self-esteem.

The first step is to break the silence—go speak up and speak out. It is only by refusing to tolerate any further abuse and speaking against it that will break the cycle of violence. Start recognizing the abuse as a problem—confront it and do something about it.

Reach out for help. It is not your black eye or bruised arm but your courage to actually come out and seek help that will bring in active assistance from family, friends and the proper authorities.

There are also people and groups who are ready and willing to provide victims with temporary refuge (when they fear for their safety or have nowhere else to go) or immediate medical, social, psychological intervention as well as legal services.

The bottom line is: you have to let these people help you. Do not be scared or ashamed of allowing them into your life and revealing to them the horrific acts of violence that were committed against your person.

Remember this: it is only when you finally gather the strength and courage to say “NO” to violence and abuse that you get to move on. Then perhaps you can now start rewriting your life story with the likelihood of finding a real “happily ever after” ending.

If I could get a little loan to help with the finances this Holiday season, then maybe the Holiday reunion isn’t such a far off idea?  It would be lovely to be together this Christmas, as we have not done something like this in ages! It would be wonderful to watch all the little ones open their presents together instead of sending a box of wrapped presents for them to open far away.  I would love to be able to take family photos on Christmas day, and not have an impersonal posed photo sent to me that was taken in July.  I like the real thing, the right now, no posing, candid shots. Those are the ones we remember, because Uncle Stan maybe stuck a bow on his forehead and it was really funny, but because we weren’t there to see it, and nobody got a picture, it is forgotten, and we never know about it.

I would love to see Aunt Ginny open the necklace I made her and see her reaction, rather than to get a phone call thanking me.  Yes, I think that a temporary loan is the way to go this year, so we can have that one on one time. And the good thing is that I can stretch the payments that I make back to a payment plan that is convenient for me.  No need to pay it all with my next paycheck, and put a drain on my finances for another week.  No, this seems like a much easier way to do things.  And I can’t wait for Christmas this year!!

I won’t ask for the sun or the moon,
Just the love that makes me swoon,
Wrapped up in this emotional cocoon,
In feelings that won’t leave too soon.

I don’t ask for reason or rhyme,
Just those tender moments of time,
That would never be denied,
And will live on long after we die.

I’d never asked for fortune or fame,
Just a love without any shame,
That can be attained and proclaimed,
For it is truly wildly untamed.

I don’t want your money or name,
Just want this heart to stay the same,
With a love that’s filled with desires flame,
For that’s all I care to lay on my claim.

© Bobbi

This poem is for the women that hid it so well
Victim of domestic violence
You thought no one would believe you
Who could you tell
How many times did you give them the same excuse
‘Could you believe I tripped and fell’?
But your kids already knew
They saw when daddy made mommy’s eyes swell
They remember when all he did
Was hit and yell
Seeing them begging him to stop
Made you wont to take your own life
Anything to leave this hell
And willing to give anything
Just to be free of him
Even your soul you would sell
Remembering your mama warned you of him
You had to show her you were grown
So you rebelled

This poem is for every woman that made it through the rain
A new beginning for you
No more pain
Or nights when you silently cried
Thinking you would go insane
You can hold your head high now
No longer do you have to feel shame
No more bloody lips or bloody noses
Or sheet stains
Or bruises on your body
That tells the story of every lash you sustained
You ran out of reasons
Why the man you love hurts you
How could you explain
Not wanting to destroy the family
So your silence had to be maintained
But believe me when I say
Your struggles were not in vain
Because you were strong enough to break the chain
Many women did not make it to where you are
So many were slain

This poem is for the women who got away
And lived to tell their story this day
Tired of his pleading and promise to change
You stopped believing what he had to say
A coffin would not be where you lay
And though he told you
You would never make it
God heard your cries
And the nights you prayed
He made sure you’re ok

Since he liked this particular brand of shoe I thought I would give them a try too. Same deal, a great shoe at a reduced price. They are always having a sale of some sort so it’s very easy to save up to 20% at any given time, and choices are plenty because they currently carry over 900 brands of shoes. I recently bought some Crocs too, on sale. I loved them so much I bought another pair for my husband and daughter. After receiving my pair, I gave a review for them. I just now received a thank-you for my review and a 5% cash back reward which will appear on my next charge card statement, PLUS a coupon for 10% off my next order. How can you go wrong with that?

********************

What I like best about Shoebuy.com is no tax, free ground shipping, and free return shipping. The return process is very easy. All you have to do is either call or use their online feature and you will receive a label to put back on your original package and return them via UPS. You also receive emails when your order is confirmed, shipped, and received if you return them.

Customer service is also awesome. My calls have always been handled professionally with the outcome I desired.

So, when you are looking for your next pair of shoes or just want to do some comparison shopping, give Shoebuy.com a try. And if shoes aren’t enough for you, they also carry bags, apparel and accessories.

It reminded me of the many times that I have done something similar, and the thought made me wonder if any of you have ever had the same thing happen?  Or maybe an altogether different kind of experience?

We all should look out for each other and help whenever we can. It truly does make you feel wonderful and fulfilled. There are many human angels out there and we can make a difference!

Now, as for Bambi, she has a special writing gift, and I have asked her to write for us here, and as of yet, she hasn’t agreed.  She has a very full plate at the moment….   But I would truly love her to become one of our writers and share her talent with us on a weekly basis…..

What do you think?

And let me know if you have any stories about Blessings??  In fact, send them to me on the Submission Form, and I will publish them here!!

No need to turn on the oven, just use a saucepan to melt ingredients and that’s it!!

Ingredients

* 1 cup butter
* 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 3 cups quick cooking oats
* 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
* 1/2 cup peanut butter

Directions

1. Grease a 9×9 inch square pan.
2. Melt butter in large saucepan over medium heat. Stir in brown sugar and vanilla. Mix in the oats. Cook over low heat 2 to 3 minutes, or until ingredients are well blended. Press half of mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan. Reserve the other half for topping.
3. Meanwhile, melt chocolate chips and peanut butter in a small heavy saucepan over low heat, stirring frequently until smooth. Pour the chocolate mixture over the crust in the pan, and spread evenly with a knife or the back of a spoon.
4. Crumble the remaining oat mixture over the chocolate layer, pressing in gently. Cover, and refrigerate 2 to 3 hours or overnight. Bring to room temperature before cutting into bars.

For many years I too was one of those crazy shoppers who had to get out early, before all the best deals were gone, and I put up with the rudeness and the shoving, just so I could hope to secure the perfect present at a really good price. But that is not me. I like peace and quiet for the most part, and I am very glad I found out that I can do my Christmas shopping right on line and I can do it on Black Friday!  I also know that I can get the same deals that the pushers and shovers get, only I can avoid that unpleasantness and shop in the comfort of my own home, and even in my pajamas!!

I also know that my purchases will be shipped right to my door, and I don’t have to worry about them in my car while I am in another store, or possibly even being taken out of my shopping cart (believe me, it has happened!).  I have found that I can get many different store’s sale items listed, and I can browse leisurely while I sip my cup of tea.  How nice it is not to have to rush out in the pitch black just to try to get the item before it is sold out, or to get to the store only to find out that the item I really wanted has already gone!

Yes, I have learned to love Black Friday, because now I can do all my Christmas shopping online.  I also know from last year that many stores start their Black Friday online deals right after midnight of Thanksgiving. So if you are up late, you can get some really great deals on things that the shoppers have to wait for the store to open for!  That is a very nice bonus!

Anyway, I wish you all happy shopping for this holiday season, and maybe you should try to get your Black Friday deals online too?  Or do you do this already?

Angel winked her pretty sparkle.

A pin point of illumination, they

appear all around us.

Some have perceived or others reject as

imagination.

Nothing to me will steal their thunder because

travelers’ linking, world’s workers for

the Lord.

Wings in voyage, but not fantasy these

aren’t fairies.

A quick flicker of an eye you may encounter

another kind in your lifetime.

Special warmth of love tingles in your

soul that you’re taken care of

from someone I know.
Kimberly Moore

Play me the music of your heart,
Dance me to the end of our days,
Let me know your very soul,
For in love together we’ll lay.

You’ve captured my heart completely,
I’ve fallen so very deeply,
My hearts pieces itself together sweetly,
And this love is for you only.

© Bobbi

I think this year I might be making some of the Christmas presents that I give out, if only to save a little money that is very hard to come by. I know that I can make some beautiful gifts that people will love and use, so unless I can find some hidden cash this might be the way to go.

We have all been discussing different ways we could maybe come up with some extra money for the holidays, and someone mentioned that we should try payday loans.  Now I have heard of payday loans but I wanted to learn more about it.  I found out that it is a short term loan, that you can cover with your next paycheck or roll it over and pay with the next one. You have to pay the finance charge though, but it is sort of like extended credit. I obviously wouldn’t borrow more than we could pay back, but it sounds like a good option for the short term.

This gives me something to think about with the holidays coming. I could certainly use a little extra cash around the holidays, and if the payday loan works out, I might just have that extra cash that I am finding is very difficult to save up at this time of the year. Especially now that I had to just recently invest in a whole new computer system, that has really put me behind the 8 ball.  I am juggling bills, and trying to figure out which one to pay and when. A short term loan is sounding pretty good to me right about now….

Last night I held you in my dreams all night long. Snuggled up close; hearts in rhythm swaying to a tender song.

The afternoon sun is warm against my cheek. I close my eyes and smile as your hand brushes back my hair. They come back to me… all the tenderest moments we found time to share.

As I travel through my day every side trip is a fascination. For I find my thoughts always land at the same destination.

It seems that all the beautiful things I know, are a part of you and the love you show.

I cannot see a cloud and it not remind me you are my rainbow. I cannot see a weed and not look forward to how our love will grow.

Rain brings to mind the tears of joy that I have shed. For since knowing you, I have let my heart rule… not my head.

And my heart is so happy, so completely taken. Every perception I had now shaken.

I’ve always believed miracles could come true. But I didn’t know they came in the form of people such as you.

I know your heart is beautiful… your soul honorable and dutiful.

You amaze me each and every single day; from  your strength to your tenderness; to your ‘take me as I am’ way.

You are the song that my smitten heart sings.

You are the best, and all the beautiful things.

Laura Leigh

And then I came across an article in a magazine which discussed burning health questions, particularly hormonal imbalance and hot flushes in women. It talked about Menopause but I could relate to some of the symptoms that were mentioned there despite the fact that I am only 42 and definitely not of menopausal age yet. For a woman to enter menopause, she would generally be somewhere between the age of 48 and 53 and would have been without a monthly period for 12 months or more.

But then there is such a thing as a pre-menopausal age.  In most women, pre-menopause and health issues related thereto are experienced between early 30’s to their 40’s. Typically, the symptoms are:

Hot flushes

Heavy PMS

Night sweats

Insomnia

Mood swings

Depression

Difficulty focusing

Lack of concentration

Headaches

Joint pains

Endometriosis

Fibroids

Vaginal dryness

Lower sex drive

Other common manifestations include:

Weight gain around the waist, stomach or hips

Hair thinning or hair loss

Water retention

Bloating

When a woman starts feeling any or all of these pre-menopausal symptoms, it is important to get her hormonal system balanced. This can be achieved through natural remedies such as proper nourishment, supplements and exercise.

Supplements like isoflavones help reduce or eliminate hot flushes and night sweats. It is also advisable to take Vitamins C and E and increase one’s intake of Calcium. The diet should include lots of fresh fruits, vegetables, lean meats and whole grains.

A simple way to relieve hot flushes is by avoiding coffee, tea, alcohol and spicy food. Light, comfortable clothes and sipping cold drinks can also help.

Daily exercise is important to a pre-menopausal woman not only because it promotes better sleep (a solution to her insomnia) but it strengthens bone mass, improves the cardiovascular system (heart) and helps improve blood flow as well.

To allay your fears on any unresolved issues about hormonal imbalance and menopause, it is still best to consult a gynecologist.

This is perhaps the fourth or fifth home we have seen listed within just the last few months in our subdivision. We live in a modest suburb located about 45 miles west of downtown Chicago. Typical suburban fare abounds. A Walgreens on every corner and SUV driving families clutching mega cups of some Starbucks elitist concoction.

And yet people are leaving our cluster of block parties and dog parks. I don’t know why, but it is starting to sadden me.

When we were kids (in a separate and equally lovely suburban grid) and a house was listed for sale, we knew that the homeowners were set for some amazing new adventure. There was the older couple down the street who finally retired from the phone company and retired in Arizona. The family next door that simply tired of the increasing strangulation of the suburbs and moved a bit west to a more pastoral atmosphere. And the upwardly mobile attorney who, in an effort to placate his bored and snobby wife, moved his family just across town to a more prestigious neighborhood. Burgeoning families, much anticipated promotions, job opportunities in a tropical locale…all this equaled a “For Sale” sign in the front yard. I was jealous of their good fortune and adventure. Only now, of course, do I realize how lucky we were to just stay put.

When I drive past a house now that has been put up for sale, I can’t help but wonder “Why?“. Did someone lose their job? Did their balloon mortgage inflate to a  point that was no longer manageable? Did someone in the home have a catastrophic medical incident that has wiped out their savings? All things are possible. Sadly, all things are actually likely.

When is the last time you heard someone share some really wonderful financial news? “Hey, I finally became partner” or “Our firm just landed that national account” or “My bonus was early this year”. No, the tone is more apt to be “Did you hear about Mike?” or “They‘re moving us strictly to commission” or “They have to close at least one Midwestern branch, sure hope it isn’t ours”. Of course there is the classic…”I’m just glad I still have a job”.

So I imagine that these Century 21 and Coldwell Banker signs do not forecast wonderful adventure for the (soon-to-be-ex-)homeowners. I was driving through a very new subdivision several weeks ago, one that had not even completed construction yet. “Only 3 sites left!” the sign proudly announced as I entered the dazzling community. Magical manmade ponds, delicate gazebos scattered throughout, shiny playground adjacent to a lovely park area. Driveways dotted with a black BMW, a blue Audi, or a flesh toned Lexus. Certainly looked like a great place to live.

As I meandered through this community named something like “Deer Run Estates” or “Lake Shore Gardens” I noticed the same trend that was making it’s way through my very own “Valley Creek Subdivision”…the dreaded metal signs affixed to the manicured lawn of nearly a dozen homes. Homes that people lived in and homes that, clearly, they had just fairly recently moved into. Because my jaunt occurred on garbage day, I could see that families fully occupied these homes as witnessed by their recycle bins cradled empty cases of Diet Coke and economy sized jugs of Tide Detergent.

How sad that just as soon as this American Dream occurred for them, it was just as swiftly fading. Which, of course, leads me to wonder just what the American Dream looks like. It must be more substantial that the home we live in or the car we drive or the designer drinks we consume. Once we discover what that dream is, and how detached it is from a lifeless mortgage, peace will surely follow. Not happiness, necessarily. Just peace. At least that is my dream…and it is not for sale.

Sue De La Bruere
BIO:  Sue De La Bruere is a freelance writer who shares her suburban Chicago home with endlessly supportive husband, Scott, and moderately brilliant kids, Bradley and Paige. Sue received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Northern Illinois University and can be contacted at allwritenow@comcast.net. You can also follow Sue on Twitter at http://twitter.com/suedelabruere.

I want to give a sincere thank you to everyone who still came by and who stuck with us through this very stressful time!! You are all the best, and I wish I could give you all hugs!!!

I don’t know what I can do about the computer freezing up?? Anyone have any suggestions??? Maybe PJ’s hubby Mike can offer up a solution??

I’m willing to listen to anything at this point!

I haven’t had a chance to check my emails yet, please bear with me, I will get to them, I promise!!!

Again…..Thank you all so very much!! I appreciate your visits more than you know…

And Angels….I will get your articles up just as soon as I can!!

Thank you,
Hugs!!
Kat

- Soren Kierkegaard

My take: So basically… we’re screwed?

No no no… Ok, seriously now. It’s like playing a character in a show. Yours are the only lines you know, and your actions are the only events you are aware of. It won’t make sense fully until everyone’s parts are put together and you see it play out- only AFTER you’ve acted your part. Our writers (whoever your higher power may be) know what they are doing. It may feel awkward and wayward at the time, but we just have to have faith that in the end, it will all make sense.

“Is this okay with you?” I asked my 13 year old daughter, Jazmine. “This”, referring to the Sun that has become a part not only of my life but my children’s as well.

“I have never seen you this happy, Mommy. No one has ever made you this happy and this is the first time I saw that most beautiful smile on your face. How can it not be okay with us?”

That was how my conversation with her went. She always amazes me with the wisdom she displays at such a young age but last night, it was purely adult talk and she gave me a long lecture on true love. She has always been opinionated and last night’s conversation was no exception. It was like she had to convince me that this person is the right one for me. She started with: “What is important in love is that a person makes you happy…”

Jazmine called us childish because, according to her, she often caught us transported in a world of our own and giggling like kids.  She then pointed out the sparkle in my eyes that she has never seen before. My 10-year-old daughter, Jamie, nodded in total agreement with her “achi” (big sister).

Aren’t children normally self-centered? I remember the time when every man was considered a “threat” and “enemy” to them. Not one of my male friends or colleagues was spared. Without really being outright rude, they made sure it was clear to everyone that their mother is “married” to the family alone. I guess every single parent has experienced this episode in their lives.

Heck, these kids were even stricter than my own Dad when I was growing up. They set the rules and from time to time, I needed to remind them who the parent is in the house.

Slowly, though, their self-centeredness evolved into protectiveness. There was a reversal of roles- I turned into their little kid who needed rearing and nurturing. In return, my life and world revolved around them. I became their best friend. They became my allies.

I did not know that, over the years, my happiness became my three kids’ biggest concern. Now they notice the smallest change in my smile and the way my eyes light up. Maybe because this is not just any man… this is sunlight at its brightest and its warmth has been felt by everyone around me.

As I always say, things happen for a reason. My kids lost their Dad at a very young age. True, they were forced to grow up, mature and be responsible much earlier than was necessary. But because of this, they have also found their individual strength and learned compassion, sensitivity to other people’s feelings and humility. These are virtues that no amount of money can buy.

Bingo is one of the easiest and cheapest ways that we can raise money to help these little creatures, and if the new law passes in California to allow remote caller Bingo, that is, that is an online Bingo, then the smaller charities will have a hard time competing with the casinos and other ventures that can offer much more to the gaming community and will take away from the smaller games that raise money for their charities.  Online gambling will be more like a lottery type of thing now, not the little fund raising that we are used to now.

The new law, called SB 1369, and proposed in California, if passed, would make California the first U.S. state to allow fully legalized online gambling! Hundreds of local charities are waiting and hoping that Governor Schwarzenegger will veto SB 1369. I hope he realizes that he will set a precedent for all the states with this law. If he does veto it, it help save so many charities and their minimal fund raising activities, like bingo games, but if he approves it, all our states are in big trouble. They will all start to take over bingo with the online bingo and legalized gambling online. This would not be good for any of us.

Especially the small community charities that rely on bingo as a way to raise funds to help their causes.

Ingredients

1 cup butter
1 cup peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla
1 pound powdered sugar

Directions

Microwave butter and peanut butter for 2 minutes on high.
Remove and stir.
Microwave on high for about 2 more minutes.
Add vanilla and powdered sugar and stir to combine. This will take a little work to get incorporated.
Spread into a 8×8 pan lined with waxed paper.
Place a second piece of waxed paper on the surface of the fudge.
Refrigerate until cool.
Cut into 1″ cubes and store in an airtight container for up to a week.

ENJOY!

There are a lot of women’s groups, who love to hire Motivational Speakers to speak at their garden clubs, or awards ceremonies. These speakers can talk about life experiences or inspiration or really anything else, depending on who you get as a speaker.

It has become quite easy to hire a speaker for your event, there are agencies that will book celebrities, chefs, sports figures, singers, political people, or just about any other type of person you would like to speak at your event.

Can you imagine an anniversary party, with Chef Duff from Ace of Cakes making the cake, and then giving a speech to the guests of honor?? Or a birthday party, with Tim Gunn as a speaker talking about fashion do’s and don’ts. I would love to be at either event!!

My dream celebrity speaker would probably be Morgan Freeman, I just love him, and would love to hear what he has to say. Another one I would love to hear speak would be Denzel Washington, he is just such a nice man, and honorable, that to hear him speak about anything would be amazing.

You can get info about speakers and what is entailed in professional speaking. Do you have to give a speech somewhere? Are you going to be the keynote speaker at an event? I can’t even imagine standing in front of a crowd of people and talking, I would be so nervous my knees would shake and my voice would quiver, and I would probably forget everything I was supposed to say! That is why it is better to get a professional if you would like someone to speak at your event.

If these walls could talk,
Would there be tales of woe,
That will make you sulk,
Over things passed long ago.

If these walls could talk,
The stories they would weave,
From ghosts that in darkness stalk,
Whose souls that can’t find relief.

If these walls could talk,
The years would likely sing,
Of souls long departed walk,
Taken from these mortal slings.

If these walls could talk,
The words would maybe make you smile,
Of sealing wax and cell blocks,
And lives that went the extra mile.

If these walls could talk,
Will they one day tell your tale,
To show us your life walk,
Before your soul sets sail.

© Bobbi

Probably one of the most overlooked part of job hunting is record keeping. Most of us just don’t do it.

It’s worth money!
But there is one really good reason to burn the time and energy required to keep records of your job search: money. Yup…it is worth money to keep accurate records of your hunt for a new job: the cost of your job search is tax deductible and, if you are receiving unemployment, an accurate record may be necessary to keep the money flowing.

So, what can you deduct? Well, your tax accountant can give you the finest details, but at the very least, you can deduct any bona fide costs that you can verify…like having résumés photocopied, the cost of large flat envelopes and postage for mailing them, even your cell phone calls to employers and agencies. You probably will not be able to deduct the cost of a new suit or pair of shoes, but gas for the drive to and from interviews and any fees you may have to pay (perhaps you will have some testing for a certification or something like that). If it is directly related to your job search and not usable for something else (like clothing or a hair cut), then you can probably deduct its cost…assuming you have some kind of verification. And to verify those costs, you need to keep records.

The Unemployment Office is a different kettle of fish. Your local office will tell you exactly what you need to do to verify your search, but don’t get complacent just because they are allowing you to “verify” your search by ticking a few boxes and mailing a card back to them…if somebody gets a bee in her bonnet and decides you are spending your time watching soapies and munching bonbons instead of pounding the pavement looking for work, you will be called in to prove your efforts. Your records will keep you living large on the system whereas your lack of records could see the flow of milk and honey from the state halted.

What to keep?
First thing you need is to know what records to keep. You will need to keep track of three things: expenditures, applications, and actual interviews.

For expenditures, you will need to keep receipts and, in the case of travel, a record of the distances driven so you can calculate your deduction. If you use public transport, record the dates and routes you travelled and the cost. Don’t use a metered cab unless you can justify it (there was no other means to get there and the walk was more than a mile or so) as taxi fares could be questioned by an alert auditor; if you use a taxi, get a receipt. If you are away from home during meal time, you can probably deduct the cost of a modest lunch. If you buy something for your job search…like large envelopes for mailing…and you buy other things on the same register receipt, circle the items that pertain to the job search and keep the receipt.

You have to define “applications” rather loosely, as any effort you put forth in getting your name in front of an employer (or an agency) can be construed as applying. So, whether you mail a résumé or hand deliver it, whether you fill out an employment application or not, you are applying for a job, even if there is no job advertised.

If you use an internet café to surf the web looking for job openings, get a receipt and keep it. If you search from home, keep track of the hours you spend hunting for and applying to jobs. Whenever possible, print a copy of your applications and emails. Once you have a record of the amount of time you use the internet for your job hunt, you will know what portion of your ISP bill can be deducted as part of your job search.

In all cases, keep a record of every job you apply to, every place you leave a résumé or fill out an application. If you apply by email or on a website, print out the job description, make a record of the URL, the date and time you applied, the job title and code.

For interviews, keep a record of the date of the interview, the company name and job title, the names of the people with whom you interview (get business cards if you can), and any expenses…how many miles (round trip) to the interview, copy charges for interview packets, etc.

A method for keeping it
Gathering the data is only part of the task. You must now keep the data in a way that you can search it. My recommendation is to keep it in a hybrid system using both computer and hard copy.

You see, you will have to either cut out or copy the ads you find in hardcopy form, like newspapers, you need paper to make notes on, and your receipts are hard copy. Yes, I know you can scan them but this is not such a great idea because 1) it adds a layer of work/complication…and the more complex a system the less likely you are to maintain it over the long haul…and 2) you still need those hard copies for tax and the unemployment office. So, since you can’t to away with the hard copies, the best way is to use them efficiently and to use a very rudimentary spreadsheet to track them.

So, here’s how you do it:
Cut out or copy each ad you find in the newspaper or other paper forms. Before you cut, check the back to make sure you aren’t cutting through another ad you might want to apply to.

Tape or staple the ad to a sheet of plain white paper. In the upper left corner note the date and publication (“SJ Merc June 2 09”). In the upper right corner note the name of the company/agency. If it is a blind ad, note that (a blind ad is one in which the name of the company or agency is not published). In the top middle, assign a simple code number like 06-01 (o6=June, 01=first job application made in June). Think of this as a “job page” and you will file them alphabetically by company name (blind ads are filed under “Blind Ads”). You don’t need a fancy filing system…just keep them in a box in alphabetical order.

Below the advert, note what your response has been and the date you did the action. For example, under the ad write “sent résumé 6/20/09.” Do this for each ad to which you respond. If you are applying on line, print out a copy of the job description and any email you send, and staple together the pages. Make the same notations at the top of the first page.

For expenses, make a page for each date you have an expense. Staple receipts to the page and make notations for mileage. On a mileage notation write down the date, the company you are interviewing with, the simple code number on your job page, the starting odometer reading, and the odo reading at the interview site (which you will double to get total miles).

You will use these pages to keep a journal of your job search activity. When you get a response from a company, add it to the job page. If they send you a “no thanks” postcard, note the date you received it and staple it to the page. If you get an interview, record the info on the page. When you get home from the interview, write the mileage on the page, and also staple to it the business cards you collected.

At the beginning of each month, start a new code…(07-01—first application in July) but continue filing your job pages by company name. Expense pages should be filed separately by date of expense.

A database is not intimidating…
You have filed the job pages alphabetically so you can find them easily if an employer calls to arrange an interview. You should be able to put your hands on their ad in a heartbeat so you sound like you know what you are talking about…you have dozens of applications out there, but the employer has only his one opening to discuss with you…don’t blow it by sounding confused or, worse, clueless. By arranging your job pages alphabetically, you need only get the employer’s name and you can find their ad quickly.

But you may have to find certain information by date…for example, if the Unemployment Office decides you need to prove that you really did hunt for work during a certain period. This is where the database is handy. You can make a simple, searchable one using the Microsoft Word “table” feature. Set up a table with the following categories across the top: Date, Code, Company. That’s all you need. If you hit the “enter” key when you are in the last cell, the table will automatically create a new row and, after each entry, just hit “tab” and the cursor will move to the next cell.

In the Date column, you will put in the date you made application to a job, the date you have an interview, or the date of an expense. In the Code column you will put the simple code you created (“07-01”) for each job page; in the case of expenses, just put in “E” for the code. In the last column you will put in the company or agency name. When all the data is entered, save the table. Each time you send out more résumés, have an interview, or create a new expense page, enter the information in the database and save it.

You can search the database by sorting it: highlight the whole database. Go to the “table” menu at the top of the page and click. Scroll down to “sort” and click. The pop up box will ask you which column you wish to sort by…click the column you wish to have the information ordered by. For example, if you want to know which companies you applied to during a certain period, order the database by Date, then scroll down until you find the dates you are interested in. If you look to the right, you will see the company names and the job page numbers for the dates in question. That makes them easy to locate and retrieve and take with you to the Unemployment Office. Each page will have the date you applied and a record of any activity on that application, making it easy for you to verify that you have, indeed, been looking for work.

Next: Attitude is everything

You can find more of Violet at http://sweetvioletsa.blogspot.com/ and http://svcooks.blogspot.com/

At only 20 calories per serving this is also great for the weight watchers out there that don’t want to load up on calorie packed drinks. It even comes in a very relaxing tropical flavor, that reminds me of the beach and the ocean, such a nice calming effect right there when you smell it!

If you need a little mood support, or help in managing your moods, this might be a good alternative for you to try.  A lot of those so called energy drinks out there on the market are loaded with caffeine (which this is not) and that only jolts you for a while and then you come crashing down again, and feel worse than you did before you drank that energy drink.

The ingredients in this MoodBoost Drink have been known to alleviate some of the seasonal mood swings that we all get with the changing of the seasons, and also helps increase the serotonin levels in your body, helping you to control stress and bring a sense of calm to your life. Doesn’t this sound like a much better alternative than using prescription drugs? I think at least this is worth trying before just medicating yourself with pills that will be long term.

You can purchase this great new mood enhancing drink here, and give it a try, and see if it doesn’t help you with your mood swings?  It’s well worth a shot, especially with winter and the holidays coming up.

- Japanese proverb

My take: This quote really needs no further expounding. If only we all could speak so succinctly with so few words and yet say so much. The Japanese have a flair for this!

It seems like just yesterday that I brought her home from the hospital. Only two days old, I had not quite mastered the art of breastfeeding. By that night my milk came in and my breasts felt like two hot bags of rocks. Full, hot, and lumpy. I felt like Bessie the cow trying to express some milk so she could finally eat. After a lot of tears, hers and mine, we were finally in sync. We’ve been in sync ever since.

When I think back, all of the ‘terribles’ were not all that terrible. The so-called terrible two’s weren’t bad. The first day of Kindergarten was tearful, hers and mine, but we got through it. Her first grade teacher told us she would be on the honor roll some day. I laughed and said, “have you seen her handwriting?”

In the second and third grade I had to beg her to read something more than baby books. Now I have to beg her to put a book down to get her to do something else. In forth grade, she made honor roll. She had the same set of teachers for fifth and sixth grade and excelled and consistently make honor roll over and over.

Jr. High seemed like a scary place after all of the stories of drugs, fights, and teachers that didn’t care. The same first grade teacher just told her to steer away from the drama and she would be fine. She did, and loved Jr. High and all of her teachers.

When I would tell people about what a great kid she is, they would say, “Oh, just wait until she hits 14, that’s when it all changes.”

Maybe it’s not so much the kid that changes, but the parents who don’t tell them quite as frequently how much they love them or how special they are. Just because they’re older doesn’t mean that you don’t have to tell them anymore. My daughter and I hug each other several times a day and exchange I Love You’s.

When I touch her, I feel like I am touching myself. That’s how close I feel to her, as if we are twins. When I was pregnant I didn’t really think I would be a good mother because I just didn’t know how. Parenting is a learned process in part and I didn’t learn my part very well. But my daughter actually taught me how to be a good parent. She was so easy to love and the more I gave, the more I got back.

So here we are 14 years later and in what feels like just a few minutes, she will leave me. She will be headed off to college and I will be alone. I know this is the way it’s supposed to be, but I’m not ready. I told my husband during summer vacation that we would only have a few more family vacations left before she leaves. The look on his face let me know that he hadn’t thought about it that way before.

I remember when my youngest step-son went away to college, my daughter was only 8 weeks old and we drove that final trip and met him and his mother there. When his dorm room was put together it was time to go. My husband leaned up against the door frame and started crying. We all laughed at him and up till recently still make fun of him. I don’t laugh anymore though because I know all too soon it will happen to me and I will cry too.

I’ve heard of Empty Nest Syndrome and always thought, “what’s the big deal.” After your kid is gone you’re free to do the things that you used to do. But when your child has been a part of your life for the past 17 years or so, what is there to get back to? I don’t remember a life before her. All I see is a lot of lonely days ahead of me.

No more looking out the window waiting for her to cross the street on her way to/from school. No more listening to her day about what the cute boy sitting next to her said. No more cooking a special meal for her for making honor roll. No more consoling her when her best friend moves away. I don’t know if I’ve told her enough about the world and how to make herself fit into it. Those are things she will need to find out for herself.

All I can do is make the best of the time we have left; hug more often, tell her I love her, take that last vacation, and then send her out into the world, all the while praying that I have done enough.

K. Den
Website: http://www.feel-like-complaining.blogspot.com/

The previous articles have all presumed that you have located an appealing job opening advises you how to pursue it. But there is an additional dimension to which you need to pay attention: organization of your search. This falls into two categories: 1) finding job openings to apply to and 2) keeping track of your applications and interviews (which can be very important if you are collecting unemployment and they want you to verify your efforts).

Creating opportunities
In an economy in which there are too many people chasing too few jobs, you need to take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way, and that includes creating opportunities for yourself. You create those opportunities by making sure everybody you come across knows you are looking for work and by making yourself easily available. You should, for example, have copies of your résumé with you at all times because you don’t know when you will come across a “help wanted” sign. You should also keep a copy of your references and expanded employment history on you as well, in case you are asked to fill out an application.

So who do you tell? Everybody. The guy next to you on the bus…his brother-in-law may be looking for help. The cashier at the supermarket…maybe somebody just quit and the job hasn’t been advertised yet. People you know on line…join Facebook or MySpace and tell people there.

Years ago I saw a very creative…and bold…engineer in Silicon Valley implement a very innovative job search. He dressed in his work clothes and stood on a very busy commute corner with his briefcase at his feet. On the briefcase was a sign: Engineer Needs Work. He was only there a couple of days and I suspect that some CEO on his way to the office saw the guy, liked his unorthodox way of thinking, and put the man to work.

Now we both know you can’t hand out résumés to every person you chat up in a queue at the bank or the supermarket, but you can give them a card. Pre-punched card stock is available from your stationers or stores like Staples, and the packets contain instructions how to make the paper work with Microsoft Word. Make up a set of cards and print them out on your printer and keep a stack in your wallet. The card should have your name and a public (i.e., yahoo, hotmail or gmail) email address, along with a note such as “Electrical Engineer seeking new position. Email engineerseeksjob@yahoo.com for background and résumé.” Play it safe and do not include telephone numbers (unless you have a disposable cell phone you can use) or any personal info whatsoever. Use simple fonts, no graphics, and black ink…keep the cards as professional as your résumé.

Don’t waste precious resources like time or money
Looking for work is work and should be treated as such. Be diligent about it and don’t procrastinate…that hour you waste surfing the web instead of emailing résumés could be the last hour a candidate search is open. If you’ve ever participated in an eBay auction, you know how critical just a few minutes can be…how they can make the difference between winning and losing. Well, job hunting is no less urgent and it is important to be timely.

Don’t fall for the companies that promise to teach you something to help you find work, either. They will just pick your pocket and won’t tell you anything this series of articles and a good mirror won’t tell you. Do not pay fees to agencies…if the agency is any good, employers will pay them to screen and recommend candidates. Ignore what your school counsellors and university professors say…they are operating from theory not practical experience…when, after all, was the last time one of them looked for a real job in the real world?

Using conventional methods
There are several conventional methods for you to use: 1) newspaper ads; 2) on-line job sites; 3) agencies; 4) temp agencies; 5) visiting likely employers and leaving a résumé and cover letter; 6) ask for referrals; 7) your state or local government employment office.

When using a newspaper, don’t just use your local mainstream paper. Look at other specialty papers, weeklies, penny-saver type ad papers, even local magazines. When you find a likely ad, either cut it out (be sure you check the back of it first so you don’t obliterate another ad you like) or photocopy it.

If you find something of interest on the internet, before you apply on line, print the ad out, making sure you write the date and the URL on the printout.

Agencies: You don’t need to be answering an ad to go to an agency. Check on line and in the Yellow Pages for agencies that deal with people with your employment background…no point in going to a technical services agency if you are a cook, for example…and pay them a visit. Dress like you are going to an interview, hand in your résumé at the front desk and ask if anyone is available to speak with you. If no one is, see if you can get an appointment, say a polite “thank you,” and then exit. Your demeanour must always be positive, pleasant, and polite because if it is not, the receptionist will tell the recruiters and they won’t bother to call you.

Don’t underestimate the value of temping
Even in a soft economy, there are temp openings. People go on maternity leave, sick leave, or take on special projects and need temps. I survived nearly 30 years of Silicon Valley economy fluctuations by temping during the downturns. And virtually every temp job I ever took converted to permanent. It is a great way to get exposure to many new environments, industries and people, and it is also a good way to keep body and soul together while waiting for the economy to recover from a downswing.

One of the advantages of using an agency is there is a bit more freedom in your information exchange…you can tell agencies things you would not tell an employer. Agencies make money by making placements…if they don’t find you a job, they don’t get any money…so there are things you can say about your background that you might not want to say to the company to which you are applying, but which an agency might find valuable. For example, I have a very good track record in dealing with “difficult” bosses…the people who shout and bluster and bully. They don’t upset or intimidate me and I don’t feel like I have to answer back. This is not the kind of thing you tell a potential employer…the interviewer might think you are implying that he might be such a personality (and those people never recognize themselves as such!). But I’ve been sent on at least three temp jobs where that particular skill got me the job over other candidates because both the agency and the HR department were clear on how difficult the hiring managers were. Two of those three jobs converted to permanent positions, the other became the longest temp job in history: 2+ years!

Even a very short term…one or two days…temp job can introduce you to the people who will be a conduit to your next job. Your state employment service often has “day labour” positions as well as job listings for longer term employment. If you are serious about finding work, don’t leave this stone unturned.

Use the “blitz” technique
Particularly in using agencies, more is better. Sign up with as many agencies as possible…the more people who know you are looking, the better your chance of turning something up.

Blitzing a single company, however, should be done with caution…if a company is advertising multiple openings and you wish to apply to more than one of them, check to see if there is more than one recruiter handling the openings. If the address is different…for example, if one opening shows “Dept 23G” in the address and another opening says “Dept 21H,” then each job has a code and may have a separate recruiter. If that is the case, send a separate résumé and cover letter to each opening. If there is just one address for all openings, modify your résumé to have all of the openings you are applying for in the “Objectives” section and mention them all in the cover letter, along with at least a single sentence as to why you are suited for the job.

You can blitz an area if there is a cluster of companies together that can use your skills. Assemble a packet that contains a résumé and a generic cover letter. The cover letter should reiterate the objective on your résumé and indicate clearly that you are looking for work. Your contact information should be clearly set out. Staple the cover letter to the résumé. Put it in an envelope (a big envelope in which your résumé can lay flat is preferred), seal it and write “Human Resources” on the front. Dress like you were going to an interview (somebody may ask the receptionist what the delivery guy looked like and you don’t want her to say “somebody who is afraid of barbers and ironing boards”) and take the envelope to the front desk and ask to have it delivered to Human Resources. Delivery people come through the front desk of companies all the time, leaving things at the front desk to be passed on to the proper departments, so don’t clue the receptionist that you are delivering an unsolicited résumé, just drop it off with a request for delivery, smile and thank her, then skedaddle.

Follow up
Don’t bother with following up at companies…you will be perceived to be a nuisance and that is not a good thing. But do follow up with agencies. In a down economy they have more applicants than jobs and your file can get buried under the newer candidates. So, call at least once a week if you aren’t getting any action so that your file is dug out and goes back on top…and your skill set comes back to the front of the recruiter’s mind.

Next: Keeping track of it all

You can find more of Violet at http://sweetvioletsa.blogspot.com/ and http://svcooks.blogspot.com/

You can visit this site to get your tickets in advance, http://bit.ly/Zefsq, because I am sure the shows will be sold out very quickly. This show opens in Chicago on November 19th of this year, and in New York on February 4th, 2010.

I Have seen a few Cirque shows and am always in awe of them. The dancers and acrobats that each show seems to be filled with, just amaze me on so many levels. I find myself not being able to tear my eyes away from the television screen. I have never had the pleasure of seeing a Cirque du Soleil show in person, but boy, would I love to! I can’t even imagine how much better it would be to see one of the shows live, as opposed to seeing them on tv?

Back to the new show, Banana Shpeel… this offers us a throwback to old vaudeville and Busby Berkley musicals, with some disco, tap and hip hop thrown in to delight us too! It sort of reminds me a bit of An American in Paris for the beginning story line of a young and innocent actor named Emmett, who auditions for the evil producer, Shmelky, who traps him in this weird world where he meets crazy characters and falls in love with a beauty named Katie. He also meets someone called Banana Man who is strange and mysterious, but my hunch is that Banana Man is going to help Emmett escape the evil clutches of Shmelky. Although, I am not sure, and will have to see the show myself to find out. There are gags and production numbers that will surely thrill us all.

This definitely looks like it would be a blast to go to, and you can watch a little video below to catch some insight into Banana Shpeel and it’s origins and see some of the characters and see their amazing make-up!! I love everything about Cirque du Soleil, and can’t wait for this show to come out!!

Let me know if you have any interesting Cirque stories, or if you would think of going to this show when it opens??
Have fun!!

Take for instance any musical superstar. You see them and they have presence, style, poise, grace and confidence. You sing their lyrics and secretly wish you could don their ‘look’. Everything they do is golden.

And then the reality hits and the paparazzi have made millions off their ‘no make up’ and or ‘cellulite on the beach’ snapshots at 96% zoom.

If this changes your opinion of a superstar… then
A: you are at least somewhat shallow
B: just wait until you find out that it takes an entire entourage of professionals just to ensure you have these wonderful opinions. From personal stylists, to professional hair and make up crews, to writers and lyricists; the end result is an illusion worthy of Houdini.

Sometimes it’s our own eagerness to believe so completely in what is presented to us. We project onto them a greatness born only of our own imagination.

Take for instance a talented young songstress by the name of Jessica Andrews. Quite a while back on her debut album she sang an all-American-girl kind of song called ‘Who I am’. A song about a girl who is unique with quirks and imperfections, and the love her friends and family have for her regardless. One particular line of the song says, ‘… I am Rosemary’s Granddaughter, spitting image of my father…’. Jessica Andrews found herself explaining in many interviews that, no, her Grandmother’s name is not Rosemary. That it is just a song. Many people felt duped at this revelation.

It was just a song, people. A series of words and phrases cleverly and poetically put to music. Although she did personally pen many of the lyrics on the album… you can not judge a singer by their hit single alone. And that is pretty much the whole point, isn’t it? How many times have you been surprised to find out an interesting tidbit of music trivia that turned what you always thought you knew about someone on it’s nose? With the proliferation of the internet, we often know way more than we want about famous people. An image of perfection is  shattered everyday.

And then there are images that belie the perfection within. Case in point: I’ve become a big fan of the musical artist Pink. She’s been around for a while, but I always ignored the rebellious pink haired newcomer. It wasn’t until recently that one particularly catchy song peaked my interest in the rest of her music. When I dug a little deeper I felt I’d found a gold mine. I’ve watched her life history play out on biography shows. I’ve found that she is about as real as any person can get. I truly get this sense. Everything she puts out there, from her pink hair to her music… that’s who she is. Nothing about her feels like a gimmick when you see the whole picture. And in the end I found myself in awe of her talents. Her voice is a multifaceted jewel. Her abilities span a wide variety of styles and she is more than exceptional at them all. But you wouldn’t know it if you didn’t see beyond the rough and rebellious image.

I used to get wrapped up in political judgments against entertainers. ‘How can they believe such a thing?! Well! I won’t be listening to their music anymore!’ But the reality is, I laughed at their comedy before I knew their political stance. I sang along with their tunes before I knew they were non believers. Nothing about what they put out for our entertainment changes in quality or concept. I judge not the person, nor the product they produce. Granted, I may not choose to SUPPORT them by purchasing their product.  I mean… I do have SOME scruples. But if I find it used? It’s fair game. I can often just listen to a song or two I like online with out paying for an entire album. Regardless of how you do it, you can’t really deny that the product is as enjoyable still as it was before.

On a personal note, I’m sure I have been judged with all kinds of misinterpretations. For instance, a quick glance at my Facebook page and you will see a myriad of comments and posts by my most active ‘friends’… who also happen to be of the ‘mystical’ mind set. Universal love and something called ’starseeds’ abound. Honestly, I know nothing of this realm and it’s not ‘me’ at all. But we all come together in support of each other as positive thinking people. Being part of Angels Weekly brings me in contact with an untold number of self affirming, open minded, and giving individuals whose only desire is to share their world. I can’t slight anyone for that. We all just have to realize that the most striking mosaics are made up of contrasting and unexpected pieces.

I myself have always been anti labels. But sometimes when people insist on categorizing me… as lets say- a short tempered redhead… I go ahead and give them what they want. I remind them that not only am I a redhead, but I am a woman AND a Scorpio. I think this is supposed to make them shake in their boots or something. But their illusion of impending doom is really not necessary. There are deeper truths than those of the surface.

I, in fact, have a slow burning temper. Sometimes surprisingly, not one at all. I’m more tom-boy than ‘woman’. And I don’t prescribe to the myth and magic of horoscopes any more than for what they offer in entertainment. And like other entertainers, I don’t hold their various wrongs against them.

There is so much to know about people that it’s a rarity to really know all there is to know. To assume that you do… well- we all know how that story ends.

Laura Leigh

Teardrops stain,
Happiness wanes,
Stress and strain,
All that remains.

Lost and alone,
Coldness surrounds,
Heartache abounds,
It all falls down.

Future unseen,
Spirit now weak,
No one speaks,
Life’s blood leaks.

Anger shouts,
Rage leaps out,
Burnt timbers pout,
Unfolds out loud.

Pain unfolds,
Heart full and cold,
Dread shines bold,
Truth untold.

All is dark,
Can’t find a spark,
Days wear a gray tarp,
There’s not bright mark.

Cant see the sun,
Life’s come undone,
No more fun,
In flames it’s gone.

© Bobbi

This nifty little website is an online community of readers.  It allows you to build your virtual bookshelf with books you’ve read and want to read.  You can rate and review books as well.  Looking for a book?  You can search by title or author.  By browsing tags, categories or recent reviews, you can find the perfect book to read next.                

Like other online communities, you can make friends and exchange ideas.  You can even recommend books for your friends to read.  Shelfari takes your profile and library and matches you with people with similar interests.  You can send messages and join discussion groups.   Of course, you can remain anonymous if you choose and still use Shelfari.

For me, Shelfari is the perfect solution to my book overload.  I can’t tell you how many times I have started to read a book only to realize that I’d read it before.  The only problem is that now I have too many choices!

What to read next; that’s the question!

We usually have a new quiz every week, and they include all kinds of movie trivia, from quotes to tag-lines to selecting who was in the named movies….

Try our newest quiz and let me know how you do ?? Oh, and you can go back and play the ones you might have missed too! Just go to the Movie Trivia Page.

.

- e.e. cummings

My take: I hear this guy was a brilliant man. So what the heck was he under the influence of when he came up with this one? I’m just sayin’.

Materials: Flour, salt, and water; Garlic press; Aluminum foil; cookie sheet; No. 20 gold crafts wire;  Acrylic paints; Artist’s brushes; Fine-tipped permanent marker; High-gloss polyurethane;  paper clips and ribbon if you want to make hanging ornaments.

Instructions:

Dough: Place 1 cup flour and 1/4 cup salt in a bowl. Add about 6 tablespoons of water and blend with dry ingredients. Dough should be soft but not sticky. Knead until all of the salt is worked in and the dough feels smooth.

Cover cookie sheet with foil and work directly on the foil. Note: Moisten dough with water between all joints as you add pieces to the ornament.

Angel: DRESS-—Pinch off a piece of dough about the size of a golf ball. Press dough between your fingers to flatten it into a ½-inch-thick dress shape. Dress should measure about 3 inches high and 4 inches wide. Pinch and fold the dress waist, gathering it to a width of 1 inch.

For sleeves, roll two 1/2-inch-thick pieces of dough about 1 1/2 inches long. Bend and attach to dress. Pinch off a small piece of dough for the neck ruffle. Flatten it into a thin strip that measures 1/2 x 1 ½ inches. Pinch one long side to gather the ruffle and fasten it over the dress and arms.

ARMLOAD FIGURES: For the teddy, roll a ½-inch ball of dough for the tummy; add 1/4×1/2-inch legs at bottom of tummy. For head, attach a slightly flattened ¼-inch ball to the top of the tummy. Add a flattened piece of dough for muzzle; add ears. Attach bear between angel’s sleeves.

Add 1/8 x¾ -inch arms after angel’s hands are in place, so the bear’s arms hang over the angel’s arms.

For the sheep, push dough through garlic press to form a ½-inch-thick “fleece” for body; body should be 1 inch in diameter. Attach four legs, each measuring ¼ x¾ inch to body bottom. Roll a 3/8 -inch-diameter ball of dough for head; attach to upper body. Add ¼-inch ears and “fleece” to top of head. Place between angel sleeves.

For stars, cut 1/8-inch-thick rolled dough with miniature cookie cutters or cut out stars with a paring knife. Attach four or five stars to angel dress between sleeves. Add a few more after angel’s hands are attached.

For basket, roll a flattened shape for basket bottom; it should measure 1 inch wide at the basket top and ½ inch deep. Attach to angel’s dress front. Fill basket with greens (dough pushed through garlic press). Add a 1/8-inch-thick handle over the greens and angel’s sleeve.

ANGEL’S HEAD: Roll a piece of dough into a ½-inch-thick flattened oval shape that measures ¾ x l inch. Attach to neck ruffle. Place a tiny piece of dough at the center for the nose.

ANGEL’S HANDS: Form two 3/8-inch-thick balls. Flatten slightly and cut four slits with paring knife to form fingers and thumbs. Attach to angel around armload.

FEET: Attach ½ x ¾ -inch feet to center of the dress hem. Add three 1/8-inch-diameter toes to each foot.

WINGS: Shape two ½-inch-thick triangles from dough that measure 1 inch wide at the bases and taper out to a length of 1½ inches. Attach to angel’s shoulder, layering one wing over the other.

HAIR: Push dough through garlic press; style hair as shown in photograph.

HALO: Wind gold wire around a thick pen to shape a circle. Clip ends, leaving ½-inch ends. Twist ends and insert into the top of the angel’s head.

Either cut or bend the paper clips in half, so that you have 2 “hangers”. They should look like an upside down “U”.  You can push these into the dough below the Angels neck, or the top of her head, whatever you think is best, and push in leaving a little hanger that you can tie a ribbon on to hang.

You can use your own creativity here and make any of the above suggestions, or use your own for your ornaments!  Just have fun!

Bake the ornaments at 275 degrees for about 3 hours; check periodically. Ornaments are done when they are completely hard. Allow to cool completely before painting.

Paint Ornaments with acrylic paints, using the photograph  above for color ideas. Draw eyes and animal mouths with a fine-tip marker. Coat the painted Ornaments with a high-gloss polyurethane. * Use in a well ventilated area.

So, you have a brand new job! Congratulations! Now, how to resign from your old one…

You did negotiate a start date that allows you to give appropriate notice at your old job, right? Every place is different, but in America, two week’s notice is the norm…anything less could leave you with a bad reference, something you wish to avoid at all costs.

Friday is not always the best day to quit…
Most people give notice to end their old jobs on Friday and start the new one on Monday, but that can be a bit short sighted. Before you do that, confirm that your medical benefits extend to cover you for that brief time between jobs…usually a weekend…before you get enrolled in your new employer’s benefit plan. Usually you are covered through the end of the month, but if the end of the month falls on your last Friday, you may find yourself without coverage over the weekend and, Murphy’s Law being what it is, that will be the weekend your son will fall out of a tree and break his arm or your daughter will come down with a stomach complaint necessitating a trip to the ER. Select your termination date for mid-week, if necessary, to ensure that you do not go through a period in which you and your family are not covered by your company’s medical insurance.

Be a professional about it
Once your new start date…and termination date…have been selected, it is important to immediately write a letter of resignation. It doesn’t matter if you are an accounting manager in a major corporation or if you flip burgers, it is important for you to resign in a professional manner. You cannot know when your failure to do so may come back to haunt you. We all harbour the fantasy of giving that rude, insensitive boss a piece of our mind, then stalking out in a high dudgeon, but there are a multitude of good reasons why we don’t, chief among which it the blot such behaviour will leave on our personnel records. Your personnel file is the only thing guaranteed to still remain with the company long after you and The Boss from Hell have moved on and, in response to a reference check years later, read by people who have no personal recollection of the circumstances surrounding your dramatic exit. There will only be the notation “Left without notice after altercation with supervisor,” not exactly a glowing reference, “at will” employment notwithstanding.

The nuts and bolts
So what do you do? You write a carefully crafted letter and hand deliver it, one copy to your supervisor, one copy to the HR department, one copy for your records.

There must be no mistaking your intent or the particulars of your leaving. Your letter should be gracious, but reveal nothing of your future employment plans. By giving two weeks notice you are giving your employer time to find ways to thwart your plans and, if it is possible and in their best interest, some employers will do just that. It is therefore in your best interest to play your future employment plans close to the vest.

What do you say?
Address the letter to your immediate superior and make sure the letter is dated. Say something like this:

“It is with regret that I must inform you of my intent to resign from Bigge Corporation, effective Friday, September 4, 2009, at close of business.”

You can follow this with a nice paragraph saying how much you have enjoyed working there, or how much you will miss your colleagues, but the sentence above is really all you need.

After your signature include a “cc” notation for Human Resources and make sure you deliver the letter on the same day you notify your superior.

These letters should be hand delivered…your employer should get two full weeks notice, not two weeks minus postal delivery time.

What not to say
Most people are uncomfortable with delivering what they perceive to be “bad news,” so they try to soften the blow with more verbiage. Resist that temptation…what you state in writing here can come back to haunt you if your employer takes your resignation badly.

Don’t say that you have learned anything from any aspect of your association with the company. You could find yourself on the wrong end of a trade secrets lawsuit, your resignation letter used as proof that you learned valuable information from the company you are leaving.

Don’t name the company you are going to and do not say it is a competitor of your present company. Knowing you are going to a competitor could also spark a trade secrets suit.

Don’t say anything bad about the company or anyone in the company. This letter is going to end up in your personnel file. Even if you are leaving due to a dispute, your resignation letter is not the place to air your gripes. Remember that anything you commit to writing will end up in your personnel file and it will live there forever.

Do not give a reason for leaving. Unless you can truthfully offer a wholly innocuous reason for leaving…like you are moving to another city, you are leaving the workforce to raise kids, or you have found work that doesn’t require a hard commute…don’t say why you are leaving. First of all, anything you say can be used against you, either in a lawsuit or in a reference. Second…and most important…it is none of your employer’s business.

How to explain it
Despite your best intentions to keep it quiet, your co-workers are going to find out you are leaving. And some of them are going to want to know where you are going. Don’t tell them, particularly before you leave. Don’t, in fact, tell your co-workers anything you do not want your supervisor, HR department or the company’s legal counsel to know.

“I can’t say right now,” is a good response to the query “Where are you going?” Or “Oh, no place special…just a change of pace…”

But what if your supervisor is doing the asking? Or an HR rep? They may be frantically scouring your personnel file looking for your Non-Disclosure or Confidentiality Agreement and trying to ascertain if your change of employment might violate one or both of them. Just say nothing.

Resist the temptation to “smooth things over,” especially if there are others present or if the conversation is being recorded. Most people will not run up against this kind of thing, but it does happen, so it is best to be prepared. Without a court order compelling you to tell your employer where you are going to work next, you do not need to tell.

Why the secrecy? Because, unless your new position is in a field completely unrelated to your present employment, revealing that you are taking a job with a competitor can make your present employer fearful of the sanctity of his trade secrets. You don’t know any trade secrets? Well, if you know how a company does something, who its suppliers and/or customers are, who they have done business with in the past or are wooing for the future…if you know what kinds of materials are shipped in or who the company gets mail from or how they acquire new clients…then you, my friend, know information the company may want to protect from falling into the hands of their competitors.

Counter offers
When your boss gets your letter of resignation, you can pretty much assume you will be called in for a chat. That “chat” can range from a friendly little talk wishing you luck to a screaming fest and anything in between. You might even get the offer of a counter offer, if you will just tell your boss what the new company has offered you. BEWARE!

A counter offer is attractive…flattering, even…but danger can be lurking below the surface of the offer. First of all, they aren’t going to take your word for the offer, they are going to want to see your offer letter. The minute you hand it over, you have revealed who your new employer is, opening the can of worms mentioned above.

Secondly, if a company only recognizes your value to them when you are about to scamper out the door, this is not a good thing. It is not unheard of for a company to make a counter offer to a key employee who is resigning, only to lay that person off six months later when the critical projects have all been reassigned…because the counter included a promotion or an assistant…with the employee’s help on the hand-offs.

Even if your company wouldn’t do such an underhanded thing, there is something wrong with your relationship and a raise or promotion won’t make those problems go away. You may think it will, but if you are underpaid or your talents underutilized, the conditions that allowed that to happen aren’t changing just because you got more money or a new title. The corporate culture that created the problem of your not being recognized doesn’t change just because you are now getting a fatter pay packet.

Cleaning out your space
Some companies are downright paranoid about exiting employees. The minute a resignation is submitted, security shows up at the employee’s workspace with a bunch of empty boxes and before you can sneeze, the poor guy is whisked out the door.

It is therefore wise to clear your personal items out of your workspace before submitting your resignation, especially if you have a lot of things security might mistake for belonging to the company, like books and electronic gadgets. Even if your company is too small to have security, no company is too small to have bosses who are nasty pieces of work who will shout you out the door, leaving you no opportunity to clear your desk.

You may think your boss, who is a sweetie, would never do such a thing, but don’t bet the farm on it…people can behave in unexpected ways when they interpret your letter of resignation as a personal rejection or betrayal.

Don’t take a short-timer’s attitude
The company still employs you…make your performance over your last two weeks exemplary. It can never hurt for people to remember you as a pleasant, professional person who worked hard right up to that last minute. Leave with a smile on your face…they don’t need to know why you’re smiling, it is enough that you are.

Next: Organizing that job search

You can find more of Violet at http://sweetvioletsa.blogspot.com/ and http://svcooks.blogspot.com/

I am the joy that runs through my every cell since knowing you.

I am the wisdom of a lifetime lived that has come to know true joy.

I am the lass who dreams of the ladd, the girl who loves the boy.

I am the Winter that wraps around autumn’s fall.

I am the hesitant spring, the sultry summer… I have been it all.

I am not the same person that I was so very long ago.

I am not the jaded stone you used to know.

I am not the death that had become my shell.

I am happy, I am in love, and I want to live to tell.

I am not sorrow, nor pity, nor pain.

I am not going to be found counting tears in the rain.

I am not meek, nor desperate, nor weak.

I am the answer that I know you seek.

I am recovering and beginning to heal.

I am what you helped me become- the me that is real.

I am better than I have ever been.

I am choosing to open back up inside and i’m ready to begin.

I am not pieces of the me I was, since having found our love.

I am not a ghost outside and above.

I am here.

I am present.

I am choosing not to begrudge or resent.

I am the love that you gave me.

I am the open door through which you bade me.

I am vulnerable, but I am strong.

I am wanting to want Us.

And I know, for this I am not wrong.

Laura Leigh

We were discussing different ways we could maybe come up with some extra money for the holiday, and my daughter mentioned that we should try payday loans.

She said that some of the women in her office do it all the time, and maybe for Christmas we should give it a try?  I had never heard of payday loans and wanted to hear more about it.  She said it is a short term loan, that you can cover with your next paycheck or roll it over and pay with the next one. You have to pay the finance charge though, but it is sort of like extended credit. We obviously wouldn’t borrow more than we could pay back, but it sounds like a good option for the short term.

She said the women in her office use Fastwire Cash because they have been proven to be reliable and they are a state licensed lender, and that is important if you are going to do one of the fast cash options. They have secure technology that will protect our personal information and that is another huge factor to consider. The women have used this for many things, like dental work that came up unexpectedly, and car repairs mostly. But one woman uses it alot if her rent is due and she hasn’t recieved her paycheck yet.

This gives us something to think about with the holidays coming. We all could use some extra cash at Christmas. Just to think that if I am short in funds, I have this option. I have never done a payday loan, does anyone have any suggestions??

You can always cope with the NOW
but you can never cope with the future-
nor do you have to.
The answer, the strength,
the right action, or the resource
will be there when you need it,
not before, not after.

The phone rings and when you pick it up, it is the HR rep for the company you interviewed with on Tuesday…they want to make you an offer!!

LISTEN!
That’s the first thing you do…listen. Don’t interrupt, don’t ask questions, just listen to the offer. Let the person speak, make the obligatory “mmm hmmm” noises at the appropriate places so the speaker knows you are there and you are listening, but just listen.

The offer, if made over the phone, should sound something like this: “We would like to offer you the position of Engineering Manager with XYZ Corporation, reporting to John Doe. The salary would be $120,000 annually, plus benefits, and we would like you to start in two weeks.”

Don’t accept right away
Give yourself some time. Get the details, then give yourself some time to think about it, to discuss it with someone you trust, to sleep on it. Even if it is exactly what you want at exactly the money you want, don’t accept until you have the offer in writing. “Thank you very much, I really appreciate the offer. When do you need my decision? Will you be mailing the offer letter or shall I come in to pick it up?”

Get it in writing
The sad truth is, verbal offers are worth the paper they are printed on if you end up in a dispute later on. And while things may look absolutely rosy at this very moment, you don’t have a crystal ball and this could turn out to be the job from hell, ending in litigation. Get it in writing.

And that means snail mail or fax, not email…faxes and hard copy letters (originals, not copies unless they are notarized/certified) signed by authorized personnel are binding legal documents, emails are not. If the company balks at providing you with a hard copy or faxed offer of employment, that’s a red flag and you should proceed with caution.

It is important for you to have any agreements with your employer in writing. You do not want to show up for that shiny new job on Monday morning only to find out that they filled it with someone else and they’ve decided to put you in a job you don’t like at a lower salary, right? If you don’t have it in writing, you can’t take them to court for the job and salary you say they offered and that you accepted. It is especially important to get things in writing if you had to negotiate the salary or your benefits.

“At will”
Unless you are working under a contract, in America you are employed “at will.” Most people don’t appreciate what “at will” employment means.

Ostensibly, “at will” employment benefits both employer and employee. It means that you and the employer, alike, are employed at the will of the other…a kind of mutual pact thing. You are supposed to be able to withdraw your services at your will…and the employer is supposed to be able to withdraw employment at its will…no notice or reason or justification required. I’m pretty sure you can see how the “at will” thing does the employee no favours…imagine quitting your job with no notice…you think you’ll get a good reference from the company? But how is an employer hurt by handing you a pink slip on Friday with no notice, no severance, no reason? With the exception of situations that are prohibited by law…sexual harassment and prohibited discrimination, for example, your employer can drop you like a hot potato, with absolutely no negative consequences. Get everything in writing.

The money
Money certainly came up during one or more of your interviews. If you were smart, you gave the employer a salary range you would find acceptable. If your employer is smart, your offer will be inside that range.

You can’t go back on your word…that range you gave the employer is your word and if the offer is within that scope, you can’t, in good faith, negotiate for more. You can try…you can even succeed…but if you do, you will lose big in the integrity sweepstakes. Nobody is going to be happy hiring someone whose word can’t be trusted.

If the offer is within your range and you like everything else about the job, call the person who made you the offer and verbally accept. Determine what your start date is, who to report to, verify the salary, and ask about an orientation. Once that is done, write a formal letter of acceptance that includes your salary, title, manager’s name, and start date and send the letter to the person who made the offer. This is very important because it closes the loop where the offer is concerned. They offered, you accepted, and your letter confirms it.

What if the money isn’t right?
You need to think about this ahead of time: if the offer comes in and the money is too low, you don’t want to be caught off guard. Your first instinct may be to turn the offer down because the money isn’t enough; conversely, you may be inclined to accept a low offer simply out of desperation. You may take either choice, of course, but there is a third option: negotiate.

The perils of negotiation
Unless you are prepared to walk away from a job or accept an offer that is below your stated salary range, you are going to have to negotiate. The upside is that you may get a better offer; the downside is that even if you get a better offer, you accept it with the knowledge that you are taking a job with a company that is not willing to pay you what you are worth: expect the same kind of treatment in future, non-negotiable situations like salary increases and bonuses.

Also, your willingness to negotiate may not be perceived as a character strength. Particularly in a soft economy, employers know they hold the upper hand…there are more candidates than there are jobs…and your challenge of what they want to pay you may be perceived as an indication that you may be a “difficult personality.”

What do you say? How do you say it?
Every situation, of course, is different so no one statement covers all circumstances. But in all cases, you must proceed tactfully and make no negative implications. Make a statement regarding the salary offer, then wait for their response. For example:

“This is below my salary range…”

“I was expecting something nearer to the middle of my salary range…”
“I know this is near the top of my salary range, but I was hoping for something a bit higher…”

“This is less than my last salary…” or “This is less than what I am earning now…”

Now, wait for the response. It can be anything from a justification of the amount offered—“This is the middle of our salary range for this position” or “Our compensation committee didn’t feel your experience and education warranted anything higher,” to sweetening the pot—“Well, we could bring it up another $100 a month…” or “We can’t increase the salary but we could throw in some stock options…” to rescinding the offer—a clear indication of a
“take it or leave it” or “my way or the highway” kind of organization.

Responding to the response
If they justify their offer, it’s a pretty good sign that they are not open to negotiation. Now is the time for you to ask “When do you need my answer?” and then sit down and weigh the pros and cons of taking it. Is the job better than the one you have now? Can you take the job and continue looking for one that pays better, using this one to keep body and soul together during the search? It is a job, after all, not a life-long commitment. If you are willing to turn the offer down, then you have nothing to lose to at least attempt a negotiation. If, however, this is the only offer on your plate and you are hungry, don’t screw it up by attempting to negotiate when they’ve made it clear they aren’t willing. You could end up with the offer rescinded and have both an empty plate and an empty belly.

If they show a willingness to negotiate, push hard at your own peril…you don’t want to be seen as a “give him an inch, he’ll take a mile” kind of person. On the other hand, if the salary offered is just too low, now is the time you simply must name a number. “I’m sorry, the job is really attractive, but I just can’t accept less than $12,000 a month and, frankly, I had hoped for better than that…something in the neighbourhood of 15 to 16K.” Such a statement, of course, tacitly turns down the offer if they don’t come up to your $12,000 (or whatever is your personal bottom line). In fact, once you step into the realm of negotiation, it becomes an all-or-nothing exchange…if they don’t meet your minimum, you are perceived as turning them down and they will move on to the second-best candidate, who may not want to much money.

Confirm it in writing…and don’t burn any bridges!
You may find that the person you are speaking with is not authorized to increase a salary offer. If that is the case, you need to give the person time to get back to the hiring authority and discuss the merits of raising the offer. Before you end the conversation, get a commitment from the person regarding a call back…24 hours, 2 days, a week… Then write a brief letter confirming the conversation, including the call back commitment. This should be emailed if possible (due to time constraints) and followed up by being faxed (due to legal considerations).

Whether you accept the job or turn it down, make sure that you confirm it in writing and, even if the paucity of their offer leaves you breathless with indignation, make sure your letter is coolly professional. You don’t know when you may find yourself working with the very same people again!

Next: Getting away gracefully…giving notice at your old job

You can find more of Violet at http://sweetvioletsa.blogspot.com/ and http://svcooks.blogspot.com/

Mummy Treats
* Active Time: 20 minutes
* Total Time: 30 minutes

INGREDIENTS

o 8 Twinkies Snack Cakes
o 1 can (12 oz) whipped fluffy white frosting
o Assorted mini M&M’s candies
o A pastry bag fitted with a 1⁄4-in. ribbon piping tip

PREPARATION

Unwrap Twinkie cakes; and place them on a foil-lined baking sheet. Place the frosting into the  pastry bag; pipe the frosting to look like mummy wrappings to cover each Twinkie cake. Place the M&M mini candies on the cakes for eyes. Pipe around the eyes for a more realistic look.

Refrigerate until serving, then transfer to a serving platter.

Most of the pastry bags and piping tips can be found in cake-decorating, party-supply and crafts stores. Walmart even offers them in some of the craft departments. Or you can buy the icing that is already in a tube and comes with tips. You can also tint the frosting with a little little bit of brown for an aged bandage look.

The comparison just doesn’t come close to what I am getting for what I am paying now. And to top it off, my DVR doesn’t always work, my ondemand is always on the fritz, and when I call, I usually get a technician who just tells me to turn it off and then back on. That quick fix usually works until the next time the TV is turned off and then back on again.  It is so frustrating!!

So, no wonder I went looking for a better deal. And I have found that in direct satellite tv. By signing up with all the special web deals they have going on right now, I can get premium movie channels (and you know how much I love movies, right?) at no additional cost, and the installation is free! Right now, I get squat with my cable company!  No movie channels whatsoever! I have to say that after viewing the cable vs. directv comparison chart that they offer, I am pretty mad to be paying good money to the cable company month after month, and not getting nearly as much as I would get with what direct tv offers. The package deals are amazing in that what they offer, I would be paying more than $100 more a month for!

For me, this is the way to go. I am going to dump my crumby cable company and start watching premium HD channels and movies for a much better price. I can save money, and get more for it too.

Do you have a Direct TV story you would like to share?

Now, I am stuck with the label of being “a credit risk” and I have to find help with credit repair, so that I can get my credit report back up to snuff.  I have tried calling the companies myself, but I seem to get nowhere? They tell me they will fix the errors, but they are still there! How does someone get those mistakes taken off of their credit report?

I have searched online for ways improve credit mistakes, and have found a company that I think will be able to help me repair my bad credit. They come highly recommended, and have helped thousands of people with this situation.

I want, no, at this point, I NEED a company that is willing to fight for me and get those mistakes removed from my credit report, and possibly to reduce the interest rates that my credit card companies have been charging me too! Once I am on the right track again, and my credit looks good, I will try to refinance and maybe get a lower payment than what I am paying now?

Have you ever had errors on your credit report?

And if so, how did you get them fixed?  Let us know….

The interview is concluded, you’ve gone home, and now all you can do it wait, right? Well, not exactly…

There is this old-fashioned piece of etiquette called a “thank you letter” that most of us have forgotten about, but it’s a good thing to remember immediately after an interview. Sending a thank you letter gives you several advantages over those interviewees who don’t.

Why bother?
First of all, it is polite to acknowledge and thank your interviewer for the time s/he invested in you. Aside from being a polite thing to do, it gives the subliminal message that you are a person who values courtesy and social order…something most companies prefer over people who think being polite and respectful to others is a waste of time. Secondly, it gives you a chance to touch base again with your interviewer, bringing you and your interview back to mind.

A further advantage is that the letter allows you to reiterate things you think important, and to say those things that occurred to you on the drive home that you think you should have said in the interview. Finally, it gives you the opportunity to reiterate your interest in the position and make your availability for further interviews known.

A thank you letter cannot hurt you and it help you by bringing you back to the front of the interviewer’s mind.

What do you say?
You are going to use the same letterhead format that you used for your cover letter, and lay it out the same way. You are going to address it, however, to your interviewer, and for the salutation you will use the polite form of Ms./Mr. and the interviewer’s surname. If you had more than one interviewer, then address it to the person in the department that is hiring and send a copy to the HR person or the person who coordinated the interviews for you. You did remember to get business cards from everyone, right?

The thank you letter should consist of no more than four paragraphs:

1) Thank the person. Thank you for the time you took to speak with me on Tuesday, April 1 about the Engineering Manager position you have open.

2) Say something related to the interview. The positions, as you described them, look like a good fit: the work seems interesting and the many opportunities for growth are appealing. I am particularly interested in the FineWare project, but XYZ seems like such a great place to work and grow, I’m sure I’d be happy in any of the three positions you outlined.

3) Say something about your qualifications: I was pleased to note that my background as Sr. Engineer on OldWare for ABC Corp. was so relevant to your FineWare project. That experience combined with my two years as Project Manager for Bigge Corp would seem to be an ideal mix of background and skills for your needs

4) Reiterate your interest: Again, thank you for your time on Tuesday. I am very interested in joining XYZ Corporation, and I believe I could make an excellent contribution to the company and its forward progress. I am available for additional interviews at your convenience, and I look forward to hearing from you.

Close the letter with “Sincerely,” space down four lines and type in your name (no initials unless you go by your initials), sign the letter and pop it into the mail.

Note: it is important that you actually snail mail this letter, even if you have been corresponding by email. There is no guarantee that an emailed letter of this sort will be printed and added to your file, and it is important that other people who come across your file…like potential hiring managers…see it. Yes, you can email your thanks, but follow up with the snail mail.

Now what?
Well, now you wait.

If the company doesn’t want to hire you and is on the ball, courtesy-wise, you’ll get a postcard or email thanking you for your time and telling you they are “keeping your résumé on file.” Don’t hold your breath…they probably will keep it on file, but that in no way indicates that they will ever look at it again. This is just a polite way of telling you that they are not interested in your services.

If you don’t hear from them after two weeks, it is time to write them off. It is unlikely you will hear from them further, although if you are their second choice and their first choice turns their offer down, they may call you back. It is, however, very unlikely.

They may call you back for further interviews. Approach these in the same way you approached the first, but try to focus the conversation more closely on the requirements of the job and your qualifications for it.

They may call you back to make an offer…YAY! The next instalment of this series will help you with that.

Next: You got the offer!! … Now what?

You can find more of Violet at http://sweetvioletsa.blogspot.com/ and http://svcooks.blogspot.com/

With eyes full of loving desire,
And lips that ask for just one taste more,
This hunger has caused a building fire,
That will burn until time reaches forever.

From rooftops it should be shouted,
About this love that can’t be doubted,
Even when we should be very quiet,
For if it was to be told a pain would be touted.

We hide our feelings in the darkness,
Sharing love where there’s no witness,
Giving those precious gifts in silence,
Where prying eyes can’t find our presence.

© Bobbi

My take: It’s all about Karma baby! You know what I mean… what goes around comes around- and sometimes front and center is  NOT the best place to be!
Laura Leigh

I love to watch the television show Project Runway, and see what the designers come up with and what shoes they pick for their models to wear with the newly created outfit? Last season they had a whole show that revolved around shoes, and I loved it! The designers had to pick a pair of shoes from a famous designer and use them as inspiration for the outfit they were going to create. I was amazed at what some of the designers picked, but I loved looking while they were searching for the “perfect pair” of shoes.

Would you wear painful heels in the name of fashion? I know many women who do, and even if they complain about the pain, they will wear them until their feet bleed! Now, I am not that silly. I love a good pair of heels, but if they are too uncomfortable, they will not be on my feet!! You can click the above link to see an article about what women will do for fashion. You have seen the actresses with their sky high heels on…I wonder how they walk and stay upright? They complain, but yet they still wear them.

My next purchase is going to be a new pair of very stylish winter boots, because again, you can never have too many pairs of boots!! And winter is coming, and the new styles are out, and I can’t wait to put my order in!!

Do you have a shoe obsession?? Let me know…

So, you’ve got your hair cut, your interview outfit chosen, and the date and time are set. What else do you have to do to prepare for that all-important interview?

Well, you are going to need to bring some paper work with you. If you do not have a nice portfolio, go to a stationer’s store and buy a plain, inexpensive one to carry your documents. You want to look neat and tidy, and carrying a bulky briefcase won’t add to that image…it can also make you look self-important, an image you want to avoid.

What paperwork should you take with you?
Bring three copies of each of the following documents to the interview: 1) your résumé; 2) your cover letter; 3) a list of at least three (preferably five) references including their names, current telephone numbers, how long you have known them, and in what capacity. Try to stick with people who know your work, such as former supervisors or staff members; 4) a complete list of your former employers…the companies, not your managers…and the dates (month and year is enough) that you worked for them. Include mailing addresses and telephone numbers if possible; 5) any licenses or certifications necessary to do your job (no, not your sheepskin from college, but if you need a license to practice your profession or a DOT certification or something like that, a good colour copy would be a good thing to bring along); 6) a list of any achievements that apply to your profession that will help establish your credentials like a list of academic papers or research papers you have published, advertising campaigns you have headed, fellowships you have won, magazine articles or books in your field, awards for outstanding performance, etc. Most of us will not have this, but certain professions demand it.

Now, sort these documents into three packets, each containing one of each document. Stack them in the order listed above and secure them with a binder clip (no staples…you want the interviewer to be able to separate the papers and re-stack in their own order). Sometimes interviewers find themselves without a résumé, very often they don’t get a copy of your cover letter, and the rest of the documentation is new. You will need one packet for yourself for reference, one copy for the interviewer, and an extra copy in case the interviewer writes notes all over her copy and needs a clean one for copies…or, even better, sends you right on to see the hiring manager. Place these documents in your portfolio and carry it to the interview.

A little research might also be in order…you have internet access… put it to work! You should know what the company’s business is (if the information is available) and how your work/educational history can apply to its products or services. Often we expect the interviewer can make the intuitive leap from what’s in your résumé to how it can be applied to their firm, but that is sometimes not the case…they will know a lot more about their company than they do about you, so it will be up to you to enlighten them.

Putting your best foot forward
First impressions are lasting, so make a good one. Plan to arrive early so that you can accommodate an unexpected delay in traffic, have time to use the bathroom (go even if you don’t think you need to…imagine interrupting an interview because your bladder is suddenly insistent!) and tidy up.

When the interviewer arrives, smile…you are not going to an execution but for a chance at a great new job! This, the interview, is cause enough for rejoicing!

Put out your hand to shake hands and be careful of your handshake…practice beforehand with a friend…someone who will give you honest feedback about your handshake…if you have to. Too strong a handshake not only hurts (especially if the other party is wearing rings), it can indicate an overbearingness that puts others off. Too long a handshake makes others feel awkward. A limp, “dead fish” handshake bespeaks passivity…and maybe even passive aggressiveness. Give a brief, firm handshake, smile, say “Pleased to meet you” and repeat the interviewer’s name, and if you have one, hand him/her a business card.

If you have used your initials on the résumé, now is the time to reveal your given name. At the time you extend your hand for the handshake you can say, “Hi, I’m John Q. Public.”

Sitting down to talk
Avoid the awkwardness of hunting around for papers when you should be talking by immediately opening your portfolio and removing one of your packets. You should be able to follow along on your own copy of the résumé because this is the primary document your interviewer will be using.

While you should allow the interviewer to lead the interview, it is important to get certain information as early as possible, particularly about what the job entails. It is perfectly acceptable to ask if the interviewer has a job description you can have, or to tell you about the job opening. This will better enable you to answer questions about your background in the context of the job. You don’t want to wax lyrical about your most excellent troubleshooting skills if they are not a significant part of the responsibilities!

Interviewers will often ask questions that have “yes” or “no” answers. Think of this as a door…and saying “no” is like slamming a door unless you expand the answer a bit. “No, I haven’t done that, but I have done this, which is similar,” or “No, but that would be very interesting to learn…and I learn fast.”

Sometimes interviewers will ask open-ended questions like “Tell me about a time that you were unjustly accused of something and how you handled it.” Or, “Tell me about a time that you made a terrible mistake and how you recovered from it.” These are trick questions…the objective is to get you to reveal your ethics and character in your anecdotal answer. So, avoid telling a story in which you were wronged and you fought the good fight for exoneration…like it or not, it will give an impression of you being a “right fighter” rather than a “team player.” Try to determine the kind of answer a boss would want to hear…a boss who has deadlines to meet and a lot of personalities to keep working smoothly together…and don’t reveal yourself as someone who might rock his fragile boat!

A couple of standard interview questions are “Where do you see yourself in five years?” and “What are your weaknesses?” The answer to the first question should reflect a modest improvement of the position you are applying for…not “running a surfing school in Maui” or “department head.” The first makes you look like bad long-term investment, the second makes you look overly ambitious and perhaps reveals a ruthlessness the current department head might find unsettling. The answer to the second question should name a weakness that can also be interpreted as a strength like “I have to watch my perfectionistic tendencies and sometimes remind myself that a good job is good enough,” or “I am a little compulsive about punctuality and deadlines…I am always the first one in the office and often the last to leave…”

What if you’ve been fired?
Ok, you can’t lie about this and, in most cases, you can’t smooth it over much, either. If they don’t bring it up in the interview, don’t mention it yourself…they may not care enough to even check. But if the question is asked, you must come clean…but there is a right way and a wrong way to do that.

The wrong way is to become emotional or indignant, blame your former employer, or make yourself out to be a victim. If there is litigation pending, revealing that might just cost you the job offer, so it is best to minimize the situation, to downplay it as much as you can. You can say that it is a personal matter you would prefer not to discuss, but that will send the interviewer right to the phone the minute you are gone and she will definitely check it out. Some states prohibit a former employer from revealing more than confirming information that you gave out…yes and no questions and answers only…but some will allow your former employer to say anything about you.

The right way is to say “I was terminated over an unfortunate misunderstanding/error in judgment on my part/unresolvable dispute (enter vague phrase that describes your situation), but I certainly learned a valuable lesson as a result and wish to move on.” It is of critical importance that you do not badmouth your former company or management, as this identifies you as a person who might say bad things about your new company if you feel ill-treated. It is always best to take the highroad in circumstances such as this.

What about money?
If the interviewer asks what kind of money you are looking for, it’s not wise to name a specific figure as this locks you into a number that may be too high for their budget…or lower than they were willing to pay. It is better to say that you are not sure, but that you were making $X on your last job and you are flexible in that general region. Most people will take that to mean you won’t take less than your last job and would prefer to get more.

If the interviewer doesn’t ask, then wait to the end of the interview and make a rather generalized inquiry when she asks you “Do you have any questions for me?” A good answer would be “Well, I don’t know what the salary range is or what kind of benefits come with this position.” The interviewer should then fill in the gaps.

Departing
As the interview concludes, shake hands again with the interviewer, thank her for her time and, if you are interested in the position, say so. “This looks like just what I am looking for and I’d love to come to work here. What’s the next step?”

Then go home and begin your thank you letter!

Next: Saying “thank you” never goes out of fashion

You can find more of Violet at http://sweetvioletsa.blogspot.com/ and http://svcooks.blogspot.com/

Charter has the fastest internet speeds available, so it is no wonder that they have chosen one of the fastest cars to give away! This is the ultimate speed contest!

The last contest I told you about was the laptop every day for two months, and as you know they have given away HDTV’s and a Hybrid car among the many other things that they dream of to put into their wonderful contests. This Camaro contest runs from September 15 through November 26, so don’t hesitate to enter now! Another great thing about this contest is that the sales tax is included in the prize! How many contests do you know that do that?

They are also offering deals that can’t be beat on their package deals and you will automatically be entered into the drawing if you sign up with Charter cable and one of their deals, plus you can get a $100.00 gift card when you buy 3 Charter services, a $50.00 gift card for 2 services, and a $25.00 gift card when you buy 1 Charter service, so why not order your cable, internet and telephone all at once? You can get a gift card, be entered into the contest and save a ton of money at the same time.

If you would like to be notified about any new online deals or contests that they are running you can sign up to follow Charter on Twitter, with this link, and you won’t miss any deals!

You can also follow Charter on Facebookand read the wall for upcoming or ongoing contests they might be having.

They are Twittering about the contests now, and people are talking about them, you should go over and see what they are talking about.

Remember they have given away, Laptops, a 2009 Honda Civic Hybrid, and they also gave away Xbox 360 game systems, and HDTV’s!  This is one awesome cable company if you ask me?

.

Like when you are near, how my body awakens and what I want has never been so clear.

Do you know that it’s enough just to think of you and suddenly my sensuality feels brand new.

I breathe deep and close my eyes… I feel you near me as I try to concentrate through excited sighs.

My hands become yours, firm and slow. I’m feeling you feel me and I can’t let them go.

I can smell your unique masculinity. I can feel the heat under your touch and it makes me breathe heavily.

There is a certain peaceful place from deep with in my soul that allows me to completely give in to this pull.

You are the only one that can bring me to that place. You make me want to be wild like leather… timid like lace.

All I want is to offer myself to you. Not a single inhibition, doing anything you want to do.

This is my most coveted realm of self, normally tucked away on my hearts shelf.

But you open me wide and I offer it all. Whatever you want of me; it’s your call.

Take and I will give. Loving you feeds this desire, and forever it will live.

You will always be the one who helped me find my fire. I find it with you and of that I will never tire.

Every sense is awake. The mere thought of your touch can make me quiver and quake.

For it’s almost too incredible to not give in, and to not feel you feeling me again.

Originally penned on 1-09-03

Laura Leigh

I am always amazed at people who go through all the work to secure a job interview, but put no effort into preparing for the interview itself…it’s kinda like making detailed preparations for a big wedding but making no preparation for the marriage itself!

Conventional wisdom says you should “wow” them…you should look like a page out of Vogue or GQ, you should look chic and dazzling and therefore memorable. You should have a polished patter that includes in-depth knowledge of the company that is interviewing you, a five year career plan, and a smooth answer to “what is your greatest weakness?” that makes your weakness look like a strength.

Well, unless you are applying for a job as art director in a high-profile avant garde  advertising firm, fashion editor of a national slick, or some other position where your looks are equally…or even more…important as your actual qualifications, heeding the conventional wisdom may well work against you. How? By making you look shallow and more interested in your appearance…and its social benefits…than doing their work. But you can’t just wing it, either. There really are things you can do to maximize your positive impact in an interview. Most of these things involve avoiding making a negative impression.

Grooming
While you shouldn’t go into an interview looking like you’re fresh off Gaultier’s Paris runway, you don’t want to come in looking like Agyness Deyn or Lady Gaga…or like you just climbed out of bed or off the tractor, for that matter. Never go to an interview…not even an interview with a headhunter…looking unkempt or unprofessional.

Some people are going to think this information is insultingly commonplace, but the truth is, there really are people who come to interviews in rumpled clothing, muddy shoes, and with uncombed hair and dirty fingernails. Those people need to be told…and nobody is harmed by a brush up.

Make sure you shower the morning of the interview…and don’t use a soap with an overpowering fragrance. Wash your hair (and dry it!), brush your teeth and use mouthwash, and clean your nails. Put on deodorant and if you must wear it, go very light on your cologne…imagine the impression you will make if your interviewer is allergic to fragrances!

If it has been six weeks or more since your last haircut, get a trim. If you colour your hair, don’t go to an interview with your grown-out roots showing—it looks tacky. Men…unless it is a young, trendy company, stay away from the trendy facial fuzz. Traditional beard styles or a clean shave. Women…simple make up in low key colours…no false eyelashes, lips noticeably outlined, brightly coloured eye shadow or liner, no bright cheeks or sparklies…you don’t want the interviewer to remember you as “that girl in the clown make up.” And don’t show up with striped, sparkling, blingy, neon-coloured acrylic claws on the ends of your fingers, either: a conservative French manicure on oval-shaped medium-length nails makes the best impression.

What to wear
Dress professionally. Even if you know that the company has a relaxed dress code, you are not an employee yet…dress professionally.

For men, this means a suit or sport coat, dress shirt and tie, dark socks and formal shoes. If the job is sufficiently down the corporate ladder…or you just don’t have a suit and can’t afford to buy one, wear a long-sleeved dress shirt and a tie. (Do not borrow a suit or sport coat unless the owner is exactly your size and the jacket fits you like it was tailored to you…better no coat than one that fits so badly it is obvious.) Jeans…even designer jeans…are not suitable for an interview unless you’re applying for a job as a mechanic or wrangler; Dockers, however, are suitable if you’re going the shirt and tie sans jacket route.

Your shirt and pants should be clean and without stains, freshly ironed, and without obvious wear. Cuffs, collar, pocket edges and bottoms of pants should not be frayed or soiled. The tie should be clean and unrumpled. The interviewer is going to see your upper body more than anything else…make it pleasant to look at!

Don’t wear sneakers…not even leather sneakers. A normal leather (or leather-look) oxford or slip on is in order. These you can borrow, assuming they fit and are in good nick. They must be clean, polished (no scuffs showing), and not obviously worn down, especially at the heel. Your socks must match and they should be in a colour that goes with the colour of your trousers or shoes. No white socks, no bright socks, no mismatched socks.

Except for your wedding ring and perhaps a watch, do not wear any jewelery that shows. No piercings, studs, bracelets…nothing. If you have tattoos, they should not be visible during the interview. Your hair should be styled in a neat fashion: if you ordinarily wax it into spikes or comb it all up into a point on the top of your head, wait until later in the day and just give it a plain vanilla look for the interview.

For women, the temptation to look like a fashion plate can be overwhelming…and should be resisted. Of course you don’t want to look dowdy, either, but you must make an impression that says there is more to you than being a clothes horse.

First…and of critical importance…is to refrain from the urge to show more skin than absolutely necessary. Absolutely NO cleavage or bare midriffs…if the shirt isn’t long enough to cover, if the pants or skirt are below your natural waist, do not wear them to an interview. Same thing with short skirts…absolutely unacceptable. No more a skirt that is more than two inches above the top of your knee is too short, and a skirt that covers your knees screams “professional”!

A skirted suit or skirt and coordinating jacket are ideal, but don’t fall into the trendy trap of wearing your jacket without a blouse underneath. I hate to sound like a nag, but the key word here is “professional.” Watch Law & Order and see how the female prosecutors and lawyers dress…that is the look you should be going for. Yes, you can wear a suit with pants, but they must not be casual pants and should be an appropriate length…no capris or ankle-baring pants. Make sure they are paired with coordinating closed-toe shoes that allow the bottom of the pants to clear the floor by a centimetre or less.

If you wear a skirt you’ll be wearing heels, but you will keep your toes covered…no, those fabulous new peep-toed ankle boots won’t get an outing here. Your shoes should be in a conservative style and a colour that coordinates with your outfit. And you absolutely must wear hose…and if you wear sheer hose, your legs must be shaved. No excuses, no exceptions.

Be careful of the colours and patterns you choose. A shiny purple satin blouse in a psychedelic print might be beautiful…you could even wear it to the office after you get the job…but the interviewer should not be invited to focus on your clothes. Subdued, coordinated colours, solids whenever possible, and conservative cuts are the best choices for an interview.

Jewelery should be minimal, low-key, and unobtrusive. Simple gold earrings, a simple gold chain or string of pearls, a watch and no more than two rings (one on each hand) is the max to wear to an interview.

Women should also pay attention to their bags…don’t show up with a scuffed, stuffed and rumpled bag…it makes you look sloppy and dishevelled, no matter how pulled together the rest of you looks. Leave your regular bag in the car. Carry a small clutch with your essentials: ID, phone (which you turn off in the interview), keys, a pen or two, reading glasses if necessary, and a folder with your paperwork in it.

In the end, it is your choice
Some people may take exception to this advice and that is OK. There is no rule that says you cannot dress like Britney Spears on a bad day and wear a pink and green spiked Mohawk and Marilyn Manson make up to an interview. By all means…express yourself! But the further from a conservative, professional look you have going into the interview, the further you get from making the impression that says “Hire me…I am perfect for the job!”

Next: You look the part…but what do you say?

You can find more of Violet at http://sweetvioletsa.blogspot.com/ and http://svcooks.blogspot.com/

We settled in a small town called Dillsburg about 10 miles from Harrisburg.  It’s a town that started as a farming community and, because of the readily available land, has become a growing community.   Farmland is quickly being converted into housing developments as it becomes more lucrative for farmers to sell than to farm. Even so, farming is still a large part of the economic landscape in Dillsburg and its surrounding communities.

Even though the town’s population and demographics have changed, it still offers a bit of Americana in its small town feel.  It’s a close knit community where you can chat with your neighbor at the high school football games, stop and talk at the market and, gasp, even hear Christmas carols in the town square during the holidays.

One of my favorite events in our town is the annual Farmers Fair.  Yes, we actually have a fair celebrating the time honored tradition of farming!  Think what your dinner table would look like without it.  The Farmers Fair is held for five days in October.  The time is filled with contests you would see at most county fairs; a fair queen, produce contests and baking contests.  In addition there is a large craft fair and car show and any kind of food you care to eat.  Friday features a children’s costume parade.  Saturday’s events culminate with a large parade featuring high school bands, floats and tractors.  People here love their tractors.

People flock from all over the area to experience Farmers Fair.  While we may all be caught up in the rush of everyday living, we all can use a reminder of  the foundation on which our country was built; small communities joining together to make their way in the world.

If you are in the Central Pennsylvania area from October 13th to 17th, you’d be remiss if you didn’t stop by the 94th Annual Farmers Fair.  You won’t be disappointed.  Visit http://www.dillsburgfarmersfair.org/ for more information and a schedule of events.

The hcg diet uses the hormone HCG which is naturally produced in the body and is referred to as the pregnancy hormone. But only a low dose is used in this treatment, so even men can use this safely. This hormone along with the low calorie diet helps the body to get rid of the fat and retain the muscle. Normally when you cut back on your calorie and fat intake, the body will store fat, because the body thinks it will need the fat to be a source of stored energy. When using the hormone hcg in a low dose, it tells the body to use that fat for energy that is needed to speed up the metabolism that the low calorie intake has slowed down, and to eliminate excess fat reserves. It also helps you to maintain your weight and to not put back on those extra pounds that you have lost.

This program doesn’t make you pay for outrageously priced pre-packaged meals, you don’t starve on this program, and best of all there is no surgery! You don’t even have to join an expensive gym!

Sounds like the perfect weight loss program to me.

It’s bones rattle when silence abounds,
Screams the loudest when no one’s around,
Mournful cries leave an empty sound,
Secrets that would haunt if spoken aloud.

Hidden heartbeats threaten to reveal,
Past deeds that are best concealed,
Mired in nightmares that won’t congeal,
And remain just below the surface nearly sealed.

But somewhere in this veil of tears,
We all have our doubts and fears,
Through all the wasted years,
Where the past holds our secrets clear.

© Bobbi

Scott, on the other hand, savored joyous family memories of camping, chasing fireflies, catching fish that was doomed to be family dinner and non-stop outdoor fun. In theory, it all sounds so very lovely. In my minds eye, however, I  envisioned bug bites, sleeping on lumpy rock-filled soil and blistering heat with no respite.

In an effort at compromise, we opted for the aforementioned rather luxurious Coachman RV. It is, without a doubt, not true camping. No serious camper would allow a flat screen television, queen sized bed, and a microwave to be part of the experience. But it was certainly a step in the right direction and a break from my own spoiled traveling past.

The first handful of outings in the RV were filled with trial and error. Scott committed himself to reading most of the mammoth owners manual that came with “Irving” (yes, we named it) and was responsible for the operation and mechanics of the RV. I was responsible for feeding, clothing, cleaning and entertainment. Actually, this sounds rather like the delineation of responsibility we have here at home. Boy, was this a learning experience for all of us and many of the lessons we learned translate nicely back in the real world.

PLAN AHEAD: For several of our trips we had only Irving and no other vehicle at our disposal. Therefore, if I didn’t pack our toothpaste or blow-dryer we just made do with funky breath and bad hair. On the upside, no one in the campground particularly cares about a disheveled mane and the dragon breath may very well ward off scary ground critters.

THIS IS NOT A DENNY’S: You don’t like hotdogs for lunch? Too bad. Not a fan of grilled steak? Out of luck. Either you eat or you go hungry and it’s just that simple. This was a wonderful lesson (at least we, as parents, thought so) for our super picky six year old.

CLEAN AS YOU GO: In our small living quarters, we did not have the luxury to let things pile up or get dirty. Should we allow a bit of food on the floor, the march of ants was soon to follow and we would all suffer.

FAMILY FUN IS NOT AT URBAN MYTH: Believe it or not, families can actually have fun together. No, really. In the same place. Yes, at the same time. Campfires, hay rides, hiking, or splashing in the pool. There is something nice about the very simple pleasures in life. We were even able to find a family friendly DVD to watch each evening the RV (didn’t I mention that this was not camping in it’s truest form?).

KEEP IT SIMPLE: No make-up, short showers, comfortable clothing, one step meals, even the occasional unshaven legs…it was liberating to say the least.

BURNING STUFF IS FUN: This is fairly self-explanatory, no? Not only did we spend hours actually sitting by the fire and (safely) burning things, much additional time was spent speculating on potentially burning other things. We each had our own hand-crafted fire poker stick as well and would endlessly debate proper fire maintenance. Fire. Good. Ugh.

WHATCHA THINKING ABOUT, HONEY: Along the same fire theme, when a man is sitting staring at a campfire with his eyes lost within the  blaze, did you ever wonder what was on his mind? Pondering the state of the economy? Reminiscing about our wedding? Maybe reflecting on our rapidly maturing children? Nope….he is thinking about absolutely nothing at all. Yeah, I found that one hard to grasp as well.

Yes, we had a wonderful summer with Irving. Following a final October trip north to Wisconsin in order to view the majestic fall colors, our home-on-wheels will be retired for the winter. All that is left is priceless family memories, stunning photos and a desire to do it all again. After all, we have some more burnin’ to do!

BIO:  Sue De La Bruere is a freelance writer who shares her suburban Chicago home with endlessly supportive husband, Scott, and moderately brilliant kids, Bradley and Paige. Sue received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Northern Illinois University and can be contacted at allwritenow@comcast.net.

If you have had the iLASIK procedure, or are thinking about it, or even if you just wear contacts or glasses and wish things were better, then this is the contest for you!

Abbott Medical Optics, Inc. is holding this great contest to see and hear feedback from people all over the world about the benefits of better vision. This contest is an easy one, you just submit your video, then ask all your friends to vote for your video because their votes will help you to be in the running, and then wait to see if you won!!

There are 3 categories that you can submit your video in and they are as follows:
1. “My contacts are getting in the way of my good time”
2. “My favorite sport or activity would be so much cooler with better vision”
3. “You should see life after the iLASIK Procedure”

There will be one grand prize winner that will be chosen to receive the $5,000 prize, and then there will be 3 first place winners chosen to receive a HDTV package that is valued at $2,500. One winner will be chosen for each category submitted. And then there will be 3 second place winners who will receive the new Flip UltraHD camcorder, that is valued at $199.

All these wonderful prizes just for submitting a video talking about your vision and how it can or did improve!! I say we should pull out those camcorders, start recording and send in our video, so we have a shot at the prizes!!

I know that I would love to have better vision, right now there are so many issues that hold me back, and I don’t wear contacts, so to see things far away, I have to wear my glasses and it is a pain. I would love iLASKIK treatment, it would make my life so much easier.

.

Also, while this is ongoing, I hope I will be able to continue to post the articles, but if I go down, bear with me, I am trying my best!! :)      

It is hard to do the drops  when my browser keeps shutting down and redirecting me to websites that I don’t know. It is just plain mean that some people do this to other people. Mean people suck!

Also, I have seen that this site is taking forever to load, so something is wrong there too, and I have to investigate, to see why…please bear with me while I try to figure it out, okay??  I will have us up and running again as soon as I possible can.

What I have found with the virus so far is, that when dropping the Entrecards, some of the sites when they first loaded already had a “thanks” in the drop box, and from what I have read on my friend’s blogs, this could be the culprit. Now, I am not saying these sites are purposely infecting other sites, but they could have been hacked and contain a virus. If you see this, don’t drop, and immediately leave those sites, and I would send a report to Entrecard to let them know that something is wrong.

Like I said, it is not just me this has affected, and some I evidently didn’t have the best anti virus software, so please just keep this in mind when you are doing your drops. And make sure your firewall is on!! Mine is and was, and I still got the virus.

Also, lately I have been reciprocal dropping from my inbox, sort of a way to return the favor, but I have to say that until this virus is sorted out, I will only be dropping on my tried and true blogs, ones that I know are safe.

After reading the comments and suggestions on some of the other blogs, I have installed a new anti virus program as some people suggested, but that hasn’t helped? It didn’t detect the virus…so I am going to try some of the other suggestions that were offered.

Until then, Please have patience with me, I will try to get back to regular dropping soon!!! And I will try to have the upload time for the Angels back to regular. 

Thanks,
Kat
Editor in Chief

I suspect most people hate writing cover letters. They don’t know what to say, they think nobody reads them, they think they are a waste of time. So, instead, they stick a bunch of résumés into envelopes and shotgun the ads they found in the classifieds with them…or they do the 21st century equivalent and reply to online ads with emails attaching their résumés and nothing more.

I am not saying cover letters are essential, but I do think that serious job seekers are wise to use all the tools at their disposal. A cover letter gives you an opportunity to fine tune the info in your résumé to fit the requirements of the job for which you are applying and it also sets you apart from the people who didn’t bother to take the professional approach. When it really matters, including a cover letter cannot hurt you but lack of a cover letter can.

In companies that use OCR software to scan and screen résumés, the info in your cover letter will probably not be considered in the screening process. But in firms that use human beings to screen, your cover letter will at least be skimmed. In such a circumstance, having a well-written cover letter helps you get more “face time” with the screener, it allows you to specify the job you are applying for, your availability for interview, and to mention a few key words that relate to your suitability. Assuming you are qualified for the job, a good cover letter can motivate the reader to give your résumé more than the typical five-to-ten second skim that most résumés receive.

The key, then, is to write a good cover letter, right? And despite protestations to the contrary, it really is not a difficult thing to do. Download the .pdf file (scroll to end of this article) and either print out the sample letter or keep it on screen for reference. The example has a list of numbers, 1 through 14, each corresponding to an arrow. This is what you need to know to create an effective cover letter.

1.    For your cover letter, use the same header format in the top margin that you used for your résumé, creating a consistency and uniformity in your correspondence.

2.    Use the same font as you used for your résumé.

3.    Provide only the contact information you want them to use.

4.    Press “enter” at least twice after the underline.

5.    Enter the date that you will be sending the letter and press the “enter” key at least three times afterwards.

6.    Enter the full address that you would use on an envelope. If you have a name to whom to direct your résumé, enter it here. Do not use an honorific if you do not know the gender of the person. Be sure to enter the name of the department, if you know it, so that your résumé will be delivered correctly; if you are sending by email, include it anyway. Sometimes it is best to stick to the traditional form, even if it is not strictly necessary.

7.    Leave the same amount of space between the inside address and the salutation as you left in #5, above.

8.    Do not use your recipient’s first name unless you are personally acquainted. If you do not know the gender of your recipient, use “Dear Ms./Mr. J. Doe:. Make sure you use a colon (:) at the end of the line. Double space at the end of the line and begin the letter.

Cover letters typically consist of four basic paragraphs: a) introduction; b) information; c) contact; and d) closing. Each paragraph should flow smoothly but be as brief as possible. The readers are in a hurry and you want the cover letter merely to whet their appetite for your résumé…the main function of which is to whet their appetite to actually quiz you in person.

9.    Introduction: the company may have a dozen ads listed in as many publications and websites. Tell them what job you are interested in, where you saw it, and when so they can connect your résumé with the right job. If the job has a code number, as they sometimes do, this is the place to include it.

10.    Information: mention that you are including your résumé, but don’t repeat it here. Use this paragraph, which should be brief, to mention a few things about your skills, abilities, or achievements that are relevant to the job but which are not in the résumé.

11.    Contact: tell them in no uncertain terms that you want to interview for the position. Make yourself as available as possible for a meeting without intimating that you are unemployed…peculiarly, companies seem to prefer to hire people who are already employed, so don’t phrase your desire for an interview so that it sounds desperate. Make sure you reiterate your contact information and, if there are specific times that are best to reach you, include that as well.

12.    Closing: use a brief phrase to politely close the letter. Double space at the end of the phrase and type “Sincerely,” or “Yours Truly,” or “Regards,” followed by a comma.

13. Hit the “enter” key four times to leave a signature space, then type in your name as it appears in the header. Be sure, when you sign, you sign exactly as the name you typed.

14. Triple space after your signature line and type the word “Enclosure” to alert a reader that there is another page.

If you are sending your résumé by email, make the cover letter and the résumé one document. At the end of the cover letter insert a “section break” and then your résumé. By sending both as a single Word document, they will not get separated.

If you are mailing your résumé, print the résumé and your cover letter on the same paper. Use only black ink on a good quality white, cream, pale blue or pale grey paper. The colour of your envelope is immaterial as it will most likely be discarded by the clerk who opens and date stamps the incoming mail. And while a lot of people recommend against it, stapling the cover letter to the résumé makes good sense: it is better to make sure your letter and résumé don’t get separated if somebody accidentally knocks a stack of them off a desk!

In the modern world of job hunting, cover letters are often considered superfluous, but properly constructed and used, they are just one more useful tool in the savvy job seeker’s toolbox!

Next: You got the interview! Now what?

You can find more of Violet at http://sweetvioletsa.blogspot.com/ and http://svcooks.blogspot.com/

Why are there malicious people out there that invent these things, just for the shear pleasure of knowing that they have destroyed someone’s machine? I don’t understand people being mean, and I certainly don’t know why they even create these things?

I am very glad to know that there are good companies out there that know all about protecting and fixing your computer. Now I have an anti virus program on my computer and I have spyware removal, and it updates constantly and runs a scan daily to detect any little thing that may be wrong. So how is it that these virus’s can get through and torture me by disabling my computer? I protect my computer as I have been instructed to do, only to still get a virus? I just don’t understand.

Is there any “perfect” anti virus, anti spyware, anti everything program out there that really works?  Or are we at the mercy of the virus  inventors who evidently do this just to know that other people will suffer?  Are we forever having to purchase the newest and latest anti virus program, only to be duped again, once our computer doesn’t boot up?

It is really getting tiring having to have this computer fixed all the time. I wonder if it is really worth it to be on the internet, when there are so many infections out there that the programs don’t seem to catch?

Any ideas?

My Take: This reminds me of the thought provoking adage, ‘The only difference between medicine and poison is in the dose.’

Laura Leigh

The realization that attraction is selective and not something that can be analyzed is not usually pondered when men turn into little boys when an attractive lady enters their space. Why can’t men just be themselves and not try to impress when we, who are considered rare beauties, enter into their field of vision? It’s a series of questions that I wonder about daily. I don’t consider myself a great beauty, but men do tend to make fools of themselves in my presence. Are they trying to impress me, or do I truly make them tongue tied fools?

Finding a genuine male today seems to be something that is nearly impossible. Oh there are those few who manage to turn my head, but once they open their mouths they lose my attention. I want to know what happened to the confident gentlemen who knew how to act around a lady. Are they a thing of the past, or is their lack of self esteem so vast that the gentleman in them falls out of the equation? Where is that chivalrous knight in shining armor? Is he left back in the age of knights and dragons? Are there really true gentleman who still exist today?

Lot’s of questions, I know, but still valid points to ponder.

© Bobbi

I just read on facebook that insurance companies are making Domestic Violence a pre-exsisting condition making it harder for the victims to get help and services. I am so angry about that, but back to the
President speaking,  “This will make sure you can’t be dropped just because you get sick, capping out of pocket expenses, and eliminating extra charges for preventive care and tests that help you avoid getting sick
in the first place”.

He explained how for the tens of millions of Americans without insurance, a new Insurance Exchange, a public option, and tax credits will open up a new range of afforable choices.

This week marked the 8th Anniversary of 9/11. The President Placed a wreath, then after paused during the ceremony at the Pentagon honoring those who perished.  This is a part of his speech that day. “We read
their names.  We press their photos to our hearts. And on this day that marks their death, we recall the beauty and meaning of their lives; men and women and children of  every color and every creed, from across our nation and from more than 100 others. They were innocent as they went about their daily lives. Gone in a horrible instant, they now “dwell in the House of the Lordforever.”

Vice President Joe Biden and Mayor Michael Bloomberg placed flowers in the ground zero reflecting pool as well.

This week First Lady Michelle Barack Obama participated in a United We Serve service volunteer event at the Habitat for Humanity site in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 11, 2009. She is joined by Julie Bindleglass, a junior at George Washington University, and Shakir Cannon Moye, a senior, to kick off the First Lady’s challenge to GW students to serve!

Until next week,
Take care,
Dolly

Then there are the famous quotes from our 2 oldest playboys in Hollywood:

Hugh Hefner: “I don’t think I could be living this life without it.”

Jack Nicholson: “I only take Viagra when I’m with more than one.”

And then you have Jerry Springer who admitted to an addiction to the little blue pill.  Each user is different, as with any drug, but there is a concern in the health field that viagra can become addictive. Jerry claims that he was highly addicted. Personally, I think he just used it as an excuse to have sex and lots of it?

There are other high profile names that are linked with viagra like Paul McCartney, Rush Limbaugh and James Caan, and there are probably many others who use it and who just don’t want anyone to know! It doesn’t mean you are impotent, but the implication is there, and most celebrities don’t want that stigma attached t0 them. So they keep their mouths shut.

Pfizer, the company that developed the little blue pill, wasn’t intending to have a goldmine on it’s hands when it was only looking for a heart-disease treatment that would lower blood pressure in everyone. During the study the healthy men who took part in the initial trials of the secret drug,  revealed that it had produced the unexpected, although very nice side effect of super-charged erections. Now who would have thought?? Pfizer immediately went in that direction for marketing and we all know how famously it has turned out.

Bob Dole, who was the Republican presidential candidate in the 1996 Presidential election, was the first well known person to go public for Viagra. He was 75 years old at the time, and he had already led campaigns telling men to get regular checks for prostate cancer, after his bout with prostate cancer, which was a disease causing him impotence. He did not have to specifically say that he was impotent, and he appeared on TV adverts clutching the arm left withered by a world war two combat injury and indicating nothing else about him was withered since he had discovered Viagra. Great advertising if you ask me!

I really wonder how many Hollywood celebrities do take viagra? I wonder if George Clooney takes it? Or Bruce Willis? Maybe they should be more open about it? It would be funny to see a big long list of all the celebrity names who take it.

Who do you think takes viagra???

- Chicago Tribune

My Take:

I suppose that’s true for a lot of people, but I happen to love my music and will continue to play it loudly until I’m too old and too short of breath to sing along. So maybe I shall never grow up. And in the mean time I only worry what the neighbors think when I’m blasting Rick Springfield’s “I’ve done everything for you” and they can see me through the window lip syncing every lyric. I just hope they are watching the day I break a hip because it was Hammertime.

Laura Leigh

If you want a specific color or fragrance for your highly fragrant candle, look for a candle maker who will be happy to custom make your candle’s color and fragrance to your specifications. Your homes décor is special and unique; your candle should be as well.

Have you ever been in a situation where you enjoy a specific fragrance such as cinnamon and you know that cinnamon fragrant candles are almost always colored red but you want a different color other than red?
You have decided that a red colored candle won’t be eye appealing if it is colored red because the background color in the room where you want to display your candle is colored red? You search in vain for a department store which has a different color other than red to go with your cinnamon fragrance. Don’t despair you can let your personality shine by having your personal candle maker color your cinnamon fragrant candle an eye catching color such as blue, light pink, green or even yellow.

Most candle makers who craft handmade candles will be happy to adjust the color and fragrance in your candle if you ask them.

These talented candle makers willing to hand craft your scented candles to meet your own personal color needs are surprisingly inexpensive. Sometimes the price to have your personal candles shipped to your door is the only added cost.

This can be a very small price to pay when considering the joy you will have enjoying your personal and unique candles.

Lori Makin
If you have some time…check out my shop:
http://www.candlemamma.etsy.com

One of the best to use is the apache tomcat which is widely used all across the world and is the leader in Java Servlet and JavaServer Page technologies. Now I know that some of this language is over your head and your wondering what is a Java Servlet??

But you don’t need to worry about that, if you research the company you will see that they will do all the work for you! And your site will be easy to maintain and update. All this along with the fact that it will be high tech and in the running for a top website slot. If you use any technology at all, you know that you need Java to have a website run at optimum speed, and with the Apache Tomcat, you will have that and so much more!
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Here’s how to create the Holy Grail of résumés…one perfect page…for yourself.

Download the .pdf file (scroll to end of this article) and either print it out or keep it on screen for reference. The example has a list of numbers, 1 through 14, each corresponding to an arrow. This is what you need to know to make your own résumé this user-friendly.

1.    This entire section is in the document Header. It helps conserve space in the main body of the document. If your résumé goes to a second page, make sure you open the second page header and enter your name just in case the pages of your résumé get separated from each other.

Notice, too, that the word “Resume” does not appear…it is unnecessary to tell people this is a résumé since they can tell at a glance. Also, it would use up a line of space you need for facts.

2.    Note that initials are used, not a name: if you are in an occupation where you might not want your gender or ethnic identity revealed until you are actually interviewed, just use your initials. You may, of course, use your name, but if it is difficult to pronounce or you are a woman applying for a position in a male-dominated field (or vice versa) sometimes waiting until you have secured an interview to reveal your given name is prudent.

3.    No street address is provided: why do they need it if you have two telephone numbers and an email address? And if you live far away, do you want someone to refuse to interview you because they presume you might have commute problems or will want relocation assistance?

4.    Make sure your résumé starts off with your objective. Even if you stated the name of the job for which you are applying in your cover letter, state an objective here. Your cover letter may get separated from your résumé…and they aren’t usually scanned into the OCR readers. Err on the side of caution and create an objective that includes but is not limited to your desired job title. “Senior Mechanical Engineer, Engineering Manager, Project Manager/Leader, Engineering Liaison or related position” is much better than just “Mechanical Engineer.”

Notice that the title is set off in boldface and is 14 points. This helps the reader move easily from section to section.

5.    Throughout the résumé, the space between sections is only 8 points. It saves real estate and keeps sections from looking like they are not connected to each other.

6.    These are bulleted lists that contain huge amounts of information in a small space. Be sure the bullets align perfectly or the résumé will look sloppy. In the “Skills” section you note important things you can do that relate to the job you want. In the “Strengths” you should list traits or attributes that help give a picture of your personality and its suitability for the job.

7.    This is a list of things you have actually done, and the items you choose to put in this list should be things that are needed in the job you are applying for.

This is a flexible title, however. If you have only ever had one career, you could change it to “Employment experience” or just “Experience.” But if you have had multiple careers, or some of the experience you have was not from paid employment, this is the way to present your abilities and experience without having to explain that your accounts reconciliation experience comes from keeping books for your husband’s eBay business, not from a real job.

8.    Try to keep each of the points in this section to one line. If you have additional information that is related to a previous line, start a second line but do not bullet it…indent it a couple of spaces. And keep it brief…you just want to tease the reader with information so that you will be called in to elaborate.

9.    This, too, is a flexible title. If all of your jobs are relevant to the job for which you are applying, then “Employment history” is sufficient. But, because we are determined to keep this to one page, we are leaving out irrelevant employment (does that comptroller really need to know that you worked as a courier, waiter, and car wash attendant after you got laid off a few years back?). But if you leave a period of time unaccounted for, it makes people suspicious, so by saying “Relevant employment history” you are setting the stage for leaving things out.

10.    Believe it or not, you don’t have to give exact employment dates or a raft of information about your former employers in a résumé! The years are actually sufficient for this purpose, although you should have more exact dates (the month and year are adequate) written down on a separate document. You also do not need to give more than the company name and general location here. On that document with the dates you should have the company’s address, main telephone number and, if you want, you can include the name of your immediate supervisor.

Note that the font size in this section is reduced to 9 points. This is merely historical data, not important facts relevant to your qualifications for a job, and does not need to be presented with the same perceived importance of the previous information. Dates and your titles, however, are bolded to make them easier for the reader to find.

11.    A period of unrelated employment or unemployment must be accounted for but need not be elaborated upon.

12.    If you had more than one position in a single company, list them this way. Only name the company once, but indicate the various titles (most recent on top) and the period for which you held them.

13.    List your education last. You want the employer to read through your qualifications and positions you have held before coming to your education, especially if you do not have the desired degree. List your most relevant degree first. You can leave out unrelated degrees or degrees that might scare people off (suppose you have a PhD in Astrophysics but you also have a BSME and are applying for a job as an engineering manager…you can leave off the doctorate if it doesn’t relate to the job or the company).

Depending on your age, you may want to leave off the dates of your degrees, as it can give sufficient information to discriminate against you on the basis of age. If you are an older worker or if you are very young for the amount of success you have achieved, you may want to consider just naming your degree and school, but leaving off the years so that your suitability for a job is determined by a face-to-face meeting rather than a presumption based on your age.

14.    Be sure to include any related post grad learning…including workshops and seminars…that are relevant to the job you are applying for. You never know when that seminar you took about “Dealing with Difficult People” may be just the thing that will tip the balance in your favour!

Remember, in the US, potential employers cannot ask you questions that do not relate directly to your qualifications to do a particular job. Revealing information that they can’t freely ask you is not only unnecessary, it can be very foolish and cost you an interview for a very desirable job. If it isn’t related to the job, they don’t need to know, so don’t tell!

Now, download that .doc document…a free sample you can modify for your own use…and get busy with your own fabulous new résumé!

Next: Cover letters—essential or a waste of time?

You can find more of Violet at http://sweetvioletsa.blogspot.com/ and http://svcooks.blogspot.com/

The only thing I found on the news stations and blogs is that the government is concerned about the spread of the H1N1 flu. They keep reminding us all that when then all the schools open next week we need to be careful and watch for every little sign and so on and so on.
It has me to the point as a Mother that I don’t want my son to go to School LOL! Maybe I should consider home schooling?

The week ahead will be much busier for the President. Congress
reconvenes, and President Obama will give another speech on health care reform as the next few weeks in September are critical to get it signed into law.

Until next week,
Take care,
Dolly

If you can’t make a seminar, or if there isn’t one near you, you can go to Angel Therapy for a daily meditation and receive information about connecting you with your Angel.

For a little taste of Rehab, just watch the clip below…..

This season that just started on September 1st, is even better than last season because there are going to be performances by celebrities, and we can go behind the scenes to peek at new employees at Rehab as they learn the tricks of the trade.

This is not reality television, where people are scripted and do things they are supposed to do, or what the producers feel would bring in more ratings…no, this is real life television, where there are NO scripts, and everything is real and happening right then!! I love to watch these kinds of shows because I would never in a million years be able to be that up front and open. These people party like there is no tomorrow, and most of the show takes place in the swimming pool area, so there is lots of bikini clad females and hunky looking men acting up.

If you were going to go to any party this year, the party at Rehab at the Hard Rock would be the one to go to! Unless, of course you are like me, and are a little more reserved and just watch in the comfort of my home on my TV.

I think the biggest and wildest party I ever went to was a keg party at the beach when I was younger. There was food and drinks and a bonfire and it got a little wild, but nothing like Rehab! I guess in today’s world, things are quite different.

If you want to Party like there is no tomorrow too, you can enter to win a chance to party  at Rehab at the Las Vegas Hard Rock Hotel & Casino pool. Just go to:  www.getrehabready.com/index.html#link=ssprhbswp and enter the contest, and soon you could be packing your bikini and be on a plane to Vegas, Baby!

Whatever Happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas, unless of course you are being filmed at Rehab!!!

.

What comes to mind when you see, ‘30 Day Trial!’? How much would you expect to pay for that?

What!? PAY for a free trial? As if. Then we roll our eyes.

Well, hold on. Nobody actually said it was free! And let me tell you… they are most certainly NOT anymore.

I’m betting that your neighbor,  your Grandma, your Auntie, your boss, your bank teller’s yoga instructor, just about everyone you know has spent a good part of their adult life being offered FREE trials. But like so many good things of days gone by, even that has changed. Now, infomercials want you to believe that they are doing you a favor by allowing you to try their product for the low low price of $14.95!!! So if you like it, not only do they sell you something, but they have already made money on it in the form of rental fees!

What’s worse is what happens after the initial phone call ‘for more information’. Even if you only got as far as calling that number for the info, now they have your number. Literally.  And once you decide that the three payments of only $80 each is just a tad ridiculous for a hair appliance, and you say ‘No thank you!’, you may think it’s over but it seems they don’t want to believe it.

In a few days someone in your household will answer the phone when they call and they will say they are trying to complete an order that was placed, but that they have some missing information…. just a credit card # and shipping address is all they need to finalize the order. Whoever just happens to answer the phone will likely believe them and if able, pass along the requested details.

If your jaw is on the floor, it rightly should be. This is a deplorable practice that was attempted on my Mom after she called to get some amazing hair appliance for ‘Only $14.95!’ When she found out that the price in big letters across the T.V. screen was merely the price of what it would cost to try it out, and in fact the actual item cost 3 payments of some ridiculous amount, she passed. For that kind of money it better come with it’s own supply of magic fairy dust AND iron your clothes.

Had she not ranted about the insane prospect of paying so much for so little, and how she was duped by the $14.95 price, my Dad would have gone along with it, knowing she’d been saying she wanted one. But she did rant and he did hear about it and he knew she had said no way in the first phone conversation.

They didn’t exactly -L   I   E- in any direct bold faced way. They WERE trying to complete an order. It just wasn’t one that was intended to be made after all. And as far as the ad, no where in the actual infomercial do they state and clearly show the actual price. All you see is ‘30 Day Trial’ and ‘$14.95′. Two things that have never gone together before so you wouldn’t expect it to now either.

But wait… I should be fair. I should rephrase something. IF you have the ability to pause your T.V., are physically able to get down on your hands and knees or get a step ladder and climb up to where your T.V sits, and get up reeeally close, (don’t forget your reading glasses or magnifying glass) then you will probably be able to see those important details. But I couldn’t tell you. The remote is never in my hand for those 10 seconds that it flashes across the bottom of the screen.

So for the rest of us, I would suggest learning how to call 1-800 type numbers anonymously. Or just take some modern friendly advice… if it seems too good to be true, it probably isn’t free.

Laura Leigh

The New York Daily News had a field day when she was seen sporting  an outfit in London by J. Crew. They ran story after story about it!  Poor J. Crew, they sold out of the sparkly sweater in a few hours both in stores and online. The First Lady has said on several occasions that she shops online, and I can see why! The crowds would be overbearing for her if she was to go to a mall to try some things on, don’t you think? She also wore a J. Crew outfit when she was on the Tonight Show, and once again, a shopping frenzy ensued.

So, now that she has been seen wearing this watch by Italian designers, in Paris and all over, I expect a shopping frenzy for Toywatch too! She is listed in the Fashion Bomb community as being “Hip, Urban and fun” and a “Fashion trendsetter”! She is definitely very trend forward, and isn’t stuffy like some of the other First Ladies we have had. It is fun to see what she will wear next, and to see her sense of style.  I can’t remember this much talk about women’s fashion in the White House since Jackie Kennedy was there! She was also very fashion conscious and women everywhere emulated her and her sense of style. I think the same can now be said about First Lady Michelle Obama.

This cool toywatch was also listed by Oprah Winfrey as one of her “Favorite Things” and she admits to wearing it daily when Gayle and her went on their trip. She says it was very comfortable and that she loved it.  InStyle magazine now has this watch listed as a “Must Have” and one of the hottest items this season! I’m sure many other magazines will follow suit.

Evidently, this is the one item that we should all be sporting right now! I need to go out and get myself a toywatch, but I think I want mine in the clear crystal style like these celebs are wearing here!  There is Tara Reid, Rachael Hunter, Sophia Bush, and Harry Goldenblatt (Charlotte’s husband in Sex and the City). This newcomer to the watch industry has also been worn by Randy Jackson of American Idol, Michael Jordan, Paris Hilton, Lindsey Lohan and Johnny Knoxville.

It looks like this is going to be the “IT” or the “I HAVE to have it” gift of the Christmas season!! With all the celebrities sporting them, and now with First Lady Michelle Obama wearing one too, this will be the new must have item.
Is there anyone on your Christmas list that you could surprise with a Toywatch??

They don’t just come in the neon colors and the clear, there are so many styles available, like the tattoo inspired ones, that have cool pictures on the faces, or the manly looking ones that resemble a Rolex.  Have a look for yourself and see what I mean. You might just catch me wearing mine before Christmas!

My muse has gone beyond,
A mere writers block,
It’s somewhere in the sun,
While I beat my head on a rock.

I don’t understand,
Where have all the words gone,
The pen makes no more demands,
My soul has lost it’s song.

My heart is full of things,
But none fall on the page,
The words con’t make sentence strings,
While I chase a living wage.

I need a skillful tracker,
To find my muses direction,
And bring back the words and laughter,
With their magical hypnotic infection.

© Bobbi

In the years that I reviewed and prepared résumés for people, the most common format brought to my office was what is known as the “chron” or “chronological” résumé. This basically has your name and contact information stacked at the top of the page beneath the word “resume” then shows your education history in chronological order followed by your employment history, also in chronological order and with a paragraph or more about each job. Some if these chron résumés also include additional information such as marital status, references, hobbies, health status, etc., and most of them run to several pages.

10…9…8…7…
What I quickly realized is that most of these people, who put blood, sweat and tears into carefully crafting these excruciatingly exacting documents, had never tried to read their own résumés from the standpoint of an employer who has 100 or more similarly weighty tomes on their desk and only a few hours to look at all of them. Look at your own résumé and ask yourself “How long would it take a complete stranger to find out, from this document, if I have the qualifications to do the job I am applying for?” If your answer is longer than “10 seconds,” you need a new résumé.

You may think that’s absurd, but it’s the truth. If you have 100 or more résumés on your desk and you have all of your regular work to do and, by the end of the day you have to choose five résumés out of the pile for interviewing, how much time are you going to spend on each one? What the average reviewer does is skim each front page and if something looks interesting, maybe look at the second page. If nothing leaps out and says “I’ve got the skills you are looking for!” then the next résumé takes front and centre. It takes only 5 to 10 seconds to do that initial scan and if your résumé doesn’t grab the reader’s attention in that brief period, you will not get the interview.

With that little time spent on each résumé, it is therefore critical to maximize the amount of information your reader can collect in a short time. Take out a copy of your own résumé and a highlighter pen. Time yourself and highlight the key words and short phrases on the first page that demonstrate your suitability for the kind of job you are seeking. Stop at the end of the first page.

How long did that take you? You know your résumé and what it says and how it is laid out: a stranger doesn’t and it is going to take him longer. How many times did the same key word or phrase show up? Are there enough key words and phrases on that first page to fairly represent your suitability for the work you seek? That first page is critical because that is as far as most people read.

That critical first page
If you are like most people, your résumé is listed in chronological order with your most recent job first, and for each job you have written one or more paragraphs. You have used such words as “Duties:” or “Responsibilities included:” instead of action words like “created,” “managed,” “established,” “made.” That you had a duty or responsibility for certain things in no way indicates that you discharged those duties adequately…or yourself.

If your résumé consists of paragraphs, how much redundancy is there? If you are an accountant and have been one for 15 years in five different jobs, does each description contain information you could just cut and paste from one job to the next? Not only does such redundancy eat up valuable first page real estate, its very repetition can make you look dull and lacking in ambition or promotability.

And what about your educational qualifications? Most people list them ahead of their work experience, even if the degree was taken fifteen years ago and not even related to the work. The truth is, most employers are interested in your qualifications and experience first, your education second. Even employers who are inflexibly committed to hiring a person with a degree will want to know what you can do before they want to know what you studied lo, those many years ago. People who are adamant about degrees will turn the pages looking for evidence that you have one; people who aren’t won’t care. Leave your educational qualifications to the end of the résumé so that you can use that all the first page real estate to expound upon your skills, experience, and strengths.

That first impression
Just like with first time meetings, your résumé’s first impression sets the tone for how your information…and you…are perceived. It should be memorable, but it should also make a positive impression. Funky fonts and brightly coloured papers are memorable, but unless you are applying for a job as a creative director in an art-related industry, you are better off saving those for your Christmas newsletters to the extended family. Choosing a low-key standard font like Times Roman or Arial and a unobtrusive colour of paper, like cream or very pale blue, will make a memorable…but positive…impression.

The choice of font and size is important. Some people want to cram as much information into the available space as possible. They use narrow fonts in small sizes and leave little white space. While an effective résumé packs plenty of information into a single page, it does not sacrifice white space or font size…readability, in other words…to do so. Serif fonts (those with little feet on the letters, like Times) are easier for humans to read as the serifs subliminally lead the eye from one letter to the next. Sans serif fonts, like Arial, are easier for machine scanners to read. Only you can decide whether you wish to publish your résumé for the human eye or the machine.

Don’t make it difficult for your reader by using a small font (Times 12 is ideal), using all caps (except in well-known acronyms like NASA), using emphasis (use bold and italics judiciously and never to emphasize a point), or funny bullets or other symbols. Keep it simple, straight forward, and professional.

Before you begin a new résumé you should reset your margins. Microsoft Word presets a wider margin than you need and by adjusting the margin, you make small but important gains in your available workspace. Reset your margins to be one inch (2.54cm) all around. And while you are in there adjusting the settings, go to the Layout tab and change Headers and Footers to “different” first page. This will give you the optimum blank slate upon which to create your fabulous new résumé.

The Holy Grail of résumés
The Holy Grail of résumés is just one single page that gives all relevant information regarding your qualifications to do a job, whether you are new to your field or an expert. Some believe it to be impossible to achieve, but I know better.

Even though the ideal résumé is but a single information-packed piece of paper, there is no crime in going to two pages, assuming both pages are terse, densely packed with information, and structured to be easily read, highlighted, and annotated. In most cases, however, a single page will do the trick, as you will discover next time.

Next: A downloadable sample résumé and tips for making it yours

You can find more of Violet at http://sweetvioletsa.blogspot.com/ and http://svcooks.blogspot.com/

When a person is suffering……….

…………..from a low self-esteem and is challenged with an emotion like.. jealousy issues, it magnifies by the hundreds and this is not a joke nor is it any kind of exaggeration. Now, not only are they faced  with the confusions of negative thinking, they also have to deal with the guilt of how their partner or family are judging their thoughts. That my friends really sux.                        

When a person is suffering……….

…………..from a low self-esteem…it is so much harder to step forward toward any challenge because they do not feel that they are worth any type of acknowledgment or even a slight pat on the back no matter what they do.

I am going to get into the guts of this so called characteristic flaw..low self-esteem. I so hate it’s every aspect of it and I hate even more how  people will find reasons to call it, nagging, bitching or an even  better one is “your issues”. Grrrr. They  have no idea what true loneliness is about.

Seriously, who in their right mind wants to feel lonely,  find themselves worrying about every little thing , or get stuck a thought that does not want to change its track. Grrrr…again,  I say .

How is that we have learned to feel our own happiness is diminished by their happiness?  It could be because we feel that happiness is limited within the world live. The opposite is true there is unlimitedness of  happiness in our surroundings, our world in which we live.

We probably are conditioned to turn a blind eye to the bliss we project onto others.

So the next time you find yourself with that twinge because of your friends vacation or job, let yourself feel the envy within you. Then let yourself bask in their happiness. Acknowledging this you will realize that your happiness is not diminished by their accomplishments or joy.

Say to yourself, “May your joy spark the joy of others.
Consider this as Breaking News to really let it sink in.
Happiness in not a limited commodity!
There is enough happiness to go around.
We all have access to a deep well of happiness within.

Until next week,
Take Care,
Dolly

This award was so graciously given to us by a dear friend, Shinade aka Jackie over at The Painted Veil. I am sure that most of you know her already, she is an icon in the blogging world!  And for her to think so highly of us Angels and our Magazine, means the world to us all!! Thank you so very much!!

I want to share the way Jackie put this on her blog, so you can all see that it was for real. This is an excerpt from her post:  

“I could sit here all night and list names to pass this along to. I have so many wonderful friends. This is always the very hardest part of getting awards is choosing who to pass them along to. But for this one I am choosing:
Sandee at Comedy Place
Kat at Candles, Crafts And Whatnots
Tim at Everyday Living
Every angel at An E-Zine For Women The Angels Weekly
Mike At Rambling Stuff AKA Golch
Amy at Amy Lilley Designs “

The Friendship Blog Award above implies :

Green: to symbolize the new buddies
Yellow: to represent the guys who are always active
Blue: to symbolize with high performing PR Bloggers
Red: to symbolize that our blood is red and therefore we are all brothers.

The Friendship Blog Award comes with a few DO’s and these are:

1. Create a post as above
2. Include a link Giver Award.
3. For colleagues who have not followed this site or not exchanged links, please follow or exchange links with us.
4. Copy-paste the image to be replicated at your Blog Post.

If you have never been to Jackie’s blog,   I would highly recommend a trip over there now! She takes the most beautiful pictures with her camera, and she is just a sweetie!!

The Angels would like to pass this along to all our readers…..

Feel free to take it if you read our magazine, we appreciate  your visits and your comments. 

Again, a million thanks to Jackie, and I would like all our Angels to leave a comment here thanking Jackie for the wonderful award she has given us!!  And also to stop over at her blog and thank her personally!  This is a first for the Angels!!  Yay!

Have you asked yourself: “Where do I go from here?” No matter how we plan things out, we will never find a final answer to this question because life is the constant evolution of change. In truth, there will be a million changes before we take our last breaths.

Take comfort in the fact that our lives are perfect expressions of who we were, who we are, and who we’ve always wanted to be. So next time we ask that question, we know that the answer is plain and simple… we are going wherever we want to go. Keep trying. Keep believing that we can create what we want from life and we can make it happen. There is no such thing as a dead end in life but you have to remember that time waits for no one and it is up to us to be ready for change. We should explore all possibilities and be confident that when the time is right, all these opportunities will be there for us.

Blessings to all
Bing

Part 1: Get that job interview by crafting a killer résumé!

The economy is tough, jobs are scarce, and you need a new one. But every résumé you send out gets a “Thanks, but no thanks” response…if you even get response at all. It’s happening everywhere…but not to everyone. What do you want to bet that the people getting those interviews…and the jobs…have killer résumés? If you want one too, just keep reading.

HR is not your friend!
A common error job seekers make is to assume that a company’s Human Resource department is their friend…or at least should be. They expect the HR Department to be their ally in getting interviewed and hired. It is not. The function of HR is not, as many believe, to help applicants find a job in their companies, their job is to keep you out!

Now, this is not as appalling as it first seems. In fact, they cannot operate any other way. If HR’s mandate was to take every résumé and application and help each person get a job in their firm, the company would never get its business done! In a tight economy, companies can receive thousands of application and résumés per week. Not only can they not spend time trying to find something for you inside, they can’t even give careful attention to each résumé they receive. Additionally, the hiring managers have a lot more to do with their time than interview hundreds of candidates for a single job opening. The objective of HR is to screen out as many applications and résumés as they can, referring only the top half dozen or so to the hiring manager for interview.

Your résumé can open doors
You cannot underestimate the power of an effective résumé in securing that interview. No résumé, no matter how well-crafted, can get you a job, but it is the key to unlocking the door to that all-important first interview. But if your key is not a good fit, that door is not going to open for you.

Because of the sheer volume of responses companies get to their employment ads, the people who screen the responses seldom read them in depth…they just can’t. What they do is skim the résumés in literally a matter of seconds, sorting them into three basic categories: yes, no, and maybe. And in the companies that use OCR software to scan incoming résumés for key words, there isn’t even a “maybe” pile!

The résumés in the “yes” pile will be more closely read and further sorted, and those that make the second, more in-depth review get called for interviews; the people in the “maybe” pile will get reviewed more closely and some of them may be called in for interviews if nobody in the “yes” pile tickles a hiring manager’s fancy. The people in the “no” pile get that “thanks, but no thanks” postcard…if they are lucky. So, how do you keep your résumé out of the “no” pile and into the “yes” pile? It all depends on how it is written.

Beware! Don’t tell more than they need to know!
Your résumé tells a lot more about you than you think. To you, it is your employment history, education summary, and contact information. The reader, however, can learn a great deal more than that in just the few seconds it takes to skim it.

Typos? You don’t pay attention to detail. Long, multi-page résumé? Are you too lazy to prune it to something manageable or too prideful to leave things out? Messy, disorganized layout, updates made by hand? Will you be a messy, disorganized worker who turns out an unprofessional work product? Brightly coloured paper? An attention hound, perhaps, or someone who likes to challenge corporate culture?

Some information can allow a screener to discriminate against you without you even knowing it. Your name can reveal your ethnicity and gender, and your address may lead someone to think you live too far away from their location. Even the dates of your degree can give away your age, allowing your résumé to be round-filed on the presumption that you are too old…or probably want too much money…to do a job. The reverse is also true…if you are a wunderkind and have climbed the ladder quickly, revealing your age by including your education dates may make some people think you are too young and immature…and perhaps brash…for the responsibility and gravitas their position requires.

This is not a time to get indignant over political issues…your objective is to secure an interview with this résumé and the wisest course is to refrain from giving any information that can be used to screen you out. Bias is an unfortunate fact of life and you want to supply as little information that could prejudice a screener against your résumé as possible. This is not to say that people will use such information against you, just that the prudent course is not to give anyone that opportunity if you can help it.

What to prune?
One of the biggest dilemmas in creating a résumé is what to leave out. If you omit certain information, is it lying? How much can you stretch or pad your résumé and still be telling the truth? How do you address a hiatus in paid employment? What do you say about getting fired?

The two most basic rules of résumé writing are: 1) never ever lie or even exaggerate and 2) if the information is not related to your ability to do the job you are applying for, you may leave it out. The first is simply common sense: somewhere in your employment career you may run into someone who went to the university you lied about attending, an HR rep may do a background check, or someone may expect you to do things your résumé would indicate you can do…and you can’t. Don’t dig a hole for yourself…tell the truth. The second point is also common sense: unless you are fresh out of school and have never had a job, it is virtually impossible to fit everything about your work and education history on that one single page that is the Holy Grail of résumés. That means there is no way you can avoid leaving some things out, so you must carefully select the facts that best represent your suitability for the job and omit the rest.

What to include?
Anything that helps show you are qualified and capable of doing the job for which you are applying. That includes both paid and unpaid experience, as well as relevant education, including seminars and workshops. You don’t need to include addresses and telephone numbers of former employers, the names of your former supervisors, your reasons for leaving or your references. Bring all this information with you and hand it to the interviewer at the end of your interview: it will make you look both professional and well-prepared and it won’t clutter up your résumé with unnecessary information. It also won’t give the employer the opportunity to contact your references and former supervisors and quiz them before interviewing you…a bad situation even if you have glowing references because now you have to live up to (or down) what somebody has said about you.

It is like an advertising flyer…and you are the product
Remember, a résumé is not intended to get you a job or serve as an exhaustive chronology of your school and work history. The purpose of a résumé is to generate enough interest in you to get the employer to call you in for an interview. Too little relevant information and they aren’t interested; too much information and they don’t need to interview you to rule you out.

You need to put a lot of information in front of the screeners in a very brief time. That means making the layout reader-friendly with short bursts of words rather than long paragraphs. It means avoiding repetition, even if your jobs have all been basically the same. It means a structure that lends itself to quick scanning rather than slowing down to actually read. If you have the qualifications for the job and can put them in front of the screener in a format that is concise, easily skimmed, and packed with information, your chances of getting that interview skyrocket.

Next: analyzing your résumé: find the good, change the bad, throw out the ugly.

You can find more of Sweet Violet at http://sweetvioletsa.blogspot.com/ and http://svcooks.blogspot.com/

She was pretty sure there relationship was always this vacant, but was too completely exhausted to engage in any self-analysis today. Glancing down at her watch she noted it was 3:25. Had she really been there for nearly twenty-four straight hours?

Melody stretched straight her lean tennis playing legs and since comfort was an impossibility in this contraption they pass as a chair, walked around the small room. Rearranging flowers from her youngest brother Matthew, straightening the macaroni encrusted picture from Jessica, poking a finger at the balloon bouquet from her Aunt Margaret.

Stuff surrounded the once immortal Eugene York, yet actual people (save Melody) were noticeably absent. When they placed the 911 call eight days ago, knowing that death was finally imminent, Melody assumed that the family would take turns sitting by dad’s side. But, Matthew has work and Margaret volunteers at the library. Of course, Matthew’s wife, Brooke, would never sit by Eugene’s side and feign interest in either his life or his death. She was still seething over the nasty comment Dad had made when sweet Jessica was born a mere 6 months after their wedding.

Leaning up against the window that overlooked a parking garage, Melody imagined a life without him. She was horrified by her thought that it may actually be more peaceful once he is gone. Mom loved him fully and Dad just trampled all over those feelings. Booze, women, bankruptcy…Mom stayed by his side for some inexplicable reason.

Once Mom died, Dad’s temper spiraled out of control and even little Jessica was now targeted. Jabs about baby fat, taunts that she “Didn’t look like a York”, questions about her delayed potty training. His cruelty was unimaginable and mother was sure to be scowling at him from the heavens above. While before the belittling and hostility was more nuanced, in recent years it was confrontational and his downright hatred could be absolute.

Melody strolled back to the bed, moving the useless metal chair to the side and glancing down at this man. Would it mean anything in his now barely living state if she took his hand?

His mocking her decision to move to the city, his contemptuous tone when referring to her partner of 6 blissful years as “That Dyke”, the box of steaks that arrived each Christmas when he knew damn well that she had been a vegetarian since senior year.  If the cardiologist was right, this was all to be history in just a few short hours. In the meantime, must this insane charade continue?

Breathing deeply Melody reached for his hand, holding probably too tightly the bony hand enveloped in virtually translucent skin. His thin wedding band, a tribute to what should have been, barely clung to his finger. She leaned in and stated with certainty, “Good-bye”. Having truly meant it this time, Melody stood up, and stood silently by the cold steel doorway. “Remember this,” she commanded her frail and pale parent, “I will always love you. But this is goodbye.” With that Melody walked down the corridor, certain she had given to her father the loving farewell her mother would have wanted and confident she would sleep without regret tonight.

A work of fiction
By
Sue De La Bruere

BIO:  Sue De La Bruere is a freelance writer who shares her suburban Chicago home with endlessly supportive husband, Scott, and moderately brilliant kids, Bradley and Paige. Sue received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Northern Illinois University and can be reached at allwritenow@comcast.net.

This is where I’d love to spent the sum of my days,
In the cradle of a lover who will never betray,
For this will of love forever lingers and shall stay,
Where darkness can’t penetrate with one bitter ray.

This place of passion’s gentle yet strong,
Is where I long to linger even as the days grow long,
Right here is where my heart will always belong,
Yet the demons of darkness find any love to be wrong.

This embrace will tear down the darkened walls,
For we will watch them crumble and fall,
To see this intense love grow strong and tall,
Together forever our hearts will beat loves entrall.

© Bobbi

The Brown family will make your stay in Boothbay Harbor Maine, one of the most pleasurable and enjoyable vacations you have ever been on. They are very friendly, and make it a point to know all their guests by name.  The Inn itself is wonderful with rooms overlooking Boothbay Harbor, and some of the rooms even have a private deck, with a view that will astound you!

We always feel welcome when we see the huge brightly painted statue of ‘The Old Lobster Fisherman’ which sits right out in front of the Inn. He seems to be the mascot and the guardian of the Inn, the restaurant and the marina that is all nestled together for your pleasure.  He is a welcome sight after the drive up there, and it always brings a smile to my face.

We see some of the same people year after year, because that is one of the nicest things about Brown’s Wharf Inn, because you feel like family while you are there, you love to come back every year.  Some of the guests have been coming every year for many years because this is the prime spot for a nice relaxing vacation.  You can fish right off the dock,  go on a whale watch, and even visit the many historical lighthouses in the area. There is really so much to do from Antique shopping, to sailing, or how about a visit to the Botanical gardens? We do that every year, and we never tire of it.

Finally, I couldn’t stop writing without telling you about the fabulous Boothbay Harbor Restaurant, located at Brown’s Wharf. If you are looking for the freshest seafood ever, you haven’t tasted anything until you taste the food on the menu at Brown’s Wharf!! They have everything from Lobster to Steak with some Pasta and Chicken too.  They always have daily specials that tempt your taste buds and your wallet.  You can enjoy fine dining out on the deck overlooking the marina, or you can dine inside and still enj0y the view. Let me tell you, there is nothing like a sunset over the water at Boothbay Harbor in Maine. It is absolutely Stunning!!

If you are thinking of spending some time in the NorthEast, I would recommend BoothBay Harbor in Maine for your vacation.  Just look for the big Yellow Fisherman to greet you!!

They kept a low profile but Barack Obama was seen on the golf course a couple of times and Michelle went out with the girls one day.

The media around here kept asking is he going to be visiting with Ted Kennedy while he is here? At first their was no response to the question, and then came the news that Ted Kennedy had passed away on August 26th.

The President took to a podium in Martha’s Vineyard and made this statement. ” Senator Edward M. Kennedy was not only one of the greatest senators of our time, but one of the most accomplished Americans ever to serve our democracy. Over the past half-century, nearly every major piece of legislation that has advanced the civil rights, health, and economic well-being of the American people bore his name and resulted from his efforts. With his passing, an important chapter in our American story has come to an end.”

It is truly a loss for us here in Massachusetts, but also for the nation. I was fortunate enough to be able to drive 2 minutes up the street and wave goodbye to him and and see his family as they took him on his final journey to many special places in his life here in Boston Ma.

I had goose bumps from that moment on and throughout the day thinking of that moment.

President Obama gave a beautiful Eulogy at his funeral on Saturday.Then Teddy was laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetary with his Brothers, John and Bobby.

I feel that I can say that your brothers must have been proud of you,  looking down on you all these years and carrying on for them. Job well done
Teddy, I hope the three of you are once again in a place that encompasses that feeling of Camelot.

I want to share one part of President Obama’s Eulogy to Ted Kennedy. I had heard this story earlier in the week and it made me realize there is so much we do not know of how he touched and reach out to anyone and everyone in need. This is an example of one of his good deeds throughout his life.

The President had this to say “In the days after September 11th, Teddy made it a point to personally call each one of the 177 families of this state who had lost a loved one in the attack. But he didn’t stop there. He kept calling and
checking up on them. He fought through red tape to get them assistance and grief counseling. He invited them sailing, played with their children, and would write each family a letter whenever the anniversary of that
terrible day came along. To one widow, he wrote the following: “As you know so well, the passage of time never really heals the tragic memory of such a great loss, but we carry on, because we have to, because our
loved ones would want us to, and because there is still light to guide us in the world from the love they gave us. We carry on.”

I will enclose the link at the bottom of this post, to the Presidents Eulogy if you would like to view it in its entirety.

This Sunday the President and his family returned to Washington. It is not going to be a busy week. They are also planning to leave during the week to go to camp David to make up for some lost time on their vacation in Martha’s Vineyard.

Until Next Week
Take Care,
Dolly

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/Eulogy-for-a-Lion/

I was invited to a sweet 16 party for the daughter of one of my good friends. Now, it has been a while since I bought anything for a 16 year old girl, and I went looking for sweet 16 gift ideas.  Most 16 year olds don’t want a Barbie or a blouse that they would rather die than wear, so I asked the other girls at work, how about if we edivvy? And most of them agreed, and we were able to get a perfect gift and it ended up costing much less than what I would have spent if I had bought something on my own!

The women that I work with all have families and children and we are forever going to baby showers, and birthday parties and weddings. What we have done is join edivvy.com and when one of these events comes up, one of us will select a gift and send out an invitation stating what the event is, and then select the people that will be participating in paying for the gift, and depending on how many people you have selected to participate, edivvy will split the cost of the gift evenly for each person, and they can pay online for their portion and once the gift is paid for, it will be delivered to you or if you chose to, it will be delivered to the recipient with a lovely card showing everyone’s name who contributed to the gift.

This way you can get a bigger or more expensive gift that you would not be able to afford on your own, and it can be something that the recipient would really want, instead of a bunch of gift certificates to different stores, or even something they really don’t want.

Now, we have uses this service for a few weddings, and two baby showers already, and it works out perfectly!  To split the cost of a large gift is a much better way to go, especially now in these economic times.

Just think, you can use this with your own family for graduation gifts, Christmas gifts, Mother and Father’s day gifts, the ideas are endless really. We just think this is a really nice way of gifting someone with something they really want and it is a lot easier on the pocketbook for us all!!

You will want to go to edivvy.com to check it out, and join up with them, because your next gift could be the best!!

Oh, and in case you were wondering….out of all the sweet 16 gifts that she received, she loved ours the best!!  That has to make you smile!

We have been conditioned to respond with unkindfullness, aggression and hatred. When the opportunity to react to the world through non constructive means such as anger or aggression,
try these loving kindness phrases instead and it will help you to bring up positive feelings and help break old habits.

“May I be held in compassion”,

“May I free from pain and sorrow.”

“May I be at peace”.

And to those who challenge you to abandon your heart and turn to anger simply say the the same phrases but instead of I use you.

Until next week,
Take care,
Dolly

We are going to use this site for our league, because it is so much better at analyzing the statistics of the NFL players and submitting information regarding the fantasy football teams. This includes access to over 100 local NFL football teams news feeds, a fantasy football draft software, so you can do all your drafts online, access to fantasy football news, the rankings, player comparisons (very important when choosing your team!), and access to the fantasy football forum, where you can compare stats with other players. You can start a new thread to discuss something, or join in with others.

Now, for those of you who don’t know fantasy football, a group of people (our group is of 12 people) get together and put an amount of money in the pot and the winner will get the pot. Then you start the draft, just like in regular football, but you can select players from ANY team! That is what makes it great, you can have players from different teams on your fantasy football team!! Imagine, say, Tom Brady playing with Larry Fitzgerald and David Akers? What kind of team can you create?

You go around in some order, we draw cards to see who picks first, second, etc., for each round, that way it is somewhat fair, and then you start to select your team. I start with the running backs, because to me they are very important!! Then the quarterback and the receivers (I pick 3), the tight end, the defense and the kicker.
You will also need your second tier players for fill ins, and then you have the surprise players too! Now remember, you can’t always get the team you want, because you have to pick round robin style, so maybe the player you really, really wanted was selected by someone else?? You have to have a backup plan, and be willing to choose more than just the one player you really wanted. There is always give and take in fantasy football, you just have to create the best team you possibly can with the players you are able to select.

Then once you plug in your team players with this software from WaiverWire, it will keep track of how many points you get based on the real life NFL players individual stats. At the end, the player with the most points wins the pot! We also place weekly bets, for say, the loser for that week in points buys everyone coffee, or a drink. And our pot is broken up into first, second and third place to give more people a chance to win.

What I like about it, is it is a weekly event, and you hope your players do well, and don’t get injured and that you can get really good points!! I love the way that WaiverWire shows all the stats for the teams, and who’s in the lead, etc.

If you have never played fantasy football….maybe now is the time to start?? It is so much fun, and who doesn’t love the best part about fantasy football….The Bragging Rights???

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Then reality starts to kick in. Doctor visits become a little less joyous and a little more scary as nurses and doctors start giving you the details of your now “high risk pregnancy,” especially if you’re over 35 and pregnant with twins. You can’t help wonder how in the world you’re going to care for two babies at once; and now a day doesn’t go by that you don’t think about the words, “preterm labor.” The bottom line is: you’ve got pregnancy anxiety!

Although it’s important for our medical caregivers to give us the details and what complications may arise, I believe it’s stressed a little too much at every appointment. When I was pregnant with my now 7-month-old twins, I cringed at the thought of a doctor’s visit; especially since they would tell me I was 39 at every single visit! (Thanks for reminding me)

I opted against having amniocentesis, only because it wouldn’t have made a difference whether my children would be “normal” or not, I would love and care for them anyway. Plus the fact that, A, the amnio itself causes more of a risk factor; and, B, if there had been a problem, why would I want to know that during pregnancy when I need to be focusing on the health of the babies and my own health?

First I would like to say to you lovely ladies pregnant with twins, it’s an incredible joy! When I brought my baby girls home from the hospital, they were a dream come true, they never cried. If they wanted a bottle, the would actually make the sound of “hey.” My nine-year-old son and husband and I couldn’t believe our ears. I also thought breastfeeding would be much more difficult than it was, but it wasn’t as hard as I thought it was going to be. It’s been a complete joy taking care of and watching these little angels grow.

On the other side of the coin, I’ve heard some nightmare stories from other mothers with twins. I believe the one thing I did different that most women probably don’t do or are not aware of is pregnancy meditation.

Before getting pregnant, I was a strong advocate and practitioner of daily meditation, even if it was only for 10 to 15 minutes a day. When I got pregnant, I continued to do relaxation meditation daily with music therapy. And once I became about 18 weeks pregnant, I started using prenatal speakers along with my meditation so that my babies, too, could benefit from the extraordinary calming effects of meditation.

Along with proper pregnancy exercise and nutrition, pregnancy meditation is one of the best things you can do for creating calm and healthy babies. Just 15 minutes a day can reduce stress and pregnancy anxiety. It has been clinically proven that meditation reduces the stress hormone, Cortizol, and increases the calming hormone, Melatonin, helping to minimize complications in pregnancy.

So if you’re pregnant with twins, you are doing such good for yourself and your babies to take the time each day to practice this ancient, and now modern, art of meditation. If you’ve never meditated before and would like to get help with meditation, there are wonderful guided meditation cds out there to help you achieve the most out of your meditation experience.

I wish you and your babies all the best through pregnancy and beyond.

Mariana Convery

Mariana Convery is a mother of a nine-year-old boy and 7-month old twin girls. Mariana is the founder and creator of the Baby Zen program, a pregnancy meditation cd, and has written numerous articles about health and nutrition such as: “How to Stop a Sugar Craving in its Tracks” and many more informative articles. She is currently a stay-at-home mom while pursuing her passion in meditation, music therapy, aroma therapy and Yoga for children, all of which has changed her life. She lives in Sunny Florida with her husband and three children. You can find out more about the Baby Zen and Twin Zen Programs at either www.BabyZen.biz or www.TwinZen.net.

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Remember, these are professional writers, who are willing to help you out, if you need them, and their prices are very competitive.  I suggest you give Article Alley a try if you are stuck for something to write. Maybe you are going on vacation, and need to keep your entries up to date? Article Alley can help by filling in for you while you are gone!  They could submit the articles you request prior to your vacation, and you can schedule them to publish while you are gone! That way you wouldn’t miss any entries while you were away, and your blog would stay up to date!

THROUGH FORGIVENESS,

which essentially means recognizing the insubstantiality of the past and allowing the present moment to be as it is,  
the miracle of transformation happens not only within but also without.

WHEREVER YOU ARE, BE THERE TOTALLY,

If you find your here and now intolerable and it makes you unhappy, you have three options:
Remove yourself from the situation,
Change it,
Or accept it totally.
If you want to take responsibility for your life, you must choose one of those options, and you must choose now.
Then accept the consequences.

If anything…..He makes you think!!  Do you have a favorite quote?

We have a new quiz every week, and they include all kinds of movie trivia, from quotes to tag-lines to selecting who was in the named movies….

Try our newest quiz and let me know how you do ??  Oh, and you can go back and play the ones you might have missed too!  Just go to the Movie Trivia Page.

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We are starting season two, and this season promises to be better than the first one, because they only have 50 days to do something that has never been done before and that is to drill four holes to try to save a lease on a very pricey piece of land that is about to expire. That might not sound like much, but these holes are DEEP! And the machinery that it takes to drill these holes sometimes malfunctions, causing not only frustration, but sometimes injury to the men involved.

This is not a show for the faint hearted, this is a tough and gritty show that shows how hard it is to work on an oil rig. To get down and dirty and risk your life every day. Tensions flare repeatedly, I think because of the situation they are in, and also because the guys do risk so much, that they have to develop an attitude, like “I can’t be hurt, you can’t get to me, I’m tough”! But really I think they need to invest in some truTV BLACK GOLD Healthcare for these guys! The fact that they are filmed all the time, and that they get hurt by chains flying, and pipes bursting and all the other accidents that happen and just the basic needs the men have like a headache or cold or something, it makes me laugh, because they just have a little first aid kit on the site. And that is in a trailer!

There are quite a lot of interesting characters on the show, and if you watch the video below, you will see what I mean? I like the rookie named Cheston, it looks like he will have a tough time trying to fit in with all these roughnecks, but he is nice to look at. Then there’s Tank, he is like a long timer with major attitude and is always getting into something with someone.

These guys have to work around the clock, this isn’t a nine to five job, and I remember last season cringing a lot during the show. This season will showcase three crews of roughnecks as they work around the clock. There are so many accidents, and near misses, that it makes me wonder why these guys do this?? I guess if you hear them talk, it is in their blood, and this is what they were meant to do, and I am sure that they get paid very well for this job, but seriously, I wouldn’t want to risk my life on a daily basis, would you?

But I guess that is what makes you keep coming back and watching, because it is something you would never do, and it is interesting to watch those that have the courage to do it.

Come over and join us on Big Dog Rig #28…..

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(The world of WHAT you ask? Read on to discover, as I have, the fascinating and super friendly universe of Geocaching.)

It all started when my husband got his new Samsung ‘Jack’ cell phone.  While doing an online search for available applications he stumbled upon a GPS app used for something called Geocaching. Often described as, ‘…using million dollar satellite technology to find tupperware in the woods.’ That’s the playful description, but after further research my husband had found that there was so much more to it than that. And he discovered that our own area was riddled with these so called caches that Geocaching enthusiasts have been finding, and leaving for others to find and enjoy, for years.

We also discovered that there was one hidden directly across the street from our house. DIRECTLY across the street! And people have been visiting it for FIVE years. And here I thought all these people driving through the parking lot were lost drug dealers trying to meet up with their buyers, when in fact they were simply geocache enthusiasts driving through on their business and vacation travels. You see, the instructions online indicate that one should hunt for this particular cache at night… thus the ‘drug dealer’ theory of mine.

A cache is simply a weather resistant container that can be as small as a film canister (aka a micro),  or large enough to crawl into. Most often they are lunch box sized tupperware types (aka regular) of boxes that contain at the very minimum a pad of paper to log your name and the date when you found it, and depending on the size they will also have a myriad of interesting (or not- and quite frankly useless) trinkets inside. But the treasure is not the draw. It’s the hunt. It’s the grown up element of Hide & Go Seek. It’s the purpose of one’s journey that takes you to the place of where ever your next geocache coordinates are. It’s a reason to be on the move and to discover new places, new ideas and new inspirations.

Not all caches are physical. There are virtual caches where you often solve puzzles online to figure out the ‘hidden’ location and only then do you actually go to that place, take a pic of yourself with your GPS unit at the discovered location and it’s considered a successful hunt.

Though truly anyone can make and hide their own Cache, or look for and find someone else’s hidden cache, there are of course guidelines that help make the game all of the great fun that it is.  It’s the most family friendly, community oriented and non discriminatory activity you could ask for. You can do it alone or with a herd of helpers. Other than a GPS unit or GPS capable cell phone and internet access, it’s extremely affordable. How much money does it cost to walk around town or go on a hike or take a short drive to any one of the thousands of hidden cache locations? If you truly get addicted, gas money would eventually be your biggest expense.

So let’s say you’ve gone online to www.geocaching.com, logged in and entered your zip to bring up a list of local and available caches. After going for the most interesting sounding descriptions and coming home empty handed you then decide to try for the ones that are listed as a 1 on the difficulty scale. Alas, finally you are successful. Well… your 10 year old daughter was actually the one who found it, but you hunt as a pack right? Once you’ve scoured over the contents and seen things such as a rubber lizzard eraser, a Starlite Mint candy, a bandaid, a postcard and a few calling cards from a couple of very organized geocaching fans, you can take any one of the treasures and replace it with one of your own. Or  you can choose to TNLN. (Take Nothing Leave Nothing) And then you want to be sure to sign and date the log. (If the log is full, or if water has gotten into the box, or the container has been damaged you’ll want to make a mental note of that so you can remember to post about it when you go back on line to share your experience.) you then tuck the box right back where you found it. The goal is to hide so that a muggle can’t see it but a geocacher can find it.

Muggles is a term taken from the Harry Potter series and is used by geocachers in reference to nosey people who don’t know anything about why you are poking around in the bushes. If you are too obvious and clumsy in your search you will begin to bring attention to yourself. And when you either find a cache and put it back, or never could find it, you may inadvertantly entice onlookers to come and see what the heck you were doing. That cache will quickly come to an end if persons unaware of the game happen upon it. Whether by innocent curiosity or pure unadulterated mischieviousness the cache is removed, plundered, destroyed, or simply not put back according to it’s logged coordinates making it impossible for anyone to find in the future. So being ‘muggled’ usually means that you were unable to continue looking due to onlookers and were thus unsuccessful in finding… for now. Taking into the considereation that this cache was suggested for a night hunt, we walked across the street at around 10pm. Two teenage boys were skateboarding in the deserted parking lot. We gave it a shot, reaching around the suspected hiding spot a few times and got nervous that we were being watched. So we left the area with a DNF (did not find) and tried again around midnight the next night. That was my first find. Now each of us, my husband, my daughter and myself all have one under our belts and are truly no longer ‘muggles’.

There will soon be a movie to hit theaters which portrays the sport of Geocaching. The caching community is somewhat worried that this will add to the numbers of those who wish to ruin the fun for others. As fun as it is to share, the risk is always that there will be those who go out of their way to prevent good clean fun. Once the movie Splinterheads hits the silver screens it will be more public then ever. And the risk multiplies. The best case scenario would play out like this: The movie enjoys great success while the geocaching element continues to fly mostly under the radar gathering faithful, responsible and respectable fans by virtue of it’s own greatness.

This is just the tip of the iceberg of what you will discover once you dig a little deeper into the sport. For instance, some are especially for kids. Most caches have a theme and will relate to it’s location and or the person or geocaching group who owns the cache. And some caches contain trackable items such as Geocoins and items with a destination goal such as Travel Bugs. There are a plethera of events that create friendships by gathering the geocaching community in places all over the world. And the best part for some is that it’s a totally green kind of thing to do. The geocaching community encourages ‘Cache in Trash Out’. It’s the practice of taking a garbage bag with you on your expeditions (as many caches are in fact hidden in wooded or scenic areas) and being sure to pick up any bits of garbage that you find along the way. Some caches are lying on the ocean floor waiting for scuba diving cache enthusiasts. Some require extensive hikes and scavenger hunt type multilocational searches. And some are right across the street hidden in parking lots. And then even more are right around the corner from that. Some caches are library books in the library. Some caches look like fake rocks. Some are simple Altoids tins. Most are camo painted duck tape covered tupperware. And each and every one has a history that you can read about in the logs online.

There isn’t much wholesome fun to be had these days. Certainly nothing as affordable or accessible. So gather the family around the computer, log in, and prepare for mini adventures, bonding and fresh air around every corner. You may also want to think twice about tossing that Pog you found behind your teenage son’s stereo or that totally rad hotwheel that Grandma bought him on his 17th birthday.

Laura Leigh

All I can say is the Obama family vacation on Martha’s Vineyard is well deserved. They arrived there today.

Other news this week includes the Credit Card Bill of Rights Kicks In.
It was signed into law in May by the President. I could not believe the things these companies were getting away with. I know they are thieves, but wow! Did you know if your payment is due on the 9th of every month and  the mail does not get there by 9am you got charged a late fee?  They
have already made a zillion dollars off of that. Austan Goolsbee of President Obama’s Council of Economic Advisers goes on to explain on a two minute video on the white house blog that they also had the right to raise your rate if you had a problem with another card. They also have to change the application form so that all us will be able to understand the terms, no more small print that he himself cannot understand and he has a Doctoral Degree.

This week the President said a few kind words honoring three-time Sprint Cup Champion Jimmie Johnson at the white house. This is some of what he said, “its humble beginnings, when moonshiners raced on the sands of Daytona Beach during  prohibition.” Giving a nod to the Wounded Warriors in the audience, then he thanked NASCAR for all they do for veterans.

This week as well the President welcomed President Mubarak of  Egypt to he White House. President Obama focused on the longstanding partnership between the United States and Egypt.  His statement was short and simple “the two countries will work together to help advance the interest of peace and prosperity around the world.”

Maybe I should add my gripes of the week for now on kind of an Andy Rooney thing because I know you probably feel the same!! I am going to post a link if you need it, if you are like me and are confused about all that is going on with Health Care Reform.This week they posted a new site called Health Care Reform Reality Check.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/realitycheck/?s=badge

If you have the brain power and energy to visit this web site and simplify it for the rest of us, please leave me a comment.

It would be greatly appreciated!!
Until next week,
Take care,
Dolly

Rss Hugger is a new website that was created by Collin LaHay to bring bloggers and readers together in a unique way.  By adding your rss feed to this directory, you are opening up the possibility of having so many more readers find your blog.  You can select categories to place your feed under, so that certain readers who are looking for your site will be able to find it.  Then they can either bookmark it or subscribe, so they never miss an entry that you post!  Doesn’t this sound wonderful?  I think so.  My hat is tipped to Collin for coming up with something so great!

Once you sign up your rss feed to secure a page on rsshugger, you have two options, the first is that you can get your page on the site free for 10 years, just by writing a review of this great site and what it does, like I am doing here, and that way you get listed for free.  If you choose not to review the site but still want to register your rss feed with them, there is a one time only $20.00 fee that will give you your page for 10 years.  You can see which one I chose?  I love to do reviews anyway, so this was a no brainer for me.  In fact, I was so excited when I found rsshugger, that I was going to write about it anyway!!

Now, the cool thing about this is, after you enter your feed, your site needs to be approved, and then once it is, your blog will be listed and traffic should come your way!  There are readers out there just waiting to find your blog…but how can they when they don’t know where to look?? This offers and easy solution to that problem.  You can list your rss feed in up to 5 different categories, and hopefully, the readers will find you.

I wrote before about building backlinks to your blog , but this is another way to do that.  By linking within your posts, you are creating back links that will help you with search engine optimization.

I have registered my blog and am just waiting for approval.  Please visit us over at rss Hugger and subscribe to the Angels Weekly feed in your reader, or bookmark us for future reading.  There are new articles every single day, and you wouldn’t want to miss out!!

What I found was a wonderful site that offers not only really low prices, but quality work and great customer service.  You can get an instant quote right there on the website and see if that would fit in with your printing needs. They offer both silk screened printing and embroidery for any shirts you order.  That is a huge plus right there, because there are options to choose from that you sometimes don’t get when you need printing done.

I also like the fact that they have discounts and specials running all the time, and right now you can get a major discount on bulk orders by using the code: StockClearance when you are checking out. This would be great if you had printing done for teams, or a reunion or charity walk.  You can also get a Student Cashback of up to 20% off our list by using the  code: Cashback at checkout. Again, this is a great deal for anyone looking for printing.

I loved going to Indigo’s Blog and reading about upcoming events and some of the customer testimonials that they have there available. This really helped me in making my decision to have my printing done through them.

I think this is a great way to advertise my business and to bring in repeat business too.  There is nothing like wearing a shirt with your name on it, because for some reason, everyone seems to read people’s shirts?

I know that when I order my job will be taken seriously and completed as quickly as possible and shipped out soon.  I have done my research, and this seems to be the best company to go with to get the shirts I need for my business.  Because my daughter and I do the craft shows, we will now have matching t-shirts and fleece (for the winter shows, in case it gets cold) so that while we are standing in our booth, or even walking around, everyone will know the name of my business.  And that is a good thing.

Now, here are some of the answers that I received…..

1. Very kewl! I count 11.
2. Never been good at these, I counted 18.
3. I only found 11.

Okay….I would love to know how you found all those?? Because maybe I missed some?

The answer is 10.
If you found more, please let me know where?? After seeing your answers I went back and looked again, but didn’t see any more than the original 10?? Help?

Here is the original picture to look at once again…..

And here is the same picture with the answers outlined in red…..

I hope you enjoyed this, and because we had people that seemed to enjoy it, I will post some more in the upcoming weeks!!

These past few loving kindness practices that I have shared with you are about dealing with our difficult emotions.

I hope one of them helps you in one way or another.

When you do this practice, find that good feeling in your heart and try to feel it throughout your body. Then  think of a sadness inside you, Don’t try to control it or change it. Let both feelings of love and sadness pass through your heart like waves, don’t grasp onto one or push the other away.
Continue in this way until you feel a calm balance between these feelings. As you go about your day this practice will have taught us how to find balance in  the mist of our chaotic, every changing emotions.

I know this seems hard but try and try again if at first you don’t succeed.
Until next week,
Take Care,
Dolly Loving

“Family Values” is a feel good phrase, bandied about primarily during elections. Visions of Momma in an apron, Daddy clutching a corncob pipe, and kids playing ball abound. And the anti-”Family Values” image? Momma in a tube top, Daddy clutching a crack pipe, and the (illegitimate) kids playing with matches.

While neither description accurately portrays my situation, I get tagged as anti-family all the same based solely on my politics. This small piece of information can not possibly encompass who I am, what I hold important and what compels me to raise my sleepy head and face each day. Still, it is a small and tidy box to keep me in and stymies any efforts to view the entire picture.

While I would like to take a page from Shakespeare and submit, “If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die?” I would much rather proffer a new and more complete (if very personal) vision of “Family Values”.

I support gun control because the safety of my communities smallest and most defenseless citizens, and their families, is of utmost importance to me. This is family values.

I vote in every election and make it a point to educate myself on not just the issues that hit closest to home for my family, but all issues. This is family values.

I have a close relationship with my ex-husband which proved  incredibly helpful when Bradley was critically ill a few years ago and we needed to work together for his benefit. This is family values.

I reach out to and aim to maintain relationships with our extended family (cousins, second cousins, nieces, nephews) in an effort to not lose sight of familial connections. This is family values.

I support the right of all people to create their own family in any way that suits them, in the same way that no person or governmental body dictated to me whom I could love and share my life, mortgage, and insurance with. This is family values.

I have held the hands of dying family members even as scorching sadness tore through my soul. This is family values.

I want my daughter to be able to change a tire and my son to be able to make a meatloaf so that when they start their own families they are not stuck in circa-1955 gender roles. This is family values.

Yes, I am a liberal.
I am also a married mother of two funny, bright and annoying children.
I have a mini-van and an SUV and peri-menopausal mania and a mortgage.
I love my country and the smell of lavender and my husband and chocolate.
I am afraid of  apathy and dementia and bats and loss of bladder control.
I value alone time and hugs from my 16 year old and Buy One Get One Free and my marriage.
I am proud of my determination to never remain silent and my ability to make gravy and my sense of humor and the way I can fold sheets.
I am addicted to Diet Coke and feeling in control and my computer and kissing my husband.

And I do, as it turns out, have very sound Family Values.

BIO:  Sue De La Bruere is a freelance writer who shares her suburban Chicago home with endlessly supportive husband, Scott, and moderately brilliant kids, Bradley and Paige. Sue received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Northern Illinois University and can be reached at allwritenow@comcast.net.

“Britney, where have you been? I’ve been worried sick.” Brian’s hesitation felt like an impenetrable shield between them. It instantly doubled her emotional storm.

She slowly turned away from him no longer able to face those eyes she loved so dearly. “I had a lot of things to work out, alone.” The tears that were only threatening now streamed down her face.

Brian enveloped her in his warm embrace. “I’m sorry, what’s going on, please tell me. You know you can tell me anything and we will get through it together.” The sincerity of his voice caused her tears to become a waterfall of sorrow.

Britney turned, in his embrace, and drank deeply of those blue eyes that she would miss most. “I… I can’t do this, Brian. It’s going to hurt you almost as much as it does me.”

“You’re scaring me, Honey. What’s going on?” She could hear the depth of concern in his velvet voice.

“Okay. That lump you found in my breast, it’s cancerous, and it’s not the only lump. She wants to remove…” Britney held onto him for dear life. Her sobs were out of control.

“It’s going to be okay. If they get it all, you’ll be fine, and that’s all that matters. I’ll always love you, Britney.” All he could do was hold her while she cried it out.

“I’ll be a monster, how could you love that?!” That quickly her tears turned to rage.

“You’ll always be Britney, that vibrant, beautiful lady I fell head over heels in love with nearly ten years ago. No operation can change that. They can’t take that part of you from me, no one can..” She heard his words and saw his sincerity, but didn’t believe him, at least not at that moment.

“I’ll be a deformed freak, not beautiful, and by no means a lady. Brian, what did I do that was so terrible, in this life, that I deserve all this?” She searched his face for answers she knew could never be found..

“Darlin’, you could never do anything terrible, it’s not in you. You are the most giving generous person I know of. We’ll get through this together, it’s all going to be just fine, you’ll see.” Brian could see the storm clouds deepening in her eyes. The pain of the ages weighed on her and it was all evident in her beautiful blue-green eyes.

“That’s easy for you to say, you’re not going to lose a breast, or all your hair with chemo. You’re manhood will remain intact, but you will be in love with a freak. How’s that going to be just fine?!” She shoved him away, the emotional storm spilling down her face once again.

“I wish I could make you understand that your beauty is more than just the facade the world sees, it’s who you are inside. And I don’t understand why you are so mad at me, all I want to do is be here for you, if only to help you by being near. Don’t shove me away, I’m not that easy to get rid of.” She could hear a small smile in his last words.

© Bobbi

I watch MSNBC when the soap opera’s are on, but I am now thinking if this keeps going on I may go back to watching the soap operas.

The only happy thing I thought this week that happened  for President Barack Obama is that he got interviewed by a 11 year old who persisted for the interview for a year. He was charming and at the same time so intelligent. This is what came from his interview.
Today, Damon Weaver from the KEC TV News Team  out of Kathryn E. Cunningham Canal Point Elementary broke some big news about President Obama’s plan to address students across the country on September 8th. But he will not give us a sneak preview of what he is going to say, so stayed tuned.

This week the President also gave out the Presidential Medal of Freedom to sixteen people. This was said during the ceremony. “The recipients of the Medal of Freedom did not set out to win this or any other award. They did not set out in pursuit of glory or fame or riches. Rather, they set out, guided by passion, committed to hard work, aided by persistence, often with few
advantages but the gifts, grace, and good name God gave them”

That is beautiful of him to realize that and state it.

Until next week,
Take care,
Dolly Loving

What I would suggest would be to know what you are looking for, and then while perusing the site, make a list of the top 3-5 companies under each item you require, and when you get to the bottom of your requirements, see which company or companies appear more than once.  Then just compare those few….

Here are some ideas of what to look for in web hosting.  When you are choosing a web hosting service, there are so many things that you would have to look for, and I feel that the most important thing is how much web space a provider will allow me on their server. If you plan to have quite a few photographs on your website, then this should be very important to you! If you are planning on selling products, for example, you will need pictures of all of your items for sale. Make sure that the company that you are thinking of going with has given you enough space.

The next thing would be support, You really should look at a company that offers 24/7 support with a live representative, because most of your issues will occur on weekends or at night….trust me on this!! You will want to keep your site running and you need a live person to respond to your problems, whenever you need them.

Don’t forget the Bandwidth! You have to consider the monthly bandwidth because bandwidth is a key component needed to support website traffic and it will play a huge role in your sites success or failure.  If your site has a large number of visitors, you will obviously require more bandwidth.  If you don’t have enough bandwidth to support the levels of traffic to your site it can lead to periods of downtime where your site will be unavailable.

You may also need FTP access, if you are going to upload new pages all the time, if you have a store or a blog, pages are added all the time. Without this option, you will lose information and you won’t be able to have any control over your own website.

The next thing you would want to look into would be the hosting price, and I know that the most expensive plans aren’t always the best, but the cheaper ones might not offer what I need, so this is where you have to do some comparing.

I found that by reading the Customer reviews I gathered a lot of information, because those are written by people like you and me and not a company trying to sell it’s product.  I learned quite a bit about the companies out there and found these reviews very helpful.

Also, do you need a shopping cart for your store? If so, this is a key component that you should look for. Not all hosting companies offer shopping carts that are compatible with other servers and countries. Make sure you find one that works for you!

Now, if you have made a list of the top 3-5 companies that meet your requirements, check out the reviews that the web hosting geeks have done and which hosting sites they have given awards to. It might just change your mind?  They also have a great informative blog that might be helpful to you in finding your own hosting company.

I wish you luck and let us know your new site’s name so we can visit you!

There is no better form of advertising than something that people can read from a distance, it will make them be drawn to your booth to see what you have.  If you have a small sign that is only visible when they are at your booth, you have lost potential customers.  A large sum of people walk right by and don’t even look your way. But if there is a colorful poster that they can see from down the aisle, they may head straight for your booth and browse.

I am also doing some tutorials of candle making and jewelry making and putting them on a DVD.  I have also selected this company to print up my DVD sleeves.  They will cost less than 6 cents apiece, much cheaper than I could print them myself, and they will also look professional.

There are weekly specials running right now, so if you or your band or company is looking to have printing done, now is the time to do it!! This week’s specials are:

25% off catalogs
25% off booklets
30% off vinyl banners
40% off business cards
50% off postcards
50% off brochures
and 60% off posters

Now you can see why I am having the posters done now!! What a great price, and they offer different sizes too!! My grandson wants me to have his favorite WWE wrestler made into a poster, and with the prices this low, I think that would be an awesome idea!! Christmas is coming!

Knowing that God loves me unconditionally, I look honestly over the last day, its events and my feelings.
Do I have something to be grateful for?
Then I give thanks. Is there something I am sorry for?
Then I ask forgiveness.

Do you know what computer drivers are? A driver is a software routine that handles the communications to and from a device and from and to a specific type of computer. Your computer has an operating system such as Windows, Mac, Unix, etc.  The Operating System is the main driver of the machines we call computers and “Drivers” refers to the smaller device driver software routine that will let a device talk to the computer and the computer talk to the device. These devices can include printers, scanners, fax machines, external hard drives, and just about anything else that you want to hook up to your computer.

Do you check regularly for updates for your drivers? You should. Many companies regularly update their drivers to newer and faster versions, and if you don’t update, your device may not run properly.

Let’s say for example, the printer you bought 2 years ago is no longer functioning because of an outdated driver. You can go in and have this system scan your computer and it looks for any outdated or non-working drives in your computer. Then it will fix and update them with the correct drive from their over 3 million drivers on hand. Then your printer or whatever other hardware you were looking to update will work perfectly again!

I hope this information will help you and your computer run nice and smooth!

How many times have you been in a conversation with someone and realized they weren’t listening to a word you said.  Too many people forget that the most important part of communication is listening.  Rather they think of what they will say next instead of giving the speaker their undivided attention.

Because I’m in business, I talk with a lot of people everyday.   It’s important to build relationships in order to be successful in business.  I’ve had the opportunity to take several classes in public speaking and was lucky enough to take a twelve week Dale Carnegie course that dealt with everything from public speaking to remembering names.  The truth is, while these were helpful, you don’t need formal training to hold a good conversation.  Here are a few tips:

1. Ask questions that require more than a yes or no answer.  Rather than saying, “did you have a nice vacation” ask “Where did you travel to this summer?”

2. Listen to the person’s answer, paying attention to non-verbal cues as well.  If the person seems excited to talk about something, follow up with another question.  If they offer more information in there answer, you can inquire about that.
o For example, if they say, “We visited the beach with my parents” you could follow up with, “Where are your parents from?” This opens up a whole new aspect to the conversation.

3. You don’t have to focus solely on the other person.  As the conversation progresses, feel free to interject some of your personal experiences.  Be sure not to dominate the conversation, however, or to appear like you are trying to better them.
o A great response to the example above would be, “Oh, I love traveling with my parents.  They love to watch the kids for us.  Were you able to get a night out alone while you were away?”

4. Remember these same tips when someone tries to start a conversation with you.  Don’t make it difficult by providing scant answers.  Give them a little information to grab onto.  It will be more comfortable for both of you.

5. As a conversation progresses you will know when it’s time to bring it to an end.  Always excuse yourself politely and use their name.  It makes people feel valued.
o “It was great talking with you Ann.  I hope we can chat again sometime.”

Watching the waitress work her tables this weekend was a great reminder for me of how to talk with people, making them feel valued and important.  I know that girl will go far.  As we chatted while paying our check, I learned that she was attending nursing school.  She, in turn, heard about our college visit.

Do you tell yourself you shouldn’t have these feelings? I know from my own personal experience I almost feel that I should just ignore them or change my attitude. Especially being raised a Catholic you learn to always forgive, give it over to God, which is all well and good, but I now feel the right thing to do is allow those feelings to come to the surface, acknowledge them, feel them and let it go when I am ready.

This loving kindness  meditation suggests we face our dark emotions with the same care and compassion we would to a loved one in pain.

The next time you find yourself in that place of self-recrimination let the thoughts arise and pass before your minds eye.

You can always chose to meditate formally or informally.

When you see fear or any other dark emotion arise in you, be thankful they have come to you. You can even imagine respectfully bowing to your dark emotions.

Be patient and kind with yourself.

Greet your feelings and sensations with a spirit of friendliness. Soften your heart towards your own shortcomings.

You don’t have to let your emotions control your life.  If you can learn to acknowledge them experience them, and then let them go, they won’t
have such a strong grip on you.

Until next week,
Take care,
Dolly Loving

It is hard for me to be here across the country when she needs me the most, but there is little that I can do for her at this point.   She needs the help of the staff and the facility, and nothing I can do will help her kick her habit. When she first moved there, she was full of life and dreams. But as the jobs didn’t come, she sunk down to the trail that often comes to those who are naive and fresh. She thought she made some great friends out there, when in fact, she made “contacts”  that helped her down the road to her destruction.

When the prescription drugs just weren’t giving her the high that she wanted, she evidently progressed to opiates. How, I will never know, she never mentioned it to me when we spoke, everything was always great with her! Little did I know that she was spiraling down, and would overdose 2 times before she finally got the help that she needed.

She is now in Prescription Drug Rehab, because this program will help her deal with not only her prescription abuse, but also her opiate abuse, which most facilities cannot handle. They either treat one or the other, but aren’t equipped to treat both. Luckily she is a wonderful place called The Canyon, and they will give me my friend back! There are not enough complimentary words to describe The Canyon, they are just the best!!

According to her Mom, they will treat the addictions she has and help her with her self esteem and getting her life back on track. This will be a long road for her, but with us all behind her and the great team at The Canyon, she is on her way.

She also has to have Vicodin Rehab, because we found out after she was admitted that she also was helping her habit along with those!! The detox process will be hard, but once she completes it, she can start to find her old self again, not the girl who sold everything she had, including herself to fund her habit!  I am eager to hear how her counseling sessions go, because that is where I think she gain the most courage.  To be honest in front of a therapist or even a group of your peers takes courage, but helps you to heal faster.  I know she needs the encouragement of everyone, and she needs to know how much we want her back!

The Canyon is the best place for her to be right now, because they know better than any of us what she needs right now. They will help herto  see the good in herself, and her worthiness.

Only then do I believe she can truly heal.

Is this not the most adorable thing you have ever seen??  I am going to be making a ton of these to hang on my Christmas Tree this year!!

An Angel Pig……for the Angels Weekly!!

Or whatever you would like to make them for, here is a free pattern for you to use!!  I just think this is so adorable, and cute, and the directions claim that it is easy to make.  So I am going to give it a try!!

Directions:

The pig’s body and feet are worked in rounds.

Starting with nose:

1. Ch 2, 4 sc in 2nd ch from hook.
2. 2 sc in each sc.
3. 1 sc in each sc.
4. 2 sc in each sc.
5. 2 sc in each sc.
6. *1 sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc* around.
7-15. 1 sc in each sc around for 8 rows.
16. *1 sc in next 6 sc, 1 sc decrease in next sc* around.
17. Repeat row 16.
18. Repeat row 16.
19. *1 sc in next 2 sc, sc decrease in next sc* around.
Do this until the hole is small, stuff piggy, continue decreasing until the hole is shut.
Ears:

Ch 5, sc in 2nd ch from hook, hdc in next ch, dc in each of next 2 chs. Finish off and sew to head.

Wings:

Ch 4. Turn and do 1 sc in each of next 3 ch sps. Ch 1, turn. 3 sc, ch 3. turn. 3 sc on chain, 3 hdc on the three sc. Ch1, turn. 3 sc, ch 4. Sl st in 2nd ch from hook, 3 sc in chain, 3 hdc. Ch1, turn. 4 sc, ch 5, sl st in 2nd ch from hook, 3 sc in ch, 3 hdc, ch 3 turn. *Work 4 dc decreases down the edge of wing opposite the feaher ends. Ch 3, turn, repeat from * once. Fasten off. Sew to body just behind ears.

Feet:

Ch 2, 4 sc in 2nd ch from hook, 1 sc in each sc around for two rows. Fasten off, stuff, sew to body.

Tail:

Ch 7, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch IN ONE LOOP ONLY

.

Hurry over to your local Kmart store to find huge savings on Kid’s backpacks for school, on a bluelight special of only $8.00 reduced from $19.99! What a deal that is. You could buy two for less than the price of one. It’s like a two for one deal with money back!

And what girl doesn’t love diamonds? Kmart has their diamond jewelry for an additional 10% off the already discounted price of 70% off. This would be the perfect time to stock up on some really nice gifts!! At 80% off, how can you go wrong? Christmas will be here before you know it, and you could already have gifts purchased and waiting…just think of the money you will save with this kind of a deal.

There is also huge savings on patio furninture that is 70% off all day, and during the bluelight special they will take an additional 20% off!! Woo Hoo! Now is definitely the time to go and get that outdoor furniture you have been dying for. Think about it, you will be paying 10% of the original cost, for patio furniture! That is like a steal!

There are also back to school specials, including 70 count notebooks, that are buy 2 and get the 3rd one free! This is a great deal for school children that have subjects to follow, or even for families with more than one child. There is always a need for notebooks and you can’t beat this great price!

Remember, the sale is this Saturday, August 15th only, so get ready for the beloved bluelight specials to return to help you save some of your hard earned cash!! KMart is good for your wallet!

Also, to keep up with all the sales that are coming up and also some great online deals,  you can follow Kmart on Twitter by clicking this link. That way you won’t be left out on any deals!!

My Take: I can see why someone would think this is an inspirational quote, but quite frankly I’m kind of surprised it wasn’t ‘Don’t let go of the loin cloth.’

Laura Leigh

See below for an enlarged picture:

I will let you know in a week how many different faces are in this illusion……
Let me know how many faces you found?? You may be surprised at the answer!!

You or your loved one can continue your independent lifestyle, and continue living alone, but with the confidence of knowing that there is always an attentive and caring attendant on the call,  in case you need them.

You just wear the life alert panic button around your neck or on your wrist, and it has a push button for the times you need help, and can push the button, or it has the fall detector for the times you can’t. Help is never far away when you have the life alert.

Brian followed the dog into the room, stopping to slip off his shoes. “Chance, stop!”

The dog tried to stop, but with all four legs splayed Chance continued to slide across the slick surface. Twisting and turning Chance tried to obey his master, but the floor was unforgiving. He slid past Britney with a helpless plea in his eyes, coming to rest half way into the rec. room.

Finally gaining his paws under him, Chance carefully made his way to Britney where he got the lovin’ he was looking for.

Brian, in his white sock covered feet now also attempted to traverse the expanse of floor to where Britney and Chance were. He too found the floor very slick, and started to slide across said same floor. Looking like an ice skater on blades for the first time, his very large frame lumbered unsteadily toward Britney who was now scrambling to get out of Brian’s path, certain she would surely be squished should he land upon her. If the Olympics gave medals for most ungraceful way to skate across a hardwood floor, Brian would be, hands down, a gold medalist.

Fortunately he landed unceremoniously on the mats that Britney had laid out in front of the rock hewn fireplace. Brian laid where he alighted chuckling, for what else could anyone do in that situation.

Britney laughed also, the whole episode was hilarious from her standpoint. “I’ll give that a two for execution and a five for effort.”

“Was it that bad, I thought I did pretty good.” Brian continued to flash that infetious smile of his.

“Chance was much better at it than you, I’m afraid.” Britney looked over at the dog and she could swear that Chance was smiling too.

“This floor needs to come with a warning label.” Brian finally could sit up still chuckling along with Britney.

“There for a minute I thought it might need some crime scene tape.” Britney was now rolling around on the mats holding her sides in a fit of laughter.

With that adorable half smile on his lips and lust in his eyes, Brian put an end to her laughter and the evening finally began.

© Bobbi

We all have more than enough remote controls laying around, or in my case, not laying around and being lost more often than not…  And then there is the big challenge of trying to figure out which one you need for which electronic device?  I have resorted to a piece of masking tape on each of my remotes, labeling them, “TV”, “Cable”,”DVD” “Stereo” and “VCR” and the other lone one is for the other tv in the other room, but I usually need it to take the batteries out of it, so I keep it with the others.

Wow, that is a lot of remotes and a lot of confusion.  That is why this Yamaha neoHD would be the perfect thing for me! If I have to pause or mute the show I am watching, I can never find the right remote in time, and have to look at the tape on each one.  There are too many to remember which is which and I really  need only one. What a godsend that would be. No more struggling and searching. That would be nice for a change!

The best part is that you could win one of these yourself! It is so easy to do, all you have to do is Twitter this line, “I just entered to win a #neoHD b/c I have too many remotes, visit (blog.izea.com) to enter”, or enter via blog.izea.com where you can register. But be sure to leave a comment letting them know why you “need” the neoHD and to let them know you entered the contest.

You should also look NeoHD up on facebook, and follow them to keep yourself well informed.

Best of luck in the contest!!  I hope I win, so I can get rid of all these remotes!

The President called the families when he learned  that the journalists were on the plane home, and described the reunion as “a source of  happiness not only for the families but for the entire country.” I would have to agree with him.

The second accomplishment was the confirmation of  Judge Sotomayor as high court justice to the Supreme
Court. This is his statement addressing the conformation. ” I’m filled with pride in this achievement and great confidence that Judge Sotomayor will make an outstanding Supreme Court justice. This is a wonderful day for Judge Sotomayor and her family”.

This week the President met with His Highness Shaykh Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al Sabah, I can barley read that name, never mind saying it,  the Amir of Kuwait in the Oval Office.
He said the two discussed strengthening Kuwaiti-U.S.relations during their meeting. The President also acknowledged that Kuwait had been an outstanding host for the United States Armed Forces during its operations in Iraq.

This week First Lady Michelle Obama was in Norfolk, Virginia on Friday to celebrate
the safe return of the United States Naval Ship Comfort and the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower.  In her speech she stated that “the brave men and women who were aboard the two ships are American heroes, but they truly had a global impact”.

This weekend I heard the first family was in New Hampshire and then they were heading to the cape for their vacation. I am sure there will be a lot of local coverage.

Next week I will hopefully have some pictures of them vacationing on cape cod.

Until next week,
Take care,
Dolly Loving

Tutorvista offers Free math help and Free online math tutoring for any age child in an easy to learn format. The great thing about online tutoring is that it is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so there is no stringent time schedule that your child or you have to meet. It is very convenient to complete these courses and give your child the option of Online math help. Sometimes it is easier for them to learn in the comfort of their own home and at their own pace.

I wish when my daughter was younger that they offered something like this Online math tutor.  She had such a hard time with math and algebra, and I really couldn’t help her because I didn’t do well at either in school.  So she was stuck staying after school to get extra help.  Today, working on the computer at home would be so easy for the children of today, they would think nothing of it and would probably ace it in no time flat!!

They also provide a free demo for first time users,  where you can try the service for free. And the pricing packages are very reasonable too!! You can select one that fits with your budget and your  needs.

1. The Usual Suspects - 1995

Who knew that we would find out the identity of Keyser Sose at the end of the movie….and be totally shocked? It was done so perfectly too. You didn’t see this one coming! Kevin Spacey was at his best in this movie…..you don’t get better! The whole cast was great in this film. You think you have it…then, nope, it wasn’t that guy…..

2. Primal Fear - 1996

You didn’t expect the ending of this movie either! It definitely showed what a great actor Edward Norton was. You just never thought he was so bad! Oh, and Richard Gere getting played was absolutely brilliant! The look on his face is priceless.

3. The Sixth Sense - 1999

I certainly didn’t expect the ending to this movie! Although a lot of people have told me they knew and saw the signs….. I never did and was totally bamboozled at the end! When the kid says “He sees dead people”, he means it!

4. The Crying Game - 1992

Okay, this is probably not a very popular choice, but I have to give credit where credit is due…… When Stephen Rhea goes to find the girlfriend, I don’t think that anybody was expecting to see what we saw…. I think my mouth hit the floor! Total shock!

5. Fight Club - 1999

Another great movie showcasing Edward Norton and his acting abilities. I certainly didn’t expect this ending either! Had I known that the 2 were 1, I might have understood it a bit better, but the ending was awesome…who knew?

6. The Wicker Man - 2006

Okay, I have to admit that I never saw the original, (yes, this is a remake) but I did like this movie and because I hadn’t seen the original, I had no idea that it wasn’t about the
girl at all! Wow…really?

7. Se7en - 1995

How appropriate that the movie “Se7en” would be listed as number 7? Anyway, this movie was a sit on the edge of your seat kind of thriller, that didn’t let up until the end. Another great Kevin Spacey flick…he’s good in this one too. You are shocked at the ending, but it fulfills the last 2 sins, so,the job is done, so to speak.

8. Gone Baby Gone - 2007

I think even though this is a newer movie, that it deserves it’s place on this list. The ending is pivotal and surprising, (even if they dragged it out after the “Wow” factor) and another one that I had no clue about. I was never led in that direction, and I have to say that the thought never crossed my mind.

9. Psycho - 1960

This is the oldest movie on the list, but by far the one with the biggest reaction of it’s time! Back in 1960 there were millions of people who were affected by this movie, and not just the surprise ending. But who new that Mommie Dearest was really dead and good ol’ Norman was off his rocker?

10. Wild Things - 1998

I know I will have many people who might not agree with me on this one, but I don’t care…..This movie literally made my jaw hit the floor. Aside from the full frontal nudity of Kevin Bacon, the ending was a shocker! I never suspected the end at all! I just let them lead me on twisted path, and then, Bammm!
Everything is played out in the end…..Whew…..Glad that’s over.

He suffered a broken shoulder and head injuries that required stitches. His friend, band member and lead guitarist, Joe Perry said that he was flown to Boston to meet with his own Physician, and that the band is waiting for news as to what will happen now with the tour?

It has now been revealed that Aerosmith will cancel quite a few dates in Canada, right through August 15th. But the concert promoter,  Keystone Entertainment says the tour will be rescheduled and those with tickets will be honored, so that is good news for anyone with tickets.  We will wait to see if there are any more announcements.

I remember Aerosmith when they were starting out in the 70’s, and I know that somewhat dates me, but I have to say that I went to so many Aerosmith concerts growing up, that they are one of the best live bands I have ever seen!!  Aerosmith came out of Boston, so we saw a lot of them!

I’m wishing Steven a speedy recovery and hope everything is all right.

Now keep in mind, these are only the movies that made or make me cry (no matter how many times I have seen them) and this list is strictly my opinion. If you have any that you think should be on this list…..let me know!

Get Ready……Grab the Kleenex……
And if you haven’t seen these movies….go out and rent them for a good cry!

1. The Notebook
2. Terms of Endearment
3. Million Dollar Baby
4. Beaches
5. Pay it Forward
6. Bambi
7. E.T.
8. Life is Beautiful
9. Steel Magnolias
10. The English Patient

Now remember, this is only my opinion, and you may have some that should be on this list that I may have forgotten or missed.
But seriously….these movies are tearjerkers!!!

I hope you enjoyed the list!!!

Kat 

There is a lot to pack into these final weeks.  We’ve taken our family vacation and still have a week-long “staycation” coming up.  I’ve been trying to come up with some day trips that would be fun for my teenage girls.  I had a couple of thoughts involving shopping and perhaps a trip to Philadelphia.

As I pondered the best way to get the most out of August, I asked my fourteen year old what she would like to do.  Her answer?  She wants me to teach her how to make a pie.  Never saw that one coming, but it made me realize what is really important.  The kids don’t really care where we go or what we do.  They just want to spend time together.

We’ll still make the excursions to nearby tourist spots and shopping outlets, but we’ll also spend some time at home.

As for the pie, I’m thinking cherry or blueberry.

Enjoy your August everyone!  Don’t let it slip away without doing some of the simple things with your families.

Thank God it is finally over with, on that day msnbc even had a countdown clock on the tv, I mean please media people I know personally I don’t care that much that I need to sit and watch your clock. I hope they will stop talking about this issue that I think got blown way out of proportion.

This week The President announced his 2009 Medal of Freedom Recipients. Here is his statement of about Recipients “These outstanding men and women represent an incredible diversity of backgrounds. Their tremendous
accomplishments span fields from science to sports, from fine arts to foreign affairs. Yet they share one overarching trait: Each has been an agent of change. Some of the Recipients are Nancy Goodman Brinker who is the founder of Susan G. Komen for the Cure and her sister, Billie Jean King is known for winning the famous “Battle of the Sexes” tennis match, and championing gender for equality issues not only in sports, but in all aspects of life, and  Sen. Edward Kennedy who has served for many years in the Senate.

The President also held a tele-town hall meeting on health care with AARP Chief Executive Officer A. Barry Rand, AARP President Jennie Chin Hansen.

The President also addressed the opening session of the first U.S.-China
Strategic and Economic Dialogue at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in
Washington, it was attended by  Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan, and Chinese State
Councilor Dai Bingguo.

These were the highlights of this week at the White House.
Until next week,
Take Care,
Dolly Loving

We’re bound together,
In love with no end,
We’ll go on forever,
With the love our hearts send.

The stress and strife,
Happens now and again,
We’ll always survive,
Old wounds learn to mend.

I’ll savor the feel,
Of your hand in mine,
With a love that will seal,
These hearts for all time.

© Bobbi

The girls and I will definitely be going shopping at some of the specialty boutiques and those antique shops! We may have to ship things home because I doubt there will be room in our suitcases!!

We are also going to take advantage of one of the special deals that they are offering. We are taking advantage of the Sillver Dollar City special and that includes, overnight accommodations at the hotel and a three day park hopper pass for a family of four to Silver Dollar City and White Water!! Woo Hoo….doesn’t that sound like fun??

We are also going to try to get over to the Titanic museum which is a stationary 2 floor museum dedicated to the Titanic, and shaped like the Titanic. We can walk on the “grand staircase” just like Kate and Leo did, and we can touch an iceberg and then shop in the gift shop.

I can’t wait to go to Branson! This will be so much better than I ever expected!!!! I can’t even think about how we will plan our days that don’t involve wedding stuff, there is just so much to do, and I am afraid we won’t have enough time to squeeze it all in?

.

If your life experiences led you to lock your heart up and throw away the key then your heart may be out of shape. If that is the case, you may need to practice living from your heart again, rather than your fearful mind.

Some people live from the heart, those who do are just naturally trusting and loving and appear to believe in the goodness of the the world. I know that is me and I often learn the hard way sometimes. If you live your
life on the lookout for danger, you are probably always on guard and ready to protect yourself against people because you fear them from earlier life experiences, they hurt you when you were in that trusting place.

So today you can decide do you want your heart to be guided full of love or continue to live in a fearful mind. The bravest thing you could ever do is love.
What would it be like to go back to the time you responded from your heart and not your fear filled mind?

You may begin to notice the world is full of more allies, than enemies.
Opening your heart again, you will feel your world expanding. Although it may be hard for you, for just one day act from your heart. Simply say to yourself throughout the day,
“May I listen to my heart”
“May I respond to the world from a place of love”
“May I know I am safe and protected”
“May I know deep trusting love”

I hope this inspires my readers who may need it,  I know it inspired me as well.

Until next week
Take Care,
Dolly Loving

The section entitled “dorm room” is a fun experience, it shows you different dorm rooms already decorated and stocked with the supplies your child may need. The styles vary from funky femme to vintage chic, but the ideas are endless! All purchasable items are shown to you in case you would want to order that for the room yourself.

There is even a section here called “Fill my closet” which shows you the newest and hottest clothes for your student to wear at school. There are many different ideas and selections here to choose from, so many in fact that you may have a hard time just picking a few!

Sears CampusReady on Facebook is available to help your transitioning student with all their needs. There is a dorm room designer here and also a fun roommate matchup. You should head over there to check it out!

There is so much to see and do here, you really need to go over to Sears Campus Ready yourself, and see all of it. Try the checklist though, because that will save you some late night trips and lots of headaches!!

Also Sears and Upromise have teamed up to provide some lucky winners with some serious cash! You can enter every day for a chance to win the $25,000 college sweepstakes. When you enter you could have a chance to win the $10,000 grand prize or one of three $5,000 first prizes. The contest is ending soon, so you better hurry and get your entries in!! Remember to enter every single day! Best of luck to you and your college student!!

This is another amazing story of overcoming adversity, just like the Story of Jasmine, and once again, it is a canine that shows us the way…..

Be prepared to be amazed and awed at the courage, survival and strength this lovely dog has overcome!
This dog was born on Christmas Eve in the year 2002. He was born with 3 legs - 2 healthy hind legs and 1 abnormal front leg which need to be amputated.
He of course could not walk when he was born.
Even his mother did not want him.

His first owner also did not think that he would survive. Therefore, he was thinking of
‘putting him to sleep’.
By this time, his present owner, Jude Stringfellow, met him and wanted to take care
of him. She was determined to teach and train this dog to walk by himself.
Therefore she named him ‘Faith’.

In the beginning, she put Faith on a surfing board to let him feel the movements.
Later she used peanut butter on a spoon as a lure and reward for him to stand up and jump around. Even the other dog at home also helped to encourage him to walk.
Amazingly, only after 6 months, like a miracle, Faith learned to balance on his 2 hind legs and jumped to move forward. After further training in the snow, he now can walk like a human being.

Faith loves to walk around now. No matter where he goes, he just attracts all the people around him.
He is now becoming famous on the international scene. He has appeared
on various newspapers and TV shows.

There is even one book entitled ‘With a little faith’ being published about him.
He was even considered to appear in one of Harry Potter movies.

His present owner Jude Stringfellew has given up her teaching post and plans to take him around the world to teach that even without a perfect body, one can have a perfect soul’.

In life there are always undesirable things. Perhaps one will feel better if one changes the point of view from another direction.

I hope this message will bring fresh & new ways of thinking to everyone and that everyone can appreciate and be thankful for each beautiful day that follows..
Faith is the continual demonstration of the Strength of Life.

** Editors note:

I hope you enjoyed this story of Faith…if so, let me know.

Kat  :)  It definitely puts a smile on my face!

Screaming box that taunts
Begging to be shattered

Burying, hiding, unaccepting
Blankets pulled tight to secure darkness

Luminosity at it’s peak, more demanding,
Eyes now cajoled, compelled open

Concrete body thick with other world visions
Barely convinced to let go, to rise above

The scent of newness and sun and caffeine
Ready to dismiss all rest and inspired by novelty

Taking the dreams along as party favors
Weaving them into a walking existence

Smiles with pancakes, grins with juice,
Sweet residual joy from the journey

BIO:  Sue De La Bruere is a freelance writer who shares her suburban Chicago home with endlessly supportive husband, Scott, and moderately brilliant kids, Bradley and Paige. Sue received her  degree in Psychology from Northern Illinois University and can be reached at allwritenow@comcast.net.

Debbie Rowe will have visitation rights with her two biological children, Prince Michael, 12, and Paris, 11, under the terms of the agreement that they hashed out on Thursday.

The biological mother of Michael Jackson’s third child, Prince Michael II, 7, also known as Blanket, has never been revealed. So there will be no custody battle there.

Katherine Jackson who is 79 years old, was granted temporary custody of all 3 children after Michael died from a cardiac arrest on June 25.

Michael had stipulated in his 2002 will that he wanted his mother to care for the children, but following his death, Debbie Rowe seemed about to challenge Katherine Jackson’s custody. So a hearing for the custody was set up for Monday.

“Mrs. Jackson and the family are pleased this matter is resolved and was handled in a caring, thoughtful and courteous manner by the parties and their representatives,” Londell McMillan, Katherine Jackson’s attorney, said in a statement.  “We were all united in our goals to do what is best for Michael’s wonderful children, and both Mrs. Jackson and Debbie Rowe were on the exact same page,” McMillan said.

Eric George, who is an attorney for Debbie Rowe, said in a statement that the agreement was a “dignified outcome.” “The sole consideration between the parties was the best interests of the children,” he said.

Also at stake here, Michael left his estate, valued at more than $500 million in an attachment to his will, to a family trust that benefits his children, his mother and numerous charities.

The major portion of his estate is his part ownership in the music publishing company of Sony/ATV, which owns old Beatles tunes and hundreds of songs from other artists and that has been estimated to be worth as much as $1 billion. It is also rumored that Micheal was said to be as much as $500 million in debt when he died.

Since his death, Jackson’s songs and CDs have rocketed in popularity, and there is loads of  speculation about future DVDs, movies and TV projects in the works that could add value to the Jackson estate.  All just to make more money… sad….

The coroner’s report on the cause of Michael Jackson’s death is still waiting for the toxicology reports and other test results.The toxicology report had been expected as soon as this week, but a spokesman for the Los Angeles coroner’s office said on Thursday it has been delayed indefinitely.

Los Angeles police are looking into whether doctors provided Jackson with powerful prescription drugs, including the anesthetic propofol, which could have led to his death. There are U.S. drug agents also looking into this.

After a very public memorial for the singer earlier this month, Michael Jackson’s private burial arrangements still have not been announced and his body remains at a Los Angeles mortuary.  He still has not been laid to rest?? What is wrong with this picture?? It seems like everyone is more concerned about his money and his estate, rather than laying him to rest!!

I forgot to put the  Patio Furniture Covers on my outdoor furniture and now the furniture is as good as ruined! What I needed to do at the end of last season was to put the Patio Chair Covers on the chairs and the Patio Table Covers on the tables. I can’t believe I didn’t buy them and do it last fall. But this was my first year with outdoor furniture, and I didn’t realize that the elements would be so harsh on it?

This year I am already planning on buying a set of Patio Table and Chair Covers to protect the new set of furniture we just had to buy. They have some really pretty ones now, and the patterns on them are lovely!! I also found some that fit the furniture that I bought, which was nice considering that sometimes, some places only sell the basic sizes or a one size fits all cover. But this was nice, I can get some to fit even the unusual size chairs that we bought.

Trust me, this won’t be happening again after this year! I will now have all the required Patio Covers that I need for the end of this season! And now I know that my patio furniture will last more than one year, because it will not be exposed to the elements!

Also, you can consider using other fresh fruits if peaches are not yet in season, or you don’t have any. This recipe can be made with mangoes, blueberries, blackberries, or strawberries, just substituting the peaches for the other fruit. This recipe is very flexible and yummy!

INGREDIENTS

* 8 fresh peaches - peeled, pitted and sliced into thin wedges
(to peel peaches, you can use a knife or vegetable peeler, or
place the peaches in boiling water for about 60 seconds,
remove and plunge into cold water. The skins should slip
right off.)
* 1/4 cup white sugar
* 1/4 cup brown sugar
* 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
* 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
* 4 teaspoons cornstarch
*
* 1 cup all-purpose flour
* 1/4 cup white sugar
* 1/4 cup brown sugar
* 1 teaspoon baking powder
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, chilled and cut into small pieces
* 1/4 cup boiling water
*
* MIX TOGETHER:
* 3 tablespoons white sugar
* 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F   (220 degrees C).
2. In a large bowl, combine the peaches, 1/4 cup white sugar, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon juice, and cornstarch. Toss mixture to coat the peaches evenly, and pour everything into a 2 quart baking dish. Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the flour, 1/4 cup white sugar, 1/4 cup brown sugar, baking powder, and salt. Blend in the butter with your fingertips, or a pastry blender, until the mixture resembles sort of a coarse meal. Stir in the water until it is just combined.
4. Remove the peaches from oven, and drop spoonfuls of the topping over them. Sprinkle the entire cobbler with the sugar and cinnamon mixture. Bake until topping is golden, about 30 minutes.

Top with your favorite toppings and enjoy!!!

I have posted the video below so you can see what touched Shauna’s heart, and I am sure it will touch yours too, love knows no boundries, especially if you are in the military, serving our country in Iraq, and really want to propose to your girlfriend here in the United States. What he did was send an email to Robbins Brothers and asked them to help him with his special engagement, and being the kind of jewelry store that they are, especially geared towards customer service, they did just that!! Please watch below…

Wasn’t that the sweetest thing?? And did you see the ring? Beautiful and amazing are the only words that come to mind.

The television show “Extreme Makeover” also used Robbins Brothers when they were doing a show and had a special engagement to reveal. (Robbins Brothers specializes in perfect proposals) So when Ty Pennington had to set up the proposal with the perfect ring, he turned to Robbins Brothers too!! Poor Preston was the one sent on the search for the perfect ring, and he was totally freaking out, until the customer representative reminded him that the proposal wasn’t for or from him!! Then he settled down to find the perfect ring, and the matching wedding bands for the happy couple.

Another nice and touching video to watch……

I am so happy for Shauna and Robert and I wish them all the happiness in the world!! She is on cloud nine right now, and calling all the girls to let us know…and sharing their special story with all of us.
Just in case she can’t get in touch with everyone…I know they read this blog, so I am letting them know too!! Shauna and Robert are also going to share their story with all of their friends and relatives by creating their own Engagement web site, right at RobbinsBros.com. This is a special service that I don’t know of any other jeweler offering? They also let you sign up for their mailing list so that you can receive news and information on exclusive offers, contests and special events. I am going to have to sign up now.

Best of luck, and a long and happy life ~ Shauna and Robert!

Here are Wanda’s instructions…..

INGREDIENTS:

A deep fryer or Dutch oven filled with hot canola oil.
1 egg
1 cup self rising corn meal
1/2 cup self rising flour
1 onion chopped in very small pieces
1 teaspoon baking powder
Pour and stir in enough milk to make a moist mixture with all of the ingredients listed above

Mix and drop by tablespoons into the hot canola oil. Fry until golden brown all around. Remove from the oil and place on paper towels to drain off excess oil.

These are delicious with seafood or barbeque. Also, if you have extra batter, it will stay fresh to cook the next day if it is covered and placed in the refrigerator.

A BIG Thank you to Wanda for this most delicious recipe!! And for sharing something that those of us up North don’t get to hear of or try.  But you really need to try these, as I said, they are delicious and yummy!!!

:)  Kat

The person who has the most views on their widget is the one who will win the $1000.00. But I just like the idea that having this widget handy on my blog will give me the oppotunity to see where we can go and what we can do on any given day.
It doesn’t matter what city or state you live in…this widget lets you put in your city, state or zip code to find events and happenings in your specific area. Or if you are planning a day trip to another city, you can put that in the widget and see what is available to do in that particular city. I think this is just the greatest idea!

You can have this widget on your own blog, for up to date information on fun games, activities and events that are happening in your area. Just click on the link for Parents Connect and you can enter your information to get your very own widget!! You can even enter it on Facebook, MySpace or other social networking site if you don’t have a blog.

Go ahead and try it now….see what’s happening by you!! Just type your city, state or zip code in the box, and hit enter, and you will see the activities and events in your area. You can even plan ahead by changing the date to see upcoming events!!
TRY IT NOW!

Enter today, or just install this wonderful widget to help with your summer planning activities!!! Good Luck!!!

We have a new quiz every week, and they include all kinds of movie trivia, from quotes to tag-lines to selecting who was in the named movies….

Try our newest quiz and let me know how you do ?? And you can go back and play the ones you might have missed too! Just go to our  Movie Trivia Page.                                   

.

Now there is new meaning,
With feelings that persist,
That the fairytale I’m living,
Is so hard to resist.

Never want these feeling to end,
Can’t imagine living without this feeling,
The happiness your heart sends,
Even if it leaves me reeling.

With the magic of your smile,
To take my breath away,
And eyes that manage to beguile,
Where lost I long to stay.

This is what the fairytales state,
A paradise that’s right off the page,
With love that’s not sedate,
Played out on a real life stage.

© Bobbi

But they specifically went down there to buy a franchise in Tampa Bay, FL because they knew relatives that had done the same thing and were making a pretty good living in Florida all the while having their own business! They even met with the same consulting service because they said that their relatives had had such a good experience with them, and they have become successful resteraunters.

Donna hasn’t told me what kind of business they are looking for, but I just know that they will be successful no matter what they decide on. They are both hard working individuals who have their sites set on their own business, and they couldn’t make that happen up here in Massachusetts.

I wish them all the success in the world!! And a special thank you to their consultant who put them on the right path!

No I am really not that excited LOL. Even though my chances would probably be slim and none, there is a small part of me that would love the opportunity to see him and his family in person.

I live about two hours from where they are staying. The are heavily protected but since I have followed his presidency I have seen them come out to meet the people.

Well at least I have a few weeks to think about if I would take the trip down there. This is the press release I found yesterday.
The Obamas’  will vacation this summer at Martha’s Vineyard late next month, The Vineyard Gazette reported Friday that the first family has leased the Blue Heron Farm, a 28.5-acre spread worth $20 million that offers a pool, golf tee and basketball court, along with a Victorian farm house. A reconstructed Pennsylvania barn and a Vermont shed there that date back to the 1800s.

Sounds like a gorgeous place. I hope they get some well deserved rest and privacy like we all have.

The rest of this week was non stop talk about the Health Care Reform. The President held a primetime press conference focused on the reform, the President explained what’s in it for us and our families. Some of it still confuses me, but the jest of it is reduces health care costs, all across the board, the democrats and the republicans agreeing on a way to pay for universal health care. For the most part the commentators all agree it will get passed but not before the summer break in congress, but probably in September.

This week President Barack Obama had the honor of meeting with Apollo 11 astronauts, in the picture from the left is Buzz Aldrin, Michael Collins, and Neil Armstrong, in the Oval Office on the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing. He called the Apollo 11 astronauts “American heroes” and praised the entire NASA family for making that iconic flight possible.  He also noted how the men’s accomplishment served as inspiration for a generation, and reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to math and science.

Speaking of math and science this week the Obama Administration is beginning the “Race to the Top” to reform our schools. To win the race, states have to have standards and tests that prepare students to succeed in college and careers. They’ll need to recruit and reward excellent teachers and principals. They must have  data systems to track students’ progress and to identify effective teachers.
They must identify their lowest-performing schools and take dramatic action to turn them around.

I am glad that now I am not a teacher or a student, although I am sure the children will benefit from this program, I just hope it does not become as stressful as the mcast here in Massachusetts.

Until next week,
Take Care,
Dolly Loving

We can learn to  be this  way with our own feelings. No matter what’s going on around us, through the cultivation of awareness and mindfulness of the moments we can establish a place within us that  is stable, unchanging.

The next time when the world around you throws you for a loop, simply say to yourself this loving kindness meditation.

“May I find a place of stability and  stillness within myself”

If you stay focused on this intention you will find calm in our ever changing world.

Until Next week,
Take Care,
Dolly Loving

“Stop it,” I bark at him in a tone that even I don’t recognize, “or at least make it quick and don’t linger!!”

“Believe me, Honey, I won’t”, Scott retorted and sullenly headed towards the door.

His mood already dampened even my reassuring yelp of “I love you!” as the front door gingerly shuts does little to alleviate the damage.

Such is the beginning of another day of peri-menopause and believe me when I say that this little slice of my life is kicking my butt. I had prepared myself to embrace this PMS-free chapter, but the welcoming spirit has thus far escaped me. Here are some highlights.

Put Away That Red Bull: There is no need for energy drinks when my body is already in overdrive. I had expected lethargy with the onset of a hormonal shift, but what I got was energy to spare. Although I now awaken each morning at about 4:00, I compel myself to stay in bed and pinch tight my eyes trying to force through another two
hours of slumber.  Giving in to alertness at 4:30 I leap from bed and put on my slippers. As a courtesy to my dozing husband, I carefully place the dog up under the covers in my position so he needn’t sleep alone (I know, remove one bitch only to insert another). Do you realize what you can get accomplished when the house is quietly yours for two blissful hours? I quickly learned, though, that while writing and folding laundry are acceptable pre-dawn tasks, vacuuming and running the garbage disposal are not. What a bunch of complainers.

Welcome To My Zoo: Poor Scott never knows each evening if he is crawling into bed with a tigress or a cold fish. My sex drive runs the gamut from honeymoon phase to honey-not-now phase with very little middle ground. It is also likely to switch gears swiftly and just seconds after I have given Scott a serious cold shoulder, I can be found crossing my arms in pouty “Why Don’t You Love Me Anymore?” mode and wondering aloud where the romance has gone. It is an odd game of Affection Red Light/Green Light and my husband is always left scratching his head.

Thermostat Thy Name Is Sue: Hot. Cold. Broiling. Freezing. Roasting. Glacial. And nothing in between. I no longer even bother to ask, “Is it hot in here or is it me?” because the answer has consistently been a weary “Good grief, it’s YOU” for the past 9 months.

Losing My Mind: The following two stories happened in just the last week. It had been cool in the Chicago area for several days so our air conditioner was set to the off position. When it started to warm up and I quickly flicked the switch on the thermostat in an effort to cool our abode down. Minutes later it was still much too warm for my taste, but I chalked it up to you-know-what. An hour passed in my too hot house until I was ready to call Scott to register a complaint (by far his favorite kind of phone call to get from me!). I walked by the thermostat on my way to grab the phone, when I noticed the stifling culprit — it was set to “Heat” not “Cool”. Duh. A few day later one of Scott’s employees called to say that he was unable to cash his most recent paycheck. Annoyed, I reassured him that there was plenty of money as I had just moved ample funds into that account just hours before I wrote the checks. Logging onto our bank account I was alarmed to see a zero balance in checking. Zero? Nil? Nada dinero? My heart raced and visions of bankruptcy and identity thievery flew through my head. Then I saw it — in an effort to transfer funds from the savings account to the checking account, I had moved money the wrong direction and emptied the checking account instead. Thankfully, I was able to move all pennies back to their rightful place and apologized profusely. Major and potentially costly duh.

This is not fun. This is roller coaster ride meets Sybil. This is living in a body that I no longer recognize and have sparse control over. This is a husband that, though patient to a fault, is about at the end of his loving rope. This is a sixteen year old that finds this all endlessly hysterical and a six year old that has taken on the task of fanning Mommy. This is, quite simply, the next chapter.

By
Sue De La Bruere

BIO:  Sue De La Bruere is a freelance writer who shares her suburban Chicago home with endlessly supportive husband, Scott, and moderately brilliant kids, Bradley and Paige. Sue received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Northern Illinois University and can be contacted at allwritenow@comcast.net.

We all know about body fat, we hate it and would luv nothing more than to never ever have to worry about it. You have heard about the BMI (body mass index). It is a way to test the ratio of ones body fat. It is when the doctor or trainer pinches a bit of your skin under your arm and on your side with that funny looking pincher thing and then looks at you funny.
In this article, I would like to share a few thoughts on body image and the beautiful professional models that are making some people a whole lot of money at expense of their well being.
My thoughts were started from a post I ran across sometime ago.  The post was in regards to a newspaper article, which talks about runway or catwalk models in Spain and how they are now having to pass with a much higher BMI result in order to be contracted. As I did, you are probably thinking, it is about time the models were allowed to gain some fat. At the same time I remembered sometime in the past when we had the Twiggy era, remember her? (yes, yes I am that old)
Ok, hold that thought and I will return to it later in this article…..

More on this article…..follow this link… http://www.womensselfesteem.com/articles/article/1967110/128528.htm

Another thing I liked about these electric cigarettes is that they are customizable. You can get them in different colors and flavors to suit your mood and taste. Since you are not smoking a real cigarette anyway, why be tied into the boring hum drum looking plain white cigarettes? I would want a bold design on mine!

Also, The Electric Cigarette comes in two parts, one being the cartridge (with the nicotine in) and the other being the battery. Each cartridge lasts for about 330 puffs which is close to two packs of regular cigarettes. The batteries (you get two in the starter kit) look very much like a traditional cigarette in weight and appearance and they are easily rechargeable. Each battery takes an hour or less to be fully charged. The larger battery lasts for a whole day and the smaller battery is perfect for short outings. You can use the USB charger kit, and charge your batteries at home or in the office right on your computers USB port, or you can use the wall adapter and charge the batteries that way. They also offer a car charger, so you can always have your batteries ready to go!

This is also about half the price of regular tobacco cigarettes and it comes with a 30 day money back guarantee, and a one year guarantee on any of their products. Not many companies will offer you that!

Now, they don’t mention anywhere that this will help you quit smoking, but I think it is definitely a step in the right direction! You will still get the nicotine which is the addictive part, but without all the other bad junk, I think this is the preferable way to smoke.

Just imagine how nice it would be to not have your clothes and hair smell of cigarette smoke any more? Or how about your car?? Gee, my car smells awful. You no longer would have to worry about the head or a hot ash falling off and burning either you, your clothes or your furniture. There would be no more need for ashtrays that look unsightly and smell just as bad. Boy, the benefits are adding up, and looking better to me all the time!

Here is the quick video showing you all about Cigarti’s electric cigarette…

I have been to the website, and looked everything over very carefully and also have read the testimonials from many different authorities, and I have to say that I am really impressed by this Electric Cigarette. Just imagine if we could get all smokers to switch over to this?? WOW!

Let me know what you think??
Kat

Soon I forget about the not so distant ‘noise’ and begin to tune into the children’s laughter that drifts through the backyards all across our little neighborhood.

I remember the summers of my youth and how it seems that it was only then that I could truly indulge in my childhood. When the days are long and the temperature outside is warm long into the evening: this is when chores are done, early bed times are put aside, and parents sometimes relax.

Rules become less rigid. We eat outside instead of at the dinner table. Our voices are never  hushed out of doors, and brothers and sisters require each others company for a myriad of games from cartoon tag to kick-the-can.

Often these games consist of an older sibling playing some harmless but seemingly cruel trick on a younger sibling. You know- like during the umpteenth round of hide-and-go-seek one or more of the hiders decides to stay hidden leaving the poor little finder to suddenly realize he’s all alone causing him to bursts into a blubbering blob of inconsolable momma’s boy. Either that or your own giggles give you away just as the little seeker begins to really panic.

I remember lightening bugs when I was a child living in Kentucky and as well when we lived in Iowa. But here on the West Coast they don’t even seem to exist. That’s probably a good thing for the bugs though. My sister and I used to collect as many as we could then peel their sticky little glowing butts right off and wear them as jewelry for the next 20 minutes that they would continue to glow. (Then flick them onto each other and go find more. )

My daughter gets out of the pool and says she’s ready to go inside. But I am not. I do begin however, to realize how dark it’s gotten and that I’ve been writing by the light of the glow coming from the hallway just inside the back door. While I stall she decides to play with the cats and tromps through the not so manicured yard and kicks up some wayward mint. A warm summer breeze wafts through my little corner of the world and I just don’t want this night to end.

Now inside the house, she’s flicking on lights right and left. And with each one a little bit more of my backyard after sunset serenity is poofed away. I no longer hear the sounds of her splashing in the pool, her chirpy happy voice as she talks me through her play and the neighborhood kids as well have worn themselves out and turned in. I now again am very aware of the roaring highway behind me and the rumbling Main St. out front. The shadow of my hand as I write in this old college ruled theme book is making it ever more difficult to see what I’m writing. I suppose I must succumb and wrap it up.  Come to think of it, a tall frosty Root Beer Float sounds just wonderful enough to make me put the pen down and head inside as well.

Laura Leigh

With this awesome app, you can search millions of apartments and homes for rent all over the country, just by typing in the city, state or zip code, or even by using the handy GPS that comes with it. You can make notes on certain apartments you have seen and whether you like them or not, if it will need work, if it seems perfect, just whatever, and you can do that right on the listing so that you don’t forget what it looked like. You can take a picture and make a note that you would definitely have to change that orange flowered wallpaper in the kitchen, and save it for later. This will come in handy if you are looking at a lot of places in one day or even over the course of a week. You can also send listings and photos of the property to your friends and family right on Facebook! Share your thoughts and ideas with them, and get their feedback to help you with your decision.

The best part about this application is that you can search for listings in many different ways, for example, you can put in your price range, and it will show you only listings within that price range. Or you can put in how many bedrooms or bathrooms you want and it will show you those listings. There are so many ways you can filter your search so that only those listings that are perfect for you will be displayed.

The best thing about this new application for the iPhone, is that it is FREE!! What could be better than that?? Please go on over to the iPhone store and download your own copy today!! It will be a big help to you in finding your perfect place to rest your head.

Just watch this quick 3 minute video that will give you a walkthrough of the MyNewPlace Application and show you all you can do with it, it really is amazing!!

When you first visit a web page on Opera Mini, you look at a smaller version of the page.  With the track ball or by hitting shortcut keys (2: up, 8: down, 6: right, 4: left) a box will frame the part of the page you want to see.  When you click on that area, the page expands so you can view the content.  The shortcut keys make it much easier to view websites and blogs.  The 5 key allows you to zoom in on content.

Another handy feature of Opera Mini is that it allows you to search the text of a web page so you can find information faster.
All in all, I find Opera Mini much easier to use than the BlackBerry browser.  I think is a matter of preference.  It does take a little getting used to, but once you get the hang of it, the speed and clear layout will win most people over.

All eyes this week were focused on the Senate Judiciary Committee and the confirmation hearings for Supreme Court Nominee, Judge Sonia Sotomayor.
In her  opening statement, Judge Sotomayor pledged a “fidelity to the law”.

I watched some of the hearings and I couldn’t help but feel bad for her, to have to go through tough questions day after day, but I know it is what has to be done.

This week on my local news they were reporting that the President and his family are expected to visit Martha’s Vineyard  in August.

Below is the link to the story.

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/newsarchive/20079364/detail.html?taf=bos

If any of our readers live in the area and know of any information about this trip I would love for you to contact me here at the magazine.  It is not that far away from me and I would love an opportunity to go there and possibly catch a glimpse of the Obama family or a picture if I could get so lucky!!!

Until next week,
Take Care,
Dolly Loving

I don’t have a treadmill, but if I did I would want to try the Treadmill Workouts, because I have listened to the demos and they sound like so much fun!! Oh, I should mention that you can listen to a quick excerpt from each of the workouts prior to paying your $0.99 for them! There are so many to choose from, including walking/cardio (my favorite) that has 2  different levels, and also a high impact cardio workout, and she has the most amazing chair workouts, that you can do while sitting at your desk at work, or even at home as you work on your computer. Again, these workouts are under a dollar and you can listen to a quick preview prior to downloading. Plus there are other workouts that you can check out while you are there!

I used to belong to a gym, and with the economy the way it is, I found that the gym was one of the first things I had to cut from my budget!  So I said to myself that I would continue to work out at home, only as usual, it never happened.

So imagine my surprise when I found that I could work out for under a dollar? Yes, you heard me right, under $1.00! And it is so very easy! You just download the workouts either to your computer or your IPod or MP3 player, and you can listen to the motivational encouragement that you get with each download, that is set to many different songs and beats. It definitely gets your heart pumping and your legs moving, you can’t help but to move to the music that is chosen for each workout. I use mine with a small step, right here in my house, and it makes it easy to exercise.

And if you are looking for additional songs for your workout after you have mastered them, and want to hear something different to do your workouts to, you can always download Marina’s 50 cent Workout Songs so that you can keep exercising! All the songs are recorded by Marina and I happen to think that not only does she give me that inspiration I need to be motivated to exercise, but she has a lovely voice too! It is nice to hear the same voice instead of some over the top disco song playing while the instructor is trying to give you directions. This is much nicer and easier to listen to. She also lets you know how many heart beats per minute you will be working at, and it is listed on the downloads when you view them too.

Marina has been featured in many popular magazines including Health, Woman’s World, Prevention, Billboard, and Newsweek just to name a few. She herself lost 100 pounds by walking to her own music and programs!

This is such an easy way to lose weight and get in shape, I only wish I would have found this prior to spending a fortune on gym fees!!!

Honestly, I don’t know what my big hurry is ~ ~ step it up so that I can get what, exactly, accomplished? Living in a house as rambunctious as our feels like shoveling snow in the midst of a blizzard. For every juice box I salvage from the kitchen table, two more will materialize. For every 2 socks I save from Bradley’s floor, 6 more will appear. For every newspaper section I retrieve from….oh, wait….that’s me, the newspaper reader. But you get my point.

Husband Scott  is just about the worst, as far a slow moving goes. He is laid back, nearly to a fault. It’s so ironic that what I adored and admired about him as we were dating (and the 25 years of pre-dating friendship) — easygoing, even tempered, punctilious — is driving me nutty now. Come on, buddy, get a little fire in your belly! Must it take 3 minutes to back the car out of the driveway? Move it, move it, move it! The more I bitch, the more he intentionally begins to act like a two toed sloth walking uphill backwards while blindfolded.

This sort of passive aggressive behavior amuses only him.  If I ask him a series of question…”Hey, how about chicken for dinner? And ya wanna watch that Bruce Willis movie tonight? Oh, did you get the mail yet?”…his response is a predictable “Uh huh”. Excuse me?! “Uh Huh” to WHAT? So I have to back up, slowly enunciate each question and patiently await his slow and deliberate response.

I…..am….Scott…responding… so…..very….slowly…until…I….drive…you…insane.

Good grief, by the time all syllables leave his slow motion lips I could care less about the damn chicken and I am out the door to get the mail myself.

The University of Michigan did a study several years back to analyze the efficacy of multi-tasking. The determination was that juggling several duties at once did not improve either overall performance or efficiency. Further, it was revealed that multi-tasking actually may lead to short term memory loss and may very well even make you “stupid”. Ouch.

I don’t buy it. Maybe this scenario works if all tasks are complex, but in my Stay At Home Mom/Freelance Writing world, many tasks are just simply banal and repetitive. Laundry….every day. Cooking…three times a day. Pick up miscellaneous junk in every room of the house…every moment of every hour. Drive people here, there and everywhere…all the time. Mail and email pieces to editors…daily, if I’m lucky.

So if I can do more than one thing at once, why wouldn’t I? You know, I am not exactly doing brain surgery in this house ~ more like brain draining. I just try to keep these dawdling single-taskers dressed, fed and healthy. Oh, and happy too. I didn’t mention that? Really? Yes, that is at the top of the list ~ happy, happy, joy, joy. Even if it means pouring bowls of cereal while calling my Mother on the phone as I  pick up Polly Pockets with my oh so limber toes. It’s only when Polly is floating in a cereal bowl and the phone gets put in the fridge that I think those researchers may be on to something. What was it again that they were studying?

by:
Sue De La Bruere

When my computer broke the last time, I had to have the whole hard drive wiped clean, to basically start from scratch. That meant I lost pretty much all my information that was stored in the computer. I had to use an external hard drive to copy what I could that wasn’t infected and store it until I got my stripped down computer back.

Now, when I did get it back, and brought it home to hook it up again, it seemed like nothing worked! Oh sure, it turned on and went to my now pretty naked desktop, but my printers didn’t work, and my scanner didn’t work, and my sound card didn’t work. How frustrating! It kept saying it couldn’t find the computer drivers, and lord only knows where I put the discs and the instructions, because I have had this computer for some time now and I am not highly organized!

Enter Driver Access to my rescue! This is a wonderful program that helped me in a big way!! From the free scan they offer to let you know which drivers for your computer need to be updated, to the vast amount of drivers that they have in their program for you to download. Let me back up a bit….

I was online searching for an updated driver for my laser printer and had done a Google search to try to find one, and what I found instead was Driver Access. This program had not only the laser printer driver that I was looking for, it also had the sound driver and the scanner driver! I thought I had hit the pot of gold!!

There were also some Windows XP drivers that needed to be reinstalled to help my computer run better.  Driver Access  gives you this information right up front when you do the totally free scan, and then you can decide to purchase this software once you find out what you need.  They have over a million different drivers in their database and it is updated daily, 365 days a year, so that they offer the most up to date and accurate drivers for your computer.

There is also a money back guarantee, although I don’t see why you would ever use it?? You will know exactly what you need and what they can provide for you before you even purchase the software, so the guarantee, although it is very nice, didn’t even enter my mind.

What they were able to help me do was nothing short of amazing!! To have my broken old computer up and running again, and running better than it ever was, was more than I could have asked for.  I know that many people were having problems with running Windows Vista and their old printers, faxes and all the other things they had hooked up to their old computer.  You certainly don’t want to have buy all new hardware just because you bought a new computer, but most people aren’t able to use their old hardware without updated drivers.  If you are having problems with any of the drivers for your computer, or you are just lost when it comes to installing a new component, try Driver Access.

They Helped Me!

We can give ourselves a sense of peace when we can begin to face life just as it is, no artificially induced highs, no special protections from things going “wrong”, just accepting life in all it’s raw beauty, challenge, pain and joy.

The next time you find yourself trying to control the uncontrollable, do this instead.
Use the practices of loving kindness say to yourself

“May this practice help me open to the world as it its, no matter what is happening”

The next time you find yourself closing down to the pain or unwanted experiences, try instead to open your heart to the experiences no matter what is happening.
Let an expansive, all embracing feeling take root in your heart and open your arms to the pain or discomfort, just as you would to a young child running towards you for an embrace.

Simply say to yourself

” I accept all aspects of my life’s experiences”  and you will notice that embracing the bad with the good with loving arms will transform all of your life experiences.

Until next week,
Take Care,
Dolly Loving

You can get life insurance quotes from a variety of companies and do the comparisons to find the best deal possible. If you are a smoker, you probably have been told you are at a high risk for insurance policies. Well, there are companies that will offer you insurance so that if anything happens to you, your family will be taken care of. Just a harsh reality.

If you are looking for term life insurance, then you can always get an instant quote to find the best rates and to find one that is affordable to you and your family.  I know that life insurance is probably not high on your list of priorities right now, with the way the economy is, but this is something that you need to think about and act on, before it is too late.

There are so many different types of insurance out there, there is burial insurance that will cover the cost of burial, there is a family life insurance plan, a divorce term insurance (maybe not a bad idea?),  diabetic life insurance, smokers insurance (that I mentioned before), pilots life insurance, and mortgage coverage insurance.  There are so many things to think about when it comes to insurance that it is well worth looking into and finding out the quotes that are offered before making any decision as important as this one.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and President Barack Obama signed documents to reduce nuclear arms at the Kremlin in Moscow Monday, July 6, 2009.

Watching the two of them sign this document I could feel they were both sincere and it gave me hope for our future together.

Then the President and his family went to Italy and met with Pope Benedict the XV. It must have been so inspirational to walk through the Vatican.

The last part of their trip was the most significant because it was the first time a African American President stepped foot in the country of Ghana. Crowds gathered everywhere to see him and wave the American flag. He addressed the Ghanaian Parliament with a speech entitled, “A New Moment of Promise.” This is a part of what he said to the Parliament. “It is a great honor for me to be in Accra and to speak to the representatives of the people of Ghana. I am deeply grateful for the welcome that I’ve received, as are Michelle and Malia and Sasha  Obama.  Ghana’s history is rich, the ties between our two countries are strong, and I am proud that this is my first visit to sub-Saharan Africa as President of the United States of America.”

He spoke honestly as well that we are willing to help them in anyway and also noted the need for Africans to take control and responsibility for their successes and failures.

For America and the world,
it was a very historical and inspiration week.

I included a video of the President throwing out the first pitch at the all star game this week, what stood out to me is it shows his he is still in touch with the common man and not just the ones with status, you will know what I mean when he goes over to the golf cart with one of the greatest St. Louis players ever to get the ball to throw out.

Until next week,
Take Care,
Dolly Loving

Some were in shock, some were brought to tears, but none of us wanted to talk. We were digesting all we just witnessed.

Pedophilia, child abuse, however you perceive what just transpired will shake your resolve to the very core.

These two people, Ray and Una, come together years after the fact. The audience feels like a fly on the wall uncomfortable eavesdropping on a very personal reunion. We’re left unsure if we’ve just seen a confrontation or the closure needed at the end of loss.

William Petersen and Mattie Harkinson were so believable the characters actually came to life before our eyes.

This play is not for the faint of heart. Yet I have to say it’s a must see.

© Bobbi

We have a new quiz every week, and they include all kinds of movie trivia, from quotes to tag-lines to selecting who was in the named movies….

Try our newest quiz and let me know how you do ?? Oh, and you can go back and play the ones you might have missed too! Just go to the Movie Trivia Page.

.

Did you know that there are a lot of errors or inaccurate entries on most peoples credit reports? This is what lenders look at to assess whether you are high risk or not to loan money to, and if your credit report has inaccurate information on it, it could be preventing you from obtaining that one thing you have been wanting or needing.

This company can help you with credit repair, and get you on your way into that new home or car. They offer a Satisfaction Guarantee, and to work with you to get your credit report accurate and up to date. The most important thing to them is to help you obtain your good credit standing once again, even if you aren’t looking to buy a house or something else.

They are also offering a bonus e-book, the “Insider’s Guide to Success” that will give you some guidelines to follow towards your own financial success. The tips in this e-book show you how to get ahead financially, you can learn how to get a mortgage with a little or no down payment, learn how to budget your money so that there is money left over at the end of the month, there is a great tip on how to get a great price when you go shopping for that new car, and so much more, and best of all, it’s free!!

Your bad credit will not fix itself, and if you haven’t been able to correct it on your own, why not try this company and see how much they can help you?

This thing is a monster. Long and sleek, featuring a bathroom with shower, full bed, couch, microwave, air conditioning, flat screen TV, DVD player and more. Far from roughing it, this would be like traveling in my first studio apartment. Better, in fact, because this contraption had a door to the bedroom.

Still, with a 6 year old and a 16 year old I was sure that we would feel like trapped rats. Our two children can be equally moody and a hissy fit in our spacious 2-story home would be more manageable than some tantrum in this tin box. At home we can always holler “To your bedroom” or “Sit in the dining room for 10 minutes”. Not so in the RV.

Besides the claustrophobia factor, I was worried about Scott driving this beast. A big gust of wind over Iowa or a rain storm in Nebraska or the hilly highways of Colorado was sure to put my back seat driving compulsion into overdrive. And it did. Scott has an amazing ability to simply dismiss things around him and this skill came in quite handy in dealing with my “Watch it!” and “You’re too close to that Honda!” shrieks.

I was exhausted by monitoring his driving and somewhere outside of Omaha demanded that he just let me take the wheel. How hard could it be? Feeling very confident, I scooted into the drivers seat while trying to ignore the smirk on Scott’s handsome face. I gave the beast some gas and nothing. More gas, more nothingness. One more stomp of my right foot, more certain this time, and finally we inched up the highway a dozen or so inches. Pushing until my leg cramped we made it up to 35 mph several moments later and an eternity later we were a respectable 60 mph.

I pretended that driving this rolling hunk of tin was no big deal, but it is darn near unmanageable. A stiff wind and it feels like we will toppled over. A semi passing by feels like a tsunami. I smiled and drove, all the while shaking inside. I handed the wheel back to a more accomplished Scott by the time we hit Lincoln and admitted defeat over the beast.

We made it safe and sound to Colorado Springs, having neither blown off the highway nor harmed each other in a caged up rage. Those fears of tantrums and entrapment faded quickly as the theme each day was get out and have fun. The rental car we picked up at the airport made day trips possible, so we never had the opportunity to annoy and bump into each other in our mammoth tin home. The RV was strictly for resting at the end of the day and it served it’s purpose just dandy.

Sure, I know it is not really camping and “roughing it” never includes a fridge and air conditioning. For a spoiled suburbanite like myself, more accustomed to Hilton than to Coachman, it was an exciting experience and we deemed ourselves “Campers“ all the same. The kids sensed our expectations of them and were on really good behavior for the duration.

Room service be damned, next time we head to the east coast!

Can any sin be forgiven? We think that there must be some sin too great to be forgiven.

“Any anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved”…. Joel 2:32

“Forgiveness is not based on the magnitude of the sin, but the magnitude of the forgiver’s love. No sin is too great for God’s complete and unconditional love.  The Bible does actually mention one unforgivable sin—and attitude of defiant hostility toward God that prevents us from accepting His forgiveness. Those who do not want His forgiveness are out of its reach.
(For these we pray that God’s light will show the way)

What does it really mean to be forgiven?

“No matter how deep the strain of your sins, I can remove it. I can make you as clean as freshly fallen snow”…Isaiah 1:18

Forgiveness frees us from slavery to sin.

Does Love have a limit? Neither does forgiveness.

Forgiveness brings great joy.

Colleen Couvillon Gough

As many of you know, I’m a low tech girl cruising through a high tech world. I’ve talked about my new BlackBerry in previous articles and how it has become a part of my daily life and business.
One feature of the BlackBerry that I love is BlackBerry Messenger. BlackBerry Messenger is an instant messaging system that allows picture, voice and text communication. It is free communication, worldwide, and is included in most Blackberry service plans. To communicate with someone you need to have their BlackBerry pin, an identification number specific to each phone.
I’ve met some wonderful people through BlackBerry Messenger; some through Twitter and others through various forums. To establish communication, you send the person an invitation, which they must accept for you to be able to chat with them. This acts as a screening method. If I receive an invitation from someone I don’t know I usually won’t accept it. Just as in face to face contact, there are people out there who have ulterior motives. This may even be more prevalent online or through texting, because people are emboldened by the anonymity. I am very careful with my pin. I do not post it in forums, nor do I publish it on Twitter. I’ve been approached by people in the past who seemed harmless enough, but as the conversations continued, became offensive. It’s easy to rid yourself of these people by deleting them as a contact, but why put yourself into that situation in the first place?
That brings me to Berry Girls, a women’s only forum on http://berrytastic.com,  Berrytastic is a user friendly community and news channel dedicated to the BlackBerry user. Honestly, you don’t need to own a BlackBerry to enjoy this website. There are a lot of great features that most people would find interesting. The forum section is lively and informative. Berry Girls is one forum where no men are allowed. There you are free to discuss whatever women’s issues you choose. Current topics on the forum include parenting tips, relationship troubles and fashion tips. Women often reach out for advice here. It’s also a great place to network. The beauty of the Berry Girls Forum is that it is closely monitored. You can network, share ideas and meet new people all in a safe and friendly environment. If you want to exchange pins with a Berry Girl, you can send them a private message through Berrytastic.
If this sounds like something you would be interested in, visit Berrytastic.com and register. You can send me a private message through Berrytastic. Just look for Karen! I’m always in the forums!

If you wanted to buy gold or gold coins there are so many places out there to do that. You can also buy gold bullion which also comes in coin form as the ultimate investment. Gold will not depreciate the way stocks and bonds do. Gold has been around forever and can also be included into your IRA. Gold and Gold Bullion is the best asset you could possibly have in your retirement portfolio.

You could win an Ultimate Gaming Package that includes an Xbox 360 Elite Gaming System and bonus Rock Band 2 bundle. Or how about a Richard Petty Racing Experience, that includes a driving experience so you and a friend can experience real stock car racing on a real track? Then there is the New Years Eve trip to New York City for 2, you both can be in times square when the ball drops at Midnight on December 31st. Or how about winning a trip to the 14th Winter X Games in Aspen where you can be up front and personal for it all? How extreme is that? And last, you could win a trip to Lolapalloza in Chicago where you and a buddy can be there for the best music festival ever, in Grant Park in Chicago! It’s Lolapalloza baby!

All you have to do to enter is to Tweet about the contest on Twitter, or write a blog post about it, or leave a comment on Blufrog’s site telling them which prize you would love to win and why. How easy is that?? But you have to hurry, time is running out!!

I have entered and hope to win the XBox 360, I think it would be a blast to have that much fun in my living room, and all for free!!

Blufrog is a fabulous new energy drink that tastes delicious and it is so much more healthy for you than some of the other energy drinks on the market, because it has real fruit, lower carbs, lower calories, and no artificial colors or flavors!! Plus, there are loads of vitamins in every can, making it in my opinion, the best drink on the market today! I am so glad that Blufrog has come up with a healthy alternative to those other drinks, and I won’t have to have that nasty aftertaste in my mouth anymore. Plus, I don’t get that sugar rush feeling followed by the extreme drop afterwards.

So, if you haven’t entered the contest yet, go on over and enter!! What are you waiting for? And if you haven’t tried Blufrog energy drink, Try one and you will be happy you did!!

My life should be yours, and yours should be mine. But alone with out you I live, just passing time.

Sometimes living for the future means throwing out the present. It’s the lonliest of days… days like today that I begin the descent.

Deep inside where logic presides, innocence is dead and cynicism resides.

It tells me to live for today and not to be so foolish as to toss it away.

But i’m just waiting for you and some crazy chance. I’m waiting for you to come lead the dance.

I’m waiting for life to do what it does best… to bring me the future and to change all the rest.

Because change is the only thing that will bring you to me. Change is the only thing that will allow us to be.

So I’m waiting for you… waiting for a change. Hoping the situation will soon rearrange.

Waiting for time to help love earn it’s due.

Waiting for a change….waiting for you.

Laura Leigh

The next time you find yourself in this situation simply choose to meditate informally or formally. As you begin the breath to relax, feel where the tension is in your body.

If you feel it in your back or shoulder as you breathe, concentrate on that spot and begin to feel the tension slip away.  Begin to feel kindness towards yourself even if those old stories of fear and worry persist.

Simply say to yourself ,

“Let me be free of the past”
“Let me be free from worry”
“Let me be free of fear”
“Let me feel peace.”

As you  do this you will learn to change the thoughts in your mind towards the situation you are facing and possibly the next time you come across the situation, you will not turn back to the old story but the new one of calm.

Until next week,
Take Care,
Dolly

The first thing you have to decide is where you are going and if you are going to drive there or fly there. Then you should budget enough money for either driving costs, like gasoline and tolls, or airfare. With airfare, there are many different sites like, Travelzoo, Travelocity and Bestfares, that can help you with the lowest fares, make sure you check around to find the best deals on plane tickets. Also, if you have frequent flier miles, make sure that it is cost effective to use them for the trip you are planning. Some flier miles are most cost effective for flights upwards of $500.

The next thing to plan is where you will stay? Again check the many sites for the best deals on hotels, and also call the hotel of your choice yourself and ask if there are any additional discounts. Sometimes there are discounts to be had that aren’t listed anywhere online, and can only be obtained by asking personally.

When you get to your destination, will you be needing a rental car? If so, make sure you get the best deal possible. Don’t get a bigger car than you need, it will end up costing you more. Also check with your auto insurance company to see if you would be covered for your rental, instead of purchasing the rental companies insurance at a higher fee. Also check your credit cards to see if they offer rental car insurance, some do. Also check for hidden fees and service charges, and whether you pay for gas you don’t use? Then again, plan for gasoline, tolls and parking charges for the rental car.

Then there is one of the most looked over money eater on a vacation, food and restaurants. Most people don’t plan for this and end up short handed in the money area in a short time. Allot so much of the vacation money for eating, include snacks and drinks too.

Where are you going? Will you need to purchase excursion tickets? Attraction passes? These are also somewhat overlooked when planning a vacation and can take a sizable chunk out of your vacation fund. If you plan on going sightseeing, is there a charge? Try to plan ahead, do some research on the internet and look in the area you are going for local events and things to do that might not cost a huge amount of money.

Most of all, have a great time, plan accordingly, and try to consolidate your debt before you go.

Materials

Scraps of yarn, white and gold
One 2-hole button
One fancy button or beads
10 inch length of ribbon
1 gold glitter stem
Crochet hook, size 5 mm (US H)
White glue, or a hot glue gun

Make the wings:

1) Chain 7, single crochet in the 2nd stitch from the hook,
and in each stitch across the row. Chain 1 and turn.

2) Single crochet in each stitch across the row, chain 1 and turn.

3) Repeat row 2 for 8 more rows. Fasten off.
Fold in half to find the center, and tie a short piece of yarn
tightly to gather and form the shape of wings.

Make the body:

1) Chain 3, 12 double crochet in the 2nd stitch from the hook
Slip stitch to join and fasten off. (Circle made which is the body)

ASSEMBLY:

Cut a 2 inch length of the ribbon, tie a scrap of yarn in the center.
Twist a 4 inch length of glitter stem to form a halo.
Overlap the body at the bottom of the wings slightly and glue.
Glue a ribbon hanger on the back if using as an ornament.
Glue a magnet to the back or a pinback.
Position the button, using the two holes as eyes, and glue.
Glue a button or beads on the belly.
Glue the 2 inch ribbon bow at the chin.
Tuck the glitter stem behind the button, and glue.

FINISHED! Bless your little angel, and enjoy!!

With this new line comes new deals for us all, and between July 7th, 2009 and July 19th, 2009, any customers that buy a pair of denim jeans for full price (not on sale) in either the Armani stores or online at their website will receive a $20.00 gift card, good towards your next purchase of $100.00 or more, between the dates of July 30th, 2009 through August 19th, 2009! So, it is like shopping and getting a future discount. I like those kinds of deals. If you are going to buy anyway, why not get the best deals possible for your money?

Armani Exchange has “New Premium Denim starting at $98″ and this is a deal that is fashionable and affordable.
These are a pair of jeans that I really liked, and the price was very reasonable for Armani jeans! There are also so many styles to choose from, and different washes and colors, that it is surprising that designer jeans are now within my price range. My thanks goes out to Giorgio Armani for coming up with this fabulous collection that seems to fit with my lifestyle.
Armani Exchange is also holding a contest where you can text A|X for your chance to win a pair of denim jeans! Every day for the month of July, if you text the keyword “Denim2″ to ARMANI (276264), you will be entered in the drawing for a free pair of A/X jeans! How sweet would that be?

If you want to be kept up to date on the latest trends and collections and release dates, you can follow them on Twitter @ArmaniExchange and never miss out on all the fabulous deals that A/X has in store for us!

You can also go over to their blog AX Blog that is called StyleTraxx, and read all the interesting entries over there. It is a combination of fashion and celebrities and what’s news. There are some stunning photos that you haven’t seen anywhere else along with what is happening right now. I loved it.

Take a step down life’s highway,
Watch out for the bumps along the way,
Don’t let your dreams run astray,
For life’s to short to delay.

Grab on and dance life’s dance,
There will be things that throw you askance,
Make sure your dreams take a strong stance,
And don’t forget to give love a chance.

© Bobbi

I love to watch Project Runway to see all the up and coming designer hopefuls, and to see how they create what they do, and what they get their inspiration from. The show is like a boot camp of sorts for wanna be designers, but it gives them a taste of what the industry can be like, and to be flexible and creative.

I have checked with New York Vacation Rentals about possibly going to New York City for the week, just so I could experience the whole Fashion week experience. I would love to watch the tents going up, and get to see the designers and models arriving, along with the “invited” celebrities. Then to be able to watch as the new fall fashions from the many different designers, come walking down the runway on the models, whew, I couldn’t think of a better dream come true. The air in there must be electric. The atmosphere backstage must be tense and exciting. What I wouldn’t give to be fly on the wall, if I couldn’t be there in person.

A girl can dream…..

One December Vivian and Lenny were staying in Springfield, Missouri, in a little house at the end of a lane. Times had been tough that year. As Christmas neared, Vivian’s faith wavered a bit. She needed something to lift her spirits. “If you happen to come across any money,” she told Lenny, “I’d like to have a white scarf with red dots for Christmas.”

Although it seemed like an unusual request to him, Lenny longed to buy Vivian the scarf she wanted. But their cash had run out. In fact, they had hardly any food in the house. How would they manage?

When Christmas Day dawned, Vivian answered a knock on the door. It was an elderly woman she’d never seen before. Apparently the old woman knew Vivian often fed the poor. “May I have some breakfast?” she asked.

“Not today, I’m afraid,” Vivian replied. “We have nothing to share.”
“Look again,” the visitor suggested, as she came in and sat down on a kitchen chair.
Vivian opened her flour canister and was surprised to see about a cup of flour. The can had been empty the day before—she was sure of it. Quickly she made four tiny biscuits. While they were baking, she inspected her tea box and discovered a spoonful of tea. How odd!

The biscuits turned out to be enormous, golden-brown and delicious. When Vivian and her visitor had each eaten one, the visitor suggested taking the others to Lenny, who was still asleep. As Vivian did so, however, she heard the outer door close. She turned. The kitchen was empty but a little package sat on the table.

“Oh, she’s forgotten something,” Vivian said as she grabbed the package and flung open the door. The long lane was completely empty.

It was then that Vivian opened the package and understood Who had sent a Christmas visitor with the reassurance she needed. In her hands lay a white scarf with red dots.

© 1994 Joan Wester Anderson www.joanwanderson.com Originally published in Woman’s Day Magazine

This shampoo, named Dogosuds (what a catchy name, huh?) is completely natural and there are no harsh chemicals or perfumes to irritate your dog’s skin. It is also a natural flea deterrent, that will help to keep the fleas off your pet. It lathers up great and rinses off easily, no more rinsing again and again and still seeing suds in the fur and will keep your dog smelling fresh and clean again. It is a wonderful shampoo for dogs with sensitive skin, because it contains essential oils that are 100% pure and have healing properties that will aid in the the itching and scratching caused by sensitive skin and eczema and the damage done by other dog shampoos.

One of the best things about this Dogosuds shampoo is that it can help to remove skunk odor, in the event that your pet has been sprayed by a skunk. And if your pet has ever been sprayed by a skunk, you know how terrible it is!

If you use this shampoo for your dog, you will no longer be yelling to “stop that scratching”, or be kept up at night by the constant thumping as his paw hits the floor with each scratch. Dinovite has certainly come up with a winner here! Plus, they also have many other great products for you to check out while you are on their site.

His music will live on forever, and for that I am grateful. I liked him when he was the lead singer of the Jackson 5, and I was in awe of him when he broke into his solo career, a career that cannot be denied as being one of the best in the industry. His Thriller album has sold the most copies of any album in the history of music, and I think that record will stand for quite some time. He had hit after hit when he went solo, and has so many number 1 hits that I can’t even begin to count them all!

Below is a Tribute that Madonna paid to him at her July 4th concert, and where she ever found the Michael Jackson impersonator that was superb, I don’t know, but congrats to her for doing it. It reminds us of the things about Michael that we will miss….
Please enjoy this short tribute to a Legendary performer, and forget the rest.

This is the way we should remember Michael Jackson today, not for the Jesus Juice, or the dangling balcony baby, or the Elephant Man remains…..but this…..the true performer that he was. What he accomplished inspired so many other great entertainers that we have today. So, Thank you Michael. You made a difference in this world. And your charitable work cannot be forgotten either. There are many thankful people in the world today thinking of you, for the man, the music and the love you gave to us all.

Forget the haters…..they just aren’t worth it!
And thank you to Janet for finding this awesome video!! Kudos!!

“Spice up your boring old turkey burgers by creating a new and incredible flavor with exotic spices and herbs. Enjoy these on a toasted bun with whatever toppings you desire and spiced mayonnaise!”
Ingredients:
2 pounds lean ground turkey
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger root
2 fresh green chile peppers, diced
1 medium red onion, diced
1/2 cup fresh cilantro, finely chopped
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
3 tablespoons paprika
1 tablespoon ground dry mustard
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 dash Worcestershire sauce

Directions:
1.     Preheat the grill (outside or inside) for high heat.
2.     In a bowl, mix the ground turkey, garlic, ginger, chile peppers, red onion, cilantro, salt, soy sauce, black pepper, paprika, mustard, cumin, and Worcestershire sauce.  Then from this, make 8 burger patties.
3.     Lightly oil the grate on the grill. Place the turkey burgers on the grill, and cook for 5 to 10 minutes per side, until well done.

Enjoy!

It is put out by Axxis Biometrics and you don’t need a key at all to enter your house, just your fingerprint! How cool is that? This is like something out of a science fiction or futuristic movie, but I found them online and they have so many products that are available for people like me, that they are a godsend!

They are easy to install, just like a regular doorknob, and then you program the fingerprints of the person or persons that you want to have access to your home. You can even limit the access based on certain days or times (for example if you have a housekeeper who only comes 3 times a week) and you can update these accesses regularly with no hassle!

What I wouldn’t have given to have this around and so affordable when my daughter was younger. She was always losing her key, and then we had to change the locks, it got to be a regular thing at our house! Axxis Biometrics makes it easier and safer to enter your home with only a finger for access. You may lose your keys, but usually you should always have your finger available for entry!