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The Mailman brought me a surprise. A big brown box. It didn't say Avon. That was the only thing I had order recently. MMMM Marketing Departmet? Who Markets Meeee? So I grabbed the scissors. I sliced open the tape. .... lo and behold ~ a brown bag with curly ribbon! It's too early for my birthday! (It is a month a way.... HINT HINT) So what could it be?
Well, check it out! My comment buddy, BarbaraRae, had a little contest over at her blog, Goal For The Green! And I won! Yes, ME! I won a prize! I couldn't believe!
Green Batteries!
I thought, ok, I will probably get a pack of AA's.
I am off to Indiana on an airplane to attend a wedding!
My niece is getting married Saturday!
As most of you know, I am originally from Indiana. It is not my favorite place in the world, but it is where my mommy and some of my family live. So needs dictate that I must return occasionally. I am glad this is one of the happier reasons to return!
Indiana was the 19th state in the USA; it became a state on December 11, 1816.
State Abbreviation - IN State Capital - Indianapolis Largest City - Indianapolis Area - 36,420 square miles [Indiana is the 38th biggest state in the USA] Population - 6,080,485 (as of 2000) [Indiana is the 14th most populous state in the USA] Name for Residents - Indianians or Hoosiers Major Industries - agriculture (corn, soybeans, wheat), manufacturing, mining (coal, limestone), steel-making
Major Rivers - Ohio River, Wabash River, White River, Tippecanoe River Major Lakes - Mississinewa Lake, Lake Michigan Highest Point - Hoosier Hill, Wayne County (near Richmond in east-central Indiana) - 1,257 feet (383 m) above sea level Bordering States - Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio
Origin of the Name Indiana - Indiana is a word that refers to the local Indians. State Nickname - Hoosier State State Motto - "The Crossroads of America" State Song - "On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away," by Paul Dresser
BANG! Time for a new post! Life just keeps on ticking away.....
Here it is ~ almost the end of July.... summer is flying away. I just ordered Kyle new strings for his guitar. Sweetie is playing with the dogs on the front porch. Most of all I am enjoying my rare, sort of, day off. There is so much to catch up on. Bill harvested this years garlic crop. It is drying in the barn. The first round of corn has been harvested. We are working on food preservation this year. We have dried corn, carrots, green beans and a few onions. Easy to throw in to a hearty stew this winter.
We are missing Kyle tremendously. He does call when he can. It is hard on his new wife. But the time is passing, just a bit slowly for her. He will be home for his mid tour leave in September. We are all looking forward to that.
Some of you know that I am an outside sales consultant.
I sell the VZW product and plans.
A little over a year ago, VZW announced the acquisition of Alltel.
The deed is done. Not with out many headaches.
So all of you former Alltel users, visit your nearest VZW outlet and find out what options are available. I am on call today and have not had a day off in 14 days..... Yes, I will be glad when all of this settles down! The unknown was horrible, as always!
To my regular readers, If it isn't family obligations~it is work!
Kyle has been in the middle east now for 2 1/2 months. He turned 21 yesterday! I miss him alot. Communication is surely different today! He has his cell phone and computer. Skype makes it realtime. He called this AM and I missed it.
Happy Birthday, Kyle!
Summer is here.... what are you up to? MY, MY, MY.... one of my friends at the CommentExchange kicked me in the butt this week. She essentially said (paraphrasing) ~Get off your lazy rear and post something new!~ So here I am, at 11:17pm going through all the other "web" stuff I have put off this month. So what do I post about? MMMMMMMMMMMM Well, I keep trying to figure out how to make money on the internet. I am not so successful at that. Oh, I make $5 here and $2 there. Money is Money. But, as much as I love selling, I would rather be selling for me. Not for "The Man", you know. Catch 22~I have to keep the job with the man in order to live and thus not enough time to build a business to earn enough to live. (Are you confused yet?)
I want to hear success stories. Lots and Lots of success stories. Are you or anyone you know actually making enough money to live on? My friend John over at Potpolitics is running a series of posts by La Teasa at Home Business Success. I just really haven't had the time to really, REALLY read the articles. So that is my goal..... I am going to read the guest posts and really search La Teasa's site and see what I learn. If I learn something really good, I will let you know.
Until then.... The strawberries were great this spring Green beans are going gangbusters The first round of corn is days away from harvest The bees are doing there thang (I hope there is enough honey to harvest this fall) The girls are still blessing us with eggs Buck is growing from a puppy into a lovely dog Sugar has the patience of Job And my Sweetie of Sweeties is the best Sweetie in the world ........ and he's all mine! :P
Just when... ...you think life is slowing down a bit~it speeds up tenfold! My grandkids have been visiting the last week and a half. Needless to say with work and play, the blog has suffered! Hope everyone is having a great beginning to a great summer!
Making money on the internet...... I just ain't figured it out yet. Most programs and schemes out there want money. Now, I am not opposed to investing in an opportunity. I just don't like to go around and throw the money down the toilet. Being burned makes one more cautious. I ask questions of people and get snide answers about doing homework. Well, part of my homework was trying to get a response out of someone who is actually working the program and making it work. I don't want the company hype. I want a real conversation. I am a sales person. I know the buzz words. I want to make money, but I don't want to be suckered in to suckering other people. There are many people out there who are more gullible than I am. I do not want their money.
I try to live frugally. That means controlling my money and resources. I try to make the world a better place. That means not scamming people into giving up money just so that I have it.
So here is my challenge:
If you make a living on the internet, tell me why I should use your program. Tell me why the program benefits you and others.
Remember, I am looking for a REAL conversation!
If you prefer not to converse here, just send me an email.
It's been a while since I blogged about GMO's.... (Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)are the result of laboratory processes which artificially insert foreign genes into the DNA of food crops or animals. Those genes may come from bacteria, viruses, insects, animals or even humans. GMOs are not safe, but have been in the food supply since 1996. Most Americans say they would not eat GMOs if labeled, but the U.S. does not require labeling.)
I got my copy of Spilling the Beans newsletter today. In it was a fantastic article on GMO's. Spilling The Beans is put out by the Institute for Responsible Technology. You can get your copy by signing up here.
You can join the 30 day challenge by clicking on the image above! We need to put our foot down. We need to shout from the roof tops. We need to pass this on to everyone we know!
GM corn and cotton are engineered to produce their own built-in pesticide in every cell. When bugs bite the plant, the poison splits open their stomach and kills them. Biotech companies claim that the pesticide, called Bt—produced from soil bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis—has a history of safe use, since organic farmers and others use Bt bacteria spray for natural insect control. Genetic engineers insert Bt genes into corn and cotton, so the plants do the killing.
The Bt-toxin produced in GM plants, however, is thousands of times more concentrated than natural Bt spray, is designed to be more toxic,[10] has properties of an allergen, and unlike the spray, cannot be washed off the plant.
Moreover, studies confirm that even the less toxic natural bacterial spray is harmful. When dispersed by plane to kill gypsy moths in the Pacific Northwest, about 500 people reported allergy or flu-like symptoms. Some had to go to the emergency room.[11],[12]
[10] See for example, A. Dutton, H. Klein, J. Romeis, and F. Bigler, “Uptake of Bt-toxin by herbivores feeding on transgenic maize and consequences for the predator Chrysoperia carnea,” Ecological Entomology 27 (2002): 441–7; and J. Romeis, A. Dutton, and F. Bigler, “Bacillus thuringiensis toxin (Cry1Ab) has no direct effect on larvae of the green lacewing Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae),” Journal of Insect Physiology 50, no.2–3 (2004): 175–183.
[11]Washington State Department of Health, “Report of health surveillance activities: Asian gypsy moth control program,” (Olympia, WA: Washington State Dept. of Health, 1993).
[12] M. Green, et al., “Public health implications of the microbial pesticide Bacillus thuringiensis: An epidemiological study, Oregon, 1985-86,” Amer. J. Public Health 80, no. 7(1990): 848–852.
Another excerpt:
On May 19th, the American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) called on “Physicians to educate their patients, the medical community, and the public to avoid GM (genetically modified) foods when possible and provide educational materials concerning GM foods and health risks.”[1] They called for a moratorium on GM foods, long-term independent studies, and labeling. AAEM’s position paper stated, “Several animal studies indicate serious health risks associated with GM food,” including infertility, immune problems, accelerated aging, insulin regulation, and changes in major organs and the gastrointestinal system. They conclude, “There is more than a casual association between GM foods and adverse health effects. There is causation,” as defined by recognized scientific criteria. “The strength of association and consistency between GM foods and disease is confirmed in several animal studies.”
More and more doctors are already prescribing GM-free diets. Dr. Amy Dean, a Michigan internal medicine specialist, and board member of AAEM says, “I strongly recommend patients eat strictly non-genetically modified foods.” Ohio allergist Dr. John Boyles says “I used to test for soy allergies all the time, but now that soy is genetically engineered, it is so dangerous that I tell people never to eat it.”
Dr. Jennifer Armstrong, President of AAEM, says, “Physicians are probably seeing the effects in their patients, but need to know how to ask the right questions.” World renowned biologist Pushpa M. Bhargava goes one step further. After reviewing more than 600 scientific journals, he concludes that genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are a major contributor to the sharply deteriorating health of Americans.
Please go register for the newsletter, Spilling The Beans! Read it! Be appalled! Share it! http://www.responsibletechnology.org/GMFree/AbouttheInstitute/NewsletterSignup/index.cfm
Also visit the Institute for Responsible Technology here for more information.
Our future depends on the people speaking out! If we don't speak out, we may not have a future!
We left early Friday morning. Swept into Fayetteville to grab the new daughter-in-law, Kim. Thus began the journey to Gainesville. It was a long uneventful drive, as usual. We got into to town about 6:30 and met Brian at his friend, Gianfranco's house. Gianfranco graciously gave us his beautiful home to use for the evening. My daughter and her family, with my Mom, drove up from Bradenton to join us. Brian prepared a lovely dinner for us. We drank some wine. We played some guitar and bongos (sorry neighbors) into the wee hours.
The next morning we all got up and got ready for the "GRADUATION". And headed over to the "O" dome with our colors flying! It went as most graduations do, long and boring on uncomfortable seats.
After the graduation, we headed out for lunch to the Falafel King. (Really, I didn't make this up!) For some mediteranian fast food. ( falafels of course). Then off to Tampa to pick up Vickie, a good family friend and on to Bradenton to Crystal's house for the "PARTY"!
Needless to say, on Sunday, we did not get an early start home. We rolled in about 3:30 am Monday morning.... I really wish someone would remind me that I am tooooo old for these quick trips to Florida! Anyway, my friends, I hope you enjoy the photos!
Time Capsule OK... it's been a while since I have really posted.... just a quicky here and there. Sorry! The last few months have been totally hectic. WOW. I feel like I might be able to catch my breath here soon.
August 2008 ~ 3rd son, Kyle moved back in with me... When you are used to a dog and a couple of chickens.... the change can be hectic! I am so thankful that he did. I got to spend about 4 months with him. In August, I also flew home (Indiana) for my Mom's first surgery. They removed the tumor, but were unable to get to the lymph nodes.
September 2008 ~ Tried to assimilate the changes in to life and had to turn 49 ( that is one year left to the big 50 or half century mark ).
October 2008 ~ I had to endure the long distant turmoil of Mom's chemo treatments. She had a rough time and was hospitalized 3 times during the course of treatment. November 2008 ~ Son's long distance girl friend moved to a town nearby. He proposed on Thanksgiving Day.
December 2008 ~ Kyle went offfor the first month of predeployment training. My best friend moved 4 states away. Christmas and New Years came and went. January 2009 ~ Kyle left for 3 months of training. Wedding planning started for a wedding sometime the end of March or beginning of April. I flew to Indiana for Mom's 2nd surgery, which was postponed due to blood pressure complications.
February 2009 ~ Wedding plans continue-wedding now 90% sure in the beginning of April. Drove to Florida to babysit granddaughters. Flew to Indiana for Mom's last surgery. Buck, a lab puppy, joined the family.
March 2009 ~ Final preparations for wedding scheduled for April 10th underway. (Bride had to go to California for 3 weeks for training.) Mom started her radiation treatments in Indiana. I started a forum for blog comment exchanging.
April 2009 ~ Last minute wedding prep and guests arriving and parties and finally the day arrived. My son was married April 10th. The rain held off until after the reception (wedding was outside in the local town gazebo and the reception in party tents in my front yard!) Then the big deployment day came. The ceremony was a nightmare. The venue selected was not large enough to hold the 4000+ soldiers, the families, friends, dignitaries and gawkers. Many tears were shed that day. Then they didn't leave as planned. We went through another goodbye a week later.
The guests are home. The spare rooms is filled with wedding presents and reception decorations. I am now trying to plan a trip to Florida to see my middle child graduate. He is receiving his Masters degree from the University of Florida on May 2nd. There are no rooms left. We adjusted plans because Mom is able to fly down to meet us. Middle child, Brian, is now in preparation to join the Peace Corps in September. I feel another tearful goodbye coming. The only thing left is to find out that number 1 child is pregnant with her 3rd child. Then my year will be complete! LOL
During all of this (did I forget to say that I started a new job in June 2008) I work full time outside the home and run an online gourmet coffee store! So wish me a more peaceful, restful end to 2009 to enjoy the homestead, my sweetie(who has been enormously patient with me during all of this) and my Sugar, Buck and the chickens (totally better than TV!) And on the other side, I promise to keep more upto date with all of my blog friends whose live are just as hectic as mine! The flowers are blooming. The vegies are growing. The chickens are laying. The coffee is brewing. The daily photos are over at My World or Your World. So stop on by and give me a shout. There is always an extra cup!
Today, at the Crown Coliseum, in Fayetteville, North Carolina, approximately 6000 young men of the 3oth Brigade began the final steps for deployment. A deployment ceremony was held this afternoon for the families and friends of the young men headed overseas. Why is this important? Look at the photo below. The young soldier near the center to the left and below the red seat is my son, Kyle(newly married). He is one of those young soldiers who will be with the 30th. Please keep him and all the soldiers in your thoughts and prayers.
Charter is giving away a HDTV A Day in April! How exciting!
A Samsung 22" HDTV (approximate value $499) will be given away every day in April.
And, drum roll please, for the GRAND PRIZE... Sony Bravia 52” LCD-1080p HDTV Sony Home Theatre System One year of Charter Digital Cable® and HD Service. The approximate total value of the Grand Prize is $3,097.98.
Wow! Who wouldn't want that?
It is easy to enter. Sign up for a Charter service. Charter offers cable, internet, and telephone services. Upon installation, you are automatically entered into the contest!
Well, it is 9 days and a wake up til the big day! Flowers are arranged. Tent and chairs and dance floor is rented. The preacher is committed. The cake and food are ordered. The rings are bought. The keg is chillin'.
Still so much to do.
Kyle is due fly back into North Carolina today! I haven't seen him since January!
WeSay Photo Contest! I have browsed around over at SocialSpark for a while. I don't have enough time to do the paid posts for "a living". If I post something in my blog it needs to be relevant and interesting. Well, I got an email today about an opportunity. Ok~ I go check it out. It was for this site WeSay.
WeSay is an Online New Site. I like their tag line "Your News. Your Photos. Your Voice." They post photos from mainstream media. They also want to publish photos from the amateur photographer. They want to give everyone the opportunity to participate in the news gathering process. "We" the people have lots of eyes and ears and cameras and cellphones to snap away at the news and current events happening around us everyday. Check them out, I did. I liked what I saw.
This is what I got from browsing their sight. WeSay is a place for photographers to get their work seen. It was plugged as "news photos" at first. But what they really want is "current event" photos. I traveled through WeSay and indeed I found some really great and interesting "news" photos. And I found some really great "current event" photos. Besides being a really cool place; WeSay is having a photo contest. The Contest Ends 3-31-09... so get your entries in soon! Who couldn't use a new printer or gift certificates to Ritz Camera? What is your category? So I say " check out WeSay for yourself"! There's an amateur photographer in each of us. Let me know "news" you saw today!
Grand prize: Epson Stylus Photo Printer R1800 (or cash equivalent). First prize: $100 gift certificate to Ritz Camera. Second prize: $50 gift certificate to Ritz Camera. Third prize: Free Photo Book from dotPhoto.com.
Contest runs from Monday, January 19 to Tuesday, March 31, 2009.
Main categories: News, Environment, Sports, Celebs, Far-out. Special category: Winter Sports.
(You can win by entering ANY category. Just make sure your photos fit the themes.)