Long Time

Wow, has it really been so long? Sometimes it seems like there's not enough hours in the day to get everything done. I've been a little under the weather too. There's not much going on writing wise, and I haven't even been watching much TV, which is okay because Big Love is over now for the season, and Burn Notice is on a short hiatus with the Tennis US Open in it's spot for a couple weeks. The only thing I watched last week was Painkiller Jane. There is a reality show coming up on Tuesday that I want to watch. I didn't see it last year, but since I'm dieting now, I want to see it. It's called 'The Biggest Loser'. (Who would have thought I'd ever want to be called that. LOL)

You Never Know What You'll End Up Needing

Have you ever opened up drawers in your bathroom and suddenly realized you have so much 'stuff' you never use and it's just accumulating there way past it's expiration date? I have a 'make up' drawer in my sink vanity drawer that is loaded with stuff I rarely ever use. In fact I think it's been years since I used it. Besides not being good for your skin after it's that old, most of it isn't even usable, but it's still in there... in fact, this morning when I looked in the drawer, I was looking for a nail clipper and just happened to look in there hoping that's where it had ended up when someone else used it last--I closed the drawer and didn't even take the handfulls of containers out and throw them away. Why? I'm not going to use them.

Still there are things that I'm happy I didn't throw out. Last night I was looking for some good moisturizers and skin care products like that and realized I had a full bottle of a really good moisturizer on the back of the top shelf of my towel cabinet. It was still good, and I'm sure glad I didn't throw that away. Maybe I'll find a use for the old cosmetics someday too. Not sure what, but I'm not throwing it out just yet. You never know.

What Do I Want To Do When I Grow Up?

Kind of a funny question to ask at 45 isn't it? It's something that comes up regularly in conversations between my husband and I. What do we do when we 'grow up'? (Retire actually) Do we want to keep the farm? Do we want to have a little house somewhere and travel a lot--that's my vote. Really. I have been a lot of places and still not been anywhere. Everywhere we go, mostly, is to show animals. So we travel a lot, to a lot of states, but I never really see them except from motel rooms, or highways. I want to really see the places I go to. There are a lot of places I've never been to at all. For instance, I HAVE been to California, but I've never been to Las Vegas... yes I want to go. I'm not a big gambler, but once I'd like to have some fun and try it. It doesn't even have to be with a lot of money. I'd like to stay in a big fancy hotel like the Paris Las Vegas hotel, and live like a 'queen' for a weekend. I'd like to see the shows.

I've never been to Hawaii either. Sure would like to see it. That and Jamaica, although both of those are definately not driving trips so they may not ever happen. lol. Montana, I don't want to live there--burrr chill--but I'd love to see it in real life, not just in the movies. Washington, that would be very exciting... or even the REAL Paris. (Again, not a driving trip so unlikely.)

Still... yes, I think when I 'grow up' I want to have a nice little place to come home to, but spend a large chunk of time traveling.

Getting That Holiday Spirit

It's not too early to talk about Christmas gift ideas is it? Christmas isn't too far away. It seems like it is just around the corner. This year flew by so fast. Doesn't it seem like the older you get the faster the years go? You get more people to buy for too the older you get. First it was a husband and his family, then it was our own children adding to the list, now their children too. The good thing about it is it is fun to buy gifts for all of them. Seeing their faces when they open their presents. Shopping for Christmas gifts early makes the joy last even longer.

Getting Old...er

I must be getting old. Yesterday a friend of mine who was trying Associated Content for the first time asked me for advice on how to submit her story. She is rather new to computers, in fact, the one she has is the one I traded her for a goat just this spring and it's the first one she's ever had. So she is very unsure about how to do a lot of things. She keeps on appologizing for asking question. I keep telling her I don't mind at all. I don't. But it's kind of annoying when something like yesterday happens--on MY part. When I was younger, and not much younger at that, I could talk someone through anything. It used to amaze new people where I worked (and my bosses too) how when they got in a jam they could call me at home and I could tell them exactly step-by-step how to do very complex things to fix their problems on the computers at work... yesterday I found myself floundering around trying to think about what steps to take to tell my friend long distance, how to do something as simple as post a story at AC. I don't mean the simple cut and paste things, but what are the abstract was entered in, how to use the editor. I had to open the program my self and look at it in order to be able to visualize what had to be done... I used to be able to do that from memory on much, MUCH more complicated systems, and programs than AC's submission forms. Agh, it's heck getting old.

What's In Your House?

When I go to someone's home for the first time I like seeing what they have as it compares to what I do. Not in a snobby sort of way, but actually more in a 'camaraderie' sort of way. For instance many of my friends have poker tables in their basements, dens, or family rooms, I have one in my basement now, it used to be in my family room but that got taken over by weight equipment just recently. Still, we have a finished basement that we use as a den and the table fits in nicely and makes for a more secluded spot to have friendly games of cards. I now have a 'weight room' in my home in what used to be the family room. How many people have a fireplace in their weight rooms? Pretty cool huh? LOL It works for me. So it's cool to see what other people have in their houses for exercise. My best friend has a stationary bike in her bedroom, and my uncle has had a rowing machine that he shoves under his bed for as long as I can remember (for as long as I can remember he never really used it either). My new equipment 'can' be folded and put under a bed, but I know that if I do that it will never get used. It has to be clearly visible and in my mind at all times... so the family room it is.

I Fell For It

When I fall for something stupid, I do it big. I've said time and time again that there are legitimate ways to make money on the Internet, and that even though there are you may have to sludge through a lot of Bull---- to find it. One rule I have always lived by is NEVER pay anyone to find out what they have to offer. If you have to pay for something to find out how it works or what its about, it's pretty likely that THAT is how they have made their money.

Well, I broke my rule.

Now-I'll tell you that within that rule I don't include paying for reasonable postage on things like CD's, or DVD's etc...

That's what this sounded like, so I'm only 'partially' a fool. Still, even a partial fool is still a fool.

The ad said 'Make Money With Google'.

Sounds good so far. Google is a name I would trust--right? Wrong.

The next thing it said is pay just $1.95 for shipping. That is fair--right? Wrong.

Well anyway it is fair but only IF that's the truth. What it is really is pay $1.95 for shipping and then we'll charge you 19.95 when you get the CD (which I didn't I had to call and tell them I never got the stupid thing to even see if I liked it first when the charge came in), they sent me a download of the CD by email, then if you like it they'll graciously charge you 29.95 a month after that if you keep it....

Now, I'll go back a little bit and clarify, when I first signed up they sent me to a website for adsense. I CALLED immediately I don't want that. I know what that is, it's not what is promised in the ad. No, no, they assured, there's more on the CD... okay, so I waited.

Finally with the download there was Adwords included too... yippee... I just found out what ANYONE can find out online to begin with before they pay a cent to 'try' it.

In their email ad, and online ad they don't say ANYTHING about what their easy to make money online program is. There is no mention whatsoever of it been adsense, and adwords. You have to pay to find out it's a CD all about the same freaking things you can find out all about without the CD.

Google made out like a bandit, they got my 1.95, AND 19.95... they won't get a penny more ever again, and I'll be damned if I just up and trust the name Google again.

Now it's okay if you say-well you got what you deserved, you broke your rule... you'd be right. I fell for it.

Second To Last

Sunday night was the second to last episode of Big Love on HBO. They switched the nights from Monday to Sunday, although they still repeated the episode on their old time at 8 on Monday. It was primarily a set up for next week's finale, but the 'main family' Bill and his three wives are definately an open target now for the commune. The end was really shocking. There were rattlesnakes in their bed. Doesn't sound so shocking just to say it, but it was completely unexpected. Just like the gun shot two weeks ago, this just came out of the blue as a way of killing off someone. The big surprise to me is in the previews for the next show it seems the old man Roman (the commune leader who had been shot, and looked for the last two weeks to be next to death) appears to make a miraculous come back. I sure hope so, because of the two (Albie and Roman) Roman was a much more likeable villian.

New Article

I just had my new article published on AC. It was a simple household tip type article, but it was one I was kind of excited about because it worked for me. It is called 'Household cure for Ringworm'... ew, Icky subject I know, and in all my years I'd never had ringworm, but with all the humidity it actually happened earlier this month. After I got over the being upset about it, I did some research and found it is a very common thing and not associated with worms at all, but a fungus due to the heat and humidity. Anyway, doing more research found several home cures and one that was actually doable, and seemed like it would work so I tried it. There is some debate in various online areas on the use of this cure, but I can tell you it works -- at least it did for me.

Toning up and sliming down

I've been on a diet now with a strict exercise program for several weeks and its going great. So far I've been doing it without diet help, but in the past I've used products to help me along such as hydroxycut. It works really well and while it's still necessary to follow a good diet plan and exercise it can make the ordeal of dieting much more pleasant. I'm really serious this time around. I may be middle aged, but I plan on living the second half of my life much slimmer than the first half.

I'm not sure what to think of Helium. It's sort of like Associated Content, but not. The same principle, you write an article--either one you want to write, or one from a list of subjects their 'clients' would be interested in buying, but they don't pay per article like AC does. Instead you get paid only per click. AC also pays per click, but they give you a base pay first which is at least fair. Helium suggests it is possible to get a pretty high payout per article if their 'clients' buy it, but of course there is only a slim hope of that happening. I did one article -- a suggested subject, but I think I'll leave that site go for now as a possible real opprotunity. It's not a scam, but it's just one step up for making promises that are unlikely, rather than stepping up to the plate and at least paying a minimum for each article.

More Than Just A New Computer

This is what I was telling Bob I needed just the other day.


A huge 22" lcd monitor. That way I could multi-task like I always do, but I could have more than one thing showing on the screen at a time, so if I had the word program open, I could have the internet browser open on the other side of the screen for searching information, or if I had paint shop open I could browse the different pictures I wanted to work with on the other side. That's just fantastic. When I get my new computer that's what I want with it!

Time For A New Computer?

I've had my computer now for about 3 years and I'm thinking of getting a new one. In day's gone by I would only purchase Gateway's but this one is a Dell and I really like it. I haven't had any of the issues with it that I used to have with the other one that kept me on the tech phone line all the time at all hours of the day, and getting additional Dell Memory is easy. One of the things I used to say I liked about the other company was that their help line was so good... now I know that it's better to never have to use it, although I hear Dell has a very good help line too. Mine has pretty much been like the Maytag's in their commercials, their repairmen must get really bored if they're all like this.

Oh Painkiller Jane was great last night, and next week's episode looks fantastic too. I'm so glad the season wasn't over like I thought it was.

Well, on the writer's front, I dusted off Hell's Own since I'm no longer with Chippewa and they are experiencing difficulties and missed their deadline to publish it, and resubmitted it to a different company. I don't mind waiting anymore. It was just sitting here anyway, so now it can sit with them, lol. I used to hate the waiting part. I guess you really do develop patience as you get older.

Painkiller Jane is back

Hey I thought Painkiller Jane was over for the season when it didn't show up last Friday night, instead it was replaced by 'Flash Gordon' (it is the sci-fi channel after all), but apparantly it was just a matter of the FG premiere and they needed the extra time slot. That's all I can figure anyway since there was no warning. I'm kind of glad because I wasn't quite ready for the season to be ending just yet. I like the show. I was a harder sell for me than Burn Notice, or Big Love, but it sure beat out John From Cincinnati which sucked. Painkiller Jane is actually really cool. There was only one episode that I thought was a little cheesy. In fact even that one wasn't after the first few minutes but it took awhile to get over the initial 60's sci-fi movie moment. From then on I've liked the show very much, so I'm glad I get to see it again tonight.

Tonight's Burn Notice

I can't wait for tonight's episode of 'Burn Notice' on USA network. Last week Michael finally got his dossier (I think that's how you spell it) that would tell him who issued the Burn Notice on him. The coming previews said this week that he had been labeled high risk, or something like that, so it was about time he started acting like it. It's intriguing how they are going to continue now that Michael knows what the burn notice was and who issued it. That was one of the leading premises of the entire first season so far, his striving to find out. I am hooked on the characters and story lines though. They're amusing while thrilling at the same time. There can't be too many episodes left in the season.... I hate the end of seasons when I really love the shows. Big Love is winding down with only two to go, and Burn Notice will probably follow the same week. :( It's going to be a long time until next season.

The Villians You Love To Hate

In talking some more with a friend of mine about the Big Love show on HBO and the two villians (well there are more than one, but the main ones) and how now that the old villian is in dire straights and may die and his son, the other villian may take over how we both hope that Roman (the old villian) recovers just to put his son in his place----why?

Roman is THE VILLIAN YOU LOVE TO HATE. He's got reason behind his villany. They're the wrong reasons to do something--BUT he BELIEVES in them. It's in his heart that he's doing the right thing. You can understand where this comes from even though you understand it is wrong. It's not based on simple lust, greed, or self gratification which are all of his's sons reasons for doing things. That kind of villian you just hate because he's evil through and through. More often in real life even bad people have their good points, and things that their friends and families love about them. LOL They have some inner believe that justifies what they do.

It's wrong

It may even be evil

BUT THEY BELIEVE in their priciples.

Good villians in any stories we write should have more of a basis to them than just lust, greed, or self gratification. Sure that can all play in, but for a TRULY great villian there has to be some inner sanction for the actions. A belief system.

Take Stalin as a for instance. Pretty evil guy, and did LOTS of bad things.

Hitler too.

Both of those nut cases are real life people, and most would agree villanous. BOTH of them truly believed deep down that they were abiding by a deeper logic, and loftier goals. They believed that what they did was for a higher purpose.

They were wrong, of course, and we know it, but the reason that so many did follow those people is because their beliefs were infectious. They could, under the right circumstance even sound true.

Great villians come from somewhere deep inside a thought that has a broad implication and resonation. Something many people can understand, even if they don't agree with it.

Make your villians great.

Hey! Here it is, I finally got to the page (it has to be my browser issues)-- Designer Dogs is not ranked #1, that's up 5 from yesterday's rankings! That's so cool! Check it out today.

New Work, Old Losses

I wrote an article the other day that got published on Helium.com. It's about Designer Dogs and I'd love to share the link with you. I will if my server quits acting like a dog itself. Actually I'm not sure if it is my server's fault, or if it's the new IE browswer that I was forced to install because the old IE6 kept stalling on me. The new IE7 is a pain in the ...

I also wrote and submitted an article on a home remedy for ringworm this morning on associated content. I'll let you know if and when that gets published, although that should also show up in my sidebar over there.

I began a new job writing for a law firm today too. I'm awaiting news on whether my article makes the grade over there. I'm hoping it does because they have quite a bit of business and it would help a lot since the web content writing business I was employed by closed up shop for a few months after loosing a big customer. That really hurt because I was making about eight hundred dollars a week from them.

Since I was never getting any of my articles sent back, I know it wasn't me that the owner of the ad company said the reason the client left was because of returned articles. There were quite a few writers with the company, and all of us are feeling the shut down pretty strongly.

Oh well... that's life in the Internet working world. Here one minute, gone the next.

(Just a note, I haven't been able to access the article yet but I'm pretty sure it's a browswer issue due to the why's of it not happening that I'm not even clear on enough to attempt to explain. I'll post the link as soon as I can.)

Big Love Bang Up Season Finale Episodes

Wow, this season ender is amazing, and these last episodes are just blowing it all out. If you have been watching it you'll know what I'm talking about in this post... if not, it may give you an idea of how action packed these episodes are. The writer's of Big Love are just leaving out all the stops.

I can't believe how everything is falling apart. Someone's gonna die, and I don't just mean Roman, at least that's what I think. Albie is SUCH an evil mutha. The way he's killing Roman now is just crazy, I wonder somehow if he'll get stopped and Roman will have him put away, but it doesn't look like it, it looked like in the end of the last episode like he was being done in by that cocktail of drugs Albies wife gave him. Who knows though, I thought he was dead from the gun shot in the episode from the week before. Nicole, jeesh, I'd say something's gonna happen to her, but that would kind of kill the series because she's the wife that REALLY causes all the trouble, although just lately Barb has been making waves too. About the only one who still isn't like that is Margene. I don't blame her for the way she acted at all in the last episode. Somehow too, I don't know how but Bill always manages to come out squeeky clean. Like how in the end it worked out with the two wives in front of those 'poker buddies' in the restaurant who probably will buy into the gambling machines now that Bill isn't such a 'holy roller' in their eyes.

I don't know what's gonna happen with Nicole and stealing that money, and Albie knowing about it, or that rat father of Bill's trying to use Albie to get at his sons. Funny about the mother giving him his divorce papers but I don't like her either, coniving witch. Then Nicole with that huge slip of the tongue to Albie about Bill buying into Weaber Gaming (or whatever it's called) or course she didn't know it was something that her father wanted, so she really didn't know, but ouch, that's why I think someone in the family's going to get shot.

Busy Blog

Sometimes when I look at my blogs here I think wow, they're really busy. I don't mean busy as in so many people stopping by, I mean busy as in double sidebars, lots of stuff on the bars. I wonder sometimes if that's not a turn off, and yet, I'm not sure exactly what I'd remove from them if I were to 'redecorate' in here. There is so much information that while not really necessary for me, or someone who cruises through here often, would be what I'd want someone new to know about. Do you think a 'busy' blog is a distraction? Do you think more people would want a less cluttered sidebar? Do you even pay attention to that stuff when you go to a blog?

I'd like to know what you all think. I actually think there has to be a middle ground. I've been to blogs that had virtually nothing in the side bars and the blogs looked fairly bland and uninteresting. Some went to the extreme and didn't even have a personal information area. I like to know a little something about the person who is writing the blog. I definately prefer to be able to find out a first name. If secrecy is such a must, I can live without knowing a last name, or even a location, although where they are can be very relevant in regards to the information in their blogs, but a first name is a good thing. I'd love to know a teeny bit about what that person is about, or what they do. That makes the whole 'blog experience' more relevant.

Anyway, any ideas on what you like in a blog? Let me know.

End of The Seasons

Well, I guess that the week before last was the season finale of Painkiller Jane. They didn't say a word about it being the end but last Friday it wasn't on at all. I hope they don't do that with Burn Notice. I'm so hooked on Burn Notice, but I know the season must be ending soon. I'd hate to just find out because it wasn't on anymore though. I think that's kind of a raw deal. Or maybe it's just because I'm so used to being told how many shows are left when it gets down to the end of the season like with the HBO series. Big Love is winding out now with only 3 more shows for the season, and it's going full-guns. I love it. Now John From Cincinnati had it's finale yesterday and I'm tellin' ya, I don't think I'll watch it again next season. I kept on watching this season hoping it would all make sense. In some ways it did, but it was just to esoteric for me I guess. Burn Notice on USA Network continues to thrill each week though and I'm happy for that and HBO's Big Love. Those two turned out to be the real winners.

Great Fun For The Kids

Oh this is too cute. I love the idea of the grandkids dressing up as 'hosies' as they call them, for Halloween. My granddaughter Alexis even has a shirt that says 'Will trade brother for pony' lol, so she'd love these to pieces. Of course she just has to come to grandma and grandpa's to see real ponies, but that's not nearly as much fun for a child as dressing up like one.

Kids would love all of the animal costume at The Jungle Store, I bet. Not even for Halloween but all year round. Alexis would sleep in those horsie costumes I'm sure. I think Dominic my grandson would prefer the zebra. He's a 'horse of a different color' himself.

Perfect Light

I've seen all kinds of lighting styles in homes of my friends and other places we've visited on the show trail and such. I'd love a big chandelier, but I don't have the ceilings for that. When it comes right down to it, I'd prefer more cosy lighting anyway. I'd like floor lamps. We don't have any right now. Most of our home lighting is table lamps and ceiling lights. Ceiling lights are too harsh, at least ours are. I've found some that are nice. I think my next remodeling project is going to have to center around re-doing light fixtures. I don't have any floor lamps, but I think they make for the perfect lighting around sitting areas because you can move them wherever you want them. I've seen a few that I really love and think I'm going to incorporate several into my new living room. I'm almost up to the lighting part of the decor.

Keeping A Budget

For all the work I've been doing I find myself having an uncommon problem. I'm having trouble budgeting my money. I have income from several different sources now and keeping track of it is a real chore, but I've kind of got a handle on that, but now it seems like with so much income, I'm having more trouble setting up a proper budget and sticking to it. In some ways it was easier when I had no money, lol. I need a good budgeting software. Beyond just my personal budget I need to keep better track of what's coming in, and what's going out. What it costs to make the money I make is important because it effects the bottom line, and my true profit. Luckily I don't have many expenses with my work anymore thanks to the Internet. Boy writing itself used to be a much more costly business. Reams of paper, pens, ink, typewriter ribbon, reams of paper, stamps, envelopes, reams of paper... yeah, I think paper was the biggest expense by far, although stamps came close to second. With a good software program you can do it all. It might be about time for me to think about having one program that can keep track of all my different businesses and my personal budget too.

Keeping Time

I've always wanted a watch like Bob has. He's always worn swiss army watches and I think they're so great. It just seems like everytime I have something go wrong with a watch I'm in the wrong place and I need one in a hurry. Well finally I just decided it was time to just get the watch I want no matter what. I think they're really a great watch and look great too. Considering the kind of work Bob does and then the farm too they seem really durable and accurate. They even have really cool clocks and pocket watches. I don't know that pocket watches are all that common anymore, but I think they're cool. It's sort of classy for a guy in suit. It's really amazing the different styles and types they come in. I think this one is really great:



I love the silver/gold combo. That's the one I'd want.

Peace Of Mind

I have to renew my life insurance. I'm getting older and it's more and more important to keep things going so that things are taken care of. It's not pleasant to think about but getting term life insurance is easy so there's no excuse not to have it. I feel good knowing my kids will get something besides just having to pay my bills, and pay for me to be 'taken care of' at the end. Or, of course, if Bob outlives me, then him, lol. At any rate, I need to get that taken care of so I can have the peace of mind that it's there.

Totally Def

I don't know how many of you know about Def Leppard but they're one of the bands that really had an impact on my growing up. It so happens that even though Bob and I didn't know each other during our teens, that band had a significant impact on his life too. It's pretty strange when we both have such an icon type band in our lives that we share. I have a few others, and he has some, but they're not the same, so when I found out about the def leppard tickets that were going to be on sale I had to check it out. I can't wait to surprise him with them.

Time For Myself

All last week I spent hours and hours every day getting some of my horses ready to show this weekend. I spent so much time on their hair and coat that I kind of neglected my own hair and skin. I use a lot more skin care products than I ever used to. It seemed like once I passed 40 that everything changed including the makeup of my skin. Being out in the hot sun and with all the humidity of the past week even made it worse. By last night my lips were so chapped they were actually sore, and my face was extremely dry. The couple of horses that were showing this weekend went to the shows with a trainer which makes it easy for me to sit at the show and have fun, and come home early. This weekend is going to be MY time to rejuvinate neglected skin, and have some 'my' time. It's easy to forget to take time for yourself when you're running around and busy. The time flies by before you know it and the day is over. I learned a good lesson this week though. It's important to stop once in a while and pay attention to your own health.

Spare Change

I haven't had a chance to get on here in such a long time! Wow, it's been about five days. It really didn't seem that long, but I've been prepping for shows and doing other work when online so I haven't even had time to do my normal visiting and such. I did glimpse an article during last week as I got online that Yahoo had on their home page about people in Japan being freaked out because they'd found huge amounts of cash stuffed into their mailboxes.

Now I don't know about you but it wouldn't freak me out at all. I'd be on my knees thanking God or whatever force managed to move that money in my direction. LOL I'm happy just to find spare change in the sofe, or washing machine. I wouldn't even care if it came up in the drains of the kitchen sinks. Money is money, and I'd be just as pleased as punch. You wouldn't hear me saying 'that just freaked me out man, I don't know what to do'. I know what to do... SHOPPING TRIP!