What Entertains Me: 01/01/2007

Wednesday, January 31, 2007

The "No, Really???" News for Today

U.S. may have botched training of Iraqis:

Do you think? I mean, really now. I thought they were doing so well over there, with our soldiers still doing the majority of the combat after how many years now? Seriously. This is not news to anyone.

"'The fact is that income inequality is real. It has been rising for more than 25 years.'"
-- George W. Bush, January 31, 2007

Another gem from the article: "He said some workers are being left behind in the booming economy and the disparity between the rich and the poor is growing."

Who are you, and what have you done with our president? Not that government can do anything about the insane amount of money CEOs make for, oh, I don't know...getting fired? But still, to hear this come from his mouth made me do a read-over, twice. This is all a political stunt, since the economy is in the toilet...but still, it's just about the last thing I'd expect him to say. Next thing you know, he'll say that global warming is for certain, and that we should do everything in our power to stop it. Or, better yet...that he was wrong, wrong, wrong about Iraq, and that the troops need to start a phased withdrawal. Then I'll KNOW someone is impersonating him...

Monday, January 29, 2007

Tax Time Is Coming. Tra-la, Tra-la

*Disclaimer: This is a paid review of Moneycentral.com.*

I just got my W2 from work the other day, and I got my interest statement from my one savings account. It's a fairly decent savings account, but I'm always on the lookout for high yield savings accounts that are easy to access online. Unfortunately for me, it's always been hard to keep money in a savings account. There's always something that requires I dip into savings, and I hate doing that. Maybe if I can put a lot of my savings into something that will actually make money in interest (at least more than a few dollars here and there), I might keep it in one. Moneycentral.com has links to all of the high yield savings accounts that exist today, I think. If there are more of them, I have no idea what they are. In any case, I'll definitely be checking out this site more often, to see if I should switch over my current one to a higher yield account. If so, it'll be on my mile-long list of things to do with my finances this year...

Thursday, January 25, 2007

Still Stuck on Freelancing

I think because I'm regretting coming back to this job, big time, I'm starting to wax poetic about the short time I spent freelancing. I looked into all sorts of things, like getting one of those mailboxes just for my business stuff. You know, like Mailboxes Etc. (now the UPS Store, I think?). But then I thought that'd be silly, as I'd have to go out to get my mail and any packages, rather than just open my mailbox in my apartment (or get my UPS at my apartment's office). So, I didn't get one. Now I'm glad I did not, as who knows how long I would have had to keep it? That would have been a wasted expense, for sure.

The Good Old Days of Freelancing

When I was freelancing, I was on the lookout for a business card printing place that was cheap, yet high quality. I thought about making my own, but as I'm not a designer...I didn't think I'd do a very good job. While using a template that tons of other people had probably used did not thrill me a whole bunch, the idea of getting 500 cards for $9.95 (with free shipping, I might add) did thrill my sense of cheapness. Funny thing is, I got them right before I came back to work full time...so I have 500 cards just sitting there gathering dust. Maybe someday, I'll use them...but I doubt it as I will definitely be moving later this year. Oh well, there went $9.95 down the drain!

My Cousin is Pregnant!

She already has one of the cutest kids in the world (and I mean it...he's just wonderful!). I just found out, though, that she's due in August. Her family is Irish (she's actually my second cousin), so I'll probably look around at some Irish gifts to give this time. They're hoping for a girl, and I hope they have a girl too. Having an older brother myself, it's nice to be part of a brother/sister pair. He looks out for me and is quite protective. I couldn't ask for a better brother, really. So, I hope she gets her wish, because even though the little boy is only 3, I can tell he'd make a great older brother. :)

Birthday Cards - Store Bought or Homemade?

So, I just had my birthday, and I got a lot of cards. One of them looked like one of those printable greeting cards you can make online. Personally, I love doing this as you can customize the card. While I do like going into stores and finding the one card that makes me laugh out loud, sometimes I just don't have the time to do that. Or, I just don't feel like venturing out to the store. So, I'll log onto my AmericanGreetings.com account, find a card I like, personalize it, and print it out. I actually have card stock and envelopes for when I want to make my own cards. Sometimes, a brilliant idea strikes me for making my own card. But mostly, I use their templates and fill in what I want to say. It really is great having all of these options nowadays!

My Lovely Apartment Complex

I hope that when warmer weather comes, my apartment complex will tend to some house painting on some of their townhomes. Not many need it, just a few I think. You'd think with as much as I pay in rent (it's expensive for where I live...I know it's not bad compared to New York or Los Angeles!), they'd keep up with the external looks of the place. Actually, they do for the most part. But if I were two of the townhome dwellers, I would definitely want to know when they're going to do a little touch up.

Actually, I'm probably moving from there...after my next 9 month lease is up in November of this year. I was a dork and did not realize I had to give 45 days' notice, not 30. So, I'm stuck paying a ridiculous amount of money for my place (they raised my rent!). Oh well, all I can hope is that I find something that pays more, either in this company, or in another company. That, or find more freelance work.

Monday, January 22, 2007

SecondLife Baffles Me

Yes, I have recently joined the ranks of SecondLife.com. What is this exactly? Actually, I'm still not sure. I do know that it's a virtual realm where you can make your own identity, a "second life" so to speak. You can get a job, have a social life...all in virtual reality. Some people make a living off of it in their real life, mainly techies, I think. It has its own currency ($300 Lindens = $1 US). There are stores where you can buy clothes, hair, gestures and poses. And you can go out for a night on the town. There are so many clubs, it's astounding.

Right now, I'm just trying to figure out how to make money by "camping" out at different locations, until I feel comfortable enough to get a "job" from someone. So for now, I'm trying out different looks (mainly an image of myself in how I'd love to look in real life!) and venturing into different locations to see who I can meet, and where I can camp without getting kicked off for being idle. What I find at these locations can range from normal, everyday life (stores, restaurants, beaches, etc.) to places that I've only heard about in real life, never seen. For instance...I ended up in a place that is topless, and it didn't say so in the initial description. Seems I'm still timid in the virtual world, as I got out of there as quickly as I could! I figure if I want to be taken seriously in SL, then going to topless places or getting a job as a pole dancer is not in my best interest. I won't even go into some of the other stuff that seems to be popular in SL. Let's just say, I think people live repressed lives, and they use SL as an outlet to release some of those, um, tensions.

Anyway, it's intriguing, and I will probably keep at it until I get bored with it. But I doubt I will be able to get bored quickly. There's just too much to explore.

Saturday, January 20, 2007

The Wonders of e-Cards

*Disclaimer: This is a paid review of Yahoo! Greetings with AmericanGreetings.com.*

My dad finally figured out how to send an ecard yesterday. I was so proud of him (he's a little technophobic, so this is huge for him)! With so many to choose from (one for just about every occasion), the fact that they're cheap to send, and that you can personalize them, animated ecards really do make the most sense. The Yahoo/Americangreetings.com site has a free 30 day trial to see if you like it, and then you pay $13.99 for the entire year to send as many cards as you like. It's great for holidays, because you can send the same card to everyone, just like Christmas cards...but at the click of a button, rather than addressing and stamping hundreds of envelopes. You can also schedule cards to be sent out on certain dates, should you so choose. I'm a member, and I love it. Seriously, it comes in very handy if I, say, forgot to send a paper card.

Feeling Ill

Not much to say today, other than I think I may have come down with a cold or something. Nothing like getting sick on your birthday! My ears are so plugged up, I can barely hear. The 12-hour Sudafed (which I now have to get behind my pharmacy counter -- a big pain, if you ask me) is not really working to clear my head. And today, I'm starting to feel cold-ish...you know, that general malaise one feels when one is sick. But, since my allergies have kicked in due to the warm weather (we're finally having winter weather as of this week, though), I'm not sure if it's just allergies, a cold...or heaven forbid, a sinus infection. Now that would really suck, as it would mean antibiotics. And I hate antibiotics...they tear up my stomach. Maybe it's nothing, but we'll see.

Friday, January 19, 2007

Another Year Closer to Buying a House

*Disclaimer: This is a paid review of FastHomeLoans.com.*

Well, today I turn 36, and I always said I'd try to buy a house before I turned 40. So, I have only 4 years left before that can happen. I actually started looking about 3 years ago, but then my mom died...so that all got put on hold for a bit. So, I'm still in the market for a first mortgage loan, and I ran across Fast Home Loans, which I might keep bookmarked for when I do decide to buy a house (or a condo, more likely). It looks like a fast, easy service for any type of mortgage or home equity loan, really.

Thursday, January 18, 2007

Is It Summer Yet?

Really, I think when the time comes for a vacation, I will most definitely be taking a hard look at the Outer Banks North Carolina. As I've mentioned before, I have been there in the past, and it is a lovely place. The beach is a place that centers me, makes me feel more at peace than any other place on earth. Not sure why, but it does. Is it the sound of the ocean? The white sand? The salty ocean breeze? Yes, yes, and yes. Oh, and let's not forget the warm sun. And, North Carolina is much, much closer than Florida. Any place I can drive to in a day or so is worth a look in my opinion. Can't wait for summer!

Winter + Weather + Job + Birthday = Depression

Okay, so I'm turning 36 tomorrow, and I'm feeling rather depressed about it. In fact, I'm just feeling depressed in general. The combination of my job, the time of year, and the dreary weather are really getting to me. When I get depressed, I eat unfortunately. Think it's time for me to jump on the Hoodia bandwagon to see if it really does control my appetite like they say it does. As with any diet supplement, different things work on different people in different ways. Will this work for me? I don't know. But unless I try it, I'll never find out, will I?

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

The Wonders of d-Mannose

*Disclaimer: This is a paid review of Justbuyonline.co.uk's d-Mannose product.*

As someone who has suffered from frequent cystitis (or UTIs), I have always looked for alternatives to the antibiotics that are prescribed for me. The yeast infections I always get with antibiotics is not something I enjoy, to make an understatement. I've tried cranberry extract and other herbal remedies, but they didn't really do the trick. I would always have to go see my doctor to get those antibiotics I love so much.

But then a few years ago, I found this product called d-mannose, which is the sugar found in cranberries that make them a somewhat effective UTI treatment (in most cases, not all). What this sugar does is help prevent bacteria from sticking to the wall of the urethra. However, natural d-mannose is the super-duper concentrated version of that sugar. It not only prevents bacteria from sticking to the lining of the urethra, but it also loosens it so that it can be washed away. I believe it, as I've used natural d-mannose when I've felt a UTI coming on, and had the symptoms disappear that same day or shortly thereafter. Saves me a trip to the doctor as well as the cost of any prescriptions I might have to get. And, I don't have to deal with the side-effects of antibiotics! It truly is a great product that I wish more people knew about.

Old Man Winter Is Finally Here

After having weeks of temperatures in the 50s and 60s (okay, sometimes in the 40s), we finally saw snow and had temps drop into the teens last night. Brrrrr! The difference is amazing, really. I was getting used to wearing light jackets, but I actually had to get out my real winter coat so I didn't freeze this morning as I scraped off the frost on my car. Not that I'm complaining, mind you. I can deal with sunny and cold this time of year. I'll take that over the warm, rainy weather we've been having (my allergies were kicking into gear!). Besides, it's never, ever been warm on my birthday, not even in Florida on the day I was born! So, it's good to know that some traditions still hold true. Just so long as we never, ever repeat the one birthday where it was -24 degrees Fahrenheit with a foot of snow on the ground, I'll take the cold. :)

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

Jonesing for a New Cell Phone

*Disclaimer: This is a paid review of Wirefly.com*

I am a certified gadget freak. My current phone is considered a Smartphone (Audiovox SMT 5600), but it doesn't have a regular keypad (my next phone is either going to be a Blackjack or a Treo). I got it from Wirefly.com, where one can by top selling phones, and I was very happy with the service I got from them. They had a great selection of phones and great deals as well. Free 2-day shipping came with it at the time, and it came right on schedule. Rebates were plentiful as well, although this one did still cost me more than the average phone. I actually am rather happy with it, but again...I want something with a full keypad, as I am horrible when it comes to texting on a phone keypad. Ugh! So, anyway...if you want to buy a phone, check out Wirefly.com. You won't be sorry!

Friday, January 12, 2007

First Communion

Wow, they still do first communion? I'm Episcopalian (a preacher's kid, actually), and I had first communion. But for the most part, people don't have to do that anymore, especially kids. There's no training involved, or classes to attend...and no first communion gifts to buy. I didn't have to do any of the classes, actually...one of the perks of being a preacher's kid, I guess. But, the "traditional" part of me wonders why the teaching isn't valued anymore. If you're Catholic or Episcopalian, communion is a very important part of the religion and needs to be understood as such. So, it's nice to see that some places still do first communion. But, who am I to stand in the way of progress?

What Can't You Do Online These Days?

These days, it seems like you can do anything online. Yes, I just made an entry about how you can't pay all of your bills online all of the time. But, really...when I find a place that does presentation folder printing online, I have to think that someday, we'll be able to brush our teeth...online (okay, that's a little far-fetched, but you know what I mean). I just reviewed a site that will send you birthday cards (no, not e-cards, real paper cards) that are stamped and addressed, ready to send. Then there's YouTube, where you can get your 15 minutes of fame. And with eBay...you can get almost anything, and I mean anything, that your little heart desires. What will come next? I have no idea. I just wish I could be the one to come up with The Next Big Thing online!

Online Bill Payment Rules!

I pay so many bills online now that I get irked when I have to send in a payment by mail for anything. Like, last month, I had to pay a whole slew of medical bills from when I thought I'd need to have my gall bladder taken out, but as it turns out...I didn't. Anyway, I was wishing I had some return address labels, because my hand started getting tired of writing my return address on so many envelopes (okay, only 4).

I am so lazy when it comes to paying bills anyway, that when I have to use snail mail to send them in...they're usually late as I procrastinate...a lot. But, since I don't want collectors to come after me (that's only happened once...and it was a screw up on their part), I actually paid these on time. Yay me! But, it would be soooo much more convenient if they'd all provide online bill payment. Perhaps it's too costly...but for hopeless procrastinators like me, it's a dream come true!

Thursday, January 11, 2007

Video Conferencing

*Disclaimer: This is a paid review of Lifesize.com.*

Yesterday, I watched one of the managers of my department go down in flames trying to set up some video conferencing equipment. The end result was us having one of those old-fashioned teleconferences. Perhaps if we had had video conferencing equipment from Lifesize.com, we might not have had the technical difficulties that she faced. The idea of HD video conferencing appeases my geeky gadget-freak mind, I must say. Having only participated in one video conference, I think a widescreen with clear, crisp digital sound would have been much better than the grainy camera and rather unclear sound we had sometimes.

Bush to Send More Troops

*sigh* I swear, I do more of that these days than anything else, other than rolling my eyes. While I am not surprised Bush wants to send in more troops, I am highly disappointed. Even moreso, I am dismayed that he is putting another 21,000 Americans in harm's way. Didn't we "surge" the troops last year? Did that work? Uh, no, because this is clearly not an issue that can be solved by military might alone. It will take a combination of political savvy and training of Iraqi troops -- at least those troops that stay. While I believe we should stay to clean up the mess we made, we shouldn't be occupying Iraq indefinitely. Bring as many troops home as we can so that the Iraqis can either fix this themselves...or dissolve completely into chaos. It's up to the strength of the government, which I don't hold much faith in. It is truly, truly a no-win situation for anyone, thanks to Bush's biggest blunder of all history.

It's enough to make me wonder how different the world might be if Gore had been elected president back in 2000 (which he was, really). Would it be better? I have to believe so. Would it be safer? Maybe yes, maybe no, but again...I have to believe that it would be after seeing An Inconvenient Truth the other night. But, the reality of the situation is that the world is an incredibly unstable place, thanks to Bush and Co. We are not safer from terrorism with our troops overseas. Fighting terrorism with conventional military is like fighting a virus with an antibiotic. It doesn't work! It might make us feel better for a little while, but in the end, it only ends up making things weaker in case we are attacked in a different manner. And, we will be. That's what scares me the most, I think, that we are so unprepared for any sort of widespread disaster, manmade or natural. Let's bring the troops home and spend the billions of dollars on THIS country, not other countries. Make this country safe from the inside, Bush. Will you do that? Nope, I don't think so. *sigh*

Doing My Part for the Environment

*Disclaimer: This is a paid review of GasSavers.org.*

I just saw An Inconvenient Truth the other night, and I have to say, I was saddened to learn that the U.S. has dismal fuel economy goals, compared with the rest of the world. I mean, China has better goals than we do? It's appalling. I'm hoping that as more people watch that movie, that they will want to stop driving gas guzzling SUVs (I swear, my blood pressure goes up when I see someone driving a Hummer), and start driving cars with better gas mileage. It's sites like GasSavers.org that are really helpful, if you're looking for information on fuel-efficient cars, tips on improving gas mileage, etc.

My next car will either be a diesel or a hybrid, as my boyfriend's car is a VW Golf diesel...with approximately 50 mpg average. If diesel weren't so expensive in comparison to gas, I'd be way more jealous than I am now (and trust me, I'm jealous). I'm also big on reducing oil dependence, so I'm thinking I'll probably go for a hybrid. But, we'll see. Anything's better than the average mpg my Hyundai Elantra gets in the winter. Right now, I'm only averaging 29 mpg, and that's driving just barely over the 65 mph speed limit on highways. With my 60 mile round trip to work everyday, I fill up about once a week. I'd love to fill up twice a month! Maybe that will be possible, when I'm finished paying off this car and get a new one in 2008!

Great! Just Fabulous. More Medical Bad News for Me.

Last week I found out that the Mirapex I take for my RLS might cause problems with heart valves. Now, it's not as bad as some of the other Parkinson's medications that are out there (mainly ones derived from ergot), but still. This is all I need. Not that I have heart valve issues, mind you. But now I have to go be checked for them. Yet something else I have to spend my money on, in addition to my annual tests I have to get done.

So, I'm left to wonder what I might take if they yank the only thing that lets me sleep off the market? I might see if my doctor would prescribe generic Ultram, as I hear it does help with sleep. It wouldn't be the same thing as Mirapex, which actually controls the symptoms. But, it'd be something besides the other medication I take, Klonopin, to control my REM Behavior Disorder (associated with RLS).

I really, really dislike even having to take these medications, but I truly have no alternative. I've tried melatonin for the REMBD, as I read it does control it, but I'm too young for it apparently. Taking even a small amount of it makes me feel like a total zombie the next day. I hope that as I get older, I'll be able to take melatonin because it works wonders as far as my REMBD goes. And maybe someday, there will be a treatment for RLS that doesn't involve Parkinson's medications. One can only hope, right?

Free Trials for Diet Pills?

In my last post, I talked about diet supplements again. I love all of these diet pill sites that give you a free trial for their weight loss supplements. It's so commonplace nowadays, you wonder how much it really costs to manufacture these pills, and how much money they're making. Of course, you will be billed if you don't cancel before the free trial is over, which is probably where they make their money. Because, like a lot of people, I forget to cancel the trial if I find I don't like the sample, so I get stuck with a bill for something I didn't want anyway. You should see how many "free" bottles or samples of products I actually have. It's amazing, in a not so positive way.

My New Year's Resolution Not Going as Planned

I've stated before in this blog that like a large portion of the population, my goal this year is to finally lose that extra 15 pounds I've been carrying around. So far, my efforts have been thwarted by my own laziness and procrastination, mostly brought on by my crazy workload.

Anyway, I am looking for some help from diet pills or fat burners, again, so I looked up a diet review website to see (again) what might be out there. Not much, for me anyway. I just can't take the stuff with massive amounts of caffeine. All these diet supplements do is make me feel jittery, and they sometimes give me massive headaches. Can't be good for me.

So, my search continues. I'm thinking of trying some green coffee supplements, as I read not too long ago that green coffee is actually better at raising metabolism than green tea...but green coffee is not something I'd want to drink. Sooo...supplements it is!

Easy Valentine Gifts

If you're looking for easy, foolproof Valentine gifts, jewelry is always the best way to go. And at Danforthdiamond.com, you'll find an awesome selection and save some serious bucks too. From an engagement ring to a simple charm bracelet, your Valentine's Day shopping is done with just a few clicks of the mouse at Danforthdiamond.com!

Blog post sponsored by How to Make Money Blogging

Tuesday, January 09, 2007

For the Absent-Minded Who Forget Birthdays

*Disclaimer: This is a paid review of Card-List.com.*

I think if I didn't already have reminders of birthdays on my calendar set up to remind me a week in advance of people's birthdays, Card-List.com would be the service for me. You sign up, enter the information for birthdays you want to remember, choose some cards (starting at $4.00 a piece, which I'm certain includes the price of the service they provide), and when the time comes for that person's birthday, you get that card mailed to you (already stamped and addressed) in time for you to send it to them. While I think it is a great idea, I'm not sure it will catch on with folks very well. But, what do I know? It could be the next big thing in services provided by the Internet, as I'm horrible at guessing what the Next Big Thing is. If it is, then more power to the folks who came up with this service. I hope they do well!

Monday, January 08, 2007

Demotivators

Oh, how I love the Demotivators website. I think I found my current motto for work:

Adversity: "That which does not kill me postpones the inevitable."

And then, there is this one...which describes what must be my manager's motto:

Compromise: "Let's agree to respect each other's views, no matter how wrong yours may be."

Enough said, I think.

Friday, January 05, 2007

Just Another Dreary Day in Ohio

I swear, if it's not cloudy, it's raining. Where's the sun? Oh, that's right...it's winter, and this is Ohio. We're officially in the "cloud belt" during this time of year. Cold I can take, but not cold and dreary. It's actually warm and dreary today, which is only making my allergies act up. There's something weird about having seasonal allergies in January.

Anyway, where was I? Oh yes, daydreaming of a vacation to a warm place with a beach and plenty of sun, or maybe a vacation taken on one of those yacht charters I've seen advertised in some travel magazines. That would be fun, and I think I'd enjoy it more than another cruise on a floating city (Royal Caribbean's Voyager of the Seas carries 3500 passengers...so it's a floating city, in my humble opinion). Perhaps if we do get our full bonus (doubtful, but I can always dream, right?) maybe I'll invest in a trip like that this time around. Anything to get me away from here would be great right about now...

Thursday, January 04, 2007

If I Were Still Dating...

*Disclaimer: This is a paid review for JustSayHi.com.*

Finally, an online dating service that is totally free exists! Now, if I were single...I'd be all over this just to give it a shot. I mean, who can pass up a free dating service that looks rather promising? I met my current SO through Yahoo Personals, and I was a member of Match.com...even tried eHarmony.com, but didn't really care for it. JustSayHi.com is fairly new, so there aren't too many people on it yet. But I'm hoping that this buzz I'm helping to generate will increase its membership, as we need more free dating sites available in general, I think.

New Year, New Decorations

My boyfriend has been redoing his upstairs loft and has been looking at new furniture. He showed me this site that carries Coaster Furniture, which is actually decent furniture at a reasonable price. Best part? They have free shipping right now! He's been looking for a new office chair, as the one he has is falling apart BIG time due to time...and his cat's claws. Although, he's really picky/finicky in general...so he may end up not liking anything they have after all.

Weirdest Winter, Ever

You know, seeing that ice storm out in the central plains, stranding everyone in their homes makes me think that it might be good to keep some emergency supplies on hand. Not that I think I'll need them this year (it's going to be in the 50s--again--today), but as our winters in Ohio seem to go in cycles, it might be a good idea. I live in a place that does get snow...and has the equipment to deal with it, but doesn't do a really good job of clearing the roads. One year we got about a foot of snow on Christmas, and it trapped me in my house because I couldn't get my car out. Heaven help us if we ever get anything like they got in Colorado, where the ice was 3 inches thick in some places.

It's just so weird how they got blasted with that, and all we got was rain and warm weather (well, warm for this time of year anyway). Actually, the "warm" weather is causing my allergies to kick in full-time. Allergies in January is really freaky, let me tell you. And, if it's like it is today on my birthday (the 19th), I will definitely be a little freaked out.

Enjoying the Peace and Quiet

This week, my office is all but empty because my company's national sales meeting is taking place in Orlando. I wonder if anyone's staying in one of the Orlando town homes? Doubt it, as there are all day meetings...then parties late at night...at the resort they're in. But maybe one of them is deciding to stay a little longer and rent out a nice house, rather than stay in a hotel.

Tuesday, January 02, 2007

What Day Is It Again?

*Disclaimer: This is a paid review of TimeThoughts.com's time management website.*

I used to be the best at time management, knowing what day it was, where I had to be at what time. Now, I cannot live without my Smartphone, which syncs with my Outlook calendar. But even that has failed me sometimes. So, perhaps the time has come for some new time management skills, which is where TimeThought.com comes in. They have an e-book which details how to better manage projects and tasks, conquer procrastination (my biggest downfall), organize your e-mail, etc. There are also links to helpful tips, such as creating effective to-do lists and reminder lists, as well as links to what not to do, which is equally as important in my humble opinion. There's even some time management software that looks rather handy. So, this is yet another bookmarkable site for me. I better find a site about organizing bookmarks soon, or I won't be able to manage all the cool sites like this I've found!

Monday, January 01, 2007

A Southern New Year Tradition

Ah, today's the day I go to my dad's to eat ham, hoppin' john (black-eyed peas and rice), and some sort of green veggie (supposed to be collard greens...but no one likes them, so we eat spinach). This meal is supposed to provide love, luck, and money in the new year. Now, I've experienced love and money...and maybe a little luck. But never all three in the same year. After the past three years, which have been challenging to say the least, I'm hoping that this year will be the jackpot year when I get all three...as the money has come from some deaths in the family, so that doesn't really count.

Anyway, I do love this tradition...even if it doesn't do what it's supposed to. The food is great, and so is the company. Here's to a new year! May we all have a better year than the last...

Valentine's Day Coming Right Up!

With Valentine's Day coming up, I'm always on the lookout for different flower/gift sites other than 1-800-Flowers or FTD.com, as they don't always have what I need. The latest one I've found is called dot flowers (or dotflowers.com). What I like is that they're not just limited to flowers. They have gift baskets galore, including gourmet food. That's perfect for me, as I feel odd sending flowers to my SO. But, sending a gift basket of gourmet chocolates would be the perfect surprise for him at work, in my opinion. Now, if I did want to send flowers, they do same day delivery, but I doubt I'll do that. Although, I like some of the flower arrangements so much that I might end up sending something to myself one of these days, just for the heck of it. :)

Don't Knock Boise!

*Disclaimer: This is a paid advertisement for Boisehomesguide.com*

I just got an e-mail from one of my cousins who lives in Boise, Idaho. She loves it and thinks it is a wonderful place to raise her family of 2 small boys and a little girl. Her husband stays at home with the kids, actually, as she is an attending physician/department head at the local hospital...and makes more than enough to support them. And, from what I can gather, he's the perfect stay-at-home dad. I, for one, love it that he's so good at it...as my cousin's job can be very, very demanding.

I remember when they were looking for Boise real estate, they easily found a home that they could see themselves raising a family in. It's a beautiful place, really, very rustic...which suits them perfectly. Well, I know it suits her husband perfectly, as he loves all things outdoors. And, there's plenty of places for them to go camping and spend time outdoors. Whenever she's come to visit, he takes them all camping...yes, this includes the little girl too. I think the only thing that they find to be a drawback is the political landscape, as they're both fairly liberal...and Idaho isn't exactly a liberal place (to make an understatement). But, despite that, they really do love to live there. I'd be surprised if they ever moved from there, to be honest.