December 28, 2008





Well soon it will be a brand New Year! Time sure does fly doesn't it? It doesn't seem to matter whether you are having fun or not. I have often wondered where the traditions of New Year's Eve and Day came from so I looked it up. Click on the word spirit below to see the whole article.



Graphics by Whisper and Guapo
www.whisperandguapo.com


"Symbolically, New Year signifies a renewal of life. Hence, the spirit of celebration for the regeneration, while discarding the old and worn out. The customs and practices, though modified through the centuries, have still their distinctive strains in the ways we welcome each onrushing year."

I don't bother with any resolutions as such anymore. I just try to do the best I can for myself and others that I can throughout the year. I just hope that 2009 works out better than 2008 did. Not that this past year has been so bad; it's just that I hoped I would have more personal and business progress. I do believe that it will be better this coming year. I just have to put a little more 'relaxed' effort into my days and not get all anxious.

So on New Year's Eve and Day where ever you are; if you are in the mood, and you happen to be making your New Years wish or saying a special prayer say one for me please. God Bless all of you and see you in 2009!



Graphics by Whisper and Guapo
Note: Try not to eat too much and if you make resolutions why not do them 'One Day At A Time'?

After the Celebration


It seems that just as soon as the big day comes it is over before I know it! At least this seems to be the consensus about Christmas day among my friends. A lot of us spend the day after feeling full and uncomfortable. As that particular day goes , 2008 wasn't bad at all. I spent Christmas day with my friend and her children and her grandchildren. She and her daughter put on a wonderful feast! I ate far to much and she sent me home with 'a plate for tomorrow'.

However the next day after the fact I missed my children and Tom horribly. I had my little weep and tried to do some work here on the computer.

My boyfriend, Dennis and I spent quite a bit of time here online yesterday playing a generic game of Scrabble which was a lot of fun! We had the video up and the phone on so we could taunt each other. I need to do some work today. I really hope that I can have my revamped sites up before the first but at the very least by the fifth of January.

I truly hope that you and yours enjoyed a great Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, or any other winter holiday you may celebrate in your home!

December 19, 2008

Problems

I am having a problem these days. You may have or have not noticed my Personal on some of my sites. I have not talked to my youngest
daughter since December 19th,
2007 to this day of 2008. She was supposed to get in touch with me right after Christmas as she was moving. I didn't

even get to give the kids their presents. I haven't heard from her or my two grandchildren since that day long ago. (that is her to the right)


However I refuse to get depressed; although I have a lot of sad moments. I just feel that the best way to handle it is to pray a lot about it, adopt the idea that maybe no news is good news, and that hopefully we will find each other again. In the mean time I remain pro-active about trying to track them down. You see I think perhaps if we had been on bad terms I might understand this; but we were not. I pray that by Christmas this year or next they will turn up.

If anyone out there has any suggestions please leave them in the comment box. By the way I know my grandchildren would love that picture. They like kitties almost as much as their Grandma does!

Note: I often wondered why we dress our animals similarly to other animals or humans. I don't anymore. Most of the time my cats seem to enjoy it and they go along with the game.

December 6, 2008

Christmas Coming!

Christmas, it seems is coming faster every year. I think that thought takes up where my musings went in the last post; so I won't go there.

Here is a thought....doesn't it seem that the commercial part has started earlier and earlier every year. It amazes me to think just how bold the ads are getting too. When I was a child the only product that used Santa was Coca Cola. In those ads they didn't depict him as anything but 'the jolly old elf' himself. Oh yes, he was larger than life but he was recognizable as the same Christmas personality described in 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. There weren't that many knock offs of Saint Nick back in the 50's and 60's.

I love the lights at Christmas but when did it get popular to spend so much on such frills that no one could have any luxuries for the next 6 months. I guess I am just an old fashioned gal and would really truly enjoy the kind of Christmas that I had as a girl with Mass on Christmas Eve and the huge dinner around 2 PM Christmas Day. By the way, I have but one Christmas wish...that is for my younger daughter to get in touch with me and to be able to talk to her and my granddaughters.

So in the tradition of all my Christmases 50 years ago ....I will in say without any doubt at all; "Yes Virginia there is a Santa Claus."

The other side of the Christmas coin for me is of course the babe wrapped in swaddling bands in a manger in Bethlehem.

December 3, 2008

Happy Birthday To Me!


The time is drawing near for my 61st birthday. It is on the 9th of this month. Often at this yearly juncture, I am amazed again at how fast the time seems to go by in our lives. The strange thing is this; a minute, an hour, a day has always been the same amount of time. So I don't know where on earth we humans get this idea that time 'just flies by' or 'drags along'.

The other thing that comes to my mind is the fact that if I am just conversing with myself I think that I am the same in appearance as I was in my thirties. But then all I have to do is talk to one particular friend and she has me feeling as though I am in a wheelchair, half demented, and blind as a bat. Hey, don't you know that if you want to have a critique of any kind done the best person to ask is your 'best friend'. It is very strange the way they always seem to preface every thing they say with "you do know I love you; right?" Then they always end the conversation with something to this effect. "You know I love you and I only point things out to help you feel better about yourself in the long run." By the time she is gone, I am convinced I have an over sized crooked nose, a strange set of legs and horror of horrors far too much behind me.

But I do have a gentleman in my life who tells me that I am beautiful; albeit, at the oddest moments. For instance, when I have just woken tousle haired from sleep or I have spinach all between my teeth or I have a cold complete with a very huge red nose similar to Rudolph's. Gosh I truly am glad 'that beauty is in the eye of the beholder' and that the man with rose colored glasses is doing the beholding.

However, I try to comfort myself with the idea that I am wiser now. Truth be told, I am not all that wiser. It is just that generally speaking I try not to make too many mistakes in front of others these days. There are still a lot of people in the world that think that life is pretty well over by 55 but I notice that most of them are under 30. What I say is; "just you wait, at my age you won't be ready for the glue factory either". Besides there are an awful lot of us out there and baby boomers although not that young now are still very young at heart.

So I will get myself a cupcake, put a single candle on it, and hopefully blow it out when I make this years wish. What is my wish? Didn't tell anyone what they were when I was young and they generally came true so I am not going to break a habit of a lifetime now.


So...HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!

November 26, 2008

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

I just want to take this opportunity to tell all my readers a very Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope with all my heart that all of you enjoy a good dinner with people you care about in a warm and comfortable home. After dinner do yourself a favor and reflect on all the blessings we have in our world. I have done this for a number of years. It adds to my day, makes me more aware of something besides myself, and gives me a chance to be thankful for others too.

May God's blessings be with you today and throughout the coming year.

November 25, 2008

Working Round 'The Big Dogs'!



I visited a website yesterday before it's launch. Everything talked about there appeared to be terrifically encouraging, direct and real as far as being a method to succeed online. Just a few hours ago I visited it after it's launch. I went to look what the price tag would be on it, all along hoping it would be permissive. But at $997 it might as well have been one of those Super Guru's products priced way over $3000. It was way out of my league. Am I disappointed? Yes. Am I surprised? Not at all. I knew the way he talked on his video it would be out of my range. It seemed as though he was ready to be a 'Big Dog'. This is not to say he is a bad person or that the testimonials on his site cannot be believed. I am merely saying he is moving on up in the industry and loosing site of those behind him.

There are people like myself; who are still struggling to make a living. Sure I want to be able to save time; but that is not as important as keeping the lights, water, and heat on. I am working hard to get "there". As always it infuriates me to see brash people on their sales pages say things like 'only this or that price'. These people are not catering to the little guy or gal but the gurus that want to make money with the next workable system or the poor fool that just got a large settlement or inheritance of some kind, or has a credit card that isn't maxed out yet.

I do have quite a few people in this business that I look up to today. But a lot of the other people I perceive them saying; 'I want to help people'; then they turn around and charge unattainable prices for their products. As I have said before; I am not a tire kicker, nor am I addle brained. I am an intelligent determined and articulate lady entrepreneur with little or no capitol; which makes it hard to get from point A to point C. But I will struggle on because I am convinced that I will succeed.


So though I am annoyed at a lot of the people that are selling systems, software, and other products for excessive prices I am here to tell you this. I believe that I shall soon have that experience of going to paypal or my bank account and see the money I have made with my labor. And I won't have to charge high prices, make people feel bad because they can't buy this or that, and I shall end up touching people's lives in a positive manner.

November 21, 2008

Cat With a Hat Just like Jason's


I just saw a video that Jason Moffatt made at some seminar in California I think. This young man is irreverent, swears worse than any sailor I have never known, and his appearance is to say the least very 'casual'. Having said that I think he is a truly caring, empathetic, and sincere individual.

I understand a great deal more about marketing and videos than I did before. I have learned that some marketers are very flamboyant and that Jason doesn't mind having a lot of fun.

I went to his blog, and learned a lot about him and what he really cares about. I also learned a lot about marketing from the blog. I got a great deal from his other site here
and the accompanying blog as well. He isn't a polished young man but he is definitely on his way to making a great mark in this industry!

Oh by the way Jason, congratulations on the new house!

November 12, 2008

Ranting about Products Offered on the Net


I was looking at some new courses and products on the web. I was suddenly stricken with a thought. No wonder these people are millionaires! They not only charge exorbitant fees for all their marvelous 'Can't miss', 'Will make you thousands', and my favorite, 'So easy my 10 year old can do it' products they are trying to sell you. They razzle dazzle you with pictures of all the tangible things they have acquired because of their product. Generally speaking, they didn't get rich using their product but selling it at humongous prices.

There are those that have courses that will probably do what they say and really want to help others; as well as make money; but they are few and far between. The one course I am particularly thinking of has his client/student pay almost $500 and that is only 10% of what the person will end up paying. However the one good thing about his pay system is that the customer is on the honor system and doesn't have to pay the balance until he feels he has earned enough from the fruits of the labor that is associated with the course.

My problem with this whole high priced thing is that I don't consistently make enough yet to be able to afford even one of the few excellent courses or products that are online. I am having fun just trying to keep a roof over my head and food in my stomach.

Of course I suffer from information overload just like everyone else. This month I am trying to weed what I want from what I don't in my email accounts. This is a huge task as I usually get 800 or more each account. Most of the business contacts on my accounts are sending me multiple offers a week, but its spamming if I try to show them something of mine which I believe really unfair! Its not that I don't understand why they technically call it spamming but why shouldn't you take a gander at mine if I have opened and read yours?

Well so much for today's rant. We'll see you in the next post and please feel free to comment if you wish.

October 30, 2008

Halloween

When I was a girl Halloween was a very exciting holiday for most of us in our little village. You see I lived in a hamlet called Unionville in Ontario Canada. I remember a one thing very fondly. Mr. and Mrs Clarke Young were an older couple that really made holidays lovely for the town's children. They lived in a large brick house beside the railway tracks that went through the center of our town.

Well most of the children in town; the young ones in particular, made a beeline for the Young's house after only going to 2 or 3 other houses. I remember going up those large stone steps; as if I were pursuing the Holy Grail. Mrs Young would invite us into the vestibule and have us sit on the little bench. She and her husband would spend a few moments guessing what we possibly might be. Then she would rightly guess the obvious ones and feign being complete ignorance on the others. Well then she would tell us that because she hadn't guessed 100% she had better pay the price.

Mrs Young would leave us there with her husband to chat with us. He seemed to really enjoy guessing the ones she hadn't successfully figured out. A few minutes later, this lovely lady would be back with a tray of warm cider or hot chocolate and some kind sweet like chocolate chip cookies or chocolate brownies. As each child finished their 'lunch' they were given a treat bag full of goodies. Most years she made sure that everyone had a taffy apple, some english toffee, some mixed nuts, a couple of lollipops, some marzipan, an apple or orange and a small little toy each individually wrapped so they wouldn't get messy. More often than not we would find another couple of cookies or brownies too.

These lovely people had no children of their own so they made the village children their own in a small way. I don't remember a time; if I met her at the grocery store, at church, or another place around town that she didn't have a small conversation with me. She had the knack of really listening to you and making you feel as though you were the most important person in the world.

I rather think a lot of the other children felt this way about the Youngs. When Christmas time comes I think I shall tell you about the way she made it special for all of us.

I am glad to say, as I got older, I would visit with her in their yard mostly in the Spring, Summer and Autumn. On those days we would have little conversations and keep each other company for a little while. When her husband Clarke died she kept on with their traditions but everyone felt it wasn't the same without him. I can't quite remember but I think that she died around the time I was in my early 20's. It was at that time that our little hamlet seemed to grow and become part of Toronto. Nothing seemed quite right after Jean Young passed away in our village.

______________________________________________________________

FYI
Thanks to the
Celtic people of pre-medieval Europe, we have Halloween. The Celts celebrated the end of the light half of the year with the festival of “Samhain” (pronounced sah-wen), which they observed during the October/November lunar cycle. Costumes and treats were a traditional part of the Celtic celebration. And while Samhain began as a strictly Celtic festival, it is probable that aspects of Roman religion were incorporated into its observance over the four centuries of Roman rule in Britain (43-410 AD). Pomona was the Roman goddess of fruit trees and gardens. Her symbol was an apple. Some scholars believe this may explain how candied apples and bobbing for apples became associated with Halloween. Later with the early Christians, November 1 became All Saints Day or All Hallow's Day. The night before became All Hallow's eve.

As Christianity spread throughout the world, pagan holidays were either Christianized or forgotten. Samhain was absorbed into Halloween. Costumes and gifts and bobbing for apples were preserved, incorporated into the new holiday. They remain a celebrated part of Halloween to this day, many centuries later.

Now that is the history behind Halloween which I got straight off this site: http://www.allabout popularissues.org/origin-of-halloween.htm .


October 28, 2008

Smokin'

Ever since I had my first Black Cat unfiltered at 8 or 9 years of age, I have quit at least a dozen times a year. It is a very strange thing. I know they are bad for me, leave an awful odor and taste, and that it doesn't look sophisticated at all. What it amounts to is a dreadful addiction.

Just a word to you younger smokers. It gives you wrinkles before your time and absolutely pulverizes your lung power. Not only that; if you want one you have to go outside of a building which isn't so bad unless its 30 below.

I need to quit because of the coughing I do to clear my throat in the morning, the clothes I have ruined burning them, and the horrible taste in my mouth all the time except when I have just brushed my teeth. Most of all, I want to live a few more years cancer free if posible although I can't undo what I have done.

To the young folks out there, take an elder's advice and don't start! As for me, I shall keep on quitting one day at a time.

October 17, 2008

Spirit Mind And Body


Lately it has been hard for me to sit at my work station for very long. If I do I experience a lot of pain. This is my excuse for not writing very much of late and I'm sticking to it. Evidently most sources site that anywhere from 600,000 to a million people get shingles in the US each year. I happen to be one of the over 50's that has contracted it. By the way the majority of the people that have them are over 50. Add to that agonizing scoliosis, compacted discs at my neck, carpal tunnel syndrome in my left hand and excruciating arthritis in my limbs and back.

Now that I have given a litany of what ails me; I can tell you where I am mentally and spiritually these days. I state with some pride that the old brain pan works quite well; if I remember to use a calendar to keep track of appointments. It takes a little longer for the old messages to travel round my body from my brain these days but they get there. Spiritually I think that most days I feel a great deal of comfort from my faith. It works if I meditate and pray every day. As for what I believe, I won't share that here as I think that faith is a very personal thing.

The only thing that brings my spirits and thinking down is not being able to get a large 'list' built for all my business endeavors. Oh and burning my scrambled eggs the other day. Hopefully the list will grow and I will watch the eggs more carefully the next time.

August 13, 2008

My Malfunctioning Income


There are malfunctions all over the net lately. They say that doing something is as easy as pie; and it continues to be a hassle. Trying to get a website up is like pulling teeth, trying to get paid for things (see previous article) is next to impossible and honesty on the net is at a premium. I feel like things are not the way they should be. I have not got satisfactory answers to many enquiries I have submitted. It amazes me how things like the BBB Online, The Better Work at Home Business Bureau, and The Federal Trade Commissions not only don't answer the complaints one submits but really don't seem interested when the little guy gets gypped. Such sites as Data Processors at http://www.dataprocessors.org are one of the companies that have not paid me for my work. There are other sites which I will probably sight in later postings that have told me that I will make money and I have made little or nothing with them. My online enterprises are my income and because I don't have big business bank account to impress people with it seems as though success often alludes me. No I am not feeling sorry for myself I am merely making my problems public on this blog to see if others feel the same way. Comments are always appreciated. I would appreciate no solicitations.

June 29, 2008

Not Amused


I am not at all happy with a company that I have been working for on a daily basis. This particular company is dataprocessors.org. I became a gold member after doing their free program for some time. I didn't get paid the dollar any of the assignments for the free program at all. They claim the company had changed hands and kind of shrugged responsibility for the free program off. Fine ...I still want my pay.

I have been doing the Gold assignments for a total of 54 days up until a couple of weeks ago. My last letter told them that if I did not receive a letter of explanation from them within 48 hours I would write about my problem on my blog. Once that number of assignments turn to 60 the first 30 days were due to be paid. Each assignment was worth $10 so they owe me $540 to date of which $300 should have been paid once I hit the 60th assignment which they did not allow me to do. I have gone to the email were I found my assignments daily. For the last few weeks that I was doing assignments, I had to play catch up because of thunderstorms or tornado warnings or both, my old computer getting repaired, and then my new computer being set up by my tech. So there were a few days I had to play "catch up" and I wrote Data Processors about the problems at their support email. I did not receive any letters or notification back what so ever!

I believe that the people behind dataprocessing.org owe me a for both my free assignments and my gold member assignments. The very least they could do is write me about the situation. I would still be more than happy to continue with my gold membership if they could be honest about things, let me carry out my next six assignments, pay me my first $300 and then not cause anymore fuss nor ever give me cause to to believe they just may lack integrity in the future. So come on people at Data Processors be honest, pay up, and let me continue my little job with you!

It may interest all of you out there on the Web to know that I enjoyed this little job and I believe I did it to the very best of my ability. I am also an affiliate and I will cease being an active affiliate until they make good on what they owe me for both the data processing and the affiliate links.

Note: People at the desk for support@dataprocessors.com please write me!

June 24, 2008

A bit of a Mull!


It is very hot here. Its too bad our scientists can't utilize human perspiration; I would be a rich woman if they could.

I am having problems loading things of the affiliate nature onto some of my sites but I think I will find a solution to this problem. This making a living online isn't always such an easy thing to do lately. But I know that things will work out because I know what I am offering the public are sound good products. (You heard me rant last month...now I am giving myself a little pep talk.)

That brings to mind the weird way in which companies take off discounts on different products. The one that comes to my mind adds all their fees and such together, then taxes the product, and then takes the discount off. That doesn't seem fair to me....why should I be paying for the taxes on the discounted portion?

Okay now here is another problem that I have been mulling over in my mind. Just why is it that people in general aren't as friendly as they used to be when I was young? Is it that I remember only the good day to day things and my child's heart just forgot about the real witch like folks around me? Or are people really a lot more distant than they used to be back then? Sure would like your comments on this one! I mean I am far from naive; but my spiritual side just wishes for people to be a lot more neighbourly. (Forgive me I am a Canadian and often spell things the way I was taught.)


Well that's about all I have on my mind today. Hope your day turns out to be full, happy and abundant! Think I am going to take a hint from our little friend there and go get myself an iced raspberry tea.

May 9, 2008

Weather


We have been having, for the most part a lot of rain here south of the Mason Dixon Line. A lot of thunderstorms and tornado warnings. So far there hasn't been any tornadoes in my area of the city; knock on wood. But what I really want talk about how much inclement weather affects this techno-cat. We had a lot of rain from April 29th to May 9th which is today. Now we have been fortunate to have 2 or 3 days without precipitation.

I drove about 5 miles to Ted's computer shop last Friday to have my machine looked at, She was 'blue screening' overtly and rebooting when I didn't ask her to do it. I left her there with him so he would have time to work on her. Ted phoned me later late Saturday afternoon to come pick her up. He had replaced my power supply and well he was in there I asked him to give me some more ram which he did. The bad news was that I may have to exchange the old girl for a new one as the main board isn't long for this world.

I can hear you saying to yourselves, "What has inclement weather got to do with having her computer fixed?" Bare with me friends; things are about to be connected. The bad weather, having to take the old girl to the hospital, and my self-employment do not get along together. Since April 29th I have missed 7 days due to the proverbal cats and dogs, and a day and half on account of a sick computer. That left only 3 and a half days to get almost 2 weeks work done.

Alright, now here is my question folks: With all the technology out there can't they come up with a sound, inexpensive, dependable, surge protector? One that does what it is supposed to so people like me can run their computers any and every day? Why does my work have to stop because fickle, old, Mother nature decides to give us April showers in May?
I have half a mind to get in direct touch with the people that create such electronical devices and ask them to give me one of those gadgets for a decent price.

Well now don't we all feel better? Ruth has gotten that off her chest and my corner of the world is a safe, quiet, place once again.

February 6, 2008

The Fella Behind Pizzatherapy


Albert Grande first caught my eye in late 1998. He owns Grande Publishing and his passion is making, finding, smelling, eating, and writing about pizzas. His site is literally amazing. I have had the pleasure to have gotten acquainted with him by email in the last couple of years. This gentleman has a pleasant, generous, spirit. He obviously loves life and approaches it with a great deal of vigour.

You can go see his site at Pizzatherapy and find a multitude of wonderful recipes for both pizza and pasta but his main focus is the pizza. You can even purchase an excellent cookbook; by Albert. He named it 'The Pizza Therapy Pizza Book' and it includes with it a video called 'How to Make Pizza Dough'. Right on site Albert has some interesting videos about pizza dough, pizza making, along with some fun videos. This site is definitely for both the beginner and aficionado.

Albert is also someone that enjoys sharing anything he may know about Internet Marketing. He has many links on his site for the novice as well as someone who has been around for a while. He often reviews new products as well. You can find out all sorts of interesting things about him and his beautiful adopted tropical home state at Hawaii! You can find Hawaii Secret Dot Com here.

In my eyes, Albert Grande emulates the true meaning of a 'Renaissance Man'!


*Albert just put a lovely video on his site at Hawii Secret Dot Com. Go here and catch a taste of Hawaii! Click on How to Make A Haku Lei under video links on the left at his site above!

January 13, 2008

Websites Can Be Hurtful.

I went to a website just a couple of minutes ago. I am to say the least disgusted and disappointed in this young man's sales page demeanor. He says, 'If $69 is too much of a "risk" for you to alleviate the dozens of hours of work (literally) to get quality traffic to your site, then Internet marketing simply is not for you'. I find this offensive. How does he know that about any of us out here? He doesn’t know my circumstances. I find this offensive. There are those among us who are struggling to make a living.... want to be able to save time....but that is not as important as keeping the lights, water, and heat on. I am working hard to get "there". So perhaps this person will see my posting. I certainly hope so because he should know that he appears to be on many levels a self-righteous knowitall.

It just infuriates me to see brash people on their sales pages say things like 'only $197' or 'only $69'.  These people are not catering to the little guy or gal but the gurus that are either known or underground or some poor fool that just got a big income tax return, settlement, large monthly dividend or inheritance. I did have quite a few people in this business that I looked up to but now there are not many as say in 2004.  I perceive a lot of them saying 'I want to help people'; then they turn around and charge enormous price tags for their products. Excuse me, I am not a tire kicker, nor am I a 'bear of lttle brain'; like the beloved Pooh. I am an intelligent determined and articulate lady entrepreneur with little or no capitol; which makes it hard to get from point A to point C but I will because I am convinced that I will succeed.


So though I am annoyed at a lot of the people that are selling systems, software, and other products I am here to tell you that I do believe in myself. I know that I shall soon have that experience of going to paypal and shrieking with delight over the money I have made. And I won't have to charge excessive prices or say things on my sales pages that make people feel crappy. You see unlike some on the net I want to be uplifting to others, help them, and touch their lives in a positive manner.