Sometimes, I Just Don't Want To know

Do you read your horoscope every day? I know people who live their lives by what their daily horoscope is. I never put too much faith in them, but do find them amusing.

If you like to follow yours daily, check out this horoscope site. You can find all kinds of horoscopes. They have daily ones, of course, plus love match horoscopes and diet horoscopes. Who knew such a thing existed? Does that one tell you beforehand that you are going to blow your diet that day? I just can't put a whole lot of faith in these.

But, that is just my opinion. Like I said, there are lots of people who follow there horoscope religiously. I will admit, too, that on some occasions, my horoscope has been pretty right on. I like to read it a day late, though, so i am not biased through the day.

What about you? Do you read your horoscope every day?

The Happening

This movie stars Mark Wahlberg and Zooey Deschanel as two people who are one step ahead of the wind. Getting caught in the wind makes you commit suicide.

Yup, that's about it.

There wasn't a whole lot "happening" in this movie at all. The beginning was pretty cool, when the suicides started. But then nothing else really exciting happened.

My advice: don't waste your time on this one.

It isn't worth it.

Are You A Winner?

Every now and then, when the payout is really high, Junior will buy a lottery ticket. I think it's a waste of money, but he likes to try. The only problem is that he forgets to watch television to see the winning numbers drawn. I end up having to go online and search for them, and it's a pain in the neck. I tell him all the time that the store will run the ticket to see if it's a winner, but he's too lazy to bring it up there.

Now there is a way to have the lotto winning numbers sent to your cell phone. For a low monthly fee, you can pick your state, or the states you play in, and have those numbers sent to your phone seconds after they are drawn. I think I might need to sign Junior up for this.

Love From Brandi

"Take my picture right now" she says to me.

So I did.

"Let me see" she demands, so I do.

"Look, my arms make a heart".

Yes, they do.

Sometimes she's just too sweet.

Calling All Plumbers

I know I have told you all about the problems with my bathtub. A couple of months ago the faucet started running all the time. No matter how tight you turned the knobs, the water would still be running. Not a lot, but more than just an annoying drip. The tub is also not draining properly, which means by the time you are done showering, you are standing in a couple of inches of water. It's extremely annoying. We called the management company a couple of times, but they never sent anyone out. I would have called Cincinnati Plumbing myself, but I didn't want to get stuck paying the bill.

Last week when I went to the management company to talk about the dog next door, the owner asked me if I knew why our water bill was so high, and when I told her about my bathtub, she said she would make sure someone came out on Tuesday.

Nobody showed up, and I was here all day.

Thursday morning I went back to bed once the kids were on the bus, and when I got up around ten I found a note on my door saying the plumber had been by. If he had rung the doorbell, I would have heard him. I guess he just knocked. Now I have to call the management company again on Monday and reschedule. Maybe this time the guy will show up on the right day.

My Saturday Afternoon

I spend some time today with three of my favorite people, Sam, Missy, and Alex.

Alex had a dance recital, and I was lucky enough to be invited to it. Ryan and I cheered him on as he strutted his stuff on stage. He did awesome! This kid has so much personality.

As always, it was great to see Missy for a little while. We chatted for a bit before the performance, and when it was over, we promised to get together again soon.
I love this family!

Finding Sex Offenders In Your Neighborhood

Do you know everyone who lives in your neighborhood? The truth these days is that most people don't even know who lives next door. It can be scary to find out that a sex offender is living near you, especially if you have children. Luckily you can now look online and see exactly where sex offenders live. Freesexoffenderreports.com is a free website that lets you see the locations of sex offenders in your area.

I used this information once to get my kids bus stop changed. We lived on a dead end road, and when Ryan started 4K, the bus came to our house to pick him up. The bus driver was wonderful, but she only lasted a couple of years. When the kids were in kindergarten and first grade, the bus driver changed, and the kids were going to have to walk to the end of my road to catch the bus. I was not happy about this, because I was pregnant, and couldn't walk them down. They were only five and six years old, and there was no way I was letting them go by themselves. So I got online and found out that there was a registered sex offender who lived one house away from the bus stop. I used that information to get the bus to come to my house again.

I had to protect my children, because if I don't, who will?

S L E E P

I am beginning to wonder what that is. Tomorrow is the first day in I don't know how long that I will actually get to sleep in. No alarm clock to worry about. No school waiting for the kids. Just a Sunday full of fishing (I hope) and grilling.

What could be better than that?

Tattoo Lovers

We were in the grocery store the other day, and the couple behind us had a lot of tattoos. They had so many that their arms were covered entirely. Brandi came and stood by me, and said she was scared. I told her there was nothing to be scared of, and that they were probably really nice people. They heard us, of course, and smiled at her. Little by little she started checking out their tattoos, and I did, too. They really were pretty cool.

If you are a tattoo lover, you should look into tattoo dating. You can sign up for free, and post pictures of your tattoos. You can even see other peoples tattoos, which is probably pretty interesting. It's quick and easy to fill out your profile, and you might even find the one you are meant to be with.

Ice Road Truckers

Have you ever seen this show? Junior is watching it right now, and it's insane. I would never drive a truck over ice, especially a tractor trailer. But, I guess to be fair, I wouldn't drive a car on a highway, either. I'm just chicken that way. But these guys are crazy. They are talking about getting up icy hills, and how it's all about momentum.

Wow.

They have guts, I'll give them that.

Finding The Right Web Host

I recently bought my own domain name for this blog. I haven't switched from free hosting yet, because I can't make up my mind which is the best way to go. I have been reading the top web hosting reviews and there is so much information, it's hard to make a decision. It all boils down to which features are the most important to you. I had no idea there were so many options available, and have no idea if I would even need any of them. I really need to sit down and go through each site before I make my final decision. It is important to me that I chose the right one, because this blog is my baby, and I want to treat it right.

Camera Critters ~ 34

How beautiful is this kitty? I love cats, and if they weren't able to kill me, I would love to have one as a pet to cuddle with at night. I bet they purr so loud.
This beauty looked perfectly comfortable in the tree.

To participate, go here.

Learning The Basics

AMIClubwear is on YouTube. You probably figured that out already though, since I posted the video first. They have ten different videos on there right now, and I chose this one because I found it fascinating. You see, I don't wear makeup. Ever. I used to years ago when I was in school, but then I started working fast food, and makeup just didn't mix well with grease. I got out of the habit of applying it, and never felt the desire to start back. Now that I have an almost teen aged daughter, I find myself wishing I knew the current makeup trends. I know she wants to start wearing some, but I don't know how to help her learn to put it on. I thought watching this video might give me some pointers, and it did, but I am going to have to tone it down a bit for my daughter. I mean, she is only twelve, and school is a little different than a club, but I got the basic technique.

If you want to check out the rest of their videos, make sure you subscribe to their YouTube page. If you do, you can win a $300 gift certificate from AMIClubwear. Make sure to check out the official contest rules. I know I am going to subscribe. There were a few more makeup tutorials I want to check out.

I Only Thought Today Would Be Rain Free

I woke up this morning, for the third time, and the sun was shining. I walked outside, and it was warm, but not too hot. I was excited that I might actually get to mow my grass today.

Fast forward a few hours, and we are on our way home from making a car payment. Mother Nature releases her fury once again, and we are pounded with rain.

Our van picks this moment to have the wipers stop working.

Now, as most of you know, I don't drive, and I am a horrible passenger. I am nervous and tense, and driving in the pouring rain with no wipers is not my idea of fun. Luckily, Junior is an awesome driver, and we weren't too far away from home. He just drove extra slow, and we made it here in one piece.

I informed him then that I refuse to get back into the van until the wipers are fixed.

I am happy to say my handy husband has them fixed already.

How To Deal With Stress

The past two days I have been a ball of nerves. I have been upset and anxious, and I am not sure how much more I can take. I need help with the prevention of stress in my life, or maybe I just need to learn how to manage my stress. I am the queen of routine, and if anything upsets that, it upsets me. Dr. Kathleen Hall founded The Stress Institute in 1997, and since then has been helping people find ways to manage the stress in their lives.

I was reading their website, and they talked about Mindful Living Everyday. From what I understand, you basically live your life in the moment, making each decision on how it will affect the world around you. They talk about finding your inner energy instead of gaining energy from the things around you. This makes perfect sense to me, because I know when I work out, I feel a whole lot better than when I don't. I always feel more alert and have more energy. I really need to get back into the habit of exercising everyday. Not only will it help reduce the stress in my life, it will also help me lose some of this weight I've been carrying around.

If you find yourself stressed out and miserable, don't hesitate to check out this website. Even if you only take away one way to manage your stress, that will be one step in the right direction.

Not So Friendly Neighbors

This afternoon, Junior, Brandi and I went out to look at the garden. The neighbor was outside with her friend, and they had the dog out. After a minute they got up and went in, but left the dog outside. As soon as they shut the door, the dog took off towards us at a full run, growling.

Brandi lost it. She was hysterical, screaming, scared to death.

Junior picked her up, and I went to knock on the neighbors door. When she answered, I told her that her dog, who was biting my ankles while I spoke, had tried to get my child. She said, "oh, sorry". That was it. Her dog continued to bite at my ankles, and she said nothing. So I told her that she may have chosen to have a pit bull around her kid, but I have the right to chose NOT to have one around mine. She got pissy with me and told me that her dog would stay out of my yard if my cats stopped spraying in her yard.

Um, okay. My vicious attack cats versus your pit bull.

I don't think so.

She has no intention of tying up the dog, so I came inside and called the management company. It took me about 45 minutes to get the owners wife on the phone, and when I finally did, i broke down. I told her what had happened, and she said that Chase, her husband, had been out earlier in the week. but they weren't home. She said she would call him and see what to do, and that she would call me back.

Five minutes later she did, and said she had spoken to Josh, our neighbor, and he admitted to having the dog, and was "very apologetic" about what happened. The owner gave him five days to remove the dog from the premises, and in those five days, the dog is not to be outside unless it is on a leash. She said she would be out Friday to make sure the dog has been relocated.

So, when we came home before, Junior waved to Josh because he was outside, and he just turned away. Junior went out to fix the wipers on our van, and the both of them were sitting on their front porch, looking at the lease agreement. I am sure they are looking for a way to get us into trouble. So we are going to spend the weekend cutting grass, and cleaning up the toys from the yard.

Well, Sunday we'll do that. Tomorrow I am going to watch Alex dance.

The Best Decision I Have Ever Made

July 7, 2008. This was the day I had my breast reduction.

July 8, 2008. This was the day my pain free life began.

I no longer have back pain or shoulder pain. I no longer have to but my bras at expensive department stores. I no longer have low self confidence.

If you are considering Breast Augmentation in LA, let me share my experience with you. I had very large breasts for most of my adult life. I lived daily with the pain associated with large breasts. I had indentations in my shoulders where my bra dug into my skin. I had awful posture, because I was always hunched over, trying to make my breasts appear smaller. I know now that that did not work, and it just contributed to my pain. I had always thought about having a reduction done, but I was always too scared to do it. I had never been put under, although I had three c-sections, and I was nervous about that.

Then about eighteen months ago, I had a spot appear on my left breast. I was originally diagnosed with cellulitis, and even though antibiotics helped, the spot just continued to get better. I was eventually sent to a surgical oncologist, who sent me for all kinds of tests. Although I had no lumps, I heard the term "inflammatory breast cancer" often. Luckily, that was ruled out, and I was sent to a plastic surgeon for a reduction. I was told that would be the only way they could get rid of the spot.

I was terrified for weeks before my surgery, and looking back now, I can see that I was worried for nothing. The surgery was the best thing I have ever done for myself. The recovery was hard, but that was mainly because they removed so much breast tissue (15 pounds) and I had hundreds of stitches. Now, almost a year later, I am doing wonderful. I would recommend this surgery to anyone who is living with large breasts. The end result is more self confidence, and beautiful breasts.

Def Leppard ~ Vault

I love this CD. It has all of their best songs on it!

1. pour some sugar on me
2. photograph
3. love bites
4. let's get rocked
5. two steps behind
6. animal
7. foolin'
8. rocket
9. when love and hate collide
10. armageddon it
11. have you ever needed someone so bad
12. rock of ages
13. hysteria
14. miss you in a heartbeat
15. bringin' in the heartbreak

I downloaded it onto my mp3, and have a tendency to sing out loud as I listen while I'm sitting here on the computer. After a couple of days, Ryan asked if he could listen to the CD so he can see what the songs really sound like. (thanks, kid! lol) The next time we were in the van, I put it on.

Now it's all they want to listen to, and I gotta tell ya. There is just something not right about listening to your seven year old daughter sing pour some sugar on me.

Deep Breath In...Deep Breath Out

I feel better.

All the anxiety before was over money. Due to a problem with payments, I bounced two checks. I didn't account for banks being closed Monday, and money that was supposed to be transferred, wasn't.

Anyway, Junior went to talk with the bank tellers when he got off work, and discovered that, because we are in good standing with them, and this was the first time we bounced something, they paid the checks instead of returning them. Then they offered us a chance to get the overdraft fees removed. Junior and I had to each take a "class" on the computer about banking, and answer a few questions. We did, and they removed the fees, so we're good.

I was worried for nothing.

I am so glad we have a great bank.

Feeling Secure

I think we have found a security system that will work perfectly for us. Junior has been toying with the idea of getting one for a little while now, and this package offers us everything we need. It's a wireless security system that we found at protectamerica.com. The package pictured is the one we want. It's the Copper Package, and it comes with a talking control panel, motion detector, three entry point sensors, internal siren, door chime, backup battery, three window decals, and a yard sign. We lives in a little apartment, so this package offers us everything we need. We can get all the equipment free right now, and just pay the $29.95 monthly monitoring fee.

You can call this number, 877-470-2751, and find out more about these security systems. If you order through this number, you can get two free key chain remotes with your order. My sisters have had security systems in their homes for years, and my oldest sister actually had hers alert her to someone trying to break in. Last year they had a string of robberies in her neighborhood, and one night her alarm went off. When her husband went downstairs to see why, they found one of there windows had damage on the outside where someone was trying to pry it open. Luckily, the alarm scared whoever it was away.

I want that kind of security in my home, and I can get it with protectamerica.com.

My Own Personal Heaven

Peanut Butter...Chocolate Chips
Soft, Gooey Cookie
There are no words to describe how good these cookies are.
I found them in the bakery of Walmart.
$3.50 for four cookies.
Soooo worth every penny.
I couldn't even eat a whole cookie at one time.
It's that rich.

Yum.

I Need New Chairs

Our kitchen table is old. The table itself is still in great condition, but the four chairs are breaking. I want to buy restaurant furniture to replace the chairs, and found awesome ones at AffordableSeating.com. See the one in the picture, all pinkish purple? I love it! I want to get six of them to go around my table, but I know Junior would kill me. Let me assure you, though. If I lived alone, those would be my chairs in a heartbeat.

I know I have to pick a less flashy chair, and that's not a problem. They have lots of different styles to choose from, and I am sure I will be able to find some to compliment my kitchen table. Once you pick out the style and color of chair you want, you can preview it to make sure it is exactly what you want. If you are like me, once you order something, you have a hard time waiting for it to be delivered. These chairs can get to you in as little as seven to fourteen days, depending on the chair.

AffordableSeating.com also has a great selection of bar stools and table tops. They are all competitively priced, making them extremely affordable. Like me, you can use these chairs in your home, as well as in a restaurant. Chairs are chairs, and this site makes it easy to get exactly what you want.

One Of Those Days

Have you ever had one of those days where it seems like you can't even put a decent sentence together? That's how I feel today. I am anxious, and can't seems to concentrate on anything.

I keep telling myself that worrying about things you can not change is pointless.

And unnecessary.

Yet here I sit, my stomach in knots, my mind a complete mess.

Ug. This sucks.

Safe At Home

I live in a duplex. For the first few months after we moved, we did not have neighbors. When people moved in next door, I got a little nervous. I know that I am careful, and we don't smoke, but I have no idea what they do in their side, and if it poses a risk to my family. Junior is looking into adt security systems as an extra measure to make sure we are safe. He likes the idea of someone looking over us, in case the house goes up in flames or something. I like the idea of knowing that we are protected if someone tries to break into the apartment during the night.

Security is a great thing, and will help me sleep better at night.

Thursday Thirteen ~ Seventeen

Thirteen Optical Illusions
***the following were found at coolopticalillusions.com

Which center dot is bigger?

What do you see?

Eskimo or Indian?

Faces or goblet?

How many faces do you see?

Liar or face?

Women or devil?

How many shelves?

Old or young?

Which way is the window facing?

Of course, we had to have the elephant! How many legs does he have?

To participate, go here.

Learning At My Own Pace

I wish I knew more about computers. I know enough to blog, and email, but that's about it. There is so much to learn, from all the technical stuff to graphic design. I would love to take a Microsoft Course from Quick Cert. I could take it online, and work at my own pace to obtain certification. They even guarantee that I would become certified, offering me money back if I don't. This just seems like a no loose situation for me. Learning the ins and outs of computers is an investment in my future, allowing me options if I ever have to go back to work.

I like knowing that I am doing something to better myself.

Gone In The Night

Brandi has had a loose tooth for a couple of weeks. We went to bed last night and it was right where it was supposed to be.

She woke up this morning, looked at me, and asked:

"where's my tooth?"

It had fallen out sometime during the night. We didn't find it at first, so I told her she probably swallowed it.

Of course, as soon as I laid back down, I found it sticking into my leg. Let's just hope the tooth fairy remembers to come tonight.

Singing Bowls

This is a crystal singing bowl. Isn't it beautiful? I have never actually seen one of these, except on television. I remember an early episode of ER has Dr. Lewis sitting in the bathroom, using one of these to release the tensions of the day. Each bowl has a beautiful sound. The smaller the bowl, the higher and clearer the sound. Larger bowls have a lower, more soothing sound. I love the look of this crystal one. I am sure it would make an interesting conversation piece in any home.

These Gongs and bowls are used for meditation, which is something I have been wanting to look into. I need to find a way to relax my mind and body. I have been thinking of looking into yoga, and I think these bowls would compliment that wonderfully.

Mark Your Calender

June seems to be the month for all the great shows to come back. Number one on my list is True Blood. (yay Jenn!) This is the show about vampires who drink synthetic blood instead of killing people, so they can live in the "real" world. I loved the first season, and am excited to see what they do with the second. I actually watched the first season before I read the Twilight series, and was shocked at the similarities. If you haven't seen this show yet, check it out.

Season premeire: June 14, 9pm

Next on my list is The Next Food Network Star. I love watching the challenges they put the contestants through. My favorite past winner is Guy Fieri. But, to be honest, I voted for the guy he was up against, whose name I can not even remember. He was a huge black man who I just loved. Oh, I wish I could remember his name! Anyway, it should be interesting to see who this year's contestants are.

Season premeire: June 7, 9pm

Last but not least is Weeds. I love this show! I was pretty bummed last season when they got rid of Romany Malco's character and moved everyone to Mexico. They left off last season with Nancy informing the guy who wants her dead that she is carrying his baby. I wonder what's going to happen with all that?.

I really like Justin Kirk, who plays Andy. I think he steals every scene he is in.

Season premiere: June 8, 10pm

Bedtime Stories

The girls and I just finished watching this movie. I thought it was pretty cute. The girls loved it!

This movie is about Skeeter (Adam Sandler ). He is the son of a hotel owner who told the best bedtime stories. When his dad sold the hotel, it was with the promise that someday Skeeter would run it. Fast forward twenty years, and Skeeter is babysitting his niece (Laura Ann Kesling ) and nephew (Jonathan Morgan Heit ). They don't own a television, so Skeeter tries his hand at telling stories like his dad did. He soon realizes that the parts of the stories that the kids make up are coming true. This is when the fun begins.

This movie also stars Keri Russell and Courteney Cox. Skeeters best friend Mickey is played by Russell Brand, who I think is hysterical! I would definitely recommend this movie to anyone with kids.

I have done a couple of movie reviews on my other blog, and you can read about The Strangers here and The Other Boleyn Girl here.

Mesothelioma

Cancer. It is such an ugly word, and an even uglier disease. In my family, there has been many cancers, and I worry what my future holds. I am almost convinced that at some point I will get breast cancer, and the scare I had last year hit me hard. I was lucky that it was just a scare, and hopefully the resulting surgery reduced my future risk just a little.

I hate reading about people who get a cancer that could have been prevented. Take Mesothelioma. This is the lung cancer that is caused by asbestos. I knew that construction workers were at a high risk of being exposed to asbestos, because they work in older homes and building sometimes. What I didn't know was that auto mechanics are also on the list of workers most exposed to it. That is kind of scary to me, because Junior has worked as a mechanic, and that is also what Ryan wants to do when he gets older.

They are now saying that the makers of asbestos knew the risk it posed, but waited to tell the public. This means that many people who developed this cancer shouldn't have. If you are one of those people, you should talk to a Mesothelioma Lawyer. They can help you get compensation for your suffering. I hope this is the one cancer no one in my family has to face.

Fishing, The Kid Way

Brandi convinced Junior to let her go under the bridge to fish with Ryan. He fixed her up an old winnie the pooh fishing pole so it would be easier to cast. They were down there for about an hour, and they had a ball. Ryan caught a little fish, and Brandi caught something bigger: Kasi. As you can see, Kasi is not in the picture, because she was keeping away from Brandi's hook.

Rentals

The best decision we made when we moved was to rent from a management company. In the past we have rented from individuals, and it was always so hard to get anything done. Real Property Management manages over 20,000 units nationwide, and while they are not the company we use, I am sure they have the same standards. If you find yourself in the position of having to rent, I would highly recommend renting through a management company. I would also recommend putting your rental property in the hands of a management company. Let them do the work for you.

Camera Critters ~ 34

Orangutans. They were so cute! The female is under the sack. She would occasionally sneak her arm out to swat the male who was trying to get comfortable next to her. Up above them, their baby was playing around, swinging on the fence. We stood and watched for a while, and it was so cool how the interact with each other.

To participate, to here.

Progress

A plan has been made.

When Junior got off of work today, I had him take me down to the management company so I could discuss things with them. I walked in, and the receptionist asked if she could help me, and I told her I wanted to talk to someone about my neighbor. As I was speaking, a woman walked from the back hallway, and asked if I was there about the dog. I said I was, so she took me into her office so we could talk.

I told her that I hated to complain, but that something needed to be done. She knew what I was talking about; apparently she had spoken to Junior on the phone the other day. She said that she had spoken to her husband (the guy who owns the company) and they decided to come out on Tuesday to check our water meter. While there, they would happen to "notice" dog poop, and knock on the neighbors door. She said this would be a good way for them to not know that we complained. I told her that I didn't care anymore if they knew it was me.

I found out that once they talk to them about the dog, they will have five days to remove the animal from the premises. If they don't, they can be evicted. I told her I had pictures, and as I was leaving she asked to see them. They were still on my camera, so as I was scrolling to find them, I saw the pictures from where they hit the bridge. I told her that story, about how they weren't in any rush to fix it until Junior went down and started working on it. I realized while talking to her, and I told her this, too, that my neighbors are young. They may not realize that the things they do have consequences, especially for us. They were in no rush to fix the bridge, because they don't have kids who cross it every day. They don't clean up their dog's crap because it's in our yard, so they won't be stepping in it. Well, from now on, I am not cutting the grass on their side of the yard. I am not going out of my way to be nice to them, when they don't care about the things they do that affect us.

Am I rambling now?

Sorry.

Oh, and the water meter? They are coming to check because our water bill this month was really high. She asked if I knew why? I said I sure did, because our bathtub has been running for the past two months. I told her we called when it first happened, and then again a week later, and we were told someone would be out to look at it. She looked in her computer, and we are still weeks down on the maintenance man's list.

She said someone would be here Tuesday to look at it.

Finally. I just hope the dog is outside when they show up.

Your Opinion

I have seen a lot of advertisements for paid online surveys. I think I might have tried to join on once, but I never qualified for their surveys. I remember getting very frustrated, and just giving up. But lately, I have been reading a lot of blogs where bloggers are talking about making pretty good money off of these sites. The one I have heard the most about is MyOpinionNow.com. They not only offer you the opportunity to fill out surveys, they also have products that need to be tested. They will send you these products for free. I am all about getting free stuff, so for that reason alone I just signed myself up. Sure, it will be fun to accumulate points to redeem for cash or merchandise by taking the surveys, but it will be even better to keep all the free products they will send me. They also have a referral program, where you can earn points by getting your friends to join and take surveys, too. You can earn up to 75 points per friend that signs up.

Signing up is easy. You just fill out some basic information about yourself, and you are on your way to letting MyOpinionNow.com your opinion.

My Nemesis

Here is a picture of the pit bull that is causing me so much grief. I took these pictures yesterday to bring to the management company, so they can see what we are talking about. Doesn't she just look mean? I am so tired of her being in my yard, and to be honest, I am a little afraid of her, and I am never afraid of dogs. Well, I am afraid of pit bulls, because they are so unpredictable.

I hope something is done about this, soon. Junior is one step away from calling animal control.

Online Business

More and more people are trying to make money online. Starting an internet business can be overwhelming, and some people need a little help. I would need to watch videos explaining niche research and traffic generation. Even after years of blogging, I still know nothing about those things. I know a little bit about pay per click and social networking, but not enough to sustain a profitable online business. If you are anything like me, you would need someone to show you Everything You Need To Start Your Online Business. It's always good to have a little help.

Niche Profit Classroom can offer you that help. They have over 400 videos that explain all the things listed above, and each month, they provide you with two niche market products, like a twenty one day traffic blueprint or SEO optimized articles. I still have so much to learn about search engines. I am going to have to check out these videos.

Fred Claus

I am a complete sucker for Christmas movies. I love the Santa Clause movies, and can watch The Grinch over and over. Tonight there was nothing on, so I decided to see what was on demand.

I found Fred.

This movie is all about Fred Claus ( Vince Vaughn), who is Santa's (Paul Giamatti )older brother. Fred has always been jealous of Nick, so as an adult, he has nothing to do with his family. That is until he finds himself in jail, and he needs bail. Oh, and fifty thousand dollars for a "side project". He calls his brother, who agrees to give him the money, but only if he earns it by working at The North Pole. Once there, Fred meets Clyde ( Kevin Spacey), who's mission it is to shut down Christmas forever.

This really is a cute movie about finding the good in yourself and others. I like Vince Vaughn, and he didn't dissappoint in this movie. BUT, it seems like every movie he is in, he says the line "let's make some bad decisions". I think that's a little odd.

All in all, a good movie. Even Santa learns a lesson. I will definately be adding this to my Christmas movie favorites.

Get A Job

With today's economy, more and more people are finding themselves looking for employment. If you are one of those people, and you need a little help, use LIGHTSHIP RESEARCH. They will help match you with the perfect job, and they will offer you support during the process.

T. Klineman, NY writes, "I highly recommend Lightship Research http://www.lightshipresearch.com I was the CTO of a division of a Fortune 500 company and got laid off when the division was sold to another company. I had not looked for a job in 15 years and I didn’t even have a resume. I signed up and in 4 days I had a resume and a target list of companies that we were going to attack. Even though these guys knew how to market me and take care of all the technical aspects of the search, the biggest value to me was guiding me through the process and giving me support all along the way. I got a job in 5 weeks. I think they were glad to get rid of me, I hounded them with questions every day and they were always there to answer them, even on weekends."

Lightship Research worked for him. Let them work for you, too.

For Just A Moment

I was number one! For just a moment today, I was in the top spot. It was brief, I'll tell you that. I blinked, and it changed. I guess dropping 300 cards every day for the past few months finally paid off. Right now I am happily back in the number two spot, and that's okay by me.

Having The Wedding Of My Dreams

I dream of someday having the perfect wedding. When I got married, it was in the courthouse. I didn't have the white dress, or the bridal party. I didn't get to go with my sisters and pick out the perfect bridesmaid dresses. I am hoping to have a wedding on my 20th anniversary, which is in six years. My girls would be in the wedding party, and I want them to wear something cute, but not too grown up. I am really liking that dress in the picture, but who knows what will be in style when the time comes. I do know that I will enjoy doing all the shopping with my daughters.

Thursday Thirteen ~ Sixteen

Thirteen Of My Favorite Apps On Facebook

lexulous
wordscraper
bubble town
farm town
parking wars
101 eggs and more
pathwords
who has the biggest brain?
(Lil) geen patch
bingo
flair
habgman
word twist

My current play every second of every day game is farm town (thanks mom!).
If you play too, come be my neighbor.

If you are on facebook, be my friend!

To participate, go here.

This Year's Family Vacation

I have pretty much decided where the five of us are going to go on vacation this summer. I am now trying to figure out a great place for my entire family to go. A few years ago, my sister planned a vacation for our family. My three sisters and my brother all spent a week at a beach house. I didn't go, because money was tight. This year, I want to plan the vacation so that I know we can afford to go.

I am leaning towards the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing. My one criteria is that they have a great pool, and this hotel has an indoor one that is perfect for my family. They also offer high speed internet in their rooms, so I can blog every day about my vacation. You all know how important it is to me to stay connected. The Hilton also manages The new Payne Stewart Golf Club, which the guys would absolutely love. My sisters are big shoppers, and there are tons of shops and boutiques that they can shop in. I am not a fan of shopping, which is shocking, I know. I would much rather walk along the river, and enjoy being outdoors. We could also stay at the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel, which is right across from the Promenade.

This Summer, they have many events planned. There is going to be a Father’s Day Salute, which Junior would love, and a National Kid’s Fest at Silver Dollar City. They will also have the 10th Annual Clown Jam, which sounds like it would be hilarious, except for people who are afraid of clowns. Luckily, we all love them. I think this is going to be the perfect place for our vacation, because they really do have something for everyone.

Jennifer ~ Ology

I think I have done this before, but Tammy tagged me, and I just couldn't say no! lol!

***********FOODOLOGY***************
What is your salad dressing of choice?
Ranch

What is your favorite sit-down restaurant?
Applebee's
What food could you eat every day for two weeks and not get sick of?
Chinese

What are your pizza toppings of choice?
Mushrooms, pepperoni, and extra cheese...I'm keeping Tammy's answer!

What do you like to put on your toast?
Peanut butter...keeping this one too! See, we have a lot in common!

***********TECHNOLOGY***************

How many televisions are in your house?
3

What color cell phone do you have?
No cell phone right now

Do you have an Ipod?
I used to, and I hayed it, so I got an mp3

***************BIOLOGY******************

Are you right-handed or left-handed?
Right

Have you ever had anything removed from your body?
three kids and my boobs :D

What is the last heavy item you lifted?
ummmm....yesterday Ryan and I were moving the tables from the party, and they were kinda heavy

Have you ever been knocked unconscious?
nope, but I have fainted, and THAT was embarrassing.

************BULLCRAPOLOGY**************

If it were possible, would you want to know the day you were going to die?
don't think so

If you could change your name, what would you change it to?
Even though I hated it growing up because it was so popular, I like my name now and think I'll keep it.

Would you drink an entire bottle of hot sauce for $1000?
um....no.

************DUMBOLOGY******************

How many pairs of flip flops do you own?
too many to count

Last time you had a run-in with the cops?
not sure if it's considered a run in, but when Ryan got jumped at school we had the cops come out to the house to file a report.

Last person you talked to?
the kids at the bus stop.

Last person you hugged?
one of the girls before they got on the bus...can't remember which one was last.

**************FAVORITOLOGY****************

Season?
depends on the weather :D

Holiday?
Christmas

Day of the week?
I don't have one now that ER is over :(

Month?
December

***********CURRENTOLOGY*****************

Missing someone?
nope.

Mood?
content

What are you listening to?
the dryer...exciting, right? lol!

Watching?
my fingers type these words

Worrying about?
money, money, and more money.

***************RANDOMOLOGY*****************

First place you went this morning?
the bus stop.

What's the last movie you saw?
Get Smart

Do you smile often?
yes, I smile a lot.

Sleeping Alone Tonight?
nope. I have a seven year old who sleeps with me.

***************OTHER-OLOGY*****************

1)Do you always answer your phone?
I used to. I am actually thinking of having my number changed because of all the calls I get for the woman who had this number before me. When I tell them (bill collectors) that I am not her, they call me a liar and start getting really rude. Now I don't answer if I don't know the number.

2) Its four in the morning and you get a text message, who is it?
I don't text :)

3) If you could change your eye color what would it be?
I have always wanted blue eyes.

4) What flavor do you add to your drink at Sonic?
I usually just get a diet pepsi

5)Do you own a digital camera?
yup. People say it is permanently attached to my hand.

6)Have you ever had a pet fish?
sure.

7) Favorite Christmas song(s)
it's too hard to pick just one...I like them all.

8) What's on your wish list for your birthday?
a laptop.

9) Can you do push ups?
nope.

10) Can you do a chin up?
um, hell no.

11) Does the future make you more nervous or excited?
a little of both, I guess.

12) Do you have any saved texts?
Nope

13) Ever been in a car wreck?
when I was little, but not since.

14) Do you have an accent?
people around here still say I talk like a yankee.

15) What is the last song to make you cry?
not sure...

16) Plans tonight?
Criminal Minds.

17)Have you ever felt like you hit rock bottom?
many, many times.

18) Name 3 things you bought yesterday.
corn on the cob, sneakers for Kasi, and bananas.

19) Have you ever been given roses?
yup

20) Current worry?
it's always money, or the lack of it that worries me.

21) Current hate right now?
trying not to hate :)

22) Met someone who changed your life?
absolutely.

23) How will you bring in the New Year?
with family, as usual.

24) What song represents you?
Stand Back Up by Sugarland

25) Name three people who might complete this?
I have no idea...whoever wants to!

26) Would you go back in time if you were given the chance?
nope. If I did, I wouldn't be who I am today.

27) Have you ever dated someone longer than a year?
yes.

28) Do you have any tattoos/piercings?
holes in my ears, that's it.

29) Will you be in a relationship 4 months from now?
I believe so, yes.

30) Does anyone love you?
everybody love me! lol!

31) Would you be a pirate?
nope. I don't steal.

32) What songs do you sing in the shower?
whatever pops into my head.

33) Ever had someone sing to you?
all the time.

34) When did you last cry?
the other day when Junior was being mean.

36) Do you like to cuddle?
not too much. I like my space.

37) Have you held hands with anyone today?
yup. Boo likes to hold my hand in the mornings.

38) Who was the last person you took a picture of?
My son...scroll down to see his eye this morning.

39) What kind of music did you listen to in elementary school?
top 40

40) Do you believe in staying close with your ex's/prospects?
I have found some old "friends" on facebook, and it's been nice catching up.

41) Are most of the friends in your life new or old?
a little of each, I think.

42) Do you like pulpy orange juice?
gross.

43) What is something your friends make fun of you for?
down here, it's my accent.

We Need Better Car Insurance

Are you happy with your car insurance? We pay our bill every month, and renew our policy every six months. Junior has never gotten a ticket, and it has been about thirteen years since he has been involved in an accident, which wasn't his fault. Yet every time we renew our policy, our payments change. Sometimes they go up, and sometimes they go down. We need to find a new carrier, but don't have time to call a million places and get Car Insurance Quotes. Luckily CarInsuranceDetails.com does the work for you. You can easily find quotes from insurance agents near you, all from the same site. It's free to get the quotes, and you could end up saving thousands of dollars. We are going to try them the next time renewal time comes around.

Ryan's Eye ~ Four Days Later

I guess it had to get worse before it gets better. It is now a nice shade of yellowish brown. When he went to school on Monday and told the kids what happened, they didn't believe him. He said they kept saying that he was in a fight. Why are kids so...so....oh, I don't know the word...aggravating, maybe? Why would Ryan say he was hit in the eye with a rock, BY A GIRL, and they don't believe him? I think if he was going to lie, he could come up with something better than that!

New Blog?

I have four blogs. That's right, four. Two of them I keep up pretty regularly, posting a few times a day. One of them is my personal blog, and I post on that one about my struggle to lose weight, and daily stuff along those lines. Then I have my picture blog, where I post all my family pictures, so that I do not torture you with them here.

This is the only blog that is a dot com. The other three are blogger. I have never had a problem with them at all, and because I have never known anything different, I don't know if I am missing out on something better. So I did what anyone would do, and I started a blog on wordpress.

I was confused in seconds. I am sure it's not too hard once you know what you're doing, but I need someone to show me how to start a blog over there. I have heard people say that wordpress is better then blogger, and that you can do more with them. I love the fact that you can have different pages over there, marked by different tabs. But, being me, I got too frustrated at figuring it all out, and I close the thing down before I even got started. I am a creature of habit, and I don't like change. Maybe once I check out the tutorial, I'll be alright. It can't be too hard, right?

Our New Tent

My mom gave us this tent two years ago for Christmas. We were going to use it last summer, but because of my surgery, we weren't able to go on vacation. This tent has never been out of the tote, so today Junior set it up. The thing is huge! As you can see, it didn't take long for Brandi to make herself at home.
Now I am really excited to go camping this summer!

I Want To Spend My Anniversary In Kissimmee

Growing up, my dad took us kids fishing a lot. I was never one to catch the big fish, but I was always happy just getting something on the line. My dad would take us out on his boat to fish in competitions. I have continued to love fishing, and spend a lot of time on the shore with my family, seeing what we can catch. I have caught my share of bass and catfish, although nothing for the record books. My kids love catching the little fish, just like I did. My son, Ryan, is getting really good at catching catfish. In fact, he out fishes my husband sometimes.

That said, I am planning our vacation to Kissimmee around the fishing we can do. I know there are lots of lakes to choose from, and they even have tours that can help you catch the big fish. I want to try out one of these air boats. It looks like it would be so much fun. I want to see an alligator, but from a distance. I don't think I want to get close enough where it could take a snap at me. That would not be fun. I know there are so many things to see in Florida's waters, and I want to be able to show it all to my kids.

I know you are probably sick of me mentioning this, but you can win a free vacation to Kissimmee just by visiting their website and entering the drawing. You could win one of three weekend getaways for two or one of two week-long vacations for four. The weekend vacation is three days and two nights, which would be perfect for my upcoming fourteenth wedding anniversary. As much as I would like to spend time with my kids, I think Junior and I need a little alone time, too.

I Can't Take It Anymore

I am so frustrated right now.

As most of you know, I live in a duplex. A few months ago, we got neighbors. They are a young couple, who just had their first child. For the first few weeks, the seemed nice enough.

Then the puppy came. A pit bull puppy.

Now, it against our leases to own one of these, due to breed restrictions. We have been nice, and not said anything. At first, they always came out with the puppy, and took it back in after it did it's business. Now, they just shove it out the door. It's now pooping in my yard.

Saturday, Junior went over and asked if they would tie her up when she's outside. She's getting big enough where I am nervous about her being around my kids. The guy said the dog would no longer poop in our yard.

Well, I went out this morning to water the garden, and the dog was running loose, again. And there are two loads of crap in my yard, where my kids play.

I don't know what to do. I am thinking Junior will have to let the management company know. I have to walk in front of their half of the duplex to get out the driveway, and it is getting to where the puppy comes and nips at my feet. Now, I know there are pit bull owners who think these dogs are great pets. That is there choice. It is also my choice to not have one around my kids.

Ug. What should I do? What would you do?

***update: Junior just got home, we discussed it and decided to call. The management company was understanding, and want me to call the next time the dog is outside. They will send someone out, supposedly to check on something else, so that they can see the dog. Then they will talk to our neighbors. They said they wouldn't say we called, and I really hope they don't.

New Internet Speed

I am spoiled. I know this, and am okay with it. I mean, who doesn't like being spoiled?

I'm not talking about material things, or getting everything I want. I'm not talking about my husband doing every little thing I ask of him. I am talking about my internet connection.

Okay, keep laughing, but try and let me explain.

I used to have dial up. This was when I first discovered the internet about six years ago. I know, I missed out on a lot not being online, but before that I was raising kids and working, and I didn't have time for myself at all. After using dial up for a while, my phone company came out with DSL. I was so excited that I could be online and talk on the phone at the same time. It was heaven, or at least that is what I thought.

Until the day we decided to get cable. Before this, the kids were young enough that they didn't care if they watched Nick or Disney Channel. When we called to get our cable installed, our local cable company told us about their package deal, where we could get cable, phone and internet through them, for one low, monthly bill. We said sure, and that is when I fell in love with Charter.

Their phone and cable service is great, but their internet speed is what my love is based on. It is so fast. I don't have to wait to be connected like with dial up. I don't have to wait for pages to load. It's almost instantaneous. Right now, I have their highest broadband connection. I didn't think it could get any better than this.

Until today.

This morning I read about Charter’s Ultra60 Mbps service. It is not available in my area yet, but I can not wait until it is. It is one of their new PhatBand speeds, and it makes gaming and watching movies online better. I am constantly multi-tasking online, and would love a faster speed. It would probably make dropping my ecards a whole lot easier. I am not all that good at explaining the technical stuff, so check out the Ultra60 Information Page if you have questions about this new service. I hope it is available in my area soon.

To keep up with all things Charter, follow Charter’s Twitter Feed. I think I am one of the few people left in the world who aren't addicted to Twitter. Yet.