Comments for November- Thank you!!!

I would like to thank everyone that has left me a comment during the month of November. I would like to recognize you, and show my appreciation for reading and participating in my blog.
(If I have missed anyone, please let me know!)

Angela from Domestic Divapalooza
Brittany from Random Thoughts, Rants, and Life
Silly Scrubs from Silly Scrubs
Melissa from Melissa's Place
Veloxe from Vana'diel. . . The Veloxe Story
Andy (my awesome BIL)
Kara from A Bit of Me (Congrats on your new domain, Honey!)
Valle from So, I drive a taxi (Another FFXI blogger!)
Heather from The Queen of Shake-Shake
Elizabeth from Table of Five
Bobbie from OneScrappyMom

Post a comment any time during the month of December, and your blog will be included in the Comment Appreciation post at the end of the month.

Thank you! You guys are great friends!

Taken a Hit

The more I read about Google dropping the page rank of certain bloggers, the more unhappy about it I am. See, at first, I wasn't that interested. I don't have my own domain yet (even though I have been trying to get moved over), I don't have enough readers to increase my page rank, and I don't make enough money on my blog to have been effected. So I didn't realize the impact it was going to have on my fellow bloggers. How wrong I was.

First of all, let's take my friend Bobbie's blog, OneScrappyMom. She has had her blog for 14 months now. She has put a lot of work into it- not to mention her blood, sweat, tears, days, nights, time, effort, emotion- and had earned herself a Google rank of 3. Good for her, right?
Well, Google made their changes, and she was dropped to a zero. Kind of harsh, isn't it? This is what she has to say about it.

Second, let's take the reaction of other bloggers. I'm sure you remember me talking about my good friend Elizabeth from Table4Five. Just like Bobbie, and many other bloggers out there, Elizabeth is a SAHM doing some paid blogging to help out her family. Elizabeth has spent many hours, days, and months building up her blog by having quality content that attracts many faithful readers. And not only did she take a hit when her blog was penalized, she had to take another hit. As if she wasn't miserable enough, another blogger choose this moment to kick her while she was down. This is what happened to her.
(When you read her story, please be a smart blogger. If you choose to visit the other blog, you will be increasing his page rank and giving him the pleasure of more visitors. There's no reason to reward someone for a hateful act.)

Now Google's choices have effected me. It may not have effected my blog directly, but it has most certainly affecting my blogging world. My friends have been greatly affected. This has had a major effect on the blogging network. At this point, I don't really see a way to "fight back". It's Google. What are we going to do? Everyone use a different search engine, blogging account, and email address? Not a very logical idea. I will, however, try a little bit harder to move my blog over to my own domain. I will visit my friends' blogs a little more often, and leave more comments, to let them know that I support them and their blogs. And I will try a little harder to be more interested in my blog, than what others think of my blog.

Congrats Dae and Ego!!!

I just got the best message. My cute friend Daeinera is getting married! I'm so happy for her! She and Egoman are hoping for a December wedding. How romantic is that? I just love FFXI weddings. And this one will be a full GTM LS event.

Congrats Dae!

An International Blogging Company

I'm trying out something new. Well, new to my blog. I'm trying out bloggerwave. I was referred to them by a friend who likes them. I am already interested in the ability to make money with my blog, and who isn't? So here we go. I signed up, submitted my blog, waited to approval, and ta-da!
One thing I like about Bloggerwave is that it is an international company. They are Europe's biggest paid blogging company, and they allow you to post in many languages. At first the site was a little hard for me to navigate, but I am getting the hang of it now.
I think I will like Bloggerwave. Wish me luck!

SO MAD

I can't believe I missed it! I missed the You Tube Republican Debates! They were last night. Our life has been so crazy lately, I didn't even remember about them. Needless to say, I am very upset about this. I wanted to actually watch them, as they happened.
You can be assured that I will not be uninformed, though. I plan on devoting plenty of time to watching the questions, researching the questions and answers, and making my own decisions about each one- and the candidate(s) that answered.
The Republican debate is a big deal for me. I am familiar with the Democratic candidates, and familiar with where my top Democratic choices stand on particular issues. I was very much looking forward to seeing the Republican debates so I could become familiar with and make some decisions on some Republican candidates as well.
I'm glad for today's techonological world, which allows me to pull up YouTube.com, and see what I missed at a time that is convenient for me.

Scary! . . . but . . . worth it?

My sister, we shall call her Starr, and a friend of mine, whom we shall call Bob, are considering the lap band surgery. Both of them consider themselves to be significantly over weight, and would like medical assistance to get to a healthier weight. So, I have been doing research on this "lap band" surgery. At first, it was really scary to me. However, the more research I do, the more comfortable I feel about it. Instead of making a huge cut in the stomach and removing part of the stomach itself, the lap band surgery only has a small cut in the stomach and puts a silicone band around the top part of the stomach- leaving the stomach in tact. The size of the stomach is reduced, making the amount of food eaten smaller- even though you still feel full because your stomach is full, and therefore enabling one to lose excess weight. (If you are considering the lap band Central Florida you can contact Journey Lite for more info.) At this point, I am much more supportive of my family and friend having this surgery done, as opposed to the more invasive and scarier ones. I know how much it would mean to them to not only look better, but to feel better.

The Land Before Time: The Wisdom of Friends DVD

My good friend Elizabeth is having a contest on her blog. She is giving away "The Land Before Time: The Wisdom of Friends DVD". She has even done a review on the DVD on her blog so you can read all about it! You can get up to three entries for this contest, and it ends Dec 5.

Click here to see the contest at Table for Five

Be sure to keep checking back, because she will be having lots of give aways on her blog this month. Thanks Elizabeth!

Test Results

I just got off the phone with Selo's doctor. They got the results of his HIDDA scan from last week. Great news, it's normal. *sigh* Yay.
Can ya hear the sarcasm there? No, it's not because I want my husband in pain. Exactly the opposite actually. I want him out of pain. And since it's not his gal bladder that is acting up, that means we (and the doctors) still don't know what is. Which means we don't know how to fix it.
His primary doctor has now referred him to a GI specialist. I guess we'll be making another trip to Utah for this. Sure, we could have him change and see a doctor in NC. But we don't particularly want to start completely over in the process. Plus, visiting Utah means we get to see our family. Hey, maybe we can see them for Christmas this time. *sigh* At least we don't have to book any Hotel Reservations when we visit. We have half a dozen people begging for us to stay with them.
The nurse said she would send the referral to the specialist, and we will call the specialist to set up an appointment at the end of this week. It will take a couple of weeks for him to get in, so I guess we have some time to plan for it.
I hate seeing Selo like this. He is constantly in pain. He is always hungry, because he has to be so careful about what he eats. He doesn't get much sleep. He is pretty miserable. I will be glad when he is no longer hurting, and he can go back to his normal and happy life again.

My Blog Has a Mind of it's Own!

Wow, my blog kind of freaked out on my there for a minute. It mixed the timing up on some of my posts, so they were in the wrong order. It posted another one three times right in a row. lol Glad I got that fixed. Y'all would think I am more crazy than I already am! If you see anything still messed up, please let me know. I think I have everything fixed, but I could have missed something.

Christmas Cards

Last year, I was introduced to a new tradition. I was used to sending out Christmas cards, but at work, everyone gave them out to their co-workers. I know, it doesn't sound like a big deal to hand out a couple cards to your friends. But this was more, everyone gave to everyone. It was a great feeling to be included in this! I liked learning about this new tradition, and I made a few more friends because of it.
So this year, I am getting started on my card searching early. Since Selo and I are now married, I wanted to include a cute photo of us with a Christmas theme, or maybe photo cards with a Christmas theme. I like the ones that Vista Print has (especially the ones with the green star on them!), so I am consider ordering through them. I'm going to do a little more research, but I really do like what I see so far.
What are you going to do for your Christmas cards this year?

Updating Side Bar

Made a few changes. Deleted some stuff. None of my links though. I wanted to shorten my side bar just a bit, and I like the changes that were made. It felt over crowded before, and I don't feel like anything is missing since I deleted some things. I may get rid of one or two more, but I'm undecided at this point. We'll see.
If you have something neat in your side bar that you think would look good with mine, let me know. I'm not looking to fill it up completely, but I'll consider anything I think would fit well there.

Free Flash Drive! Thanks Achi!

Achi, the wonderful guy that he is, enlightened me to an offer for a free USB Flash drive. I didn't believe him at first. Selo was considering it, too. So I decided to try it out. And guess what? I'm getting a free flash drive! Want proof? Check this out.


I covered the order number and tracking number, but you can see that it is a real order. The total is $0.00. How cool is that? I should be getting it in the mail in just a few days.
So I thought I would keep Achi's generosity going, and pass it on to all of my friends as well.

PS When you do this, be sure to change the shipping to 7-9 days. That will drop the cost to $0. You may or may not have to pay tax for your area.

Cyber Monday

I love shopping on the internet. It is so dang convenient. Christmas shopping- or any shopping, for that matter- is just not fun when I spend more time in the check out line than I do shopping. Just another reason I love Cyber Monday. Online stores give awesome deals, because they know people will be cyber shopping that day. I take advantage of them when I can. Some companies give free shipping on orders over a certain amount. For example, MetBoots.com, who sell hiking boots, always has free shipping on orders over $100. Stuff like that just makes my day. It means I can shop without getting dressed up, shop while I am working on something else, shop at three in the morning. And I don't have to wait in a long checkout line. I can just wait for it to arrive, and not worry about it. Internet shopping just makes life easier.

Sky Night. . . Again

And I don't think I'm going. . . again. I usually go, on time and the whole time. However, since I got bored with BLM, and I have kind of decided to stick with BRD now, I don't see a reason to really go to Sky on BLM. I'm sure I will go back to BLM later, just not now. And I appreciate the gear that I have been given for my BLM. But BRD seems more fun right now, and it's a lot (A LOT!!!) easier to get a party with BRD. So tonight, I am going to lvl my BRD. Besides, the faster I get my BRD lvled, the faster I can go to Sky on my BRD. That's win/win, right?

It's Cold Here

It's is cold. It started sprinkling down the snow around lunchtime, but not more than a few flakes. Now, it is obvious that it is snowing. I doubt it will stick, or even make any difference. But it's snowing all the same. And it's cold. I would like the snow, if it wasn't cold.
So, as usual, when I am cold, I want something to make me warm. This time, I wanted to GO somewhere warm. So. Even though we are broke as can be, I decided to look for a nice warm vacation. I can dream, right? I decided on San Diego, since we were just there. When we were there a few months ago, it was warm and sunny. I love the sunshine. I'm such a sun baby. lol Anyway. We went to the zoo in San Diego. And played in the pool. And we got to visit with a lot of family that we hadn't seen in many years. It was a great vacation. Nice and warm.
I'm sure with another sweatshirt, and a warmer pair of socks, I will be fine. Maybe I'll add a room heater next to my feet or a small heating pad inside the blanket with me. Oh, the things I do to stay warm.

The Kinda Static

Well I gained two more levels on my Bard last night. I partied with Selo and Achi, and Vel once he got there. The only magic in the party was me, and I was / whm. It was kinda cool to see that parties don't need mp. Sad for my mages, but cool in a grander scheme of things type way. But it was cool to party with the people I will be staticking with. Vel, you better watch it, because if you keep putting loads of pressure on me, I'm going to give up again and quit BRD. I don't work well under pressure. And I see no reason to play a game when there is no fun in it anymore. Thanks for the encouragement, but let's chill it out just a bit, please? I was pulling last night,too. That was a mostly new experience for me. It wasn't too difficult though. Now, maybe I was just pulling in an easy area, but I never did get agroed by anything else, and I only got one link the whole time. I don't really know what people are complaining about. Anyway, we partied for about an hour and a half, and then my cold caught up with me again, and I had to quit. Selo took me back and we did the Mog House thing! It was so cool! My sweet husband. He knows what things matter to me. Even when they are cheesy <3

When I tried to sleep last night, I struggled. I tossed and turned all night long. Is it just because I am so sick? You'd think that by now I would be so exhausted I would just crash and stay that way. But no, I spend half the night awake. *sigh*

I think I might call my Grandpa Ronnie this week. I want to catch up with him, plus I could use his advice. People always like it when you call them for advice, ya know. Plus, Grandpa Ronnie always has really good, logical, and down to earth advice. It would be nice to get his opinion on our situation.

I'm off to find myself some food. I hope you have a wonderful rest of the day. /wave

Call Me Crazy. . .

. . . But I love doing laundry. It's very relaxing to me. The routine of it. Separate, wash, dry, fold, put away. I have washed just about everything you can think of, normal or odd. I may have even washed a canvas tent once. Right now, I have a load in the washer and the dryer, and another waiting to go in. That's what brought this up in the first place.
On the other hand, I can't stand doing dishes. I don't mind unloading the dishwasher, but I absolutely can't stand loading it. Actually I wouldn't mind loading it so much, if there was no water involved. See, I hate the standing water. I hate Hate HATE it when people put dishes in the sink, run water on them, and then leave them. The water becomes disgusting.
So if there is anyone out there that would like to do my dishes for me, I would love to do your laundry for you!

7 Hours? That's It?

When a person takes NyQuil, aren't the promised a good eight hours of sleep? I mean, come on, it's NYQUIL. So why, in Martha's purple sky, was I awake at 2am this morning. It's like I get to sleep really well for my normal seven, and then- BAM! I sit up in bed, wide awake, and ready to get up.
It is now almost seven o'clock. I'm not exactly tired, but I'm worn out. I have a headache, and I'm trying to fight it off before it becomes a migraine. I think tonight, I am going to skip the NyQuil, stay up as late as I can, and then see how well I can sleep on my own. Hopefully, I will do better tonight than last night.

11.25.07

1. Filthy :: cold


2. Therapist :: need


3. Duck :: cute


4. Slant :: diagnal (however it is spelled)


5. Artist :: writer


6. Lease :: house


7. Wish :: list


8. Doormat :: people


9. Global :: peace


10. Apartment :: small

Enough, Already -- and Ding BRD21

Make it stop. Please. Anybody.
My nose is my enemy this week. On one side, I am so stuffed up I can't breath. On the other side, I bleed every time I turn around. The air in UT is a lot dryer than the air in NC. So after being there for a few weeks, the veins in my nose got so dry, the just break. In five days, I've had five nosebleeds. Gross. I'm running out of dark colored T-shirts to wear. Plus, after this long, you'd think it would have quit be now.
I bought some Vasoline to heal the veins in my nose, and I have a humidifier pointed right at my head. I turned it on a few minutes ago so that when I go to bed, it's already prepped and ready. I also bought some of those "Extra soft tissues with lotion" to try and save what's left of my poor nose. It's red and puffy and peeling. Ew. I'm very disappointed with the "better" tissues. Not only are they not better, they are more scratchy than the bathroom tissue I have been using. Maybe next time I will skip the aloe and vitamin E tissues and go straight for the tissues with Vick's in them. And since I was there, I also grabbed two of the mini bottles of hand sanitizer for fifty cents to carry in my purse. No sense in spreading this misery around.
I did get some time in game today. I worked on clearing my mog house for a while. Sent a bunch of stuff to my mule, sold a bunch to vendor, and put some on the auction house. I partied on my bard. I only got two levels, though, because my party sucked. We had a full party wipe- including our two power levelers- right after I got my second lvl. Yes, I know, I know. There was a good note about the party though. We had two dancers and a scholar. I don't like galka dnc, but I don't mind it as much as I thought I would. As for sch, I didn't notice it enough in the party to make a decision one way or another. I'll study it more next time. My BRD is now 21, and I'll probably party more tomorrow. Vel says I have to get 20 lvls to catch up with them. Hahaha. Might actually be possible if they weren't partying at the same time. But I like BRD, so it's their loss ;)
All right, NyQuil is starting to kick in. I'm off to bed. Yes, it's only seven o'clock, but have you heard me try to speak lately. No? It's because I have no voice! Pile that on top of not being able to hear because my ears are clogged, and not being able to breath, and I'd say bedtime is exactly what I need at this hour. Maybe I'll add a picture of myself looking like this tomorrow. Then you can laugh at my misery.
I hope you have a wonderful Sunday evening. And stay nice and healthy.

(((I added a new label. Although I am neither healthy nor beautiful right now, I felt it fit. I'll be adding it to past posts if it's appropriate sometime later this week.)))

Remembering my Father-In-Law

Sid has been gone for almost a month. We miss him a lot. So much has happened in the last month that we wish he had been here for. Selo has said so many times how much he wishes his dad could have helped him through this or that and how he wishes he could have seen him one last time.
We were very blessed to have Sid in our lives. I consider myself so lucky that he was my father-in-law. I couldn't have asked for a better man in his place. I have told him several times how grateful I am for him. And for the sons he raised (one of them being my husband).
Last year for Christmas, Sid gave some of us hoodies. Special hoodies. Sid purchased these hoodies with his own money, even though he was living (barely living) on his disability check month to month. He purchased us all black BACA hoodies. One for each of his kids- Selo and Sarah, one for me, and one for each of his grandkids- Katie and Natalie (Hubby's daughters), Cody, and Teasia, Tyree, and Kiri. They were directly from him and no one else. He said he wanted each one of us to be known as a "BACA kid", so that we would be safe and no one would mess with us. When Sid passed away, that was the first thing that Selo reached for. Teasia wore hers for days and days- and might still be wearing it. It is an honor to have been included in that special circle of his family.

To Sid
Thank you for what you taught me. Thank you for your lessons on acceptance and kindness. For your generosity and your love. Thank you for accepting me, without question or judgments.
I look forward to seeing you again. I look forward to the day I can stand before you, and know that I have made you proud. I look forward to the day I can see your smile.
Thank you Sid. We love you always.

The guest book will be open for a few more days. If you would like to sign it, but haven't had the chance, you may view it here >>> Sidney Ralph West

We Got It!!!

FINALLY! Selo went to Boone today, still in search of WoTG. And he finally found it. The game store in Boone had not only the PS2 one, but the PC one as well. It's about dang time. Too bad we had to go clear across the country to find it! So he bought one for the PS2, which we will be installing on our PS3, and one for the PC, which will be installed on both of our PCs. Then one code will go to Selo and one will go to Mini. Works out nicely, doesn't it? And yes, it is legal, and within SE's rules. I'm so excited!

Thoughts on Our Car Insurance

Today is an insurance and finance day. I got lots of sleep last night, and now I am working on a budget and re-thinking some of our insurance. I am going to compare car insurance, look into home insurance, and set our priorities in our budget. As of right now, we have three vehicles and two drivers on our car insurance policy. We pay just under $1000 per year. We are going to be changing some of the vehicles on our policy. We want to drop two of them, and add one vehicle. Hopefully, that change will drop it a bit. I'm off to make a few calls about it!

The Holy War!!!

We are down to almost twelve hours. Right now, as I type this, Pi Kappa Alpha is running the game ball down to the Cougar Field. Are you lost? You shouldn't be. This is one of the biggest games of the year across the nation. Still don't know what I'm talking about? Well, since I was raised in Utah, I will enlighten you.

Meet the Brigham Young University Cougars and the University of Utah Utes

The Holy War

Picking the Impossible Game

My sister and brother-in-law have tickets for this game. You can forget about Black Friday, I bet people are already lining up for this game. I am a fan of both, and will wear both red and blue to show my support. Go Team!

I Love You Sugar

This was our song at our wedding. Once again, I dedicate it to my husband. I love you.

Sick of Being Broke

We are still not doing so well. After spending the last year and a half trying to build our credit, I feel like we are backsliding. We are considering an interesting option right now. We are thinking about Payday Loans. Now, hear me out about this one. If a payday loan goes on our credit, and we are able to stay up with our bills, maybe it would be a good idea? We wouldn't take out more than one loan at a time, and we would make sure to have all payments in early. If we decide to borrow money, wouldn't it be a good idea to build our credit? Now, we just need to find out if and which payday loans build credit.

Should I Open a New Blog?

I'm thinking about opening a new blog. Mostly a temporary one. But it would be one that I would keep locked up and more for myself to write than for anyone else to read. I know, sounds kinda dumb. but I need somewhere to dump my feelings. All of them, including the ugly, needy, hateful, and depressing ones. I also like the idea of having another blog that I can go deeper into. I try to keep the posts on this one pretty short, so that it is easier to read. I wouldn't mind having a blog where I would do more thought provoking and in depth writing. Specifically politics and religion. I obviously don't hide my religion or my political views here, but in my other blog, I can be more specific, more opinionated, and more . . . preachy to myself. Hmm, the more I talk about it, the more I like the idea.

What a Mess . . .

. . . I am today. I have dark eyes, and crying doesn't help. My throat still hurts and my nose is red. With my dark makeup trying to cover up my sickness, I probably look completely emo or like one of those Goth singles out there. I'm just emotional, and sick on top of it. My poor husband. lol But, at least now, we have a plan. The hardest part is yet to come, but at least we know what we need to do now. I have direction again.
*wipes tears* That means things will eventually get better. So, stand up, get a grip, and keep moving on. Life's not going to wait for me to catch up!

I'm sure I will "Do That, Too"

I don't have all the answers. The more I learn, the more I realize I have hardly any of the answers. And I am terrified to have children. I keep telling Hubby that we just have to wait a little longer, and then I will feel ready. He just laughs at me, kisses me, and says he already knows I will make a great mother. (Isn't he wonderful?) It's okay not have all the answers. I will question myself, and others will criticize me, but that shouldn't stop me from having children. And soon. Now, where's that husband of mine. . .

I'm glad I have plenty of time to practice being a mom.

Not Soon Enough

Today is one of those days I wish I had the ability to password protect some of my posts- or my whole blog, for that matter. Not because I don't want it read, I certainly do. But I have so much in my head, I know that if I tried to type it all out, I would cause other heads to explode. My own domain can not come soon enough. (Any other hosts you guys can suggest? I haven't decided yet, and I'm still looking for a host.) Big things are happening in my life. The next few months, and the next few years especially, and going to be drastically changing. All the planning and saving and planning that Hubby and I have done in the past, well, so much for planning. lol I guess we will be re-evaluating things. I tell you this, though, I am SO grateful for my husband. Even though I feel like I am on the verge of a breakdown and I should be admitted to the psych ward (Silly Scrubs, will you visit me?), he has been so strong. Even though he has been in and out of the hospital and the doctors office for weeks now and is constantly in pain, he is still my rock. Even when I am running back and forth between the bedroom and kitchen making him whatever he wants to eat just because he actually feels like eating- finally!- he still wraps his arms around me and tells me he appreciate what I do for him. He is wonderful. He is my rock and my strength. I never imaged that marriage would be as hard as it has been, but I am so grateful that Hubby and I get to experience it and learn with each other. Not just with anyone, but with him specifically. He is amazing to me.
Wow, I really was rambling there. Sorry about that. lol I feel better though!
*runs off to hug Hubby*

Looking For a Vacation?

How about a music and art vacation? Even better, how about FREE? That's right, I said free. Try the St. Augustine Artwalk in North Florida. They have the First Friday Weekend Art Walk. You can experience music, exhibits, entertainment and refreshments. Admission is free, shuttles are free, and the tours are free. Not only will you be having a great time, but you won't be breaking your bank for parking or taxi costs either. During the month of December, the focus is on British Nightwatch. I would love to attend the Lighthouse Festival in March, too. Can you imagine what the St. Augustine's Birthday Celebration will be like? Talk about a party! The 14th annual Nights of Lights Celebration has already began (it started on November 17) and will last until January 31 of next year. Lights will illuminate the streets and historic buildings all over the city. I bet it is beautiful. You could plan to attend the Festival of Trees at World Golf Village. It starts Friday, November 30 and runs until Sunday, December 9. Or the Holly Jolly Trolley Tour, starting Saturday, November 24 (that's this weekend!) and lasting until Sunday, December 30.
So if you are looking for a great vacation at a cost that won't put you into debt through next year, here's your opportunity. Welcome to the holiday season!

*Grumble* and *Groan*

We still don't have the expansion yet. Hubby has gone all over town, and I have spent plenty of time on the phone. And don't even call us obsessed, because I don't want to hear it. I don't feel good. My head hurts and has been hazy all day, and my throat hurts and is swollen. Wasn't that nice of Hubby to give me his cold? lol I just hope he gets over it soon. Everyone is the LS has been talking about the expansion. Optimal has been bragging about having it already. Not that I am surprised. Leave to him. . . oh, nevermind. *If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.* Achi actually went out and bought a 360 just so he could play it. He is updating right now, and then he is going to unlock dancer.
I think I'm going to go to bed early tonight. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, and we have a lot to do tomorrow.

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!

Get. A. Printer.

I love my sister. I love all of them. But I get frustrated when I offer to help someone, and it turns out to be SO much more work than expected. Like right now.
The Davis family has a game every year. This year, we are doing the Christmas game at Thanksgiving, since that is when everyone will be at Grandma Davis' house. Rebeka is in charge of the game. She has been working on it all year long- literally. And tomorrow is the big day. The problem is, she couldn't get them printed. She doesn't own a printer. Mom's printer was out of ink. Grandma Davis' printer is broken. So I offered to help. She sends me the file, and it's completely in color. She needs 23 copies of pages covered in orange and red. Yeah, not gonna happen. So I offer to try to redo the page in black and white, and then print it. More work than I planned, but it's for family, right?
Right now, I really wish my sister had a printer. I love mine at home. A scanner slash copier slash printer. It's wonderful. The only thing even close to it would be a portable scanner. This little portable scanner is kind of neat. It is so small, has a USB connection, and- best of all- it is Vista compatible. (I have Vista on my laptop.)
So if you are going to plan a big project, be sure you have the time and means to finish it. I love my sister, but I'm already not feeling well (I think I am catching Hubby's cold), I have plenty of work to finish on this, and it's late. I hope she loves me for this one.

No News Yet

Well Hubby had his test today. The HIDDA scan. And we don't know anything. We expected to have some information as soon as it was over, since the doctor (yes, doctor- not a nurse) doing the test was explaining everything to us as it went along and giving us status reports. Unfortunately, not much out of the ordinary happened. The doc said Selo's gal bladder looked like it was functioning well, and it was moving the bile around and processing normally. So that pretty much rules it out. There is still a chance it could be his gal bladder, but we won't know that until Hubby's primary care physician (PCP) talks to him, probably Monday.
The next step is a very unpleasant one. It is to check his colon. That means going inside him, not just more x-rays from the outside.
*sigh* I'm still open to hearing any suggestions or advice anyone has. And for those of you that pray, please pray that the doctors find whatever is causing him so much pain.

The Peppermint Place

Ever heard of it? It's wonderful. I'm not big into Christmas, but this places tops them all. My sister, Kristine, picked me up this morning, and we- with Aubrey- went to The Peppermint Place. We walked around the whole store, talking and laughing. Man I miss seeing her all the time. I have a connection with her that I don't have with any of my other sisters. Then again, I have a connection with each of them that I don't have with the others. Anyway, I'm off topic. We went. We had a great time. I bought Daddy some chocolate covered gummy bears for Christmas, and I bought Selo a couple of cherry flavored candy sticks. He loves them. *sigh* Tis the season already.

BTW, is you are looking to move to New York (which I am not, thank heavens) check out movers New York. Enjoy!

It's Here- Kind of

The expansion for FFXI is finally out. A very warm welcome to Wings of the Goddess. We have been looking forward to this one for quite some time now. In fact, this is a huge one. I wasn't sure if SE would be able to come up with any new jobs, they already have about everything covered. But to everyone's surprise and pleasure, they announced two more. Say hello to Dancer and Scholar. I can't wait to play them. I am more excited about dancer than scholar. Now if we could just FIND it anywhere! Selo reserved two copies, and when he went in to pick them up, the store told him they didn't have it. I've been calling everywhere, and Selo is out shopping with his Mom trying to find it. (Can I just say, Walmart has once again proven it's great intelligence in the world of retail. How does that store even stay in business???) We have just a few more minutes to keep looking. Hubby goes into the hospital in an hour and I would love to have it for him when he gets home. Wish me luck!

Scholar (sorry, I couldn't find a scholar video, I'll get one for you of myself when I finally get it)

Dancer

Technology Rules

I love the internet. Obviously. But even more so, I love American Fork, Utah's internet connection. The whole city is provided with fiber optic. That's 100 gigs, people. That's almost enough to make Hubby and I move back to Utah just for the internet connection. There's always places that advertise for great internet, like McDee's hot spots or Boingo network of wi-fi hot spots. And there's so much else you can do with the internet these days. You can research anything you want, like the history of the internet. You can get VoIP and lower your home telephone costs. And, another of my favorites, is that you can set up a wireless network, which means I can carry my laptop all over the house with me. Yes, I am definitely a fan of technology.

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

This is a picture I took last weekend at the event. Any idea who these people are? They are famous. On the left is Indy and on the right is Tak. THE Tak. THIS Tak.
But what's with this picture? Look at what's in front of them. All that stuff on the table. Have a drink guys. I didn't even think about it when I took the picture. But when I was looking through the pics now, I bust up laughing. Also, look at the guy right behind them. I don't know if you can see his T-shirt or not, but it says, "Got Buffs?"
lol We really had a great weekend. I can't wait till next year.

Word Scrambler

I was looking for something online and I found this. It's a word scrambler! I'm always looking for crazy stuff like this, I think it's fun. Anyway, I've scrambled some terms and listed them below. See if you can unscramble to term and match it to the correct term:

The Scrambled Terms

idoron ghnpiosp lmal

neqstareui gdrini appealr

oseetilvni ets

Lfxie eth Tac

rwdo becramls


The Unscrambled Terms


word scramble

television set

equestrian riding apparel

indoor shopping mall

Felix the Cat


(((PS Yes, yes, I know this is cheesy. But you have to admit, it is creative!)))

The Guest House

The downstairs in my mother-in-law's house is being worked on. My brother-in-law and his wife (whom I absolutely love) are redoing the bathroom- shower, toilet, all of it. Selo and I are going to clean, organize, and set up the two bedrooms. What a lot of work! The bathroom is almost completed, but the bedrooms haven't been started yet. (We are waiting because we can't exactly get to them right now.) There is stuff trailed everywhere between the three rooms. Clothes, boxes, box cutters, trash, bedding, dressers- you name it, it's there. Once the bathroom is finished, and the bedrooms are cleaned and set up, she can have guests stay downstairs in either of the guest bedrooms. It will be like a little guest house. Two bedrooms, a bathroom, living room, and a laundry room, and all of it complete with it's own door to separate it from the rest of the house.

Still Working on it - Need Video Editing Software

I know I promised I would have the photos and the videos uploaded by now, and give you all the links, but I'm not quite finished yet. Half of it is on my computer and half of it is on Selo's computer. For the pictures, I am working right now on getting it all in the same place and organizing it. As for the videos, I need some video editing software. I want to be able to put similar videos together, and take out the unnecessary stuff. For example, I want to put the music together, and take out the long applauses between songs. I know there are plenty of people out there that have video editing software on their computers. If you know if one that is low cost or even free, please let me know.
Keep checking back. I will have everything up soon. I promise.

Cutting Costs

Since we have both been out of work for so long, we have been talking about ways to cut some corner. I don't mean buy the cheap type of ramen instead of the good kind. I'm talking about some logical and do-able ways. Like our car insurance. Did you know we have three vehicles? We have had three for a while; the Buick, the Mitsubishi, and the truck. We pay approximately $450 every six months for car insurance. Not bad for three vehicles and two drivers. Anyway, so we have been talking about selling the truck and dropping it from our insurance. I called in to get a car insurance quotes on how much of a difference that would make. I found out we pay about $150 for each vehicle. I was a little surprised, considering the difference in age, make, and model, but not in a bad way. Now that we know it would drop our insurance by that much, we are even more serious about taking action. Not only would it drop our insurance, but it would also give us that much $$$ for selling it, too. To me, it sounds good all the way around. Now, I just need to get Hubby to agree. . .

Hubby's Next Test

He had his next Dr appt today. We, again, discussed symptoms, and narrowed in on some specifics. The fact that he is in more pain after he eats, and specifically after any food that is fatty or fried. It hurts in his lower stomach area and in his back. The pain never goes away, but it relieves somewhat when he lies down. I brought up the gal bladder. The doctor agreed it sounded like a gal bladder. (My mom and my sister both had to have theirs removed. I remember it vividly. Feels like deja vu.) Hubby is scheduled to have a Hida Scan done on Wed. Good thing we didn't have Thanksgiving dinner planned until 5:30 that day, huh? Just kidding. He probably won't be up to eating anyway. But, we are hoping that this will show something, and some decisions can be made in order to stop him from being in so much pain. It's been weeks. It's time for him to get some peace already!

Diversity

One of the things that impressed me the most about my weekend was all the different people that were there. I expected there to be a lot of early to mid twenties there, with all their various attitudes and styles. We saw preppies in their standard 511 tactical, we saw nerds in their standard geeky t-shirts (our group included), and we saw the shy ones simply trying to blend in. But I was amazed to see older people there. We're talking 60+ here! It made me open my eyes and realize that the standard gaming person is a lot wider than I ever imagined.

Just wanted to let you know . . .

I will be updating y'all on what I can as I can today. We have a pretty busy day today. I will be on the computer on and off today, so I will do what I can.
We had a great time this weekend. It was awesome to meet Achi, Midnight, and Ulti as planned. We got to meet Tak, Sas, and Indy, who weren't expecting to be there, but made it anyway. Plus, we met a handful of other Midgar people as well.
We also got to go to church with my long time friend, Elise, and then out to lunch with her and her husband, Ryan. We had some good discussions with them.
I'm also going to get plenty of pics and lots of videos up for you as well. It might come in smaller bunches, though. I like to post as I make progress, so that I don't get overwhelmed.

Promote Your Blog- FREE

How many of you out there like knowing your blog is being promoted? How many of you spend time networking? And how many of you actually have business cards in order to promote your blog? Well, why not?! Check this out. Ooprint is offering 100 Free blogger cards to help you do just that. Look how professional these business cards are! I look forward to reaping the benefits of this great idea.

It's Here! It's Here!

Speaking Of Interesting. . . .

Check out ThinkGeek. I love this site. It has some of the greatest creativity there is. Hubby showed it to me a long time ago, and I love browsing. (I know, I know, you're not surprised.) Anyway, I have two favorites on their site right now. The first one is DIY Drinking Straws. If I had kids, they would so have this. It looks like so much fun! Maybe I should buy the set now, just to make sure I have it when we have kids. . . The second one is Pluto Replies. I was not happy, let alone supportive, when Pluto was kicked out. Talk about rocking our solar system- rude! So I like this shirt. If you have a few minutes, check out ThinkGeek. It is very. . . geeky :D

Interesting Software

The medical field is growing. As the population grows older, the medical field will continue to grow. It is said that caring for the elderly is one of the most booming markets for new jobs. If you don't already know someone associated with caring for the elderly, or someone that is elderly that is being cared for, then you will soon. Thankfully, more information and technology is being created to assist with this. For example, assisted living software is now available. I wonder what they will come up with next?

<[Besieged]> <[Yes, Please]>

I love Besieged. Of all the FFXI fights to be involved in, Besieged is my favorite. There were three today. One right after another. I stayed for all three. When it started, I started my usual party. Then as other WS members logged in or joined Besieged, I invited them to party. By the time it ended, I had a full alliance for a big part of it. I died a few times, as usual. Overall, I did really well this time. I stayed alive for the longest period of time I ever have during Besieged. lol I also met a cool RDM named Torout. I swear he followed me around just to keep refresh on me. He was awesome.

Here are a few pics for you to enjoy :)



(Left) This is one of the mobs we were fighting. She's not as friendly as she looks.

(Below) Look! I'm still alive!

Sleep Well

We were stranded in Utah for two weeks. First Hubby's father passed away. We were really sad about that. Yet, we were glad he was no longer hurting. Then, the day when I was flying back, Hubby ended up in the ER. Twice. So were stayed longer. We were there until Hubby finally got permission from his doctor to travel again. Once we could travel, we came home. (Not that it solved ANY of our problems, but that's for another blog.) While we were in Utah, we stayed at a family member's house. My mother-in-law, to be specific. I love my mother-in-law. I think she is wonderful and she loves me right back. It is nice to be able to get along so well with someone. But let's not forget something. Two weeks. At MIL's house. As much as we love our family, we were ready to have some of our own space again. Even though we didn't have the cash for it, I wondered about hotels and rates. I have stayed in some very inexpensive hotels in my day, and then again, I have stayed in some nice ones. (Although nothing as nice as the one I am about to stay in.) Well, I found a website. Hotel Reservations.com. You can search for a hotel, vacation rental, car, and flight, and all for a discounted rate. You can search for places all over the world, this site isn't limited to the United States. My favorite search? By Amenities. I just had fun seeing what I could come with there. If you don't want a hotel, you can search for Bed & Breakfast or condos. I think Bed & Breakfasts are so cute- and very romantic! There is even a section for group bookings, so you can make plans for your entire party. (You know, for those family reunion vacations. Like the Davis Family Vacation.) You can check out cruises- and who doesn't want to go on a cruise. Hubby and I have actually been talking about it. He wants to go on a cruise before he is thirty. We bet getting moving on it! There is even a Destination Guide to help you research and plan your trip. So, if you are considering a trip or vacation, or looking for something grand to give your sweetheart for Christmas, you should look at this site. It will make your life simpler- and save you money.

*sigh*

Do you ever have those days when you want to hide from the world? Crawl in bed, pull the covers over your head, and pretend nothing outside exists? That's my night tonight. I was having a great day. I was so glad to be back in school, and glad my classes were going so well. I was happy to be back home, in my own home, and be near my patients again. But then something happened, and my whole night changed. I have been depressed ever since. I just feel, low. I feel depressed, like I've been beaten by my adversary. I feel humiliated and embarrassed. I'm feel shamed. I feel crappy. I feel angry and hurt.
Luckily, I have my husband. He immediately pulled me into his arms and held me. And then he just talked to me. Told me everything would be okay, and started making plans to make it okay. I am blessed to have him.
Even when I have super crappy nights like tonight.

Where's My Tutor?

One tantrum I did want to share, was being rejected for a tutor. I applied for assistance through the Student Center, which gives free Reading Tutors and math tutors to qualified students, and I was rejected. Not because we make too much money, not because I don't have a learning disability, but because I am part time. I'm a little ticked off about that. I can't afford to go to school full time, but that doesn't mean I want to do any less than the very best in my classes. So far, I have done excellent. And I plan on doing more classes, and harder classes. I was hoping to get a math tutor to help me in the future. Oh well, I guess I will cross that bridge again next time I take a math class.

Skipping Off to School

Looks like I will continue my little path as is. I was concerned about being withdrawn from my classes because of missing so many days, but both my instructors were really nice and more than accommodating. (Which is more than I can say for other people I work with, but that's another tantrum for later.) My math teacher was even surprised that, not only did I know the work immediately today, but I am still ahead on my homework. I have missed a couple of tests. Luckily for me, both instructor requested that I wait until after Thanksgiving to do them. That gives me a few weeks to get caught up in anything else I am missing. And at this point, it looks like I am only missing one English essay that was given out last Friday. Tomorrow will be a good day. Instead of my English being held in the classroom, we will be in The Pit listening to a speaker. I will have more info about him later. I am glad to be back in class again. It keeps my brain sharp!

Save Some Money for the Holidays

I'm all about saving money. Especially when it comes to spending it- like the holidays. I am very in favor of being financially educated, and part of that is knowing when and where to get discounts, coupons, and deals. Say Hello to Coupon Codes. They offer everything from Dell coupons to 123Inkjets coupon codes and back again. There are new codes added every single day, so you are always getting the latest deals. The codes are organized by store or shop, and the stores and shops are alphabetized for easy navigating. Not only does this site save money, but it saves time, too- and we all know Time is Money.

My Favorite Moogle

Question about PPP

I was accepted at PPP, and I've done several jobs for them. How do I know when and if the posts are approved? And when do they send payment for the jobs I've done?

Thanks to Melissa for getting me started, and both Melissa and Kara for answering other random questions.

If you have other tips or advice you would like to give, I am all ears. Thanks everyone!

I Love Married Life

I have been so much more in control of my emotions, secure with myself, and happy with my life since I got married. Hubby seems to have such a positive effect on me. I sometimes wonder what his magic is. When we met, we had no idea what the future would bring. He was a family man that was taking his wife and daughter out for a movie. I ended up dating his friend- who I had known in high school. After several years of a difficult relationship, I got out. While living in another state, I found out that he and his wife had gotten a divorce, and he was moving to where I was. At the encouragement of both our exes (didn't want to burn any bridges or cause any drama!), we started dating. We knew each other (off and on) for five years and dated for two years before we got married. I now look back at my nine month marriage (yes, I am still a newlywed!) and I am amazed at all that we have accomplished. I think about our future, and I am more in love with him than ever before, and so excited about the family we plan on having, and so impressed with the plan we have for our future.

And I wish this on everyone. I want everyone to enjoy this happiness. My family and friends. Strangers. Even my ex bfs and his ex wife. Yes, I wish them happiness. All of them. (Well, maybe not together, but you know what I mean.) I want you to be happy, and feel more loved than ever before. And if you are already in that very relationship, I am happy for you.

As for those of you that single, don't give up. Get yourself out there. Date a lot. Make friends. Easy for me to say? Yes, I know. Because I have been there. Try a Dating Service. This one here brings together several sites, including eHarmony, Date.com, and Friend Finder.
Staying at home by yourself is great sometimes, but you aren't going to even get your name out there for anyone to find unless YOU make it happen. You have the whole holiday season to do this. Go to parties, visit friends, attend church. (Stop balking about meeting people at church. You want to be with someone that has similar beliefs as you, don't you? I thought so.) And who knows, while working on meeting all these new people, you may just find yourself out there, too.

Hubby is doing better

Thanks for asking. Everyone. We have had so many emails and phone calls. You guys are great.

He is doing better today than he has all week. He rode in the car all the way to Price (to handle some more stuff for his dad's estate), which is an hour and a half each way. He ate a full meal- and held it down. He has had plenty of fluids. And he has only had one pain pill all day long. He still cannot lift anything that is too heavy, or stand for long periods of time.

I am happy that he is feeling better. It was really scary to have him in the hospital, and even worse when nothing could be found. He was pretty bumbed on Wed when the doc said he couldn't go home, but he has been really happy since Friday when he was told we could. It is nice to see him smile again. This has been a hard two weeks for him.

Our Own Bed

One of the things we miss the most whenever we travel is our own bed. Most people are like that. There's just nothing like sinking into the comfortable feeling of my own bed. My own blankets, my own mattress, my own sheets. When Hubby and I still lived in Utah (and before we were married), we had purchased a feather pillow top for our bed. It is warm and cool at the same time. It is fluffy and comfortable. It took me a few nights to get used to, because it was so soft. Yet ever since then, nothing compares to my own bed.
We have considered purchasing a new bed a few times. We decided if and when we buy a new bed, we are going to invest the money into a good one. Probably a Tempurpedic, because they are so good for you- well, us. AngelBeds has these mattresses- and others- at a discount price. Even though we live in the furniture capital (GREAT stuff at cheap prices!), these prices are pretty good, too. Right now, they are having a Veteran's Day Sale, where you can get 2 free pillows, and a free set of sheets, including fitted, flat, and two pillow cases. You can get the bed, pillows, and sheets, and all for less than you would normally pay. They even have a pink Chenille blanket for Breast Cancer Awareness- and who wouldn't want a chenille blanket, especially one that's for such a good cause?

It's nice to dream. But I just can't wait to be back home in my own bed. We may be thinking about purchasing a new bed, but there's just no place like home.

We're Going Home!!!

Hubby got clearance from his doctor to travel. So we are leaving tomorrow night and will be home Monday morning. We will only be home for a few days before leaving again, though. But I can't tell you how glad we are to be going home.
We have been going through our list of "need to know" contacts, letting people know we are finally on our way. On our list is people like my boss and Hubby's boss, my step-mom (she has been watching our cats for us), and my instructors at school.
Now, I'm off to call the airline about a wheelchair for Hubby. Doctor's orders. Plus it will get us through security faster and make our lives easier. No objections there!

Date Night

We had a great night tonight. Hubby and I, Susan (my MIL), and Beka and Andy (my sis and her husband) all went out tonight. We started with dinner at Red Robin. Mmm bottomless fries! Then we went to the theatre and saw The Bourne Ultimatum. It was much better than I thought it would be. The fighting scene in the house/bathroom was longer than it needed to be. But I loved the phone call made from the office to open the safe. If you've seen it, you know what I'm talking about. If you haven't, don't worry, I didn't ruin anything for you. After the movie, we all came back to Susan's house (which is where Hubby and I are staying while we are in Utah). Immediately we put Hubby on the couch and got him some juice and a pain pill. It was a lot of work for him to do all that. He felt better after a few minutes, so we pulled out the PS2 and popped in one of Andy's new games. Andy and Hubby are having a great time beating each other up in this boxing game, while Rebeka is reading out loud from the handbook.
We have had a great night. It was really nice to see my sister, and to spend some time with my mother-in-law. Dinner and a movie. Just what we all needed :)

Welcome to Corporate America

With my love for financial education, and Hubby's long time desire to start his own business, I have spent a little time reading about it. And it's a dang good thing, too. Do you know how much goes into starting a corporation? For example, this nevada corporation. You have to have share holders, and meetings with the minutes recorded, and directors, and bylaws. This Nevada Corporation has help by offering a some free forms to get started. Or they can do the paperwork for you, for a small cost. They can help you get a tax ID number, or help do it for you. They can corporation kits to get you started on the process from the very beginning. There is even an area on their website to teach the difference between different types of businesses.


All of this information is slightly overwhelming to me. I am glad to know there are companies out there that help just to get a business started. Hubby has a business plan in mind. He has never had the opportunity to get it started yet. However, we are getting to the point now, that we are ready to make something of our future. Not just getting a job to support a family. But really making a life for ourselves. A business that we can live with and enjoy while in our working years. A business that will continue to boom and support us when we retire. A business that we can pass down to our children. Now that I know these options are available, I am more willing to take the leap of faith into the world of owning our own business.

Passage to Zarahemla

Have you ever read the "Tennis Shoes" books? Well, I did. My mom bought me every one, and I poured through them like nothing else. Well guess what's coming to the movies? It's already here. Passage to Zarahemla You might not be able to appreciate this movie, but let me put it this way. Have you ever seen a trailer for a movie and you got lost just in the trailer? Then you wait, on the edge of your seat, for the day it came out? And then, you go sit at the theatre at midnight waiting to be let into the theatre? (You Potter fans should understand this.) Yeah, that's me. I couldn't exactly wait at the theatre, because they don't have it at my local theatre. But guess who just so happens to be in Utah right now? Yep, you got it, me! I cannot wait to see this one.

Back to Business

Hubby will be calling the doctor in a few minutes. We are, once again, hoping to get permission to go home. If not, we are going to be in trouble. Financial trouble. We have been here for two weeks without any income. we have stretched our pennies about as far as they will stretch. At this point, we have enough money for two plane tickets home- if we use two different bank accounts, and buy no groceries when we get there. We have no more cushion, no back up, no savings. Once again, I'm looking into a loan. Not a big one, but something that will get us by for a few weeks until we have start getting some paychecks again. I like the Bad Credit Offers website because it allows me to sort through all the bad credit loans and offers. I am able to get a better idea of what is available. If we get permission and can go home this weekend, we might be able to make it without a loan. If not, well, let's just hope I can find a good interest rate.

Jake 2.0

I'm hooked. It's my mother-in-law's fault. She showed me the first one last night around nine pm, and I stayed up all night long watching them. She has them recorded on her DVR so I watched one right after another- with no commercials, I might add. It was wonderful. I started getting sleepy around four am, but lasted another episode and a half. I finally fell asleep just after starting the eleventh episode. I wandered off to bed around five am. She has up to episode fourteen so far, which means I have four more episodes to go (including eleven, because I slept through it). If you have seen Jake 2.0, I highly recommend it. Especially episode number four.

Jake 2.0

Is it Morning Already?

I woke up this morning to the miniature dog howling. Not sure what he was alerting us of, but he was doing a good job. As I come walking out of the bedroom to put him *clears throat* let him outside, he is curled up in the middle of all the cords strewn across the floor. Wires, cords, and a couple of doggie chew toys surrounded him. The best part? Was that he looked as happy as could be. lol Just thought I'd start the morning off with a little humor. Hope you're having a good morning too!

Update

Hubby is doing better. He is gaining more strength each day. He will call the doctor again tomorrow to discuss how he is feeling. Once again, we are hoping for approval for him to travel. Sure, we could always disregard the doctors orders and go home anyway (and I can't say we haven't thought about it), but we don't want to A) do any permanent damage to Hubby and B) we don't want something to happen while we are traveling and have him end up in the hospital in the middle on the country where we would have no support and no help. We are playing it safe and following Drs orders. Hopefully, tomorrow, the doctor will order Hubby to make arrangements to go home. We are almost holding our breath for it.
I miss my kitties. I miss a lot of things about NC, but I really miss our babies. Even Hubby has mentioned that he misses them. Piper is going to be so happy when we get home and she is allowed to go outside again. She will probably stay away for a week, at least. And the kittens are going to be so big. They were growing so much while we were home, I can't imagine how much they will have changed after two weeks. They will probably be really excited to go outside, too.
I'm a little concerned about school. Even though I am keeping up with my classes- okay staying ahead- my instructors would be completely within the rules of the school to remove me from class. I have stayed in constant contact with all of my instructors, and so far, things look good in my favor. I just don't want any surprises when I get back.
I haven't even logged into FFXI for a week and a half. Maybe even two weeks. I miss it. Last thing I remember, I was skilling up on worms. Paralyze, Sleep II, Silence, ect. I wasn't doing any damage spells, just ones that would raise those specific skills. My elemental magic is already capped, but the others have some work to do. I need to level my WHM and my RDM too. I don't think I have partied on either of those for months. And can I just say how jealous I am that Selo is already 75 on his BLM? Words cannot express my GRRR.
I finally have the black nail polish I've been wanting. I wanted one that was dark and thick, not something that was transparent or weak on my fingers. I had acrylics for years and years, and decided I was tired of them. They are fake, costly, and a crutch. It may seem ridicules, but I have been happier without them. I now have a basic black on my nails. Easy to keep up, simple, and still makes a statement. I'm all about making statements.
It has been nice to spend so much time with my MIL lately. I absolutely love the woman. I have heard the horror stories of MILs, and I have heard of women getting along with their MIL. But I must say, I am impressed with my relationship with my MIL. She is always telling me how much she loves me and how good I am for her son and how happy she is that I am in his life and in her life. What a boost of confidence it is to hear these words- and so frequently.
I have done so much blogging lately. Have you noticed that? A lot of it is rambling, but useful rambling if nothing else. I haven't had my mind entertained by school and by my job, so it all comes down to my blog. I hope I haven't bored anyone too much. lol
*yawn* I think I'm going to go get started on supper. MIL should be home from work in an hour or so, and I'd like to have some food ready. Have a wonderful evening!

Today's Website

I've noticed lately I am doing a review of a website at least once a day. I know that I highlighted the birthday blog today, but that was more for fun that for review. So here's my daily website review.
Today we are discussing CarsBlvd.com. Colors are a big deal to me. I like the colors on this site because they are pleasant and peaceful. You can search by entering what type of vehicle you want, or with the advertised cars on the home page. You can get a Honda Car Quote or any quote for that matter. You can even get quotes on car insurance, loans, and warranties. I also like the Car Maintenance 101 near the bottom of the home page.
All right, I am off to browse more vehicles. Hmmm, what is my dream car of the day?

Happy Birthday

. . .to A Pile of Dog Bones. Today, this blog turns two years old. NYC Watchdog is famous for his Cereal Wednesday, where he reviews a new cereal each Wednesday, and his Smorgashboard Sunday, where he gives a weekly feast of worthy blogs. Pick up some cereal and enjoy a few new blogs, but don't forget to leave him some birthday blog love.

Taking a Break

I have been working on homework since nine this morning. I finished my ACA homework, and just now finished my English essay. My ACA homework was interesting today. The class is fairly easy, so sometimes boring. However, today it was good. Today was about time management and goal setting. We were asked to outline and discuss one goal we had recently accomplished, and two goals we would like to accomplish. The two I wanted to accomplish were to write my English essay (which is now finished) and do two chapters of my math homework (which I will do after this break I am taking). The goal I had recently achieved was to get a new digital camera.
As most of you know, I have disliked my camera for about a year and a half. Hubby bought me the perfect camera for Christmas two years ago, but it was lost when we moved to NC. We purchase a cheap Walmart camera (yeah, I know, I should have known better than walmart, but I was going for cheap and that's what I got *sigh*) to hold us over until we purchased a better one. I love taking pictures. I don't do any paper scrapbooking, but I am slowly learning digital scrapbooking. In order to achieve my goal of getting a new camera, I had three main steps to achieve. First, research cameras. What features did I want? What did I not need? What was a must have and what was a bonus? What amount did I want to spend? What additional items would I need or want? Second, earn and save the money. I did some paid writing jobs to earn the money, and kept it in another account specific for saving so that it would be kept. Third, purchase the camera. Hubby and I spent many hours studying, discussing, and researching cameras. So when I went to the store with my sister, I was prepared for the purchase. I picked out two cameras that met the feature and budget requirements. When I went to speak with a sales rep, I passed a discount table- that had several digital cameras on it. I searched through them, and found what I wanted. Some of the cameras were marked down more than $100! I purchased a camera worth over $300, plus a memory card and a camera case, for only $219.
It was one of the best purchases I have ever made. Doing research, setting a budget, and educating myself made a big difference. When I took the camera home and showed Hubby, he was impressed with how well I had done. (lol Yes! *I* impressed my husband with an electronic purchase that *I* made! How great is that?) We now have a camera with everything we wanted, plus some, paid less than we had planned, and have the great feeling of accomplishing a goal. What a great feeling. :D

Cameron- Good luck!

This is a quick note to let my friend, Brittany, and her husband, Cameron, know I will be thinking about them for the next few days. Cameron is in the Army down in Texas. He will be going into surgery tomorrow, an intense surgery, and will be in ICU for several days afterward.

Brittany- you are a great wife, and a great friend. I'm here for you when you need me.
Cameron- Thank you for your service. You will remain in my prayers. Stay strong.

Still Working

I have today set aside to do homework. I have three classes to catch up on. Most of the time when I say "catch up", I generally mean "get ahead". I stay ahead in all my classes, and I feel antsy if I am simply caught up instead of ahead. Since so many things can go wrong so often, I like having time for the unexpected. I love English. I have an essay to write and some material to review. I also have some math to do. I enjoy math, but I struggle with it sometimes. I might be calling my sister over to be my Innovative Tutor so I can get some help with it. The class is working on chapter five and six this week. I am finished five last week, and I am half way through six. I will finish six today, and probably work on chapter seven. That is the one I will need my sister's help on. She's really good at math, and good at explaining it to me. Anyway, back to work!

Don't know who to vote for? Take this quiz to narrow down your Top Three Candidates

I love politics. I love researching and reading and talking and debating and discussing and learning and all of it. I am loving all the political stuff that is already going on for the coming election. You know, the one next year. I voted in the last few elections. Didn't shirk on my American responsibility! However, this time, I feel like I will really know the candidates when I vote. I have been studying since summer of this year. That will give me a year and a half of studying and watching and listening. (Did I mention I am loving every minute of it?) I believe I have narrowed down the candidates I prefer. Out of the current 17 candidates, I have a handful picked out, because you never know how, when, or why things could change. Today, I found a quiz. This quiz asks eleven questions, and you answer them multiple choice. The questions are on Iraq, immigration, Health Care, and Hot Topics (one question each for taxes, same sex marriage, and global warming), and one last question about your requirements for a President. The quiz totals up your scores, compares them to the candidates, and presents you with the top three that match your answers. My answers were very accurate. My top two matches I had predicted, the third one was a candidate I will be doing more research on in the near future.

So, if you are American, I expect you to do your American duty and vote in the Presidential election next year. If you don't know anything about any of the candidates, I suggest you get started. And if you would like to save time by starting with three that are the closest to your beliefs, try the quiz.

ABCs Match-O-Meter Quiz


Meet the Candidates
Introduced by:

ABC
YouTube
CNN

I can do my job better with this

In my moment of inspiration to do something more productive, I found a really cool website. As you all know, I'm a care giver in private health care. I am part of a discussion group for nurses. I read blogs of a few nurses. I do my best to stay in tune and do my best. Yeah, and then I walk upstairs and realize that I have no idea what I am doing. That's why I am glad to have found bettercaring. This site has a forum to discuss issues that are going on. It can help someone decide the right choice of care homes. There is even a story of an 84 year old granny that goes sky diving. I'm really glad I found it. It will be nice to be able to talk to other people. Others that are in my situation. There are some days that I do really well. I know all that I am supposed to and do everything right. And there are some days, that I feel lost. I now have a website to help me feel better about what I know, and deal with what I don't.

More Rambling

I know, I've done a lot of rambling for the last little while. Since I'm not in school and not home to care for my patients, I have lots of time to think. About stuff. And about nothing. Between my husband and my mother in law, they do what they can to keep me busy. Hubby is mostly able to care for himself, but he still gets tired easily and still has dizzy spells. My mother in law is nice enough to let us stay with her while we are here, so I do what I can to clean up and help around her house. Tonight, we decided on a relaxing night. Chinese food, movie, and a little time with the Wii. lol I love my family. Well, Hubby's family. Okay, I love both my family and Hubby's family. Now I'm really rambling. Time to do something more productive.

What's a Podcast?

I have an iPod. A video iPod that Hubby gave me for my birthday. Not this year, for a previous birthday. I have plenty of music downloaded to it, and even some movies now. But, I am still unsure about what a Podcast is. So when I heard about Dr Letitia Wright and The Wright Place Podcast, I was interested. I am all about self help, motivational, and religious encouragement. Dr Wright has a book called "The Power of Mentorship for the Women Entrepreneurs". Does it get more encouraging than that? And what is better than being able to listen without interrupting my normal day? Now, if I can just figure out what a podcast is, I will be in good shape.

So Much for Going Home

Hubby had his dr appt a few minutes ago. The doctor said he was improving, which is good. However, the doctor said Hubby is not ready to travel yet. So we're not going home yet. And Hubby isn't going anywhere. *sigh* The doc put him on another medication, in addition to the two the ER prescribed him. He has added an anti-biotic to his diet of liquids and bland foods.
Hubby called his boss again. His boss is going to see if he can send Hubby a laptop, so that Hubby can do some work remotely. I have been in contact with my boss, and kept him updated on what's going on. As for my schooling? I am still ahead in my classes, but getting concerned they will drop me for attendance.

One thing I have been very grateful for in this situation: that we were in Utah when it happened. From our home in NC the closest hospital is thirty minutes away. Here at Hubby's mom's (where we are staying) a hospital is five minutes away. Not only does that mean we were able to get him to a hospital faster, but there was also 25 minutes less of pain caused from turns and bumps on the road. We love our home in NC, and were blessed to be in Utah at that very moment.

Do You Have a Printer?

How about a copier? A fax machine? Well, if you do, you should check out this website. It's called *drumroll please* Cartridge Finder! I bet you can guess what it does, can't you? At Cartridge Finder, they make it simple to find whatever cartridge you need. Go ahead, try it. Play around on the website for a minute. You will see for yourself how easy it is. So the next time you are in need of ink for you printer, copier, or fax machine- or your all-in-one, for you snazzy people- go to Cartridge Finder first. Ta-da!!!

My Sanity

Thank you, to everyone that has sent me an email, left a comment, called me, stopped by, and every other way of contacting me. Hearing from you has been what has kept me sane during this time of craziness and tragedy. I have been so busy running around and caring for my husband, it is nice to take a few minutes and know the world is still turning out there. Special thanks goes out to my family, and especially his, for welcoming us and doing everything possible to support and assist us with everything and anything needed. You have no idea how many people called wanting to offer assistance when Hubby landed in the hospital- the first or the second time! I am honored to be part of such a wonderful group of people.
Hubby has a doctor appt at 11:30 today- that's about an hour from now. If the doctor says he is well enough to travel, we will begin making our arrangements to go home. Home!

It Is Safe

After much discussion, many frustrations, and lots of work to clean the garage, the bike is finally safe. We- meaning Hubby, me, MIL, and anyone else that knew anything about Harleys- spent a good part of last week dedicated to discussing "The Bike", including but not limited to it's safety, it's storage, it's ride, it's first ride, it's last ride, and it's newest rider. It is now safely tucked away between a gentle cover and garage flooring to await it's time until Hubby takes it home. We are going to contact Harley Davidson to find out about their Motorcycle classes. We would love the opportunity to ride it from Utah to NC, once the warmer weather comes back.

What I've learned

I've been doing blogging for a while. I'm still quite the newb at it, but I have a few pieces of knowledge under my blogging belt. Here are a few things I have learned so far:

- Always comment back. Nobody likes to leave comments for someone if they feel like it's a one way conversation.

- It's okay to have short and simple posts.

- Networking and making friends are completely separate. Networking is building traffic for your blog. Making friends is, well, making friends. I would much rather have loyal friends than traffic to my blog.

And one quick thing about paid blogging: I like the simple and smaller jobs, even though they don't pay as much as the big ones. It's better to make $5 and keep the integrity of my blog, than to get paid $25 and lose all my readers.


I'm still working on getting my blog moved to my own domain. I am currently on the market looking for a host. Please, send your suggestions my way. And feel free to leave any of your own blogging tips here.

Maybe I Could Be a Math Tutor

I checked my school email. I am a full chapter ahead of the class. I'm acing the class. So, I was thinking, maybe I should be a math tutor. SCORE! Educational Centers has Math Tutors, maybe I could start there.
I like their website. It is plenty colorful and easy to browse. The kids on the site are very cute. They offer tutors for Pre-K through 8th grade. (Did anyone else go to Pre-K? I went and I loved it.) They tutor in most subjects, including math, reading, writing, ect.
I wouldn't mind being a math tutor, and working with all the kids. There's nothing like watching somebody struggle with something and then all of a sudden, just, "get it".

A Slight Vent

I'm frustrated. Hubby and I worked hard to get my in school. I quit my job, we changed our benefits from my job to his, we relocated. Since I have been in school, I have worked my backside off to not only stay up to par with the class, but to stay ahead and do very well in my assignments. So the fact that I am missing so much school is bothering me. Hubby is none to happy about it either. I have been in constant contact with my instructors, and other students in my class, so I don't fall behind. In fact, I am still ahead in my math class. But the fact is, I am missing school. A lot of it. *sigh* I guess all I can do is keep talking to my instructors and the school admin, and keep up with my work. I am doing all that I can in my situation. If they drop me, it will be because of missing days, and not because I fell behind even one little bit.

This is for Not Giving Up

I am proof that perseverance pays off. And thanks to my blogging buddies, my crazy life, and my determination to not take no for an answer, I have been approved. Well, my blog has, anyway.

Are you lost yet? Let me start at the beginning. . .

I have had several of my friends tell me to blog for PayPerPost. I enjoy writing, and I like doing reviews and getting info out there in the world. (Another reason I love writing for the school newspaper!) I signed up for the PPP website, and browsed. Hmmm, easy enough to use. I browsed some blogs that make money with PPP. Some are terrible, but most look pretty good. I love the ones that have tons of entries on them. The more someone blogs, the more I love to read it. Back to my story. I applied to blog for PPP. After waiting two weeks, I was told my blog was rejected. Insulted? Yes. Why was I rejected? Because I had the obituary of Tyler on there. I had applied right before his accident happened, and they reviewed my blog that week. Great timing, huh? I removed the copied info, reviewed my blog to see if there was anything else questionable on there, and submitted it again. Today, I still hadn't heard anything. I sent an email asking for an update. I didn't want to wait another three weeks just to be rejected again. When Susan (my wonderful MIL) and I got back from an errand, I checked my email again. Guess what? I was approved! *does the happy dance*

It just goes to show that perseverance really does pay off. If you want something, don't give up! Thanks to all my friends that have been so encouraging to me. You guys are the greatest :)

Want $200 for the Holidays?

CheapFlights is giving away an American Express gift card in the amount of $200 per week, and a grand prize of $2000, for the holidays. Yes, I totally entered. So what if they are going to subscribe me to every email they can put together for the next two months? It's worth it to win $2000.

Here are the dates of the weekly drawings:

• November 5, 2007
• November 12, 2007
• November 19, 2007
• November 26, 2007
• December 3, 2007
• December 10, 2007
• December 17, 2007

Be sure to read the Terms before you enter the contest. Any questions can be directed to sweepstakes@studentuniverse.com

No, this is not a paid post. I am giving you this info out of the generosity of my heart :)

Mmmm M&Ms

Hubby is doing better. Well, if you consider not needing morphine to deal with his pain or ending up in the ER, then he is doing better. Last night, he ate and held down a bowl of soup. This morning, he is sitting up on the couch, and has water in one hand and juice in the other- and has also held those down.
Sitting on the couch together and watching TV, we saw a commercial for Customizable M&Ms. What a great idea!!! We have had so much fun (well, not enough to send him back to the hospital, but you know what I mean) playing around with the M&Ms and their cute gift boxes and bags. You can put a message on your M&M, then select a gift box or gift bag to send them in. Plus, I am impressed with the prices. They are quite a bit more than I would pay for regular M&Ms, but not bad for customizing! I must say, I am having a hard time deciding who on my list won't be getting customized M&Ms for Christmas this year ;)

Someone has to find Something Somewhere

I've spent the majority of the last twenty four hours in the Emergency Room. We took Hubby in because he was having severe lower abdominal pain. The docs have done cat scans, ultra-sounds, blood tests, urine tests, pressure tests, and anything else with or without a fancy name. We went in at midnight last night, and came home at six this morning. We went, again, at noon today, and came home just after six. They kept him on morphine the whole time at the hospital. The only thing that came back abnormal was blood in his urine and a slightly high white blood cell count.
They have NO reason why. None. Nothing. Not a single reason. Everything has been covered and talked about: kidney stones, stress, anxiety, bowel problems, bad food, gal bladder, UTI, appendix- anything we could think of. But there are no solid answers.
At this point, he has been sent home and told to drink lots of fluids, go easy on solids, go to your PCP in three days (it was seven days the first time we went in), and do your best to treat the pain since we can't treat whatever is wrong. He has had a blessing, and we said lots of prayers.
For those of you that are wondering, I canceled my flight home. I'm staying until he is out of pain, can sleep without writhing, and can eat without losing it.
Sorry about not blogging, as I promised earlier. Real life is my priority right now.