Category: community service

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Chinese New Year Starts Next Week

Next week is the Chinese New Year. It is the biggest holiday for people in China and many Asian countries, and also for people who live in many big U.S. cities that have their own Chinatown districts. I have been to Chinatown in San Francisco, Oakland and Washington, DC. Each one is a treasure trove of great food at authentic Chinese restaurants, natural medicine shops and imported gift items.

The cities have big parades, firecrackers, and many traditions and superstitions that everyone must honor and observe. The one that I like is you cannot sweep your house on New Year’s Day or you will be sweeping all the good fortune for the coming year out of your door and you will not have good fortune.

Next year will be the Chinese Year of the Water Snake. I don’t know very much about what birth years are included in the Year of the Snake, but I will try to look them up and see what calendar sign is related to my own birthday. You should do the same!

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Donating to Good Will

Unless I lose a lot of weight this winter – and that really is not likely – there are a bunch of clothes in my closet that just don’t fit and need to go. It is really hard for me to discard clothes, even when I realize they do not fit and will probably never fit. So, tonight I am going to force myself to fill up a box of old clothes to donate to Good Will. I am forcing myself to not stop until the box is full. I am dreading it, but I really need to get it done.

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New Neighbors

I am really enjoying my new apartment.It is bright and clean and I have a nice view of the downtown skyline from my balcony.

The neighbors are mostly my age and seem really nice. The girl across the hall from me stopped by and brought me a housewarming gift – a loaf of zucchini bread that she made herself. Wasn’t that sweet? And the girl right below me said hello in the parking lot this morning. Her name is Melinda and she works at the hospital, so she has crazy shifts and she says she is almost never home.

I was able to move in early and they gave me the first two weeks free. I don’t have to pay rent until October 1 instead of having it pro-rated like the last place wanted. So I can take my time getting settled and spend a little money that I saved on the rent by putting up new curtains and getting a new bedspread for my bedroom.

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Got Issues?

I’ve had great fun poking around YouTube and watching dozens of videos. I happened to notice that there is a contest underway for kids who want to promote a worthy cause by filming a video about their favorite issue(s). This is only for kids to enter, but there are some very talented kids out there. I can’t wait to see what they come up with, and see which ones win.

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So much to consider

With a little one soon to be here, there is so very much to consider.  Safety is the first priority!  In my day, no one thought about the things they do today about child safety.  With the stairs that come from upstairs, child safety gates are a must.  Not to mention having baby gates installed at all of the places the baby does not need to be when it starts scooting around.  KidSafeInc.com has been one of the best resources for me as far as safety goes.

They not only will tell you all about safety, but also carry the products you are looking for like extra wide baby gates for wide openings, pressure gates for adjustable openings, pet gates and especially stairway gates. You just can’t be too careful, now can you?  Actually, I should have said, you have to be too careful when there’s a little one or even a pet around, don’t you think?

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This is too funny, you gotta admit!

Don’t you just love these types of photos?  This one is priceless..

When you are faking a pose for a camera photo opportunity with the American flag, —-

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At least get the phone turned in the right direction!!!  And you might want to get a flag that isn’t so wrinkled too. Don’t you think? I sure do.

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This is good to know!!

A lot of kids have trouble with math.  One of my waitresses sons is one of those kids.  What he really needs is math help, you know, like a tutor. Tutors can be expensive though and this little lady is doing good to get by now.  As luck would have it, I found free math help online for the little fella.  No she does not have a computer but I sure do and would be glad to let him use it to better his math grades.  I had no idea that you could find online math tutoring but you can.

One of the great things about this online math tutor is they can help children from grades K-12.  Even college students can get online math help if they need it.   I once knew a lady that did reading tutoring and she charged $25 an hour.  That’s a lot of money for a tutor but that was also a long time ago.  It’s probably more like $50 an hour now I bet.  This is a great service for students and parents to have free online math tutoring if you ask me.  Our children need all the help they can get to have a good education after all.

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I want one of these

You know how a lot of homes have a sign in their yard with ADT or Brinks Security or one of the many other alarm systems that is installed in their home?  Well a lot of those homes still get broken into but I have found a sigh that just might help stop some of the home break-ins.

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I absolutely love this video

One of my favorite songs is from the Man of LaMancha.  It’s called “To Dream the Impossible Dream.”  Well that’s the background music to a beautifully done video.  Yes you have to read a little but it’s worth it.  Sit back, relax and enjoy!!!

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Local kids need new glasses

There are several children around me in need of eyeglasses before school starts back.  I found $8 Rx eyeglasses and couldn’t believe my eyes.  It’s true because I saw Zenni Optical on TV!!! For that price, I can get several children new eyeglasses for school.   We have to help those in need so I say ‘High Five to Zenni Optical’ for making it possible.

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