Month: January 2014

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Road Trip Out West

Before I got myself settled in here at the old homestead, shortly after my parents passed on and left the whole place to me for me to live at and run, I did get the opportunity to do a bit of traveling. I’m glad that I got to do the traveling that I did since it doesn’t appear that I’ll be going anywhere any time soon except to go into town or into the neighboring county to see my sister and her flock of kids.

There are two places that hold a soft spot in my heart, they are Alaska and California. Both places have a lot of good and of course some bad that go along with them. The weather is wonderful in California, especially in the San Diego area, but there is a lot to be desired when it comes to hospitality and getting to know people.

The weather in Alaska has got to be the worst weather, considering the older I get the more I don’t like anything to do with cold weather.  But the people there are so warm and friendly that it seems to take some of the bit out of the never ending freezing cold days and nights that Alaska is so well known for. Both places are extremely expensive, not good choices for people that are hurting for money to try and live in.

One day I’d love to go back to both places.  I need to check into san diego travel expenses and ideas of what exactly I want to do while I’m there and for how long. It would be really cool if I could leave California and head up north and explore Alaska once again, all in the same trip. Hopefully one day I’ll have things under control here and I can take a road trip before I’m too old to enjoy it.

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It’s All On Who and What You Know

The number of people that are taking classes to further their education and knowledge in fields that are sure to be going strong well after this economy crisis is over and done with. The medical field and the computer industry are two sure bets for people to turn to. More and more classes are be offered and they are filling up quickly all over the country, such as the Virginia Cisco Course.

There is even a Virginia MCITP Server Administrator course available. I found this information by looking up some sites that are about CCNA training and saw that there is also a Chicago CCNA and a San Diego CCNA class that is coming up real soon but Virginia is a lot closer. I’ve sent the link with this info to my cousin who is seriously looking into this type of course.  So there are a lot of options available out there.

He has always been good with computers and the family certainly could use having a close family member who is a computer whiz. It used to be that a family needed a doctor, a mechanic and/or a plumber, now a days its all about needing a lawyer and a computer geek! Don’t get me wrong, it would be nice to have a doctor, a mechanic and a plumber in the family but things don’t always work out that way now do they?

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Oracle Support Services and Marketing

My brother has asked me to help him with his website, as his busy is in a slow cycle and he needs more customers. It is hard to be ready and willing to work to support your family but the phone does not ring. It is hard running a business in the first place – so many things to do and so much on your mind. But I think I can help a little but kick-starting his small business marketing with some changes to his web site and then showing him how to use the internet to bring in new customers.

He is a plumber – and a darn good one. But when I was trying to talk to him at Christmas about local search marketing and something like Oracle support services, all I got was a blank stare and a mumble about not having time to deal with it. I totally understand how you can be kept busy with everything else it takes to run your business, but even in busy times you need to continue working at bringing in new customers. Marketing and Oracle support services are a year long effort. I know a lot of people do not take the time to write out a detailed business plan or a marketing plan. They try to “wing it” and just work that into their daily list of everything that needs to be done. But having something on paper – or in the computer – really helps keep you on track.

I am going to show him how to spiff up his website and then Elevate local listings so that when people type in the search word “plumber” that they can find his business listing on the front page of the search results. If you think about it, most people do not click past the first page when they are looking for a business or a service provider. So getting his web site and contact information on the first page is vital to getting the eyes on his site and the phone ringing again with new business.

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Thought a Laugh Would Help Today!

Did you hear about the guy who was in a bar about as drunk as it’s possible to get?

A group of guys notice his condition and decide to be good Samaritans and take him home. First they stand him up to get to his wallet so they can find out where he lives, but he keeps falling down.

He fell down eight more times on the way to the car, each time with a real thud.

After they get to his house, he falls down another four times getting him to the door. His wife comes to the door, and one guy says, “We brought your husband home.”

The wife asks, “Where’s his wheelchair

I’m sorry but I just couldn’t resist!!!