Lots of things on my mind….
I have always enjoyed the monthly edition of the Reader’s Digest that arrives in the mail box like clock work. I don’t have much time for reading. The Reader’s Digest is perfect for people like me that don’t have a lot of time, they have good short stories and jokes that keep my brain active and alert.
I will always have a fondness in my heart for Ford’s Mustangs. My first car was a 1967 Mustang and haven’t owned a better or cooler car since then. I took some time today to look at the Mustang Body Kits that are available today and it brought back some mighty fine memories.
Wish I still had that old Mustang.
A few close friends and I were talking a few months back about taking a summer vacation together, to spend a week or so relaxing, having fun and bonding. The idea got me so excited considering I haven’t actually taken a vacation in about four years now.
We never really talked about the subject too much afterwards until I had brought it up at a backyard cookout we all attended together about month later. I’m very happy that it was brought up at the time because our friend’s mother that was hosting the cookout had over heard our conversation about our interest in a much needed get a way for the summer. She recommended a site that she told us offers some unforgettable summer experience options.
I took a look at it on my iPad that I had brought with me, and found that planning this vacation that we wanted so ever badly, was going to be easier then we all had thought. Not only was it easy but the site had found the absolute cheapest prices compared to others. I’m looking forward to our time together doing something we never thought we would do in our lifetime and am eager to treat myself to an awesome time with my closest friends. You can bet that we will be taking a boatload of pictures to share with friends and family.
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.
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?
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.
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!!!
I wish you a safe and happy New Year to you and yours. Let’s hope that next year will be a much better one for everyone, every where. Gotta get used to writing 2014 everywhere now.
I remember, many years ago, as a first time car insurance buyer, all that time that I spent on the telephone and looking through the yellow pages for local car insurance companies, for hours on end, asking for car insurance quotes to compare in an effort to find the best deal available. Not only did that take a lot of time and effort, it also limited me to agents that were for the most part, local to my area.
Now we can go online and quickly get quotes from all types of insurance companies in a matter of minutes. What a different the Internet has made in our lives today.
It is a slow process, but I am getting the place turned around and looking better bit by bit. The house hasn’t seen these many changes in so very long, my parents had not done much in the last decade, due to age and illness, so it has a lot that needs repair and changing. It isn’t easy, trying to find the balance between keeping the memories and bringing the much needed modernization into the place, I would hate to cross the line and upset other family members that have a vested interest in the place as well.
I have run across the most marvelous canvas art online and am considering purchasing one of the many pieces that would look good in the old place. Wall art doesn’t have to be expensive, and I’ve really been impressed with the prices that I’ve run across at Mywhitewalls.com, very reasonable and several have jumped out at me and caught my eye. This piece in particular would go really well with the colors in the front living room and is just over $100, and comes with the offer of Free Shipping as well.
I’m sending my one sister the link for her review and opinion, just to keep her in loop with many ideas and issues that I run across. I value her opinion and her eye for colors and decorating for the place.