Tag: relatives

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Water-Based Fogger

One thing that always gets me is when I see someone on TV singing and/or dancing while there is a fog machine(s) spewing all this stuff into the air that they are trying to utilize to stay alive while entertaining. I’ve always heard that it makes it a bit more of a challenge for the artists so I don’t understand why they allow these interesting and entertaining pieces of technology to be used.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not the kind of person that thinks the government needs to tell us what we can and/or can’t do. All of the rules and laws that are increasingly being passed, in an effort to “keep us safe”. But to me it just makes sense that this is a safety issue, something that should be addressed. I was looking at a Fog Machine the Chauvet Hurricane 1300 which is the one that my nephew is currently saving up to purchase.

He is in a band. A typical “Garage Band” that has an occasional booking that they want to start using a fog machine for to “step it up a bit.” Of course he won’t listen to me or anyone else about the concerns of using a fog machine, so I figured I would learn a bit more about them on the computer. I’ve got to say that I was surprised at how affordable they are.

You know the old saying “If you can’t beat them join them”? Well there you go. Do I have to say anything more?

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Pea Coats

I should have known that Pea Coats and other military outer wear would be making a come back. They say that all that is old becomes new again and that usually holds true all though I’m not sure when we will be seeing the roaring twenty dresses that the Can Can and Black Bottom dancers used to wear. That would be a sight to see on the streets in this day and age!

I remember back in the 70’s when I just had to have a Pea Coat and my mother searched high and low trying to find me one and she ended up having to go to an Army/Navy surplus store to find one, but she found one and I wore it proudly for years and years. I’m not sure where it ended up at, most likely it got donated to a thrift store, since my mother never tossed anything out.

This year I would like another Pea Coat and have found several at Zappos.com. Zappos.com has always had wonderful selections from various well known manufacturers. Right now I have my eyes on a nice looking French Connection Dawson Coat and I plan on sending the link to several people that have been asking me for gift suggestions for my birthday.

Check out the looks of this Pea Coat. It is a classic double-breasted look with an extended length for warmth with full button front closure. It sports front hand pockets and long sleeves with banded cuffs. Dry cleaned only but that is to be expected with a nice coat such as this, so I’ll just have to be careful when and where I wear it. Certainly not outside around the farm and all the animals!

Zappos offers free shipping, both ways and 24/7 customer service along with a 365 day return policy. They accept Pay Pal which is something that I always look for when ordering online. They are still accepting orders and guaranteeing delivery before Christmas. So if you are still looking for good gift ideas you can count on Zappos!

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Gonzalez Reeds And Other Family Dinner Chit Chat

Since I’ve never even had the opportunity to actually see or place in my hands any type of Clarinet, much less the Gonzalez reeds that my sister’s middle son was trying to explain to me at dinner at their place over the weekend. It felt good to get away from the house and the farm, with no major holiday or family events being celebrated, just a night away from all the critters and chores that keep me pretty chained to the old homestead the majority of the time.

A nice home cooked meal is always a welcomed change. One that wasn’t placed into some type of Tupperware and brought over for me to re heat by one person or another, usually my sister. I was able to sit and watch TV with my nieces and nephews, while smelling all the wonderful aromas that were floating out of the kitchen. It’s the small things like that which people that are suddenly on their own and secluded from most of the world.

Dinner was awesome, sis is a wonderful cook, something that my mother spend a lot of her time teaching her to do. So most of the dishes are from our mother and they taste just like home!

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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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Small Businesses

A small business is sounds like it would be easy to handle on your own, but with all my experience I have learned help is sometimes needed. My niece whom I helped raise when she was still in diapers, opened up her own small business in the Raleigh, N.C area after she had finally  earned her degree last year.

She seemed to have everything in order until she had visited last week and had told me that she learned she was expecting a baby in a few months, and she needed help handling some things with her small business. I had asked her if there was anything I could do to help without having to up and leave my farm, to move closer to help. She replied back saying she needed professional help but she didn’t know where to start, so I came up with an idea that might just help her.

We took an evening during her visit here, to search the net for any advice or help. It didn’t take long to find the perfect way to help her out for such a great deal by having local accountant help her with her bookkeeping, tax preparation, and financial statements. My niece was ecstatic to see that they were offering what she felt she needed help with for her small business.

She is now working with a great accountant and has been updating me on her stress levels, and it has dissipated tremendously since she had gotten back with the help she needed. I’m so glad I could help her without taking drastic measures to up and move from my home, and help her reduce her stress, since she is now pregnant and expecting.

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Obesity Statistics, Eating Us Alive

The Obesity Statistics are a major concern right now. We have become a population of over eaters and the cost of the related medical care is eating us alive. I realize that most of the people I know are dealing with weight issues.  Being overweight and suffering from those complications are weighing heavily on their mind as well as their bodies. I’m so glad that the “fat gene” isn’t abundant in my family. To be honest, there are a few family members who could stand to lose a few pounds, nothing major though, ten to twenty pounds, tops.

family's fat gene
Don’t Accept Your Family’s Fat Gene
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Reader’s Digest

I have always enjoyed the monthly Reader’s Digest that manages to find it’s way to my mailbox each month. With not a lot of extra time on my hands to spend reading any books, it’s nice to be able to pick up a Reader’s Digest and find something interesting and entertaining to read that doesn’t take up a lot of my time.

I’m surprised that I haven’t received a bill from them yet telling me that I need to send in more money to renew the subscription that my parents had forever and day. They must have paid way in advance or Reader’s Digest has just forgotten about us, either way I won’t look a gift horse in the mouth at this time.

readers digest
Readers Digest Mag
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Burlap For The Dining Room Table

One of the many touches that my mother had around the old homestead was the amount and usage of burlap. In just about any of the rooms in this house had something burlap in it. Some people collect unicorns, but my mother collected many things. One of them being burlap.

I came across a fitted faux washable burlap tablecloth on line this morning and it took everything that I had not to immediately order one. I mean the price was right and I do believe that it would great on the dining room table, but I have bigger things and items that are waiting for me to get around to.

I have bookmarked the site for further reference. Who knows maybe if I put it on my Christmas wish list, I just might find it under the Christmas tree this year. It might help if I tell people that is one of the items that I would love to receive. Lord knows I don’t need any cookies, candies, slippers or a new tie! Burlap would be wonderful compared to some of the yearly presents that are purchased and given with out any thought or consideration.

 

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Wall Art

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.