How to Ruin a Car Thief's Day

A few precautions will make your vehicle less attractive to car thieves. It takes less time for a professional thief to break into your car, start it up and drive away as it does for you to walk into a store, buy candy bar, pay for it and watch as your car leaves the parking lot. Car thieves never pass up an opportunity to make a quick buck by stealing a car and they work weekends, nights and holidays.

The following tips can help your car become a less inviting target and slow down, discourage or actually prevent car theft.

1. Park in plain sight -Thieves prefer to work out of sight of people and electronic recording devices, so leave your car in a well-lit, populated area.

2. Take your keys---always - Car theft is often a crime of opportunity, so shut yours off and pocket your keys even if you're only ducking into a convenience store.

3. Don't hide your keys anywhere within or outside the car - Thieves know all the hiding places you do, and probably a few more. Those magnetic key holders are BAD ideas.

4. Use a variety of methods to slow would-be thieves - The more prevention methods you have the harder it will make a thief work to steal your car. Put on the emergency brake, turn your wheels hard to the left or right, set the car in "park" or in gear to make it more difficult to be quickly towed.

5. Disable your battery if parking long-term - A thief won't spend the time trying to start a car with a possible dead battery. Yank one of the cable wires to your battery if you're leaving your car parked at an airport or anywhere where it will sit unattended for more than a few days.

6. Sign valuable parts - Put the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on the inside of your trunk, inside your doors, on your sound system components and any other pricey parts thieves like to chop.

With foresight and preventive measures that don't take much time, you can help ensure you'll never have to experience that unique nausea familiar to anyone finding a grease spot where their car was parked.

Where Did Our United States Jobs Go??????

This was sent to me by a friend who lost her job in August. She had worked at the same place for 15 years....but no longer. Her company could not compete with the foreign imports...many of which were actually American companies who chose to have their items made overseas.....cheaper? I suppose so.

But in a way, we, as comsumers are also to blame. We want the best bargain, i.e. cheapest, items we can find....who cares if John, Helen, Tom or Doreen, American citizens, will lose their jobs....obviously we don't.

Is this you?

John Smith started the day early having set his alarm clock (MADE IN JAPAN ) for 6 am. While his coffeepot (MADE IN CHINA) was perking, he shaved with his electric razor (MADE IN HONG KONG ). He put on a dress shirt (MADE IN SRILANKA ), designer jeans (MADE IN SINGAPORE ) and tennis shoes (MADE IN KOREA).

After cooking his breakfast in his new electric skillet (MADE IN INDIA ) he sat down with his calculator (MADE IN MEXICO ) to see how much he could spend today. After setting his watch (MADE IN TAIWAN) turning off his radio (MADE IN INDIA ) he got in his car (MADE IN GERMANY ) filled it with gas (FROM SAUDI ARABIA) and continued his search for a good paying AMERICAN JOB.

At the end of yet another discouraging and fruitless day of checking his computer (MADE IN MALAYSIA), John decided to relax for a while. He put on his sandals (MADE IN BRAZIL ) poured himself a glass of wine (MADE IN FRANCE ) and turned on his TV (MADE IN INDONESIA ), and then wondered why he can't find a good paying job in AMERICA.

Do you see anything WRONG with this story? You should.

The Jackalope (Midwest version)

Sooooo, have you ever heard of a jackalope? My dad, a determined rabbit hunter used to talk about them all the time. I think one of his never-fulfilled fantasies was to finally see one. They are most common, or at least were, in western Nebraska, Colorado and Wyoming. As with many other of nature's oddities, they are nearly extinct.

Jackalopes are said to be a cross between an antelope and a jackrabbit.....how they managed to procreate is still a mystery.

I haven't thought about them in a long time...but, yesterday my hubby and I had lunch at the Texas Road House in Omaha, NE (part of our "see Omaha between CWS baseball games plan). There, mounted on the wall was a big ole long-eared jackalope....6" antlers held high. Most of the jackalopes have small pointed antlers but occasionally one comes along with a full rack....it's mother probably had a liason with a white tail deer instead of an antelope. You can tell if its a true jackalope if it has long ears, probably 5 or 6 inches....

For the actual history and a drawing (very good likeness) of a pair of jackalopes, click on this link: Jackalopes..true or a hoax.

100 Years from Now.......my legacy

..........................100 Years From Now.......


It will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in or what kind of a car I drove, but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child...

Grandma

Army, Navy, Marine, Air Force --- they're OUR songs

The Fourth of July is always a sad time for me......I remember when I was 8 years old , my brother was serving aboard the USS Fulton, a sub tender during World War II. We had a small flag with a blue star sewn on it hanging in our front window, although I didn't really know what it represented, I know my mom would get tears in her eyes whenever she looked at it. She said it was "for Bobby".....

The BLUE STAR FLAG was a symbol of love, pride, hope and grave concern. It also became a symbol of what Americans at home could do to increase a mother's chance of seeing her son's safe return: rationing, working in factories building needed materials, and even reminding all at home that "loose lips sink ships". The Blue Star Flag, visible from the windows of many houses up and down any given street in America, symbolized a pride in the commitment of America's youth and a reminder of the gravity of the entire war effort.

We prayed every night that Bobby would be safe and come home to us.....and he did.

Bob was my oldest brother and my hero. I loved school...spelling was my forte. Every week we would have a spelling test, and I always proudly brought home my paper with a big 100% on it. Then each Saturday morning I would write a letter to Bobby and enclose my spelling test. I don't know how long it took for my letters to reach him, but they did. Bobby would send me a return letter(s) with a dollar bill inside....my reward for the 100% papers.

Our school Principal, Irma Grace Riley was a great believer in school assemblies. I went to Edward Rosewater School in Omaha, NE and every Friday the classes from kindergarten to 8th grade would assemble in the school's big hallway and together we would recite the Pledge of Allegiance and we would sing.

I know (and remember) every verse to The Star Spangled Banner, America the Beautiful, Over There, The Caissons Keep Rolling Along, and all the patriotic songs she could find. Many of my classmates and teachers had fathers, husbands or brothers stationed "over there" and we were honoring them in our own little way.

The Fourth of July reminds me of what our brothers, sisters, fathers and mothers fought for....and I cry for those who died keeping us free. Listen to these songs.....listen to the pride in the voices and the determination in these words.

http://www.thefoxnation.com/culture/2010/06/07/watch-marine-stuns-crowd-tea-party?page=1

AND

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_LYLx6FOWY&feature=related

Horses are My First Love

Back when I was a pre-teen, horses were the love of my life. Now that I'm a grandmother, I have passed that love onto our youngest granddaughter. "Becca" is 14 and loves to ride....luckily we have friends with horses! Our friends also have 3 goats......playing with the goats is fun, but nothing compared to playing with the horses.

Concrete Angel by Martina McBride

This video and song by Martina McBride is hard to watch without bringing tears to your eyes.  How can someone physically or mentally abuse a child.  Drinking, drugs, mental illness are sometimes given as the reason...but there is NO reason. 

Concrete Angel

To Women Over Forty ,,,Thoughts by Andy Rooney

Andy Rooney says:

As I grow in age, I value women who are over forty most of all. Here are just a few reasons why: A woman over forty will never wake you in the middle of the night to ask, “What are you thinking?” She doesn’t care what you think.

If a woman over forty doesn’t want to watch the game, she doesn’t sit around whining about it. She does something she wants to do. And, it’s usually something more interesting.

A woman over forty knows herself well enough to be assured in who she is, what she is, what she wants and from whom. Few women past the age of forty give a hoot what you might think about her or what she’s doing.

Women over forty are dignified. They seldom have a screaming match with you at the opera or in the middle of an expensive restaurant. Of course, if you deserve it, they won’t hesitate to shoot you, if they think they can get away with it.

Older women are generous with praise, often undeserved. They know what it’s like to be unappreciated.

A woman over forty has the self-assurance to introduce you to her women friends. A younger woman with a man will often ignore even her best friend because she doesn’t trust the guy with other women. Women over forty couldn’t care less if you’re attracted to her friends because she knows her friends won’t betray her.

Women get psychic as they age. You never have to confess your sins to a woman over forty. They always know.

A woman over forty looks good wearing bright red lipstick. This is not true of younger women. Once you get past a wrinkle or two, a woman over forty is far sexier than her younger counterpart.

Older women are forthright and honest. They’ll tell you right off if you are a jerk, if you are acting like one! You don’t ever have to wonder where you stand with her.

Yes, we praise women over forty for a multitude of reasons. Unfortunately, it’s not reciprocal. For every stunning, smart, well-coiffed hot woman of forty-plus, there is a bald, paunchy relic in yellow pants making a fool of himself with some twenty-two-year-old waitress.

Ladies, I apologize.
For all those men who say, “Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free,” here’s an update for you. Now 80 percent of women are against marriage, why? Because women realize it’s not worth buying an entire pig, just to get a little sausage.

By:  Veronica Kavanaugh

My Moonflower Garden

My moonflowers are growing wild! I thought they were nice, gentile little bushes that flowered for a year and then died off. Wrong! This year they came up from the root of last summer's plant and they were off and running. We have them planted along the side of the yard and the bushes are nearly 5 feet high and spreading.


They have trumpet shaped flowers as large as saucers and have a fragrant aroma. Once they are finished blooming, they produce a large 3" in diameter seed pod that is vicious....full of spines and when they dry, they get hard and remind me of those mines that were used in WW2 to sink ships. You do not want to fool around with them unless you're wearing gloves, leather preferred.

They are self seeding....when the pods dry, they burst open and dozens of little seeds are released. This spring, little plants have shown up in areas of the yard that were nowhere near the mother plants. They like sun, the flowers bloom at night (I think) but are in full bloom in the morning and early afternoon. (husband calls them the "one night wonders") By afternoon the flowers have begun to wilt...some die but other hang in there until the next day.

1

Sow the moon flower seeds in the spring after all danger of frost is gone. In frost-free areas, the seeds can be sown in the fall to early spring. You can also start the seeds indoors in a well-lit area, 6 to 8 weeks before the last spring frost.

2

Prepare the seeds the night before you are going to plant them. Moon flower seeds have a thick husk and need to be chipped before planting. The seeds are about the size of a kernel of corn, so this is not difficult to do. You can take a metal file and file the seed. Or you can take a sharp knife and score the seed. You can also take a pair of nail clippers and nip one of the edges of the seed.

3

Put the seeds in a cup and cover with warm water. Let them stand overnight. This, along with the chipping, will help the seeds germinate quicker.

4

Select a sunny location to plant the moonflowers. They need as much sun as they can get. If you can, plant them in a place where their fragrance can be enjoyed. Also take into account that this is a climbing vine and will either need something to climb on, like a porch rail, a lamp post, a trellis, or even twine or floral wire.

5

Plant the seeks ½ inch deep. Gently tamp the soil down on top of the seeds. Carefully water the soil so as not to move the seeds. Keep the ground moist. Seedlings should appear in 7 to 14 days, depending upon the soil and weather conditions.

Read more: How to Grow Moonflowers | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_2296251_grow-moonflowers.html#ixzz0x3YOenjE

Dealing with Business Software

Many companies find that dealing with the software development process can vary from vendor to vendor.  Software is not always consistent with each other making it hard to compare the values.  What is needed is a company specializing in technology which gives you up-to-date information and software development which will integrate with other software systems and manage software vendors.  This is particularly true with offshore purchases which can make it difficult to understand who is delivering what product.  Vendor management is just as important as software development.  The development process often varies from vendor to vendor.  This makes it difficult if not impossible to obtain accurate and consistent figures, making it difficult to compare the value that vendors are delivering to your organization.

Companies realize that the cost of maintaining software is roughly about half of the average IT budget.  And it is rising every year.  Another cost of software development is labor…..how do you optimize that?  How do you find a company to help identify waste and inefficiency through software when so many software use different metrics.

BlueOptima is a company offering solutions to address these challenges.  Their technology is finely tuned to allow you to view up-to-date metrics which are automatically drawn from your existing software.

Just a Reminder

Those informative little boxes on the right side of this blog are inviting you to "come and shop"....click on them and you'll be taken to that particular item.   They are up-to-date and keep up with what's new in books, clothing, jewelry and miscellaneous items you may be interested in.

For Heavens Sake! Don't Do what I Did!

OK, usually I am fairly intelligent and guard my credit card numbers with care. But, I fell for this ad on the internet. You’ve seen it lots of times both on the internet and on TV.  A before and after photo of someone, often from your own area, (really doubt that) who has lost 25 or more pounds by taking a special berry … usually in any form. The berry diet is probably a great help in losing weight (although I haven’t as of yet) and has many genuine, honest sellers. This did not happen to be one. 

The scam is the “try it free” offer. I clicked on “try it free”, gave my credit card number for postage and handling and off it went. Unfortunately I did not read ALL the fine print on the site…be careful...if it mentions their monthly recurring billing….GET OUT… I should have clicked, clicked, clicked all the links until I found it.

I got my first bottle in about two weeks.  A few weeks later, I received another bottle (I honestly thought the company had made a mistake and sent me two bottles instead of one)  When  my credit card statement arrived I was in shock!  WOW! I had a charge of $79.95 plus four Foreign Transaction Fees! Several weeks after that, I received a bottle of colon cleanser.... I didn't order any colon cleaner?????  I called my credit card company wanting to know what was going on!

The Bank of America representative was very helpful, telling me that this scam happens often, you have to carefully read those Free Offers. The berry scams and many others offer a free trial of their product, but they ask for your credit card number for postage and handling. Stupid me, I typed it right in.

Somewhere in the fine print, they tell you that if you cancel within 14 days the free trial item is yours. If you do not cancel within 14 days,you will automatically receive a new bottle each month.  But, you receive the first bottle shortly AFTER the 14 days have passed, and whoops, you are now in their system and your credit card is billed, in my case it was $79.95 plus four Foreign Transaction Fees.

I called my credit card company, Bank of America, immediately and said...."what is this?"  The representative said to call the number shown on the credit charge and tell the person who answered that I wanted everything cancelled and to ask for the agent’s name, ID number and a confirmation of cancellation number. He said that often there are other companies attached to these “free offers” and more things may arrive. However, I would not be responsible for any charges made after the date I cancelled the account (which I didn't know that I had)


I called the phone number listed on the statement and had no problem canceling my “account” and as the BOA representative suggested, asked for the agent’s name, ID number and a confirmation of cancellation number. Obviously from her voice and pronunciation, I could tell this person was not from the U.S. - I asked where she was located and was told that she was "in Florida" but would not say anything else.


Just to be safe, I cancelled that BOA account and was given a new account number.

Now I sit and wait for my next statement….and mentally call myself many unkind names for falling for the scam in the first place.

#1 Favorite Colorado Hiking Trail

Posted by Cindy Ervin  9/9/2011

#1 favorite hiking area - Pawnee Pass Trail from Brainard Lake Rec Area to the Continental Divide – 4.6 mi. one-way. Elev. 10,520’-12,550’. Near Ward, Colorado.

This really is one of the greatest hiking trails in this world. Even if you can’t make it to the top, every step you take is worth your while. I love the trail because it is constantly changing with forests, meadows, waterfalls, lakes and streams. It climbs through aspen glens into conifer forests and then up above treeline through snowfields and rocks along cliffs with incredible views. It is a very strenuous all-day hike in some serious altitude, but if I can do it, then you can too.

It is a very popular hike, despite being outside the national park. If you arrive after 8am like we did, the lot will be full, and you will have to park your car an extra half-mile down mountain from the trailhead, making your total hike 10.2 miles. I’ve always had breathing difficulties, so we hiked slowly (9 hours), but it was absolutely the most fantastic hike. Jeff liked it best too, even though we had to keep stopping to let all the other hikers pass. Most hikers do not go all the way to the pass, though, so the crowds thin with each step, as does the oxygen. 

The high trail does not open until mid-July and is best hiked after the snow melts in mid-August. It goes through pure, pristine wilderness. There are absolutely no roads here. You can hike the whole 15 miles all the way over the Continental Divide to Lake Granby if you can find someone willing to drive the 115 miles around the Rocky Mountains to pick you up on the other side. Many people actually do it.

A patch of Rocky Mountain Columbine grows on a rock outcrop above treeline on the Pawnee Pass Trail. 

Make Your Own Laundry Soap

I have been experimenting with my own homemade laundry detergent....and the verdict is in.......its FANTASTIC.  If you or someone in your family is has sensitive skin and often has problems with detergents...itchy, dry, scaly skin  (thanks to the many additives added), try this do-it-yourself laundry soap. 

It's so super easy to make and CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP. You use WAY less soap and I am really convinced it works better than store bought detergent! Here is the  "recipe" I found in a daily e-newsletter I get (everydaycheapskate.com) The items were easy to find ... look in Wal-Mart, Target or Kmart's laundry area.

1 5.5oz bar Fels Naptha soap
2 cups washing soda
2 cups borax

Use a cheese grater to finely grate the bar of soap. It takes grease stains out of clothes even those that have been there for a while.Use up to 3-4 Tablespoons or up to 1/4 cup for a top loading machine....less if you're washing baby clothes, lingerie or items that are not "that" dirty.  Front loaders you can use 2-3 Tablespoons.  It rinses out better and leaves your clothing (especially your bathtowels) softer.    This also makes a great pre-wash treatment…just dampen a little, rub it directly onto the stain and let sit for a few minutes then toss it into the washer with the rest of the laundry.

I'm sure that these ingredients are much less harmful to the environment and ground water than the laundry products pumped full of additives and chemicals.

Six Tips for Safer Salads

Salads based on greens, particularly dark leafy varieties such as spinach and kale, can be a good way to get your Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) of vegetables. However, as a recent contamination outbreak in Europe has shown, the contents of salad can sometimes be a source of E. coli and salmonella. Help minimize your risk of exposure to pathogens with these steps: 

(1)   Always rinse packaged greens, even if the package states “prewashed.” Greens that look fresh, especially greens in plastic, can still harbor bacteria. Loose and unpacked greens should be washed three times under cold, running water to remove sand, dirt and any bacteria that may be present.  

(2)  Don't purchase greens that are past their “best-if-used-by” date.

(3)  All vegetables and fruits should be scrubbed under cold, running water before being used.

(4)  Do not put raw bean sprouts or alfalfa sprouts in your salad - they aren't really all that healthy and the risk of toxins, E. coli or salmonella from these sources is high. 

(5)  If using tofu in salad, purchase it in packaged form only - avoid buying it in bulk out of open barrels, which may harbor unwanted organisms.

(6)  At a salad bar, make sure that the vegetables are well chilled (kept over ice) and that the food is properly shielded with a sneeze guard or hood. Avoid any items that look old or dried out.

Ref:  Dr. Weils Safety Tip

What to wear for my Valentine's Day date

This is a guest post written by Heather Stephens

This is the first time in years that I've had a date that's actually on Valentine's Day. I've always thought that it's a little cheesy to have a first date on the holiday, but this is actually a second date, which actually might put even more pressure on the two of us. So I really want to make sure that my outfit is perfect for the date. We'll be going out to eat and then to a movie, so my outfit needs to be something that is comfortable to sit in for a few hours.

I've been getting ideas about what to wear online with my satellitestarinternet from fashion blogs and websites. I want to look a little bit nicer and pulled togethe! r, especially since my date has a great sense of style and wore a really nice looking outfit that was still pretty casual on our first date together.

But I think I've finally figured out my Valentine date style. I'm going to wear this loose A-line black skirt that's kind of high wasted with black tights, black ballet flats and then a solid colored long sleeve shirt. I think it looks a little special without being too special or uncomfortable.

To Watch TV or Not Watch TV

It is getting close to spring…no more snow. The only thing that is worse than snow is the constant rain that comes with spring…..but you know, April showers bring May flowers. We have a fenced-in garden area in our back yard that we grow some beautiful plants. It’s fenced because our beautiful flowers are constantly threatened by little bunnies….about the only thing they don’t seem to enjoy is Marigolds. I do like Marigolds, but not a whole garden full of them.

I watched a great show on gardening on Satellite TV…I’m a sucker for new plants, and these were as pretty as a picture. The new iris that was being described is one that blooms more than once in a season. That was always the bad thing about iris plants, when blooming season is over, nothing but green leaves the rest of the summer. The iris was varying shades of gold, white and black fading to grayish tan. It reminded me of Tahitian or island artwork.

Direct TV is full of interesting programs ... we aren’t football or soccer fans, although I do enjoy watching tennis or baseball once in a while. Direct TV gives me many choices. I feel that if I’m watching something that gives me new knowledge and insight or something that makes me think, I’m not completely wasting my time. Watching TV, like being on a computer, is what you make of it. You can totally waste your time, or you can learn while you enjoy.

Back to School - Winter Break is Over!

Back to School- Winter Break is Over!

Guest post from: Steve Delaney

Preparing the kids to go back to school after we had a two week long winter break was a bit of an ordeal. With 4 kids in two different schools, we had to adjust our schedules greatly after so long with not having to go to bed at a certain time, or with having to get up early. The older kids in high school started going to bed a few hours earlier to prepare themselves, as they have to get up the earliest. We do try to stick to a general time for bedtime during the holiday, but what with all the parties and celebrations, it can definitely get out of whack.

During this time, I made sure to keep up with the chores and housework, along with setting my HOME SECURITY alarm system. I didn't want a huge mess to deal with when all the kids were back in school- I wanted to have a couple days of relaxation, to tell you the truth. So I got the kids to help me the last few days, with cleaning up the toys and decorations and getting the house back in order. That way, we had everything ready for when morning came, and we were all able to get ready with minimal fuss. As much as I enjoy the holidays, I do enjoy the quietness the house now has to offer me!

Your Pot of Gold....Don't Miss Out!

Gold is not only a precious metal, it is the world's mark of excellence. Kings revered it, misers hid it, rich people collected it and the Olympics reward it to their champions. Even foxey Irish leprechauns collected and protected their little pots of gold.

The Gold Standard is the heart of America’s economy… we have tons of gold bullion buried in the vaults at Fort Knox backing up our paper money.

Is it too late for you to buy or own gold? Not really. Is it a smart thing to do? You betcha! At this time one of the safest investments you can make would be in gold coin or gold bullion. Although the price of gold can fluxuate, it will always maintain its value over the long term. Remember that pot of gold coins at the end of the rainbow?

Think about putting some in your pot.

An Almost Home Invasion

Several months ago I wrote about an attempted burglary in our neighborhood. Well, it’s happened again. The owners had gone out for the evening, their two small children were being watched by an adult babysitter. The sitter was upstairs putting the children to bed when the Home Security alarm went off. A few minutes later the telephone rang….it was one of ADT’s Home Security Systems professionals asking if they were alright and saying that she had called the police.

She then stayed on the phone with the sitter, telling her and the children to stay where they were, behind the locked bedroom door and trying to keep her calm until the police arrived. Luckily ADT’s Home Security Monitoring is a 24/7 monitoring system, if not, who knows what could have happened to the sitter and children. And, luckily ADT has offices in 48 states plus Washington, D.C.

The police found a broken side window and a stocking cap…there was blood on the window glass so the alarm probably scared the burglar and he cut himself. So far, he hasn’t been caught…but…now the police have his DNA on file. Its only a matter of time.