A Day in My Life

Frugality is fun

2008-03-16T09:52:00.000-05:00

I have found several websites that I read often for tips on saving money and keeping things organized. I thought I'd share them, and I will update the list from time to time:The Simple DollarBeing FrugalGet Organized NowLifeHacker

Springtime

2008-03-15T11:36:00.000-05:00

I got most of my container herb garden planted, with a good early start this year, unlike last summer when I started in mid-July, which was just too late. I planted tomatoes and parsley in two pots that are outside the office window in the front yard. I planted oregano, chives and thyme in another large container, bell peppers in another. I planted some coleus, which is attractive and easy to

A new and unique approach to typing

2008-03-13T10:08:00.000-05:00

I was born with, to quote a friend of mine, "different abilities." I have problems using my left hand due to one of these congenital different abilities, Cerebral Palsy. I type with only two fingers of my left hand. Another friend, who had a stroke two years ago, found a website that intrigued me.About One Hand Typing is a site put together by a woman who lost most of her left hand in an

The Nesting Instinct

2008-03-11T09:38:00.000-05:00

I made a comment to a friend recently that perfectly sums up what is happening with regard to getting settled in our home. I said, "It's just like the nesting instinct expectant mothers get...without a baby." Jay is on Spring Break this week, and when he is not studying for a test coming up next week, he is unpacking, cleaning, and working in the yard (once it dries out; we've had some rain.)

Another Blessing

2008-03-10T09:52:00.000-05:00

My grandmothers were both very wise women. They told me, "the more often you count your blessings, the more blessings you will have to count." That is a statement I have found to be true. I've recently discovered yet another blessing. My daughter is expecting her third (and last) baby. He or she will likely arrive in November or December. We hope this one is a girl, but most of all that he or she

Mail Management

2008-03-10T09:23:00.001-05:00

Last summer, not long before we started working on buying our home, I decided it was time to get organized. I wrote about making a household notebook. That was the beginning of an ongoing (and surprisingly pleasant) process. I have decided to turn my attention to the paper that comes into the home. There is a constant flow of paper and mail in every household, to one extent or another.

Home Office

2008-03-09T11:10:00.000-05:00

Having a home office is not vanity. It is simple necessity. We had a "computer room" in the apartment, but it really was not much of an office. I do not use my computer in our bedroom, specifically because it is a place of rest. We have three bedrooms in our home, which is perfect for our needs. We have a guest room, and we created a home office in the third bedroom.As you enter the room,

Happy Birthday....

2008-03-02T10:15:00.000-06:00

Texas! Today is Texas Independence Day. I'm proud to be a Texan!

A Sign of the Times

2008-02-25T10:47:00.000-06:00

When I was a child, my hometown had two editions of the daily newspaper. Eventually, the evening edition was discontinued. Yesterday, on the back page of the weekly television listings section, there was a printed noticesaying that it was the last edition of the weekly listings, because technology had changed, and it is now possible to get television listings from multiple other sources such as

Getting better organized

2008-02-24T09:09:00.001-06:00

We are spending one day per week (usually Saturday) doing the laundry, cleaning and organizing. Yesterday, we got the entertainment center organized; Jay initially wanted to throw away the doors that go on it, but I asked him to wait until I had cleaned them up to see if we wanted to keep them or not. Sure enough, they were extremely dirty, but I used some furniture polish and a lot of elbow

Moving....

2008-02-10T17:53:00.000-06:00

Last weekend, my Dad brought us an entertainment unit (shelving). Today, we rearranged the living room to make room for it. It needs to have some screws tightened, but it is otherwise in good shape--after we cleaned and dusted it thoroughly. It will be used to store books, videos and various items we want to display. The living room looks quite comfortable now. We put the couch perpendicular to

Fun Weekend!

2008-02-10T13:59:00.000-06:00

Yesterday, we had a party. My neighbor has a birthday (today), and since mine is also this week, we decided to get together at their house next door to celebrate with a barbecue. I made potato salad, we supplied cups, paper plates, flatware and napkins, and they supplied the meat and beans, and we split the cost of a cake. It really was a wonderful day, and the weather couldn't have been any

Keeping watch

2008-02-03T07:20:00.000-06:00

In addition to everything else that we did yesterday, we took the girls to the vet for their annual checkups and shots (feline leukemia and distemper, this time; they need their rabies shots again next year or in 2010.) Darla has had an allergic reaction to the shots in the past, so this year, she was given an extra injection to help prevent illness or problems. The extra injection had an

Projects completed

2008-02-02T18:41:00.000-06:00

Thanks to the helpfulness of one of our neighbors, We have a ramp at the front door for easier and safer access to the outside of the house. The cement should be completely dry by tomorrow. Next, we will build a smaller ramp for the inside of the garage. Then we can park the car in the garage, and no more getting wet when it rains. Jay has hung the last of the curtain rods in the guest room. We

Special Days

2008-02-01T12:55:00.000-06:00

February's chill cannot overcome the special days for our family this month. Today is the anniversary of my maternal great grandmother's birth.Tomorrow, of course is Groundhog Day. (I'm expecting six more weeks of winter.) On the 10th, my neighbor will celebrate her birthday; the 11th is the anniversary of my grandmother's birth; the 14th is my birthday and it's the first birthday of my grandson,

Good Neighbors

2008-01-22T10:36:00.000-06:00

One of the best things about our new community is the neighbors. We met two of our next door neighbors the day we closed on the house. They were arriving to close on their house as we were leaving with keys in hand. He bounded over to our car, smiled and put out his hand, and introduced himself, then we went to his car to meet his wife. We've been friendly ever since. We had them over for dinner

Under development

2008-01-19T12:13:00.000-06:00

I am actively creating one of my new websites. Finally. This time, instead of editing template code first, I am writing my content. This not only keeps the creative process going, it will be easier to copy and paste all of the content at the end.I am planning two sites currently, and the one I'm working on is the easier one to complete.

Cleanup

2008-01-12T12:32:00.000-06:00

I have removed a lot of unused applications and games from my computer. If I haven't opened one in six months, it's not going to happen...so out it goes. I used the Add/Remove Software tool in Windows for this.The other day, I came across a computing tip that I like: Give XP the Performance Tools of Vista. Check it out; you may find it helpful.Another trip to the local Home Depot and Walmart

Productive Day

2008-01-06T17:09:00.000-06:00

We did not get to church this morning. Jay and I both have upset stomachs, for some reason. He had a backache that has improved; mine is still sore. Sigh. Maybe tomorrow will be better.We went shopping yesterday, to get more curtain rods for the house. We still need four more. We continued using fabric shower curtains as window coverings; we put white ones on the patio door, with an opaque white

Tunes of many types

2008-01-05T13:12:00.000-06:00

I have changed my music player. As you can easily see by checking the player at the end of the page, my taste in music can probably be best described as "eclectic".I grew up listening to country (because my parents did); I still like some of the more "classic" country (Loretta Lynn, Patsy Cline, and my latest discovery, LeAnn Rimes) and later expanded to what are now called "oldies" (from the 60'

A Fresh, New Year....

2008-01-01T15:14:00.000-06:00

Happy 2008! We did stay up to see the New Year in. I have a hard time imagining 1 million people in Times Square in New York City. I'm just as glad we stayed home; not as many fireworks as I thought there might be, but a few more than in the city, I think. The girls didn't seem too bothered by them this year; they always go hide under the bed when people start shooting off firecrackers. I never

Adding a few bells and whistles...and New Year's Eve

2007-12-31T12:01:00.000-06:00

Ever since I started learning to edit html to tweak my blog, I've never been one to leave it alone for very long. Now that the template has been updated (yet again!), I've decided to add a few features that I had before...along with a new one I've been waiting a long time for. I still need to work on the Expandable Post Summary coding a bit (and will do more reading on that soon), but it is

getting organized

2007-12-22T20:27:00.000-06:00

This summer, I decided to get better organized. I got tired of not being able to find my manuals and user guides for our appliances, few though they were. I got a few supplies together:-- a large looseleaf binder-- page protector sheets-- a zippered pouch for pens and small items-- dividers for the binder-- lined paper for extra notesThen I set to work. I gathered all of our aforementioned

Anniversary...

2007-12-22T20:11:00.000-06:00

Today is the anniversary of my grandfather's death. He died on December 22, 1983, and his funeral was December 23. I still hear his voice in my mind, and I can hear him calling me "sister" as he used to do so often. I am thankful for the years I had with him, and that I could help care for him in the weeks before he passed away. I still miss him...but he is at rest, and I will see him again

A HUGE Relief

2007-12-19T16:23:00.000-06:00

Today, we had two of the interior doors in our home widened by just a couple of inches each. This was something I had specifically asked the builder to do before construction on the house began. He declined. So we planned to have it done ourselves...then we were told that if we made any changes to the structure of the house, it would void the 1 year builder's warranty. We considered carefully,

Success!

2007-12-14T20:04:00.000-06:00

My idea for a window covering for the front door is a big success. Jay got a magnetic cafe curtain rod, and a fabric shower curtain (a replica of the Texas State Flag). He hung the curtain rod at the top of the door on the inside, and I put the curtain on the rod, accordion style. It isn't a bit too long, and it covers the window quite well while still admitting some light. So now it feels more

Brainstorm!

2007-12-13T19:38:00.000-06:00

Our front door has a beautiful oval glass that covers the center of the door. Since I do not care for the idea that people on the street could possibly look in on us without my awareness, I've been trying to figure out a way to cover the glass in a way that would not detract from the attractiveness of the house from either inside or outside. I don't sew, and do not own a sewing machine, nor do I

It's beginning to feel like Christmas!

2007-12-11T09:11:00.000-06:00

Amidst all the activity of work, school and final exams, unpacking and life in general, it really is beginning to feel like Christmas. I have been reading Kim Komando's newsletters for some time, and I listen to her weekly radio show regularly. Kim's husband works with Mannheim Steamroller as a producer of the annual Christmas radio show. I plan to listen, and you can look for a station in your

Settling in

2007-12-09T08:03:00.001-06:00

We've made a fair amount of progress unpacking. The kitchen is put together, and we bought a cabinet for use as a pantry. We also bought a new bed today, (a new queen size mattress and box spring with frame I found on Craigslist...the owner is moving and needed to sell it, and we got a huge bargain) so sleeping will be more restful. We had our first company over for dinner last night -- our

An investment

2007-11-29T11:50:00.000-06:00

We moved into our new home, as I've noted, on November 15. And we've had encounters with various sales people already: One man was selling furniture from an 18 wheeler (no thanks); one was selling meat packages from his truck(we bought one package); one was selling water treatment equipment. Whoa. Water treatment? Come in and let's talk. The water here is very unpleasant to drink; it is heavily

It was a matter of time....

2007-11-28T14:12:00.000-06:00

before new templates and hacks became available for Blogger, since the update of the platform. I'm happy to say, I've found some new templates, and new hacks for later tinkering! I've never been the most patient of people, but these were well worth the wait. I like the new xml format for templates, and it's an extra opportunity for learning. I may just jump in and see what it's like...but I'm

NEW digs

2007-11-27T19:37:00.000-06:00

Many changes to write about. I got tired of the old blue template for this blog, I made that one with an online template generator, but it did not work well with the new version of Blogger....so I waited for new templates to be created. I found this one today, and I like it well enough for now, so I'm all moved in...for a while, anyway. I tend to change templates fairly often. I may look into

Ryan!

2007-02-19T09:27:00.000-06:00

My second grandson, Ryan Anthony, was born at 5 PM on my birthday, Valentine's Day. He weighed 7 pounds, 3 ounces and was 19 inches long. He and his mother made it through the delivery just fine, and they went home from the hospital the following day. Now Dylan is getting accustomed to being a big brother.

Pirillo's Picks

2007-02-07T09:43:00.000-06:00

Some people collect stamps. Some collect coins. I collect links. I can't help it. I'm a packrat when it comes to good computer applications and links to the plethora of websites I come across every week. I am a long-time reader of Chris Pirillo's Lockergnome newsletter, one of the first newsletters I found when I began learning about computers and technology. I still find lots of good

At LAST....

2007-01-15T21:48:00.000-06:00

I've migrated my blogs to the NEW version of Blogger. I'm going to spend some time looking at all of the new features, and it is likely my template(s) will change. Now I can go through all of the e mail tips I've been saving to see which ones I want to use. We've been inundated with rain (5 inches on Saturday), sleet, ice...and snow is forecast for tonight and tomorrow, into Wednesday.

Lifestyle Change

2007-01-07T06:20:00.000-06:00

Many people make New Year's resolutions. I do not; I gave it up a long time ago. But this year, Jay and I are embarking on a change in our lifestyles. We both need to lose weight for health reasons and because it's just time to do so. I was at the doctor's office a short time ago, and noticed a handout he put together that has a variant of the South Beach Diet's induction phase. I asked him

An Offer Dificult to Refuse

2006-12-18T06:19:00.000-06:00

A little while ago, I came across GiveAway of the Day, a really good website offering a free software package daily. Each GiveAway file offered is available for 24 hours. If you want to download the package, you must also install it and activate it using an activation file inside the package, all within the 24 hour period. Note: If you need to reformat your hard drive, the GiveAway file(s)

Waiting...

2006-10-19T21:21:00.000-05:00

Nope, I haven't fallen off the planet. Truth be told, I've been waiting to see if the "invitation" from Blogger would come so that I can migrate this blog to the new version of Blogger. So far, it hasn't happened....I've set up a test blog on Blogger Beta...but I don't want to get too far into it, until I can move this one over. Meantime, I'm collecting all the Blogger Beta tips and information I

Catching up; clearing clutter

2006-08-14T19:18:00.000-05:00

I've been up since roughly 3 AM (don't ask), and since I was home today, I decided it was time for some much-needed reorganization of my files/email/software. I've been letting e mail pile up to ridiculous proportions (between work, life, Babble and other pursuits, something definitely had to give.) So when I finally got around to really looking at my e mail, it was huge. I've read, sorted,

Craft Challenge

2006-07-10T10:49:00.000-05:00

Ok, I freely admit: Martha Stewart I am not. I've never been one to always have craft projects in progress. But with the new baby, I've decided I'm going to teach myself to crochet. I went out and bought yarn, hooks, and other supplies...and I'm set. But...even the most basic chain stitch is eluding me, at least for the moment. The booklet I have says, "it's easy to do." Right. But I refuse to

Yesterday....

2006-07-08T11:31:00.000-05:00

was just another ordinary day...until the phone rang. I have been unable to stop smiling since then. Lauren called, and we chatted for a bit. Jay and I have been thinking about buying a duplex and doing a rent-to-own arrangement with Lauren and Keith. She told me if we were looking for a duplex, better get one with three bedrooms, "because if not, Dylan will need to share a room with the baby."

Blogging: A Few Points to Remember

2006-06-18T09:55:00.000-05:00

I hadn't planned on changing my template at all, but it became necessary recently. I was helping someone set up a new blog one morning about a week and a half ago. Just to guide my friend through the process of setting up her blog, I switched to the same template she chose to use so I could explain how it worked. Problem was, I was in more of a hurry than I should have been, and instead of

Sites of Interest

2006-06-03T12:37:00.000-05:00

For a while now, I've been receiving e mail newsletters from and listening to Kim Komando. Kim has some solid computer/technology/geek-type information geared toward users at all levels of expertise, and she has a weekly radio show airing across the country. Her website is a brand-new redesign, which is a welcome change. The new site is cleaner, less cluttered, and well organized, and even the

June?!

2006-06-03T10:09:00.000-05:00

Yikes! How did it get to be June?! Today is the anniversary of the day I graduated from high school. No, I won't tell which anniversary it is.I've been up to my ears in alligators just lately. I got my new "wheels" a couple of weeks ago, and I'm still waiting for some of the peripherals (pins to attach the manual wheels with, and my lap tray) to arrive. I did finally get "my" cushion, which is a

new toys

2006-05-01T00:44:00.000-05:00

Once in a while, I find really good toys to play with. Today was an example. I got a copy of Dragon NaturallySpeaking software, and I think it will revolutionize the way that I do my work. It does take some getting used to, but I do believe it will reduce a lot of strain on my hands and on my eyes. I'm happy to note that it does work in Blogger, and it doesn't seem to mind Firefox. I'm sure it

Sleep, redefined

2006-04-15T19:29:00.000-05:00

I've had the CPAP machine for a couple of weeks, and the difference in my energy level is marked. I don't break my jaws yawning any more, and I definitely feel more alert. The equipment is very compact and easy to assemble, disassemble and clean. Plus, it's very quiet, just a small amount of white noise. I don't wake up dozens of times at night any more.The insurance requires that the machine

Mission Accomplished...Phase 1

2006-03-30T21:05:00.000-06:00

I had an appointment this morning with a Respiratory Therapist who carefully reviewed all of my new CPAP equipment with me and fitted me with my first mask. I can get new masks every six months. The equipment fits into a neat travel bag a little larger than a backpack; it includes:the CPAP machine itself (smaller than a portable radio I used to have)the humidifier and heaterthe tubingthe mask (

Shaken...

2006-03-24T17:37:00.000-06:00

That's the best way to describe my emotional state yesterday. I recently had my annual physical. Part of that examination included my taking home a portable sleep monitoring machine on loan from the doctor's office to do a sleep apnea study at home. The other option of going to a sleep lab seemed less appealing than being in my own bedroom, by far. The Physician's Assistant in the office showed

Downtime Frustration

2006-03-12T03:52:00.000-06:00

I work full time, in the office one day per week and from home four days per week. I am pretty tired by the end of my shift each day, so I don't get to post here as much as I'd really like to. I generally develop a "to-do" list during each week of tasks I want to accomplish in my free time on weekends, since that is the best time for use of the computer other than for work. Thanks to a little

Notes From Here and There

2006-02-28T09:52:00.000-06:00

I've posted here about my fondness for personal web pages, and about Babble. When I found the game, it didn't take long for me to upgrade to the Pro version, and I've been Babbling ever since. About 3 days into the game, I decided to collect all of the resources and links I could find for the game into a central location on a personal page for easy access. That worked great, then I decided to

An Automated Option For Start Pages

2006-02-15T08:56:00.000-06:00

I have used personal web pages for a while now, and I don't know how I ever survived without them. I currently have several sets for different purposes. I enjoy the process of creating the pages almost more than I enjoy using them, and I've even changed templates for some of my sets. Of course, creating and editing the pages requires knowledge of html.If you've wanted to have a personal web page

Just in Time....

2006-02-09T00:13:00.000-06:00

for Valentine's Day, my move to this new template is just about complete. I still have some minor tweaking to do and a couple of items to put in place, but the biggest portion of it is finished. It really does feel like a breath of fresh air.I did enjoy the old template, but the black was depressing after awhile. I've done some major housecleaning along the way as well, by removing much of the

Hard Hat Zone

2006-02-04T21:58:00.000-06:00

For the moment, this is a site still under remodeling, so be sure to watch out for falling hypertext code. I have been wanting to brighten up the place for a while now, and I finally decided to "just do it." I wanted to use red and white as my color theme, but my eyes rebelled, so I've settled on this "peachy" scheme instead. I still have a lot of work to do to get the template finished, but I

A Day I Never Thought I'd See

2006-01-29T09:16:00.000-06:00

On Friday afternoon, January 27, I had the joy of attending my daughter's wedding. She and Dylan's father finally are husband and wife, and I couldn't be more pleased. The ceremony was small, with just a few family members present, but it was completely lovely. Lauren chose a simple but beautiful dress and veil, and a professional photographer friend offered his services gratis, which is what

The Learning Curve

2006-01-14T10:18:00.000-06:00

The past couple of weeks have been lively. I gave Jay his own computer for Christmas, and he's going through "new user anxiety" with it. He has discovered that this computer, like most others, do not work "right out of the carton"; there are many things other than screen savers and wallpapers that need to be done to get it set up to his liking. He's been used to my machine, where everything is

The year is already off to a good start...

2006-01-03T18:11:00.000-06:00

It's just a small thing, but I got another piece of good news this morning. When I have to order new checks from my bank, they will not cost anything. Every little bit helps. We've taken care of signing our new lease for what I hope is the last time; we will be seriously looking for a house this year. The mamagement has a good deal going so if we do find a house, we only have to pay $250 amd

Another Handy Personal Page for Babbling

2006-01-01T19:50:00.000-06:00

Just a couple of days ago, I posted about Babble, an online word game that is fun and a real challenge to play. Today, I decided to collect the links for all of the resources provided on Babbler's Anonymous, the message board and resource center for the game, and put them all in one easy to access location. I downloaded a fresh, new template from OSWD and in just a couple of minutes I was ready

A Bright Shiny New Year

2006-01-01T08:58:00.000-06:00

Happy New Year! I have a strong feeling of promise this year; perhaps more than I've felt in a long time. There is an important personal milestone on the way for someone I care about. It will be very interesting to watch developments. I don't make New Year's resolutions per se; I simply try to make the most of every day. To me, that seems a far more attainable goal than making resolutions

Wonders Do Still Exist!

2005-12-30T22:08:00.000-06:00

Last summer, in late June, my husband and I got a much newer car after getting a letter in the mail saying we had been pre-approved for a good sized car loan. Then, in early August, he was about to pull out of the driveway in front of our apartment to come pick me up from the office.A woman who had been visiting the neighbor in the building across from ours had borrowed the neighbor's truck. She

Sharpen your vocabulary and spelling

2005-12-29T15:46:00.000-06:00

...and have fun doing so. I found a new online game that is a real challenge: Babble There is a free version and a Pro version (at only $9.95USD for a lifetime membership it's a real bargain), and there is a community of players who chat and offer not-so-easy clues at the same time if you happen to get stuck. Plus, there is a message board with lots of helpful resources. The rules are simple,

Blogging Tool With Bells and Whistles just in time for Chirstmas

2005-12-24T13:01:00.000-06:00

HOW TO: Using Performancing for Firefox | Performancing.com I found this via a link on Del.icio.us just today. I think I'm going to enjoy using this neat tool; it has plenty of bells and whistles, and works just fine.

This Post Could Help Save a Life

2005-12-19T08:42:00.000-06:00

The following is from an e mail I received today. Please feel free to pass it on; doing so could help save someone's life."During a BBQ a friend stumbled and took a little fall - she assured everyone that she was fine and had just tripped over a brick because of her new shoes. They got her cleaned up and got her a new plate of food - while she appeared a bit shaken up, Ingrid went about enjoying

It's beginng to look a lot like....

2005-12-18T07:30:00.000-06:00

...Christmas around our house. We finally got rid of all traces of the phone books; now there are paychecks pending, and those should arrive early this week. Jay and I did some work on our indoor decorating last night, and even if I do say so myself, the results are impressive. I have a good tip. I figured this out last night when we were putting ornaments on our tree. The hooks for the

I Haven't Quite Fallen Off The Planet

2005-12-13T08:06:00.000-06:00

It's been a while. I gave a passing thought to deleting my blogs since I've been too exhausted or too pressed for time to post in a while. But, I don't have the heart to delete them, and I will pick up again as a routine when the holidays are over.Since my last post, I've been working at my regular job and I've been helping my husband with what has turned out to be a mega-project to earn some

A Wonderful Time

2005-11-26T09:48:00.000-06:00

Jay and I spent Thusday night (Thanksgiving) in the kitchen after I got off work, then picked up where we left off on Friday morning. We prepared our traditional Thanksgiving feast, and both of my children, Lauren and Adam, were here, plus Dylan and his dad (Keith, Lauren's fiance) and a friend of Lauren's were here to share with us. Everyone ate as much as they wanted, and we have plenty of

Cookies!!!

2005-11-13T06:24:00.000-06:00

No, not the kind computer users get nervous about. I'm talking about the real deal: Toll House Cookies, made from scratch. I've just made a batch, and they are all ready for company on Thanksgiving. I'm going to freeze them until the day before our feast. I'm giving a dozen as part of a holiday gift exchange at the office in the first week of December, but they will easily store in the freezer

And So Begins Year Number 8

2005-11-05T05:43:00.000-06:00

It was a bittersweet day. Yesterday, November 4, was our seventh wedding anniversary. I had to work my normal 8 hour shift during the day, but did not have to work late. I was working, and got thinking about the wedding. That led to thinking about the videotape of the wedding that we have. And that led to tears. My late grandmother stood in for Jay's mother (who couldn't be here from West

Beginning to Gear Up

2005-11-01T06:07:00.000-06:00

Welcome to November. Already we're beginning to plan for Thanksgiving. Menus to plan, shopping to do, baking...it's one of my favorite times of the year. This year as we've done for the last couple of years, we will have our holiday dinner not on Thanksgiving itself, but the day after. I have to work on Thanksgiving Day, but I have an earlier shift than usual, so when I get home, there will be

From My E mail: Gas and Eggs

2005-10-28T07:46:00.000-05:00

This is thought-provoking:For those of us who also own vehicles besides our bikes, this might proveto be a very interesting exercise.........................A man eats two eggs each morning for breakfast. When he goes to thegrocery store he pays 60 cents a dozen. Since a dozen eggs won't last aweek he normally buys two dozen at a time.One day while buying eggs he notices that the price has risen

Checking in

2005-10-28T06:42:00.000-05:00

I haven't forgotten my blogs. It's just that there are still only 24 hours in a day, and my job has been keeping me incredibly busy, not to mention worn out. For all that I work at home much of the time, there are still expectations to be met. On Wednesday I was in the office until 7:15 PM (my shift ends at 5:30 PM, but I had documentation to complete before I could leave.) At the end of a long

BlogExplosion, An Antidote to Online Boredom

2005-10-23T08:44:00.000-05:00

Nope, BlogExplosion is not new. But in a sense, it's new to me. I've just discovered how to use some of it's features, and I can see huge potential for spending time there. I've figured out how to make my surfing "count", and now I get credit for browsing, which I like to do anyway. (Note to self, for future reference: Read the FAQ!) I've even submitted one of my blogs to BE. This is one

SO YOU THINK YOU KNOW EVERYTHING?

2005-10-22T18:35:00.000-05:00

Time for a little Humor and Trivia. . .A dime has 118 ridges around the edge.A cat has 32 muscles in each ear.A crocodile cannot stick out its tongue.A dragonfly has a life span of 24 hours.A goldfish has a memory span of three seconds.A "jiffy" is an actual unit of time for 1/100th of a second.A shark is the only fish that can blink with both eyes.A snail can sleep for three years.Al Capone's

"I Jump!" and "Shoes Bye-bye"

2005-10-15T21:55:00.000-05:00

We had Dylan over for the night last Sunday. He is a delight, but it does take both of us to keep up with him. He is not "hyper" active, but is very busy. So much to see, touch, hear, taste...and get into. He is beginning to form simple, two word sentences such as "shoes, bye-bye." (When his mother and uncle were small, they would see me reach for my shoes -- I hated shoes then, and hate them

A Birth Anouncement, of Sorts: The Teaching Tree

2005-10-09T19:43:00.000-05:00

As has happened in the past, I have decided to create a new blog to contain a specific type of content that has outgrown this space. I have written tutorials here and elsewhere on the web (The Handicapped Computerist) for some time now. Rather than having to dig through an ever-growing list of posts on my several blogs searching for a particular tutorial, I've created The Teaching Tree, a blog

My Page: What's On It Currently?

2005-10-06T08:24:00.000-05:00

I've written before about my personal Start Pages. I use the plural specifically because I have several pages for different topics/purposes, and they are linked together. It's my own website, stored in a folder on my hard drive.My main page currently includes: --> A site index (a list of all of my current and planned pages--> Favorite Links, including several sections (Get Organized, Spiritual

Freeware Review: Delicioso

2005-10-04T20:33:00.000-05:00

If you use De.licio.us (and if you don't, what planet are you on?) for blogging and bookmarking, you could do a lot worse than check out ¡Delicioso!. What is it, you ask? Good question! ¡Delicioso! is a neat little freeware program that automates the process of submitting URLs to De.licio.us social bookmarking/tagging service. It takes only seconds, and you can submit URLs in batches. Fill in

Blogging Central 101, Part 6: Blogger Hacks, social bookmarking and a few other gems

2005-10-02T16:06:00.000-05:00

Blogger HacksOnce you’ve worked with Blogger for a while and have become comfortable with it, you may wonder what else you can do with it. There are a number of Blogger Hacks you can implement to further customize your blog. Read and follow the provided instructions carefully, and do remember to backup your template before you begin.Adding CategoriesOne hack I’ve used is adding Categories to

Blogging Central 101, Part 5: Learn the Code!

2005-10-02T15:33:00.000-05:00

Related information regarding editing your Blogger template: Learn to Create the Coding! There is a vast amount of free information online that will help you learn different types of coding. They range from very basic to advanced, so you will always find something to suit your particular needs. Here are just a few:Learn some basic HTML: One HTML site geared to beginners is Lissa Explains It

Blogging Central 101, Part 4: Where To Find Help; Template Basics

2005-10-02T15:22:00.000-05:00

Blogger Help, Features and Resources:If you need assistance or have questions, a good place to look for information is Blogger Help. The Blogger DashboardEach time you log in to Blogger.com, your first stop is the Blogger Dashboard. Think of it as a central control panel for Blogger. You can view a list of your blogs here, as well as viewing individual posts in a blog. You can edit posts or

Blogging Central 101, Part 3: Blog Traffic (Tell People About Your Blog)

2005-10-02T15:13:00.000-05:00

Blog Traffic: Tell People About Your BlogCongratulations! You are now a blogger. Now, you may begin to feel as though you are shouting into an empty bucket: “Hello. . . ! Is anyone out there?” It can begin to feel rather lonely. When you’ve created your first few posts, you will likely want to think about how you can “advertise” your blog’s existence, or “presence” on the Internet. One way to

Blogging Central 101, Part 2: An Introduction to Blogs

2005-10-02T14:47:00.000-05:00

An Introduction to BlogsBefore I ever began writing my blogs, I was reading them. You can find interesting, informative, instructive, fun, newsworthy or even controversial blogs everywhere on the Internet; just use a search engine such as Google’s new BlogSearch or similar search engine, (more below about these), and begin reading. When you find blogs you like, you can place them on a blogroll,

Blogging Central 101, Part 1 Everything You Always Wanted to Know (But Didn’t Know Where to Ask)

2005-10-02T14:42:00.000-05:00

Preface: THe inspiration for this tutorial came to me last week in the form of an Instant Message from an online friend, who left it at 2:30 AM. My friend said he has decided he wants a blog, and he "needs blogging 101." I found the message later that morning, and this is my response. I have decided to include it as part of my blog in case others need it also. If you’ve been out and about on

The Waiting Game

2005-09-28T21:47:00.000-05:00

Last night, Jay had to go out of town. It wasn't a business trip, and it didn't sound like it was much fun...but it was necessary. He had an appointment at a sleep clinic to be tested to see if he has sleep apnea. I've been concerned about this for a while, since I noticed that he appears to stop breathing periodically during sleep. (That's the definition of sleep apnea).So it was off the VA

Categories for Blogger: Yet Another Option

2005-09-25T10:09:00.000-05:00

While surfing the internet today, I came across Virtual ScratchPad. Matthew Sheffield, the blog's author, has described a simple way of putting categories into Blogger. See his postfor complete instructions, code and information. This looks like a good approach if you have not yet implimented categories on Blogger, and would like to do so.Filed in: tutorial Blogger categories Blogger_Search

An Unexpected Invitation

2005-09-24T06:57:00.000-05:00

For some time, I have read a number of online computing newsletters. Among them is Inforpackets Gazette, by Dennis Faas. Doug, my collaborator on The Handicapped Computerist, also reads Infopackets. Yesterday, I returned from lunch to find an IM from Doug: "E-MAIL". He had sent me a copy of an e mail he received from Dennis, who has invited interested bloggers to participate in writing articles

Rita is on her way

2005-09-21T17:15:00.000-05:00

...and this is one guest I don't want to see; Katrina was bad; Rita looks as bad or worse as she is already a Category 5 storm. Our family will be okay I think (although we expect some rain, flash flooding that is not unusual for the area) and some high wind.) I just spoke to Barbara, a good friend who lives in Corpus Christi with her sons and her mother and other family members. Barbara and

It's a Date!

2005-09-21T08:54:00.000-05:00

I freely admit to being a very organized person. I liked keeping track of things on paper in the "old" days; I carried my planner everywhere I went for a long time. Now I've moved things to my computer, but old habits die hard, and I have my new, personal web pages to help me stay sane these days. One of the features I wanted in my personal pages was a calendar, to help keep track of important

Personal Pages Are Incredibly Useful!

2005-09-18T12:44:00.000-05:00

I've finally finished re entering the data into my rolodex software, and while I was about it, I put the data into my personal pages' address book page. I am so happy to have that task off my to-do list. It was on the list for a long time, and I got tired of looking at it.I created a table for the address book page, and I must say, it does look professional. Doug helped me sort out a few issues

Continuing Improvement

2005-09-15T19:40:00.000-05:00

I spoke to my Dad this morning. He said he had a good night, without much pain until he woke this morning, then a pain pill took care of the appreciable pain he did have then. He said he will be able to go back to his usual activities in a day or two, according to his doctor; he has to see the doctor again in a week to ten days. He just about made my day when he told me he and my mom went out to

A Quick Update

2005-09-14T18:32:00.000-05:00

My Dad has had his surgery. It went well, and he is safely home. My mother had to stop on the way home to get something for him to drink because his mouth was dry, but he's in good shape. I feel better too. It's been a nerve-wracking couple of days. Filed in: personal family

A Difficult Time

2005-09-13T17:58:00.000-05:00

I called to speak to my dad yesterday; he had loaned us a small television set sometime ago, and I wanted to ask if I could donate it to some Hurricane Katrina evacuees who are settling here. My dad was not home, but my mother answered the phone. in the course of our conversation, she tol d me that my dad is going to have surgery tomorrow to have one of his eyes removed. He has been blind in that

A Day Brightener

2005-09-12T19:02:00.000-05:00

I received the following piece in my e mail from the Inspiration List. It's too good not to share:"Live in such a way that those who know you but don't know God willcome to know God because they know you."- AnonymousThe Escalator AngelThe crisp February morning chilled the crowd that waited to catch theMARTA, Atlanta's public rail system. When the train arrived, I movedwith the others toward

It's been a fun couple of days....NOT!

2005-09-08T07:39:00.000-05:00

On Tuesday, Jay went to run some errands and I was preparing to log in to work, when my wireless phone went dead. No problem; charge the battery by dropping the phone into its base. The phone in the living room was working, so I figured I was okay. I was wrong. I loaded my Start Page into my browser, and discovered I could not connect to any website. The modem lights were flashing green; it

Happy Birthday, Adam!

2005-09-06T05:12:00.000-05:00

Today is your birthday, son. How well I remember the night you were born! We barley made it to the hospital in time, and you still cringe when I mention one of the "delivery room stories." You know which one! You have come through some rough times in your life (and welcome to being in the world, because we all have rough times), but I am very proud of you. You have a very caring heart. I hope

Labor Day

2005-09-05T06:41:00.000-05:00

Happy Labor Day to those in the US. I don't have major plans for today...yet. I continue to work on my personal webpages, which is developing nicely into an actual site. I have some ten pages either up or in the planning stages. Who would've thought all of this would come from learning to edit a blog template?Over the weekend I edited my index page, and spent some of yesterday working on two

The Wonderful World of Comics

2005-08-30T10:05:00.000-05:00

If you like to read comics online, I have a gem for you. With this ComicsViewer free software download, you can have access to a large number of classic, political, off-beat, and family-oriented comics right from your desktop. Setup is easy, and it will aautomatically update when you run it. Enjoy....Filed in: humor comics software desktop download

My Personal Start Page: Taking It To A Whole New Level

2005-08-30T08:39:00.000-05:00

I've been working on my personal start page, and I've been happy with the results. I was taking to my friend Doug yesterday, and is his wont, he made a suggestion that opened my eyes wide. He suggested that instead of having a single start page, I could make a number of pages, covering various topics, and link them together just like a live website. He also told me about Abyss Web Server. Abyss

Folksonomy Excitement

2005-08-28T18:09:00.000-05:00

Folksonomy ExcitementFolksonomy is defined as

. . .a neologism (a new word or expression) for a practice of collaborative categorization using freely chosen keywords. This feature began appearing in a variety of social software in 2004. Some examples of online Folksonomy being social bookmarking sites like De.licio.us and Jots which are bookmark sharing sites, Flickr, for photo sharing

My Personal Super Start Page is Live

2005-08-28T15:18:00.000-05:00

I have actually completed my personal start page; it is wonderful to have everything on one handy page when my browser opens. I’ve also removed some items from the left sidebar, since they are now living on my page. It feels good to actually remove an item from the ToDo list, for a change.In addition to my favorite links and constantly used sites, I have some RSS feeds, Phone contacts, a

A Quote and Another Weekend's projects

2005-08-27T14:04:00.000-05:00

Quote:I came across an interesting quote yesterday, in an old copy of Reader’s Digest: “In every marriage more than a week old, there are grounds for divorce. The trick is to find, and continue to find, grounds for marriage.” Many people could take a lesson from these simple statements; most find it simply too easy to walk away from a relationship, sometimes at the first signs of discord. My