Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Deleting posts

A post I wrote for pay was rejected because it was within 7 days of a previous post. As I have done this before, I didn't think it was going to be a problem. Since it was and I'm not getting paid for it, I just took it down.

No offense to the advertiser, but seriously if I'm not getting paid for it - away it goes.

Monday, December 22, 2008

My bumper is cracked!

I was looking at my car earlier today and I noticed that the bumper is cracked. My car sits really low so it doesn't surprise me but it does annoy me. Now in addition to all of the other stuff I need to get done to the car, I need to worry about the bumper too.

If I find out that the bumper is just something for show, I'm not gonna worry about it.

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

I need to save money on my car

My inspection for my car is long overdue. I don't really have a lot of time to take the car and just sit there and wait while they do the work. I could drop the car off and let them keep it over-night. But when you do that, the dealer tends to keep the car for 3 or 4 days. I could drop it off on Monday and hypothetically not get it back until Friday.

The other reason is because I just want to save some money. I need some minor work done on my car that I really don't want to pay for. There's nothing major that needs to be done really. It's not like I need Bmw Parts or Dodge parts as it were. I do need some cosmetic work like a paint job. I also need to have my front bumper looked at. I keep dinging it on those car stop things. The front of my car sits extremely low so it hits stuff and it's forever scraping the ground.

Having a car is fun but it sure gets expensive really fast. And it's not like I can afford it with school and all. So I'll keep postponing the work until I get the money. Hopefully it will be soon. I don't want to put it off too much longer.

Tuesday, December 09, 2008

I can't find them

I still can't find the shoes that I want. I've been looking all over for them and they're no where to be found. I looked on at least 5 websites but I still can't find them. I guess the shoes are totally out of stock. I'm really bummed about that. I really found something that I liked and now I can't even get them.

Tuesday, December 02, 2008

I really want those shoes

I saw a pair of shoes that I wanted but I didn't buy them at the time. I was waiting for them to go on sale before I bought them. Then I forgot all about buying them. A few months went past and I remembered them. I went to the store and they're totally gone. They don't have them in any sizes at all. I went online to several retailers and I still can't find them.

I'm even willing to pay the full price for them I liked them just that much.

Monday, December 01, 2008

Have you started shopping for Christmas yet?

It's a really busy time of the year. I went to the mall yesterday to go grocery shopping and it was packed. Even at the grocery store. I'm glad I order everything online since it's so easy to get what I want. There's a motorcycle club here that my friend belongs to and I've thought about getting some yamaha motorcycle parts for his bike. I know he'll like that since he loves his bike.

Luckily I only have 2 or 3 people to buy for.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

My first payment for school is due

I can't believe it's already time to make another payment for school. It seems like I just made my last payment and it's time to start paying again. Only this time it's more money than I've had to pay in the past because I'm taking more classes. I'm sure I'll get through it. I don't know how but I will.

At least I only have 1 more semester.

Friday, November 21, 2008

Some people are fascinated with Denver

Like my ex for example. He loves Denver. He loves it so much that he wants to move there. I wouldn't be surprised if he told me later that he did in fact move there. He went to visit last year right in the middle of winter. He just kept saying that it wasn't as cold as people expected it to be.

He planned it way in advance. He wanted to visit the different neighborhoods to see what it looked like. He tried several Denver Restaurants to see what kind of local cuisine they had there. He also looked for a job which is the most important thing he could have done. He found several large companies that were hiring including the company he really wanted to work for.

I hope everything works out for him there.

I don't think I'll be shopping this weekend

It's cold outside. I mean freezing cold. It's been snowing for the past few days so it's wet and miserable outside. If I don't have to go outside then I won't. I have enough food to last me for the next week and a half. The only downside is that I would have to go out on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. We all know the stores will be a mad house then.

I just don't feel like going out tomorrow. I think I need the rest.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

I've been slacking on making money

I haven't made a lot of extra money in the last couple of months and that's a bad thing. Almost all of the extra money that I make helps pay for school. I was supposed to use that money in November and December to pay tuition and then in January use the money to pay down debt. Since I haven't made a lot it looks like those plans are out of the window.

Oh well, it was fun while it lasted.

Friday, November 14, 2008

It seems like a unlikely present

I have a aunt who is sickly. We have to buy her so many special items for her house. For the holidays I'm thinking of buying her a toilet seat riser. It just seems like a really odd gift to give someone. But I feel like if she needs it and it benefits her, then it's a useful and thoughtful gift. You just feel weird giving that to someone though.

It didn't hurt that I got a discount by going to their website and signing up for their ecatalog. It's only going on for a limited time so I jumped on it. The site also sells other health-related items, dietary supplements and exercise equipment. So I might be able to buy myself something from there after all.

Now I need another small gift for my aunt. Just because.

I'm not spending any money this weekend

I'm not spending any money at all. I don't need anything for lunch for work because I buy everything in bulk. I'm good on breakfast food for the next week. I keep going over budget because of small things. I'm trying to stop letting money slip through my fingers.

I'll see how long this lasts.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

No wonder celebrities go broke

Just watch them on award shows and reality shows. They spend their money on the silliest things. Jewel encrusted cups and canes and other junk. Then you have people like Lindsay what's her face that have alcohol addiction and have to go into rehab. It's a shame because they work hard to get where they are but most of them don't appreciate it.

I only wish I could get a small percentage of the cash they see.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

I really want to go shopping today

I don't have to work today since it's Veteran's Day. I didn't plan anything even though I want to go to the mall. I went to the mall last week and spent more money than I had planned even though it wasn't a lot. I really don't want to spend more money this week. I just realized that I only have $200 and that's not enough for my slush fund.

Maybe I'll just go get something to eat. I love the mall Bourbon Chicken.

Saturday, November 08, 2008

I wonder how much a MBA will cost me

I know it won't be cheap that's for sure. One positive aspect of my job is that we get tuition reimbursement. That includes MBA's as long as I have degree approval. If I want to make more money I need to go further with my education. Even the low level jobs require advanced degrees.

I'm looking at a graduate school mba from a place like Capella. One of their 109 degree programs includes a MBA. They're an accredited school which is important because if your school isn't accredited, your degree won't be worth the paper it's written on. There's a podcast on their website that I plan on checking out. It has first person experiences from students, faculty and staff. I can find out what people really think about the school before I enroll.

I really plan on doing my research before I commit to the school. Even with reimbursement from my job, I'll spend a lot of money for this degree. So I want to know exactly what I'm getting into.

This blog post was based on information provided by Blogitive. For more information, please visit Blogitive.com.

Thursday, November 06, 2008

Now what's wrong with blogger?

Blogger is acting up for me again. My other blog won't even load. I get a error message and then I get a blank page. This blog is acting goofy on the post page. I don't get the preview button at all which stinks if I have a image that I want to check out before I post. I also can't use any of my labels for my posts. I put them on everything but today, I can't access them.

I guess that's one of the pitfalls of using a free platform.

Wearing the gear the pros wear

Lately I've been noticing that a lot of football players are wearing military style clothing. They've been wearing a lot of fatigues including hats, pants and shirts. Next I'm waiting for them to show up with Galco holsters on their hip. I wonder if it's their own clothing lines or not.

I bet a lot of people will run out and buy what they're wearing just because.

I think I have enough for school

Of course I still have to take a loan for the spring but it won't be for as much as I thought. I have some of the money in cash, some in a loan and some that been budgeted for but I haven't received yet. This is a big relief because I just want to be don't want to have to wonder where the money is gonna come from.

Now if I can just get my credit card paid off I'll be happy.

Wednesday, November 05, 2008

Great shopping for men in NYC

When most people think of going shopping in NYC, they think of shoes, purses and clothes for women. Women in New Jersey, PA, Delaware and Maryland drive to NYC to get the latest fashions at extremely low prices.

What most people don't think about is shopping for men. There are plenty of places for men to buy clothes. But there is only one place to shop if you're looking for a custom suit. Who wouldn't love to get a custom made suit for almost the same price as a off the rack suit? Just think of the impression that you will make with your new suit.

You are supposed to dress for the job that you want not the job you have. Most people in business also know that it's important to make a great first impression on your customers. With a off the rack suit, your customers might not take you seriously. However when they see you wearing a great fitting mens' suit they will think differently of you. A well-dressed man exudes confidence and that draws people closer to him.

If you plan on going to NY, you should check out the link above to make an appointment to get fitted for your great new look.

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I want to buy a exercise video

But I don't want to pay for it. Those videos never go on sale so I have to find it used if I can. I wouldn't mind paying $20 bucks for it at all. It's one of those "fad" exercise programs though and it costs $60. I am not paying that much for one.

Maybe one of my friends has it and will sell it to me.

Friday, October 31, 2008

Getting glasses on the cheap

Paying for school is really hard. A lot harder than I imagined. I refer to it as robbing Peter to pay Paul when that's not really true. I am able to pay all of my bills and school but it feels like I'm doing a juggling act to keep everything together.

Obviously there are some places that I can cut back on. I've already switched to a lower priced cable plan and I'm looking for a cheaper cell phone plan. I also cut out some of my food expenses by not going out to eat as much. But there are some things that I'm not willing to cut back on. My eyeglasses and eye care in general is one of those things. Your eyesight is very important so I don't skimp on it's care.

I am glad that I found ZenniOptical.com which sells eyeglasses for as low as $8.00 per pair. They have a huge selection of frames and things like tint, bifocal lenses and progressive lenses to chose from. They sell directly to the customer so there is no middle man taking a cut. They also keep their advertising budget very low which helps keep their prices to customers low.

With the economy the way it is, I'm cutting expenses wherever I can. But because I'm trying to cut back doesn't mean I have to sacrifice quality.

Arguing with my school

I just got a bill from my school. However my tuition for this semester has already been paid. Next semesters bill isn't even generated until the middle of November. When I called they said it was a mistake and it would be taken care of. I'll have to monitor this closely because I don't want them putting a hold on my account.

This is why I watch my school balance so closely.

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

I need a new pair of sneakers

I don't like to shop that much. Maybe it's because I'm trying to lose weight or maybe it's because I have a ton of clothes that I already don't wear. I don't want to add any more clothes to my closet to just sit there with tags on them. That's why I usually buy everything from the internet. I get clothes, sneakers, a ipod and a mp3 player. I also bought my laptop online and it was much cheaper than I could have gotten it in the store.

Now I need a new pair of sneakers. Mine are very worn and dirty looking. They also don't feel that good on my feet anymore. It looks like the front of one shoe is about to totally crack off. I don't even remotely know how I did that. I probably bumped my foot against something but I'm not sure. I'm looking all over the internet for the 2008 thanksgiving specials. I could care less about Christmas shopping, these purchases will be for me. The best part though is that since I'm shopping during the height of the seasonal rush, I'll reap the benefits of the shopping discounts.

I'm especially interested in eastbay coupons because that's where I always buy my sneakers. They have a large selection and the best prices on the shoes. Then when I add a coupon to my order, they are cheaper than going to a regular store.

I just don't know what color sneakers to get. I do know that they will be either all white or blue and white.

I didn't buy nearly enough comfort food

It's so cold outside today. This is the time of year I really like to have the warm and filling comfort food. I did buy some when I went to the grocery store last week but I didn't get nearly enough. I need more soup, oatmeal and snack crackers. I had a bowl of soup and all I kept thinking was that I needed some crackers with it.

I'll make a list for this weekend so I don't forget anything.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

My skin is acting up

I have acne like a teenager. It's pretty annoying especially when you consider how old I am. I'm really too old for this. I plan on going to see a dermatologist. Someone like Dr. Martin Sands who specializes in researching cutting-edge technologies and then putting them into practice. He's not a fly-by night doctor either, he's been practicing since 1976.

Besides I would rather go to a real doctor and get looked at than buy some generic product from tv that may or may not work.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Entering local sweepstakes

I've been entering like crazy. I'm getting mad because I haven't won and the cost of stamps are killing me. I try to enter at least once or twice for each drawing but that's still more money than I want to spend.

I also just checked a second chance drawing by our state lottery. The same person won the top prize twice! I bet she owns a store or something and got the tickets free. I'm pretty sure she didn't buy that many instant tickets.

Then again I may just be jealous!

Saturday, October 18, 2008

Hotel Condos in Panama

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The economy is terrible not only here in the U.S. but around the globe. Interest rates on bonds and money market funds are non-existent while stocks are sinking like crazy. Of course it provides a wonderful buying opportunity but what if you're close to retirement? I'm not talking close like 5 years, I mean in the 10-15 year range. Just long enough that your money should still be in the market, but short enough that you really can't afford to lose money to these crazy fluctuations.

So what do you do now that your retirement nest egg is much smaller than you anticipated? Would you ever consider retiring overseas. The value of a dollar goes a lot further in other countries even though the dollar is extremely week right now. Retirees especially flock to Latin America. The cost of living is very low so you need cash but not as much.

Panama is one of the countries that's seeing a influx of these retirees. Right now a great place to buy is the Hotel Casco Antiguo which is a condo hotel in the Casco Antiguo region of Panama. Panama represents one of the fastest growing real estate markets in the world. Buying in now would make a great investment for a retirement home or a second vacation home. You can click to Register for an eBrochure Here. It will tell you more about the property as well as give you contact information for the property. You can also see the entire management team and see where their experience and expertise is.

Even if you've never considered retiring to Panama, you should check out the site. It just might change your mind.

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Friday, October 17, 2008

I paid tuition today

Big whoop! It's not like I'm happy about that much money coming out of my account at one time. I don't get any financial aid and I'm not using student loans. It's a total out of pocket cost to me. I do break the payments into 3 installments but it's still a lot of money.

Oh well, at least the bill for the semester is paid.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Is buying jewelry considered investing in gold?

I love jewelry. I'm pretty hard on mine so I don't wear it very often. I've broken necklaces and bracelets like you wouldn't believe. I do have several rings that I've had over 15 years because I take extra special care of them.

With the economy in turmoil, a lot of people are turning to gold, silver and other precious metals. Now I'm wondering if my gold jewelry represents more of an investment than I thought. I would love to go to holsted jewelry and buy a nice piece of gold. They have jewelry "wardrobes" meaning I can get the bracelet, necklace and earrings from the same place for a great price.

Hmmm, I wonder if I can justify buying a new pair of earrings. Hey, gold is a good investment right now.

Not having access to my email stinks

Here at work I can't access my email. It stinks because yesterday I had a bunch of emails from my professor that I didn't get. I got to class and received an assignment that I could have gotten done during my lunch if I had it the information in advance.

I realize that some people take advantage but geesh.

Do pets equal happiness?

Most people would say yes. Especially those people who are cat or dog lovers. There are stores like Happiness is Pets that caters to those people. They specialize in matching the perfect puppy with the perfect family. They even have a in house play area where you can interact with the puppy before you take it home. You can also buy all of your pet accessories and grooming supplies there while you're picking up your new pet.

Check them out when you're looking for your perfect furry friend.

Thursday, October 09, 2008

I think my cousin lied

He claims he's getting this settlement. Everyone in the family is falling all over him because they want a piece of the pie. Of course if he asks someone to do something, they do it thinking of the reward that they're going to get.

I don't think he's actually getting anything. I think he's playing on their greed. They're all getting played! As long as he doesn't call me and ask for anything I'm not worried about it. I can pay my own way, tyvm!

Wednesday, October 08, 2008

Is lapband a sound investment?

Although the stock market is in the tank, there are still sound investments out there. Bonds and cds are good investments to make right now. There are cds paying over 5% if you know where to look. But what about surgery? If you look into a program of weight loss woodlands, it's an investment in your health. Losing weight now can prevent health problems in the future. On the other hand you can also use diet and exercise. But what about people that are morbidly obese? Do you think this is a good option for them?

What about you? Would you pay for lapband surgery if your insurance wouldn't cover it?

Thursday, October 02, 2008

My job is pretty safe for now

I work in banking. With all of the turmoil in both the banking industry and the financial industry in general, everyone is asking about my job. I work in wealth management. I'm working with people with a whole lot of money. Right now I'm really not worried. However I am trying to figure out a way to start paying down more debt.

Paying for school until March of next year is making it more difficult though.

Saturday, September 27, 2008

Shopping with a cop is weird

My new friend is a police officer. It's really weird walking around with him when he's in uniform. The first thing people think is that I'm being arrested or something. Yesterday he had on one of those Galco Holsters with his gun in it and we're walking around the mall looking for shoes. I think people thought that I was shoplifting. You should have seen the stares that I was getting.

I told him next time we're getting his stuff online. Whether it's for work or his regular clothes. But I'm not going shopping with him in uniform any more.

Friday, September 26, 2008

I don't blog just for money

I just realize that my last post sounds like all I care about is money. Nothing can be farther from the truth. I started blogging before I knew that I could get paid for it. Now I blog because it's fun. Making money is just a side benefit.

Like I said in my last post, I don't depend on the money but it's nice to have. If I couldn't make diddly-squat I would still blog. I like voicing my opinion and just talking about my day in general.

Thursday, September 25, 2008

My cousin is about to get a large settlement

And I hope he invests the money properly. He had an accident in a store when a shelf fell on him. The store refused to even pay his medical bills so he sued them. He has great lawyers like you would find from a Austin Personal Injury Lawyer. They handle cases like serious injuries, slips and falls, and other business lawsuit litigation's.

He was lucky that his wife has good medical coverage or he would have been in serious trouble. Like I said, I hope he invests his money wisely. With that much coming in it would be a shame to just waste the money and not put it to good use.

I need to make more money from my blogs

I won't be depending on the money but it's good to make more. My blogs don't get enough traffic to really make a ton of money but I'm trying to change that. I would be happy with a Adsense check or two. But my ads are weird on my other blogs so my hits don't count. That means I need more visitors to my other blogs.

I'll be posting like crazy within the next two weeks trying to get new readers.

Saturday, September 20, 2008

I need to change my cell phone plan

I have a text messaging plan on my cell phone. I don't text nearly as much as I used to. The plan calls for unlimited texts but I don't even text 20 times per month now. That's only $1.00 or $2.00 instead of $10.00 per month.

It doesn't make sense to pay money for a service that I'm not using. I may as well put that money to better use.

Friday, September 19, 2008

Cutting business expenses

I have a small business at home. I'm able to deduct some things but not a lot since my business is such a small part of my home space. One way I can cut costs is by switching my phone service to VoIP phone systems. I can get unlimited calling within the US and free dialing to any other Nimbus VoIP phone in the world. Most of my customers are local but I do have some in other states.

I can also re-route my calls and manage my voicemail from anywhere there's a broadband connection. That means I can check everything even while on vacation. Hey what's a couple hours every few days. I can check-in then have a pina-colada.

Now I'm ready for a vacation.

I did pay for school on time

Last month I missed my deadline but I was able to get the late fee waived. The schools website was having problems accepting payments. Even though that didn't affect me, I was able to have my fee waived because it could have potentially affected me.

Now I make my payments before 3pm on their due date. I only have 1 payment to go for this semester. Then I have to start saving like crazy to pay for next semester.

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Stocks made a come-back today

I know a lot of people are glad. Stocks made a rally and finished higher for the first time this week. I'm glad to hear it but in a way I'm sad. I'm sad because I wish I had more money to invest in the stock market while prices were so low. This is the perfect time to invest. Once those prices go back up, you make a ton of money.

Sigh, I guess it's just not my time. Not yet anyway.

Who knew that online schools are really respected

Most people always talk about online schools like they're some sort of pariah. You would think they were the worse thing going. One of my coworkers went to a accredited online university and now she's a law school student. And not at some second rate law school either. She attends one of the most prestigious schools in the city.

Capella is one of universities. There are over 109 graduate and undergraduate specializations and 15 certificate programs. The online university currently serves more than 23,400 students from all 50 states and 45 other countries. So you can rest assured that if you attend one of these online universities, your degree will be recognized by potential employers and graduate programs alike.

The best part is that most jobs will cover these classes under their tuition reimbursement programs.

This blog post is based on information provided by Blogitive.

My other blog is driving me insane

I can't do anything on it. I can't save anything and I can't post anything either. I had some old posts scheduled to post today. Those posts are ok. Now it won't let me save or do anything new. It's been like this all day.

I can't believe this. This is really super annoying.

Extra money for me is a myth

I said I would buy sports tickets with my extra money. That's funny to me because I don't have any extra money. Paying for school is sucking every last dollar out of me. I'll be glad when I'm done with school so I don't have to kick out the money anymore.

Spending that extra money

If I have extra money from food or utilities, it goes into my slush fund. Once the slush fund reaches a certain amount, I use the money for something that I want but wouldn't ordinarily buy. Something like Miami Heat tickets or Yankees tickets. Tickets to the games are so expensive that I can't afford to go. But when I do decide to go, I want good seats for all of the money that I'm paying. So I go online to a premium ticket broker and get excellent seats. I figure if I'm going to dish out the money, I may as well have a good seat.

I can get tickets to sports events, Vegas shows or even to the theater. I buy almost everything online. You get a much better selection than going to a regular ticket office. Who really wants to pay all of that money and sit in peanut heaven? I sure don't and if you want good seats, get online and get them now.

Going over on the grocery budget

Since I bought all of that extra food this week, I went over on my grocery budget. It wasn't a really big deal because I just used the money that I had saved from the previous weeks. That's why I use the slush fund method on my account. That way if I'm over one week and short another week, it will all even out.

I'll be glad when I'm under every week. That will be nice.

I have so much yogurt

I went shopping and yogurt was on sale this week. It's normally 6 for $4.00. This week was 20 for $10.00. If you bought all 10 you could get an extra $1.00 off. Of course I bought the 20. Now I don't have to buy yogurt for at least a month.

For the next 2 weeks I don't need yogurt, juice or soda. That will save me some money on those weeks shopping bills.

Getting coins

I just talked about diversifying into coins. I'm thinking of going to a company like Monaco Rare Coin who can guide me against the pitfalls that a lot of people make when they go to a coin dealer. When you invest in coins, you need the rarest and highest quality coins available. Of course, you want the best prices available. A company like Monaco has dealers and contacts all over the world so you can get the best possible price for your coins should you want to sell or trade them.

It's never too early or too late to get into the rare coin market or to diversify.

Buying more bonds

I'm talking about savings bonds instead of treasuries. The bonds really aren't for me. I'll be the co-owner along with my nieces and nephews. As long as they use the money for school related purposes like tuition, there won't be any taxes due.

It won't be much but we all know that every little bit help.

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Up and down goes the stock market

Thank goodness because I would lose my mind. The stock market tanked again today. It originally tanked Monday, made a comeback Tuesday and tanked today. What a roller-coaster ride. I do feel bad for those people that are retiring within 7-8 years because the bulk of their money is in stocks.

Hopefully, they will make a comeback.

Cashing out for profits

The stock market is in the toilet right now. Stocks are dropping like flies. People are panicking and that's making it even worse. I'm not thinking of selling because of that. I've made some good profits on my stocks and I'm ready to diversify. I'm thinking of buying some gold new dollar coins to round out my portfolio. It's always a good idea to have your money spread around instead of all in one type of asset class. I have stock, bonds, and cash. But no gold or precious metals in general.

I would rather be safe than sorry. Especially with the way the stock market is going now.

Speaking of vacation

I wish I had more of it. I only have 2 weeks right now. There are women on my job who have 4 and 5 weeks. One woman has to be forced to take her time off. We're not allowed to carry it over so if she doesn't use it, she loses it. Heck that's like losing money. I'm not going for that.

I use all of my vacation and then some.

Vacationing on the Isle of Wight

This would not be a normal vacation for me and that's for sure. I'm usually a beach and/or cruise person. Preferably both if I can pull it off. I love the beach and the sunshine. But I had never considered the Isle of Wight. While researching my 2009 vacation, I saw an advertisement for Isle of Wight Hotels. I had never really thought of that. Until I saw one of my favorite words...Sale. That changes your mind pretty quickly. Especially when it's quite a nicely discounted rate you're getting.

Now you may be asking yourself what's so special about the Isle of Wight. Well here are a few quick facts about the island. The Isle of Wight is an English island and county in the English Channel between three and five miles (8 km) from the south coast of England. It is situated south of the county of Hampshire and is separated from the mainland by the Solent. Popular since Victorian times as a holiday resort, the Isle of Wight is known for its outstanding natural beauty and for its world-famous sailing based in Cowes.

Cowes is a world-famous centre for sailing, playing host to several racing regattas. Cowes Week is the longest-running regular regatta in the world, with over 1,000 yachts and 8,500 competitors taking part in over 50 classes of yacht racing. In 1851 the first America's Cup race took place around the Island. Other major sailing events hosted in Cowes include the Fastnet race, the Round the Island Race[17], the Admiral's Cup, and the Commodore's Cup.

The Isle of Wight Marathon is the United Kingdom's oldest continuously held marathon, having been run every year since 1957. The course starts in Ryde, passing through Newport, Shanklin and Sandown, before finishing back in Ryde. It is an undulating course with a total climb of 1,505 feet (459 m).


There are less than 132,000 residents on the island. Meaning that it's a small tight-knit community. Consider the Isle of Wight for your next vacation. While you're at it, check out the sales where you can get a great vacation for a fantastic price.



I need a new computer accessory

I've upgraded my computer now I need to take care of it. I have a laptop and sometimes it gets so hot on the bottom that I end up turning it off. I thought about getting a fan but I think I need a cooling plate. I've seen them online starting at $20+.

I need to start comparing prices and buy one as soon as possible. I don't want my computer to overheat and start acting up.

Monday, September 15, 2008

I'm upgrading my computer

Almost 2 months ago my computer crashed. It was awful. I couldn't do anything on my computer at all. I had the dreaded "Blue screen of death" for almost a week. Then one day I tried to boot up my computer as usual and it worked. To say I was surprised is a understatement. I was going through some serious internet withdrawal.

I can access the internet at work but all of my favorite sites are blocked out. I don't visit crazy sites either. Just message boards and online radio stations. They also block out all internet email sites. I could go to the site, but not pull up my email. I can't even get my school email at work. Needless to say, after that I was convinced that I needed to work on my computer.

I started backing up all of my files, which I hadn't done before. This time, I made sure I did it. I also upgraded to Windows Vista from XP. There are just some great features that Vista offers that XP doesn't. I run a home-based business and I need my internet. Vista also offers customer support for small businesses like mine. I've already talked to them twice since upgrading and they've been available. Even at 2am when I had insomnia.

Even if I wasn't running a small business again, I need my computer. I keep up with the news through the internet. Of course I keep up with my sports teams and school is always right there in my top 10 sites. I would lose my mind if I was without a computer for any length of time again. I'm doing everything I can to make sure that doesn't happen.

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Saturday, September 13, 2008

I need somewhere cheaper to shop

My local grocery store is so expensive. I went shopping and just because I know prices of some other stores, I know they're too expensive. WalMart is so much cheaper but it's further away so I don't go there as often.

I have to wait for sales just to be able to buy every day grocery items.

Friday, September 12, 2008

Thank goodness I'm not sick

I was feeling awful yesterday. The weather is up and down and it's driving me crazy. I slept with the windows open and I felt pretty bad when I woke up yesterday. It wasn't like I had Acute Sinusitis or anything like that. But I did feel sluggish and warm. I went right out and got some juice and some over the counter meds.

Then I called my pharmacist and asked her if I could take some of the old meds that I had from my last bout with the flu. Since she's a first year pharmacist, she isn't very confident with herself sometimes. So she went online and looked up my meds to make sure they wouldn't interact with what I had already taken. Then she told me I was good to go. I'm glad she was had that tool at her disposal. I was off of the phone in less than 10 minutes.

The best part is that since I already had meds at home, I didn't have to go out and buy anything else. And I feel much better today.
This announcement was paid for by Epocrates.

Tuesday, September 09, 2008

I am eating better

I'm losing weight but I'm eating better as well. I still don't understand why it's more expensive to eat healthy than it is to eat junk food. If I buy healthy food, it's costs a fortune. Cheap food on the other hand, is literally cheap.

Oh well, I just have to deal with it. I don't like it at all though.

Permanent weight loss results

I'm definitely starting to lose weight but it's going so slow. I can get better more permanent results if I get cincinnati weight loss surgery. Cincy is not that far from me. It's further than Cleveland but not really that far.

It's something I need to look into. The sooner I lose this weight, the better.

Sunday, September 07, 2008

My books weren't that expensive

They only cost me $45.00 for 3 books. That's not bad at all considering I've paid much more than that in the past. One of my coworkers spent $170+ on 1 book. Just 1. And she had to buy 2 additional books for another class.

Books are way too expensive. Especially since most people just use them for 1 semester and sell them or give them away.

Friday, September 05, 2008

Show off your political pride

How are you showing off your political pride? With a t-shirt, button or how about a good old bumper sticker. You can get Gigantic "See-Thru" Obama Stickers if that's your candidate of choice. The stickers are one-way see through. So from the inside of the car, they're invisible. But they show up loud and clear on the outside of the vehicle.

Show off your political pride today!

Tuesday, September 02, 2008

I saved money at the reunion

We didn't go out a lot during the time that I was home. We basically went to the reunion and came back home. There was so much food there it's ridiculous. The only problem I had was that there was a lot of repitition. We had a ton of pulled pork and beef but no corn on the cob. We didn't have a lot of ribs but we had a ton of desserts.

At least I know to save more for next years reunion so we can have more of a variety of foods.

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Shopping around for car insurance

I recently switched insurance carriers. My old carrier was gouging me like crazy. My insurance was crazy expensive. One of my friends heard how much I was paying and told me that I could get insurance for much cheaper. She told me to look for low cost auto insurance online and gave me a website to look at. I compared rates with several companies and made the switch a week later.

Now my insurance is much more reasonably priced and I have the same coverage. A win-win if you ask me.

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Verizon wants all of your money

One of my coworkers wants DSL. We only have Verizon as an option here. She doesn't use their phone service though. So instead of getting the $19.99 rate, they're offering her $29.99 unless she switches phone service. Which also costs more since Verizon costs more than her existing home phone service.

I told her to keep shopping around. There's bound to be a better deal out there.

Monday, August 25, 2008

I had some of the work done on my car

Some but not all of it. I can't afford it all right now. When I got in the car yesterday the oil light was on. So I went and got that done and some other smaller things done. I haven't had a auto body repair done, even though I need to.

Having a car is super expensive some times.

I can't believe school is starting

Already! It seems like the summer just started. I didn't even do anything all summer except take 1 class. It seems like the summer was a total waste. I don't even have enough money to pay for school yet. I have to shuffle some money around to pay it off.

I'll make it happen though.

Thursday, August 21, 2008

I need work done on my car

Speaking of my blowing my budget, I need to have some work done on my car. Yeesh! I know it's going to set me back a pretty penny too. I need auto body repair for a few scratches and dents but that's not what's going to set me back. I need to have my car totally repainted.

My exes ex scratched my car. Not just in one or two spots either. She walked around the car so it's really bad. I just wish I could prove that she did it so I could make her pay for it. But I can't so it comes out of my pocket. Grrrrr.

I had the best sandwich today

Oh my goodness. I love chicken sandwiches especially grilled chicken. But not cooked on the usual flat grills in restaurants. The ones they cook over a regular grill with coals. It gives it that grill smell and taste.

I might just get another one tomorrow. Budget be darned.

I thought he said "Where's my sign?"

I knew it was crazy. I'm standing in line buying alcohol for the family reunion so I'm thinking that I have no need for a sign.


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But that's not what he said. He was using one of the oldest pick-up lines in the world. He literally asked "What's my sign?". I looked at him in shock really. I just couldn't believe anyone would ask such a stupid question and really expect a serious answer. That line wasn't even good in the 70's let alone today. So what did I do? I tossed my hair that looked like it had was a Extreme Style by VO5 and told him that my sign was "stop". Then I just walked away doing my best switch and shimmy with my best "I'm all that" attitude.

If you go online, you can play a game called the Ultimate Flirting Championship. This guy could not have played the game because he had the worse lines. If he had played, I'm sure his approach would have been much smoother. They have some great lines on that site. So guys, please check it out and play the game before you start trying to use corny lines on a woman.

Maybe it was the fact that I was buying alcohol that made him use those lines. Maybe he thought I was already drunk and he could pick me up. I don't know but he was the ultimate in lame!
Sponsored by Extreme Style by VO5

Sunday, August 17, 2008

I did go to the store

And I bought clothes too. I got the cutest outfit. It was a pair of really dark (almost black) jeans and a blue top. I'll either wear it with my black patent leather sandals or my silver flats that I haven't worn yet. Either pair will look really cute.

The best part is that I spent less than $25 for a complete outfit. I love getting cute clothes at a decent price.

Saturday, August 09, 2008

Maybe I should go into the store instead

Sometimes it's not in my best interest to buy clothes online. I'm thinking I should go into the store instead of buying it online. That way I can try on the clothes before I by them. I have long legs and pants don't always come in long. Or some companies think 32" is long when I need at least a 34" inseam.

That's one of the reasons I hate shopping. It can get so complicated.

Friday, August 08, 2008

Well here's somewhere that I can go

I just said in my last post that I hoped to save some money this coming week. I won't need the money that I'm supposed to use for lunch since I don't have to work. I also have enough food at home that I won't need to go out unless I want to. Of course, I'll probably have a salad from a local shop. Since I won't use my lunch money, I'll keep it and use if for myself.

One of the things I can do is to buy some new clothes and shoes. I just realized that I only have enough shirts to last 2 weeks. Then I'm wearing the same shirts over and over again. If I go to Try it out - mix shoes and clothes together on ClosetMix.com, I can buy both clothes and shoes from one site. I can mix and match the outfits and everything will match perfectly.

One of the things I hate is when I try to buy shoes to match a outfit. Then when you get them, the shoes are off a shade or two. This company specializes in selling clothes that match so I shouldn't have that problem. I love having shoes that match my outfits and this should be a big help.

It wouldn't hurt to have a cute outfit for work.




No shopping this week

I have enough food to last me for the next week. I'm on vacation and going out of town so I really don't need much. I'll get home in enough time to shop for the next week. I just hope I don't burn through my money and I can save some from next week. Then I can buy something for myself.

I didn't stick to my list

I went shopping last week but I didn't even remotely stick to my list. That's a bad thing because I need to watch what I eat. I need to lose this weight and eating junk food is just not going to cut it. I've thought about lapband doctor cincinnati since it's close but I'm scared of surgery.

The fasting and exercise isn't helping. I may need a jump start.

Saturday, August 02, 2008

I need a list

I have to go grocery shopping some time this week. I need to make a list of the things that I need. Not so much so I don't overspend but so that I don't forget anything. I need light bulbs because I just used the last one today. The last time I went shopping I was supposed to get extra bulbs but I forgot them.

I definitely won't forget them this time.

Thursday, July 31, 2008

Can becoming Cisco certified help your career?

My cousin is in the IT field. He absolutely loves it too. That really helps if you love your job. Who wants to have a job that they don't even like. IT is one of those fields that you have to love though. It's so detailed and involved that if you don't love what you're doing, you will burn out very quickly.

Everyone knows that experience is really important in this field. But did you know that Cisco certification can be a huge help? If you become Cisco certified you qualify for much better jobs. Not just in terms of money (although that helps), you get better assignments too. You could work for one set company like my cousin. Or you can become a contractor like my uncle and make the really big bucks. My uncle gets to go to different places to work on their computer systems.

Having your certification gives you credibility. It says that you know your stuff, but it also says that you have what it takes to study and complete a very challenging course of study. I think we all know that studying for a certification test won't be easy. I know one test that my cousin had to take had at least 5 different parts or more. It also took several months for him to complete. He took college type classes to study for the test. The best part is that his company paid for the courses and the exam. He was extremely lucky in that aspect.

Once you're finished though, it will all be worth it. Then you can travel the country or even the world putting your new skills to work doing a job you love.
Sponsored by Cisco

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

I won a pack of gum

I won a pack a few months ago. I won another pack today. The funny thing is that I can't find the other coupon so I missed out on that pack. As soon as I get this coupon, it's going right into my purse for my next weekly shopping trip.

I want my gum this time.

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Kids love vending machines

Kida love vending machines almost as much as adults in office buildings. Sometimes they feel like they need a snack to get them through the rest of their day. Unfortunately with childhood obesity rates, everyone needs to really watch what their kids are eating.

YoNaturals is the first company in the country that offers Healthy Vending for Schools. The machines carry healthy and organic snacks for the kids. The company sets up the machines, delivers the products and creates specialized menus for each school.

If you're on the PTA or the board of your childs school, consider getting a YoNaturals machine. Let's keep our kids healthy.

Someone stole my soda

Again! It's the third time it's happened. I know who it was though. Someone saw the person walk out with a drink that had a certain marker on it, that marker happened to be mine. I mentioned it to their supervisor and manager.

I don't know what will happen but I know it's not cool. Bring your own darn food to work.

Sunday, July 27, 2008

Let Joseph Baniak help with your resume

In order to make more money, you need a better job. What's the biggest prohibitor of people finding better job? You got it, their resume. Your resume is a potential employers first glimpse into you and your abilities. You want to go into it with the best resume possible. Doing so will make the best first impression you can.

But where can you get help with your resume? You can get it from Joseph Baniak's website. What makes him such an expert? Well, check out Joseph Baniak's resume: Joseph Baniak served tours of active duty in the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan and Iraq and retired from the military with the rank of Major.

He devoted 14 years of honorable service as an Officer in the United States Air force. He performed a wide range of duties including project management, procurement, mission coordinate and small group leadership. Major Baniak is a nationally recognized public speaker and delivered many keynote speeches while on active duty. He holds a top-secret security clearance.

Saturday, July 26, 2008

I'm glad I just got paid

Because I am out of cash. I never spend my paycheck until the weekend after payday. If I'm out of cash on payday, then it's tough cookies until Saturday. I don't know why I've set myself up that way, I just did.

At least I have some extra cash now. I hate not having any money at all in my pocket.

Friday, July 25, 2008

I never thought of doctors as tech geeks

You always want a knowledgeable doctor but most people don't even think about where they get that knowledge. Of course they learn everything in medical school. But what happens after that? What if you go to the doctor and need a prescription. Then the doctor remembers that you're already on another medication. Now what? Well he can pull out his handy Smartphone or PDA to use his PDA medical software to find out that possible drug interactions. He wouldn't even have to leave the examination room to get to a computer to do it.

More than 50% of doctors use PDA's or Smartphones. That's why companies like Epocrates Inc make information that can be downloaded onto the device for fast, easy access by the doctors. Epocrates recently launched a free software reference guide for Blackberry's while working on a downloadable guide for IPhones.

I like the idea that doctors are digitally connected. Get me in and get me out without leaving the room. Now that's service!

This announcement was paid for by Epocrates.

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

I found money in my purse

I usually don't lose money in my purse. I usually know exactly how much I have within a few dollars. Yesterday I reached into my purse during lunch for a dollar because I wanted a piece of fruit. Imagine my surprise when I pulled out a $20 dollar bill along with the $1 dollar bill. I don't remember when I took the money out of the bank or when I put it in my purse.

I wonder where it came from or how long it was in there.

Monday, July 21, 2008

Help wipe out Alzheimer's

What are you doing this fall? You are walking in the Alzheimer's Memory Walk right? It's held every year one weekend in the fall. C'mon you can do it because it's only 2-3 miles long. The length of the walk depends on your particular city and route. Here in Pittsburgh the walk generally lasts the whole 3 miles. And considering there's a walk being held in over 600 communities, there's one close to you.

There are multiple purposes for this walk. It helps raise awareness of Alzheimer's. It also raises funds for support, care and research.



Now that you've decided to walk, why not become a team captain? You can hand pick your team and canvas your area for donations. The best part of picking your own team is that you can motivate and challenge your fellow walkers. The motto of the walk is "Together We Can Move A Nation!" Why not help move a nation and volunteer for your walk as a captain. You'll be glad you did. Have fun and support a great cause.
Sponsored by Alzheimer's Walk

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Utility fluctuations

Ugh I hate when my bills fluctuate. I like to pay the exact same amount each month. This month my electric is much higher than it usually is. Next month it will be even more. Luckily I have extra money in my account to cover such instances but man do they suck!

Monday, July 14, 2008

Dinner and a movie

Temp-image_1_1John and I go out to dinner a lot. That's all we usually do though. We eat and go home. Boring right? We're going to start a new tradition. We'll have dinner and go out afterwards. It could be a movie, the museum or anywhere. It's just to do something different.

There are a few movies that I'm really excited about seeing. One of them is WarGames. It's the 25th anniversary edition coming out on July 24th. I can't believe it's been that long since I saw that movie. I remember my 80's movies very well. My favorites were ET, The Last Dragon (which is so cheesy now!) and The Breakfast Club. I still watch most of them on cable when I can find them.

I just saw WarGames a couple of weeks ago. The special movie is cool because it will have special never before seen features. It will also preview the new movie WarGames: The Dead Code. It's only available that one night (7/24) though as a special screening. The funny thing is I remember everyone wanting to become a tech geek after seeing this movie. Some of those people have it made now because they're making a ton of money.

This should be a fun date for us because we both like this movie.
Sponsored by NCM Fathom

Sunday, July 13, 2008

I can't even get an eye exam

I just wrote several posts about buying glasses for less than $8.00 per pair. I wanted to go to my eye doctor and get my contact lenses. Then I would get my prescription and order my glasses over the internet. How about this though...I can't get a appointment before the end of August. And we all know the doctor's office will be crowded because of the kids going back to school.

I guess I need to start looking for a new eye doctor.

Friday, July 11, 2008

I told you it was a good deal

Did you see the article on Zenni on Fox? It's about ZenniOptical.com. I told you it was a good deal. I mean who really sells prescription glasses starting at only $8.00 per pair? Once your store makes it onto the news, you've hit the big time. But the prices are not increasing which is cool. Check them out and get awesome glasses at great prices.

Tuesday, July 08, 2008

My class is closed

I only have a few classes left in order to be done. There is one class that's required by my major and it's closed. That's not even the worse part though. I can take the class in the spring but it will be a writing course. The material itself is horrible and boring but to have a bunch of reports due will be really bad.

I think I'm going to try to throw myself on the mercy of the professor and see if he'll let me in the class anyway.

It's time for new glasses

I only get glasses once every 3 or 4 years. I get new contacts every year but I don't splurge on glasses. I don't wear them very often so I don't like paying a lot of money for them. I found zennioptical.com which sells frames directly from the manufacturer. There is no middleman and virtually no advertising budget. What does that mean for you? High quality frames without the ridiculous markup.

Now my only dilemma is what color to get.

Now it's time to pay for fall

It seems like I'm always paying school. It's like a never ending battle. I just paid for the summer and now fall tuition is already due. In all fairness, summer was only 6 weeks so I was actually taking my last class before the balance of my tuition was due.

I have 3 payments for fall. I'm only taking one class though. I hope the other class I want opens up. That would leave me with only 1 class in the spring instead of 2.

Sunday, July 06, 2008

Free blog advertising

Do you want to get your blog in front of more eyeballs? Do you want more readers? Of course you do, we all do. Try out this site to get Free advertising with banner exchanges and rotating text links.

If people see your link on another site, they'll get curious and want to click on it. Thus bringing new eyes to your site. Best of all, it's free! The more clicks you send, the greater your exchange rate. Now your link will appear on more and more sites. And guess what? You can earn links forever! As long as you send clicks, you'll earn credits.

We all need visits to our blogs. Here's a great way for you to do so. Sign up your friends and earn more links today!

Helpful hints with GPT

I just told you how to use a get paid to try site to your advantage. My biggest piece of advice would be to not cheat! If you cheat, your entire account will be forfeited! You'll do all of that work and not get paid for any of it. The worse part is that you'll get all of this extra mail for nothing. Your signups won't be considered invalid, you just won't get paid.

If you have any questions about how gpt's work ask me. I'll explain the best way I can.

Earn extra money when you get paid to try

Gptt240I know all about Get Paid To Try because I've done it in the past. And yes you do make money from it! Want to find out how? Well keep reading because I'm going to tell you.

With gpt you sign up and get $20 as soon as you fulfill the member bonus. Then you complete member surveys and earn even more money. I know you're thinking it's not real but trust me, it is. You can earn $20 or $200 or even more it's your choice. How much time do you want to spend per day or week. Do you want to spread the money over a certain time period? After you decide that it's smooth sailing. Click here to begin earning money today! You'll see just how easy it is when you get your first couple of payouts.

The best part is that they usually have a referral bonus. Once you're a member in good standing you can refer other people. When they complete offers you get a percentage of their earnings. These earnings are for the life of their membership. So once you complete all of the offers that you can, your referrals can bring in extra cash month after month. It's a great residual earnings plan. Just sit there and think of how many of your friends that your can get to sign up.

What are you waiting for? Get out there and start recruiting people. But first you've got to sign up yourself. Start earning some extra cash now.
Sponsored by GetPaidToTry

Thursday, July 03, 2008

I need to get this post out of the way

This is my 666th post. Yuck! I just want to hurry up and get it out of the way. I'm not really superstitious but I don't like this number by any means either. So this is just a quick little post to get it out of the way.

This post is over and so is this ungodly number.

Run your business from anywhere

Servora_squareThat's right anywhere in the world. Even if you're a small or mid-range business. You can operate your business from anywhere in the world. Going on vacation and worried about your e-commerce site? That's where Servora.com comes in. They can integrate everything into one system that cuts costs, offer convenience and creates efficiency. Try their new on demand application today and run your business from anywhere.
Sponsored by Servora Inc.

I got some new sports gear

I won a prize pack from the lottery. One of the items is a authentic Ryan Howard Jersey in white and red. It's a nice shirt too. The letters are sewn on and it's pretty heavy. I just don't know how I'm going to wash a red and white shirt without ruining it.

I guess I'll have to wash the shirt by itself.

Looking for a side gig

I'm always looking for a new way to make extra money. I have 3 classes to pay for and I don't have the money. One of my friends always have me doing her hair and suggested that I go to cosmetology school. You need a license to do hair but it's a short program. Since I'm pretty good at it, I don't worry about how hard it would be. Regency helps place their grads in upscale salons, for runway shows and for cruise ships. I could definitely learn to love doing hair while cruising the world.

It's something for me to think about. At least I would be doing something that I like to earn extra money.

Wednesday, July 02, 2008

My car is going in the shop

I wanted to put my car in the shop this weekend. However the shop told me that they would keep it all 3 days. Umm I don't think so. I'll wait until next week and take it in. I need a lot of stuff done. It's going to cost me upwards of $600 this time. I've had the worse luck with this car.

Sometimes it just pays to wait and buy new. Used cars suck!

Friday, June 27, 2008

Car repairs are not fun

Especially when you don't have faith in the shop working on your car. I've been searching around for a repair site and I found a auto body falls church shop. They specialize in auto body repair which isn't quite what I'm looking for right now. But it pays to look for an expert in their field when you need someone to work on your car. You don't want some fly by night company that may not do a good job. You want your car returned in pre-accident condition.

Check them out for your car repair needs.

Date night

I was sitting here watching tv and I saw the advertisement for a new movie that's coming out. It made me realize that I haven't been to a movie in while. We usually go out during the day to eat and go shopping. But we haven't had a real date in quite some time. You know the whole dress up and go out thing.

I think it's time for that again.

Thursday, June 26, 2008

People who make a difference

Having a positive influence in your life can make all of the difference in the world. Most often that influence comes in the forms of parents and teachers. It can also come from a person like Norberto Diaz. Bert is a former Latin musician who is now a principal in New Jersey. He uses music to motivate and inspire students. When you meet someone who is enthusiastic about what they do, it's easy to be inspired by them.

Bert is now an administrator but he was a k-8 public school teacher. As a multi-lingual educator (he speaks Spanish, Portuguese and English) he was quickly able to gain the trust of both parents and students. Read his blog to find out more about him. Who knows, he may be one of your child's favorite people.

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

I forgot to buy shirts

We went shopping yesterday and I forgot to get shirts. I need new t-shirts for the weekend. I have jeans and jean shorts but I don't have any t-shirts to wear. All of the ones that I do have are over 3 years old and most of them look like I've had them that long.

Most of them are faded or have stains. One or two have holes but I just wear them around the house. It's time for new shirts. I'll probably get them next weekend.

Sunday, June 22, 2008

A new way for me to exercise

No wonder teenagers are so thin. Their metabolism is already low but most of them are riding skateboards for fun. I'm thinking what kind of fun would it be if I fell. But teens are able to stay on these things and do all kinds of tricks. Have you seen them lately? They have these half pikes built out of wood in their backyards and they ride up and down on them all day long. Sometimes they do spins and back flips but I can't watch. I just keep thinking about them falling and getting hurt.

It looks like it would be a great way to get exercise but too strenuous for me. I know the kids love them though. They even have their own skateboarder gear in the malls. I may buy the clothes, but no skateboards for me. I'll leave that to the neighborhood teens and I'll continue to watch. With my eyes covered of course.

Money making opportunities

I've been making small amounts of money from a lot of sources. The bad thing is that most of them require a minimum to cash out and I'm not even close. I think once I get to the minimum and cash out, I'll drop a few of them. When I think about it, it's not worth the time I've been putting into them for the little bit of money that I get.

Now is a great time to shop for a mortgage

The mortgage meltdown is causing a lot of people to panic. For people like me that have been on the sidelines, this may present a great buying opportunity. Homes almost everywhere in the U.S. are overpriced. Now with the bubble bursting, they're coming down to normal levels.

People like me that have been sitting on the sidelines have a great chance to jump in and buy property. Even mortgage rates are cooperating. They're not as low as they were but they're still at a respectable level. I still have another year of school left but I'm keeping an eye on rates. When I'm done and I'm ready to buy, I want to make sure I get the best rate possible.

Summer shopping

I need to buy some new summer clothes. I don't have any skirts or capri pants to wear. It was hot a couple of weeks ago and this week it's normal temperatures. I need to get to a mall and get some things while there still on sale. I don't want to wait too long or everything will sell out.

Friday, June 20, 2008

I wish I had more money to invest in gold

If I weren't taking classes right now I would invest in precious metals. I would buy silver, gold and platinum. I would focus on gold however. Gold was recently selling for over $1000 per ounce. I went to a few garage/yard sales and saw plenty of junk and scrap gold being sold for less than $1.00 per piece. You could spend a buck and get several pieces. For less than $50 you could have accumulated over an ounce of gold and sold for a heck of a profit.

Since I'll be in school and I don't have time to go to garage or yard sales, I'll stick with a company like Monex to buy gold from. I'll buy gold coins or ingots as future investments. If I needed them to, Monex would even hold the gold for me. However, I'll put them in my safe deposit box since I have one.

Now I just hope that the price of gold keeps increasing.

School is paid for

For this semester anyway. I have a one month reprieve then I have to start paying for the fall. The thing that stinks about that is that I don't even know if I'm taking 1 or 2 classes in the fall. I'm already enrolled in one class and I'm trying to get into another class. I could also change my work schedule just in case the second class is closed and I can take a English class.

All I keep thinking is that I'm almost done.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

John and his medical drama

2 weeks ago one of John's eyes started swelling. First it was under the left eye. Then it was the right top lid and then under the right eye. He went to the eye doctor and it's allergies of all things. It's scary because the last thing you want to mess with is your vision. The doctor went through his medical drug reference software and came up with 3 different drugs for him to take. Actually it was 2 drugs and an eye cream.

The doctor actually pulled out his pda and made sure the 3 drugs wouldn't interact with each other before he finished writing the prescription. He was probably using software by Epocrates. With Epocrates software downloaded onto a pda or smartphone, a doctor can immediately access the information needed to make prescribing decisions – such as drug dosing, side effects and health plan coverage. Unfortunately John's coverage didn't pay for the eye cream but it did pay for the two pills.

His eyes are clearing up now and I'm glad that everything is back to normal. Now we just have to figure out what he's allergic to.


This announcement was paid for by Epocrates

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Is it the weekend yet?!?!

I can't wait until Saturday. I'm so tired with work and school. This class is very challenging, time-consuming and interesting all at the same time. The only problem is that since it's only 6 weeks long, you have a lot of material to cover in a short amount of time.

I finished my book last night around midnight. It's due today. Only 2 more weeks and then I can enjoy the rest of the summer.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Do you follow your horoscope?

Do you follow your horoscope? Do you believe the things that it says. I know some days it seems like the advice was made just for me and is targeted strictly to me. There is a facebook page where you can follow your Biotrend - Facebook Horoscope. If you believe in astrology this page is a must read. It's very interesting and you won't be disappointed in it.

Give it a try and then come back and tell me how accurate it is. Spooky isn't it?

3 classes left

I was talking to a coworker this morning about school. She said that she was done the first week of July. That made me stop and think about it. I only have 3 classes left. Of course, in that time I have another quiz with a book due and the final. In addition to about 5 or so readings. She did cut down a few of the readings.

I will be so glad when this is over.

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Searching for money for school

I use the internet for everything, especially if it's education-related. I work full-time so it's often difficult to do things before or after work. Most places have the ubiquitious 9-5 hours. Considering that's the bulk of my day, it's the internet to the rescue. Searching for college scholarships is not exception. I look online at least once a week for scholarships.

The search engine at Scolarship.com takes your information and tailors it's results to your specific situation. That makes it easier to use because you know you qualify for everything it brings back. Even though I can't find anything for me right now, there's are two contests to win scholarship money. Even if I don't find a scholarship elsewhere, I can at least enter these two.

Any money I can get would be awesome because school is expensive.

Friday, June 06, 2008

We didn't get our midterms back

I was expecting to get our midterm exams back last night. Once we got to class the professor told us that we would get them back next Tuesday. After that we have a quiz on Tuesday. Then the final two Thursday's from now. I've been doing fairly well in the class up until the midterm. I could have pulled out a high B. Now I'm looking at a low B.

As long as I pass I'll be happy with whatever grade I get.

Wednesday, June 04, 2008

Have you signed up for Social Spark yet?

I know I did. I was actually a little disappointed that it took me so long to get accepted into SocialSpark. But it was definitely worth the wait. You do know what Social Spark is right? Here I am rambling on and you don't know what I'm talking about.

First was PayPerPost. Then the team decided to expand and the main company became IZEA. Then the IZEA team decided that they wanted to come up with a product that wouldn't affect the search engines. They decided that no-following links would work. But some advertisers still wanted the all might page rank. So the team decided that they would keep PPP and start a new company. That's when SocialSpark was born. The advertisers still get a great way to advertise their sites, and the search engines don't get manipulated by the links.

But that's not even the best part. The best part is that they'll pay you for your blog posts. If your blog is 90 old with regular posts you probably qualify. Need more to get convinced? There's an awesome blogging community that stands by IZEA. You can ask questions about the site, get somebody to help you with your blog or blogging problems or just chat in general. I'm sure the message board is my favorite feature because I spend so much time there. I've met some great people and found some awesome blogs that I wouldn't have ordinarily found.

If you're not a member of SocialSpark you should really get over there and sign up now.
Sponsored by SocialSpark

Tuesday, June 03, 2008

One of my friends works with me now

I'm pretty cool with T. She just started in the area that I work in but she has a different job function. I feel bad for her because I know the pace of this job is going to get her at first. Our old jobs were go, go, go all the time. This job is really laid back and smooth for the most part. So it will be a real adjustment.

I hope she likes it here. I need more people to talk to.

Monday, June 02, 2008

Stimulating my jewelry box

I hardly ever buy myself really nice things. I mean I do buy stuff for myself like clothes and shoes and the occasional purse. But that stuff is mostly for work anyway. It's not like I buy nice trinkets, iwc watches, or designer shoes.

The economic stimulus check is going to change that for me. I still have a little money left over from my check that I'm going to use to buy something nice for myself. I love jewelry but I don't get to buy it very often. My last purchase was some diamond stud earrings while I was on vacation...last year. They were inexpensive but very pretty.

I was cruising around the Vialuxe website and saw some awesome jewelry including this really pretty bangle bracelet. It's pretty plain, just a simple band of gold. But it's 18kt and really rich looking if you know what I mean. There is something so elegant about 18kt gold jewelry. It has a different look and texture to it than regular 14kt gold.

I decided that if I'm going to shell out money for jewelry, I'm going to make sure it's a piece that will get noticed. I don't want to be noticed for some outrageous design, but I do want to be noticed for a great piece of jewelry.

Sunday, June 01, 2008

Did you try to win that IPOD?

In my last post, I talked about a survey to win a IPOD. You answer the survey questions and get entered into a random drawing? When you're eligible for things like this do you enter? I usually do. I've won some good things from surveys and sweepstakes.

I used to enter a lot more often but now I just enter things online. I love to win too! I just wish I did it more often.

Friday, May 30, 2008

You could win a IPOD!

Ok now who doesn't like to win stuff? I know I do. This contest is geared towards HR executives in hospitals and health care delivery systems. All you have to do is take a survey. Now how easy is that. Answer a few brief questions, enter your email address and you're entered.

Surveys like these provide valuable information to companies. They use the information that they collect to improve their services, customer service levels and even their prices. You're really helping out everyone when you take these surveys. They don't even take a lot of time. Just a few questions and you're done.

One winner will be chosen at random. To take the survey, click here. Who knows, you may be the proud owner of a new IPOD!

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

1 payment left

I still have one payment left for my summer class. My payment is due on the 17th of June and my class is over on the 26th. That's the only good thing about summer classes, they only last 6 weeks. I just wish my teacher had only given us 6 weeks worth of work instead of everthing that we would have done during the semester.

Oh well, it will be over soon.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Have you heard of caffeine chips?


I'm always drinking soda for the caffeine buzz that it gives me. I usually have a salty and/or crunchy snack with it because it just seems to fit. Now I can have a different kind of snack. It's a caffeine-induced chip called Engobi. Each 1.5 ounce bag has 140 milligrams of caffeine. That's about the same as a cup of coffee and way more caffeine than most energy drinks. Needless to say, once I eat Engobi chips, I won't need to drink a soda with it. Or I'll be racing around like a madwoman.

Check out ENGOBI's website to read about the chips for yourself and brace yourself for some serious munchie action!