Health Insurance

Health insurance is a very hot topic in the news these days, mostly about Obamacare and how good or bad the whole thing is or will be. Hey, it's health insurance, something everyone needs but most cannot afford. I know because I cannot afford it. If you live in or around Burlington then you need to talk to the folks that offer burlington health insurance. Their staff will do their best to get you the coverage that you need with premiums that you can afford. Don Allred Insurance, located on South Church St. in Burlington, has been providing health insurance for N.C. residents since 1977. In 1983, they started offering coverage with Blue Cross/Blue Shield, North Carolina’s premier health insurance provider. Blue Cross/Blue Shield is a company that has excellent health insurance coverage. I used to have Blue Cross when I worked at the college. I could afford it then because the school paid for it. It's great to have health insurance because your body doesn't care when it gets sick or hurt. Just one of those things you do not need until you desperately need it. Don't put it off any longer, give them a call today at 1 (800) 280-2230 or visit the website to get yourself a quote. Here's to your good health in the coming new year!

Give Him A Raise

A waiter in Houston put his job on the line and is receiving praise after he told a table he was unwilling to serve them. The waiter, Michael Garcia, was waiting on a family of regulars who have a 5-yr old child (Milo) with down syndrome. Another family he was serving made comments about the noises the child was making so he moved the annoyed party to another table. The waiter then overheard "special needs children need to be special somewhere else," from the table. That's when he informed them he would be unable to serve them. They left the restaurant. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152464943985273&set=a.10150737382630273.715282.131281285272&type=1&theater

Real Estate App

There appears to be an app for just about everything these days with no shortage of peoples ideas for cell phone applications. If they can think it, there will eventually be an app. Real estate is no exception now with the introduction of the goconnect real estate crm app. This app will help real estate agents connect with clients and help them automate some of their workload without taking away the personal parts of the client-agent relationship. Seems like a win-win situation for all concerned. People like apps as much as they like their cell phones. Some are for fun and games and some, like this one, are for serious business. Make no mistake, real estate transactions are not something one should take lightly. The client is looking to purchase property either to live in or as an investment for their future. Agents are there trying hard to make a living, being paid by commission. Commission sales jobs of any kind are hard, I have been there and failed so I know. If you are in the market for real estate or are a real estate agent then you should check out this app and add it to your cell phone.

Bitstrips

These things are running rampant all over Facebook. Most are cute, some are really hilarious. This, my friends, is what my lovely wife thinks I look like:

Merry Christmas

Winter Poem

A friend emailed me this and I agree wholeheartedly :) I get this poem every winter & every winter I love re-reading it. It's a beautiful poem and very well written.

A poem by Abigail Elizabeth McIntyre




FUCK IT'S COLD The End.

Portable Stands

If you are in a band or are a singer then chances are you need to practice your music so that when you are performing it is the best that you can make it. Unless you are a musical genius that hears a song once and then has it down pat perfectly you need to practice and rehearse the music. When you are performing then you want all of the stage to yourself as much as is possible with other band members but when you are practicing or rehearsing then you need the music in front of you more so you need a stand to put the sheets on/ The problem with music stands is that they are awkward things and always seem to be in the way when you do not need them. Problem solved now though with a portable music stand. The Peak music stand folds up and fits into its own little travel case so that you can take it anywhere you want to go or just toss it in a corner somewhere in your practice room and it won't take up much space nor will it be in the way. Pretty neat!

Black Days

It's that shopping season again, time for Black Friday and all that stuff.

Black Friday started a week early online, and then one day early in stores. Black Thanksgiving I suppose lol

Cyber Monday started a week early online and continues as I write this blog post. Black everyday lol

Here is my thought... If you can sell me these expensive items at such a cheap price on Black Days, how about just do it all year long so I don't have to face those ugly crowds?

Fun and Funny

WTG Andrew!

Andrew McCutchen has been named the 2013 National League Most Valuable Player by the Baseball Writers Association of America. McCutchen spent 2013 as a force in all facets of the game, batting .317 with a .380 on-base percentage and .489 slugging percentage, 21 home runs, 84 RBIs, 27 stolen bases and 97 runs scored. For his efforts he was also named a Silver Slugger Award winner and a nominee for a Gold Glove Award. McCutchen is the sixth Pirate to win the MVP award since it was created in 1931 (Pittsburgh's Paul Waner received the NL MVP Citation in 1927) and the first Pittsburgh MVP since Barry Bonds in 1992.

No Words Required :)

Trying This Out

Pirates pick up a pair of Silver Slugger Awards

WTG Fransico

Pirates left-hander Francisco Liriano has been named the recipient of the 2013 National League Comeback Player of the Year award. Liriano, 30, set a career high with 16 wins in his first season with the Pirates as he helped lead the club to the Postseason. His 16 victories tied for third in the league and he fell just one inning shy of qualifying for the NL ERA rankings, where his 3.02 ERA would have placed him 10th. In 2012, Liriano went 6-12 with a 5.34 ERA in 34 total games with the Minnesota Twins and Chicago White Sox. The Comeback Player of the Year Awards are officially sanctioned by Major League Baseball and presented annually to one player in each League who has re-emerged on the field during the season.

Little Help?

This gentleman needs some assistance, no matter how small it may be. His daughter needs a surgery that he cannot afford to pay for since he is unemployed at the moment. He lives in Spain and I hear that many folks there, like us here in the States, are out of work. Sucks to have that problem :( Anyways, if you would like to make a donation through PayPal, no matter how small or large, here is his email info: JOSE MANUEL CORDOBA ALBA jmca747@hotmail.com

Please, if you can spare a dollar or two, donate :)

Just some Prayer

O Lord, Jesus Christ Our Savior, for our sake You have been born, have hungered and thirsted, have suffered, and have laid down your life. As I share in Your sufferings, allow me to share also in Your graces. May your Precious Blood wash away the stains of my sins; may Your righteousness cleanse my iniquities. + Consider rather my faith in You than my deeds when I appear before You, My Judge. As my health fails, increase in me your bountiful graces, May I stand firm in my faith; my hope in You never fail; may my love of You never grow cold; may the fear of death never cause me to abandon trust in You, but persevering unto the end, may I say to you: "Into Your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit." And may I so enter into your everlasting Kingdom, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever. Amen. May Christ our True God have mercy on us and save us through His Graciousness and His Love for mankind. AMEN.

Opiate Addiction And Recovery

What is an opiate? An opiate is basically any drug that comes from the poppy plant as well as a drug (such as morphine or codeine) that is made from opium and that is used to reduce pain or cause sleep. Not all drug problems are from illegal drugs like cocaine or heroin. Sometimes they come from your own doctor and they may have been good for what ailed you but you should have stopped taking them but now find that you are addicted and cannot cease using them. For these cases you need help from professionals to get you off these opiates and back to living a normal life. An addiction to opiates is not all that bad if you can get the right help and that is where places like rapid detox of Las Vegas comes into play. Their process is rather simple, actually. First off the doctor there will need to know what drug you are addicted to as well as your medical history and then they can provide the recovery program that is right for you. This is not a program of "one size fits all". Everyone is different and will have different needs to recover. If you are addicted or know someone that is, get help by visiting their website for all the information you need.

Works For Me

Now To beat St. Lousi1

Photo belongs to MLB, not me Hallelujah, the Pirates are now set to play the Cardinals in the real playoffs, not that silly one game against the Reds they had to play yesterday.

LET'S GO BUCS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Finally!!!!!

After way too many years of drought the Buccos are back and are headed for the playoffs! No doubt that the Pirates fans are dancing still after last night ensured them a playoff spot :) The photo belongs to Greg Johnson, not me.

The Other Woman

No, this is not a post about cheating husbands or boyfriends. This time the other woman is a great thing. This time the other woman is here to save you time and troubles. The other woman is house cleaning services in cary nc. They also do businesses as well as some other services to help people save time in their busy days to do other things besides work and household chores. Time is the one thing we all have in common. There are only twenty four hours in a day in which to do all the things that you need to do. Wouldn't it be nice if someone came around on a continual basis to help you save some of that time so that you could do something enjoyable? Of course it would and we all know that. Spend time relaxing or doing something that you always seem to put off because of lack of time. This is bound to be not only pleasurable but may actually be beneficial to your health.

Go Away already

The past two weeks have been extra torturous for me. The humidity is high for the desert and makes breathing a real chore at times, more so than my usual COPD breathing difficulties. What should have been two or three days of humidity has now been two weeks and this crap should continue for another three or four days or more. ugh. I wish it would either rain or this humidity would just go away already!

It's About time

Pittsburgh Pirates finally will not have a losing season this year!!!!!

One streak came to an end last night though as the Pirates improved their record to 81-57. This ensures that even if they lose all of their remaining games they will avoid having a losing record for the first time since 1992.

Now, let's get to the playoffs! Let's Go Bucs!!!!!

Keep It Safe

Whether you are storing your most valuable possessions or business papers or your gun collection you need to keep these things safely put away in a safe. But, not just any safe will do, you need something totally secure like a fingerprint safe. But why a fingerprint safe? If you think it is frustrating when you forget your password to an online site, imagine being unable to get into your safe, and your valuables! Here is what the website says about whay you need a fingerprint safe: First, these safes operate with the touch of a finger. No more lost keys or forgotten passwords. Second, as your fingerprint is unique, these safes are extremely secure, as no one else has your fingerprint. While there are other keyless safes available, (such as combination), the codes can be forgotten and are difficult to enter in low light or emergency conditions. With biometric safes, however, you simply place your finger on the sensor and you’re in! The safes are extremely easy to program, add or delete users and, with a fingerprint capacity of 100, are the perfect keyless solution to protect valuables. Cannot argue with logic like that! For my mind, this is especially true if you are storing guns. Too many times lately the news is about people getting shot and often it is by people that should never have had access to a gun in the first place. Keep your guns safely away from everyone but you and those you trust.

Cymbals

Okay, so I am certain that, by now, having read all my blog posts about drumming that you all have gone to Musician's Friend and bought yourself some drums or the entire drum kit. And, no doubt, all your neighbors love you for being so musical. In order to be a real drummer though you need more than just drums. You also need some metal to go along with the drums, like these zildjian a series cymbals at musician's friend. While most drummers do beat the daylights out of the skins and that is the part we remember about their music they also beat the daylights out of their cymbals. That is why you need a well made cymbal that can take a beating and still be just as good for the next song as well as the next gig. If you want to be a great drummer then you must be a complete drummer, run over and buy yourself some cymbals today to go with the drums you have.

For My Neice

putting this here because it might be too wordy for Facebook... My poor brother and his awful memory lol That's what a lifetime of alcohol and drugs will do to a man's brain :( Neither Of Virginia's parents or Georges were immigrants. Their parents may have been, have no clue there. I never met George's parents but I did know both of Virginia's parents and they didn't even have an accent beyond that which most people living in Pennsylvania and Ohio have which isn't much of an accent at all. Not like the South or New Yorkers have. George served in the Army for over 20 years and was in Germany for a number of those years. He was a Master Sargeant with a soft office job so I do not blame him for not wanting to leave the service. He retired from the Army and worked as a Security Guard after that for a number of years. Virginia spent her years having babies during her marriage to George lol Not sure she worked at anything, she never mentioned any jobs she had during that time. Most of the jobs my mother had through her life were factory jobs or as a bar maid, things that come and go and nothing ever permanent. In her later years she had severe back problems and could not work at all and lived on welfare then later on Social Security benefits she got from being the spouse of my stepfather who was deceased. Not sure how she managed to live on what little she got there but she did :) Let me talk about your daddy too lol Paul was a great kid for maybe the first twelve years or so. Then he was more trouble than he may have seemed worth lol Seems like he was always in trouble with the law or he was getting into mischief being drunk, something that never seemed to cure itself. He could be a wonderful person when he was sober or off drugs but sadly those times were few and far between. Probably his greatest accomplishment in life was that he died older than I thought he would and he helped to create you. He loved you more than words can say and was always proud as a peacock to be your father. I hope you always remember that, no matter what else you recall about him. I remember that he was a real pain in the ass to me and he cost me a lot of money through the years with stuff that he stole or allowed his "friends" to steal from me. But, I forgive him all that because I love the man. I remember Paul as a small child, 4 years older than me who was a typical big brother and a pain in the ass lol But I know that he really loved me so it was all good, just part of growing up as brothers. No one is perfect, not even your uncle Frank :-P I hope some of this helps you with your family interests :)

Ahhh, Relief

It has been a while since I lived in a big city like Chicago or Seattle or Los angeles but one thing I remember about big city life is the stress. No matter what job you have there is bound to be stress all around you. Seems like the people in big cities are always walking on a tightrope. The one thing they need most is stress relief. What better way to get instant relief than a great massage? Not only to relax you from the worries of the day and all the stress but it's great for muscle aches and pains as well. If you live in or around the big city of Chicago then you need to take your stress ridden body over to River North massage chicago. This is not your ordinary massage parlor, this is a high class operation here. While they are open 7 days a week (M-F: 10AM-9PM, Sat/Sun: 9AM-7PM) walk-ins are not allowed, you must make an appointment. This is for your safety as well as theirs. Like I said, this is a high class operation and very professional. Their rates are nice too. You can get a Student massage for $35 (for 55 minutes) or a Chair Massage - $25 for 20 mins, $40 for 30 mins or, you might opt for the Swedish Massage $75 for 60 mins. This one is great for deep muscle tissue. Don't let the stress of every day big city life keep you down, get relaxed with a great massage from these folks. Your body and your mind will be thankful!

The Carol Burnett show - dentist

Runaway (Official Video) by Darnaa

How Odd

Florida appears to be a very strange state. First a man appears to have stalked another man, more like a teenager, and ends up shooting and killing the teen. A jury lets him go saying he is not guilty. In another case a man fires his gun up in the air. No one is hurt or killed but this man goes to jail. Something does not seem quite right here. And people think California is a weird state? lol

Yeah, Right

They finally came to pick up the oxygen supplies. They were supposed to show up yesterday but they didn't. My lovely wife stayed home all day waiting and was not happy that they did not show up. Today they called and did show up. They gave me lovely pieces of paper that say I have refused treatment and failed to give the company a prescription for their supplies. Say, what? All I told them on the phone was that if Medi-Cal wasn't going to pay for it and I cannot afford to pay for it then they should pick it up. I didn't refuse anything lol Insurance and medical people crack me up. All they do is either refuse what you need or cover their asses. Oh well, I got the oxygen machine that I bought and am okay. Only thing I can't do is leave the house because I have no portable oxygen. Yet. I am searching the internet all the time looking...

Cushions

Because it gets incredibly hot in my kitchen where i sit at the computer day and night I have been spending a lot more time outside in the late afternoons and evenings trying to cool off with the breeze that blows through the desert. What I am sitting on is not very comfortable though as it is hard as a rock. I need some cushions on the patio. I suppose it might help if I had some natural cushion of my own but I don't. I have a very skinny frame and a bony butt to go along with it. Not conducive to sitting on hard objects. My wife sits on a wooden bench and is just fine, I sit on that bench and am in pain in no time at all. I definitely need cushions! If you have any patio furniture then you may need some new cushions for yourself. This website has a variety of shapes and sizes so you are bound to find the right ones for your needs. They even have pet beds in case you want to show some appreciation for your pets. Grab yourself some new outdoor cushioning, your backside will appreciate it. Even if you don't have a bony butt.

Jay Leno - Tonight Show Bloopers from the past 17 years

Consulting Firm

Okay, so you've decided to go online with your business and are scratching your head thinking "Now, what?". Website to get, pages to build, traffic to find, all these things to confuse any normal person and make them have second thoughts about the whole internet business routine. What you need, if you are feeling as though you are up the proverbial creek without a paddle is the ux consulting company. They can assist you with the most important things you will need for your business like a website and branding. Branding is very important, you want people to recognize your business as soon as they see your logo/identifiers. Think about logos you are familiar with, like Nike. You see the arrow on something and immediately think Nike. That's why branding is important for your business! Check out Jonathan's website and let him gice you the expert help you need to have a successful online business.

Windows 7 Pro

I got my new computer yesterday and am trying to get used to Windows 7 professional. I must say that, so far, I am not impressed with Windows 7 and I am not sure what is so professional about it lol I shall keep at it though :)

Class Rings

When I was in high school, many many many years ago, I was as poor as the proverbial church mouse and could not afford any luxuries of life. Most of the time this did not bother me that much because I was used to being poor I suppose and luxuries in high school were not that important to me anyway. The one luxury I always regretted though was not being able to buy any of the class rings that were offered to us students. Like the rest of my classmates I took the paperwork home hoping that somehow, some way, my mother could figure out a way to pay for it but that was not to happen. I know she cried about it which just made me sad as well, I never wanted to make her cry. I told her that it wasn't that big of a deal but I think she knew I was lying through my teeth. I never did get a high school ring even in later years when I could have afforded one. It just wouldn't have been the same I guess. I did however buy a college ring so that made up for things.

Medi-Cal Strikes Again

I talked to the oxygen supply people today. What a hoot! They will be coming next week to pick up their stuff because Medi-Cal won't pay for it and I cannot afford it. Medi-Cal will not pay for it because they now claim that the test that they ordered me to take, a blood gas test, does not prove that a person needs oxygen. WTF? Why order the damn thing then? lol

Banners

If I mention banner advertising most people would immediately think of the little nuisance ads they see on just about every website. But I am not talking about these banner ads, or even about the internet. Although people do spend an enourmous amount of time online or in front of a television they also do go outside, to shop, to drive to work, take kids places, and this is where if you have a business you may wish to consider Vinyl Banner Printing to attract more people to your business. Online or off, advertising is everywhere and in spite of ourselves if we see an advertisement we look at it. Don't think banners and such are outdated because they are not. Drive past any car sales lot and you will see they thrive today. Get more business by advertising.

My Apologies

I know it must appear that I have turned into some sort of blogging maniac today and for that I apologize. I have had many blogs to write but put them all off until now. One more after this one and I am done for the day and hopefully can give you a few days break from all of this :)

Bankruptcy

I have had the "pleasure" of going through bankruptcy and while it was not all that difficult a process the decision to go through it was. My ex-wife and I did it alone and once in the courtroom realized (too late) that that was a mistake. If you go through bankruptcy you really need to have at the very least a bankruptcy free consultation. These days such things can be done online at least at the beginning. Finding out of bankruptcy is really the right choice for you and your family and then finding a lawyer in your district that can assist you further is the way to go. There is no one size fits all here as every state has its own bankruptcy laws so you really need to know what is what where you live not somewhere else. Find a lawyer in your district that knows these exemptions and these laws and you are certain to get through this process a lot less painfully.

Keep it Up Bucs!

The Pirates are having a great year and I hope that it continues all the way down the stretch. They have won 6 straight and have to be pumped up about how well things are going at this point in time. I am crossing my fingers that at the All Star Break things do not start to unravel. it has been way too long for Pirates fans to have reason to celebrate :(

Immigration Law

Living in California I see a lot of Hispanic peoples, and it is sometimes hard to believe they are the minority that the government thinks they are lol Aside from that they are here and many of them are here illegally which is a shame. Through the years I have worked with a few that ran across the border hoping for a better life and none of us knew until they told us that they were becoming American citizens. I applaud them for their success but often wonder why they must sneak into the country like they do. No matter how they get here, once here they are bound to run into immigration issues that are beyond their expertise and they will need a lawyer that deals with such issues and should avail themselves of the services of immigration lawyers in los angeles. It bears mentioning here that the Root Law Firm handles more than just Hispanic immigration issues. According to their website their staff speaks Russian, Spanish, Hungarian, Polish and German. So, no matter how you got here or where you came from there is bound to be someone that speaks your language and can assist you.

Picasso On My mind

I must have had Picasso on my mind yesterday. Along with looking up my favorite piece of artwork which was created by him I also went to YouTube and listened to the Last Picasso, a song by the ever wonderful Neil Diamond

Joust Away

This has got to be my favorite piece of artwork of all time. Maybe perhaps because I have often found myself jousting at windmills in Life...

Styling At The Beach

Summer is here, it is hotter than it should be and many folks are, as is usual for this time of year, heading to the nearest beach hoping to have fun and stay cool. Time to get out those lovely bathing suits and show off your curves. You don't have a lovely bathing suit? then get one from aquabeachwear.com a great website with a wide variety of swimwear. From modest to "ooh la la" this site has the swimwear for you ladies to hit the beach and look great while you are there. Designers from ABS to Vix with many others in the middle you are sure to find the suit that fits you and your sense of beach style. Do not delay, give them a visit, pick a great outfit at the best price for you and be prepared to hit the beach and dazzle.

Spam

I get a lot of spam email every day as I am certain most folks do. If it isn't telling me how to lose weight, get bigger or improve my love life I do glance at it. Yopu never know, might be something interesting there. Here is something I got the other day and I did find it interesting enough to pass along : Good afternoon, This is Ricky Diaz from Rapid Home Solutions. I've just come across your site - you have wonderful content! I would like to let you know about a news story that your audience may be interested in. We have just launched a $1.75 Million Indiegogo fundraising campaign to build Category-5 hurricane resistant, move-in ready homes in just 1 day. You can view this Indiegogo campaign by visiting: http://igg.me/at/RapidHomes You can also view a copy of our press release which went live this morning (June 19, 2013) here http://www.prweb.com/releases/2013/RapidHomes/prweb10842420.htm We'd love for you to join us in our efforts of spreading the word about this campaign as it is new life saving technology that will help in the relief, recovery and prevention of loss of life due to natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Sandy and the recent Oklahoma tornadoes. If you have any questions or would like to speak with or interview our CEO, please feel free to contact me at any time. Thank you! Ricky Diaz Rapid Home Solutions, Inc. Program Developer Orlando, FL RapidHomes.org Rickyd@Rapid-Home-Solutions.com

Get Licensed

if you live in North Carolina and need legal assistance with orofessional and occupational licensing then you need to contact a professional business contracts attorney raleigh nc. Your business does not necessarily have to be located in Raleigh but lots of these licesing issues are handled in that city and these lawyers are adept at handling such cases. Ed Gaskins and James Hash represent individuals and businesses before a large number of professional and occupational licensing bodies in North Carolina. You might be able to do this licensing yourself but, if you mess things up and then need a lawyer's assistance it is going to be worse so, get legal advice first and make sure that everything is in order and proper. It's your business, so do everything right the first time then enjoy your business without worrying about licensing.

Praying

I am praying that I have made the correct decision here. I just spent my last $600 on this:

The first ultra-quiet oxygen concentrator available at such affordable pricing! Our huge volume means huge savings for you! The Respironics EverFlo Q is a smaller and lighter, ultra-quiet 5-LPM oxygen concentrator! Respironics took the top-selling EverFlo and added special noise-reducing features to make a virtually silent oxygen concentrator. Get all the benefits of an ultra-quiet oxygen concentrator without the big price. It weighs just 31 lbs! The Respironics EverFlo-Q model is much quieter - rated at just 40 db of sound - well below many other oxygen concentrators on the market today. And saves you money by using less electricity than many other 5 lpm oxygen machines. The concentrator includes the "OPI" (Oxygen Purity Indicator), a built-in oxygen analyzer that constantly verifies the oxygen delivered is more than 88% pure - or it sounds an alarm to warn you! Get a premium oxygen concentrator without paying the premium price!. SAFE! The flowmeter is recessed to prevent breakage and easy to set. The Respironics EverFlo-Q oxygen concentrator has a durable compressor with a pressure relief valve and a thermal protection switch to prevent overheating. Low & high pressure alarms are standard. The humidifier platform will work with any style bottle and has a simple velcro closure. Uses just 350 watts of power, saving you money! Easy-rolling wheels and a large handle on top (and just 31 lbs) make it easy to move! No filters to change for at least 2 years. Durable - Respironics has a reputation for building and delivering top-quality products The EverFlo-Q will definitely impress you! Respironics proudly backs the EverFlo-Q oxygen concentrator with a 3-Yr Bumper-To-Bumper Warranty (additional warranty available)! We've been selling oxygen concentrators since they were introduced in the 1970's, so we know our equipment. We strongly recommend the new Respironics EverFlo Q quiet oxygen concentrator as a reliable, low-maintenance machine. Our trained technicians can often solve service problems over the phone. We stand behind the concentrators we sell with true customer service. Technical Specifications Dimensions - 23"h x 15"w x 9.5"d, | Weight - 31 lbs, | Delivery Rate - From 1/2 to 5 liters (1/2 liter increments), | Oxygen % - 93% at 1/2 to 5 liters (+/- 3%), | Electrical Requirements - 115V, 60Hz, | Power Consumption - 350 Watts average. Warranty 3 Year Limited Warranty from Respironics, Bumper-to-Bumper *HOT SUMMER PRICE - JUST $599! Pray for me, please :) $600 is a lot of money to me. But, well worth it if it keeps me breathing, something that Medi-Cal does not seem to care if I do or not :(

Just Maybe

Maybe if I die the idiotic people at medi-Cal will scratch their heads and think "I guess he really did need that oxygen after all". Looks like Medi-Cal is now saying the blood test I took a couple months ago is not good so they are not going to pay for the oxygen. WTF??? What is the point of having insurance if they are not going to provide you with the essentials you need to keep living???

Windows, Bah!

For some odd reason, starting just a few weeks ago, almost every time I start my computer Windows tells me they want to check the external hard drive for consistencies. Say, what? The external drive is not required to start up nor run the Windows Xp I run so what is the problem?? Yesterday Windows was really ticking me off. First it wanted to check the external drive as I started up and I cancelled that. Then I tried to use some file that is on the external hard drive but XP couldn't find it. WTH?? The Xp tried to tell me the drive was NOT formatted and would I like to format it now? Oh, hell no! I have way too much music and photos and stuff to scrap and start over. I go to My Computer and right click the drive and check properties. Sure enough it shows the drive has nothing, absolutely nothing! Looked like 30 gigs of space shot to hell there and I was not a happy camper. While trying to figure out what to do next I see a little green light showing me that my electronic cigarette is fully charged so i removed it. At least something was going right for the day. Guess what? The moronic Windows XP gave me back my 180 gig external drive as soon as the e-cig was removed. Obviously Windows XP cannot tell the difference between a cigarette and a hard drive. All's well that ends well but still, I gotta wonder about the people that write this software for Microsoft. Maybe they need more Starbucks coffee in their system...

Amazing

it's a scorcher outside today, hitting triple digits. Feels a lot hotter in my kitchen although I am sure the ground outside is much hotter. I was shocked this afternoon though when I saw one of these lovely creatures walking through my dirt yard looking for some shade;

usually all I see outside my window is small wrens and pigeons with an occasional big black raven. So the quail was quite the pleasure. He stayed in the shade of a building for a while then ventured elsewhere. I hope he had a great journey :)

Clean Up Time

My wife has a small dog and like most small dogs accidents occur with some frequency no matter how often she takes him outside to do his business. If these accidents happened on the tile floors it would be no big deal but, like most dogs, he prefers the carpet instead. Carpets require constant cleaning and not just by the usual do it yourself methods but by a professional carpet cleaner. If it isn't the dog making a mess then it's the humans. Kids are especially good at accidents usually involving soda pop or fruit punch. Again, calling for a professional to clean things up and make it all look like new again. If I lived in North Carolina then my speed dial would include a business called Clean Home which are carpet cleaners holly springs nc. They have a variety of carpet cleaning services that they offer to fit a variety of budgets. All they ask is a phone call to let them know what you need and they will do their best to clean whatever it is that needs cleaning, whether it is carpet cleaning or sanitizing for pet odors. They also offer carpet stretching which is very useful if your carpet is a few years of age. they just do not stay as tight as when they were first installed. Constant foot traffic as well as carpet cleaning can cause them to loosen up at times so stretching them back out would be great! If you live near Raleigh North Carolina and have carpet then give them a call at 919-744-7441. Even if you do not have small dogs or children. Adults can be messy too and accidents do happen.

Sense?

Last night the girls brought me home dinner. Two chili dogs and an ice cream sundae from der Weinerschnitzel. I ate one chili dog then ate the ice cream sundae as it was melting quickly. Feeling full I put the other chili dog in the fridge for later eating but I didn't eat it. This morning I get chewed out for not eating both chili dogs. Told my wife I was feeling rather pukey after the ice cream and she went on and on about how I felt well enough to keep smoking, yada yada yada. For breakfast I asked the daughter to cook me a couple of eggs. She then asked her mother if she wanted eggs also. My wife said no and pointed to a cupcake she was eating. I argue that the cupcake is not as good a breakfast as eggs would be. She disagrees, using feminine logic, and tells me that the cup cake was made with an egg. Here is how this works... the cupcake was made with an egg so it is food. the ice cream I ate that was made with milk and cream and all is NOT food. Go figure.....

Back To Burlap

When I was a youngster lots of things came in burlap bags, like potatoes at the market. If you went to a Farmer's Market type place they might place your entire order in a burlap bag. Those bags came in handy at home too but then came plastic bags and burlap kind of went by the wayside. These days people are trying their darndest to be environmentally aware and helpful about preserving the Earth. Today I found a company that is like that, offering burlap gift bag. These bags are not all shiny and full of razzle dazzle like plastics might be but they serve their purpose and they serve it well. And, being a natural product they certainly help the environment. They make great gift bags and, once the gift is opened, they can be used for things around the house. For instance you can use these bags many many times as a lunch bag for school or work. Burlap is very long lasting and durable and you would be hard pressed to wear them out this way. Another great use for these bags is with plants. Burlap tends to hold water very well and they can be used to ensure that your plants stay moist without over watering. Help preserve the planet you live on, check out all the great bags on the website and put some burlap to a good use.

Plan B?

I never did get a bank account so that I could use Liberty Reserve as I had planned. Good thing I didn't as Liberty Reserve is in a world of hurt and the owner has been arrested. Guess my thoughts about money laundering were right on the money :) http://www.dailyfinance.com/on/digital-currency-liberty-reserve-money-laundering/

Yoga Mats

When I think about yoga I think about very limber people bending and stretching their body into pretzel like shapes like some sort of contortionist all the while sitting on a floor. Not a truthful picture though as these days they do not do it sitting just on a floor they do it sitting on mats. I guess it's more comfortable that way, floors are hard. I have to admit I am jealous of these people because, quite frankly, there is no way my body could ever stretch that way or be that limber. Maybe when I was a young man but not now. heck I get jealous just watching my dog stretch his body. My idea of stretching these days is simply standing up and walking. Yoga is definitely not for this crippled up old man. But, if I was to give it a try i would certainly want a mat because as I said floors are hard. Mats are soft and comfortable. Of course, being me, I also would want to not spend a fortune on a mat or several mats so I would be looking for cheap yoga mats. And I would find them too, in a variety of prices as well as a variety of colors. Colors can enhance your life in ways many people don't understand and that includes both relaxation as well as exercises like yoga. Why sit on a drab colored mat when you can sit on something bright and cheerful looking. This site has all sorts of yoga stuff, from apparel to music and DVDs to Zafus and Zabutons. Nope, not telling you what those are, check out the website and discover them for yourselves. They're not scary!

Thanks For The Win!

Not exactly what the team was hoping for but, hey, a win is a win and I'm sure all Pirates fan say thanks for the error and the win! Go HERE to watch the video or read the story.

Save On Eyewear

My lovely wife suffers from something called Keratoconus which is a degenerative disorder of the eye in which structural changes within the cornea cause it to thin and change to a more conical shape than its normal gradual curve. Basically what this means is that she sees things from light that "normal" people do not. She has explained it to me many times over the years (as if I'd forget lol) and it doesn't seem pleasant at all. So, when the days are bright and sunny she needs to go outside wearing sunglasses. She is like most people there, she misplaces them or loses them everywhere she goes. This is especially true if they were inexpensive glasses she found at say the dollar store. That's okay by me because they were cheap. She does have some heavy duty sunglasses that she loves but they were not cheap so she keeps good track of them. Unfortunately they are starting to show signs of too much wear and terar, they are scratches all over the lenses and that's not good no matter what your vision may be. So I am surfing around the net looking for some decent sunglasses and I come across http://www.eyesave.com. A very nice website that has a lot of sunglasses and many designer brands at very affordable prices for such things. Glasses that my lovely wife is bound to keep track of and take care of for a long, long time. They also have reading glasses of various magnitudes so I may grab myself a pair or two of those while I am there. My glasses are broken and some days I really strain the eyeballs to read things especially if the print is small. Reading glasses help there I'm sure. If you need sun or reading glasses then you should go and check out the deals on this website.

Paying Online

I just got my first social security money put onto my debit card and decided I should pay my utility bills online. Generally a simple process, at least for the phone bill which I have pain online a time or two in the past. I was not prepared for the nightmare... Both the Edison company and the Southern California Gas Company websites are a disaster. They are very hard to navigate for a first time user and more so for someone that simply wishes to pay their bill once with a credit card. You must register an account, set up passwords, etc. and then you still have to wander around the website trying to find the magical page that will allow you to pay the damned bill. After you find the magical doorway it gets even dumber. You cannot just pay those companies, they use an outside contractor for such things. meaning I then had to go off their site to another website and pay the bill I wanted to pay along with a "transaction fee". How kind. Not! I realize that all I paid out extra was a measley three dollars or so but three dollars to someone on a small fixed income can be a lot of money. The utility companies need to stop being anal retentive and come join the rest of the world in the online present. If Verizon can do it so can SCE and SoCal Gas!

Web To Print

In the past, if you wanted something printed, you gathered up all your materials and drove to the local printing shop and arranged the best deal for your printing needs. I am certain that this particular method still works and that for many printing shop businesses it is the way they remain in business. But, there is more options available to printing shops these days thanks to the internet. If you are looking to increase your printing business then you should investigate www.eoncode.com a company that specializes in software specifically for printing shops. They have lots of ideas that surely can make you extra money and they are very helpful to their customers so you can achieve that goal of extra earnings. As they say on the website: The goal behind this trend setting order processing platform was to create a tool which would make online ordering easy for your clients, and streamline all print jobs into a single paperless management system. The Storefront features make it a complete order submission and management tool. Whether orders are placed online by a client across the country, or by one of your regulars walking through the door, the Storefront helps you efficiently process orders, order payment and order artwork. By funneling all orders into the EonWorkflow system via the Storefront, you will be able to use the Order Workflow Dashboard for complete printing workflow management and order progression. Easy for your clients is the true key here. I just paid some utility bills online and their system was frustrating to say the least. If I were buying something online instead of paying my bills I would have left their sites and they would have lost a customer. Not good business there at all and you certainly do not want potential sales leaving you because your site is hard to manage. Give the folks at eoncode a look, you'll be happy that you did.

It Figures

Had a few days where the temps were in the ninetys and this kitchen felt hotter than Hades. So hot that my computer overheated and shut itself off. Ugh! So, being smart, I went online shopping for a portable swamp cooler and got this:

It arrived yesterday and is pretty nifty looking. It even comes with a remote control :) However, now that I have it, Mother Nature has decided the weather should be cool and cloudy with high winds. The only blessing here is that I know that summer heat is coming and I shall be more prepared than usual when it finally arrives :)

Therapy

Life can be hectic for most folks, sometimes way too hectic and more stressful than it should be. This can lead to many problems from drug and alcohol abuse to depression. People need help but often are unsure as to where to turn. Talking to family and friends can be embarrassing and many people are afraid to talk to their doctors for fear of being put away somewhere. There is hope though, you can talk to the folks at Malibu Horizon about their dual diagnosis treatment as well as all the treatment options that are available there. They are caring professionals that want to help you get free of whatever Life's demons has hold of you. Believe me, they will not laugh at your troubles nor will they tell everyone you know that you have these troubles. Everything is between you and the staff, not the whole world you revolve in. Located in the beautiful Santa Monica Mountains of Malibu California, just the environment of the area is a great place to start to rid yourself of whatever ails you. After all, you truly need a comfortable environment to cure yourself and there is just something extra special about the mountains of Southern California. Got questions that aren't answered on their website? Give them a call at 877 338 6964 and let the friendly, helpful staff ease your mind and answer whatever questions you may have. Don't let Life's demons get you down and keep you down, fight back with the professional help at Malibu Horizon.

Peek-A-Boo

I have been sitting at this computer all morning playing peek-a-boo. With a mouse of all things! Grrrrr... I hate mice! This mouse seems intent on irritating the daylights out of me and he is doing a great job of that. He constantly startles me, in fact he just did it again. I need a cat in my house!

Replace It

Cell phones are everywhere these days, having become a staple of society. Seems like everyone has one, from kids to seniors. Even people that do not really need one seem to have a cell phone. A friend just bought one a few days ago although she doesn't leave the house that often so she doesn't need a cell phone she has a landline. Guess she just wanted a new toy. The problem with cell phones is that they are easily lost, stolen, or, if you are clumsy, broken. They often need to be replaced, costing you lots and lots of money that could be spent elsewhere but, you know, one can no longer live without that cell phone! What to do if yours is lost, stolen or broken? If you need to replace your cell phone then you really should check out replaceyourcell.com. They have lots and lots of cell phones, new and refurbished and ready to get you back into cell phone euphoria. They have unlocked cell phones which I am not entirely certain what those are but they sound good. If memory serves me right that means they can be used with a variety of carriers that normally wouldn't allow that particular cell phone. Looking to upgrade your cell? They have so many cell phones you are bound to find a new toy for yourself there. No sense being stuck with an old model when there are so many choices for you. Whether you are a new cell phone user or a seasoned veteran of cell phones you owe it to yourse3lf to go and see all the cells that they have and grab the best deal for you, or even the whole family.

The Plan

Okay, now that I have the Social Security income to fall back on and not just my retirement check, Life looks a bit rosier so now onward to the plan...

1. Create a bank account somewhere to have an account to put profits in. 2. Create a Liberty Reserve account so that I can make investments in these places that do not use PayPal. 3. Invest and pray. >P> Yes, the plan looks very simple. Hopefully it will work, simply. I hate the thought of losing money but sometimes one must take risks.

Golden Eagles

I look at a lot of ads every day as I surf through my various PTC sites and there are way too many of them that promise unbelievable wealth with either a small buy in or for free. If they are all making millions for free where is that money coming from? On the flip side there are many sites that actually make me think of money laundering, the return on investment is very high and somehow just does not compute in my feeble mind. They are nice to think about though and I may try one some day. In the meantime I shall stick to things that are tangible, like gold and silver and coins that can be purchased at http://www.goldeneaglecoin.com/. I collected coins as a kid but, being poor, I always somehow found myself selling them off to have other things that I needed. If I had all those coins today I would be very wealthy. Hindsight is twenty-twenty but, sadly, reality is not always that clear. If you would like to invest then you should check out the coins and valuable materials like gold and silver that this website has to offer. There is something much better about investing in something that you can actually see and touch. Not to mention you can also show it off to your friends and family. Be sure to lock it back up in a safe place after you are done showing it off though. You don't want your investment walking away! Money is tight these days, probably always will be for most folks so it is essential that you think about some sort of investing to go along with whatever other retirement options you have. I used to have a great portfolio with a tax sheltered annuity but the stock market problems took care of that rather quickly. I am thankful that the TSA was not my only retirement money. As I said, reality is not always the clearest of visions, one must always be thinking of what is to come. Invest in something that will always be needed, that is the best strategy of all.

Nestle Drinks

Saving this for later when I have the money to order it :) http://www.nestlenutritionstore.com/ over two dollars a bottle but still might be cheaper than bought at the store, even walmart...

Great News

Got a telephone call this afternoon from the Social Security folks. The lady I spoke with says she will process my claim and I should start receiving my benefits in about 30 days. She also said they will send me a prepaid debit card that they will put my benefits in each month so that is also a plus. On the minus side, no Medicare because I am too young, one needs to be sixty-five to get that insurance. *sigh* But I am happy enough with the money part which will essentially double what I receive every month. Perhaps I can move into a house where the landlord actually cares about his renters, unlike this one. The water situation is still messed up. We have water but that's about it, pressure is terrible. They never did call us back to explain what is going on and I won't be shocked if it goes off again without anyone letting us know. Not a good way to live. It's not like I can just jog down the street to a public restroom :(

Free Audio Books

Years ago, before the personal computer and the internet people did something strange called reading a book. Then cam audio tapes of books and people could hear their books while driving to work or shopping or while they were out jogging. Convenient but not really reading. The trend continues these days with audio books all over the internet, some are for a price and some are audiobooks free. Free is always good in my book as regular readers already know. Not that I am cheap but I do enjoy saving money whenever possible. Fixed incomes make one look for bargains everywhere and audio books are no exception to that rule. Ambling Books has a wide variety of audio books to choose from, from biographies to religion to fantasy. So, whether you are interested in hearing the Bible or your childhood favorites like Huckleberry Finn then you are sure to find an audio book to suit your tastes. If you move your cursor over the book titles it gives you a description of what the book is about so you don't get one you will not enjoy. If you like audio books then go and check out Ambling Books, grab one and sit back in your favorite easy chair, relax and enjoy.

Thanks For Nothing

Got up today and all looked fine, sunshine outside, slight breeze, nice day. It was nice until my daughter turned on the kitchen faucet. No water! We sent he to the front house to see if they had water. No water there either, man is working on "repairing a pipe". Nice of them to let us know :( They told her they would be done in half an hour. That was a couple hours ago and still no water. My wife called the landlord who just tells her we will have water "later today". How kind of these people to not let us know they were turning it off :(

Video

I'm not sure why but the more I see this video as part of ad clicking on a PTC site the more I like it :)

Keep It Covered

Post deleted by request :)

Crazy People

My wife bought what she thought was a costume on Marapets. Then sold it as such to another player. It wasn't a costume at all but a plushie instead. Of course someone had to jump into the fray and tell her she could be reported for scamming. It was an honest mistake and my wife made things right by buying the plushie back. Some people just have to stick their nosy nose into everything even on a game site lol

Big Agnes

Not talking trash about a very large woman here, I wouldn't do such things. What I am referring to is a very nice tent, the Big Agnes Scout as a matter of fact. This tent is a very light tent making it easy to carry as you go backpacking. Backpacker Magazine calls the Scout UL2 the "lightest 2-person shelter on the market that offers big-storm AND bug protection for less than $300!" Quite a big deal I should say. Anyone that has ever gone camping can tell you horror stories of tents that did not hold up during a storm or didn't keep bugs from eating them alive. Big Agnes can take care of both of those problems and still not burden you with a lot of weight to carry with you as you backpack trails and mountains or wherever else you may go backpacking. I used to go camping when I was a much younger man and I can tell you that the worst things about tents is that they are bulky and heavy and hard to manage. Not good fun at all. Here is what the website tells us about the Big Agnes Scout: Specifications of the Big Agnes Scout UL2 Backpacking Tent: Trail Weight: 1 lb 9 oz Packed Weight: 2 lb Footprint Weight: 5 oz Fast Fly Weight: n/a Packed Size: 6" x 12.5" Floor Area: 34 sq ft Vestibule Area: n/a Head Height: 43" Note: Trail weight refers to poles, fly and tent body. Packed weight includes poles, fly, tent body, stakes, guy lines, stuff sacks, instructions, and packaging. Fast Fly weight refers to the poles, tent fly and accessory Fast Fly footprint - not available for this tent Look at that, 2 pounds packed weight. Anyone of any size should have no problems carrying two pounds of such an important item for backpacking! Heck, I am weak but can carry two pounds. and this tent is roomy for a two person set up, important to most people. Nobody likes to be in a crowded place trying to get comfortable and go to sleep. Lovers maybe okay with cramped spaces but not most people out backpacking. If you are thinking of gearing up for the Summer and backpacking you owe it to yourself to check out this Big Agnes Scout and put it in your future plans.

Ahhh, Sleep

I seem to sleep a lot these days. Maybe because I am lazy and retired and maybe because, quite frankly, sleep is the best thing for me to do. Awake I am often in pain, especially in my lower back and hips thanks to all the arthritis and osteoporosis there. Not a good thing to have. Awake I am also often breathing with difficulties and that isn't too good either. Asleep I am okay for the most part. I am obviously relaxed enough to be sleeping and that's a plus. I often wake up in the middle of sleep and notice that my oxygen tubes have slipped away from my nostrils and it hasn't affected me at all. Awake the missing oxygen would be quite noticeable after only a few minutes. Asleep my back feels okay, no sharp pains there usually and that I appreciate. My hips hurt from time to time but that's from laying in a bad position and goes away generally after I shift my body. The only serious pains of sleeping are in my shoulder areas and I find myself waking up from that pain and forcing myself to roll over to the opposite side. I take turns hurting one shoulder then the next and so forth. lol All in all sleep is more comforting than it should be, I sleep more than most people I assume, even old people like myself. I recall my mother at my age slept less than I do now and she was also a serious pain sufferer. Maybe I was right the first time around. I sleep a lot because I am lazy lol

Get Togethers

Summer is almost here and as it approaches the weather turns nicer for most folks. So, it's time to clean up the patio from the winter dirt and grime and get ready to relax out there and maybe have a few friends over as well. Unless you are living in the desert where it might stay hot all the way until midnight, the weather turns cool in the evenings and you may just wish to have some heat out on your patio. You don't want the colness of the evening to spoil your fun, certainly. Since it is still Springtime this is the perfect time to go looking for patio heaters on sale. You definitely do not want to wait until Summer when prices for summery things tend to increase. Saving money in these economic times is a real plus. Whether you are looking to heat up the whole patio or just a small portion of it to make things comfortable as you relax from a hard day you are sure to find the right heater for your patio needs here. They also have some patio furniture as well as other interesting outdoor items like hammocks. Hammocks are a great way to relax once you find the way to stay in them without falling right back out. Not looking for a patio heater? they have other types of heaters here as well, like indoor heaters and heaters for the garage. they also have some electric fireplaces which can be a great mood setter no matter if indoors or out. There are lots of goodies to see on this site so go and check them out. Do it now because, as I said, Summer is approaching.

Drip, Drip, Drip

My nose has been running all darned day. Normally a nuisance it is even more so with oxygen tubes in my nostrils. Not only do those tubes get in the way they blow cold air while the nose is dripping making matters even worse than normal. Ugh! I hate being sick...

Let's Swing

No matter how much we progress one thing remains a staple with kids and that is a swing. I always enjoyed swings as a kid and even as a young adult that took his kids to a park. Swings never get old. If you run a day care or a preschool or just have kids and a yard then you should check out these swing sets virginia beach. As I said, swings never get old with kids and no matter what fancy toys they may have already the swing set will get them outdoors and exercising and that's a double plus in my book. The company, Backyard Playground has been building playsets for families since 2005. They have been around enough time that it shows they can be trusted to build a playset for you and your family that will last a long time, probably longer than your kids will be kids. Here is an example of one of the many playsets they have designed and built:

Looks like a lot of fun to me and I am sure your children would love it as well. They have a lot of designs that you can view in their gallery to give you great ideas of your own playset design.

Ugh

I am on a losing streak tht doesn't seem to want to stop :( No matter what I play someone always has better than me. Very frustrating to say the least... In other awful news I think I am coming down with a cold. Damn weather snapped back to cold and caught me :(

Have A Seat

Summer is on its way and that means the big wedding month is on its way as well, June, the month of brides. Many of these brides and their families are thinking, because the weather is so nice, that an outdoor wedding would be great. I agree, outdoor weddings are very nice to attend. The only big problem is that, unless you are close to the aisle you don't always get to see a lot of the ceremony. Rather you see a lot of the back of the head of whoever is sitting in front of you. Not good. Here is an idea for those of you planning an outdoor wedding, bleachers. Yes, I said bleachers! Imagine all of your wedding guests being able to see the whole show. Very nice that way and certainly something that family and friends will be talking about for years to come. While you are at it, check out the nice picnic tables too, because you are going to need a place for the wedding cake and wedding gifts and food if you are serving food. This will certainly be the wedding to remember! The memories of this event may outlast the marriage but I hope not. I am very fond of couples that stay married a long time. Check out the bleachers and tables at this site. They are well built and designed with safety in mind. You certainly do not want to have wedding crashers to mean anything other than strangers showing up.

Only Here

While clicking my daily ads I ran across one of the stupidest things I have seen in a long, long time. It comes from my lovely state of California and would seem ludicrous no matter where it came from lol It appears someone in my state legislature has now decided that since smoking is bad for my health and the health of everyone within a 50 foot radius of me so must these new fangled gadgets called E-cigs. These E-cigs do not emit smoke but they do emit a vapor. I talked with a doctor a few weeks back about the difference and he told me there is a difference and that the vapor from the E-cig is not bad. Smoke however is awful and why don't I quit? They always have to ask that I am certain lol Got COPD? You should quit smoking! Right. I always feel inclined to ask them if they are overweight why don't they give up food? lmao Yes, I am aware that the smoking is not helping me with my breathing these days, although the deepest breaths that I actually take are when I inhale my cigarette smoke. Odd, that. However I also know that I plan on dying happy so I shall continue smoking while I live :) California legislators need to get a grip on reality. E-cigs are not harmful. How about they outlaw alcohol instead? Drunk drivers kill innocent people more often than smoke...

Light It Up

Spring has sprung in many parts of the country and the weather is turning warmer and warmer. Soon Summer will be here and then things will really heat up, especially here in the desert. People will be looking at all the ways to stay cooler, including there swimming pool. The problem with swimming pools for most folks, other than the maintenance, is that most people work all day and can generally only use the pool to cool off and relax in the evenings. Which means of course that they need to be able to see what they are doing in the pool as well as staying safe and that requires pool lights. The solution is simple though, get a pentair pool light or two or however many your swimming pool requires. Makes swimming in a pool much more enjoyable when you can see. I recall as a kid we used to toss coins in the pool and dive to see who could grab the coin first. Pretty easy to do in daylight but not so easy at night without a pool light. Too many banged heads that way and that is not cool. Keep yourself and your family safe in that water, please. While you are at it, get some lights for your spa as well. Lights can really set a great mood in a spa, whether your mind is on romance or simply relaxation. Enjoy your cooling off this summer but, as always, I urge you to be safe. The hospital may be air conditioned but it isn't worth the price.

Squeaky Wheel

Sometimes you have to stand up for yourself. It isn't a pleasant thing to do but you reach a point where you think you need to do it and you do. Yesterday something came up in our weekly meeting that made me realize I have been the "token male" of our group too long. Everyone seems to have been given a way to contact the owner of our game site except me. Hmmm... that doesn't seem right or fair to me. So, I fired an email off last night asking the Support person what am I missing here? I am the only one of the three Admins that cannot contact the owner if I need him? What kind of a boss is that? Got a very nice reply from her today. She thinks that I didn't have it simply because the owner never thought I would need it. Well, okay, I can buy that as he is a very busy man with lots on his mind so maybe it was an oversight. She did give me the way to reach him that the other Admins have and I am happy with that. I do hope that I never have to use it though.

Replace Them

Here in the desert the weather is fairly steady, lots of sunshine and winds that blow the dust around. Not much damage is generally done to windows or doors beyond getting dirty with consistency. But some places do have terrible weather patterns, from rain and snow to really high winds known as hurricanes. Hurricanes can damage not just windows and doors but, unfortunately, an entire house. Not good weather there. If you live in West Virginia you already know that this weather can be a disaster. You also know that windows need to be replaced from time to time, whether from damage or just plain old wearing out from rain and snow and weather like that. If you are in need of window replacement then you owe it to yourself to check out west virginia replacement windows. There are services there for everyone, homeowners,contractors, architects and commercial builders. Windows designed to help cut down on your energy bills are the ones most home owners should look at. My electric bill is already too high, I am certain yours is as well. Getting more heating or cooling bang for your buck is always a great thing. Maybe you simply wish to make your home look fancier. They have windows for that as well. Nothing wrong with a house looking great. Check out the windows and, while you are there, check out the doors as well. Keep that nasty weather outside where it belongs.

Good Timing

I ordered a new cordless telephone set the other day and it arrived today. Very speedy service! This one is different than the old one as it has two handsets so one can be in the kitchen and one can be in the bedroom. The other morning someone called and my poor wife struggled to get to the kitchen to answer. In the mornings her eyes do not open quite right and that makes it difficult to run to answer a telephone. The purchase was good timing tho as I discovered when switching the bases. Looks like a mouse has been very busy chewing the wire of the power of the old handset. I am glad I didn't get shocked from it while pulling the plug or even before that point just moving the base around on my table. Damn mice. I hate rodents!

Quick Name Tags

Seems like my wife or my daughter is always going to some church function or another where so many people are there you need a scorecard to keep track of who is who. Guess that is why so many of these things use name tags when you go to sign in. It's way too easy to forget someone's name when you are at a large gathering of folks you didn't already know. If you have these get together groups in your life you know exactly how easy it is to forget a name or perhaps you have watched as someone struggled to remember your name. That's why you need QuickNameTags.com for name tags. With a name tag there is no need for embarrassing moments struggling for someone's name, it is right there in front of you! Makes it so much simpler and easier on everyone. If you don't go to large group get togethers you can still use this website. They also offer name plates as well as office signs. I like name plates for a desk or even a meeting. I still have mine from years ago when I was a representative of the classified staff at Board of Trustee meetings. Name plate in front so everyone could easily remember who I was and why I was there. very businesslike and proper. If you have any need of an item with your name on it then you should visit the site and see what they have to offer. They offer a twenty-four hour turn around so you are sure to get your order quick.

More Money

Had to cash a check today that I got from PayPal a couple days back. There was way too much month left at the end of my paycheck :(

Seems like that hospital visit was costly in getting my wife over there and back home, along with getting me home, Taxi cabs are costly lol

Amazing

For the fifth or sixth ( I have lost count) week in a row there will be no church bus for my ladies. Have no idea what the poor excuse is this week but I am certain the driver is not sick considering the stuff she has posted recently on her Facebook wall. Just seems amazing to me that she is so proud of the religious stuff she posts, proud of the fact that she works at a Christian school but hasn't enough of the Spirit to get herself out of bed and do the job she eagerly volunteered to do which is take herself and others to church. If she hasn't been fired she needs to be. The Pastor needs to find someone willing to drive all the women to church :)

Video Ads

One of the PTC sites I use has a section of ads where, once you have viewed the advertisement they redirect you to a video. Most of the videos I see are rappers but there is one I see every day and wanted to share it with the world as it is very nice :)

Logo To Go

Post deleted by request

Too Much Stress

My lovely wife is dealing with her ex in-laws and her exes children from his first marriage and they are putting a lot of stress on her. She has more than enough headaches from all this extra stress and it is silly at best. Basically they are all arguing and haggling over what money is left from her ex-husband as he lives in a convalescent type facility. He has suffered dementia and Alzheimer's and is not in very good shape. The silliness of it all is that they are acting like he was a millionaire and still has tons and tons of money to go around. The man has around seventy thousand dollars and maybe half a dozen kids (or more, I lost track of who is who lol) all of them greedy as can be with their hands out wanting their share of the pie. Personally I think they should all stfu since all of his kids except my step-daughter have good jobs and truly do not need that money. Odd thing is that when my stepdaughter asked for some of it so she can fix her teeth and look better in the hopes of getting a job they all came up in arms, guarding those "millions". Some people are just greedy for the sake of being greedy. Karma will bite them in the butt eventually.

Brochures

Everything these days appears to be online. We surf and shop and play games all on the internet. Sometimes it seems like we no longer need buildings to go to for business, heck we even pay our bills online. But, there is still a need for brick and mortar buildings and stores to shop in, utility companies to pay, churches to attend. The computers haven't quite taken over the whole world yet. If you have a business or a club or a church that you'd like to advertise then brochures are still a great way to do it. But, you'll need to have a printing company or a place where you can purchase wholesale brochure printing. I still get brochures from time to time in the postal mail so I know that they work. I know this because I look at them. I figure if someone paid to have them made then I should at least give them a view. Might find something I want or need, I never know until I have looked. If you have a need for printing brochures then this is the place to go. Wholesale pricing is much more affordable than your local printing shop and these folks are quick. Some of their work can can be accomplished in as little as two or three days. Your local printer will tell you to give them a few weeks. Time is money, go for the faster service. They also offer two ways to go with your designs. If you already have a design, simply upload the file and you are done with that part. If you do not have a design yet they offer a design area to assist you with creating one. Very nice. Of course, the final thing to say about them is that like most everything else, this can all be done online.

Patience

One thing I have had shortness of lately is patience. Not sure why since I have always been a fairly patient person. Perhaps it is because of the computer age we live in where we all want things online to show up on our screens right away. Sites that take long to load drive me bonkers. Sometimes they make me angry when they really shouldn't. Players that play slowly drive me bonkers too. They have had ample time to make a decision and still they dilly-dally and take forever. I often can be found screaming at the monitor about these players. If you have to think that much and that long about it it probably is not the right move to make. Allow the play to continue already!

Staying Warm

Here in the Southern California desert Spring has sprung and it is already warming up big time. In the East however there Winter seems persistent in hanging on and they still are getting snow. While I do not envy them the cold weather many people would enjoy the extra snow as it would enable them to hit the slopes and do some snowboarding or skiing. If you are going to hit the slopes though you still need to ensure that your body does not freeze so you definitely need to invest in snowboard jackets to keep frezzing bodies from happening. You're not going to enjoy the snow or the slopes with frostbite. The other thing one may wish to consider when buying a jacket like this is visibility. Can other snowboarders see you? This website has some jackets that stand out in a crowd, like this one:

Tell me that this jacket won't make you very visible out in the snow. And, if you wear it out in town or anywhere as well this jacket is a genuine eye-catcher. If you are one of those that enjoys the slopes for skiing or snowboarding then please do enjoy the lovely snowy weather back east. Be careful on the slopes as well, hospital visits are not cheap. As for me, I shall sit here at my computer, shirtless, and enjoy the warmth of the desert sun.

Never Log Out

Because I use a lot of different PTC sites every day and because the ads on these sites come and go quickly at times I find it profitable to never log out of them. For some reason PTC users often advertise other PTC sites so, for example, I may be clicking my ads on Neobux and see an advertisement for Clixsense. Since I am still logged in to Clixsense if there are ads available to click I will click them then rather than waiting to return to the site later. If I wait the ads may be gone later and that is money I will have lost. I am not sure why people log out of any pages that they use constantly, whether it be PTC sites or Facebook or Twitter. Unless you are on a public or shared computer logging out just makes little sense. *EDIT* While clicking the links I posted just now in this blog I found four ads that I would have otherwise missed. Not getting wealthy on these sites but every click is more into my account :)

A Thousand Words

A picture they say is worth a thousand words and, if the picture is taken properly may be worth even more. In the Raleigh, North Carolina area there is a raleigh photographer that can take pictures that are worth more words. Whether they are taking wedding photos that are traditional to sneaky photos that catch people's honest looks these photographers are amazing at their craft. For instance the look of awe on the face of this little guy who would be the ring bearer is wonderful. He looks half scared but not in a bad way, the look is refreshing and honest. I really enjoyed looking at it and you can see it by going here and scrolling down a couple of pictures. While you are there check out the rest of that particular weddings photos, they are all wonderful. Weddings are not the only thing they photograph though, they also do babies and families, bar and bat mitzvahs and they even offer some workshops if you are interested in photography and wish to get better. Simply amazing work by simply amazing photographers. Even if you aren't in the Raleigh area you should check out their photos. Spend a few moments of your day simply enjoying yourself.

Stay Out

There are days when I wish that the Mods would stay out of the lobby if they are not on their shift. That would usually be most days lol Yes, it is fun to come into the lobby and chat with the players and have some fun. But some Mods get carried away with themselves and their fun and that is definitely not good. Hard to tell the players that they must behave when Mods are coming in and violating the chat rules or skirting them at least. Funny thing is, when you chastise them for it they don't understand why you are upset. Mods are crazy people!

Martin E. Hanaka

I don't generally look at Forbes magazines or their webpages because, well frankly I am a poor man living day to day. Yes, it is nice to see how the rich and/or powerful live from time to time just to imagine how life could be if I won the lottery or found the perfect stocks to buy. This man, martin hanaka, is on the Forbes webpage I am viewing. He is CEO/Chairman of the Board/Director, Golfsmith International Holdings, Inc. and is sixty-one years of age living, I'm sure both a life of luxury and a man with many headaches. Sometimes regular folks forget that with wealth comes responsibilities and with those responsibilities comes headaches and a lot of stress. Once you have something good seems like everyone wants to try and take it away from you. That's gotta be stressful! In the year 2010 Mr. Hanaka made almost one million dollars in salaries and stock stuff while doing his job at Golfsmith International Holdings, Inc. so I believe it is safe to assume that he does an excellent job for this firm. That's a lot of money for one year. I think it is also safe to assume he can afford the large sized bottle of aspirins. Take a gander at his profile page and see for yourself what he is up to. And, if you are a regular joe like me, then dream of what you would do if you had his type of salary. Leave the headaches and stress out of the daydreams tho, they spoil the fun.

Nice

So, since I must pay $670 per month before my state insurance kicks in to pay the bills the hospital called wanting that money for my trip to Er and my visit. ugh. My lovely wife explains to them that we have no money at the moment and a short version of expenses and, surprise, the lady was very sympathetic to out cause. She arranged a payment plan that I can make to pay them the $670 and she will mark the bill as paid in such a way that Medi-Cal will pay the remainder of the bill right away. That was very nice of her and well beyond the call of duty I am certain. Payments can be made, a lump sum of $670 right now cannot. Someone up Above was definitely watching over me :) Now I wonder what will happen at the first of next month with the oxygen supply people... It's a bitch to get old and unhealthy in this world.

Bus Rides

My wife and daughter take a bus to go to church every week or at least the weeks when the bus driver feels like dragging her butt out of bed to take them. Lately they have been staying home a lot and watching the service online because their driver is a no-show. The bus they ride is an older school bus and it makes an awful racket at times. The dog hears it from a block or more away and comes running out to the door to greet them because he knows they are almost home. What their church needs is to go and look at activity buses for sale. A newer bus would not only help with the bus noise as they go down the street it might also help the church with saving some of the quarter of a million dollars per year that they spend on all their buses. Every one of their buses that I have seen is an old, retired, school bus. Time for them to start with a fresh bus! If your church or other social group has a need for an activity bus then you too should go check out the buses on sale and see if there is one that is right for you. Better to ride in comfort and know that the bus will get you to your destination. And, once you have that bus, find a driver that is willing and able to drive it for you.

Odd Math

Here you go... I make roughly 1100 per month as my retirement. Out of that I pay 700 in rent then I have the utilities to help with and food and anything I may need to help me think I am living and not just existing. According to the math wizards at Medi-Cal that should be more than enough money to allow me to pay $670 per month towards my health insurance coverage from the state. Okay... 1100 minus 700 leaves me 400. How do I get 270 more dollars out of that lmao

Single Edged

Back when I was a young man those who did not get a shave from the barber's straight razor shaved themselves at home with single edge razor blades. These blades were sharp and dangerous and more than most shavers gave themselves a nick or two as they learned to shave.Thank goodness for styptic pencils and tissue paper. But, because they were sharp they did an excellent job of getting rid of a man's facial hairs. There was no need for multiple blades or lotions added to the razors that we see today. They were simple and easy to use. Just the way it should be when one has a sharp object on their face or *gasp* down at their Adam's Apple. That was always the tricky part! It's time to move backwards here folks. I see tons of ads every day using faces of young business types and I am always shocked that they all seem to look like they have five o'clock shadow or simply need a shave period. You want a close, comfortable shave? Then look at single edged razor blades and a real razor, not the disposable ones that are so frequently touted. It may just be the best shave you have ever had short of a barber.

Breathing Easy

The medical supply company kept their word. They showed up today with several new oxygen tanks so that I can, when I have to leave the house, breathe easy. This is very nice for me as I have a scooter and the weather is improving. I may just decide one of these days to leave the comfort of my chair and the computer for the great outdoors! It would be nice to be able to go take my lovely wife out for a dinner or even a cup of coffee somewhere :)

Big Beds

That cute, little adorable pup you got some time ago has now grown up to be like a miniature horse but you still love it dearly. Problem is that the dog wastes no time at all in flattening any dog bed that you buy it. The dog would destroy your bed if you allowed it but you love your dog and want it to be as comfortable as possible when it's time for sleep. Even more so if the dog has come up in years and may not be in the peak of physical shape. How do you help your poor dog? The answer here is Big Barker. Big Barker makes dog bed. Not just your run of the ordinary dog beds either, they make LARGE beds for LARGE dogs! Dogs that normally will flatten a dog bed in, well, nothing flat. Big Barker beds are designed to withstand the extra weight of a larger dog and still allow the dog to be comfortable and supported in the bed. Just like a human would want. It's true, folks, a dog lover does truly treat his dog like a human being. These beds come in three sizes, from large (best for Labs, Golden Retrievers, Boxers, etc.) to giant ( specifically made for Great Danes). They are not as cheap as most dog beds but the value is there because you will not be replacing the dog bed over and over and over. They are designed to last for years. Give your big dog the best of the best. Get him a bed he can use for years and be comfortable in. remember, the alternative might just be that your dog will take over your bed.

Success

Finally got a blood gas test done without me being on oxygen. Had to wait about 20 minutes for the test to be taken to ensure that all the oxygen was gone from my system and it was just whatever oxygen I can make on my own. Another fifteen or twenty minutes after test we were told we could leave and thet he would fax the results to the supply company. He would not tell us the results tho because we are not the doctor lol Barely got back home when medical supply company called. Oxygen for another year!!!

Plan B

Called a friend who generously agreed to give me a ride to a clinic that, hopefully, can do whatever test will actually please the medical supply people.
Will know tomorrow I guess. My lovely wife says she'd like the clinic people to call the medical supply company and ask them just exactly what the heck they want! LOL I got me a smart woman here :)

Drumming Along

So you think you'd like to be a great musician and you think it would be wonderful if you played the best part of a band and became a drummer. You like to make noise and/or you have always kept up a beat while listening to your favorite songs and know in your heart that drumming is for you. Fair enough. I keep a beat when listening to music myself although I never could quite keep up with some things like Ringo's drum rolls in Get Back.
Now that you know you want to be a drummer you need to go and check out what electronic drum set at music123 will be best for you to use. They have some that are fairly simple like a novice might use and they have some that are complex sets that a long time professional drummer would use. All of them designed to keep the beat going with any style of music requiring drums.
Like most musical instruments these sets are not cheap at the onset. Buying an instrument is costly if you are buying a quality instrument. Don't let the prices shock you though. These instruments are designed to last for years so the price in the long term is really inexpensive. Like anything that you buy, you get what you pay for. Don't settle for something cheap that will have to be replaced sooner than you'd like.
Once you have that set you like prepare to drive everyone around you nuts with the noise. That is the fun part of playing music. No one is a maestro in the beginning, these things take lots of practice. And, who knows, with enough patience and practice you might just become the next Neil Peart or Keith Moon!

Well, Of Course!

Okay, they were going to come and take away my oxygen because they seem to think that I don't need it anymore. This makes me chuckle since I am on it 24/7. The only times I have been off of it in the past year is when the power went off.
The medical supply company then tells me I must get a test done to prove that I still need the oxygen. An arterial gas test is what they wanted and that can be done at the hospital.
On Saturday I had my lovely wife call 9-1-1 because I was having some chest pains to go along with shortness of breath. Stress and nothing more.
While in the ER we ask if they can do the test and they say yes. They admit me into the hospital where I stay for 2 and a half days. They perform the blood test twice at 4:30 in the morning while I am trying to sleep. God forbid a patient can sleep the whole night lol
Once I am released we get home with the test results. My lovely wife then goes to half a dozen places trying to find a fax machine that will work so the medical supplier can see the results. My poor wife is over-stressed from all of this. Finally the medical people get the test results and, surprise of surprises, turn the test results down! Here is the kicker... They turn down the test results showing that I still need the oxygen because...get ready... when they performed the tests I WAS on oxygen!
In the hospital they would not take me off of it because they could see that I desperately need it to breathe. Hospital staff have sense. Medical supply company, no sense whatsoever. So, now we are back to square one. I need to find someone that will get the test done quickly and without me being on oxygen at the time.
Why do insurance people have to be so damned idiotic?

One Of The Best Ever

Silver

I am, as is evident in this blog, always looking for ways to make a little money. I look at a lot of ads every single day looking for an opportunity to make some much needed cash because you never know when something good will pop into view. One of the things I have seen deals with silver coins and buy silver online. Silver has been around a long time and like gold has it's ups and downs but remains a steadfast item to purchase and hold. Many countries outside of the United States mint coins in silver so it isn't just a US item that collectors swarm to buy. Whether you are a serious collector or just jumping into the hobby these coins can be a great way to go. As I said, silver and gold do tend to hold value so they make a great way to turn a buck or two (or many more). Buy low, sell high and reap the rewards. If you wish to see what is available I urge you to check out the website. Find something that fits your budget and buy. You can always sell it in the near future or hold onto it until your golden years of retirement.