Lydia's Random Ramblings

Survivor South Pacific - Season 23

2011-12-19T10:31:00.001-05:00

John Cochran - not everyone on the Internet hates you! Considering you were probably the next to go, I think you stayed in the game longer because of the bold move you made. I probably would have done the same thing had I been in your situation.

Honestly, I might just be in the minority, but I wanted Coach or Ozzy to win. Ozzy deserving the win by outplaying and Coach deserving the win by strategically outwitting/outlasting. What we see as TV viewers is, of course, much different than what actually happens on 'set'.

Cute Christmas Joke

2011-12-14T13:59:00.000-05:00

I received this in my email and wanted to share:

A man in Phoenix calls his son in Annapolis two days before Christmas

and says, “I hate to ruin your day, son, but I have to tell you that your mother and I are divorcing. 37 years of misery is enough!”

“Pop, what are you talking about?” the son screams.

“We can't stand the sight of each other any longer,” says the father. “We're sick of each other and I'm tired of talking about this, so
call your sister in Roanoke and tell her.”

Frantic, the son calls his sister who explodes on the phone.

“Like heck they're getting divorced,” she shouts, “I'll take care of
this!”

She immediately calls Phoenix and screams at her father, “You are
NOT getting D-i-v-o-r-c-e-d! Don't do a single thing until I get there.

I'm calling brother back and we'll both be there tomorrow. Until then, don't do a thing! DO YOU HEAR ME?’ and she hangs up.

The dad hangs up his phone, turns to his wife, smiles :-) and says,
“They're coming for Christmas. . . AND they are paying their own way.”

Christmas Countdown 2011

2011-12-04T21:53:00.001-05:00

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'Tis the Season!

2011-11-28T13:25:00.000-05:00

Are you as bothered when you see Facebook posts, random emails, etc. promoting, "Say Merry Christmas," as if it is a crime to be tolerant of others' religions by saying, "Season's Greetings". As a Christian, it bothers me. Being Christian is, in itself, a good reason to be tolerant of other religions.

Sure, I say, "Merry Christmas," because that is what I am celebrating. Do I send a religious, Christian Christmas card to my aunt or friend who is Jewish? No! I carefully choose a card that does not contain a bible verse relating to Christ's birth; I choose a 'seasonal' card.

Would I be offended if someone wished me a Happy Chanukah? Most definitely not. But if they did, I would reply with, "Happy Chanukah to you and a Merry Christmas!"

The controversy surrounding 'Merry Christmas' will surely go on after I am gone, but maybe people will become more tolerant of others' religions in the years to come. That is what I want for Christmas this year!

Merry Christmas! Happy Chanukah! Happy Kwanzaa! I'm sure I've missed other celebrations that take place in December - my apologies to those who celebrate them! (And please feel free to add any I've missed in the 'comment' area.)

Have You Seen Food Matters or Food, Inc.?

2011-11-06T10:34:00.001-05:00

Food Matters and Food, Inc. are two of the most powerful movies about food that I have seen. Food Matters is a documentary about using food as medicine rather than pharmaceuticals. As Hippocrites, the father of medicine, said, "Let thy food be thy medicine and thy medicine be thy food." This documentary will change your view of pharmaceuticals and popping pills. As they said, "A pill for every ill." I found the statistics of pharmaceuticals versus vitamins very interesting.

Food, Inc., another documentary, is a film about how our food is grown and how the small, country-side farms have been replaced with Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs). I had heard about these but had never actually seen one. The one question I had after watching was, "And people think how we get veal is cruel?" If you don't want to change any of your eating habits, you might not want to watch this one. After watching this, I plan to completely change my eating habits and start supporting local farmers.

I only wish I had seen these many, many years ago. How different and healthier would I be now? If you have the chance, these films just might change your life and the life of your family.

Do you hear a 'buzzing' noise?

2011-11-02T07:39:00.000-04:00

If you don't like bees, please do not watch this video. It reminds me of a nest I once had in my house, although mine was not of the honey-comb variety; it was a yellow jacket nest. When the windows were closed in the fall, I heard a buzzing noise, like leaves rustling. My exterminator said: 1. I had hundreds of yellow jackets in a nest above my bedroom. 2. Yellow jackets are mean and sting for no reason. 3. If they had made it into the house they most probably would have killed us. YIKES!!!!

Recycle Congress!

2011-10-27T11:38:00.000-04:00

Just received this in an email and well, I just couldn't resist!

'On' Accident or 'By' Accident?

2011-09-20T11:59:00.000-04:00

I grew up saying "by accident." Every time I hear my daughter say "on accident," I smile. I smile not only because it sounds funny to me, I smile because neither is correct. It seems to me, 'by accident' would mean 'beside the accident' and 'on accident' would mean 'on top of the accident.'

How about using accidentally - the adverb that describes something that did not happen purposely?

A Must-Read Article - You Are What You Eat!

2011-07-14T08:05:00.001-04:00

Remember as a kid we always heard, "you are what you eat." I didn't quite understand it until I was a little older. Dr. Mercola goes over many different food sources and why they might be bad for us - scary stuff! He also explains food "allergies." Personally, I think the term "allergy" is used too loosely. I didn't realize this until I found myself explaining that I am "allergic" to paint. One day I realized that we can't really be "allergic" to something toxic. We all just might react differently when exposed to a toxic chemical.

This article by Dr. Mercola is a must-read and the video is a must-see. Food, Inc. is also a good video to watch if you are truly interested in where your food is coming from.

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/06/14/why-are-there-so-many-food-allergies-now.aspx

Donald Trump Interview WMUR - Sunday, May 1, 2011

2011-05-02T15:12:00.000-04:00

I'll say this right up front - I am not a Donald Trump fan. Aside from not liking that he was divorced so many times, I had no opinion of him until a few years back when he and Rosie O'Donnell got into their head-to-head battle. Rosie called Donald a "snake-oil salesman" and Donald called Rosie "disgusting inside and out...a slob." All that name-calling caused me to lose respect for them both.

I feel I must voice my opinion on the interview with Donald Trump that aired on WMUR on Sunday, May 1, 2011. Mr. Trump was asked, when speaking of his possible presidential run, if he could really relate to the working-class people of New Hampshire. Mr. Trump answered that he didn't think he needed to sit down with two people here, two people there and that the people of New Hampshire are smart and could figure out things on their own.

The commentator said Mr. Trump had a lot to learn if he didn't think he had to sit down with the little guys in New Hampshire during a presidential campaign. Not to stick up for Donald Trump, but I don't think that is what he was saying. I, although maybe I'm naive, thought he was saying he didn't think he had to sit down and have lunch one-on-one with people in NH, for them to know he understood the issues of the little guy. I'm just sayin'....

How to Find Your Old eHow Account

2011-04-04T08:14:00.002-04:00

Log in to Your Old eHow Account Articles

It's hard to not only keep up with all the changes at eHow, but with changes at all Internet writing sites. If you found this article, you probably already know that Demand Media has taken over eHow. If you would like to write for eHow, you must now apply through Demand Media. I have several articles on eHow, but have not yet started writing through Demand Studios. Maybe I'll start today.

I recently tried to log on to my eHow account and found a Facebook login. It seems this has added some confusion to the site, at least for writers. If you are looking for your old eHow articles, go to this address Old eHow Account and log in. After entering your "username" and "password" on this page, you will be brought to your old eHow articles.

Bob Parsons, CEO of Go Daddy, Shoots Elephant in Africa

2011-04-03T10:41:00.005-04:00

By now this video of Mr. Bob Parsons, the CEO of Go Daddy, shooting an elephant in Zimbabwe has become quite popular. According to the ABC15 news reporter, “…this video has so many people outraged….” If you watch the video, it is mentioned that the "villagers butchered the elephant for its meat." What I absolutely hate, is hunters who hunt and do not eat their kill. Do people feel differently depending on what type of animal is killed? Would people be outraged if his proud kill was a 300-pound tuna?

Personally it does not thrill me to see ANY animal killed or butchered, and if I had to watch such a thing, I would definitely be a vegetarian. I think if elephants are truly overpopulated in Africa as Mr. Parsons states, they SHOULD be hunted. Would he have been able to obtain a permit if elephants were an endangered species in Zimbabwe? Overpopulation is one reason that we, here in the United States, have Fish and Game Departments – to control what is overrun and needs to be hunted. As I understand, Mr. Parsons did have a permit to shoot this elephant. If the meat of the elephant was not eaten, that would be an entirely different story. Would the reactions be the same if Mr. Parsons shot a deer or moose or are people only “outraged” because it is an elephant – an animal we like to visit at the zoo?

If you have ever taken a drive across Interstate 90 in Massachusetts or the Taconic in upper New York State you would know that area is overrun with deer. Every time I am in that vicinity, I wish there were less deer, and pray I don’t hit one with my car. Yes, deer are beautiful. I'm sure the people who hit them don't think they are so beautiful, especially when they get the bill from their auto body shop! It is a staggering amount of live ones and dead ones I see all over the sides of the highway.

Unfortunately for Mr. Parsons, he is a well-known CEO who, it appears, the media and PETA are trying to make into some sort of example. How many elephants have been shot in the past year in Africa and by whom? If John Doe shoots an elephant, does it make it into the media? What is your opinion? Are you outraged?

Charlie Sheen Parody - Bi-Winning (Official Song)

2011-03-09T15:41:00.000-05:00

And this one is even funnier!!! Does Charlie have any idea what a dumba** he looks like? The sad part is, everyone is laughing at him and he seems to be totally clueless.

Songify This - Winning - a Song by Charlie Sheen

2011-03-09T15:27:00.000-05:00

Have you seen this hilarious video?

One and a Half Men - Charlie Sheen

2011-03-08T08:42:00.001-05:00

I am not so sure how Charlie Sheen figures that being fired from Two and a Half Men is "winning." I just heard this morning on GMA that Charlie was fired yesterday from Two and a Half Men for, among other reasons, his inability to perform including not remembering his lines. Still not seeing how that is "winning." Charlie - please stop saying you are "winning" when you CLEARLY are not!

Personally, I'm glad to hear he's been fired. I hope for the sake of the others on the show, actors and behind-the-scene workers, they replace Charlie rather than cancelling the show. They have a wonderful meld of actors that would be a shame to waste.

Aside from my car crash idea, another idea might be to replace him with a woman. The show would open with a hot, funny woman (although I don't know who, yet, maybe a previous girlfriend excluding Mia or Chelsea) knocking on the door at Charlie's Malibu beach-house. Alan answers the door and she proceeds to tell him Charlie died in a crash on the way back from Las Vegas. The prenuptual agreement she had Charlie sign gives her the Malibu house.

Boycotting Two and a Half Men

2011-02-25T17:27:00.087-05:00

It didn't bother me to know Charlie Sheen's character, Charlie Harper, on Two and a Half Men was a portrayal of Charlie Sheen in his real life - the drinker, the gambler, the womanizer. To find out the real Charlie Sheen is hateful, vindictive and wishes bad on everyone around him, well that does bother me.

Two and a Half Men has been one of my and my husband's favorite shows -- from watching reruns that we've probably seen at least three times each, to the new ones on Monday night. Two and a Half men was up there with Everybody Loves Raymond and Seinfeld in the comedy department. Who doesn't need a good laugh? I must say, though, it has lost something. Maybe it's just a carryover from the recent bad news involving Charlie Sheen. His father said, "If he had cancer, how would we treat him?..." I would hope if he had cancer, he would at least be trying to help himself by getting the (medical) help he needs.

By now, everyone has heard Charlie Sheen's rant. Personally, I am saddened as I listen to Charlie's rude comments, laced with such anger and arrogance. It is heartbreaking to hear anyone with such anger; but worse is his pompous, ostentatious attitude. I don’t like hearing comments like "contaminated little maggot” when they are directed at someone. What a disappointment to hear the real Charlie. Who does he think he is?

I will be officially boycotting Two and a Half Men, new or old. Sometimes I need to stand up for what is right; it is off my television watching list! Unless, of course, Charlie is replaced. How about this for a storyline: Alan places Charlie’s drunk, passed-out body in Alan’s car and pushes him off a cliff. The body is so mangled, everyone thinks it is Alan. Alan then gets a “Charlie” mask that he wears each day pretending to be Charlie. This would go along with the current storyline with Alan milking all his friends/relatives. Then I would watch the show again….and everyone lives happily ever after!

Would Two and a Half Men make it without Charlie Sheen? Probably not. Would I like to see it move on without Charlie Sheen? Definitely! Would I watch it if Charlie Sheen were not in it? Another, definitely! Would the ratings go down? Probably, if not definitely. I would watch it to make a point; Charlie Sheen is as dispensable as the rest of us!

During this boycott, I will enjoy such great comedies as Rules of Engagement, Big Bang Theory, Mike and Molly, How I Met Your Mother and The Defenders. Okay, I threw the last one in to see if you were paying attention. I believe it is billed as a drama, but it’s a good one and quite funny at times!

Knitted Dish Cloths - How to

2011-01-19T12:09:00.000-05:00

If you're looking for the pattern for those cotton, knitted dish cloths, you will find it here:
Knitting how to

Autisim in the News - Dr. Andrew Wakefield Accused of Fraud

2011-01-06T08:20:00.002-05:00

According to CNN, Dr. Andrew Wakefield, a British physician, has been accused of an “elaborate fraud” linking child vaccines and autism. A report published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) states that Dr. Wakefield misrepresented or even altered the 12 medical histories of the patients included in his 1998 study. Dr. Wakefield said his work was “grossly distorted,” though it appears he may have distorted the data.

But here’s what I think: Just because a study was tainted doesn't mean vaccines are NOT to blame for autism. All those parents can’t be wrong and autism rates are growing at an alarming rate. Parents seem to think there is a strong correlation between autism and vaccines. Just because something can’t be proved, doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist; I’ll give God for an example here.

I recently found I had MSG (monosodium glutamate) poisoning. (Yes poisoning, not an allergy, because man-made MSG is a toxin.) Suffering the negative consequences for days after consuming a reasonable amount (as in one Chinese restaurant meal), I’ve done a bit of research on MSG. I found it is in almost everything we purchase in the grocery store. Something to ponder that might be scarier - I found it has been used in vaccines: http://www.truthinlabeling.org/Vaccines.html Babies, as we all know, can't detoxify like an addult. If I had a young child, I would have a hard time leaving him/her with a doctor and a vaccine-laden needle in the same room with my child.

Read more about Dr. Andrew Wakefield from CNN:
http://edition.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/01/06/autism.vaccines/?hpt=T1

Ted Williams - Homeless Man With the Golden Voice

2011-01-06T07:39:00.000-05:00

Today we've all heard the story about the homeless man whose YouTube video, seen by 11 million in 24 hours, has caused a sensation. Ted Williams, a father of nine, became homeless after losing his job due to drug and alcohol addiction. He is now two years clean and sober. After standing on the side of the road along with a sign asking for a job, a reporter from Columbus Dispatch happened upon Ted. He's now been offered many jobs. Ted, I'm sure you are an inspiration to many going through hard times in this bad economy. Congratulations Ted Williams and best of luck to you. (And Mrs. Williams - you look 70 not 90!)

The Lion and the Mouse

2010-12-22T14:59:00.002-05:00

The big Lion was walking along and came across a Mouse. He picked up the mouse about to eat it, when the Mouse said, "Mr. Lion, please do not eat me. I am just a small morsel that would not make much difference to a big Lion like you." The Lion thought about it and decided not to eat the Mouse. From that day forward, since the Mouse and Lion lived in the same forest they would often see each other. One day, the Mouse came across the Lion. He had been caught in a woven trap that hung from a tree. The Mouse climbed up the tree, across the branch and began chewing at the ropes. He chewed the ropes until he was able to free the Lion.

You never know in life when you will make a friend or when you will need help. No matter how small you are or how small you think you are, you can probably still help someone.

Link your Webanswers Account with your Google AdSense Account

2010-12-22T13:30:00.001-05:00

I received an email inviting me to create a Google AdSense account. I selected the option to use my Webanswers login. It will not permit me to login. Can you help?

Can you hang curtain panels at different heights in same room?

2010-12-22T08:01:00.005-05:00

Click here for the answer: Can you hang curtain panels at different heights in same room?

Need Help - Dawn Marie Orchid White Bumps

2010-12-21T14:04:00.002-05:00

A friend asked me to watch her orchid while she went away. A couple days later I noticed white "things" on the top of the root ball and the leaves look slightly wilted. Can someone help identify this, on this Dawn Marie(X Den. Lori Tokumaga) orchid. They remind me of the parasites that attack hornworms on tomato plants.

Do you know what these white "things" are?

My Favorite Day of the Year!

2010-12-21T10:18:00.009-05:00

Winter Solstice - my favorite day of the year. No I'm not a skier, not a snowboarder and not a snowmobiler. I love the first day of winter because the days will now start to get longer. I hate when the days get dark by 4:30 pm. In the summer, it seems the days are just starting at 4:30 pm. Happy First Day of Winter!

Backup your iPhone/iTouch/iPod to Computer Program

2010-11-20T15:41:00.000-05:00

Cucusoft iPhone/iTouch/iPod to Computer Transfer is an easy to use iPod/iPhone utility designed to help you backup all your files from your iPod/iPhone/iTouch. Recover lost or missing music or backup and restore all of your iPod/iPhone/iTouch content; including your favorite songs, videos, photos, Play Lists and more. If you have any iPod/iPhone device, this software is a 'must have' utility to keep your iPod/iPhone safe.

Features:

* Top-rated iPod transfer software - Easy and simple to use, powerful as well.

* Supports all iPod/iPhone/iTouch models.

* Auto-scans your iPod/iPhone devices.

* Auto-searches by Album/Artist/Genre/Type.

* Simple to install and operate.

* Advanced settings supports Backup Folder Rule.

* Index by Album/Artist/Genre/Type.

* Easily and quickly backup your songs, videos, photos, playlists, podcasts and more from your iTouch/iPhone/iPod to any folder on your PC.

* Supports manage iPhone/iTouch/iPod content, import and export files between devices and computer.

* Supports not only iPod/iPod Nano/iPod shuffle, also iPhone and iTouch.

* Supports play media file directly in our program without third party player.

* Supports manage your iPod device on any computer.

* Supports transfer photos from iPhone/iTouch/iPod to computer.

* Supports locate music or video by ablum/artist/genre easily.

* Supports multiple languages. (English, Spanish, Deutsch, Japanese, Chinese...)

* Good value for money.

CLICK HERE:

Accuchef

2010-11-20T14:47:00.000-05:00

AccuChef is a full-featured recipe organizer that starts you out with a collection of recipes and lets you add as many as you want (thousands available for free from our web site, millions available on the Internet). AccuChef can perform a nutritional analysis (including exchanges) of your recipes using the included USDA SR16-1 database and resize your recipes for up to 999 servings. Features include a spell checker (with support for over 20 languages); an e-mail utility that supports MAPI, SMTP exchanges and built-in PKZIP/WINZIP compatible compression. Search for recipes based on any element, even type in some ingredients you have on hand and let it suggest recipes you can make. A menu planner lets you add recipes for a day's meals and snacks then creates a shopping list of required ingredients in store aisle order (supports the Pocket PC shopping list program VOShoppingList too)! Before you head to the store, let it check the built in coupon database to see if you have any applicable coupons. AccuChef will import Meal-Master, MasterCook, regular text, or you can paste in recipes from any web site. Export Meal-Master, MasterCook, comma separated value or text. Export to individual text files using the recipe name as the file name, copy them to your PALM or POCKET PC and take them with you! You can sort recipes alphabetically by name, category, or main ingredient or jump to the area of interest using alphabetical tabs. Personalize your printouts by adding pictures of the recipe (BMP or JPG). You can print in formatted layout on plain paper, 3x5 and 4x6 index cards or any other sized paper your printer will support, print nutritional labels or completely design your own output! You can generate a web cookbook and upload it to the Internet to share your creations with the world! You can even print out double sided cookbooks of your recipes complete with a table of contents for sharing with the family, creating heirlooms or as a fund raiser for your Church or school!
Click here:

Which Came First? The Chicken or the Flu Egg?

2010-11-20T07:44:00.000-05:00

We go through the entire spring and summer - no influenza. Early in the fall, the flu shot is offered and most people I know get it. Some time a little later in the fall, the flu is rampant. What exactly is the evolution of the flu? Which came first - the chicken or the egg? Was it the flu shot that caused it or did it just evolve?

I guess I don't understand the evolution of the cold either. Where does it come from? This summer I've known quite a few people who had colds. Typically though, we go through the whole summer without any until fall.

Hmmm.....

Added note: According to Doctor Oz, the flu starts in Asia. I wonder why...would it have anything to do with Asia being a little over-populated?

The Rattlesnake Story - Author Unknown

2010-11-04T09:22:00.003-04:00

A friend of mine just told me this interesting "story":

A man was walking and came accross a rattlesnake.
The Rattlesnake said to him, "I'm cold. Can you please pick me up and put me in your coat?"
The Man said, "Oh, no, you are a rattlesnake, you will bite me."
The Rattlesnake said, "No, I will not bite you."
The Man said, "Yes you will."
The Rattlesnake said, "Please, I am cold. I promise I will not bite you."
The man picked up the rattlesnake, put him in his coat and the snake bit him!
The man said, "You promised you wouldn't bite me!"
The Rattlesnake said, "But I'm a rattlesnake, I do what rattlesnakes do."

Obviously the moral of this story is we need to be careful and discerning of what people say because they are not always looking to do good.

Your or You're

2010-11-01T08:48:00.000-04:00

So what is it with people, both children and adults, not knowing whether to use "your" or "you're"!!!!! You're is the contraction of "you are". Simply put, just read the sentence, replace it with "you are" -- it either fits or it does not. If "you are" fits, use "you're"!!! I think EVERY facebook page I go to, "your" is used when it should be you're!!!

High Fructose Corn Syrup

2010-10-13T16:54:00.000-04:00

Be on the lookout! According to Doctor Oz, "high fructose corn syrup" might be called "corn sugar" in the near future.

Tennessee Firemen Watch House Burn

2010-10-05T19:26:00.000-04:00

Is it possible I actually live in the same country as the Cranicks, whose house burned down while firemen WATCHED!!!!!??????

According to ABC news, the Cranicks forgot to pay their $75 annual fee. The fee is assessed to those who live outside the city limits. I think there is something seriously wrong when citizens do not volunteer to help their neighbors who are in trouble!!!!!

Wouldn't it just make more sense to assess an additional $75 tax to each house in town and call it a day?

I guess I'm lucky that my rural town includes a full-time firefighter and truck in our taxes, but we have lots of volunteer firefighters who pitch in. Surrounding towns also help each other when necessary.

James Jones - Flordia Man Who Stormed School Bus

2010-09-18T13:24:00.001-04:00

James Jones was obviously outraged when he entered the Florida school bus his daughter was on to confront his daughter's bullies. The media hasn't said if Mr. Jones first tried contacting school officials or the bus driver to clear up the bullying before he entered the bus. Clearly that would have been the right thing to do. Regardless as to whether he handled things correctly, it is nice to see a parent stick up for his child. GMA aired a segment with Dr. Michael Bradly who thinks Mr. Jones should not have handled things the way he did. We all agree steps should have been followed to clear this up, BUT I totally DISAGREE with his comment that we are supposed to "help them feel a sense of control and something like this makes them feel defenseless if they don't always have their bodyguard with them."

Let's get into the real world here. There are lots of incidences when even we, as adults, need to enlist the help of other people or the police department. Kids should learn that it is okay to recruit help and they don't need to handle everything on their own. IT'S OKAY TO ASK FOR HELP!

Shame on the parents who say, when talking about wrong-doings at their child's school, "I know I need to pick my battles." HUNHHH??? Can anyone tell me where that type of thinking comes from? What kind of parent are we if we don't stick up for our children when they obviously deserve it, as was the case in Florida!

Let's remember: Children learn what they live. When parents don't step up to do the right thing, their children won't step up to do the right thing either.

Eclipse

2010-07-16T19:55:00.001-04:00

I haven't had a chance to see Eclipse yet. Also haven't heard from anyone who has seen it. Is it any good? Would love to hear from those of you who have seen it.

Sarah "Fergie" Ferguson - "Sells" her ex-husband

2010-05-24T19:20:00.001-04:00

The Duchess of York reportedly "sold" her ex-husband, Prince Andrew, to an English tabloid in a "Royal sting." Personally, i think if enough money is offered, anyone would have a hard time sticking to their scruples! Although this is a public relations nightmare, Fergie always impressed me as someone who "pulled no punches" - I like that! Could it really be true that Fergie only receives $21,000 a year per her divorce settlement and Princess Diana's was a flat 32 million as reported by E Entertainment? Fergie - I still love you!

Survivor - Heroes vs. Villians

2010-05-19T11:13:00.001-04:00

It is nice to have finally figured out why Russell has only ever made it to the final three not one by two times! He is the dumbest player ever. It's obvious the producers show us what they think we want to see or what will successfully boost the ratings. I admit it - I probably tuned in each week to root for Russell to be voted off. And every night after the show I'd say, "why didn't they vote him off?" I love how ironic it is that the only person they showed us, who WAS willing to vote him off was Sandra, who won the million dollars! Congrats Sandra for a game well played! I loved it when you acted dumb and said, "I'll take the $100K." I must admit, at that point, I didn't really think you had much of a chance at winning the million.

I have to keep reminding myself that it is a TV show and it's all about ratings. Through the entire last season I thought Russell was smart and played a good game. Seeing him at the Reunion Show this year made me realize he is the dumbest player ever. For him to think he made it to the final three because he is smart, is just plain stupid! It's now obvious that the behind-the-scenes strategy was to keep Russell and let him think he was in control. It was genius to take him to the final three; a guarantee that only the other two were in the running for the million.

Dumbest survivor moves I've seen so far:
4. James going home with TWO immunity idols in his pocket.
3. JT and his infamous letter to Russell and giving him the immunity idol.
2. Erik being duped into giving the idol to another player.
1. Russell stabbing everyone in the back, aligning with each and every player and STILL thinking he might be voted #1 survivor, all while some were playing him like a fiddle!

On a lighter note, congratulations to all the players for giving us yet another good season of Survivor. I don't know if I could ever sign myself up to go through what you have all gone through...or could I....?

Definition of "Lady" and Sandra Bullock

2010-04-30T08:33:00.000-04:00

I just heard Sandra Bullock referred to as a "lady" on GMA. It seems lady and woman are used interchangeably these days, when they really shouldn't be. Although in this case, I think he may have really meant "lady". Sandra is a true class act. More should follow in her footsteps! A "woman" is an adult female and a "lady" is a woman who conducts herself in a refined manner. I constantly hear something like, "see that lady over there"? I sometimes ask, "how do you know she's a lady"? I get a look as if I have three heads!

Thanks Andy Rooney

2010-04-25T20:01:00.000-04:00

Thanks Andy Rooney for grooming those unruly, distracting eyebrows! This is the second time I've seen the groomed eyebrows -- they are awesome! I have not seen the segment that explains WHY you groomed them, but I'm willing to not question it. I do remember seeing a segment, however, where you said you would NOT trim the eyebrows as many viewers had requested -- glad you changed your mind! I've always enjoyed your segment on 60 Minutes. I have to say, it's much more enjoyable without the distacting eyebrows!

Rachael Welch

2010-04-21T11:19:00.000-04:00

I've recently been seeing Rachael Welch in a sunglass commercial. She is an amazingly beautiful woman! It is disturbing though, that someone who is going to turn 70 this year looks to be around 50. Barbara Walters is in the same boat. If my math is correct, she will be turning 81 this year! Barbara doesn't look a day over 60. It would be nice if Hollywood would give aging gracefully some consideration so the rest of us would not look so bad! It is just wrong to not be able to be yourself and feel comfortable with gray hair, wrinkles and a little sagging -- especially at 80!

I just googled "stars who have not had plastic surgery" and this page came up Pop Crunch Celebrity Before and After . I wouldn't normally promote a page that gives us laughs at the expense of others, BUT the commentaries did make me LOL, especially the one under Val Kilmer's. I have to say, Jack Nicholson looked scary forty years ago and still looks scary today!

Charlie Sheen - New Buzz Cut

2010-04-20T12:12:00.000-04:00

I try to refrain from saying mean or nasty things, because as you know, my motto is "It's just as easy to be nice as it is to be mean and rotten!" Sometimes as hard as I try, it just doesn't work. And you must admit, it's not like Charlie Sheen doesn't know he has a big honker...right?...or does he? Two and a Half Men is my favorite show, but if you've ever watched the beginning where the "2 1/2 men" are singing the theme song, then you already know it shows an unflattering profile of Charlie's nose. Actually, I never realized how big his nose was until seeing that side shot. Today, if you happened to see Charlie proudly showing off his new buzz-cut on the Comcast homepage , well what can I say but "YIKES!!! Charlie, what WERE you thinking?" Did someone say Ebenezer Scrooge? did he put his teeth in his pocket for that shot?

Need Help - Pre-thirteen Using Facebook - What Do You Think?

2010-04-19T15:07:00.002-04:00

I could really use some help. I feel like I'm in a "moral" dilema. I've seen people allow their underage children to use OHRV's without required helmets and illegally drive them down public roads. I've seen parents allow kids in a boat without the required life jacket and of course we all know parents who allow their under-twentyone to drink. I'm someone who is immensely annoyed to see adults allowing their children to openly break laws. When is it ok to bend the rules and laws?

I realize we're in an electronic age where everything is done via cell phone or computer. Pretty soon our computers will be brushing our teeth. Here's my dilemma: I've been "friended" by a pre-thirteen-year-old. Do I accept or decline?

I know most of you would say "all the kids are doing it, why not?" or "if the parents allowed it why shouldn't you?" Part of me feels like - oh, just do it and the other part of me feels like I would be condoning something I shouldn't be. What do you think?

Congratulations to the Emmons Family

2010-04-09T08:48:00.000-04:00

I've been out of the news loop again. I hadn't heard about the diplomat who smoked on a commercial flight, that Jenny McCarthy and Jim Carrey had broken up or about the couple who did not know she was pregnant. How did I miss all this?

Congratulations (I think) to Carri and Ryan Emmons who just welcomed a baby boy. I say "(I think)" because if he had a vasectomy, they probably wanted to be done having children. Hopefully they have adjusted to this new member of their family. Wishing them the best and hoping that all is well!

Dr Richard Besser - Weight Loss and Exercise

2010-03-24T07:37:00.006-04:00

Dr Richard Besser FINALLY said what I've been saying for years -- That people think exercise is important for weight loss, but it really isn't. He said how we eat is much more important and that a better reason to exercise, is for good health. This is exactly what I've been saying for years! Sorry I can't quote him exactly, as I can't find the segment online.

This is a nice article on KitchenTableMedicine.com that explains it a little more.

Donna Simpson - wants to weigh 1,000 pounds

2010-03-17T19:24:00.005-04:00

I only want to know one thing about Donna Simpson (you know the one who weighs 600 pounds and would like to weigh 1,000 pounds so she can become the number one heaviest woman at her age rather than the 43rd heaviest). My one question - "What is her IQ?"

It's Official...The First Day of Spring

2010-03-15T14:43:00.007-04:00

It's official. I'm declaring today as the first day of spring! In the last two weeks, I've seen lots of American Gold Finches, Starlings and several Canada Goose --all birds I never see in the winter. Today I saw House Finches (or maybe Purple Finches they were too far away to properly identify) and Red-Winged Black Birds. To me, these birds are all signs of spring. I know it is not supposed to offically start until this coming Sunday (March 21), but I'm starting my spring now!

And this brings me to "Canada Goose". Since the species name is Canada Goose, how do we make that plural? If we call them Canada Geese or Canadian Geese or even Canadian Goose, aren't we changing the name of the species? Is it just a Canada Goose -- plural and singular? Anyone know the answer to this?

Pelosi Keeps Amazing Me...

2010-03-11T08:19:00.004-05:00

Speaker Pelosi just keeps on amazing me. I happened to come accross this clip and had to stop everything I was doing to include it in my blog for you to see
Pelosi on the Health Care Bill

My head just keeps going back and forth, left to right. Can't seem to stop it. My lower jaw is hanging down just a bit, too. Stunned, that's all I can say.

Public Service of New Hampshire - THANKS!

2010-03-04T09:21:00.006-05:00

Public Service of New Hampshire (PSNH) should be commended for their quick recovery efforts after the horrific windstorm of last Thursday evening, February 25, 2010. Within a couple days, they had 90% of their customers up and running. Thanks to all those employees who worked crazy hours to get us going again!

Some pictures of the damage in our area:

School Spying Through Laptops

2010-02-22T08:46:00.006-05:00

A Pennsylvania school is now looking at a lawsuit for spying on kids through school-issued laptops. What was this school thinking????? Isn't it against the law to record a conversation without informing the person who is being recorded, never mind recording someone with a video camera! This is an interesting article about people who have been arrested for video taping police situations (I remember the one in New Hampshire). Newsvine.com

The first word that popped into my head when I heard about this was "pedophile". I can't think of any other reason an adult (excluding parents) would want to spy on children in their homes or bedrooms. I think the people who were responsible for activating the webcam should be arrested (as the people in the above article were)! What do you think?

After buying a new laptop a couple years ago, the first thing I did was to put tape over the webcam. If you have a webcam connected to your computer, you most likely have the software needed to run it. If hackers can access your computer to steal important information, they surely can activate a webcam! Think about putting a small piece of masking tape on that camera.

Tiger Woods Apology and Aiesha Steard-Baker

2010-02-21T08:40:00.001-05:00

I think I'm going to scream if I hear on TV one more time, Tiger saying "...I was unfaithful, I had affairs, I cheated. What I did was not acceptable and I am the only person to blame..." I've heard enough of it, let's get back to golf!

I have to say though, Tiger's not the only one who did something wrong. Even though it's none of my business he should only be taking 99% of the blame. What about the women he cheated with. Are they blameless? Sure, they didn't break any commitment to Elin, but they did break the human commitment -- to be a decent person. Sure Tiger may have been the one who was "more wrong", but they were still wrong. Society needs to stop accepting those who cheat with cheaters!

and speaking of the human commitment...what about those security guards at Macy's that wouldn't help the 15-year-old Aiesha Steward-Baker? I heard on GMA that the security guards at Macy's are instructed to only call the police and not get involved. Again, what about the codes of being human? No matter what your job capacity, you don't just stand there and let something like that happen! Would they have let a cute, little puppy get kicked around?

Bus video

Hopey Changey is Not Working for Me

2010-02-09T10:55:00.007-05:00

I admit it - I'm not a Sarah Palin fan. In fact, I believe if the Republican party backs her in the next presidential election, it will guarantee President Obama another term. I believe Sarah Palin helped Barack Obama become president. BUT I have to say her recent comment at the Tea Party Convention, "How's that hopey, changy stuff workin' out for ya?" (said of course in her "Fargo" accent) was pretty funny. That hopey, changy stuff IS NOT workin' for me!

Facebook - Please Check Your Profile

2010-02-05T10:36:00.002-05:00

I guess it is just me, but I hate Facebook! No, it's not really Facebook I hate -- it's the things I see posted there. Personally, I'm only willing to share a certain amount of information with "friends," but I can see there are some who share EVERYTHING! I think everyone should check their settings to make sure they're not set up for "friends of friends" to see their information. Ooops...I better check mine! I think people post waaaaaayyyy too much information. Once I actually had to ask a friend to remove a post they made that degraded a thirteen-year-old's mother. I knew the thirteen-year-old was a "friend" and could see these unfavorable comments about his mother. It was very disturbing! If you are reading this, you probably have a Facebook account. Please be careful about what you post, keeping in mind that anyone in cyberland could be watching. You might also want to question whether or not it is a good idea to post where you're going. Maybe a better idea might be to post where you've been.

Sunrise / Sunset Moon Phase

2010-02-04T12:12:00.001-05:00

I just found a really cool website that allows a search of your own area for sunrise and sunset and which phase the moon in in. Check this out: SUNRISE/SUNSET

On this website CIVIL TWILIGHT is defined as "In the morning before the beginning of civil twilight and in the evening after the end of civil twilight, artificial illumination is normally required to carry on ordinary outdoor activities." There is more information on that site that explains it even further. It explains why we usually see "daylight" about a half hour before sunrise and a half hour after sunset.

That reminds me...has anyone noticed how bright this winter has been? I'm in the northeastern US and almost all winter, any time I've gotten up during the middle of the night, I look out my window and am not surrounded by complete darkness. Something seems different this year. Can anyone explain that for me?

Don't Ask, Don't Tell

2010-02-03T09:11:00.004-05:00

I'm very disturbed about the Army possibly lifting the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. It's really the "Don't Ask" part that bothers me. I do not feel it is anyone's business to know what people do in privacy, especially when it relates to sex. ANYONE'S sexual orientation - homosexual or heterosexual - is nobody's business!

The Don't Tell part, well I do think that should be lifted. There should be no unfavorable consequence for being or admitting to being gay and especially should not be grounds for dismissal!

Since we are unfortunately a country not yet exempt from hate crimes, I would worry that lifting the policy could be detrimental to the safety of gays. I sincerely hope I'm wrong!

Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy - Help Spread the Word!

2010-02-01T12:09:00.012-05:00

I found out today there are still lots of people who do not know about or understand what bio-identical hormones (BHRT) are! We need to spread the word! Ok, here is my understanding of them. They are also referred to as "natural hormones". The word "natural" seems to be misconstrued and misunderstood. Something that is "natural" should be an earthly substance that has had minimal processing. Cyanide and arsenic are "natural". Black cohosh is a "natural" herb. Gasoline is made from a "natural" substance. I guess everything is natural or is made from a natural substance since we are not yet importing from Mars. A tomato picked from a garden should be "natural" if the seed it was grown from had not been genetically altered.

This brings us to "natural hormones" which are also known as bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT). "Natural" in this instance does not quite mean what we are used to it meaning. It does not mean it was picked in a garden and you eat it like a vegetable or take it like a pill. Natural hormones are made from plants to exactly replicate the hormones in our bodies. The "bio-identical" in the phrase bio-identical hormone replacement therapy means biologically identical to the hormones that the human body makes.

Unfortunately, no studies have been done or reported involving BHRT. We also might ask if a study is even necessary. If we are replacing the hormones our bodies used to make with something that is exactly identical, isn't the risk exactly the same as it was our whole lives when our bodies were producing those hormones?

I think one of the issues is that we've been misled to believe that hot flashes are normal and we just need anti-depressants. Should we really think life is supposed to be over at 50?

Another good one that doctors tell women who have had hysterectomies, "You don't need progesterone because you've had a hysterectomy - you don't have a uterus." Progesterone may play a part in uterine bleeding, but doesn't it also plays a part in making other necessary hormones like estrogen and testosterone? So just because someone does not have a uterus, does that mean they no longer need all the other hormones that progesterone contributes to making? Check out my other blog about bio-identicals BHRT (And don't forget that progesterone helps us sleep.)

Just as with anything else, get a doctor's advice before starting any new medications. A naturopath or gynecologist would be good places to start.

Scott Brown Defeats Martha Coakley!

2010-01-20T10:18:00.007-05:00

Congratulations to Scott Brown on his astonishing win yesterday! A big "hurray" to the residents of Massachusetts. I believe the state of Massachusetts has sent a message to Washington - "we are tired of having politician's hands in our pockets!"

I happened to catch press secretary, Robert Gibbs this morning on Good Morning America, talking of course, about the Brown victory. A reporter said, "a lot of Americans are now attaching their frustration with Washington to President Obama and what he's doing." Gibbs reply was, "I think there is a certainly some attachment to us." Hmmmmm....ya think?

When will the economy be turning around? When will the unemployment numbers start going down rather than up? When will the housing market start booming again? Unless the democrats in Washington can effect changes in these areas, my guess is there will be a huge shake-up in the fall elections.

Coakley - Brown Senate Race Massachusetts

2010-01-19T13:46:00.003-05:00

I'm curious to see how the Coakley/Brown race turns out. If my information is correct, Massachusetts has already mandated health insurance for all residents. Considering that Obama's health care reform will more than likely cost Taxachusetts residents even more, will that prove positive for Coakley or Brown?

Magic Wings - South Deerfield Massachusetts

2010-01-18T12:12:00.010-05:00

This butterfly REALLY wanted to have its picture taken!

Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory and Gardens in South Greenfield, Massachusetts, is a great place to spend an afternoon or morning. We started our visit with lunch in the Monarch's Restaurant.

Entering the conservatory, we were surprised at the tropical temperature. We should have known to wear summer clothes or at least to wear "peelable" layers. Even though it was a beautiful January day in the forties, it was nice to be met with such warmth. If you have an aversion to butterflies this is not the place to be. The butterflies were everywhere - even on my head.

Be certain to visit their website MagicWings to get a $2 discount on admission.

Merry Christmas David and Sean Goldman

2009-12-24T11:21:00.006-05:00

David Goldman, What a wonderful Christmas gift you have recieved this year getting your son back from Brazil! Congratulations! Hopefully it won't be too difficult for you both to adjust, since you are practically strangers. I'm sure that will change very quickly. Merry Christmas!

Survivor Samoa - Nineteenth Season

2009-12-23T08:45:00.008-05:00

Monday morning, the 21st, I signed on facebook. The post I happened to see was from Sugar saying, "I hate Survivor". My first thought was, "hmmmm, I wonder why". My second thought was, "CRAP, I forgot Survivor was on last night!! How could I have forgotten?" I do hate that it normally airs on Thursday, and they air the final show on Sunday. I guess I'm just a creature of habit. I did not have a chance to watch it until Tuesday night. I held my breath hoping no one would tell me who had won in the meantime.

When Natalie was first announced, I was not only shocked, but very upset. I initially thought she was voted for only because people hated Russell, the Snake. I quickly realized that Natalie really did play a good game. She aligned with strong players, stayed loyal to them and made some really good moves, like getting rid of Erik. Getting rid of Erik was probably her best move. Like Erik said before the vote, Natalie and Russell played two different strategies and you can't say one was better than the other. Although, Natalie's strategy was better. It seems the jury always likes honesty, loyalty and integrity over lying, manipulating and betraying.

Christmas Cards for Jacob

2009-12-21T08:46:00.012-05:00

Recently, many of you have probably seen the word "hoax" or "rumor" in the headline of any story about Christmas Cards for Jacob, even though most of the stories out there go on to report the request for cards was TRUE as reported by WSYR-TV on December 14, 2009 WSYR-TV The family only requested people stop sending cards because of the overwhelming amount of cards that was received.

Fox news reported "Amie and Ron Hadcock say they don't know where the e-mail began or how anyone got the idea that Jacob is terminally ill." Not knowing where the email began, is a little misleading since it infers they didn't know where the request came from. More than likely the email came from the same person they gave their address to at the Santa function when the request was made. Apparently it is NOT TRUE that Jacob is terminally ill. The fact that a child might be terminally ill probably should not be posted on the Internet in the first place. The fact remains that the only part about this story that is not true, is that Jacob is not terminally ill. What great news that is!

For future reference, if someone does not want thousands of cards for their child, maybe it would be best NOT to ask a huge retailer to spread the word, especially since word travels so fast these days with the help of the Internet.

Thanks should be given to all who put themselves out to send a card and especially to those who set up information on websites to spread the word! It is nice to see so many decent people out there who are willing to put themselves out for a good cause (even though the parents cancelled the request)! I hope, since this request was only for 2009, that everyone who posted information on the Internet will now take the address information down from their websites.

And just for the record, I did not send a card because a terminally ill child requested Christmas cards, nor did I send a card because a child was ill. I sent a card because a little boy asked Santa for lots of cards and I'm a little embarrassed to admit it, but YES, I DO STILL BELIEVE IN SANTA!

A Christmas Wish for David Goldman

2009-12-21T07:32:00.003-05:00

Good luck David Goldman. I can't imagine what you are going through and hope you are able to have your son, Sean, home from Brazil for Christmas!

Pet Peeve...rinsing dishes

2009-12-17T11:00:00.002-05:00

One of my biggest pet peeves is seeing people rinse their dishes before putting them in the dishwasher. With an emphasis on being "green" these days, why are people still rinsing their dishes? I've always had a hard time understanding this concept. Of course I, like most in my age group, was brought up being made to rinse dishes before putting in the dishwasher. The first time I bought my own dishwasher, I thought "Why am I rinsing them when a. the dishwasher has a "rinse" button, b. the dishes come clean even if I don't rinse them first and c. I spent all this $$$ on a dishwasher so I could rinse the dishes first? I might as well put soap on them, rinse them again and put them away." Have the people who rinse their dishes first ever thought about the amount of time and energy that is being wasted for absolutely no valid reason?

SUGGESTION #1 - 1. Take a rubber spatula, scrape the dishes and place them in dishwasher along with the spatula. 2. Once dishwasher is full, do a test by putting detergent in dishwasher and run dishwasher. 3. Check to see if dishes are clean.

OR (if above does not work)

SUGGESTION #2 - 1. Scrape food off dishes with rubber spatula and place in dishwasher. 2. Hit "rinse only" button. 3. Run dishwasher when full. 4. Check to see if dishes are clean.

OR

SUGGESTION #3 - 1. Use paper napkin to wipe off dish (most of us use napkins when eating). 2. Throw away paper napkin. 3. Run dishwasher when full 4. Check to see if dishes are clean.

Please let me know how this works for you. With all that time and water you save, take a nice, long, relaxing bath at the end of the week!

Tiger Woods and Ambien

2009-12-08T08:46:00.006-05:00

ABC Good Morning America reported this morning that Tiger Woods may have been on Ambien the night/morning of his accident. That would explain it all. Well, not exactly "all". It wouldn't explain any possible mistresses but what it would explain is the odd behavior the night of the accident, especially the "in and out of conscientiousness." I've seen someone on Ambien and it's not good. Someone on Ambien could potentially do ANYTHING and not remember it when they wake up the next day. I know one person who downloaded ringtones to her cell phone after taking it and when her phone rang that tone the next day said, "where did that ringtone come from?" I know someone else who does crazy stuff at night. She has gone into her kitchen in the morning and said, "how did all this stuff get moved around? It's wasn't like that when I went to bed." Another ended up in the hospital with heart-attack-type symptoms that mysteriously disappeared when Ambien was discontinued.

Any sleeping pill that causes blackouts like that can't exactly be real good. If someone is downloading ringtones or rearranging a kitchen, is that really "good" sleep? If I were to take it, my fear would be that I would drive my car and wake up hundreds of miles from my house. Could that be why Tiger left the house? Ambien? If he's smart, it will be his story!

Plants in December

2009-12-06T14:36:00.006-05:00

Yesterday, December 5, 2009, we had our first snowfall. Thursday, December 3rd, was 69 degrees, the sun was shining and it was absolutely beautiful. Today it is beautiful, too, but in a different way. It is hard to believe that two days after 69 degrees, the snow blanketed everything last night. It's true what they say about the New Hampshire weather -- "If you don't like it, wait a minute."

I'm amazed these petunia plants have not wanted to die this year. There have been no flowers on them for months, but they just keep growing.

Twelve Days of Christmas

2009-12-01T13:53:00.011-05:00

Some believe the Twelve Days of Christmas was written to help parents teach their children about God, Jesus and the Catholic religion. Pre-1829, when Catholics were not allowed to openly practice their faith, this song possibly allowed Catholics to practice their faith while at the same time, remain hidden.

On the first day of Christmas, my true love (symbolizes God) gave to me (symbolizes Christians)...
A partridge in a pear tree - symbolizes Jesus Christ. A mother partridge will fake an injury to draw predators from her babies;
2 turtle doves - the Old and New Testaments;
3 French hens - Faith, Hope and Charity;
4 calling birds - the Four Gospels;
5 golden rings - the first five books of the Old Testament which gave the history of man's fall from grace;
6 geese a laying - the six creation days;
7 swans a swimming - seven gifts of the Holy Spirit;
8 maids a milking - the eight Beatitudes;
9 ladies dancing - nine choirs of angels;
10 lords a leaping - the Ten Commandments;
11 pipers piping - eleven faithful Apostles;
12 drummers drumming - the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed

Washington DC White House Party Crasher Couple

2009-11-30T08:24:00.006-05:00

I'm not real impressed that anyone would stoop to sneaking into any party, especially a White House party. I heard there may be charges coming against them, but I can't say I think they were wrong. I think Secret Service was wrong and should be embarrassed they allowed this to happen. The media should drop the story as they are helping this couple get exactly what they wanted -- media attention and fame!

Tiger Woods Accident

2009-11-30T08:11:00.005-05:00

In all seriousness, Tiger Woods and his family are entitled to privacy. Tiger is an amazing athlete, a class act, and worthy of respect. He's entitled to make a mistake just like the rest of us. No matter what really happened Black Friday AM, it's really none of our business. Of course, that won't stop our curiosity....

Woods Accident

2009-11-29T08:41:00.017-05:00

Back several years ago, there was an accident right down the road from my house. My husband and I heard screeching and something just didn't sound right. We ran down the road to see if everyone was okay. We didn't grab a driver, putter or a pitching wedge, nor did we go back to our house to get one.

My husband and I are trying to figure how this accident played out....

You hear an accident at the end of your driveway and a voice (possibly your husband) calling "help". You instinctively know to grab a golf club from your garage, run down to the accident and break the back window to get him out. You pull a six foot man from the front driver's seat over the back seat and out the back window of an Escalade.

OR...you hear the accident, run out, check the Escalade doors. They won't open. You run back to the house, grab that putter that's in the umbrella stand (instead of the spare key that is hanging right next to the putter), run back and break the back window of the Escalade. You climb in, unlock the driver's door and pull him out.

OR...at 2:30 in the morning you are practicing your putting because your husband is a much better golfer than you. You hear a crash, run (you just happen to have that putter in hand) break the window so you can get the person out of the vehicle and onto the ground.

OR...you are having a fight with your husband at 2:30 in the morning after a few Thanksgiving cocktails. He jumps in his car, speeds out in his SUV crashing into a tree and a fire hydrant while you are chasing him with a golf club. At this point, you say, "oh crap, this is serious, he needs help" and break the back window. Or you maybe say "you rat b****rd!!!" and break the window.

No matter which way it plays out...the back window gets broken. We can't wait to hear what really happened.

"Health Insurance Reform"

2009-11-19T07:32:00.004-05:00

Watching Good Morning America this morning, I saw someone (Sen. Tom Harkin, I think) saying there would soon be a victory on health "insurance" reform. During that segment, someone (by this time I was starting to wake up) also said that Obama and the American public had asked for "health insurance reform" and they would soon be giving it to us (cramming down our throats might probably be more like it). They were also talking about the new government insurance that would be created to compete with insurance companies.

I must be misunderstanding this whole health care reform issue ... I thought we all wanted health care reform which, in itself, should lead to health insurance reform. How can insurance costs be forced down if the health care costs haven't changed? What am I missing? Maybe I'll understand it better if I read all 2,072 pages....

What do you think about "health care reform"?

The "Count"...

2009-11-09T07:37:00.003-05:00

How inventive to "spell" Google with numbers! Again I find myself smiling as Google appears on my screen. This was a very welcome smile after wiping tears while watching Diena Thompson on GMA. Diena lost her 7-year-old daughter, Somer, a few weeks ago. Somer disappeared while walking home from school. I can't even imagine the grief she and her family are feeling - my heart goes out to them. I hope the monster who did this is soon found.

Sesame Street....

2009-11-08T12:38:00.003-05:00

Don't you think every day should be "Sesame Street" day on Google? It has been making me smile all week! Hard to believe Sesame Street could possibly be 40 years old.

Is Email Obsolete? What Do You Think?

2009-11-06T10:36:00.003-05:00

Could it really be true that email is at least becoming obsolete? I have just recently been realizing that even I have been known to text instead of email. I really hate texting. Give me a full size keyboard for my fingers and I'm much happier. All my fingers like to type. When typing with only my thumbs, it doesn't work as well for me. Although, I can't exactly fit my 17" laptop into my purse, so I'm forced to use the phone. Checking with my daughter she confirmed she typically replies to facebook or will text rather than emailing. What do you think?

11 Year Old Defends Herself - Truth or Fiction?

2009-10-23T11:52:00.001-04:00

Ironically, just after blogging about an 11 year old who was hurt in a break in, I received this email today:

"Shotgun preteen vs. Illegal alien Home Invaders:
Butte , Montana November 5, 2007
Two illegal aliens, Ralphel Resindez, 23, and Enrico Garza, 26, probably believed they would easily overpower home-alone 11 year old Patricia Harrington after her father had left their two-story home.

It seems the two crooks never learned two things: they were in Montana and Patricia had been a clay shooting champion since she was nine. Patricia was in her upstairs room when the two men broke through the front door of the house. She quickly ran to her father's room and grabbed his 12 gauge Mossberg 500 shotgun.

Resindez was the first to get up to the second floor only to be the first to catch a near point blank blast of buckshot from the 11-year-old's knee crouch aim. He suffered fatal wounds to his abdomen and genitals.

When Garza ran to the foot of the stairs, he took a blast to the left shoulder and staggered out into the street where he bled to death before medical help could arrive.

It was found out later that Resindez was armed with a stolen 45 caliber handgun he took from another home invasion robbery. That victim, 50-year-old David 0Burien, was not so lucky. He died from stab wounds to the chest.

Ever wonder why good stuff never makes NBC, CBS, PBS, MSNBC, CNN, or ABC news........an 11 year old girl, properly trained, defended her home, and herself......against two murderous, illegal immigrants......and she wins,
She is still alive..

Now that is Gun Control!

Thought for the day: Calling an illegal alien an 'undocumented immigrant' is like calling a drug dealer an 'unlicensed pharmacist'

I like this kind of e-mail. American citizens defending themselves and their homes."

Searching the internet, it appears this is a bogus story.

And Speaking of Fire Victims - Joel Sonnenberg

2009-10-22T10:03:00.000-04:00

I think of Joel Sonnenberg each and every time I go through a New Hampshire toll booth. Joel was 22 months old when the car he was in was rear-ended, resulting in the car being enveloped in fire. Joel was burned from head to toe and grew up without toes or fingers.

I happened to see Joel on an episode of Sue Thomas FBEye (a show loosly based on a true story) and decided to find out more about him. It was disturbing to learn his burns were caused at a New Hampshire toll booth.

Thinking of Joel and how he overcame so many obstacles gives me confidence and helps keep me optimistic. Thanks Joel for being you!

His book is "The Inspiring Story of a Miracle Named Joel" and his website is www.joelsonnenberg.com

15 Year Old Florida Boy Intentially Burned

2009-10-15T07:52:00.013-04:00

Every morning the news is disturbing, but especially so this morning and recently. A 15-year-old boy, Michael Brewer, was set on fire by five young boys with the aid of rubbing alcohol. Michael was burned on 65% of his body and may have saved his own life by jumping into a pool. Due to the severity of his burns, the next few days are critical. According to the Miami Herald, five boys have been arrested: Matthew Bent, 15; Denver Colorado Jarvis, 15; Denver's brother Jeremy Jarvis, 13; Steven Shelton, 15; and Jesus Mendez, 15.

Rewinding to October 8 in New Hampshire - According to Union Leader, Senior Assistant Attorney General N. Will Delker has said four armed teens entered the secluded home in Mont Vernon about 4 a.m.,with robbery plans and to kill anyone they found inside. Kimberly Cates, 42, was fatally attacked in her bed with a machete and a knife. Her 11-year-old daughter, Jaimie, survived the attack, and was able to call 911. She suffered injuries that led to hours in surgery at Children's Hospital Boston. This will be a tough thing for her to live with.

According to CBS News, Four teens have been arrested. Charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder and attempted murder are Steven Spader, 17, and Christopher Gribble, 19, both of Brookline, NH. They are being held without bail. Charged with burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary and robbery are William Marks, 18, and Quinn Glover, 17, both of Amherst, NH They are being held on $500,000 cash bail.

This reverberates to another senseless act in Dartmouth NH, in 2001 when two college professors were brutally killed in their home. If my memory serves me correctly, the reason they were killed is because they opened their door.

My heart goes out to all of these families. I can't imagine what these tradgeies have put these families through.

Last night, I sat down to watch Criminal Minds. It was about three men who broke into a home and killed two couples. The next target was a young couple - a young boy picking up his girlfriend. That is when I chose to shut off the TV. With this type of stuff going on all around us, I just can NOT watch it on Television anymore. I love the perfect meld of the actors in the show. I now hate the show.

There are many shows on TV that I'm choosing not to watch: Criminal Minds, all the CSI shows, any that show violence along with blood and guts.

Thirty years ago my parents wintered in Florida and had the Union Leader mailed to them. I remember my father calling me, shocked that he had read about someone in New Hampshire being murdered. Thirty years ago it was not the normal.

Could someone please tell me WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON???? How are we raising children who have no regard for the human life?????

NY Times front page this am...

2009-10-13T08:40:00.004-04:00

"It's a Fork, It's a Spoon, It's a ... Weapon?" is a must-read article in the NY Times this morning. A 6 year old was suspended for bringing his Boy Scout eating utensils to school. He now could be punished by having to spend 45 days in reform school. HUH?????? I have to admit, the fork and spoon look like eating utensils, and the "knife" does look like a pocket knife, but STILL!!! Does a 6 year old even understand his eating utensils might be something more than eating untensils? I'm sure he must understand now.

An even more disturbing part of this article is the third grader who was expelled after her grandmother sent a birthday cake for the classmates. It wasn't the birthday cake that got her expelled, it was the knife she sent with it to cut and serve it. The teacher only reported it to the principal AFTER using it to cut the cake! I thought the days of being punished for someone else's actions were gone!

Have the zero tolerance laws gone too far?

Read this article here: http://tinyurl.com/yj8v3fr

Google Barcode - Something to Think About

2009-10-07T09:12:00.003-04:00

I love today's Google doodle, the barcode. In fact, I love all the Google doodles. I even like saying "Google doodle". The bar code doodle on Google's home page contains a link that will take you to the same place "bar code" takes you if entered into the Google search field.

According to the Telegraph.co.uk, Google is celebrating the bar code's 57th anniversary (although it was originally slightly different than the straight lines we see today). It was not used in a supermarket until June of 1974 on a pack of Wrigley's gum.

I'm definitely showing my age here, but I remember standing in line while the cashier had to punch in the prices of everything. The cash register receipt did not give any specifics of anything purchased either -- just the prices and total.

I wonder, what would it be like today, without the barcode? How life would be different!!! Thanks Google for giving us something to think about.

Beware of Hidden Ingredient - Splenda / Sucralose

2009-10-02T09:19:00.012-04:00

A disturbing fact about Splenda. Several items I'm buying lately contain sucralose, which of course is Splenda, an artifical sweetener. What I'm concerned about are two things. One that it is more or less "hidden" in the incredients list - you know those so-small-you-need-a-magnifying-glass-to-see-them ingredients.
And two, I'm very concerned that parents might be UNKNOWINGLY feeding it to their children. Please beware, if not for yourself, at least for your children's sake. Please check those indredients.

I recently purchased chocolate covered almonds and a high-protein drink that both contained sucralose. I was shocked to see sucralose in the ingredients, since NOTHING whatsoever on the front suggested the addition of any artificial sweetener. Somehow I thought any addition of artifcial sweetener needed to be noted on the front. I thought wrong.

Ameradoor - Have you had good luck?

2009-09-29T11:52:00.004-04:00

On my blog, Lydia's Reviews I posted this:

"Ameradoor- Quality Cabinet Doors and Cabinets
We recently built a maple entertainment center for our living room. Unfortunately, when it came to the doors, we did not have the expertise or the right tools. Since we only needed three doors and one drawer front, we decided to have them built. Searching the Internet we were able to find Ameradoor. The price with shipping was less than we would have paid for a router and the rail and stile bits.

When the doors arrived, we were very happy with their workmanship. "

I've since placed another order and feel that although they are slow in delivering, they have the best price and their workmanship is good. On my blog "Lydia's Reviews", several people have made negative comments. I know we usually post on the internet when we have bad experiences. I am hoping someone else may have had a good experience, and if so, and will post a comment at
http://lydiasreviews.blogspot.com/2009/01/ameradoor.html

Thought for Today...

2009-09-24T10:15:00.000-04:00

I just came across a quote I wanted to share:
"If you make giving a way of life, you will find that you will be happier than you could have ever believed or imagined. Doing things for others fills you with a warmth you can never get in any other way." Mary Kay Ash

Diane Sawyer - GMA Jessica Lynch Ruse

2009-09-21T19:26:00.005-04:00

Did anyone else happen to catch Diane Sawyer on Good Morning America last week talking about Pat Tillman and Jessica Lynch? I don't dare quote her, for fear of misquoting, but what I heard her say is ... the Jessica Lynch story was a ruse. It was fabricated to focus us away from what was really going on at the time. Diane said this so matter-of-factly that I figured it had already been in the news and I was the last person to hear it. When I asked my husband, who faithfully reads the newspaper, he said he hadn't heard anything about it and had no idea what I was talking about. Did someone say Wag the Dog?

Would love to hear if anyone else heard what I heard!

America's Got Talent - Winner 2009

2009-09-17T09:03:00.004-04:00

Normally I would only say, "Congratulations, Kevin". Today I'm almost speechless. The only performance I saw of Kevin's was completly out of tune. When the top ten were on stage, each and every one of them must have been shocked to hear themselves being eliminated before Kevin. I understand he probably was the one who needed the $$ the most, since he was forced to quit his job to join in the competition. Since I don't have anything nice to say, I'll say no more.

Jaycee Dugard - found after 18 years

2009-08-31T08:32:00.001-04:00

I saw a story on GMA this morning about Jaycee Dugard, the 11-year-old who was abducted 18 years ago. The two women who were instrumental in rescuing her were interviewed. One said to be aware of your surroundings -- pay attention. Always follow your instincts and if you are wrong, apologize later. What great advice! We do have a responsibility as a society to help keep others safe. They said their mother's instincts helped solve this case.

My heart goes out to Jaycee and her entire family. I can't imagine what she and her family have been through in the last 18 years. It amazes me that in 18 years, noone's instincts were stong enough to help save this girl sooner. Maybe we all need to have a little more Gladys Kravitz in us. (For those who are young to remember, Gladys was the nosy neighbor on "Bewitched".) Gladys never missed a thing.

Please Help Me Start Something New

2009-08-27T07:36:00.010-04:00

Please help me start something new. This help request is precipitated by my being slightly germophobic. When washing my hands with soap and water in a public bathroom, I usually look over at the paper dispenser and ask myself, "why didn't I pump out the paper before washing my hands"? Then I say to myself, "wouldn't it have been nice if the last person had left a small amount of paper hanging down? If they had, I could use that to pump out more paper if needed." It seems a real waste of both soap and water if you must touch everything after washing.

Two weeks ago I went to the beach and the next day I woke up with a sore throat. The public bathroom I had been using did not have a paper dispenser-- it had a blower dryer. To make it worse (since I had no paper to use to shut off the faucet and spaced out using my elbow), to get out of the bathroom, it was necessary to grab the screen door that swung in rather than out. Two days later my throat was worse rather than better and since I had no cold symptoms, I suspected strep. A throat culture proved it to be strep as I suspected and the nurse said, "it is a strain we don't see very often." NO WONDER I'M SLIGHTLY GERMOPHOBIC!!! I'm just glad I called the doctor so quickly.

The next time I'm at the beach, I'll bring my own soap and water and just wash my hands back at my umbrella. But in the meantime, when we use a paper dispenser in a public bathrrom, how about we all leave a 6 inch piece for the next person? (Especially with the threat of Swine Flu so imminent.)

Blast From the Past - TV show "V"

2009-08-20T07:48:00.006-04:00

What a blast from the past I got this morning. While searching for something on ABC.com, I noticed they have a show, "V" coming out on November 3rd. I remembered watching a tv show named "V" back many years ago. I surprised even myself by watching that type of show. It was a show about aliens that looked like humans but were actually reptile-like aliens under that human skin. Searching the internet, I found it aired back in 1984 - 1985 -- wow! 25 years ago. I was hooked on that one; we'll see what happens with this one.

Have You Had Hip Surgery??? Survey

2009-08-12T11:18:00.006-04:00

I have a friend who broke broke her hip this past February. In July, since she didn't seem to be healing quite right, she went back to the doctor and an x-ray showed she had broken the plate. She is eighty-nine and now faced with having a second surgery to replace the plate.

She is interested in knowing any details from anyone who has had a second hip surgery. If you have, are you glad you did or do you wish you had left well enough alone? and Have you ever heard of a plate breaking? Any comments are appreciated.

UPDATE - 10-12-09: My friend, who is now 90, was forced to have surgery. She twisted just right and it caused severe pain. The good news is that when the doctor went in to put in a new plate, the bone had healed and they were able to just remove the plate. She is expected to be able to go home by the end of the week. She would still love to hear from others in her same situation.

More gardening...

2009-08-07T13:17:00.005-04:00

Yesterday I was very proud of myself that I was able to go into my garden all by myself to weed. It's that snake thing that typically scares me away....

Actually, the above picture was taken July 31 -- the same day as the other picture. Yesterday he did a good job of hiding from me which I really appreciated(unless he's moved on to someone else's garden or stone wall). I'm calling it a "he" because I can't stand the thoughts of lots of little baby snakes slithering around!

Summer 2009 in New England

2009-07-31T17:46:00.003-04:00

This has been one of the oddest summers here in New England. Three words...rain, rain, rain!!! I might be exaggerating, but I think we've had three sunny days this year. Ok, so yes, I am exaggerating! I'm actually quite surprised that our garden is growing very well. We've been able to pick lots of summer squash -- zucchini, yellow crook neck, a round green one (that looks like zucchini that morphed into a softball).

The snake that decided to take up residence this year in the garden has not kept me from gardening. (I think we've always had snakes, we've just kept it weeded better this year so they have a harder time hiding from us - phew!)Ok, I'll admit that I try to stay on the opposite end of the snake. He seems to like the tomato and summer squash plants. I don't care what anyone says, I AM MORE SCARED OF HIM THAN HE IS OF ME!!! The proof was when my husband took a hoe to him to try to get him out while we weeded. Nope, didn't work. He stayed right there and watched us the whole time. No fear of us at all. Naturally, I did not take my eyes off him either!

2009 Emmy Nominations - and the winner is......

2009-07-16T15:11:00.008-04:00

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series - Jon Cryer (Alan Harper) wins my vote, as much as I love "Barney Stinson", I think I love "Alan Harper" more. I think I've seen each and every episode of Two and a Half Men at least three times. Every time I watch the show, I just shake my head in amazement at the things Jon Cryer has had to do. What a good sport! I'm smiling just thinking of some of the episodes...like when he fell off the roof or when he got his (wrong) ear pierced.

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series - this one is a tougher choice - Tony Shalhoub as Adrian Monk or Charlie Sheen as Charlie Harper (Sorry Jim Parsons as Sheldon Cooper, I really do love your show). Even though Two and a Half Men makes me laugh out loud and Monk only makes me laugh, I think the winner of my vote is Tony Shalhoub. It has to be a tough acting job to get into that character (although I think most of us can relate at least a little). It is sad the upcoming season will be the last. Monk will be surely missed!

New Photographer

2009-07-14T09:27:00.003-04:00

Just checked out a new photographer's online photo albums. There are some great pictures. If you have a chance, check it out StacyJo

If you click on "Add to Cart" in the upper right hand corner, it will show all the different items that can be ordered such as prints on canvas, mouse pads, coffee cups,etc. You just might find the perfect gift. I think my favorite is the fire hydrant.

Madoff, Besik ... It's all in a name...

2009-07-13T17:54:00.000-04:00

Investing your money with someone by the name of Madoff is as bad as going to a doctor by the name of Besik.

When investing with someone by the name of Madoff, you really must ask yourself -- what has Madoff (pronounced made-off) made off with? That answer, of course, right now is crystal clear. Madeoff plead guilty to stealing billions of dollars of investor's money.

I actually went to a doctor by the name of Besik (pronounced be-sick). Duh!!! He was recommended to me by two people when I moved into a new area. It became clear to me that a doctor by that name could not actually be a good thing. I was sent to him by my OB-GYN with a tachycardia of 116, (my OB-GYN being very concerned) with a recommendation for an EKG. I sat on the table, the doctor came in looking at paperwork, looked up at me and actually said, "you appear to be in good health". I guess the make-up and curling iron make us look healthier?????

I was prompted to write this blog about funny last names, when I saw the name Hollowpeter on the news the other day. I'm not saying anything about that name, except I'm glad it's not mine!

UPDATE: I'm taking a boater safety education course with instructor Mr. Stern (like the back of a boat). We'll see how it goes. (If he had said his name was Mr. SSink, I think I would have walked out.

Congratulations Savana Redding!!!!!

2009-06-27T07:15:00.006-04:00

According to an article by Robert Barnes, reprinted in the Union Leader, the Supreme Court ruled 8 to 1 that Arizona school officials violated the constitutional rights of Savana Redding, then 13, when they strip searched her because they suspected she was hiding ibuprofen in her underwear. Again I'll just say, "what the heck were they thinking!!!"

Congratulations, Savana and thank you. Thank you for bringing this to the Supreme Court to help school children from having to go through this in the future.

Justice Clarence Thomas' comment is a HUGE disappointment: "Judges are not qualified to second-guess the best manner for maintaining quiet and order in the school environment". If a judge feels he is not qualified to figure out that school officials should not be making children take off their clothes, there is something seriously wrong with our justice system.

Nuts and Weight Loss

2009-06-19T11:06:00.001-04:00

Just a thought....
Most weight-loss diets promote giving up nuts for the first couple weeks. My thought...could it go back to the days when we were "hunters" or "gatherers"? If we were gatherers, we probably gathered nuts and berries. It would make sense that nuts and berries might help us maintain our weight (rather than cause us to lose weight). Just a thought. Please let me know what you think.

Breast Cancer

2009-06-15T09:47:00.003-04:00

A question.....Does the toxic foam that is now used in bras contribute to breast cancer? I remember not too long ago, well maybe about 10 years ago, not being able to find any bras without foam in them. I have to wonder if the foam is contributing to the increase in breast cancer. I read somewhere that women who wear bras to bed have a much, much higher risk of getting breast cancer than those who don't. At first I thought it might have something to do with toxins not being able to escape. My second thought was that the bra IS the toxin!

I was able to recently find bras at Wal-Mart that do not have foam. They have a pretty good selection.

Pet Peeve - Zucchini and Summer Squash

2009-06-04T12:04:00.004-04:00

One of my pet peeves is hearing people say (especially when asking what is planted in our garden) zucchini and summer squash. "Did you plant zucchini and summer squash?" Zucchini IS a summer squash. I finally figured out why people call zucchini "zucchini" rather than "summer squash", when I was at the grocery store one day. The yellow "crook neck" or "straight neck" summer squash was marked "summer squash" while the zucchini was marked "zucchini".

We plant a summer squash blend that includes, crook neck, straight neck, zucchini and patty pan. It is fun to see what grows, but the yellow and zucchini are usually plentiful.

Summer squashes, in our area, are harvested and eaten in the summer. Winter squashes are harvested in the fall and will keep through part of the winter. Oh ya, and in case Andy Rooney happens to be reading this, yes, both summer and winter squashes are FRUITS not vegetables!

Swine Flu (H1N1) -- Something good...

2009-06-03T14:07:00.006-04:00

Has something good come from the Swine Flu outbreak (yes I'm still calling it Swine Flu instead of H1N1)? Last week I got an email from a friend. He just got back from a week in Florida and apparently picked up something while either there or on the flight back. The first day back at work chills, headache and fever developed. The next day at work (not sure why he went to work the next day with a fever), new symptoms began to develop: vomiting, dizziness and sore throat. His boss actually drove him home as he did not want the others exposed to it.

Like I said in the beginning of this post...Has something good come from the Swine Flu outbreak? It is now not okay to go to school or work with obvious infectious symptoms. Before this, it seemed it was okay to pass around something that was as unpleasant as vomiting! and diarrhea! Who ever heard of schools closing because of sicknesses? I think it is about time, when someone has fever, diarrhea, vomiting, sore throat or obvious cold/flu symptoms, that they stay home so as not to infect everyone else!

It's that time of year .... Picture of Lyme Disease Rash

2009-05-27T09:35:00.009-04:00

Unfortunately, it's that time of year for ticks. Those of us in the Northeast are at a high risk. I for one, cannot stand those little things -- my skin is crawling just writing this. I think it must be arachnophobia (yes they are in the arachnid family). I had a deer tick, the kind that transmit Lyme, on me a couple years ago. Naturally, I freaked out. Luckily, my daughter was home to remove it for me. I'm surprised I didn't "wash" it away with the nervous sweat that was pouring off me. Ironically, I didn't acquire it by working out in my yard. I acquired it by walking next door to my neighbor's on a windy day.

I did not get the bulls-eye rash like my husband did (in the picture), but I took the antibiotic as a precaution.

According to the CDC, the rash only occurs in "70-80% of infected persons". If you know you have been bit by a lyme-disease-transmitting tick, you may want to be aware of symptoms including headache, muscle or joint aches, fever, chills, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes.

The rash in the picture was diagnosed by a doctor.

There is lots of information available on Lyme Disease at www.CDC.gov

Just a Thought.....Fears and Phobias

2009-05-26T12:54:00.006-04:00

Merriam-Webster defines fear and phobia as: "fear - an unpleasant often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger" and "phobia - an exaggerated usually inexplicable and illogical fear of a particular object, class of objects, or situation".
Translated, fears would be healthy emotions that warn us of impending danger and phobias would be unhealthy emotions that are irrational, unfounded and interfere with our lives.

EXAMPLE: A fear might be, not getting into an elevator with a person you instinctively think you cannot trust. A phobia might be, never getting into an elevator for fear it will fall to the bottom or the door might never open.

Bristol Palin on Abstinence

2009-05-21T09:10:00.000-04:00

Bristol Palin, the teenage daughter of the vice-presidential candidate, Sarah Palin, had a baby boy just four months ago. As seen on GMA on May 6, she has teamed up with the Candie's Foundation to help prevent teen pregnancy by advocating abstinence.

I'm sure preaching abstinence is a good thing to do and I'm 100% behind that , BUT there has to be a lot that goes along with it to be effective such as educating your child about sex, and the responsibilities and consequences that go along with it. Educating your child about what to do when the "right time" does come along is extremely important, because certainly it will come along eventually. I guess what I'm saying is, "educate about sex, preach abstinence and hand out condoms when the time is right." Talk with your kids and let them know you're there for them. As a parent, sometimes we need to be supportive even when it feels wrong.

I wonder -- Could Bristol Palin's young son be a good example of what happens when a parent preaches abstinence only?

Perez Hilton is really Mario Armando Lavandeira

2009-05-13T07:42:00.002-04:00

I have to say that when I was watching "Perez Hilton" question Miss California at the Miss USA pageant, I thought, "hmmmmm....is this Paris Hilton's gay brother?" Of course I Googled him and found his real name is Mario Armando Lavandeira. Why is the media staying so closed mouth about who he really is? According to Wikipedia, it looks like the only reason anyone knows who he is, is because he has "outed" gay celebrities and sheds many celebrities in a negative light. A celebrity bashing website...how sad!

How to Increase Your Twitter Followers

2009-05-05T08:53:00.005-04:00

How to Increase Your Twitter Followers

Twitter is the new rage. You are probably hearing it mentioned everywhere you turn; on the news, talk shows, websites and in magazine articles. At first glance, it appears to be a ridiculous service, as did MySpace and Facebook when they were first introduced. There is even a "Twitch-hiker" who is hitch-hiking across the world using Twitter to find transportation and a place to stay.

A good way to increase your Twitter followers is to join Tweeter Getter. This works in a similar way to how network marketing works. When you join, you automatically follow the six people ahead of you. When people join after you, they follow you and the five people ahead of you. They are not charging a fee at this time. It is definitely worth checking out. This link will bring you to a page where you will follow me and can start getting lots of followers http://tweetergetter.com/lydiablogg

Another way to increase your followers is to choose a random person (maybe someone who follows you or that you follow) and follow their followers. To do this, choose the random person and click on their "picture". This will bring you to their page. On the right side, click on "followers" and it will show you everyone who is following them. Click on "follow" beside those names. Proper "twittiquette" is when someone follows you, you should follow them back. It seems you will get about 25 - 50% of the number you follow to follow you back.

A third way to increase your Twitter followers is to join TweepMe. TweepMe is a brand new service that launched St. Patrick's Day, March 17, 2009. If you want to gather followers quickly this is a great way to do so, although they are now charging a fee. When you join, you are automatically followed by all the other members and you follow the other members back. Check them out at www.tweepme.com

I will add other ways to quickly obtain Twitter followers as I find them.

*As of right now (April 7, 2009 at 9:45AM), I can see these services have caused my followers to grow exponentially. 24 hours ago I had 398 followers. Right now I have 482. This of course, is a gain of 84 followers in a 24 hour period.

UPDATE Today, May 5, 2009 2,740 followers.

*If you do not want lots of followers or to follow lots of others for some reason, do not use these services.

*You might want to go into your Twitter "settings" and "notices" and shut off "Email when someone starts following me" and "Email when I receive a direct message". Your mailbox might fill up quickly if you do not uncheck these.