Monday, October 1, 2007

Dog Quotes

I've been collecting quotes of all sorts for years now. I really need to put them into some kind of collection...I would love to handwrite the quotes in a book but that would take forever!

These are some of my favorite dog quotes. Hope you enjoy them and feel free to leave your own favorites in the comment!

  • "Dachshunds are ideal dogs for small children, as they are already stretched and pulled to such a length that a child cannot do much harm one way or another." - Robert Benchley

  • "He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion" - Unknown

  • "I used to look at [my dog] Smokey and think, 'If you were a little smarter you could tell me what you were thinking,' and he'd look at me like he was saying, 'If you were a little smarter, I wouldn't have to.'" - Fred Jungclaus

  • "I've seen a look in dogs' eyes, a quickly vanishing look of amazed contempt, and I am convinced that basically dogs think humans are nuts." - John Steinbeck

  • "In order to really enjoy a dog, one doesn't merely try to train him to be semi-human. The point of it is to open oneself to the possibility of becoming partly a dog." - Edward Hoagland


Social Bookmarking for Investors

Are you a member of a social networking or bookmarking site? I had no idea what these creatures were until just a few months ago. I’m not sure how many I have profiles at but there are a few and I really enjoy meeting all those neat people out there. I wouldn’t have met these people or found their neat blogs if it were not for social bookmarking sites!

There are quite a few different social networking sites that are geared for a specific group of people. MyWallSt.net is one of those sites. If you are interested in investing then this is the site for you! You will be able to make some new friends who can help you with financial and investing decisions even stock picks. This is a great way to gather the most up to date information. Magazines are great, but they are sometimes outdated before you even open up the front cover…especially when it comes to stocks!

At MyWallSt.net, you’ll find it very easy to add your profile and to start making new friends. You’ll also see how quick everyone is to help each other out with information! That’s one of the things I love about social bookmarking…the community created is fantastic!




Dog Leash Tutorial

Photo by Jon Gos

Check out this really neat dog leash tutorial over at Anna Maria Horner's blog. It looks fairly simple to make and it would be fun to use a neat fabric. I'm going to make Milo, my dachshund, a red print one. Hopefully he won't eat this one!

Let me know if you make one!


Reading Dogs

We all have different learning styles. Some of us are auditory learners and some of us are visual learners....some are kinesthetic and some tactile. Some of us are wiggly and have a hard time focusing long enough to actually learn something!

Today I came across this article about BARKS which is a program that goes into the schools and helps students who are struggling to read. I think this is a brilliant idea and so much fun...it really takes the pressure off the child who is struggling and that is wonderful. Learning should not be traumatic for anyone and this program seems to be a huge help!



Pedro and Pablo Plantain , a Surgeon and an Unknown As of Yet

Well, folks it’s October first and you know what that means….not only is it my birthday, but it’s the official start date of costume hunting for Halloween! Wooohooo!! We have several ideas floating around but we haven’t settled on one specific theme yet. We won’t do that until the eve of Halloween when all the costumes are gone! Lol!!

If you are one of those people though, that like to stay ahead of the game you will start looking for Halloween Costumes right this very minute …or at least right after you read this! I only wish I could be like you and not procrastinate so much!

So what ideas are we tossing around in our minds? Nik and Jake have mentioned that they would like to dress up like Pedro and Pablo Plantain. Very creative ‘eh…what this really means is that we’ll have to actually make these costumes. Not a big deal if we start right now, but remember, that’s not how we roll around here! We have to wait to the last minute…

Now, there is some good news on the Halloween costume front. Belle is going to dress up like a surgeon and we were able to pick up an el cheapo costume at Dollar Tree. In fact, I bought two in case there was an accident…a rippage accident since the costume really is el cheapo.

And what about the little wiener dog….as much as I hate to do it, I think he needs a costume. I have no clues for this one....and no, don’t suggest a hot dog because that’s been done before. We need something very creative and something we can have a complete meltdown over the night before…remember, that’s how we roll!~

Sigh…one day I will have everything in order. (I hear you laughing…)

No More Shrimps For Me!

Photo by AbbyLadyBug

I had Buffalo Shrimp, Garlic Shrimp Scampi, Fried Popcorn Shrimp....endless shrimps....and I was completely sick as a dog for the rest of the evening!

I knew better, really I did! Yesterday, Pete, the kids and I met up with Liz and Sophie at the Dead Lobster. This is an annual event...the All You Can Eat Shrimp and Then Go Home and Pass Out On the Couch and Moan the Rest of the Night Because You Ate Too Much Shrimp Bonanza!! YeeeHawww!! I was sick, folks....wasn't sure I would be able to keep the little shrimpers down, but my will power to do so came shining through...well, I wouldn't say shining since I was looking rather gray...

Anyway people, take it from me....enjoy your shrimps, but in moderation, really....ack! I will never ever go "Bubba Gump" on myself again!!

NaNoWriMo Links

It's almost time, folks! One more month until the start of NaNoWriMo 2007!! Registration is this evening at the NaNoWriMo site. Due to my giddiness about all this NaNoWriMo ramp-up, I thought I would share some links pertaining to this cool event! Enjoy!

Hal Spacejock has a printable word count sheet that you can use to keep track of your daily count.
Little Nuances tells us about POV
Character Questionnaires from the Gotham Writers Workshop
At Feath's Bookcase, you can find all sorts of generators!
Lots of goodies at the Scriptorium

Now...all I need is a laptop and I'll be set!

Creating Travel Guides

You all know how much I love to travel…and you also know that there is no way I can actually go gallivanting around the world right now since Pete is in school. When he gets out though….watch out world ‘cause here I come! You see, Pete is in nursing school and he plans on being a travel nurse for awhile…and you know I will have to tag along.

So, what am I doing to feed my desire to travel? I’ve been researching different places both here in the US and abroad. I just finished a book about a gal who creates these marvelous itineraries but never gets the chance to travel. I think that’s what I’m going to start doing except I’m going to actually travel to these places at some point….at least I hope to do so! Really, with a travelling nurse for a husband I think this is possible…

Now, I’ve been visiting the actual tourism sites for the different places, but what is absolutely best are the sites where people give their own opinions about what you should and should not see. Really, this is the only way to find those places that are off the beaten path. RealTravel is one of those sites….you can create your own travel guide based on the travel experiences of other people. I love this!

I’ll certainly be bookmarking this site! Neat!


Top Female Bloggers List

Well, folks...I'm not really sure how my name ended up on the Top Female Bloggers List but you're not gonna hear me complain about it! When the list first came out, I was at #28...now I've dropped down to #61 but hey, I'm on the list and that's pretty cool!

Oh...I meant to say too that it was my NEW Up the Hill Gang blog that was submitted to the list.


Smorty Is A Gooder!

Those of you who read this blog on a regular basis know that I have been blogging for pay since the beginning of summer. I started doing this because I wanted to be able to buy our homeschool curriculum and all the extras without asking Pete for the money. He would have gladly given me the money, but our finances are tight right now since he is in school full time and working a job at the hospital (telemetry dept) that doesn’t pay great, I wanted to provide the money and lessen the stress.

I was able to do that and more! So far, I ‘ve been able to buy our curriculum and replace our computer that crashed a few months ago. Right now I’m saving money for a laptop for our school and Christmas presents. I have been writing through several different “blog for money” sites and so far, I’ve been paid by all! That was a huge concern for me at first…

One of the companies I like to use is Smorty. In fact, I believe this company was the first one I signed up with….if not the first, it was certainly one of the first! I have found that their platform is easy to use and that the specifications for writing the ads are very clear and concise. I do use another company where this is not the case and it drives me nuts! I know with Smorty, I will be sure of my task.

I’ve also noticed lately that Smorty has been posting more opportunities and ones that I think are quite appealing and easy to write about.

If you would like to get paid for blogging then Smorty is one company you will want to check out!

Saturday, September 29, 2007

Do Follow BlogRoll

Thanks to Tricia, we have this ginormous Do Follow BlogRoll!

*go get global news & views
*Window Shopper
*The BenSpark
*Ravens Roads
*Flight of The Eaglehawk

*TodayGadgets
*A Peculiar Blog
*Off The Cuff
*Blank Canvas
*Blogozine

*Just for Today
*Dilithium Crystalworks
*The Den of Iniquity
*ForumFinderBlog
*Losing It

*Pink Poison Store
*Chimeric Daydreams
*Call Me When You Get There
*I Think Therefore I Blog
*Gothic-Peach.Net

*gimme a break
*Good Enough Mom
*The Wired Kayaker
*In A Class By Itself
*gone shopping!

*Women Mumbles
*Pegs AZ Life
*PAULA NEAL MOONEY
*Lifeslackers
*Advertising for Success

*Lifecruiser
*Its Write Now
*Christy's Coffee Break
*Endangered Spaces
*The Sun-Flower Family

*Thoughts Out of My Head
*Craft Blog
*CoolAdzine for Marketers
*Nanashi-Inc.net
*Blogging with Cents

Lep's Lair
Celebrity Scoop
Living Life Abundantly at Marenda.Biz
RetroMental: Time Capsules
Just A Touch of Sweetness

Pointless Drivel
Big Bucks Blogger
FullosseousFlaps Dental Blog
Gator Byte
That's what she said

krissy.nu - life.unscripted
Pipsnet Technology
ShowMeMoneyBiz.com
Step away from the cake
RoCaBaP

Slobokans Site O Schtuff
BenSpark 2: Electric Boogaloo
Ferrets Haven
Home Office Women
Healing Yourself Naturally

Flos Place
Musings at Windyridge
Electric Venom
Picture Clusters
Life Passion Travel & More

She Rambles On
Debt Free Living
Midlife Musings
Down Memory Lanes
pamibe

Raw Vegan Momma
Odd Planet
Rebas Run
Public Speecher
A Mothers Horizon

Life With Heathens
Tricia's Musings
You are in My World Now
Daisy the Curly Cat
As the Garden Grows

Adventures in Hong Kong
Colloquium
Dragonhearts Domain
girls day out
Pfunksfoolosophy

Wanders World
Kalamaf Drackonsbane
Shadowscope
Bonnie Writes
StandAlone

Income Opportunities and Website Reviews
How Can I Do That?
The Official Mrs. Rugged
Learn Spanish Now
my daily snippets

Culture Shiok!
Guitar Licks
A Saxy Girl
TotalDismay.com
Miles Business Blog

Telling It Like It Is
LittleAmerica.us
Prudence and Madness
ONwebCHECK
Simplify Every Obstacle

Life in the Fast Lane
Ask Jason
Work At Home Musings
High Strangeness Altoona
Listening..Learning..Living

Chubby Mommy
The Chronicles of My Life
Dons Theatre
The Millionaire Secrets
A Strange Life

Wampago - Music Videos and Entertainment Database
Live Life Organics & Your Health
Lisa Reviews
House of Freebies
Scuttlebutt Pipeline

Luna Tail
My Wanderings
Beautiful Minds
What a bald guy told me about technology
My Muddled Mind

Blogging made devilishly simple
Wild in London
Ask Laane
Ask Jason Business
Tip Tail - From Agility to Zen!

New Century Politics
Selenas Musings About Travel and Culture
Pipsnet Entertainment
The Ruff Draft
Opinionated

ShowMeHealthBiz
Stacys Book Reviews
Musings of a Learning Wife and Mother
Bisnis-Net.info
Cats

Texas RV Travel blog
The Tech Inspector
Scribble On The Wall
Confessions of an Everyday housewife
Ask Jason Marketing

Eliots slant on entertainment
Journal of My Simple Life
Into the Bit
Chief Prognosticator
Selenas Musings About Life

The Article Writer
Breath of Life Photography
***JOIN - DO FOLLOW BLOGGERS ***
Aaron Roselo
Surviving NJ

Mom's Chatterbox
Ramblings Of An Undisturbed Mind
WebStyle
www.sandrafirebird.com
Eliots slant on technology

Free For All
Movies of My Life
Eco Shopper
ah ok lah - the blogosphere and life
RavensBarrow.com

Skeets Stuff
By the Sea
PBriscoe.com
Laurigami.com
Table for Five

Dont Fear the Truth
My Home Recipe
SQKIKs Simple Tech
Shopping Flavor
Open Road Biker

A Writers Words, An Editors Eye
Candid Quips
No Average Mom
Pencil Thin
Sophistishe.Org | Personal Blog

Cheffin' It!!
Genki!!
Buy better - Have a Better Life
My Thoughts, Ideas, and Ramblings
The Fibromyalgia Experiment

Magical Rose Garden
DorisGoShopping.com
JMH Techtronics
chonksworld
The Web Files

Flatwater Tech
The Pond
Winding Threads
My Road
MomReviews.net

Whats All This Then!
The Knitting Fiend
My Opinion Counts
The Sassy Southerner
Elements of Fishing

Aylee bits
Chief Prognosticator 2
Ask Jason Personal Tech
Selenas Musings About Raising Children
tales from the ballpark: 2007

The passionate ailurophile
Adapt, Adopt, and Improve
Internet. Serious Business
Ordinary Folk
My Happy Place

MomCooks
JT Music Review
Xillys Blog
I am Who I am
Simple PC Talk

chilli*music
chilli*movies
chilli*technology
Smart Marketing Ideas
NickQueen.com

Callias Pixels Blog
The Raw Review
The Raw & The Cooked
Shellis Sentiments
The Way It Is

Sysadmin News
www.IT-Everyday.com
Not just any ordinary blog
Rinsems Rink
A Prairie View

The Talking Fingers on the Web
Life in General
Up the Hill Gang
Advanced Wellness Solutions
Callias Food

OnTheWebEd.com
Musings Of A Manic Mom
SEO Expert - Adam Ok
A Problogger Mom
Writer's Reviews

Fanaticspace - Blog
Successful Blogging With Random Shock
Forever Parents
pinay g-spot
Total Web Review

Is It So?
Just Not Martha
Bloggers for Dollars
Pixie Tail
Molly-Coddled.com

Chanceless
Gadget Girl Accessories
Tinas Treasured Thoughts
Blog Avenues
cyberst0rm

The Birds & The Beads
Muffin Mumblings
Infektia.net
Cactuus
DRiNK . a . MOChA !

Mslovelys Blog Palace
On the Horizon
Im Blogging That!
Blacksheep Speaks
Up Scheidt Creek

The (Other) End of the Internet
Polliwogs Pond
An Unschooling Life
My Happy Place
the so called me

The Sewing Mom
Google Adsense Article
Learn Spanish fast: vocabulary tricks and visualization
Yourmoneyinfo.com
Healthy Living

Laane on the World
homemadehealthypetfood.com
That Bitchy Chick
Casual Blogging
TutorialsPortal - Photoshop Tutorials ...

My Adventures into The Street
A Geek Mom's Net Journey
pinay.ws
Twas Brillig
Julies Journal

UtterlyGeek.com
campingcoop.org
Dew Knight
THE THINK LINK
La Vie de Laurie

ToastTheTrends- Fashion
ToastTheTrends- Entertainment
ToastTheTrends- Home Decor
ToastTheTrends- Electronics and Gadgets
ToastTheTrends- Life

ToastTheTrends- Financial
StyleMeltdown
Suzanne Says
Vegan Videos
Weight Loss Divas

HOTOs BUSINESS SPOT
Crabbie Tail
sweet and spicy life
Raspberry Patch Soapworks
Baby First Year

AskaX World
Info4BeingRich
Scented Soy Candle Making
Slightly Mordant
TinselTown Trash

The Alligator Pit
Kooks In Suits
Talk Of
MissMeliss: Escribition
Laura Lohr

Wannabe Writer
Bibliotica
Mexico Musings
Laura Lohr
be my accountant

Agents Heaven - Real Estate Blog
Monomuse
Silkenhuts World
Writers Bloggage
The Confessions of a Desperate Housewife

Happy Nutritionist's Nuggets
Dorannes
Reality Wired
Accentuate the Positive
Bits Of Dust

Wild & Crazy Ride
I Was Born2Cree8
genki desu yo
Marisas Dandelion Patch
HerBulletin - Herb of the Week

Outdoor Kitchens


I love when the weather is mild…and by mild, I mean in the mid-seventies! I think it’s just wonderful to eat out on our back deck when it’s not so stinkin’ hot.

We don’t do a lot of cooking outside since out grill is not really working well. It needs to be replaced….and since we’re at that place I think it would be neat just to replace it with a neat outdoor kitchen!

That would be the life, wouldn’t it?!

Tender Moment

photo source: CSI

So...did you all see CSI this past Thursday?? Didn't you think the ending so completely tender? Awwww....made me want to cry...ok, so I did...but just a little bit. It was Pete that was the big cry baby! lol!! Really, it was tender...watch it!

I would love to talk about House but being the big brainless gal I am, I forgot to watch it. I mean really, it was just the season premiere I had been waiting on for like a gazillion years..sheesh...

Two Heads But No Tail....

photo source: Fox News

I was reading some news over at Fox News and I came across this little bit of info about a two-headed turtle. It's a Red-Eared Slider and was sold to the pet store where it is now living for an undisclosed amount of money.

Two heads, two front legs...but not tail. Hmmm...how does it get rid of waste? These are the things they don't tell you and these are the things we need to know! lol! Sheesh!

Gus and His Pulse Ox

Gus was always fascinated with his little pulse oximeter that the nurses tried to keep on his little toe or finger. I think it was the little red glowing light that caught his attention….and made it so fun to play with and put in his mouth! About a month before Gus was released from the NICU, the docs decided it would be best to discontinue using the pulse oximeter on Gus, since it was not really getting an accurate reading from his mouth! Lol!!

I’m thankful for pulse oximeters, really I am, but it was a good day when we could stop having to battle keeping the little thing on a bored five month old! Lol!!

Robots for Sassy

I originally checked out this video feed because I thought it might be showcasing robots...and I thought I would be able to pass this info onto Sassy who needs some robots. What I discovered was much more!

This is actually a feed from the Digital Life gadget show and there were a lot of neat things..not just robots. The air hockey game and interactive advertising is completely cool! And the Cyclops thingy...got to have one of those!

I just thought you all would find this neat...



Fill in the Blanks Contest

As I was out and about visiting blogs the other day, I came across a neat contest. Blogging with Cents is hosting a Fill in the Blanks contest which ends on September 30th....so you have to hurry to enter!

The winner gets $50!!! How neat is that??!

Used Car Love!

I (Pete) have always loved cars, from my first hot wheel, matchbox cars through all the cars I’ve owned. I am the guy who watches the late night used car lot “shows” were they are all goofy and drive the cars by, one at a time, just to look at the used cars. This love affair with cars has caused me to buy a lot of cars over time...new cars and used cars.

There is nothing like a new car smell, but for a car lover, Used Cars are the way to go. I spend hours looking at the online auctions looking for that gem of a used car. It’s the odd and rare ones that most appeal to me, but I also appreciate the engineering and mechanics of a great sports car or luxury sedan.

The search for the perfect used car is where I think the fun begins. I always look for ways to search for my objects of obsession. I came across autoguide.com. Autoguide has made the search easy. You can search by zip code, model, make, price etc… they also offer Kelly blue book prices and auto check ( reveals a cars history) so you won’t get burned.

Check it out and keep on rolling!

Friday, September 28, 2007

Remembered

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance


is introducing

REMEMBERED
(Fountain Creek Chronicles, Book 3)


(Bethany House, 2007)


by


Tamera Alexander




ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Tamera Alexander is a bestselling novelist whose deeply drawn characters, thought provoking plots, and poignant prose resonate with readers. Alexander’s books have won multiple awards, including Romance Writers of America’s 2007 RITA® for Best Inspirational Romance, the 2007 Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, 2007 Bookseller’s Best, and Library Journal’s Top Christian Fiction of 2006.

Her books have received acclaim from Library Journal, True West Magazine and Historical Novels Review, and Rekindled debuted on the CBA fiction bestseller list. She has a professional background in business management and conference coordination. A leader of women's ministries for over twelve years, she is currently active in music ministry, facilitating small groups, and mentoring other women. A graduate of Harding University, Tamera lives with her husband and their two teenagers in Greeley, Colorado.

Her other two books in the Fountain Creek Chronicles are Rekindled (Book 1) and Revealed (Book 2)

To celebrate the release of Remembered, as well as the 3-volume boxed set of Fountain Creek Chronicles (Rekindled, Revealed, and Remembered), Tamera is currently giving away boxed sets in a contest on her website. Check out the contest at http://www.tameraalexander.com/ .

From a Distance, the first book in Tamera’s next historical series (Timber Ridge Reflections) releases in spring 2008.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Though loss is often marked
in a single moment,
letting go of someone you love
can take a lifetime...

The threat of war--and a final request--send Véronique Girard from France to a distant and uninviting country. In the Colorado Territory, she searches for the man who has held her heart since childhood--her father. Pierre Girard left Paris for the Americas to seek his fortune in fur trading, vowing to send for his wife and daughter. But twenty-five years have passed and his vow remains unfulfilled. Sifting through shards of broken promises, Véronique embarks on a dangerous search for a man she scarcely remembers.

His grief finally healed, Jack Brennan is moving on with life. After years of guiding families west, he is now working as a freighter to the mining towns surrounding Willow Springs. What he doesn't count on is an unexpected traveling companion on his trips up into the mountains, and how one woman's search will cause havoc with his plans... and his life.

"Alexander again delivers a most amazing story. The characters are more than words on the page; they become real people. Though there are French words sprinkled throughout the story, they enhance the emotions rather than distract the reader." --Romantic Times


"...a rich historical romance by possibly the best new writer in this subgenre." --Library Journal

"Alexander has done it again with Remembered, third in the FOUNTAIN CREEK CHRONICLES. She's fashioned characters that are as rich and deep as the mountains and valleys they explore throughout the pages, coloring the story as adeptly as the heroine does her canvas. I was drawn immediately into the ages-old heartaches of both of the main characters, understanding at once Veronique's reticence to make a place for herself in the unknown wilds of America and Jack's uncompromising love for this land that he’s cut a swath through time and again. They both have a series of mountains to overcome in the search for Veronique’s father, but I enjoyed watching their faith and appreciation grow with each turn of the page. And woven adeptly through it all is the encompassing truth of the Lord's sovereignty—that sometimes He takes away, and sometimes He gives us what we need, not what we're looking for.

Anyone's who's read the other Fountain Creek books won't want to miss this one, but it easily stands alone. The characters will take you by the hand and lead you heart-first into their stories, and by the time they release you at the end, you'll feel as though you've taken up residence just across the Creek from them, as surely as they have in your heart." --Roseanna White, christianreviewofbooks.com

"Remembered, the third book in the FOUNTAIN CREEK CHRONICLES, takes us back to Willow Creek and revisits beloved characters from the previous two books in the series, Rekindled and Revealed. Tamera Alexander has the remarkable ability to create places, and characters who endear themselves to us, even those just briefly mentioned. If I had lived in the late 1800s, I would love to have met these people and would surely have been inspired by the way they lived out their faith.
Remembered is a delightful read, well-researched and well-written. I expect to see great things from this author in the future." --Lindsey Freitas, bookloons.com

"Remembered is an absolutely wonderful continuation of the FOUNTAIN CREEK CHRONICLES." --Amanda Schafer, armchairinterviews.com


My Review:
Oh, folks....this was just a really good read. Tamera Alexander's writing is so descriptive and just lovely, that I felt as if I were right there with the characters. I love books that do this. I will certainly be reading her other pieces...hopefully, I will win one of those boxed sets!!

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Talk, Talk, Talk...

Gee Whiz...obviously my gerbils only like me because I place them where they can see Gossip Girl. Man oh man....that hurts...