Tuesday, December 30, 2008
well...
It appears I've finally done it. Today I received my Angels VIP card from Victoria's Secret. I've spent so much money there that I actually accumulated the points for VIP status. This is completely ridiculous, but not unexpected when one considers the dresser drawers full of underwear.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
finally
The snow is finally melting; though the slush isn't any better. Now my shoes get soaked when I try to make my way to the car. Walking to the fitness center at the front of the complex is quite the adventure since it involves sloshing my way over and trying not to fall as snow crumbles beneath my feet. Hopefully this is all gone by next weekend so we can all get on with our lives. I sure would like the trash picked up.
Monday, December 15, 2008
art
Since I just moved to a new apartment, I've got plenty of empty space on my walls and the built-in shelves. I don't want to go overboard in buying artwork/decoration since this isn't quite the permanent home, but I am hoping that the next one is a condo or townhouse that I've purchased. So I feel ok about buying at least some stuff--I know it won't have to travel too far or too many times! 
WhiteWalls has some great stuff.
WhiteWalls has some great stuff.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
thought I was away from this stuff
Well it snowed. It's not supposed to snow over here. Of course, it wasn't nearly as much snow as I had to deal with last winter. In fact, most of it has melted away. Now the worry is that although it melted, the water didn't go away which means it could freeze into ice overnight. Which would be absolutely fantastic for driving tomorrow. Hopefully it will have warmed up enough that it's melted again and the city should be putting deicer down. I guess there's always the bus if it's terrible.
Friday, December 12, 2008
could be interesting
So we're supposed to be experiencing this big storm overnight and into the morning, which of course means extra coverage. Apparently we aren't doing wall-to-wall as of yet, but who knows what will actually happen since the possible snow hasn't started falling yet. Hopefully all goes well. I've been in the situation before, just never at this station. And since I'm still really new...well, it could get interesting.
more social networking
I found an interesting new networking site. It’s acobay. Now you may be asking yourself, “How many social networking sites do I really need?” I do, for the most part, agree with that. We do seem to be getting an overabundance of these. Some are definitely better than others. This one is new enough that it really remains to be seen how worthwhile it will be, but for now I’m optimistic. Hey, at least they don’t ask for a bunch of personal information when you sign up. You don’t even provide an email address!
The biggest downside to the site right now is that not very many people have signed up and posted “stuff” as it’s called. That means it’s a little hard to network with people. I added to “my stuff” my cell phone, but for some reason it didn’t recognize that my phone is the same as the one that someone else posted, which apparently is what it’s supposed to do. So that means I still don’t have a network of people. I’m not sure how to get the site to recognize that this other user and myself really do have the same phone. Oh well. You can also add other people’s “stuff” to your wishlist which can help you connect with people. So I’m going to keep checking on this site to see how it turns out as more people discover it.
The biggest downside to the site right now is that not very many people have signed up and posted “stuff” as it’s called. That means it’s a little hard to network with people. I added to “my stuff” my cell phone, but for some reason it didn’t recognize that my phone is the same as the one that someone else posted, which apparently is what it’s supposed to do. So that means I still don’t have a network of people. I’m not sure how to get the site to recognize that this other user and myself really do have the same phone. Oh well. You can also add other people’s “stuff” to your wishlist which can help you connect with people. So I’m going to keep checking on this site to see how it turns out as more people discover it.
unpacking
Finally starting to get everything unpacked; think I'm missing one of my boxes though. The remaining boxes simply aren't big enough to have my blue vase in there, which really sucks. It's a gorgeous vase and I have the perfect place to display it (tons of built-in shelves in this apartment), which is why I was looking for it. I'm hoping it will still turn up somewhere, but I have my doubts.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
writing
I picked up a bunch of writing magazines and literary journals while I was at the library in the hopes that something would spark and I'd be able to maybe get something published again. I haven't made my way through all of it yet, but I did see a magazine that just might be willing to publish something listed in The Writer. Of course, part of my problem is actually writing. I just stare at the blank Word document and then start surfing the internet. It was far easier back when it was dial-up since I had to make an effort to go online and then tie up the phone line. But maybe my new city will provide inspiration.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
the library
So I'm sure this makes me a really big nerd, but I am excited about the library system over here. So much more expansive. To start off with you can get magazines from other countries! I like reading the British versions of magazines like Elle and Marie Claire in addition to the American versions, so this is very cool, especially since the imports cost a fortune. And of course, there's tons and tons of books to read!
Sunday, December 7, 2008
and we've moved again
The cat and I are finally in the apartment we'll being staying in for a while...hopefully. I definitely like this one far more than the other one, so I'm glad I was able to move. I just wish I'd come here right away so I didn't have to move twice in one month. I'm sure Jewels would've appreciated that too as she is once again all freaked out by the fact that we are in a new place yet again. I'm trying to convince her that we really are going to live here for a while. And then maybe the next place we move to will be a townhouse or condo that I've bought--a (mostly) permanent home.
Monday, December 1, 2008
cyber Monday
So it took me a while, but I finally realized that today is "cyber Monday;" the day we're supposed to get great deals online. I can't do much shopping right now because I had to pay both November and December's rent on my old wages since I haven't had a full paycheck from my new job yet (thankfully that happens on Friday). But that doesn't stop me from browsing the sites. Since a few of the people I buy Christmas presents for ride motorcycles, I've checked out some of those sites. It's hard to decide what exactly to get, but here's a site with some ideas if you know someone who rides a goldwing.
one life
I wonder how long the writers on One Life to Live will have Jessica keep Starr's baby? Sometimes these stories can go on for years, though it seems that usually the viewers have no idea that the baby switch happened. It's one of those twists they decide to throw in when they get bored. So it'll be interesting to see if the baby theft is revealed quickly. I would guess there'll be something more with the story for February sweeps, though apparently that's going to be in March this year because of the DTV switch.
another gift idea
Check out this deal on yamaha motorcycle parts. They've got something for just about every type of bike you could possibly have. With just about everyone doing practical gifts for Christmas this year, why not buy someone something to make his or her beloved bike run better? Or if you really want to impress, track down something that will make the bike unique.
almost time
I get the keys to what will hopefully be my home for a while on Friday. It'll be so nice to finally get all of these boxes unpacked. I hate not knowing where everything is. I also have barely any clothes to wear as most are still packed away and I know I'm going to have to iron them if I do want to wear them. So I keep putting that off. But soon I'll be able to hang all my clothes in the lovely walk-in closet. That's right. After three years of not having a walk-in, I finally will get it back when it's on to Bothell.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
interesting article
Global AIDS crisis overblown? Some dare to say so
By MARIA CHENG
AP Medical Writer
As World AIDS Day is marked on Monday, some experts are growing more outspoken in complaining that AIDS is eating up funding at the expense of more pressing health needs.
They argue that the world has entered a post-AIDS era in which the disease's spread has largely been curbed in much of the world, Africa excepted.
"AIDS is a terrible humanitarian tragedy, but it's just one of many terrible humanitarian tragedies," said Jeremy Shiffman, who studies health spending at Syracuse University.
Roger England of Health Systems Workshop, a think tank based in the Caribbean island of Grenada, goes further. He argues that UNAIDS, the U.N. agency leading the fight against the disease, has outlived its purpose and should be disbanded.
"The global HIV industry is too big and out of control. We have created a monster with too many vested interests and reputations at stake, ... too many relatively well paid HIV staff in affected countries, and too many rock stars with AIDS support as a fashion accessory," he wrote in the British Medical Journal in May.
Paul de Lay, a director at UNAIDS, disagrees. It's valid to question AIDS' place in the world's priorities, he says, but insists the turnaround is very recent and it would be wrong to think the epidemic is under control.
"We have an epidemic that has caused between 55 million and 60 million infections," de Lay said. "To suddenly pull the rug out from underneath that would be disastrous."
U.N. officials roughly estimate that about 33 million people worldwide have HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Scientists say infections peaked in the late 1990s and are unlikely to spark big epidemics beyond Africa.
In developed countries, AIDS drugs have turned the once-fatal disease into a manageable illness.
England argues that closing UNAIDS would free up its $200 million annual budget for other health problems such as pneumonia, which kills more children every year than AIDS, malaria and measles combined.
"By putting more money into AIDS, we are implicitly saying it's OK for more kids to die of pneumonia," England said.
His comments touch on the bigger complaint: that AIDS hogs money and may damage other health programs.
By 2006, AIDS funding accounted for 80 percent of all American aid for health and population issues, according to the Global Health Council.
In Ethiopia, Rwanda, Uganda and elsewhere, donations for HIV projects routinely outstrip the entire national health budgets.
In a 2006 report, Rwandan officials noted a "gross misallocation of resources" in health: $47 million went to HIV, $18 million went to malaria, the country's biggest killer, and $1 million went to childhood illnesses.
"There needs to be a rational system for how to apportion scarce funds," said Helen Epstein, an AIDS expert who has consulted for UNICEF, the World Bank, and others.
AIDS advocates say their projects do more than curb the virus; their efforts strengthen other health programs by providing basic health services.
But across Africa, about 1.5 million doctors and nurses are still needed, and hospitals regularly run out of basic medicines.
Experts working on other health problems struggle to attract money and attention when competing with AIDS.
"Diarrhea kills five times as many kids as AIDS," said John Oldfield, executive vice president of Water Advocates, a Washington, D.C.-based organization that promotes clean water and sanitation.
"Everybody talks about AIDS at cocktail parties," Oldfield said. "But nobody wants to hear about diarrhea," he said.
These competing claims on public money are likely to grow louder as the world financial meltdown threatens to deplete health dollars.
"We cannot afford, in this time of crisis, to squander our investments," Dr. Margaret Chan, WHO's director-general, said in a recent statement.
Some experts ask whether it makes sense to have UNAIDS, WHO, UNICEF, the World Bank, the Global Fund plus countless other AIDS organizations, all serving the same cause.
"I do not want to see the cause of AIDS harmed," said Shiffman of Syracuse University. But "For AIDS to crowd out other issues is ethically unjust."
De Lay argues that the solution is not to reshuffle resources but to boost them.
"To take money away from AIDS and give it to diarrheal diseases or onchocerciasis (river blindness) or leishmaniasis (disfiguring parasites) doesn't make any sense," he said. "We'd just be doing a worse job in everything else."
Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company
By MARIA CHENG
AP Medical Writer
As World AIDS Day is marked on Monday, some experts are growing more outspoken in complaining that AIDS is eating up funding at the expense of more pressing health needs.
They argue that the world has entered a post-AIDS era in which the disease's spread has largely been curbed in much of the world, Africa excepted.
"AIDS is a terrible humanitarian tragedy, but it's just one of many terrible humanitarian tragedies," said Jeremy Shiffman, who studies health spending at Syracuse University.
Roger England of Health Systems Workshop, a think tank based in the Caribbean island of Grenada, goes further. He argues that UNAIDS, the U.N. agency leading the fight against the disease, has outlived its purpose and should be disbanded.
"The global HIV industry is too big and out of control. We have created a monster with too many vested interests and reputations at stake, ... too many relatively well paid HIV staff in affected countries, and too many rock stars with AIDS support as a fashion accessory," he wrote in the British Medical Journal in May.
Paul de Lay, a director at UNAIDS, disagrees. It's valid to question AIDS' place in the world's priorities, he says, but insists the turnaround is very recent and it would be wrong to think the epidemic is under control.
"We have an epidemic that has caused between 55 million and 60 million infections," de Lay said. "To suddenly pull the rug out from underneath that would be disastrous."
U.N. officials roughly estimate that about 33 million people worldwide have HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Scientists say infections peaked in the late 1990s and are unlikely to spark big epidemics beyond Africa.
In developed countries, AIDS drugs have turned the once-fatal disease into a manageable illness.
England argues that closing UNAIDS would free up its $200 million annual budget for other health problems such as pneumonia, which kills more children every year than AIDS, malaria and measles combined.
"By putting more money into AIDS, we are implicitly saying it's OK for more kids to die of pneumonia," England said.
His comments touch on the bigger complaint: that AIDS hogs money and may damage other health programs.
By 2006, AIDS funding accounted for 80 percent of all American aid for health and population issues, according to the Global Health Council.
In Ethiopia, Rwanda, Uganda and elsewhere, donations for HIV projects routinely outstrip the entire national health budgets.
In a 2006 report, Rwandan officials noted a "gross misallocation of resources" in health: $47 million went to HIV, $18 million went to malaria, the country's biggest killer, and $1 million went to childhood illnesses.
"There needs to be a rational system for how to apportion scarce funds," said Helen Epstein, an AIDS expert who has consulted for UNICEF, the World Bank, and others.
AIDS advocates say their projects do more than curb the virus; their efforts strengthen other health programs by providing basic health services.
But across Africa, about 1.5 million doctors and nurses are still needed, and hospitals regularly run out of basic medicines.
Experts working on other health problems struggle to attract money and attention when competing with AIDS.
"Diarrhea kills five times as many kids as AIDS," said John Oldfield, executive vice president of Water Advocates, a Washington, D.C.-based organization that promotes clean water and sanitation.
"Everybody talks about AIDS at cocktail parties," Oldfield said. "But nobody wants to hear about diarrhea," he said.
These competing claims on public money are likely to grow louder as the world financial meltdown threatens to deplete health dollars.
"We cannot afford, in this time of crisis, to squander our investments," Dr. Margaret Chan, WHO's director-general, said in a recent statement.
Some experts ask whether it makes sense to have UNAIDS, WHO, UNICEF, the World Bank, the Global Fund plus countless other AIDS organizations, all serving the same cause.
"I do not want to see the cause of AIDS harmed," said Shiffman of Syracuse University. But "For AIDS to crowd out other issues is ethically unjust."
De Lay argues that the solution is not to reshuffle resources but to boost them.
"To take money away from AIDS and give it to diarrheal diseases or onchocerciasis (river blindness) or leishmaniasis (disfiguring parasites) doesn't make any sense," he said. "We'd just be doing a worse job in everything else."
Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
gift time
It's the time of year where one must start thinking about what gifts to give loved ones. I must admit I haven't even started shopping yet, but I do have some ideas. I think this year I'll be doing most of my shopping online so that I can have my purchases shipped directly to them. With the new job, I might not be making it home for Christmas. One website I've been looking at has motorcycle parts and accessories. There are accessories for most manufacturers, including Harley, Honda, and kuryakyn. Most everything was on sale, so there are definitely some good deals to be had this Christmas.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
a cat and a fireplace
The apartment that I'm soon moving out of has a fireplace. Guess who discovered this fireplace? That would be my cat, my white cat. She's not really white anymore. Though thankfully I caught her before she got too disgusting. There are quite a few black sooty spots though and I'm not sure if she's going to let me give her a bath. She likes the water alright, but she's never been fully submerged. Maybe I'll try a wash cloth first.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
the trauma of moving
I think Jewels is going to be upset when I make her move again. She is really loving the sliding glass door we have in this apartment. We didn't have one in the last apartment nor will we have one in the new one. So I'm taking away the only thing she seems to like about our new home. Hopefully she'll find something else to love. And hopefully we won't move again for a long time so she'll be able to adjust and understand that we really do live there. It's probably hard right now since I left most everything in boxes--including her toys. I just didn't see a reason to unpack it all when it just has to be packed and moved again soon.
staying safe
You know, it’s interesting to see what sort of advances we’ve made in protective gear for those who risk their lives to protect us on a daily basis. Can you imagine being a police officer back in the 50s? Granted the sophistication of the criminals they were fighting wasn’t as great either; it’s a never-ending cycle of advancing protective gear and the weapons that are used against it. Still it’s nice to know that our officers have what they need—at least in the cities that have the budgets! There’s all sorts of stuff out there, like 5.11 Tactical Knives. And it’s not just officers who can buy these things, the general public can to so that you can stay safe while walking down the street late at night. Right now there’s even some promotions going on if you follow the link I’ve provided; you can get a really great deal this way.
Monday, November 17, 2008
a happy cat
Well I found PetCo. So Jewels once again has a fountain to drink her water from. The last one stopped working and I didn't feel like replacing it before the move. But the poor thing is so spoiled that she didn't want to drink standing water out of a regular bowl. It's probably not the best idea to give into her, but I suppose I've traumatized her enough with the move.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
wondering...
Would it be completely ridiculous to go back to school again? I know I only just graduated, but there are so many more subjects I'm interested in. Or I could take a writing workshop at UW and maybe actually get somewhere with that novel I'm supposedly writing.
Friday, November 14, 2008
moved in
Well, Jewels and I are in the new place...but we're moving again! I just don't like this place well enough to stay when I can spend a few more bucks to get a better place. Good thing I moved to a place that's owned by a large company that has lots of other complexes around here that I can transfer to. So that's what I'm going to do. It's unfortunate that I'll spend almost a month with my things still in boxes, but soon it'll be over and I'll have a really great new place. It'll be a better commute too, so it's good all around.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
I hate moving
I wish getting a new job and moving to a far better city didn't mean having to pack everything up and move it. There's far too much work to do in very little time. I would really appreciate it if employers stopped with this whole two weeks notice business and started allowing something more like two months to move.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
seattle!
I got the job! So now it's just a matter of finding a place to live and getting everything packed up and moved over there. Packing is my least favorite part. Initially it feels like you're really making progress as the boxes start to stack up, but then you realize how much there really is to do. I don't know my official start date yet either, but I should have at least two weeks to get this all done.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
seattle?
So it's been a while. It's been a long while actually. And I really don't have any excuses since I don't have any school stuff to do anymore. Oh well. Anyway, now I'm trying to get myself a job in Seattle. So want to move far away from here. Of course Seattle is far more expensive so I'm having a terrible time adjusting my brain to seeing those rental prices. I know I'll be able to afford a decent place; it just won't be in the city. Which I'm fine with. Sometimes it's better to live a little ways away.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
another job search
In case you’re looking for a new job in the field of human resources, there’s a site you should definitely check out. HRCrossing.com has everything that you’re looking for. The site lists jobs at Fortune 500 companies (you know, the big guys) and consolidates the listings from all those other career sites, which makes it a lot easier to search. The other great thing is that you get a free trial period. If you’re smart, you’ll take advantage.
tooth pulling time
My upper left wisdom tooth has finally driven me crazy enough that I'm going to have it pulled. It's weird because some days it doesn't hurt at all; others it kills me. But in two weeks it will be gone. I'm not totally sure how much it's going to cost me, but I suppose no longer having intense pain will be worth delaying buying new living room furniture.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
job hunting
Since I've been trying to get out of this town, I'm looking all over the place for a different job. I have no idea how people found jobs before the Internet. Oh sure, you could look in the classifieds, but how are you going to get the classified section of every newspaper from every city you're thinking about moving to? So anyway, I've found a couple of sites and wanted to share one. It's www.techiecrossing.com.
Saturday, July 5, 2008
new computer
I bought a new computer in order to keep my XP around for a few more years. I do NOT want to have to deal with Vista. Unfortunately, I'm having to deal with Office 2007. I think I'm finally starting to get my toolbar back to where I want it to be. The other annoying thing is that I don't have my install for Money 2002 anymore, so I downloaded the free trial of the new version of Money. Definitely glad I didn't pay for that since it's really just a glorified Excel sheet now. The 2002 version had much better features. Not sure why Microsoft has to keep screwing up good things!
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
OLTL
So I was right about Marty being tucked away in the Penthouse. Now the question is, what is Todd going to do with her? Can't quite trust him given his history with her and that her son is dating his daughter and Todd's not the slightest bit happy about that one. Wonder how long it will take John to figure it all out? Todd did foolishly leave behind the framed picture of John and Marty.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
comparing cards
I use my credit cards for everything. I find that it’s much faster when going though the checkout line than a check or even cash (unless you happen to know exactly what the total cost is beforehand). I used to use my debit card, but then discovered that I could get credit cards with rewards to them. So not only do I get my purchase, I also earn points toward rewards from the credit card company. You can come out ahead so long as you pay off your balance each month.
Various cards offer different types of rewards, so you’ll want to do some checking before signing up for one. I have one card that gave me enough bonus points when I signed up that I was able to immediately redeem them for a $100 gift card. Another gave me bonus points for $50 from Barnes and Noble which I loved since I read a lot of books. Both of those cards are Master Cards. I did some checking and found that there are all sorts of different rewards programs out there, even ones that give you extra points for your home improvement spending. It definitely pays to do some checking around to find that card (or cards) that will give you the best return. And with the Internet, a lot of the work is already done for you. It’s pretty easy to compare cards since all you have to do is click on one website and see a bunch of them at the same time.
Various cards offer different types of rewards, so you’ll want to do some checking before signing up for one. I have one card that gave me enough bonus points when I signed up that I was able to immediately redeem them for a $100 gift card. Another gave me bonus points for $50 from Barnes and Noble which I loved since I read a lot of books. Both of those cards are Master Cards. I did some checking and found that there are all sorts of different rewards programs out there, even ones that give you extra points for your home improvement spending. It definitely pays to do some checking around to find that card (or cards) that will give you the best return. And with the Internet, a lot of the work is already done for you. It’s pretty easy to compare cards since all you have to do is click on one website and see a bunch of them at the same time.
predictions
So since they've announced that the original Marty is coming back, I'm pretty sure that's who Ramsey has tucked away in the penthouse. Not sure how they'll explain him taking her, but he does have motive. I also think Starr is going to end up giving her baby to the McBains. She'll want to make up for her dad taking Sam away from them.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
credit cards
So you know me, always looking for a way to get some cash. One way I’ve discovered to do that is by using a credit card. Now I know, there are some people out there who say you spend more when you put things on credit, that even if you pay if off in full (as I do), you still spend more than you would’ve if you’d used cash. I don’t agree. I’m buying things I need and have things like my phone bill automatically put on the card each month. This way I get the maximum reward possible from the credit card company. You should only be using cards that give you rewards. And of course, the card should offer a reward that you’ll actually use. The two cards I have offer a good variety to choose from, but some people would be better off with a very specific type of rewards card. Most people know about airline rewards cards, but there are also ones for automobiles and gas (might be important nowadays!) as well as hotels. It’s pretty easy to comparison shop to get the best deal if you search online. In fact, if you want to, you can apply online for hotel cards right now!
Friday, May 23, 2008
all graduated
All my school stuff is over with now, which is just incredible. I can't believe how quickly it all went. Although there were some times that I didn't think I was going to end up finishing--don't take four classes your last semester while still working full-time! Now I'm trying to figure out how to turn my thesis into at least on journal article so that I can get published.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
thesis done!
I turned in my thesis. Now I just have to wait to hear what, if any revisions need to be made. I'm sure there will be revisions...I just hope they aren't really big ones. I'm definitely glad to finally be done with it, though I feel there are things that I could've included to make it better if only I'd managed my time better. But if the professors like it, that's what matters.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
finally
We finally got nice weather this weekend. Unfortunately I'm too busy working on things for school (like my thesis) to really be able to go out and enjoy it. But the good news is I should be all done with school in May and the weather will be absolutely gorgeous then, so I'll be able to fully enjoy my summer.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
pharm techs
You know who actually makes pretty good money? A pharmacy technician. I was actually quite surprised by the pharmacy technician salary. Of course, to become a pharmacy tech, you do actually need to complete some training, which I don't have. But there are lots of schools around that offer the training. It only takes a year or two to complete, so you can get going fairly quickly.
she's back
Nicole is back on Days of Our Lives! I'm so excited. Nicole was one of my favorites right from the time she appeared; I was sad when she left. She's exactly what the show needs right now...it's pretty boring otherwise. Nicole is definitely going to be able to spice things up. I'd completely forgotten about how she tried to kill Victor. Now she's back claiming they're still married. Things are going to get good.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
staying safe
It's kind of amazing what new equipment is out there to keep the people who serve to protect us safe. Being a police officer (or soldier) used to be a lot more dangerous than it is today. The new developments in things like tactical gear are just amazing. And I bet as technology continues to develop, there'll be even better gear. Of course, just like with computer hacking, it seems the bad guys always stay one step ahead. But the new things developers come up with are still great.
more snow
You'll probably think I'm lying, but you can check the weather report--it snowed this weekend! And not just a light dusting either. It was full-on snowing. I think there was at least two inches. Now granted, today is absolutely gorgeous, but it still snowed at the end of March. That's something that I find completely ridiculous. This had better have been the last of it.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
school
Back when I was 17, I went to a technical school for a while. It was a good experience. My sister went too, which is how she got her job. In my opinion, tech schools are a great way to learn the skills you need to get a good job. You can learn all sorts of things at a technical school--dental assisting, it training, law enforcement, and a whole lot more. Definitely something to consider when you're looking at schools.
I thought it was spring
So it's the end of March and yet the snow keeps coming. Oh sure, it's not sticking around or amounting to much, but it's still snow in the springtime. Winter is my least favorite season and I really hate snow, so this is not a happy time for me. I just want it to be summer and warm.
Friday, March 21, 2008
cooking
So I was thinking that one way to solve my cooking issues would be to go to culinary school. Then I would learn all about cooking, which would mean I wouldn't be quite so freaked out about undercooking meat and poisoning myself. Since I'm freaked out about undercooking meat, I end up burning it and not wanting to eat it. This is quite the problem.
Because I'm paranoid about cooking, I never considered chef school. Now I'm thinking it makes sense. Of course, I wouldn't be going to become a chef, just to learn some skills. So now I've got to look into various culinary schools and see what I find.
Because I'm paranoid about cooking, I never considered chef school. Now I'm thinking it makes sense. Of course, I wouldn't be going to become a chef, just to learn some skills. So now I've got to look into various culinary schools and see what I find.
Monday, March 17, 2008
cat sitter
Finding a good cat sitter is quite difficult. Luckily the cat travels well so I can take her with me when I go home, but I need someone to take care of her when I'm away on business. Not everyone is trustworthy enough to take good care of her; plus, she's a scaredy cat who doesn't like men or the scent of dogs. That narrows my possible caregivers quite a bit. I have a couple months before I need someone, so I'm hoping I'll be able to find someone. If not, I have to give her a heart attack by putting her in a kennel.
credit
I feel quite fortunate that I have good credit. My mom set me up well by adding me as an authorized user to one of her accounts when I was only 13. So I have a much longer credit history than most people my age. But for those with bad credit, it can be hard to get personal loans. That means when an unexpected expense comes up, they often have to take out a cash advance at a high interest rate. And that means it's going to be difficult to ever get on track with good credit. That's why it's very important for people with bad credit to seek out responsible lenders. They also need to be responsible in paying back the loan and only taking out money for necessities. That means no payday loans for the new shoes that you think you can't live without!
yum yum
I got bored, so I decided to make some brownies using one of those refrigerated dough packages. I think the process would've been better had I let the dough sit out for a while before starting. It was a bit hard to spread. Even so, the brownies turned out to be quite delicious although a bit crumbly. I had to use a fork! If I had ice cream, I would've crumbled the brownie over that which would've been even better.
fashionista
One thing that I’d really like to do is become a fashion consultant. I do a good job at dressing other people! And I’m quite sure that there’s money to be made in this field. So while it’s a little silly to think about starting school when I haven’t even finished my current program, I’m looking at fashion schools in california. That’s probably the best way to break in. Not to mention that a fashion school in california would probably get me into lots of those sewing classes that I keep talking about! So if I start talking more about heading to fashion schools in los angeles, you’ll know that I’m seriously considering becoming the next Stacy London!
Sunday, March 16, 2008
presents
My birthday isn't for a few months, but since I always have a difficult time coming up with the list of "wants" that my family always requests, I'm trying to figure out what to ask for now. Usually I say that I want some sort of "big" item that they can all chip in on...that doesn't always work though as they claim to like to see me open things. But the reality is that I just want practical things. When you move as often as I do, you realize that having little knick-knacky type things around just isn't convenient. But since I always end up asking for practical things, I have a stockpile of shampoo, soap, etc. So I really don't need any more of that for a while either. I have no idea what to ask for.
Friday, March 14, 2008
home loans
One day in the not so distant future, I want to buy some real estate (hence the wanting to save some money). Comparing mortage loans is important in any economy, but seems to be even more so now. A lot of people seem to have gotten themselves in trouble with these adjustable rate mortages, but some of them do have the option of refiancing and getting a fixed rate. If you like your house, that's got to be better than selling.
If you are in danger of losing your house, please don't abandon your pets. Make sure they have good homes to go to if you can't take them with you. That's the part of this whole mortage crisis that upsets me most.
If you are in danger of losing your house, please don't abandon your pets. Make sure they have good homes to go to if you can't take them with you. That's the part of this whole mortage crisis that upsets me most.
budgeting
So I'm pretty sure that I spend far too much money on food. I go out to eat a lot. Of course, I'm able to make that stretch into more than one meal, but still it adds up. So I've decided to keep all my receipts for the next month and find out what I'm really spending on food. Then I need to find out what the average single girl spends on food to see how I compare. At the very least, I should be able to cut out at least a few dollars. Just have to eat more ramen and less steak!
hunting
I was looking for a gift for someone, someone who likes to go hunting. I was thinking that if I bought a hunting-related item for him, he might actually take me along sometime. I don't think I'd want to hunt for deer or anything else that's big (too heavy to carry back to the truck!!), but something small like turkeys would be good. Plus, I've never ate deer meat, but I eat turkey all the time and it'd be kind of cool to say, "I killed this turkey myself." So anyway, I found a site called www.killerblades.com. Some great deals are being offered right now. Hunting knives are 40% off through the end of the month. So I'll buy him a knife and see if I get to tag-a-long on a hunting trip sometime.
gym discounts
So maybe I won't be doing yoga at one of the studios around here. My employer just sent out an updated list of gyms giving us a corporate discount...and actually listed prices! Gyms never tell you their prices! So one of them is not only close to where I live, but is cheaper with our discount than the yoga studios. I checked the list of classes online and they do offer yoga and at a time that I could go. So that might be what I do instead.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
The Jewels Thief
Jewels has earned a new nickname. I'm calling her "The Jewels Thief" now based on the fact that she steals. Usually she only steals things I don't care about--plastic spoons that I'm throwing away, her own toys... But now she's gone and stolen my tweezers. She's hidden them well. They aren't in any of her usual hiding spots. I told her to bring them back, but she tends to not "find" things again for a few months. So I guess I'm buying a new pair of tweezers.
Saturday, March 8, 2008
yoga
I had no idea yoga had become so popular. Last night I was doing some craigslist browsing and saw a yoga class being offered, which I decided to check out. I like to comparison shop, so I searched for some other yoga studios to find out how much they charge. There were a ton of them! That makes it incredibly hard to figure out where to go. I guess I'll ask around, see if anyone has any experience with any of them. I've never done yoga before, but it sounds interesting. I probably can't actually sign up until I'm done with school though. There's simply too much I have to do right now.
making a trip
So it’s looking like I may be sent to Wisconsin for some more training for work. While it’s cool to get to take a trip and all, I’m not totally looking forward to it. It’s such a hassle nowadays to fly. Plus, I have to find someone to watch the cat. There is one part of going to Wisconsin that I will find quite enjoyable. I already know where my hotel reservation is going to be made. I stayed at the Hampton Inn last time, which is where they’ll book my room again. The Hampton had the best bed in the entire world. Usually I’m not a fan of hotel beds, but this one was simply amazing. I seriously did not want to get out of it in the morning (which I suppose could actually be considered a bad thing since I did have someplace I needed to be!), which is quite unusual since I usually have a terrible time sleeping in unfamiliar beds.
I’m not sure how the company usually books our rooms, but I know that if they want a good hotel discount they should use HotelReservations.com. They’ve got really good deals on the website. They actually guarantee the lowest rates will be found with them or there’s a $100 rebate. That’s definitely worth checking out. With a guarantee like that you know that you’ll get either the best rate out there or the $100, which probably will reduce the hotel room rate enough that it’s going to be the lowest again.
The other great thing about the site is that you can book the transportation you’ll need for your trip through them as well. They’ve got links to flights and car rentals. It’s so great that with the internet we don’t need to make multiple phone calls to take care of our travel plans. Everything can be done with the same company, which I definitely appreciate. So I’m going to suggest my employer use HotelReservations.com for my trip.
I’m not sure how the company usually books our rooms, but I know that if they want a good hotel discount they should use HotelReservations.com. They’ve got really good deals on the website. They actually guarantee the lowest rates will be found with them or there’s a $100 rebate. That’s definitely worth checking out. With a guarantee like that you know that you’ll get either the best rate out there or the $100, which probably will reduce the hotel room rate enough that it’s going to be the lowest again.
The other great thing about the site is that you can book the transportation you’ll need for your trip through them as well. They’ve got links to flights and car rentals. It’s so great that with the internet we don’t need to make multiple phone calls to take care of our travel plans. Everything can be done with the same company, which I definitely appreciate. So I’m going to suggest my employer use HotelReservations.com for my trip.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
happy birthday!
Guess who just turned two? Miss Jewels of course! I bought her some new toys (which she went insane over) and tuna fish. Supposedly cats lose their playfulness around this age, but I don't think Jewels will. I think her craziness is just a part of her personality. Sure, she's calmed down some, but I don't think she's going to slow down until she's an old lady kitty. As long as she stays a good cuddler, I'll be happy. She really can be the sweetest cat.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
buzzfuse
So there's a great new way to market yourself online--and it doesn't even cost a thing! (Unless you want a premium account with all the features, then it costs $14.99 a month.) You can post whatever you want at Buzzfuse.com--your blog, your photography, your band's new song, etc. What's really great is you aren't limited in how much content you post each month. Using Buzzfuse is an excellent way to get your name out there and connect with others. Right now they've even got a contest going on as an added incentive for signing up. So go do it and get more people interested in what you've got going on!
enough already
It snowed yesterday! This is simply getting to be too much. Now granted, it didn't last long nor did it stick; but really, snow after it had been warming up is just ridiculous. I have a feeling it's because I finally decided I could turn the heat off in the apartment Sunday night. That was a big mistake as I woke freezing. So the heat's back on and I can look forward to another big electric bill. Thankfully it's semi-warm today and is predicted to be all week.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
I disappear
Hmmm...I went away for a while it turns out. It wasn't intentional at all; I just suddenly had a bunch of stuff to get done. Number one on the list was getting my car back in working order. Number two on the list was working extra hours in order to pay for that. Trust me, I would've much rather been online blogging away the day.
This week I've got one of my classes starting up, but I took time off from work for it so I should be ok. Unfortunately, a bunch of extra readings got added to the class list and I have no idea how I'm going to get them read.
This week I've got one of my classes starting up, but I took time off from work for it so I should be ok. Unfortunately, a bunch of extra readings got added to the class list and I have no idea how I'm going to get them read.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
baseball!
So I'm giving something new a try here. I checked out this new simulated baseball webgame and am posting a recap of the game I played. I'm not a sports journalist, but I work with a few, so let me know what you think! Now as for the actual game play of the site, I found it a little difficult to figure things out at first. I checked out the help section and the forums, which provided a lot of information. Then I watched someone else's game briefly before starting up one of my own. Once you get started, it's easy and fun. The game moves along at a good speed.
The Paris Stars took the field against Pittsburgh Gorillas on June 14, 1898. It was the very first game ever for the Stars. The Gorillas, on the other hand, came into the game with a 21-7 record.
The first inning was quite uneventful—not a single batter made it on base. That set the tone for the game. Finally in the second inning, Chen (.309) of the Gorillas made almost to first before Shaffer threw the ball to Torres on first for the out. The inning was finished when Quintanilla struck out both Froelich and Travis.
The game continued with more of the same. The fans could not have been happy about this one! For the Stars the outs came quickly. Navarro struck out with a swing and a miss. Then Vansickle lined out to second. That was followed by Flores’ ground out up the middle.
Then finally, late in the game, came some action. First, there was a base hit from Shaffer (.667). There’s a chance someone could score! With a tired Gorillas pitcher, Dickerson was walked. The Stars definitely had an opportunity here. But then Torres struck out. Welch had a great hit, but it was caught and the double play was made.
After that inning, Quintanilla who had 61 strikes out of his 90 pitches, was heard to say, "Man, is my arm getting tired." The coach told alternate pitcher Flores to start warming up. It wasn’t enough to save the game for the Stars though. At the bottom of the eighth, the first run was finally scored. The Gorillas started looking for the win. Perhaps motivated by this, Schaffer hit a homer at the top of the ninth. Dickerson (.333) followed up with a double. The following Stars’ batters weren’t so lucky: Torres and Welch both struck out, the Fox popped out to the pitcher.
As the bottom of the ninth began, things were not looking so hot for the Stars. The best the could hope for was extra innings. It wasn’t to be. Felix hit a home run and ended the game.
The Paris Stars took the field against Pittsburgh Gorillas on June 14, 1898. It was the very first game ever for the Stars. The Gorillas, on the other hand, came into the game with a 21-7 record.
The first inning was quite uneventful—not a single batter made it on base. That set the tone for the game. Finally in the second inning, Chen (.309) of the Gorillas made almost to first before Shaffer threw the ball to Torres on first for the out. The inning was finished when Quintanilla struck out both Froelich and Travis.
The game continued with more of the same. The fans could not have been happy about this one! For the Stars the outs came quickly. Navarro struck out with a swing and a miss. Then Vansickle lined out to second. That was followed by Flores’ ground out up the middle.
Then finally, late in the game, came some action. First, there was a base hit from Shaffer (.667). There’s a chance someone could score! With a tired Gorillas pitcher, Dickerson was walked. The Stars definitely had an opportunity here. But then Torres struck out. Welch had a great hit, but it was caught and the double play was made.
After that inning, Quintanilla who had 61 strikes out of his 90 pitches, was heard to say, "Man, is my arm getting tired." The coach told alternate pitcher Flores to start warming up. It wasn’t enough to save the game for the Stars though. At the bottom of the eighth, the first run was finally scored. The Gorillas started looking for the win. Perhaps motivated by this, Schaffer hit a homer at the top of the ninth. Dickerson (.333) followed up with a double. The following Stars’ batters weren’t so lucky: Torres and Welch both struck out, the Fox popped out to the pitcher.
As the bottom of the ninth began, things were not looking so hot for the Stars. The best the could hope for was extra innings. It wasn’t to be. Felix hit a home run and ended the game.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
snow melt!
It has finally started getting warm enough during the day to slowly melt some of the massive mounds of snow all over the city. It is so nice to see the sun. The downside is that it still drops to freezing at night. So those big puddles end up freezing over each night. I just know I'm going to fall in the parking lot one of these nights.
plastic surgery
One of my favorite shows (and it’s still airing new episodes!) is Nip/Tuck. This season the show moved from Miami to the west coast, so now the doctors are doing liposuction in Los Angeles. Of course, since this is a TV show Sean and Christian (the doctors) do a lot more than just your regular Beverly Hills breast augmentation. They’ve performed some pretty wild surgeries over the past few seasons, including separating conjoined twins. I wonder if the writers will ever have them do a tummy tuck in Beverly Hills? That’s probably too tame for them now.
You know, I’m not a big fan of them showing the surgeries though. I find medical shows (both fictional like this and real ones) interesting, but I’m simply far too squeamish to be able to watch. It’s a good thing I didn’t try to become a doctor. I’d never be able to make even the first incision!
As much as I love the show, there’s a very important part of the plastic surgery process that gets left out. Nip/Tuck is centered around the doctors, so we never see what brings the patients to the consult. Before you have any type of surgery, it’s important to do some research. You need to find out about the procedure you’re considering as well as the doctor who will perform it. For the procedure, you should consider the risks and how much recovery time you’ll need. As for the doctor, look into his or her credentials. Is the doctor board certified? How often does he or she perform the exact procedure you want? Someone can be great at tummy tucks, but inexperienced with nose jobs. You want to make sure your doctor is experienced in what you’re seeking. And of course, take a look at those before and after pictures, then ask to talk to some of the patients. Cost is another consideration some people have. Although you don’t want to overpay, you also don’t want to end up dead!
You know, I’m not a big fan of them showing the surgeries though. I find medical shows (both fictional like this and real ones) interesting, but I’m simply far too squeamish to be able to watch. It’s a good thing I didn’t try to become a doctor. I’d never be able to make even the first incision!
As much as I love the show, there’s a very important part of the plastic surgery process that gets left out. Nip/Tuck is centered around the doctors, so we never see what brings the patients to the consult. Before you have any type of surgery, it’s important to do some research. You need to find out about the procedure you’re considering as well as the doctor who will perform it. For the procedure, you should consider the risks and how much recovery time you’ll need. As for the doctor, look into his or her credentials. Is the doctor board certified? How often does he or she perform the exact procedure you want? Someone can be great at tummy tucks, but inexperienced with nose jobs. You want to make sure your doctor is experienced in what you’re seeking. And of course, take a look at those before and after pictures, then ask to talk to some of the patients. Cost is another consideration some people have. Although you don’t want to overpay, you also don’t want to end up dead!
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Hillary comes to town
Hillary Clinton came to town on Friday to try to get more people to caucus for her (doesn't sound like it helped much though). During her speech she commented that Spokane needs a lot of work. I'm glad someone recongizes that! When I heard that comment, I said that it was reason alone to vote for her. Even if she doesn't remember her promise to help fix the roads and such, at least she recognized the need for a slight bit. Of course, if things ever do get fixed around here, it'll be long after I'm gone.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
the VCR
My VCR is dying a slow death--or at least the remote is. The fast forward stopped working ages ago, but I didn't really care because there's a second fast forward on the remote. Now the play button doesn't work, which is pretty inconvenient. I don't use the VCR much now that I have a DVD recorder so it seems silly to buy a new one. Guess I just have to press play on the machine and not be lazy!
LifeLock
I’ve been watching The Real Hustle on truTV (which used to be CourtTV) lately. It’s pretty amazing how easily they’re able to con people. It also makes me worry about what things I’m falling for. How many times have I given out information to someone who was less than scrupulous? Scary thoughts. I know the government now requires that each person be able to get a free credit report each year, but for some reason I just never get around to ordering it. I did it exactly once about three years ago. Nothing out of the ordinary was on it, so I guess I just feel safe. But I know that anyone could steal my information at any time, so I really should be checking up on it. I think that I’d be better off using the Lifelock.com Promotion Code. That way someone else would do the monitoring for me.
Using the LifeLock Promotion Code gets you a great discount on the service they offer, which includes protecting your identity for up to $1,000,000. You may think you’d never need that much protection, but watching The Real Hustle proves how quickly a thief can make off with thousands of dollars. I think the service provided is worth the cost, especially when you can use the LifeLock Promo Code to get a great discount.
Using the LifeLock Promotion Code gets you a great discount on the service they offer, which includes protecting your identity for up to $1,000,000. You may think you’d never need that much protection, but watching The Real Hustle proves how quickly a thief can make off with thousands of dollars. I think the service provided is worth the cost, especially when you can use the LifeLock Promo Code to get a great discount.
Monday, February 4, 2008
saying yes to sewing
I've decided that I definitely want to take sewing lessons. The problem is I don't have time to do so right now. This summer there'll be time. But of course, I'm also thinking of moving once I graduate. That'll depend on whether or not a job is open. So who knows when I'll actually move. The sewing lessons that I found here are pay by the session, so I guess I could always get started here and move on to a different teacher if I do move.
glasses
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
phone call worked!
It did take longer than I expected, but early this afternoon the lot was plowed! The manager commented to me when I left for work about how my section was now in good shape. I know I can't be the only one who complained though. A bunch of people weren't parked in the lot last night, but they are now. I'm sure they were calling him on it too.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
a snow update
The roads were pretty good yesterday, but there's something that wasn't good. That would be the parking lot of my apartment complex. Apparently they got tired after lunch and decided not to bother with finishing plowing. I had a terrible time getting out of the lot. My car got stuck multiple times. I thought (wrongly) that this would be fixed by the time I got off work, but I got stuck again. I left a message on the manager's phone to let him know how displeased I am about this. Hopefully he'll do something, but I have my doubts since it's already snowing again.
Monday, January 28, 2008
photoshop brushes
I use Photoshop all the time, especially at work. One thing that I find annoying is that I can’t do some of the things I want with Photoshop. Well, maybe I could, I just haven’t figured out how to yet! But I have discovered some cool Photoshop Brushes to use. There are some great patterns available too. Always nice to find some add-ons for a program that sometimes frustrates!
Jewels is asleep, so why not me?
My beautiful little cat is curled up all sweetly on the bed. Why is it that she can sleep and I can't? She slept even longer than I did yesterday! But I guess that's why the term "cat nap" exists--cats nap all the time. I just wish I could. I'd really love to go to sleep right about now. Though I suppose drinking a Coke isn't helping matters any.
new glasses
I need new glasses. I actually intended to get a new pair last year, but somehow never got around to it. But this year is the year. I always have a terrible time deciding what style of frame to get. Basically because I never like how any of them look on me. In the end, I spend far too much money on something that very few people will ever see because I wear my contacts about 98% of the time. But I’ve discovered that I can get new frames online for an incredible price--$8! And they look good. 
So go to Zenni Optical: Sell Rx Glasses $8 with case!
So go to Zenni Optical: Sell Rx Glasses $8 with case!
sleep's not coming easy
I cannot get to sleep. I have a feeling that I spent far too long in bed yesterday. With all the snow coming down, I just didn't feel like getting up. So Jewels and I cuddled up in bed and watched the news reports (on a competitor station--oopsy, but we weren't on) on the mess outside. Hopefully I'll be able to get some sort of nap in before I have to go to work.
Internet phone service
Wow, I don’t know how the regular phone company is going to stay in business much longer. Pretty soon their only customers are going to be the few people who don’t have home Internet access. I just discovered another company that is offering phone service over the Internet. Advanced Communications & Maintenance, Inc. may be new to you, but they’ve actually been around for 25 years. Right now, they’re only serving the New England area, which is unfortunate for all of us who don’t live there, but maybe they will expand their services to other parts of the country soon.
ACM provides a number of services, including voip phone service, which appears to be the direction everyone is heading. In fact, ACM specializes in setting up Internet phone service for businesses. So far, I haven’t heard of many businesses utilizing this type of phone service, but I bet it’s just a matter of time before it becomes the norm. Most people I know have gotten rid of their regular landline phone service, so it only makes sense that businesses will as well.
Businesses would probably worry about changing over their phone service, but it looks like ACM has things covered. They’ll come and install everything, then provide 24-hour support if needed. If a business really needs some help, they even offer on-site training. Businesses definitely get more than with the regular phone company since ACM also includes scheduled preventative maintenance. Now that’s service!
I have a feeling businesses shouldn’t worry too much about making the switch. ACM provides a list of clients on their website. One of those clients is the Stoughton Fire Department. If the fire department is able to use it, I would think anyone could. If I owned a business, I would definitely consider making the switch. In all likelihood, you’ll get better service for a better price.
ACM provides a number of services, including voip phone service, which appears to be the direction everyone is heading. In fact, ACM specializes in setting up Internet phone service for businesses. So far, I haven’t heard of many businesses utilizing this type of phone service, but I bet it’s just a matter of time before it becomes the norm. Most people I know have gotten rid of their regular landline phone service, so it only makes sense that businesses will as well.
Businesses would probably worry about changing over their phone service, but it looks like ACM has things covered. They’ll come and install everything, then provide 24-hour support if needed. If a business really needs some help, they even offer on-site training. Businesses definitely get more than with the regular phone company since ACM also includes scheduled preventative maintenance. Now that’s service!
I have a feeling businesses shouldn’t worry too much about making the switch. ACM provides a list of clients on their website. One of those clients is the Stoughton Fire Department. If the fire department is able to use it, I would think anyone could. If I owned a business, I would definitely consider making the switch. In all likelihood, you’ll get better service for a better price.
eek! more snow
More than a foot of snow this weekend! The official total for Sunday was 11.2 inches. I don't know what the total for Saturday was, but based on what I cleared off the car (I stupidly went out on Saturday because some of the books I requested came in and the first draft of the lit review is due at the end of the week) I would say it was around six inches. This is insanity. They actually wanted me to go to work on Sunday, but with as low to the ground as my car sits (and the fact that it was a struggle to drive even on Saturday) I wasn't sure I could make it. I probably would've gotten stuck somewhere. So I said I'd come in if someone came to get me. No one could, so I didn't go in. But I'll have to today.
Friday, January 25, 2008
career possibilities
So it’s not like I need to be looking at schools at the moment (I need to finish my master’s degree before I even consider something else!), but you know how I get bored. So I was looking at school stuff, maybe a Ph.D., maybe something else entirely unrelated to what I’m doing now. A medical career wouldn’t be a bad way to go. My sister’s a dental assistant, which seems to be a pretty decent job. There’s also jobs like speech therapist (which sort of relates to what I’ve already studied) and ultrasound tech. I thought ultrasounds were just done on pregnant ladies, but it turns out ultrasounds are used for all sorts of things.
Attending an ultrasound technician school is the way people learn the skills needed (just like nearly every career). Schools are located in various parts of the country, but what I thought was very cool is that there’s a Florida-based ultrasound tech school that let’s you attend classes online. The master’s degree program I’m doing right now let’s you take classes online as well. Let me tell you, it sure makes it a lot easier to finish in a timely manner. I like taking classes in person, but online classes mean you don’t need to change your work schedule. Plus, you wouldn’t have to move to where the school is.
Attending an ultrasound technician school is the way people learn the skills needed (just like nearly every career). Schools are located in various parts of the country, but what I thought was very cool is that there’s a Florida-based ultrasound tech school that let’s you attend classes online. The master’s degree program I’m doing right now let’s you take classes online as well. Let me tell you, it sure makes it a lot easier to finish in a timely manner. I like taking classes in person, but online classes mean you don’t need to change your work schedule. Plus, you wouldn’t have to move to where the school is.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
so cold
I may never get warm again. It's so cold you can't even tell that the car heater is on. My electric bill is going to be sky high this month. I try to just add extra blankets to the bed and snuggle closer to Jewels, but... The heater must remain on. Oh, how I wish I had central heat.
Monday, January 21, 2008
in the freezer case
Saturday was the first time I ever saw a commercial for frozen paninis. It was also the first time I saw them in the store. I thought that was a bit odd. Anyway, I bought a couple different brands (that's another strange thing, nearly every frozen food company has come out with their own version) to try them out. The first brand was decent; something I would buy again, especially since it microwaves in three minutes. So we'll see how the rest turn out.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
loans, loans, loans
I don't really like to look at the interest rates on my private student loans. It's just too painful. But I checked yesterday and was absolutely shocked to discover the interest rates have gone down quite a bit. That means interest rates for all sorts of loans, including a Florida Mortgage, are going down. So now is the time to refinance. And don't get screwed over like I did, do some comparison shopping through DollarBlvd.com and make sure you get the best terms. You'll be glad you did.
money!!
Last semester I applied for a job as an exam proctor. It paid well and sounded easy. You pretty much just sit there while someone takes an exam that for one reason or another they couldn't take during the regular class period. But they had so many people apply that they didn't need all of us. I was one of the people who didn't get selected. But this semester some of the people who were proctors aren't doing it. So...I got a call saying I could do it! I know I shouldn't be taking on more work, but I could use the money so I'm going to do it.
presents
As I'm sure you've figured out by now, my cat is pretty spoiled. I spend so much money on her; I even buy her special treats at the holidays. Valentine's Day is next month, so I know I'm going to buy her something soon. Given that I don't want to spend too much, I looked for some online shopping coupons in order to save some money. I've found some Petsmart coupon codes that I might use. I like that Petsmart carries a variety of tuna fish flavors. Jewels loves tuna so much that I've pretty much stopped buying other wet foods.
And maybe while I'm shopping for Jewels, I'll get some shoes for myself. You see, I also found some Steve Madden coupons while I was searching for deals and I love those shoes. Plus, I still need shoes to go with my new dress!
And maybe while I'm shopping for Jewels, I'll get some shoes for myself. You see, I also found some Steve Madden coupons while I was searching for deals and I love those shoes. Plus, I still need shoes to go with my new dress!
no turn signals
I'm pretty sure my car hates Spokane. On the very day that I packed my things to move up here, my turn signals stopped working. My grandpa replaced the bulbs, but they went out again almost immediately. So I took it to a mechanic. That repair lasted approximately six months. So I went to a different mechanic to have my turn signals fixed again. That one lasted about a year. Once again my turn signals are not working. I have yet another mechanic that I've been going to that seems to do a decent job. So I guess I'll be making an appointment to once again fix my turn signals.
id theft prevention
Not too long ago I was flipping through a magazine and saw an ad for a company called LifeLock. It caught my attention because the ad had the CEO’s social security number. The copy said he felt comfortable publicly listing it because of the great service offered by LifeLock. So I checked them out. I figure it’s always good to know as much as you can about identity theft prevention. I even attended a lecture on it last year (though I admit part of my reason for attending was the free food!).
If you go to LifeLock.com, you can read some articles that provide tips on minimizing your risk. That information is all free, which is great. Of course, they also offer a paid service that provides you with protection just in case your identity is compromised. Right now they’re even offering a discount if you use the LifeLock promotion code. With the promotion, you end up paying $99/year. For that you get your credit report, legal assistance if you find your identity has been stolen, and a lot more. If you’ve got kids (people actually steal the identity of babies!), you can include them in the service for a small additional fee.
Even if you never have to use LifeLock to get your identity back, they at least get your name removed from all those annoying junk mail lists. Less stuff to throw away and pollute the environment with is alone worth the cost of the service!
If you go to LifeLock.com, you can read some articles that provide tips on minimizing your risk. That information is all free, which is great. Of course, they also offer a paid service that provides you with protection just in case your identity is compromised. Right now they’re even offering a discount if you use the LifeLock promotion code. With the promotion, you end up paying $99/year. For that you get your credit report, legal assistance if you find your identity has been stolen, and a lot more. If you’ve got kids (people actually steal the identity of babies!), you can include them in the service for a small additional fee.
Even if you never have to use LifeLock to get your identity back, they at least get your name removed from all those annoying junk mail lists. Less stuff to throw away and pollute the environment with is alone worth the cost of the service!
Friday, January 18, 2008
ketchup?
So it turns out my crazy kitty likes ketchup as well. I thought she was going after the steak on my plate; but no, she wasn't interested in that. Instead, she licked up every last bit of ketchup! Seriously the plate has no traces of the ketchup on it. I had no idea cats ate ketchup, but I guess at least some of them do.
chicken!
One of my very favorite foods is chicken. You probably figured that out from my earlier post where I listed all the chicken I wanted to make. But I have a problem figuring out how to cook chicken. One method is, of course, grilling chicken, but when I do it myself, it just doesn't turn out very well. I tend to leave it to the professionals, like those at El Pollo Loco.
more sewing
So guess what I went and did? Started reading another book with a main character who sews. So the sewing obsession is not going away anytime soon. I'm even thinking of how one day I'll have a bigger place and can have a sewing room in it! Of course, first I have to figure out how to fit lessons into my schedule.
It is a good book, so you should read it.
It is a good book, so you should read it.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
books vs movies
With very rare exception, books are better than movies. I have found one of those rare exceptions. It is The Da Vinci Code. Yes, I know, I am far behind the times. But since I don't like to pay for things, I had to wait until I could get the movie from the library. Anyway, I thought the book
was absolutely horrible when I read it. It's just so poorly written I can't believe people talked about how great it was. That really disappoints me about the American people. So given how lousy I thought the book was, I didn't have much in the way of expectations for the movie
which could somewhat explain why I actually found it to be decent. The screenwriter should definitely be rewarded for taking a crap manuscript and turning it into something watchable!
was absolutely horrible when I read it. It's just so poorly written I can't believe people talked about how great it was. That really disappoints me about the American people. So given how lousy I thought the book was, I didn't have much in the way of expectations for the moviewhich could somewhat explain why I actually found it to be decent. The screenwriter should definitely be rewarded for taking a crap manuscript and turning it into something watchable!
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
what a cat wants
Jewels loves human food. I know many cats and dogs do, but Jewels likes things I don't think other animals would like. She once stole a piece of garlic bread from my plate. She also likes Top Ramen and Rice Krispies. It seems like as long as I'm eating it, she wants it too. This is probably why she has such a big belly.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
conferences and hotels
I’ve been thinking about sending my paper out for acceptance at various conferences. It'd be a good experience I think. One conference is just down the interstate so I wouldn’t need a hotel room, but the others are all places like California, Colorado, and Arizona. I’ll definitely need to make some hotel reservations if I’m accepted to one of those. So I’ve been looking around online to see how I can get the best rate, but still be in a nice hotel. I actually have a favorite hotel chain. The Hampton Inn has beds and pillows that are every bit as wonderful as my own.
Amongst the websites I’ve found, one offers a $100 rebate as part of their lowest price guarantee. That sounds pretty good. I could book a room with them without worrying about losing out on money if I happen to find that someone else is offering a lower rate. Another great thing about HotelReservations.com is that I can take care of booking my flight and rental car (if I would need one) through them as well. Convenience will definitely be key when it comes to booking because I’ll have to make the arrangements while also doing my grad work and my full-time job.
Amongst the websites I’ve found, one offers a $100 rebate as part of their lowest price guarantee. That sounds pretty good. I could book a room with them without worrying about losing out on money if I happen to find that someone else is offering a lower rate. Another great thing about HotelReservations.com is that I can take care of booking my flight and rental car (if I would need one) through them as well. Convenience will definitely be key when it comes to booking because I’ll have to make the arrangements while also doing my grad work and my full-time job.
wait a second
I realized last night as I continued with the book that I've been reading that there might be a reason why I'm suddenly interested in picking up on the sewing lessons my mom taught me ages ago. I'm reading The Dairy Queen. Even if you haven't read it, I'm sure you can guess at least one of the details about the main character. Oh, that's right, she sews. She sews pajamas to be exact, but starts making bags as the book progresses. I guess we'll see if I still want sewing lessons after I'm done with the book.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
too much weight!
Prevention is key to remain healthy. But the people I saw on TLC (what was it, The Half-Ton Man or something?) obviously didn't take that advice. Some of them were consuming more calories in a single meal than most people have in a week! For these people weight loss surgery really is the only option. The good thing about the lap band system is that it's removable and adjustable. That's important because life changes (possibly other health issues) might mean the inserted lap band needs to change.
This post is sponsored
This post is sponsored
so sew
I think I'm going to start taking sewing lessons. I know, I know. First it was dance lessons (which I still want to take) and now I've come up with sewing lessons. But both are things I've done in the past. My mom taught me to sew when I was quite young. I still know how to (even made a quilt a few years back), so it's not like a need a whole lot. Just a refresher on how to thread the bobbin and such. I found a place not too far from where I live that offers an inexpensive refresher, then basically lets you rent their machines. I'm going to look into it some more, but I think I'll start once I've made some progress on my thesis.
engagement rings
With Valentine’s Day coming next month, you might be thinking of buying some diamonds. If they’re for me, you should know I prefer rubies. I think diamond engagement rings in particular are too plain. They need a splash of color with some rubies or another pretty gem thrown in! So keep that in mind when buying engagement rings. I also think you should let the recipient select the ring. I would want to design my own ring, which is something you can do at James Allen. There’s a wide variety of rings available, so even if you don’t design your own, you’ll get something beautiful. And you can get a 360 view of the ring at the website, so you can marvel at the ring you love until your beloved finally breaks down and buys it!
how much snow?
So how much snow did we get? Just over seven inches! That is completely insane. And the roads up north where I live are absolutely terrible. It's like they stopped pouring deicer as soon as they got to the mall. Everything north of the mall is really hard to drive on. Going over 30 didn't seem wise. Even with the new tires I put on (though not studs, just all season), it was hard to keep control. Hopefully it's better tomorrow.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
who needs a massage?
Some days are stressful, especially with all the work I have to do on top of writing my thesis. A massage would be nice. Unfortunately, I can’t really afford to go get massages on a regular basis. Massage Chairs are also pretty expensive, but much more affordable if you break down the cost over time. Some of the chairs are pretty awesome. One can calibrated to the user’s body in order to provide that perfect massage. And of course, you can adjust things like speed, intensity, and location. There’s also the option of adding a foot massager, which would be heaven. So it just might be worth the investment if I’m going to keep having this much stress!
This post is sponsored
This post is sponsored
so much snow
Goodness me did the sky ever open up and dump a ton of snow today. Have I mentioned that I hate snow and cold weather in general? Fall cannot get here fast enough. At least I can go between my apartment and work (and later school) using the main roads almost entirely. Unfortunately, my apartment's parking lot is usually a mess. This management company doesn't seem to care about doing what it takes (i.e. spend money) to keep residents happy.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
international phone calls
Do you spend lots of time traveling or know someone who does? Is it hard to keep in touch? Now there’s a company making it a lot easier. They’ve got great international calling rates, which at the very least makes it cheaper for you to keep in contact. Keep in mind that the service is only available for people who are in the United States. It doesn’t work the other way around.
With MobileTalk, you make the phone calls from your cell phone. The service is compatible with over 450 models, including BlackBerry. MobileTalk allows you to dial people directly--no PIN required. You also don’t have to worry about running out of minutes like you do with a pre-paid calling card. All you have to do is sign up for the service, pay the monthly fee, and make some calls!
I definitely could’ve used a service like this a few years back. My mom decided to go traveling all around Europe. The long distance rates were so expensive that I didn’t call her. With MobileTalk, which has rates of two cents per minute to the United Kingdom, I would’ve been able to call her all the time to find out what different sights she was seeing. Instead I had to wait for her to come back to tell me about the things she did. Sure, she sent postcards, but do you know how long it takes for international postcards to arrive? She got back long before the postcards showed up in my mailbox!
Check out the video I made about MobileTalk:
With MobileTalk, you make the phone calls from your cell phone. The service is compatible with over 450 models, including BlackBerry. MobileTalk allows you to dial people directly--no PIN required. You also don’t have to worry about running out of minutes like you do with a pre-paid calling card. All you have to do is sign up for the service, pay the monthly fee, and make some calls!
I definitely could’ve used a service like this a few years back. My mom decided to go traveling all around Europe. The long distance rates were so expensive that I didn’t call her. With MobileTalk, which has rates of two cents per minute to the United Kingdom, I would’ve been able to call her all the time to find out what different sights she was seeing. Instead I had to wait for her to come back to tell me about the things she did. Sure, she sent postcards, but do you know how long it takes for international postcards to arrive? She got back long before the postcards showed up in my mailbox!
Check out the video I made about MobileTalk:
gloves
I need new gloves. My current ones have holes in them, which isn't good. Even last year my gloves had holes in them. And now they're worse. But I kind of want to hold off on buying new gloves. What if I'm not living somewhere cold by next winter? (Not likely, but I do like to dream.) I live my life in winter denial. It's why I don't own snow boots.
Monday, January 7, 2008
what to do for V-Day
Valentine’s Day is fast approaching! Do you know what you’re buying me? In case you want an idea, I’ve got one for you. I prefer chocolate to flowers any day, so that’s what you should do! And what I’d really like is some chocolate covered strawberries.
Doesn’t that look delicious? They’re available in dark or milk chocolate. I like both, so why not get me both? Also check out the cheesecake and berry combo since I’m a big fan of cheesecake!
This post is sponsored
Doesn’t that look delicious? They’re available in dark or milk chocolate. I like both, so why not get me both? Also check out the cheesecake and berry combo since I’m a big fan of cheesecake!
This post is sponsored
another phone complaint
I just realized that my new phone doesn't display the date on the external or internal screens. My last phone showed both the date and time of the internal screen. Now I realize this isn't a big deal since I've had the phone for more than a month now and only just realized it, but it's still annoying to have to hit the "calendar" button when I want to find out the date. This is the last time I'll buy a phone without doing a thorough check of it beforehand.
protecting your shower curtain
I have a nice shower curtain that matches my decor and all that. Since the company doesn't make it anymore, I use a liner to protect it. I've already gone through a few shower curtain liners, which is to be expected considering how long I've had the curtain and that some of the liners were pretty cheap. My recommendation to anyone with a fabric shower curtain is to use a good liner to protect the curtain from getting all moldy and mildewy. My mom, on the other hand, just throws hers in the washing machine, which I suppose you could do as well. I don't want to have to take it down all the time. And besides, my mom would just completely redo the bathroom (and enjoy it) if she ever needed to buy a new shower curtain!
Sunday, January 6, 2008
more yummy food?
I'm not much for cooking, especially in my apartment's tiny kitchen, but I'm at least getting less paranoid about killing myself from undercooked meat. I cooked tonight's steak perfectly (i.e. didn't burn it to ensure my safety), so it was yummy and I'm still alive. So I'm thinking about going back to the meal prep place I went to in November (and where I prepped tonight's steak). I don't think I'll go this month because I still have two more steaks and six chicken breasts left. I need to make more of a dent in what's currently residing in my freezer before I go get more! But February might just work. The menu for February is excellent too. Last time I only bought three selections, which is probably the right amount, but there's more than three that I want!
These are the ones I want to get:
Tuscan Chicken
Basil Pesto Chicken
Authentic Chicken Enchiladas
Grilled Ginger Chicken
Pub-Mustard Chicken
All chicken, I know! So that means I shouldn't get all of them. I'll definitely get tired of all that chicken. I've got a month to decide though. Of course, by then March's menu will be posted and I'll have to decide if those dishes sound better.
These are the ones I want to get:
Tuscan Chicken
Basil Pesto Chicken
Authentic Chicken Enchiladas
Grilled Ginger Chicken
Pub-Mustard Chicken
All chicken, I know! So that means I shouldn't get all of them. I'll definitely get tired of all that chicken. I've got a month to decide though. Of course, by then March's menu will be posted and I'll have to decide if those dishes sound better.
Friday, January 4, 2008
2007 in books: the last 6 months
And here's the rest of my 2007 book list.
(NF) = nonfiction
July
Pop!
by Aury Wallington
Worth More Dead: And Other True Cases
by Ann Rule (NF)
Only In Your Dreams
by Cecily von Ziegesar
Fireworks
(various, collection of 4 short stories)
Bras & Broomsticks
by Sarah Mlynowski
Up & Out
by Ariella Papa
August
Shopaholic & Baby
by Sophie Kinsella
Notorious
by Cecily von Ziegesar
21 Proms
(various, 21 short stories)
Frogs & French Kisses
by Sarah Mlynowski
Chloe Does Yale
by Natalie Krinsky
Full Frontal Feminism
by Jessica Valenti (NF)
Consumed: How Markets Corrupt Children, Infantilize Adults, and Swallow Citizens Whole
by Benjamin R. Barber (NF)
Arlington Park
by Rachel Cusk
Second Chance
by Jane Green
September
The Men I Didn't Marry
by Janice Kaplan and Lynn Schnurnberger
Thursday Next in First Among Sequels
by Jasper Fforde
Packaging Girlhood: Rescuing Our Daughters from Marketers' Schemes
by Sharon Lamb and Lyn Mikel Brown (NF)
Little White Lies
by Gemma Townley
Make Him Look Good
by Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez
No Place Like Home
by Mary Higgins Clark
October
Amanda Bright@home
by Danielle Crittenden
Baby Laughs: The Naked Truth About the First Year of Mommyhood
by Jenny McCarthy (NF)
Convergent Journalism: An Introduction--Writing and Producing Across Media
by Stephen Quinn and Vincent F. Filak (NF)
Digital Journalism: Emerging Media & the Changing Horizons of Journalism
by Kevin Kawamoto (NF)
Billion-Dollar Kiss: The Kiss That Saved Dawson's Creek and Other Adventures in TV Writing
by Jeffrey Stepakoff (NF)
Reckless
by Cecily von Ziegesar
Handbook Of Magazine Article Writing
by Michelle Ruberg (NF)
Spells & Sleeping Bags
Bags by Sarah Mlynowski
Stupid and Contagious
by Caprice Crane
Polly
by Amy Bryant
Would I Lie to You
by Cecily von Ziegesar
November
The Successful Writer's Guide to Publishing Magazine Articles
by Eva Shaw (NF)
Unhooked
by Laura Sessions Stepp (NF)
Making Money Freelance Writing
by the editors of Writer’s Digest (NF)
Little Pink Slips
by Sally Koslow
Don't You Forget About Me
by Cecily von Ziegesar
Tallulahland
by Lynn Messina
It Had to Be You
by Cecily von Ziegesar
December
Girl's Guide To Witchcraft
by Mindy Klasky
Dedication
by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus
Flyover States
by Grace Grant and P.J. MacAllister
Bait and Switch : The (Futile) Pursuit of the American Dream
by Barbara Ehrenreich (NF)
And Nanny Makes Three: Mothers and Nannies Tell the Truth About Work, Love, Money, and Each Other
by Jessika Auerbach (NF)
(NF) = nonfiction
July
Pop!
by Aury WallingtonWorth More Dead: And Other True Cases
by Ann Rule (NF)Only In Your Dreams
by Cecily von ZiegesarFireworks
(various, collection of 4 short stories)Bras & Broomsticks
by Sarah MlynowskiUp & Out
by Ariella PapaAugust
Shopaholic & Baby
by Sophie KinsellaNotorious
by Cecily von Ziegesar21 Proms
(various, 21 short stories)Frogs & French Kisses
by Sarah MlynowskiChloe Does Yale
by Natalie KrinskyFull Frontal Feminism
by Jessica Valenti (NF)Consumed: How Markets Corrupt Children, Infantilize Adults, and Swallow Citizens Whole
by Benjamin R. Barber (NF)Arlington Park
by Rachel CuskSecond Chance
by Jane GreenSeptember
The Men I Didn't Marry
by Janice Kaplan and Lynn SchnurnbergerThursday Next in First Among Sequels
by Jasper FfordePackaging Girlhood: Rescuing Our Daughters from Marketers' Schemes
by Sharon Lamb and Lyn Mikel Brown (NF)Little White Lies
by Gemma TownleyMake Him Look Good
by Alisa Valdes-RodriguezNo Place Like Home
by Mary Higgins ClarkOctober
Amanda Bright@home
by Danielle CrittendenBaby Laughs: The Naked Truth About the First Year of Mommyhood
by Jenny McCarthy (NF)Convergent Journalism: An Introduction--Writing and Producing Across Media
by Stephen Quinn and Vincent F. Filak (NF)Digital Journalism: Emerging Media & the Changing Horizons of Journalism
by Kevin Kawamoto (NF)Billion-Dollar Kiss: The Kiss That Saved Dawson's Creek and Other Adventures in TV Writing
by Jeffrey Stepakoff (NF)Reckless
by Cecily von ZiegesarHandbook Of Magazine Article Writing
by Michelle Ruberg (NF)Spells & Sleeping Bags
Bags by Sarah MlynowskiStupid and Contagious
by Caprice CranePolly
by Amy BryantWould I Lie to You
by Cecily von ZiegesarNovember
The Successful Writer's Guide to Publishing Magazine Articles
by Eva Shaw (NF)Unhooked
by Laura Sessions Stepp (NF)Making Money Freelance Writing
by the editors of Writer’s Digest (NF)Little Pink Slips
by Sally KoslowDon't You Forget About Me
by Cecily von ZiegesarTallulahland
by Lynn MessinaIt Had to Be You
by Cecily von ZiegesarDecember
Girl's Guide To Witchcraft
by Mindy KlaskyDedication
by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola KrausFlyover States
by Grace Grant and P.J. MacAllisterBait and Switch : The (Futile) Pursuit of the American Dream
by Barbara Ehrenreich (NF)And Nanny Makes Three: Mothers and Nannies Tell the Truth About Work, Love, Money, and Each Other
by Jessika Auerbach (NF)
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