Election 2008

Movie Recording

There are times when we have missed television movies, but not so much any more. We now have a DVD recorder so we can make sure we don't miss the programs we like. I leave it to Bill to set the recorder up. Once we figured out the machine it was easy to record. Now we can record movies and watch them at our leisure. I wish we would have purchased a DVD recorded long ago.

Tea Collection

With in the past 10 months we have become grandparents. It is so much fun! We have a grand daughter and a grand son. It has been great shopping for them. We can look at both the boys and the girls items. The Tea Collection is a great line of children's clothing. It offers baby and toddler clothing. You can find a modern touch with a classy fun look. It's so exciting finding those special outfits.

Web Cam

We recently bought a new web cam. Our old one just wasn't working right any more. I haven't really gotten to use it enough to know all of capabilities that it has. We look forward to being able to chat with our kids and grandkids using the new web cam. It has a built in microphone which works much better than the old one. The picture quality is better too. I had Bill and Zoe sit for a picture taken by the web cam. Here it is.

Moen Faucets

We have been very busy this year with updating our home. We started out redoing our upstairs bathroom. While replacing the vanity we also decided to purchase a new faucet. There are so many beautiful styles available today. We browsed the Moen faucets and others. We are very pleased with our choice. It all works together well and gives a more modern and updated appearance.

Rain Coming

We are expecting rain tomorrow which will be a welcome sight. There are some people that don't really want the rain, but I don't mind. It is cooler out tonight also, which feels great! We even have our windows open. Earlier today we had the air conditioner turned on. It can't make up it's mind. I hope we continue to have nice weather for weeks to come.

Moving Services

Many years ago we made one of our first moves. We hadn't been married long, so we didn't really own that much stuff. We felt that moving services was the way to go. We called and they pretty much took care of everything. Over the past few years, we have found ourselves helping move our children from one location to another. I think it is getting to the point where we may be using those moving services once again.

Road

They started the paving project in our neighborhood today. It was a bit hard to get home this afternoon since the crew was still working on the road. Fortunately they were just about finished with the first layer when I got home and I was able to drive on the new surface. Tomorrow there will be a second layer of pavement added. It already is 100% better than it was. The best part of the whole thing is that it isn't costing us any more in taxes because it is just paving over the old and not tearing the old cement up.

New TV Season

New Windows

Last year we had our windows replaced and just love the new ones. They are saving us on fuel costs and they look great too. They are Anderson windows like we had before. I wish we could have had them replaced long ago. The outside trim never needs painting either which Bill is thankful for. He was getting tired of scraping and repainting the others each year or two.

Miami Heat Tickets

Over the years we have enjoyed many concerts, sporting events, shows and other types of entertainment. It has not always been easy to find tickets and especially not great tickets. Well, now with Premium Seats USA, we no longer will have to worry about that. They offer excellent first-class tickets to concerts, sports and theater events. They are nationwide, so you won't have to miss a thing. Their brokers will make sure you have those Miami Heat tickets or tickets to that Vegas Show. No more stressing, just check out Premium Seats USA for your next outing. You won’t be disappointed.

New Car

Bill is due to get a new work car soon. He is being patient, but I know he is excited to get it. Evidently there was a problem with the order and the cars are delayed. His current car works fine, but the new one will be even better. That is what he says anyway. I told him that he is very lucky to have a car that is maintained and fueled by his company. He agreed.

Off To Work

I was able to come home for lunch but it is now time to go back. I usually have time to eat a quick lunch, check my mail, feed the dog and head off to work again. It would be nice to have more time over the lunch ‘hour’, but I don’t. It really isn’t a whole hour to be taken. Sometimes it is much less. Oh well, I am glad for that time.

VoIP phone systems

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Clear Skies

We have had some very nice days lately with clear skies. A nice breeze has been blowing and the nights are cool so we can open windows. For this time of year it has been great. I hope there is many nice days left before the cold weather comes our way. I have said it before, I am not a fan of the cold weather.

Monster Cookies

Last night Bill made some monster cookies from a recipe that his mom had given me. He had never made them before but they were very good. He was a bit unsure how they would turn out I think. He took some to work and we have a plastic container about half full here at home. I am glad he made them. They are very tasty. Now that he knows how to make them he can treat us again sometime. He's very good about doing that. He's the best!

Presidential Dollars

As time goes on I find myself with less time and looking for ways to simplify my life. One way I have found is to do some online shopping. With CSN the Cable Shopping Network it is made easier then ever before. From the comforts of your very own home you can find treasures. It's an awesome way to save time and money by not having to leave your home. CSN offers a wonderful variety of collectibles, such as presidential dollars and more. With their great customer service you are sure to be pleased. If you haven't heard of them, click in and see their website for yourself. You may even catch them on TV. Don't hesitate, check out this awesome resource.

Local Casino

We have a casino about thirty miles away from us. We don't gamble so it really isn't much of an interest to us. For many however it is a frequent getaway. The food is pretty good there but we just don't go that direction too often. It seems like when we do drive by it is always busy. For some it is just a fun social experience but for others it is very addictive.

Over Heated Computer

For some reason our old laptop tends to over heat and then shut down. It seems to help if we set in on the floor vent when the air is on. I am wondering if the fan is not working properly in the computer. It doesn't always happen but just enough to annoy us. I suppose soon we should invest in a new laptop.

Online Degree

My oldest son is presently working towards an online degree. I think it's the greatest! What a fantastic way for people today to continue their education while working. If this was not available, it would make it impossible for some to receive their degrees. Capella University of Minneapolis Minnesota is a fully accredited online University. They provide master's, PhD degrees and more for the working adult. You can go on their site and see a current podcast featuring students, faculty and staff that are sharing their experience with Capella. You will hear first hand what their thoughts are about an online degree.

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Calendar

I don't know about you, but I would be lost without my calendar. For years I have had a large calendar in my kitchen and a smaller book calendar in my purse. I now have a small calendar by computer so that when I receive an email from someone telling me about an event, I can quickly write it down. The only problem there is that I need to check every calendar so that I am sure not to miss anything. That just reminded me that I need to write Zoe's next haircut appointment down on the kitchen calendar. Better do that while I'm thinking about it. :)

Little Bugs

Tonight we seem to have lots of little bugs in the house. They are like fruit bugs I think. We closed the windows and turned the air on even though it is cool outside. I think the bugs are from the area where our apple tree used to be in the back yard. Actually some of the tree is still there. Bill and Scott cut most of it down but there is about four feet left. We will have a guy from here in town cut the stump out of the ground when it dries up a little.

Gold Coins

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Fireplace

We are having a fireplace put in our addition. It is a gas unit that vents directly outside. A local cabinet maker stopped by tonight to measure for the mantel and hearth. It is going to look fantastic. Dale, the cabinet maker, does very nice work. He built our kitchen cupboards, bathroom vanity and entertainment stand. We have never been disappointed in his work.

Supper

What are we having for supper? What should we have for supper? Who is going to make supper? These are questions our family has quite often. Bill is very good at making meals but it is sometimes hard to decide what to make. Is it hard for you too? Many times we agree on what to have when the other one makes a suggestion. I guess it shouldn't be that hard of a decision but it is. There are times it is best to just make a meal and hope it was the right one.

Foot Care Product

Have you ever suffered from unwanted blisters? If you enjoy working out, hiking, rock climbing or even hunting, you may find that you are in need of a foot care product from time to time. Blisters on your feet can really spoil the moment. Now with ENGO patches there can be some relief. These patches will help in preventing blisters and relieving blister pain. They are quick and easy to use. The National Health & Wellness and North American Hunter (NAH) member groups have given their approval. They have sampled these patches and have found them to be beneficial. Don't let foot pain interfere with your fun. Check into ENGO patches.

Welcome Home Stew

It is often not a fun task to come up with an idea for supper. This morning I woke up and thought about having Welcome Home Stew tonight. It is one of my favorite recipes and so easy. Here it is. Give it a try and see for yourself.
2 lbs. stew meat/ cubed
4 potatoes cut small
1/2 Onion chopped
1/2 bag carrots cut into 1 in. pieces
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/4 Cup quick cooking tapioca
1/4 tsp pepper
1 1/2 cups beef bouillon
15 oz. Tomato Sauce
1- 16 oz. frozen peas, carrots and green beans
Stir all together in a crock pot. Cook 8-10 hrs on low or 4-5 hrs on high.
It sure smells good when you walk in the house.

TV

Ebay

Bill has fun watching for items on ebay. He has purchased a few things and has received some very good deals. It seems like most of his 'deals' are golf related. He bought a set of irons just before Christmas and also got some individual clubs throughout the year. I think he should start selling stuff instead of buying. I agree with him that it is fun to search ebay for cool things. He does have fun looking and doesn't go wild on his spending so I guess that is good.

Data Integration Software

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Politics

It seems like we hear more and more about the politics of this country as we near the election. I think we should all be fairly aware of what the candidates stand for and know how they believe. We have had way too many phone calls though concerning these candidates. We have all heard of the 'do not call list' right? Well, I wonder why we are getting these calls then. I have heard that since the calls aren't for 'solicitation' they can get by with it. Not for solicitation? What are they doing if not soliciting? Oh well, soon it will be election day and all this will end. For 2-3 years that is.

Candidate Pastor

Today a young man and his family came to candidate for Senior Pastor at our local church. It has been awhile since our last pastor and his family had left. Our church is ready to move on and we are ready for a new pastor to come. When he approached the pulpit, I could tell in his voice and motions that he was quite nervous. I can't say that I really blame him. All eyes were on him and what pressure it would be. I then felt led to pray for him, that God would give him a peace. He then proceeded and by the time he got to the question/answer part of the morning, he seemed quite relaxed. We had a very good feeling about this man and his family. I pray that if he is the one to lead our congregation, that God will place him there. Time will tell.

Music

Migraine

I have suffered with migraines for years. Within the past 10-15 years they have worsened. It seems that I have different levels of severity and am never sure how bad they may get. Yesterday was one of those bad days. The migraine grew more severe as the day wore on. I ended up in bed from 3:30 PM, pretty much until the following morning. They seem to get to a point where there is nothing I can do to feel better and then bed is the only relief I can find. I would love to find the answers to what may be causing them.

Las Vegas Jobs

My youngest son often speaks of moving to a big city one day. He is an engineer and is presently holding a wonderful job. However, if he does decide to move westward, he may want to check into Las Vegas jobs that are available. There is a website that has quite the listing and Engineer was right at the top. I'm still hoping he'll hang around the Midwest a while longer.

Laptop

We usually have a desktop as well as a laptop computer at home. It is handy when our laptop is in working condition. It was recently broken down and I sure missed it. I can join my husband in the family room and still work on the computer when it's just sitting right there. We may have to invest in another one so that we are never without. It's just so convenient.

Fair

Sunday Bill and I went to the Clay County fair in northwest Iowa. It was a perfect day for it too. This particular fair is always a busy one. We found some very good food, and some sweets also. We had two tickets to see Mark Lowry, who is a Christian singer and comedian. The place was sold out! We enjoyed our day, but were glad to be home too. A neighbor came by to check on Zoe in the afternoon which was nice. Zoe is our seven year old Bichon. She can stay by herself for a whole day if needed but it is handy to have great neighbors that can visit her when we are gone.

Safer Prescribing By Healthcare Professionals

Are you someone who deals with headaches? If so, then like me, you know how miserable they can make you feel. Whether it be an Acute Headache or one you consider a migraine....they can have you in bed unable to do anything but sleep without feeling sick. The thing with headaches, is that there's just only so much you can do. You can take your prescribed medication, but after that it just takes time and rest.

I don't know about you, but sometimes I wonder how safe all of these medications are that I have been prescribed to take for my headaches. They're so strong! What gives me some comfort in the prescriptions given, is that more and more doctors (hopefully mine) are utilizing the new free online clinical solution from Epocrates where they can check for drug interactions, find information on risk factors, conditions, treatments and more. This has me more at peace knowing that they have all of this information right at their fingertips! The result of this wonderful technology is safer prescribing and more confident diagnosis which is great!

If you've never heard of Epocrates, or their online resource, you can learn more about it on their site today! I strongly recommend it, as it's something every healthcare professional should be aware of and using. The best part is, it's a free resource too!! So what are you waiting for? Head over there today and see what you think!

This announcement was paid for by Epocrates.

Benefit

Today my husband and I are going to a Benefit for a family friend. He is only in his thirties and is fighting colon cancer. It has begun to take it's toll on the family already. Financially it can become very difficult during times of illness. A person can find themselves missing work and the medical bills escalating. A cousin of Douglas' has done most of the leg work and it should be a good day.

Nautica Watches

Christmas time is around the corner. I'm getting started thinking over what we might buy for everyone this year. It becomes more difficult as the children grow older. They are now all out of college and have their careers. The grand babies will be easier. I was thinking how everyone wears a watch. There are some great Nautica watches out there. That may be an option. I think I'll keep that in mind.