Off The Toppa My Head

To Vote or NOT to Vote!

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Weston) — Thu, 12 May 2016 17:48:00 +0000

Since turning 18, I've never failed to vote in a general election, but this time around... I may just have to break my record. This video says it all....

Voter Anguish

My husband says to just vote for the "lesser of two evils," like he always does! Honestly, how can I vote for someone I do NOT want as our President? Is that really what "choice" is all about? I-just-can't-do-it!

My only hope that someone worthy of a reasonable person's vote steps up as a 3rd party candidate or even a write-in candidate. That way, I can still vote in November with a clear conscience, knowing that I didn't help put a criminal / idiot / bully / man-baby / (or so many other things I can think of right now) in the White House.

So agonizing!!!!

It's Been A While...

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Weston) — Thu, 16 Jul 2015 18:43:00 +0000

I just noticed that it's been nearly five years since I've posted on this blog... I guess maybe I've been kind of busy.

Well, today I'm updating you on the latest. Actually, I'm on hold with the IRS and have nothing better to do so decided to check on my blogs. My call is very important to the IRS, by the way (they keep telling me that) but they are busy helping other customers - don't you love how they call taxpayers "customers"? Like taxpayers have a choice as to whether to "shop" at the IRS or not? Personally, I'd rather spend my money elsewhere, if you want to know the truth. Anyway, here I sit, waiting and waiting while my phone slowly dies... Human interaction is always better than recorded messages and canned music, even if it is an IRS agent. Sort of. I guess.

Awesome 80's Music Video!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Weston) — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 01:32:00 +0000

Have I got a video for you!

A little background first... I supervise summer day camp at the Blackfoot Community Center, which includes swimming, bowling, community service projects, arts and crafts, a garden, city hikes, and lots of other stuff. AND this year it also meant preparing for an end-of-summer musical production! All summer the kids choreographed their moves and rehearsed for their musical performances to their chosen music. Even the youngest ones faithfully practiced putting on a show! Of course, the staff had to perform as well, and with almost no rehearsal time, I wondered what we could come up with.

The evening itself included a BBQ dinner, our giant waterslide, a free book giveaway, and the BIG MUSICAL. I plan to post the kids' group performances on YouTube, but couldn't resist posting the staff performance (if you can call it that) here as well. We chose an 80's music mix for our performance, came up with some "costumes" (if you can call them that), rehearsed (kinda), and here you go. Silliness prevails... Listen to the laughter - after all, kids love to see a little wackiness in adults once in a while. The topping on the cake is the parent who stands up at the very end for a good pic - right in front of the camera. Love it!

Chico Marx Piano Solo... Okay - It's Alex!

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Weston) — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 04:43:00 +0000

I REALLY need to post A LOT more often! I am so sorry! I hope I can make it up to you with the video below. This is my son playing what is referred to as a little "ditty" that was originally played by Chico Marx just prior to the piano falling apart (exploding?) in "A Day at the Races."

I don't mind saying that my son, Alex, is a very good pianist, self-taught, and he truly loves to play (can you tell?). Please feel free to watch more of his YouTube piano videos - he has quite a following. You'll notice that there is never any sheet music - he plays by ear and has done so since he first learned to play Pachelbel's Canon in D at age 11, which he heard on an episode of "The Wonder Years." Prior to this, he had never sat down at the piano.

Want to know about the antiquated piano, by the way? He found it at a thrift store. He sat down and played it, and the other customers were so impressed that not only did someone offer to buy it for him, but another customer had it delivered to his apartment! A very good shopping day!

Cheap Gas

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Weston) — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 15:58:00 +0000

When I first started driving, I completely understood that the associated costs would be my own responsibility. My parents made sure of that. I was firmly engrained with the fear of two things: auto insurance payments and the ongoing cost of gas and car maintenance. (That's why I didn't drive until I was 19.)

As a full-time college student, I considered gasoline to be expensive, yet necessary, at 29-cents a gallon. If I could manage to save up a dollar (which wasn't all that easy on $1.65/hour part time wages) I could put almost 3 1/2 gallons in the tank and I was good to go! Truth is, I knew gas was a good deal, especially as fuel prices began climbing the mid-'70s. When gas reached 50-cents a gallon, I was ready to hang up my keys. The very idea!

Boy, was I naive. Nowadays I would kill for prices like that! You've seen it - more and more folks are actually driving off without paying for a fill-up, which is really dumb since gas stations video tape license plates as you drive away. If I were that desperate, I would find another way to get around.

What may surprise you is that the price of gasoline and everything else is really just the same as it always was!

What the. . . ???

It's true. Back when stuff was cheap, our dollars were backed by real silver; and today, that same amount of silver still buys the same amount of gas as it did back then. The problem is, our paper money is no longer backed by silver and now it has far less value than it used to. Therefore, increasingly more dollars are needed to buy the things we need. So in reality, the prices of goods and services have not gone up at all; instead, the value of the US dollar has diminished. Drastically.

What this also means is that real money, like gold and silver, holds its value over time.

By the way, the value of your fuel-buying dollar will slip again this summer. Unfortunately, you likely won't be able to pay for your fill-ups with silver or gold, so please don't carry your precious coins around in your car console.

The 60-Day Experiment: Recommended!

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Weston) — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 01:02:00 +0000

Have I mentioned the 60-Day Experiment?

I was a fledgling freelance writer when I found David Perdew's new Experiment on a writers' website. I had never built a website before - in fact my total experience with online publishing was exactly one weblog - this one. I was an online newbie, and had no clue where to start in my quest to earning a living online. The more more I investigated, the more the Experiment seemed to be just what I needed, so I decided to jump in.

A year and a half later, I can honestly say that my "60-Day Experiment" experience was similar to taking several college courses, only better! I recieved one-on-one attention from David and the 60-Day Forum. I recieved oodles of tools (mostly free), and best of all, a weekly -- no, daily -- step-by-step program to help me build my online business in terms that I (remember, a newbie) could understand.

At the end of 60 days, I had learned and achieved all of my goals (remember, this is a hands-on course, not just an e-book to file away on your harddrive somewhere). I discovered how to:

Find my story and my expertice (we are all experts at something!)
Find my corresponding niche and choose a business model.
Build a viral marketing plan and refine it.
Create a functional, profitable weblog.
Write and edit a niche-ready ebook and accompanying sales letter (guess which comes first!)
Publish and market ebook.
Build a multi-page, functional, content-rich website.
Build Google Adwords campaign.
Market with articles, newsletters, e-zines.
And much, much more!

Why is it called an Experiment, you may ask? Well, in David's words, the Experiment is intended for those of us "with too little time to write and not enough know-how to change it." He started The 60-Day Experiment because he believed we need each other for support in creating our future. Our first time around this was truly an experiment as we made and embraced our mistakes and those of our colleagues.

Mistakes???

"The greatest minds in any business, philosophy or scientific study cherish their mistakes. Mistakes lead to learning and learning leads to success. More mistakes, more success. In fact, one the biggest problems you'll have as a beginning Internet Marketer is info overload. We focus on the real experts and use their material when appropriate." --David Perdew

Since the inception of the Experiment, people without technical skills (like me) have created weblogs and websites promoting their work just by following this step-by-step process; and you can do it too.

Video: Bush's Border Control

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Weston) — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 05:04:00 +0000

This is too funny; I couldn't resist!

Cheap Seats? Bring Binoculars!

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Weston) — Sun, 31 Dec 2006 01:07:00 +0000

Every time I ever went to a sporting event, it seems like I got bad seat. Not that I would have known the difference, but when you can't see what's going on due to distance or a giant column in front of you or a terrible vantage point, you have to rely on the people around you or the big screen TV or the sports announcer to figure out what's going on. Might as well be at home in front of the TV.

Once we went to see the Smothers Brothers in a huge auditorium. Our seats were in the balcony. I realized once the Brothers came on stage that they looked awfully small; in fact, you couldn't tell Tommy from Dicky except for the bass and the guitar and the yoyo. However, the cheap seat crowd came prepared. We never thought to bring binoculors, but everybody else did.

Lesson learned.

Have Fun - Make Money - On myLot.com

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Weston) — Sat, 30 Dec 2006 22:27:00 +0000

I just discovered myLot, and already I recommend it. This is a dynamic online discussion community, where members are encouraged to discuss topics of interest with people from all over the world. Not only is it interesting and fun, but you can make money by just participating. Start by posting some of your personal interests; then earn by posting topic starters, responding to discussions, and adding linked photos (or posting your own) within your responses.

I'm still exploring myLot, but one thing's for sure; this is a site that is difficult to leave once you get started. There's always something current and new to read about and/or respond to. I like the web design too - it's easy on the eyes and navigation is pretty smooth. If you have a PayPal account, just click here, sign up, and you're in business!

Relatively Cold? Or Biting, Numbing, Stinging Cold???

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Weston) — Sat, 30 Dec 2006 21:52:00 +0000

Every morning, first thing I have to do is take little Charlie out. He's an indoor dog, so obviously by morning he is a bit anxious to go outside. Whatever the season, whatever the weather, that means getting out of a nice warm cozy bed, checking the thermometer, then dressing accordingly for our little morning trek outdoors.

This time of year, what I need to know is; is it cold, really cold, or frigidly cold?

While experiencing my first few weeks of winter here, as a recently transplanted California girl, cold was just cold, meaning anything below 40 degrees F was COLD! Now, having acclimated a bit, I am able to detect minor differences in degrees of coldness. Anything 25 to 40 is relatively warm, believe it or not; no hat or muffler needed (although I always wear gloves). 10 to 24 is gettin' a little cold, and single digits or less means cover the face and head, or the nose and ears will hurt.

Anyway, this morning I did not need to look at the thermometer to know that it was COLD out there! When I looked out my front window, I saw the wintery scene in the photo above. It was winter wonderland-feeze-your-butt-off cold. It was 9 degrees.

Charlie didn't care, by the way. He just wanted to make yellow snow.

Christmas Party!

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Weston) — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 05:55:00 +0000

A few days ago I had a few of the ladies from my church over for a little Christmas party. Believe it or not, at least to my recollection, this is the first Christmas party I've ever thrown! Well, "thrown" may not be the right term. There were no fancy hors d'oeuvres and certainly no alcohol (and, of course, no men). This was a pot-luck dinner, which, as always, worked out perfectly. Everything was delicious; amazingly, there were no duplicate dishes!

Before eating, by the way, we enjoyed some original holiday poetry that my neighbor Carolyn read to us. I had no idea that, as well as a fabulous quilter, she was such a talented and creative writer!

After a bit of small talk, we ate dinner, and then we exchanged cookies. This how it worked:

We all brought homemade cookies, and because there were eight of us, we had lots of different kinds of cookies to sample and take home. After carefully scrutinizing the cookies, selecting our samples, and completing our individual cookie plates, we moved back to the living room for a white elephant exchange. We each brought a wrapped white elephant gift; and for those readers who have no idea what this is, I'll explain:

A white elephant gift is an item that one finds in one's house that one might be willing to part with. Or something that hasn't been used in a while. Or at all. Sometimes, although all people have stuff they really need to get rid of, suddenly everything they own seems extremely valuable and impossible to part with, so instead they buy their white elephants at the Dollar Store, which is technically cheating, but often enough, they plan to get their own gift back anyway and they usually manage to do so.

In any case, we picked numbers; and beginning with #1, we selected and unwrapped the gifts. Ah-but there's a twist! The next person in line could either unwrap another gift OR take one of the gifts already revealed. Once a gift exchanges hands twice (that is, has a third owner) it cannot be taken again.

Fun - fun - fun!!!

Wow! Next year, I plan to throw yet another Christmas party! In fact, a bigger one! It's already in the planning stages. . .

PS. Here are some Christmas planning ideas (for this year or next) to help spark up your holidays, too!

Bad Weather? Work at Home!

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Weston) — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 05:31:00 +0000

As cold as it's been around here lately, I am all the more determined to work at home! Beyond the obvious frustrations and bummer gas expenses of the commute, dangerous cold icy roads provide yet another excellent reason to leave the car in the garage. I would much rather sit in front of my computer in my jammies and robe and watch the pretty winter weather through my living room window while I work, thank you very much!

One of the best ways I have found to accomplish this is to find freelance work over the Internet. Here you can find a global pool of potential clients, many of whom need the exact kind of work that you, as a freelance expert, can provide. Interested? Start your work-at-home career today. Get direct access to hundreds of freelance and home-based jobs. Click here to find work now.

Lifelong Learning - Easier Than Ever!

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Weston) — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 21:08:00 +0000

I am a life-long learner. I love to learn. I spent six years in college and would have stayed longer if life didn't take me elsewhere. I returned to college part-time when my last child was two, then again (full time) when she was nine.

Right now I am teaching art classes, but that doesn't mean I'm not learning. In fact, they say the teacher learns much more than the student while preparing to teach. (You can read more about that in my previous related post.) Now most of my learning consists of visiting the library (I still love the library and I still check out books!) and, of course, surfing the net.

As an alternative to attending classes on campus, the Internet offers a great way attain a college education. Online college programs are available to anyone, anywhere, without ever having to leave home. Can you imagine? Well, you probably can, but I went to college (three times) the old-fashioned way. Well, one of those times was almost as convenient; the college was right across the street.

Now, you can live in Tempe, AZ and earn your degree from Capella University in Chicogo if you want to. How convenient is that? Capella University, as an example, is an accredited university that offers 76 graduate and undergraduate specializations and 16 certificate specializations in business, information technology, education, human services, and psychology. The university serves students in all 50 states and 63 countries. How many local colleges do that?

Hmmm. . . I'm thinking about taking a few more classes.

An Inconvenient Truth - Our Planet is at Stake

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Weston) — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 19:01:00 +0000

Did you know that while the "war on terror" has fervently waged on, a much larger and more dangerous threat to our very existance has been rapidly closing in on us? The fact is that we are very nearly at the point of no return; but, of course, the Bush administration, in all its power and pompousness, has failed to even acknowledge, let alone act on this very real peril to the habitability of the earth.

Of course, I'm talking about global warming. This is not just a scientific term that we can let others worry about any more. We are seeing the catastrophic effects on the changing global climate very clearly, and it is affecting the very lives of hundreds of thousands of people and other living things all over the world. This is not a partison or a national issue anymore; it is a habitability issue. Whether you are Democrate or Republican or whatever, whether you live in California or New Hampshire or Peru or China, global warming will greatly affect your life and the lives of your children very shortly, if we don't act now.

See for yourself what is going on. See photos of glaciers that have literally disappeared within the last a few years, and at least one town in Alaska that has disappeared with them. Warmer oceans have created fiercer (and more) storms like Katrina. Why is that? Drier, hotter fires are burning in the California, even in winter. Why??? Please, learn more and find out what you can do: check out this award winning film, An Inconvenient Truth, and see for yourself. Warning: this is scary stuff, but ignorance is much more dangerous. The concensus is that we have only the next decade or so to act, or the damage can never be undone.

By the way, there are skeptics who argue that this is all "junk science" or mere conjecture. (I think most are paid conservative propagandists.) Okay, what if it IS wrong? Can becoming better stewards of our planet hurt?

The real question is (and the answer appears evident), what if it's right?

Hands-On Teaching? Do THIS First!

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Weston) — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 18:00:00 +0000

I'm back!!! I haven't written since - (gulp) - July?????

Well, it's been a hectic summer and autumn, what with my new art center and other major changes in my life. The art center has gone well; the locals here seem to appreciate the fine arts and crafting opportunities I am offering here. Or, as one little girl told me, "My mom has been looking for art classes for me FOREVER!!!" (She's nine; forever is obviously all relative.)

In any case, I've held art classes steadily thoughout the week since May. The classes are just a few hours per week in total, but the PLANNING! Oh-my-gosh, sometimes the planning takes, well, forever! I've learned that "planning" means, after deciding what to do, doing it.

In fact, this is the number one cardinal rule for teaching any kind of hands-on lesson:

NEVER do a project with a class that you haven't done first yourself.

Ah, heck, why not? It's such a simple project. You did it when you were a kid, for God's sake! Well, there are many reasons, and believe me, I would know...

First, it forces you to assemble everything you need in advance, and so if something you thought you had (usually vital to the project) is unusable, like dried up paint or hardened glue; or missing, like colored chalk, green glitter, or black construction paper, you can run out and get it. Once you have everything in front of you, you can begin the project. Be sure to time yourself from beginning to end, so that you'll know in advance if a 1-1/2 hour project is really a 4 hour project.

The process of trying the project first will make you very aware of what works and what doesn't. If glue sticks don't work, you'll know you better substitute Tacky glue, and if that doesn't work, you can go for the glue gun! (Oops! No glue gun sticks!) If folding paper or tying twine or punching holes through cardboard is difficult for you, it'll be much harder for your younger participants. You'll know what you need to cut, measure, or prepare in advance. And finally, you'll have a finished product that you can use as a sample, which is very important -- students like to see what it is they are going to make, even if their results are very different.

So, planning and teaching classes. That's why I've been away so long. Well, in addition to personal changes in my life that I alluded to above. Maybe another time.

Pictured above is a life-sized papier-mache' snake created by Robert, age 11.

Down and Out in Bush Country

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Weston) — Sat, 29 Jul 2006 15:14:00 +0000

Have you ever found yourself in a sitatuation where you are "financially embarrassed?" You know, you have bills up the yang-yang and you have to search the couch cushions and between seat cracks in the car for change to buy 1/2 gallon of gas? You have trouble sleeping at night, knowing that you haven't paid the rent and having no idea when you can? You can positively state, without reservation, that you are officially and unequivocally - PO'? (That's worse than 'poor.')

I was talking to a guy at Sams' Club the other day and he echoed the sentiments of many a folk, I believe. He said he was just on the brink of homelessness. This guy is not lazy, mind you. He does some kind of construction work, but because of the price of fuel, jobs are few and far between. He moved three times in the last year (different states) following work. Right now, he said he has a project, but once it ends, nothing else is lined up, and his savings are gone. Our conversation then moved to the why's and wherefore's, and as you can probably guess, George Bush was mentioned, and not in a positive light; but that's a whole 'nother subject.

Unfortunately, even in the worst of circumstances, one's bills still have to be paid. Living in todays' Bush world is not a piece of cake, is it? People are getting desperate for answers to their financial woes, and that's where those friendly debt consolidation people come in! Also known as "debt negotiation" and "debt settlement" companies, they have one purpose, and that is to serve you, counsel you, and ultimately make your debt go away, painlessly and easily! WHAT COULD BE BETTER?

Actually, a lot of things. Truth is, debt consolidation is often a trap. These companies work for your creditors and on their behalf. Although they tout themselves as "non-profit," they do charge service fees and often skim these fees right off the top of your monthly payments. If you are considering the debt consolidation route, first learn all you can about it and be fully aware of the dangers. The fact is that what they do for you, you can often do for yourself as far as negotiating lower interest rates and payments with your creditors! Another option is a low-interest home-equity loan that will allow you to pay off your debts. Of course, you have to be a home owner to do this, so it may not be a option for you. Your home becomes collateral on the loan, so, with the obvious tax and payment advantages also comes risk, so be careful.

When in dire straits, people start looking for ways to trim their expenses. One item that is often scrutinized is insurance, and auto insurance is a good place to start. Obviously I don't mean to get rid of it (unless you're looking for an easy way to get an expensive ticket). Just take a look at your rates and do a little car insurance comparison shopping. You can almost always find better rates and already you'll be on your way to better financial health.

For added protection, CarInsurance.com can even help you with a new product called "temporary comprehensive coverage," or a short term policy, which can save you money as well. How? You can buy insurance for temporary situations such as moving a car from seller to buyer, taking a vacation with the expectation of sharing the driving, or lending (or borrowing) a car. That way, you don't have to buy a full insurance policy, and you eliminate the financial risks of not having any coverage at all.

If all else fails in your struggle to survive financially, bankrutcy may be your best option. For some, this is akin to death; but brighten up! Although drastic and certainly a last resort solution, bankruptcy is not the end of the world. It can stop those irritating dinner hour phone calls (thank goodness for caller ID!) and may get rid of unsecured debts and stop foreclosures, repossessions, garnishments, utility shut-offs and also let you keep most of your stuff. Best of all, you'll get a little more sleep at night and a nice, fresh start.

Let's Get Sensible, Now

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Weston) — Sat, 22 Jul 2006 06:12:00 +0000

Quick! Name the top three things that in my opinion reek havoc on the sensibilities of every otherwise normal American citizen!

Of course, you said:

1- Religion
2- Politics
3- Credit cards

Okay, the answers were so obvious, I apologize! (Next quiz will be harder, I promise.) What else besides these three things would cause people to do things that border on insanity???

Religion: Obvious one here. People have always been a little (or very) weird when it comes to acting on "what they believe in." Need we even go there?

Politics: Oh my God, don't get me started. I grew up in a Republican family, then registered as an Independent as soon as I turned 18. Later, I used my brain and decided to become a Democrat. Unfortunately, most people look at politics like they do religion. They don't think, they don't study the issues or the candidates' stands on them, they just - well, I don't know what they do anymore. Look at how so many seemingly normal Americans jumped into the bushes, for example. (I said it from the very beginning and it bears repeating: stay-out-the-Bushes!) I have personally interviewed many of these individuals, by the way, and clearly they did not know why they supported him. Just because. So, so scarey!

Credit cards: Okay, I don't care who you are, credit cards have been the downfall of many a normal American citizen: neurosurgeons, swimming pool attendents, college professors, Walmart greeters, housewives, and homeless individuals. For that matter, credit cards were probably what created homeless people. Perfectly normal people can go a little crazy with credit cards in their possession, am I right?

On the plus side, when it comes to convenience, what could be better? Money to spend when you don't have any! Unfortunately, many people see credit cards this way; when in reality, our credit cards can be ideal tools for managing our finances. They make online purchases easy, let us carry less cash, and allow us to conveniently handle travel expenses. Why do so many of us, then, go so crazy with credit and end up thousands of dollars in debt???

Beats me. I guess certain things just make us a sort of nutso. Even little plastic cards.

Time for a Vacation!

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Weston) — Sun, 09 Jul 2006 07:18:00 +0000

Idaho is a great place to live and I love it. Mostly. But now and again one needs a vacation.

Am I right?

My sister moved to Florida a few years ago. Now, we are originally California people. I thought a move to Florida seemed rather risky, at least compared to Idaho, what with global warming and all. Lately it seems those monster hurricanes make a beeline for Forida. They literally line up to batter, flood, and pummel this state, seemingly attempting to wipe it off the map.

I asked my sister if she has had any hurricane damage, and she said "just a little." What does that mean exactly??? Did a tree branch blow into the yard, or did "just a little" of her roof blow away?

Well, in spite of the sometimes catastrophic weather, I've been hearing a lot about vacationing in Orlando. Apparently, in the year 2000, the Orlando area had over 43 million visitors, making it the number one tourist destination in the world. By comparison, the population of Orlando is a mere 185,000. However, this is one of the fastest growing communities in Florida, as well as in the US. What are all of these people doing there? Are they flocking to Disney World?

Actually, there are seven major them parks in the area, plus many other enjoyable ways to spend a vacation. The best way to explore the area might be an Orlando Vacation Home Rental. I've got it all figured out. If I rent a home, I'm basically saying, "Hey Neighbor, how's it goin'? How about a barbeque?" I could explore all seven major theme parks, lie on the white sandy beaches (keeping an eye out on the horizon for hurricanes, of course), explore the Everglades, check out the historic homes and interesting architecture, shoot a few rounds of golf, and shop, shop, shop! And meanwhile, if need be, I could pack up and be outta there in a matter of mere minutes.

Yep, a vacation in Orlando sounds like just the thing. I'm up for it. (But first, I'll just switch on the Weather Channel.)

Keep on Truckin', Man...

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Weston) — Sun, 09 Jul 2006 07:07:00 +0000

Remember the old addage, "Keep on truckin'"?

You don't?

Well, maybe I'm older than I thought. Come to think of it, a little kid DID ask me recently, "Why do you look so OLD?" Does it really show? Wow...

Anyway, it wasn't so long ago, man. Keep on truckin', that's what we said. I think it meant, keep on movin', walkin', doin' what you do best, and don't look back, man. (We said "man" a lot back then, too.)

Nowadays I think the meaning of truckin' has changed. Now it means actually driving trucks, I'm thinking. Especially here in Idaho, where 90% of the male population over the age of 12 has access to and drives a pickup truck, and 90% of those trucks are old, battered, and lacking a muffler. The favorite things to do with a pickup truck here are:

a) Lay rubber while turning a corner from a stationary position (summer) or squeal across the ice while turning a corner from a stationary position (winter).

b) Go off-road wheel-spinning in wet weather so as to return with your truck entirely covered with a rock-hard coat of dried grey-brown mud (which is more obviously desireable than the original dingy rust & yellow tones beneath).

c) Load all of your stringy haired friends into the bed of your pick-up truck, then speed down Main Street whooping and hollering as you pass an officer of the law.

So, turn your wimpy grocery carrier into the manly cargo hauler it was meant to be! And while your'e there, check out their great tips and safety suggestions - always a good idea. Right boys?

Blackfoot Art Center - Off and Running!

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Weston) — Mon, 22 May 2006 04:01:00 +0000

Well, I did it!

I am now the sole proprieter of the Blackfoot Art Center. I am also the teacher, the bookkeeper, the buyer, the publicist, and the janitor. And I'm loving it! I just published our summer class schedule, so if you are interested, visit the Blackfoot Art Center weblog and download the current class information.

I really love this little town. People are so supportive, and now so excited about an Art Center here. One woman came by and said she nearly drove off the road when she saw the sign.

And that reminds me of my only real pet peeve about living here - the drivers! (Not the above-mentioned lady, of course; my awesome sign was to blame for that!) The "in" thing here in Blackfoot is driving a loud, beat-up pick-up truck (with no seatbelts) and laying rubber. I live on the corner of a busy street, so you can imagine how that is for me. Yep, just really poor driving habits here, and I see it every day. (Kids in Idaho can drive at age 14 1/2, by the way...) I don't think there's so much of a problem with auto theft here, however. It must be pretty easy to obtain an old pickup truck without having to steal one, I'm guessing.

I just learned that six of the top ten auto theft locations are located in California, where we moved from not so long ago. While still living there, we switched insurance companies to GEICO and never looked back. Now GEICO has recommended 11 steps California drivers can take to prevent being targeted and losing their car to thieves. They're not just for Californians, in my opinion; everyone should take heed. Tips include simple things like not leaving your keys in the car or valuables where people can see them, and locking the car even while driving. But how about hiding your registration papers in a secret location (not the glove compartment where thieves and find and produce them for police)? Or, try etching your VIN on every window? Thieves hate that! (Too expensive to fix.)

Opening a Art Center!

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Weston) — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 21:44:00 +0000

I'm going to open an art center! I think it's a great idea. One reason is because this little town doesn't have one (I checked the phone book). Also, there is little opportunity to work in a small town; at least doing something you like doing for enough money to live on. Something I like to do (besides write) is teach art.

The idea just came to me one night as I was falling off to sleep, then I couldn't sleep at all. The more I thought about it, the more excited I became. I've done this before, mind you, (teach art classes I mean) but this time I'll have an actual classroom (well, an entire finished basement), instead of my kitchen table or someone else's borrowed space. I'll have plenty of storage for supplies like paint, paper, scissors, glue, and art books; instead of lugging everything around in cardboard boxes. I'll have walls for displaying student work, running water for rinsing and cleaning, linoleum floors for spilled paint, and white walls for projected images.

I'll teach the little ones fun arts and crafts projects and everyone else will learn to draw, paint, and take good photos. I might teach creative writing too. Or a puppetry class!

Why didn't I think of this before?

Interested? Take a look at my new Blackfoot art center weblog. Very soon you'll find a journal of what we're doing, and we'll be showcasing lots of student work. You'll find class schedules and registration forms there too. Is this exciting or what???

* * * * * * * * * * * * *
One of the best thing about spring is Spring Flowers. I used to go out to the foothills in Monterey County to photograph and paint the amazing displays of spring wild flowers in March and April. Wherever you happen to live, don't miss the flowers!

Please, Tell Me It's Spring!

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Weston) — Mon, 20 Mar 2006 01:40:00 +0000

Okay, I've had enough winter now. Time's up!

Tomorrow is officially the first day of Spring, and I'm ready. And yet, as I sit here looking out the window I'm seeing snow drifting to the ground, which, by the way, is steadily turning white and not at all a spring-like green! It seems like every morning when I wake up, I find that it snowed all night. Then every day it melts away, and warms up a bit and we think we've seen the last of it. And then it snows. AGAIN.

Yet, during the earlier months of winter when we were looking forward to a beautiful winter wonderland, it rained. Or it snowed every so often then boom! It was gone. Or it didn't do anything but get cold. And no matter what, the roads were ALWAYS made of ice.

Well, in any case I'm ready for some warm, even hot weather. I'm ready to see the daffodils and the tulips and the crocus pop out, and I'm ready to plant my tomatoes and squash and sweet peas and maybe some pansies and petunias and anything else that'll brighten things up and get me out of the house and into the yard. Heck, I can hardly wait to mow the lawn!

This has been brought to you by someone who has cabin fever and wishes she had a nice second home in a warm state to go for a nice cozy visit right about now. . .

Silly Inventions - They Just Keep Coming

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Weston) — Fri, 10 Mar 2006 06:03:00 +0000

I never cease to be amazed at the stuff I see advertised on TV. Do you know people are still trying to invent stuff? Now, it should be obvious to anyone that anything worth inventing has aready been invented. Well okay, that's what folks said at the beginning of the 20th century, but nobody listened. Well, now everything worthwhile HAS been invented. For sure this time! If you ever watch late night television, you'll know what I mean. That is, if you can force yourself to sit through the 20 minutes of commercials between five minutes of programming instead of going to the john or fixing one or several midnight snacks or vacuuming the popcorn out of the carpet.

This stuff has no business ever being invented. Maybe that's why you can't find these items in stores. Sometimes we in our house watch an ad and then look at each other and say in unison "That is so STUPID!" (Yes, this has really happened, and on more than one occasion.)

My theory is that this rash of stupid, useless inventions, is due to the commercials for inventors to hurry up and send in their ideas. Maybe they hurry too fast before they come to their senses and realize that the invention still needs a lot of work or was just a bad idea right from the start. In any case, what I think happens is people send in their invention ideas, then the people who receive them send them a reject letter (very bad idea, just forget about it, etc.) then claim the idea as their own. And it really IS a bad idea.

Or maybe it's because of the commercials that show these wonderful inventions that everyone now owns and loves, except the inventor never got rich because they "didn't - have - a - patent!" So, so sad.

The thing about these new innovations is that first the ad has to convince you that you need the item. A perfect example is the Pasta Express - just cook, strain, and drain! (Of course, first you have to boil the water in another container, then pour the boiling water into the Pasta Express.) Uh - it seems that I always cook, strain, and drain, only all in one pot. Now, I grant you I didn't go out and buy the SPECIAL pasta cooking pot with the little draining holes in the lid, and I thought that was a mistake, but now I know it was a good thing because it has ALREADY become obsolete with the birth of the Pasta Express! Yet, I'm old-fashioned I guess. I don't mind draaaagggging out the strainer and straaaaaining my spaghetti and then waaaaassshhhhing the strainer, which takes up an extra three or four seconds of my busy, busy schedule.

And speaking of spaghetti, did you know some genius invented a self-twirling spaghetti fork? Truly amazing! And suspiciously similar to the battery-operated Crest Spin Brush, come to think of it. So, can I say, "I rest my case," or does my reader need still further evidence? I mean, if you really insist on inventing something, why not take something mundane, yet useful, like office chairs and redesign them? Add more cushiness, for example, and maybe a pillow for all those long meetings, and a soft foot rest and maybe an insulated beverage holder.

In any case, I think the best way to go is to forget the stupid TV commercials (us viewers will just laugh at you anyway). Put your innovative new product on the Internet. You'll have a world-wide marketplace, and someone out there is bound to love your what-ever-it-is!!!

Big Boys and Boats

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Weston) — Thu, 02 Mar 2006 18:35:00 +0000

What is it about boats?

For some unknown reason, all men dream of owning a boat. Every man I ever knew did. My ex always talked about how "someday" he would get one; however, he never specified what kind of boat. Maybe it would be a sailboat, a power boat, or maybe a fancy yacht. Maybe a small boat with an outboard motor or a rowboat or even a log raft would do. Remember Huck Finn?

Does the type of boat count, or must it be merely something that floats?

Now-a-days electronic marine devices are a must, especially since most boat dreams involve all-day fishing. Gizmos like fish finders, GPS plotters, depth finders, and electronic compasses all belong in boats now (apparently). Often, that all-important fish finder is more valuable than the boat itself.

When I was a kid, finding fish was not the problem. You go out early in the morning to the center of the lake, then sit quietly. Eventually, if the fish are around, you'll see them beneath the boat. The question is, are they biting? Do they have devices to tell you if the fish are hungry?

Well, in any case, I'll never understand why guys think they need to have a boat. With today's sleeker, fancier, faster boats (not to mention jet skis) and all the great electronic gadgets to put in them, I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

If you are a guy who just bought a boat or a very expensive electronic device to find hungry fish, you might want to think real hard about what to say to your significant other. My suggestion: send flowers.

By the way, here's a joke for you.

This guy went ice fishing for the first time. That morning he went to a house near the frozen lake to borrow an ax, which he promised to return as soon as he got through the ice. He finally showed up to return the well-used ax late that evening. The ax owner said, "Wow, that took quite a while! Did you catch a lot of fish?" The fisherman replied, "No, not really. I never actually did any fishing. It took all day to get the boat into the water!"

Alyice Stops In to Answer My Questions!

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Weston) — Thu, 23 Feb 2006 00:52:00 +0000

Alyice Edrich is taking a blog tour, and fortunately, my blog is on her itinerary! While she was here, she agreed to answer my marketing questions.

Alyice is the author of several work-from-home e-books, including Tid-Bits For Making Money With E-books — where parents earn hundreds of dollars selling information they already possess.

My three questions (just off the toppa my head, of course) were as follows:

Me: There is so much information out there about how to succeed making money on the Internet, with a lot of conflicting information. Is it better to focus and spend my time on one good niche (with content-rich website, e-zine or newsletter, e-books, etc.) or is this putting all of my eggs in one basket? Should I instead be creating as many sites and products in as many good niches as possible to improve my Internet presence and income possibilities, as recommended by many of the gurus?

Alyice: When people spread themselves too thin, they cannot successfully create an income to live off of or they spend all their time working that they simply do not have time to enjoy their lives. In my opinion, I think people should start one website at a time. Build that website up and when it generates a certain amount of income, steadily for a set period of time, then move onto another website or develop products and/or services to enhance your current website.

Having your eggs in more than one basket is vital these days, but that doesn’t mean that you need more than one website to do it. If you pick a theme that you are passionate about, you can develop several departments within that niche to build on.

Lets say that you love photography. You take photographs of families for a living, but you live in a small town with the nearest town 35 minutes away. You want to increase your income so you decide to go with what you know and develop a photography website. You start by building quality content: teaching your readers how to take professional quality photographs, pick the right camera and equipment, and eventually you add content on selling photographs to magazines.

But you realize that while this hobby has brought you name recognition, which has caused people in other towns to drive to you for their family photo shoots, it hasn’t generated the income you had hoped. You think about closing down the publication, but you love what you do so much you just don’t have the heart to do it.

That’s when it hits you! You can add advertising to your publication through affiliate programs. A quick search on http://cj.com helps you locate products that match every article in your publication. A month later, you begin to see an income and as time progresses your income increases and so do the private emails.

Because of reader feedback, you discover a need for certain products you cannot find through your affiliate programs, so you get a resale license and you buy wholesale. You then open up a shopping cart and begin selling those items through your publication and your income increases again.

Eventually, you realize you have a lot of wonderful photos sitting in your studio collecting dust so you decide to find a publisher to develop a few coffee table style books. With the left over photos, you open up a stock photo area in your shopping cart.

Now, you still have one website, but you’ve just created multiple streams of income. And you aren’t spreading yourself too thin, because you only have to promote one domain.

Me: I don't really understand the point of finding an e-book publisher. I thought that writing an e-book, converting to PDF (which anyone can do with free software), and marketing through a self-designed website, were the great advantages of selling an e-book. Other than the digital delivery service and PayPal fees, (and affiliate fees if you use affiliates), you stand to make a very nice profit from each sale. What are the advantages of using an e-book publisher?

Alyice: Personally, I don’t like the idea of signing a contract for exclusivity to an e-book publisher. But there are many people who just don’t want to deal with the whole entrepreneur side of things. When you sign a contract with an e-publisher, you get royalty checks and don’t need a business license (in most states).

Me: I have recently written a how-to e-book in a specific niche, establishing myself as an expert and featuring the e-book on my website. I have submitted articles to a few free e-zine content sites and have shared links with a few websites. I also send out a content-rich newsletter to a growing subscriber list. What else should I do to market my e-book and website? (Am I on the right track)?

Alyice: You are definitely on the right track. Many people think that because you have an e-book you cannot send out press releases to traditional media outlets. This isn’t true. While some media outlets still do not understand the concept of e-publishing, many do. Take your chances and contact radio stations, local news outlets, and cable talk shows to discuss the theme of your e-book. And don’t forget to advertise in print publications.

You can visit Alyice Edrich at Dabbling Mum Press to order a copy of her e-book, Tid-Bits For Making Money With E-books, today!

Catch up with Alyice by making another stop on her blog tour… Here.