That's On You!

Getting Paid To Read Emails

2012-01-27T17:09:00.001-06:00

Can you actually get paid to read emails? Yes.

Can you make a thousand, or even a hundred dollars a month while doing so? Not likely.

Why would someone pay you money to read an email? Advertisers want to spread the word about their product or service to as many people as possible.

Pros: The time commitment is extremely small. Basically, this is free money.

Cons: It can take a while to reach the minimum payout level of each website.

Those who give out the cash:

Send Earnings - This website offers a $5 bonus just for signing up for free. However, you will not be able to collect the five bucks until you reach the $30 payout level. You can speed up the process by taking surveys, signing up for free stuff, referring others, or shopping at one of their affiliate vendors. They have paid me twice (via check), so I can safely say they are legit.

Inbox Dollars - Very similar to Send Earnings. Same set up, same $5 registration bonus, same payout level. I'm not sure if these two websites are owned by the same company, but either way, you can use both. The website has been around for a while, and they have paid me once via check.

Hits4Pay - This one is different in that they will simply email you and ask you to log in to view the ads. Each ad you read pays a massive two cents. May not seem like much, but it can add up quickly if you select several interests. Again, you do get $5 for signing up, but cannot get the dough until you reach the $30 payout threshold. Been paid once, almost to payment two.

Deals 'n Cash - Almost identical to Hits4Pay, with the exception being that the pay per ad read is only one cent. $5 signup bonus, $30 cash out. I'm about ten cents from reaching the first payout, and cannot totally guarantee anything until the cash is in my hands.

There are plenty of other websites similar to these, but the rates they offer are so low that they are a waste of time. Well, a waste of my time anyway. If you are unemployed and in desperate need of dough, you may think otherwise.

If you are interested in these, simply Google the term, "paid to click" and you will see tons of results. If there is one redeeming quality of these websites, it would be that the payout level can be as low as $1, and many of them issue the payment via PayPal.

Value of Money

2012-01-22T10:30:00.002-06:00

Contributed by Milford Woods

One of the things we’re really trying to teach our children is the value of money. We’re giving them an allowance every week that they have to earn by doing chores. They can choose to spend their money whenever they want—they can make a total impulse buy at the grocery store, or they can save their money up for something they really want. This is working amazingly well. They still opt for the instant gratification of the grocery store purchase more often than not, but a pretty awesome thing has started to happen. A few times, we’ve been out running some errands and one of the kids has spotted something they really want to purchase. They usually freak out when they discover that all of their allowance is gone, and we’ve been using this as a pretty great talking point. Each time, we’ve explained to the kids that had they saved their money they spent on gum and baseball cards for the last few weeks, they would be able to purchase this thing they really want. I can see it starting to take hold. My husband and I are also simultaneously watching our own finances. We recently discovered we can select our own energy providers and can save a ton of money! You can shop rates from Bounce Energy to see how much you can save, too.

What You Should Know

2012-01-16T16:08:00.000-06:00

If you are extremely drunk and swear you will never drink too much again, you will forget this when you are sober.

There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness." If you don't understand this, try putting up your own blog.

You'd better get all your sex here on earth because there won't be any in heaven.

You should not confuse your career with your life. Or, work to life not live to work ... but if you can't follow this, email me your ladies phone number and I'll keep her occupied while you are busy.

Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance. We all need something to laugh about...

The most destructive force in the universe is gossip. Next would be women's talk shows...

You will never find anybody who can give you a clear and compelling reason why we observe daylight savings time. Even if you don't follow it, you'll be back in sync with everybody eventually.

A person who is nice to you, but rude to the waiter, is not a nice person. (This is very important. Pay attention. It never fails).

Your friends love you anyway. But if you have none, I will be your friend for a small phenomenal fee.

Circus Clowns - Without Skill Laughter Turns Into Disaster

2012-01-11T18:52:00.000-06:00

We all love clowning around and playing the idiot bringing laughter to those around us but sometimes our antics seen as bit of fun can turn laughter into disaster. Circus Clowns are similar to that of the jester in many ways in how they entertained crowds of people with performances which included daft tricks and funny doings like face pulling even throwing buckets of water over fellow Circus Clowns.

As funny and hilarious as the clowns pranks are, what you have to remember is, these funny folk are well rehearsed in their profession - it takes years of training to perfect what they do. The Circus Clowns performance may entail death defying stunts which have had to be carefully supervised and pieced together because of the risks taken to claim laughs and giggles. Displays from the Circus Clown can consist of acrobatics where the clown now becomes a stunt man - for example knowing how to break a fall or tumble without causing injury to himself or to other clowns in on the act.

A traveling circus show that come to town will no doubt highlight the main event of entertainment with classic performances from the Circus Clowns. It is quite common for the clown to ask for audience involvement in their circus act where the clown gets a little naughty with the onlookers. Just the mention of the circus is coming to town is enough to start a riot among the happy customers queuing for tickets. Besides all the circus animals like the elephants - lion taming acts and dancing dogs - it is without doubt that it is the Circus Clowns that draw the crowds.

The clown entertains in many different ways, some acts may just be floor shows but others may include bareback horse riding - and it is because of this that any clowning you may have in mind for a friend or friends at a party needs to be well thought through. Clowns take risks but are trained to do so and you are not - so think twice before engaging on any dangerous mission you have planned just to get a laugh.

Fancy funny displays from Circus Clowns are no doubt hilarious just like that of their funny costumes and disguises - but take away the disguise - the ginger wig and cosmetic make up and we have a very serious person that takes their profession just as serious. Clowns are very skilled people.

If you are having a party then consider calling in the skilled to provide the entertainment for you. Warning if you are not skilled then dont take any chances because laughter can turn to disaster which is no laughing matter.

Five Reasons To Love Milo's

2012-01-10T17:12:00.000-06:00

My love affair with Milo's has been going on for years. I'm certain that I am not the only one, but I am willing to share. Here are five reasons why Milo's and I will never part ways.

1. Special Sauce - Unlike some people, I prefer not to overdo it on the sauce. The amount that the food prep person puts on my burger is just right. Any more than that, and I'll have to go on a date with Mr. Restroom. I have never tried to recreate the sauce, and never will because I'm sure it's made from magic.

2. Extra Half Patty - No, you didn't score just this once. You get an extra half patty on every burger you order. As if they even needed to sweeten the pot!

3. Seasoning Salt Fries - When fries are cooked to perfection and then coated in magic dust, they become addicting. Though ketchup is not needed, for some reason these fries pair better than any other fry/ketchup combo I've ever experienced.

4. Simple Menu - The menu is so simple and straight forward that it completely eliminates the need to stand in line behind some moron that is trying to decide what to order. Even though chicken was added to the menu, it still reads like a one page children's book.

5. Fried Pies - Lemon is my personal favorite, but I would eat any of them, and pay good money to do it. Fried dough filled with fruit and topped with messy powdered sugar is the perfect way to end your meal.

The grilled bun should get honorable mention since it is not something that I have ever seen done elsewhere, and don't get me started on the sweet tea. Really no surprise, as Milo's is famous for taking ordinary foods and turning them into masterpieces!

We Are #1...Again!

2012-01-10T10:58:00.000-06:00

That's right. Alabama is #1, again. That makes 14 National Championships, but who's counting? This is what it is all about. All the ups and downs. All the money spent on beer and food. All the driving around to the homes of whoever is hosting the game.

This is what we dream of, and it seems hard to even fathom that some fans have never experienced it. No, I'm not gloating. I wish every hardcore college football fan could know what this feels like. We Alabama fans would pull for 'Bama no matter what. We are just lucky in that we root for the best team in the world. Roll Tide!

Eternal Wit

2012-01-09T11:36:00.000-06:00

Whoever said, "You can't take it with you" was obviously not referring to a sense of humor ...

Here is a list of actual epitaphs from departed souls who clearly had more to say than the time to say it, or from their next of kin, who wanted to be sure they literally had the last word:

On the grave of Ezekial Aikle in East Dalhousie Cemetery, Nova Scotia:

Here lies
Ezekial Aikle
Age 102
The Good Die Young.

In a London, England cemetery:

Ann Mann
Here lies Ann Mann,
Who lived an old maid
But died an old Mann.
Dec. 8, 1767

In a Ribbesford, England, cemetery:

Anna Wallace
The children of Israel wanted bread
And the Lord sent them manna,
Old clerk Wallace wanted a wife,
And the Devil sent him Anna.

Playing with names in a Ruidoso, New Mexico, cemetery:

Here lies
Johnny Yeast
Pardon me
For not rising.

Memory of an accident in a Uniontown, Pennsylvania cemetery:

Here lies the body of Jonathan Blake
Stepped on the gas
Instead of the brake.

In a Silver City, Nevada, cemetery:

Here lays Butch,
We planted him raw.
He was quick on the trigger,
But slow on the draw.

A widow wrote this epitaph in a Vermont cemetery:

Sacred to the memory of my husband John Barnes
who died January 3, 1803
His comely young widow, aged 23, has many qualifications of a good
wife, and yearns to be comforted.

A lawyer's epitaph in England:

Sir John Strange
Here lies an honest lawyer,
And that is Strange.

Someone determined to be anonymous in Stowe, Vermont:

I was somebody.
Who, is no business
Of yours.

Lester Moore was a Wells Fargo station agent for Naco, Arizona in the cowboy days of the 1880's. He's buried in the Boot Hill Cemetery in Tombstone, Arizona:

Here lies Lester Moore
Four slugs from a .44
No Les No More.

In a Georgia cemetery:

"I told you I was sick!"

John Penny's epitaph in the Wimborne, England, cemetery:

Reader if cash thou art
In want of any
Dig 4 feet deep
And thou wilt find a Penny.

On Margaret Daniels grave at Hollywood Cemetery Richmond, Virginia:

She always said
her feet were killing her
but nobody believed her.

In a cemetery in Hartscombe, England:

On the 22nd of June
- Jonathan Fiddle -
Went out of tune.

Anna Hopewell's grave in Enosburg Falls, Vermont has an epitaph that sounds like something from a Three Stooges movie:

Here lies the body of our Anna
Done to death by a banana
It wasn't the fruit that laid her low
But the skin of the thing that made her go.

Here's more fun with names, this time featuring Owen Moore in Battersea, London, England:

Gone away
Owin' more
Than he could pay.

Someone in Winslow, Maine didn't like Mr Wood:

In Memory of Beza Wood
Departed this life
Nov. 2, 1837
Aged 45 yrs.
Here lies one Wood
Enclosed in wood
One Wood
Within another.
The outer wood
Is very good:
We cannot praise
The other.

On a grave from the 1880's in Nantucket, Massachusetts:

Under the sod and under the trees
Lies the body of Jonathan Pease.
He is not here, there's only the pod:
Pease shelled out and went to God.

The grave of Ellen Shannon in Girard, Pennsylvania is almost a consumer tip:

Who was fatally burned
March 21, 1870
by the explosion of a lamp
filled with "R.E. Danforth's
Non-Explosive Burning Fluid"

Here's Harry Edsel Smith of Albany, New York:

Born 1903--Died 1942
Looked up the elevator shaft to see if the car was on the way down.
It was.

In a Thurmont, Maryland, cemetery:

Here lies an Atheist
All dressed up
And no place to go.

But does he make house calls? Dr Fred Roberts, Brookland, Arkansas:

Office now upstairs

Let's hope.

Bat Ejection Techniques – Country Survival Course #27

2012-01-08T12:02:00.000-06:00

People lie! They lie about the bliss of rural relocation. They lie about the size of fish they catch. They lie about being there for you. But, mostly, they lie about bats! Such a silly thing, yet no one can admit the ugly truth. “Bats only come into your house. It never happens to me,” friends say. Liars!

Evidence to the contrary exists. Bat visitations have occurred regularly in all three of my country homes. Each was a different style house, in a different town with different surroundings. No way am I the only person this is happening to! I’ll believe the annual summer bat inundation isn’t a part of normal life when butter is fat free and Smucky’s Electric gets back to me with that wiring estimate they promised just prior to the Mammoth die off.

One of my sisters in particular gets a kick out of telling people I am a witch attracting bats to my home like anorexics migrating to the Cannes Film Festival. She does it to be ornery – a competitive sport in my family. Of course, I could get even by pointing out right here in my very public essay that she is my OLDER sister by a DECADE. However, I am too peaceable and well centered for such adolescent behavior. Besides, you are here to learn another fine country skill – the Bat Ejection Technique (BET).

Lesson 1 – Why BET

Rural dwellers should all master BETs. Realtors will never admit to the Coloptera inundation plaguing the West. Property values would tumble! Amidst all this denial, a seamy cover-up has formed. Copies of Bat Removal for Dummies are burned at country BBQs and members of the Society of the Dead Elk deliver bat traps to farms under cover of darkness.

As my town’s resident City Idiot, I chose to break ranks. If Cidiots are not taught to deal properly with winged rodentia, both will suffer. Bats will be ‘baseballed’ into walls with brooms. If not, Cidiot homes will overflow with wiggling blankets of screeching critters. Folks will be driven back to the burbs in droves. Quite selfishly - I need newbies to stay in the country. Please don’t leave me alone out here! Take notes.

Lesson 2 - History of the BET

For whatever reasons bats enter homes in pairs. My hypothesis is; one holds the dog door open while the other flies through and vise versa. Attempts to document this behavior have been hampered by the presence of innumerable dogs kissing my eyes shut when I stake out the laundry room floor. Nonetheless, like bats to Noah’s ark, they arrive by twos.

Throughout history Novice Bat Ejectors dispelled unwanted intruders with the pacifistic Zero Interference Technique (ZIT). For a true ZIT open all windows and doors and cower on the floor waiting for the bats to fly back out. I researched the effectiveness of this method at my first country home. There are three problems with this technique:

Bats never leave as easily as they enter. A person could learn Arabic before the ZIT clears matters up.

Heat leaves houses quite quickly resulting in cold ZITs.

Bats tend to turn up in the middle of the night. Sleep deprivation is a direct side effect of ZITs.

Lesson 3 – Modernization

Athletic newbies frequently combine the open window/door approach of a ZIT with a more proactive approach. They jump around with a blanket in an attempt to herd bats outside. This is the Comforter Herding Ejection Technique (CHET). A good CHET take two people. Even then CHETs are hard.

Bats do not know they shouldn’t fly around the blanket.

The technique is rendered totally ineffective when your husband, who is suppose to hold the opposite side of the blanket, does a “stop, drop and roll” every time he spots a bat from thirty yards away.

At night neighbors can see you, but not the bat. So there you are running amuck in your PJs. The doors and windows are wide open as you spiraling over furniture with your flag-like fabric in tow. Meanwhile your underwear-clad man is having what is apparently some version of repeating epileptic seizures. And you, you cold-hearted bitch, you just keep on dancing.

Lesson 4 – BET Evolution

Bat invasion number three of year number two was a turning point for me. For some bizarre reason I was washing the morning dishes. We must have been out of coffee. Obviously I was not quick-witted enough to get out of dish duty. Suddenly, I heard the high-pitched chatter of a bat straight over my head.

The space over my cabinets is where all my gigantic jelly-making kettles are poised. Grabbing the step stool, I hovered near and listened. Something was in my stoneware – dark, like a cave, the crafty little bugger. Please, don’t let it get airborne. I have to go to town this morning, I thought. There was no time for the traditional CHET dance.

My cerebral light bulb clicked on. Hey, It’s easier to catch bats when they aren’t moving. A Nobel Prize for would be mine. Apparently washing dishes has some net value after all. I slid a plate over the stoneware rim and took my captive out side.

Plate removed, an upside-down shake and plop. The bat was on the ground. I watched for a moment making sure my son’s devil cat did not turn up. Finally, the bat orientated itself and flew off with chatter. Dam, I’m good, I mused. Then I turned and took two steps towards the door. Gasp! Leap! Curse!

Something bad hit my bare foot. Reflexes took over. I went for a field goal. Another bat had been in the jar. Curse! Hebbie Jebies! Will I never learn? Twos, always twos! Scratches, tiny claws on my foot - it was all to early. First dishes, then this.

The traumatized bat landed several feet away. It took a good five minutes before the winged menace recovered enough to fly off. Headed for town, I left a note for my son. “Finish the dishes.”

Lesson 5 – BET Mastery

I learned two things that morning. First, generic dish soap sucks. Second, a motionless bat is the best bat to catch. Chasing them in flight is a fool’s game. In retrospect Samuel, my Great Pyrenees, had attempted to point this out earlier that spring.

Hearing one of the midnight riots, I ordered all my dogs out. There was no need to look for the cause. I knew by then what the combination of barking and a synchronized chase meant at 1 a.m. Ho hum, more bats in the house. The other dogs complied. Sam however stood there looking sleepy, stubborn, sad and guilty.

Anyone who owns a Pyrenees knows this is their natural state. Just as I demanded, “Samuel, go!” I spotted the diminutive little wing sticking out from under his massive front paw. Here Mom, a motionless bat is the best bat to catch. He is a genius!

BET Summary

Grab a teacup or the aquarium net and a saucer

Wait for a landing

Cup/net over the Bat

Saucer or magazine carefully slid under

Out the door it goes

Hee Haw! With practice you’ll be back in bed before the underwear-clad epileptic knows your gone. You can BET on it.

What Onpage SEO Factors Matter The Most

2012-01-05T11:05:00.000-06:00

There are things you can do besides just getting more links that will help your website rank higher in the major search engines like Google, Yahoo and Bing. The things you can do on the site itself or on a page itself are referred to as on-page search engine optimization. I wrote this article to share a few things that you can do to help bump your ranking a little higher.

The most important thing to pay attention to is your page title. If your page title does not contain the words that you are trying to rank for then it is very unlikely, except in really low competition situations, that you are going to have that page ranking on page one in the search results on any of the major search engines. All three of them put a lot of emphasis on the words in the title for the page. That really helps them determine what subjects that page is actually relevant for. And, as we all know, they are trying to find the most relevant page they possibly can.

The second most important thing you can do is to make sure that the phrase you want to rank for appears at least once in the main body of the page. Make sure the words are exactly in the right order. If they are out of order, it will make your page less relevant. If you can include this exact phrase two or three times on your page without making it look weird, then you would be smart to do that. Don’t overdo it though. If the phrase appears more than three times, it starts to look like you are keyword stuffing.

The third thing you should do is to make sure your topic is covered thoroughly. That means your pages should have lots of text on them. This is especially true if the topic of your page requires an explanation of how to do something or how something works. The more thorough you are covering your material, the easier it will be to rank. Higher word count pages are a sign of higher quality so long as all the material is relevant to the page title.

The fourth thing you should do on your site itself is to make sure the navigational links from one page to another one use relevant anchor text wherever possible. Instead of having a link say “page two” in the anchor text, you should try using a short phrase that is more relevant to what the topic of the page is about. Search engines assume you are going to use relevant links within your own website and they reward you for doing so.

There are plenty of details that go into producing great search engine optimization for any given page on your website. The list I provided here is by no means a completely comprehensive list. There are other factors that can help you rank better. The truth of the matter is that certain things matter more than others. The ideas I shared in this article are very important for all three of the major search engines. If you are trying to get a certain page ranked really well on your website, then take a look at what I have said here. Then look over your site and especially that particular page to see if there is anything you can tweak a little bit.

If you would like to see how these on-page seo protocols could be applied to a specific website, then follow that link that I linked out to in the first paragraph. You will see a current example of how it is done and how well it works. Then maybe you can get your site to bump up another position or two.

Тhе Magic Bеhіnd Blog Advertising And Why Its Effective

2012-01-05T11:00:00.002-06:00

It іs nоw а strong belief thаt better thе advertisement, greater thе sales. Today's wоrld whеrе consumers rule, advertisement аnd marketing аrе key components оf аnу industry. Іf а product іs well marketed thrоugh campaigns аnd ads, thеrе іs а good chance thаt thе product wоuld gеt еnоugh attention. Ноwеvеr, nоthіng іs mоrе effective thаn а good word-of-mouth campaign bу thе original users. Тhus, combining advertising wіth feedback аnd reviews frоm real customers sееms tо bе thе golden formula fоr thе marketing industry. Well, thіs golden formula hаs bееn achieved іn thе mоst happening communication medium оf today's generation, thе Internet thrоugh thе concept оf Blog Advertising.

Online advertising іs nоthіng nеw tо thе consumers, аs bу nоw people аrе tired bу thе flashy attention-seeking аnd оftеn extremely irritating ads thаt kеер popping uр еvеrу nоw аnd thеn frоm unexpected quarters. Вut thіs form оf advertising іs а relief frоm thе оthеr obvious forms. Аs thе nаmе implies, people blog аbоut сеrtаіn products аnd gеt paid bу thе companies fоr dоіng sо. Тhеsе bloggers аrе normal users оf thе product whо blog аbоut thеіr honest opinions, аnd whаt thеу feel honestly аbоut thе product. Тhіs creates а great impact оn thе readers, аs thеу gеt tо knоw аbоut real experiences frоm original users.

The reason whу blog advertising works fоr аll іs thе economics bеhіnd іt. Іt іs extremely cost effective, аnd аn efficient medium bеуоnd imagination. Еасh blog reaches thousands оf readers аlmоst instantly аftеr bеіng posted. Тhus, еvеn іf а blog іs paid handsomely, thе cost whеn considered wіth thе number оf eyeballs іt attracts іs quіtе lеss. Тhus, bе іt corporate оr small capital organizations, еvеrуоnе саn compete оn thе sаmе level, wіth quality аnd user opinions bеіng thе lаst word. Тhus, іt іs thе best thаt consumer friendly marketing саn be.

Apart frоm creating а global fоllоwіng, thе оthеr advantage thаt соmеs wіth thіs innovative wау оf online advertising іs thаt іt improves thе online existence оf thе advertising company tо а massive extent. Blogs written аbоut а раrtісulаr product аrе contents whісh search engines lіkе Google аnd Yahoo count whіlе ranking websites. Тhеrе аrе techniques lіkе linking backs thrоugh whісh URL оf а website саn bе attached tо а blog post. Тhіs technique boost search engine rankings tremendously, аnd іs а hug advantage оf usіng thіs method.

So, whаt іs іt thаt mаkеs іt lооk lіkе magic? Well, thе wау іt creates а win-win situation fоr еvеrуоnе: advertisers, bloggers аnd readers (whо happen tо bе thе target consumer аs well) mаkе іt thе hottest thing making rounds іn thе Internet marketing industry. Analyst bеlіеvе thаt blogging іs thе nехt generation's wау оf expressing thеmsеlvеs, аnd thus Blog Advertising іs going tо rule mоst оf thе advertising budget fоr аll sort оf advertisers. Ѕіnсе іt іs а low cost initiative wіth high returns, top corporate аnd low budget organizations саn аll gо fоr thіs venture whісh mаkеs thе online advertising scenario vеrу interesting іn thе coming years.

Holidays Are Over. What Now?

2012-01-04T16:29:00.000-06:00

November and December tend to be extremely busy for us. My family has loads of birthdays in November. Then you throw the actual holidays and an anniversary into the mix...things can get crazy. All of these events have passed now, but there remains one major event on the horizon...

ALABAMA vs. LSU - BCS National Championship Game!

I've done very well to keep my excitement to a minimum. However, as the date gets closer, I'm finding it hard to contain myself. The game could go either way, but I suspect that my beloved Crimson Tide will emerge the victor. Should we win, I will cry like a baby and smile until my face hurts (just like I did in 2009). I'll pick up some tissues this week, and start exercising my smiling muscles just in case!

New Year's Resolutions

2011-12-31T12:48:00.000-06:00

Do you make them? It seems that most people do. I think I will skip it this year, as I've never actually kept one. Don't get me wrong, I like the concept of setting goals. However, goals need not be set only once a year. This year I will just keep on trucking as if it is any other day, BUT will continue to try to meet the goals that are already in place.

What are these goals?

1. Make more money. Doesn't everyone have this goal? Even millionaires have this goal, so it is certainly nothing special or unique. I'd like to say I will work harder, but I already bust my hump. Maybe I will alter this goal so that it is more geared towards working smarter instead.

2. Be a better parent. Again, I think many people have this goal, and it is a tough one. Just when you think you are doing the right things, you find out you are not. It's a never ending learning process, and thus might be something that is never truly 100% accomplished.

3. Worry less. Some people are natural born worriers. I am extremely detail oriented, which lends to worrying about even the smallest thing. "Don't sweat the small stuff?" easier said than done. I suppose the key to accomplishing this would be being able to determine what is small stuff exactly.

Who knows what else I'll add during the year. Being healthier and maintaining good relationships will certainly be in the mix. Those things are always there. Should you choose to make resolutions of your own, best of luck to you. They must serve some purpose, or the tradition of doing so would not be so popular.

Bring on the New Year's Day weight loss plan commercials!

Where To Find the Best Deals on Pool Supplies

2011-12-29T19:36:00.000-06:00

Keeping your pool looking great is really not all that difficult. So long as you have the proper pool supplies on hand, you will never have to worry about whether or not your pool is safe to swim in. Today, the best place to purchase items for your pool is online. Why? Two reasons - variety and price. Virtually anything you could ever need for your pool can be found online. Savings come in the form of being able to purchase from virtual stores that may not have the significant overhead costs that many brick and mortar stores have.

All of your chemicals and pool accessories can be purchased online if you wish. To ensure you are getting the best deal, consider making a list of what you need prior to shopping. This will allow you pay minimal shipping costs. Even better, some online pool stores offer free shipping deals that you can take advantage of. When free, or low cost shipping is combined with already low prices, it becomes hard to imagine why anyone would shop for their pool supplies anywhere other than online.

Christmas and the Mistletoe Tradition

2011-12-25T12:02:00.000-06:00

Have you ever wondered where some of our modern traditions came from? As the Christmas season approaches, I have been doing some research regarding certain holiday-related topics. My findings may surprise even the biggest scrooge!

Mistletoe has been revered by certain cultures for many, many years. The ancient Celts of Britain felt that Mistletoe held sacred powers of healing, and that it contained the soul of the tree from which it was cut. In the Celtic language, Mistletoe means "All Heal".

The Druids also had an interesting ceremony that included Mistletoe. The pagan priests of the time would carefully cut boughs of Mistletoe from the sacred Oak tree with a golden sickle. They were ever careful not to let the boughs touch the ground, for fear of contaminating them. The priests then divided these boughs into sprigs, and gave them to the people to protect them from storms and other forms of evil.

Mistletoe has also been included in many famous myths from earlier times. The Norse myth that comes to mind is that of the resurrection of Balder, the god of the summer sun. The myth states that Balder had a dream in which he dies. His mother Frigga, the goddess of beauty and love, was rather alarmed by this. Frigga went to all of the elements (air, fire, water, and earth) and asked that they spare her son. When she was satisfied that she had secured their cooperation in this matter, she informed Balder that he would live forever.

Balder had one enemy, though. Loki, the god of evil, discovered one plant that Frigga had overlooked. That plant was Mistletoe. Loki fashioned an arrow made from the branch of the Mistletoe, and dipped it in poison. He then tricked Balder’s blind brother, Hoder, into firing it and killing Balder. Each of the elements tried to bring Balder back to life, but none were successful save for his mother, Frigga. It is said that her tears turned into the berries from the Mistletoe, and when they rained upon Balder they brought him back to life.

In her joy at Balder’s resurrection, she reversed the poisonous reputation of the Mistletoe and kissed everyone who walked beneath the tree on which it grew. She also issued a decree that anyone passing under the Mistletoe must kiss, and therefore no harm would come to them.

A Christmas History Lesson

2011-12-24T12:01:00.000-06:00

The Twelve Days of Christmas is one of the most famous Christmas carols ever written. It has been sung for a great many years, and is known the world over. To most it is a delightful hymn, but it was originally created with a very serious intent. In England between the years of 1558 and 1829, it was illegal to practice Catholicism in public or private. It was essentially a crime to be Catholic in England during those years.

The Twelve Days of Christmas was written to help preserve the traditions of the Catholic faith during the years that Catholicism was banned in England. The song is steeped in symbolism, and the fact that it is so well known throughout the world is a testament to the faith of the followers of the Catholic doctrine. The symbols contained in the song are as follows:

1st verse – "True Love" refers to God.
2nd verse – "2 Turtle Doves" refers to the Old and New Testaments.
3rd verse – "3 French Hens" refers to Faith, Hope, and Charity.
4th verse – "4 Calling Birds" refers to the Four Gospels or the Four Evangelists.
5th verse – "5 Golden Rings" refers to the first five Books of the Old Testament.
6th verse – "6 Geese-a-laying" refers to the six days of creation.
7th verse – "7 Swans-a-swimming" refers to the seven sacraments.
8th verse – "8 Maids-a-milking" refers to the eight beatitudes.
9th verse – "9 Ladies dancing" refers to the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit.
10th verse – "10 Lords-a-leaping" refers to the Ten Commandments.
11th verse – "11 Pipers piping" refers to the eleven faithful apostles.
12th verse – "12 Drummers drumming" refers to the twelve points of the Apostle’s creed.

I love this song. It is, by far, my favorite Christmas carol. I had no idea about the symbols contained in the song, until I googled the song lyrics one afternoon. I find it very interesting that a song we all know so well could contain so many hidden meanings. I would never have guessed that it was anything more than lovely Christmas carol.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

Southern Dishes that Transplants Must Try

2011-12-20T19:40:00.000-06:00

I cannot remember if I posted this one here, but even if I did, it should be repeated! (Note: Pimento Cheese should be on this list!)

Southern dishes are among some of the tastiest treats on earth. If you are new to the South, Southern food may shock you at first. However, once you get used to it, you will quickly see why the Southern states have such a high obesity rate. The food here is rich, sweet, heavy, and honestly, quite tasty. The following foods should be tried at least once by new residents.

Grits: The king of Southern dishes, you may want to consider these the white version of polenta. Best served with salt, pepper, and butter. Adding cheese and crumbled bacon will take them to a whole new level. You may find that you do not love them as much as we do, but you should try them at least once.

Fried Green Tomatoes: While this Southern food is not hard to make a home, they always seen to taste better when purchased at a restaurant. While this is one of the Southern dishes that can be purchased in upscale restaurants, they are best when purchased at small town diner.

Barbecue: Each region does BBQ differently, which means that even if you had it in Memphis, it will not be the same as it is in Birmingham. Barbecue is one of the most consistent of Southern dishes, in that it never lets you down now matter which dry rub, sauce, or cooking method is used.

Sweet Tea: Yes, I realize this is a drink and not actually a food, but it deserves to be on the list due to the fact that it is a must try treat. If you are not used to a lot of sugar, watch out. Sweet tea in the South comes loaded with it. Keep in mind when ordering iced tea in a Southern restaurant that your waiter or waitress will automatically assume that you want the sweet variety. If you want unsweet, you will need to order it as such.

Biscuits and Milk Gravy: Many Southern dishes come with an option of some type of bread on the side. This is generally either biscuits or cornbread. While both are excellent choices, if you have never had biscuits with milk gravy, you will want to order it. Milk gravy is a white gravy that is made from oil, flour, and milk. It is seasoned with salt and lots of pepper. The humble combination of a biscuit with milk gravy is my favorite Southern food of all time.

Other Southern treats to consider include an RC Cola (complete with a Moonpie), chili, and fried pickles. There will likely be other Southern dishes that you encounter upon moving to the South that you will find that you never knew you loved. Southern food is the epitome of comfort food, and it is hard to imagine that any other type of food could be much better.

Christmas Shopping During Big Sales

2011-12-17T16:24:00.001-06:00

Several times a year retailers offer big sales on many of their items. Some of these times include President’s Day, Easter, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and of course Christmas. Retailers hold sale events during these times of year to encourage shoppers to get out and make some big purchases. The last minute Christmas shopping frenzy which takes place each year can be largely attributed to the sale events at Christmas time. Many shoppers specifically wait until the last minute to do their Christmas shopping because they know many items will go on sale at this time. While this is an excellent way to save money, savvy Christmas shoppers know that doing a little bit of their Christmas shopping at these other sales during the year can help to ease the stress and financial burdens often associated with last minute Christmas shopping.

Christmas shopping during big sales is definitely a good idea but it is important to remember that there are some ways to really take advantage of a big sale and some ways to have your Christmas shopping deterred by a big sale. This article will discuss a few basic strategies for doing your Christmas shopping during big sales without falling into some of the common pitfalls often associated with shopping during sales.

One of the biggest pitfalls associated with doing your Christmas shopping during big sales events is to end up purchasing many items you don’t need and would not have purchased if they weren’t on sale. This can be a problem especially if it causes you to exceed the budget you have set for Christmas shopping. This often happens when shoppers encounter a sale they think is simply too good to pass up. For some shoppers a discount of more than 50% seems very appealing and they may be tempted to buy these items just because the price has been reduced by so much but they might not really need the item. In this case the shopper may be saving 50% off of the original price because of the discount but if they wouldn’t have purchased the item if it wasn’t on sale they are really spending more than they would normally spend and are essentially losing money. To avoid this pitfall, it is wise to make a list of each person on your list and what you intend to purchase for them so you will not be tempted by big bargains.

Another problem associated with Christmas shopping during big sales is that hesitancy often causes the shopper to miss out on an item. When you are Christmas shopping during a big sale it is important to be slightly impulsive. If you see an item you think you would like to purchase for someone on your Christmas list, you have to either buy it right away or run the risk that it will be gone if you come back later to look for the item. Retailers often put items on sale when they only have a limited quantity of the item in stock and therefore once they sell out the item is gone. So it is important to remember that when you are Christmas shopping during a big sale, you have to make decisions quickly. You need to either decide to purchase an item or completely forget about the item because it will likely be sold soon after you leave the store.

Lemon Laws: Protecting Yourself From Financial Loss

2011-12-11T12:03:00.001-06:00

Purchasing a car can be quite exciting. Many people now choose to purchase used cars, simply because they are more affordable. What should be a joyful event can quickly be transformed into stress should you find out that the car you purchased is not functioning properly. Fortunately, Lemon Laws are in place to protect those who purchase cars that are not mechanically sound.

Lemon laws can vary from state to state, but each offers protection for a specific period of time. Should you need to place your car in the shop for repairs multiple times, or should the car stop running, you may be entitled to a full refund. You may also be able to receive an entirely different car. Action will be required to make this happen, but help is available should you need to protect yourself.

It is possible to have your case handled by experienced attorneys for free. With no associated cost to you, there is simply no reason to accept that you are stuck with your lemon car purchase. The most important thing is that you do take action as soon as you realize that your new car is not mechanically sound. Take the time to learn more about lemon laws in your state prior to making your next car purchase.

When Did Medical Nursing Scrubs Become So Cute?

2011-12-03T09:00:00.000-06:00

I clearly remember a time when medical nursing scrubs were as plain as they come. I assume that during that time they were only practical uniforms, and were mainly white to keep with the look of a sterile environment. Surely the doctors and nurses became bored with the same old scrubs, and somewhere along the line, someone made this known.

Today, they come in many colors. Not only are these more fun for those who wear them, but this development is also better for the patients. What these uniforms no represent is a feeling of comfort to patients. Sterile can be scary, colors and patterns are not. For patients, feeling more at ease while in the hospital is of great importance.

As with many things, we learn more about what does and does not work over time. Medical nursing scrubs are a great example of this. Colors being worn in a medical setting are a natural fit. It will certainly be interesting to see how clothing continues to be used to allow doctors and nurses to look great while providing another layer of comfort to those who they care for.

ESPN

2011-11-30T11:01:00.000-06:00

ESPN

Thanks to Olga Quinn

I am amazed at the number of channels that ESPN has. Several direct tv packages include multiple sports channels. There are four different ESPN channels that I have access to through Direct TV. I love sports, and I can always find something that I am interested in on one of the ESPN channels. It is amazing how much access the ESPN crews have throughout the major sports leagues, and there is literally no stone left unturned when it comes to professional sports in America. I know there are some people who think that it is too much, but I am glad that we have access to this much coverage. From inside the huddle to inside the locker room, today’s sports fan can see it all. I think about how media coverage has changed so much here in America. Celebrities of all types are able to get away with much less because there is always a camera around. I love having the opportunity to see some of the NFL’s best coaches talk about game plans and strategies. For a sports fan like me, it could not be better.

The Beauty of the Major Award

2011-11-27T18:57:00.000-06:00

After the stress of this football season, I think all Alabama fans deserve cheap acrylic awards. A nice trophy to place on our mantel certainly would be a nice perk. Obviously, the season is not over. It looks as though we will be playing LSU again, but this time for all the marbles. If we win that game, I will most certainly be picking up acrylic awards cheap for all my family.

In the meantime, I will be picking up a barcelona chair cheap and resting up until the next game. If the BCS holds true, that should be January 9th. I've had my eye on a black leather beauty, and it will be mine. Armed with my chair and my major award, the stress of this season will certainly seem well worth it.

Thanksgiving 2011 - The Year of the Cornbread

2011-11-23T12:48:00.001-06:00

I've probably made cornbread at least 100 times in my life. Never once did it seem difficult. When Mrs. Leslie volunteered to make the cornbread that my sister needed to complete the dressing for Thanksgiving, I was more than willing to let her have the job. Mrs. Leslie, not being Southern, has little cornbread experience.

The first batch turned out fine, but there was a problem with the fact that it was made using white corn meal. In the South, yellow corn meal is often preferred. Add to this the fact that there was not enough of the white to make the two large pans that were needed, and off to the store we went.

The second two pans, which were made using the yellow corn meal, looked fine on the top, but after cutting into them, it was apparent that something was wrong. A doughy center, which was white instead of yellow, was all I needed to see to determine that she had now produced three huge pans of unusable cornbread.

To her defense, she used the recipe from the Irondale Cafe website (the cafe that Fried Green Tomatoes was centered around). What she did not realize was that the temperature they listed was for a convection oven. Seriously, who has a convection oven in their home?!?

At this point she had gone through massive amounts of ingredients, so I decided I would just make it myself. Mine turned out good enough, though a little on the dry side. Even I was not immune to the cornbread curse though, as I tried to transfer the bread to a cutting board on the stove, dropped it, and had it burst into a thousand pieces and crumbs (half of which fell into the stove eyes).

What should have cost around $3, and taken about 30 minutes, ended up costing around $10, and taking HOURS. Next year, we will not be doing battle with the cornbread gods. I will gladly allow Publix, or any other grocery store, to take over this task.

What did we ever do to you, cornbread? Riddle me that, would ya?

The Case for Early Christmas

2011-11-19T19:24:00.000-06:00

Let's discuss this "early Christmas" thing. According to some of my Facebook friends, there is a very good case for early shopping and early decorating. The others argue that it takes away from the joy of Thanksgiving. I got on board with early Christmas a long time ago. Why? Because I feel that the entire Christmas season passes entirely too fast for my liking.

I really cannot even imagine how those people in the "old days" put up their tree on Christmas Eve and were content with that. Christmas Eve is supposed to be relaxing, and not work. Honestly, putting up a Christmas tree is work. Especially when kids are "helping." I bet those families were in bed by 8pm. Seriously.

What does it say about me if I have one, or in my case, two trees up when my family gathers around my Thanksgiving table? In my mind, it only says that I enjoy Christmas, and the lights only add to the festivities. It certainly causes no harm, and we still give thanks for all that we have. No one says, "Hey, can I open a present?" And if they did, I would say, "This meal is your present, fool!"

I will not even go into the need for early shopping. Unless you enjoy stress, early shopping is a must. I have almost everything ordered now, with almost a week to go until Thanksgiving. Yep, that's how I roll, and I like it. You early Christmas haters can hate. I will keep Christmas in my way, and you can keep it in yours.

Turkey and Tree...In perfect harmony!

Is There Anything Worse Than A Bad Christmas Movie?

2011-11-14T16:12:00.000-06:00

Maybe. A bad Halloween movie also sucks.

Anyway, the Hallmark Channel has started showing Christmas movies, and since I am a fan of what is now being referred to as "early Christmas" I have tuned in. I did not make it through "Lucky Christmas", which stars Elizabeth Berkley. If you ever watched "Saved By the Bell" then you know who she is. She played Jesse Spano.

She went on to star in the movie "Showgirls" which featured her getting busy with multiple people. Not that there is anything wrong with this, but I was pretty grossed out to see little Jesse doing it with everyone. Apparently I was not the only person that felt this way, as her career tanked right after that.

I guess Hallmark thought that enough time has passed, and decided to give her a chance at redemption. Brave move, bad movie. Will I continue to watch these hokey movies? Sure, if nothing better is on. But I don't think I will try to catch "Lucky Christmas" during one of its million re-airings. The Christmas spirit only goes so far.

"Yes, I have huge eyes. No, it's not the drugs!"

Oh, the Agony

2011-11-07T12:58:00.000-06:00

Yes, my beloved team lost by three measly points Saturday night. I have since processed it and recovered. As I've aged, I've learned to be more mature in my approach. I did not scream at Mrs. Leslie, (but did demand sympathy) and did not break anything. In the past, any inanimate object was fair game, but no longer. The fact that I was with all of my favorite peeps certainly helped. After all, football in the South is about getting together and having fun.

I turned one year older today, and we are keeping it low key around here. I'm working for now, but plan to kick back later on when my family comes over for cake. I have been promised the king of all back rubs later (no, not by my family, you pervs). We'll see if the dog allows it, as no one is allowed to pay attention to anyone but him. Lucky for him, he's cute.