What am I doing?

nonsense doodles

2009-02-16T01:07:00.000-08:00

Funky President

2009-01-27T13:04:00.001-08:00

Funky President by James Brown. Just listen to the sample. A lot of that sounds familiar.

Amazon.com Widgets

sketch 1.17.09

2009-01-17T00:56:00.000-08:00

I haven't been sketching much lately. I needed to take a break from the other things I've been working on and I had a chance to draw today. I hope I'll have more opportunities to practice soon. I really would like to see some improvement in my art.

New Money Making Blog

2008-12-28T00:29:00.000-08:00

I started a new blog to focus on my money making efforts. I think it will be cleaner to have a separate place for that. The new blog is at http://momamo.wordpress.com.

My Birthday + Hustling for pennies

2008-12-24T02:09:00.000-08:00

My birthday was yesterday and I did what I do everyday: take care of babies. I used to get sad on my birthdays, they always felt like a disappointment. Now I treat it like any other day and it's fine, I don't mind not celebrating.

I'm still trying to do a little bit each day to make some money online. If I feel like writing an article for Associated Content, I'll try to write. If I don't want to do that I'll update a Squidoo lens. If I want to just do some somewhat mindless work I'll do some HITs on Amazon Mechanical Turk (which is oddly addicting). There are still other things I could be working on but that's what I've been up to lately.

I am expecting to see this pay off eventually; maybe not in the near future but some time. I think of it like planting seeds the payoff doesn't have to be instant. At least a few of these seeds should grow into some residual income. The real goal is to not have to work and still make some money.

I'm still learning a lot though. There is plenty to improve in my writing and marketing skills and I'm learning as I go along.

Update on Amazon Mechanical Turk

2008-12-20T02:03:00.000-08:00

I didn't give up on Amazon Mechanical Turk because I found a better way of browsing HITs than what I was doing before. I sort them by creation date with the newest HITs first. I found out the the simple tasks are snatched up pretty quickly and will come up after reloading the page a few times.

Amazon Mechanical Turk

2008-12-19T02:21:00.000-08:00

I'm always looking to make a few extra dollars and this time my seeking lead me to Amazon Mechanical Turk. As a worker on the site you accept HITs or Human Intelligence Tasks for pay. This is how Amazon describes a HIT:

A Human Intelligence Task, or HIT, is a question that needs an answer. A HIT represents a single, self-contained task that a worker can work on, submit an answer, and collect a reward for completing.

So why are there requests to write articles for one penny on this site? It looks like the requesters are trying use to this platform to exploit workers.

I just started with Turk and I really just wanted to do some basic tasks for a few cents. I'm not sure how much longer I'll pursue Turk. I already feel like I've wasted too much time on it just looking for HITs that pay appropriately.

Back to Squidoo

2008-12-18T09:56:00.000-08:00

I joined Squidoo back in 2006 and I never did much with it. I made a few dollars over the years but that's about all. I've just recently got back into lensmaking and it is fun. There are lots more modules to choose from now and apparently some people are making decent money. I want to be one of them.

I doing a little every day to improve my lenses and learn how to make profitable ones.

2008-12-10T01:19:00.000-08:00

The more I look at this sketch the more I hate it. I will for the sake of documenting my progress leave it here.

Sketchy Sketch

2008-12-08T21:34:00.003-08:00

It's been a long time since I've drawn anything. Here is my first sketch in awhile.

New Challenge from Associated Conent

2008-12-07T02:40:00.000-08:00

I started publishing with Associated Content last month and I managed to publish five times and get the $10 bonus (yay)! So now AC has challenged me to publish 20 articles for upfront payment in the month of December. If I do it, I'll get another $10 bonus.

I've decided to try it but so far it has been difficult. My babies don't give me much time to myself and for some reason my body is not allowing me to stay awake for my late-night/early-morning alone time anymore.

I'm just tired

2008-11-19T01:30:00.000-08:00

It is so easy to slip into a pattern of stagnancy and immobility. It's so easy to just drift through life with each passing day feeling just like the one before it. I have been forcing myself to make an intentional mark on each day of my life. It is my goal to create and be productive daily. In the past couple of days I've just been tired--completely exhausted.

I guess this bit of writing is something. Really, with two children to chase, everyday I achieve something. But, as rewarding as child-rearing can be, it isn't the same as taking a moment to think and create. This is just my thoughts streamed onto the screen. I bet none of this even makes any sense.

Having Fun with Associated Content

2008-11-09T03:54:00.000-08:00

I'm having fun with Associated Content. It's nice to get those little upfront PayPal payments and to watch my pageviews. This is kind of a breakthrough for me, because I've always hated writing. With AC I've just been writing about what is interesting to me, like my new geeky phone. I'm really enjoying it.

One cool thing about writing for AC is that once I submitted my first article, I got an email saying I would get a $10 bonus if I publish five articles by the 15th. That was a great incentive to get writing and I think I'll make it.

Join AC with me. :)

I know I'm late but...

2008-11-05T01:39:00.000-08:00

Yay Obama! I'm so excited about our new president.

Why couldn't I have waited?

2008-09-15T22:34:00.001-07:00

I bought my iPod touch in July and I'm still in the honeymoon phase with it. I still love my touch but why is the new generation everything I wish mine is and $60 cheaper? I feel cheated. Still, I'm impressed with what I have. It's making blogging from the bathroom possible.

Stuff I tell myself I don't need but still want to buy

2008-05-07T02:42:00.001-07:00

I've changed my attitude about money and about material objects. I used to buy things I couldn't afford and many of the higher priced items I am still paying interest on. I am learning the value delayed gratification but it hasn't stopped me from wanting stuff. Still, I want to keep my energy open to having the things I desire so I'm making a list of items I want but refuse to buy now.

* An iphone. I pretty much love all things apple but I can't justify the monthly charges. I'm holding out on any ipod (and I've always wanted one) until I get...

* A new computer. I definitely don't need a new computer because there are multiple computers in the house including my own laptop but my ibook is seven years old and I want a new computer all to myself.

* A wii. It looks like fun but with two children under two I doubt I'll have much time for games. I won't buy any type of game system until I have my own home anyway.

My list is longer than this. I'll add on more as I think of it.

gratitude

2008-05-07T02:35:00.000-07:00

I am grateful for: my family and loved ones, health, resolving a petty fight, hope, comfort, life, new clothes, inspiration...

gratitude

2008-05-04T02:38:00.000-07:00

I am grateful for: health, comfort, my home, the people I love, eating the pizza I wanted, a beautiful day, play time with my daughter, time alone, baby kicks...

2008-05-04T02:37:00.000-07:00

gratitude

2008-05-03T02:07:00.000-07:00

I am grateful for: health, life, my family, my friends, my babies, motivation to succeed, being blessed...

2008-05-03T02:06:00.000-07:00

gratitude

2008-04-30T02:00:00.001-07:00

I am grateful today for: health, family, friends, productivity, finding my stylus, hope, ideas, revelations, feeling safe and comfortable, my time well-spent, my time with my daughter, being able to see my baby growing and developing...

2008-04-30T01:58:00.000-07:00

NO! My pen is missing

2008-04-29T00:57:00.000-07:00

I am annoyed because the pen to my tablet is missing. I usually do my daily sketch now on the computer and I can't now. I guess I have to do it the old way with just pen and paper.

gratitude

2008-04-29T00:55:00.000-07:00

I am grateful for: getting up early in the morning, getting something accomplished, the many forms of assistance I am receiving, my family, my friends, my babies, our health, this quiet moment alone, getting to play with my daughter...