[Scribbles]
Creative Experiments - Shoutpost HelpYard Sailor Funny but Sad
2007-06-30
As usual, we went out yard sailing.
Today we were out for 90 minutes short, and purchased a few small items.
At one sale, a cute red headed college girl was selling her wares for her "college fund"
As I was looking, she said she loved my sunglasses. They are black and have small studded crystals embedded on the sides. Chic and glamourous.
I told her I bought them and coined them as "my Anna Nicole sunglasses" since they looked like a pair Anna wore. A few days after I bought them, Anna died tragically.
I picked up a lovely shocking pink scarf with flowers and gold accents.
"How much is this?" I asked.
She said a dollar.
Her mother not hearing her answer, said "what ever you want to pay make an offer."
I said she said a dollar, and she said "oh! OK, anything for the college fund".
The college girl's sister (also in college) came by as I was getting my money out.
"I **lOVE** your sunglasses!" she said.
The sister told her my little story.
I told them I got them at Liz Claiborne's Store (local shop).
Another woman (as well as a few college guys) hearing the story nearby and the shopping conversation then piped in and said,
"Liz Claiborne died a few days ago!"
The college guys laughed at the cursed sunglasses I was wearing.
We all cringed and laughed.
This was all news to us and we wondered where we all were and why we were not paying attention to the news.
At a previous yard sale two other young gals liked my embossed roses purse, another Liz item.
Anyways, a sad note. Liz passed away on Tuesday (6/26/07) from complications of rare abdominal cancer at the age of 78.
I love Liz's classical fashions and home fabrics. She will surely be missed by many.
Remembering Liz Claiborne -- share your stories
San Francisco Chronicle Remembrance
International Herald Tribune Obituary
Washington Post Obituary
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Scribble
2007-06-29
Try your hand and mouse co-ordination with this game drawing lines or simple objects, like a dot to dot.
Play Scribble
This scribble game, you need to draw a line over so the InkBlots can travel it. There are various levels to choose from. Key is to make sure you have a ramp from the ground so they can climb it like a hill. The lines desolve and you need to move your cursor a bit down to make the landscape move. Rebuild broken lines. If the Inkblots fall they are gone.
Scribble at Miniclip
Nothing like a little diversion after paying bills.
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Lean Cuisine Panini
2007-06-28
I got the chicken, spinach, mushroom, roasted red peppers, and 3 cheeses and cheese sauce on Italian bread.There is one sandwich per box. It was on sale for $2.00 so I thought I would try it. No trans fats
but 690 mgs of sodium, 280 calories and 70 calories from fat and it is called Lean Cuisine (Do something good for yourself!).
You "grill" it in your microwave on the "revolutionary grilling tray".
You need to flip the box and put the tray on the box then in the microwave and "grill" on high for 3 minutes. You are actually "grilling" an open sandwich that you fold together after 'grilling".
Overall, I thought it was very good. It was not soggy but firm and held up without falling apart. It lasted 6 yummy bites.
I just might make some from scratch and feed the family.
I think it might taste good on sour dough bread also.
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Wordless Wednesday: Renoir: Head of A Dog
2007-06-27
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Yard Sailing
2007-06-24
This weekend treasures were few although we went to a nice (new) neighborhood sale with lots of fancy quality stuff, most we did not need.
My son got three PlayStation 1 games (Yes all PlayStation stuff (outdated and antique) we have, have been yard sale finds. The gaming thrill is still the same.) for a dollar a piece. He was thrilled with the find Spyro the Year of the Dragon.
My husband found a few tools, in particular, snow tire chains for $1.00 for his Ford Ranger (We found that for sale on the side of the road last fall around Thanksgiving. He had something to be grateful for!)
I found a few scrapbooking items and a decorative snowman that needed a fine home and some love.
Then we found the perfect gift for my daughter, a computer chair for $5.00 to go with the graduation gift laptop (see previous post).
It was red. She called it a "retro" style.
My husband got out the Green Machine and cleaned it up, dried it off. It looked great.
Then we discovered what the problem was, no seat adjustment.
My husband said that if we threw it out, it would cost us $20. charge at our town dump.
He suggested we bring it back late at night and leave it on their lawn with a note, use the money (that we paid) to dispose of the chair at their town dump.
Buyers beware of faulty yard sale wares.
I laughed.
We will give the chair to my brother.
I think he needs one, if not, he gets one.
Recycle, reuse, re-gift.
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Weekend Update
2007-06-24
Graduation from Junior High is over. A nice ceremony, Science and Academic Honor awards bestowed upon her and reception afterwards.My daughter looked nice in her white dress and actually wore it for FOUR hours, an hour before, during, and TWO hours afterwards. A miracle!
She loved the laptop we gave her. She said she loved us more than the intensity of 12,000 suns, something like that. I believe a quote from Avatar or Naruto. I have not seen her for a few days since she is adding and backing up all her files.
No line for me for the computer or racing to the chair when she leaves for quick blog checks.
Sad sad thing, her very good friend is moving. I cried my eyes out at that news.
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Digital Immigrant
2007-06-22
Someone who grew up before the digital age and is fairly new to the Internet. Basically anyone over the age of 28.
YouTube is foreign to the digital immigrant.
My daughter told me about this definition she saw over at Urban Dictionary.
I laughed or should I say, LQTM (laughed/laughing quietly to myself) than LOL (laugh out loud).
Anyways, what I found most amusing was the fact that the definition was published on Nov. 4, 2004 and has 443 thumbs up or people who agree with this definition and 1119 thumbs down, or people who disagree at this time of post publishing.
There are no challenges to the definition.
Anyways, the funny thing is, if you look at the age of Bill Gates and company (other people), they were the ones who invented and developed computers and the Internet and worked on it for decades before it became accessible and affordable to average everyday people.
I teach some computer/Internet/blogging classes and I guess I can say, I do have older students who can turn on a computer but have no idea about anything else related to the computer or Internet. I often wonder why they sign up for my class when they are already in over their heads but I have to cope with them (as well as the other "advanced" students, the ones in the know) because the classes are pre-registered and pre-paid.
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Wordless Wednesday: Sandcastle
2007-06-20
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All My Faves
2007-06-19
This is really a wonderful site to bookmark so you can get where you are going faster than lightening.All My Faves
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Matt Lauer
2007-06-17
Today in my stats, I see a visitor who arrived here from a web search asking:
"Does Matt Lauer wear boxers?"
And of course, expecting to find the answer here in my blog.
I do not recall ever writing something about Matt Lauer and boxers over briefs but it cracks me up that someone wanted to know this personal info on Matt.
I don't know.
Now, just another note here -- Years ago, shortly after Matt started on the Today Show, I kept on having repeated dreams we were dating, like I won a contest. I would get all dressed up and he'd come by in a limo and pick me up. We would drive around then head to a swanky place but the dream would always end when we hit the sidewalk. I would just be getting out of the limo and it would end. AWWWWWW! So it was just a joy ride with Matt, a tour of NYC at night.
Funny too because I am such a homebody and don't drive at night ever.
The dreams stopped when he got engaged. Thank goodness!
I like the Today Show team. I miss Katie.
Katie is the sort of person who would have been a good friend of mine, if I knew her.
Best regards to all of them. Keep me laughing.
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Happy Father's Day!
2007-06-16
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Hot Hot Hot
2007-06-16
A hot day -- not what the weatherman predicted, it was scorching. It was so hot, I could fry eggs on my driveway. Neighbors opened up their pool and my hydrangeas needed extra watering.
Hot buys -- a few streets over there was a neighborhood yard sale. Got some quality clothing for my daughter (Anne Taylor Loft, Gap, an Alfred Angelo "Prom" Gown (actually was a bridesmaid's gown) with wrap in a nice shade of blue). The gown was a bit wrinkled and the lady and her husband offered to "steam" it for us, no extra cost, what service for the price. She was thrilled with the all timeless classic look purchases each a dollar.
A husband had to cell phone his wife in the house (driveway was a half mile long to the "street/curb side sale") for a price check. She called back and said not to sell me the hangers. I did not want the hangers.
My husband got a CD player for the cellar when he goes down there to "tinker".
My son got three books.
Hot party -- my niece had a graduation party. She heads off to nursing school in the fall.
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Recall: Thomas the Tank
2007-06-15
RC2 Corp. Recalls Various Thomas & FriendsTM Wooden Railway Toys Due to Lead Poisoning Hazard
Read More at the U.S. Product and Consumer Agency web page (pictures of products)
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Dr. Mehmet Oz on Oprah 6.12
2007-06-15
Repeat show with Dr. Oz 6/12.
This show aired last season and before I began this blog and these synopsises.
(If you are looking for something specific, click on Edit on your tool bar and then Find on this page, type the words in the box then click Next. The word you are looking for should highlight on the page.)
Ask Dr. Oz on Oprah
Poop Color, Poop Shape, Poop Odor/smell
Dr. Oz says that these indicate and ultimately give a clue to how well your body is functioning.
You need 25 grams of fiber per day drink plenty of water to avoid problems like constipation.
Taking Olive oil or flax seed oil (like lotions for the intestines) helps let the poop glide out.
Drinking enough water helps flush out your system. Your urine should be "clear enough to read through".
Poops should have a curve to them, like an S shape or C shape. They should not be hard, pancake like, or pellets (constipation, need more fiber and water). They should not "plop" into the water but "dive like an Acapulco diver". Floating poops means they have too much fat in them, meaning you are eating lots of fatty foods.
Bile makes the poop brown. Little fountains inside you pump bile to help make the poop.
White poops mean you are not producing bile.
Red poops could be a result from food you eat (like beets) or a more serious problem, blood in the stool so you need to get checked.
Poop smell is a result of sulphur (like the odor of rotten eggs) content. Cheese, meat, sometimes grain can cause stinkiness.
Heart burn is when food you eat, gets pushed back up into the esophagus.
The acid acts like a "sunburn" and creates the heart burn.
Digestion
It takes 2-3 days to digest (or rot in the intestine) a steak dinner.
Veggies and fruits take 12 hours to digest.
If you are eating the right foods, they will absorb readily and leave your body early.
Diarrhea, Upset Stomach
Diarrhea or vomiting is the way the body rids itself of something that is not right in your system so this is good.
Diarrhea should only last a day or two. If it lasts longer see a doctor.
Babies and old people, it could be dangerous or fatal -- so get checked.
In other cases, diarrhea can be a symptom of a food allergy: lactose or wheat are common.
Hormonal changes can cause it too, like pregnancy.
Belching or releasing gas
For most of the population, this happens 14 times a day. Woman have more intestine so they seem to be more affected.
Certain foods can cause gas like beans (Oprah called them little gas containers.), cauliflower, broccoli.
Anything you eat with more sugar (soda) can cause more gas since sugar enhances the situation.
The odor of gas, poop, or diarrhea depends on what you have eaten.
Why do we sweat?
Sweat cools us because if our insides got too hot, we would explode. So sweating regulates our body temperatures.
Pheromones, or the natural way we smell, is the non-verbal attraction we have for one another.
One guy asked about his stinky drenching excessive sweat problem that had a bad smell (so his family complained).
Dr. Oz says some ethnic groups sweat more than others. Asians do not have many sweat glands as African-Americans do.
Dr. Oz explained that living colonies of bacteria on our bodies mixed with sweat causes the offensive odor as well as some food we eat.
Excessive sweating can be symptoms of other problems like a thyroid condition so get checked.
Woman and wiping
The correct way to wipe after going to the bathroom is from front to back or dab.
Wiping back to front can contaminate your area and cause urinary infections.
Blushing is caused when the arteries dilate on the face creating the pinky red cheeks.
Ear Wax
Wax is the sweat of the ear lining.
Do not use a cotton swap to get rid of it, you are only pushing it back in and can hurt your ear drum.
Add a drop of mineral oil inside your ear and it will flow out naturally.
Germs
Spit is dangerous.
When germs dry, they are not dangerous as when they are fresh and wet.
The human bite is very dangerous.
When someone coughs and you breath in the air, you can pick up germs. If you are on a plane, take a preventative med before hand to help protect yourself.
STDs
It is an urban myth you can get one off a toilet seat according to Dr. Oz.
It is more possible to get one in a hot tub, especially a public hot tub.
Bacteria is everywhere. Our immune systems help battle the bacteria out of our system.
Dr. Lisa Masterson, gynecologist was next to speak on "menstrual mysteries".
Hormone cycles cause our taste buds to change and hence we have strange cravings (like chocolate or bread or anything with carbs) when there is an increase in hormones.
S*x*al desire also increases around this time.
Diarrhea and constipation are common to to the hormonal fluctuation.
A heavy menstrual flow can indicate fibroids, a thyroid problem, or can be a menopausal symptom.
How to deal with Menstrual Cramps
A woman complained of debilitating cramps where she could not function at all.
A healthy diet and daily exercise can relieve cramps.
Warm packs or a heating pad to the area can help.
Taking Motrim a day or two before your period can also alleviate cramps.
Acupuncture, birth control pills, and added calcium can help relieve or eliminate cramps.
My note: Long ago, I was told to cut down on the sugar and salt to help relieve cramps.
I found when I took aspirin or Tylenol for cramps, it increased my flow and my periods were longer.
Then a nurse told me if I took Vitamin C a few days before my period, that would help too and it did. Vitamin C also thinned out my flow. Vitamin C was very effective for me.
How long should you wear a tampon?
6-8 hours tops, a tampon worn too long is a medium for bacteria that leads to infections.
What to do if I lose a tampon in me?
Make an appointment with your doctor and have it removed.
If it is left in there too long, it may cause infection.
A lost tampon can cause bloating and pain. It may smell very stinky and you can't seem to get rid of the odor. This is a common problem.
What about huge clots during my period?
Egg sized clots, if you saturate a pad quickly, have more flow than a cup a day, headaches, dizziness as symptoms, fibroids, anemia, thyroid or uterine cancer could be your issue, get checked.
My Notes: The DivaCup -- a solution to using monthly pads and tampons. Here is also a review of the product here: DivaCup Consumer Review.
My other Dr. Oz synopsises:
Dr. Oz on Oprah April Show Synopsis
Dr. Oz on Oprah February Show Synopsis
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Wordless Wednesday: Renoir
2007-06-13
Actress Jeanne Samary 1877
Pierre August Renoir
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Money Manners
2007-06-12
After my last post on Kids and Money, I thought of this and this deserved to be a separate post.
The game of Money Manners at the table.
You give your children 10 pennies each at the start of dinner. You sit down to eat, in peace.
Anyone breaking a table etiquette rule, like talking with their mouth full, loses a penny to the penny pot (small jar or decorative dish).
In-fractures are sitting improperly, playing with food, whining, talking too loud, arguing, elbows on the table, etc. You can custom design your bad manners rule list.
You can also give a penny for trying new foods too.
They watch one another so there may be some tattling and they lose a penny for that.
On a calendar, post how many pennies each has after the meal and tally the penny points at the end of the week. Use different marker colors for each child. Good manners equals 70+ penny points a week.
The kids don't like to lose their 10 pennies and they like to earn a few extra ones.
Pennies are not kept, they are just used as tokens. Ten pennies per child keep on getting recycled per meal.
Sometimes, if they accumulate so many penny points, they get a small treat OR
I have a coffee can with 31 slips of small paper, most are blank and three have a star on them. After dinner, a piece of paper is drawn to see if they get a treat. Blank ones mean no treat, one with a star, they get a treat. (Treats are not just food, playground destinations, Wendy's Frostie, trip to the bookstore, anything that appeals to them.)
To prevent arguing over which one picks the paper, one does it on even days, the other on odd days. Some months they switch.
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Kids and Money
2007-06-12
I have seen this topic lots of times on various message boards so I thought I would put my two cents into a blog post.
Allowance: My kids get half their age for a year, they get an automatic increase on their birthday.
EX: 4 years old gets $2.00 a week or $104.00 per year. Age 5 gets $2.50 per week or $130.00 per year.
Extra money: sometimes I just hand them a few dollars now and then.
Report Cards: we don't finance good grades, we expect our kids to do their absolute best they can, effort means more than the grade.
Tooth Fairy: The tooth fairy leaves a silver dollar (hard to find these days but always ask at the bank) or two silver half dollars, sometimes a dollar bill. There have been a few occasions when the Tooth Fairy "forgot" to come but a nice cover when Mom went into the room and found the money on the floor under the bed. I have heard that a few Tooth Fairies pay big, $5.00 or $10.00 a tooth!
Yard Sale money/profit: If we have a yard sale and they sell stuff, they have to donate a portion to charity. Usually it is a few dollars or per cent of earnings and we go to the store and buy pet food with that set amount then make a trip to the SPCA to drop it off.
Our library has a donation jar also and this is a good cause to support library services or finance something needed in a collection (books).
Gifts: If they get money for gifts, usually they save it, write a thank you note. If they get gifts (physical things) they cannot open the package or use it till they write and send a thank you note to the giver.
Finding money: finding pennies on the ground means that there is an angel thinking of you. We save them in a special jar and when we have enough, give that amount to a charity.
Spending: My kids are careful what they buy with their money. They don't like to spend, they like to save but sometimes spend a little bit.
Savings: once they save up a certain amount, we move it into a higher earning CD. After years of sending in a suggestion to my credit union, they finally created a CD with a small amount of money for kids which earns more than the measly half a percent interest on a savings account.
We like Suze Ormand's simple and to the point mantra: People first, money second, things last.
Money Game: Using two dice and plenty of spare change, roll the dice and count out the money for the combined roll, a 2 and a 6 means 8 cents taken from the change pile. After several turns, have the children exchange the smaller change for larger change. EX: 5 pennies trade for a nickel, two nickels trade for a dime.
Decide on how many rolls before the game ends and who ends up with the most money wins OR set an amount to reach (like a dollar) and the first one to reach it, wins.
For older children, add paper money to the mix.
This is an interesting film (less than 15 minutes) of teens and money -- it is an eye opener.
One of the kids who spends $700. a month on "cool clothing" wants a car! What sort of adult will he become if he does not manage his money responsibly now?
I like how the film shows a variety of situations and attitudes.
New York Times Kids and Money film by Lauren Greenfield
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Oprah's Debt Diet Revisited
2007-06-10
On Oprah 6/8 it was a show about money, "This is the Year to Get Richer" and an update a year later on the three families involved in Oprah's Debt Diet Program.
First up was Jean Chatzky (new book: Make Money Not Excuses) who took two couples and a single person out of the audience for a money makeover in an hour that could/can change their lives. More on that in a bit.
Jean says that she hears the following excuses all the time when it comes to personal money management:
1. I am not good with money.
2. You/I only live once!
3. I fear if I invest I will lose money.
4. I don't have time to manage money.
5. I am too old and it is too late for me to start.
She says enough of the excuses and get started it is never too late ever.
Discussion was then on how woman feel safe and comfortable with their husbands handling all the money. They feel they are being "taken care of". This is a big mistake.
Kerry (age 48) had the luxury to become a stay at home mom (SAHM) when her husband was making good money. They upgraded their home to 3000 square feet.
A larger home means more expenses, more taxes and utilities, insurance.
Her husband managed all money, bills, debt. One day he came home and said he was divorcing her with no warning after 13 years of marriage.
Kerry was shocked, had no job, no money of her own.
She said she had a combined total of around $100. in savings and checking.
Her family and some friends helped her out financially and she needed to rebuilt her live as well as her money portfolio.
Kerry figured out all her monthly expenses and then figured out how much she needed to earn to make ends meet and to start saving.
Jean suggested she needed 2K (k=thousand) a month for living expenses and save 10K a year. It then worked out to be
$3800. per month, which included 1K for savings per month.
At retirement (age not specified nor time frame), if she put the 1K per month away in a solid high
earning savings/investment account (interest rate not specified but usually it is around 8-10%), she would have 600K at retirement.
They did not say what sort of profession she worked in to be making that sort of money.
Jean suggested that you use an online savings calculator to find out how much you need to save, time frame, and interest rate to equal your savings goal.
Lesson: always have a written plan with finacial goals.
Woman need to save money in their own name for their own protection.
Four Steps to Take
1. Maximize your money
a. Set income goals
b. Ask for a raise
c. Work an extra hour a week (guess that means if you have an hourly wage job not a saleried one or one with overtime)
2. Spend less than you earn. (Previously mentioned on the show was that you base your spending on what you actually take home, not what your yearly salary is.)
a. Pause before you purchase -- do you need it or just want it? do you want to take care of it?
b. Pay all your bills on time. Pay your bills before you spend on yourself.
c. Use a debit card -- a debit card is like a check and money is taken out of your account so the money must be there.
d. Shop around and find the best price for goods or services, including bank rates.
3. Invest the money you don't spend (your savings)
a. Save automatically. Some employers allow you to designate an amount that will be automatically deposited into your savings account from your paycheck.
b. Earn more interest -- find a better way to save more money with higher interest rates. (I like ING Direct Orange Savings.)
4. Protect your money
a. Get the proper insurance for you, your house, car, etc.
b. Get a will -- a legal clinic can draw you up one for a small fee compared to a lawyer if you can't afford one.
c. Open up accounts in your name to save for you.
The Smart Cookies -- a group of five girlfriends who were inspired to save and revamp their lives (money attitude makeover) after watching the Oprah's Debt Diet last year.
Over the past year, a group of five friends got together on a weekly basis and discussed money issues, finacial goals.
It cost them $6.00 each a week to have a get together with food. The discussions lead to changes in all their lives.
In a year's time, they saved among them, a total of 15K, got rid of 15K in debt (mixed types), and brought in 45K more income.
One gal said that the spend now pay later hit home as she was spending more than she actually made.
Another thought she was too young to save money.
Clothing seemed to be a major purchase and now they buy and share.
Another one gave up her car for public transportation.
A wedding for 22K was paid in cash.
The Smart Cookies said small changes made a big difference and how much better they feel about themselves and managing money with the support of each member.
The Debt Diet -- 1 year revisited
Jean Chatzky was their financial coach:
Lisa and Steve -- 102K income, 170K in debt ready for a divorce because of out of control spending.
They paid off 50K in debt in a year.
They got rid of two cars, the super sized TV. They did not spend and did not eat out all the time like they once did.
(Lisa did not know how to cook and they were eating off paper plates every night.)
They increased their income by 26K, with overtime and two part time jobs.
SAVE SAVE SAVE was their mantra.
They said the Debt Diet was a blessing, they do not argue, their relationship improved and along the way they lost some friends (interesting)
They renewed their wedding vows.
There is more communication between them, and if making a major purchase consult with one another before the purchase is made.
David Bach ( author of "The Automatic Millionaire", "Start Late Finish Rich") was their financial coach:
Dan and Sally, school teachers, 90K income, 115K in debt
They admit, that they were impluse spenders with 12 credit cards maxed out and near bankruptcy.
They got lower rates on their credit cards with a phone call.
In a year, they have paid off 26K. They found extra work to pay off their debt.
David Bach's suggestions to them that they followed:
1. Have a plan for the long term
2. Recognize your debt, don't be in denial, be responsible for your spending and paying your bills.
3. Be consistant in paying off debt -- Dan and Sally raised their FICO score 100 points in 9 months.
Glinda Bridgforth (author of"Girl Make Your Money Grow", "Girl Get Your Credit Straight") was their finacial coach:
Mark and Marnie battled over money with their two teenage girls.
Seems like the girls get their own way and the parents could not say NO to them ever.
In a year's time, their debt increased 37K.
They did simplify their credit card debt from 16 cards down to 6.
They also refinanced their house cutting their mortgage down.
Marnie thought the process was invasive and intrusive. She did not want to do it. (why ask for help in the first place?)
David Bach mentioned that their situation was the ultimate American Nightmare.
They cut down their credit card debt and refinanced their house lowering the mortgage considerably but instead of looking at it like it was money to pay off their debt,
they went out and spent MORE.
When you refinance, you need to change your spending and saving habits.
The money they saved on the mortgage payment, and credit card bills, should have gone toward their debt to reduce it faster.
Mark admitted that they started out ok but eventually lost focus to stick with the program.
Marnie, in my opinion, needs some cold water thrown on her. Look at what they are teaching their children!
At the end of the show, the Money Makeover Dream Team had plans for the audience members picked previously at the start of the show.
Lindsey and Matt
Ages 25/29 with a baby on the way
97K annual income, 6K debt, and 65K student loans
Advice: Find savings accounts with higher interest, open Roth IRAs, downsize their car and Matt is going to sell his Playstation.
Kathy and Steve
Ages 51/51
100K annual income, 34K debt
A few kids are still at home but one, a 22 year old is not contributing to the household kitty, Steve did not know that.
Advice: They got their 29% APR (annual percentage rate) credit card interest rate down to 5% with a phone call negotiation.
The 22 year old needs to contribute or move out and be on their own, paying their own way.
Diana
Age 23, single
50K annual income, 6K debt, 37K in student loans
Advice: Get a room mate to split expenses, create a savings plan, cancel the monthly gym fee since she does not go.
Ok that is the round up of information.
Sit down, look at your income and bills, create a plan, open a higher interest savings account, pay your account first and regularly, pay your bills first then spend, review your plan from time to time
and always look over to the long term of savings.
Another note -- Oprah covers many people earning large incomes when there are many struggling with under 50K a year. I think she needs to address this issue in the future as the place you live determines the kind of income you will make. Cost of living expenses in some areas are much higher than in others.
Oprah's Debt Diet Plan and printable worksheets -- at Oprah.com
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Geico Cavemen
2007-06-09
to Bandwidth theft from my image file.
I find these commercials amusing. My favorite is the one where he is in the therapist office and his Mom calls his cell and he puts her on speaker phone. (The therapist is played by actress Talia Shire.)
I had heard that there was going to be a TV show with the Cavemen living in modern day Atlanta, however, it is not the original actors in the commercials. (There were several, Jeff Daniel Phillips and Ben Weber being the main two.) I found the link to the ABC site with the program preview and gee, the make up is so tacky! (8 pm EST Tuesday nights, 13 episodes ordered) The potential humor in the show may be like that of Third Rock From the Sun.
I also found this other site which is pretty funny. You can visit the caveman's posh and modern apartment and hang out and party. Mouse over and click on items and stuff happens. I went into the kitchen and checked the microwave while the caveman was taking a shower, and opps! blew out the lights. Looked at his magazines and also his marked up copy of War and Peace with his comical notes.
Cavemen -- an ABC fall show, see preview and there is a message board.
Caveman's Crib -- stop in and hang out with him, he will talk to you.
Up With Cavemen -- learn more about our urban sophisticated guys.
Watch the commercials at YouTube -- the link will take you to the Therapist Commercial but look in the related column for more.
Here is a YouTube video of a woman transforming a Ken doll into a Geico Caveman.
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Weekend Doings
2007-06-09
It is gray and dreary out. No rain yet but if it comes, it looks like a downpour.
Looks like a gray and dreary weekend according to the news.
The past couple of days I got vacuuming done and trimmed the hydrangeas.
This morning we hit the road again, left the kids behind, and went to a few neighborhood yardsales.
I got my workout walking around from house to house. Each house is on 2 acres of land so they are not close together. I think we were there for 2 hours.
Same stuff, some books, hubby found some tools and electric wire, nothing much.
I saw some flooring that would have been good but since hubby would install it, he did not like it.
Best buy for $5.00 -- an All Clad stovetop grill pan.
At the same sale, a new Queen Sized quilt (made in China) for $10. I probably should wrap the sofa cushion up with this to "protect" it from declining more than it is. We need a new sofa. Kids just seem to wear out furniture pretty fast.
Then we went to the store to pick up some items and home.
Later, I will post my Oprah Debt Diet synopsis from yesterday's show.
I will do that while I bake the chocolate chip banana bread.
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Pokemon Q's and A's
2007-06-08
Or Pokémon, the e is done with ALT 130 according to my daughter.
I am writing this post because I see many PokeyPals coming here for the "PokeyMom" posts I have made about my children's addiction (so it seems but keeps them busy) to the GameBoy games, and their obsession to attend Pokemon events here and there, watch the TV show, or read anything Pokemon they can get their hands on.
I will address some of the things I have seen in my stats here with my daughter's generous help.
Tip: Click on Edit in your tool bar, and type in words to find on this page.
1. Pokemon Events -- happen at your local ToysRUs stores or the like. You need to ask when.
You can check the Pokemon website for more information.
GameStop franchises often host small events also. They tend to announce them very close to the event. For instance, we found out there was one but it was announced only four days before it happened. To sign up, you had to go to the designated store. Not all GameStops had this event, it was granted to certain shops based on the volume of sales. (Link below)
2. Pokemon Game Card stealing - yes it happens. Older smarter and more knowledgeable sneaky players will take valuable cards away from your kids if you are not with them or watching the game. Look for the "rarity" symbol. Games at local shops have stopped because of this.
3. Cards are sold in packets of 9 for around $5.00 a packet. Good place to find them: WalMart.
4. In the Pokemon Diamond or Pearl GameBoy Game -- bad eggs are in the third and fourth generation games and from Game Sharking. They either don't hatch or take a very long time to hatch. If a bad egg hatches, it can mess up your game.
4A. A question that appeared in my search stats: My baby Lugia egg for Pokemon Diamond is a bad egg, what do I do?
Lugia is a legendary Pokemon and cannot be bred unless you use a Game Shark (not recommended). Using a Game Shark to breed any Pokemon may result in bad eggs and glitched Pokemon which, as previously stated, can mess up your game.
5. The difference between the Diamond and Pearl game are the Pokemon in each game. Each game has a different set of three (3) Pokemon but the games are basically the same.
6. Where does Barry (aka Damion, hyperactive blond kid (like Naruto) runs around and bumps into the main character repeatedly.) go after you beat him twice in Pokemon Diamond?
You can find him at Pastoria City after beating the gym leader and talking to the Team Galactic grunt (definition: a common soldier).
7. Does ToysRus still giveaway Mew?
Mew was given out September 30, 2006 as a special promotion. Other promotions happen so check with your local store to find out if one is coming up. I wrote another article on this blog about how the promotions work. (link below)
8. If the Pokémon is in a cave (like Uxie and Azelf), use Dusk Balls. They have a 4x catch rate if used in caves or at night, which is higher than an Ultra Ball. Ultra Balls are still good to use, anyway. You can also try using a Quick Ball first, sometimes you can get lucky and get it on the first try. But for legendaries like Mesprit and Cresselia, you should use your Master Ball because they run.
9. Pokemon Playing Guides (link below) -- my daughter's opinion is that the Prima Publications are not as informative as the ones produced by Nintendo which are lower in price and contain MORE playing information (elite four move sets and labelled maps, maps are not labelled in the pricey Prima Guides). Nintendo Guides gives you more "bang for your buck", so to say, less pricey, more info.
10. The new Pokemon TV series (airing on Cartoon Network Mon-Thurs 7:30 pm EST) with Dawn, Paul, and Zoey has 12 new episodes in season 10. Ash is still 10 wears a new outfit and Brock is still in love with Nurse Joy, Officer Jenny and every girl he sees over the age of 15, or so it seems.
They are still wandering.
There will be a new team of "baddies".
11. My daughter highly recommends these sites for reliable information:
Serebii.net
Pocket Monsters.net
Bulbapedia - all things Pokemon
GameStop -- link to the tournament page, if not (like they moved it) go to the side bar under specialty to find out where the new page is.
At Amazon: Pokemon Diamond Version and Pearl Version Official Ninetendo Playing Guide and the
Ultimate National Pokedex (Diamond and Pearl).
I will update this post as needed.
Until next time --"pachi pachi" or "pika pika"
"PokeyMom"
Another article in my blog I wrote:
The Pokemon Challenge -- including how the store promotions work and what to expect -- a must read for parents!!!!
Updated 7/21/07
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Wordless Wednesday: Hydrangeas
2007-06-06
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Rules to Stay Young
2007-06-05
10 RULES TO STAY YOUNG by George Carlin 1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctor worry about them That is why you pay "them!"
2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.
3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. "An idle mind is the devil's workshop". And the devil's name is Alzheimer's.
4. Enjoy the simple things.
5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.
6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.
7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.
8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.
9 Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county; to a foreign country but NOT to where the guilt is.
10. Tell the people that you love them, at every opportunity.
And always remember: Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
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Divine Design with Candace Olsen
2007-06-05
A small segment was on the Today Show about Candace Olsen of HGTV's Divine Design, one of my favorite shows.
In the clip, it was noted that Candace is 6'1" tall, travelled the world playing volleyball in her youth, attended Art School and was snatched up into the design world as soon as she graduated which has lead her to where she is today. She struck out on her own in 1994 and after several segment appearances on other TV shows, got her own show Divine Design in 2002/2003.
Her husband Uri (Juri?) said that when he met her, it was love at first site. There was a small tour of their magnificent Toronto home, a work in progress by both, and their two children (Pyper and Beckett) made an appearance.
Now everyone can mimic one of Candace's Designs (or part of one) since she has teamed up with two companies, Norwalks and Kravitz (or Cravitz?) that sell her furniture, fabrics, rugs, and plenty of lighting. Some of her lines are named after her children.
Candance Olsen Designs -- check out her furniture products. Limited area, not in the New England area.
Candance Olsen Lighting -- you can order online, company is located in Brooklyn NY.
Divine Design Message Board at HGTV
According to what I have read, Candace only does designs for her show clients who live in the Toronto area and not for clients who wish to hire her.
So if you wish to hire her outside of the show, you are out of luck.
Also, the people on her show PAY for the design, materials, and work and they get to be on TV too.
So if you are aged 25-45 years old, own a home (no renters) in the Greater Toronto Area where they film, have a 15 x 15 foot room (at least, and plenty of room for the entire filming and work crew) and wish to apply to be on the show, you can go to her website and fill out the six (6) page application to apply. You will need to send in a couple of pictures of yourself/family, four (4) wide shot room pictures, a room diagram, and a picture of the exterior of the house. Applications must be complete or they are not considered.
Divine Design TV --> click on About the Show then Get on the Show and the application comes up in the info box and click on there to get the file to print it. Good luck.
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Weekend Whimsies
2007-06-05
Well, it was pretty good.
Saturday am it was drizzly and cold but we went out yardsailing anyways without the kids (they did not want to miss the Pokemon Marathon). In less than an hour, it heated up and was extremely muggy out.
We went to a few neighborhood yardsales -- they are the best, one stop, several houses, lots of stuff to choose from.
One lady tried to sell my husband a huge canvas tent for $15 (too much). but I told him (who wanted it) no because he already had a smelly musty old canvas tent his brother gave to him. Last year he set it up in the yard and moved it around a bit before the wind blew it down but not away.
However at another sale, there was a small more modern weather resistant portable tent for $5.00 and that was ok. It folds up nice so it does not take up much storage room. I think I will have my husband sleep out in it if his snoring gets too much for me. LOL
We got some books and a couple of things for the children (books and a conch shell, stapler and puncher and a few other things). My daughter was thrilled I did not get her any sweaters.
The biggest buy was the Sony car stereo with the cd player for $10. Hubby installed it but it did not lock in so we had to get parts that totalled $26. additional dollars but still, better than paying $100. or more.
Sunday (weather cold and showers) we drove to the Mall (under an hour's drive, I live in the sticks) and got some basic stuff (shoes and clothing) then went out to eat.
At home, we got lots done also. So in all, it was a great and productive weekend.
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