"Declan: Just put 'em the wash; they'll be grand." movie Leap Year or How-to Fix your iWatch

I did love that Leap Year movie. There were so many memorable quips to be quoted and a darling couple finding their way to love.

The joke line I loved best of all was "Just give 'em the wash, they'll be grand." In fact I suppose I have used that line more than any other I have ever heard from a movie.

I even washed the band.
Amazing!

Why? you ask. Well, I am the queen of spilled things. Once a waitress asked me how I could be standing beside the table in a booth before my full spilled glass of milked could run off the edge.

The answer was simple enough..."practice".  There you have it.

I cannot use bleach in the wash because a good "wash" will not take bleach marks out. In fact, most cleaning products contain bleach and I avoid those too.

But this last week I found out that giving my iWATCH, of all things, the wash can repair it. Did you know that?

My iWatch would not let me use what I called the stem on the side of the watch. I later found out that "stem" is not the right term. Apple calls that thing a "digital crown" ... I have no idea why. Searching for the totally wrong term on Google really does not work.

After a bit I notice that under all the recommendations that I call the Genius Bar at Apple or a certified Apple iWatch repair shop was a website that said "Fix your Apple iWatch yourself."  Could it be possible to fix it on my own? Really wouldn't that involve taking off the back and fiddling with whatever or whoever is inside there?

Reluctantly I found the website and read the article. Maybe I could save myself a trip to the Apple store and well, more money.

Imagine my surprise when I read the very short piece that explained that removing a leather watch band and holding the watch under warm tap water while turning the "digital crown" for about 15 second would cure the problem. Could it really be that easy?

People, you read it here...my watch is shiny, looking almost new and works perfectly. How wonderful is that. It seems that giving "'em' the wash" really does solve lots of problems.

Come to think of it the watch is waterproof and can be worn in the shower. Hmmmm, maybe I could wash it more than once every 2 years.

Have a wonderful day.

Oh, and Google, it would be nice if, "self help" appeared
closer to the top of the page. It may tick off you advertisers but your users would like it a lot..

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Did I Really Say that?

This is an updated post from 2014. It keeps getting better and better! 

I have to admit it. I can swear but I try to keep it a secret. I am a total fraud and Google knows it. I found that out after I wrote this article. Now I find out that Dame Judith Dench thinks my choice of words shows courage. Plus Rubber Shoes in Hell is not setting a good example for me. Wow!

I know, the word cussing is old fashioned but just work with me here. Cussing is what we called it back in the day. In fact, cussed (cuss-said) was a swear word back then. We would call mean old men those cussed old guys or a dog that bit that cussed dog.

I didn't hear many really bad words in my day. My mother said dang once in a while. But I must have heard some bad words somewhere. My mother claimed I said dammit over and over while I jumped up and down on the bed. I was in trouble for jumping and cussing. It was not a good day in my world. Then I claimed that my Auntie Ardella said it all the time. My Auntie was a saint and I am sure she never used a bad word in her entire life. I probably was guilty of lying too. I don't remember doing any of that very clearly.

Cover of Phooey!

My father always cussed in the basement when he hit his thumb with a hammer or cut a board too short twice. However, he was out of earshot at least as far as understanding the words were concerned. I did hear him call his bosses SOBs a time or two but since I could not spell it didn't matter.  That was as bad as it got. I don't think he would have been a "real man" back in those days if he had  not done that.

I was a teacher and the "f" word was never allowed. Student would be surprised when the parents were called but still, they did get a call. I can understand why they needed to spout off occasionally. But still.

I discovered that sometime things went wrong, I was frustrated. That was when I learned a few bad words...fiddlesticks, dog-gone-it, shoot, phooey and later what in the Sam Hill? 

I always felt a little guilty when I lost control but lose control I did! And my vocabulary became more colorful as time passed. I have spent a lifetime trying to overcome this very bad habit.  But, a bad word or phrase will slip out in normal everyday conversation. I am generally on the golf course. Dear me, I sound like a sailor or a person that was raised by wolves.

Now Dame Judith Dench, age 80+ says that maturity gives us the courage to say what is on our mind. Interesting I think. I'm not sure if it is courage or lack of self control. Sigh!

Rubber Shoes in Hell, one of my favorite blogs, uses phrases like,  "Oh dear god. Fucking hell."  the same way I say "Oh my. Darn". Same meaning, different generations.

As I age I want to become more of a lady not less. I really do. I think that dignity and modeling of good manners never goes out of style.  Oh My (smile) how I wish it were easy. But it is not.

I tell myself often that I do NOT suffer from a disorder that leaves me unable to control my language. I cannot decide if I should fight it or just embrace it. After all, if Judith says it is okay, who am I to disagree.

Unfortunately Google sees right through me. I was a little taken aback when I saw that they suggested f*__k as a label option.

Any thoughts

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The Google Man Rode in on a Beautiful White Horse!

English: Google Logo officially released on May 2010 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I am like most bloggers...I have this love/hate relationship with Google. I do know that without them I would be nothing...not saying I am something now...but still they do help me think I am something.

I have been a blog writer for many years and have owned 4 different domains at different times. I suppose that is all good on me but don't ask me how I did it, where I bought them or even how to pay for them. My attitude from the beginning of blogging has been the same as the one I brought to my Apple computer when the very first one ever produced sat on my kitchen counter and Steve Jobs held Apple user group meetings here in Portland Oregon. I just point and click...ask me to join and I was interested. I am not afraid of anything. There you have it.

So getting back to the domains and how to pay for them I need to tell you about the guy and his beautiful white horse. I know his name but I won't put it here because I don't want to embarrass him with too much praise. OK...I give...his name is Ivaylo.

I owned a blog called The Left Side of  My Brain. I wrote on it when Sarah Palin ran for vice-president alongside that guy from Arizona...his name escapes me. She drove me nuts enough to prompt me to buy a domain just so I could rant a little with hardly anyone noticing. Then we moved on and I abandoned the blog. Once a year bills would come for the domain and I could never figure out how to turn off the automatic payment. Finally, this last week I found a place where I could ask Google the question and it would be sent to someone that knew the answer. I was asked to leave my phone number.

Imagine my surprise when the phone rang a couple of days later and a real, live talking Google guy said my name and offered to help me! Oh my goodness and here I thought that there were no real people at Google. I pictured this warehouse full of servers where a small man wearing glasses made sure that the backup generator came on when the electricity went off. I thought it was probably located in Christmas Valley, Oregon. Boy was I wrong. I could just see the man's beautiful white horse.

So the Google Guru and I spent the morning talking on the phone. We used an app that allowed him to see my screen called Join Me.  I was guided through deleting that old blog, paying for a lapsed blog. The big problem occurred in both cases because I was unable to access my Google Administrator account.  I took notes so I may not have to go through this process again in a year or so. No guarantees though.

Today I love Google and Google guy, who ever you really are. Thank you again. My life is very, very good! Oh and by the way, the Google guy said I was very tech savy for a woman my age. I think that was a compliment!

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Note: My new/old blog address is It Crossed My Mind Blog. I plan on writing stories there.

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Adsense: Does Just Breathing Count?

I know the title might be a little misleading but I do just wonder about things. For example, I was looking at my Adsense earnings today. The money part of blogging has ceased to mean a thing to me but once in a while I check to see what is happening. Here is how it has been going...

I looked for FITBIT bands...
now that is all I see in
the ads! I am sorry I didn't buy
from you but the ads were everywhere. :)

The real people that actually stop and read anything is not much but I do get between 500 and 600 hits per day. Of those people a few really care about what I have written. A few of those that read are also taken by the ads in the sidebar...the trouble is every blog or website they go to will probably show the same ads so the chances of anyone clicking on my ads drops to the minus column. Personally, I did a search for a particular type of skirt I want. Now, no matter where I am on the web, that skirt shows up in the ads. I am assuming that this happens with everyone.

However, on those days my traffic drops, the income will go up. I find that extremely strange!

Even today, when I doubt anyone has clicked on an ad, I have earned a few pennies. So the question is "does just breathing count?" Do I earn income even though no one has clicked an ad or has someone seen an item that catches their interest and clicked...then I earned 4 cents? I wonder.

Now as far as Amazon is concerned, I do know that someone has to buy something on the main part of the page they do in a Amazon search. Those ads at the bottom earn Amazon money and I won't see a penny of it ever. As far as Amazon is concerned, I don't even exist unless someone buys something. Going to the website through my blog does NOT earn me or any blogger money. In their case, breathing does not count.

Any thoughts on the subject?

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Aging: The Wonders of Curiosity

Curiosity (TV series) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

We all know that our mind is a "terrible thing to waste" and that "education is wasted on the young"...or at least that is what we have been told. I am finding that my curiosity is increasing as I get older so I am not wasting my mind or my age. That is the good thing.

The bad thing is that I am  no longer afraid to ask if I wonder. The fact is many people do not like me coming up to them on the street and asking them questions. And I don't want to become the creepy neighbor lady that peeks through the blinds at the neighbors. Sometimes I just have to wonder and wait. There you have it.

I wonder how safe driving is
in Utah where the speed limit is
80 mph!

I had a set of encyclopedias when I was a 10 and my mother would settle arguments with my grandfather using what those books had to offer. I loved the feel of them in my hands and honestly rushed home from school for weeks after they were delivered to explore a new volume.

Oh, and now we settle arguments by doing a search on the computer or iphone. I don't suppose much has changed at all. My son tells me that we don't need to wonder about things anymore because we have this wonderful "new" thing called technology. Amazing!

My grandson told me the other day that he and his friend were curious as to what the most expensive thing on Amazon was. When they Googled it, they found a diamond chandelier ranked at the top...serious money I am guessing. I loved that he knew where to go to find the answer without even thinking. I have to remind myself about Google.

Siri on my iPhone will find things for me too. When we traveling I also wonder where I am or how big a particular desert is or even where to eat in Podunk. I also carry an atlas because my phone is not active is some remote places. Even in this age of wonderful technology, sometimes a real book is the only thing available. If I don't have some way to find the answer I will forget what I am wondering about.

Curiosity is a wonderful thing.

What have you wondered about today?

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Google Scares me a Lot: I could not access my Google App administrative console!

English: Google Logo officially released on May 2010 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I had such a big hiccup in my blog world this last week I almost had a 2 year old meltdown. The payment for my Gift Boomer blog domain was due and the payment was denied. Google scared me a lot because they told me that I could be cut off! And, when things go wrong, you don't get to talk to anyone at Google ever! AND I hear through the online grape vine that if their get rid of you, getting back in their good graces is very nearly impossible because, as I was saying before, you cannot explain yourself to anyone.

I swear there is a big computer room somewhere just cranking out rules and making stuff up. The only time a real person gets to have a say in that company is when they need to change a light bulb in that room.

The problem was my credit card had been compromised during the last year and I did not make connection between my new number and my domain re-registration. Google sent the link for me to sign in to my Google App administrative console for the domain and fix the problem. But I simply could not get it to work...I don't believe I even knew there was such a thing as a console. I even talked to the Google App representative and she tried all the things I tried but no luck. Like me, she kept saying "I just don't understand why this (or that) does not work!" I kept say, "I know!" She did admit that she could not connect be with the big boys and she one ONLY trained to do the app stuff. I even asked to talk to a supervisor but I was told they don't know anything either. See what I mean?

So after the second day of the struggle I began going to chat forums. I used the shotgun approach (a method of the asking a lot of different people the same question) to try to get some answers. Finally, I saw a grain of information that actually helped. It turns out, I have an email address (mydomain@mydomain.com) that I needed to use when I sign into my Google App administrative console. Who knew! Hopefully it is fixed but I do not see that a payment has gone through so who knows.

If I disappear sometime soon, I want you to know I am not dead...at least not in the real world. Online though....maybe!

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6 Idea for Building Affiliate Marketing

One of the things we miss most when we are not working or retired is the validation that working for an income provides. Someone thinks we are worthy and pays us to do what we do. I don't know about you but we missed that part of our careers. So, the question is, "How do you find validation and a little income when you are retired or a blogger?" That is where Adsense and Amazon come in if you are a blogger like me.

I'm restoring my water fountain

in my front yard and so I am

shopping for a pump. I

just thought you would want to know!

Tom over at Sightings Over Sixty left a comment and asked me the other day how I made any money using those sources that are allowed on Google Blogger. He said that he had tried Amazon and found that it just didn't provide the validation he wanted. It is tricky to say the very least. There are some ingredients I think you need to make it a worthwhile endeavor.

1. Time is what you have the most of in retirement or a freelance blogger...time that you can do what YOU want and time is what it takes to make any money online.
2. Products that you can write about consistently and truly want to promote.
3. The ability to promote your affiliate position without putting off family and friends.
4. Enthusiasm for following other people and connecting with them. 
5. A Facebook account and a group of like minded people that are active in that media. I belong to several groups of women online that support each other. It has worked for me.
6. Remain realistic in your expectations.

Yesterday I wrote about patience and how it can be such a positive thing. That is what affiliate marketing is all about for me. I suggest that you bookmark my Amazon page on your computer if you shop at Amazon. But I don't bombast you with emails that make you feel you are being stalked. I take my time and am not impatient if I don't see results. I have been doing this for several years. 

In my case, books are my go-to subject. But there are other things I buy. I use Amazon Prime so I usually get free shipping and I can send gifts to grandchildren without worrying that the postage will cost more than the gift. Anytime I buy something on Amazon, I post it on my Facebook account and talk about it on my blog. I write about products that I can promote sincerely. If I don't love the experience why would I try to sell it?

Amazon will also pay me a fee if I refer you to their program.

I love to shop so I visit those website that carry a product that I love and follow their links to find really good stuff that I actually would like to have. For me it is clothes and beautiful things for my home or garden and gifts for my family/friends. It may be boating or financial interests or even underwear for you. (Remind me to tell you about my pantelones underwear online order one day soon.) Then I write about it on my blog. ADSENSE will add links in my sidebar ads that fit what I write about. If people click on those (as I hope they will) I receive some income. I get several checks a year from them...sometimes more and sometimes less.

Word of mouth is my best connection. I have spoken to those people in my family that shop at Amazon and asked them to bookmark my Amazon link. They all told their friends and hopefully the word will get out more and more. I also have asked my friends to do the same...once. I have mentioned my account on my Facebook page and in the groups like Midlife Boulevard to which I belong on that social media website.

The key here is you realize this is not easy money. It is something much, much more. It is a small way of validating what we do for fun. Seeking out readers, telling them what you like and spending time being a reader/follower can pay off for you but it will not come fast. I personally think that small income and building an affiliate presence can make a big difference in your life.

I would be interested in hearing any other idea you have.  Just leave a comment with a link to your blog.

Be well.

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Note: I only get a fee if you buy something on Amazon or Adsense. The links above are for your convenience. I hope you found the information helpful.

Counting: 8 Ways to Keep Your Blogging Life Simple

It occurred to me yesterday that I needed to simplify my blogging life...a lot!  Passwords, social media and time spent maintaining might be sucking the life out of me and the payback is not worth it.

I do earn a little money from my Adsense account linked to me blog and an Amazon account (which I would love you to visit) but it has come time to remind myself why I began blogging back over 8 years ago.

The blogging idea was so appealing...I could see my words in print, tell stories and even share pictures I had taken of faraway places. Best of all the thrill of having even one reader put me over the moon.

I loved the process of writing and learning while I was doing it. It never occurred to me that people would want to use my blog to promote their products. When they did, I jumped at the chance. However, when that happened, I then felt the need to promote my blog more. Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter and even following followers took over the computer time that I had been spending just enjoying writing.

And it turned out Google really doesn't want me to use my blog to make money unless it is through Adsense. Even when I linked to a business for no money but simply to share information, Google asked the business to remove the links! It was getting just too twisted for me to deal with on a daily basis. So my blogging life is changing for the better I think.

Here is what I have done so far:

1. I have withdrawn my option to promote any businesses with a link on my blog and will just support those businesses that have used the blog up until now. That was big step for me. It was a relief!
2. I do not participate in Linkedin. They were contacting people on my email list without my permission and it became embarrassing after a time. Plus I did not see that it helped me at all.
3. I now use Facebook almost entirely for promoting my blog with friends, contacts and family. I do not post anything personal or an update of my day to day activities there. In fact, I use private pages that different groups have to post questions or special blog titles that those groups may find helpful. That has turned out to be a very positive change.
4. I have blog articles automatically posted on Facebook and Google. I never think about it at all.
5. There is a need for a hard heart. Sometimes it is a good idea to be less visible. I block people on my Facebook account...especially if they seem to be lurking. I just don't want anyone following me like a needy dog or even contacting me there instead of using email or calling. I generally tell the person that I am not going to be a visible so they will know what I have done. 
6. The passwords needed to be dealt with. What a pain in the neck those have turned out to be. I have actually found that doing things the old fashioned way can be less bothersome than trying to do everything online. A simple phone call can suffice in a lot of cases and I don't need a password to do that.
7. Restraint in my blogging life is all about actually never signing up with anything new that requires a passwords or even more of my attention. Honestly, I don't want to join every website I visit. It drives me nuts! In fact, some websites may be losing business because they require a password to even take a look at their products. I will pass thank-you-very-much.
8. I am now using that unsubscribe option...a lot. While I don't want to live in a vacuum, I don't feel the need to see a newsletter from anyone more than once a month. If I get them anymore frequently I unsubscribe. TMI is not good for me. 

Now I am back to simply writing about what interests me on a daily basis. The series on "counting" is one new twist I have added. Numbers appeal to me somehow so I thought why not pursue it FOR AS LONG AS IT INTERESTS ME.

I will continue to use Adsense advertising so my readers can click on products linked to what I write about.  I love my Amazon affiliate account and would love it if you began to buy your Amazonproducts through me...including Amazon Prime which turns out to be the best deal around if you order online. I will keep my twitter account (barbblogtwits) and Facebook because they are very simple once I got it under control. But that will be it...for now.

Do you have any ideas about how to make your online life simpler? I would love to hear them.

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Google's Blogger: Afraid to Ask the Questions!

Retire In Style Blog header created by Barbara Torris for Blogger

I do read the fine print on Google because I love to write on my Blogger account.  But the fact is I might be breaking the rules when I link to a business in a post. I do vet the articles and make sure that I can support what they propose but it is a gray area that I often wonder about. I often wonder why Google doesn't go into the business of offering a paid option for their clients. It would be wonderful.

Blogger is the most wonderful service a writer could ever have.  The simplicity of the website is something I love. I even think that the Adsense ads add a lot to the page. But if the Adsense doesn't work and bring in income, why even use it?

My husband points out that we don't need the money and he is right.  I guess it is just a little validation for what I do...with the emphasis on little. And, if I begin to earn more, I gain the spotlight which is not going to make things easier for me.

As for the title, Afraid to Ask the Question, I went ahead and sent a note to Google feedback with a screen shot of my blog. Will I be sorry?  Maybe!

What do you think?

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Learning: Google and Tumblr Keeping Life Interesting

I have had a very slow day...or maybe I should say I am very slow today. I cannot seem to get awake.  Why do I do that?

It may be that I am bored  or it could be that I am just tired. I am hoping it is the latter because it is my belief that boredom is only for people too lazy to think about something to do and then get up and do it.  That is where you find me right now...doing something!

http://retireinstyleblog.tumblr.com

Tumblr is beginning to interest me more and more so I decided that I would give it a try.  It gives me a chance to post pictures with a little "flash" writing on a page of my own design.  Today I set up my page and gave it a name I think is perfect.  It all began when a search was made for the synonym for record.  One of the phrases Google gave me was "converting an event for future viewing". I liked that so I decided to call the page Converting Life.  It should be fun to keep a log of pictures taken each day as I record/convert life for another day.

Take a look!

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10 Best Travel Application for a Smart Phone

If you are on the road like us, you know that your smart phone (my iPhone) can save your bacon....over and over. My husband and I just finished our journey from Oregon to Arizona. I know what a difference that device has made for us.  Here are the 9 we used just on this trip plus one I want.

1. Gas Buddy mobile app...this app can find you when you are on you phone. It gives you a list of gas stations that are nearby along with the price of gas. It can make a difference...for us it was $.20 per gallon. Over the length of a trip it is significant.
2. Twitter mobile app...I follow local Twitter, keep in touch with people on the fly.
3. Instagram App allows me to post photos to twitter and facebook. If you are a blogger, you know that being personal and up to date is important.
4. Facebook mobile app...this one is for family more than anything. But I do have a lot of followers. Timing is important for twitter and facebook.  Be sure to post when the most people are using the apps.
5. FourSquare is a social app that will actually find deals in the area for you. We have scored free appetizers, desserts, etc.
6. Around Me mobile app will tell you about places to eat and will list motels/hotels along with the rates they are charging. It has the information for connecting to online booking for the motel. It comes in very handy.
7. Blogger mobile app...if you are a blogger, it is nice to be able to post a short post on the road. Blogger lets me do that with my iPhone.
8. Yelp...this is a site that gives you the inside scoop on restaurants and entertainment. We like to use it when we are planning a special night out.
9. MapQuest or Google Maps...I do not like getting lost. I try really hard not to have that happen. It can be difficult even with Map Quest or even a Garmin. How did we travel before we had those devices?
10. PLUS: A Mobile Hotspot. This little function can be a lifesaver.

If you know of something I am missing, let me know!

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Instagram edited photo

Instagram edited photo

I want a barbque to tow behind our vehicle...or not!

Blogging about Retirement: 6 Lessons I Learned at the DMV

Note: I use Grammarly to check for plagiarism because bloggers like me need a good editor.

I love to blog but it has been a slow process to figure it all out. But I have learned a lot over the last few years. There are a few things I think YOU need to know. It is all a matter of getting it right in the beginning.

Blogging at the DMV

Yesterday I learned about blogging in the least expected place. I had to go to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to renew my driver's license.

The DMV branch office is like all big government service locations. There are forms and lines with lots of people.

They require information. A man checks you in as you enter the door and explains the rules. (He was very nice. Things had changed since I was last there.) A wordy postcard comes through the mail telling you everything you need to know; do bring a passport or government papers to prove that you are in the United State legally and don't produce a birth certificate laminated card or something from the hospital to prove anything.

If you decide to do it your way, the man explaining the rules doesn't care. You won't get a number. You are going home to come back another day.

The whole thing fascinated me. There are interesting people to watch. Clerks go to lunch as 30 patrons wait for their return. Elderly people walk around in a confused daze. People that know more than you do may take your place in line. Children run unattended up and down the aisles.

When you finish giving the clerk your money, you will be sent to get your picture take for a new license. When the camera clicks, you know that you are going to be stuck with that image on your driver's license for many more years.

What I Learned

I have been retired for 17 years and blogging is a way that I earn money during my retirement. I am self taught and have made many mistakes. I would have earned money sooner if I had taken the time to figure out what I was doing BEFORE I actually hit publish. There is more to it than being a good writer. Maybe I should have gone to the DMV sooner!

1. If you are writing about retirement like I do, you need to be retired. Don't talk about what you don't understand. Like that Passport, you need to prove your certification. People will decide if they will come back and visit based on how you demonstrate what you know. 
2. Why use 800 words to say what you could say in 250? The DMV postcard that came in the mail used a lot of words...most of them were unnecessary. I did not read it all and paid the price. But I was not totally to blame. DMV's postcard failed me. Don't fail your audience. 
3. There are rules. Pay attention to the details and read the rules. If you don't, Adsense or Google can ban you! 
4. Your driver's license will be valid for several years. Online information on sites like Facebook will last forever. We are very lucky that our DMV picture is temporary. Facebook is NOT! 
5. Be curious and ask questions. It can save you lots of time. Who wants to be the last person in line. I recommend Money Dummy Blog as a place to learn. 
6. Pay attention to the people around you and learn from them. In fact the DMV is the perfect example of what you can learn if you pay attention. Make friends in your community of writers and give them feedback. Answer every email or comment. They will do the same for you. 

Life is a very good teacher. But if I had taken the time to do a little more preparation, I would have made money sooner. Do it right the first time. It will pay off...really it will.

I am hitting publish...if I have made mistakes, point them out and forgive me!

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Aging: Is your search engine working against you?

I was reading The Succulent Wife yesterday. It struck me that the advertising industry is so pervasive that there is no way to escape the images of ourself as somehow not good enough.  Every page we go to on our computer is loaded with ads for things we women need to make us look more youthful. The search engines know how old we are, where we live and what we like to do. They take that information and place ads on your Facebook page and maybe even on your email account. I even suspect that the ads on my blog are aimed at me specifically. Don't ask me how but it is a fact. Susan Keats contributed the article and this what she had to say:

What a relief it would be if I wasn’t continuously bombarded with reminders of my age, but was encouraged instead to prioritize other things: books, classes, ideas, travel, excitement! Why, with a mind focused on my wonderful life ahead, (which is full of possibilities) I’d actually be a really happy gal! 

Feeling like a teen is unbecoming to me as a grown woman. I am fully capable of having a better handle on things than certain advertisers would want me to believe I have. Life can be too short to waste on obsessing over appearance.  Read more: http://www.thesucculentwife.com/my-after-life-series-get-a-handle-on-it/#ixzz2RxpgVXRz

The burning question here is How would you feel about your life if you did not possess a mirror and you never saw any of these ads? Think about it. Would you be proud of your education or want to share the books you had read and the creative ideas you have? Could it be that your travels would make you shine from within? Would you feel happier with your lot? Would you make education or books or travel a priority?

I think if we could turn a blind eye to all of these ads and do what Keats is proposing, we would be transformed somehow. Today, do what she said...focus on your wonderful life and the endless possibilities. Use the mirror to apply a little make-up and comb your hair. Then turn away from it and get on with your life. Tick, tock!

Best 5 Simple Online "Design Your One-of-a-Kind Gift" Ideas

SolSketch and Google Offers

Google Offers had a very cool coupon online today.  It seems that you can design your own phone case using a photo from your computer or a design you have created in Photoshop or iPhoto. The offer is from solsketch.com.  You pay $15 for a $35 case.  They give you step-by-step directions so you can do it yourself.

I created a design in about 5 minutes. It looks like this:

The website will crop the photo leaving just the text with the sign in the background.  Very cool huh!  If you are a Google Offer subscriber, you could design cases for 3 family members at a cost of $15 each. I think they would make wonderful Christmas gift.

The design page allows you to move the design around on the case so you can include as much of the picture as you want. I was amazed at how easy it was.

Zazzle and Your Custom Design

Zazzle is another great create your own "one of a kind gifts" website. They have things like t-shirts, mugs and cards.  You can also design your own page of stamps. I like that one. 

I created one to see how it would work. All I needed was an image on my desktop. When I went to the website I was given a coupon that discounted the sheet of stamps by $8.00.  How fun would it be to give your special friend a stamp created just for them?

Zazzle is going to have an option that allows you to design your own tennis shoes before long. I think that would be fun too.

Tom's Design Your Own Sole

Toms has a webpage called Design Your Own Sole that features a plan for a party to decorate your Toms shoes just the way you want.  Look at this and maybe you can get some creative ideas. Remember, this can be a "charity event" because you buy a pair of shoes and a free pair goes to a child in need.

Nike

Nike even has an option that allows you to design your own running shoes.  No pictures on them but you can choose things like color, flexibility, etc.  This might be good gift certificate item.

FP Girl for the picky backpack buyer!

FP Girl makes it possible for you to design a backpack. You can buy a gift certificate here or do the design yourself and incorporate a school logo or a favorite photo. 

Family Address Cards (business card) by VistaPrint

I have always liked the idea of having address cards make for a family or even a child.  These could be so much fun. You need to design your own using their templates but it is very simple. The one I show above is in a "family" template set.  Vista Print will make these for you for $10 and deliver then within a few days.  I just recently did this for my blog. There is probably a franchise close to you so you might check with them too.

Remember

Christmas is coming and doing thing affordably can mean putting a little elbow grease in the process. But that usually means you need to get started earlier. I'm just saying!!!

b

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What you do after you visit matters! How to read a blog! @addthis :)

If you are here for financial information, are wondering about living in a very small space, looking for information on the retirement lifestyle or just think I am a stupendous passable writer, thank you for coming by.  Your visit really does matter.  You see, there are people out there in cyber space that actually keep track of your visits and what you do after you come here.  It is not some nefarious plot to entrap you...it is simply about deciding who is the most popular! Wahoo!!! I would wear a bathing suit but since you cannot see me...well it is all for the best.

Note: More information on the subjects can be found in the "pages" at the top of the blog page.

For example, I received an email from the @AddThis team. You can find their icon at the bottom of the blog in a red box marked +Share  They were wondering if I was alive and well.  Why?  Well it turns out that they keep track of whether my readers are clicking on the icon.  I know!  Who knew?  And I am sure you would have done that but I didn't tell you to.  It is really my fault.  How were you suppose to know?

I also have a follow button in the sidebar on the left hand side.  There is a fancy G beside a blue box that says Join this Site.  That button is above pictures of a bunch of  Avatars (picture...fancy online talk.  Sorry!).  When you become a new follower, this blog benefits from your actions. Google keeps track of that kind of stuff...I am pretty uninvolved but I do care.  It is like a cycle...you follow so my ranking goes up so more people will see the blog and they will follow.  It just keeps going.

If you are shopping on Amazon and you can come to this blog and search the Amazon button for what you are shopping for, as an associate I benefit from that. It is at the top of the left hand side-panel.  If you do that, thank you so much.  My penny bank is almost empty!

This blog is a little space that I have carved out for myself.  I can write anything I want here and you get to decide whether to come on down and read or not.  If you like what you see, you can beam this starship up to someone...twitter, facebook or +share.  If you don't, well I will still like you anyway.

So that is why you are so important to this blog.  What you do when you come by is up to you.  But if you want to give the blog a little support, it would not hurt my feelings.  Leave a comment and come on back soon y'all.  You-are-very-important!

Be well.

b

Are you safe? Nothing is "Private" Online

But when I received this Infographic called You Are Not Safe Online I thought it was a good reminder.  If you don't want to let the everyone to know your numbers, pay attention!

I read 1984 back the early 1960's.  It still haunts me.  But only in light of my world then.  The flat earth  was still round and all of my life was private.  No one watched my every move and I could shop without anyone knowing if I used cash and wore a disquise.  Boy have things change.

I have nothing to fear really.  I take the necessary precautions in my online life.  I do that sort of thing much like I lock my front door at night.  Humans are humans and always have been...some are good and some are bad!  But still...is this a good thing?  Here is a "picture" of how your online activities are shared.
Technorati Tags: consumers, data, facebook, NBC, Google, Wireless Information, Smart Phones, Apple, marketing, online safety


Created by: OnlineMarketingDegree.com

Warning! Email Scam on the Move...again!

Don't do that!
Don't re-enter your personal information.

Let me say this again...your email server will not will not will not ask you to re-enter your personal information. If you get an email saying that your server (YAHOO, GOOGLE, fiddleBOMB, DIDDLYWINKS, etc, etc.) wants you to re-enter your information threatening that your service will be terminated, it is a scam!!! Do not re-enter your personal information.

It will look like this:

Gmail Team securitydatainfomation@gmail.com Feb 11 (4 days ago) to Account, bcc: me Dear Valued customer, Kindly complete the fields below to avoid Denial of service. Full Name*: Date of Birth* : E-mail Account*: Recovery Email:* Current Password* : Thanks, ©2012 Google Mail ®.
HTML info

Note that the word "information" is misspelled and says "infomation" in the email address. Your service will not be denied! A friend had this happen this week and actually sent this very official looking address her password, user name etc. That allowed this SCAM to access her email address box. Every person on that list got an email requesting money saying she had been kidnapped in Spain. This is the second friend I have had this happen to.

Do not answer these email, report them as spam. You email server will not ask for this information. If you have responded to this warn, friends, change you password and user name. Sigh!!!

Did I get one of these requests??? Well yes I did and I put it in spam and reported it. I was so tempted to respond saying, "You're kidding...right?" but is resisted the impulse.

FYI

b