Family

Our family is growing. We are now 4 generations. We started out by ourselves 58 years ago and now there are 4 children and their mates. They all have families and some of those children are married now. We have 14 grandchildren. Some of those have their own children also and now there are 6 great grandchildren. My how time flies. It gets harder and harder to get everyone into the family pictures each year. We had a great Christmas as one of our twin daughters and her husband opened their home to our whole family and lots came except those who were sick. We had much good tasty food and I am sure we all added a couple pounds to our waistlines. Back on the exercise machines for us! I hope everyone had such a wonderful Christmas with their families as we did.

Cereals

What is your favorite cereal for breakfast or even for snacking during the day? Do you like to mix various cereals together? I have been trying that and find that I like it. By adding another cereal to shredded wheat mini wheats, it gives you a whole new cereal and you can add some crunch to it depending on what you use.

I like Oatmeal Crisp and I also have some Honeycomb and our little dog, Holly, thinks she has to help me eat my breakfast. I like to cut a banana up on top of it too and she likes a little piece of that now and then. She sits beside me and talks to me about the breakfast food, until I give her a little bit. Little bits satisfy her and she is happy and she gets to lick the bowl before it goes into the dishwasher. She looks forward to that.

Church Tomorrow

Tomorrow is Sunday and time to go to church. I caught a heck of a cold though and tonight I feel rotten. I don't know if I will be going. I don't want to give it to anyone else. My husband has been coughing for a couple of weeks so the germs were flying. It seems like no matter how much you wash your hands and try to keep the germs away, they tend to sneak up on you. As someone said once "I forgot how much fun a cold could be" NOT! This week has been so mixed up, it has felt like we have had several Mondays and several Saturdays and maybe next week will get back to normal, whatever that is :0)

Kitchen Sinks

If you are thinking of replacing your sinks, you want to look into kitchen sinks as a great place to find what you are looking for. They have all the name brands and the most beautiful sinks in all types of finishes to match your kitchen decor. Before you go anywhere else, check into their website for a huge selection of fine sinks.

Reading and Magazines

Yesterday was a good day to catch up on my reading. I was getting behind on newspapers and got 2 new magazines so sat down and read through everything. I spend so much time blogging and making money at it, that I get behind on everything else.

I also watched a number of my favorite shows I had on tape. I was piling up a pile of those too and caught up on exercising on the Gazelle. I can't get behind on that. Sometimes you just need a day when you sit and basically do little or nothing and yesterday was one of those good days. Took a nap too.

I just heard on television that the latest study shows if you get a good night's sleep, it is good for your heart and you will probably never have heart trouble. I should never have any heart trouble, because I can nap in the daytime, fall asleep in front of the TV, get up and go to bed at 10 and sleep till 6 or 7. It is a blessing to be able to sleep like that when so many are taking something to help them sleep.

Island Struggles to Deal with Epidemic of Monkeys

How would you like to be overrun with monkeys? Especially monkeys carrying diseases. In Puerto Rico. the easy life is over for hundreds of monkeys, some harboring herpes and hepatitis. They have run wild through southwestern Puerto Rico for more than 30 years. Now authorities have launched a plan this month to capture and kill the monkeys before they spread across the entire island, threatening agriculture, native wildlife and possibly people.

Some animal experts and farmers who have complained for years about the rhesus and patas monkeys think it may be too late already. Dr. Mark Wilson, director of the Florida International Teaching Zoo which has helped find zoos willing to take some of the animals, feels they will never get rid of the patas monkeys there. They may go deep into the forest, but they will never go away. There are just too many of them and they are too smart.

Rangers began trapping them in cages that are about 10 feet long, bated with food and equipped with a trip lever. Two of 16 monkeys were released with radio collars for further tracking too. There are at least 1000 monkeys from at least 11 distinct colonies in the Lajas Valley. Officials decided shooting the monkeys was more humane than lethal injection. They regret having to kill the monkeys but have no choice since 92 organizations have rejected them. The scourge of non-native animals in Puerto Rico is particularly acute because of its lush climate and lack of predators.

Animal treatment is a sensitive topic in Puerto Rico, when there were seized 80 cats and dogs from a housing project and hurled them off a bridge. In May, a veterinarian confirmed that 400 racehorses, many in perfect health, were killed by injection in Puerto Rico each year.

Angie Harmon and Jason Sehorn

Congratulations are in order for Angie Harmon and Jason Sehorn. They have just welcomed their third daughter, Emery Hope Sehorn into their family. Emery was born on Thursday and Harmon's publicist reported the birth. The actress, who is 36 and former NFL player, Jason Sehorn, age 37, were married in 2001 and have two daughters, Finley, 5 and Avery 3. That is a nice family. I really loved watching Angie in "The Murder Wives" and hope it comes back on television again. She played a rough and tough cop. She is a beautiful lady.

Hate Crimes Rising Across Russia

Thugs are blaming migrants for the financial crisis and more than 100 foreigners have been killed due to this. A group of skinheads gunned down a man on a Moscow street, cut off his head and emailed a picture of the gruesome trophy to rights groups. A spike in hate attacks against non-Slavic migrants with Asian or Middle-Eastern features has gotten worse and the experts say it is due to the rapidly spreading economic crises. It is Russia's worst in a decade. Four times as many foreigners have been killed in apparent hate attacked this year than in 2004.

The poor people of impoverished, former Soviet republics have moved to Moscow to take low paying jobs in Moscow's once booming economy but things have changed. The killers who are still at large, warned of more violence unless the Kremlin expels what they called the black occupiers. It is sad when people are just trying to exist and feed themselves and their families are killed for moving to another location in Russia.

Win a Gift Box of Ferrero Chocolates

There is a great contest going on at Jenna's blog between now and Monday, Dec. 22, at 5:30 p.m. Check it out. She is going to give away 7 Ferrero Chocolate Christmas tree gift boxes filled with Ferrero chocolates and all you have to do is leave a comment on her post with your e-mail address. Then on Monday, December 22, at 5:30 p.m. CST, she will randomly draw 7 winners and they will get an e-mail immediately. Who wouldn't want to win a prize like that. I know I would. So hurry over to her website and get your entry in to win that box of chocolates.

The great part of this giveaway is that the Ferrero Company is in their second straight year of partnering with Share Our Strength. This is one of the nation's leading organizations working to make sure no child grows up hungry in America. So far they have given $150,000 to this organization and you can add to that amount as well. It is easy. All you have to do is go to Share Something Sweet and "send something sweet". That is a customized e-card, and then Ferrero will donate another $1 per card sent. They will match this up to $10,000, In addition to that, for every person who joins the Ferrero facebook page, "Ferrero Lovers Unite," they will donate another $1 to Share Our Strength - up to $1,000. Let's all help the hungry children of our country, the good old USA and get a chance to win a lovely box of Ferrero chocolates.

Tarmac Protest Raises Security Question

News out of London England reported that environmental protesters cut through the perimeter fence of Britain's third largest airport and occupied the tarmac. This forced the cancellation of more than 50 flights and raised questions over the vulnerability of airports. Two waves of protesters arrived at Stansted Airport before dawn. Using an old fire truck for cover, the first group sliced through the fence with bolt cutters. A second group ran through the gap. The action was meant to protest a possible second runway and escalating carbon emissions. Police arrested 57 people. They were right in arresting them for breaking in by cutting the fence.

Sleep Number Bed

Did you know that 9 out of 10 couples do not sleep well on their mattress because each of them would like something different? One would like a very soft mattress they could sink into dreamland. The other would like a firm mattress that makes them feel more rested in the morning. Now there is a solution to this problem. By getting a sleep number bed each one of them can adjust their side of the bed to their liking. There is just nothing like a good night's sleep to make you feel like a new person in the morning, more full of energy and less aches and pains. Check out their great selection. My son and his wife bought one and they say it is the best. And they tried a great many and returned them until they found this mattress.

Bank will Extend Credit to Plant

The creditor of a Chicago plant where laid off employees are conducting a sit-in to demand severance pay, said it would extend limited loans to the factory so it could resolve the dispute. However, the workers declared their protest unfinished. The Republic Windows and Doors factory closed last week after Bank of America canceled its financing.

About 200 laid off workers responded by staging a sit-in at the plant. They vowed to stay until getting assurances they would receive severance and accrued vacation pay. I really can't blame them. I know if I had vacation pay coming, I would want that for sure.

Their action brought national attention and was seen by some as a symbol of defiance for workers laid off nationwide. When the bank announced that it had sent a letter to r\Republic offering to "provide a limited amount of additional loans" to resolve the employee claims, a resolution appeared closer.

Monex Precious Metals

With the economy so unstable and seemingly getting worse all the time, everyone is looking for a safe place to invest their wealth so that it secure. That is why many people have turned to Monex Precious Metals over the years. Monex has been in the precious metals business for over 30 years and they have the most dedicated staff of professionals to help you invest your funds. Both gold and silver have been for centuries, the safest investments. People from all over the world have purchased bullion to preserve their wealth. Check into their website and see if this is the solution for you as well.

Polar Bear Club

The Polar Bear Clubs seem to be getting more popular all the time. I think it was in Chicago that I saw the first bunch of people jump into frigid water in their bathing suits. I think they are nuts. The hypothermia has got to be risky but the water is soooo cold, I just don't know how they do it. Now, there is a club here and we watched them on television run through snow barefoot in tiny swim suits and bikinis and jump into the lake. I got cold just watching them. It is insane in this weather to do this I think. I wonder how many of them got frostbite out of the deal or hypothermia, because it has been so very cold this year, more so than normal. You would never catch me doing something like that.

Time for a New Battery

Our car battery is 8 years old and is 2 years past it's guarantee and it still starts great in this below zero weather. But with the new batteries, like this one, they can just die on you at any moment. So tomorrow we will be going in to get a new 6 year guaranteed battery to be sure we are safe for the winter. It has a 2 year free replacement too if anything goes wrong the first two years. I think that is a good warranty.

We will have it done here in our home town where we know the people who work on our cars and we can trust them to advise us on what is best for us to buy. We have had an account with them for 38 years now and bought a new set of tires last winter from them and they are very good tires. Everything on our car has really lasted so we know it is a good quality car and we are glad we bought it when we did.

Wedding Website

A wedding is such an important part of your life that you want to be sure that everything is done right and yet you do not want to spend your life savings on it. That is one reason that this online website Wedding Website is a wonderful place to start. They have all the advice for you that you need to pull off the perfect wedding.

First you may want to check out their wedding checklist and also wedding budget. They can put you onto caterers, florists, and even bands for your wedding dance, that will save you money. The include a list of fine places to register for gifts. A wonderful gift would be one of gold bullion and something that will last and be of real value to you in your life together.

Weighty Problem for Oprah Winfrey

January's "O" magazine carries a story by Oprah Winfrey, who is now 54 years of age, and is about her weight struggles. She details her recent battle with an out of balance thyroid and how the condition made her develop "A fear of working out". She is embarrassed, but then a lot of us have done the same thing. She says she has fallen off the wagon and gained weight up to 200 pounds.

Back in 2006, she weighed 160 pounds. I remember seeing her on TV and she looked great and she was running every day. Now she's gained 40 pounds and she looks at herself and says how did I let this happen? I know. It is a pound here and a pound there and if you let them stay, they seem to bring in more pounds for company :0). It isn't funny to the one who has gained the weight though. They can't move as well, get short of breath upon exertion and it isn't fun at all. I hope she is able to overcome her fear and lose that weight again because she looked great at 160.

Diet Pill

Here we go again. It is diet time. Too much good food and not enough exercise over the Holidays. No, running around stores, buying gifts is not enough exercise, even though you are ready to drop. So it is head for the store and get a good diet pill you can take safely along with your schedule and get rid of those excess pounds before you put on more or they become a permanent part of your body. This company has done all the work for you. They have reviewed over 200 of the top diet pills and use a 12 point criteria to choose those that would be best and safe for you. Check out the 10 top diet pills with them before you go out and buy one.

Michael Jackson's Glittery Glove

Want to buy Michael Jackson's glove? It will be auctioned off in April. His glittery glove is going on the auction block. This is the glove which inspired countless copycats, quips and Halloween costumes after it was unveiled in the l983 video for Jackson's hit "Billie Jean," and will be part of a five day auction next year.

Julien's Auctions in Los Angeles announced Wednesday that they would auction off the glove among other things. Jackson is also unloading the grandiose gates that once led to his Neverland ranch, along with more than 2,000 other personal items. The King of Pop's possessions will be on display before the auction begins April 21. Bids will be accepted in person and online.

Jackson plans to donate a portion of the proceeds to MusiCares, a charitable organization founded by the recording Academy to help musicians in need. Now is your chance Michael Jackson fans to own something of his. Get online if you can't get there in person to the auction.

Protesters to Withdraw from Airports in Thailand

In Thailand, there, anti-government demonstrators declared victory and said they will end their occupation of the country's two main airports. This was after a court decision forced the country's prime minister from office. Have you ever seen so much unrest in the whole world as there is now?

While an estimated 300,000 travelers, stranded by last week's airport takeovers, breathed a bit easier, the question of who will hold power in a democratic Thailand remained unanswered. The protesters who seek to eliminate the one-person, one-vote system, left open the possibility of more unrest, saying they will return to the streets if political change does not occur. That sounds like more violence could occur.

Online College Courses

In today's economy, it is very hard to find enough money for every day expenses, let alone college tuition. However, 75% of Capella's online students receive financial aid for their online college courses and now they have put out their latest podcast relating to financial aid for students. Capella is one of the finest and fully accredited online universities. They have a complete line of both Master's and doctoral degrees in business, public health and public safety, just to name a few. They are a very big help to working students who wish to complete their degrees but have not been able to afford it, or so they thought. However, with Capella's program of financial aid, many are now able to get their degrees and move on to much better positions.

This post is based on information provided by Blogitive. For more information, please visit Blogitive.com.

Chemical Ali Sentenced to Death in Iraq

Remember him? He is Saddam Hussein's notorious cousin "Chemical Ali" Hassan al-Majid and he received a second death sentence, this time for crushing a Shiite uprising in the wake of Iraq's defeat in the l99l Gulf War. Once among the most feared members of Saddam's regime, he uttered "thanks be to God" as chief judge Mohammed Oreibi al-Khalifa declared him guilty and imposed the sentence at the end of the trial, which began in August 2007.

I don't know why it takes so long to have the trials, etc. He already faces the gallows after being convicted last year for his role in the killing of tens of thousands of Kurds in a crackdown in the late l980's, in which chemical weapons were used against civilians. Legal wrangling has delayed that execution. They think if they die they will automatically go to Heaven, but he might be in for quite a surprise.

O.J. Simpson Sentencing

Here we sit in front of the television set watching what is supposed to be the sentencing of O.J. Simpson and another man. They went into a room with guns and were convicted of it and now they are going to sentence them. But so far, the lawyers have come up with one thing after another. Happily, the judge threw out everything so far but it is taking hours to get to the actual sentence. My husband loves to take an afternoon nap but we are beginning to wonder if they are going to get this over with today, or is it going to drag on into tomorrow. I would hope not.

Well, they finally got to the sentencing and the judge was very thorough and made sure that everything was based on this case alone, and nothing in the past. The whole thing was on tape in a casino so they almost didn't need witnesses as the judge could watch the whole robbery go down. Simpson was sentenced to 15 years in the Nevada State Prison with possibility of parole in 5 years. Another judge there said no one gets parole at the first try or 5 years, probably not at 6 years, perhaps they will listen to him at 6 1/2 years but not then either. I believe he is 61 years old so he is going to spend the best of the rest of his life in prison. Justice was done today. The judge was right on and very well versed in what happened and the sentences.

Former Drug Czar of Mexico Charged

The former drug czar of Mexico was charged in a payoff scandal. Noe Ramires is the highest ranking official detained yet in the sweeping corruption case. Mexico accused its former drug czar of taking $450,000 from a cartel he was supposed to destroy, going public with a scandal that deals a serious blow to the country's U.S. backed drug war. He is the highest ranking law enforcement official detained yet as part of Mexico's sweeping effort to weed out officials who allegedly shared police information with violent drug smugglers. It sounds like it is a very good thing they caught him. He was going to collect similar amounts each month for alerting the drug gang to planned police operations. Isn't that something?

Even though the arrest complicates President Felipe Calderon's nationwide crackdown on the drug trade, Attorney General Eduardo Medina said it also proved the government's commitment to rooting out corruption. That commitment could be key to ensuring continued U.S. support for its drug fight. Thomas Schweich, a former U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state for international law enforcement, said the revelations suggest Mexico is aggressively dealing with its corruption problem. It is good to see Mexico working on stopping their drug problems. So far they have arrested at least five top officials and two federal agents this year as part of "Operation Clean House," which targets officials who allegedly shared information with the Pacific cartel.

Obamas Choose Private School

President-elect Barack Obama and his wife have chosen private Sidwell Friends School in Washington for their two daughters. A spokeswoman for Michelle Obama says the Obamas considered several schools for 10 year old Malia and 7 year old Sasha but decided Sidwell Friends was the best fit. Sidwell Friends is a private Quaker school in northwest Washington that Chelsea Clinton attended. I suppose it is difficult enough for security to watch over them but would be doubly difficult if they attended a public school.

Britney Spears Will Launch "Circus" Tour in March

Britney is taking her "Circus" act on the road, in an appearance on ABC's "Good Morning America". The pop star announced that her North American arena tour will open March 3 in New Orleans. She has a new album out, "Circus" which arrived on Tuesday, on her 27th birthday. It is her first tour in five years as she gains career momentum and stability in her personal life. Britney, who sang her hit "Womanizer" on "GMA" begins rehearsals next month.

Spears' 27 city itinerary includes Miami, Atlanta, Boston, Houston, Dallas, Minneapolis, Los Angeles and Las Vegas. She will close the tour on April 28 in Chicago. She will go to London for performances on June 3 and 4. I guess time will tell if she really does this and completes her tour without incident.

Pirates Move Saudi Supertanker Farther Offshore

We have heard quite a bit about pirates on the high seas lately taking over ships. I thought pirates were a thing of the past and something in books and movies. But Somali pirates have taken their greatest prize yet. It is a Saudi supertanker with $100 million of crude oil and they have moved it farther offshore in what appears to be a rare defensive move following threats by Islamic insurgents.

The pirates have dominated Somalia's high seas for the past year, bringing in some $30 million in ransom despite stepped up international efforts to fight them including foreign warships guarding the waters. However, the Nov. 15 hijacking of the Sirius Star was the pirates' most audacious to date and prompted threats from Somali extremists. Last Friday, Islamic fighters promised to fight the pirates and free the ship because it was Muslim-owned and flagged under Saudi Arabia. Two days later, pirates moved the ship about 28 miles, putting it about 30 miles off the coast of the coastal village of Harardhere.

UGG Boots

When you are looking for authentic UGG boots, this is the website to check out. They have been in business since l986 and are the only authorized dealer of UGG Australian footwear. You can call them toll-free and and there is free shipping on orders over $60. That's a great savings now at Christmas time for fine footwear for men, women and children. And they have accessories as well. One think I like is that there is no sales tax and a lifetime return guarantee. Now you just can't beat that along with their low prices. Do your shopping now for the entire family.

Economy Worse Than Expected

Tuesday, the government released a triple dose of discouraging data. Over the summer, the economy shrank even more than previously believed, and consumers reduced their spending by the largest amount in 28 years. During the same period, home prices fell to levels not seen since early 2004.

The updated reading on the economy's performance released Tuesday by the Commerce Department, showed the gross domestic product shrank by a 0.5 percent annual rate in the July to September quarter. That was weaker than the 0.3 percent rate of decline first estimated a month ago. It marked the worst showing since the economy contracted at a 1.4 percent pace in the third quarter of 2001. That was when terrorists attacked the U.S. and the nation was suffering through its last recession. Not good at all. is it?

IMF Approves Pakistan Loan Package

The economic crisis threatening Pakistan was eased on Tuesday. The International Monetary Fund agreed to a $7.6 bailout. This was even though experts warned that the militancy torn country remains as risk without more aid from the West and painful reforms at home.

Approved on Monday, the IMF loan program banished the immediate risk of a currency crash and debt default in a country already bending under the pressure of 25 percent inflation and slowing economic growth. It is happening all over the world, folks, not just here at home in the United States. The Pakistani rupee had slid from 20 percent since March as economic storm clouds gathered around Pakistan. Pakistan is a nuclear-armed country increasingly seen as vital to stabilizing neighboring Afghanistan.

Libya Wants to Invest in U.S.

You know if we aren't careful, every country in the world will own a piece of the USA and we won't have any left for ourselves. I know you think that is far fetched, but when German buys a company in Iowa and now Gadhafi's son wants to invest in the USA. Where is it all going to end? Libya wants to open a new chapter in relations with the United States by tapping into a major government fund to invest in U.S. companies and sending thousands of students to study in America.

Seif al-Islam Gadhafi, in an interview with the Associated Press outlined plans for Libya to move from the one-man rule of his father, Moammar Gadhafi, to a constitutional democracy as part of the country's modernization process. The younger Gadhafi said he expects a constitution providing for democratic elections to be adopted by September 2009. This will be the 40th anniversary of the l969 revolution that brought his father to power. He also said he expects Libya to modify its central government to a model similar to the U.S. federal government, with strong regional and local governments. I think Americans are so busy with their work and careers that they aren't paying any attention to the fact that America is being bought out, little by little, and one day we won't have enough left of our own country to be a strong forceful government among nations.

What a Beautiful Day Today

It was just a beautiful day today after a day of cold temperatures, clouds and high winds yesterday. It didn't take long to freeze your fingers yesterday and they were telling parents to bundle up the kids in case of frostbite. But today the wind stopped. The sun came out all day and it warmed up some even though we are below normal. Nights are very cold. This morning I think it was 4 degrees. We were able to get out and pick up my husband's new lens for his glasses, gas up the car for $1.72 a gallon, do some shopping at Wal-Mart and pick up dog food at Petco for Holly. I left my gloves in the car most of the time and it was really nice not to have to keep track of them while shopping. We need more days like this before the real winter weather sets in with snow.

Mexico Vacation

I close my eyes and dream of lying on a white sand beach of Riviera Maya. That is what I need, a mexico vacation and I know just the place to call for reservations. Karisma Hotels with their luxurious rooms, marvelous food, relaxing swing beds on the beach with retractable curtains for the epitomy of privacy for adults, swim-up rooms, what more could I ask for? I know what you are going to say. You are going to say this is going to cost you a lot of gold but that is not true.

You have your choice of five fine hotels and you might just choose Azul Blue, the hotel whose goal is to take the stress out of your system and give you the most relaxing vacation you have ever had. Have an arromatic bath or get some spa treatments. They will even treat you to soothing treatments on the beach or wherever you choose. Doesn't that sound wonderful?

Pill as Good as Chemo?

News out of London, tells that some advanced lung cancer patients who have already been treated with chemotherapy, might be able to skip some of the bad side effects of another series of chemo by taking a pill instead. This was an international study that showed patients on Iressa, an expensive, newer targeted treatment, survived about as long as those on another course of chemotherapy.

Unfortunately, few treatments exist for lung cancer and most patients die within a few years of diagnosis. Lung cancer kills about 1.4 million people every year. Iressa, made by AstraZeneca PLC, is one of several new targeted drugs that attack specific growth receptors on cancer cells, doing less harm to patients.

Those patients on Iressa survived about 7.6 months while those on chemo survived about 8 months. After one year, 32 percent of patients on Iressa were still alive, while 34 percent of chemotherapy patients were still alive. Frankly, these figures don't look much different to me and if the pill is so much more expensive, it doesn't appear to give those with lung cancer any longer to live, in fact it looks like they live less time.

Drug Suspect's Wife Charged

A drug suspect's wife is being charged in the shooting death of an FBI agent. The FBI agent was trying to arrest a cocaine-dealing suspect at a home near Pittsburgh when he was fatally shot by the man's wife. About 6 a.m. Agent Samuel Hicks was shot in the middle class community of Indiana Township. The 33 year old was taking part in a drug ring roundup at the home of Robert Korbe. Korbe was taken into custody on the drug charge. Korbe's wife, Christina, age 40, was charged with homicide. Her attorney, Sumner Parker, said his client had feared for her life and might have thought someone was breaking into the home. Likely story, huh?

Discount Jewelry

It is nearly Christmas time and time to do that shopping for the woman in your life, or yourself. And nothing says Merry Christmas better than beautiful jewelry and fine watches. This is a fantastic website to shop as you can find discount jewelry here. They have the largest selection of timeless pieces or more cutting-edge designed jewelry. Their fine sets of necklaces and earrings would bring a huge smile of delight to any woman's face. Your daughters would love their gorgeous stacked bracelets and you would enjoy a sporty or dressy new watch, wouldn't you? You can find anything you are looking for at Holsted Jewelers.

We Need Coal

By 2042, America's population is expected to grow by 100 million. Even if we were able to reduce personal energy consumption by 25-50 percent, we would still be significantly behind due to the population growth. That means each person would have to cut their energy usage by 75 percent. It is a fact that 400 million Americans can't live on less energy than 300 million Americans and many of them are already using energy efficient appliances and electronics.

This means that America's future electrical needs will include a variety of fuel resources and that includes coal. The question isn't whether we will use coal but how we will use it. We have to use it cleanly. Research must be done into clean coal technology and that means putting money toward funding that research.

Instead of wasting valuable time arguing against funding for critical new technologies, we had better spend the time and energy finding ways to ensure the funding of advanced clean coal technology. We can't wait years and decades to make these investments, because other countries such as China and India and others are going to continue to increase their use of coal and most likely won't develop their own clean coal technology. The U.S. has a great chance to demonstrate international leadership by developing that technology and work to transfer it around the world.

We need to keep building new coal plants that are carbon capture ready so they can be retrofitted once the technology is ready. If we eliminate coal, we would become overly dependent on other more expensive forms of energy such as natural gas at nearly three times the cost of coal. We need all forms of energy but coal is our most abundant and affordable fuel source for electricity and it will remain a part of America's energy outlook for the foreseeable future and beyond.

Online Holiday Deals

Now is the time to get online and get some extra special discounts on several items at Kmart but you must get shopping for them now as they end November 26.

Through November 26, The Attention Women's Kimono Wrap Sweater is discounted an extra 10% online along with an extra 30% online discount also on the Abbey Hill bedding Medallion Dream bedding collection. You will see the additional discounts when you get them into your online shopping cart. They are already fabulous buys but at these discounts, you can't go wrong. But they aren't the only items discounted, keep shopping and you will find more.

There are plenty of other items that have an additional 10% discount through December such as their womens plus sleepwear and attention brand. There are the same discounts on girls tops, ALL juniors, and boy's tops. And don't miss out on the mens and Big mens shirts and bottoms and bedding for toddlers and infants.

Additionally, a fun part of shopping online at www.kmart.com is that every week through Christmas, they are going to have Hidden Ornaments on the website. These will give you even bigger savings, over and above their great prices by using a coupon code. Why are you waiting? Get shopping now and take advantage of all these great deals and fabulous prices.

Hewlett-Packard Co Shares Soar

After a solid 4th Quarter outlook, Hewlett-Packard Co. surprised Wall Street on Tuesday by saying its earnings will be slightly above the analysts' expectations. This goes against the grain as other technology bellwethers have slashed forecasts and posted weak results in the sagging economy. It is great to hear some good news for once in the middle of all the bad news. Wall Street is diving again today.

The Palo Alto California based computer and printer maker expects earning of 84 cents per share and adjusted earnings of $1.03 per share for the three months ended in October. This is slightly better than the $1 per share that analysts were expecting.

Denver Restaurants

Dining in Denver is not just eating out, but it is an experience. They have some of the finest chefs preparing the most wonderful food anywhere. They also have the choicest wines and find beers around. Just check out this website for Denver Restaurants. You are sure to find many choices whether you live there or are visiting there. It is a beautiful city with so much to see and do. There is find shopping and you can treat yourself to a spa or go to the zoo or museum and much more. Denver Magazine will give you all the updates on what is happening in Denver.

New Front-of-Package Food Labels Coming

The nation's dietitians, food makers and retailers want you to know how many calories are in that frozen pizza you enjoyed last night, and they don't want you to have to go looking for it on the label. With obesity rates, eating habits and exercise patterns, a widespread concern for all, they say the will help people make better eating choices by designating thousands of products as part of the new Smart Choices Program and adding nutritional information to the front of packages.

I have been reading labels for over 30 years and even more so the last year when I nearly got diabetes 2. And labels are not that easy to read. It will be great to see labels featuring calories per serving and number of servings so that you can easily find them. The new labels will most likely be on products from food and beverage companies like Kraft Foods Inc., General Mills Inc., Coca-Cola Co and PepsiCo. Inc. starting next year.

The goal of the program is to get you to make smarter food choices and thus improve public health. It sounds like a great idea to me. The labels will hae two parts. There will be a green check mark and the "Smart Choices Program" label for foods that meet certain nutritional requirements within some categories. The other part will highlight the calories per servicing and the number of servings per container.

Bailouts

Isn't everyone just about sick and tired of hearing about bailouts? No one bailed us out years ago when we had financial problems. Everyone just worked it out. Now everyone turns to the Government for help. What's the matter with these people? Do they think the Government is an entity in itself? It is you, us, me-the taxpayers. Everyone has their handout. Just how much money has our Government got to spend on bailouts. Actually NONE. Our Government is so deep in debt now, I can't figure out where all these billions are going to come from, can you? Wake up America and let those that got themselves into their messes, figure out for themselves, how to get out of it. America is not going to shut down all over if GM goes bankrupt. All you hear is FEAR, FEAR, FEAR.

Turbocharge Your Ride

I want my VW to stand out in the crowd. With a turbocharger it is going to do just that. My horsepower and torque will be improved and my engine efficiency will be improved. The advantage of having a turbocharger is the air induction. I found the perfect place to get the turbocharger I need for my car and that is at this online website Volkswagen turbocharger. They have a huge inventory and many warehouses all over. When I order, I know my order will go to the closest warehouse and be shipped the same day or the next day for sure. They give you FREE shipping too UPS ground in the 48 states. It may be less for the other two states depending on the weight of what is ordered. They have a great catalog and everything in it is in stock so there is no delay in shipping it out to you. You can even get Next Day Air or Two Day Air if you are anxious. They also have Audi and other models as well, so it pays to check in with them to see if they carry what you are looking for.

Earthquake

I read today there was a 7.5 earthquake near Indonesia. It seems there a lot of them in that area. There was a tsunami warning out for a while but it was called off. They lost so many people a few years ago when that big tsunami hit them and washed thousands of people into the sea. Then they washed back up on shore and I don't know how they got them all buried. I would not want to live near a place like that. We'll take our chances with tornadoes. They are bad enough in the midwest.

Anoretix

If you really want a diet pill that works. Here is one that has 9 patented ingredients. They don't just give out patents unless the ingredients are proven. Take a look at this website Anoretix and you will see that it is the No. 1 listed diet pill and it tells you every ingredient and just what it will do for you. Not only that but it has a Lifetime Money back guarantee. Have you ever heard of that before? I haven't. It is sure worth looking into if you are serious about losing that excess weight you have been carrying around.

Sale

Now here is a website that is a delight to shop. You can fine it at sale. They have such a great variety of almost everything you can think of. And their sales are really something. Wh pay full price for anything you can get here. Be sure and check out their Deal of the Week and what is special on This Week on BuyTV. You are sure to fill your gift list quickly at this site.

Christmas Trees

Which kind of tree do you enjoy at Christmastime, that is if you have a tree? Do you like to go out and chop down a fresh tree and tie it to the top of the car and bring it home and set it up? They always smell so wonderful but I have never had any luck getting them to drink enough water and they always got very dry.

So we finally decided to get an artificial tree and now I wouldn't have anything else. You can get so many styles of trees now and with the lights already on them. You can even choose the color of lights. I do love the fiber optic trees though and we have a small 2-3 ft one that rotates and changes colors. It has lights in the shape of snow flakes and stars besides lighting up at the ends of each bough. It is beautiful, easy to store and easy to get out the next year. It won't be long until it is time to put the tree up.

Crude Oil

For the 17th week since July 4, gasoline has been falling below the $2 a gallon price in many states. The price of crude oil tumbled below $60 a barrel. This is a 20 month low. Light, sweet crude oil for December delivery fell $3.08 to settle at $59.33 a barrel, the lowest closing price since March 2007.

While consumers worried about a weak job market and slumping investments are grateful for the price relief, economic reports increasingly suggest they are hanging onto whatever savings they see at the pump. I know we are. We aren't buying anything we don't absolutely need. We drive less, buy less groceries and eat out less.

I think the reason the price is down is because the other countries are afraid we will drill and have more oil than they have and we won't buy from them anymore. In fact, if they would drill here, we could be selling oil to other countries and not putting billions into the hands of other countries who hate us. I think I saw in the paper this morning that crude is down to $56 a barrel now. We can only hope it stays down as they promise us higher heating bills this winter and where is all the extra money going to come from to pay these bills?

Cosmetology Schools

Are you the one who always did up everyone's hair when you were kids playing house? Did you like to cut your sister's hair, much to your mother's distress? All along you have wanted to become a hairdresser and now you have reached the time in your life when you are looking for the right school. You have come to the right place because you can check out all the information on cosmetology schools here and learn all about Regency beauty schools.

They have educated a great many students that are fine salon professionals. Many have exciting jobs such as working on cruise ships. There is no limit to what they can do with an education from Regency. Their students are much sought after. We have a salon right here in our area and it is one of the finest around.

Veterans Day and Benefits

Yesterday was Veterans Day and all the Veterans from past and present wars were remembered. Many schools had special programs and we saw on television that many churches put on special dinners for the Veterans. My husband served in the Army in Germany.

The Veterans Administration has a new building and offices near us and we feel blessed to have them so close. We are able to get prescriptions for much less for the Veteran than you would have to pay at the drug stores. If you wish, you can use your own doctors for surgeries and things like that right here at home or they have a van that will take you to the nearest Veterans Hospital for free care. All blood tests and exams and orders for drugs are taken care of at your appointments here at no charge. That is a great benefit for Veterans.

Diet Pills

Tired of all your excess weight? Looking for some good diet pills but not sure which ones really work? Wondering which ones are safe and effective? Now you can check that out on this website and they not only give you the best and most effective pills but they will give you more than that. They will give you a good deal of information on which ones are dangerous. Which have been taken off the market. They will help you with proper exercise and diet to follow while you are dieting. See the top 10 pills on the market today for 2008 and save money too.

Let Them eat Cake

A famous lady once said that and I am all for it. Do you love cake as much as my daughter does? Here is a delicious cake you can make anytime and enjoy with ice cream. With the Holidays coming, it is time to think about those big meals and desserts are the perfect finish to any meal.

Along with all kinds of pies, pumpkin, pecan, cherry, you can bake a great cake. They always go over well with the kids who seem to eat more cake and cookies than pie. What is your favorite dessert? It's time to get out those famous recipes we use once or twice a year on special occasions.

Winnebago Industries - 2009

Winnebago Industries has had a tough time of it, just as other car and truck manufacturers have. But they are hanging in there and it will get better. People love to travel and camp and with the high cost of hotel rooms and restaurant food these days, they can take their room with them and cook just like at home. I know just how good these units are because I worked there 25 years and saw them go through several ups and downs but they always came out ahead. They are the No. 1 maker and seller of motor homes. They are ready with their 2009 lineup and as usual are turning out gorgeous motor homes for families of all sizes. And for the retiree who sells their home and moves into one of the larger luxury homes, they have it made. They can go any where and see the United States at their leisure taking their home with them. Check out their motor homes. They are beautiful.

Holiday Dinner

It is that time of the year again. Time to plan those big Holiday dinners with all that wonderful food. I know Thanksgiving is just around the corner and turkey is the main dish. But what would dinner be like without those wonderful mashed potatoes and delicious turkey gravy? Our oldest son just loves Thanksgiving turkey gravy. I guess that is because turkey is usually a once a year meal.

Often people opt for Ham for Christmas or we have a new tradition and that is pot luck. It makes a wonderful Christmas meal because there are so many great dishes by so many great cooks. Come New Years everyone will have to go on that diet again that we always try to do but never succeed :0) So bring on the mashed potatoes and gravy and lets all have a great meal.

Pamela Anderson Moves into Mobile Home

Pamela's house is being refurbished and so she has been forced to move into a mobile home. But guess what? She loves it. She is the former "Baywatch" star and is adamant that she is having a blast in her new home, along with her two sons, Brandon 12 and Dylan 10. She says it is small but chic and perfect for her and the kids. We chose to live in a mobile home ourselves, and just love how comfortable and convenient it is. It is so easy to keep up. I'm sure her California house is gorgeous and will be even more so once it is finished.

Vacation Rentals

If you are planning for your next vacation, be sure to take a look at vacation rentals website. This is the best place to look for anywhere in the world. They have connected with many property owners and you can get the best bed and breakfast, hotel, motel, condo and other rentals that are available at as many as 15,000 destinations. You will be sure to find what you need for as many people as there are in your party going on vacation. Check out this great site for the best vacation ever.

France Tries New Artificial Heart Technology

French scientists, in the race to build a better artificial heart, have turned to technology from satellites and airplanes to create a heart that they say responds better to the human body. The new device which was shown at a news conference in Paris, has so far only been tested in animals. Its makers hope it might one day help people survive without needing a human heart transplant.

American companies have already produced artificial hearts and scientists in Japan and South Korea are also working on versions. Above is a picture of an american artificial heart. The photo was courtesy of Abiomed. I believe England also is working on one.

However, the French artificial heart is the first to be able to determine its patients' needs and respond accordingly. And its maker is a subsidiary of the parent company of Airbus, the European Aeronautic Defense and Space Co. "It's the same principle in the airplane as in the body," said Patrick Coulombier, chief operating officer of Carmat, the manufacturer.

Philippine Ferry Overturns and 40 Die

There was a sudden monsoon squall that overturned a crowded inter-island ferry in the Philippines. At least 40 people drowned and the coast guard said today that the captain and owner may face charges for sailing without a permit. There were seventy-six people were who rescued and taken to two hospitals after the Don Dexter Cathlyn was battered by winds and waves shortly after leaving port in central Masbate island for nearby Sorsogon province on Tuesday. This was according to the regional army commander, Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Sodusta. I wonder how many died outright of fright before drowning. I think I would have. What a disaster. Without a permit, they shouldn't have been sailing at all. That is catamount to murder.

Obama, U.S. Senator from Illinois - President Elect

We have a new President Elect this morning. That is Barack Obama. He was U. S. Senator from Illinois and has made the big step to President. Beginning in 2009, he will take over and we will see what changes he will make. He has talked about the fighting overseas, the health coverage for all Americans and many other large plans for Americans.

One man can't do it all, but he has a Democratic Congress behind him now and we will see what happens. It is always different when the President changes. How will it affect Wall Street? Everyone has so many questions and they all hope for the very best for all. The Bible says pray for those in charge of you, your leaders - so that is what we must do and pray for our country and our servicemen too.

Arkansas College Shooting

Four men were charged last week with capital murder and other felonies for the fatal shootings of two students and wounding of a third near a University of Central Arkansas dormitory. The officials said the victims may not have been the assailants' targets. Isn't that something?

The two murder charges against each defendant carry either the death penalty or a life sentence if convicted. The prosecutor declined to say if he would ask a jury for the death penalty. Two of the men were only 19 and the other two were 20 years of age and they also face charges of attempted capital murder, eight counts of terroristic threatening and gun violations. I am in favor of the death penalty and so is God.

Dietsupplements

I just found out that 97% of all dietsupplements don't work. I think I have bought about 50% of them already. They say that only 3% do work and this website has gone to all the work for you. They have checked out a great many diet pills and supplements and can tell you which ones really work. They can tell you the top three and what their store shelf price would be. Then you can order them online from them for a terrific savings. You can also see the rankings both by users and by their staff. Check them out if you are serious about losing weight and want something that is going to work.

Automakers are Seeking Expanded Federal Aid

U. S. automakers are seeking federal help beyond the money that Congress has made available for them They want this as part of a financial industry bailout and a measure to retool their assembly plants for more fuel-efficient cars. Where is this going to end? It has a tumble down effect. They bail out the top money lenders and then everyone else down the line wants to be bailed out too.

Dana Perino, White House spokeswoman, said the auto industry has talked to the Bush administration about funding on a much broader scale than the two programs approved by Congress earlier this fall. GM wants about $5 billion to $10 billion in aid from the government. Where is all this money coming from? The requests have come as GM and Chrysler LLC are discussing a potential merger.

You can't just keep throwing billions of dollars after billions of dollars, or can you? Where is all this big money coming from? It seems to me if we have that much surplus, then someone is already being overtaxed. But, get ready taxpayers. I'm betting all our taxes are going up. Something has to give somewhere.

What is Your Caffeine Limit?

They have found that some people are very sensitive to small amounts of caffeine. There is even a small amount in decaf coffee, though most people are not aware of it. There is no equation to figure out how much you can stand. It can't be measured by weight, body mass, or gender or age. You just don't know.

I know my husband can stand very little, even if he drinks it in the early morning, it can keep him up very late at night. Some people really get the jitters from it. A professor who studied it said it increases urine output, opens lung passages and acts as a stimulant in the brain. This gives us that feeling of wakefulness or when we have to much we get shakey. Children and teens should try not to take in too much caffeine as it is so much better for their bodies to drink nutritious drinks such as milk and fruit drinks.

Skinheads Plot to Kill Obama

If these two guys didn't have any bad luck, they would have no luck at all. They were two white supremacists that were charged with plotting to behead blacks across the country and assassinate Barack Obama. They were going to wear white top hats and tuxes but they were likely too disorganized to carry out the plot. The authorities said their planning was riddled with blunders.

Among the blunders were that they drew attention to themselves by etching swastikas on a car with sidewalk chalk. They had only known each other for a month. They could not even pull off a house robbery and to top it off, a friend ratted them out to authorities. With friends like that, who needs enemies?

Paul Schlesselman, age 18 of Helena-West Helena, Arkansas and Daniel Coward, age 20 of Bells are accused of dreaming up the plan. The authorities said they had guns capable of creating carnage but documents show they never got close to getting off the ground with their plan. I think their lights were on, but nobody was home - as they say.

Medical Equipment

Almost every family has needed various types of medical equipment in their homes at one time or another. Now there is an easy way to order what you need and have it delivered to your door. And if it is something you are going to need on a weekly or monthly basis or some sort of regular deliver, you can set that up with this company. They have a huge inventory of medical supplies and equipment of all kinds. Blood pressure monitors and diabetic supplies can be ordered from them. All kinds of first aid materials can be ordered from this online website medical equipment. They have been serving more than a million customers and were founded in l996. In l998 they expanded to include Maternity and baby supplies, Exercise and Fitness Equipment and Outdoor Gear, as well. Check them out. I feel you will find all you need at this website.

Celtics Open Defense of Title with Win

NBA finals MVP Paul Pierce scored 27 points and the defending champion Boston Celtics followed an emotional ring ceremony and banner raising with a 90-85 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night. It was a Celtics' first.

LaBron James scored 22, but missed a driving layup with 41 seconds left and two free throws in the last 11 seconds. It was exciting. It was their first game since beating the L.A. Lakers to clinch their record 17th NBA title.

Boston honored the 2007-2008 team with a 20 minute ceremony that brought Pierce to tears. He has been on the team the longest and was choked up when he was handed the championship trophy by Hall of Famer, John Havlicek. He was choked up again when he received his ring from owner Wyc Grousbeck. After all the players got their beautiful rings, Pierce took the lead in pulling the ropes that slide the "2008 World Champions" banner into the rafters among all the others.

"It is moments like these that you cherish" Pierce said "and whenever you can raise that banner and grab that ring, and be there in front of the people closest to you, it is very emotional."

World Series Game 5

Well, folks, the World Series is over again for another year. It was quite exciting though wasn't it? I am sure the Philadelphia Phillies are floating on clouds today after their big win last night. It was the first time in history that a game was suspended and then the finish played out 2 days later. The rain literally destroyed the field, making it a muddy mess. They had to cover it with tarp as the rain kept on for another day. But once they got back on the field, the Phillies beat the Rays for the title and they were riding high. Quite exciting since they hadn't won since l980. It would have been a great win for the Rays too, but it wasn't to be.

Degree Online

You know you have been wanting to finish getting your degree. Or perhaps you have not been able to get a degree and are seriously thinking now about registering for classes to get a degree. But just the thought of traveling to the nearest college stops you in your tracks, thinking of all the gas it costs to get there. Considering how tired you are at night, is it worth the trouble? Now you can go to this online website degree online and sign up with Capella University, a fully accredited online university. They have a great deal to offer in both undergraduate and graduate degrees. And you are able to get their podcasts which come out on a regular basis. The latest is "Inside Online Education" and if you are interested in reading and a literacy program, you may want to get this podcast.

This post was based on information provided by Blogitive. For more information, please visit Blogitive.com.

Kids Do the Darndest Things

Our little great granddaughter is always exploring. She is very active and really gets around. I know she keeps her Mom hopping to keep up with her. Just wait till she is walking and running. I remember the days. They can climb almost anywhere and get into almost everything.

You really have to keep an eye on them and locks on the cupboards because nothing is more fun than pulling out all the pots and pans and playing with them. I think it is more fun to them than toys. Then if they can crawl fast or start walking, it is another challenge to keep up with them. The only time Mom gets rest is when they are napping. I think the little wheels in their brains are turning all the time to think of things to do and get into. It doesn't seem to matter how many toys they have, they will always be looking for something else to find to play with.

Twenty-One Killed in Mexican Violence

On Thursday, a toddler died after the car he was traveling in crashed during a gun battle and a businessman was killed after leading a protest against violence. Besides that, four men were shot dead in front of a crowd at an amusement park. Within 24 hours across Mexico, 21 people died during 24 hours all together.

Mexico, which is waging a fierce battle against drug traffickers and other criminal gangs does not seem to be making much progress from the looks of it. In Ciudad Juarez, across the border from el Paso, Texas, the four men were shot inside a go-cart rental at the Xtreme amusement park Wednesday night. The park had been filled with teenagers, bicycling through obstacle courses, skating and rappelling.

So far the Police have no suspects and have not disclosed possible motives for the shootings. Elsewhere in the city, a used car salesman was shot to death while driving down a main boulevard hours after leading hundreds of other business owners in a protest against kidnappings and extortion. It looks to me like they have a great deal more to do before the violence is stopped.

October - Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is almost over but all 12 months of the year should be Breast Cancer Awareness months. It just happens that my annual mammogram has been scheduled for the last several years in October. I go this morning for that and a bone density test. You can have one of those every year or every two years.

They have a new injection you have probably heard on television for bones. It is called "Reclast" and is given at the hospital by a nurse and takes only 15 minutes and then you don't have to take a pill a week or a pill a month, depending on which your doctor prescribes for you.

I think it is a great thing not to have to buy pills all year long and take one every week and stay on your feet or sit upright for 30 minutes first thing in the morning before you can eat or take any other meds you may take. It is very cold this morning - 20 degrees so will dress warmly. The hospital is only about 10 miles away so won't take long to get there and back.

Fantasy Football - Play with the Edge

Fastasy Football has really come into its own in the last couple of years. I have a nephew who eats, sleeps and breathes football. This website WaiverWire Beta is just made for him. He would love to sign up to get all the player stats and rankings and basic sign up is FREE. It is not only good for the present football season but for future football seasons as well. He can set up his Fantasy Football team and his friends are going to wonder how he got all his great information and what makes him that much sharper and smarter than they are. But of course, being the good guy he is, he would probably want to share this great website with all his friends also. Not only can he get the most real time player news updated by the minute 24/7 for a small charge, but he can find how all the latest player injuries and projections of how the teams are expected to do. Who is going to be out there playing on the field and who is going to be sitting on the bench. This is just some of the news he can use all the time to be the best at playing against his friends with the sharpest team in Fantasy Football. But there is also a great deal more information he can sign up for free. This is an all encompassing website that has it all and there is more coming yet like the War Room and The Draft Tool for 2009. It is very exciting for everyone loving football.

Candy, Candy, Everywhere for Halloween

Yes, we have to get out those bags of candy for the Trick and Treaters Friday night. That is Halloween and the neighbor kids all come around in their cute and scary costumes to consume candy. If you want them to come, you just put on your porch light. We always do that. Although we don't have a big crowd there seems to be more kids in the neighborhood this year.

Holly will get all excited when she sees the costumes and will probably bark. She is the type of dog that rarely barks and sounds funny when she does. She isn't a bit mean and will be more scared of the kids than they are of her because they know she loves everyone. Anyway it will be fun to see the kids in their costumes. You always have a princess or two and some really ugly scary ones too. But no matter how they are dressed, they are happy to get treats.

Are You Getting Placebos or Prescription Med

This really makes you wonder when you read that half of American doctors in a new survey say they regularly give patients placebo treatments which are usually drugs or vitamins that won't really help their condition. What is the purpose in this? You pay good money to go to the doctor to get well and what if he doesn't give you the real medicine you need to get well?

Also, many of these doctors are not honest with their patients about what they are doing. The American Medical Association recommends doctors to use treatments with the full knowledge of their patients. This contradicts their advice to the doctors. It is disturbing. Placebos are defined in the survey were any treatment that wouldn't necessarily help the patient. I think that is a little scary.

Strictly Health

Are you looking for a quick weight loss plan? Would you like to use diet pills but also want to find out about body sculpting in order to get your once beautiful figure back in shape? Then you simply must check out this website http://www.weightlossguide.com , designed by a woman who fought her own weight problem for 16 years. She knows exactly how to go about making your weight loss goals.

Auto Firms Make Cuts

The ever shrinking U.S. auto industry continued to cut back Thursday as Chrysler LLC announced it would get rid of 1,825 factory jobs and General Motors Corp. trimmed some benefits and said it would make further white collar cuts. Chrysler said the jobs would be eliminated at the end of the year when it closes a sport utility vehicle plant ahead of schedule at Newark, Delaware and eliminates a shift at a Toledo, Ohio, jeep plant. This is as the shaky U.S. economy speeds the industry's out of control slide.

At General Motors, senior managers sent a memo to executives on Wednesday saying early retirement and buyout offers to white collar workers had been well received but that the company would still have to make involuntary layoffs. Winnebago Industries is also continuing to layoff workers and some workers work one week on and one week off and draw unemployment in between. They are hoping to come out of this slump pretty soon too.

It is P.O.E.T.S. Day Today

If you have worked around an office for very long, you have probably heard T.G.I.F. alot but it was only a few years ago that I heard about P.O.E.T.S. day. Today is Saturday and most of us don't have to work today. This is the day you catch up on all your errands and cleaning around the house or apartment. Grocery shopping is high on the list and then maybe out for a steak tonight at a nice restaurant.

Got to get everything caught up that you let slide during the week so you can attend the church of your choice tomorrow. Some churches are having services Saturday nights now so that Sunday is a free day to go places and whatever is on your list of things to do.

It has been pretty cold and wet here so the lawn mowing is done for the year. The farmers are fit to be tied because they can't get into the fields to get the corn out. Sure hope it dries up soon before the snow flies or there will be real problems with the harvest.

Game 2 World Series

The second game of the World Series was played at St. Petersburg, Florida last night. The Tampa Bay Rays pulled it out with all their tricks at Tropicana Field to tie the World Series. That is what keeps it fun. I think it isn't nearly as much fun when one team wins right straight through and then it is over in 4 games.


James Shields stymied the slumping Philadelphia Phillies, rookie David Price and got the final seven outs and Tampa Bay rebounded from a rare home loss with a 4-2 victory last night that made it 1-all. Game 3 shifts back to Philadelphia on Saturday night, even though they are predicting rain. It should be fun and exciting.

Musical Instruments

Do you play a musical instrument of any kind? I think it is good for every child to learn to play something when they are young. Even if they never play it again when they are grown, that knowledge is always there. I took piano lessons when I was in 7th and 8th grade and I never really got very good at it. I could read music but I could never get the beat right.

If I heard a song, I could play it, otherwise it was very difficult for me. That is what they call playing by ear. I have a Yamaha little organ that plays all kinds of instruments and every now and then I plug it in and play it awhile. You have to brush up on your playing but you never really forget it altogether.

Nebraska Injury Accident Attorney

Have you been feeling poorly since that car ran into the back of you? Is it hard to turn your head? If you have not already been to a doctor you had better get in to see one as soon as possible because this type of injury is very hard to diagnose yourself. Often you have received a whiplash injury or dislocation or even a ruptured disc in your back.

It has been my experience that insurance companies will rush you into signing off on an accident so they can avoid paying possible large medical bills. Before you do another thing, contact a Nebraska Injury Accident Attorney at their website. You can telephone them or just go online and fill out the short form you will find there. Put in a brief description of your accident and they will let you know if you have a case. They are there to help you.

Knee Surgery

My sister-in-law just had knee replacement surgery. It only took an hour and a half and she was back in her room shortly after. All went well and they bent her leg while she was out, to be sure it works well. I know she is glad that is over with and will be glad when she is walking again on that leg. She was walking bone on bone and it was very painful before the surgery.

It is wonderful what they can do now to replace parts. I have had both knees replaced and so glad that I did. She should only be in the hospital 3 or 4 days and then walk with a walker for a few weeks and some physical therapy and she is going to feel so much better.

Homemade Ice Cream

Don't you every get a craving for homemade ice cream? We sure do but making it is quite a chore. So instead, we buy Blue Bunny Homemade Style ice cream and is it good!! We love to pour lots of Hershey's chocolate sauce over it too and sometimes throw some fresh pecans on top. Yum Yum Is that ever good. You don't want to do it all the time or you will put on extra weight you don't need. But sometimes, you just gotta have a good dish of that homemade ice cream and it tastes homemade too. Don't you wish you were here to enjoy it with us? I bet you do.

Alzheimers and the Neighbors

We have found out that two of our former neighbors are both suffering from Alzheimers. The one neighbor and her husband always went to Texas every winter. However, this year she has gotten so bad that they are going to stay home. It is a sad situation for him as he is very active and not that old yet and when I saw them in the grocery store the other day, she just stared at me and smiled but didn't talk. I don't think she is even 70 yet.

The other neighbor fell and broke 7 ribs and cut one lung and is in the hospital. She will be there for a while as they had to put a tube in her lung to re-inflate it and let it heal. Once that is healed enough, they will be moving her to a nursing home. This is something her husband has been putting off as he surely did not want to do it. But now that she is injured, it has been taken out of his hands as she will need special care. It is really a sad situation and it makes you stop and count your blessings and we are very thankful for our good health.

OPEC May Cut Production

It sounds like OPEC is getting worried now that the gas price is finally getting down to where people can almost afford it. Now they are talking about cutting production as much as a million barrels per day. But analysts do not think it will make much difference in the short term. I sure hope that it won't raise any gas prices.

It is so nice to see it closer to $3 a gallon than $4 in our area anyway. Friday the price of a barrel of oil dropped below $70. If the USA would just get moving and drilling, we wouldn't have to depend on them at all and could even be selling our own oil to other countries.

They complain it will take 5 years to get it running but they have been saying that for 10 years and we could have had the oil for years by now. If they keep talking and doing nothing, we will never get our own oil. Light a fire under someone that counts and let's get drilling!!

Social Security Gives a 5.8% Monthly Increase

For the typical retiree, their Social Security check is going to go up $63 a month. This is the largest raise in a quarter of a century. However, it is likely to look puny to those who have been watching Wall Street plunge, taking with it their life savings in 401k's, etc. But we are not looking down on it. We will be very happy to receive a bigger raise with everything going up so high - gas, groceries, etc.

In l982, there was a 7.4 percent increase and I can remember our brother-in-law who was 10 years older talking about the big raise he got. That was the last one until now. Last year the average increase was $24, and the year before it was even smaller, so this is quite a bit more. When you are living only on Social Security, you are very happy to get the raise. And they also said they would not raise the amount taken out for Medicare this year either so that is great too.

Maritime Lawyer

Working on a ship is hard work and often times, men are injured on the job there, the same as any other job. However, with a maritime injury it may be quite another story to get disability or medical compensation. There are many various laws regarding the different workers and that is why it is very important that you get the right maritime lawyer as quickly as you can. The time it takes you to put in a claim is important because that time may be limited. You don't want to find yourself without a job or pay. How are you going to pay for your living and/or that of your family? It is best to check in with knowledgeable attorneys quickly to be sure you get financial reimbursement as fast as you can.

Graduate, and Now More College

This grandson graduated from the local 2-year college and now is at UNI studying for law enforcement. He was going to go into the Highway Patrol like his Uncle but now his Uncle is in the DCI so he is going to study for that. He has wanted to get into that kind of work since he was 3 I am told and I think he will do very well. It is really great to see your grandkids grow up and apply themselves in school and college and move on to great things. I am sure he will have a very successful career when he graduates once again from this college. It seems like only yesterday they were skating and riding bikes at our house. Time really flies.

Mcclaren Stroller

The Maclaren stroller is just ideal for my grandaughter to take her little girl for walks. It is well made with safety belts to keep her safely inside. The overhead hood protects her from the weather and I like the study wheels that are made to last a long time. It is apparent that the fabrics in these strollers are very good and are comfortable because the seat is padded. They are adjustable to three different positions which makes it nice when the little one gets tired, you can recline the seat and let them fall asleep. They make wonderful shower gifts and Christmas presents for everyone expecting a child or who already has a child but does not have a stroller yet. They are so lightweight that anyone can handle them, yet very sturdy and have so many great features.

Chili and Cinnamon Rolls

How does that combination set with you? We are having sort of a contest at church on Sunday and 10 people are going to bring their favorite chili, enough to feed at least 20 people. Then 10 people are going to bring cinnamon rolls, enough to feed 10 people. Then they are going to have judges to judge whose chili is the best and whose cinnamon rolls are the best.

That combination of foods just doesn't go together as far as I am concerned. It sounds like one big upset stomach and heartburn when you put together chili spices and cinnamon. I would be interested to know if there are people out there who would like this combination of foods. I think I am going to have to pass on that menu. I love each separately, but not together.

Shopping for Baby Gifts

Shopping for baby gifts has sure changed since my children were babies and young children under the age of two. They have added so many different varieties of clothing such as the tiniest little jeans for the tiny ones. And they have the cutest shirts too with great sayings and designs and all the bright colors. And as for toys, I didn't even recognize the toy aisle. There are so many action figures, computerized musical toys and educational toys. It is very hard to decide just what they would like best, but then little ones enjoy everything. And often end up playing with the box the gift came in. That is one thing that has not changed over the years. I remember as the children got older, they loved playing in a washer or dryer box and making a house out of it. Some things change with time but others remain the same.

Fashion Jewelry Sets

I love beautiful jewelry. I am making out a Christmas list for my husband and on it I have several pieces of jewelry I would really like to have. A beautiful new watch would be just wonderful and some bracelets. Mine are getting pretty old and outdated. He wondered how he could go about shopping for something for me and I suggested he go online and check out fashion jewelry sets as they have a large assortment of everything. I love their colors as they are so vivid and bright. Their craftsmanship experience shows in every piece of jewelry they sell. He can even get free shipping on an order over $85.

Shopping

Are you a one stop shopping person or do you enjoy hitting all the stores? I have gotten more and more into being a one stop shopping person, doing a great deal of my shopping at Wal-Mart. I see the figures for sales at Wal-Mart were up whereas Target's were down. I was surprised that Target showed a loss in sales as it seems like everyone around here goes there to register for their weddings and baby showers.

Wal-Mart has really reorganized their store and it is so much easier to see across the store now to the various departments. I really like that as I am short and with shelves almost to the ceiling, it was difficult to find departments sometimes. One thing I really like about them is that they have plenty of knowledgeable help everywhere that will take you right to the spot you need.

They have a great grocery department too with everything you could possibly want and a pharmacy, jewelry, all the Vitamins and it seems unlimited. When we are ready for a new bird feeder we go there first. Last summer we picked up two great padded folding chairs to sit outside on. They are so comfortable compared to the plastic ones we had before and light weight to carry to picnics, fireworks, etc. Pet supplies, toys for the kids, clothing, you name it, they seem to have it and they are in a new location on the edge of town so we don't need to drive through town through all the traffic to get there. I guess Wal-Mart is our favorite store.

Family Time

My sister is coming up this morning from our home town. She wants to join me and my brother for lunch today. It was a nice sunny day but now it has gotten cloudy and they predict rains for tomorrow and Sunday. We all live in different towns and I have been really busy this morning and won't be able to join them this noon. It is not our normal habit to go out to lunch at noon, but more in the evening. Since we aren't used to eating a heavy meal at noon, we don't enjoy it as much as going out at night. We went to the fish fry last night and were joined by two former neighbors, plus my husband's brother and his wife. She is going to have knee replacement surgery on Oct 22 and it hurts her so bad now, I'm not sure how she is going to walk on it for 2 more weeks. I am sure she wishes she had done it sooner now. They say it just takes longer to recuperate from this surgery if you put it off too long.

Panamanian Condo Hotel

Beautiful Panama is a place where we would love to live. It has a view of many colorful fishing boats, huge tankers, sailboats and off in the distance, cruise ships. It has a unique sense of character and history here and Casco Antiguo, especially. This is a beautiful place and Hotel Casco Antiguo is Panama City's oldest continuously operating hotel. Now it is being rejuvenated and remodeled so that it will become the most exciting urban destination in Panama. Work on Hotel Casco Antiguo which will be started next year and will be ideal place for us to live or vacation or spend our holidays. We would be able to get our choice of condos at this early date.

Hotel Casco Antiguo will have available 34 of the most beautiful condos, and we would be able to buy some of the most exciting property. I know we would enjoy the rooftop terrace, bar and pool and get in much sunbathing. Building will begin in 2009. Don't miss out on an opportunity to live in a luxurious condo in a city that has a rich mix of architectures and cultures. For more information on this Hotel Casco Antiguo, check out this online website and Register for an eBrochure Here. It's a great opportunity for investment in one of the fastest growing real estate markets in the world.

The condos have all the 5 star amenities that we are looking for with concierge lifestyle service. It is total luxury and beautiful views of the city. We can indulge ourselves and invite friends to join us in investing in Hotel Casco Antiguo. In my opinion, now is the time to get in on this.

Sports, Sports and More Sports

Are you a sports fan? In this house, there is always a game on the television. Most of the time, it is several football games. Basketball is a big favorite too and now it is coming into World Series time. Our son-in-law loves to watch Golf but it isn't a big favorite of ours since we are not golfers. NASCAR is exciting and it seems like there are more different sports all the time. If you are a sports lover, you are bound to find more than one game on television to your liking. And now with HDTV, it is so clear and the sound is so good and color is beautiful. I thought it was good before but it is even better now. So if you like to watch sports, then this is a good place to come as there is usually a game on TV especially on the weekends.

Las Vegas Hotel Reservations

Here is the place to go for your las vegas hotel reservations. They have booked as many as 1,000 a day and they are trusted reservation specialists. At the present time, this is the time to book your trip to Vegas because you can book many of the hotel rooms at as much as 77% off the price they were last year. Now that is what I call a real savings, don't you? It will give you lots more money to have fun to gamble and see the shows. They have a simple two-step booking process at the best places in Las Vegas. What are you waiting for?

Anniversary

Today is our 58th wedding anniversary. It has been a beautiful day so far. I have had a great deal of fun posting this afternoon and hope to do more before the day is over. But first, we are going out to our favorite Mexican restaurant. I just love their Enchiladas San Carlos with two kinds of sauces and stuffed with two kinds of chicken. My husband loves their beef Enchilada dinner and both dinners come with generous servings of spanish rice and refried beans. Before that though, they serve you bowls of great tortilla chips and we will get some Chili Con Queso cheese sauce for dipping along with the red salsa. And you wash it all down with huge glasses of ice cold Pepsi. It is sooo good. We always have so much that we bring home part of it for lunch the next day. And I think it is just as good or better than the night before. It is always a pleasure to dine at Carlos O'Kelly's, anytime, not just on special occasions.

NBA Preseason

The Timberwolves beat the Milwaukee Bucks 117-79 Monday night. It looks like the Timberwolves may have acquired enough offensive threats to improve on last seasons 22-60 mark. Even though he had a brace on his right knee due to a sprained ligament, Al Jefferson still provided the bulk of the scoring for the Timberwolves. Mike Miller scored 12 points and rookie Kevin Love scored 16 but Al Jefferson scored 18 points and eight rebounds in 19 minutes. The Timberwolves were looking mighty good. Kevin Love hit a 3-pointer as Minnesota took a 60-37 halftime lead. That reached 45 points in the second half. It looks like their draft day trade is very promising.

Modern Furniture

If you are looking for some modern furniture at great prices, then be sure to check into this online website. They are a family owned business and have a large selection of all types of furniture. Because they are a family business, they can give you the customer service you have been wanting. No matter whether you are looking for something in leather or microfiber, you are sure to find it here. There are a number of beautiful colors also. For the contemporary furniture you have been searching for, look into their website for furniture for every room of your home.