hubby's dream to establish his own business

My husband has been doing his line of work for 25 years now. He has gone through countless trainings and now is the very best he can be at the top of his position with all the specialized training you can get. Sometimes, he wonders where he goes from here. I know he seeks to improve in his line of work as the technology changes.

I know that he has a desire to open his own business someday. Well as of lately, that has become a real issue for a lot of people due to the bad economy. What I’m thinking we need to do if we really want to succeed at that dream, is to apply for a whole bunch of Small Business Grants. You never know, we might get lucky.

I think if he can present his business plan and how it can benefit the community that we probably might get lucky. There are so many businesses starting up these days and failing due to much overhead and business expense. If he can get a grant, the chances of succeeding are so much better. We will have to get busy and start up paper work. If he never tries, he will never know, so let’s pray for a bit of luck and an opportunity to be a success story in the big world of business.

a wild afternoon incident

Let me tell you a wild story:

As I was walking to school to pick up my little girl, I was kind of aware that there was a car behind me. I was kind of wondering why it had not passed me yet. Well, maybe whoever the driver was driving slow since it is within a school zone, I thought.

At the intersection, it stopped in front of me and a Hispanic driver spoke to me in Spanish. I replied, "Sorry, I don't speak Spanish," and proceeded with my walk. Then he added, "Do you want a ride?" I was like, "NO, THANK YOU!" and almost ran in my agitation. Good Lord, I can't believe that that sleazy looking man is trying to pick me within the school zone in broad daylight! It is soooo disgusting!

I called hubby and told him about the incident; and he said that I could have gotten the license plates of the said car so we could report it to the police. He said that this kind of thing is illegal here in the USA especially it is within the school zone. My goodness! Oh well, I didn't know that but now, I know better. Sheesh, what an afternoon!

shoe shopping for hubby

During our family get together yesterday, everybody had noticed about my brother-in-law's raving about his Ecco shoes. It seems like he really loves his gray with black stripes Ecco Golf Street Premier shoes. He just can't get over his new shoes which he got from Zappos at a very good deal, he said. He even suggested to me to get a pair for my hubby so they can play golf together when the weather permits it.

The girls in the family just can't help but shook heads over his ecstatic ravings about his new pair of shoes. We were like, "Whatever, brother!" Actually, my brother-in-law gave me the idea to check out the site where he got his new shoes. Hubby has mentioned the other day that he wants to buy a new pair of work shoes. So, we will see if I can find a pair for him in the net. As you know that buying shoes for my husband is always a challenge. With his 12E size not to mention the deep arch of his feet, it is always harder to go shoe shopping for him. I really hope I can find a perfect pair of work shoes for him very soon for he really needs them. Happy Cyber Monday and have a good one all!

Getting Out to Play Tennis

This guest post from Werner Rogers.

When I want to play tennis, I like to go to our local city park where the court is nice. Here, you can play during the day or night. They have bright lights at night that illuminate the court, making it easy to play and see the ball. When I get ready to go, I make sure that I have all of my gear, including a few extra balls. I can hit them over the fence if I am not careful. Before I head out the door, I always make sure that I turn on my adt Home Security alarm to keep home safe while I'm out.

The tennis courts in the city are located in the middle of a beautiful park, with softball and soccer fields surrounding it. This way, I can enjoy the scenery while I play. It is much better than playing in a court surrounded by buildings and few trees. This makes playing in the fresh air closer to nature more real and enjoyable for me when I play, a real treat for an afternoon out.

go away, hives! i beg you!

Happy Hump Day all!

Yay, it's the middle of the week already. I am so looking forward for the weekend. Hubby is gonna be off work for the weekend. Not that we are planning special this weekend, we just want it to be a relaxing one. I have been having hives this week (eeekkk!) and I am really hoping it will go away soon. Sheesh, I have not been able to do my morning walk because of it. I keep taking Benadryl and it just keeps me so drowsy. I really try to just ignore it so it will go away but it still is here. Good grief! I truly hope and pray that it will go away so we can have a wonderful and a relaxing weekend. Have a good one all!

trying out a new diet plan

We have been trying all the different diets. I even walk 3 to 4 times a week and it seems harder and harder to lose the weight. We have even tried to eat better diets and the weight is just not coming off. Now what do I do? I know my husband has the same problems. I think he can't lose weight because of the stress of his job and me, I'm not sure. I need a new diet that works and isn't as hard to do as the other ones.

I've been online and noticed a new diet they say that really works. The HCG diet seems to be the answer for us. With HCG diet plans and a 3 to 5 hours worth of exercise a week, we can lose weight. There are so many testimonials that it works how can we go wrong? We have really been trying to live healthier lives these days so that we can avoid all the problems of too much weight as we get older. If only we had our daughter's gift of not being able to gain weight, that would be cool.

Well, we are not that young and this is what we need to try now. I'll talk to my husband and I bet he will agree. We need to try something new. With this new plan, I believe there will be less stress when it comes to our diet plans. As we see the weight come off, I believe it will motivate us even more to eat right and be more fit. We are looking forward to a happier healthier life with our new diet plan.

The Big Surprise

Posted by Haywood Morales.

Last Wendsday was my husbands birthday and I gave him the surprise of his life! Around 12:00 p.m. I hauled my husband off the couch and made him lunch in the kitchen. I hadnt even said happy birthday to him yet, so he thought I had forgotten all about him. After he had finished the chicken wraps I made, we enjoyed a cup of coffee together and then made plans to take "a ride." Before we left the house to go to the Nascar race that he did not know about, I set the home security alarm I found online at http://www.home-alarm-systems.com after locking the doors. On the way to the race I wanted to tell him so badly, but knew I would spoil the surprise. When we reached the parking area for Nascar my husbands eyes lit up and he screamed, "I knew it!!" I was so happy that I had given my husband this oppurtunity to expereince a race up close rather than watching it on tv. During the game I kept looking over at him and the big smile that was on his face. I have never seen anyone so happy in a long time.

fun Sunday with my sister-in-law and her family

We had fun family time today. My sister-in-law and her family spent most of the day here and had a simple dinner. She brought some chips and dips and dessert; hubby grilled some burgers and hotdogs for the kids; and I also made vermicelli noodles. It was a good dinner and we were so stuffed.

The kids had fun playing in my little girl's bedroom and in the front room; while the adults were watching some interesting shows on the History Channel. It was so good to see my in-laws again. It's kind of hard for us to get together as much as we want to especially that we are so occupied with kid's school/activities; and the fact that my husband sometimes works on Saturdays. Well, today has been so much fun and I hope that we can do it again pretty soon. Have a good one all!

Cloth ghosts and the Family Tree

Guest post of the week by Ferdinand Livingston.

After my kids get out of school the Friday before Halloween we make cloth ghosts to hang outside in Nana's "family tree." The ghosts are made out white sheets, eye beads and permanent marker of course. The process begins when I bring an arm load of supplies to the coffee table in front of the TV along with a bowl of popcorn. I always let the kids pick a movie on the satellite TV that I got through one of the Cannon Satellite online deals to watch during craft time. It usually ends up being Rugrats, Cats and Dogs or The Fox and The Hound. The ghosts always seem to turn out beyond perfect! The girls ghost end up being painted pink or purple and the boys blue. After the children do their finishing touches we go outside and hang them on the lower branches of the tree. Once there hung we all sit on the front porch with a warm cup of coco and watch them as they sway back and forth in the wind. When the kids were younger they used to get scared looking out the window at night time. From what they say the ghosts would come to haunt them in there sleep!

The season's changing

Guest post written by Claudine Sloop.

This is one of my favorite times of the year. It's sweater weather but it's not so cold yet that you wish it was spring already.

Even though I'm glad that it's a little bit cooler sometimes I'm not so sure how to send my kids off to school because it can be so cold in the mornings and then a lot warmer during their recess. So I always like to look up the weather a couple of days ahead of time and also by the hour on the weather channel website with my ClearTVBundle. Like the other day I saw that it was going to be really cold in the morning but then warmer in the afternoon so I wore some layers and took some of them off as the day got warmer. Another thing that I love to wear is scarves because they're just so versatile and can really add that extra bit of warmth that you need.

Now about a month or two from now IÕll probably be so cold that IÕll be wishing it was spring. But for now IÕll enjoy the cool.

our yard is beautiful!

Yay, front and back yard is neat and tidy right now! Hubby spent his only day off yesterday mowing, raking and weeding the yard. Not only that he also hosed down the driveway and walkways. Isn't that great? Of course, I also did my best to help him; and now, it's clean and more beautiful than it has even been.

All the reason to treat my hubby to a dinner at Olive Garden yesterday. I know that he loves pasta and we love this eating place. So, off we went to the said restaurant. He had Seafood Alfredo and I had Seafood Portofino which are always great eats. Our little girl had to share from our food. Sunday went so good and yes, LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL! Have a good one all!

First Date to the Zoo

Author: Isiah Williams

People like to do different things on a "first date" but as for me, I like to do something fun and educational like going to the Cincinnati Zoo. It's hard to be single again after being married almost 20 years, but I am so I figure I might as well make the best of it. When a guy asks me out and wants to know where I want to go, most of the time I say, "I'd like to go to the zoo". I'm middle aged so I figure the fellow shouldn't ask me where I want to go if he doesn't want an honest answer. When my date comes to pick me up I have a little back pack full of goodies packed for us, I lock my door and turn on my ADT alarm and then it's off to the zoo. Fortunately, I just onbly live about 30 minutes from the Cincinnati Zoo which has had over a million visitors to view its more than 500 animals and 3000 plants. Of course it only had a few animals when it first opened in 1875. I don't like to take formal tours so my friend and I just do a self guided tour. That way we can spend more time at exhibits we like. Personally, I am fascinated by all the insects and the reptiles. The penguins and some of the nocturnal animals are adorable! We try to take in all the exhibits but that's hard to do in one day.

Red Panda at Houston Zoo

Thanks for the post from Nora Mccoy.

Red panda is a very rare species and found only in some specific parts of the world. They are one of the most exquisite and fascinating species of mammals. I visited the red panda exhibit at Houston zoo during summer. Along with my whole family, I went to the zoo for almost three to four hours; so before leaving for the zoo, I did set my home security alarm for safety purposes (Adt Home Security pricing). The red pandas are considered as the cutest animals in the world; the red panda at Houston zoo has a cute name which is Toby. Toby feeds on strict bamboo diet and has a dark reddish brown furry coat all over its body. When I went to the zoo, a keeper was with Toby and showed us some of his tricky moves. Toby is a very calm animal and always poses for the photographs. Kids love to see Toby playing around and eating bamboo shoots and leaves. The keeper explained to us about the unusual color of these species. Due to prolonged stay near mountain areas of China and Burma, these pandas got adjusted to the dusty mountains and temperate climate; the habitat is the main factor of their red color. Toby is famous for his striking red coat with white to reddish-brown facial mask and also he is a superb climber. Whenever he finds no work on ground, he spends most of his time in sleeping over the trees. We all loved this exhibit and also Toby's unique set of behaviors and characteristics.

my little girl on her first filipino song

It has been two weeks now that I have been trying to get my girl to sing a certain Filipino song. I'm really impress that she almost get the whole song at this moment. I just let her hear the song from my computer almost once a day; and it just tickles me to hear her utter the Tagalog words. Well, you will see for yourself when you get to see her sing it. I promise that once she perfect the song, I will make a video out of it and post it here. So, watch out for my little girl on her first Filipino song, guys! :) Have a good one all!

My Sister in Texas

Guest post written by Christine Wilson.

The other day my husband and I decided to purchase plane tickets to Houston, Texas. My sister moved out there with her husband, and I haven’t had the chance to see her in two years!
When we arrived, we found out quickly what I bet everyone else already knew—Houston is HUGE.

We wanted to see where my sister worked, so we decided to pop in her office. Hey, it may not be the most vacation-y thing you can do, but that’s life! We ended up talking to her coworkers for a few hours! They’re all so interesting. One even told us all about the hearing aids in Texas, which was really interesting since we’ve been thinking about investing in some.

Later that night we went out and had a great Mexican meal. We had a lot of catching up to do!. It’s been great to finally see where my sister lives. Now that my husband and I finally have time to do the things we love, it’s really good to do some of the things that really matter.

Business Travel

Authored by Rickey Combs.

Business trips are something I do year round. It comes with the job. Basically, I'm sent anywhere there is a branch in North America to make sure that those branches are following government regulations and guidelines as well as our companies policies and procedures. I've been to from big cities like New York to Miami to tiny burbs like Danville and Lake Tahoe. Each city presents its own allure and I like to take a day walking through the city and shopping for knick knacks that give a sense of what each town is all about. Oftentimes, instead of making a trip to one city and returning thereafter, I make trips to multiple cities and can end up being away from home for more than two weeks. In those situations I usually set my alarm systems to give me some piece of mind because concentrating on the work at hand is paramount in my job. There is high turnover and under employment in this business and so most of the staff are either under qualified or under trained as they are usually thrown into the fire to meet demand. My job is to make sure that they at least understand the things they have to do and aren't instigating there own methods just because it makes their jobs easier or is more relevant to their branch or location.

happy to go to the park

I had a good walk/run with my bug at the park yesterday. Hubby had to work yesterday but he dropped us off at the park early morning. It was kinda grueling for me to walk/run pulling a wagon with my little girl on it but I just so loved it. I had not been keen on my morning routine these days due to allergy reasons that's why I am so happy for my trek yesterday. My girl was happy, too because she was able to play in the playground for an hour. It just made her day.

I am hoping we can go again today but we will see. Have a good one all.

easy trekking during winter

Winter is coming again and we cannot help but wonder about all our friends we left in Colorado. This time of year can be so beautiful and yet so deadly for traveling in the high country. There are lots of activities and it could snow at any time. We remember all the hunters coming to our hometown and sometimes the weather is warm and they really don’t have a good hunt. Then if it snows, they are always in luck for the wild game to be moving around preparing for winter.

The snow really comes after hunting season and it's early and not time for the skiers yet. That was when we really enjoyed our time as locals and got our last minute site seeing and would occasionally get that great deal at a local resort hotel. Then, the big snow arrives and around or just before Christmas the snowy play season is in full force. All the skiing and snowmobiling is a real recipe for a real traffic mess in the middle of what would seem a never ending winter.

That’s when we pray that the tourist are smart enough to pick themselves up some tire chains so we don’t have to worry about them running into us while we are traveling. I know that everyone thinks that if they have a four wheel driving car or truck, you can get around better. The fact remains that your car or truck doesn’t stop any better. Help get the word out. Everyone please be safe so that we all can have a great holiday and snowy play season this winter.

I wish I could be Tiger's Caddy!

Thanks for the post, Vernon Lowe.

I love playing golf. It's one of my favorite pastimes. Let me assure you that I am not an amateur. Nothing makes my day brighter than watching my friend's face turn six shades of green with envy, just like the golf range, as I make a hole in one! Before I leave to go play golf with my best friend, I set my home security alarm bought from my ADT dealer to ensure that my home is protected while we are gone. Once we set the alarm, we quickly head towards the back of my apartment complex to play a few rounds of golf. I cannot believe that my best friend decided to bet me his brand new “Nickelback” cd to see if I could hit a hole in one. This guy is completely nuts! Guess who won the bet? Yep, He did! You thought I would win didn't you? Well, I thought so too, I guess I won't be jamming to one of my favorite bands after all, while strumming my air guitar. On top of that, he taunts me by saying that now I have to be his caddy for the next five games; can you believe that I just got hustled by this guy? That was NOT part of the plan. I sure wish I could be Tiger's caddy. At least I could get paid big bucks!

canceled window shopping

My friend and I are supposed to go malling today but I had to cancel since my little girl has been having ear aches since yesterday. In fact, she woke up in the middle of the night crying because she said, her ears hurt especially when she's coughing. We had to give her pain reliever medicine last night and she went back to sleep.

So, I canceled the malling schedule today because I want my bug to have a good nap this afternoon. Oh well, there will still be a lot of time for window shopping, right? As what my friend said that the mall will not go away and will still be there. Too funny! I really hope and pray that my bug will feel better soon. Well, she is actually feeling better now for she has been playing and in better mood since she got up this morning. She also told me that her ears are feeling better, too. Still, she needs her nap which is right now. Have a wonderful weekend all!

Catching Up with an Old Friend

Guest post written by Sue Hendry.

I met up with an old friend of mine from college yesterday. We hadn’t seen each other in close to 5 years, but since we’re both retired now, we were finally able to find the time to catch up in person instead of by phone.

We had an amazing dinner at a cafeteria up the road, saw a movie in theaters and were able to chat for hours afterward. It was one of the best nights I’d had in a long time! At some point during dinner, she mentioned she’d recently gotten hearing aids and that they’d really improved her quality of life.

I was surprised because I hadn’t noticed anything in her ears the entire time we’d been eating. Turns out, she’d gotten Invisible Hearing Aids from Miracle Ear, which you really can’t see when you’re talking to her. I was really intrigued by them, so I decided to go have my hearing checked the next day to see about getting some myself.

Turns out I actually could use a pair, and I ended up getting the exact same model she had. Now, I can barely tell when I have them in, but I can hear great. Who knew?

Hiking is my favorite thing to do

Thanks for the post from Sylvester Campbell.

Hiking is my favorite thing to do because it does not take a large amount of skill or prowess to participate. It is easy to simply pack my things into a backpack, stop by the store for some edibles, and embark for a few hours into my favorite Alaskan places to hike and trek. I have enjoyed doing this for countless years and will probably never stop. Taking my dog with me makes it even more fun because I can run around and play, knowing that I am safe from any animals that might try to attack.

Hiking is great because not only does it give good exercise, it allows a person to get out into the big world of nature and explore the lovely world around them. They will see many beautiful sights that are unable to be seen in the crowded cities, as well as learn about many things they had no clue about before.

I enjoy bringing a camera and a guidebook when I go hiking because there are always new types of animals and plants to see while doing so. Bringing a camera with you is great because you can cherish the moments you spent out alone, or with friends, in the wilderness. Setting my home security system and leaving my house was boring until I realized it protected my belongings while I was out having fun.

Monday Mass

So happy that me and my girl were able to attend the Holy Mass yesterday at Holy Spirit Catholic Church. It felt sooo good. It has been weeks since I have been wanting to go but because of the rains since we will only walk going to church and we don't have umbrella then. However, yesterday the weather was so much nicer and cooler, too that me and my girl enjoyed our walk to and from the church. We also met my friend and her kids there, which was really nice. I really hope to make this a Monday routine and I hope I can always make it.

I also learned that since school has started, the church has Friday Mass every 8:30 in the morning. That's really awesome, right? I really hope I can also make it every Friday. Okay, I wish you all a blessed Tuesday. Take care all!

Redecorating

Contribution by Sandy Martin.

After dating for three years, I recently decided to move in my boyfriends house. While most people would be worried about the relationship changing, I was more focused on the appearance of the home changing. His decorations, furniture and accessories could not have been more fitting for a bachelor pad. One of the first things I said upon moving in was that just about everything had to be changed or thrown away. I was shocked to hear him agree with me. Even though I wanted to change just about everything in the home that we were now sharing, I still wanted to keep the home very modern and manly.

I decided that I was going to take the time to put together a plan for each room and get his input before actually painting or purchasing anything. I knew that he would in no way want to be involved in this process. I used my Clear Wireless Internet (more info) to come up with a few different design styles that I thought we would agree on. I kept his taste in mind as much as possible, and what we agreed on ending up being the perfect combination. Not only has it made the house look so much better, but it was a really fun project for us to get to work on together.

missing the snowy rockies

It was late November of 2004 when I got here in the United States and seen the snow in the Rocky Mountains. We lived in Colorado way back then. I was truly curious when all these trucks had to stop on the side before going through a steep pass. I asked my hubby why is that so? He said that the truck drivers had to put tire chains to prevent the truck tires from slipping on the slick snowy roads, thus avoiding accidents. I was like, “Oh, how cool is that!”

I really find it so interesting how these tire chains work. It is just amazing for me since I came from the tropics, where there is no snow and definitely no tire chains for vehicles. How much more, those easy to install ones where you can put them in less than 2 minutes per tire and cost less $100. How really cool is that!

Speaking of which, I truly miss Colorado and the snow but definitely not the cold. I miss the white fluffy stuff and the Winter Wonderland. Hopefully, we can visit my folks there this Christmas. Yeah, I miss White Christmas, too. And window shopping in Aspen, snow mobiling, tubing and sledding, the smell of pine cones, ski resorts hopping and of course, the tire chains marks on the snowy roads. Have a good one all!

it's raining and am feeling better!

Good Friday morning everyone! TGIF!

I am up so early today; and so happy because it is raining. Yay! It has been raining on and off here in San Antonio these days which makes me happy for I don't have to water our front and back yards. Thank you, Lord for this blessing!

Yes, I am feeling better now! Not really up to my 100% self yet but I am getting there. I have been sick with colds and fever and so glad that I am almost over it. Sheesh, I still can't believe I got sick for I am never sick. I am also thankful that my little girl is feeling better, too. Hopefully with the long weekend, we will be on our best.

Anyway, I just wish you all a wonderful Friday. Hope everyone will enjoy their long weekend, too. Have fun but please, be safe.

Oprah Reigns

Written by Shannon Tillman.

How is that I can be so quickly absorbed into an afternoon of sitting on the couch, addicted once again to my ExpertSatellite.com satellite television, tuned into Oprah? I think my afternoon won't be complete next year after she stops creating new shows!
I'm not quite sure how such a wide variety of topics can always be interesting and always pull me away from any productive activity to see what interesting information she will produce on a new day. I have seen her interview politicians, actors and actresses, felons, old and young and she never ceases to amaze me and pull me into their world. I continue to addicted because she makes the rich and famous seem like normal people and normal people become rich and famous.

Like most Oprah watchers I anxiously await the Oprah's favorite things show. How uplifting to see a full audience receive unexpected gifts and create a mental list of who I would give all of the amazing items that they receive. I think my favorite give away will always be the large baby shower she threw for the pregnant army wives awaiting their husbands return from tours of duty. In my mind no one deserves it more!

I anxiously await to see who might try to fill Oprah's shoes... and my afternoon addiction!

My Dad's Baby Birthday

Content by Kyle Lowe.

My father is the perfect example of just because you get older doesn't mean you grow up. He's turning 43 this year and my two sisters and I are going to celebrate similar to the way you would for a one-year-olds birthday party. We have delicate colored streamers and childish favors such as giant teething rings and pacifiers. I was very surprised that we could find items that are for babies but much larger for the sole purpose of picking on adults. My sisters and I found these perfect party items by using houghes net and searching for them. We had a few ideas of what we wanted to have at the party but the website gave us other ideas such as pin the diaper on the baby large bulding blocks invitations. All my dad's friends are going to love this because they all pick on him for being so childish as well. I'm sure we would all like to be big kids for a day and what better day to do so than the celebration of your birth.

hubby and his bicycle

That's my hubby and his new fire engine 26" wheel Schwinn bicycle. We just bought that thing last Saturday and he just can't help but try it out last Sunday morning. He went biking along the trails of Phil Hardberger Park while I was doing my walk/run with my little girl in her wagon. He probably biked about 10 miles on its maiden voyage and I know he was happy about it.

I was so glad that I was able to finally persuade him to get a bike; which is really good for him. Hopefully, we can also get one for me in the near future. I am really looking forward to bicycle time with him pretty soon. For now, I am happy with my 5 mile walk/run every morning. Have a good one all!

How does the internet make your life easier?

The Author of this post is Cheryl Martinez.

Being able to travel and visiti with family has always been incredibly important to me. I have always loved taking lots of pictures and videos, but in the past I have always been awful about printing out pictures. Thanks to clearwire and Directv, I can keep all my photographs and videos from trips organized and backed up. Before using the internet to store and organized my pictures, I was constantly losing pictures or deleting videos because I wasn't properly storing them. I now am able to back up files and know that they are secure, even if my computer crashes.

Sharing pictures has also gotten much easier thanks to the internet. I can now send files online through email and know that my family and friends are able to view the pictures and even save them if they would like. Ordering pictures online and having them shipped to my home has saved me countless hours of going to stores and waiting in line to have them printed out. Not only can I print pictures out easier, I can have them custom framed and printed in various sizes without having to spend a great deal of money. The convenience of storing pictures online has allowed me to keep photos more up to date and share pictures with my family and friends much easier.

Getting Your Friends Interested In Fantasy Football Online

Guest written by our friend Jan Petersen.

Fantasy football has become one of my biggest pastimes. I started about five years ago and now look forward to it every year. For those who don't know, fantasy football is a game that you play online using hughesnet deals against your friends or co-workers. You draft players from real teams and then face off against your opponents. Your team scores touchdowns if one of the players you drafted score a touchdown during that week's game. A winner is declared all the way to a Super Bowl.

I was one of the first guys in my church group to get satellite internet. Once they all started getting online, I convinced them to join up. Sometimes it's a good idea to not do a live draft with a first timer because it can scare them away. That typically takes a really long time and involves a lot more work than a new fantasy football player wants to get involved with.

If your friends don't want in on the action, you can always join random leagues on hughesnet internet. There are thousands of guys out there ready to form a league and start trash talking. It really makes the games more exciting looking at individual player stats.

Now that I play fantasy football people ask me all the time how I know so much about each individual player. It's because I'm always looking at their stats!

hubby's all for A/C

Hubby has had it! Oh yes, siree! He had enough of the heat. It has been freakin' hot here in San Antonio and too bad for hubby since he works in a shop without A/C. Then, he will come home where the A/C is also messed up. Good grief! Well, not anymore! He bought 2 units of A/C from Lowe's tonight and he already installed one in our bedroom. Whoaahhh!

Actually, he has been researching in the net for this; and tonight, he finally got not only one but two. He will actually install the bigger one in our main living areas. Hopefully, it will all work out well and will make hubby happier and more comfortable. And if he is, I will be, too! Have a good one all!

Heading Out To The Games

Thanks for the post from Sylvester Campbell.

Today is a very busy day, the kids have practice for the sports that they are apart of. My daughter has track and my son has soccer, one right after the other. This is pretty much every weekend during the fall, they thrive off staying busy so I give them what they want. I remember when I was younger and wanting to be a part of every sport available, even when I had no clue how to. My mom would tell me that whatever sport I get into, I have to stick it out for at least the whole season. My children are the same way, except they are very good at the sports that they are signed up for. I never have to wake them up for games or anything, they are always up and ready to begin their day. They sometime even make breakfast for me in the mornings, I guess I have it pretty good. This is very helpful, because staying on schedule can be hectic. Luckily the only job I have is to set my alarm system near Detroit before we leave the house. That is the last thing that is on our checklist, right before making sure all game equipment is packed in the car. My children make me a very proud mom and I love to watch them enjoy their activities.

Time for School, Time for Shoes

Thanks for the article from John Foxcroft.

Going back to school is always very exciting for me. I'm in college now, and it is great to go back and see friends and get back in the grind. Every summer before school starts, I freshen up my wardrobe by shopping online with hughes satelliteinternet. I go to all my favorite sites to get Levi jeans, Nike shoes, etc. I used to hate back to school shopping, but I quite enjoy it now that I'm old enough to pick out my own clothes. I also plan ahead and get some winter clothes. Burton makes great ski coats and snow pants because it gets cold and snowy up in Boston.

Shopping for clothes online is so much easier than going to the stores. Malls are always extremely crowded and you never know if they'll have your size or not. You can spend the entire day looking for something at the mall while you can find it in seconds by shopping online. I'll never shop the way I used to again thanks to the ease of online shopping!

lovin' mowing the yard

Proud of myself! I finally have been able to figure out how to operate our lawn mower. I have really been itching to mow our front and backyard for days now. In our home, hubby and I kind of agreed that I will take care the inside of the house; and he will be in charged of the outside. However, hubby has been working for three straight Saturdays now that's why he hasn't been able to do the yard.

So, I did it myself and I know I did good! I had a hard time doing it and it took me about 4 hours, but I got throught it with flying colors, hehehe. Would you believe if I say that that was my first time mowing the lawn in my whole life? Suprisingly, I seemed to love it. It soothes and relaxes me. That I kind of told myself that from now on, I will try to do the yard. This way, it would be easier for hubby who has been running and chasing time for months now. I know that with lots of practice, I will master lawn mowing. You think? YES, in HIS perfect time!

Our family television night solving crime

This guest post from Walter Horn.

Tuesday is night family night for my family. My son and I go to my parents' house on Tuesday evening to watch our favorite criminal investigation shows, NCIS and NCIS: Los Angeles.

We all gather around the television, turn on direct tv Chicago, and begin our investigation of the latest crime of that night. My dad is a military veteran and loves to watch military shows. My son likes the adventure and of course the girls. I love to compare the criminal theories on television with those that I learned in my criminology classes in graduate school. We get into some very heated debates. My mother sits on the couch and just shakes her head with amusement. I think that this is her motivation for our family television night.

As the night goes on we are all laughing, eating snacks and enjoying our family time.

Unfortunately, this will be our last month to do this because my son will be leaving for college in the fall. But, he has said that family television night is one thing that he will miss while he is away. But come break time we will continue our family television night for a short time and rekindle the connection that we have made all of these years.

My Bestie Finally Booked a Trip of Her Own

Guest post written by my buddy Lavern Small.

After all of the trips that my best friend has booked for me using houghes net, she finally gets to take a vacation of her own. She decided that she wanted to take another cruise. This time she is taking her sister. She used her hughesnet internet packages to get online to find the perfect cruise. They decided to take a single's cruise, much like the one we had taken five years earlier. She is hoping she can meet her Mister Right this time. They are planning to go this fall on a Caribbean cruise. She likes the Caribbean because if the warmer climates and she will be able to soak up some sun on the beach. She has always been one to like a deep, dark tan. She assured me that she would take some sunscreen with her. I proceeded to tell her she better use it too. Just taking it along does not do any good unless you use it. I had to emphasize it to her because she is very pale and although she does tan, she will end up burning if she is not careful.

keep going...

Hey guys! How is it going? Geez, I have been so preoccupied the past few weeks. We have moved to another house and now, we are so busy with all the preparations for my little girl's 5th birthday. To think that I am not done with putting our boxed stuffs in its proper place here in our new home and now, we will have a party. Just great, huh!

Actually, we are really thankful to our Almight Father for everything and for everyday. For this new chapter of our life and for my bug's 5th birthday - these are just huge blessings for us! That even though how hectic our schedule these days, we are still able to manage it. We just have to keep prodding and keep doing what needs to be done, right? Of course, with the big help of family and some helpful friends; and with His blessings and guidance. Yeah, just keep going with the hope that all things will turn out great. Have a good one all! Keep the faith always!

Precautions to take for women living alone

Guest blog post from Pearl Johnston.

I am a single woman who is 30 years old and I live alone. I must admit that it can be a bit scary at times but I feel that I have taken every precaution possible to make myself and my home safer. I have gotten a watch dog who also makes a great companion for those nights at home alone. I also make sure that when I am at home alone at night that all of my windows and doors are shut and locked as well, and I have a door alarmon all the doors. The biggest step that I have taken to ensure the safety of me and my home is installed a home security alarm system. I would have to say that this is the best step that you can make when you are a female living alone. One thing to do is always be aware of your surroundings and if you feel that something may not be right then do not hesitate to call the authorities because when it comes to your safety when you are living along you can never be too careful.

Tonight is The Bachelorette

This is a guest post from Megan Morton.

Tonight my daughter has two T-ball games to play in right in a row. I love watching her play, but I hate missing my shows because of her games. "The Bachelorette" comes on tonight and it is one of my favorite shows. Since I have a DVR with the best deal on satellite tv, I am able to record the show. This works out perfect for me. I can go and watch my daughter play her games. After the games, I get to come home and turn on the TV. My show will be waiting for me already recorded. I can start the two hour show and actually watch the entire thing in about an hour and half. I will be able to fast forward through all of the commercials so it will save me time. I love not having to miss shows to go to other events. I honestly hated the old days of missing a show or having to record it in a VCR. This is convenient and I like how easy it all works. I can't wait to watch my show tonight.

Father's Day treat for hubby

What did I give hubby on his special day? Aside from the fact that he already got my LOVE and all (LOL), he also got his favorite gadget of all time, the iPad in advance. Actually said gadget is his birthday and father's day gifts rolled into one. He truly deserved it for he is just one amazing man to everybody especially to me and to my little girl.

I also made him a huge American breakfast of fried potatoes with gravy, scrambled eggs, sausages, bacon and pan cakes this morning. It has been so long since we had this kind of breakfast. So, I thought it would be great to treat the best man in the house and in the whole world to this huge feast. I am so happy he loved it!

Later, we will have a simple dinner out. I am still not sure where but we are craving for prime rib and steaks these days, so we will see. Anyways, to all the fathers out there:

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY! Enjoy today and all the days.

Yo Gabba Gabba!

Guest post by Hannah Moss.

Late at night when the kids won't sleep, the show "Yo Gabba Gabba" comes direct tv channels Alabama has. This show has real people and also puppets on it. I feel like it is a very educational show that I don't mind my kids watching at all. It is always teaching them new things.

One great thing about this show is the lessons that they teach to children. They are always talking about things such as don't bite your friends. They talk about ways to share with your friends and the nice way to treat people. I love that involve music into a lot of things on this show. They make up little songs to sign that teach lessons.

They have different kids on the show that are dancing to show you their moves. This is funny and the kids like to dance along with them. They have celebrities that will guest star on this show too. Recently Jack Black was on an episode. It can be a lot of fun seeing them act silly and play with the puppets on the show. I recommend this show to all parents. Your kids will love it and keep on learning to be nice.

Happy Birthday, Hubbypie!

Today is a big day for me for it's my hubby's 43rd birthday! I am really thankful to God for this day for He brought me the most wonderful man in the whole wide world. Words are never enough how grateful I am. I am just so blessed!

Anyway, here's my greetings to my hubby on his FB page:

"Your birthday is a special time to celebrate the gift of "YOU" the world especially to me and to our little bug. If there's something that you're dreaming of then may it all come true, because you deserve it all... HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Palanggonggong! Your girls love you so much."

A Mother's Prayer

To all the Mothers out there:

I just love this song - A Mother's Prayer by Celine Dion. What a way to start celebrating this special day for us. I truly hope that all mothers in the world especially my Mama in the Philippines will be happy today and always.

Today is awesome! My special day is already complete since we attended the Holy Mass this morning at the Our Lady of Guadalupe Church. We will just hang out here at home and will go for a special dinner later. I am just so blessed with everything I have. All I can utter is "Thank you, Lord!" Enjoy your day everyone.

singing along with Alicia Keys

That's Alicia Keys, one of my favorite R&B artists. Have you seen her on American Idol two weeks ago? She was just so awesome. Not only she sings and composes songs wonderfully but she can play piano chords very well. With her playing piano chords at the age of seven, it is no wonder that she is a great a musician thus, all the Grammy awards.

I really admire her, so does my little girl. She just loves Alicia Keys especially her music video, No One. She would take out her toy piano and sing along with the song in our computer. It is really funny to watch. Hubby and I hope that we can get her to a piano lesson so she can learn piano chords in the near future. And who knows, she could be the Alicia Keys in the future. What do you think?

discovering a beautiful gem

That's me and my daughter at a dam in Paradise Canyon Recreation Park in Mico, Texas. We were having a hard time getting a glimpse of Medina Lake during our drive two weekends ago in that area. As we were meandering into a hundreds of private roads, we came to this resort and what a gem it was! It is pretty secluded and you and your family can have picnic there or stay there over night. You can also go for a swim there for there is very beautiful river in the area. Hopefully, we can spend one weekend there this summer. For sure it will be so relaxing and refreshing. Have a good one all!

reconnecting with Em

I just got a call from a batch mate in High School who now lives in Portland, Oregon. Gee, it is so great to chat with her. She saw me through one batch mate and here we are, reconnecting and talking again. Who would have thought that Em and I are here in the United States now. We are both from the Philippines.

In our two hours of chatting, she mentioned that she is on this Herbalife Bizworks as one of her sources of income. Wow, I just can't believe that she is into business much more Herbalife Retail Websites these days. I remember her to be so shy then, so never would I think of her to be a business woman; and she seems to be good at it, too. She even encouraged me to check out Herbalife Weight Loss Challenge Websites since I told her that I am trying to shed some pounds. Em said that Herbalife WLC Website may give me a lot of information about all the nutritional weight loss products in the market today. Hmm, not a bad idea right? I am going to check it out one of these days.

Anyways, I am really happy to be reconnect with her again. Geez, it has been more that 20 years since High School days and hey, we're still here. There is a Silver Jubillee Reunion of my High School Batch brewing on two years from now. So I hope all the plans will push through with God's blessings for I would love to see my batch mates again. It would be grand for sure. Thanks, Em and it was so nice to talk to you again. Hope to chat with you again soon.

a beautiful river in Texas

Isn't that a beautiful river? Where can we find this serene place? I can tell you that it's somewhere in Texas, hahaha. Anyway, just click on the picture so you will know where in the world this jewel is located. Have a lovely day everyone!

de-stressing myself

Hubby and my little girl at Panglao Island in Bohol, Philippines. (2007)

The above picture portrays peace and tranquility; and that's what I need right now. I will keep looking at this picture to de-stress me. Actually I am just missing my family and friends back in the Philippines, that's why I am going through all the pictures of them right now. I hope and pray that we can visit them again in the near future. I am truly looking forward for our next trip there. With God's blessings... Have a beautiful day everyone!

so stressed out...

Just so stressed out lately! I have a lot of things in my mind that I want to do; and I want to get results right away. Impatient me and I know that's not good! I know I have to work them out and start with a single step, right? Please God, endow me with a lot of patience these days. I truly need it. Heaps of it. And thank you for always listening to me...

my girl will be in school soon...

Hubby and I are hoping that we can get our little girl in Holy Spirit Catholic School. She's going to be in Kindergarten this September. We have heard good things about this school from hubby's workmates. With the fact that said school is near hubby's work (about two minutes away); and that it gears toward Catholic values and education, we believe that it is really perfect for our bug.

We already have the admission kit and we are working on it right now. Sheesh, there are a lot of required supporting documents (birth certificate, baptismal certificate, immunization records, health recommendation from a physician, etc.) which goes with it! Hopefully we can get them all together within this month.

Wow, I really can't believe that my bug will be in school soon. That means I am getting old, hahaha! I just hope and pray that she will do well in school as she is doing well here at home with all our Pre-K stuffs. I am sure she will love it! Have a good one all!

yes, I can!

Now that I am done with citizenship, I am really hoping that I can get a driving permit within this month. Gee, looking at the more than a hundred pages of Texas Driving Handbook doesn't give me the motivation to study it. I have no other course though. I really have to do it so I can get on with this driving thing before my girl goes to school.

So that's my goal for this month. Study the driving handbook to pass the test and for me to have a driving permit. Then, I can go to a driving school (as what hubby and I agreed) and learn how to drive. And with God's blessings, I know I can do it! Yes, I can!

wishing my friend all the best!

Kate and I miss Arlyn and her little boy, LJ so much. She is my only friend here in San Antonio and too bad for me for they moved to Germany last month. Hubby and I and Kate are truly sad when they left but what can we do? Arlyn's husband has a better job offer there and they just can't help but take on that opportunity. Who wouldn't right? It will be grand for them and they will be able to check out Europe. How cool is that!

I just hope and pray that everything will work out well for them there. We miss them, yeah but I always wish them the best. Hey, time flies by so fast and I know they will be back here in no time. Have a good one all!

Hurray for being a naturalized US Citizen!

Just click on the picture to know the full details of the Naturalization Ceremony. Thanks!

Me and my girl with the judge and the guest speaker of Naturalization Ceremony

held at UTSA Institute of Texan Cultures.

Kate's version of The Climb

When we went to Macy's the other day, my little girl just couldn't help to sing along with the music on the store's speakers. It was Miley Cyrus' song entitled, The Climb. This is one of my bug's favorite songs for now. She knows this song by heart. I kept telling her to sing quietly for we didn't want to disturb the other shoppers.

While hubby and I were busy looking around, you could really hear Kate's singing. Who wouldn't when she has this loud booming voice? Hubby and I would sometimes say that our girl has a voice of a mooing cow, hehehe. She is loud sometimes. Unknowingly to us, some shoppers in the store heard my little girl's singing and they were really impressed for she knows all the words of the song. They even asked how old is she and they just said in awe: "Oh, wow! For a 4 year old girl, she is really good." Whooaahhh! It made hubby and I so proud of our little girl and we just said to the crowd, thank you. Gee!

I should have made this video ages ago but oh well! So here is my Katiebug singing Miley Cyrus' The Climb.

looking forward for great things

Finally, I already got the notice for the schedule of my Oath-taking as a US Citizen. It is going to be 2 weeks from now. I just can't wait so I can get on to the next plan which is to get a US passport soonest. Well, I don't have any immediate travel plans but it's always good to be ready, right? Who knows?

All I know is that hubby needs a vacation. As to when and where? Those are the BIG questions! I am really wishing to visit my family in the Philippines this year but we just can't. Our finances will not allow it. (sigh) It's kinda disappointed but...

Well, I still have a lot of things to be thankful still. I am so grateful that despite the hurdles and all, we are still here threading a little bit high above the water, so to speak. Hubby and I are just so hopeful that things will get better for us here in San Antonio, Texas. We are truly looking forward for great things. Have a great day everyone!

bug's well check

That's my bug on her 4-year old Well Check last week. She had a rough Thursday that time for she had five shots on her legs. These include the H1N1 Vaccine. Good grief, the whole clinic must have heard her uproar from those dreaded shots. Hubby and I were sweating during that time. Good thing, it was so quick.

The said well-check was kinda late and I am so happy that that part is over and done with. Hmm, she still have 5 more shots coming. Geez! Well, I am really thankful that all is well with my little girl; and I pray that she will continue to do well. Have a good one all!

Tsunami waves to get to RP starting 1 p.m.

Let's pray that this will NOT happen. I just can't help but be worried for the Filipino people especially my family and friends there. I talked to my brother who is in Cebu right now and he said that my mother and sister are in a public school; and my brother and his family are in the Catholic Church in our small city in Surigao del Sur. I also have a brother and a lot of relatives in Surigao del Norte and we still don't know what is up with them right now.

I truly hope and pray that this tsunami won't happen, just like it didn't happen in Hawaii. Please, dear Lord keep the Filipinos safe.

Prayer for Protection

O Lord, grant that this night we may sleep in peace.

And that in the morning our awakening may also be in peace.

May our daytime be cloaked in your peace.

Protect us and inspire us to think and act only out of love.

Keep far from us all evil;

may our paths be free from all obstacles from when we go out

until we return home.

Colorado and pressure washers

Living in Colorado with all the snow has made all our things so dirty from all the road grime we drive in . After the snow melts off our car, it all ends up in the drive way. All the salts from the roads then eat up the concrete and also eat up the paint on our cars. What my husband has been looking for is a few pressure washers to choose from so he can find just the right one to save us all that money in damages and repairs from all the salts used on the roads in the winter time.

We went shopping online and found nilfisk pressure washers to be a great option for us. They are reasonably priced and very reliable according to all the reviews. There are so many uses for a pressure washer and I think that my husband will find many other uses for it too. With all his mechanical things he does, I’m sure it could be used in many ways. I’m thinking nilfisk electric pressure washers are the best choice because we can plug it in to the outlet right outside the house.

With all the information I found, I think my husband will be pleased he doesn’t have to research where to get a World of Power pressure washer. With a new pressure washer, we can clean the cars, the outside of our home and wash all the salts from our drive way so it will last longer for years to come.