Are you kidding me? Today is really Friday? I don't know where in the world Monday through Thursday went.  Besides running ads and calling people back for my business,  I have been pounding away at the keyboard blogging,  revamping my website. and writing for Examiner.com.




Speaking of Examiner.com, my post today was all about Friday Fragments and VGNO! Check it out HERE



It believe it is time to relieve my mind of all the weird thoughts lurking around with some Friday Fragments!

What about those "you better send this to 10 people now " emails?

I will admit I usually delete jokes, send this to's and every other kind of junk email. If it's not concerning family or business, it's out of here. I just don't have time!

For some reason today, I opened one called "An Irish Wish." Don't know why, but I found myself wishing and forwarding. I was actually counting the people as your wish come true faster if you send it to more people. I ended wasting about 20 minutes on that stuff. I'll let you know if my wish comes true tomorrow. And if you want a little Irish Luck, leave your email. I'll send you some!

Couldn't find my hat the other day...

I don't know who took Judge Judy's pic, but it ain't doing her justice ( forgive the pun!)

Anyway, enough said...

It's time for Virtual Girls Night Out.






 
Ann wants to know : Has anyone ever had a mad crush on you and did crazy things to get your attention?

My answer, too many times to mention :-)

But to protect their identity, I had  better just keep my mouth shut!

If you haven't already done so, hop on over to Ann's Place and add your link.

And have a great weekend!

Later.....WOW! I JUST found out I won an award!

The Heartfelt Blog Award! It was given to me from Jenie at Life 'round me N you! Thanks Jenie! Tomorrow, I'll pass it on  to some other bloggers.

I've been revamping and changing the scope of my website Come On Home. I guess that got my daughter going...

This morning I walk into my office and she's sitting here making a webpage about babysitting! Even though she is only 12, she took the Red Cross Babysitting Certification last summer. And every afternoon, she goes next door and helps out with the 3 kids there, ages about a month, 2 yrs old & 4 yrs. old. She absolutely loves it.

And of course, she's had plenty of experience with Little Man!

One of the pages she was thinking of making was Do's & Don'ts of babysitting. For example: No friends over without the parents permission.I told her I would ask all of my bloggy friends for input.

So, if you all want to leave a comment with a couple of Do's and Don'ts, that would be cool.

Knowing my daughter, she may never finsih it. Or maybe she will...

If So, I'll send you all the link if you want. If you have kids old enough to babysit, it's a great resource!

She is planning on having fun snacks, recipes for playdoh and other cool messy stuff, and ideas for activites. Maybe a page with fingerplays and such. The possibilities are endless!

I told her we could do a link exchange- she can advertise on my sites for free if I can put my link on her site.

See, always thinking!

Anyway, thanks for any input!

Lola, over at Lola's Diner is wondering what people are doing in the wake of the recession.

One of her questions was: What do you try to do in your every day life to find joy and happiness?


I would say for me my mindset has been my biggest asset. I have always been a happy go lucky sort of person who just naturally believes everything will work out. And it does!

We have had our moments here. Ron is very worried about his job. In fact, if you read a few posts back, he lost his job for the second time in about a year and got it back a day or two later. But we are pretty certain that the doors will be closing for good soon.

Because Ron does not deal with stress as well as me, he's had a (um...) major bad attitude. That puts a strain on everyone in the household. I try to just keep thinking my happy thoughts and carrying on...

Like I said, I believe everything always works out. Ron is very well known around these parts- he is probably the best diesel mechanic in Central New York. When customers call the shop for service, 1/2 the time they ask for Ron directly. They know there will be no BS or stalling around. He is very customer service orientated. And he LOVES roadcalls- that's where he goes out and fixes the truck right where it broke down- the side of the NYS thruway, a parking lot, a loading dock, wherever. I think he could get a job tomorrow if he really wanted. He's just so used to where he's at. He's been there somewhere around 20 years.

As for myself...for many years in my adult life, I was a single mom. I know I can make it in tough times- I have before. I have my home business, and I have a ball playing around making money on the Internet. I can be home with the kids, and there's always opportunities available. It may be slow building up a sizeable income quickly with Internet ventures, but if you have several venues where you earn money, it can really add up. I occasionally teach journal writing classes at a local adult ed center. I have also run a home daycare in the past, so I can always take in babysitting kids if I need a few extra bucks.

Gosh, I feel like a Jack(ie) of all trades!

As far as saving money, we are ordering out a little less and trying to shop and cook more economically. I am constantly following people around shutting off lights.

We used to have 4 (yes, I said 4) vehicles on the road. We took two of them off the road. We sold my old Neon, which was a spare car in case we needed it, to my sons friend. Rons son drove our old van until it died, then that was taken off the road as well . As long as Ron is working at the shop, he has a company vehicle to drive. I have my Saturn and we have an old truck that we use for dump runs and for the boys to use.

I think the hardest thing is that we have adult children, 4 boys to be exact between 19-30. They are all having a tough time finding decent work. All that is available is temporary work. They move in and out so fast sometimes it makes my head spin! I never know how many will be at the supper table!

For anyone having a hard time feeling "happy" in this recession, try reading "The Secret" by Rhonda Byrne.

Since I started reading that, I have an even more positive mindset, and already positive changes are happening in my career and my home life!

I refuse to give in..I am HAPPY! I am HAPPY! I am HAPPY...................

Funny how quickly things can change. If you read yesterday's post, Ron lost his job-the place was closing the doors today. Well, Ron's  back to work (at the same place) ! His boss called yesterday (from wherever he is) and apparently they ARE NOT closing the shop- at least for a few more weeks. He asked Ron if he was still on board. Ron, of course played hard to get! The bosses wife called later, asking him to stay for as long as they stay open.  Now we sit & wait for him to lose his job again- for the 3rd time!

On to some Friday Fragments

You know what really irks me? Drivers that use their cell phones while driving. But you want to know what bugged me almost as bad?

The other day, I was passing the middle school just as they were preparing to release the kids. Here was a lady, pulled over (good) on her cell phone. She was 1/2 in the road, in between the two parking lots they have at the school (bad). It's a small road. Buses were coming and going, and traffic had to literally stop and take turns to pass her.

Now I want to know...instead of blocking traffic, why couldn't she have pulled into one of the two parking lots?

Do you want to know what's even worse? Drivers that write Friday Fragments on a little scrap of paper (while driving down the road)  after driving past the road blocking cell phone chatting woman. Now who would do a thing like that?

Did you know that you can multiply any number by 9, and the answer will always equal 9?

Check it out:
9x1=9 (9+0=9)
9x2=18 (1+8=9)
9x3=27 (2+7=9)

This even works for larger numbers...

9x125= 1125 (1+1+2+5=9)
9x999= 8991 (8+9+9+1= 27; 2+7=9)

I figured this out a few years ago when I was working at a school helping kids who were "at risk".

Cool, huh? Tell your kids- they can always check their answers that way!

More interesting stuff

Do you know what a Hoodoo is? I didn't either. See page 45 for the answer. Oh yeah, there are no pages on this blog. The answer is at the bottom of this post :-)

Winter is coming, so here are a few facts...

Ok, some of you are already experiencing winter-like conditions!



Did you know that you lose between 7% and 55% of your total body heat through the head. THAT's why your mother insisted you wear your hat! She loves you & wants you to be warm1

and... that 10 inches of snow is equal to about 1 inch of water. Heavy wet snow (oh yeah, New York lake effect!)has 4-5 inches of snow to one inch of water.

Ba-Humbug!

Ok, I guess Secret Santa just isn't going to happen!  I only had 2 responses, so I'm calling it off. I know it's a tough economy and we're all busy. I just thought it would be fun. Hey, we have fun anyway! Maybe we can do a holiday recipe exchange or something...hmmmm...

Virtual Girls Night Out

Ok, time to whoop it up with Ann & the gals. If you haven't already done it, get your tail over to Ann's and add your blog links.

http://annagain66.blogspot.com/

Bye, see you later...

OOPS! I forgot some thing you say?

Oh yeah! A hoodoo is a fanciful name for a grotesque rock pinnacle or pedestal, usually of sandstone, that is a result of weathering in a semi-arid region. An outstanding example of a hoodoo occurs in the Wasatch Formation at Bryce Canyon, Utah. And that is a Hoodoo! Just thought you should know!

Well, the waiting is over. Tuesday, Ron was told he no longer works there and that the doors were closing today. The phone was shut off yesterday. His boss has had some personal problems, hasn't been around for a few months. Not really into gossip, so use your imagination on why the boss hasn't been around.

Everyone knew it was coming but didn't know when. So now the waiting is over. Ron has worked there for about 20 years, so he didn't want to leave until he was told it was over. I think he should have been on the lookout, but...

He is one of the most respected diesel mechanics in CNY. He has had countless  people tell him if he ever needs a job, come see them. Of course, when the boss fired him a year or so ago (boss was inebriated!) no one stepped forward.

But for some reason I'm really not that worried. Everything always works out. I've got money every month from AmeriPlan, and I just started writing for  Examiner.com. Hopefully my journal writing class will run again next month.

Anyway, I've always been a survivor - I did home daycare for about 10 years and supported (single handedly) myself and my 3 kids.

So I'm sure between the two of us, we'll pull through!

And now, must go whip out another article for Examiner.com

If you'all want to do me a favor, can you click on my Examiner.com page and maybe leave a comment on one of the posts? I get paid from them according to number of articles written, number of clicks, comments and followers. If anyone is interested in writing for Examiner.com, I also get paid for referal (and you can, too!) DON'T apply from my page. I have a special referal link.

Thanks, and we'll see you all tomorrow for Virtual Girls Night Out!

Happy Friday. I hope everyone is doing well. I have been busy with my business, my group and my other blog. I will also be writing articles for the Social Mommy newsletter as well as Examiner.com. I will be doing two of my fav things-writing and giving information to others regarding work at home.

Ok, a couple of Friday Fragments:

Continuation of ...Can ducks count?

I read somewhere this week ( readers digest?) that 5 cups of coffee a day may treat as well as prevent memory loss in patients with Alzheimers. The study was conducted on mice with Alzheimers....

I have one burning question....how did they know the mice had Alzheimers? Did they forget how to make it through their maze?

Here's looking at you, kid!

The Heart Shaped Rock has made it to Pennellville, NY!

Secret Santa

This is the absolute last chance to get involved with our Secret Santa. I'll get the names together this weekend, and we'll go from there. Leave a comment if you want to be included.

This morning brought some shocking news. A teachers aide AND a 15 year old student were arrested for allegedly writing "bomb threat" notes on 4 different occasions. Three times it was in the middle school, and once in the high school. There wasn't actually a bomb- guess the teacher just wanted a day off! This was about 20 minutes or so from my house.

Just who is teaching these kids in school? Here are a few other incidences this year- most aren't far from me, although not our district.

In March  a 24-year-old teacher is charged with felony third degree rape, felony third degree criminal sexual act, and misdemeanor endangering the welfare of a child.  The detectives allege that the teacher was in a relationship with a high school student in January and February of 2009 and the two engaged in sexual activities on multiple occasions.

May 2009- a high school teacher robs a bank- come to find out he had a gambling problem. Good role model, huh?

9/24- A teacher is arrested on multiple counts of child sex abuse. Police say that the 31-year-old teacher was arrested on two counts each of forcible touching, second degree sexual abuse, and endangering the welfale of a child, all misdemeanors. He is accused of improperly touching two underage females on separate occasions in July and August of 2009. He allegedly held one girl down on the floor while touching her, and held the other on his lap. Both alleged incidents are said to have taken place at a residence in the town.

Oct . 5th 2009- A student teacher is accused of having sex with a former student.

State Police arrested the 23 year old - she is accused of having a sexual relationship with a student.

All of this on top of mean kids, demanding (and often under educated) teachers, all the illnesses and more....

In our district, we have had times where we had multiple bomb threats in one week (this was a few years ago). Almost every day they were sending the kids home early. It is standard proceedure, just in case it is a real bomb. Hey, you never know....

Anyway, wanted to say I'm glad I work at home and had the choice to home school!

Oh yeah...one more news flash. Not a teacher, but just as disturbing, if not more.

On the news this morning, they also reported that a couple had been arrested for forcing their 2 year old child to spoke marijuana!

I don't care what you do, smoke, toke, crack-it-up whatever... it's your body-

BUT DON'T FORCE IT ON  A KID!

C'mom!

Ok, done venting... have a nice day!