I’m at an interesting point in my life where I’ve just gotten married and while I hope to have children some day, that day isn’t in the very near future. That being said, I feel blessed to have a brother and a sister who are both older and who have both already started families of their own. With a nephew and two nieces all under the age of 6, I find it a challenge to shop for each of them for birthdays and holidays like Christmas.
Now don’t get me wrong, there are some great toys that I recall from my youth that I automatically buy for them and then there are others that are perhaps a little newer, which I might not know much about, but know are pretty great toys for kids their ages to have. And yet sometimes lost on all the expectations and fun that all of these gifts have, is the fact that many of them don’t have the one true element that I think is crucial – learning. That is precisely why I would buy magnet tools for either of my nieces of my nephew. Some of the things about a magnet building set that makes it special are that they are safe, they are scientific, and any child can learn while having fun. What more could you ask for when looking for a toy for a child of any age?
Perhaps it’s just a Monday thing, but for some reason, people were just really getting on my nerves today. You’d think I’d be a little more relaxed given that I was on my way to go skiing, but dealing with people before I’ve had my coffee in the morning is just a big mistake. So anyway, I pulled into a Mobile station to get some gas and although the one I went to had the lowest prices around, every single regular unleaded pump had a bag over it. Okay, so that didn’t work out all that well. Nevertheless, I drive across the street to another gas station, which had a small parking lot. Because the pumps were full and the lot was small, I waited a ways away from the pump because if I just pulled I behind the next car, I would have blocked the driveway and that would have been rude. So next thing I know a car pulls into the lot and right in front of me. I beeped my horn and motion that I was waiting for said pump. The guy waves me off and when I yell out the window to him to ask him to move, he says that I should have been in the line. Although I tried to explain that I was positioned in a way that I was being polite to other drivers, apparently this dude didn’t get it and he continued to cut me off and didn’t even seem to care. It really makes you wonder what’s wrong with some people…
They’re interesting, these things called blogs. I mean the point is that they’re web logs, right? And now it seems that just about everyone has one, but given that most blogs are like personal journals, does this mean that all the people that have blogs used to write freehand in a journal? Hmm. Somehow I just don’t think so. Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s fabulous that so many people are expressing their thoughts and even putting stuff out there for others to read, but you have to admit, it really is kind of odd. I mean I just wrote a little thing about a weekend in Camden and to be honest, if it weren’t for the Internet, I wouldn’t have written that down. I may write pages upon pages of fiction, but as for things like journals and say, scrapbooking, I didn’t think I was the type, but then again, each day I’m learning more and more about myself and am not even sure that the definitions of any type are relevant anymore.
It’s amazing how time flies, regardless of whether you’re having fun or not. It seems like only yesterday that I was out with Jules and my family on my dad’s boat, cruising through the waters of Penobscot Bay and here we are, five months later, in Camden and it just doesn’t seem like it’s been 5 months. Nor does it seem possible that I’ve gotten married, been to Disney for a week, and skied 29 days all in those 5 months. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining, but I do get simply amazed at how quickly life goes by when we are simply living it.
The streets of Camden were desolate and barren, nothing like the hustle and bustle of summertime with the flocks of tourists and steaming espresso machines. The view from the front deck overlooking the bay was as stunning as ever and the water looked cold and haunting. The only signs of life in this sleepy town were at the local ski hill where runny-nosed kids played and parents kept a watchful eye. This is life in Maine. There is no hurry for anything.
While it may seem like ages ago, I got some sage advice during the summer of 2004 from a friend and mentor while attending a writing conference. Having just been hired by an insurance company and still planning on pursuing my aspirations as a novelist, the author told me to let things fall into place and not concern myself so much with time. He said that in his opinion, it takes people an average of 10 years to really master a skill. He likened this timeline to his own success as a novelist and said that whether it was writing or insurance, I needed to allow myself to grow and become better at my craft.
Four years later, I’m still in the insurance industry and am still an aspiring novelist. And while I may not be producing several hundred pages of new fiction each year, like I had back then, I still feel that I’m growing as a writer and as a person. So perhaps you’re curious why I’m even writing this and it’s for the simple fact that while I was talking on the phone with an individual editing a novel of mine, I came across a blog written by a young woman who wants nothing more than to be a published writer. She’s 15,000 words into her first draft of her first novel and she’s already thinking about what she will do if she hasn’t found a publisher by the end of 2009. Yikes. What do you say to someone who wants it all, but may not understand the growing pains of the business? You can be the best writer in the world, but a new novelist is a new novelist and just like mastering a craft, the average time it takes a new writer to get their first traditional publication is 10 years. This woman has suggested that she will self-publish if no publisher is found in a year and while I think that would be the worst possible thing she could do; mine is just one opinion.
Getting published doesn’t just happen and paying to make it happen is against what writing is all about. Any writer worth their weight in water will tell you that the money should flow to the writer and not from the writer, thus self-publishing is often times a bad idea, especially for fiction. But then again, here I am, unpublished and still working on my craft. As for the “author” who gave me that advice, he’s written 8 novels, three New York Times Bestsellers, and in the fall of 2009, another one of his books will come out as a feature movie. I call him an author because while he doesn’t like the term, and many writers don’t, he’s earned it. And there really is something to the notion of earning your keep.
I’d be hard-pressed to blame Julie for my increasingly addictive Facebook habit. It was merely a few weeks ago when I made fun of her for spending a lot of time on the social networking site, but the ironic thing is that I was actually the one who introduced her to it. For some reason I thought it would be a good place to promote my blogs, but once I found that not to be the case, I got bored with it, mostly because I didn’t really get it.
Fast forward to the present and I must admit that I love the site. I’ve reconnected with a lot of people, some I haven’t heard from in almost two decades. The cool thing about it is that I don’t get stupid friend requests from people I don’t know like I did on Myspace. Because it’s built on network commonalities, I only hear from people I know or have something mutually in common with. Like most things, I’ll surely get bored with it in time, but when it’s a lazy day around the house and super-freezing outside, it’s a fun way to pass the time.
As the holiday season wraps up, Julie and I more and more gifts to put away and find room for in our new home. And while we’ve only been in the house for a couple of months, we’ve already started to talk about some things we’d like to change in the future. Most will have to wait until economic times are better and more money is available, but at least we have a vision of what our place will look like in time. And while a new floor or countertops in the kitchen may be on the future list, bathroom faucets may be a fun DIY project for this summer.
So am I the only one who missed the memo about Heroes still being on TV? Seriously, I used to really love the show and thought it had a lot of promise, but they just seemingly tried to do things too fast towards the end of season one and by the time the writers’ strike was over, many fans had forgotten about the show. What did this mean? It meant that they had to take a chance with the storyline this fall and frankly, it didn’t work. I had to stop watching after a few episodes because the script just wasn’t working.
I may go so far as to say that this fall’s television schedule was less than exciting on all fronts. Aside from some neat surprises in that of Fringe and Sanctuary, most of the new shows were pretty boring and of course there are my favorites that either haven’t come back yet or are yet to make their season debut. As for the former, I won’t even get into the whole Jericho argument. It’s not that it’s old and done, but it’s old and done.
I am excited for a few shows that will begin airing in the next few weeks. I just finished watching season 4 of LOST and I thought it was as thought-provoking as ever and I’m pretty excited to see where they can go with a full season. Additionally, I like the direction of 24 and thought that Redemption gave us a glimpse of the old “Jack.” And finally, it is with excitement and some sadness that I think about the last remaining episodes of Battlestar Galactica. I don’t know how many episodes that are planning to air, but SciFi is going to take a big hit without viewers having this and the Stargate franchise to look forward to. Yes, I know that Caprica and Stargate Universe are in the cards, but they’re both untested and unseen. Only time will tell.
While many people pretty much see the holiday shopping period as coming to a close, others are out looking for great deals on everything from clothing to sporting goods. There are also folks who are getting their 2009 budgets ready and when doing so, have to include estimated costs for medicine, doctor visits, and prescriptions. As all of you very well know, prescription costs for just about everything have gone through the roof and the availability of proper insurance just isn’t there for many people. So what do you do when you need a pair of corrective eyeglasses, you’ve got a prescription, and need to get a pair of glasses that not only fit your medical needs, but also your budget? Well you could go to the mall and pay a couple hundred dollars for a pair of designer glasses. You could even buy prescription glasses from your optometrist’s office, but again, it’s costly. How about checking out the vast selection of prescription eyeglasses available from Zenni Optical that cost as little as $8 a pair? That’s right; the information you read on FOX News is correct, Zenni Optical cuts out the middleman, doesn’t spend a lot on advertising, and therefore can offer the same great glasses at these super-cheap prices. Check them out today and see their selection of special Holiday frames.
While in years past I’ve spent many a night at Shawnee Peak in Bridgton, Maine, it has been cool to have the Sunday River night option as of late. Yes, Sunday River is a little further and doesn’t offer as much terrain at night, but the lifts are fast and the skiing doesn’t cost me anything more ‘cause it’s included in my seasons pass.
So I left work a little early today and set out for the western Maine mountains despite reports of heavy winds. I knew that Sunday River would have at least one lift open and that the crowds would be minimal at worst. As luck would have it, they actually had all of their night skiing terrain open and due to the wind chill factor being well-below zero, the slopes were empty. As I lapped the North Peak Chair, I loved the fast and quiet rides in the pitch black with only the long dark shadows of tall pines and the far off lights of snow groomers, in sight. And then after a few hours of bone-chilling fun, I packed my stuff back into the car and again drove south to my normal life.
You’d be hard-pressed to have missed a radio advertisement or television commercial about sending in your unused or old gold and jewelry for cash. Unlike many global commodities, precious metals like gold, silver, and platinum are trading and selling at near record prices and millions of people are finding this an opportune time to get rid of items that are just sitting around in a box collecting dust. Let’s face it; in these turbulent economic times, we could all use some extra cash and here’s you opportunity.
Just visit GoldCashSource.com and order your free return kit. Send in your extra, gold, silver, or platinum items and you’ll get Cash for Jewelry in 24 hours. This is no scam. You’ve seen the ads and GoldCashSource.com isn’t only America’s #1gold buyer, but they also pay out the highest prices for your unwanted jewelry.
Just think, you’ve spent hours walking around the mall looking for gifts for all your family members and chances are you’ve racked up some credit card bills. Why not turn in some old, broken, or just unwanted items and get the cash you deserve? Simply request your kit, mail back from anywhere and get a tracking number so you can know exactly where you items are and more importantly, when you’ll get your money.
It’s funny the things that we come up with to do on a boring Monday night in Maine. Having just come home from helping my brother pick out some new ski boots, Julie had prepared a nice meal for us and instead of popping in a movie or whatever, we engaged in a game of scrabble. No, it wasn’t on a board in front of the Christmas tree, but rather, we both sat with our laptops in hand and played each other through Facebook as I played songs on YouTube from the likes of Wham and Poison.
Are you still dictating to yourself or trying to transcribe hand-written notes you took over the weekend while cruising down a bumpy country road? There is a better and faster way to get your words into a document and it’s a heck of a lot easier than you might think with Dragon Naturally Speaking.
Dragon Naturally Speaking is the easy way to speak right into your document and makes business writing, blogging, or fiction writing faster than ever before. From the video, you can clearly see that anyone that spends any amount of time writing can easily benefit from this software and if you use it for your business, you should know that if you act now, you can write off the purchase in your 2008 taxes. Get Dragon Naturally Speaking Coupon codes for 10-25% off the retail price and be on your way to more efficient and productive writing. Check out this $50 Coupon Code- DNSMSBG -Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10 Preferred and make sure you make your purchase by the end of the day on Wednesday, December 31st.
So new years is only a few short days away and it’s time to really start to think about what your new years’ resolutions will be. I myself have had some time to really give this a lot of thought and have taken into account that my actions are no longer my own. Being a newlywed, I have someone else to think of and this may help me form some ideas of things I may want to change for the new year. So what will my resolutions be? To be honest, I do have a few that I would really like to put down right now, but I will wait until the 31st before I divulge. And while it may be true that I my results from last year weren’t exactly stellar, I want to take a realistic approach this year!
For most of us, the turkey is gone and we are trying to think about what presents to keep and which to return. Some of us are traveling back from visits with loved ones and others are getting ready for post-holiday shopping. Indeed, the holiday season is supposed to be a time of joy and celebration for all of us, but as I sit here typing; there are thousands of families who have been without some of their loved ones who are defending our freedoms overseas and elsewhere. While the brave men and women of the armed forces protect our country and sacrifice for the rest of us, their families wait at home – hoping and praying for their safe return.
While these families may not be on the front line, they are heroes too. Their support and dedication to our military is second to none and there is no better time for us to show them our own support by contributing to the Sears Heroes at Home So far, 525,522 donations have been made to 31,000 military families and each of those families will receive gift cards with the proceeds received.
And while the holiday season is coming to a close, it is extremely important to understand that our work as supporters of these heroes is not confined to a week or two on a calendar, but is ongoing and unwaivering.
You too, can make a difference in the lives of these courageous families with Sears Heroes at Home Registry. And while nothing can replace the love and dedication these families show to our troops in the military, showing these families that their own sacrifices are appreciated can lend a hand to some in need and put a smile on the faces of others.
Show your support, donate to a great cause, and post a special message to these beacons of hope!
The New England Patriots had low expectations after superstar quarterback Tom Brady got injured in the first game of the year. Second string quarterback Matt Cassel wasn’t expected to perform well enough to put the team in the position to win more than a handful of games and with the injuries piling up, even the narrow victories seemed to mean little to the team, but as Cassel matured and gained confidence with each game, the Patriots became a serious contender in the AFC East. Sadly, even with 11 wins on the season, an early season loss to Miami sealed the fate of this team that most never thought would have gotten as close to the playoffs as they did. Nonetheless, the Patriots did all they could to get into the playoffs and despite falling short by means of a weird tie-breaker with Miami, no one on that team should have anything less than absolute pride in their accomplishments this season!
Every day, many people opt to create a new business and follow a dream. Furthermore, every new businessman has a difference way in which they choose to form their new company. Some use their own money to start their business and leverage their business and liabilities with their own assets. This is often the case with sole proprietorships such as family run businesses.
While their can be some benefits to a sole proprietorship, some people think that if they are starting their own business and are in it alone, it is their only option, but this is not the case. Other common forms of business models are S Corporations and LLCs (Limited Liability Companies). Knowing the difference between an LLC vs. S Corporations will allow you to make an informed decision on what is best for you business and whether you choose to incorporate your business.
If I were to start a business today, regardless of the sector, I would opt to incorporate my business. While this means that my personal assets and business operations would have to be completely separate, it also means that if my business encounters financial hardship, I would not be personally liable. Additionally, as a corporation, my business gains favorable tax status that makes possible, exemptions for such things as health insurance and operating expenses. Additionally, incorporated businesses enjoy a more favorable image in the public eye as their status as a corporation can be seen as a sign of credibility. People are often more confident doing business with corporations because their operations registered within their state of incorporation.
With Christmas having passed, thousands of skiers and riders have traveled north from their homes in other parts of New England and the mid-Atlantic to vacation in western Maine, specifically Sunday River Ski Resort. And with last week’s nor’easter, vacationers have been treated with deep base depths and terrain open on all eight peaks along with skiing 13 hours out of the day.
And while we are used to temperatures dipping well-below freezing this time of year, vacationers got a bit of a reprieve when we experiences an abnormal weather pattern today where there was an a temperature inversion. This phenomenon happens a couple times a year when the temps at the base of the mountain are cooler than the summit. Often times this means that the summit and peaks are above the clouds and the lower parts of the mountains are engulfed in the clouds. In short, it is one of the most beautiful sights you will ever see.
I really found it interesting the other night when I was on a trip to Best Buy to get some iPod accessories for family members. While I realize that my experiences are not unique to their store, I was amazed that as I walked past the computer section, I was hard-pressed to find any PCs. Seriously, I know that laptops are great and you can take them everywhere, but I guess I never realized how much of a shift there has been from PCs to notebook computers.
For several weeks leading up to last, Julie and I had been sharing a laptop while at home. While I can’t be sure, I presume that a virus of some sort had corrupted her hard drive and we thought that her computer was gonzo. While buying a new one wasn’t something I looked forward to, my larger concern was that she would have lost all the things saved on her computer like photos and music. Thankfully, a friend of her brother was able to not only fix the computer, but also save her system memory.
If you recall anything I wrote around Thanksgiving, you’ll know that a pair of newlyweds like Julie and I have been making the rounds at holiday events at breakneck pace. Thanksgiving alone was an 11-hour day of dinners and whatnot and after two parties last night, we’re getting ready for another long day of family fun. Once again we’ll make three stops, but hopefully they won’t go as late or as long as previously given that Julie has to work tomorrow. Regardless, we are certianyl lucky to have family so close and to be together with all of them for the holidays. God Bless!
As we near the end of the year there are countless amounts of year-in-reviews and list of top stories. And while this happens every year, this year is different in that people aren’t talking so much about celebrities and great moments in sports, but rather, we are all focusing on the fledgling economy and especially debt.
It doesn’t matter if you live in Europe, North America, Asia, or Antarctica, debt is a part of your life in some way either directly or indirectly. And sadly, personal debt is at an all-time high world-wide with people racking up thousands of dollars and pounds on their credit cards and record amounts of people finding themselves either in foreclosure or bankruptcy.
Getting in over you head with debt can happen easily and quickly and a lot of the time it happens when people either expect that money will be available to them in the future or they take on more than they really can afford because of poor decisions by themselves or others. ClearDebt is a fabulous service that can provide Debt Advice for anyone who is struggling financially. Simply log on to their site and take a debt test. You can easily determine you risk factor and then choose a program that could have you back on your feet in no time. Whether you are looking into a Individual Voluntary Arrangement or a Debt Management Plan, you could easily cut your monthly payments by up to 65% and have assistance dealing with creditors.
You owe it to yourself to find out if ClearDebt is right for you!
Even with temperatures hovering around zero degrees, nothing could seemingly damper peoples’ spirits at Sunday River, Maine on Saturday night. It was the grand opening of the new “Chondola” ski lift that is part chairlift and part gondola. While the lift isn’t dynamic in the type of terrain is accesses or even in terms of the technical advances of the actual lift, the lift was very much a statement by Boyne USA (Who operates Sunday River) and the resort, in what it sees as the future of the mountain.
From the top of the lift which rises a modest 1050 feet from the base at South Ridge, skiers and riders can have direct access to 6 of the resorts mountains. Leaving South Ridge in the past required at least two lifts to reach many of these places and at least twice the ride and transfer time. Moreover, the Chondola will be open for mountain biking in the summer and the gondola cabins can shuttle people to the North Peak lodge where plans are in the works for fine dining.
Another major step this lift brought was the introduction of night skiing at Sunday River and the start of 12-hour skiing on select days throughout the season. And while the amount of terrain serviced and lit at night is limited, the purpose is not to attract skiers and riders to come to Sunday River to go night skiing, but rather, to provide another nighttime option for vacationers.
Thousands of skiers, riders, and various dignitaries were on hand for speeches, the ribbon cutting, and a grand fireworks display. From there it was all downhill as people loaded the lift and enjoyed free skiing and riding just before the big nor’easter. It was a great day for Maine and Maine skiing and I was glad to be a part.
As much as we are all partial to some of our old t-shirts, there comes a time when they just have to go. I myself have a collection of ski t-shirts that I love, but many of them are made from less than 100% cotton and thus have frayed or are just plain beaten up from years of wear. And yet I often look for new t-shirts and am amazed at how much most retailers charge for a quality t-shirt. I mean if you’re paying over $20 for a t-shirt, adding to your wardrobe can really break the bank. Such is not the case with Ten Bills. At tenbills.com you can choose from a huge selection of t-shirts with some really cool artistic designs and all are available in a number of colors. What’s best is that you can Buy $10 T-Shirts from Ten Bills and pay a low $5 shipping charge.
Think $10 is too much for a 100% cotton t-shirt? What if you only had to may $7 per shirts? That’s right, Ten Bills has a deal where they choose 7 shirts that cost $7 and the sale lasts for 7 days. Also referred to as their “Blazin’ 7s” deal, this might be the best deal in retail. Check them out today and restock your dresser today! The image below is called “Radio Flyers” and is one of my favorites. What design and color will you choose?
I know it seems I’ve been writing a lot about storms lately, but quite frankly, up here in Maine – like most other places – we’ve been seeing out fair share of weather. While two separate storms dropped a total of about 8-10 inches across most of the state in the past week, today’s nor’easter is wreaking much more havoc. I left Sunday River around noon today as I didn’t want to get caught driving in the storm, but I was too late. White out conditions hampered the drive and made it slow going, but it was a safe trip home and ended my week-long ski vacation. As Julie and I bummed around the house tonight, we noticed that every time it snow here at our new house, the snowdrifts pile up on our porch due to the ocean exposure to the wind. I thought I’d share this picture that I took about an hour ago of Julie by the 5 and a half foot snowdrift on our back porch. It’s still snowing hard here and we probably have about 18 inches thus far. Digging out to get to work in the morning is not going to be fun. Julie, on the other hand, gets the garage for her car…
In the next few days, millions of people just like me will take to stores all across America in search of last minute gifts. For some of us it’s sort of a tradition to shop late, while others simply have been too busy to get all their shopping done. Regardless of your reason, it’s good to know that there is a place where you can go to get great last minute gift items and even find over 25,000 items for under $25.
And while Kmart surely has great deals storewide, don’t forget to check out their selection of top brands in electronics, which is exactly where I’m heading to pick up a new Sylvania 32” LCD flatscreen television for my parents. At $429, Kmart is offering this TV for a savings of $120. Why would I go anywhere else when they’ve got such a good deal? Don’t have that kind of money right now? Check out Kmart’s layaway program or 0% financing for 6 months. Kmart even allows online shoppers to sign-up for email alerts for hot new deals at all their stores and online. Last minute gifts from Kmart are a great way to save some money and find all the things you need in one great place!
For the second straight year I’ve been blessed to take this same week off from work and ski to my heart’s content. Having only been married for a little over a month, it’s been a little difficult to be away from home, but my wife is certainly understanding and I know that if she had the same amount of paid time off, she would have been up at Sunday River with me. And while I being at a ski resort always has its’ positives, the midweek nights can be a bit boring, especially when you’re alone. Could I have met up with some friends and gone out? Sure, but it’s not really my thing. When we’re at Sunday River, Julie and I pretty much stay in and just enjoy each other’s company. Sadly, that company wasn’t with me this past week, which is why I decided to come home tonight and take her to dinner. Yes, I’ll return to the mountain tomorrow as there’s more skiing to be done and she’s having her own party, but in the interim, it was nice to come to my own home and be at peace as the snow falls steadily outside!
I’m a pretty basic guy and while I like unique gifts and gadgets, there are some things that I can really do without. I prefer a map while driving to an in-car GPS and while I truly depend on my watch, I think that talking watches are a bit over the top. I mean who needs a watch that talks to them? Isn’t the ability to look down and tell the time sufficient enough?
It seems that much of the country is being socked by winter storm after winter storm and while many of us are embracing the chance for new snowfall, some typically warm weather places might not be prepared for a snow event. Such was the case a couple days ago in Las Vegas where several inches of snow fell for the first time in years. And while I’m sure it was a cool sight for many of the tourists, I’m sure others didn’t have such weather in mind when booking their hotel in Las Vegas.
While I’m not one to ever complain about any skiing whatsoever, there is one circumstance that does make me sort of cringe. It’s that promotional time or special event when a ski area advertisers and then delivers free skiing and riding. Don’t get me wrong, I like lots of free things, but few things are scarier than everyone and their long lost brother racing down the slopes in jeans and open NFL jackets.
I know it may sound mean, but free skiing is a dangerous affair, and having such an event at night is all the more cause for worry. Why? Tons of people show up that haven’t a clue what they are doing and risk injuring themselves or others. Nonetheless, Sunday River will open its’ new Chondola lift tomorrow night and as part of the celebration, will offer free skiing to all those who attend. While this will be a special event that I look forward to, I can’t say as though my friends and I will spend too much time on the slopes tomorrow night. The fear of getting run into by someone who’s spent more time in the bar than on the slopes is a little scary.
I admit that I’m one of those last minute shoppers that scurries around, days before Christmas, looking for things to get all my loved ones. One of the problems is that I can never think of good gifts to get people. Whenever I ask people what they want, I get an ambiguous answer that only makes my task harder. This year I decided to take holiday shopping into my own hands, literally.
A few months back, my wife bought me a new Tag Heuer watch and I absolutely love it. Watches like this are items that not only don’t go out of style, but they also retain their value. So even if you still need to get a special gift for a loved one, you can order fine watches now from The Watchery and with FREE SHIPPING, you’ll have the watch by Christmas.
The Watchery carries dozens of the best brands and hundreds of models; some of which are available at savings of up to 90% off the MSRP. Getting someone a new watch as a holiday gifts shows care and thoughtfulness. Can’t pick the perfect watch to give? The Watchery now has a Deal of The Day watch that may help you make the right choice and get a great price! Perhaps you’ll find one like this to give your loved one!
There was a certain haunting veil that shrouded the mountain yesterday. With the switch from warm weather two night ago to the brutal cold front that pushed in yesterday morning, the snow crystallized to a glaring impenetrable surface. Sunday River’s grooming machines were able to make one pass on most trails, but such a freeze needs much more care, and as I desperately tried to edge across the difficult and dangerous icy surface, I did my best to remember that skiing is meant to be fun and that if I couldn’t enjoy what was doing, I should just go in.
An hour later I was still out on the mountain – the wind chill was below freezing and other skiers were scarce. The lift attendants didn’t even come out of their shacks. They knew I didn’t need assistance and quite frankly, I didn’t mind that they stayed inside and waved as I was swept up by the chairs. The raw wind was so unforgiving that I couldn’t imagine having to work in such conditions. And then suddenly a smile crossed my face as I looked to the north and over the mountaintops. No matter what the weather was or how difficult the ski conditions were, I was totally free. I was alone, but in a comfort zone that I can’t even describe. I was and am, blessed.
And then today, I awoke to several inches of fresh snow outrside and a powder day on the mountain. Yes, it is indeed a blessed life!
Mid-December in Maine has given us just about a little of every type of weather you can think of. Towards the end of last week we had our second large ice storm of the last decade and almost 50,000 homes ion Southern Maine remain without power as of this morning. The heavy freezing rain was followed by an artic cold snap that usually is saved for January. Jules and I skied in sub-zero wind chill weather over the weekend that made for short lift lines, but very cold feet. Then as I got out on the mountain today, there were peaks in the clouds, parts of the ski resort seeing some sun, and others covered in fog. Temperatures rise into the 40s and the snow was like cream cheese underfoot. This projected to be followed by another freeze overnight with rain followed by snow. I think I’ll get a late start in the morning as ski conditions will be unforgiving to say the least. And to think, this week last year it snowed almost everyday. Oh well, at least I have the week off and get to ski everyday!
Aside from its’ political views, I rarely oppose the ideas or suggestions that are talked about on the Today Show on NBC. While much of the program is dedicated to news fluff, there is some really good information available, such as medical, health, and financial expertise brought forth from some of the correspondence.
The above being said, I was dismayed this morning when there was a gentleman on the show talking about ways to earn cash over the holidays. I don’t know if the program didn’t do a thorough job vetting what this guy was talking about, but one of the programs he mentioned and said was well-worth the time, was taking online surveys. Quite frankly, his information was flat out wrong. He indicated that people will get paid $10-$70 dollars per survey and that they are easy to access and don’t take much time.
If you’ve read this blog for a while, you know full well that I have a strong opinion about online surveys and think they are by-in-large a crock and a rip of for people trying to earn a few extra dollars. And while I would like to be wrong, I know that not ONE person can send me a link to a free survey site where I can earn $10-$70 per survey or even a fraction of minimum wage. That’s right, this is a challenge…
Do you spend a lot of time in the wilderness hiking, camping, or hunting? If so, you know that being prepared is the number one priority when you get ready for a trip, regardless or whether you’re heading out for a day or a month. Along with the proper clothing, food, and footwear, the gear you bring can really make the difference when things get tough. For example, what would you do if you had to make camp one night and weren’t ready to build a shelter? With any luck, you’d be able to get something together that may keep you dry, but with Benchmade Knives you could make a lean-to in a fraction of the time.
Okay, so what’s better than having a week off with no responsibilities? If you know me, this really isn’t a trick question. The only thing better is said week falling in the winter and thus a full week of skiing! I know, I was only in Disney a few weeks back, but with the stress of my job, they wanted us to take all of our paid time off. Last year I carried over the maximum I could, but with the wedding and honeymoon, I won’t carry over any this year – just days and days of skiing bliss!
Granted, there will be a couple of short interruptions at either end of the 9-day stretch where I have to be in Portland for parties, but other than that, I’ll be travelling all over the region and visiting various ski resorts. And with the current price of gas, it’s a great time to do it. Wow! These next tow days of work are going to be super-hard to get through!
If there is one thing that I have learned about corporate life, it is that change is constant and nothing can be taken for granted. As an employee of a large insurance company, I see the affects of the global economy first hand and within my role I have seen changes despite our company posting really good financial results quarter after quarter. The fact of the matter is that in the financial institution sector, almost every company is pretty much guilty by association. So while sales and quarterly result may be far-better than the competition, the price of a company’s stock still feels the affects of the financial market. A little closer to home this can mean restructuring and/or layoffs. While I truly hope the latter doesn’t occur, it’s always a possibility and changing bosses, offices, and even positions can happen at any time. So as I get ready to welcome my 4th boss in 2.5 years, I choose to look at the situation as a glass half-full and look forward to new opportunities.
Have you ever need to locate a federal inmate? Okay, so this may seem like an odd thing to have to do, but you’d be surprised how many people are presumed lost when they are actually in the federal prison system. Do you want or need to find information on an individual who used to live near you in Denver. Log on to the Colorado Inmate Locator and track the inmate report now.
I really have a hard time feeling sorry for the car industry when I have an experience like I did today. I went in for a simple inspection and service and got slapped with about $400 of extra charges including $175 for 1.5 hours of labor for items that they just happened to find. Perhaps the first thought is that I should expect to have issues from time to time and I agree, but I had my 30,000 service a couple of months ago and the brake issue - if actually severe - should have been picked up then, but if it had, it would have been covered by warranty and we can’t have that. So these folks (Being one of the big 3) want all this money to get bailed out when their service departments are giving estimate that are off by $400. The fact of the matter is that for those of us that have warranties with car companies; we often have to have our services done at a dealership to have the warranty upheld. So when car sales down, the buck has to be passed on somewhere else. For dealerships, it’s at the service desk. Quite frankly, I can’t even think; I’m so pissed right now…
For many of us, the holiday season is a time of family, joy, and celebration, but each year there are thousands of families who will be without some of their loved ones who are defending our freedoms overseas and elsewhere. The emotions and plight of these families struck me even more as I was watching a television show on Sunday night about making dreams come true for families by redoing their homes. During one of the commercial breaks, the host of the show was in an advertisement for Sears Heroes at Home Wish Registry and it became clear that so many times – when they are remodeling a house for a family in need, one of the family members is serving our country overseas and this sacrifice has lead to the family’s difficulties.
The depiction and stories of these families made me understand that while they aren’t on the front line, they are heroes too. Their support and dedication to our military is second to none and there is no better time for us to show them our own support by contributing to the Sears Heroes at Home Wish Registry So far, over 500,000 donations have been made to over 30,000 military families and each of those families will receive gift cards with the proceeds received.
You too, can make a difference in the lives of these courageous families with Sears Heroes at Home Registry. And while nothing can replace the love and dedication these families show to our troops in the military, showing these families that their own sacrifices are appreciated can lend a hand to some in need and put a smile on the faces of others.
While making a donation to the Sears Heroes at Home Wish Registry is not tax-deductible, I hope you will join me in this time of giving and realizing that helping someone else’s dreams come true isn’t about us, it’s about them!
While I understand that the process of helping select a vice-presidential candidate is important and most likely takes a lot of work; I don’t think that this in itself makes someone a good person to be a United States Senator. So what if you last name happens to be Kennedy? Does this, coupled with the aforementioned, make you a good choice to be chosen to fill the shoes of Hillary Clinton when she becomes Secretary of State? I would argue no. And while it is up to the Governor of New York to make that determination, there have been rumblings that Caroline Kennedy may indeed be asked to fill the vacancy. Yes, I understand that this post comes across as highly partisan, but in actuality it isn’t. I fully believe that the vacancy should be filled by a democrat. The person vacating the seat is a democrat and the governor of the state is a democrat. New York happens to be a state where the governor makes such a selection, but are there not more qualified people to be appointed? I hardly think that the condition of our country is in need of a name when some practical experience would be far-better suited for such a high position. Just my two cents!
Warm ocean water, amusement park rides, evening concerts, and two fabulous water parks alongside the shore are some of the fantastic things I remember from my time on in Wildwood, New Jersey this past summer. No matter what your interest, the greater Wildwood area and specifically Morey’s Piers, have some of the top New Jersey attractions for summertime fun and it’s a great place to take your whole family.
Morey’s Piers is a great place for a New Jersey vacation and their website it chocked full of all the information you’ll need to plan the perfect summer outing. From details on their amusement and water park features to listing of the best in Wildwood lodging, you’ll find everything you need by simply logging on. Chances are, you’ll have so much fun on your Morey’s Piers Jersey Shore beach Vacation, you’ll keep coming back and that’s exactly why I want to tell you about a super holiday sale going on right now. From December 1st through January 9th, log on to Morey’s Piers website and save up to 40% on seasons passes to either of their water parks. With great extras and special features, you’ll want to get passes for the whole family and make the most of your time on the Jersey Shore this coming summer. It’s the place to be, but don’t take my word for it, experience it for yourself!
As I read through two New England papers yesterday, I searched the sports sections for some news on the World Cup ski races being help in Lake Louis for the women and Beaver Creek for the men. On the back page of each section there were articles about the men’s races and a simple line about the women’s. While the men’s races were truly special with the return to Beaver Creek for Norwegian, Aksel Svindal, after a crash on the same course a year ago that ended his season; I was dismayed that not only was Friday’s not covered, but they reported that it had been cancelled due to heavy snowfall. Conversely, the downhill in Lake Louis was held and American Lindsay Vonn won for the fifth time on the course and leads the overall standings. And while I think that Svindall’s wins in both the super giant slalom and downhills are a bigger story for the sport, it was still poor reporting by the Associated Press to get their facts wrong and then not even give a little bit of respect to Vonn. Sadly, their focus was more on how Bode Miller fell on during the Downhill and almost fell in the super-g. If the American journalists wants people to follow the sport and get excited about it, perhaps some good coverage in print – due to the lack of television coverage – would be a good start. Oh, and just on case they forget to mention it, American Ted Ligety grabbed second place in today’s giant slalom. As for how Bode did -I’m sure they’ll say…
With the holiday season fast approaching, I find myself sitting here typing away on the computer and quite frankly, typing can get pretty monotonous. As a fiction writer, I’ve worked with authors who tell me that they either prefer to write drafts free hand or to speak into a voice recorder, but let’s face it; as bloggers, neither seems very practical to me unless you have the right software. In the videos you’ve just watched you see how to speak through the software right into your computer or by using a voice recorder, hooking it up to your computer, and allowing Dragon Naturally Speaking to transcribe the recording right into a word document.
I hope you enjoyed the video medley posted above and have learned a little of how Dragon Naturally Speaking 10 Standard can change they way you blog or really whatever type of writing you’re doing. Personally, I really like second video because it really does a great job showing how simple it is to use the software without having to type a word. You speak right into the headset and it’s transcribed right into your word document.
So back to the holidays; each year I get a note from my mom that asks me to provide her with a Christmas list. I think she’ll likely do this forever, and I’m not going to lie, it’s pretty cool. Regardless, I decided to come up with my own little list of things I would like to either get or learn, so that I can improve as a blogger.
1. Wordpress for Dummies
2. Dragon Naturally Speaking 10 Standard
3. A new monitor to hook up to my laptop
4. Some Page Rank from Google!
5. A book on SEO and how to improve mine.
6. A new domain for a new blog.
7. A new host for my blogs that doesn’t have glitches.
8. A trip to a blogger conference so I can learn from experts firsthand.
9. A class form the local college in using different types on code.
10. Blogger traffic to my sites!
As you can see, Dragon Naturally Speaking 10 Standard is right up there at #2 and you know why? Because about right now, my fingers are getting a little tired and I know that if I had Dragon Naturally Speaking, I could just sit back and speak my mind right into the computer!
Check out these deals and make your own blogging wish list!
So what do you do when you have a brand new ski lift, you really want to open it, but it’s never been tested with the estimated weight of actual people? Well, you do a load test, naturally. A load test is when boxes and bags filled with water and/or salt are put onto the lift to simulate the amount of weight that actual people would put on the chairs, gondola cabins, the grips, and haul rope. Sunday River has been working diligently on getting this testing done in time for opening of the Chondola. It’s a pretty odd thing, but industry standards say that using humans for load testing is not allowed!
With the failings of some of the country’s largest and most prestigious companies recently, I’m curious about what the future of our business world will look like. With investors ever so weary of just about every move made in the corporate sector, I’m thinking that the next several years will be ripe with small business opportunities. People may begin to go back to Main Street, USA to find goods and services that were previously taken away by big box stores and nationwide retailers. Not that I have much extra money to invest, but as always, I’ll keep my eyes open to the possibilities.
First, let me say that this is not an advertisement, but rather just some random thoughts on online travel sights. Jules and I do a fair amount of traveling and unlike when I was younger, we don’t really have a loyalty to any one travel company, airline, or rental company. Why? It’s simple, discounted online travel sites have made competition the name of the game.
In years past I had always rented cars through Hotwire.com. They seemed to always have the lowest prices – perhaps not by much, but cheaper nonetheless. I recently got turned on to Priceline.com and I really think the “name your own price” thing is not only fascinating, but for the most part, it works. Just today I rented an SUV for an 11-day ski trip in Lake Tahoe and saved 37% over the best listed price. Why do they accept the offers they do? I really don’t know. Maybe there is some agreement with Priceline, but the fact remains that I saved a ton of money that can be spent elsewhere. I highly recommend doing your homework.
If you’ve read some of my previous posts about stem cell research and methods, methods of collection, and its’ many uses, you know that Cryo-Cell is the world leader in menstrual blood and umbilical cord stem cell collection. For years they have been on the cutting edge of helping to find new ways in which stem cells can be used to treat and cure dozens of illness and have recently teamed up with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center in a truly ground breaking initiative to determine is stems cells can be used as a viable treatment for women with breast cancer.
While Cryo-Cell is world-renowned as a stem cell bank that has a commitment to serving the needs of parents and families, they also understand that part of their responsibility is to help further the advances of the uses of the cord fluid and stem cells they store as well as treating diseases that have already been identified as curable or treatable with stem cells.
This new initiative is something that has never been done before in that the partnership will utilize magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology to track menstrual blood stem cells in the body to determine the likelihood that they can be used to treat breast cancer.
I sometimes wonder if I can ever really sit still. I mean I rarely can sit through movies and often time watch them in two parts. I records television shows because I like to watch them on my terms, and regardless of how much is going on in my life, I am always searching for more. It is in this guise that I began the process of gathering information on MBA and other Masters programs I may be interested in. The reality in the business world is that you need a college degree to get anywhere in the corporate world and you need a post-graduate degree to get where you want to go. And while my company will pay for my tuition as long as I attain certain grades, going back to school next fall on a part-time basis is truly appealing right now. The thought of taking any math classes whatsoever, sort of makes me ill, but there is an endgame to everything and there are goals to achieve. This is the next logical step in my development.
As home owners and consumers, we’re always trying to find new ways to keep ourselves safe. Whether it’s a home security system or protecting our identity online, in this day and age, we are all keenly aware of security risks. ITPlanet is in tune with all sort of security solutions that can be helpful to people with small businesses or multi-million dollar companies.
Given that I spend most of my free time at my local ski mountain, I would really like to see them install a security camera system outside the base lodges. I’ve heard far too many horror stories about peoples’ skis and snowboards being stolen and I know that a system from ITPlanet would be a wise investment for the mountain.
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