Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Scrolling, Scrolling, Scrolling


LTSPMedia
I know I'm preaching to the choir but I received this e-mail  and decided to use it as my post to day. How many times have you received an e-mail that's been forwarded so many times that your finger goes numb on the mouse as you scroll, and scroll and scroll.  Or, you know the e-mail is from someone who doesn't remove the previous sender(s) addresses so you automatically press  Ctrl-End. so that you can just get to the bottom of it.
Do you really know how to Forward ----------  e-mails?



1) You MUST click the "Forward" button first or you won't be able to edit the message at all.

2) After you click Forward , DELETE all of the
other addresses that appear in the body of the message (at the top). You can do this by highlighting the names along with the e-mail address and then pressing the DELETE button. Sometimes the addresses must be deleted individually or your BACKSPACE button has to be used.

3) Whenever you send an e-mail to more than one person, do NOT use the To: or Cc: fields for adding e-mail addresses.    Always use the BCC: (blind carbon copy) field for listing the e-mail addresses.

This way the people you send to will only see their own e-mail address.

To Rename the "Subject"
1) Remove any "FW:" in the subject line. You can re-name the subject if you wish or even fix spellings.

2) ALWAYS hit your Forward button from the actual e-mail you are reading.

 3) By forwarding from the actual page you wish someone to view; you stop them from having to open many e-mails just to see what you sent.



Petition E-mails

Have you ever gotten an e-mail that is a petition, asking you to add your name and address and to forward it to 10 or 15 people or your entire address book.  That e-mail can be forwarded on and on and can collect thousands of names and e-mail addresses.

FACT:   The completed petition is actually worth money to

a professional spammer because of the wealth of valid names and e-mail addresses

contained therein. If you want to support the petition, send it as your own


personal letter to the intended recipient, legislator or organization. Your

position is likely to carry more weight as a personal letter than a laundry list

of names and e-mail address on a petition Actually, if you think about it ...
who's supposed to send the completed petition to whatever cause it supports?

If you don't know, it's probably going to a spammer.


What About This One;
"Send this e-mail to 10 people and something great will happen"

IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN!!!!! This is a trick to get you to supply a list of e-mail addresses to spammers.It's the same thing for the ones that ask you to "keep this prayer going" or "show your support for our troops"

BEFORE you forward an 'Amber Alert', or

a 'Virus Alert', or some of the other warnings, stories or news items

floating around nowadays, CHECK THEM OUT.


Just go to http://www.snopes.com/ or http://www.truthorfiction.com/
That's It***

Monday, November 28, 2011

Thanksgiving 2011

Hope you had a great Thanksgiving Holiday. 
I broke bread with relatives and thoroughly enjoyed it all, the food and the company.
I presented the hostess with a couple of my handmade gifts. 

I'd been making t-shirt scarves which I had planned to sell on etsy.com but some things came up robbing me of my mojo and so I gave some of them away.

I'd wanted to give her a scarf I'd made for Classic weekend depicting  her college colors black and gold (no photo) for Alabama State University but, I messed around and didn't get it to her.
Some of the others I've given away are pictured below
  With the holiday season upon us there's quite a bit I have to choose from for this week.

Wed. Nov. 30th Noon.* Storyteller Dolores Hycock performs Truman Capote's A Christmas Memory
Wed. Nov. 30th 7pm. * Bartow Arena.  The three hikers freed after being held in Iran will speak
Wed. Nov. 30th 7:30 pm. *Norton Campus Center @ B'ham Southern College. Kwanzaa Celebration
Thurs. Dec. 1st 7pm. * Alabama School of Fine Arts Holiday Music Performance
Thurs. Dec. 1st 7:30pm * Mary Culp Hulsey Recital Hall  UAB Guitar Ensembles
Sun. Dec. 4th 2-4pm *Holiday Craft Bazaar

Friday, November 25, 2011

BLACK FRIDAY IN 5 STEPS

1.Suit up
2.Prepare for battle.
3. Enter the fray
                                                 and
4. FIGHT FOR YOUR LIFE!!!!!!
 If you survive it would be wise to do # 5, just in case.







5.Get checked out for broken bones, concussions and missing body parts.



















I think we're done here***

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Newspaper Rolls for Pets

I try to recycle as much as possible.  I came across a way to usefully recycle my home newspaper and help an animal in the process along with the people who care for them. When an animal comes into the Greater Birmingham Humane Society  a cage is prepared for it using old newspapers which I'm sure makes for  faster bed making and  more efficient clean up.  Preparation takes time.  Having the necessary items ready to go is helpful.

Making Newspaper Rolls for Pets

I also have some documents I have been shredding and plan to take the shredded paper over also. 
I've made sure there are no staples before shredding. That could harm the animal and my shredder.

I keep my papers that are to be recycled in a recyclable shopping bag.  There's a Catholic Church about 3 miles down from where I live that has a newspaper recycling bin. The plastic covers you see on these papers will be removed before I toss the papers. I recycle whenever the bags begins to get heavy and I will be traveling the way of the recycle bin.  I don't make special trips for this .

According to the video, the slick colored papers should be removed.  I'm assuming that they don't absorb as well.



Open the pages of the newspaper and layer them until they are about  1/2" to 1" thick. Roll the papers from the end and tie with string or use a rubber band.   

Here's one of my finished rolls tied with tee shirt string.I have plenty of this tee shirt string from making tee shirt scarves.

Finished newspaper rolls
When I finish shredding the documents I'll take the bedding along with the newspaper rolls (I'll probably have even more by that time) over to the GBHS.

Monday, November 21, 2011

Turducken

Thanksgiving takes place this week. How about a turducken?

Turducken
I saw it in the grocery ads listed  along with other meats.
Maybe you've heard of it but I haven't.  I had to find out what it was. The name sounded like something from that Betty White's Golden Girls character, Rose  would say was served in St. Olaf .

Turns out that this is a trio of turkey-duck-hen melded together roasted and sliced.  The de-boned hen is placed inside the cavity of the de-boned duck which is placed inside the cavity of a de-boned turkey.The diner gets a taste of all three meats at once. I've been told that it is a delicacy and very delicious.

First of all it has got to be a LOT of work. And, how long does something like that cook?
From what I've read it is popular in Louisiana and other places.  It can contain as many meats as wanted

The story is told of one gastronomist who in  1807 made one of these concoctions with 17 birds.

There are variations such as:
Gooducken=goose+duck+hem
TurBaconEpic=roasted pig+bacon+duck+chicken+cornish game hen+quail+Dr. Pepper

Carved Turducken. I'm sure Julia Child would love it.

I think I'll pass on this delicacy
BON APPÉTIT

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Volunteerism


picture copied from the website:parents.edina.k12.mn.us
Now that I no longer work outside of the home, I thought I'd look into volunteer work.   There is no end to the number of organizations advertising for volunteers. This call to help can be found on their websites and personal solicitations when visiting that organizations event(s). Most often these are public service organizations that depend on  donations and limited to no government or federal funds. Most of their staff is underpaid and overworked. They are usually people who enjoy the work they do because the salary certainly  isn't what's driving them to stay.

Like these underpaid workers, if I'm going to volunteer, I would prefer it be with something I want to do.   Otherwise why do it. ?  It would be more of a chore instead of a  charm.

This is the story of organizations A,B,C,D
Without being specific I will say that the following were in the areas of social work, arts, museums

A few years ago I contacted organization  A . It advertised that it needed volunteers.  It was something I enjoy and so I felt I'd be a good fit. Time passed and I didn't hear from organization A.  I went down in person and told the person in charge that I'd applied to volunteer but had not been contacted. My name was no where in their files and I'd applied in person. The person in charge had a lackey take my name and number and said I'd be called.  I never heard from them. I was dressed in business casual since I felt that this was the type of dress practical for the organization. My demeanor was never overbearing or threatening.  I didn't try again.

Organization B placed on its website its need for volunteers to catalog inventory. I filled out the online application, downloaded and mailed it to them. Weeks passed and I heard nothing. Maybe  my application was lost in the mail.  In my most pleasant voice I phoned , told my name and asked if they'd received my application because I hadn't heard anything. The person told me that his secretary was out  to lunch but took my name and number and said he'd check with her when she returned and that they'd give me a call.  That was two months ago. I guess she's still out to lunch.

Organization C  had a booth at a community fair. After listening to the spiel and asking a few questions, I was asked by the representative if I'd be interested in volunteering.  It was something I wanted to know more about and how better to learn than to become a volunteer. The rep was delighted when I said yes.  She took my name, number, and e-mail address.   It's been about six weeks and all I hear are crickets.

You may ask, "why didn't you call them back?"
These organizations asked for VOLUNTEERS not PAID personnel.  I shouldn't and will not be appealing to them to allow me to be a part of their world....for free!!!

 If there is nothing available at this time, either,
a. Contact the potential volunteer and state that you appreciate their interest but nothing is available at this time and that you'll keep their application on fill for X amount of time.
or/and
b. Take down the request from your website, fliers, etc.

Have the decency to acknowlege the applicant.

Since A,B,and C, I have  contacted organization D.  I knew my qualifications were above and beyond what they asked for. They were prompt in contacting me, I went in for an interview as well as a background check and etc. I begin next week.

I'll let you know how it turns out.

THAT'S IT ***

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

High Noon Stress Buster

While searching Friday's paper for something to do for the weekend I came across High Noon-STRESS BUSTER for women.  It was a free event.(I like free) being held at WaterMark Place in Bessemer.  This is the same place I attended the Hopewell Women in Agriculture conference which I wrote about in a previous post.  The time frame was from 10:30 am-2:30pm. Though I wasn't stressed it was a great event. I didn't arrive at 10:30 am so I missed some of the program I thought it was more of a drop in type occasion and so I arrived about 11:30am.



Each lady was given a red stemmed rose upon entering as well as a goody bag. (I've got so many goodie bag trinkets) Below are the first two pages of a booklet that was inside the goodie bag. It was full of advice and suggestions on handling stress. (click to enlarge)
 There was also a fountain with cascading sweet tea and long stemmed glasses to collect it in. Also on the table were cheeses, fruit and the usual edibles at events of this sort. There were playful contests such as paddle ball also known as bolo and rick rack as well as hula hoop.  The person who lasted the longest received a prize. I have no idea as to what the prize was.

Paddle ball contest

Hula hoop contest

Hidden underneath a cloth up front was a packaged gift for every woman there. Revealing what was underneath the cloth produced expressions of oohs and aahs.  Hostesses distributed the gifts throughout. Click the photos to find out what was inside

 





The back of the tag on the outside reminds me of Abileene's motto from The Help.  You are beautiful, You are valued, You are appreciated, You are smart, amazing, loved, cherished, blessed

These are some of the speakers. Nikita (left) asked us what kind of shape were we mentally. The square is orderly, regimented etc. The circle is less structured, willing to let things be as they are.  There were other shapes she described and their meanings. Overall it was a tip-off for us to not take everything so seriously in an effort to avoid stress.
Kristie (right) spoke to us about not allowing life's challenges to stop us from meeting our goals. She gave numerous examples from her own life. She came from a  teenaged alcoholic mother, absentee father, molestation from step-father, anorexia among other things. Yet she accomplished to obtain a PHD  has done private practice therapy but prefers teaching on the college level which she does now.


 THAT'S IT***

Friday, November 11, 2011

Straddled Between the 20th and 21st Century

I'm turning into one of Them.
Them being people who are holding on to things that have become obsolete or heading down that path.
I know of someone whose grandmother didn't trust banks so she hid her life savings at home. (Maybe she had visions of Occupy Wall Street in the future)
rotary telephone

My mother enjoyed talking on the phone to her friends.  When her phone finally died she didn't want a phone with push buttons she wanted a rotary phone.  Bell South, South Central Bell *or whatever name they were going by no longer had those, so she had to use the push button phone. She soon got used to it and later graduated to a cordless phone.
*SIDEBAR: During this time telephones had to be purchased or rented from a Bell South store. You would turn in your old phone for a new one.

It makes no sense to have a cell phone AND a land line. I admit that. But I can't let it g-o-o-o-ooo. I'm having a problem accepting that this will someday be the norm.

My home phone


My home phone #2

My home phone #3

My home phone #4








Yet, there's just something comforting about seeing a telephone plugged into a wall. Truth be told,  during stormy weather, the lights may go out but, the phone usually stays on.  Still, it's extra money I'm paying out when I could be using it for other things.

Unlike many people, I don't keep a cell phone tethered to my body. I don't turn it on unless I'm expecting a call  or I'm in my car, which means I don't check it for messages everyday. I abhor people who walk around in public talking on a cell just because they can. I don't need to go into this. You've heard my cell phone rants before.
I don't want to be available all the time. I don't want telemarketers and the like calling me on my cell. Using a cell as a primary phone will eventually lead to this.
I only give my home number unless it's someone  I really want to hear from or I deem it as important.

I've had this phone less than a year and I was happy with it.
Generation Y has embraced this as a way of life. No sooner than I learn to use one phone another comes out.

Maybe I'm headed on the right path. I changed carriers and I have another phone that has taken me three weeks to learn to do the basics.   One of my young friends was kind enough to show me how. I've become a little more relaxed with it.

As far as breaking it in, I've literally done that, dropping it on the concrete porch and getting a crack in it.

Why don't mobile phones and other transported small technology have a  place where you can attach a wrist strap to it  like cameras do. Is it because the carrier wants you to drop it and have to buy another one? Right now I'm keeping mine inside of a sock.
THAT'S IT***

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Birthday

I had a birthday a few weeks ago. This one doesn't actually count since I only celebrate every leap year in October. (Figure it out). In my mind I'm still 44 though my mirror and the government  has me in a different decade.

I'd signed up a couple years ago for the FREE Ruby Tuesday's birthday burger. I downloaded my online coupon and went to my closest Ruby Tuesday's.  It was Classic Weekend so the place was pretty empty.
 When I went to Ruby Tuesday's two years ago, I had a burger and fries. This time was even better. I was offered my choice of burger and choice of two sides. I chose the bleu cheese burger, salad bar and baked potato.  By any account that is a lot of food.   On top of that the waitress  forgot to ask me if I'd like to try the shrimp fondue appetizer. If she forgets, I get it free. She forgot but,  I told her I didn't want the appetizer. That would be downright gluttony.









This is the time I should have made like a little old lady and pilfered some of that food in a ziplock bag and stashed it in my purse.


Here's my downloaded coupon

And here is my meal.














The burger was delicious. I didn't eat the bun. I wrapped it up and put it in my purse.
In the past I've also had a coupon to Coldstone's Creamery but I forfeited that one this year.

A friend e-mailed me a list of businesses that grant senior citizen's discounts. Some I qualify for now according to my government age and some I'll qualify for in the next few years. I'm keeping the list handy.



 


BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE!!



























That's a lot of territory to cover but, somebody has got to do it, why not me.
THAT'S IT***