Duelin’ Deals Blog by Marlaine

I have just been writing writing writing lately. Mostly for eHow and Marlaine’s Musings blog. I’ve accomplished one of my goals – 75 articles written and posted on eHow! My next goal is to write and post 100! I see some people putting up 100 articles in their first month on eHow but their content is short and sometimes pointless. I have been trying to go the extra 10 miles to find out all I can about something – even if it is something I already know a lot about – and give extra tips and hints whenever I can. I do the same thing for Marlaine’s Musings quest guides and general guides for Runescape.

Someone on eHow said that they wished someone would write guides for WoW like the guides I have up for Runescape, making me tempted to go try World Of Warcraft out – but I’ve been told that it’s mostly a war game so not quite what I am looking for. I will probably look into it soon though.

I am working at putting together some kind of blog or site that I can start “managing” my eHow articles in a more logical and organized way. On eHow, they show what catagories you have articles in but……. you can’t go to that author’s articles on those subjects specifically. eHow sent a notice that they will be redesigning their tools and setup but it won’t be implemented until November. There is a lot of time between now and November. Even I am having a problem remembering all the articles. I need to store my eHow articles somehow…. So we’ve decided on a domain name of StoreHows.com. We haven’t got anything online yet but we did buy the domain name already. I’ll be working on the design for a couple of days and then we’ll start with a blog.

A friend on eHow recently lost her main account, losing over 500 articles! She has no idea how that happened but I can almost guess. If any of you have tried to earn money with AdSense – you might have experienced the “You have been banned for suspect clicks” syndrome with no other explanations or communication from AdSense once they “kicked” you. Brad and I experienced that and could never get an answer from them about why. We changed to AdBrite and they work with their clients a whole lot nicer! You can have suspect IP addresses blocked or even your own so you don’t accidentally click your own ads. I always put adblock on when I go to my articles on eHow, or when I work here or on Musings. I wish I didn’t have to use ads at all though…….

The days of submitting an article or story to a publication and selling all copyrights are over now though with the way the net works! Even when I was submitting hard copy to magazines, I never submitted to places that bought All Rights….. Selling First Rights is fine – I’ve sold to Woman’s World, Star and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, among other places, and was paid fairly well but reprints rights are still mine! (I am trying to find the best ways to use my work and eHow so far has been the best for me.)

All that aside, I suggested to my friend that she should always make copies of her work for just-in-case. I do routine backup as I work through pieces I am working on but after giving her that tidbit of advise – I checked my “database” of articles. Raised eyebrow! I shall cut to the punchline here and save the sarcasm for later – I only had 24 of my 75 articles saved as posted on eHow! Tisk! Sure, I had lots and lots of saved drafts. I gather info, write up a brief draft and then tweak and fiddle with it, adding more research and whatever. Then I start working on the final draft on the eHow site, using their extended wizard. Rarely is the last draft I wrote in my word processing program the same as the one that ends up online! I spent most of yesterday copying and pasting the articles as they appear into a special file. I set up a document file much like the My Documents that is just for my writing! Now I am backing that up on a memory stick that my wonderful In-Laws in Australia sent to me! Mum and Dad – my writing files are over 900 MB now – Thanks again! (Lordy I would be so sick if I lost all that writing!) Eventually all that content (and more) will end up online somewhere – snickering! Geeeeeeeeeee – just finished the backup and it’s 1.01 GB now – see, I have been writing like a maniac!

I am starting to plan a cookbook, too….. Easy, Quick, Inexpensive, but don’t invite the Food Police to dinner!

One of the articles I have a draft of for this blog is how to make your computer run faster. You can find it on eHow but I will put it up in here soon. For now, I have more articles to write and designs to work on……

Have a great rest of the day!

I did the following article for eHow but today, when I actually noticed that it’s July 14, 2008 – I realized a stunning difference from last year. It’s going to get to 87 or 90 in a day or two and I’m not worried at all! We don’t even have our window air conditioners set up and don’t plan to either! Why? I guess I took my own advice! See the bottom of this article – Step 10 – for the answer!

How to Stay Cool In The Heat

By MarlaineMarie
I’m Melting! I’m Melting!

Summer’s coming. Northern mid-western people get used to being cold. I call it having Winter Blood. We kept the heat down under 60 degrees most for the winter and now it’s getting warmer. 75 is hot? – ha! – or so most of you say. Our tips to stay cool as we acclimate may just help the rest of you all summer! After all, during spring here in Wisconsin, we can have temperatures of below 40 degrees Fahrenheit one night and over 80 degrees the next day. It’s hard to adjust.

Things You’ll Need:

* Need to notice things that generate heat.
* Ice cubes in the freezer – make extra and store in a half gallon container of some kind.
* Blinds or shades on the sunny sides of your home.

Step1
First of all, pay attention to things in your home that generate heat. That satellite dish or cable box could be throwing an awful lot of heat. Light bulbs throw heat too – remember those easy bake ovens? They used just one light bulb to bake a cake! Even your scanner’s plug in point could be throwing a lot of heat. Check everything and if you aren’t using it, and it’s not inconvenient to unplug it – pull the plug! Turn off lights that you aren’t using. Get a good sun sensor night light that will only turn on when it’s dark if you need a bit of light somewhere. Definitely turn off the computers over night so they can cool down, along with the room they are in. This will also save on your energy bill!

Step2
When you go to bed at night, pull the shades or blinds on the sides of your home that get hot in the morning. The sun comes up in the east and sets in the west – of course but as the seasons change, the sun may move a bit more north and south depending on where you live. Pull the shades down on other sides before the sun shifts to those sides. Keep the windows closed on the hot sides – hot air coming in doesn’t cool anything down. If you have a couple really hot windows, consider getting some white insulated poster board for crafting projects and just slip it between the glass and blinds before the hot hours – it reflects the suns rays and blocks incoming heat. Try to use light colored window treatments for the part closest to the windows. Think about planting a tree or high bushes, (far enough from the house so the roots don’t cause problems with the house’s foundation), that would shade the windows in a few years.

Step3
To keep the kitchen cooler, plan meals that can be microwaved or made the night before without using the oven. I will be putting up “Mom’s Tuna Salad” recipe soon and a variation I came up with because my husband doesn’t care for tuna. If you make enough of the whole meal salad for a couple of days, think of it as a day without either oven running (stove or micro) and a day off from cooking! If you want to make something you can’t microwave – try to make it on a burner instead of in the oven. The burner throws less heat and – saves on your energy bill, too!

Step4
One of the points that your blood constantly circulates through is at your wrists. It takes about 3 minutes for all your blood to pass through those points and putting some wrapped ice there will cool off your whole body by lowering your core temperature and the effect will last for an hour at least. You can also fix a bucket of ice water to put your hand in. Never use ice directly on your skin because it can cause damage. The relief is almost immediate. Use this technique if someone is suffering from heat stroke! You can also make yourself a cooling foot bath – it’s amazing how much cooler we feel when our feet are cool. If your tap water doesn’t come out cold, add some ice cubes to the foot bath. Not too cold or you may get the shivers!

Step5
Spray yourself with water! Take a quick, cool shower and don’t towel off. Let your clothes soak up the water and then let the damp clothes help keep you cool! Use a spritz bottle of clean water on your face and arms and let it dry naturally. Get your shirt wet before you put it on – at least the sleeves.

Step6
Drink lots of water even if you’re not thirsty! You have to replace what you lose from perspiration to prevent dehydration. Adding ice will also help cool you off but if it’s too cold, your body will use more energy bringing it up to your body temperature so it can be used which increased your core temp. Avoid lemonade, iced tea, and other sugary drinks but especially avoid alcohol if you are feeling over heated.

Step7
Your body releases a lot of it’s heat through the soles of your feet, the palms of your hands, and your scalp. Keeping these areas cool makes a surprising difference – so take off the hats unless you are in the sun. Go barefoot if you can. Hold a glass of iced something instead of setting it down on a table and let the condensation drip on your skin.

Step8
If it’s really bad, use a quart freezer bag of some kind and fill it with ice. Dampen a washcloth and wrap it around the bag. Use this on your face, forehead and neck, moving it around for a while and then hold it on your wrist for as long as you can stand it – up to three minutes. Then use it on your ankles and shins ——— ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh ——- you’ll feel much cooler soon. Repeat as often as you want and where it feels the best.

Step9
Extra note – June 2, 2008……… I had a “feeling” before we went to bed last night and closed all the windows in the house. When I took out our dog this morning, it was over 85 degrees outside. It was only 74 in the house with only one fan going. In the cooler hours of the night, we put a fan in the window to pull in the cool air and, now that I know it’s getting warmer, we close the windows before it starts getting hot out.

Step10
Extra Added Note! July 14, 2008. We had a flood early in summer and I’ve had one box fan running on medium constantly to help dry things up in the basement. I can not tell you how surprising the side benefit has been! With it running quietly in that big basement, the air has been pushed up the air ducts and into our living area. Any one with a basement knows it’s always cooler down there. It’s been acting like a central air conditioner! We’ve had 90 degree days but never uncomfortable enough – even at night – to turn on the air conditioner! We close the windows before we go to bed, especially if it’s going to be humid the next day, and run only a couple of fans. (You can feel when it’s starting to get humid!) One box fan is placed near a floor register and points to our computer room across the hall. It is amazing!

Here’s another extra great tip – half fill a saved bottled water bottle with water and freeze it. Later, fill the rest of the way for a great, long lasting bottle of ice water! Slip the bottle into a thermal cup when not sipping to keep it cooler longer!!!!!!

Tips & Warnings
* If you fill a tall glass with ice cubes and blow into it with it pointed toward your face, the forced air will cool you down like an air conditioner.
* It’s better to acclimatize yourself to the heat rather than staying in air conditioned rooms. Then it’s not as shocking to go outside when you have to go somewhere.
* Keep drinking lots of water or something with electrolytes in it to keep your body hydrated.
* Eat lighter and smaller amounts of food at one time.
* When it’s really hot, avoid heavy physical work if possible – try to do things later when it’s cooler.
* Putting a bowl of ice cubes in front of a fan really works!
* As the season changes, hold off any cooling techniques as long as possible to let your body start to acclimate.
* If your body temperature goes above 104 °F (40 °C), it is a life-threatening situation. If it goes up to 113 °F (45 °C), you definitely need to get help or call 911.
* If you can’t sweat but your temperature is high, call 911!
* Using a paper fan with your hand can actually raise your body heat – so don’t!.

Just like using humidity in the winter to allow your heater or furnace to work more efficiently, humidity in the summer increases the discomfort levels. Fans help dry the air when the humidity is high.

Ok – I have resisted this subject because I was raised in a dog kennel. Yes……… sigh. One of the actual dog runs had my name printed over the door. My mom had an AKC German Shepherd kennel and I was raised with them — litter – allie …… I knew what woof meant before I knew “Mama”. I am very attuned to dogs, even though I love all creatures. So house training a pup is pretty easy to me and I decided to try to put it into words for eHow. I wrote the following article…

How to House Train Your Puppy Quick and Easy!

The very best way to house train your pup is to set aside the first few days to be with your pup. If you have a three day weekend or just take a couple of days vacation before or after a weekend, plan to pick up your pup ASAP on the way home when your time off starts!

Things You’ll Need:

* Patience
* A sharp eye
* Paper towels and disinfectant to clean up at first – if necessary!

Step 1:
Before taking your pup into the house for the very first time, take him or her for a walk in the area that they can use to do what they must! Play with them a bit until they go. Praise and pet them, saying, “Good *name*” or “Good boy/girl” after they are done. Think happy, too. They can read your body language and facial gestures well!

Step 2:
Understand that your pup will need to go at least every two hours. Even if they don’t have to, they need the chance to go! Whether they seem to need to or not, take them OUTSIDE – or wherever you want them to go. No matter when they nap, take them out immediately when they wake up! This is a major step in understanding when a pup needs to go. Cuddle them and carry them outside. Talk to them encouragingly until they relieve themselves. Praise them every time they finish going.

Step 3:
One of the keys to house training success is to watch your pup to know when they start looking around for a place to go. Don’t let their playing with a friend interfere with your “radar”. Know your pup and watch what they do before they go because it is THE signal that they need to go. Usually they will sniff and circle a little.

Step 4:
Take them outside before they eat! Give them about half an hour after they eat and take them out again. Watch when they drink water and know that water will have to come out relatively soon. You will soon know how long it takes for your specific pet in a day or two. If you just throw them into a kennel for a few hours or lay newspapers, they will take much longer to understand the difference between inside and outside relief areas.

Step 5:
Set an alarm to take the pup out at least once over night or keep the pup on the bed with you so you can feel him or her moving. (This might only be necessary the first couple of nights!) I have house trained all my dogs without using newspapers on the floor or on their butt. When I have a pup in the house, I am a very light sleeper.

Step 6:
The day I got Boo Boo, I sustained a severe leg injury and had to sleep on the couch. Even while on crutches, he was house trained within two weeks! He slept on my chest the first few days on my beautiful velvet couch – without incident! The house training usually takes about 2 weeks if you are “in tune” with your pup.

Step 7:
Just an added tip, if you have other pets, rub something of theirs on your pup and rub something with your pup’s scent on your other pets, in their areas, and on their things to let both sides “get to know each other” from a distance – at least in the beginning.

Step 8:
Don’t let your pup gnaw on your other pets until it is understood between all that it’s just play.

Tips & Warnings

* You don’t have to swat you pup when they have an accident. Put their nose close to the offense (if there is one) and say sharply, NO! Then take them outside – immediately. Either have someone else clean up the mess or put paper towels over the mess, quickly, stepping on the towels to soak up more but get the pup out ASAP. Do not let much time go between the no and the go outside.
* Even if you have to leave the mess longer than you like, if you get the pup out faster, there will be less incidents to clean up in the long run.
* Be consistent with your training – any training! Don’t let them chew one of your shoes one day and not let them chew another shoe a different day!
* If the pup is taking a long time to house train, remember it is up to you to notice or realize that the pup has cycles like you do. Most pups want to please you but if you don’t let them know what you want, they probably won’t be able to guess, even if they are more intuitive than we are.
* Puppies can not hold it very long – just like babies!

Some of the pics in the article are of dogs and times long gone and it saddened me, yet warmed my heart, to think of them and the wonderful times I had with them. My Mom bred German Shepherds for show and our highest count of dogs living with us at one time was 48. I was never impressed with the shows but understand that it is because of those devoted breeders that we have such beautiful creatures, no matter what breed is our favored type of dog. I and my brother both have German Shepherds ingrained into our psyche so strongly that neither of us want to own anything but German Shepherds. That’s what happens to the kennel kids of breeders – I guess. My day started out getting out to the kennels to give them a good clean and as soon as I got home from school, it was the same chore. In spite of allllllllllllllllllll that hard, heavy work, I loved the dogs with all my heart. Each and every one still has a special place in my memories, and each is able to pull a sad longing for their company.

I’ve also personally experienced how holding a cat can sooth a jittery mind and ease pain. I went through a tooth infection and the cat in the pic with Gypsy, Spank, somehow worked up a ritual or habit of getting me to let him sleep under my jaw at night. I call him my pillow pal. Even though that tooth ache hurt like the dickens, Spank’s quiet but constant purr under my jaw was like a gentle rub and I’d ease into sleep. I don’t know how many times that dear cat has sensed my sadness over a loved one or pains from my injuries – but he’s let me soak him with tears probably 100 times or more. (Not only that, I’ve spilled water on him from trying to get a drink of water over night and he patiently lets me wipe it up using one of the paper towels I keep nearby.) They say cat purring can heal bones – and I believe it. I broke my wedding ring finger and he pretty much slept on it every night since I hold him with that hand while he sleeps under my chin……….. smiling……….. the knuckle is only a bit bigger than it used to be now, three years later, but at first it was hugggggggge! Wish he could have slept on my big toe after I dropped a very old and very heavy fan on it – squashed my toe and cracked bones in my foot. That was 8 years ago and the toe is still weird!

Birds are also a wonder to own – if you get over the cleaning you have to do. When they give you their trust and love, you have truly earned something amazing!

All creatures can be great friends.
Returning love and loving is never a waste!

Below is my most missed old Moose, Lew.
Lowaka Of Rathman.
My protector.

My brother called a few days ago asking for my oatmeal recipe. I remember him scrunching up his nose at oatmeal when we were kids. I said as much to him. Evidently, I had made some oatmeal for myself and made extra for him, and he’d loved it! I devised this method because I like it this way – and it is probably not healthy – shrugging. We’ve had family members who lived to 90 who smoked. One overweight relative made it to 100! I am not a could-care-less type but I am not a health nut either.

I wrote this for MarlaineMarie’s Articles on eHow….

How to Make Incredible Oatmeal!

Oatmeal – Blahhhh – you say? Try this and try not to want it again and again!

Things You’ll Need:

* Regular Oatmeal – not instant
* Milk of your choice – whole makes it creamiest!
* Sugar – 2 tablespoons per serving
* Butter – 1 tablespoon per serving
* Vanilla – 1/2 teaspoon per serving
* Salt – optional

Step 1:
Use the directions on the oatmeal box to decide on the amount of regular oatmeal you are going to make. If you make extra, it can be reheated in the microwave, tasting even more mellow the next day. Each brand may have slightly different proportions. Sugar can be replaced with Splenda (it really does taste good for a substitute!) or other artificial sweeteners for those with diabetes. Salt IS optional – in fact, I don’t use it in oatmeal.

Step 2:
Use milk instead of water, adding about 1/4 to 1/2 cup extra. Put the milk and oatmeal together in a pot and mix together. Let it sit a while – 10 minutes or so.

Step 3:
Add the sugar and salt, stirring gently. Add the butter. Turn on the heat underneath.

Step 4:
Bring the mixture to a gentle bubble, stirring constantly. Let it bubble for about two minutes. Add vanilla and stir in. Put a cover on the pot. Turn off heat. Move the pot off the burner. Leave covered and alone for about 10 minutes.

Step 5:
This oatmeal is made to be enjoyed without putting more milk, butter, or sugar into it. Add a bit of butter if you really have to but this is soooooooooooooo good as it is right out of the pot, and so creamy!
Tips & Warnings

* If you are a sugar craver, try pouring some maple syrup or any of the flavored syrups out there over the finished oatmeal.
* If you like it sweeter, just add more sugar before cooking.
* This oatmeal is all about enjoying it so if you want more milk and sugar or butter on the finished oatmeal, add it. Do try it plain first. You might be amazed!
* Add a couple of tablespoons of peanut butter per serving with the mixture in the pot before boiling for another really different taste!
* If you are a chocolate maniac, try adding about a quarter cup of chocolate chips before the cooking process. You can skip butter completely when you use chocolate. (or add peanut butter – yummmmmmm – smiling!)
* Combine everything, except for the vanilla, and let sit in the fridge overnight to be ready to make for breakfast!
* If you add vanilla after any cooking process in any recipe, it retains more flavor and aroma!
* As always, when making my recipes, do not invite the food police to breakfast when you make this! This recipe is to make you love oatmeal – not necessarily to be healthy!
* If you think margarine is better than butter – Tisk! Use good, wholesome butter, or peanut butter, or skip it completely! It will taste a whole lot better!

There are also other great uses for oatmeal.
Try this facial:
* 1/4 cup of dry oatmeal
* 1/8 real mayonnaise
* The juice and pulp of a real aloe plant leaf, mashed.
Mix all together, heat to just warm in the microwave, and let stand about 10 minutes.
Prewash your face with the hottest water you can stand to open all the pours.
Use the oatmeal paste all over your face and leave on for 10 minutes.

This is really great just before a shower. If you use a washcloth and wipe it off your face, use it on your body as a quick scrub. Oatmeal is great as a body scrub, too. Then use your normal bath soap as usual and rinse.

NEVER use regular soap on your face! Using the plain wet wash cloth as a scrub and the shower to rinse your face is far better for your facial skin than using a regular bar of bath soap!

While I have worked in restaurants, supper clubs and breakfast dinners as either cook or chef’s assistant, I never really thought I could write up recipes that I’ve come up with. My success rate has soared so, now, when I say – “Dinner is an experiment tonight” – Brad says Yeehaw! I grew up not knowing that mashed potatoes could be made without using a box of flakes so I had a big disadvantage when I started my first job in a buffet style restaurant…. but I was wide open to learning the basics. If you know the basics, the variations are endless and sometimes unbelievably good!

Ok here’s a recipe I submitted to Woman’s World and they turned it down……….sigh …………. but it is worth a try because it is so good! Granted, I’ve re-written it and took out most of the “Healthy” parts……….smiling! The different textures of the toppings and the Sloppy Joe style sandwich make this a unique sandwich dinner that’s filling & often requested! I’ll be adding the recipes Woman’s World DID publish (and paid nicely for) soon. The ones published by Woman’s World are healthy but don’t groan – they are really yummy too!

Sloppy Joes Mexican Style

Sucio Jose’s!
Here’s a fast and easy, healthy alternative to hamburgers and a change from tired old sloppy Joes. It’s a taco on a bun! And so tasty, too!

2 pounds hamburger, well browned and drained, completely.
Add:
Packet of taco spice mix.
1 cup chopped red and/or green peppers
16oz can of tomato sauce, plus a half cup of water
Simmer until thick, about an hour.
While the meat mixture is simmering, chop up the toppings of your choice listed below.
If you are going to use a taco shell or two, just hand break a bit and then crush it in a bowl with a glass – mortar and pestle style.

Fill buns of your choice (Onion buns recommended) with the meat mixture and top with your choice of the following:
Chopped onions
Chopped tomatoes
Sliced black olives
Sour cream
Shredded cheddar cheese
Crushed taco shells

If you are going to use a taco shell or two, just hand break a bit and then crush it in a bowl with a glass bottom – mortar and pestle style.

* You can use Italian sausage in addition to the hamburger to spice it up nicely.
* I get the big 3 pound pack of Italian sausage when it’s on sale and put 3 or 4 (flat – not tangled) in a zipper bag to keep in the freezer until needed. Easier to grab 1 or 2 when I need them when they are in little packs.
* You can slice the sausages thin or take the skin off and brown like hamburger.
* It is easier to cut the sausages while they are frozen but easier to brown skinless if thawed.
* If you are going to buy the hot peppers, do not touch sensitive areas like the eyes when you are cutting them up. Yowich! You can buy little cans of hot peppers but be sure you can handle the heat before you dump a whole can in!

I will be posting this recipe on MarlaineMarie eHow articles. Go ahead and have a read or three on various subjects.

I have been writing articles for eHow – a How To Do Just About Everything kind of site. So far I have been doing recipes but just finished an article about getting someone in Customer Service when you call a company for whatever reason. I will get into lots of other subjects as time goes on. Check out my first articles at MarlaineMarie please and rate them if you think they are worth it. I’ve been trying to simplify everything as much as I can. Those who know me, especially on Marlaine’s Musings, know I can really talk, talk, talk! Smiling! For some reason, I seem to be stuck on doing rice recipes on eHow. I – personally – love buttered plain rice. Shrugs – I don’t know why! It’s plain and bland. Must be a past life thing! One of my favorites is making making a hamburger and putting it on top of left over rice. When Brad wants hamburgers for dinner, I make his the traditional way and put them on nice onion hard rolls. If I have left over plain rice, I heat it in the microwave and put my hamburger on top of it. Again, shrugging, even I don’t know why I like it.

We usually buy a package of good buns or hard rolls at our grocery store and usually use two or three from the 8 pack. I almost always put the rest in the freezer as soon as I’ve used what we need. If they are hard rolls, I usually leave the package on the baker’s rack a day or two. If they are hamburger buns, I put them right in the freeze. For some reason, when you put bread in the refrigerator, they go through a change of taste – they end up tasting stale fast. I think the fridge dries them out too much too quick, even through the wrapping. (Of course, I dry herbs in paper bags in the fridge on purpose so I know the fridge does dry things out fast!)

I had to call Dish Network today. We signed up for a deal about 18 months ago and it was just a waste of money for us. When we signed up, we were told the equipment would be ours but the price of the receiver would have to be paid but the next month they would credit us with a refund. Once I canceled after the promotional period was over, they told me that I’d have to pack up the receiver, remotes, and some dothingy up on the roof and send all of that back! I called them to complain about having to get on top of the roof when we’ve had record snow fall – and hey, why do I have to send back the receiver since I was told when I signed up they would be ours? The Customer Representative kindly told me it was part of the agreement we had when we signed up. Yeah but they were also going to send 10 coupons for free DIGIORNO pizzas as part of our agreement and we never got those either! They also charged us an extra $5 a month because we DIDN’T have a second TV hooked up to the receiver too! They used to charge to have a second TV hooked up. Once the guy installed the Dish Satellite on the roof, our deal was set and if we cancelled, we’d still have to pay for 18 months whether we watched it or not! Believe me, we are so dissatisfied with Dish Network that we will NEVER get it again! I was very happy to call and cancel a couple weeks ago. That Customer Service Rep told me that a lot of people are canceling lately. Hmmmmmmmm………… wonder why.

After the chat today with the Customer Rep, we only have to send the receiver and two remotes back – he nicely waved the thingy up on the Dish on the roof part but……… we have to cart the box to UPS now. That is out of our way. Or we could spend another $10 to have UPS come and pick it up.

Word of warning: Make sure you know all the conditions of an agreement. Dish Network had been calling and calling before the agreement saying it would be cheapest way to get a new receiver and since I was a Dish Owner since 1998, this would be their way of thanking me for being such a great customer. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr……………….. Yeah – right!

Anyway – here is the article that evolved from this conflict…

By MarlaineMarie
How To Get Transferred To A Real Person In Customer Service

You call a company to get information and you hear the dreaded – “Please choose from the following menu”. Oh Great! It’s an Interactive Voice Response! IVR – Otherwise known as voice mail jail. Every one hates it and so do I.

Step 1:
Keep pressing numbers like 0# or #0 or 0* or *0 repeatedly and quickly. Many IVRs will connect to customer service after a few “invalid entries”, especially if they ask for your account number and you enter it incorrectly. Be prepared – some IVRs say Sorry, Please Try Your Call Again Later and hang up on you.

Step 2:
Keep saying Customer Service or Representative if you have a voice activated menu and they’ve asked what department you need. You can also shout or be indistinguishable. The IVR will often connect you to a person if it doesn’t hear a key phrase or can’t understand you.

Step 3:
The IVR might have the option to hold on for a Customer Representative if you have a rotary phone so try to be patient and listen to all the options. I do have one – in a drawer, for emergencies.

Step 4:
Use the menu option to connect for a new account – they usually answer right away. “Oh wrong place? Could you please connect me with customer service?” Ask them for their name and rep number – again, if they already told you, so they think you are writing it down and thank them for their help. They might have to send you to the department you needed in the first place, but sometimes you get through to a real person.

Step 5:
After getting the option to talk to a Customer Service Representative, if the expected wait time is going to be long, just grab a book or, better yet, an audio book, and try to be patient. If you have internet access while on the phone, go cruising while you wait. If you don’t have a speaker phone or head phone plug in on your phone, remember that calling their non-toll-free number might end up costing more than a new phone with a speaker feature on it.

Step 6:
Selecting Spanish sometimes gets you to a bilingual customer service person sooner. Use this only if you are really desperate – it isn’t fair to tie up the line for people who must use it.
Tips & Warnings

* Get toll-free numbers for any US-based company by calling 1-800-555-1212.
* Your phone company charges a fee each time you call 411. Call 1-800-FREE-411 for free information.
* Go to http://inter800.com/ for the Toll Free Phone Book
* Try to remember that the Customer Service Representative is only an individual who has that particular job. Who knows who talked to them before you or what awful thing that previous customer might have said. Put yourself in their place and be patient! Stay decent!

I have always resisted buying mushrooms in quantity because I wasn’t sure what to do with them to keep them fresh. Whenever I buy a package, I poke holes in the wrap to let air in and put them in the fridge, or take the wrap off completely. Our local Pick ‘N Save had such a great deal on fresh mushrooms that I just couldn’t resist getting a bunch. I bought 6 – 8oz for $5! That is a lot of mushrooms at a really low price. We usually don’t use fresh mushrooms because they are usually over $2 for an 8oz package. Sigh……. but we love them so much!

I decided to try it this time because a spaghetti sauce we often buy from Aldi’s has pretty decent sized mushrooms in the sauce. I have seen that anything that can be canned can also be frozen somehow – usually!

Cut off dirt and any soft pieces. If they seem extra dirty, rinse them off or use a soft brush to clean them. Put wet mushrooms on paper towels and cover with paper towels. Do not rinse unless you are going to use them right away or the dampness will promote withering. Don’t use water unless you have to!

This time I sautéed onions first in a little butter and then added mushrooms, letting the mushrooms gently soften down. We used some on our hamburgers for dinner (Aldi’s had a great deal on onions!)………Wowow that was incredible! I put some of the mixture in freezer containers and into our big freezer.

I’ll use some of the onion/mushroom mix with fresh green and yellow peppers (green peppers that turned yellow – smiling), sliced browned Italian sausage, browned hamburger and an Alfredo sauce to pour over fettuccine noodles. It will quicken the cooking time and saves me a lot of fiddly work later!

You can also freeze them alone but never freeze fresh ones…. I tried that a while ago and those mushrooms turned to yucky mush! Sauté in butter or olive oil. OR simmer (do not boil) the cleaned and washed mushrooms in lightly salted water for about 15 minutes, cool, put into a plastic container or bag, add some of the cooking liquid, label, date (they will keep for a few months), and freeze.

You can also store the mushrooms for a few days or a week in your refrigerator by taking them out of any plastic wraps or containers and putting them into a paper bag. If you get them into paper bags and into the fridge once you get them home, they could dry out enough to be able to store them dried. They have to be completely dried though.

I’ve dried a lot of parsley, lemon balm, chives, and many other herbs using the paper bag in the fridge trick. Remove leaves from the stems to save yourself a lot of work later. Just remember to reach in and hand toss the herbs around a bit every few days – that way you can test the dryness. If you have cats, gather catnip and leave branches whole or in bigger pieces – they especially love catnip out of the fridge in the middle of winter!

November 15, 2007 was the 30th anniversary of the Great American Smoke Out……… Years ago, when they would advertise it on TV, I’d get a sick feeling in my stomach, my fear whispering that I would never quit. I was afraid there was no hope.

Smiling…….. Yippppppppppeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!! ………. I was WRONG!
I will try to share how I quit with you because it is HEAVEN not to smoke!

I quit more than 10 years ago!!!!!!!!!! My now-husband (and most beloved) has told me that my encouragement and tips helped him, too. There is one ad in this post that is just a suggestion to help with the self-hypo that you can actually get from a local lending library – and a plug for the Orange Growers of the world. Also big plugs for fresh air and good, clean water!

I used a combo of self-hypnosis, deep breathing exercises and orange juice to help myself quit. I did not use nicotine patches or nico gums at all!!! Not only did I save my lungs and body, I also saved money while I quit!

Here are the basics of how I quit smoking (Average 3 packs a day for more than 10 years).

All of the following applies in any order…….

One of the biggest helps is to drink a lot of orange juice. It speeds up the leeching out of nicotine from your system. It takes only 3 weeks to get rid of the addictive chemicals – the rest of your addiction is psychological! Drink lots of water, too, because the more fluids you drink – non-alcoholic is better – the quicker you flush all the bad chemicals out of your body.

Every time a craving gets almost too strong to bear, take a huge inhalation of air and hold it as long as you can! Do this two or three times but try to be sitting down, at least until you’ve tried it a few times. Some people get very light headed from this. Part of the brain’s addiction to smoking is the rush of air it gets every time you inhale. If you’ve gone hours without a cig – besides while asleep – you probably noticed an almost light-headed high when you take a first drag from a lit cigarette. That first cigarette of the day always seemed – so incredible. You are dragging in air – to the brain. And your brain loves that!

Every night as you fall asleep, visualize clean fresh air going through your clean pink lungs even before you quit. Start doing this well before you quit. Here is a wonderful, incredible tape that is especially soothing and helps promote healing. Use it to help you see you lungs clearing the tar and nicotine from your system.
Your Present: A Half-Hour of Peace By Susie Mantell

Try to cut down the number of cigarettes you smoke a day before you actually quit. I had gotten down to 5 cigarettes a day for about a week. Then I caught a nasty cold and was coughing and sneezing a great deal. I spent one whole day in bed without smoking at all and decided to quit before the end of that day. (Use ANY excuse to quit!)

Don’t let what others think effect your resolve! I made the mistake of telling my then-landlord that I had quit smoking! I was so high on the idea of finally being free that I had to tell someone. She said, “That’s great! How long since you quit?” Ermmmm…. “Three days……..”, I crowed until I saw her frown. It was obvious that she didn’t think much of my achievement. Heck – it sounded lame to me! – once I thought about it. I hadn’t mentioned my not smoking to any one else. When people around me started asking, I could say…..”Yes! I quit 2 weeks ago!!!” or a month ago or whatever amount of time it was. I had gotten really tired of people asking me how it was going when I had announced that I was going to try to quit in the past. That and the 10 thousands suggestions from non-smokers and the grimaces from smokers. Once you quit, you see how happy non-smokers are for you and how begrudgingly smokers give you a nod for your achievement.

Stop smoking in a place or room that you always normally used to smoke in. I started with my garden – that’s right. I picked an outside place full of fresh air for my first place to not smoke. I told myself to finish weeding or watering a row or area of the garden before I could go have a smoke. I would end up finishing a bit more because it was a long walk back to the house, and sometimes the motivation to finish was stronger than the cigarette need. Sometimes an extra hour would pass and there’s nothing wrong with that!

Build up to having only one place that you allow yourself to smoke but do not make it the place you always used to smoke! I used to smoke while watching TV, reading or working on my computer. I quit smoking while watching TV first. I’d get up and smoke in my “designated” room. I didn’t smoke in my bedroom because I wanted to sleep in a smoke-free room, even before I started to quit. Smoking in the bathroom is something I never cared to do either because it kept me in there longer than I wanted to be. I decided that the kitchen was the place to smoke because there was often a lot of smoke from cooking and a window was usually open there – except in winter. I do a lot of reading and would always smoke while I read. Instead of avoiding reading entirely, I started getting audio books from the library – which helped with the next step……..

Keep your hands and mind busy………. I started crocheting Full & Queen size afghans. Everyone I loved got them the year I quit! Smiling!!! I listened to varied subjects, including the History Of Botany Bay. This was an odd co-incidence in my future since I had no serious interest in Australia except as adding to my knowledge of history. My adorable husband is from New South Wales and I never dreamed that I would ever know anyone from Australia, much less marry someone from there! I also listened to Patent Law, Steven King books, and some pretty forgettable stuff but it all helped me keep my mind off lighting up! I have to admit to getting hooked on audio books. Now, Brad and I listen to audio books most of the time before we go to sleep.

More info:
In truth, you are getting rid of an addiction and it isn’t easy! Food will taste crappy for a while. You will have headaches and the sweats here and there. Your brain is going to scream and fight you as though you have another being in there. You will feel tired, even exhausted at times because the nicotine stimulant is gone. You will feel irritable and be hard to live with for a while – unless you work hard at understanding it is your brain’s way to get it’s way back into the addition. You might have trouble sleeping and feel restless a lot of the time. Your concentration may suffer for a while. There is an increase in appetite even though things taste bad at first! You will definitely be coughing and spitting up disgusting brown stuff but …

Every time you try to quit and fail, you are actually getting closer to quitting. Remind yourself of this and repeatedly. The first time I actually got past three days without smoking, I knew I had it beat! Yes, I had to keep fighting hard for a few more days, but the worst was over after three days. Before that, I must have tried to stop smoking at least 75 times! I would kid myself about not having smoked for a whole 22 hours, or, what would grow to more than a whole day of not smoking in my mind (delusions, really!). That day would have included a fitful 8 or 10 hours of laying in bed, not being able to actually sleep very much and the rest of the time was filled with a whole lot of pacing and fidgeting around doing whatever to keep my mind off cigarettes – but really never not thinking about cigarettes. Be reassured that all the hours you go without smoking allows your body to start getting rid of the tars and nicotine in your lungs and it enjoys every moment of it! Every time you try, your body kicks into hyper-help mode because it does not want you to smoke.

Chewing tobacco is not as bad as cigarettes and cigars but it does contain nicotine. Nicotine increases heart rate, constricts blood vessels and reduces circulation. Nicotine can act like a stimulant or a sedative, and causes the release of endorphins, which provide a tranquilizing effect. Nicotine is actually more addictive than crack or alcohol. According to the American Cancer Society, chewing tobacco users are 50 times more likely than non-users to get cancers of the cheek, gums, and inner surface of the lips.

You must motivate yourself into quitting and commit to never smoking again ever – not even one cigarette and yes – just one Christmas cigar could suck you right back into the habit, you guys (Brad!). I went so far as to keep my last pack of cigarettes… there were only four cigarettes out of it. I labeled it with the date and put it in my top drawer. As the days went by and I did not smoke any more, I realized it was getting older and older. Those cravings enticed me once or twice the first couple of months but I told myself that I would only be allowed to smoke cigarettes from that last pack. Those babies must be dry enough to be tinder by now! Nope – I will never smoke again!

One last note…… DO NOT smoke cigars instead, thinking they are not as bad as cigarettes. Cigars contain the same addictive, toxic and carcinogenic compounds found in cigarettes. In fact, a single large cigar can contain as much tobacco as an entire pack of cigarettes!

Originally posted May 13, 2007
Gypsy’s vet visit went great and she weighed in at 82.7lbs. She’s a 5 year old coated German Shepherd who loves to play, especially with kids and her cat buddies. She’ll get her heartworm tab on the 14th of every month.
Here’s absolute proof that she loves to play!

After her vet visit – she was admired by all, I state this proudly! – we stopped at the pet store for a few things for Noodle Doodles, (Alias Gypsy – dipsy doodle – Gypsy doodle – goofy noodle – she’s got a ton of nicks!), the cats and the birds. The Pet Warehouse I have gone to for about 10 years, offers a lot of things for less than even Walmart. Many things are exclusive and more expensive, too – you need to know your prices. So when I want to get the birds a treat, I get them the “candy” food that’s shaped like little bananas, oranges, limes and grapes. The warehouse also sells cuttle bones for 2/$1 and , if you pick through a bit, you can get some really big ones. We have 4 cockatiels and I like to give them all a fresh cuttle now and then. If you can even find them in Walmart, they are well over $1.50 each and much smaller. The same goes for the sprays of millet I buy in bulk from the Warehouse. A $5 bag at Walmart or the grocery store gives me about 10 sort of small, dried out sprays. I spent $3 and got about 30 seriously big and plump sprays at the Warehouse.

When I checked out, the lady complimented my nails and I said, “Thanks, I’ve had these over a month, too.” She said, “What? How? Why do they still look so nice? Mine peel up in the first week!”
So here’s my tip to extend your fills and/or designs…
My (now) husband, Brad, flew in from Australia on the 6th of February, 2006 to meet me for the first time. I decided to get my nails done for a confidence boost before his plane arrived in the US. I have gotten them “filled” ever since. Even though my mother studied to be a beautician and showed me how to do manicures, my nails grow too thin to keep long no matter how much jello or calcium I choke down. But I do know how to keep the polish looking good.

First of all, keep pushing your cuticles gently back with your orange stick before you get them done. After that first tip job, you can actually use your nails because they aren’t so sharp with the coating on them. Keep the cuticles pushed back so they aren’t growing with your nails. When the coating gets laid on top of the cuticle material, they can not bond to your actual nail. Even though the nail specialist uses a tool to file it down, they don’t get it all. Use cocoa butter once a week on the cuticles after they are pushed back. Massage it in well and let it sit a few minutes before washing thoroughly. Then use a clear coat polish over the top and under the nails to seal them. The fill stuff lifts up at the base after a while if water and soap get under them. Your real nail tips pull away from the coating if they aren’t completely sealed. Just put a clear coat on every three or four days even if you don’t want to bother with the cuticle stuff. Use hand moisturizer often – after the polish is dry of course….. and keep them soft. Doesn’t hurt the hands either, smiling!

I will need to get a fill soon… but when I do go, it will be a freebie…… They give you a “Have your nails done 10 times, and get one free” card….. I have to bring the card out every time – they don’t give reminders… but….. smiling…

Here’s Gypsy’s bandage from her blood test (and a glimpse of the nails).

Oh no – got to go to the store – again!

Was orginally posted May 1, 2007
I hate it when I’ve planned out nearly every moment of my day and then find out that I need something at the store for dinner. A few years ago, I lived out in farmland Wisconsin and a trip to the store had to be by a gas-guzzling car AND took about 15 minutes to the nearest store going 55 miles an hour – mostly. (OK – I usually wasted gas and drove 70 [sometimes 90] mph using my psychic “radar” to avoid speeding tickets!) Now in the city, driving a sweet Taurus, gas isn’t that bad and I could hold my breath all the way to the store without passing out, while still driving at the legal speed limit. But I still hate having to run to the store for a pittly little thing or two.

I work at my computer most of the time because my husband and I work on web sites and eBooks, studying, and playing a game we have a business website attached to. I make lists. Sigh… More lists.. Sob… and even more lists……. But at the end of it, I have a grocery list, a list of things to do and list of bills that need to be paid. As much as I am a comp geek these days, I write all these lists on paper. (Just a sec, writing – t-paper – on list) Whenever I print out anything that didn’t print well or wasn’t what I wanted, I tear the page into quarters for note paper and use the back side, keeping it in one of the spaces on my back desk. (I made an old-style secretary-looking desk back by arranging extra wooden boxes to give the slot sections that are so handy. Also placed a long philodendron planter over the top two to cut the glare of the fluorescent light I added up there that also helps the plant grow – smiling – looks great!)

I keep a running grocery list, adding whatever pops up here and there. You can always scratch off something if you don’t really need it later. Because it’s right there, I don’t have to turn on my printer – which I rarely do, by the way. I don’t have to wait for it to print and I don’t have to replace the ink cartridge. I actually emailed my grocery store complaining that the store didn’t offer what the web said the in-store specials were, stating that what they show should be available since it was specifically MY IN-STORE SPECIALS and that I DID NOT want to waste paper and cartridge ink to print out their cutesy shopping list every time I go shopping because it costs money to print it. And they answered, saying, “Simply print out your shopping list every week and present it to the service desk if your sale item isn’t available.” Ah, that personal touch! Tisk!

The jist of this is that I am trying to save money and time all the time. Often, if I really think it over, I can do without that thing or two until I go for a regular shopping trip or I’m going past the grocery store to do something else, too. (My library knows me on sight and usually has my requested books at the check out before I get there…) Or I can substitute something I have on hand.

Get a good stand alone freezer and keep good hamburger buns in it. Take advantage of hamburger sales at the store. Stock whatever you like on hamburgers like onions, that stay good a long time, or ketchup, barbecue sauce, mustard. You could not get me to eat a fast food hamburger after knowing what my homemade ones taste like!

Ok Honey Hub – hamburgers for supper tonight it is. (Wish my Hubby wouldn’t read over my shoulder like that!) At least I don’t have to run to the store now.

Working on tips to save money and time!

April 29, 2007 First Blog Entry
This will be my first post on my fav subject – saving money and time. First of all, visit Duelin’ Deals for great tips on saving money and conserving energy! I am working on an eBook packed with lots more tips that will soon be available.