Apparently no one was seriously injured, but I wonder if anyone got fired.

This morning Puddin' Pop decided to use the bathroom and then refused to put her pants back on. I chased her around for a while and then just gave up. She would just run and giggle and I figured if she got cold she would come find me.
Fifteen minutes later she was trying to get out the front door, still with nothing on her bottom half. I explained that it was cold, but we all know that Mommy's don't know anything. She finally managed to get the door open and I picked her up and to show her how cold it was I pressed her little bottom to the freezing glass of the storm door...just as my neighbor was driving by. The neighbor stopped, I smiled and waved, and Puddin Pop squealed "Do it again!"
I got spanked by Google and I didn't even know they were giving spankings out.
Up until the latest Google update I really didn't pay much attention to their rankings. I read a lot about how having sponsored posts have really hurt some people, but since my blogs are young (4 months), I always had a 0 and wasn't really concerned. In the last update this blog was given a 3. I took a lot of sponsored posts with Social Spark since then, which I knew would hurt me in the next update, but as of today, this blog in ranked N/A by Google. I didn't realize an update was being done. Does Google just strip your ranking whenever?
No worries, the sponsored posts were nice for a little extra income, and when I was having a mental block about what to write about,it was nice to have an idea and get the creative juices flowing. This blog is more about helping others so I will not get discouraged and I will march on with my intended content and new ideas on how and who to help.
Puddin'Pop will be 2.5 tomorrow and wer'e in the process of potty training. I'm of the low stress, do it when your ready school of training. She's been wearing pull ups only (and sometimes "big girl" panties when we're at home) and likes to use the potty. The problem is that she goes every 30-35 minutes. How am I supposed to get anything done when I am in the bathroom all day?
I thought I could leave her alone, per her request, but she either unrolls the entire roll of toilet paper (and tries to get it all in the toilet) or she's playing in the water. The other day she decided to turn around on the seat and I found her with both feet (shoes still on) in the toilet like she was dangling her toes in a pool on a hot summer's day.
I guess I'll quit giving her beverages. I applaud her for being a big girl, but a little bladder control (and the ability to "hold it") would be really nice right about now.
Is there anything we can not buy insurance for? Anything we shouldn't buy insurance for?
We have homeowners insurance, car insurance, life insurance and medical insurance. We can insure our credit card purchases for (in my opinion) a very steep fee. There's travel insurance, liability, casualty and disability insurance.
Did you know?
If you live in, or operate a business in a High risk location such as Columbia or Peru, you may even obtain Kidnapping and Ransom Insurance?
K&R policies are typically for the purpose of recovering losses due to kidnap, extortion, hijacking and wrongful detention. Really? Why would anyone want to live in a place where this is even available?
So now I have to ask...How the heck do you eat these? Is the coating supposed to be sucker hard and crack when you bite it? Or hard and yet almost super hard taffy like, like mine are?
All I know is that they will probably end up as part of a centerpiece because even the neighbor kid who can chomp through a tootsie roll pop in under 5 seconds, worked on the apple for 30 minutes and never even got close to the apple.
On a side note: For those looking to get rid of dangling baby teeth your kid won't let you pull, e-mail me your address and I can send your one (limited to first 8 responders).
Press Release:
In this YouTube video, you can see a blogger using Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10 Preferred to write a blog article with in WordPress.
The author of The Love You Make, is using this voice recognition software after having the software for just a few days. She writes this great little article that's about 280 words long in about two minutes and 45 seconds. That translates into about 165 seconds of typing, or 1.7 words per second. That means she's typing a little over 102 words per minute with Dragon NaturallySpeaking.
Plus, she's just getting started with the software!
Dragon NaturallySpeaking has come a long way over the last decade, and now can enable people to type at 150 words per minute. I myself, have clocked version 9 at 167 words per minute, and I'm seeing even better results out of version 10. The software is extremely accurate, and can make many of your typing chores exceptionally easy.
As a blogger myself, I am able to write longer articles, with more complete thoughts on a subject in a significantly reduced amount of time. I have been working to challenge bloggers to try Dragon NaturallySpeaking and see if they can use it to help improve their writing. I think bloggers have an enormous amount of potential, and I always look for tools that will help them unleash that potential.
I think that Dragon NaturallySpeaking is a great tool that can definitely help bloggers increase the value that they offer their readers. I can envision a blogosphere where bloggers are able to take the time and provide insights into their wisdom and experience and ideas easier and faster because they can get their thoughts out quickly and completely using Dragon NaturallySpeaking.
I hope you will consider using Dragon NaturallySpeaking. It has a price point that starts at about $99. This is the version that you would use if you only use the software with your computer. If you intend to use the software with a pocket voice recorder, which could enable you to have your MP3 files of your voice transcribed into text, then you may also want to consider opting for the Preferred version of the software. The Preferred Version starts at about $199 and has many options.
I personally recommend the preferred version, but I do understand that times are a little tough financially for many people including myself. I still recommend it, because I do believe that you will see a significant return on your investment. Spending $100 or even $199 on Dragon NaturallySpeaking will enable you to type at 100 to 150 words per minute. It has been my experience that you will not get as tired from typing, you will not suffer from eye strain as much and as a result will experience fewer migraines or headaches, and you will be able to move around your office, your home, or your work environment because you will not be locked in front of your computer sitting in a chair typing and mousing around with your fingers.
I do believe that Dragon NaturallySpeaking can help you to be a better writer, to write as a more in-depth blogger, to produce better content, and to produce more content. I believe this because I have seen it myself. :-)
Please consider watching this Dragon NaturallySpeaking video so that you can see for yourself just how well Dragon actually speaking works.
Sincerely,
Brett Bumeter
Softduit Media
PS I wrote this 575 word article using Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10. It took me about three minutes to write and about three minutes to edit. :-) Even with editing time, that's 95 words a minute!
Wouldn't this be a fantastic Christmas gift for the blogger in your life, or you? Start dropping hints now and maybe you'll get lucky.
I can't imagine how much time I would free up with a tool like this. I am not a fantastic typist and I spend a ton of time editing posts before posting them. Dragon NaturallySpeaking is going to be on the top of my Christmas list.
What will I do in all my spare time? I'll have to come up with something while procrastinating cleaning the house.
It's an all too familiar picture. We will soon be out doing our holiday shopping and at every store there will be someone ringing a bell and holding a red kettle. Do you drop in your change, or look the other way and walk on by? Before you walk on by, think about what this kettle represents.
The tradition started in 1891 when Salvation Army Captain Joseph McFee was trying to raise enough money to feed 1000 of San Francisco's poorest citizens a Christmas Dinner. He set a kettle at the Oakland Ferry Landing with a sign that read "Keep the pot Boiling." He soon had the money he needed to provide the Cristmas Dinner.
Currently the kettles are used across the US as well as Korea, Japan, Chile and many European countries. Just a few cents can help. Each year, in the US alone, these funds assist with Thanksgiving and Christmas meals for over four and a half million people who otherwise would be without.
Can you spaare some change?
I like to use the opportunity to teach my kids that there are some less fortunate than us, and that part of being a nice person is doing what we can to help. I always have loose change and allow the kids to put the money in the kettles. I really think it makes them feel good, even if they do not yet fully understand the magnitude of the need they are contributing to.
I may have over volunteered with the PTA. I've had several calls in the last 2 weeks about sub comittee meetings and when and where they'll be held. It is very frustrating when looking for residences to not have the houses properly marked. Having the address on the mailbox is my favorite, and the easiest for me to spot (afterall, it is about me right?).
If you have your mailbox on your porch, or live in a community where the resident's mailboxes are together at the end of the road, then a nice address plaque works well as long as it is in a well lit area like the porch or garage. Okay, that's my two cents on labeling your house, back to my PTA agenda.
I have to make teddy bear biscuits for the Teddy bear picnic on Friday. I need to be at the school on the 2nd of November from 1:30 -4:00 for the "Big Blast", a party for all the children who sold at least 5 items in the fundraiser last month. I have to bake something on the 3rd and have it to the school by 4:00 for the bake sale the following day that I'll also need to spend some time working at.
Is this the norm? Kindergarten parents wanting to get involved, having no clue what is involved, signing their life, or at least a year of it, away to the PTA?
After having grey skies and drizzle for the past 2 days, waking up and seeing the sun do the same was a very welcome suprise. We got breakfast and showers and got the kids and ourselves dressed. We packed a lunch and headed to Busch Gardens. The temperature was in the 60's and it was a beautiful Fall day.
When we got to the park, our original plan was to find a grassy area in the parking lot and eat lunch before heading in. We coudn't find a grassy area that wasn't also a steep hill, so we taught the kids what a tailgate is. We opened the back of the SUV, laid out a sheet, put the kiddies in the back, and hubby and I sat on the tailgate and we all enjoyed lunch.
We went into the park, the kiddies rode the lil clydes, the carousel, the airplanes, and the bumper cars. Boog rode the BIG swings for the first time and loved it. With all the rides to ride and things to look at and do, the kids spent the most of their time plaing on and in a stack of eggs in Dragon Land. We ran into a friend from My Mommy's group and my 2 munchkins and her one, climbed in and out of these eggs for about 30 minutes. I really need to get a set for my back yard.
I don't know what it is about me that screams "give me all your old lamps." But apparently, everyone can hear it but me. We really need to clean out our garage, it ends up being the dumping ground for all our unused items as well as Holiday decorations. I was getting out the Halloween decorations and noticed I have a ton of lamps.
I do not care to shop for lamps. I don't find anything all that exciting about them, and yet I have 6 in my garage. I can think of 4 lamps I have purchased for our house. A snoopy one that matched Boogie's baby room (still in his "big boy" room.) Puddin' Pop got the one that matched her bedroom set. The lamp on my nightstand, that I bought at Target because it was "reduced" ( I think I may have paid $7), and the Torchiere I bought to replace the old one that stood on a constant lean. My Step Mom was visiting a couple years ago and couldn't stand looking at it. She pulled $20 out of her purse and insisted I go right then to get a new one. I did, and gave her back almost $12 in change.
2 of the lamps in the garage are huge table lamps that my In laws gave us when they remodeled their den. There is also a rocking horse lamp from Step Mommy, who thought the kids might like it. I'm saving it in case one of them goes into a horse phase. I have no idea where the other 3 came from. I think I need to get better at saying "Thanks, but No Thanks
I'll admit it. I'm directionally challenged. While my little brother has always been able to get any where on memory, I am the opposite. I do not pay attention to where I am going if I am not driving, unless I'm navigating. I like to know specifically where I am going and want specific instructions. Every time I drive home to Michigan, I print directions from an on line source, every time. It's just useless information to me, keeping directions in my head. Plus it doesn't interest me, so there's no retention.
When hubby and I first met I had lived in Virginia for 6 months and had pretty much spent most my time at home or at work (and an occassional visit to a nearby after hours bar). When he wanted me to meet him after work, he would give me directions like "Go down Warwick to the McDonalds, make a left, go to the 7-11, take a right...". I wanted street names. Do you know how many McDonalds and 7-11's there are around here? Even on the same street? I quickly started getting local directions on line as well and I couldn't live drive without them. When my Mom's group has a play date, I just ask for the address and print my directions. I've tried a GPS, but I couldn't stand the constant talking, especially if you make an "un planned" stop. I want to know that I have to go 10.5 miles on such and such street, turn left on the next and go 6.2 miles. Then I get to where I'm going, follow the directions in reverseto get home (if needed) and throw the directions out. if I have to go back to the same place a month later, there's a good chance I'll have to reprint the directions. Maybe I should start a file?
I wish I had taken pictures, but I didn't, so you'll just have to visualize.
4 of us "girls" in the cul de sac meet once a month for dinner. We missed last month due to busy schedules and not being able to find a day that worked for all of us. We almost had the same problem this month but decided to go with 3 out of 4 and fortunately the 4th made it after her other commitment.
I wanted to do the dinner (make everything) and was very excited to cook a "grown-up" meal that everyone would enjoy. Wednesdays are great for me because the kids go to choir practice with Mima and Papa at 5:00 and dinner is at 7:00. I should have had 2 hours to whip up my gourmet meal. As it turned out, Mima wasn't feeling well, so along with dinner for the group, I had to cook dinner for hubby and kids. Hubby and kids had baked chicken breasts, corn and mac and cheese.
For the other dinner I made brown rice with sauteed squash, zucchini and red onion, Garlic shrimp, and a salad with raspberry vinagrette dressing. We accompanied dinner with Margaritas and had a fabulous brownie cheesecake for desert that I swear put me into a sugar coma for about an hour. I'll try to remember to take pictures next time.