Life, Family and Friends

One moment you are living your life just like you do every day. You take the kids to school, go to work, come home, cook dinner, watch some T.V. or get on the computer and then go to bed. Every once in awhile, you see a movie, have date night with your spouse, or get together with your family. 


One day can change all of that. It can be an incredibly happy day and the next day, you can be shocked with news. I have advice to all of you. Appreciate your friends and family every day-no matter how mad they may make you at times. They are the only ones you have. In the last few years, it just has seemed like I have started to lose those that are close to me in life.  I've lost my grandmother (my father's mom) whom I loved so dearly, I've felt like some of my friends have drifted apart, my father-in-law lost his mother, and some of my family have been really sick.  And now just recently, another special close friend of mine has passed away unexpectedly.


This is what I fear about getting older. Losing the ones that I love the most. You can be going about in life, and then one day-somebody's gone. You don't get to pick up the phone anymore, you don't get to hug them hello and goodbye....they are gone. ....Although, one day, as I believe, we should all meet again in Heaven..in eternity. And I so hope that I do, because I miss so many so dearly...


So remember, tell your friends and family that you love them today.... You just never know when your last goodbye will be....


I've come up with a poem about Life's Philosophy in the thoughts of all of this. Feel free to read it at:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/8991393/lifes_philosophy.html?cat=34

Remembering 9-11....10 years ago.

I don't remember a lot from 10 years ago or the day before on September 10th... But I do remember 9-11.


I remember important family events and some of my daughter's "firsts" as she was just a month from being a year old on September 11th, 2001. She was a little baby, safe from all the worries and disbelief of that horrific day. 


When I first awoke that morning and was told by my husband of what happened, I didn't quite believe him at first. There had to be some sort of mistake. But then just minutes later, I heard of the second attack, and then the Pentagon being crashed into.... It seemed as if the world was ending that day...  I literally sat glued to the television that entire day, watching in silence as the events unfolded...


Being only 20 myself that year, I myself have never seen Americans in such fear. The looks on the faces of all of those from downtown New York were unforgettable. The tears of those who wept that lost loved ones. The looks of worry upon those who held photos of missing family and friends on the news. It was heart-breaking. 


I being an avid soap watcher had set my VCR to record my favorite soap that day. I still have about an hours worth of news footage from CBS from  Sept. 11th, 2001. There hasn't really been a day that I have been able to watch it again. When those two towers fell---it seemed like the end was coming.... Perhaps the end of America and how we were.....10 years ago we felt safe.... perhaps we were naive?.... Or that nothing could touch us. Terrorists that day proved us wrong. Since that day, many of us have grown ...America still hasn't quite recovered, but many of us do look over our backs now.... 


That day is engraved into our memories forever... It was a hard learned lesson that we should have never had to experience. So many lives and innocence was lost.  And now, as the years go by, America can only continue to overcome what happened...and continue to fight back....




Below is a poem that I wrote 10 years ago about that horrific day......


In Memory: September 11th, 2001 



The day that America cried,
The day that we as a nation, almost lost our pride.


‘Tis was a sad and heartfelt day,
I believe that the memories will never fade away.


Our heroes who fought for their lives to save the next target,
The heroes who worked day and night, to rescue the wounded
This was the time that our nation came together as one,
As we united and mourned together of the tragic events that struck our life


America and its generation will never be the same,
Or will we live without fear or pain…
Our minds are grief stricken…
Our hearts are broken…


This is a time for healing,
A time for uniting
A time to pray
Not to run away…


America, our nation, we are scared and hurting for those at war,
For those who lost their lives.
But we as a people,
Shall stand together,
To unite and protect
Our fathered land.

Finding a Job During the Recession

The unemployment rate has barely moved in the United States. Businesses are still hesitant about hiring new staff, and consumers are still holding on tight to their money. There are just a  few new businesses that are opening their doors. Those that were planning to start are waiting just a little bit longer until the economy gets better...


The question is.....When will it get better?


As smaller businesses continue to lose hope and close their doors, it makes the rest of us uneasy. Prices of products and fuel rise, and we begin to wonder where all of that money in our pockets are going. It makes it scary to walk up to that fuel pump-or even buy that gallon of milk that we need. 


Let's face it. Things are just plain scary.


So comes a time when we need to take matters into our own hands. If you are currently out of work and collecting unemployment, there are other small-type jobs or side businesses that you can do while you wait for employment. Perhaps they just might turn into a business and you won't need another job. Or as you find other tasks to do, you can continue a strong work ethic and keep your mind busy. 


All it takes is some planning and deciding what your best assets and job strengths are. Do you like to do landscaping? Or perhaps you enjoy watching small children... What about baking? You could bake birthday cakes. Everyone has their own special talents and the possibilities are endless.


There are still some recession proof jobs that you can do. Not every job requires a boss looking over your shoulder....You can take matters into your own hands and create your own job or small side business....Put your creative mind to work and see what you come up with!.....


Or you can read this article..."Simple Start Up Jobs During a Recession" and get some ideas!.... 

RN: Rising Job in the Employment Market

If you are one of the millions still looking for employment, then you might consider looking into a position as a RN (Registered  Nurse). Every day when I look in the newspapers and the help wanted section, I see many positions open asking for RN's. If you are the type that can handle a little blood here and there, don't mind giving shots or you enjoy caring for others, you might succeed as an RN.

For those who are interested in a position as an RN, you will need to head back to school,take some tests and become certified. A certified RN will be offered more of a salary than one who isn't. Check with your local colleges in the area to find out more about RN programs and where you can take classes to become certified.

Check out the Registered Nurse website (http://www.registerednursern.com/) to learn more about the history, salary and outlook.

And of course, RN's need uniforms too! If you are looking for scrubs, check out:
http://www.blueskyscrubs.com/categories/Scrubs/Scrubs-for-Men/

Identity Theft Protection

A new article on Yahoo!, is informing debit card users of where NOT to use their debit cards. Identity Theft is still a big problem in the United States and more people must be aware of the consequences.

I myself was a victim of identity theft. Back when I was around 21, I tried applying for a personal loan, and found out that someone in the area of Joshua, Texas had been using my social security number. Addresses and a few closed utility accounts were on my credit report-and they didn't belong to me! It took me forever to get all of the information off of my report that didn't belong to me-and also affected my credit score.

And now, not only must we protect our social security numbers, but we must protect our debit cards as well. The article advises that we should not use debit cards in restaurants-as there are too many prying eyes. Also, sometimes, customers may not even get their card returned to them.

The article also informs readers not to use debit cards for security or rental deposits. The reason for this is because when the money will actually be taken out of your account (and then returned when the equipment is returned). If you use a credit card-the money will just be "frozen."

Also -never use your debit card at WiFi hot-spots. Hackers could easily break into your computer and steal your private financial information.

Before thinking about using your social security number or debit/credit card, make sure that you have proper identity theft protection.If you need to protect your identity, IdentityHawk offers a variety of services to help keep you protected. 

Illinois Festivals

There are a few festivals that are currently going on and also just around the corner. It's hard to believe that summer is almost coming to an end. Usually one of the best ways to end those long summer lazy days is with a festival. Festivals are full of friend foods, foods on a stick, a variety of meat sandwiches and the favorite thirst-quenching shake-ups. I myself enjoy fries with plenty of vinegar and a lemon or strawberry shake-up.


Below are some links to area festivals coming up in the area. These include the Champaign, Urbana Illinois Sweetcorn Festival, Arthur Cheese Festival and Arcola Broomcorn Festival. Save some cash and get ready to eat your way through some of the most popular festivals....


1. Munch on Sweetcorn in Urbana, IL
http://www.examiner.com/food-in-chicago/munch-on-sweetcorn-champaign-il


2. The Arthur Cheese Festival and Arcola Broomcorn Festival
http://www.examiner.com/food-in-chicago/upcoming-festivals-near-the-champaign-illinois-area

Poetry Podcasts, eBook Stores, Book of Poems: Just a few projects in the works!

So,  while I have been busy writing content articles, in the mean time, I have a few other projects in the works too. One project was creating a few podcasts at Spreaker. I still need to do some more there.

If you haven't already, listen to me reading a couple of my poems down below .

*My Little Muse


Small Town Poetry Beat on Spreaker

Through the Trees


Small Town Poetry on Spreaker


The next project is extending the sales of eBooks. I thought it would be a nice compliment to my income. While it may take some time to get started, there have been some sales on eBay-but the prices have been low. Prices may be low because of a still staggering economy. But the way that I see money now--every penny adds up! Below I have listed some of my eBook auctions and my eBook webstore that I am still adding to.


eBooks on eBay-<-Click to view my eBook Auctions


The eBook Sale  <---My growing eBook Store



Last of all, I am still working on my 3rd collection of poems, titled "Poems from Home." I really hope to have it finished by the end of this year. The book is still in design mode and I still need to do some editing. Right now, I don't really have any links to show updates on my book, but it does include poems such as the one that I wrote for Douglas County Relay for Life: "The Fight of Their Lives" , An Animal for the Day and "There is No Predicting Rapture."

As these projects get closer to being finished, I will post them here. They all will get completed a little bit at a time-as I do work part time outside my home, have a family and of course--somewhere in between there--I need to sleep! lol.....