Cool site of the day

Check out the world's only parasite museum located in Tokyo Japan! Here you will find the worlds longest tape worm ever taken from a human body!


parasitemuseum

Is American Idol Scripted? Uh Oh Paula!!

Making the most of your time!

Note: This is a guest post by Kaled Asmri of SuccessElixir.net.


Nothing we have is more valuable than time. As they say, time is money. Strange that we rarely think of time as something we should invest. If we invest it wisely, a little time can pay huge dividends down the road, whether financially or personally. Unlike money, time can be invested in anything — in your relationships, for example. The time you spend nurturing those relationships with other people can produce untold benefits in terms of happiness.


But making the most of your time involves some delicate juggling of priorities. How much time do you invest in your professional, personal, and spiritual life? How much to each person in your life?


Think carefully. Unlike money, you can’t possibly recover any of your funds after a foolish investment. Once time is spent, it’s gone forever. Once the sand slips through the hourglass, it disappears. But if you spend it wisely, it may remain with you, in the form of those relationships and business ventures into which you’ve wisely invested what little time you have.


A few keys to help you stop wasting time are listed below. Keep them in mind as you’re planning every day.


1. Take control of those far-flung aspects of your life with some central planning.




You’re the central command — and that’s as it should be, since only know what is most important to meeting your goals, and where to prioritize. Charting one’s time commitments effectively is the key to personal and businesses efficiency.


A good plan should bend but not break. Pin down the most important events in red — those deadlines and meetings that you cannot miss under any circumstances. The time that’s left over can be your flex time. Pencil in those random appointments that come up on short notice, and can be cancelled at short notice!


2. Develop a list of simple, spot-on questions to begin your day with as you look at the day’s schedule.


Re-evaluate your existing appointments based on the latest developments. Some questions might include:


What must I finish before the day is over?
What one thing can I most efficiently eliminate from my day? Get rid of it!
Can I combine certain scheduled items? Reshuffle them for more efficiency?
How does each item relate to my long-term goals?
Are any personal habits interfering with realizing my plans?

As you answer your list of questions every day, you can effectively recognize patterns in your time management — problems to avoid, and positive trends to encourage.


3. Never stop learning.


Many people conceive of learning as a passive endeavor, the way they remember it being back in school — do whatever the teacher says, memorize the information in the textbook. But learning should be a lifelong activity — that is, it should be active.


You can manage your time very effectively by learning from those around you, with similar goals and interests. Imagine the amount of time you can save by simply avoiding some of the errors others have made in the past. Never stop consulting with your associates and colleagues, and learn from their priceless experience.


4. Avoid the distractions.


Effective time management involves trimming away the nonsense — those little things that break up large blocks of valuable time, in which you’d otherwise make real, concentrated progress on serious projects. Otherwise, you can lose entire days on trifles — worst of all, on trifles of other people.


A disciplined approach to time management is one of the essential elements in the makeup of a successful person, no matter what their field of endeavor. Develop a plan, and, by analyzing it in everyday practice, streamline it. If you ask the right questions on a consistent basis, you’ll become an expert planner, and a successful person.


Learn to regard your time as the valuable commodity it is!


Kaled Asmri writes daily success secrets at his own blog, SuccessElixir.net. If you like this article, subscribe to his feed and read one of his best articles such as How Can I Improve My Self-Esteem?



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Lauren's portrait of me.

Tax Rebate Checks on their way!!

Rebates start landing in bank accounts: How will we spend?

As first tax rebates show up in checking accounts, many Americans eye groceries, not fancy TVs

NEW YORK (AP) -- Tax rebates have begun dropping into bank accounts, but in this economy, gas and groceries may trump a high-end TV, a fancy dress or a new sofa -- making the checks less of an economic jump-start than the government hoped for.

The first direct deposits from the Internal Revenue Service landed in bank accounts Monday, shoppers were already using the cash to play catch-up on the basics, such as milk and other groceries.

Analysts say the rest will probably be used to pay down debt.

Alicia Flaxman, a stay-at-home mother from Seekonk, Mass., was shopping at a Target store Monday and said she would use some of the rebate for food -- cheaper items like potatoes, not more expensive meat and fish.

"My bills are double," she said. "I go to the supermarket and I spend $200. I used to spend $120."

The rest of the money will probably go for summer clothes for her three children, she said.

The IRS aims to make 800,000 payments every day for the first three days of this week. No deposits will be made Thursday, and about 5 million on Friday.

How you receive the rebate depends on how you filed your taxes. Paper checks will go out beginning May 9. The exact timing for both direct deposit and paper checks depends on the last two digits of your Social Security number.

The rebates, which are expected to reach 130 million households, range up to $600 for individuals and $1,200 for married couples, plus $300 per child for eligible parents.

How will you spend your money? Joe and I, are very rarely frivilous..but we are doing something somewhat frivilous with our money! We are buying a flat screen tv and a new couch for the living room. Currently, the living room is a formal room, that is very rarely used. There is no tv in the room..so we thought we'd get more use out of it by adding the tv and a big comfy couch! Yippeee! I can't wait to go shopping for it...

Monday's Recipe

We're having veggie pizza for dinner tonight!
I checked out the recipe's on my favorite site
www.allrecipes.com but I didn't find any as easy as the one I make! It's delicious AND easy!
I just take an Augustine's frozen pizza shell and instead of tomato sauce, I cover it in Ranch dressing. I then add shredded provolone and cheddar cheese all over the pizza shell. I put a bag of frozen brocolli on top of that and then any other veggie your family likes! We like hot peppers, onions and green peppers! I sprinkle salt and pepper over the pizza and bake it in the oven @ 425 for 20 minutes! YUM.. my girls love their pizza made this way! I will try to take a picture and post it later.. Try it..it's yummy!

Monday

She's Beautiful!

I'm tired!

phew..it's been a busy week! It's Saturday evening, and I've got one more night of activites and then I'm laying low for the next three days! I need a rest! If you don't hear from me for a few days, everything's cool..

Danica's Wedding!

A Vietnamese Story..

I went to get my nails done yesterday. I've gotten my nails done..maybe three times in my life. I like how they look, but they are not very comfortable to me! I sat there and watched the women sit at the tables of the vietnamese technicians, and barely say a word to them. How strange, I thought to myself, to sit with someone for about 1/2 an hour and not converse! To me..it's as though you're not treating someone as human..or less than you are, if you don't talk with them. That's just how I feel.. how can you not have contact with someone touching your hands and making them look so beautiful?
So when it was my turn, I sat down at the table of a man who looked to be about my age..42. I asked him his name. Lee. Lee, I said? Yeah..like Bruce Lee, he said.
Where are you from originally?, I asked "Vietnam.", he answered. I continued to make conversation with him. His dad was an American soldier in Vietnam. He died in the war. Because He is part american, he got to come to this country and stay. He works in nail salons all over the country, wherever they need someone. He works 10 hour days , 7 days a week. He has no family in the United States, and no friends. He works to send money back home to take care of his mother. They have a hard time making money in Vietnam. He has no car, so he usually lives within walking distance of the nail salons he works at. He speaks little English, so he has a hard time getting around. He said he goes no where but work! He is very lonely. He told me that again and again. The people that own the nail salons, they are usually a family. They open these salons and bring family members to America. Sometimes they need extra help, and that's where Lee fits in. I asked him if the Vietnamese Nail Salon owners befriend him, and he said, "No, only at work." They don't talk to him outside of work. I found that so strange..and hard to understand. He can't find a woman to marry, because he has no money. It all goes to his family in Vietnam. He said his whole life is work..work..work. He said, the people in Vietnam think Americans live like they do on TV. You know ..the whole Beverly Hills, Celebrity kind of life style? They think everyone lives like celebrities do! He said, his family back home thinks he lives like that. He won't tell them otherwise..his mom worries so much about him. So as lonely as he is, he pretends he has a great life. Once a year, after the New Year in January, he travels back home for three weeks to see his family. That is what he lives for, Li told me. He had tears in his eyes, when he talked about home. He misses is to much, but he can't disappoint his family, by not staying in the USA and working. He is a buddhist, so doesn't know Jesus Christ. Friends..how can we help him? What can we do to show him Jesus's love? Help me please..God has put this burden on my heart! There must be 1000s of people like Li in this country! How can we get them to know Jesus? Please..if you can help...if you can pray..let's do something for this guy! Who knows..maybe if we reach him and show him the love of Christ...just to love him and show him friendship and kindness, maybe he can show it to other Vietnamese friends here in American and back home!!!

Karen, Kim & I

Went to see ALly perform in 42nd street last night! It was a great night! Aftewards we went out to eat at Edward's restaurant. Great conversation..great friends! Fantastic Time!

Baby Boomer Blues

BABY BOOMER BLUES
For all you baby boomers out there..I thought you might like this!
It was fun being a baby boomer... until now. Some of the artists
>>>of the 60's are revising their hits with new lyrics to accommodate
>>>aging baby boomers:
>>>
>>>They include:
>>>Herman's Hermits --- Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Walker.
>>>Ringo Starr --- I Get By With a Little Help From Depends.
>>>The Bee Gees --- How Can You Mend a Broken Hip?
>>>Bobby Darin --- Splish, Splash, I Was Havin' a Flash.
>>>Roberta Flack --- The First Time Ever I Forgot Your Face.
>>>Johnny Nash --- I Can't See Clearly Now !
>>>Paul Simon --- Fifty Ways to Lose Your Liver
>>>The Commodores --- Once, Twice, Three Times to the Bathroom.
>>>Marvin Gaye --- Heard It Through the Gr ape Nuts.
>>>Procol Harem --- A Whiter Shade of Hair.!
>>>Leo Sayer--- You M ake Me Feel Like Napping.
>> ;>The Temptations --- Papa's Got a Kidney Stone.
>>>Abba --- Denture Queen !
>>>Tony Orlando --- Knock 3 Times On The Ceiling If You Hear Me Fall.
>>>Helen Reddy --- I Am Woman, Hear Me Snore !
>>>Leslie Gore --- It's My Procedure, and I'll Cry If I Want To!
>>>And my favorite:
>>>Willie Nelson --- On the Commode Again

Hey Jude! So cute!!

42nd Street @ New Castle High School!

Alexandra Nicole Hougelman made her musical debut last night in the production of 42nd Street! It was AMAZING! The dancing..the singing..the acting, was just like a Broadway production! The scenery WAS the actual broadway scenery! WOAH! When New Castle High School does a musical..they do it well! I was very impressed! Ally did a fantastic job. She is so beautiful!! She shines! She has this incredible inner beauty as well as outer beauty! She is so kind and sweet and her smile just lights up a room! She has a way of making people feel good..I love that about her!
Here she is in the car on the way to the show!

With some friends...
Ally & Emily friends since kindergarten!

The family!

She's a nut!

Rod Stewart and Bryan Adams!

Rod Stewart with special guest Bryan Adams

Anyone want to go to this concert with me? If we get a group of girls together we can rent a limo and ..I think we would have a blast! If you're interested please let me know..the more the merrier!!

Saturday, August 9, 2008

Blossom Music Center

Doors: 7:00 pm | Show: 8:00 pm



1145 W. Steels Corners

Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44223

330.920.8040

Wednesday!

Wow! I had a fantastic day today! Life is good..no..Life is great right now!! This morning I met with Karen Miller, who has her own tour guide business. We talked about business and she gave me some great ideas! We talked a lot about what will happen with this area if the casino comes to Mahoningtown! She had so many good thoughts and ideas. Karen is a smart lady and I enjoyed meeting with her!
We were SLAMMED at work! It was the kind of slammed that I love. I had the best customers today..ones that were full of restaurant compliments and personal compliments and to top it off they were great tippers! I made 115 dollars, from 11:00 to 3:00 today, just in tips! I wish it could be like that every day! : )
I think..now don't hold me to this..I THINK that I made a decision today of which direction I will go..which business I'm going to try to conquer!!!! I have to pray about it and spend more time thinking about it...before I make this final decision!
Tonight is LADIES NIGHT!!!!!!! WOOOHOOOOO! I love ladies night! We're meeting at Emily's for some good food, fun and friendship! Ally has play practice...tommorow is the big day!!! Joe is going to go over his dad's and hang out with him tonight. Lauren is still not feeling well, so she's going to relax. Hopefully she'll be well enough for school tommorow! She's missed the past two days.
I hope you're enjoying life! Peace out! Susan

Update..

Meeting with Brenda @ Steamers.. then walking with Tracy at Westminster! It's a full day today! I'm making spaghetti with hot sausage and meatballs for dinner tonight! MMMMMM Lauren is feeling better, and Ally is still stressed! Please keep praying for my girls!

Ally

Please pray for Ally this week! Lots of things are happening in her life right now and she needs prayer! One of the things is the play (42nd Street) that she is in! They practice and practice and practice, and it takes a toll on the kids. I've noticed a definite change in her personality this past month, and it hasn't been easy to deal with. There are other things that I would like you to pray for her over... she is now driving in cars with friends. She is sixteen and it is time for this to occur, but it is not easy for me to let her have this freedom. I ache over it..I let her go..but I ache! The third prayer request for Ally is that she is breaking up with her boyfriend of over a year. Breakups are not easy.. It's been an emotional rollercoaster around my house with her lately..
Thank you my friends and family! I love you! Susan

Bunions!

Lauren has a bunionette. (A bunion on the pinky toe side of the foot) The podiatrist thinks she should have surgery to fix it. Have you ever had any experience with bunions and bunion surgery? I don't want to put her through surgery unless it's necessary. It turns out that bunions run in the family...and I have a bunionette too...I've just learned to live with it. Once in a while my foot gets sore and throbs, but it usually goes away. If you have any opinions, or experience with bunions, please let me know in an email! Susan

Free Stuff @ freecycle.org!

Did you know you can get stuff for free!! No gimmicks.. All that's required is effort. And not much at that. This is how it works...

Instead of throwing out unwanted furniture, dishes, bikes, or electronics, people in "reuse groups" give them away to other people in their community who want them. The givers and takers find each other online. The first step is to sign up for the reuse group nearest you (minimizing travel time when spot something you want).

The granddaddy of all reuse groups is Freecycle.org, with more than 5 million global members the globe and counting. There is a local freecycle group in Lawrence County that has over 600 members!!! Click on the following link to check it out! Let me know what free stuff you've gotten!
www.freecycle.org

Date night

Joe and I had our date night tonight! We started off at Barnes and Nobles! I have been wanting to buy some new books for about three weeks now. These are the ones I left the store with:


The e-myth revisted by Micheal Gerber. This was voted the number one book to read for a small business owner, by 500 ceos! I read the first five chapters while in B&N! It's a very, very good book so far!

The next book I bought was a classic:

How to win friends and influence people by Dale Carnegie! It was originally written in 1931 and is still influencing people today..now that is amazing!

I also bought:


Mother Theresa in her own words..which may be my favorite purchase of the night! I've been wanting this book for a long time. I love reading quotes and stories by this extraordinary woman!

The next book was on the clearance rack, and I couldn't resist it: I can't find it's picture online but it is a huge book of lists.. I am going to post some of the lists on my blog in the coming months.

And finally I bought this book:
This book has been called the grandaddy of all motivational books! It's another oldie but goodie classic!

**********So after leaving Barnes and Noble..Joe and I went to Longhorn Steakhouse for dinner.
We had never been there..we are both Outback Steakhouse fans..but we thought we'd try something new! We shared a sirloin steak with grilled shrimp, and then we each got our own potato and salad! It was AWESOME!!!! We loved our meal. The manager came up to our table and asked how everything was. I told him how much we loved our meal, and I told him that we are picky because we own our own restaurant! We started a conversation about the restaurant business and managing a restaurant! He was so nice. After about a five minute conversation, he said hang on, don't go anywhere..and he came back with two free appetizer coupons for our next visit and then said, this dinner is on me, thank you so much for coming! FREE DINNER!!!
That was just the icing on the cake for a wonderful date night! I love when little surprises like that happen! I was friendly and nice..and look what it got me! I say that all the time about customers at my restaurant too..when they have a complaint and are kind about it..or just really nice, I want to reward them. When they are mean and nasty, I won't give them anything!
So we were really excited about that! Afterwards, we stopped for a coffee and headed home! What a great night! Thanks Joe for my date and thanks Jerry for making it extra special!

Monday's Recipe-No bake Peanut Butter Pie!

A recipe from my favorite recipe site!!
www.allrecipes.com


PREP TIME 20 Min
READY IN 2 Hrs 20 Min
SERVINGS & SCALING
Original recipe yield: 2 - 9 inch pies
US METRIC

About scaling and conversions

INGREDIENTS
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup milk
1 (16 ounce) package frozen whipped topping, thawed
2 (9 inch) prepared graham cracker crusts



DIRECTIONS
Beat together cream cheese and confectioners' sugar. Mix in peanut butter and milk. Beat until smooth. Fold in whipped topping.
Spoon into two 9 inch graham cracker pie shells; cover, and freeze until firm.

A Sunday afternoon..

I had to include these pics on my blog..
Joe is such a hard worker. He rarely relaxes. Yesterday..he and Nikki relaxed! : )