Amazing

What I Did on My Summer Vacation

TIRADE

     Excuse me, but what the HELL IS GOING ON????  It's like really making me CRAZY!!  Is Google bonkers, abusive, or just catchin' while catch can??  Is it just me?  Did anyone else notice the horrendous abuse they are subjecting us bloggers to, or what?
     Way back in January when I first started using "traffic" sites they were like, "Hello, how may I kiss your ass, for free of course.  And "I'll even give you free stuff and a percentage if you recommend my ass kissing, stupid, and annoying traffic site to all your oblivious, turnip brained blogger friends.  You've heard of the pyramids, right?  So I'll let you participate in the first ever to even look like it's gonna work pyramid.  Oh, and by the way, oops, we accidentally purged your account because we have brass ones.  We figured that we'd make you pay, now that you're hooked on a couple hundred blog visitors a day, and have reached the 6th tier in the pyramid.  Of course we didn't back up our files, that would defeat our main purpose of ripping you off as long as we can.  Oh, and another oops, my sister-site is run by the same dude that runs this one, so in a few days your other traffic site Will purge you, too and we can get away with it because you agreed to the agreement.  What a shame it was so long and you didn't want to read it so you accepted it without reading the part that we can change any damn thing we want, drop your account, or cancel the least expensive of our programs to try to get some more money out of you dumb ass bloggers."  OK, those are the obvious things that they want us to let ride. 
    Once we are all back up, giving them more money for a "free" traffic site, and doing all the repairs and upgrades that they so nicely "accidentally" deleted they scam us covertly.  Have you ever checked the amount of traffic they say we are getting with any other traffic counter??  I have.  Typepad has a feature that you can use to check the traffic on your blogs.  One of my blogs, for example, had about 80 visits one day.  The traffic site "Advertising and Selling" statistics said I got 145 visits.  I've even emailed them several times about this dilemma and never heard anything back.  I even suggested that maybe I was getting hijacked somehow.  No answer, no answer, no answer. 
    This wonderful wide world of webbing is getting totally ridiculous, uncaring and even the "free" stuff isn't free anymore.  Not only that, but now we get to see the commercials that annoy us on TV on the once commercial free internet and -- we are asked to pay to see these commercials along with the information we requested. 
    Heaven forbid we want to make any money ourselves!  Every time you turn around it's another fee and another fee and another fee until what could have been just isn't.  Ain't it amazing???

 

Up and Running

      Yeah!!!!!  "Trudie's Treasures" is finally on eBay.  I'm just so excited - finally I got an item up for auction.  This is my first, something I will remember.  I hope it sells, there are a gazillion earrings up for bid.   If anyone out there has any experience with eBay they would like to share with me, I would much appreciate some input.
     I have two other items for bid, also - but not anything as pretty as this.  Actually the other items aren't jewelry, so I guess I can say that LOL.  OK, well wish me luck, say a prayer, and Melann, you can cross your fingers!

Stolen Meme

I don't have a list of 100 things about me, but I got this:
I thought it was time for my psychotherapy so I stole this meme from Melody who stole this from Sue , who stole it from Sheri who stole it from her sister-in-law Sandra. Just put an X in the ones you've done. I also added a few comments to explain myself if I felt compelled too. Those will be in red.

smoked a cigarette ... yes, way too long
crashed a friend's car no, only my car and my Dad's
stolen a car . . . nope
been in love ... several times too many 
been dumped .... hell yeah
shoplifted... I stole a tube of lipstick when I was really young, got   caught, was mortified and cured.
been fired ... Not in so many words
been in a fist fight ... high school I was ambushed.
snuck out of your parent's house..... yes, of course (I was bad)
had feelings for someone who didn't have them back. .. several times 
ever been arrested? . . .   he he he, walked into a police station to pay a late ticket for having one of the two bulbs that light the license plate burned out.  I was ambushed
gone on a blind date...oh yeah, wound up going through the Holland Tunnel at 100 mph.  Two drunk sailors and my friend.
lied to a friend ... probably, but in a good way
skipped school .... no, just told my Mom when I wasn't going.
seen someone die... yes, but only people I was very close to
been to Canada.... Oh my yes.  Beautiful!  Started dreaming in French
been to Mexico ... no, but had a good friend that was from there
been on a plane .... took 12 hours to get to California from Newark Airport when I was 11 - jets were far too expensive.
purposely set a part of yourself on fire - not intentionally
eaten Sushi...... Does swallowing gold fish count?
been skiing..... been to Mt. Snow, Vt. . .  almost did.
met someone in person from the internet . . . yes, happened to be a friend of a friend who just happened to live in the same town as my daughter in Florida.  It was exciting and great!!  Note to self:  Email Nancy
been moshing at a concert .... No, but fell asleep during a "Mountain" concert . . . gee I wonder why . . .
taken pain-killers . . .  yep, was addicted for about four years
love someone or miss someone right now . . .  yes, miss a lot of people
laid on your back and watched cloud shapes go by ... yup, when I was a kid on my grandparents grass, and when I was about 45, on my own grass.
made a snow angel ..... well, I did sculpt a likeness of my daughter during a snow and sleet storm.  It melted slowly.
had a tea party .... all the time
flown a kite. . . umhum
built a sand castle .... umhum, I don't think there are any people in Jersey who haven't been down the shore.
gone puddle jumping .... umhum
played dress up . . .  all the time, fell down a flight of stairs when I was a kid cause I had on my friend's mother's skirt and I tripped over it, right after she told me "be careful, don't trip on the steps."  Never told her, wouldn't that be direct disobedience?
cheated while playing a game.......I don't play games
been lonely . . . all the time
fallen asleep at work/school .... both:  HS history right after lunch, started taking "No Doze" before lunch.  Work, tried as hard as I could, but it was going on the third shift I was doing.
used a fake id..... Oh yeah!  My name was "Carol" something, gave my number, wrong name to a guy I met "down the shore."  He finally busted me and dumped me . . .
watched the sun set. . .   yes, down the shore over the ocean.
felt an earthquake ..... every time they are bombing at Maguire AFB, and New Jersey actually had a tremor several years back.
touched a snake....... yes, even married one
slept beneath the stars...... Yes, when I ran away from home - does a trailer count?
been tickled. . . to death
been robbed . . .  Yes, by my neighbors who lived the floor below me.
been misunderstood . . . chronically
petted a reindeer/goat ...does it count if you use your car?  Ever had deer fur stuck in your headlights?
won a contest ... YES I DID!  At St. Elizabeth's Fair, I won the "Pick up the peas with a straw" game, and won a beautiful doll.  To me it was beautiful and I could hardly believe I actually won.  oh, I just remembered that I also won a prize from a radio station for identifying "take another shot of courage" as the Eagle's song "Tequila Sunrise."

ran a red light... yes, oops, and stopped at a green one
been suspended from school   nope
dropped out of school . . . yes, I'm officially a "beauty school dropout" 
been in a car accident ... yes, when I was 17 I totaled my dad's Renault (sorry Daddy!!)
had braces. . . yep - on my left knee (torn cartilage in knee from a fall) and also for my back.
eaten a whole pint of ice cream in one night...... yes, many, too many times
had deja vu. . . yes, did you ever have a vu jade?  that's when you feel like this never ever happened to you before.
danced in the moonlight ......a little dancing, a little howling
witnessed a crime ........ yes, and we won't go there
questioned your heart . . . .  I think we all do
been obsessed with post-it notes . . . oh hell yeah, when I realized that I lost my mind, I had to put post it notes on everything.
squished barefoot through the mud . . . no, but pooh when it was an accident.  (did your adult relatives tell you you must have stepped in pooh because you got so tall all of a sudden?)
been lost.... No, just temporarily misplaced.
been to the opposite side of the country... yup, see above.
swam in the ocean .... of course, and even got stuck in the undertow
felt like dying.......which time?
cried yourself to sleep .... um, cried myself sick 
recently colored with crayons .... no, my grand-kids broke all my crayons!
sung karaoke....oh HELL YES!  I was a kj/dj.  sometimes I really sounded like crap!!
paid for a meal with only coins . . . yup, back in the day at the 5 and 10 when hot dogs were like 30 cents and a milk shake was 50 cents
done something you told yourself you wouldn't.....yep, every time
laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose..... yes, but I wouldn't exactly call it a "beverage"
caught a snowflake on your tongue . . . lots
danced in the rain . . . naked
written a letter to Santa Claus . . . yes, and this year I'm asking for money
been kissed under a mistletoe .... are you kidding?  I used to stand under the mistletoe until I got kissed!
watched the sun rise with someone you care about?. . .  yup
blown bubbles... who's bubbles?
made a bonfire on the beach . . . no, but came pretty close
crashed a party. . .  me and Flake sort of did
gone roller-skating....... yup, all the time when I was a kid, and one time years ago
had a wish come true ...still waiting
worn pearls ... yes, for my high school senior picture - they were my mother's
jumped off a bridge ... no, but wished I had sometimes, and was told to go do it, too
told a complete stranger you loved them. . .   um, yeah, and there's nobody stranger than him.
kissed a mirror . . . you saw that?
sang in the shower .... once a month whether I need it or not
had a dream that you married someone .... no, had a nightmare that I married someone
glued your hand to something..... no, but wanted to
got your tongue stuck to a flag pole.... (ok, for the sake of  sarcastic humor only) no, but got it stuck in a zipper once
kissed a fish... what the hell kind of question is that?
sat on a roof top ... lots, I grew up in an apartment over the main street in town.  I used to go on the roof tops all the time.
screamed at the top of your lungs. . .  guilty
done a one-handed cartwheel....no but I stood on my hands once and almost broke my fingers
talked on the phone for more than 6 hours ...yup, even fell asleep on the phone
stayed up all night.... all the time
didn't take a shower for a week. . . yes, but washed with water heated in an electric coffee pot during my trailer days.  Girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.
pick and ate an apple right off the tree . . .  yes, and got caught "looting" an orange tree with my cousin on that California trip.
climbed a tree . . . yup
had a tree house . . . no, but built one for my kids (for real!)
had a complete stranger tell you You are Hot..... all the time when I was a young lady (now I'm an ugly old lady)
met someone you swear you have met in another life .... yes, and one is a fellow blogger.  doesn't freak me out, just feels comfy.

In The Wake

Let's just think about the ramifications.  People are priority, as they should be.  But what happens when EVERYONE is priority.  Where do you start?  Can you imagine the rescue workers picking out the white people to treat them first?  Yeah, OK.  Keep in mind that black people are the majority citizens in the gulf region, the police department, the fire department, the mayor, the parish president, and the senator.  What I noticed was a whole big bunch of people.  Black and white together at last.  Every life is priority.  What the hell is wrong with Jesse Jackson anyway?

I saw strangers cradling small children, women, babies, old people, their peers.  I saw people.  Not white people and black people, and yellow people, and red people, and green people (martians).  I saw people helping each other and caring about each other.   I heard people calling each other brother and sister.  I saw the unification of ALL mankind.  I heard about the tsunami victims taking up a collection to send to the US for storm relief.  Even Cuba's Castro extended a helping hand to our country.  Can't you hear "We Are the World" being sung at last?

Gees.  Jesse, you still back in the 60's or what?  Know what I mean homes?  (Will Smith phrase from "Fresh Prince")  People are so much closer together, especially when there is a crisis.  I was so thankful that such a gift could come out of this tragedy.  Yo, Mr. J, is it true they can't teach an old dog new tricks?  I don't know.  You've wanted this for so long, it's become a part of you.  OK.  Just let's rejoice in what the good Lord has done.  Pick up a new cause.  How about making all Christian churches depict Jesus in different ethnicitys: black, white, Oriental, Jamaican, African, Indian ("Native American," what the hell kind of name is that?  They know they are Indians, we know that they are Indians, so what the heck?).  Throw in a Latino for good measure. 

I hardly know what to say.  We've had a huge hurricane in the gulf.  The shear immensity of it leaves me speechless and quite humbled.  Those poor, poor people, helplessly going through one trauma to the next.  Now that "Speedy Sam" has started to get "his" act together, maybe there's something that "he" hasn't planned on:    hundreds of thousands of people going through various levels of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Help, Please!

    A fellow blogger, Cat, "A Mom in the Swamp" needs our help.

Help for Cat and her family:

I have permission from Cathy to post this, she was very leary of asking for help, but they really could use it.

They are on their way to KC right now, and have had to leave everything behind (basically just closed the door behind them). Everything they owned is a loss. Both storage rooms were flooded, and the rental was flooded. They are not sure if their items are covered by their renters insurance (due to it being flood related) and FEMA cannot give an estimate as to when/what they will be able to help with. I am asking that if any of you can give something (anything, no matter how small) please consider giving it to this family. I can tell by the comments on her posts that there are people who care about her deeply, and right now they really need the support, not only financially, but also emotionally. If you cant help financially, email me and I will give you an address to send a card to her and her family.

Paypal Donations:
If you would like to donate via paypal, I will make sure the money is sent to them. My paypal also takes Credit Cards, if that is easier. If the donate button below is not working, please go to www.paypal.com and send your donation to heather AT ciaomybella DOT com.

Items the family needs (with sizes)

Cathy: Shirts: M/L Shorts/Jeans: 6 long (if you can send some bathstuff/etc, that would be great. She needs some relaxation)

Jeff: Shirts:L/XL Shorts/Jeans: 36-38 waist/ 32 length (He wears mostly T-shirts)
Gregory: (16) Shirts: L Shorts/Jeans: 29/30 waist/32 length

Matt: (10) - Shirts: Childrens Lg. (adult small) Pants/Shorts: 12
He lost all of his pokemon cards- they were able to salvage one plastic box of lego’s for him. He is very mature for his age, loves to build and do things with his hands. Anything that takes alot of thought and time, he would love it. He really enjoys bionicles (some sort of building thing.) and legos.

Brandon- (7) Shirts: Medium Pants/Shirts: 7
Anything you think a 7 year old would want, he would love it! Matchbox cars are his favorite. And his stuffed animals (dogs/animals) were lost, and meant alot to them.) His birthday is in 5 days (he will be 7).

All the children will need new school supplies, including backpacks.

If you want to mail them items, please contact me and I will let you know where to send them. Please use my yahoo email (jax_bella AT yahoo DOT com)

They also have 2 golden retrievers, which are like their children. They lost their cat last week

If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jax_bella AT yahoo DOT com

Those of you who are so inclined, please put this information on your blogs, directing people here. They could really use the help, and I know from the comments that she is receiving that there are people out there wanting to help.

Thank you all so very much for caring for my SIL and her family, It means more than you will ever know.

Heather

Written by Heather @ 2:50 pm on Sep 7, 2005

A Prayer for Storm Victims

Father God,
We ask that you send your Holy Spirit to surround all the victims of this terrible storm with Your love and protection.  Father, please be with these, Your children, as they try to escape from harm's way.  Help them through this horrendous ordeal, and quiet their souls, comfort their tears, and allow them to start this day, to rebuild their lives.  We ask Your blessings and protection also for the people working to help the victims, no matter how big or small their effort in helping.  Guide these, Your children to help with compassion and love, with clear minds, strong bodies, and sure steps.  We ask this is Jesus' name.
Amen   
Online Relief Organizations Links:
The Red Cross;  Episcopal Relief;  United Methodist;  Salvation Army; Catholic Charities;  Network for Good;  Baton Rouge Area;  Nat'l Vol. Orgs.;  B'nai B'rith;   Louisana SPCA