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It’s pretty late on a Saturday night. I am not usually up at this time. My wife and I went out for a bit and I have caught my second wind. I might be up all night now. I guess I am in my old barroom mode. Once up past around 11 I am good to go for a long, long time.

We had a great day today. I like days like this. We went out three times for some fun. We went and bought some stuff on our first trip to get our house ready for my Mother, Saint Dorothy. She is coming soon with the rest of the family in tow. So we are going to have to paint and cleanup. The second go round was to buy some plants for the front (another getting ready for dear old Mom), a Moleskine city book for Boston (wife going next month) and we went to grab a burger at the city and state’s best burger joint; the best burgers on both side of the Pecos! Our last outing was to Whole Earth Provisions. I like that store. Then I bought some cigars to enjoy when I got home. Well, one tonight and the rest later on. I watched the Moon as it rose. Now, I am going to write and have some fun before I go to bed.

The moon is full here tonight. It looks bigger becasue the tilt of the Earth means it’s closer to the horizon. There’s a reason for that and it’s not worth going into. The moon looks bigger. So I smoked one of my cigars and just watched the moon. I hope to get up late and watch it.

Glasgow and England in general are reeling, so the news says, after some car bomb shenanigans. I bet Tony Blair is glad he is off his old job. Everyone needs to take heed of this. There have been bombings in some pretty big city’s in Europe over the past few years. Where have they not had any? Here in the United States. We are watching. We are doing things to make it almost impossible for the terrorists to attack us again. That’s a good policy we have going and you lefties need to to give George Bush, our President, some kudos. He alone has led the fight in this deal and he’s doing a great job of it.

I bought some cigars today as I have mentioned. I don’t smoke them often, but every now and then I do. I will enjoy them this week and go from there. I buy some every now and then.

Ok, that’s enough. I will write more tomorrow.

I have been having my kids learn and practice typing since they were about seven years old. I figure in this day and age, most everything they do will be done on a keyboard. I have often wondered if I am shortchanging their ability to write, both in the capacity of handwriting and/or in the ability to construct an essay. I think the computer is a great tool and needs to be learned, but like many things these days, can we come to rely too much on modern technology?

I have asked a friend of mine, who is a writer, about this subject. He says he does most of his writing on the computer as opposed to writing it out by hand. This is exactly what my son has been doing for the last two years.

Once he began seventh grade, my son decided to do most all of his writing assignments on the word processor on the computer. He still performed pre-writing exercises, proof read and edited before completing his assignments. He felt more in control and like it was less tedious. I think it was a good thing for him and more of a motivator. Rather than have to re-write an entire essay, he could just cut, paste, edit, add and delete what he wanted. I don’t view this as a lazy way to write, but a way that will aid him in his future endeavors.

How do writers and teachers view this approach? Does it shortchange a student not to force them to write everything by hand? Is it an aid for the times in which we live? Or is it reinforcing lazy reliance on modern technology?

Lately, it seems like there is too much noise in my life.

I used to enjoy background music in a restaurant. It kind of added a romantic setting for a meal when my husband and I went out to eat. Now the music drowns out the conversation.

When we go camping, the campground next to ours always seems to have someone who considers a boombox an absolute necessity for camping. We could complain, but, considering how touchy some people are these days, we might end up getting our heads blown off.

But, worst of all, in my opinion, is the background music that has been added to movies. We seldom go out to a movie but do watch a lot of movies on TV.

Sometimes the speaker’s words in a critical scene are completely drowned out by the deafening music that accompanies it. I’m all for hearing the galloping of horses riding to the rescue. That noise is part of what is happening. But what is all this blaring music for the sake of music throughout a whole movie?

Sometimes the music starts out very soft and then increases slowly until you find yourself ready to scream without really knowing why. Is there a purpose for this?

Do you think complaining to the producers would help, or should we all go back to reading books in the quiet of our own living rooms?

When I first started my website, I simply wanted a place where I could spread the word of bands that I love. I wasn’t really into blogging, and I wanted something where the archives were more navigable than what I’d seen in blogs. So I built a cheap, 5 page (haven’t used all 5) WebSite Tonight site on GoDaddy.

I didn’t know a thing about SEO or how Google crawls pages (I still barely know a thing, but I’m learning). I’d set up the page so that I updated the main page once every one to two months with a new review, and then bump the old review back to an archives page. One archives page… for all of the reviews.

A few days ago I realized that this was a very, very bad idea. By the time Google realized I had new content up, it was already bumped off to another page- making it that much longer until Google recognized it. My immediate solution was to simply put the new review on the archives page first- then post it as the “featured review” on the main page. It didn’t take long for me to realize that that was a little dumb as well.

Then I ran into the problem of two bands releasing new cds in the same week. Which one gets posted first? I’m losing a lot of potential hits by delaying either one. Combined with the need for a proper profile/bio page I soon realized that I’ll just have to take the hit to my wallet and upgrade my page.

By upgrading I can give each band their own page, complete with bio and reviews of each cd on their own page. I can put up targeted Amazon Affiliate links- read the review, buy the cd. And I can give myself my own bio page. I can still link to outside profiles and lenses from there, but I’d have a central location right where I’m getting the most traffic. So far it seems like a good idea. Lots of initial work, but hopefully easier to maintain. At the least, I won’t have to transfer a load of links every month.

My Squidoo Lens, How I Make Money Writing, is now comfortably sitting on the first page of google for the keywords “make money writing”. For two weeks straight, I updated it every day. In that time I’ve noticed an increase in traffic (82 hits in the last 7 days) and it is ranked at 661 for overall Squidoo rankings.

This experience has taught me a few things.

1. Pick keywords for your lens and make it so the URL has those keywords in it. Although, that isn’t always the case. Search on “Make Money Online” and you’ll see what I mean. Supermom_in_NY has a lens that is on the first page for those keywords and “make money online” is not in the URL.

2. Update it every day.

3. Tell people about it on your blogs and in your profiles.

4. If you want to make money with your lens, you are better off promoting affiliate programs than relying on the modules to make you some money. I made $32 this month on affiliate income just from that one lens.

Squidoo is one of the best tools I’ve found to help you promote yourself. It has really caught on and people enjoy reading lenses as much as they enjoy making them. I gotta tell you, I am certainly addicted!

Later tonight my husband and I are trying again to host a small party for our sixteenth wedding anniversary since last year we spent our anniversary scooping mud from our first floor. It also doubles as a little get together with neighbors who went through the 2006 flood along side us.

It’s nothing fancy. We’re making the hamburgers, hot dogs and chips, while our guests all bring a dish. While we’re at it, we can watch some of the airplanes that fly over our homes during this weekend’s airshow. We’re also setting up a badmidden net and horseshoes brought by family members.

We plan to have fun and we need it.

At this time last year we waited away from our homes at shelters, motels, or friends and families for the rivers to recede. Fearing how much damage our homes sustained and how on Earth we could ever afford to recover. The damage took its toll on physical property and emotions. It even took lives after the water left when a neighbor saw her home in shambles, suffered a heart attack and died. Another neighbor went through a stroke from working too hard. Luckily, he survived and now has help from other neighbors.

My husband and I have grown closer to some of our neighbors since the disaster. Every other Saturday we get together to just talk. It makes the long road to repairs and recovery seem better to know we’re not the only ones going through it. We help each other when we can. We’re happy to see what the other has been able to accomplish with what little money we received and how we’re all moving forward.

As I said, we need this chance to relax and have fun. We’ve been looking forward to it since my husband suggested it a few weeks ago.

So, imagine my surprise and frustration to read the top article in today’s local paper about how FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) is sending out letters to flood victims telling them to pay back the federal aid money they paid us after the 2006 and even the 2005 year floods. When most of, or an entire home has been destroyed, that $5,400 is barely enough to get some necessities plus have the electric fixed and turned back on. Let alone anything else.

FEMA says they overpaid many people by giving them the maximum payment of $5,400. Ok. I understand if they want money back from those who lied and said the property that was damaged was their primary residence, or those who said they had more damage than they did, especially the few people who were accidentally paid double the amount. That makes sense. But no, they’re taking it back from people who also took loans out months later and so forth.

Our homes were destroyed. Everything – furniture, clothing, appliances, floors and even walls – gone. Many had to have their houses torn down. And FEMA says they overpaid victims?

I read FEMA also wants the federal aid money back from many Katrina victims, especially those who decided to relocate. Doesn’t matter if they lost everything with no hope of recovery. I don’t understand.

So far, we haven’t received a letter. I hope we won’t and neither will anyone near us. Regardless if we took out an SBA loan (which we have to pay back so won’t have extra money) or a neighbor is finally getting some insurance money after a year of red tape, the money FEMA gave was federal aid at a time it was desperately needed. Many of us are still repairing and will be at it for a long time. Others have nothing left but an empty lot where their home used to stand. The nightmare of the flood and our losses is still fresh in our memory one year later. What sort of people would even consider demanding flood victims to pay back money given as aid that they couldn’t afford not to have then and can’t even afford to pay back now?

So yes, I look forward to today’s get together even though I know that this subject will come up. I really do plan to have fun. And I know that what ever happens none of us will go through it alone.

One way to create an atmosphere of indifference is to block or ignore the facts, creating confussion and chaos is the favorite tool of the Abuser, the drug pusher the bully that wants to distract the attention away from those that are the tools of protection.

I could cite several articles in the news recently I think the best is the fight last Friday where American troops had supposedly killed several maybe 17 insurgents in a bomb attack, Thursday morning I/we learned that the insurgents were actually members of a community protecting themselves, the insurgents were actually law abiding citizens.

It looks like a case of more war crimes, crimes that could have been avoided.

I want to know more about these types of incidents and I want an end to the violence both in the Middle East and in the rest of the world.

Today’s bombs in London had the air of mystery to them like the old shell game, a way to make things look bad or hide the real truth. The good will overcome the evil, light will expose the crimes committed in the dark corners of the cities all around the world.

Meeting friends, I was inspired to share somethhing with others. I chose to create this article here to give exposure to my writings and also a part of me that is lost.

The Lazer farm is run by this husband and wife team. I researched the standings here EPPHA Standings and what I learned when I scrolled down to the Division; Adult Amatuer Hunter 36 and over was not surprising and confirmed by further research on the site for past standings in the years 2006, 2005, and 2004. My knowledge when previously talking to these people was that her real breaks came at the beginning of the millennium. Her ride on the ‘Beep’ took her to her first championship, the next pony that she would train to go straight to the top was subsequently sold and that enabled Jerry to expand his vision and dream to own a Hot rod, one with a tricked out dashboard that ‘Big Daddy Don Garlitz’ would autograph for Jerry…

1. Born in Albuquerque, NM, I’ve lived in CO, TX, GA, WI, KY, TN and presently in MO. Also lived in Germany for 5 years. (Can you tell my husband was in the military? LOL)

2. I’m a 21 yr cancer survivor.

3. I drive a 2006 F350 Dually (truck). My husband looks great driving it … I get lots of stares and comments! LOL

4. We recently sold our house and will be living full time in our 38′ RV (fifth wheel) soon.

5. My husband and I work for a nonprofit organization. We ride to and from work together and eat lunch together most days. We’ve done this for 6 1/2 years and we still love each other! LOL

6. We plan to retire in about 5 years, travel in the RV, and volunteer with an organization that provides disaster relief after a hurricane, tornado, flood, etc.

7. I’m writing a historical romance novel and plan to start freelancing soon.

I tag anyone that has not played this fun game and would like to join in!!

That’s right. The 4th of July is right around the corner. With all the other hazards on the 4th, we sometimes overlook this one.

We have all heard about skin cancer and sunburn. We know we should use a sunscreen and not get over-exposed and our skin will turn to leather.

BUT, every year millions of people are out there enjoying the festivities and they forget to reapply the sunscreen. OR, they forget that you can still get burned on a cloudy day. OR, they get tired and fall asleep in the sun.

Next thing you know, they have a sunburn and they swear “never again; next year I will remember”. Forget all the things that sun damage CAN do - a sunburn HURTS. It hurts when you are moving and it hurts when you are still. It hurts to wear clothes and it hurts if you don’t wear clothes. Then you start to itch and peel. One sunburn can ruin a week long vacation!

So, please make sure you use your sunscreen and take along some extra for others who may have forgotten theirs. Take along a floppy hat and a loose shirt. Don’t forget plenty of fluids so you stay hydrated.

If you have small children; keep a close eye on them to make sure they don’t get burned either. Especially, if they are playing in or around the water; they will need reapplications of sunscreen more frequently.

Have a safe and burn free holiday and please do NOT copy a pair of my friends who rented a boat and then decided to get an “all over tan”. A rocking boat on a warm summer day, a few drinks, no clothes, and: well, you get the picture. When they woke up, they were so badly sunburned, they had actually blistered in places where no one should EVER get burned.