Do you believe in God?

I do. This was one of those days where I should have just stayed in bed. I had to have my son at the school at 6:30 this morning as we were going to a wrestling tournament in a little town in the middle of nowhere.

After dropping him off, I got back home to find out that my neighbor's dogs had gotten loose, so I was helping to chase dogs around in the snow even before the sun had come up. Got the dogs all pinned back up, and started getting myself and my daughter ready to go to the meet. On the way, my truck started making a strange sound. Instantly I knew that we needed to get a quart of oil or we were going to be in trouble. Got that taken care of and headed down the road. The sky was clear and the sun was shining.

Once we got to the meet, I noticed that it was starting to get cloudy and the wind was picking up pretty bad. But, that's Nebraska. LOL Anyway, I watched my son wrestle and was a proud mom. Even though he lost his first match, he pinned his second opponent. I was screaming and jumping up and down like a crazy woman. I checked the weather once again, and it was now snowing and the wind was blowing at around 20 mph.

We decided to watch my son's last match, which he won in points (20-9). By this time, it was starting to get dark and it looked like a blizzard outside. We decided to head out and try to make it home. Keep in mind, I'm 50 miles from home. Conditions were severe, visibliity was zero, and my tires suck. We did pretty good for the most part. That is until my daughter noticed a light in the darkness and said that it looked like someone had run off the road. I looked over for just a moment, then looked back at the road to see that we were going sideways down the road.

I didn't panic. I wasn't driving very fast anyway, because of the blinding snow. So, I very carefully tried to correct the problem only to find that I was riding on a sheet of solid ice. I just let things flow, and we ended up in the ditch without injury or damage to the truck. I sat there for a few minutes, trying to get my daughter to calm down and not to show how scared I really was. Finally, I put my truck in reverse and got right back on the road. That's when I really got scared. I put the truck in 1st gear, and the whole thing shut down. The motor died, I had no lights, no flashers, no nothing.

I went back into neutral and instantly, the lights came back on. I hit the ignition and the truck started right back up. There were other cars around us by then. The bad part is that there was no car off the road, other than mine. We ended up following the other cars and finally got back home. I've never been so happy to see my house.

I truly believe that God was watching out for my daughter and I tonight. He kept me from panicing at the wrong time, He got my truck running again, and He brought my family all together again. I thank God that I can write this post tonight.

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Lost in the Christmas Chaos

Holy Cow!!! I can't believe it's been 11 days since I last had a chance to post over here. I do apologize, but I'm sure many of you can relate. Between school concerts, Christmas shopping, and all the normal things I do day to day, I plumb ran out of time. No, make that energy. LOL

I'm trying to get caught up and still keep a grasp on my sanity. LOL, I have almost all my presents wrapped, I'm almost done shopping, only have stocking stuffers left to do. My tree is up and all pretty, the house is lit up like a, well, Christmas tree, and all my Christmas cards are hung around my entertainment center. Unfortunately, I haven't had a moment to do any baking yet. I'm hoping to do that this weekend, but I'm not going to hold my breath. LOL

Honestly, I'll be happy when it's Christmas Eve, and all I have to do is feed the family and drink my holiday cheer. I have a nice bottle of Irish Cream in the fridge getting all nice and cold. That way it's ready to go in my hot coffee. I'll be awake for days. LOLOLOL

The best thing about all this is that it's almost over. I love Christmas, I just don't like all the crap that comes before. Once the gifts are opened, and the dinner is served, all will be well. And come December 26th, I'll be back in the swing of things. Whoo Hoo.

I hope all is going well for each of you. I will be posting at least one more time before the big day, so I won't be sending out any happy wishes just yet. However, I do wish you all a wonderful weekend, and may all your Christmas dreams come true.

May God bless each and every one of you!

It's wrestling season

Whoo Hoo!! It's high school wrestling season, and I'm already without a voice.

My son had his first meet the other night, and though he only had one match, I screamed myself right out of a voice. He pinned his opponent in 59 seconds, and I found out later that I need to have my daughter video tape the matches while I scream. It's hard to watch a video of somebody's feet and listen to me screaming "hold him down, hold him down".

I love this time of year, because I can release a lot of pent up frustrations at a wrestling meet. By the time the season ends, I'm the most calm woman on the planet. I've just spent 3 months screaming at the top of my lungs, watching my kids tie other kids into knots, and now I can just sit back and relax. Oh, what a life.

Once wrestling is over, my voice comes back, I feel like a new woman, and it's time to start getting the flower beds and gardens in shape for the planting season. Yes, in my house we only have 3 seasons; football season, wrestling season, and gardening season. LOL

Well, that's all for now. I just had to get over here and make a post so you didn't think I'd run away or managed to leave the planet. I'm usually in outer space, but that's another story. LOL

Ready for Christmas?

I was just curious as to whether any of you are ready for Christmas yet or not. Me, not at all. The hubby got the outside lights hung and few other little things, but for the most part, we're not at all ready.

I tried to get some Christmas cards written out today, but I couldn't even get into that. I'd like to get the tree up before the week is over, but I'm not even sure where I want to put it. Or should I say where I can put it without having to totally rearrange the house. LOL

However, I do have almost all my shopping done. I only have a couple more things to get and then that part is out of the way. Of course, I still have to wrap everything, but that's ok. My kids can help, and if I work it right, I'll get them to do it all. LOL

Hopefully, I'll be getting more into the spirit before to much longer. I know I will once I get the tree up, it never fails.

Bo Pelini Named Nebraska Head Coach

I'm writing this as the news conference is being held. It's official. Bo Pelini has been chosen to be the new head coach for the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Pelini is leaving his position as defensive coordinator at LSU to taking on the daunting task as the replacement for Bill Callahan.

Bo Pelini was once the defensive coordinator at Nebraska under former head coach, Frank Solich. When Callahan came in, Pelini was sent out and went on to help LSU get to where they are today.

As a die-hard Husker fan, I'm thrilled to hear that Pelini will be coming back to Nebraska. Bill Callahan had no idea how much we Nebraskans love our football, and when he came right out and said that he was doing away with the old Nebraska playbook and bringing in a West Coast offense, we knew our days were numbered.

I don't expect Nebraska to be the #1 team in the nation come next year, I do know that it's going to take a little time to get things back to where we're used to them being. I do know that with Bo Pelini heading the team, we're going to fight our way back to the top, and it's only a matter of time before the Nebraska Cornhuskers are #1 again.

I won the NaNo challenge

I can't believe it, but I actually did it. I wrote a novel of more than 50,000 words in 30 days. Well, I was actually done on the 29th, with a total of 50,184 words. There were a few times that I didn't think I was going to make it, but I finally finished and I got to put this really cool icon on any and all of my blogs, sites, or whatever.

I joined the NaNo challenge last year, but didn't even come close to making my goal. This year, however, I worked my little fingers off and finished with time to spare. My story is called "The Mask of Other Lives", and is about a young woman who dies and finds out that the real journey of life begins on the other side.

I now need to go back and edit the whole thing, check for inconsistancies, and see what I can do to make the story more interesting and maybe a little longer. If you'd like to read an excerpt of the story, I've posted one on my other site. I hope you enjoy.

I've also started writing another blog called Ancient History Facts. It's just a simple little site where I write short posts about all things ancient. I've been a fan of ancient history most of my life, and I thought this would be a great place to let go of all the weird facts that have been collecting in my brain for the past 3o-something years.

Hopefully, now that November is over and I don't have a deadline to meet, I will start posting more often again. It seems that the harder I try to keep my blogs up, the less I actually get done. LOL

Nebraska's Head Coach Gets Fired

Well, it's official. Nebraska's head coach, Bill Callahan, has been fired. I can tell you that every Husker fan across the state is throwing a party right now.

When Callahan first came to Nebraksa, he'd been a pro football coach and thought he could run a college team the same way he'd ran his pro team. Doesn't work that way. He apparently forgot that these players were still kids, still in school, and played the game for the love of the game. It's not a business in college ball, it's a passion. Sure, a few of the players will go on to play pro football, but most of them will probably go on to pursue normal careers.

As of right now, there is no word as to what UNL is going to do for a new head coach, but after suffering one of the worst seasons in the school's history, it has to get better. With any luck, next year, Nebraska will be a winning team once more.

Artists of St. Augustine

Do you enjoy great works of art? How about being entertained with music? Ever thought you could have it all at once? Well you can, now and every month in St. Augustine, Florida. Each month, this wonderful old town celebrates with a "First Friday Weekend Art Walk".

From 5-9pm on the first Friday and Saturday of every month, St. Augustine offers a free tour of some of the towns best artists, musicians, food, and more. Every 15 to 30 minutes, one of their Red Sightseeing Trains or Green Trolleys come around to collect passengers for this unique artistic tour.

The artists featured during these tours, offer amazing sketches and paintings that seem so real that you want to step through the canvas and into their colorful worlds. Each artist brings their own styles to the party, creating an adventure that can only be appreciated through one’s own eyes.

If you’re living in Florida, or are planning to visit the Sunshine State, be sure to make a trip to St. Augustine during the first Friday or Saturday of the month, and spend a few hours in a whole new world. Enjoy the great works of art, dance to the vibrant music, and tell the world that you found paradise at the St. Augustine Artwalk.

Cash advance for the holidays

It never fails that when the holidays roll around, something breaks down and either needs fixed right away, or replaced all together. Most of us are on a tight budget this time of year anyway, so how are we supposed to find the money to take care of the little things that pop up out of the blue? CashAdvance1500.com.

CashAdvance1500.com can help you receive unsecured payday loans for up to $1500. There are special sections for various conditions. For example, if you’re a woman and need some quick cash, or if you’d like to keep your loan confidential, they have what you need. By applying for a loan through this company, you can do all the paperwork in the comfort of your own home, and don’t have to worry about standing in long lines at the bank.

CashAdvance1500.com also offers great articles on how to prepare for loan applications, what to look for when choosing a lender, and what it takes to be accepted for a payday loan. This site wants to do everything possible to ensure that you receive the cash you need, when you need it.

Almost Thanksgiving

Well, tomorrow is the big day. Turkey, stuffing, and the whole nine yards. And who's cooking it all? Me. Just me. Why do I do this to myself?????

It's not even Thanksgiving yet, and already I've made a batch of homemade bread dough that became dinner rolls and cinnamon rolls. Then I made 2 pecan pies and a cherry pie. Ironically, I'm not real partial to pie. LOL

Tomorrow morning, I'll get up early so I can properly wrestle with a dead bird that's bigger than I am, hold him down in the sink so he can get a final bath, then slather him up in cooking oil. Whoo hoo, don't that sound fun? Then I'm going to shove him into a plastic bag and lock him in the oven for the rest of the day. LOL

From there, I'll get out a big knife and cut up a bunch of helpless vegetables. I'll arrange their poor bodies onto a plate in an intricate pattern of squishy to crunchy. Then it's on to the industrial strength can opener so the beans and the corn can be freed from their tin tombs, only to be drowned in mushroom soup and boiled over an open flame.

I'll skin a couple pounds of potatoes, chop them up, and dump them in a pot of water that will eventually boil so hard that the burner will hiss with steam. The aromas from the kitchen will bring in stragglers who can be sent fleeing with the words, "I could use some help".

Once the bird is sufficiently toasted, I'll try to pour some of the drippings into a pan in order to make gravy. I'll end up pouring more on me than in the pan, and I'll use some colorful language to proclaim the situation.

I'll whisk the gravy like a mad woman, cursing every lump that finds its way to the top. I'll slap someone's hands for getting into the food before everything's ready, and I'll notice I missed several lumps in my gravy.

Finally, I'll get out the good china, set everything out on the table, and call my family in for dinner. I'll watch their faces light up with the sight of such an incredible meal, and beam as they mention how good it all smells.

We'll take hands and thank God for allowing us to have such a bountiful meal and for all that's He's given us. Then, I'll sit back and watch my loving family turn into a bunch of vultures and pray that I don't get hit with a spoon full of food before I can eat.

A new place for bloggers to hang out

I kind of excited about this, as my friend Garry Conn had created a new place for his fellow bloggers to hang out and exchange ideas. It's going to be a place for beginners to learn from those who have come before, and a place for the probloggers to offer up tips and tricks on all aspects of the blogging process.

It's called The Bloggers Message Board, and that's exactly what it is. At the moment, it's still being perfected, but you can still register and get in on the first few conversations. This forum is still in it's infancy, as it's only a few days old. However, this could be a great place to pass along information and gain some new insights.

Though there is a section on how to make money blogging, this message board will focus on everything that has to do with blogging. Including where to find templates for your blogging platforms, tips for beginners and pros alike, and even a section devoted to writing. (Yeah!!!)

For anyone who posts blogging tips on their blogs, they find that their information is quickly pushed down as they continue to post. With a forum, all that great information can be brought to the forefront in a matter of seconds.

I invite everyone to come check out The Bloggers Message Board. No matter what level of blogger you might be, this is a forum for you.

World's Easiest Yummy Treat

I make a special treat for my family every year around this time. No, not for the holidays, but just because the air is beginning to get colder and they all need something warm in their tummies before they head off to bed. It's homemade hot chocolate mix, and it's way easy.

4 cups powdered milk
1 cup instant creamer (non-flavored)
1 cup powdered sugar
2 1/2-3 cups powdered chocolate milk mix

Combine ingredients and place in a sealable container.

Add 1/4-1/3 cup of mix in a cup and add hot water. It's rich, creamy, and cheaper in the long run as you usually have enough ingredients to make a double batch.

This is my favorite recipe that was handed down to me from my grandmother and my aunts.

My Dream Vacation

One of my dreams is to someday make it to Europe. I’ve always wanted to see the Tower of London in England, Edinburgh Castle in Scotland, but most of all I want to see the Eiffel Tower in France.

I’ve always wanted to run around France and check out some of their finer attractions, like one of their world famous wineries. I love a good glass of wine, and I know that there has to be at least one winery in France that would offer a weary traveler some of their sweet nectar.

Another place I’d love to see is the Louvre. I’ve always wanted to see the Mona Lisa live, but then again, I wouldn’t know the difference between the original and a fake if my life depended on it. But, it would be so cool to say that I had the chance to see the whole thing with my own eyes.

Win $300 worth of video blogging tutorials

My buddy Garry Conn is holding another cool contest. In recent weeks, Garry has began doing video blogs and is learning quickly that it's a great way to bring in new readers and lots of traffic. Now, he's going to help someone else out there win the complete Viral Video Fever tutorials set.

The contest is way easy and everyone can enter. There are 2 ways to enter and you can enter on as many blogs as you've got control over. First of all, add Viral Video Fever to your blogroll with the link: http://www.garryconn.com/videocontest. It's quick, easy, and gets you an entry into the contest.

If you want to increase your chances of winning, write a post about Garry's contest using the same link. After you've added your blogroll/post, leave a comment so he knows that you're playing along. This contest will run until November 24th, at which time he will choose the winner by pulling a name out of a jar on video.

This set is worth $294 and gives step by step instructions on how to become a successful video blogger. It's produced by Charles Trippy, one of the semi-finalists from the Next Internet Millionaire show.

I don't know how to do a video blog, nor do I think I've got what it takes, but with this set, you can bet I'd figure it out.

Ancient Egypt plagued by Zombies

LOL. I had to pass this along as I almost laughed myself silly over this. As you may know, I love ancient history, archaeology, and mythology. I read a lot of articles about those subject and came across this story that seems a little out there to me.

There is a somewhat famous carving found in Egypt known as the Narmer Palette, that depicts what many thought was a king decapitating those he'd conquered in war. Many archaeologists have found burials of headless bodies scattered across the Egyptian sands. Now, there is a new theory that these people weren't victims of war, but victims of a deadly virus called Solunum. Apparently this virus is what causes people to become zombies.

According to the article, there is proof that this stelae depicts the first evidence of an actual zombie attack, and that these people were decapitated in order to end said attack. I'm not sure I believe that zombies attacked the ancient people of Egypt, but then again, I keep seeing all those ole movies in the back of my head. Remember the movie Dawn of the Dead? Now I know what they were talking about. LOL

Read the article and make your own decisions. There is a lot more to it than I've posted here, but I still think it's kind of funny.

Help stop Alzheimer's Disease

Alzeimer’s disease is a dreadful condition that attacks the brain and causes short term memory loss. No, I’m not a doctor. Unfortunately, I watched this disease ravage my grandfather in only a short amount of time. When we first realized that he had Alzheimer’s, he was simply forgetting little things like what time he was supposed to be somewhere or who he was supposed to call.

Then, he began forgetting things like where he’d parked his car, or where he was going while he was driving. The crushing part for me came after we placed him a nursing home that catered to victims of Alzheimer’s disease. He knew who my mother was, but thought I was my aunt, and thought my daughter was me. He couldn’t grasp the idea that I was old enough to have children of my own. All he remembered was that little girl.

Though there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, there are many ways in which you can help in the fight. First of all, you can donate to the cause. Donations can be made over the phone, through the mail, or via the Internet. However, there is a way you can doing a little Christmas shopping and still know that you’re helping millions of Americans, and people from around the world, in their efforts to find a cure.

The Alzheimer’s Foundation now has an online store where you can purchase a holiday gift that will tell someone how much you love them and know that your money will be going into the ever-challenging efforts to stop this disease. Products for sale include a beautiful jewelry set, DVD’s on how to care for someone with Alzheimer’s, and several items with the Quilt to Remember logo on them.

Alzheimer’s disease doesn’t discriminate against those it strikes. Help end this mind-killing condition.

The Lap of Luxury

*This is a sponsored post*

The quality of luxury living now has a new standard. Introducing The Beach Club in Hallandale Beach. The Beach Club consists of 3 towering condominiums, all with amazing views of the Atlantic Ocean and intriguing coastal views.

Towers 1 and 3 contain 44 floors, each with 10 spacious living units. Tower 2 offers 51 floors with 12 living spaces each. Units range from cozy one-bedrooms, to family sized 3-bedrooms. Each unit comes complete with top of the line appliances, granite countertops, and floor to ceiling laminated windows.

The Beach Club condominiums also offer 24 hour security and valet service, and is only minutes away from great resorts, world famous shopping centers, and the ever popular nightlife of Florida’s South Beach.

The Beach Club in Hallandale Beach gives a whole new meaning to living in the lap of luxury.

A proud day in motherhood

UPDATE:
This link will take you to the page with the article about the kids and the pic of them dancing. My son is the one in the back row with the blue lei around his neck. I am just so proud.

I am such a proud mommy. Ok, don't tell my kids I used the word "mommy", as both of them are teenagers and they'd just die from embarrassment. LOL

Yesterday, both of my kids were in a choir competition. My daughter is in the Jr. Swing Choir, while my son is in a show choir called the "21st Century Singers". This choir has won several awards over the years, had sang the National Anthem at several Denver Nuggests basketball games, and has been to Washington D.C. and on several cruises over the years. It's a huge honor in our little town to be a part of this choir.

Each year, the kids in this choir sing at least one song from some famous musical and this year they did the song "Honey Bun" from the musical South Pacific. The girls in the choir came out dressed in little sailor suits and sang the main part of the song, then went off stage. When they came back on stage, they had the boys in tow, who were all wearing coconut bras, grass skirts, and mop-top wigs. I laughed till my sides hurt.

It was such a proud moment for me to see my 17 year old son dressed like that. Those boys not only went out on stage like that, they sang their little hearts out and hammed it up with everything they had in them. They did an awesome job. They didn't win, but I won't go into that, sore subject. LOL

The kids made the front page of the newspaper and I'm going to blow that picture up as big as I can and give it to him on his wedding day. LOLOLOL

Adult Education Online

*This is a sponsored post*

Getting a degree these days is as easy as turning on your computer, but finding the right college for your needs is a little more difficult. Everyday, more and more online schools are offering online classes on an endless array of topics. So how do you decide on which school to enroll?

Capella University has become the forerunner in online accredited schools. Founded in 1993, capella university has more than 20,000 adult students enrolled and more joining each day. They offer students the chance to earn their Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Eds certifications, just to name a few. They give adult students a chance to further their educations without having to leave their families to do so.

Capella University can also help with financial aids, tuition discounts, and even credit transfers. They go to great lengths to make sure that their students get the best education with as little stress as possible.

So, if you’re looking at advancing your education and would like to do so online, check out Capella University and discover a whole new world in knowledge.

I need a 12 step program

Back in July, I wrote a post about NOT being a blogging addict. Well, I may not be able to say that anymore. It seems that I might be addicted to blogging after all. Ok, not to blogging itself, but to setting up new blogs. I have added another new blog to my ever growing list.

I'm happy to announce that I now own the site, SpecialOffersBlog.com. I'm going to use this site to send out offers from all around the Internet. It's still brand new, and Feed Burner is still playing with the bubble wrap. LOL There isn't much there as of yet, but I'm hoping to bring you some of the coolest things around the blogosphere and the Web.

I'm also working on my book for NaNoWriMo. I've written 1,785 words so far. I know that doesn't sound like a lot when you figure I've got to write 50,000 before next month, but if I can do that each day, I'll hit my target.

Well, it's time for me to go play at my "real" job. I only do this in order to step away from the computer and interact with the human population. Otherwise, I'd never leave my room. LOL

Online Casino Reviews

*This is a sponsored review*

It seems that there are hundreds of casino sites online, based from all around the world. For anyone who's spend any time searching for just the right site to play at, it can be a daunting task finding an online casino that is both reputable and certified.

There is now a site where you can find almost 80 different sites, read reviews of these sites, and find out whether or not they accept members from the United States. That site is called Pro360.com.

Whatever your favorite game is, you can find it here. There are reviews on poker and blackjack sites, online bingo parlors, and even sites for betting on sporting events. Each site comes with an editor's rating, and a players rating, so you'll know which ones that everyone else things is worth their time.

Pro360.com also tells you which sites have the best payouts, which ones offer the best bonus options, and there is even a section on gambling tips. If it has to do with online gambling, you can find it here. There is even a small section on backgammon sites.

If you've ever thought about playing poker online, you should check out Pro360.com and find the perfect site for you. If you're a high roller or just a casual player, Pro360.com can point you in the right direction, and that you can bet on.

Happy Halloween

Just think, boys and girls, in just a few short hours, your doorsteps will be the resting stop for all the little ghouls and goblins in the neighborhood. I have my bowl full of candy ready for the little monsters who will be peeking out from behind their little masks tonight. I'm kind of excited.

Halloween isn't my favorite holiday, but the rest of my family loves it, so I do this for them. We'll have the orange lights in the windows, the scary witch hanging from the front door, and the 4 ft. tall, blow-up pumpkin in the front yard. We'll pass out candy to all the kids in town and then I'll sit up and watch old monster movies all night.

Then, as of midnight tonight, I'll begin writing my novel. Yes, it's almost here. Time for me to finally get started on NaNoWriMo. I have lists and lists of ideas ready to be put down on paper/computer screen, and the main character and I have already had a disagreement on how she's going to die in the first chapter. I wanted her to die saving someone's life, but she's determined to die from a brain hemorage. I guess it's her death, she can have it how she wants it. (Yes, my characters talk to me. LOL)

So, as you go about feeding the spooky little critters in your neck of the woods, remember me as I set out on my own scary journey and start my Great American Novel. LOLOLOL

Gifts for Him

*This is a sponsored post*

I am married to the ultimate car guy. For as long as we’ve been together, my husband has spoken 2 different languages; English and Autoanese. With Christmas coming up fast, it’s time to find just the right gift for the car guy in my life. I’m checking out CarGuyGarage.com.

This is the one stop shop when looking at gifts for guys. If the man in your life already has every tool known under the sun, he’s going to need something special to keep them all in like a diamond plated cabinet unit. They offer several styles of tool boxes, and hundreds of sizes.

CarGuyGarage.com also has several styles of garage flooring, storage sheds, and even vacuum and washing systems. You can even find specialized refrigerators for his man cave. If it’s made for a garage, you can probably find it here.

It can feel like wandering through a strange world when trying to shop for the car guy in your life. With CarGuyGarage.com, you’ll have no trouble finding that perfect gift that will make his automotive dreams come true.

New kid in town

I was sneaking around the net this evening and had to stop by one of my favorite spots, Contest Blogger. Whenever I feel I've got nothing to write about, I know I can find something there, and I did.

I came across a new contest hosted by a new kid in town known as RookieBlogger. His (I'm assuming he's a he, don't ask me why) blog has only been active since the 15th of this month, and he's already sponsoring his first contest, where he's offering a cool $50 cash. Now, that's a way to bang your way into the blogosphere.

There are 2 ways to get your name entered into his contest. First one being to leave him a comment on any of his posts. That being said, I need to stress the fact that you can't just pick a post and say, "Hey, let me win your contest". Please leave a real comment to one of his posts. After all, we've all been there.

The other way to get entered into his contest is to give out a little link love. He's not really picky on how you go about doing this, but I've decided to write a post about his site. It's not required, but I thought I'd be nice. I remember being a new kid in town, and I thought this would be kind of like taking a plant to the new neighbors place. LOL

This thing is, his posts are pretty good. They're very informative, and a couple of them really made me think. Not something I'm prone to do on my own. LOL

So, run over and welcome the new kid. He'll be needing cookies, a couple of cherry pies, and someone might see if he's got enough blankets. LOL.

I'm a Nano

Before I get into today post, I have to give a big shout out to my favorite pink buddy, Dani Pink. Recently she held a contest on her blog for a stuffed pink teddy bear from the Build-a-bear workshop. Well, I didn't win the bear, but I did win the second prize which is a bag full of candy. Whoo Hoo. I love candy. Thanks honey.

Ok, now on to the topic at hand. I don't know if any of you out there know it, but the 1st of November starts a huge endeavor for thousands of people around the world. It's called NaNoWriMo, which stands for National Novel Writing Month, and I will be participating again this year. What it comes down to is writers from all over work on writing a novel in 30 days.

The goal is to reach a 50,000 word mark by the 30th of November. Writers can create all the characters, the plot line, and anything else around the novel for weeks before it all begins, but they can't write one single word of the story until 12:01 am on November 1st. That is what I've been doing for the past couple of weeks.

I had everything ready to go and was going to write a story about a young Greek lad who was going on a journey in search of his father. Well, that all changed about 4 days ago. I was lying in bed, not quite asleep, but not really awake, when the story just came to me. The characters, the plot, and everything. I now have a whole new story in mind and I'm going to call it, "My Life After My Death".

In a nutshell, it's going to be about a woman who's true journey begins after she dies. It's not a horror or a mystery type story, but more of a sci-fi/fantasy type thing. I'm going to take my passion for ancient history and religions, and my Pentacostal upbringing, and mix them up into a hodpodge of possibilities.

Since it first came to me, I've done nothing but think about how it will all play out. Of course, if all goes as it always does, my characters will take on a life of their own and will take the story in their own direction. That's ok, though, as that usually makes for a better story in the long run.

So, as of the 1st of November, I will be working on my newest piece of fiction. I will keep everyone updated on my progress as the month wears on. I've got it figured out that if I can maintain a minimum of 1,700 words a day, I'll make my 50,000 word quota by the end of the month, and then some.

Who knows, this could lead to something wonderful. LOL

It's about time

Whoo Hoo!!! Yes, boys and girls, my PR went up along with many others around the Internet. I'm so happy.

I was at a point where I really didn't care anymore. This little blog had been branded with a big fat N/A for so long, that I was beginning to think that there was no hope. I finally decided that I wasn't going to let it bother me anymore, and just went on about my business.

Then, of course, after reading that so many have seen an update in their blogs, I just had to go see if I had gone up or not. Happily, this little blog went from N/A to a PR2. My other blog, The Sapheyerblu Review has also gained a PR2, and I'm very happy to announce that my blog, ChristineSenter.com, has earned a PR3. I don't know how I did that one, but I'm not complaining.

So, I'm in a much better mood than I have been the past few days. I needed a little boost and I think this did it. LOL Well, that and the fact that PayPerPost has also finally accepted this blog. LOL Go figure.

Turned a post into an article

Hey boys and girls. Sorry that I've been gone for a couple days, but we had family in from out of town, and it was a family weekend.

However, I got some really cool news today. A few days ago, I wrote a post about the Nebraska athletic director being fired. It was a post I had become very passionate about, and rewrote it and found it to be quite a long article.

So, being a member of Associated Content, I submitted the article. I was only offered $5 for the article as payment, but I went ahead and accepted it as the whole article only took me a short time to write. Everything just kind of flowed and I felt much better when I was done. LOL I got the message today that the article is published.



Anyway, I'm thrilled that I had another article published through this site. It's been almost a year since I last submitted something to them, as I spent more time focusing on getting my blogs up and running. It was nice to once again see my name applied to a wide audience.

Medical problems end football hopes

Well, it seems that my son's football team may be done with the game for the season. The team they were supposed to go up against tomorrow has forfeited the game, and the season.

It seems that there is a nasty case of staff infection going around these parts, and several members of the opposing team are either infected or doing everything in their power not to end up that way.

Tomorrow was to be the last game of the regular season, however, that will not be the case. The only way our boys will be going on to districts is if 3 other teams lose. If even so much as one of them wins, we're done. Needless to say, we didn't have a great season. However, we didn't have a bad season, as we did win our homecoming game. That always make things seem better.

I am praying for the other team and hoping that they all make a speedy recovery. I feel bad for those kids for not getting to finish their season, but I'd hate to see them end up sicker. I'm also praying for their families in hopes that this infection doesn't end up becoming an epidemic.

Maybe I should stop being a football fan. Seems all the teams I root for are going down in one form or another. Naw, I'll be a football fan forever.

Nebraska Athletic Director Gets Sacked

Oh boys and girls, I've got some funny, yet useless, information to pass along. For anyone who's read my blog over the past few months, will know that I'm a die-hard Nebraska Cornhusker fan. However, over the last few weeks, that's not something to brag about.

It seems that due to the losses the team has taken over the past few weeks, and the fact that many of the school's biggest financial backers are walking away, the school's athletic director, Steve Pederson, has been fired. Not asked to step down, not given the chance to resign, just plain out fired.

Steve Pederson isn't a well liked man in this state. First of all, when in Nebraska, don't mess with our kids, don't mess with our tractors, and don't mess with our football team. We'll cheer for all different teams in the pros, but there is only one college team to root for in this state. Steve Pederson messed with our team.

First of all, he fired the former coach, Frank Solich. This coach had 9-3 season going, but was fired because Pederson didn't like where the coach was going with the team. He brought in Bill Callahan, who was fired from Oakland Raiders. Since then, we fans have watched our team fall further and further behind in the rankings and the scores.

This year, however, we started the season out with a bang, winning the first game 52-10. Cool! From there, it was just an embarrassment. We were barely beating teams that nobody had ever heard of before, and bigger schools were just stomping the team into the dirt. 2 weeks ago, they played against Missouri and got beat like a kitchen rug.

This last week was a home game against Oklahoma State. The team's former head coach, Tom Osborne was at the game. He led the Cornhuskers in back-to-back National Championships in 94 and 95, then again in 97. Also at the game was the entire 1997 team. We lost 45-14, the worst loss at home since 1958. It was also the first time in the school's 118 year history that they allowed 4 opposing teams to earn 40 or more points in a single season.

As of right now, Bill Callahan's job is still intact. There are a lot of fans who are calling for his firing as well, but the school has decided to let the new athletic director make that decision. Ironically, he also just signed a new 5-year contract with the team, but that may not matter in the coming weeks.

I'm very interested to see how the season is going to end up now. I'm sure there is more than one nervous person wandering the halls of the University of Nebraska in Lincoln.

My latest endeavor

You'd think I'd have enough to do , but I've once again started a new blog. This is one I've been working on for a while however. Not in the actual writing of it, but I've had it in the works for a few months now.

About 3 months ago, I told you about doing some work for my cyber buddy, Garry Conn, and in exchange, I would be getting a brand new domain name, PopularBlogger.com. Well, boys and girls, it's up and running.

Here's the whole gist of this new blog. With the name PopularBlogger.com, I've decided to make this a blog that discusses the bloggers behind the blogs we all read on a daily basis. There are so many wonderful bloggers out there, and very few of them are considered to be A listers.

My goal is to let the world see just how cool these people are outside of their little blogs. So, I'm asking you, my readers, who would you like to see featured on this new site? I have a list of bloggers I'm going to showcase in the next few weeks, but I'd like to have a whole notebook full of names. I'm not talking about bloggers like John Chow, or Darren Rowse. I want to show off the bloggers that we know are super people, but don't get the recognition they should.

Also, if you'd like to be featured on the site, let me know. The more bloggers I can show off, the better. We all know the blogs, now it's time to get to know the bloggers. So, I invite you all to come on over and find out who's a Popular Blogger.

Blog About Your Blog

I won another contest, however, this one was pretty simple. Every Friday, BlogAboutYourBlog.com has a "comment Friday" and one winner is chosen from all the comments from that week. That winner will have a link to their site listed on the site for one week.

I've been posting on comment Fridays off and on for a couple months now, but I've always been up against some stiff competition. So was the case this week, but the lady who should have won has already won once before, so I was the next in line. But that's ok, I am still honored to have won.

The best part about this contest is that it occurs every Friday. Anyone who leave a valid comment on that week's topic has a chance of winning. Matt, the site's owner, has always tried to choose a different winner each week, so if you've never commented on his site, or if you have and have never won, now would be a great time to give it a shot.

BlogAboutYourBlog.com is more than just a comment Friday site. During the rest of the week, there is a ton of very useful information posted by several different authors. I've learned a lot of blogging stuff that I didn't know before.

I encourage everyone to check out BlogAboutYourBlog.com, and be sure to leave a comment on Fridays for your chance at having your link displayed at the Blog of the Week.

Out of the blue

I got the suprize of a lifetime today. And it was actually a good thing. LOL

This past July, I ran across a blog contest and went ahead and entered. I wrote up a post about a site called Cranking Widgets and sent it in. Well, I never heard anything back a figured that they picked someone else as the winner and I somehow missed it. Well, I didn't miss anything.

As I was going through my RSS feed reader this morning, I noticed that the site had a new post announcing the winner and to my surprize, it was me. I nearly passed out. What did I win, you ask? I won $50. Yes boys and girls, I'm 50 bucks richer than I was last night. And I didn't even have to set up an illegal poker room in my basement to do so. LOL

I want to thank Brett Kelley, owner of Cranking Widgets, for sending my winnings so quickly. I had the money in my paypal account within only a few minutes after seeing that I had won. The best part about winning this contest was that everyone who entered were placed in a randomizer that chose the winner. I never win anything like that. I was blown away.

So, boys and girls, remember, never give up. Even when you think that all is lost and there is nothing left, something good can always come out of nowhere and wrap itself around you.

Dear Santa

Dear Santa,

I sending you my Christmas list now, so as to avoid the rush. This year, the only thing I want for Christmas is the chance to see my whole family together. I want that traditional family dinner, where all the adults sit in around the big table, while the kids all sit as the card table.

I have jewelry to last me a lifetime. Each year, I’ve gotten at least one piece of jewelry that I’ll never wear in my lifetime, but because of who gave it to me, I’ll never get rid of it either. I love all the bracelets that my daughter has given me, I adore the necklaces my husband has gotten for me throughout the years, and I’ll always cherish the rings my mother-in-law has passed down to me.

I have all the gizmos and gadgets that any kitchen can hold. I don’t need another piece of machinery that will slice, dice, puree, or flambeau. The products I use on a daily basis while cleaning my house are just fine. I don’t need a fancier iron for my clothes, or a robotic vaccum that chases my cat around the house. I’m very happy with the ones I have.

I just want to remember the little things that make the holidays so important. I want to watch the next generation learn the traditions that have been passed down through the years, and help in the creation of new traditions they’ll take with them.

Dear Santa, I just want one day with all those I love and cherish in my life.


P.S. A laptop would be cool too.

Another New Blog

I just wanted to let everyone know that I am working on yet another blog. Ironically, 2 years ago I never thought I'd end up working on this many blogs. I never really saw the importance of blogging, but now, it's become my life's ambition. LOL

Anyway, I've been working on a blog called Plant Helpers. I will be offering advise, tips, and other bits of information about house plants, gardening, and whatever else I can come up with as far as plants goes. The reason I'm telling all of you this is for 2 reasons.

1.) I need some ideas as to what you'd like to see on this site. I have a lot of my own ideas, but I'd love some input from my fabulous readers.

2.) I need to get the word out about this site. I really think that this site could be a huge help to a lot of people out there, but if nobody knows that it's out there, what good is it?

I would love to have some other ideas for this site. If you're one of those people who happen to have a green thumb, what would you like to see on the site? If you're new to the whole planting thing, what kind of information are you looking for? I want to make Plant Helpers a great place for flora information.

A few of the things I will be adding are plant indentifications, advice for indoor and outdoor plants, and even some legends and stories about different plants. I want to give a little something to everyone out there.

Let me know what you think, and what you'd like to see. Help me to make this site a super plant center.

When did the 80's become the oldies

I felt like an old woman today, or should I say yesterday. My daughter came home and said that they were having oldies dress up day at school today and she was going to need my help. Hey, no sweat.

Then she told me that she wanted to dress like they did when I was a kid. When did the 80's become the oldies? I was in high school during the mid 80's, and most of the clothes I wear today are still the same things I wore back then. T-shirts and jeans. What's so oldies about that??

Well, I helped her look as "80's" as I could. She did the whole Madonna look, minus the black lace tutu. I stood there and looked at my daughter and thought to myself, "Holy crap, she looks like me 25 years ago". That's when I knew I was officially old.

I now know how my mother felt when I dressed up for oldies day. I did the whole 60's look, and thought I was the biggest geek ever for wearing those clothes. Yes, I called her tonight and apologized. A lot!!!!

Place your bets

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Some much needed rest

I want to apologize for my long absense. My awesome hubby took me on a spur-of-the-moment vacation. Whoo Hoo!!!!!

This past Friday was my bestest buddy's 40th birthday, and we partied it up like we did when we were kids. However, our bodies decided to remind us that we weren't as young as we used to be. LOL

We had a great time and I did get some much needed rest. I got away from home for a few days and now I'm ready to get back to work and act like I know what I'm doing.

It's great to be back and I can't wait to see what everyone else has been doing the past few days.

Garry Conn takes on Joel Comm

I was cruising through my RSS feeder, checking out the latest tidbits of information that I rely upon each day, when I ran across the latest post by my buddy, Garry Conn. It seems that someone has gotten a burr under Garry's saddle.

The article talks about Joel Comm, a self-proclaimed Internet guru, and his failure with an Internet Reality Show called The Next Internet Millionaire. I never personally saw anything about this show, nor have I ever really paid much attention to this person or anyone that produces those fancy splash pages that try and sell you online books or programs that will make you rich beyond your wildest dreams.

The article itself is interesting in the fact that it leaves you wanting to hear more of the story. I can't say that I agree or disagree with Garry, as I really don't have anything to base my judgement upon. I've heard of Joel Comm, but that's about as far as that goes.

It nevers ceases to amaze me as to what Garry will come up with next. One minute he's creating a new design for another blog, and the next minute he's discussing the tactics of an Internet entrepeneur. What will he come up with next?

The Queen of Pink Rides Again

Dani Pink rides again
With latest contest in tow
A special prize she offers here,
From the queen of pink SEO.


A little bear all in pink
Crafted by Dani’s own hands.
Will be the gift offered up,
From the great white winterlands.


The blogosphere will come alive
With cheers for Dani Pink.
As she sends out links of love,
And posts that make us think.


The Queen of Pink has set a goal,
For bloggers near and far.
"Come and join my tournament,
And become a blogging star".

The Wonders of September

Aww, September. I so love this month. The changing of the leaves from green to red and gold, the coolness of the air as the temperature scales down, and the feeling that my face is going to explode at any given moment.

Yes, boys and girls, it's allergy season. I thought I was going to get out of it pretty easy this year, as everyone else around me had already began their trek through the decongestant aisles of the various stores. That was until I got out of bed this morning.

My head feels like it's about twice the size it should be, and that someone snuck in during the night and shoved my face full of cotton. I swear, if someone were to touch my face with a needle, it would pop.

Sadly, I go through this twice a year. Each spring when everything is starting to pollenate, and every fall when everything goes to seed. It's harvest season around here, so there are all kinds of lovely things floating through the air, and I'm allergic to most of it. LOL

There is an upside to all this though. With the onset of my allergies kicking in, I know that it won't be long and we'll have our first freeze of the season, and all the flies will be gone. Hey, if you can't find a good point to something, you're really not trying very hard. LOL

So, for the next few weeks, if my posts seem a little stranger than normal, just chalk it up to heavy medications. LOL

Baked my brains out

It's only September and I've already started baking all those goodies we love some much this time of year. I baked 4 dozen peanut butter cookies, 4 dozen chocolate chip cookies, and 2 zuccinni cakes. Needless to say, I had a craving today. LOL

Actually, half of my baked goods are being donated to a worthy cause here in my little town. A bunch of us women were asked to donate some baked goods to a family who are mourning the death of one of their family members. I couldn't say no. Then again, anytime someone wants baked goods donated to a family or group function, I'm usually one of the first in line with treats.

That being said, I did realize that I need to bake a little more. Most things I bake take only basic ingredients and are easy to make. The zuccinni cakes, however, needed some baking powder. It's a good thing I bought a new one today, because when I pulled the old one out of my cupboard this afternoon, I was struck with the feeling that I needed to check the expiration date. Yeah, it was expired and had been since 1992. That's right, boys and girls, I've had a can of baking powder in my cupboard that hasn't been used in 15 years. Now that's bad. LOL

Oh well, now I have a new can that can sit up there for another 10 years, and we can do this all over again. LOLOLOL

Beautifying an English home

*This is a sponsored post*

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A few of the products this company offers are stone driveways, ultra modern kitchens, and even Victorian styled conservatories. They can also help with smaller projects like new UPVC windows or roofing tiles. Anglian Home Improvements tailors each projects the home owners specifications, and places a 10-year guarantee on their work.

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Win a "Blog" contest

As you all know, I'm a sucker for a good contest, and I've found another one that is well worth it's weight in link juice. My business partner, Garry Conn has just introduced his latest contest and this is one I think everyone should get in on.

First of all, let me state that this isn't about winning a blog contest. No, it's about winning a blog and all the little things that goes along with it. Included in this contest is a new domain name, a year's worth of free hosting, niche topic consultation, and a lot of other SEO tactics. Garry will even design the entire blog for you. This whole thing is worth about $2000.

This contest is being hosted on Garry's latest blog, which is all about making money online with uVme.com. He's done a great job in designing this blog, so just take a look around and you'll see a little of what he can do in blog design. He is a very creative individual.

This is a real easy contest, and you don't have to have a ton of traffic in order to win. With this contest, everyone has an even chance at winning. So go check out Garry's new blog and get in on the latest contest. Who knows, you might win yourself a whole new place to play.

First BAO website officially launched

Yes, boys and girls, I am very happy to announce that the Blog Authors Organization has launched it's first official blog. I'd like to invite everyone to come check out FamilySupportForum and welcome Mark Sierra.

Mark is the owner of the highly rated MeandMyDrum blog, as well as the FamilyWebWatch blog. Mark is a wonderful writer and a true family man. That right there gets my vote. When he joined with BAO, I knew we had a winner.

FamilySupportForum is a blog that offers advise on family issues, tips on saving money, and a whole myriad of other useful information. The blog was originally started by Garry's beautiful wife, Angie. So Mark is going to have to work hard to keep up with all her previous work, but I really don't see that as being a problem for Mark. He's a very talented writer and I'm sure he'll do an outstanding job.

Again, I invite everyone to come check out Mark's new blog. Congratulations Mark, we're proud to have you on board.

The Huskers get Shucked

My Nebraska Cornhuskers got shucked last night. That had to be the longest football game I've ever had to endure. The final score was 49 (USC) to 31 (Huskers). I was happy to see that we actually made 31 points as it was beginning to look like we were going to get a severe spanking before it was over.

The only upside to this is that USC is ranked #1 in the nation and we weren't expected to win, or even get close. However, it sure would have been nice to have beaten this team. My nephew who's in the military is going to rub this in my face for days. He's a die-hard Texas fan, and any time Nebraska gets beat, he's sure to let me know. LOL

The worst part of the whole this is that I decided to watch the game instead of the Highlander movie. What a mistake that was. I should have just watched the movie and drooled all over Adrian Paul. Oh well, knowing Sci-Fi, they'll be showing it again before too long. I hope so anyway. LOL

Well, I'd better go and dump my football depression into some housework. With any luck, this will be the only defeat we'll have to deal with for the season. If we can win the rest of our games, we'll still have a shot at a bowl game at the end of the year.

Shopping Cart Software

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Some of the ecommerce software features include product and category reports, multiple currency options, and a custom page editor. This shopping cart software can help you get your online store up and running in no time.

Check out Ashop if you're concidering starting an online store and see just how easy it is to sell your wares to the world.

Return of the Highlander

Whoo Hoo. I'm a happy little camper!! I just saw a preview of an upcoming movie on the Sci-Fi channel. A new Highlander movie.

I remember when the first highlander movie came out in the 80's. I was totally engrossed and became a huge fan. Being of Scottish and Irish heritage, I found it interesting that one of my clansmen was being portrayed as an immortal. Of course, the whole premise of the movie was total fiction, but it was so cool.

Then, in the late 80's, early 90's came the Highlander tv show, starring the totally gorgeous Adrian Paul. What a babe. He played the part of Duncan McCloud, who was supposed to be a distant relative of the original character, Connor McCloud, played by Christopher Lambert.

Anyway, it seems there is going to be a new tv movie called Highlander; the Source. I'm so excited. I loved the movies and the tv show, so this is going to be a really cool thing for me. The only downfall is that it appears that Connor McCloud won't be making an appearance in this film. Bummer! But that's ok, as long as Duncan is there, all is well.

I know it's kind of weird to get all hopped up over a movie, but I've always been a fan of ancient history, and the ancient tales of the British Isles. I would have loved to have been alive all those years ago, just to see where some of those tales originated from.

From what I've seen, it looks like the movie will air Saturday, September 15th. I guarantee that I'll be firmly glued to my television. Of course, with my luck it will air at the same time as the Husker game, and I'll be forced to go back and forth between the 2 channels. Depending on how good the game is, will depend on how much time I spend at that channel. LOL

Another productive Sunday

Wow, I actually got almost everything done today that I had wanted to do.

I've posted 6 posts today, including this one. I posted a new article about organic plant foods at PlantHelpers, I posted a new article at BlogWheels about the new 2008 Buick Lucerne, and I wrote up a post about Anthony Michael Hall at CelebrityVideosBlog.

Also, I've posted my weekly series at ChristineSenter.com. Each Sunday, I post writing prompts for you, my fellow writers, to write about. And finally, I had to post a public thank you to Garry Conn for creating a cool new header for The Sapheyerblu Review. I revamped the whole site, and he came along and made it even better. Thanks Garry. I also want to note that Garry has started his own website design service, and if anyone is interested, check it out. He's a whiz at site designs.

I realize that Sundays are the day when most people take it easy and catch up on their rest. For me, it's the day I catch up on my postings. I love being able to sit here and write to my little heart's content. And now that I've posted this one, I almost feel as though I have nothing more to accomplish today. Somehow, I find that sad. Hmmm, going to have to go find something constructive to do. LOL

I hope you all are having a great day, and keep coming back for more. You really never know what you'll find on this site. LOL

Busy, busy, busy

I am so sorry that I haven't posted for awhile. I've been busy, busy, busy. Between doing my wifey and mommy thing, I've been trying to keep up with all my online stuff.

Here's all the places I'm currently writing for right now. First of all, I got bored and totally redesigned The Sapheyerblu Review. I got tired of the same old thing, and one of my paid posts was rejected simply because they couldn't see the link. So I did some redecorating. I like the new design. I'm also expanding my reviews on the site. Instead of just trying to review sites that are about making money, I'm going to start reviewing sites of all kinds. Plus I'll start reviewing products, events, and anything else I can think of.

I'm also still posting at BlogWheels and CelebrityVideosBlog, plus I'm also posting at a site called PlantHelpers. It's kind of a cool little place with plant tips. I'm going to like that one. LOl

Anyway, I will try to keep up better here. I felt like I was abandoning you all, so I thought I'd come in and write a quickie post to keep you all up to date. LOL

I will write more as soon as I've got more time.

A birthday meme

Several days ago, my cyber-buddy Danielle tagged me for a birthday meme and I'm such a big dork that I just realized it today. LOL

Ok, here's the scoop. I have to explain things that happened on September 17, throughout history. I know a few, but let's just see how cool that day really is, other than the fact that I graced the world with my presence on that day. LOL

Here's how this meme works:
Go to the Wikipedia site and type in your birthdate
List 3 events that happened on your birthday
List 2 other birthdays that you share
And finally, list 1 holiday that falls on your birthday
I'll continue with the rules after I add all this information.

3 Events that happened on September 17th:
1.) In 1630, the city of Boston was formed
2.) In 1908, Lt. Thomas Selfridge becomes the first airplane fatality
3.) In 1984, Reggie Jackson becomes the 13th member of the 500 home run club

2 Birthdays I share:
1.) Hank Williams Sr. (born 1923)
2.) John Ritter (born 1948)

1 Holiday that happens on September 17th:
1.) Citizenship Day

Ok, now for the rest of the rules.

There are 5 slots listed below of those who have been tagged. You need to remove the first one and bump the others up one space, listing your name at the end of the list.

This is a miracle / Mariuca / Mike / Danielle / Christine

And finally, I must tag 5 friends to send this little ditty onto.

My choices are
BlogSire / Silken / Santa / Raven / ManoDogs /

Ok, there you go. All the wonderful details you'd ever want to know about the day of my birth.

How Bout Those Huskers

Yes boys and girls, I am a die-hard Nebraska Cornhusker fan. Whether they win or lose, I'm right there all the way, and boy howdy did they give me a reason to scream for my team today.

Nebraska played against the Nevada WolfPack today, and sent them back home with their tails between their legs. Whoo Hoo 52-10. It took them awhile to get back into the swing of things, as this was the first game of the season, but once they got it together, they went all out.

I still remember the days when Tom Osborne was the head coach and our boys won back to back championships. It's been a long time since those days, but if today was any indication as to what's coming in the weeks ahead, we might have a chance.

Of course, I should mention that Nevada isn't a top ranked team, and next week we play Wake Forest. The boys still have a lot to prove, but our new little quarterback seems to be our ticket back into the big time.

I love college football. There's just something about the spirit and rivalry that gets my blood boiling. I don't watch pro ball. With college ball, it's about the love of the game, with pro ball, it's all about the money.

So, every Saturday for the next few months, I'll be glued to my tv and screaming my brains out. GO HUSKERS!!!!!!!

Smorty.com

*This is a sponsored post*

As I've said before, I'm very excited about having this blog approved for paid posts. I've always liked the idea that I can get paid for blogging. One of the sites I've been approved with is Smorty.com. I've been a member of Smorty for almost 6 months now, and though I haven't made a ton of money, I have to say that as far as blog advertising goes, this site isn't all that bad.

Smorty.com is designed for both bloggers and advertisers. Bloggers can either choose from the open jobs posted on the site, as well as have jobs emailed to them. Smorty tries to make sure that the right job is sent to the right blog.

For the advertiser, Smorty will work to help you create the best campaign for your site. They will help choose the right blogs to have your sites reviewed on, and look at over 20 different criteria in their blog decisions.

Smorty.com stands to be a great company for both sides of the board. Membership is free and the turn around time is usually around 72 hours, as they try to look at each blog as it's placed into the system. If for some reason your blog is rejected, Smorty will send along the reasons why. Once the problems are fixed, you are welcome to resubmit your blog.

Smorty.com is still relatively new, but they are striving to keep their members happy. Whether you're a blogger or an advertiser, Smorty.com has a place for you.

The Last Happy Post

Well, here it is. The last day of August, and the last of my Happy Post Challenges. It's been a pretty good month for me and I've had a lot of things to be happy about.

I wasn't sure what I was going to write about earlier this morning, but then I got a phone call that would make my decision much easier. My boss at my "real" job called this morning to let me know that they were closing for the whole Labor Day weekend. Normally, I would have had a 3 day weekend, but today I was informed to "Enjoy a full 4 days off".

Of course, not having to go to my "other" job doesn't mean that I will be slacking off for the next 4 days. No, I've got way to many things to get done here online. Between getting posts done on my other blogs, getting my posts completed for Garry Conn, and working to get things taken care of with BAO, I'll be busy for days to come.

The other good thing is that tomorrow officially started the Nebraska Cornhusker Football season. Yes boys and girls, Mamma Bear is a die-hard college football fan. I'm not much for professional football, but I love college ball. And being from Nebraska, I have to root for the home team. I get all dressed up in my red and white gear and scream at the tv from kickoff to the last seconds of the game. By tomorrow night, I'll have no voice to speak of, (pun intended), and I'll be bouncing off the walls.

So all in all, this is winding up to be a really great month. Gee, I wonder what we should do for next month. LOL

Advantage Auto Quotes

*This is a sponsored post*

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Advantage Auto Quotes works with clients in searching for the best deals from several companies. They will work hard to find insurance coverage for every driver, no matter what their driving record looks like. This includes people with damaged driving records and those that are hard to insure like senior citizens and even teenagers.

Advantage Auto Quotes also finds the right insurance for the right car, whether it's a classic auto or a brand new sports car. They even work to find coverage for business and commercial use. They go above and beyond the call of duty when it comes to getting you the auto insurance you need to keep you on the road. Check out Advantage Auto Quotes today and find the right policy for your every day needs.

Another happy post

I am all a twitter. Redhead Rants won't officially be 90 days old until the 13th of September. However, this blog has been approved by SponsoredReviews.com and by Blogsvertiser.com. That means, hopefully, I will be posting sponsored ads here soon.

That being said, let me also state one thing. I will try very hard NOT to inundate everyone with ad after ad. So, for those of you who stop by on a regular basis, I make this solemn vow.

I, Christine Senter, aka The Ranting Redhead, aka Sapheyerblu, aka The Prompt Writer, aka Mamma Bear, do solemnly vow that for every ad I post here on Redhead Rants, I will post one regular post to appear above said ad. I will go above and beyond the call of duty to make sure that you, the reader, are not overwhelmed by a series of ad posts that bore you to death. I will make sure all sponsored posts are clearly marked, so if you're not interested, you won't have to pay any attention to said post.

It's always nice to know that there will be a little compensation for what I do. I know I probably won't be buying a new house with my endeavors, but at least I'll be able to order a pizza now and again. LOL

I've submitted the blog to a couple other places, but as of right now, they're still pending. Once my blog is truly 90 days old, I will be submitting to some of the big boys out there. My goal is to have this blog listed with PayPerPost, but all in due time.

Please understand that I'm doing this so my family won't think I do this just for the fun of it. When they see that I'm making a little money, they have a tendency to let me do what it is that I do. Though they really have no clue. LOL

Thanks for stopping by, and remember, life is like a jar of jalapenos. What you do today might burn your butt tomorrow.

New Blogging Conn-test

It's time for another blogging contest. My buddy, Garry Conn is holding a contest to help bring in new traffic for his blog. This is a cool contest as the winner will hold a spot on Garry's sidebar for a full month. Not just a name or a link. Garry will post the winners 10 most recent articles on his site.

The rules are simple. In order to play along, you simply need to write a post about the contest, or place a link to Garry's site in your blogroll. When you place the link, make it look like this:
(this link is only an example) www.garryconn.com/?reader=yournamehere. Choose the name you'd like to use, and make sure you leave a comment so that Garry knows who you are and that you're playing along. For further details, check out the post.

In addition to the sidebar posts, the winner will receive a little money for their efforts, depending on the number of people sent to Garry's site. If the winner sends 1000 people to the site, they'll win $10. 5000 people will earn the winner $20.

This is a win/win contest and will run through September 26th. Come on by, check it out, and see if you can win yourself a spot on Garry's sidebar.

My Heroic Hubby

I'm always bragging about my kids, well this time I'm bragging about my wonderful husband.

My hubby, Jim, is your A-typical macho man. However, no matter how big and bad he trys to be, when it comes to animals, he's a big softy. Yesterday, on his way home from work, the woman in front of him hit a large bird with her car and just kept on driving. My hubby stopped his truck and got out to see if the bird was ok or not. To his surprize, the bird was an adolescent eagle.

So, Jim and one of his co-workers, who was driving behind him, found a large crate and brought the bird home. We tried calling every animal agency we could think of but couldn't find anyone to help with the bird. We tried calling the Game Warden, but he was out of town until Tuesday. We tried calling someone at the local zoo, but all we could get was a recording of their regular hours. We even called the State Patrol, but they couldn't do anything to help either.

So, not wanting to just leave the poor thing to the wilds, Jim called his mom, who's just as big an animal lover. She called her vet and within half an hour, my hubby was on his way to take the bird to the vet.

I'm very proud of my husband. He can watch movies where people are blown to bits and not think twice about it, but let someone injure a helpless animal, and he's ready to rumble. He didn't have to stop for the bird, but I'm very glad he did. The vet is going to help the animal heal and it will be set free.

Now if you will excuse me, I have to go sew a cape for my super-honey.

The Fruit of my Rooms

This is one of my favorite times of year. Being a September baby, I've always been partial to the end of summer/beginning of fall time of year. I love the feel of the air, the fact that the days are beginning to cool off a little, and the best part, my garden is finally producing things to eat.

I grew yellow tomatoes this year. I remember as a kid, my parents grew them and I loved the fact that they were less acidic than the red ones. I'm partial to the yellow cherry tomatoes as I can eat them like most people eat popcorn. I wasn't sure if they were going to do anything or not, as right after we planted them, we had a major wind storm that tore them up pretty bad. However, looking at them now, it seems that the wind storm did them a favor.

It's nice to sit down to dinner and have a salad that is made up of the things you've grown yourself. It somehow makes them taste better, and is a lot easier on the pocketbook. Now if you'll excuse me, I've got more tomatoes to pick. They're beginning to take over. LOL

Spammers need not apply

I just deleted yet another "spam" comment here at Redhead Rants. You know, I really don't understand why people think they can get away with doing that. As soon as comment is left, I get an email letting me know that it's there, so I can come check it out.

So here's the deal. If anyone wants to leave a comment and say, "Hey I just wrote a cool post about my genius kid, and I'd like to have you all come check it out", that's cool. I'll leave it for the world to see.

However, if you leave a comment talking about your latest nudie site, it's a goner. I want this blog to be family and kid friendly. I'm not a perfect person by any means, but I will NOT stand for someone trying to promote their porno site here. If you want to talk about your kids, siblings, grandma, or just how your day went, far out. But if you think I'm going to stand by and let you post disgusting subject material on my blog, you better think again.

Yes, this a rant, but I think I have the right. This is my blog, and I would like to keep it as a place where my cyber-buddies can stop by and have some fun. I'm not a big fan of moderating comments, but if this continues, I will make it so. It isn't fair to my regular readers, but I won't subject them to questionable material.

Ok, I feel better, guess I'd better get some real work done now. Thanks for reading and have a nice day.

Attention Blog Authors

I have a new entry for my happy posts. My buddy Garry and I have created something wonderful and I hope you will all come by and take a look.

Ok, actually, this was Garry's idea, but between the 2 of us, we're going to try and make this into a wonderful thing for all bloggers. I'd like to introduce you all to the Blog Authors Organization. This is going to be a Blog Publishing organization for bloggers who are looking to make some money online by writing and publishing blogs.

Anyone can apply for this, and Garry and I are working on the details right now. Our dream for this venture is to bring blogging to the forefront of online media publications. This venture is still in the works, but we are actively seeking blog authors right now.

The best part about this is that there are a lot of blogs in need of good writers, and there are a lot of writers in need of a place to write. That's where Blog Authors comes in. Also, we are seeking serious inquiries only. We're not looking for stories about your sister's birthday party, but someone who can write about birthday party themes, as an example.

If you would be interested in something like this, let us know, and we'll get you listed. We are designing an application form right now, so as to make it easier for our bloggers. Please remember, that at this time, we're still in the beginning stages of this idea, but we will be rolling it out very soon.

If you're a blog author, this venture is designed with you in mind. For more details, check out Garry's announcement. This could be the beginning of a something wonderful.

Support your favorite bloggers

I'm a firm believer in the fact that we, as a community, need to support each other in whatever way we can. We can offer advise, tell others to stop by and say hi, or we can come right out and tell the world about our favorite bloggers.

As most of you know, I do a lot of work with super-blogger Garry Conn. This man is a wealth of information, and is turning out to be a wonderful mentor. I strongly recommend that everyone visit his site. He offers great tips on blogging, creates some very nice headers for wordpress blogs, and is currently running a site support program for his fellow bloggers.

The site support program is relatively simple. For a small fee of $5 per month, you can have your MyBlogLog or BlogCatalog avatar posted on the sidebar of his blog, with a link back to your site. The best part about it is that Garry's giving the first month out for free. There is no contract to sign, no certain time line to follow, and you can opt out at any given moment. His site currently holds a PR 4, and hundreds of people visit his site daily.

Garry also offers a Wordpress SEO service, where he will help wordpress bloggers improve their blogs and make it easier for search engines to index their posts. Plus, he designs some very nice headers for wordpress blogs. He made one for my new site, and I just love it. I think he did a beautiful job.

There are hundreds of meme trains out there, where we post our links and the links of those we consider friends/collegues/partners, but how often do we talk about our favorite bloggers just because of who they are. I challenge everyone to write one post about your favorite blogger, just for the sheer pleasure of writing.