Random Musings of a Curious Mind

Favorite Zazzle Products

These are some of our favorite, fun products on our pages at Zazzle.com. Won't you come by and check them out?

2008 Arizona Scenery Calendar
by JMarkAfghans

Get this custom calendar at Zazzle

Each month has one of our favorite Arizona photographs. Why not spend a year in Arizona?!










I don't have to choose paper or plastic.

by JMarkAfghans
Get this custom bag at Zazzle

Living Green? Use these recyclable bags, instead of adding more trash to your local landfill.








Of all the things I've lost . . .
I miss my mind the most!

by JMarkAfghans
Get this custom mug at Zazzle

This morphing mug is a nondescript black when cold. The magic happens when you add a hot beverage and the image appears.






Relax Like A Cat

by JMarkAfghans
Get this custom card at Zazzle

Front: "If Humans could relax like this. . ."
Inside Top: "There would be no wars and no need for anti-depressants.
Of course, the price of catnip would skyrocket!"
Inside Bottom: "Wishing you Peace and Relaxation!
(You'll have to get your own catnip!)"










Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle

We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.

Be sure to Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers

We look forward to seeing you online.

God Bless!

Jules

Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle
We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!

Jules

Family Lawsuit Against MySpace.com

I don't recall an original story about this lawsuit, but this 'new round' definitely grabbed my attention. After some serious thought, I had to side with the courts. This is, in my opinion, an attempt by parents, who were unaware of / not monitoring their child's behavior, to blame MySpace for what happened to their daughter.

MySpace has guidelines and does monitor, to the best of its ability, the users who have pages. I know, personally, that many IDs and pages have been removed for violating policies. But this little girl, also violated MySpace policies by lying about her age in order to acquire a login and create the page.

At that young age, in a place as potentially dangerous as a social networking site, parents need to closely monitor what their child is doing on the computer. They need to - repeatedly - talk to their children about how to safely use the Internet. Many experts recommend keeping computers out of kids' bedrooms, so that it's easier to keep an eye on surfing habits.

Links to information for kids and parents about Internet Safety (alphabetically):

Parental Guides and Information for Kids on BOTW.org

Internet Safety for Kids and Teens on DMOZ.org

World-Wide-Web Safety on Yahoo!Kids' Directory

Yahoo!Safely Internet Guide

The rules for virtually all interactive websites are the same - no one under 13, don't give out personal information, and don't physically meet someone you only know online. Even sites designed for kids, and there are some great ones out there, require parental approval before kids under 14 can create accounts/logins. But no site account set-up includes a lie detector.

If kids don't tell the truth, the website certainly can't be held responsible. And, personally, I'm getting a bit weary of people making everyone, but themselves, responsible for the misbehavior / behavior of their children.






Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle

We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.

Be sure to Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers

We look forward to seeing you online.

God Bless!

Jules

Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle
We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!

Jules

Environmental Phase Out

Bush to Phase Out Environment by 2009 This 'article' is posted in the Humor section of Yahoo!News. As with all good humor, there is a grain (in this case a silo-full) of truth running through it.

Species after species, habitat after habitat, this administration has acted in the worst interests of the country and the planet. It's easy to tell from where Bush and Cheney come. Big business and the oil industry, in particular, have their full support and concern.

Who needs clean air and water? Apparently, not Americans or the rest of the world, since the administration refuses to sign Kyoto. What value are animals that can't be found in the meat department of the local supermarket? Obviously no value, especially if their natural habitat happens to exist within 5 miles of 5 gallons of oil.

They are good little autocrats who deserve the disdain of all Americans. The world already sees them for the fools that they are.








Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle

We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.

Be sure to Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers

We look forward to seeing you online.

God Bless!

Jules

Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle
We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!

Jules

Earth Hour

What an interesting, global idea! Did you turn off your lights at 8:00pm? Or, like us, did you hear about 'Earth Hour' about 2 hours too late?

As they say, it's not like one hour without lights is going to reduce global warming or seriously reduce a city's, or country's, carbon footprint. But it is an amazing show of concern and a willingness to get involved, all around the world. Made me wonder if this was something that could be seen from space.

Can you imagine watching whole sections of the world go dark, one hour after another? Now that would be something to see.






Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle

We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.

Be sure to Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers

We look forward to seeing you online.

God Bless!

Jules

Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle
We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!

Jules

Cell Phone Amplifiers

Now, here is something - cell phone amplifiers - that Mark and I have been wanting for a very long time. Over the years, we have spent a great deal of time in hospital rooms, doctors' offices, and ER waiting areas. There is nothing more frustrating, at 3:00am, than being unable to sleep and unable to distract yourself by surfing the 'Net on your phone.

I remember, more than once, sleeping in the waiting room that was down the hall from the ICU. Unlike the wards, I couldn't stay the night with Mark, so I had to use a really old reclining chair in a brightly lit room. No matter how tired one gets, it's nearly impossible to sleep when someone you love is in a coma.

Reading is a wonderful option and, believe me, I have worked my way through dozens of novels since 2004. One amazing thing about the VA are the kiosks, all over the place, with a huge selection of books. Believe it or not, a few months ago I picked up a book to keep me entertained while we waited to meet the oncologist, only to find I had read it before Mark's transplant in 2004.

Still, nothing beats being able to send and receive emails, IM your family and friends, and surf the web when you are desperately trying to not think about where you're at and why you're there.




Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle

We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.

Be sure to Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers

We look forward to seeing you online.

God Bless!

Jules

Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle
We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!

Jules

Give Me Strength!

Did you ever have one of those days where you throw up your arms, turn your face to the sky/ceiling/heavens and cry Give Me Strength!? If not, I want your life! Otherwise, you know what I'm talking about.

You are faced with or being bombarded by situations that are just too much. It's not that they - individually - are that difficult. Not at all. The problem is, they've all been waiting in the wings, chatting amongst themselves, and biding their time until your guard was down. Then all of the insanity jumps out at you - at the same time.

Or maybe you've had a situation here and a situation there that has weakened your immunity to craziness. You aren't really poised over the sanity precipice, waiting to fall into the dementia abyss; you're just a little stressed. Suddenly, several crazy happenings appear out of nowhere, waving their arms, screaming wildly, and charging directly at you and you realize the only direction you can go is . . . over the edge.

Welcome to My Life! Not just today or this week, month, or year - but for nearly 5 years! I actually counted - in 61 days, my grip on sanity will have been attacked, sometimes from several directions at the same time, for 1,825 days.






Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle

We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.

Be sure to Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers

We look forward to seeing you online.

God Bless!

Jules

Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle
We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!

Jules

House Hunting

Just the other day, I saw a cute little house for sale. The location was perfect: within walking distance of several local stores, a heartbeat from Michael's school, and about 1/2 block from the freeway. It had a huge paved area in front, nice yard in back, and chain-link fence surrounding the property.

Before I even called the realtor, I was imagining teak patio furniture, desert landscaping, tearing off the hideous 'lean-to' on the south side, and getting a puppy for Michael and Mark. My imagination saw a huge kitchen with tons of counter space, 2 bedrooms, and - blissfully - 2 bathrooms. Then, I talked to the realtor.

Suffice it to say, the patio furniture and puppy are not in our immediate future and that is one delusional property owner.




Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle

We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.

Be sure to Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers

We look forward to seeing you online.

God Bless!

Jules

Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle
We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!

Jules

Possible Identity Theft

I got an interesting letter in the mail this week. It seems that the company I worked for, back in 2003, got hacked recently. Still investigating the extent of the incursion, they wrote to warn me that my personal information may have been stolen.

If that were the extent of the letter, it probably would have been sufficient to alert me and I could have taken steps to monitor my credit records. But my former employer went far beyond a simple notification. They set up a free, one-year credit monitoring account for me - on their dime - that includes $25,000 identity theft insurance and a team of fraud resolution representatives, should there be a problem.

One of the reasons I really liked this company was the way they treated employees. It's nice to know that hasn't changed.






Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle

We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.

Be sure to Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers

We look forward to seeing you online.

God Bless!

Jules

Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle
We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!

Jules

Faucet

I have got to find out where our apartment complex buys their fixtures. We have had, at least, 4 different shower handles installed in the 4 years that we've lived in our unit. For a couple of reasons, they have to be buying really, really cheap.

First, the average price of a quality bathroom faucet would almost prohibit them from affording so many frequent replacements. Second, if they were buying quality, they wouldn't be doing so many replacements. Mike is tough on shower handles, but come on!




Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle

We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.

Be sure to Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers

We look forward to seeing you online.

God Bless!

Jules

Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle
We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!

Jules

Bodybuilding Supplements

Years ago, my younger brother grew up - really, really grew up. Seemingly overnight, he got tall and very muscular. So, after high school, he decided to get into bodybuilding.

I remember that he took bodybuilding supplements, some sort of protein powder to help him build muscle. Heaven only knows what was in it, but it certainly made a difference. Of course, he lifted weights and worked out constantly, too. At one point, his biceps were about as big as my thighs.

After all this time, I don't recall if he ever competed. I do know that buying a suit became a real challenge.




Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle

We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.

Be sure to Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers

We look forward to seeing you online.

God Bless!

Jules

Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle
We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!

Jules

Swan Loses New Love, Returns to Old Love

Well, ladies and gents - it appears that our lonely, lovesick young lady has been jilted. These fickle white swans. I tell you! It's just not right! Get a woman's hopes up; start her thinking about a nest and little cygnets - then, poof!

Luckily, the zoo in Muenster still had the 'address' of Petra's former love, who was faithfully 'pining' away on the lake where they met. The two 'lovers' will be reunited on Friday.






Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle

We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.

Be sure to Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers

We look forward to seeing you online.

God Bless!

Jules

Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle
We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!

Jules

Man Flees Mouse

Years ago, living in a small apartment with zero closet space and a huge kitchen with zero counter space, I acquired a number of non-rent-paying roomies. It's funny. I'd always thought that mice, in a cage nibbling on a piece of carrot, were really cute.

They tend to become less adorable when they're sharing your pillow and pulling at your hair. Not my personal preference for an alternative wake-up alarm, especially since the little critter had been crawling around in the wall with the fiberglass insulation. I spent days trying to get the fiberglass out of my arm and the side of my face.

An urgent call to my landlord garnered me very, as it turned out, useless advice - "Get a cat!" The little black fur-ball with the angry gold eyes had only one phobia. He was terrified of mice! Just the sound of scratching under the sink would send him flying in the opposite direction.

Briefly, I went the mousetrap route. Yecchh!! You've not lived until you've heard that 'snap' and 'squeak' at 3:00AM. Trust me - it is not conducive to sleep or peace of mind!

At a friend's suggestion, I crammed steel wool in every gap, around every pipe in my kitchen - to no avail. (Probably, given my luck, just trapped them all in the apartment.) After spending an entire summer (without air conditioning) sleeping with the oven and burners on high to discourage my 'roomies' from wandering in, and watching my feline protector cower in a corner or cry to go outside - I moved.






Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle

We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.

Be sure to Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers

We look forward to seeing you online.

God Bless!

Jules

Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle
We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!

Jules

Budgeting

I read a headline, recently, that made me shake my head and laugh. Apparently, people are now going to have to try this odd concept - budgeting. Really? Well, some of us have been doing that our entire lives.

Growing up in households that could barely make ends meet, Mark and I understand the concept of stretching a dollar until it hurts. In my case, no matter what my income was - or wasn't - able to cover, I still managed my finances with a fairly strict budget. It's amazing what you can do.

For example, I paid off a 60-month car loan in less than 48 months by budgeting a few dollars extra each month and making the payment a few days early. I didn't miss an extra five or ten dollars, and it made a HUGE difference in the loan. It's almost embarrassing the collectibles and sci-fi movies I was able to buy - after covering rent (on a 2-bedroom-with-den apartment), utilities, food for 2 people, food and vet bills for 4 cats, and car payments - while making less than $30K per year.

Do you want to live a comfortable life? Learn to live within your means by budgeting and choosing wisely.






Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle

We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.

Be sure to Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers

We look forward to seeing you online.

God Bless!

Jules

Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle
We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!

Jules