The other big issue is knowing which repair shop can be trusted. When our truck started overheating, we took it to a (supposedly) reputable chain. They replaced the thermostat and charged us plenty.

When the situation didn't improve, we called back. It was only then that we were told that 'old girl' had a blown head gasket. A new thermostat did nothing and they knew it. In fact, this probably made the situation worse, since we continued to drive the truck instead of getting the proper repairs done.

Today, I ran across a repair site that seems different. First, whether you're looking for Houston auto repair services or a tune-up specialist in Evans, Colorado - this is the place to start. RepairPal offers nationwide information and is not owned by or affiliated with any manufacturer, dealership, facility, or parts provider.

Second, they have a huge list of vehicles. So whether you own an Acura Integra or a Dodge Dakota that really needs some mechanic love and attention, you're going to be able to find yours. Fine-tune it down to the engine size, so you know that the estimates are accurate. (Who needs a quote for repairs on a 6-cylinder Dakota, when they own a 4-cylinder?)

Then, we get to the fun part - what work / repairs does your 'baby' need? I was amazed at the available detail. It took me no time at all to zoom in on Head Gasket(s) Replacement. And it doesn't matter where you start - repair, location, or vehicle. The site is that flexible.

My only concern is the rating system. It's a 5-star process, based on consumer reviews. Unfortunately, the few reviews I read sounded suspiciously similar. After 2 or 3 that ended with some version of "my mechanics for life," I started to wonder.

There may be some 'canned' reviews, which does bother me. However, one of the shops listed for our area had a dozen comments, spanning about 11 months, that appear to be from consumers who have used them for many years. I guess it's always a bit of a gamble, but RepairPal still seems like a good place to start.

First of all - hats off to MemoryStock.com! Free Shipping! that got here from Stockton, CA in about 48 hours. (Actually less, but I'm too lazy to calculate the exact time involved.) And the right part - the first time! Once I adjust my laptop's attitude, I am definitely going to order from them again.

Now for the bad news. I have an off-lease IBM ThinkPad R40e 2484-NU2 that we bought (okay, Frankie bought it) from a third-party on eBay. It's not the speediest of laptops and, in fact, came with only 384MB of RAM - of which, the BIOS (Basic Input Output System) recognizes about 366MB. (I'd swear the description didn't mention this dearth of RAM, but then I'm old and forget things.)

For an oldie, moldie laptop - at least the RAM is upgradable to 1GB. Unfortunately, the BIOS doesn't know that. So, we (meaning me) need to update the BIOS. Easy, peasy - right!? {buzzer} Nope!

In order to update the BIOS, I need a solid A/C connection and a fully charged battery. Go on the A/C; no-go on the battery. It quit charging about 6 (or more) months ago. Since the A/C works and I never (okay, hardly ever) accidentally pull out the adapter plug - not an issue. Plus - have you priced laptop batteries lately!?!

Well, now it's an issue. In order to use the RAM we just bought, I have to purchase the replacement battery that I have been trying desperately not to need. If you follow JMark Afghans on Twitter, you may have noticed a Tweet that mentions "Visions of Laptop as Frisbee {film at 11}" recently.

All I can say? If this $30 memory upgrade gets any more expensive? I'm buyin' a hammer. A really big hammer. {film at 11:15}

I had convinced myself that, due to advancing age, my vision had changed for the better. Seriously! I didn't have to hold my reading material against my nose to see it anymore and, even from across the room, I could almost make out faces on the TV. Better, right?!

Well, not so much. The best you could say is -- differently bad. In fact, when I asked the eye doctor about the contacts I've been dying to order he explained, "There wouldn't even be a 30-day lens, in the world, for that left eye." Darned astigmatism!

But, looking on the bright side, I did get a pair of lined bifocals (which everyone is worried I'm going to hate), 6 boxes of contact lenses - per eye, and three years worth of eye exams (including 10% off all purchases) for less than the glasses that are currently falling off my face. I think I love America's Best!

I've been putting off getting new glasses for a very long time, now. The prescription on my contacts is just as old and I can't really see out of either. Add in the fact that my glasses are bent, the earpieces are taped on - and you can see it's time to bite the bullet and head to the eye doctor.

To that end, I have been doing some online pricing. It appears that the 30-day multifocals I have been desperately wanting are not going to happen, unless we suddenly hit the lottery. But the deals out there on eyeglasses are pretty good.

The fact that I am seriously near-sighted, need bifocals, and have an astigmatism in my left eye shouldn't make a difference. Right!? Oh, yeah! It's gonna be expensive.

I can hear the Cha-Ching! already!

I don't go to the doctor very often - or, as I keep being told, nearly as often as I should. (Of course, should and I are just not on speaking terms.) When I was younger, that was probably not such a problem. But I am now getting to the point where some of my parts just aren't working the way they did a few years ago.

Guess I'd best find out just what Obamacare is going to mean for me. And probably sooner than later.

Being a mom is not for the faint of heart!

When the new school year is on the horizon that is when I know that the dreaded school clothes shopping trips are drawing near. I love my children, but dragging them through store after store to try on different clothes is no walk in the park. Thankfully, because of the miracle of technology, I can now do the shopping that myself, and my children have grown to hate, at home!

All I have to do is fire up my HughesNet internet, and all my favorite stores are just a click away. I find oldnavy.com is one of my favorite places to land the great bargains I need, and the styles that my children are excited to wear.

When I am looking for shoes, my first stop is shoesontheweb.com. They offer a HUGE selection and great discounts on the most popular name brands. They also offer free shipping and reviews of all of the shoes on their site so I can make an informed decision before I buy. Jcpenney.com is also one of my favorites. Their sizing guides make getting the right items easy, and they offer super bargains on clothes and great deals on free shipping.

So fellow moms unite! Let us say goodbye to in store shopping and embrace our inner cyber shopper!

In the olden days of my youth, doorbells were hard-wired into the house's electrical system. Something you couldn't do or have done to a rental unit. Well, unless you had a really nice landlord and wanted to leave your chimes when you moved. Not a good solution.

Today, battery-powered units offer more than 10 different tunes, play different sounds or songs for each door, and have sound quality so good you can actually recognize the song. There are even options to add receivers in other rooms. After all, a doorbell isn't much good if you don't hear it.

Today I found one answer and it's actually rather interesting. The companies that want your business, join a service that collects all of these requests from their affiliate sites. After the service verifies that the information is valid - no fake emails or names - their customers can purchase the leads and send out their auto insurance quotes. Or mortgage refi information or financial services deals; whatever their products might be.

At first I thought - Oh, no! Dozens of people will call and email! - and maybe with some services it happens that way. However, EquiLeads seems different. They only offer each request-for-information lead to three companies. So, I don't have 50 companies bugging me and the companies aren't competing against everyone in their industry.

All in all, it sounds like they've got the right idea. From start to finish, everyone gets what they need.

eBillme attempts to help by connecting merchants, banks, and shoppers. It's an interesting idea, down to the online coupons and cash-back options. Just order, select eBillme to pay, and you're done. More or less.

To take advantage of online coupons, you have start shopping from eBillme. The list of participating merchants seems extensive, so it shouldn't keep you from finding what you want. And the search function works pretty well.

Now, the fun part. Click on a coupon / offer and eBillme connects to the merchant site. The one I tested popped up a code that had to be used. Be ready to write it down - it doesn't stay there long!

Once you make a selection and start checkout, choose eBillme as the payment method. This is where I ran into some confusion (my fault) - the coupon code didn't work on the merchant site. It had to be entered on the eBillme site.

The merchant I tested then bounced me to an eBillme screen that didn't really do anything. And, no matter what I did, I never made it to a place to finalize my order. A different merchant worked fine, but I wasn't trying to use a coupon on that one. (I thought the first problem was because I was just testing the process, but I'm not sure.)

If you can get the process to work, you should get bounced to eBillme, where you can enter your codes and email information. An invoice will be generated, presented on-screen, then emailed to you for payment. Use your bank's bill-pay system to make payment, which will be forwarded to the merchant, who will ship your order.

My guess? This is not going to happen as quickly as it sounds. Especially the first time. Don't have a bank account? Grab your cash (plus minimum $4.95 processing fee) and head for one of the walk-in payment centers. (We actually have one right across the street!)

These centers appear to take even longer - with a few more steps - between giving up your money and getting your order. Not exactly my first choice. But if you have no other options, it is one way to shop online.

Although it may seem backward, agents worth their commission will tell you to qualify for a mortgage first. A pre-approved mortgage is proof that your offer is serious, backed by a financial institution, and will go through on acceptance. Knowing what you can afford helps focus the search, once you get down to picking a property. Not to mention, with the current economy, pre-approval may be the only way to get an agent to even talk to you.

In a lender's perfect world, each potential mortgagee has flawless credit, high six-figure income, and 20% of the national debt set aside as a down payment. Naturally, the better your financial situation, the better your mortgage rate will be. But there are workable options for the rest of us average folks who may have some credit issues, a higher debt-to-income ratio, and aren't related to Bloomberg, Armani, or Trump.

Most lending institutions offer the same types of home loans: fixed-rate and adjustable-rate being the most common. Each has risks and benefits which should be clearly defined in advance of any agreement. In addition, these traditional mortgages generally only apply to existing single-family homes in move-in condition. Condos, rehabs, new construction, and manufactured homes have their own mortgage rules, uses, and qualifications.

Unless you're in need of / interested in a no-verification mortgage¹, be prepared to pull together a lot of financial information. Different banks, lenders, or programs may look for different documentation. W2s, pay stubs, bank statements, prior year tax returns, list of assets, list of debts, and proof of residence are pretty standard requirements.

Buying a home doesn't have to give you grey hair and ulcers. If you do your homework.

Or that there was an anti-microbial version? It should have been obvious - what else would medical labs and pharmaceutical companies use? Or, in theory, the food industry. Anywhere, I suppose with a stringent need for maintaining sanitary conditions.

All well and good, but don't they just wear off? Well, actually, some of these coatings last 7 years, up to 15 years ~ depending on cleaning methods. Amazing.

Today's messages brought one of those heart-thumping, panic-inducing, four-letter-word-inspiring shocks - confirmation of an order for a $1,327 notebook computer (with $50 second-day shipping) from buy.com. Given my current cash flow and no-$$$-no-order house rules, I was pretty sure that this was a hoax / spam / phishing expedition. Yet, June 2010 has just been filled with Egads! Gadzooks! and OMG, No! moments - the USPS / PayPal fiasco starting the whole isn't-this-month-over-yet nightmare.

Taking a deep breath and a large cup of coffee, I started investigating this 'confirmation' message. Sure enough, none of the links went to buy.com. Instead, they went to a site for The First Assembly of God Church, in Gainesville, Florida - which, by the way, has been taken down by their hosting service. Apparently, they got hijacked a while back, or God said, "Thou shalt steal!" and they got busted.

Although that did make me feel a little better, I still had to check with buy.com. Turns out - oddly enough - that I don't seem to have an account with them. Another sigh of relief.

Currently, I'm waiting for them to respond to my inquiry into this mysterious order. Just in case.

Think about it for a second. What - exactly - does an image from a web site tell my insurance agent and her claims adjustor if, heaven forbid, I should have to file a claim? I mean, beyond the fact that I obviously liked a particular dresser, headboard, chair, or microwave? Not, as it turns out, a darn thing. Without a receipt, it's just a pretty picture. (Lesson learned!)

However, what I was really looking for tonight?   An easy way for people to put together - and safely store - a list of their possessions. What I found?   EZasset* - an online system that offers a step-by-step process for documenting - room-by-room - everything you own. They even provide up to 1GB of free (my favorite word) storage for your information, solving both problems.

Then, there's my I-need-software-now site:   CNET download.com* - with hundreds of free and free-to-try software downloads. There are a couple (I didn't look at all the pages) of interesting home inventory titles and, being free, if one doesn't suit your needs it's easy to try another. Of course, they don't come with free offsite data storage. But, I'm sure your insurance company would be happy to stick a CD in your file, if you asked them nicely.

Somewhere in between these two ideas is KnowYourStuff™, from the Insurance Information Institute. Their software is free to download and use, with the same step-by-step, room-by-room process as other packages. Where KnowYourStuff™ differs from download-and-use at CNET is Vault ²⁴ - a secure, online storage facility. Unlike EZasset, however, Vault ²⁴ is not free.

So, I'm happy to say, there are several options out there - at little to no cost. Add a little time and energy and, before you know it, you can see exactly what you own. Or, in our case, just how serious a pack-rat you've become.

*   Links are provided as-is and for informational purposes only. No web site safety, usability, or endorsement is guaranteed, offered, or implied.

Obviously, we can't afford our own personal on-call burly he-men home security team. But, with visions of gun-wielding thugs in ski-masks running through my head and my home, I had to find options. Home monitoring systems, like ADT, were my first thought.

Even though someone is always home, I knew we'd sleep better (okay, Frankie sleeps like the dead anyway) if we had someone/something 'guarding' our doors and windows. Then, the light bulb went on -- someone is always home -- and our broken window became a much bigger issue. Security packages under a dollar a day moved ADT way up the options list. (Oh, honnneeeey! I have an i-deee-aaaa!)

My "idea" notwithstanding, getting a few police security tips - in case we've been helping the bad guys - was my next step. Keeping doors and windows locked? Check! Of course, when the neighbor knocks on your door to tell you that your keys are in the lock (true story) turning that bolt on the inside isn't exactly the great we've-shut-'em-out-now moment it should be.

Less obvious? Etching a unique number, which can be registered with the local police department, on all high-end possessions. (My first husband engraved our valuables back when we rarely locked our doors. Smart man!) I was reminded the other day, something our maintenance man said, that we need to be a little more proactive protecting what we own.

Which leads to a must-do tip: keep an inventory list with pictures. The key is having one copy outside the home - with your insurance company, in a safety-deposit box - and one, preferably, in a fireproof box/safe at home. If it's only on the computer and the computer is stolen or crashes - there goes your list and your proof.

Document everything, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem. (Okay, not food in the fridge; but definitely the fridge.) If there is a problem, your insurance company can/will only cover what you can prove you lost/owned. Most policies have a lump-sum clothing reimbursement, so if you have expensive (leather, fur) items, get them on the list; as well as jewelry.

Computers, stereos, DVD players, beds, sofas, appliances - big things you stub your toes on - are obvious. But coffee makers, crock pots, pots and pans, air filters, vacuums, hair dryers, DVDs and CDs, lamps - to mention a few things - can add up to significant replacement cost if not included. (Wow, do I need to update my list!)

Living in an apartment, many of the security tips I found were beyond our control or simply not applicable. But this list from the Fort Worth, PD gave me a lot to think about. The dead bolt and strike plates on our front door, strength of the door frame, secondary locks on the windows, and - what started all of this - the quality of the windows themselves.

The seven extra shipping charges overdrew my PayPal account. So, on May 28th, I called the USPS again - to have the 4 pending charges cancelled; which they did (surprisingly) without a problem. Then, I called PayPal and asked them to do the same. Again, no problem. Hey! Life is looking up!

Except for the fact that, since USPS had hijacked my money, part of the one valid shipping charge, as well as other legitimate charges from May 24th hit when, technically, the PayPal account had a zero balance. With our savings account as emergency back-up, you can imagine what started happening -- and happening, and happening, and happening. (To the tune of $120.00 in NSF fees, as we don't keep a balance in that account, by the time it was all said and done.)

Back on the phone to USPS - and beginning to panic. To paraphrase, briefly (this was not a brief conversation): "Our terms and conditions explain that USPS will put a pending hold on your account [note: have never found that notice] every time you try to print a label. You agree to that upfront. And, because of that, the USPS is not responsible for NSF charges. It's all PayPal's fault. [note: they did actually say that] And, yes, it takes 14 business days to process a refund." Thank you, have a nice day.

Back on the phone to PayPal - and on the verge of hysteria. (Another very, very long conversation.) Not one, but two very, very nice people -- thank you Amy and Craig! -- tamed the lions, jumped through flaming hoops, and walked the wire to help me. (Hey, under the circumstances, a circus analogy seemed highly appropriate.) Within about 36-48 hours, though it wasn't their fault or responsibility, they made us whole. Much more than I had ever expected; and far more than USPS - who was responsible - even considered.

EPILOGUE: As of June 8th - 15 days after this mess started - of the $111.90 shipping fees originally charged, PayPal reversed $97.65 and (as a one-time courtesy) reimbursed us $90.00 of NSF charges. Our bank, which was less than cooperative through all of this, did manage to reverse one NSF fee of $30.00. The legitimate charges, from May 24th, eventually cleared.

The USPS, late on June 7th, notified me (emphasis mine) that:

"We have approved your postage refund request for your online shipping label on 06/07/2010 08:01 PM CDT.

[Personal information redacted]

Please allow up to two billing cycles for your credit card statement to reflect this refund, as the processing of the refund is dependant upon your financial institution's policy."

Note - they didn't say refunded, they said approved for refund - allow up to two months for the credit to appear on your account. Luckily, the refund actually hit by end-of-business on the 8th. So, JMark Afghans, etc. is officially done with the USPS. UPS - here we come!

Oh! The package did - eventually - get to my daughter and son-in-law.

Just for grins, I decided to check my account today - confirm the balance, ya know? Imagine my surprise to see that the USPS had charged me for my package label, not once - but eight (8) times! Yes, you read that right!

Four are pending on my account; four went through. (All 8 reduce my available balance.) If you're keeping score - that's $13.95 x 8 = $111.60! Given that one charge is valid, that makes for a minor overcharge of $97.65!

No biggie, right?! Just contact the USPS for a correction / refund and life is good, right!? {sound of maniacal laughter} Oh, heavens no! That would be {more maniacal laughter} too easy! Too efficient! Too acceptable! Too helpful! Too responsible!

I did contact the USPS about this. They agreed to correct the problem, and refund the extra charges - in 14 business days!

Guess when you're going broke, paying mail carriers who "don't have to come up to the second floor," it's important to increase revenue any way you can.

With auto insurance, one has to consider deductibles as part of the overall cost. Sure, the monthly premiums may be impressive - until you have a claim. Coming up with several hundred dollars, or more, may make getting back on the road almost impossible.

What about homeowner's / renter's coverage? If, heaven forbid, you experience a loss, are you covered for the replacement cost of your valuables? How does one determine what that should be?

A good agent asks these questions and offers guidance that ensures their customers can live with their decisions. If they don't ask, perhaps it's time to reconsider the relationship. Or at least explore your options.

Don't purchase, unless you:

Oh, wait - there's only one consistent recommendation: rely on reviews! My problem with that is the questionable quality and tendency to simply reuse a manufacturer's hype. The only information the consumer receives is what the maker wants them to know - in order to encourage sales.

In all fairness, there are sites that write their own content. Some even seem to look at the products before they comment. A definite improvement over cookie-cutter, affiliate-driven, give-us-your-money websites.

However, as it is virtually impossible (or at least cost prohibitive) to access clinical trial results and professional articles, product information is still mostly 'borrowed' from company sites and other reviewers. At least the more honest provide valuable help, such as 'outing' auto-ship and you-open-it-you-bought-it product return scams.

Those who lost healthcare, also lost other insurance coverage. Other important coverage. Whether it's whole, high risk, universal, or term life insurance quotes that fit your situation - get that information. It's impossible to know what you can afford, if you don't.

For us, the options are pretty simple. Mark's high risk, no doubt about that. Me? I simply need a policy that will pay for my final wishes and cover any debts.

Death is inevitable. Leaving a financial mess for loved ones doesn't have to be.

To start with, the intent is:

The legislature finds that there is a compelling interest in the cooperative enforcement of federal immigration laws throughout all of Arizona. The legislature declares that the intent of this act is to make attrition through enforcement the public policy of all state and local government agencies in Arizona. The provisions of this act are intended to work together to discourage and deter the unlawful entry and presence of aliens and economic activity by persons unlawfully present in the United States.

Great language, isn't it? Compelling interest in the cooperative enforcement of federal immigration laws. The intent of this act is to make attrition through enforcement; the State of Arizona believes in working with the federal government to discourage and deter ... well, you get the idea.

The actual wording of the Senate Bill (as I understand it) seems fairly toothless in the areas that are causing the most protests. Let's start with (emphasis is mine):

Sec. 2., 11-1051, B. FOR ANY LAWFUL CONTACT MADE BY A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL OR AGENCY OF THIS STATE OR A COUNTY, CITY, TOWN OR OTHER POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THIS STATE WHERE REASONABLE SUSPICION EXISTS THAT THE PERSON IS AN ALIEN WHO IS UNLAWFULLY PRESENT IN THE UNITED STATES, A REASONABLE ATTEMPT SHALL BE MADE, WHEN PRACTICABLE, TO DETERMINE THE IMMIGRATION STATUS OF THE PERSON. THE PERSON'S IMMIGRATION STATUS SHALL BE VERIFIED WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PURSUANT TO 8 UNITED STATES CODE SECTION 1373(c).

How is this different? No, really? It requires LAWFUL CONTACT which, to my mind, is about the same as if you can't pull them over for breaking the law, you can't just pull them over for ... the heck of it - just what exists now. Of course, I'm no civil rights attorney and this may be where Arizona is planning to seriously alter the rules of engagement.

Now, we add REASONABLE SUSPICION - the stumbling block for many, many laws. What is reasonable? Where is the line drawn?

The old joke involved yelling "Immigracion! Immigracion!" into a sweatshop or onion field and chasing down everyone who ran. Hardly practical or, probably, acceptable today.

There are many ways to assess whether someone is being less than truthful - failure to make eye contact, excessive blinking; certain nervous gestures are known to be common in people who are bending the truth. Now that the police can stop and question with impunity, would nervousness in any member of Arizona's Hispanic community be an indication of criminal behavior? Or simply a natural reaction to living under a badly-designed, poorly-focused microscope?

Then there is appearance. Personally, I don't know what illegal looks like. (Although, I must admit - after years of life in Colorado and Arizona - I do have an 'educated' opinion.) Anyone out there have a good description?! Something that can be applied - without error - to large portions of the population?! Didn't think so.

How, exactly, does the government plan to design rules for a REASONABLE ATTEMPT, WHEN PRACTICABLE, to determine immigration status? Could (read comment above) the language be a little more vague?! Doubt it!

Yet, Arizona law enforcement is now charged with developing a training program and implementing procedures that comply with this lovely wording, and don't completely trample the civil rights of legal citizens. Good luck with that! Bit of the "camel through the eye of a needle" probability, if you ask me.

Please understand, I believe that anyone who is living in this country illegally does not have the right to invoke / expect any of the rights and privileges afforded to their legal brethren, including: freedom of speech, right to assemble or bear arms or petition the government for redress, healthcare, education, etc., etc., etc. However, our government - federal, state, and local - is so busy trying to not offend these criminals or step on rights that the illegals haven't earned that there are no effective methods for dealing with their crimes.

In Governor Brewer's defense, it has been pointed out by many - including our President - that if Washington had done their job, the states wouldn't have to. Small comfort for those who might bear a passing resemblance to the 460,000 immigrants who choose to live illegally in our state.

* This link is a PDF file, requiring Adobe Reader. Download it here.

With over 100 years experience, this is no here-today-gone-tomorrow operation. The programs are thorough and accredited. Northwestern knows what it takes to educate people and focus their programs on up-to-date, real-world requirements. No one is studying how it was done 30 years ago, but what is needed now.

Northwestern College also offers assistance with every step of the education process, from financial aid to flexible class scheduling. Being an online program, the interaction with professionals in the field is going to be much easier. Experts can quickly and easily support students - travel time and expense aren't a consideration.

Just reviewing the course topics is enough to inspire me to enroll. I'm especially interested in Criminology, and Criminal Law and Procedures. Homeland Security Law is another fascinating course title that I know would teach me a lot - and broaden my understanding of crime and the law.

Times are tough and crime is high. The demand for specialists in Criminal Justice is going to remain high, as well. This is something that, no matter where you live, you can do for yourself - and for your community.

Ah, yes! The Super Foods pill! I remember Lipovox!

It does everything but wash the dishes and scrub the floors. Yet, who came up with this magic pill?! How do you track down the original? That's the fun part.

If you search "I worked with one of the largest Nutraceautical company's in the world and had them find the HIGHEST Concentrates of All 10 Super Foods." you will find no less than 121 sites sharing this story - complete with the typographical errors. There is one 'official' site, but who knows. Half of them look like copies of each other.

The bottom line?! There is no scientific proof that this pill does anything - except empty your wallet. Although, chances are - if you consumed a sufficient quantity of these 'Super Foods' - you would probably notice a benefit. But does this pill provide it?

If you've actually tried Lipovox - please leave your comments below. (Note: Moderators reserve the right to expose spurious claims.)