"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. ...But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself."
~ Friedrich Nietzsche
I have a great interest in protecting the environment, helping animals, and just trying to do the right thing. Sadly, I don't have a bank account that allows me to financially support all of the causes in which I believe.
Thanks to the Greater Good Network, and their sponsors, I don't have to be the Sultan of Brunei in order to help.
One of the easiest ways to help is by resetting the home page on your browser. Simply pick one of the websites in the network - I chose The Animal Rescue Site - and every time you visit the Internet, simply click on the "Click Here to Give" button on the main page. It doesn't cost you a dime, but the sponsors will take that 'click' and donate to the cause that you've chosen.
Every time I visit my homepage, I give .6 bowls of food to rescued animals. And I am not alone! Yesterday, July 10, 2008, 303,764 clicks contributed 182,258 bowls of food; in 2007, actions at The Animal Rescue Site funded the value of 42,724,313 bowls of food for animals in need.
I know that I couldn't, personally, contribute enough to make a drop in the bucket. But, working with The Greater Good Network, I - and you - can do wonders.
If you were wondering, as I have been, whether the glasses I talked about in an earlier post are really a good deal, I have an answer.
FOX consumer review program Deal or Dud? followed one mother's experience. The video details include the ordering process, issues with the family's optometrist, and the quality of the final product.
As you'll see in the report, ZenniOptical.com did a terrific job with the information that they were given. Both prescriptions were perfect. However, due to a lack of information from the optometrist and a wiggly little boy, there were issues with one pair.
Frankly, I was quite impressed. I've already found my favorite frames. (Okay I've found several favorite frames.) Luckily, I can afford more than one now.
We were watching this video from YouTube earlier and, being the skeptic I am, I had to look into this. According to Snopes, this is a True Story. Although, it's not quite what it seems.
These domesticated elephants are trained to use the paintbrushes and recreate the same picture, over and over. When they want a new color, they drop the brush. Obviously, they are not able to pick up a paintbrush, so their trainers give them a new one. That is, beyond the repetitive training, the only intervention by humans in the 'painting' process.
The organization that trains these elephants and sells the artwork offers this mission statement:
The Asian Elephant Art & Conservation Project (AEACP) is a non-profit organization dedicated to saving the diminishing number of Asian elephants left on our planet through its work with domesticated elephants. The AEACP raises funds through donations and the sale of artwork created by elephants in order to fulfill its mission.
Asian Elephants are seriously threatened in the wild, with populations estimated at less than 35,000. I'm not certain that I agree with teaching an elephant to paint, but I do support any efforts to protect these beautiful animals.
Currently, I don't have any pictures of myself in glasses, for one simple reason. The right lens is held in place with a bent paper clip and has one of Mark's old ear pieces taped to the side of the frame, while the original left ear piece (missing the coating at the bend behind the ear) is taped to the other side. Quite embarrassing!
I desperately need to replace my frames, preferably without spending a fortune and - most importantly - without buying new lenses. You see, frames don't have to be expensive; but my lenses (no-line bifocals compensating for an astigmatism in the left eye) have always been outrageously expensive.
Then, today I found zennioptical.com. The prices are amazing. And, from what I saw on the website, all I have to do is choose my frames and include my prescription. There is no indication that my 'script is going to add hundreds of dollars to the cost. I like that!
I have to say that this is the best deal I've ever seen and I intend to get my latest prescription, so that I can check out actual prices.
As much as I hate wearing glasses, I think I could be much happier at these prices. In fact, I could have several pair - with and without tinting.
Hmmmm? Maybe glasses aren't quite so bad, after all!
I found out, a couple of days ago, that there are some great deals available through Greyhound for trips from Phoenix to Vegas. In fact, our recent guest managed to purchase a round-trip ticket for $9.00 less than a one-way ticket, travelling on the same day. You just have to, apparently, ask the right questions.
So, you know me, I started shopping for Vegas vacations. Mark and I haven't taken a trip together in over five years. Obviously, I would like to find something we can afford, even if it's only for a 3-day 2-night mid-week jaunt.
What I found is that, if you can travel during the week or at the last minute, it's easy to find great specials.
In a recent post, I explained how old my skin, eyes, and teeth are; hoping for correction through a program called "10 Years Younger". That post talked about having my teeth fixed. Now, I'm exploring vision correction.
Several months ago, I explored Lasik surgery. The prices I was quoted, walking in the door, turned out to be unavailable. Sadly, my vision is so bad that I don't qualify for the least expensive surgery. At $1,500 per eye, I'll be waiting for a long time.
Hopefully, I'll hit the lottery and be able to see normally for the first time in 45 years.
Now, this is the way I'd like to exercise - if I had the option - in the privacy of my own home. Every gym I've ever visited was filled with perfect bodies. Given my body system, it was just depressing to see all of these people - who didn't really seem to need the gym.
I have never seen offers for home gyms that I could afford - before today. I absolutely love the complete systems that have a really small footprint - especially since my whole apartment has a really small footprint.
Frankly, I have a huge need to trim down my waist and, you would not believe the shape of my upper thighs! I really have to get started on recreating my 30-year-old shape. The 40 pounds I've gained in the last 2 years, when I stopped being active, have just got to go!
One of my favorite TV shows is "10 Years Younger" in which they do makeovers for people who look older than their real age. It's amazing the services that are available to these people - dermabrasion, vision correction, and cosmetic dentistry.
Seeing the pictures from my daughter's wedding, I realize that these are now my problems, too. I have 51-year-old skin with some serious sun damage, horribly poor vision, and very stained teeth. (I used my photo system to lighten my teeth after my stepson said "You look like you don't have a front tooth!") My dream is to have all of these problems corrected, some day.
Today I found a great site to that has answers to teeth issues like mine. Beverly Hills cosmetic dental not only does wonders, they offer painless solutions that are very important to me. I am terrified of dentists, but I have several broken teeth and a missing crown that cause me tremendous pain.
It's nice to know that there are professionals out there who care about doing the right thing, as painlessly as possible.
You know that JMark Afghans offers a variety of original, hand-crocheted afghans, placemats, hats, scarves, and shawls. But, did you know that we offer a free reminder service?
That's right! You'll never have to worry about missing a birthday or anniversary again. And it couldn't be easier. Simply use our Reminder Form to list any occasion that you need to remember. Then, sit back and we'll take it from there. You'll receive regular reminders and, if you like, we'll even help with gift ideas.
We protect your privacy by coding the events on our calendar with your initials and zip code. Even JMark Afghans won't ask for any identifying information. No one, but you, will know these are your occasions.
Our neighbor, the one who helped us replace the drivers on the laptop, is heading back East. On the way, okay sorta on the way, he's wandering through Vegas. Turn a little money into a little more money. Braver than I, I can tell you that.
Although I am a confirmed non-gambler, I love the idea of Las Vegas vacations. There are so many more things to do, besides gambling.
My mom used to go to Vegas, with a friend of hers, every year or two. She played the slots - a bit. But mostly she went to the shows and enjoyed the buffets. I could do that!
This concept is just so much fun! It's a bit like those flashlights that you shake to charge - a system of weights and magnets provide an electric current. But this one is separate from the unit you're trying to charge.
Think about it! You're dancing around at a concert anyway - why not create a charge for your cellphone? That way you can sneak pictures, without completely killing the phone. (Okay - check the rules at the venue before you sneak any pix.)
Or, you're on vacation, running around Vegas or Rome or the Grand Canyon. Shouldn't all of that movement do more than give you blisters on your feet?! Of course it should!
I think this a tremendous idea! Let me know what you think - Would you buy it?!
Yes, I'm shopping for lighting again. Specifically - bathroom lighting - because I'm tired of spending 20 minutes on my makeup and, when I walk out of the apartment, looking like a clown. Actually, a really scary clown.
I have had a tough time finding indoor lighting that I like, that I can afford, and that effectively lights up the area where it's installed. Today, I found a couple of really nice options.
The one I liked the best is shaped like an elongated capsule, and takes a bulb in each end. But the whole length is frosted glass, to spread the light for the full 18 1/2".
Okay, I'll admit it - I love home improvement shows. HGTV is one of my favorite channels. All those power tools? Makes me think of Tim Taylor!
What I didn't realize was that all of these great tools also exist as air tools. Oh, of course I've heard of air hammers and ratchets. But, did you know that you can get air saws, screwdrivers, and sanders? I didn't.
Since I don't have much upper-body strength, having the right tool to do the work is critical. These are cool!
Every year, about this time, we remember that the truck's air conditioning doesn't work. Of course, we know it's broken for the whole year. It's simply much, much more noticeable from June to October.
Just for grins, I thought I'd see what auto air conditioning parts and repairs are running these days. (Our unit has a leak, so it really needs to be replaced.) Oddly enough, it's not quite as bad as I expected.
That may have more to do with the place I found on the Internet, rather than an industry price reduction. Either way, it looks pretty good to me.
In the interest of my sanity, of which I have precious little, I have been doing some computer parts shopping. Rather than looking for a complete desktop system, it occured to me that we could simply replace the broken parts, find a monitor, and upgrade the memory for less than a brand new unit. Especially when most of the ones I've found are waaaay more than we really need.
Well, I've learned why I don't build computers for a living. Just looking at all of the computer memory options made my head spin. About the most I remember from the good-ol'-days, when I worked on my 386, is that the faster the CPU, the better the power system needs to be. (A couple of burned out units taught me that one - fast!)
I think I'll go back to pricing full systems and leave the rebuilding to those with better skills.
I just read about an interesting item that helps people access more than one CPU from a single keyboard and monitor, or access a single CPU from multiple locations. It's called a KVM switch. (Amazing what you can find, wandering the 'Net.)
Obviously, an IT professional wouldn't be as wowed as I was, but I still think it's a pretty cool concept. Imagine being able to access information from two or more computers, without needing two or more keyboards and two or more monitors.
That would certainly make a lot of the things I do on the computer much simpler.
After traveling to Colorado for the wedding, I find that I'd like to do more. It would be wonderful for Mark and I to get away, by ourselves, for a while. After reading about all of the great shows on Broadway, New York City travel became my first choice in vacations.
Admittedly, I was worried about the cost - especially for airfare - from AZ to NY. It was amazing to find that 4 nights (plus airfare) is really quite affordable. And the fact that we can take off anytime we like, means we can take advantage of a lot of great last minute deals.
Or we can book weeks in advance. It's good to be flexible!
