KT1 Writes

Mom Injects 8 year old daughter with Botox

2012-02-09T19:34:00.000-05:00

A San Francisco mom injects her eight year old daughter with Botox several times a month to keep her face free of wrinkles to look beautiful for beauty pageants.

MOM INJECTS 8 YEAR OLD WITH BOTOX
Kelly Campbell, a licensed beautician injects her 8 year old daughter, Britney with about four injections of Botox every month. Britney's mom said she is just trying" to keep Britney's face wrinkle-free." Britney's British mom said Britney competes in beauty pageants and must remain competitive.
At first Britney said that the injections hurt and she cried, but now she is more used to it, and doesn't cry, instead toughing it out.

IS THIS CHILD ABUSE?
After waking up early one morning and seeing this story on the news, I had to tell my blog viewers about this story.
Thinking this was a new story shown on an ABC news show, I found the story online already, finding more relevant information.
Personally, I found this to be a borderline case of child abuse. Britney's mom is giving her child Botox treatments that adults pay for to obtain from certified plastic surgeons. I thought it is a sick thing to do to a child.
What does injecting your child with Botox do for this child? This teaches an 8 year old that she is not good enough. She will probably grow up as a very insecure adult. She will want to change her looks before her face and body mature enough to even know how she will truly look.

WRINKLE-FREE CHILD?
The thought in the back of my mind in this story is, (what you may have already said); why does an eight year old girl even need Botox injections? Do 8 year old kids have any wrinkles on their faces? Is Kelly Campbell sending a bad message to her daughter? Is she a good role model?
Is she sending a bad message to society?

Britney has told the media that her friends want to get Botox treatments, and are jealous of her.
After seeing this story on TV, and reading it online, I think Britney's mom is seeking attention for herself and her daughter so that she will get her fifteen minutes of fame.

The Giants Win Superbowl XLVI; Despite Gisele's pleas

2012-02-06T13:56:00.001-05:00

The New York Giants, who have their home base in New Jersey, won Superbowl XL VI. When the New York Giants officially won the game, with 21 points to the Patriots 17 points, I felt like the happiest person on the face of the planet.

You see, I don't really like football. I try not to follow football, unless my home team, the Buffalo Bills actually win a football game or two. When they went to the Superbowl four times, and lost, I went back to not watching football, and not caring about the Superbowl. But when the Giants who did not do all that well for the overall season, suddenly found themselves at the Superbowl, I couldn't help myself. I found myself jumping up and down high- fiving my family, and smiling ever so happily at anyone within smiling distance.

But, I knew like the Giants also knew, they had to beat a winning team. All the stats were in place; Tom Brady is the Patriots quarterback, Tom Brady is only 34 years old, and has already won I believe three other Superbowl's.Tom Brady is married to Gisele, who is a wealthy supermodel.

Then when Gisele made her public plea for all of Tom Brady's and Gisele's friends and family members to pray for Tom to win the Superbowl, quite frankly that's when football became interesting to me again. Suddenly I wanted the New England Patriots to lose the Superbowl. And why? Because good looking, Tom Brady and his not so pretty supermodel wife ever so desperately wanted a big win. (Yes, I agree, I am catty!)

Suddenly I wanted Eli Manning and his football team to win.Why? Because Eli and his famous football playing brothers did not ask us to all but Tebow for their teams when it came to the Superbowl. Because Eli's wife is very pretty, and is not a famous supermodel who struts on the catwalk in lingerie.
It's as simple as that. I wanted Eli Manning and the Giants to win, because they were the underdogs going into the Superbowl, and they had a more down to earth quarterback and a more down to earth team.

The New York Giants did not have a supermodel asking people to pray for her husband to win the Superbowl for the fourth time. Gisele made it sound like Brady needed the win as badly as some people need to have a liver transplant to survive to live to see the next decade.
That's why, I for one as I'm certain many other American women are very happy the New York Giants won the Superbowl.

So next year, can we please keep the Superbowl more down to earth, and keep the supermodels at home, or at least stick to football being about the game?

Bear living in New Jersey Man's Basement: How did that happen?

2011-12-17T14:27:00.001-05:00

My husband sent me a story the other day of how a bear was hibernating in a New Jersey man's basement.

Here's a snippet of the story: The 550-pound bear that was found hiding out in a New Jersey basement had been living there for weeks.

Frank Annacone, 85, never imagined that a bear would move in with him.

“I could have ended up lunch for that big guy,” he said, still expressing disbelief.

Annacone learned about his roommate yesterday from Dave Cornine, a cable technician who had come over for a repair job in the basement.

“I heard the growl, I thought what is that noise,” Cornine said.

Cornine turned around and saw an enormous black bear waking up in the corner. He didn’t stick around to make friends with the bear.

“I just freaked out, threw my tools, ran out of the basement,” he said.

When Animal Control officers attempted to trap the bear he took off, leading them on an hour-long chase.

After reading this story, I had many questions: how can anyone not notice a bear living in the basement? What kind of basement did this man have, that the bear could just walk in?

How could you not hear a bear making noise in your basement? All I can figure is this 85 year old man, was hard of hearing. He must have a basement that leads to the outdoors, or has a very large, loose door leading to the outside. Either that or Frank is this side of senile, and needs to live somewhere a tad bit safer, because if a bear can get into his house, just imagine who or what else can LIVE in his basement----rent free, without his knowledge.

My last question; does Frank ever go downstairs?

Mixed-up Christmas Gifts

2011-12-15T11:07:00.001-05:00

One Christmas I remember fondly when my older family members were still alive, and my relatives were still talking to one another was the mixed up Christmas gifts story. My Grandmother and I gave the wrong gifts to other family members.

The story as I remember it goes like this:

I was working a job I hated in retail to make money before getting married to my longtime boyfriend. Of course, the manager scheduled me to work Christmas Eve. But this year, he must have been feeling his tiny black heart, becoming bigger allowing me to leave two hours before closing time.

Leaving the store, I remembered that I still had several people to buy gifts for. I had not bought anything for my sister's husband or my brother's girlfriend. I figured it would be a nice thing to buy them each a gift.I searched the store high and low looking for a gift for each person, and not having much of a selection in the clothing department, I selected a more expensive one of a kind ornament from Hallmark for my brother's girlfriend. Realizing that my brother's girlfriend was Jewish did not deter my purchase. I knew my brother and his girlfriend were living together and they put a tree in their apartment. I figured they could use this pretty ornament on their tree.
Moving to the front of the store, I looked through the cologne aisle, selecting a bottle of cologne for my brother in law.
My brother picked up our Grandmother and our Grandfather from their homes, on his way to my parents' home.

When it came time to open presents, my Grandmother who at this time was about 89, handed out similar looking boxes with the same ornamental wrapping paper she lovingly adorned each. All ten of us happy to be together family members opened our gifts. I ripped off the wrapping, opened the box finding nothing inside. As I sat there, kind of stunned, alternately thinking, Grandma doesn't love me anymore, to Grandma is getting forgetful in her old age, I was trying my best to not give away what I didn't get for Christmas. My brother yelled from across my parents large living room, "What'd you get Kate?"
Okay, so what was I supposed to do now? I was holding a box with nothing in it. My brother's girlfriend sat there stunned looking at her ornament acting like it was a hot pan about to light up in her hands. My brother in law, started laughing because he had opened his gift, and as he showed us the gift I gave him, it was aftershave, not cologne. He yanked on his beard, saying "Thanks Kate, but I'm keeping it for awhile."
I apologized saying, I haven't seen you for a year, and my sister never mentioned you had grown a beard."
My brother started laughing very loudly and showed everyone what he got from our Grandmother, he had three black socks in his box, while my brother in law's from my Grandmother had only one black sock.
We all started laughing loudly, and my brother threw Ken his other sock making a matching pair.
At dinner my still red faced Grandmother said, she must have left my gift at home. I told it was okay, that it didn't matter, we all forget things from time to time.

Really strange news stories

2011-12-12T11:25:00.003-05:00

Has the world gone mad over the last two days? While busy getting ready for Christmas, cleaning house and writing, suddenly it seems that the world has lost it, seemingly jumping over the last hurdle of sanity.

I've seen and heard some really strange news stories in the last couple of days that you have got to hear:

1. The lady making meth at a Walmart store. When I saw this one on TV the other day, I could not believe it. A woman was spotted on surveillance cameras six hours after she had been making methampethamine at a Walmart store in Tulsa, Oklahoma. What had me perplexed was why didn't anyone notice a person opening drug packages at Walmart, standing in a store aisle for six hours, mixing drugs together? That is sad, that no one noticed this happening. Store personnel did not notice what was going on. Customers did not notice anything out of the ordinary either? Where exactly could this woman set up her drug making shop? Did she grab what she needed on a shelf, sit down in a Walmart store chair, and start mixing meth?

2.Another incredibly strange story that happened over the weekend, was this one in Pennsylvania. Seems that one guy wanted time off from work, so badly, he just about faked his own death. This guy faked his own moms death , including faking an obituary so he could get some time off from work, for Christmas.(Maybe his boss is Ebeneezer Scrooge.) His mom found out, and walked into the newspaper office, telling the owner to cut it out. She told him she was very much alive. Thinking someone isn't getting any presents from Santa this year!

3. A 94 year old woman left 13 million dollars to her cat. Before she died in December of 2011, in Italy, Maria Assunta told her assistant she was a very lonely old woman. She was so lonely in fact, she scooped a stray cat from the streets of Italy, making Tommasso her soon to be wealthy kitty. Having noone else to give the money to, Assunta left her money to Tommasso making certain her assistant takes care of the cat for the rest of it's life.

This kitty is only one of several lucky pets who became millionaires due to their elderly owners leaving them entire estates due to having no relatives or long lost relatives. The richest pet currently is Gunther IV a German Shepard who was left 372 million dollars by his eccentric, German Countess several years ago.

Strange news stories continue with total strangers paying off K-mart lay aways for other people because they want other people to have a Merry Christmas. When one lady tried doing this in Target, saying, "Pay it forward, " she was thrown out of Target and Walmart due to store employees thinking she was nuts. Oh well, K-mart customers benefited instead!

My husband's thankful for list

2011-11-22T12:40:00.001-05:00

A friend of mine has been writing thankful for messages on Facebook everyday, during the month of November. She originally started with many new insightful thankful for entries every day. Soon after I noticed many other friends of mine, especially on Facebook, were inspired into writing their burgeoning lists of what they are thankful for this year. Even I wrote a list of about 23 things I was thankful for!

After telling my husband that many people were creating thankful for lists during the month of November, he started naming his completely different, humorous list of what he is thankful for.
Considering that he is very busy working his job, and hardly ever appears on Facebook, I told him I would write his thankful for list.

Now, before I start with my husband's funny thankful for list, I just want everyone to know, this is what I remembered.

My husband's list of what he is thankful for:

1. Chicken wings
2. Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders
3. Silicone breast implants
4. Beer
5. Donuts
6, Cheese
7. Glenn Beck
8. E Bay
9. Rush Limbaugh
10. Writers-----Robert B. Parker, Lee Child, Vince Flynn
11. Five Guys Burgers and Fries
12. Pulled pork
13 Utz pretzels
14. Heidi Klum

While I was writing this, I made the mistake of texting my hubby, who kept answering me every five minutes with more answers. Therefore, I'm stopping at 14, because now he's thinking of
Victoria Secret model's names.

Fire all the Penn State football coaches

2011-11-11T17:35:00.003-05:00

Fire all the football coaches at Penn State. Do you remember when you went to school,when one kid did something unintelligent, and the entire class was punished? Do you remember your teacher ever saying something along the lines of: Considering that John, (for example), is eating candy, he needs to share his candy with the entire class?

Considering that 84 year old Joe Paterno was fired for being the coach of the Penn State football team during the time Jerry Sandusky was assistant coach, then yes, I am making the bold, non-liberal, or perhaps it is liberally minded statement, that all of the Penn State coaches should be fired.
Doesn't it make sense to say that every coach who was gainfully employed at the time when Jerry Sandusky was assistant coach and when he was allegedly raping young boys; the coaches that are still working for Penn State should all be fired?

The new Interim Coach of Penn State's football team is Tom Bradley, who worked under Joe Paterno, for thirty years, as did several other coaches still employed by Penn State. While understanding the need to have a coach to finish out the football season, Penn State needed to place a person in the job of coach. But, why would you replace one person who knew what was going on with another person that may have known what was going on? For all any of us know, the entire football coaching staff and several or all of the school personnel,(professors, esteemed vice presidents, etc) all may have known what horrible things were going on.

Therefore the entire coaching staff should be fired as soon as the season is officially over. New staff should be hired with a criminal assessment record completed during the recruitment process.

What I am seeing is Joe Paterno is taking the fall for his inaction, although he did tell his boss, and now from what I've heard campus police who did not take action. The president of Penn
State did not take action either, and we probably will never know if he knew what was going on or not.

But my main point is all of the coaches who were working at the time Jerry Sandusky was allegedly raping young boys , and the coaches still employed at Penn State should all be fired. They may know too much. The new current coach is just as responsible for taking corrective action against Sandusky as Joe Paterno was. So too are all the coaches on the staff who knew what was going on. Isn't it said, that what is good for the goose is good for the gander?

Jerry Sandusky was never fired from his job as assistant coach, he was forced to retire, but was still allowed access to the college. In all fairness, Sandusky should have been fired, unless Penn State was just trying to sweep this mess under the rug, as should be all of the other coaches employed at the time Sandusky was committing his crimes. If one person is responsible for another person's actions, by not firing Sandusky, then the entire coaching staff should be held responsible, as well.

Three months after Coach Paterno's firing, Paterno died, and all of Penn State's-- State College coaches were indeed fired. Meanwhile Jerry Sandusky is on trial for raping numerous young boys. Currently he is not allowed to even see his grand kids.

Thanksgiving: Creating a I am thankful for list

2011-11-07T13:04:00.002-05:00

After seeing a friend of mine, her daily Facebook posts of what she is thankful for in her life, I thought, I don't have a family like that, so I guess I don't have anything to be grateful for. My friend is telling all of her Facebook friends, and her family that she is thankful for different things every day of November. I tried doing a thankful for list last year, but ran out of things to fill up the entire month of November.
My friend said she is grateful for her two brothers, her husband, her two sisters in law, and she told everyone why she is grateful for having these people in her life.

After seeing my friend's Thanksgiving thankful for posts on Facebook everyday, I have to say, I felt she is so lucky to have such a wonderful, giving, loving family. Then, I felt kind of depressed because I never had the experience of having a big family, with terrific sisters in law.

After thinking, I didn't know if I could come up with 30 days of something to be thankful for. But after really thinking about it, I started thinking of all the things, people in my life that I am grateful for. In all honesty, everyone in the world can create a I am thankful for list.

Thinking of a I am thankful for list, will make you feel , simply put, more thankful, and grateful. You will feel happier about your life. You will be placed into a better frame of mind to handle whatever lies ahead for you. If you are unemployed, depressed, or estranged from family or friends, think of all the good things you have in your life, and each day will feel better.You will enjoy Thanksgiving and Christmas once you are in a better state of mind.

One year, my mom asked for everyone at Thanksgiving dinner, to say what they were thankful for before digging into their Thanksgiving meal. My answer was more of a smartass kind of answer. I said; "I'm thankful for the Internet."
My puzzled mom asked, "Why?" I answered with, "Because that's where I discovered my love of writing, and I make some money there, also."

Here's my I am thankful for list:

1. My husband---he's my source of strength. Generally he is a great guy.
2. My two kids
3. My Mom
4. My Dad---who died 19 years ago, but I still love and miss him.
5. My Brother, who died two years ago, but despite his problems always had a natural happiness about him.
6. Being alive
7. Every new day
8. Being able to appreciate every day.
9. Speaking of appreciating every day----bright, sunny, blue sky kind of days
10. Summertime
11. My mother and father in law.
12. Love of writing.
13. Nature's beautiful splendor
14. Music---all kinds, not just one in particular.
15. Old friends
16. New experiences
17. The Internet
18. Being able to walk again.
19. A beautiful, pinkish, purplish sunset.
20. Seeing the world through the eyes of a child.
21. Hugs
22. My son's awesome sense of humor.
23. My son's girlfriend.

By the way, if you don't celebrate Thanksgiving in your neck of the woods, try creating a thankful for list anyways. It will make you feel better about your life, even helping you to de-stress. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!

Twelve New Reality TV Shows

2011-11-05T19:56:00.004-04:00

When my husband nodded off the other night at nine, I was allowed the freedom to watch what I wanted on TV. Oh joy, of joys. Do you know what this meant? This meant I could watch what I wanted on TV. Searching through the numerous cable channels, I found many new reality TV shows. What I should have done was climbed the stairs getting a book to read , instead of watching three reality TV shows at once.

Considering that my husband watches super dull reality TV shows, or a detective thriller, which usually bores me into finding something else to do, I realized that I had control of the TV remote, and I could freely use it. So, I channel surfed for two hours, not really finding anything worth watching, but I did discover twelve new reality TV shows, on my night of TV freedom.

Here are twelve reality TV shows adding to my biggest reality TV show list:

1. Amazing Race 19
2. American Guns
3. American Hoggers
4. Bomb Patrol Afghanistan
5. Bordertown Laredo
6. Gold Rush
7. Hillbilly Handfishin'
8. Flying Wild Alaska
9. Monster in Laws
10. Project Accessory
11. Swamp People
12. Why Am I Still Single?
There you have it, twelve new reality TV shows, with one being older due to it being called Amazing Race 19. But next season, it will probably be called amazing Race 20----which will be another new show.

Grossest Hoarders yet; Man lives in cat poop and cat piss!

2011-11-01T10:28:00.004-04:00

Did anyone catch Hoarders on Halloween evening?It was on at nine, after trick or treating. It was the grossest one yet. I didn't think Hoarders could get any grosser. It was so disgusting, I had to leap across the room, grab the remote and switch it off. In fact, I turned off the TV, and got ready for an early bedtime.

This episode of Hoarders was so gross, I'm rating it a 20 out of 10. A man, (Didn't get his name, too grossed out), was living with so many cats, they could not all be counted. This desperately mentally ill man, (calling him the Cat Hoarder), was living in cat urine, and cat feces. The urine and cat poop was mixed together in his house, combining to make a horrifyingly gross mixture of utter revulsion. I'm getting chills up and down my spine right now as I reflect on this show. His house was so bad, the cat urine was eating away the house walls. It was so horrid, even the cats were stepping gingerly through the liquid-mess.

The cats were walking through this horrid mess, (thank God we don't have smell-o-vision). The cats that had been strays this man grabbed off the streets, were sickly, skinny, dirty, smelly, and flea infested. In other words, the Cat Hoarder who thought he was helping stray cats was doing them more harm by taking them into his house. His friends, authorities,and therapist, were finding dead, squished cats all over the house. My thought was how does a person sleep in a house like this, let alone eat, walk through, sit, or breathe?

It was so bad, the health department, and the SPCA were at his front door trying to declare it a third ring of hell!

I don't know if they declared the house another Love Canal health disaster, but public officials should have dragged the Cat Hoarder out of the house, bulldozing the house left behind. Like I said, I didn't watch the entire Hoarders episode, because I was too grossed out. Which leaves one wondering, how do other human beings get to be this mentally ill? What awful things happened to these poor Hoarders leaving them wounded souls, that they turn to hoarding as a method of making themselves feel better?

As an addition to this blog post, I have stopped watching Hoarders, because the conditions the hoarders are living in have become too gross to watch!

Can't make make everyone happy all of the time

2011-10-25T09:49:00.005-04:00

I am not a celebrity like Kim Kardashian, and I am not 80 years old. But, I do have an opinion and yes sometimes I state what that opinion is.
This time around-----how a person can't make everyone happy all the time.

One thing I've noticed about Facebook is that a person can't possibly say all the right things 24-7. One person can't please everyone. At some point in time, something you say on Facebook, to the world, on the phone, will make someone mad. I have always been the person that stated my opinion, but usually to my husband, very close friends or just to my kids. I have not been saying things in a public forum.
So for me, (I am a shy person by nature), to come out and make comments in a public forum such as Facebook takes a lot of guts. But what I've noticed about Facebook is that you can't please all of the people all of the time. A person can't say the things that you want to hear all of the time.

There are millions of people in the world who will not say what their true feelings are, because they do not want to hurt other people's feelings. But, on the other hand millions of people stand up for their beliefs, making comments on social networking sites, such as Free Republic, and Facebook.

The opposite extreme of this spectrum is a person such as Bill O' Reilly who seems to say whatever he wants to say. (That's why he has an armed bodyguard following him everywhere).
What it comes down to is something I've discovered the hard way; you can't please everyone.

I have made about 80 Facebook friends that are fellow writers. Writers are people who are home most of the time, doing what they do best---that is writing. Fellow writers utilize social networking sources such as Facebook, Twitter and many other outlets informing an audience of the articles they have written. Writers have to utilize various methods telling people, prospective clients, what they can and will write. Therefore, writers talk to prospective clients on Facebook.
Writers also speak to each other using social networking sources during the day. But what happens is writers end up upsetting other people by advertising their writing on Facebook, Twitter, Stumble Upon, Flicker, etc.

What non-writers should think about is that writing is one of the most difficult jobs in the world. While it may seem easy to stay home all day, writing, wearing what you want, taking breaks, it is not. Writers usually work alone. Writers must create work out of their heads many times when they are exhausted, sick, or not feeling the writing vibe. And usually, writers are working other jobs to pay the bills, keeping their medical insurance.

What I'm asking people to understand is writing is not a glamorous, fun, exciting job. But what I am also saying to you is to try to understand that writers, and other promotional Facebook users are just trying to make a decent living. Besides, I could easily make a person angry by saying, "Good morning to all of my writer friends." This may make all of my non-writer friends displeased that they were not included. Or I may be upsetting people because I appear on Facebook many times a day.

What it ultimately comes down to is you can't make everyone happy all of the time.

What Happened to Thanksgiving?

2011-10-24T18:50:00.003-04:00

What happened to Thanksgiving? I guess it really should be; what happened to the celebration of Thanksgiving? It seems that Thanksgiving has become a no-brainer. Does that mean people aren't really thankful for having everything that they have in their lives anymore?

From what I've noticed over the years, retail stores are shoving Christmas, Halloween and Valentine's Day down our throats every year at an earlier, more alarming rate. Christmas is the biggest celebrated, and the most profitable holiday for major department stores. Halloween has become the next most profitable holiday, with Valentine's Day following in a close third. Did retailers completely miss Thanksgiving?

But what has happened to good old Thanksgiving?
Thanksgiving has apparently been lost in the shuffle.

When you go to any major department store, such as Macy's, Walmart, Sears or K-mart, there really isn't anything Thanksgiving-like to buy. If you wanted to purchase Thanksgiving towels, candles, and a dinnerware set with a big fat Thanksgiving turkey emblazoned on them, you most probably could not.
On the other hand, if you wish to buy Christmas, Halloween, or Valentines anything with a Christmas tree on it, a goblin, or with hearts on it, you can. One shining example is Target stores, where everything you ever wanted for Valentine's Day is placed throughout the entire store.

Thanksgiving has been shoved into the background.

The only thing I can figure is that Christmas, Halloween, and Valentine's Day are celebrated by the entire world, thus allowing mass merchandisers, major retailers, and mom and pop stores the chance to make more holiday jingle. This means retailers do not stock their stores with a lot of Thanksgiving wares anymore, because the United States, and as far as I know Canada are the only countries celebrating this holiday.

It's also sad, because many millions of families are moving away from celebrating Thanksgiving in a more traditional manner. Families are spending their money on expensive trips to warmer locales, instead of teaching their children what the true meaning of Thanksgiving should really be.

Seven easy to watch reality TV shows

2011-10-19T15:13:00.005-04:00

While watching X-Factor the other night, I figured out that many of the reality TV shows out there are really difficult to watch. They are hard to watch because they are filled with major drama, fighting, rudeness.or filled with sexual content that is hard to watch when you have children bopping in and out of the living room.

While many reality TV shows are hard to watch because they drag you in with their emotional content. In other words, you become involved with the show, by rooting for certain people to win such as in X-Factor, American Idol, The Biggest Loser, etc.
While watching TV, I want to have uncomplicated viewing. It's sort of like meeting someone at a bar, taking him or her to a hotel room, acting like a rock star for a night, and never seeing that person again.
That's what I want in TV viewing; uncomplicated sex, I mean uncomplicated TV. I don't have the time, patience or the emotional stamina to sit through numerous hours of becoming emotionally invested in a TV show.
I've got enough drama in my life. You may think you don't have any drama in your life, or that your life is boring. You may have the energy, and the time to watch Jersey Shore, Housewives of Beverly Hills or Dancing With The Stars finding yourself becoming emotionally attached to a reality TV show.

I came up with a list of seven reality TV shows that are easy to watch. They don't elicit strong emotions such as anger, resentment, love or hatred. And from the list I've created, these shows do not make you feel jealous, or aggravated.

Seven easy to watch reality TV shows to watch are:

1. Man Versus Food Nation
2. Kitchen Nightmares
3. Pawn Stars
4. American Idol
5. American Pickers
6. Iron Chef
7. Say Yes to the Dress

You may find yourself thinking that these shows are on the more dull side. But, you can watch them without judging anyone, or getting jealous, upset, emotional or angry. These are more relaxing TV shows. These seven easy to watch reality TV shows are also entertaining, interesting, and you can watch these shows with your entire family. You can't watch a lot of reality TV shows with your family, unless you want your kids mimicking bad behavior.

Godilocks and the Three Garage Sales

2011-10-14T12:44:00.001-04:00

My husband tried desperately this past spring and summer to have a garage sale. Every time he tried, something went wrong. He even said, "God hates me!" one day when he was trying to set up a yard sale outside. I tumbled out of bed to the numerous cracking of thunder, and the eventful lightning strikes.
After his third attempt to have a garage sale, I started calling him Goldilocks, because every time he would try, it seemed something wasn't just right. (We do not have a garage, but we do have a large side yard.)
It was worse than having a bowl of porridge that was too cold, or too hot, or the bowl the bears left that was just right.

So, Goldilocks, I mean my husband tried at least three if not five or six times this past spring and summer to have a garage sale. You see, he buys books , and other things, that are taking up space in my home, making it look like Early American Garage Sale. I could open up my own store!

During May, my husband kept saying, "I'm having a garage sale this weekend, prepare to get up early and help." The first week he informed me that our weekend plans were ruined, he came home from work on a Thursday telling me his boss told him he had to escort two new doctors through town. He said, "I guess my garage sale plans are off."

Which was fine by me, I do not enjoy haggling. That Saturday was a beautiful spring day, where the sky was brilliantly blue, it was in the low 70's and was perfect for a garage sale, or a hike through the woods, or a drive to a scenic part of town.
My husband said he would try to sell his books, and many other items now taking up valuable living space in my home, the next weekend. What do you think happened the next weekend? We had a storm roll through our area, with raging winds, hail, complete with tornadoes touching down near our small town. It rained all weekend.

Every time my husband would try to hold a garage sale on a Saturday, an act of Nature or children would wreak havoc on his garage sale plans. One weekend my husband yelled at me like an enraged bear, because our daughter had a swim meet to attend. He was upset that I needed him to go with me, because I did not know where this swim meet was. Being relatively new to town, how was I supposed to know where a strange sounding town, like Loyalsock was?

Another weekend when the Weather Channel was calling for temperatures to climb into the low one hundreds, my hubby informed me again of his choice of weekend plans, "I'm having a yard sale this weekend---be there to help." To which I said, "You may want to re- think your yard sale plans. It's supposed to be too hot, Goldilocks."
That went over well.

So, when my husband tried again in July to have a yard sale, I was informed of the choice of weekend. I told my husband,(who must not look at the weather forecast), "It's gonna be too wet out this time." The Weather Channel and local meteorologists were predicting inches of rain, not isolated showers, but inches of rain for the entire weekend. My stubborn husband planned the yard sale, put our son to work dragging heavy items downstairs. Just as my husband finished setting up the yard sale, you know the rest----KA-BOOM!!

When I told my husband we were taking a rare weekend off to celebrate our 24 wedding anniversary, he mumbled, "I was going to have a garage sale."
By the time September rolled around, we were back to rain and cold weather. That's when my in-laws called saying oh so happily that they were coming to visit us that weekend. Goldilocks was prepared with his usual statement, which I bet you can say with me, "I was going to have a garage sale this weekend."

Perpuating the Myth of Santa Claus: Is he real or not?

2011-10-14T12:22:00.000-04:00

Finding out that there isn't a Santa Claus is like losing one's virginity.

It's a sad reality when a child finds out that the jolly man in the red suit with eight tiny reindeer really doesn't exist. And then for the child to realize that his parents, brothers and sisters and grandparents lied all those years. And there's really no explanation for perpetuating the myth that Santa Claus is real.

I found out in third grade. Before class started three boys were talking about what they wanted for Christmas. I listened to them talking for awhile, because I was the horribly shy kid. I enthusiastically chimed in saying that I had written a letter to Santa. Before I could tell them what I asked for, one boy said-and I'll never forget it-"You're kidding, you still believe in Santa Claus?" All three of these kids laughed at this.

My face was completely red with embarrasment. I wasn't going to let them get the better of me, so I stubbornly said, "Why what's wrong with that?" Leaning over the cute boy said, "There's no such thing as Santa." I sat there with my pencils in midair. All I could say was, "What?" One of the other kids said, "Don't tell me you still believe in Santa?" And then they all laughed again.

I was so shocked I couldn't concentrate for the rest of the day. I ran home from school still believing in Santa Claus. I ran into the kitchen where my Mom was starting dinner, and I asked, "Mom is Santa Claus real?" She looked at me and asked, "Who told you that?" I told her what happened at school.That's when she came over to me, bent down and said, "There is no such thing as Santa Claus."

I blurted out, "You're a liar." I ran up to my bedroom, and threw myself on the bed and cried.My older sister came into the bedroom. She asked, "What's your problem?" I told her that everyone was lying about there being a Santa Claus. She thought this was hilarious, and laughed away. She told me there was no Santa Claus and said,"Get over it." She left the room. My Mom came upstairs and explained to me that there is no Santa Claus. I asked a lot of questions. My mom said, "How could he fit through the chimney anyways?" I asked as I wiped away my tears, "Then who ate the cookies?" She said my father ate them, and that he was just like Santa because he had a great big belly. We both laughed.

When it came time to perpetuate the myth of Santa Claus again for our children, I told my husband that I wouldn't lie to our children. Then they wouldn't have to go through what we went through as kids. This is one of the many reasons I married this man. He said it's what you believe inside." The spirit of Christmas is what you have to give to others." And then he told me that he loved me, and we could believe in Christmas together. And then he said that we weren't lying to the kids we were making Christmas come alive for them.

I told him "You explain to them when they ask if Santa is real or not."

Real Life Heroine Story: A story of True Courage

2011-10-14T12:04:00.001-04:00

Most married women can not say this; my mother in law is my real life heroine. She is my real life hero or heroine in this case. In fact, I am quite sure many people will say the same thing about her. She is an incredibly remarkable woman. She came from a family that was poor, grew up during the depression, growing crops and raising chickens as their main supply of their food. She walked about six miles back and forth to school everyday, in shoes with holes in them.

What makes this woman a true heroine? My mother in law is a heroine in every sense of the word, because she gives of herself without complaining. My mother in law's sister, the oldest of the siblings, had cancer. They gave her radiation to combat the cancer that they found in her throat. She was in the hospital for a long time. My mother in law never once complained about her sister being sick. Never. She went to the hospital every day, and sat by her sister's bedside and talked to her and read to her. She was the driving force behind her sister's re-cooperation to better health. I could see the worry in her eyes, but she never said she was worried or talked about it as a problem.

When we thought my mother-in-law's sister was better, my mother-in-law was faced with a serious blow; she was diagnosed with yet another form of cancer. As I put my arms around my mother in law, I told her I would pray for her, and that I knew she would get better. I knew because she is a stubborn, strong fighter; she never gives up. As we sat there trying to face this horrific news, the next news shook us to the core. My father in law said that my mother in law's sister had cancer again, only this time they found it in her lung.

My mother in law did not complain, she even downplayed it, saying the cancer they found in her was very small. But it wasn't, the tumor they found in her was very large, which she told me several years later. She said we should not worry about her that we should instead turn our attention to her sister.

My mother in law had major surgery and weathered everything in only the way I knew she would, incredibly well. She was weak and tired for a while, but soon recovered her strength and was more concerned for her sister than for herself. As soon as she was able, she was back at her sister's home helping her, and doing everything she could for her.

My husband's aunt lived for several more years, attending several big events, while getting progressively worse. My mother in law did everything she could to help her sister, pretty much breathing life into her. I am quite sure that if she could have done more, she would have. You could actually see the worry on my mother in law's face, and I knew she was trying to figure out what she could do to keep her sister alive.

For her entire life my mother in law has been giving to other people. She gave clothing, gifts, and her time to people that she worked with at a major department store. And she would do so with a smile on her face and ask nothing in return. Today, she makes clothing and gifts for homeless children. She feeds those less fortunate than she is. She knows what it like to be poor, and doesn't want to see other people suffer.

The only other person in my life who I have found to be as strong and determined as my mother in law is her son, and that's why I married him.

Watching Celebrity Rehab is a Guilty Pleasure

2011-10-13T20:59:00.001-04:00

Watching Celebrity Rehab makes you feel like you are watching a train wreck. It's simply awesome!! We are a sick society now aren't we? But, when you walk past a stray, skinny kitty on the side of the road, don't you try to help that cat? Don't you slow down and look at the vehicles involved in a car accident? Don't you feel compelled to help the victims of the accident? Well, that's how watching Celebrity Rehab is---I want to either slap the drugged out mess of a celebrity, or I want to gather that foolish person in my arms and tell him he will be all right.

Watching Celebrity Rehab is a Guilty Pleasure

At the same time you may feel the need to help others, it is a plethora of guilty pleasure very much like eating that one sinfully good chocolate bar, or a big fat laden slice of what we know as artery hardening bacon.
It's the same thing as watching the sick celebrities on Celebrity Rehab. You just know these celebs are nuts, but you have to watch anyways. It's fun and sick at the same time.
This time around Celebrity Rehab has all the strangest, sickest, weirdos you would never want to meet. Dr. Drew gets to counsel, -----may I have a drumroll please------Amy Fisher, Sean Young, Bai Ling, Michael Lohan and the Anti Christ himself---- Steven Adler( musician from band Guns and Roses), and some guy who is messed up injecting numerous steroids into his body every day who at one time starred on "Baywatch."

Celebrities are messed up!!

Watching one of the most awesome reality TV shows ever, Celebrity Rehab, you get to watch what a mess becoming a celebrity can really be. It's kind of like you are getting a glimpse into what happened to out of control, messed up people who crave attention, and who have major dysfunctional families. At the slightest hint of a reality check, these celebs can't handle it, and check into drug abuse heaven, only to check into rehab years later.

In this latest installment of Celebrity Rehab, The Long Island Lolita, Amy Fisher, comes knocking on Dr, Drew's door. She is a major mess. She is married, to what looks like an older guy. (No surprise there!) She has three children, and surprise-----Amy Fisher is a porn star. I'm shocked, she said sarcastically!!
Along comes Michael Lohan who blubbers on to Dr. Drew about his lifeless story. He then blames himself for his famous daughter, Lindsay Lohan's alcohol addiction, and starts crying. Sympathetic Dr. Drew tells him it is not his fault, it's in their family genes. GASP!

Oh yea, and there's the steroid guy who you just know will erupt into steroid rage. He should room with weepy, oh so fragile actress, Bai Ling,(by the way, who is Bai Ling, anyways?) and we can see the sparks fly.

Guilty pleasure here it comes, awesome reality TV, Celebrity Rehab, will make you feel like your life is indeed a "Wonderful Life." Besides, this guilty pleasure of TV reality shows is better than watching OWN any day!

The Biggest List of Reality TV Shows for 2011

2011-10-13T20:37:00.004-04:00

How many reality TV shows can you name off the top of your head? About 10 or 12 maybe? There are hundreds of reality TV shows showcasing their competitive nature and their inner immaturity in America alone.

Many of these reality TV shows are also shown in Canada, England, and Australia under different names or with that country's name in front of the title, such as Canada's Next Top Model. I came up with a current list of reality TV shows as of September 2011. By this time next year, half of these shows may be cancelled with a new roster of TV shows topping the list. The list I have created is long and varied, compiled by doing some good old fashioned research, and TV viewing. I did not include previously viewed reality TV shows, because then we would have to start in 1969 with a show about an American family shown on PBS.

Here is the BIGGEST list of reality TV shows:

Survivor
Amazing Race
Carfellas
Kendra
Holly's World (another one of Hugh Hefner's ex-bimbos.)
American Idol
X-Factor
The Voice
Mad Fashion
Rachel Zoe Project
Project Runway
Selling New York
Millionaire Matchmaker
19 Kids and Counting
Sister Wives
Kate Plus 8 (which was recently cancelled)
Celebrity Apprentice
The Edge With Peter Lik(on The weather Channel)
Storm Chasers
MTV's The Real World(which has been on since about 1992)
MTV's Jersey Shore
MTV's Cribs
Teen Mom
Hardcore Pawn
Pawn Stars
The Real Housewives of Atlanta, New Jersey, Beverly Hills, Orange County, New York City, and Miami.
Extreme Couponing
Toddlers and Tiaras
Big Hair Alaska
Celebrity Rehab
Making the Band
Man vs. Wild
America's Next Top Model, with Australia's Next Top Model and Britain, and also Canada.
Confessions: Animal Hoarders
Hoarders
Extreme Hoarders
Extreme Makeover
Cake Boss
Chopped
Dinner Impossible
Man versus Food
Hell's Kitchen
Worst Cooks in America
Top Chef
Iron Chef
The Great Food Truck Race
Excused
Big Brother
Blind Date
Born to Dance
COPS
Campus PD
Dog The Bounty Hunter
Jail
The Apprentice
The Bachelor
What Not To Wear
Picker Sisters
American Pickers
Boot Camp
Britain's Got Talent
Dirty Jobs
Gene Simmons Family Jewels
Ice Road Truckers
Kitchen Nightmares
L.A. Ink
Miami Ink (However, L. A. Ink was cancelled this year.)
Top Chef
Tabatha:Salon Takeover
Sister Wives
Auction Hunters
Deadliest Catch
Bridezilla
Say Yes to the Dress
Whale Wars
The Biggest Loser
Nanny 911
Super Nanny
Intervention
Storage Wars
Kathy Griffin:My Life on the D-List
Keeping up With The Kardashians
Khloe and Lamar
Cheaters
The Great Race
Live to Dance
The Biggest Race
Auction Kings
Billy the Exterminator
America Haunts
Storage Hunters
Dancing With The Stars
Roseanne's Nuts(This show looks to have been cancelled after just two episodes.)
Ice Loves Coco

Personally, I'd like to see a Celebrity Hoarders TV show, or a Day in the Life series following real celebrities around for one day.

Watching Sister Wives will Gross you out!

2011-10-13T20:21:00.000-04:00

Was anyone as grossed out as I was while watching Sister Wives?
I was astonished, grossed out, and kind of curious as to how and why four women share one man.
Okay, first things first, here are the cast of players in a real life drama that is anything but boring:

Cody-----the husband of four women
Meri------The first wife of Cody, they have ond child together.
Jonelle----Is Cody's second wife. They have six children together.
Christine---Is Cody's third wife; until recently his last wife. She is kind of upset at being pushed aside for the new wife.
Robyn----Cody's fourth wife. She is the youngest, brings three kids to this huge freaky, relationship. Currently she is pregnant with Cody's 17 child.

Watching Sister Wives grossed me out.I found myself shaking my head, feeling like an old spinster sitting on her front porch watching a young couple making out on the front lawn.
If you have not watched Sister Wives yet, you have to watch this show to discover what it is like to be in a relationship with one man and four women.
I have to say, No, I don't feel sorry for Cody for having four wives, and 17 kids. He is the one who decided to marry four women after all. Yes, this is an alternative lifestyle. It's kind of like going back to the 1960's where men would have several girlfriends at once, as hippies lived an alternative lifestyle of having love-ins, doing drugs, living in a commune.

But, having multiple wives goes back farther than we are aware of with people of certain religious affiliations having as many wives as possible so that they can have as many kids as possible.
Men in other countries such as Kings have had several wives at once.

Does this make Cody a King? Not by any stretch of the imagination. My husband thinks he is crazy, calling Cody, "The poor moron."
After watching Sister Wives you will see how Cody runs from house to house as this extended family now lives in Las Vegas. You see in Sister Wives, Cody, his four wives and their numerous kids ran out of Utah due to Cody being a fugitive of the law.

Viewing Sister Wives will give you a look into multiple marriages, sharing, caring and in fighting between the wives. Cody on the other hand must be drinking tons of caffeinated beverages, taking steroids or doing illegal substances in order to stay awake long enough to father 17 kids, talk to, fight with, and have sex with four women.
Sister Wives is similar to watching a real life soap opera, is kind of interesting, and might make you feel lonely as you look around your home seeing that you only have two kids, not 17.

Give X-Factor a Chance

2011-10-13T20:15:00.002-04:00

X-Factor's Simon Cowell is a man after my heart. He says what he wants, does what he wants, and makes millions of dollars doing it. What is so bad with that?

Here are the 8 reasons why you should give X-Factor a chance:

1. Simon Cowell is back, but he isn't as controversial as usual. Although, Simon has lost his nastiest edges, Simon seemingly has gotten nicer with this new, to America, X-Factor.
2. Paula Abdul is back on TV. Better than ever, Paula is coherent, funny, and sexy on X-Factor.
3.X-Factor is held in a theater that houses about 3,000 to 4,000 people. Simon asks the audience every so often for their vocal input into whether a contestant gets through to the next round or not.
4, You may find yourself becoming emotionally involved with a contestant. You might just start routing for a person who has been knocked around a lot deserving a once in a lifetime break.
5. X-Factor is very entertaining.The first X-Factor was kind of boring. But the show's producers have beefed up the production,lights, music, personal stories making the show really awesome to watch.
6. X-Factor is more interesting than American Idol. I can't figure out why yet, but it is. I think it's because American Idol has always been a dull show.
7. X-Factor has the judges teach the contestants how to be better dancers and singers. It sort is like Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell and L. A. Reid are mentoring future music stars.
8. The judges aren't outrageous characters brought in to pump up the ratings. American Idol has Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez, who are super famous people. The Voice has Christina Agulieria, who is widely recognized. But X-Factor has two judges that are not outrageous characters.

Give X-Factor a chance. You know you secretly adore Simon Cowell!

Thirty things kids born today will never experience

2011-10-11T19:07:00.001-04:00

Did you ever think what kids born today will never experience? I believe I wrote one of these articles a few short years ago, but I just wanted to highlight again what experiences and things kids will never enjoy because these things are outdated, gone, archaic,or have been replaced by something else.There are many more, that if you are older than 20 you will be able to think of what things, kids born today may never do, experience, see, find, or hold in their hands, such as phones with cords on them that used to hang in a certain spot in the kitchen.

Here is the list I thought of thirty things kids will never experience today:

1. Typing on a regular typewriter, not a computer keyboard.Typing on a standard typewriter.
2, Kids born today will probably never use a payphone, or even know what one is.
3. Using a regular household phone.
4. Playing outside with friends, or alone----outside.
5. Watching TV on a black and white TV.
6. Using the dictionary to look up words, instead of using spellcheck.
7. Mailing letters in a street corner mailbox.
8. Buying penny candy.
9. Going to the library to check books out. Instead today's kids use the Internet.
10.Watching family hour television, with your family.
11. Walking to the drugstore alone.
12. Using library card catalogues to find information.
13. Writing on chalkboards.
14. Cleaning chalkboard erasers.
15. Kids born today will not know what a 45 single is,or a 33-album is, or even what that means.
16. They will not experience buying an entire meal at Mc Donald's for under a dollar.
17. They probably never will shop at Sears, unless they want to buy a new appliance.
18. Kids will not even know that Sears used to have a huge catalogue.
19. Kids born today will never know that Sears used to sell houses, and wedding dresses.
20. Kids born today may never experience a love in, or a sit in.
21. They probably will never have to use dial up Internet service.
22. Kids may never experience going shopping at a small plaza, instead of an outlet mall, or a shopping mall.
23. They will never have the thrill of seeing Michael Jackson in concert---live.
24. Kids today may never have to read regular books, instead of using a Kindle.
25. Kids born today may never even know what a hardcover book is.
26. Kids born today might not experience the thrill of writing a letter to an older relative, and then walking to a mailbox to mail it. In fact kids might not even know what the term "snail mail" means.
27. Kids born today will never know that banks didn't charge fees to use your money.
28. Kids born today may never experience listening to songs without Autotune.
29. Kids will never experience a phone that has a party line, or has rotary dialer.
30. Kids today will never know that English used to be the main language Americans used.

Thirty things kids born today will never experience could easily become another blog entry onto itself. But that will have to wait for another day when I have more writing time.

Is it better to be unemployed or employed?

2011-10-05T12:34:00.002-04:00

Is it better to be unemployed or employed?
Currently in the United States the unemployment statistics are at about 8 percent. Current stats also say that only half of America is paying taxes.When you think about it, many millions of people would probably say it is better to have a job. But, with only half of Americans paying taxes, you might just have a stalemate when it comes to people having the desire to be employed or to be unemployed.

My husband would definitely fall into the category of he'd rather be employed. When he lost his job over a year ago, I literally had to drag my husband out of the house, away from our land line phone, kicking and screaming to the neighborhood pool.
After settling in, with me embracing the glorious sunshine, my husband sat in a chair, flipped open a book on how to start your own business, while the man who flopped down next to us, received a cell call.
The side of the conversation we heard went something like this, "Yeah, it's great, I'm getting unemployment for the entire summer. I'm kicking back, while my ex-wife works her butt off, and best of all, I don't have to pay child support for my kid."
I was disgusted, as I nudged my husband who was looking incredibly uncomfortable being out of his work element.

So, KT1Writes viewers--- is it better to be unemployed or employed? I'm only doing the more positive aspects, not the complaint----God, I would be here all day with the complaints!

Here are a few good aspects about having a job:
1. Get paid to work hard----job satisfaction.
2. Have pride, for yourself
3. Being responsible for yourself, your life, your home, kids, and society.
4. Life furthers itself. You can buy things, make bigger plans.
5. Life may be more rewarding when you are gainfully employed.

The positive aspects of being unemployed:
1. Becoming a beach bum.
2. Gaining more time with your family.
3. Time to develop another career.
4. Getting more sleep---maybe. But if you're anything like my hubby, you would get less sleep.
5. Finally get to see what goes on outside of work while slaving away for someone else.

Besides not having to pay taxes at least until next tax season is upon us, being unemployed may be the best thing in the world while you learn about all the things you missed out on while working. But, you may be the kind of person who is has a type tripe A personality that has to have a job, because as my husband said, "Being unemployed drove me crazy!"

Andy Rooney Steps down from Sixty Minutes

2011-10-02T20:48:00.002-04:00

Andy Rooney retired from his thirty year run at Sixty Minutes at the age 92.

Did you ever wonder.....? That's how Andy Rooney started his completely different segment on his thirty year run on Sixty Minutes. Sunday October 2, was Andy Rooney's last night telling something that we all take for granted making it seem unusual.
Usually Rooney would take something so everyday like the phone book, start his segment out with "Did you ever wonder..." and make it into more of a funny concept kind of idea.
At 92, Andy Rooney managed to do what millions of people would give their eye teeth for, of having a successful thirty year run making money doing something he loved to do, and doing this in front of millions of people every week.

What amazed millions is that Andy Rooney was summing up a serious news show called Sixty
Minutes by talking about what was seriously ordinary to all of us. Somehow Rooney managed to do this every week for thirty years making something out of the ordinary so that Sixty Minutes watchers would get a huge laugh out of the news, ending the show on a high note, and thus starting millions of viewers work weeks on a high note.

On his last show, interviewed by fellow longtime Sixty Minutes alum, Morley Safer, Rooney was cast as a hardworking writer that came up through the field of broadcasting as a writer first, and a star last. Rooney admitted to not making a huge deal out of acting like a self important star. He said, "Why would any idiot want my autograph?"
Rooney also did not act like a star, but was a self professed "old curmudgeon", who did not have a limo pick him up driving to the Sixty Minutes studio in New York City, he took the subway instead.

Rooney even talked about how he was really good friends with legendary newscaster Walter Cronkite.
Rooney's sense of humor will be missed as will his huge eyebrows from weekly TV.

Bullying is becoming an accepted part of society

2011-09-27T17:26:00.004-04:00

Teenagers are dying because other teens are bullying them. At the risk of sounding like an old person that is set in her old person ways, I know why teens are bullying each other. It's more of an accepted thing in todays' society that's why.

Turn on any reality TV show, and see adult women pulling each other's hair out. Flip through any fashion magazine and you will see girls, women, pre-teens and young girls wearing next to nothing. Look at any model with her thin arms, and too large for her body, obviously fake breasts.

We accept bullying as a part of society today; that's why teens think it is okay to bully each other. Teenagers, preteens, younger children, and young adults say things to each other that this old person could not have said years ago. I would have been yelled at by my mother, given a hard time by my friends, or had it thrown right back by my older, nastier sister.

Bullying is becoming more of an accepted part of today's world. You may blame the kids that bully, but you might just want to look at the media these kids are tormented with everyday. Reality TV shows announce fighting, back stabbing, yelling and mistreating other human beings as a way of life. "Rock of Love," was one of the first reality TV shows that showcased young women fighting over a rock star, by actually fighting over Brett Michaels. They swore, spit, pulled each other's hair, and made out with each other as well as Brett Michael's.

If you have cable TV in your house, and a TV in nearly every room, chances are your kids are watching programs including people mistreating each other, having sex, and acting like Divas from the time they can see and figure out what is going on.

Teenagers have been viewing young adults, older adults and teens mistreating, bullying, talking smack to each other probably for their entire young lives. MTV showcases programs where young adults live together in a house since 1992.Teens' cartoons, kids' shows, entire networks devoted to your children are basically garbage filling your young child's mind. My kids can quote Spongebob cartoons from memory. It's not something I am proud of, but my college sophomore and my middle school child both watch too much TV. Watch a few moments of "Almost Naked Animals, " and you will see what I mean with cartoon characters mistreating one another.
Sample a few minutes of Nickelodeon's "icarly", seeing how amusing it is when Sam smacks Freddy around.

Peruse your teenager's Facebook account, and you will discover how he talks smack with his friends. Discover his girlfriend's suggestive sexual promises to him. Grab one of your kid's cellphones only to find out how many naked sexts he has received from friends. Find out how your teens make fun of other kids online, on their cellphones, on their blogs, etc. Unless you are doing the same thing your teens are doing, then you will not enjoy discovering your child Skyping his girlfriend in his bedroom while they have their clothes off.

What I'm saying, by going slightly off course, is kids are used to seeing shocking things. This means they are not shocked by saying mean, horrible, fierce, rude, idiotic things to each other. But kids do have feelings as any adult does. When adults are given a hard time at work by a co-worker, it hurts, and for teens who have hormones raging and whose brains are not fully developed it hurts even more
.
Teens, and young adults may think it is okay to bully someone else, because they can do so without seeing or being seen by the receipients of theri bullying. We live in a world where instant gratification is the nrom,a nd we can do so by making comments on numerous websites, social networks, and on each otehr's blogs. We can say rude, nasty, horrid things to each other, and about other people without having any real consequences. But when a young person reads bullying comments and hears them everyday at school, after awhile it settles in and that person thinks something is wrong with them.

What happened to wedding traditions?

2011-09-13T09:21:00.007-04:00

Wedding receptions have changed so much in the last ten years, throwing away all of the time honored traditions, making for long, dull evenings of watching those young-ins party down. Wedding receptions today are giving people a certain empty, I want to get out of here feeling.

Brides and grooms of today are doing away with any pomp and circumstance, to just dance all night long. Okay, that's great, but considering we have thrown away all tradition, that means we are throwing away our heritage, and respect for our elders. Besides, by dismissing wedding traditions, we are throwing away a certain unifying force during the reception.When you add in established ceremonies, or a wedding tradition, this gives everyone a real reason to be there. People feel like they want to be there. It makes everyone feel good, and happy; not just the newlyweds as they dance the night away. I'm sorry, but if you're going to have a party, the rule is to make certain everyone is having a great time.
What's happening today, is that millions of newlyweds are paying for the wedding and the reception themselves. Therefore, they are doing exactly what they want. While it is great that couples are both working good jobs, making enough money to live the American dream, they are being a tad bit selfish.

The newly wed couple has just been unified, brought together during marriage. But, what happened to the time honored traditions, I've seen for many years, suddenly thrown away?Are wedding consultants advising bridal parties to skip all the endless display of tradition, skipping to the getting drunk and getting down and dirty phase of the reception?

The time honored fun, bring everyone together wedding traditions, that have been caast aside are:

1. Having a reception line. Newly weds are now accepting well wishes at the Church, meaning if you didn't go to the wedding ceremony, you have to wander around looking for the happy couple, who are probably dancing before dinner. This means we reception attendees must find the bride and groom and grab them saying, "Congratulations!"

2. What happened to the throwing of the bouquet and the garter? This made the evening more fun, and more interesting. Besides, it gave the gathered reception attendees something to talk about.
The weddings I've attended lately have not done the throwing of the bridal bouquet or zinging the bride's garter. This was a fun part of the evening.
All I'm seeing lately is dinner ends, the cake is cut, and dancing starts with everyone running to the packed dance floor.

3. The bride and groom walking from table to table asking if everyone is having a good time. We understand you want to have a good time, newlyweds. OMG! Talking face to face, not texting on a cellphone!

4. The first dance of the newlyweds has been thrown out also. This is a huge bummer!! At one wedding I went to several years ago, right after dinner, the band started playing fast music, and everyone practically ran over one another to grab space on the dance floor. The time honored tradition of the bride and groom dancing together was cast aside, without a replacement. Many wedding couples are not even doing the traditional mother-son, father-daughter dance.

5. Cutting the cake during the evening. Now newlyweds are cutting the wedding cake as soon as dinner is over, or even before dinner, replacing the time honored tradition of cutting the cake when people are more relaxed, and ready to take pictures.

6. Sending thank you cards. When I got married 24 years ago, I wrote about one hundred thank you cards by hand, myself over one weekend. My husband was working, so I figured I should get it done, and thank people for taking time out of their lives to celebrate our love, and for giving my husband and I a wedding gift.

Seems to me that weddings are now a time for newlyweds to just have a great time, not uphold any traditions. You will see these weddings where tradition is not upheld, and they are more of a one size fits all kind of wedding reception. Hate to be the bearer of bad news, the complainer, but someone has to say; "Let's bring back some tradition of dancing to perhaps a polka, walking around talking to reception guests, and thanking people for coming." Pretty soon, newlyweds will be sending text messages, or one Facebook message saying, "TX for the wedding presents!" Which leads me to think, the next wedding I'm invited to I just may Skype my attendance to.

9/11: The Tenth Anniversary of Losing America's Innocence

2011-09-08T22:42:00.003-04:00

With the tenth anniversary of 9/11, America and the world are reminded of how a powerful, but innocent nation was brought to it's knees for one horrible day as we left our youth, our superpower status, and our innocence behind. As a jealous, more hostile world terrorized America ruining our freedoms, and our more rich ways of living, we will always remember the 3,000 souls that died on that fateful, yet beautiful September day.

You see, on 911 not only did thousands of people die, so too did America as we knew her. America has become a less innocent place to live, as we are body probed before boarding airplanes. America has become a more watchful, yet scarier place to live. With the 9/11 anniversary arriving, America now has border patrol, vigilant police forces watching for even a sign of terrorism. America's airspace is surveyed, as are her shores, land, and roads.

We as Americans are less innocent to the horrid, nasty ways of jealous, menacing nations. We no longer think of any person as a friend, but more of a foe, unless we have lived with that person for our entire lives. Billions of lives were changed that day.

Hundreds of people knew they were going to die on 9/11, and they took action ensuring that more people did not die that horrible day. They were courageous, selfless, beautiful human beings. They were the stuff action-adventure movies are made of. They took quick action on those planes headed for Washington and New York City on 9/11. And they did it with pride of being Americans.

As I watched in horror as cable news stations started covering the first building having been crashed into with huge plumes of smoke blowing out of the building, I knew something was wrong. I was learning as many millions of Americans were learning that this crash into the World Trade Center building was not a mistake,it was a planned terrorist threat to our very freedoms.
America has never been the same since that fateful, but beautiful late summer day in September. As my husband hurried out the door, I worried if I would ever see him again, and my thoughts were with keeping my children safe.

At that point in time, my husband was working at a local radio station, and we would be celebrating our fourteenth wedding anniversary the very next day. We never did celebrate our 14 anniversary that year. Neither did we celebrate our fifteenth wedding anniversary the next year. It was more important to cover the chilling news that was taking place in front of us that the World Trade Center, and our American way of life was forcefully ending.

After realizing that thousands of people died on 911, and that hundreds of people gave up their lives so that more people would not have to die, I figured celebrations were not warranted at the time.

Strange Pennsylvania Town Names

2011-08-31T10:44:00.004-04:00

We moved to an old town in Pennsylvania, along a vein of old towns that have normal and strange sounding names. There are hundreds if not thousands of small towns in the second oldest state in the United States. Many of the towns are over one hundred years old, many dating back even farther, to two hundred years old.

To people living in these strange sounding named towns, I am almost certain that these folks would not think a name such as Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania would sound odd. (Nope, Snooki, and the Situation do not live there.)You must understand that growing up in a certain area, you get used to the way things are. When you have relatives, and therefore ancestors that have been raised in a certain area, you learn to accept the way things are.

By the way, I am not targeting just Pennsylvania, because there are plenty of towns in other states in America with strange sounding names, as well as in England having many old towns with strange sounding names.
But, you have to admit these are some pretty strange, odd, and weird names. As far as names go, some of these Pennsylvania town names are pretty cool then also as are:Hershey, Pennsylvania. I for one want to go to Hershey Pa, and buy and eat as many chocolate yummies as I possibly can.
Besides what's really wrong with naming a town after one of the best activities to engage in---Intercourse Pennsylvania?
Okay, here they are, strange Pennsylvania town names:
Bath
Bathtown
Beaver
Big Beaver
Bird in Hand
Blue Ball
California
Climax
Corner Store, I think we drove through this town at one time, and laughed out loud at the sign stating the town name.
Desire
Drab----Finally, a truthful Pennsylvania resident named a town for what it really is.
Fear Not
Gravity
Home---that's pretty simple, and this town was probably named when early settlers, pulled up in a horse drawn buggy, and tiredly declared, "Finally, we are home."
Intercourse
Jersey Shore, after reading this town's information, Jersey Shore Pa, was actually named after New Jersey. And because the river that runs through this small town, is located with the river being on the Jersey Shore side of town.
King of Prussia
Loyalsock---Drove to and through this town several times, and we love this name.
Mars
Moon Run
New Beaver
Panic
Paradise
Red Lion
Almost forgot this town's name, Taylor Swift was born here, and was bullied by classmates, in
Wyamissing, Pennsylvania. HAH! Who's laughing now, Wyamissing nasty people!!
That's all I've got for now. There are plenty of strange sounding town names, these just happen to be located in Pennsylvania.

What women over 50 should never wear

2011-08-22T19:07:00.004-04:00

A Facebook friend of mine had a recent article on Yahoo News concerning what people over 50 should never wear. This got me to thinking what women over 50 should not wear. Even with 50 being the new 40, there are tops, dresses, shoes, bathing suits, and tattoos older women should never wear.

In today's society, women have become a very non-classy lot of people. Used to be there were rules about what clothing people should wear, and what they shouldn't wear, such as you shouldn't wear white after Labor Day, and you weren't supposed to wear black to a wedding.

Well, guess what all of those rules have been thrown to the wind.

But, I couldn't help myself after seeing so many women over the age of 50 lately dressing like they are trying desperately to look like they are 25 again. Give it up, already! Dress your age. If you have a great body and look great in nearly everything, then I say go for it! But, please if you do not have the body of a 25 year old, ladies, please do not dress like one.

Here are the items a woman 50 years of age and over should, oh please, not wear:

1. Halter tops. Especially without a bra----can you say sagging nightmare, gross, vile, disgusting, If you have to wear a halter top women over 50, please wear a bra.

2.Bikini bathing suit. When you have had several children, have stretch marks, and you also have fat situated around your mid-section, please do not wear a bikini. It doesn't matter what age you are, bikinis do not look good on a pregnant woman, or an overweight, older woman.

3.Short shorts. Okay, short short look great, usually on young girls, not on older women who have sagging thigh and butt skin. It looks gross to expose older skin to the world that has cellulite, fat, and is sagging. Besides, when clothing is sold in the Juniors department, there's usually a really good reason for this.

4.Super short dresses with Ho heels. Nothing says, "Gag me with a spoon" than an older woman walking through a room especially when her younger daughter has gotten married, and here comes the bride's mom strutting through the reception wearing a super short dress, wearing seriously high heels, thinking she looks HOT. Please, let younger women be stared at, not you for all the wrong reasons.

5. See through tops. This is not for an older woman who has fat centered around her waist, or when she has sagging breasts to wear. Ladies, this is a huge no-no! Please do not wear a see-through shirt, top, crop-top, or camisole in a public place, even if it is 105 degrees outside. Leave see-through garments to turn on your guy at home.

6.Sleeveless tops are not what a woman should wear when her arms are saying "Hello", when she waves in a crowded room. Please, ladies do not wear, sleeveless garments, unless you plan on leaving your arms at your sides for the evening.

7. Thong panties or thong bathing suits. Please do not wear this garment, girls with a super short skirt,or dress. Thong panties were made for the younger set, when paired with low rider jeans.

8. No panties. Please, ladies do not commit a Paris Hilton mistake by not wearing any panties. This may make headlines for an heiress, but you may make headlines for all the wrong reasons.

Women over 50 need to look beautiful, becoming mentors for younger women who hopefully will look up to older women that look great. By the way, ladies remember to work out, and take care of the body you live in.

Seven Ways to Save money at the Gas Pump

2011-08-21T12:51:00.003-04:00

Gas prices are soaring. Seems every time oil prices go up, the next day people see the prices at the pump climb at a seriously fast rate. While the prices may climb five to ten cents at one time, they seem to slowly decline. What can you do about seriously high gas prices? Besides, complaining and whining, and feeling like you are being hijacked at gunpoint by unscrupulous, amoral oil barons, you can save money at the pump.

Here are seven ways to save money on the skyrocketing prices of gas:

1.Don't use your car.
Sounds strange doesn't it? You probably can't just stop using your car, because you have to get to work, go shopping for groceries and other items, but you can use your car less often. Get creative.
Stay home more often.
Invite friends and relatives to your home for a barbecue, or a movie night, instead of going out.

2. Combine trips. When you are out running errands, coming home from work, combine necessary trips. Plan your trips for when you will driving in a certain direction, such as picking the kids up from school, and going grocery shopping directly after.

3.Carpool with friends, relatives, or co-workers. Instead of driving your car to work everyday, arrange to carpool with friends, or co-workers. You don't have to go out of your way either; pick up a worker you have prearranged to meet at a designated area. You can also park and ride. Many cities across America have designated park and ride areas. You drive to a parking lot, park your car, and hop on a bus,trolley or train riding for a certain fee close to your place of work.

4. Work from home/telecommuting. Arrange with your boss to work from home several days a week.Appeal to your boss selling your stay at home/telecommuting arrangement as a means for the company to save money. Your boss can save money on electricity, and or gas, while you work from home. It's a win-win situation; you save money on gas, and parking fees, while your employer saves money on electricity, gas, computers, etc.

5.Sell an extra car. Your family can save on major car expenses by selling an extra car. Just think of the possibilities; lower insurance payments, making money from the sale of a car, lower gas costs,and less money spent on car payments, and car maintenance.

6. Ride a bike instead of driving your car. Ride a bike for as many miles as you can handle, in mild weather. I certainly wouldn't advise riding a bike in a blizzard, but you can ride your bike with a basket attached to the corner store, and to shorter distances such as the local library, meetings, etc. Just think----now you can save money on a gym membership as well!

7.Take the bus instead of driving the car to work, or school. Buy a bus pass, instead of plunking change into the meter everyday. While riding on the bus or train,get work accomplished by sending text messages, or take a short nap. You will save money on gas, car maintenance, parking fees, etc.

These are just seven ways to fight high gas prices. Maybe you have already come up some ideas of your own. Share your creative ideas by leaving a comment or two.

Casey Anthony verdict is a travesty of Injustice

2011-07-08T09:27:00.009-04:00

An outrageous travesty of injustice has occured in the Casey Anthony verdict. When it comes to little children being murdered or harmed, I become one of those outspoken parents that can't stop myself from yelling at the TV, or telling anyone within earshot of how a horrible travesty of injustice has occurred.Even though I promised my husband, my family and myself that I would not jump on my soapbox like millions of other people, yelling like the crazed Nancy Grace talk show host, I can't stay quiet any longer.
Casey Anthony has been allowed to leave jail after serving three years for killing her two year old daughter Caylee. I am sickened at the thoughts this brings to my mind. I am the mother of two children, and I could never harm them, in fact, I am the mom that has been overprotective of my children to the point of being called a Hover mom.
Casey Anthony may or may not have killed her two year old daughter. In all fairness, the media had Casey Anthony guilty before the case hit the courtroom.
The Casey Anthony case had circumstantial evidence, and it was not proven who killed this adorable little girl.
But, what we the American people who did catch some of the Casey trial, we do know something is horribly wrong with the Anthony family.
The Grandmother of Caylee Anthony was the person who called 911 to say her Granddaughter was missing. From what I saw in a recap on TV the other night, Cindy, called 911 a full month after her Granddaughter was missing. To me, this says, Cindy and her husband, were covering up for Casey. From what I caught of the trial, Cindy, her husband and her son were all trying to cover up for Casey. They in fact were walking a very thin line of lying.
From what I know of the law, (I am not a lawyer), this is called purgery. A person who takes the stand in a courtroom, has to take an oath swearing on a Bible that he will "tell the truth and nothing but the truth."
It sounded like Cindy was doing everything she could to keep her daughter out of jail. She cried. She denied. And yes, she may have lied. From where I sit, as a regular person who caught glimpses of the trail, perhaps, Cindy and her husband should be charged with accessory to murder, murder, or at the very least, purgery.
What it comes down to is someone in the Anthony household killed that baby. The child was buried and several years later her bones were found . Casey Anthony ran from home, the home she lived in with her parents. She did not have a job. She bolted from her parents' home after her child was killed, drowned accidentally, or was at the very least, was not taken care of . We don't know what happened to this child. And we will never know.
But what I do know and you know also is that a child died, and someone should pay, besides taxpayers, for this travesty of injustice.

Reasons why Congressman Weiner stepped down

2011-06-16T17:27:00.009-04:00

Anthony Weiner stepped down from his job as a New York Congressman on Thursday June 15, 2011, three weeks after media blogger, Andrew Breitbart, discovered Weiner's dark Internet sext secrets.
Call me shocked and awed! I never thought I would see a United States Congressman admit to doing anything wrong, let alone stepping down from his job as an esteemed member of Congress.

The real reason I think Weiner stepped down is because he doesn't want to have any more incriminating information come out in the public. In other words, Weiner does not want to have anyone find out he has even more disgusting pictures, sexts, or incriminating text messages floating around on the Internet.
Former Congressman Anthony Weiner does not want anyone to find out while he is in political office, that he is possibly gay, or has shared sexts on any social networking platform with underage women or underage men. Weiner doesn't want anyone to discover that he has shared sexts while at his political job, which could mean losing his job in Congress.
More juicy, relevant sex-related Anthony Weiner information could also mean that A.W. could see himself never having a political job again. This and the fact that the Democratic party had left A. W. out to hang by himself. Oh yes, and that fact that President Obama told him in the media to step down from his job in Congress.
Besides, all of this news making information could also ruin his wife, Huma Abedin's chances for keeping her political job, of Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton's top aide. Going one step further, this could make Hillary Clinton look bad.
With Anthony Weiner stepping down from his Congressional office, he will become a regular citizen, trying to fade the media glare of headlights cast in his deer-like eyes. He is trying to get out of the spotlight,hopefully, calming down the media fervor, thus keeping him out of the public eye. He will try to simply run away to rehab, or hide in plain sight.
What the future holds for Citizen Anthony Weiner we do not know yet, we can only speculate on what he will do next. The former Congressman has been saying he will go to rehab, but for what?Will he go to sex rehab? Will Weiner go to rehab for personality disorder, or perhaps, big ego problems? Or will he go to rehab for another as of yet, unknown problem such as a drug problem?
We may never know. But, one thing is certain, Anthony Weiner made life more interesting for us regular people for awhile, considering Charlie Sheen has not been heard from for a month or so now.

NEWS ALERT: We don't care about the news warnings and alerts anymore.

2011-06-15T17:26:00.010-04:00

WARNING. BREAKING NEWS. NEWS ALERT. Do we really need 24 hours of news and weather alerting us to yet another catastrophe? We have become an apathetic nation of people who turn on our TVs to watch 24 hours of news. But do we really need the 24 hour global news stations blurting out ALERT, WARNING, or BREAKING NEWS all the time?

It all started about 10 years ago when 911 happened. At that point in time it was HUGE news alerting us to the dramatic turn of events that forever changed our lives and the way we watched the news. Now what has happened is; nobody cares. We are a nation if not a global world of uncaring people who flip stations to catch up on the news of the day to see the forever scroll running on the bottom of our screens.(ALERT Lindsay Lohan arrested for shoplifting.)

And guess what, news stations we could care less. You have people turning the stations off in droves. Millions of people turn on the news, only to see the continual scroll running on the bottom of the screen and we don't care anymore; we have become apathetic. A recent survey shows that viewers do not care about the numerous warnings splayed across the TV screen. We viewers don't pay attention anymore to the warnings, and the news alerts.

Fox News has a NEWS ALERT with a scroll continuously running on the bottom of the TV screen.
The weather channel warns us of life threatening weather almost daily. It was an almost daily occurrence this past spring to have the Emergency Alert System shock us into reality with yet another warning of immediately dangerous weather.

Do we really need to be warned into a state of fear that a thunderstorm is coming? What did we do in the days before TV news, our local stations and the Weather Channel alerted us to impending doom?
There were probably less deaths, because people weren't standing in their homes in an unsafe room looking for the warning or watch, (on TV, ) of death coming from the heavenly skies down to rein terror on us.
Is it really a major news story that we need to run to our TVs with our remotes in our hands to see yet another stupid criminal driving a stolen vehicle on a major thruway in a large city we don't live in?
Are we that bored with our daily lives, that watching a stupid criminal drive on an Interstate is a big thrill? Do we need to be warned into a scared state of reality every day by seeing the shocking news happen half a world away? Do we really need to watch a news anchor tell us what we should think and how we should think it?

I say, think for yourselves, people. Turn off your TVs, and get your news faster and more efficiently on the Internet, or your i-phone. Better yet, call your mother.

Congressman Anthony Weiner exposed to world

2011-06-07T09:33:00.001-04:00

Congressman Anthony Weiner is all over the news. The entire world knows what he did, how he did it, and where he did this. The only way you couldn't know is by living under a rock.
Okay let's recap---just in case you missed this exciting, enticing, disgusting, perverted story:
46 year old New York Congressman Anthony Weiner has become a historic figure by doing what guys do online that kids are told not to do, but do anyways for kicks. The Congressman showed his privates on the Internet. He exposed himself on line in picture form and talked about sex with younger women on the Internet. The thing is he had recently become married to his wife, who is a longtime Hillary Clinton aide.
Then the reality show continues with the Congressman exposing himself to the media as a fraud. Weiner is all over TV, the Internet, and the media defending him, saying he was framed. He basically said he didn't do it, someone else did. He actually thought we would believe him! He said he didn't call the police because he just didn't. But, Weiner insisted that he was innocent.
After Andrew Breitbart, a blogger turned media mogul, discovered A. W. was exposing himself to younger women on the Internet, he wrote about it on his website. He broke the story last week. Breitbart asked Anthony for an apology at the Congressman's press conference after calling Breitbart a liar.
Sounds like two little kids on a playground at this point in time.
Currently, Weiner says he will not step down from his public office.
But, he might have to because he is now being investigated by the Ethics Committee in Washington. They will try to find out if he was displaying his penis or doing anything unethical while in his office.
What!! You mean he can't get kicked out of his esteemed job for lying? You mean he can't get walked out of work by policemen because he lied to America, the world and most importantly his new wife?
It comes down to this people----the Congressman is a liar, and a cheat. He lied to his wife. He lied to his colleagues. He lied to you and me. And he blamed someone else for his porn problem.
There is major irony here---the Congressman had Bill Clinton officiate at his recent wedding. Come on, he had millionaire Mr. Liar Pants , (Bill Clinton) act as a minister at his wedding! you remember what Bill said-----"I did not have sex with that woman."
Weiner's antics go down, (sorry for the pun), in history as did Bill Clinton's antics.
Now Weiner is a comedian's best friend. A. W. may lose his job, his wife, his porn sites, and most importantly his ethics.
After all of this A. W. will probably not go to jail, and will become the butt of jokes for years to come. He will probably keep his great job, his great life, and do what his mentor Bill Clinton did----make millions for being a sex fiend.
What will Anthony W's book be called, "My Addiction Problem?" Think of the reality TV show possibilities, "Mr. Weiner comes to call." He could start his own porn website. Mark my words, the Congressman will triumph from here, making millions off of his public porn problem.
And he will probably be voted into political office again, with the Clintons by his lying, cheating side.

Six fun, flirty first date ideas

2011-06-01T14:38:00.006-04:00

What can you do on your first date that is fun, flirty and perhaps doesn't start with an F?
First dates do not have to be a jittery nightmarish experience where you feel sick to your stomach. You can go out with your date and have a fun-filled time that rivals no other. In fact, you might just have so much fun, that your date will be talking about it for weeks to come.

There are all kinds of things to do on a first date that are filled with major frivolity. This way you can get to know your dating companion faster and a lot easier than sitting down at a dull meal asking all kinds of questions that everybody asks on first dates.

Six fun, flirty things to do on a first date:

1. Commune with nature. Unless you live far away from a beach or it is the middle of winter, try taking your date to a more natural setting for that all important first date. You will find out if your date likes nature, and if he or she can handle getting sand between her toes. You can go to a park and pack a picnic basket full or make dinner outside. You can go hiking, or bicycling, kayaking, or go for a long, slow walk on a pretty beach just as the sun sets.

2. To get to know your date better without all the standard first date rhetoric, take your date out for something completely different. Try parasailing, or hot air ballooning. This way you can have a great time and have a lot to talk about after or on the second date. This way you will impress your date and let your date find out more about your interests by participating in them now.

3. Find out what your date likes to do and do that for the day or evening. If he likes all things motorcycles, then plan the day to be a motorcycle themed day with going to a motorcycle show, or riding a motorcycle. The next date can be what you like to do.

4. How about trying a helicopter, plane or boat tour? Now while this may cost more than the average first meal and drinks after, it can be so much fun. You can tour your city and have a guide point out different locations of interest. You could go on a boat tour and have a relaxing date, finding out more about each other.

5. How about going to a concert together for a band that you both like? You could even go out and catch a free band in the spring and summer in many locations across the country. Even if you don't like the music it can still be a lot of fun hanging out, drinking your favorite wine and talking to your future partner.

6. How's this for fun? Going on a first date and taking a class in something neither of you have ever done before? You could try painting, pottery creating, almost anything. Just ask her before you schedule, and the two of you may find a new shared interest.
Break the ice by having something to do while working and talking.

Have a great time on your first fun, flirty first date. And like I already said, first dates are not meant for the f word. that happens later on when you get to know each other a lot better.

Learn to love your body

2011-06-01T10:17:00.002-04:00

Swimsuit season is officially here. And that means scary things for women who have less than supermodel bikini bodies. Most of us women do not have Demi Moore's millions to afford having numerous plastic surgeries, body lifts, breast enhancements or bust reductions. Many famous women, even those stars of reality TV shows like the stars of "The Housewives series" have had some kind of Botox or surgery enhancing their bodies. We regular women can't afford to throw our hard earned money on getting surgery, so here girls is a guide on how to look great in a swimsuit, or shorts this summer.

LIFE IS TOO SHORT

Relax; life is too short to worry about how your body looks in shorts, short sleeves, and in a bathing suit. You don't worry about the way you look in your winter sweaters and unglamorous sweat pants. What it all comes down to is, will people that see your body in a swimsuit even remember how you looked in it? Chances are they won't even care. Everybody checks everybody else out at the beach and public pools. But they won't even remember what you looked like in that bikini, because they are more concerned with how they look.

WORK WITH WHAT YOU HAVE

Every person has a different body shape. There are several distinct female body shapes such as the triangle, the pear, and the apple. This is an overall generalization that many women do not fit into. Look at yourself in the mirror without any clothes on. Then figure out what clothing will look best on you, what you can afford to buy and how it will accentuate your body. Learn to shop for clothing that works for your body, not what the department stores are selling this week.

Buy clothing that is the same color on the top and on the bottom. The same colored clothing will make you look slimmer. For people that have problem areas in the legs, buy shorts that are longer, not short-shorts. Wear longer tops that hang down a little lower, and don't expose the stomach area. Wear light pants and not shorts to cover the leg area if that's what you want. Wear light colored Capri pants that are longer than shorts, but shorter than slacks.

LEARN TO LOVE YOUR BODY

Learn to love the body you are in. By accepting who you are and how you look will go a long way in making you feel confident. Stand in front of a mirror and tell yourself that you are beautiful. Do this everyday, and learn to love who you are. You may have silky gorgeous long hair or have long legs that look great in shorts. You may have very pretty eyes, and be able to wear clothing that is meant for shorter women. Accentuate the positive and play down the negative aspects of your body.

It doesn't matter what other people think, it matters what you think of yourself. Your body is what you were born with so why not make the most of it, and live life to the fullest, everyday.

How to Find out if he or she is the right one.

2011-04-29T15:40:00.006-04:00

When becoming seriously involved in a relationship, you think about taking the relationship to the next level. You may want to move in together or get married. But, you need to know if he or she is the right one. Just how do you find out if he or she is the right one?
There are four relationship tests:

Trust your gut feeling

When you are in a serious relationship, and you are wondering if your boyfriend or girlfriend is the right one, you will have to trust your gut feeling. When you have a feeling that something is wrong, that nagging feeling, then usually that means there is something wrong. You need to trust your gut. This may sound very vague, but you need to sit down alone, and really think about if he or she is the right person for you. If you really think something is wrong, then ask what is wrong.

The animal test

In order to find out if a person is the right one, you need to find out if your partner is a good person. Try doing a test on your boyfriend or girlfriend. Introduce a dog or cat into the relationship. You can take your partner to a friend’s house to do this also, if you are not ready to have a dog or cat. Pick up the cat or dog and pet it. Watch in a casual, relaxed manner what your boyfriend, or girlfriend does. If your boy/girl friend runs in terror from the animal, this may mean she has not grown up with an animal, and has no experience with animals. An animal loving person is a person that shows love and compassion easily.However a person that hates animals may have major problems that need to be addressed before he can enter into a committed relationship with another person.

Child test

Another test to perform on your partner is to find out if he or she likes children. You should find out if your partner can handle being around children. When a person has been raised with several siblings, or he has been raised in a large household, he will know how to get along with other people. When a child has been raised as an only child, he may be more selfish, more self reliant, and not be able to share easily with others.

When you are planning on having kids in the near future you will want to live your life with a person who can take care of children. When a person can talk to, and get along with children this is usually a good sign that you have met a “keeper.”

Family/Parent test

To find out if your boyfriend or girlfriend is the right one, perform the ultimate test; introduce your parents to your partner. You will also want to meet his parents and family. While having your partner meet your parents, he may find that he has nothing in common with them, and that he feels he is making a mistake. Your parents may be more laid back, and charismatic, or just the opposite. You are better off discovering what his family is like before allowing the relationship to become very serious.

Making sure he or she is the right one is not difficult, just use common sense, and perform a few necessary tests. If you are still unsure of your future partner, hold off on the relationship for a while to give the two of you time to think about what you really want.

Valentine's Day is Overcommercialized

2011-02-11T12:36:00.006-05:00

Just when you thought it was safe to settle down in a dreary winter existence of working, and staying home cuddling under numerous blankets, along come the ads beckoning you to spend more money. Didn't we just end the money spending fervor, called Christmas?

Now we are brought to the brink of insanity with retailers forcing Valentine's Day down our throats.
Obviously they are trying desperately to make money. But do we have to run out to stores or order online expensive jewelry for our female soul mates? Does she really deserve to have another diamond ring foist upon her?

The ads start every year at least a month before February 14, with numerous jewelery ads showing expensive necklaces, rings and earrings. TV ads, online ads, newspaper ads showcasing pricey items filled our heads like those sugarplums of Christmas past.

All I want to know is when did Valentine's Day become all about buying expensive jewelry for the woman in your life? My husband has never bought me an expensive item for V-day. And when I told him that, he got huffy with me.

Pro flowers ads have sprung up on the Internet so much so, that I now hate and don't ever want to see another red rose. Big box stores are in on the game:
Kmart even is hawking jewelry. Last year, I remember getting numerous Walmart ads decorated with everything red for your sweetie, including stuffed animals, and candy hearts. By the way---Where's Victoria's Secret in the melay?

Next, major retailers will be counting down to Valentine's day. They will force us to buy a Valentine's tree complete with red, pink and white ornaments. Do you really need another mug laden with red,and pink hearts?
Enough already!!

I say we go back to the days when Valentine's day was not over-commercialized, and forced down our throats. We are making single people feel like crap! Stop bludgeoning us over the hearts with candy, lacy red teddies, and expensive presents!! Let's go back to celebrating Valentine's Day the way it was meant to be celebrated; between two people who love each other. Celebrate in your own way, whether that is staying home cuddling, or painting the town with pink, red and white hearts.

Before you know it, there will be Valentine's parades, and cupid for kids to ask for presents from. Do we really need to get everyone in the family V-day gifts? Do the kids need candy hearts, and new stuffed animals? Do we really have to have Valentine's parties for the kids? Do we really have to over do buying everyone at work heart candy, cakes, or doughnuts?

It's gotten to the point where it is expected that men run out and buy their sweetheart expensive presents for Valentine's Day. But you don't have to go into debt to satisfy your Sweetie! A good old fashioned romp in the hay will do the trick, Guys! Hint hint, and acting like a romance novel character will enhance the pleasure.

Dealing with Holiday Stress Naturally by Kate Johns

2010-12-06T14:12:00.007-05:00

I feel seriously stressed out, every holiday season.There's too much to do in a super short time. Don't you feel the same way? Suddenly you feel overworked, exhausted ,overwrought, confused; like you don't have enough time to get everything done. With the holiday season upon us, so too is holiday stress; working, finding ways to pay for all of it!

Deal with holiday stress with these natural remedies:

Without getting drunk, thus endangering your life and others as well, a great all natural method for combating stress is prior proper planning. Whether you work a full time job or if you have small children, you are very busy just dealing with every day priorities. Kate Johns article.Schedule every day by writing events, activities,and shopping trips in a daily calendar. This way, you will know what you can accomplish each day, such as putting up the Christmas tree, having a holiday party at home, making Christmas cookies. (I'm getting stressed out just thinking about what I need to accomplish.)

Set time aside for exercise everyday. Many people make the mistake of skipping their workout routines during the holidays. It is guaranteed that you will not only feel better, but you will work off that added stress, the added calories of the holiday season, thus sleeping better at night.

There's a will, there's a way! Even though, your life may be so jam packed during the holidays,and you don't have time to exercise, you can sneak workouts into every day. While enjoying a holiday party , grab a friend and dance the night away. Kate Johns article.Have some fun, you deserve it. Get creative-go for a walk to look at neighborhood Christmas lights. Get into the spirit of the season by starting a Christmas caroling session with friends. Sneak in a brisk walk while singing. Go shopping during off shopping hours, such as early morning or later at night, walking the mall at a fast pace.

More natural remedies for holiday stress are:

Sitting down in a relaxing setting with a journal jotting down your thoughts , helps to work out those stressful holiday problems. Relax in front of a roaring fire with a loved one.Enjoy the moment. Grab a weekend off from all the holiday stress, with a mini vacation with your loved ones or friends. Soaking in a luxurious, hot bubbly bath while sipping a glass of wine.

How do you deal with holiday stress? Let me know!

How to have a cheap company Christmas party by Kate Johns

2010-11-21T11:57:00.009-05:00

Where my husband works, they are trying to cut costs anyway they can. So, I was surprised when they had a Christmas party. They held this festive affair in January. The business where he works even took some of my cheap ideas, and came up some of their own. They held the party after Christmas in January, didn't serve dinner, and made employees pay for their own booze.

Number one- Have an office party instead of a big party at a restaurant or club. Ask everyone to bring a dish to pass, including Christmas cookies. One person brings a Cd player and the Christmas jams. Another person can bring a karaoke machine. Everyone can chip in to buy any booze you will need, unless you are having an alcohol free event.

Number two- Tell employees to chip in to pay for the party. Your Scrooge-like employer will not have to pay for the entire affair. This may mean the difference between raises, a party, or letting someone go.

Number three- Have a work related party at the boss's home, or a co-worker's home. Once again, everyone can bring a dish of food to pass, and a bottle of alcohol. This way you get to have a party and don't have to pay all the expenses that go with a club, bar or restaurant.

Number four- Have the party at happy hour at a club or bar. You can get free appetizers, cheaper prices on drinks, and still everyone gets to have a good time outside of the workplace.

Number five- Plan on having the work party after Christmas during a slower time of year, such as in January. At this time, many restaurants, and clubs will be begging for business, and your office can get lower prices than offered at Christmas time.

Number six- Save money on a work holiday party by trading business for the party. In other words, your business can give something to the restaurant, bar or club in exchange for the Christmas party. Depending on what kind of business you work at, you might be able to set up a very sweet deal!

Number seven-Save money on a work holiday party by doing something completely different. Don't have a regular, Christmas party. Instead throw a sledding party, or a party at the boss's home. Everyone can make snowmen, and ice-skate on a homemade ice skating rink.

Number eight- Have the holiday party during the warmer months and rent out a shelter at a park, picnic site, or at the beach. Why not, it's cheaper then renting a large room at a club. You might even be able to afford to buy tickets to a baseball game.

Number nine- Instead of having a Christmas party, splurge for the staff to go to a holiday show, or a holiday concert. You can even get a discount rate on a large order. Community Theater is cheaper than big city theater productions!

Don't be a total business Scrooge this year, have a company Christmas party, with proper prior cheapo planning!!

Business:How to Save Money By Going Green by Kate Johns

2010-11-19T14:32:00.006-05:00

With today's tough economy and rising costs, it's becoming increasingly difficult for businesses to make ends meet. There is a way to turn a profit these days; the answer is by going green. Whatever you want to call it, recycling, environmentalism, people have been doing this for years creating alternative business opportunities.

Sell, and or produce green products, such as green cleaning products, green methods of growing and producing food, or methods for utilizing recycling technology. Many businesses are created every day by making reusable products such as cotton robes, clothing, towels, and by starting a business that centers on lending their services to other businesses in how to become green. Just think a business can be created offering their services to give a company a complete going green makeover.
How to Save Money in Business by Going Green by Kate Johns
A business will save major bucks by having the entire office staff telecommute. Telecommuting can save a business thousands of dollars every month that really adds up! This way with the staff working from home, the employer has lower electric and gas costs. With employees working from home the employer doesn't have to pay for electricity use for lights, computers, fax machines, telephones, etc. A business can save as much as 50 percent a year by having its employees work from home.
Conducting all business correspondence electronically, can save the company major costs once again across the board. No longer will stacks of paper be needed to send interoffice mail, and business letters to co-workers and business clients. Employees will be able to conduct business with the aid of the Internet and by utilizing e-mail. Expensive paper will no longer be necessary and the cost of doing business will lower. And the business will do their part to save the trees.

Create ways to save money and make a profit by going green. Any business can save money in this manner, it just takes a little thought and creativity. If you need any more help with this matter, you can hire me as your new Manager of Green Savings.

Overprotective Society taking Freedom Away by Kate Johns

2010-11-12T09:56:00.004-05:00

Did you notice how companies are recalling everything these days from cat litter that may not clump, to cars having brake problems, to baby strollers that don't stroll?
Is it any wonder why so many people are riding motorcycles with their motorcycle Mamas hanging on the back, with the wind blowing through their hair? Do we think twice about people moving away from large cities into rural pastures to gain their freedom back? No, we don't. We are all too busy watching or listening to the media telling us what has been recalled now, and how big government has come up with yet another law clamping down on our freedom.

Society as a whole has become too overprotective.Each new generation growing up is taught from birth about the dangers that befall our lives. Just the other day I saw on one of the news stations that a blind manufacturer was recalling the blinds because babies and small children could get caught in the cord. The question is where were his parents,in the first place?

We have become a society that is allowing not only our personal freedom to be taken away, but we are allowing companies and government to rule if not ruin our lives. Kids are too afraid to go outside to play. Instead they stay inside where it is "safe" hanging out searching the Internet for more friends, and create sexy videos like they see on TV, and the Internet.

Society has become too complacent by allowing someone else to dictate what is correct for us as a society. Do we need government telling us to go back to school? Do we need local officials telling us we can't smoke in our own homes? Do we really want our kids inside 24-7, experimenting with everything electronic, instead of going outside enjoying life's freedoms?

Way back in the time machine of life, Americans were allowed to drive their cars, while not wearing seat belts. People were allowed to smoke cigarettes at work. Dogs were given the freedom to bark all night long, and kids could go outside and jump in a pile of leaves without fear of getting dirty, or worrying about texting their parents.

We have become an overprotective society. Cellphones are the new babysitters. Your car has been recalled. A camera may be watching your every move as you slave away at your desk at work, Your computer may be monitored by your boss at work.

My Worst Birthday Ever by Kate Johns

2010-11-05T14:41:00.006-04:00

My worst birthday ever---
I had a stroke two days before my 48 birthday. Just thinking about it , makes me want to cry. I remember lying in ICU in the hospital. My husband stayed overnight in the hospital because, I had been airlifted to a larger hospital one hundred miles from home the day before.

I was in no mood to celebrate my birthday. I couldn't talk without my mouth drooping. I felt exhausted, and seriously depressed. I was paralyzed on my left side. I couldn't move my arm, or my left leg. As the stroke was happening, I could do everything. My brain was dying from the stroke, and so was my ability to do things.

So, here I was lying in a hospital bed, in a strange town, with only my husband at my bedside. My kids were one hundred miles away at home. My in-laws were at our house taking care of everything there. And our relatives were two hundred miles from our home, in our original hometown. I just wanted to go home, and be left alone, and not have people ask me "What day is it Mrs. Johns?" I already had an MRI that morning, and about six doctors prodding and poking me everywhere they could reach.

My first meal in three days, finally arrived. I ordered a grilled cheese, with applesauce. The nurse came in behind my husband and I saw a small cake that she had. My husband and the nurse had found and lit two candles. My husband blew out the candles as more nurses arrived and sang Happy Birthday to me.

I actually laughed, and managed a lopsided smile. My nurse said, "I know this is the last place you want to spend your birthday, but we might as well celebrate it."I told my husband that I made it to my 48th birthday, and he managed a tired smile. He cut the cake, and we ate some. I had about two bites before I felt super full, from not having eaten in almost three days,

When we were officially alone, I started to cry, and my husband handed me Kleenex, and told me everything would be all right. I told him, he didn't have to stay married to a stroke victim. He told me he was staying. I mumbled this was the worst birthday of my life. He said. "It could be worse." I asked, "How could that be?" He gave me a look that said it all, and I realized, it could be worse. Even though, I thought this was the worst birthday of my life, I was still alive.

How to get your reality TV show on TV.

2010-11-05T12:57:00.006-04:00

How do you become a reality television star? Be creative, baby, be creative. You have to sell your show to big television executives as a completely different concept. That's what they are looking for. Just by watching the reality TV shows coming down the pike, I can tell you that all it takes is being, and doing something totally different.

Oh yea, and you have to go for the sleaze content of having big breasts, long blonde hair and the ability to promote yourself to the extreme!

Regular, everyday people have become the focus of reality TV shows, such as MTV's Jersey Shore,and the creepy Sister Wives. With just a little twist; you have to bring that something extra to the plate. You have to be weird, different, strange, sleazy, sexy, or have a totally different angle. You must have a reason to be on the show. That's probably why millions of people tuned in to watch Paris Hilton strut around saying, "That's hot," on her reality TV show with Nicole Ritchie.

You don't have to be a star, baby. Not any longer. You can be a regular promotional machine in order to become a reality TV show star. But you have to bring something different to the show, such as "The Housewives of Atlanta." On the TV show, "19 Kids and Counting, " for example, the two parents are raising 19 kids. It's interesting to watch this show, because you see how two parents have dealth with having 17 kids, and how they grew to 19 kids in a few short years.

You can do it too! (Probably not having the kids part.) You need to find an audience you will identify with. You also need to live a life that is interesting. Besides showing some cleavage off, or falling into bed, and making it a contest, where there is a will and a need, there's a way.

Start a show of your own by filming it, and touting it to TV executives. Promote your show on the web with the help of Facebook and Twitter. You Tube snippets of your show to an audience, and garner attention, possibly going viral.

You can do something completely different from the current roster of shows of being a rock star, or a Mom with an attitude from a large city. You just need to think of who you are, and why your life is different from other people's lives. You need to fill a certain niche area. Possibly there's a new aspect out there to sell to TV producers with a family that lives on a boat or on a bus, or how one person survives in the wilds of Alaska, sort of like Sarah Palin tried to do on her boring reality TV show.

What happened to the family hour onTV?

2010-11-04T10:25:00.006-04:00

What happened to the family hour on American TV? Growing up as a product of the sixties and seventies, we savored every moment gathered together watching nightly TV shows produced for the entire family to watch.After cleaning up the dinner dishes, we ran to our exciting new, color television sets. Adjusting our chairs, becoming comfortable in our modern bliss, we tuned in, but we didn't drop out.
We watched many great American TV shows,such as "Mary Tyler Moore", "The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour", and the famous "Ed Sullivan". Soon we were pulling up our chairs with our entire families, watching the hysterical, brilliant entertainment as it unfolded before our happy eyes. We, Americans were captured in a thrilling new time warp of fun. We had something to look forward to after working hard all day at work and school. Families were united together in watching the latest new thing, the TV.
Soon after, advertisers came up with the catchphrase of the "family hour". This was the time between 8 to 9 at night, when TV shows were created for the entire family to watch. Soon the family hour grew to two hours of thrilling entertainment, shared by a wide demographic.

With competition from the Internet, home movies, cable, satellite, video game manufacturers, the family hour is a thing of the past. Gone. Cast aside for more attractive, sexy, get in your face, hit you over the head reality TV.
No longer can entire families sit down, relax and watch TV together. It's not possible with the all day lust, violence, and backstabbing going on.
Try as we might to keep TV clean, there's too much on TV that is non-family oriented, such as, "House", MTV and VH1 videos,"The Housewives of New Jersey" "Jersey Shore". Why should we gather around the TV as a family anymore, when kids can go to their rooms and watch their own cable supported TV's? Kids are texting, podcasting, skyping, chatting on Facebook and Twitter. They are too busy to sit down with their families to watch TV together, doing homework, engaging in school sports and activities, and talking to friends.

The only shows that come close to the classic family hour are, "American Idol", "The Voice", "X-Factor", and "America's Got Talent." Possibly a creative genius can create a situation comedy the entire family can watch together, uniting American families into family time once again.

Manufactured pop star---Miley Cyrus

2009-09-18T20:34:00.004-04:00

Rising from the pack of characters that Disney brings to television every day, Miley Cyrus is a manufactured pop star. Watching any amount of the popular television shows on the Disney Channel will cause major stomach upset, and make your heart yearn for real rock and roll and pop songs from a long ago era when the artists wrote songs that came from their hearts.

*Unheard of just a few short years ago, Miley Cyrus has become a household name.

*At the age of just 12 she received her own Disney TV show where she plays Hannah Montana who is a star and Miley Stewart who has a regular life.

* She had her first television show debut several years earlier when she played a girl named Kylie on her adopted father's (Billy Ray Cyrus), show, called Doc.

* Appearing on her show and singing on Disney Radio, Miley Cyrus has become a household name for adoring pre-teen girls, who flock to her concerts to see Miley's lively performances.

* Cyrus is a teen singing sensation enabling tweens to dream a little dream of becoming a super popular teen singing sensation.

*Miley's songs were all written for her, until recently with Cyrus writing her own material.

Miley's face is plastered on every thing imaginable from t-shirts, to lunch boxes, to fuzzy slippers. What's next? Fuzzy dice, hanging off of the rearview mirror with Miley's face on those too!!

Miley Cyrus is getting older, surpassing sweet 16, and someday she too will be a shadow of her former sweet self.

*Cyrus dated a male model six years her senior. (She was 15, he was 20). I think that's called statutory rape!

* Cyrus also pole danced at the Teen Choice Awards, leaving her younger audience wondering if they too can pole dance at an impressionably young age.

*Miley's star won't shine brightly forever though- every young pop star grows out of her cuteness factor.

*Britney Spears, a former child star, grew older, had children and her left sexy kittenish role behind as a pop princess.

It can't last forever. But Miley will be a billionaire before her time in the spotlight is up. By the way ---the Jonas Brothers are also manufactured pop stars as are Demi Lovato and Selena Gomez---who has a super weak singing voice.

Give the Gift of LOVE For Christmas

2008-11-26T17:55:00.005-05:00

How about doing something different this year forgoing buying expensive gifts for everyone on your Christmas shopping list? Why not wrap your arms around the ones you love and give them the gift of love and time? Forget booking an expensive holiday vacation to a warm, sunny place. Visit your friends, neighbors, relatives, co-workers, neighbors, the homeless, hospital patients, and even older folks in nursing homes.

The holidays are really supposed to be about giving the gift of love, not some meaningless gift bought at a store to increase the retailer's bottom line. With the commercial aspect of the holiday season getting out of line, just doing something simple for everyone on your holiday gift- giving list can be the best thing you can do.

You will become the happiest person alive by spreading holiday cheer to one and to all. Throughout the holiday season, smile everywhere you go. Throw holiday parties and invite people and extend the warmth of the season by giving everyone a big hug. Make certain that you engage each person who wanders in through your front door, in earnest, heartfelt conversation. Put your arm around a longtime friend. Give hugs and kisses, to everyone, even your grumpy boss. Extend your invitations to your children and have them give hugs and kisses to relatives, and friends.

Take your kids to an elderly neighbor's home and bring them cookies freshly baked from your oven. Bring the kids along and give your neighbor the gift of time. Sit with her and talk about the neighborhood and life in general. She will appreciate it very much and won't feel left out this holiday season. Have your children shovel elderly neighbor's driveways and sidewalks, so that they can get out of the house without the hassle or the worry. This way, your children will learn the gift of giving, and you will be helping someone else at the same time.

Instead of just donating items to your local animal shelter or your local food pantry, volunteer at one instead. Bring the kids along, a friend or a neighbor and have a good time volunteering together. Volunteer at a local food pantry and get the inside view of how they feed all those people. Smile and talk to everyone you see that day. This will brighten their life a little and yours as well!

By serving other people and extending yourself you are giving the best gift of all LOVE. Giving the gift of a warmth and cheer, you will feel the real reason behind the holiday season. Now, isn't that better than getting caught up in all that commercialism and spending a lot of money on meaningless gifts that people will only return to the stores the day after Christmas?
Learn more about this author, Kate Johns.

DEEP Thoughts on menopause.

2008-07-21T10:56:00.006-04:00

Currently I am going through reverse adolescence, that is menopause. Usually this is not something that women run around screaming at the top of their lungs. It's more likely that we all go through it rather quietly. Everyone around us knows before we do, because they see all the changes that are going on with us before we see it ourselves.

And you know what? I don't feel like being quiet about going through menopause. For one thing it's not a disease. It is the most difficult time in a woman's life, and it's a time of major change and stress.

Even social diseases have become more of a mainstream topic nowadays with pharmaceutical companies mass marketing pills for people to take. You know the advertisements where the young, attractive, horny couple are walking down a beach hand in hand, saying that his social disease doesn't bother their relationship because he takes a drug to alleviate the symptoms.

How does this all tie in with menopause ? Because social diseases do not carry the shame and horror they used to carry. Years ago when people contracted a social disease they had to call all their sexual partners and then re-think their actions and not have sex for awhile until the symptoms cleared up.

Becoming a menopausal woman carries a certain shame in today's society.
With social diseases becoming an okay thing in society then why can't older women become a welcome part of life. When a woman ages and loses her beauty, and she gains weight, and her hair turns gray, why is it that society as a whole doesn't notice that woman anymore? When a woman reaches that menopausal age she should be celebrated for all she has accomplished. Men should lust after her, because she has lived life and knows how to do things that younger women don't know how to do. Hint Hint!

A menopausal woman should be celebrated in our society and lifted up to feel like she is worth a million bucks! She gave birth to children that are becoming or have become terrific people. She has contributed to society by working , making money and creating a life. And people should be informed of this life change that happens to every woman. You mean to tell me that someone out there has not figured out a way to make millions of dollars from some pill or health aid for women to help them with menopause?

Recently, older women have been more in the spotlight, and are getting more roles in movies. But that is because women such as Demi Moore and even Helena Christensen have done something about it. You could say they are aging gracefully, but wouldn't all of us age gracefully with millions of dollars to spend on every surgery, diet guru, and health aid available for an aging woman? I wouldn't mind running around with someone half my age if I could afford to buy myself a great face lift, major hair extensions, and have a ton of people yell accolades at me like , "We love you." "Your last movie was great!"

When I went to my family doctor years ago with symptoms of menopause, that I found out later were symptoms of peri menopause, he did nothing to help me. Even my gynecologist really has not helped, all she did was prescribe pills. Other women know something about menopause, but they just warn you about terrible things that could happen if you take that pill and how they felt during the entire thing.

I don't want other women warning me about how I could die from not taking a slew of vitamins and working out every day. The Internet has provided a slew of information about menopause. But, most of that information is just a re-working of information from other websites. And some of the information is not correct. It just seems like everybody has decided to get a website today and many of those websites are very poorly done.

So what does a hot flashing, hair thinning, stomach bulging woman do about menopause?

Me personally, I'm not going quietly. I'm not going to start going to bars and picking up men half my age either. No, I'm going to what society won't do for us women. I am going to take care of myself, by eating healthy foods, and working out, and all of that. But, I am going to respect myself. I am going to hold my head high with the knowledge that I am a smart, wonderful person. And I will not let this menopause thing get the best of me. And that's what all women should do. Feel respect for themselves because they have reached a milestone not a death.

This can be the best time of our lives!

Ten Green Gifts for Mother's Day

2008-05-08T10:51:00.003-04:00

What gifts can you buy for Mother’s Day that are environmentally friendly? With everyone going green these days why not buy Mom some environmentally friendly gifts?

What can you get Mom for Mother’s Day and save the earth at the same time?

Here are the top ten going green gift ideas:

1. How about getting Mom a goat? Or would this idea be more suited for a Dad? Get Mom a goat this year for Mother’s Day so she doesn’t have to mow the lawn. A goat can do all the work munching on the lawn, and you’ll be saving the planet at the same time. Then you can milk the goat, drinking goat's milk and making goat cheese.

2. Get Mom potted--- plants, that is. The kids can plant a garden from seeds, so Mom can sit back and watch the plants grow. Just make sure you put a fence around the flowers so the goat doesn’t eat them.

3. Buy gifts on the Internet from the comfort of your home. This way you won’t be emitting pollution into the air, thus keeping the air safe for everyone. And with gas so expensive, you’ll be saving money in the long run. Hey, if you get free shipping with your online purchase, you are that much further ahead.

4. Let's get this compost started! Start a compost area right in your very own kitchen by purchasing an inexpensive home composting kit with a plastic bin. They come with a supply of red worms and instructions on how to get the composting started. Hey, the kids will love seeing the worms wriggling around, in the house!

5. Buy Mom an environmentally friendly windmill of her very own. She’ll be thrilled with this expensive but super green machine. She will be so happy when she realizes all the energy you will be saving.

6. Plant a tree near the house. A tree that produces pretty flowers during the spring will be an added bonus. This way the house gets some shade during warmer months and serves as a windbreak during colder windier months.

7. Buy Mom some sweet smelling natural products that are environmentally friendly. Buying Mom natural products that can be purchased at a food co-op and even some of the big-box stores such as hand cream, body lotion, and even lip balms can be a GREEN way to go.

8. Don't be a tightwad! Buy some of those canvas bags and put a nice gift in one of them. She’ll be so happy at the sight of those incredibly versatile, yet incredibly ugly bags, she’ll have hugs and kisses for everyone. And of course, she’ll love the gift too!

9. Buy Mom some vintage clothing or thrift shop garb. This way you are saving money, but reusing clothing in a very good way. Consignment shops and thrift stores in very pricey neighborhoods carry some designer clothing, purses and shoes for super savings!

10. Here’s a great way for Mom to work out while getting close to home errands completed. Get Mom a bike. This way she can ride to nearby stores to get quick errands done, and save gas money and the environment at the same time.

Ten awesome, wonderful, thoughtful green gift ideas for Mother’s Day. A great way to save the planet and make Mom happy for her special day.

How to go green while having sex by Kate Johns

2008-04-30T19:52:00.003-04:00

This is one I haven't heard yet, and I'm wondering if anybody else wrote on this subject yet, how to go green, and save the environment while doing the nasty. Going green is all the rage lately, and it's gotten to the point where it literally is everywhere. So, I have come, (nice pun huh?) up with a ridiculous theme for this blog entry: How to have sex while going green!

How can you have sex, yet save the environment at the same time? Let me count the ways. Well, don't have sex outside and then throw the condom on the sand or in the water at the beach. How gross! That means someone else has to pick that up somewhere down the line. Can you imagine surfing huge waves and have a condom wash up to shore while you paddle your way in?

Take a bag with you and throw it the plastic bag. That way you are recycling those hideous plastic bags, while saving the environment. Don't throw condoms outside after using. It could land in the bushes of someone's home, or fall on the road, and get washed down the drain. EW! GROSS! Can you say environmental disaster?

Turn down the heat in your house while having sex. Why? This can save on some energy usage, thus helping to cut down on electricity or gas usage, and saving on coal production, thus helping to save our planet. Besides, you'll be getting all hot and sweaty anyways, so why not?

Don't use any kleenex during, or after doing the nasty. And I'm not explaining why you need kleenex in the first place. Kleenex is made from paper, and paper comes from trees. Imagine all those trees you'll be saving by not using kleenex or paper towels.

Finally, don't have sex at all. Abstinence is the best answer. That way you won't have to take birth control pills, or use condoms. Because when a woman goes to the bathroom, things come out in the urine such as vitamins and birth control pills. Her urine will show trace amounts of the substances in the pills and vitamins. But, by not having sex, and not using birth control, you are actually saving the environment. Fish in streams, lakes and oceans aren't getting free birth control and can still create babies.

Ways of having sex, while still saving the world. Didn't know that having a fight with your partner, you were saving the environment, did you?

Humorous look at Fighting Gas Prices

2008-04-24T17:59:00.002-04:00

The only way to fight rising gas prices is to not buy gas anymore. I'm not advocating pulling up to the pump, filling up our tanks and taking off without paying, because that would be stealing and my Momma didn't raise me that way.

Besides not paying for gas anymore, how about we all have a national stay at home day all across America. Every truck, recreational vehicle, SUV, minivan, bus, recreational boat, classic car, older car, brand spanking new car, and motorcycle could stay home for one entire day.

Of course this would take some major planning and possibly some national policy that Congress and the Senate and the President of the United States would have to vote on and decree that we all stay home for one entire day. It could be a day when we all join hands and sing songs, and have Bob Dylan himself sing some poetic song that we couldn't understand.

By staying home more often and using less gas, we might drive gas prices down. That way the big oil companies who are laughing while they throw their billions in the air, and run under them, yelling, " Yay, more money", can't get away with it any longer. With more people using less gas, and therefore consuming less, demand for gas will go down. Then with some magic stardust thrown in, gas prices will come down and stay that way.

Gas prices are being driven, (like the pun?), by you and me. We can't let the big corporate machine of oil companies take us to the cleaners anymore. With gas prices steadily rising, and everything else we consume everyday such as milk, bread, and corn, rising due to gas and diesel prices going up, we have to do something to stop it.

Stop using your vehicle as much as you do now. Stay home more often. Plan your trips and errand running for one time instead of several. Trade in that large vehicle for a smaller vehicle. Walk more often, carpool with co-workers, take the bus, and ride a bike for short distances. Go outside to the backyard instead of going to the beach, or a public park. Plan a stay at home vacation, and only go to places in your hometown. With people driving less, maybe, just maybe, because we are consuming less the big wigs will get a big message from us, saying, "We aren't going to take it anymore."

If that doesn't work, we can organize all over America, to get gas prices down. We'll work in pairs, you get the big ladder, put it up against one of those signs at a gas station, and change the sign to reflect a much lower price. I'll wait in the truck.

Just Say No to Kids by Kate Johns

2008-01-14T17:12:00.003-05:00

My two children are wonderful, terrific, incredibly smart, creative, individuals. With that said, but at times,(okay every day), they drive me crazy. They ask the same questions over and over until they get the answer they want to hear, they don't say, please, thank you, or Okay, Mom.

I'm really beginning to think I'm the only Mom out there who says "No", to my kids. They are always telling me what their friends have, and that they get to stay up late. They tell me how their friend's parents and grandparents are always taking their kids places.

It sounds to me like all of these parents according to my precious darlings, only do what their kids want to do, hinge on their every word, and give them whatever they want. I am told on a daily basis that because I said the horrible word---No, that I am mean, cruel, rotten, I'm not fair, I'm not fun, and I've been called by one of my son's friends----"The House of Ozzie and Harriet."

All because I'm still married after 20 years. I keep the house clean, and I do something I don't think any other parents do anymore---I just say No. Just like Nancy Reagan told America in the 80's, "Just say No to Drugs." I just say No to my kids. It's a word I say all the time. It's a great word this No, but I don't think anybody but me is saying it.

Why? Well, according to my children everybody else can do what ever they want, whenever they want. I tell my kids to clean up their rooms, I give them chores to do, and I try my best to raise them so they will be self-sufficient adults. That's why I just say, No. No you can't go out and play with your friends in the dark alone in the middle of the street.

I want my kids to to be ready to work hard, and get great jobs. I don't want them living with me until they're 30, and I'm still supporting them. I'm not apologizing for not letting them stay up all night, have boy-girls sleep overs, and that I won't let them watch TV 24-7.

What it is like to get a Mammogram done

2007-11-13T18:15:00.005-05:00

My first official blog entry and I'm going to tell you about breast health. When I went to the gynecologist for my yearly she said that women over 40 need to get official x-ray breast exams every two years. Women over 50 need to get them done once a year. I thought okay great here we go, she's going to tell me to get this done as well as going to the gynecologist every year now.
By the way I'm not 50 yet.

Now there are about a hundred things I can think of off the top of my head that I would rather do than get a breast exam done--like cleaning the entire house from top to bottom. In the hour I had to wait to get this exciting event completed, I read an entire Reader's Digest, made several phone calls, and had plenty of time to think.

I wasn't even nervous. I figured this would be easy. I realized that it was so easy to get done that I will get it done every two years like my doctor said. The room was set up just for women--all pink and purple(my favorite colors), and a woman could change right there in this huge room--alone.

Gone were those horrid little changing rooms where I had to change and wait for seemingly days on end for someone to come get me. One time when I waited for my first breast x-ray exam a man came to get me, to take me to this huge sterile looking white walled room--all this while I'm wearing a hospital gown that I had to wear with the back facing the front-- with no bra on, but with pants on and carrying my purse containing everything I needed in it for my one year old.

This time around the experience was so much nicer. Somebody along the way must have figured out that women don't like being walked down the hall with their breasts hanging out---unless maybe you're a supermodel and you're getting paid tons of money. When I left, I realized that I'm so happy to live in America where we women can get this done, in a short amount of time to ensure that we stay healthy. I thought it's a lot easier than the other alternative--never getting it done and possibly dying young.

So women go to your gynecologist once a year. I wasn't because my husband's insurance kept changing. When the doctor tells you to get a mammography done---get it done. We have to take care of ourselves, because we are the ones that take care of our families. It doesn't take long, it hurts a little, your pride may get stung a little, but we're worth it. When I was actually getting it done, I thought I'm doing this for my family. I also thought , if a model can stand there in her undies or topless in front of a lot of people than I can do this.