This is the last time that I am going to hide behind avatars, no matter how cute they are nor how many personalities I seem to encounter within me from day to day. So now this is me, up close and personal. I had changed my photo from one of James and I to one of FlyGirl. That was my avatar that I had (and still do on some other places)used for many of my multiple personalities; whether I am Carol Ann Wiley, purplelady, missylol, genesisgirl, CashNana or Mammo. ... http://www.squidoo.com/lensmasters/purplelady Fri, 17 Feb 2012 05:16:46 -0600 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.squidoo.com/peopleshouldhavealicensetohavechildren People should have a license to have children In today's society, being a parent is not something to take lightly. The future of America rests in large part on the role that the parents play in their children's lives. Just as getting married (which does require a license)should carry with it a lot of serious thought and questioning, so should having a child. Too often, people have children for all the wrong reasons: their parents are begging for grandchildren, their biological clocks and the continuation of their name determines the decision; their religion does not allow for birth control and, perhaps most often, their hormones got the better of them and they were not protected. I have just scratched the surface of all the wrong reasons. parenting-and-kids Mon, 28 Feb 2011 15:14:22 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/theABCsofDr-Seuss With millions of books in print, and nearly all of his 50-plus titles still available for sale, Dr. Seuss was, up until his death in 1991, by far one of the most prolific living writers in the world. In fact, his GREEN EGGS AND HAM is the third largest selling book in the English language. I loved Dr. Seuss when I learned about him along with my children. I was reacquainted with Dr. Seuss when I was getting his books for my grandchildren. Now I am a friend of Dr. Seuss just for myself. This is my way of expressing that love and perhaps to acquaint those of you who don't know him (how could that be possible?) with the reasons I have loved him and even more perhaps to reacquaint those of you who read him to your children and have forgotten how you felt when you did. books-poetry-writing Wed, 02 Mar 2011 06:41:43 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/60sCrafts I started this lens on the Crafts of the 60s with the picture of a Tie-Dye Peace Sign because Tie-Dye is the only thing I tried to do that with which I had some success . During the 60's everyone was into crafts. You could say that Crafts was a Fad during the 60's. Why did so many people do crafts in the 60's? In my opinion, It was for a variety of reasons. Some did it to have the latest things to decorate their "pad". Some did it to sell their hand-made items for a few coins. Some did it to be able to sport the latest fashions. Some did it to fit in with the crowd. That is my reason! All of my friends were doing crafts and I wanted to be a part of their activities; so I decided to be a crafter as well. hobbies-games-toys Tue, 01 Mar 2011 23:31:21 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/lil-red-pandas As a child I can remember that my favorite stuffed animal was a black and white panda. I kept it for years, getting more and more "used" looking each year. My mother informed me that I MUST get rid of it before my wedding date. I slept with it every night and she told me that my soon-to-be husband would like that. I have never forgotten that black and white panda. In fact, that to me formed my views of what a panda looked like. How lucky for me while researching baby pandas for my Get Cracking lens of the day (theme - cute and cuddly) to find that there are also red pandas. How adorable are these babies. "Cute and Cuddly"--Right? pets-and-animals Wed, 24 Aug 2011 11:12:13 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/weneedtobepro-agingvsanti-aging We need to be pro-aging instead of anti-aging. Ageism is alive and well in our country. From the day that a little girl gets her first Barbie doll, the quest for unreasonable appearance for girls begins. Everything that is promoted to her is thin bodies, large breasts, shiny hair and flawless skin. All of this is promoted with the label anti-aging; whether it is in health and beauty products, vitamin supplements, leading magazines and books, television shows and movies, and the list goes on. It is no wonder that we have a society of people who are willing to spend enormous amounts of money for the latest and greatest product, spa service or surgery to maintain their youth. It is no wonder that ageism is rampant. Would we not all be better in an culture that promotes pro-aging and the status of elders for the benefit for all generations? culture-and-society Mon, 03 Jan 2011 16:18:45 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/singing-in-the-rain As a young girl, I was in love with dancing and with movies. That being the case it is easy to see why Singing in the Rain was one of my all time favorite movies. And to top it off, my Mother wanted me to be a "Debbie Reynolds" when I grew up. I have often thought about what all can your do in the rain other than singing in the rain. So that is the impetus for creating this lens featuring Singing in the Rain movie and what else you can do in the rain. Please join me and think about what you have done in the rain. entertainment Tue, 19 Oct 2010 15:02:31 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/wilfrid-gordon-mcdonald-partridge The first time I met Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge, I fell in love. I fell in love with this delightful little boy and his favorite friend in the nursing home next to his house, Miss Nancy Alison Delacourt Cooper. One day Wilfrid hears his parents talking about how Miss Nancy has lost her memory. Wilfrid doesnt know what a memory is so he decides to ask everyone he knows. When he is finished he sets out to find something to fit each of the explanations that he received. When he gives them to Miss Nancy she gets her memory back. Wilfrid and Miss Nancy are loved by everyone who meets them through this book, from young children in school to old people in nursing homes, and everyone in between. So come along with me while I introduce you to young Wilfid, Miss Nancy, Mem Fox - the author of the book and the real Wilfrid for whom this book was written. Along the way, you may meet some other interesting people. What fun! books-poetry-writing Tue, 31 May 2011 10:39:51 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/black-beauty As a young girl and living in a major metropolitan city, I still dreamed of horses. I actually thought that I wanted to have one. Not sure where I would have kept it; but young girls don't think of reality when they are living in a make-believe world. Not sure what was the catalyst for my love of horses; my obsession with Roy Roger or my collecting and reading Walter Farley's books about The Black Stallion. Also not sure what made me decide between a Palomino or a black horse; but to this day when I watch the Kentucky Derby on TV; I look for any black horse in the race to be the one I am cheering on. Then I found Black Beauty! What a glorious story and then movie. entertainment Fri, 04 Mar 2011 16:11:59 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/bridal-showers-after-elopement Bridal Showers after Elopement? With the sound of church bells chiming in the background we are reminded that it is always a wedding season. The bells also signal the bridal shower tradition. A bridal shower is a gift-giving party held for a bride-to-be in anticipation of her wedding. But times and traditions are changing. Because of the high cost of a wedding, many couples are opting to save that expense and choosing to elope. But what does that mean for the tradition of the bridal shower? Does that mean that the bride can not have a bridal shower after she has eloped. I believe all brides deserve a special party in her honor. If not a bridal shower; perhaps a "Girl's Night Out" party or hold a reception back home after the elopement. weddings Mon, 15 Nov 2010 18:31:24 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/green-eggs-and-ham As many of you know, I am a lover of everything Dr. Seuss. If you don't know that, you can check out my Dr. Seuss lens for things about Dr. Seuss you may not know. I was thinking about St. Patrick's Day coming up and remembered that I had a recipe for green eggs and ham. I need to find that recipe and share it with those who think that they would not like green eggs and ham. There are many variations of recipes that can fall into the category of green eggs and ham. I will share some of them with you on this lens and also remind you to read or reread Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss. How many ways do you think you can make green eggs and ham?> food-and-cooking Tue, 01 Mar 2011 14:25:02 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/old-wives-tales I never really knew my grandmothers well enough and did not spend very much time around them; so all the family remedies, superstitions and tales came from my mother. But she always made it clear that she didn't make these things up; her mother had told her and they had been around for years before. Many of these "tales" did seem to either work or seem to be true; so I in turn passed on some of them to my children. I always let them know that "Grandma" had told me so. Many of these tales have been proven to be not true, but enough of them have since been proven to have at least some element of truth to them; so we still cling to them. Although we live in a much different world and a much more technologically advanced society, people are always going to believe in old wives tales. Not because we still live in the dark ages, but because they continue to give us a link to our collective pasts. They spring from a basic human need to have a connection to our mothers and grandmothers and our ancestor and a life that seemed simpler. . Interesting to see from this Norman Rockwell painting - it wasn't only "old wives" sharing tales; but the sharing involved "old husbands" also. culture-and-society Mon, 15 Aug 2011 11:47:30 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/twelve12daysofchristmas Twelve Days of Christmas From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The Twelve Days of Christmas, and the associated evenings of those twelve days (Twelve-tide), are the festive days beginning the evening of Christmas Day (December 25) through the morning of Epiphany (January 6). The associated evenings of the twelve days begin on the evening before the specified day. Thus, the first night of Christmas is December 25-26, and Twelfth Night is January 5-6. This period is also known as Christmastide. Over the centuries, differing churches and sects of Christianity have changed the actual traditions, time frame, and their interpretations. St. Stephen's Day, for example, is December 26 in the Western Church and December 27 in the Eastern Church. Boxing Day the first weekday after Christmas observed as a legal holiday in parts of the Commonwealth of Nations and was traditionally marked by the giving of Christmas boxes to service workers (such as postal workers and trades people)in the United Kingdom; December 28 is Childermas or the Feast of the Innocents. Currently, the 12 days and nights are celebrated in widely varying ways around the world. For example, some give gifts only on Christmas night, some only on Twelfth Night, and some each of the 12 nights. So I move forward with bringing you my twelve "12 Days of Christmas". Enjoy! holidays-and-celebrations Wed, 23 Feb 2011 18:33:33 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/share-your-fondness-for-fondue I still love a lot of the things of the 60s. Once our group of friends found out about and started having fondue parties; we thought we were so cool. In my group of friends, whenever we would get together, we would always try to be the one to come up with the grooviest new way to fondue. Sometimes it was the different things you would "cook" in; sometimes it was the different things to put in the pot, and then of course we would always want to come up with different ideas for sauces to dip in. There is something about the spring time that calls to me to get out the fondue pot (it is now electric not the sterno burner kind of the b0s) and have a fondue party. Grab your fork; let's dip! food-and-cooking Thu, 19 May 2011 11:53:29 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/all-things-bacon I have always loved bacon. As a kid I can remember my Mother making bacon and eggs on week-end mornings. Always frying the bacon first in her favorite cast iron skillet, taking out the bacon and putting it on paper towel to drain the grease and then cooking the eggs in the bacon grease left in the skillet. I can still see the lacy edges on the eggs from the hot grease. And then of course the left over bacon grease would go into an empty coffee can and saved to use for when she needed to fry something the next time. Both my mother and father would have loved being able to watch Emeril on the Food Network and his '"PORK FAT RULES!" slogan. My goodness, how did we survive the 50s and our eating habits given today's standards? food-and-cooking Fri, 23 Apr 2010 11:44:14 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/sticks-and-stones When I set out to do a Get Cracking lens about "something sticky", I was a little short on imagination having just made a lens on Post It Notes. As I was thinking about the theme, my memory files flew open to a memory of a childhood rhyme that we always said if someone called us a bad name. "Sticks and stones may break my bones; but words will never hurt me!" So the idea that I had for this lens was to make the theme: Sticks and Stones. It was very enlightening to explore sticks and stones and how they can both hurt and heal! They can be brown and black and they can be green. They can be rough and yet polished to a fine shine. So I invite you to come along with me to see where my imagination and research took me. Mary Beth Woiccak-Visual Artist parenting-and-kids Fri, 25 Feb 2011 22:53:58 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/disabledamericanveterans Sometimes the stuff of life comes at you in multiples. In yesterday's mail I received my latest personalized address labels from DAV. I am sure that the minimum amount I send to them does not really pay for them, but I have done it for years. Why? Well I love the very attractive labels and I always remember that my Father was the Nebraska DAV State Commander many years ago. Every time I put on one of those labels, I think of my Father. As someone who is always promoting Peace around the World, I also realize that I may disagree with the people who send our young men and women to war, but I always support our troops and never forget the veterans who come home from any war with less of themselves than with what they left. I created this lens for the DAV not only because of my Father, but primarily as a memorial not only for the many veterans, men and women, who have lost their lives; but also for the many veterans, men and women, who have lost a part of themselves while defending our country. I selected the DAV as the focus for this lens because of my Father but also for the volunteer efforts that not only the veterans do for each other; but for the volunteer opportunities for people like you and me to engage in to feel like we have been able to make a contribution. nonprofits Wed, 10 Nov 2010 18:26:56 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/festival-of-whales I love festivals and fairs. I wanted to do a tribute lens to one of my favorites. So I did what I always do when I start to create a new lens; I looked for all my pictures, my souvenirs; searched my memory banks of festivals I have attended; surfed the Google for information that I may have forgotten. It was then that I decided to do a tribute to a festival that I have only heard about, not attended but have wanted to for some time. This is a tribute to that festival -- The Festival of Whales in Dana Point, California. Southern California's summer tourists may have come and gone, but this winter a different type of tourist will be traveling along the West Coast and heading to Baja during its annual migration: the majestic California Gray Whale. The whales will begin their migration in late November, but from March 6 through 14, thousands of these 35-ton leviathans will splash through the seaside community of Dana Point, California - the West Coast's premier location to meet and greet these incredible creatures during the 39th Annual Dana Point Festival of Whales. The Dana Point Festival of Whales is one of Southern California's largest seafaring celebrations and reaches out to whale admirers around the world. Dana Point is teeming with festivities every winter during this special time of year, offering something for everyone. The Festival draws over 100,000 visitors each year. pets-and-animals Mon, 12 Apr 2010 13:50:06 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/funnyretirementvideoshowcase Laughter is the medicine that can't be put into a bottle, can't be manufactured by the pharmaceutical companies, and can't ever be used up. We all have a large enough dose to last us a lifetime. We just have to be willing to take a sip now and then; perhaps even a gulp when we need it most. That's where we come in --- with this funny retirement video showcase. We have funny videos and then we have thrown in some funny jokes as well. If you have any funny videos, there is even a place for you to add them to our first list here. Not only is it good to laugh, but it is also good to share what makes us laugh. Laugh It Up! entertainment Mon, 14 Feb 2011 12:40:37 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/top-ten-baseball-movies-of-the-50s In the 1950s, I did not know that I liked baseball. We had no major league team in our state, my father was a boxing and football nut and I was to involved with teen things to even know that much about baseball. I do remember how some teachers in high school would let someone bring in a radio during World Series games. Now, as a baseball fan, I know that he wasn't doing that for our benefit; he had to be a baseball fan and it was for his benefit. Baseball fans are like the extra players on the team. To make up for my not being a baseball fan in the 50's, I would like to be a raving fan today of the baseball movies of the 50's. sports-and-recreation Mon, 15 Nov 2010 16:44:39 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/peanut-butter-and-what-sandwich Photo is from Kitchen Scrapbook of one of their young cooks in training. Let's admit it! When we were kids the only kind of peanut butter sandwiches we ate were PB&J (peanut butter and jelly) sandwiches. Let's also admit that even as an adult, there are still times when a good PB&J with a big glass of ice cold milk still fills a need. That is, of course, unless you have grown up to learn you allergic to peanuts, are a celiac or lactose intolerant. But if you are lucky enough to still be able to eat peanut butter, can eat wheat and drink milk; stay tuned as I have some wonderful additions you can make to turn your PB&J into perhaps a PB&B, PB&C or a PB&P. Keep reading if you want to not only learn what the new additions are but also some tips on the best ways to fix them. There are also some alternatives for the allergies. food-and-cooking Tue, 07 Dec 2010 18:58:23 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/1955-ford-thunderbird Can you say NO with a loud roar of the engine in a 1955 Ford Thunderbird! Although I am almost grown up, I have still not lost my lust for the 1955 Ford Thunderbird. Anytime I see one on the highway, I make sure to give the drive a huge smiley face with an exuberant thumb up! Over the years the Ford Thunderbird has earned its place in U.S. history and in my heart as an icon of automotive technology. When the Thunderbird was introduced in 1955 it was intended to compete with the Chevrolet Corvette. It was a two-seat car with clean styling, creature comforts, and V8 refinements. (This is for me.) In 1955, the Thunderbird was available with a 193-212 horsepower 292 cubic-inch V8. In 1956 and 1957 the Thunderbird was available with a 215-340 horsepower 312 cubic-inch V8 or the original 292 cubic-inch engine. (This is for the men and the women who dig this information.) Quite frankly, the picture above is what grabbed me then and still grabs me to this day. cars Sat, 08 Jan 2011 08:54:19 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/delmar-racetrack Del Mar Racetrack is an American Thoroughbred horse racing track at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in the seaside city of Del Mar, California, 20 miles north of San Diego. Operated by the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, it is known for the slogan: "Where The Turf Meets The Surf." It was built by a partnership including Bing Crosby, the actor Pat O'Brien, Jimmy Durante, and Charles S. Howard. When Del Mar Racetrack opened in 1937, Bing Crosby was at the gate to personally greet the fans. On August 12, 1938, the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club hosted a $25,000 winner-take-all match race between Charles S. Howard's Seabiscuit and the Binglin Stable's colt, Ligaroti. In an era when horse racing ranked second in popularity with Americans to Major League Baseball, the match race was much written and talked about and was the first nationwide broadcast of a Thoroughbred race by NBC radio. [1] In the race, Seabiscuit was ridden by jockey George Woolf and Ligaroti by Noel Richardson. In front of a record crowd that helped make the fledgling Del Mar race track a success, Seabiscuit won an exciting battle by a nose. sports-and-recreation Sat, 29 Jan 2011 23:39:53 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/driftlessmarket The Driftless Market fills a gap in Platteville, Wisconsin and the surrounding area by making a full-range of natural food and other products available. The Driftless Market is committed to supporting the "buy local" concept, ensuring that customers are offered the healthiest and freshest possible products made locally.Other products include: bulk foods and spices; gluten free and vegan choices; organic and naturally raised meat, dairy, and vegetables; homemade deli items; and household, health and body care products. The Driftless Market is committed to supporting and promoting regional artists. They display a growing selection of local and regional artists work - all in a community friendly atmosphere. I consider myself to be extremely qualified to serve as your driftless guide trhough the Driftless Market as I have been there and will show you the video below to prove it. The main reason for my qualification however is more special than that as two of the co-owners of the store are Heidi and Bill McBeth, my daughter and son-in-law. healthy-living Fri, 23 Apr 2010 18:11:09 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/giant-squid-movies Most of us are familiar with the loveable and friendly Giant Squid named Squidoo. He is that bright orange character with the one big eye who watches over all the lenses and lensmasters who reside in the Sea of Squidoo. Lately, someone told him about some giant squids who are not so loveable nor all that friendly who have popped up on the movie screen. Some fear that they may try to invade the Sea of Squidoo and cause trouble. So the Squidoo Squid has picked up his camera and gone on a journey to find out just who these giant squids are and to make sure they stay on the movie screen and not enter Sea of Squidoo for any reason. He has promised to let you know all about the ones he does find. So, stay tuned. You are about to hear the story of our own Squidoo Squid and how he solved the case of the outside Giant Squids and their movies. entertainment Mon, 05 Apr 2010 14:40:23 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/who-is-ruth-gordon Ruth Gordon Jones (October 30, 1896 - August 28, 1985), better known as Ruth Gordon, was an American actress and writer. She was perhaps best known for her film roles such as the oversolicitous neighbor in Rosemary's Baby, the eccentric Maude in Harold and Maude and as the mother of Orville Boggs in the Clint Eastwood film Every Which Way But Loose. In addition to her acting career, Gordon wrote numerous well-known plays, film scripts and books. Gordon won an Academy Award, an Emmy and two Golden Globe awards for her acting. From the first time I saw Ruth Gordon I knew that she was to become one of my favorite actresses and women. Find out who Ruth Gordon was. Thanks to Wikipedia for the great picture of Ruth Gordon in 1919 entertainment Tue, 26 Oct 2010 09:48:53 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/christmas-gum-drop-cake Fruitcake is for many families the giving and receiving of a favorite, though often ridiculed, traditional food. Fruitcake is considered to be a part of many families. Like many Christmas traditions, the idea of giving fruitcakes as gifts is thought to have originated in ancient times. I just always thought that somebodies Grandmother made this for Christmas because she loved to bake things for people. I also suspected that she thought that the more "stuff" she could put in it the better it would be. After having my first piece of fruitcake, I joined the list of people who believe that fruitcakes are never consumed, just created and given as gifts to others and then passed on to other family members. I can remember finding a fruitcake that someone had given my father a year later because it had been put on the back of a shelf and forgotten. I was determined to never eat fruitcake again.. holidays-and-celebrations Thu, 23 Dec 2010 17:58:25 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/favorite-family-meals Close your eyes and picture Family Dinner. When I was young we did sit down as a family to eat dinner. I do remember some talking and sharing; but I also remember some fighting among siblings. My Mother was not June Cleaver and my Father was far from Ward and I can't really picture my two brothers as Wally or the Beaver. Once TV came out and then into our home in the late 40s, it became the focal point for our family meals. TV trays were our table and talking took place during the commercials. I do remember always sitting down as a family for Sunday dinners. Unfortunately when Sunday football became so prevalent, my Father and two brothers would always ask to be excused early so they could watch THE game and it seemed as if they were all THE game. Throughout the years family meal time became something they used to do not the norm. food-and-cooking Thu, 19 May 2011 11:07:19 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/street-musicians One of my favorite things to do when I am visiting a city for the first time is to spend time walking around the main downtown area. So many cities have spent the time, effort and money to make those areas appealing to visitors as well as to their own residents who work and live there. I always enjoy hearing a melody, a tune, that tells me there is a street musician, an artist, up ahead. What a great feeling to hear a familiar melody first through your ears and then through your eyes. I decided that I wanted to get to know who some of these people are and I will take you along with me on this discovery. (The above photo is titled Upcoming Street Musician - credited to Mish) music Thu, 06 Jan 2011 16:34:46 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/go-green-with-pistachios Getting healthy can seem like a daunting task, especially when you don't know where to begin. Chef Kathleen Daelemans and registered dietitians Keri Glassman and Alyse Levine have teamed up with TheGreenNut.org to create quick tips on three of the country's biggest health issues - diabetes, heart health and weight control - to encourage healthy living in 2010. I have always loved pistachios; but I loved them because they tasted good not that they were healthy good. Now that I know about the health benefits from eating something that I love; I plan to do more of it and to share with you some kernels of health facts about the powerful pistachio. healthy-living Thu, 25 Mar 2010 12:49:20 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/red-hot-mamas Red Hot Momma Mini Poster Print CafePress - Made by Di Kaye Artwork First -- there is RED: In human color psychology, red is associated with bravery, purity, happiness, good luck, heat/fire, energy, and blood, and emotions that "stir the blood", including anger, passion, love, pain, and sacrifice. Next -- there is HOT: may refer to: High temperature, Spicy food, pungency, Physical attractiveness. Then -- there are MAMAS: a female parent, girl friend, attractive woman. Put them all together: RED HOT MAMAS! And the Last of the Red Hot Mamas was Sophia Tucker! culture-and-society Sun, 28 Mar 2010 00:09:48 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/retireandmakemoneyfromhome There continues to be an unprecedented interest in home based business or at least in making money from home in the spare time. The current state of the economy could be creating a 'perfect storm' for more people than ever moving into and succeeding in their home based business ventures. First of all, it's no secret that business closures and layoffs are at a much higher level now than they were just one year ago. People who are put out of work are having increasing difficulty finding jobs to replace the one they lost (or at least finding ones with a sustainable salary). Rather than settle for any old "McJob", this has caused more people to consider starting their own home business. Secondly this recession seems to be digging deeper than prior economic downturns. Now the chopping block includes people who have never lost a job before and always thought they had some level of job security due to skill level or trade. Along with this group of people comes a lot of valuable experience and talent that could be used in self employed ventures. business-and-work Fri, 19 Nov 2010 07:44:59 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/savemarriagehelp For better or worse, in sickness and in health.... Do you remember the love that brought the two of you together that day? Seem but a distant memory? Nobody ever said it would be easy, and certainly nothing prepares you for the life change that you undertake in marriage. There is no manual that comes with the marriage license that tells you how to make things work. So you blunder on, doing the best you can. But what if that's not enough? Don't be scared to ask for help. You can save yourself the stress and emotional heartache and re ignite the passion that you once both felt. Let Amy Waterman help you and your partner resolve your conflicts, and get your loving partner back. Its not going to be easy, but Amy provides you with all the relationship advice tools necessary to facilitate dialogue and works towards repairing the hurt of a failing marriage. Amy has created a valuable tool that will change your marriage and change your life! See it for yourself. Visit: Save My Marriage Today And turn your marriage around today! relationships-and-family Wed, 31 Mar 2010 01:45:32 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/powerless-with--powertools According to The Free Online Dictionary A wuss -- n. Slang = A person regarded as weak or timid and especially as unmanly: "Cats are for wusses, dog men say" (Laura Blumenfeld). [Probably blend of wimp and pussy.] wussy adj. I should probably be embarrassed to admit it; but unfortunately, I do resemble that remark! home-and-garden Tue, 16 Nov 2010 18:13:21 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/drmikewoo-ming This lens is our way of introducing you to our Doctor, our Mentor: Dr. Mike Woo-Ming. We first met Dr. Mike at a conference in Las Vegas in March of 2005. We became affiliated with him in December of that year in his Millionaire Mastermind Coaching Group. We were total novices to the world of internet marketing and started following Dr. Mike's prescription for mastering the steep learning curve affliction we had. Our learning curve affliction has leveled out and, although we have not made that first million, we feel we are following the right prescription for success. We feel that we have been given a new prescription for success from Dr. Mike: LeadEvolution We recently were privy to an incredible software application... that (get this!) finds people on the internet already interested in your product or service. In fact, a quick test found 34 leads in just 18 seconds...who've said YES. I'm interested. See for yourself how incredible this app is...I dare say it could change your prescription for success and the way you do your own internet business. internet Tue, 02 Feb 2010 20:12:36 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/frugalfredandfreeda Fred has always been, what even he himself, called a tightwad, but Fred has mellowed a little in his old age. He now calls himself frugal. But if you catch him after his nightcap of (cheap) brandy; he will mutter something akin to a "Bah, Humbug!" and say "Hell, I'm still a tightwad, I just use frugal to make Freeda happy". And that will be followed with a "Gol-Dang It! - In this day and age, sumbuddys gotta!" Fred does believe that he and Freeda have a responsibility to talk about the many different ways they have learned to be frugal, to save costs and to protect their shrinking cash-flow and retirement nest egg. That is what they plan to do with writing for this lens. Now, you will find out that Fred and Freeda, although united in their goal of reaching people of all ages with their frugality messages, will probably have some different approaches to how to do it. But that's okay, that just means you will have more methods to explore for yourself. culture-and-society Sun, 10 Apr 2011 17:32:58 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/be-kind-to-Mother-Earth "A living planet is a much more complex metaphor for deity than just a bigger father with a bigger fist. If an omniscient, all-powerful Dad ignores your prayers, it's taken personally. Hear only silence long enough, and you start wondering about his power. His fairness. His very existence. But if a world mother doesn't reply, Her excuse is simple. She never claimed conceited omnipotence. She has countless others clinging to her apron strings, including myriad species unable to speak for themselves. To Her elder offspring She says - go raid the fridge. Go play outside. Go get a job. Or, better yet, lend me a hand. I have no time for idle whining. ~David Brin Mother Earth Poster by Jenness Cortez Perlmutter healthy-living Thu, 22 Apr 2010 19:43:02 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/harold-and-maude Harold and Maude is a 1971 American comedy film directed by Hal Ashby. It incorporates elements of dark humor and existentialist drama, with a plot that revolves around the exploits of a young man intrigued with death, Harold (played by Bud Cort). Harold drifts away from the life that his detached mother prescribes for him, and develops a relationship with an elderly woman named Maude (played by Ruth Gordon). This has been and still is one of my all time favorite movies. I have always loved Ruth Gordon and she is superb in this movie. entertainment Tue, 04 Jan 2011 12:01:22 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/declutter-your-life It's a proven fact. Clutter and disorganization has become a serious problem for most people today. Some label it "chronic disorganization" and others simpy call it being a packrat. But the thing is...it's not your fault. See, our parents never had to deal with everything we have today. And most people own too much stuff...and have too little time to deal with it. We get thousands of pieces of mail...bills and paper piling up while we sleep. We keep clothes we have trouble saying goodbye to...and boxes of "stuff" we got as gifts. All of these things creating what is commonly known as clutter. The thing is, it doesn't matter what size house, condo, or apartment you have. You might never feel like you have enough room to store everything you own. Nor do you ever have enough time to de-clutter. Nor do you always see the clutter until it is so evident that it causes great anxiety. David Tolin, PhD, director of the Anxiety Disorders Center at the Institute of Living. from his research suggests a connection between clutter and anxiety. "Having a lot of clutter leads people to feel ashamed and socially anxious," he says. healthy-living Fri, 09 Apr 2010 23:20:59 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/a-nebraskan-loves-the-corn-hole-game As a Nebraska growing up in the Cornhusker Football state, I have always loved corn. * We never had a 4th of July celebration without corn on the cob. * We made our popcorn come out red when popped. * When we had 2 vegetables for a dinner-one was always corn. * My grandmother only served cream style corn at Thanksgiving (not my favorite). * We elevated the childhood game of bean bag toss to a new level--Corn Hole game with a Nebraska game board. This lens is my way of introducing you to the fun game of Corn Hole. sports-and-recreation Sat, 23 Oct 2010 19:04:17 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/first-time-to-eat-artichokes The first time I was introduced to the artichoke and how to eat them; I am sure that I looked like the little guy here. Scraping the meat of the artichoke with your teeth and getting to that furry thing in the middle was not something that I thought that I wanted to do. In fact, I was pretty sure that I didn't want to do it ever again. But fortunately for me, my friend who introduced me to the artichoke, after she had had her good laugh at me, convinced me to stay with it until I got to the "heart" of the artichoke. "HEART"---that didn't sound very appetizing either. But as any artichoke lover knows, the heart is where it is at! What a treat! And that is how I was introduced to the artichoke and the fine art of eating it. I have since gone on to learning how to get it ready for cooking, actually how to cook and serve it and, the ultimate, how to prepare it in so many different ways. For those of you who have never met an artichoke yet; please join me while I recreate my experience for your introduction to the wonderful artichoke. I promise you will not choke. food-and-cooking Mon, 08 Nov 2010 18:11:56 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/snowandigotdivorced I grew up in Omaha, Nebraska and except for a brief 4 year time in Denver, Colorado; most of my adult life was spent in Lincoln, Nebraska. I love Nebraska, as my hometown and as the place for so many of my memories. But my love, Nebraska, had a sidekick who would always show up once a year, always in Winter, and make his presence known. When he first showed up each year, he brought some beautiful gifts with him. But sometimes he demonstrated that he had an ugly sense of humor and invited some of the bad people he knew to come and hang out with him. He would soon go from a welcomed visitor to an unwelcome pest. No matter how much we complained nor how much we tried to shovel him out; he would just sit there mocking us. His name is SNOW! His beautiful gifts were light snow falls with huge snow flakes and a blanket of light snow that covered tree branches and then glistened for us in the streetlights. But then when he displayed his bad side, his gifts turned ugly. They could include blizzards, wind driven snow drifts, sleet and ice and below freezing temperature and then the kicker demon: power outages. When I retired in 2001, I decided that Snow and I had to part our ways. It was time for us to get a divorce. So in November, 2001 we packed our car and moved to our new home, Cardiff by the Sea, California. travel-and-places Thu, 10 Feb 2011 13:42:00 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/bob-seger-ramblin-gamblin-man "I say "ONE of my fave " as I can be a very fickle fan for those rock and roll artists of the 70's. Actually my fan faves began in the 50's for the beginning of rock and roll and dances it's way through the 60's, 70' and 80's. Not that there are not rock and roll artists in the following decades to be a fan of; but my fan fervor was from the 50's to 80's. Bob Seger won me over most with his song "Old Time Rock and Roll". Stay on here to see what some have done to rock and roll with that song. Ramblin' Gamblin' Man was the first album that Bob Seger did. To me it illustrates my image of the man. music Mon, 17 Jan 2011 06:55:22 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/blueberry-pancakes I love blueberries. I love pancakes. Put them together and: I LOVE BLUEBERRY PANCAKES! Blueberries are healthy. Blueberries can be for all diets. Blueberries can be fresh, frozen or dried. Blueberries are GOOD! I want to take you with me on a recipe tour of all the different ways you can make blueberry pancakes. food-and-cooking Sun, 28 Mar 2010 12:59:00 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/baseballfans Welcome to a late-comer to being a rabid baseball fan's thoughts. Who could have told me that I was a baseball fan. I had a friend who was/is a Chicago Cubs fan. She took me to the first baseball game that I saw in a real stadium. We were at a conference in San Diego and we sneaked away one of the afternoons and went to Qualcom Stadium to see San Diego Padres vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers. Living in Nebraska then and living in California now; I remember that first game several years ago. A long time ago, but overall, I AM A BASEBALL FAN! (The above image and title I found on a greatwebsite. The image was by Yehuda Aaronson.) I couldn't think of a better way to illustrate how I am feeling about Spring Training beginning. It just means that Opening Day is not that far behind. WHAT IS IT ABOUT SPRING? ------ SPRING TRAINING for BASEBALL! WHAT IS IT ABOUT SUMMER? ------ MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL! WHAT IS IT ABOUT FALL? ------ WORLD SERIES for BASEBALL! WHAT IS IT ABOUT THE SEASON?------- baseballs, hot dogs, peanuts and THE SONG! sports-and-recreation Mon, 15 Nov 2010 17:28:32 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/twilight-vs-moonlight Twilight vs. Moonlight I will admit right up front that my choice is Moonlight. I will also admit right up front that my choice is probably related to age. Both of those admissions are why I think Mick (Alex O'Loughlin)of the Moonlight TV series was more of a heart throb for me than is Ed (Robert Pattinson) of the Twilight movie. I will also admit right up front that there will be more Twilight fans as the New Moon movie DVD is soon to be released and the fans are fanatical; but I also know that there are a lot of disgruntled Moonlight fans still longing to get Moonlight back. So join in the debate; but remember that I avoid confrontations at all costs so: no shedding of blood here please. Photo courtesy of: CafePress. entertainment Mon, 25 Oct 2010 23:30:04 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/babyboomersandretirement We are looking for people who are already retired or who want to be. We are looking for people who understand that retirement is not successful unless it is your own; not your financial planner's, not your children's, not your employer's; but YOURS. We are looking for people who want to share experiences and to bring an awareness of new and old opportunities for a positive and a successful retirement. "Life is either a daring adventure, or.........nothing!" Helen Keller Join me on Blog Catalog. healthy-living Mon, 17 May 2010 19:28:34 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/let-them-eat-cake Let them eat cake" is the traditional translation of the French phrase "Qu'ils mangent de la brioche", supposedly said by a French princess upon learning that the peasants had no bread. As brioche is a luxury bread enriched with eggs and butter, it would reflect the princess's obliviousness to the nature of a famine. (This great picture is entitled Let them Eat Cake Off Your Head from Paulina Oceanlane. I couldn't resist using it here. ) Although commonly attributed to Queen Marie Antoinette, there is no record of these words ever having been uttered by her; they first appear in The Confessions of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, his putative autobiographical work (completed in 1769, when Marie Antoinette was 13), where he wrote the following in Book 6: Enfin je me rappelai le pis-aller d'une grande princesse à qui l'on disait que les paysans n'avaient pas de pain, et qui répondit : Qu'ils mangent de la brioche. Translation: "Finally I recalled the last resort of a great princess who was told that the peasants had no bread, and who responded: "Let them eat brioche." Rousseau does not name the "great princess" and there is speculation that he invented the anecdote, which has no other sources. food-and-cooking Mon, 26 Apr 2010 11:50:38 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/margaret-atwood- 2010 Theme: Writing Women Back into History 2010 will be the 30th anniversary of the National Women's History Project. When we began mobilizing the lobbying effort that resulted in President Carter issuing a Presidential Proclamation declaring the week of March 8, 1980 as the first National Women's History Week, we had no idea what the future would bring. And then, in 1987, another of our successful lobbying efforts resulted in Congress expanding the week into a month, and March is now National Women's History Month. (from website of National Women's History Month) With this year's theme for National Women's History Week being: Writing Women Back into History; I figured that it was only appropriate to honor a woman writer whom I admire most. Her name is Margaret Atwood. books-poetry-writing Tue, 09 Mar 2010 15:25:27 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/dont-forget-it-post-it-stick-it When did it start -- this forgetfulness? I don't know -- I've forgotten! All I know is that it has been happening for a really long time. My nominee for best invention/product that I can't live without is Post-It Notes. I also can't remember when I first was introduced to Post-It notes; but I can remember that I was addicted from the first stick. I have one reference book with almost more sticky notes than pages. I have had to start using the bigger sizes as the list of things I have to remember has also increased in size. I think I soon will have to wallpaper one of my walls with them. In doing my surfing and searching for this lens I came across this site with this image. How could someone know me so well as to draw a picture of me with all my sticky notes? But they did----and they even came up with a name for my addiction: Postzest! VERBOTICISMS: (Invented words created by the Verbotomy Writers Postzest: /post-zest/ Gretel was so postzest with sticky notes that she used them instead of crumbs to remind her where she'd been. Etymology: post-its zest (zeal, enthusiasm) Created by: Jabberwocky. So, rather than being Post-It Addicted, I am just a Postzester! business-and-work Sun, 21 Feb 2010 07:42:02 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/whoisjackhumphrey Jack Humphrey is a 10 year veteran, professional internet marketing consultant, coach and author. He specializes in social marketing, blog marketing, search engine optimization, organic linking and many other link building tactics. Author: The Authority Black Book, Power Linking, Bending The Web and Social Power Linking. Editor: The Friday Traffic Report. While attending one of Dr. Mike Woo-Ming and Howie Schwartz's Traffic Strategies Workshops, we heard a presentation by Jack Humphrey of The Authority Site Center. Although we want to be a successful Affiliate Marketers; James and I have long had a dream of having an authority site centered around our past work and current passion-- how to live a successful retirement lifestyle. Jack's words resonated with us and we become members of Authority Site Center. They have always been looking for ways to improve the membership and provide even more training, components and resources. That has been done and the Authority Site Center has been retired and emerged on December 2, 2008 as Blog$uccess. BlogSuccess will be the most mainstream, largest membership on the web focused on professional blogging training and designed for every level of experience from beginner to pro. internet Tue, 08 Jun 2010 12:10:33 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/makenewyearsresolutionsvsdontmakenewyearsresolutions Make New Years Resolutions vs. Don't Make New Years Resolutions? Recent research shows that while 52% of participants in a Resolution study were confident of success with their goals, only 12% actually achieved their goals. Men achieved their goal 22% more often when they engaged in goal setting, a system where small measurable goals are used (lose a pound a week, instead of saying "lose weight"), while women succeeded 10% more when they made their goals public and got support from their friends. holidays-and-celebrations Thu, 06 Jan 2011 16:47:47 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/angels-at-christmas Because it's never too early (or too late) to start planning for your Christmas tree and what will go on top of it, ! want to share my favorite tree topper - The Christmas Angel. One of the things I remember most fondly is helping my Mother decorate the Christmas tree. What a thrill it was to finally get tall enough to reach the top of the tree and be able to put on the Christmas angel. She was old and a little worn; but we thought she looked beautiful sitting up there. I have been on a search for a new Christmas Tree Angel top and it has to be just right. Photo from Dreamstime holidays-and-celebrations Sun, 19 Dec 2010 22:12:51 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/chocolate-gifts-you-dont-eat Whether it is for Valentine's Day, Christmas, birthdays or anniversaries; it is a known fact that more chocolate is given and consumed than anything else. I am a lover of chocolate; especially dark chocolate, but I know that so many people are becoming so weight conscious and fearful of sugar that they still love chocolate but can't really enjoy it. Chocolate guilt, you know. I decided to go an a treasure hunt to find as many "chocolate" things I could that you could enjoy without eating it and thereby avoid the sugar guilt. I invite you to join me in my "chocolate you don't eat" hunt and see what treasures you might want to share with your special someone on a special occasion. You may even decide to be that special someone for nothing more special than "just because". If you do wish to actually eat some chocolate rather than wear or use it, here is a source. holidays-and-celebrations Sat, 29 Jan 2011 22:42:53 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/review-flip-ultrahd-video-camera When the Flip Video Camera first came out; I knew that I wanted one. After trying to figure out how I could afford one, I ended up winning one in an Internet Marketing contest. I was so thrilled. Being technically challenged; I was immediately concerned that no matter how easy they told me it was to use, I would still have trouble using it. Imagine my great surprise when I did actually use it and was amazed at how easy it was to take my own videos. I literally flipped over this video camera. computers-and-electronics Tue, 04 Jan 2011 11:53:31 -0600