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Friday, December 28, 2007

Unrequited Blog Love

By now I’m sure most of you know, or have heard about, Entrecard; I think it’s a good way to bring folks to your blog who may not have discovered you otherwise.

Many people are coming by to drop cards so they’re only at your blog for a microsecond; but there are others like me who, as they’re whipping by, see something of interest and stop to read and comment. I’ve seen posts on some blogs lamenting the fact that the traffic from Entrecard is comprised of people who only stop by to drop cards and don’t stay to comment, well what about the people who do?

When I was a sophomore in high school, there was a boy who I was madly in love with, let’s call him Doug. Doug was a year older than I, tall with curly hair, and when he got his driver’s license, he got a motorcycle which enabled him to wear a sexy, black leather jacket every day to school.

I watched the parking lot every day and when he’d roar into the yard I’d feel lightheaded. I went into the student counseling office and looked up his complete class schedule so that I could nonchalantly walk by some of his classes during the day. I believe that kind of activity is called stalking these days, but I digress.

Anyway, all this energy brought me nothing. I won’t say Doug didn’t know I was alive because he’d have had to be missing all of his senses not to. If something or someone shows up in your peripheral vision often enough you notice. No, Doug knew I was alive, he just didn’t care. Now, I’ll admit that I imitated a helicopter where Doug was concerned for awhile; but eventually with no reciprocity I lost interest.

So, here I am years later, with the Entrecard version of my high school crush. I visit some blogs, like them, comment, come back, comment again. It is rather interesting that some of these blogs are the very ones complaining about the traffic from Entrecard. I have been to some of them a couple of times, without reciprocity. I know that because we all have that blinking Blog Catalog widget that rats us out.

I’m not really saying that everyone who visits you, you will like their blog as well and a beautiful blog relationship will develop; but it certainly won’t happen if you never visit their blogs at all. It’s rather like the girl who turns down the sweet-hearted boy for a date because she’s waiting for the football player to ask her out, all the while complaining about how superficial that football player is. I would say I'm not that girl anymore...but I never was that girl.

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

MP's 100th Post!

100th Post!

Today marks my 100th post and it's been a wild ride. I'm still here, and maybe the two folks who read me every day are too.
If you're still here, thank you. I hope I can continue to interest you with my outlook on the world.

Sunday, December 23, 2007

Sunday Scribblings:Holiday Memories

Picture this: Los Angeles, 1963, an adorable little girl stands looking at the Christmas tree, her mouth quivering. Why is this little darling standing there with one large wet tear running down her cheek?

Because, there was one gift she wanted more than anything; more than the pony she asked for and didn't get the previous Christmas, what would make her tender young heart swell to overflowing with joy?

What did she get? This:

Nuff Said!

This post was done as part of the Sunday Scribblings

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Non-Pet Owners, Judge Not Lest Ye Be Judged

Before we got PD, I had very definite ideas about what should and shouldn't be done as far as dog ownership was concerned. I had friends who cooked for their dogs, put clothes on their dogs, let their dogs sleep on their beds and took their dogs for spa treatments. I'd look at them with my judgemental eyes and think: for Pete's sake, it's a dog!

I was pretty strong about my beliefs. If I ever got a dog, I was absolutely not going to cook for it; store dog food is fine and it's cheap at WalMart. Clothes? Clothes are for people not dogs. Spa treatments? Fuggedaboudit!

Let me tell you, I'm eating some serious crow here. It's all well and good to say what you will and won't do when you don't have that little being in your home; once you do though, all bets are off. At least for me.

The paperwork that came with PD, that gave us insights into her personality, noted that she likes to be cradled like a baby. Guess who does that? Me. Guess what else? She does like it; she lets me cuddle her and she gives me very soulful looks, sometimes she'll nuzzle in like she's trying to get closer, and hell, I like it too. We can sit like that for awhile; she's almost never the first one to terminate the embrace.

We all go to bed together. We never bought PD her own bed; we were going to but she was so content to sleep with us that we figured we'd save the cash (we like it too).

PD is a svelte 21lbs. We call her the supermodel, size -2. If you touch her you can feel her bones, though I don't know how that's possible, she tries to eat everything. Once we found out she got carsick, we weren't sure how her food would be on her tummy. I made her plain, brown rice to settle her stomach.

We sing to her, her song is the Doors, "Hello I Love You", followed by whatever rhyming lyrics we can think of. It's gotten very cold here in the LV, bone chilling. After the temperature first began to dip, we let PD out to "potty"; she stood there looking at us like we'd taken leave of our senses. We're thinking of getting her a sweater so she'll be a bit warmer when she has to go out.

So non-pet owners, judge not, lest ye be judged. You never know when some little bundle of fur will take over your heart and your life.

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Now That's A Little More Like It!

Now that's a little more like it. Awhile ago I wrote about my blog rating. I was curious to see if my blog was still G-rated, and look!

I'll take that; a little bit edgy but not enough to scare the animals!

Monday, December 17, 2007

A Word About Word Verification

Do you have word verification for comments enabled on your blog? Why? Perhaps you know exactly why, to keep that automated spam off your site right? If you're anything like I was though, you don't exactly know why. You read somewhere it would keep spam off your site and it was a good thing to do, so you did it too. Well, if everyone else jumped off the roof...

Word verification has been at best, an annoyance and at worst, the bane of my existence when visiting other sites. Word verification comes in many different types as well. There's the type of word verification that consists of letters so squiggly that you have to be on acid to read them clearly (found a lot here on dear, old Blogger); there's the type that consists of normal words with a big line through them so that you sometimes have to guess what the word is (you're always wrong though); there's the type that consists of words in type so tiny that you need to use an ultra power magnifying glass to see it in the first place; and my personal favorite, the type that require you do a math problem to verify your humanity! Let me tell you if math is what verifies I'm human, then color me robot!

I had word verification enabled too, I didn't want that spam on my site. Mind you, I didn't really know what that would mean but my mind reeled with the possibilities! So...I turned the word verification on and went merrily on my way.

I had it turned on until a friend asked on her blog if people who didn't require it, would please turn it off. It seems that my friend has arthritis and typing in itself is difficult sometimes, but add in the word verification and what is difficult becomes impossible. I thought about her request; I hated word verification, and I too, sometimes found it so difficult to use I just gave up and didn't leave a comment at all.

So I turned it off; that was about two months ago and you know what happened? I got a spam comment! That's right, one comment and I promptly deleted it. I don't know if my comments have increased since I disabled it but it sort of seems so.

So here's my two cents if you care; if you know for sure your site is subject to a lot of spam that you can't deal with, then by all means enable word verification. If you don't know for sure that's the case; don't make your readers jump through hoops to leave you a comment. Just my two cents.

"Funniest word verification entry." That could be another word for poop.
(from CollegeHumor)

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Sunday, December 16, 2007

Sunday Scribblings: Dance, You Tube and Me

So the prompt for this week's Sunday Scribblings is "Dance". At first I thought, "I got nothin". I used to love to dance but unfortunately these days, certain health concerns preclude my dancing, unless it's in a chair. I'll set a chair on fire with my moves I tell ya!

So dance, what about dance? I was hopping around on Entrecard this morning and I came across a blog that had the following clip on it and that was my aha! moment. I went over to my favorite, You Tube, and sure enough there was the same clip! If you've got some time to kill you must go over to You Tube and enter "funny wedding dance" into the search; there's some clips that are not to be believed!

Anyway, I chose these two clips because dance is all about being joyful, funny, happy, moving free and these two really did it for me. I hope you enjoy them too.

This first clip well, I do believe it's "The Routine" that Monica and Ross did together on Friends, isn't it?

Watch the following clip and tell me Shaq is not "Lord of the Dance".

This post was done as part of the Sunday Scribblings

Saturday, December 15, 2007

Bah Humbug! Save Me From Holiday Movies!

When I was a child I could rely on the usual Christmas programs every year; How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer were the good ones, The King Family, (I never knew who these people were or why anyone cared) Andy Williams, Perry Como, these were the ones I had to watch because my parents wanted to watch; It's A Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, these were the ones that had a little something for everybody.

Over the years I haven't spent a lot of time holiday show watching; for many years I had more important things to do like agonize over whatever funky relationship I was or wasn't in, other years I was just too busy with other stuff. I noticed something from time to time but just haven't acknowledged it or given it my full attention until now and that's: holiday programming is LAME!

Now, I know these opinions might get me labeled ScroogePrincess, but I'm willing to take that risk. Bah! Humbug! Save me from holiday movies! Every pop singer doesn't need to be in some syrupy made-for-tv movie that clearly exists to capitalize on the holiday season. Success in some other part of the entertainment industry doesn't always translate.

Just because you can orchestrate a duet of Beyonce' and Wayne Newton singing "Walking In A Winter Wonderland" on a sound stage with a big sled sitting in the back round doesn't mean you should. Just because you can put Christina Millian in a schmaltzy Christmas movie about her being trapped in a snow globe (I didn't make this one up) doesn't mean you shou- what's that you say? You don't know who Christina Millian is? Well hell, that's part of the point too. Who is this crap made for? Because I guarantee that the demographic that does know who she is ain't sitting home watching that crap either!

Friday, December 14, 2007

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

You Need Traffic? You Need Entrecard!

In the prior post I made a reference about Entrecard and how addicting it is, now I'd like to talk a little about what Entrecard is.

If you take a look at the widget directly under my header you'll see the Entrecard. Entrecard is a new free service that is taking the internet by storm and it works like this: you create a small business card for yourself, the Entrecard, and with this you can advertise on other blogs and other blogs will advertise on your site.

Every time you go to a site and "drop your card" you receive credits, every time someone drops a card on your site you receive credits, when someone advertises on your site you receive credits, and with these credits you can go shopping to advertise on the sites of your choice.

Because people are wanting to drop their card, you get an increase in traffic, in my case it's been about 5 times the traffic, you need traffic, you need Entrecard! Granted, there will be a number of people who will drop and leave, but there will also be people who stop to read, comment and become regular readers, what's not to like?

I have discovered so many new and interesting blogs to read it's been amazing. If you are wanting to discover some wonderful new blogs, or you want to have people discover you, you should give Entrecard a try.

Monday, December 10, 2007

What's Your Holiday Stress Level?

Hey Everybody,

I'm sorry I've been a bit MIA this past weekend; I signed up with Entrecard and that thing is more addicting than a $1000 a day crack habit. Don't know about Entrecard? Well I'll write more about that later.

For now, I'm just here to extend my apologies for not coming to your blogs to visit and share my rapier like wit. An extra big apology to my pal, Anonymous Boxer, who threw a blog Christmas Party the likes of which I've never seen. I'm sorry I missed so much of it AB, but I understand some of the partygoers are still recuperating and called in sick to work. I think the others just aren't talking, right?

Today, because a lot of you appreciate the little quizzes that show up here now and again, I have chosen one especially for this time of year: What's Your Holiday Stress Level?

I must tell you SO and I were driving along the other day saying neither one of us felt much like Christmas. It was not a "bah humbug" sort of thing, but we've had such major things happen this year; a major move, getting PD, we're just tired. Then, all that obligatory gift obtaining (for people that aren't appropriate for my theory), it's enough to make you start wimpering. So here are my results, which aren't too surprising.

Your Holiday Stress Level is Moderate

The holidays sometimes stress you out, but mostly because they wear you down.
Take it easy! You can have a fun holiday without running yourself ragged.

Thursday, December 6, 2007

Sunday Scribblings: MP's Theory Of Gift Giving

Well the holidays are upon us, it seems like only yesterday it was 102 degree heat (at least here in the LV), where does the time go?

One of the elements that exists about the holidays, and this is true regardless of which holiday you're celebrating, holidays involve gift giving. For some people the very idea of having to figure out what gift to give is enough to inspire hives; for others the thought of the gifts they'll be receiving has the same effect. Competing with loved ones or friends to see who can give the better gift is one of the least fun things about a holiday.

I'm here to tell you that if you employ my theory of gift giving and receiving, things will go a lot more smoothly with no competition involved.

This theory came into being one year while talking to my friend Tricia* who was lamenting the fact that her husband John just didn't "get her" when it came to gift giving. "He gives me gifts that just seem like they're for someone else", she held up a bright pink skirt as a means of illustration. Tricia is not a pink girl, she has worn nothing but black for the past 15 years, and a bright pink skirt? Who was that skirt for?

I started thinking about the many times I'd received those types of gifts, not tacky gifts, perfectly nice presents that clearly were meant for someone else, items not my taste, style, just not me and the thought occurred to me that I was actually care taking these things until the real owners came along.

Now, my theory is different from the what you know as re-gifting. In re-gifting, you get a gift that may be a bit funky, or you get two of something and you try to figure out who you can pass that item off to. In the MP theory, you may have to hold onto that item for awhile, you may not even know the person it belongs to-yet. It is almost a guarantee that at some point the person that item belongs to will show up in your environment and you can give them the gift you've been holding for them. I have had that experience many times.

One of the best things about MP's theory of gift giving is that it is a gift in itself. When I relate my theory to someone and they take it as their own it frees them; frees them from disappointment when they get that seemingly strange present; or they give one.

*names changed

This post was done as part of the Sunday Scribblings

The Perils Of PD

Oh boy, I had a little adventure with PD last night, the kind of adventure that can make you really take a look at your life.

Last night PD was out in the backyard giving it the old looksee, she has recently discovered an area that she feels really deserves a closer look of the digging variety. Needless to say digging is not something SO and I approve of as PD sanctioned activities because, a) who wants big holes in the yard and b) she'll bring dirty paws in the house; digging is definitely discouraged.

PD begins to head over to the "area" and she's fast I tell ya, I rush over to grab her and she slips away quick as a, well quick as a very fast dog, I start to run after her (where has my sense gone?) and the next thing you SPLAT! I'm down on the ground.

My first inclination was to get up but as I lay there, wind knocked out of me, staring at the rocks and aching, I knew I couldn't. PD ran into the house (I'd like to think it was a sort of Lassie rescuing Tommy sort of move but I don't think so) and I began to pitifully yell for SO, who came out of the house quicker than PD ran away from me, thank goodness.

As I was laying there I began to think, what would it be like if I were older, single and lived alone? This was definitely a "I've fallen and I can't get up" sort of moment, there was no phone nearby. As I'm getting to be a smidge older, these things come into my mind.

The other day I came across a site called that helps with all of these kinds of questions. Bettercaring is a site that has all kinds of information about issues concerning care for yourself or a loved one. They have information on care homes, different diseases, and finances, as well as a very useful discussion forum to speak to others with similar concerns.

Well I do have SO, and hopefully I have a couple of years before I seriously have to consider this stuff. One thing I've learned, I won't be running after PD; I'm not that girl anymore!

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

I Want The Absolute!

When friends or relatives ask me what I want for Christmas I never know what to say. It's not that I don't have a list in my head of all the things I'd like, but that list is always subject to review before I answer the question and unfortunately found wanting.
Some of the items on my list, like a new car or trip to Italy, are not really things I think someone else could buy for me; the people asking don't have unlimited Christmas budgets after all, and some things like a Dyson vacuum cleaner well, I don't know if someone should buy that for me.

There, I've said it, I want a Dyson and I have wanted one for quite some time. You only need to have a vacuum kind of mock you going over the same piece of lint twenty times, or explode in your face as SO did quite recently, before you start searching for a piece of equipment that won't make you exercise your profane vocabulary while using it.

Dysons are sleek and state of the art, and honey you can order them online! Go to their website, and you can take a look at a whole range of styles and colors, there's a sexy purple upright called The Absolute that I've got my eye on. They've also got units made especially for homes with animals (perfect for PD), or people with respiratory problems, and a whole accessories section that is not to be believed. These aren't your mother's vacuum cleaners!

So now that my secret is out, I wonder if The Absolute is in my future. I can't tell you how freeing it is to admit this. I used to be embarrassed that I wanted a cool, cutting edge Dyson, but I'm not that girl anymore!

Happy Chanukah Or Hanukkah!

Sundown today begins the eight day celebration of the Jewish holiday, Chanukah.

I went to Catholic school for 12 years and in those days the Catholics were not about to give any press to any other religion or their holidays. You could watch Rudolph, Santa, and a Charlie Brown Christmas, but there were no TV shows about other religions holidays.
The only thing I knew about Chanukah for many years is Jewish kids got presents for eight days; in comparison, Christmas seemed like a rip off, I got presents for only one day! But, like the Christmas story, there's a lot more to the holiday of Hanukkah and what it represents. From the mezuzah store I found this brief description of the meaning of Hannukah:

...We light the Menorah to remember the Miracle that happened when the Jewish rebels (the Macabees) took back the Holy Temple from their conquerors. The enemy had done everything that they could to defile the Temple, including bringing idols into the Temple.

The Macabees cleaned and restored the Temple service. They had only one small flask of the special olive oil that was used to light the large golden Menorah in the Temple. Miraculously, the small flask lasted for 8 days.

The Rabbis made this 8 day period into a holiday, now known as Hanukkah. They decreed that it would be celebrated by lighting an 8 branched Menorah, and increasing its lights each day to commemorate how the miracle became greater with each day that the oil continued to burn...

So, to all my Jewish friends, I wish you a very happy Chanukah, filled with love, light, meaning, fun and good food, that's a holiday!

Sunday, December 2, 2007

It Doesn't Only Happen In Vegas!

You've heard that tag line: "what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas?" The line is great because it leaves it open to interpretation what is being referred to, but surely a lot of what is being referenced is the gaming here.

Now you may not always be able to get to Las Vegas, and even if you could, the traffic and the crowds would surely be a deterrent. What about some Vegas-like activity online? You may have thought about playing online before but were a bit skeptical because it was online, but now there's top usa online casinos. is a website that's a great resource for online casinos, poker rooms, and sports book facilities. The website is super user friendly, and features reviews and ratings from users including information about the trust factor of the site. Now that's information that you can use! The site also lists the top ten online casino sites with links to each so you can check them out personally. With a little research and intelligent caution and you can have the excitement of a Vegas casino right on your own computer.

Thursday, November 29, 2007

Time Wasters:What Holiday Are You?

Major holidays are coming up but apparently your personality type can make you a particular holiday. So... because I love my darling readers, AND I know a lot of you are reading me instead of working (you know who you are), I present to you, your time waster for today: What Holiday Are You?

You Are Easter

You are an optimistic, hopeful, and genuinely sweet person.
Sensitive and affectionate, you are easily touched.
You love nature, animals, and anything cute or cuddly.
For you, every day is a new chance - no matter what happened yesterday.

What makes you celebrate: Almost anything. You love most holidays and celebrations.

At holiday get togethers, you do best as: The peacemaker. You can prevent any squabbles that might break out.

On a holiday, you're the one most likely to: Remember to include everyone

Easter to me is sort of a anti-holiday, not much seems to go on BUT the description of me is frighteningly accurate. What will it say about you?

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Always A White Christmas In Colorado

Christmas is coming up pretty quickly. Whether you're thinking of your own holiday traditions such as tree trimming or Christmas card writing, or you're part of the "Day of Buying Nothing" crowd; you're certainly aware that there are very few days to the big event.

As a child I watched the classic holiday movies such as “It’s A Wonderful Life”, “Miracle on 34th Street” and “A Christmas Carol” and there was always lots of crisp, white snow in these films; in fact snow seemed to be the benchmark of the Christmas season. I was a kid living in sunny, Southern California and those Christmas films were as close to snow as I could get.

I was born on the east coast, but left at an extremely young age, so no snow there, but my dear friend from high school, Tracy* married a man, had a child and bought some Colorado real estate and you can best believe there’s lots of snow there.

At Tracy’s home in Colorado, Christmas looks just like the films I saw as a child, the beautiful, big homes are decorated with twinkly lights, the snow is deep and perfect for making snow angels, the air is crisp and visible. After a tough day of snowball fighting you can’t wait to get inside to get a nice, cup of hot cocoa and some sugar cookies.

If you’re very good and you listen closely, you can hear the bells that tinkle as an angel gets its wings!

*names changed

Sunday, November 25, 2007

Sunday Scribblings: Misspent Youth? Hmmm...

Star Trek along with it's many variations; Star Trek, The Next Generation, Voyager, Deep Space Nine, Enterprise, are among some of my favorite TV shows.

In an episode of Star Trek, The Next Generation, called "Parallels" one of the characters is caught in a space-time continuum which causes him to bounce continually between alternate realities. In various realities he's married to a colleague, working with enemies, promoted; events that haven't happened in his primary reality. The episode really poses the question, "what if?"

This week's prompt for Sunday Scribblings is "Misspent Youth" and it caused me to ruminate over my youth from the vantage point of "what if?"

-At 15 I tried out for cheerleader and didn't make it...but what if I had?
-At 16, I went to prom with a date "found" for me ...but what if I'd stayed home?
-At 17, I didn't apply to the Ivy League school I'd considered, opting to go to a UC...but what if I had applied?
-At 22, I sent my best friend to apply to be a bunny at the Playboy Club and didn't apply as well...but what if I had?

When I think of things I didn't do, paths I didn't take, opportunities I missed or was too frightened of success to pursue, I do think: what if? Are there realities where I've done those things, am doing those things? Am I a high powered executive, a mother, a nun, a race car driver? Do I travel extensively? Am I photographed constantly? Do I retreat to the silence several times a year? Do I live in a foreign country? Do I go into space?

Different paths could have taken me to different places; could have caused me to be a different person from who I am, and I don't think I'd like that.

So when I think of my youth, I don't think it was misspent; it was spent exactly as it was meant to be.

This post was done as part of the Sunday Scribblings

Don't Know Nothing About Harry Potter

My dear friend Tricia* has two sons aged 11 and 13. James*, Tricia's eldest, is a sensitive, creative boy who has the face of an angel and a dry wit.

James and I began a conversation about Harry Potter, which I've never read, and he tried to discuss it without giving away what he considered to be pertinent points in Harry's story. James looked at me from beneath impossibly long eyelashes and said: "I highly recommend them, and you have to read them in order...or else you get nothing!"

I thought that was so funny, he was extremely serious when he said it though. I didn't have the heart to tell him I'm the type who reads the ends of stories first!

So in deference to my young friend, James and not to silly old Spiff, who tagged me on this quiz/meme I give you the results of which Hogwarts house I'll be moving into. I wonder if I can bring SO and PD?

*names changed

Which Hogwarts house will you be sorted into?

Saturday, November 24, 2007

The "Joys" Of Pet Motherhood

PD has been my fur daughter for a couple of weeks now and boy, am I having growing pains!

When I was 20-years-old I purchased my first car, a shiny, new red, stick shift. I went with a friend; we knew nothing about negotiating and just said "ok" when told the price. I signed all the paperwork and got ready to take my new car home except there was one small problem: I couldn't drive a stick shift. My friend drove the car off the lot for me and promptly took me to a big parking lot for my first lesson.

After I completed a couple of parking lot turns I was pretty much on my own, with a car payment and a car I couldn't really drive. The car was parked in my mother's driveway and every day I would go out and screech, lurch, and stall my way down the street as I taught myself to drive. It got to the point that I would literally get a headache whenever I looked at that car. I feel much the same energy when I interact with PD.

I haven't owned a dog since I was a teen; I didn't have to do anything but love my dog Floyd. PD must rely on SO and I for everything and that can be an overwhelming responsibility; especially when I am a perfectionist with no patience for the learning curve. I have yet to experience the "joys" of pet motherhood. I want her to be a Perfect Dog, and if she isn't I want to know by osmosis how to extract that behavior from her. I am constantly thinking I'm doing it wrong and that does not feel good at all.

Friday, November 16, 2007

Country Music

If you know anything about me, you know that my music tastes are nothing if not eclectic. I am a 49-year-old African American woman who likes all kinds of music. Really. Riding in a car with me can be annoying because I have no allegiance to any particular radio station; I hear one song I like and then switch stations until I hear another song I like.

So...even though I have been known to fire up You Tube, and listen to just about anything I stand before you ready to make a huge confession: I like Country Music.

It's really indicative of advancing age that I can admit it. I just don't give a rip. When I was younger, you could light hot matches and stick them under my fingernails before I'd admit to liking country music; there was just no "street cred" to that type of music. So sad, so twangy, so "my truck broke down" and "she done me wrong"-yecch!

When I was in college I worked as a cocktail waitress. One of the bars I worked in had a jukebox stocked with country music- a lot of country music. For hours I'd hear Hank Williams Jr., David Allen Coe, and Alabama and after a while I knew all the words to all the songs. A little while later I was singing the words to those songs...not always at work. I don't think you've lived until you've heard me warbling, "why don't you ever call me by na-a-ame?" at the top of my voice.

Well hell, now I'll admit my liking for some country music. I'm no "Redneck Woman" but I love Gretchen Wilson's song, Carrie Underwood's "Before He Cheats" is a ditty that is just too easy to sing along with, and Tim McGraw's "Live Like You Were Dying" really ought to be the national anthem.

Thursday, November 15, 2007

I'm A New Mother, I Need The Money!

In September I found out what my blog was worth and that was pretty heady stuff. I was a brand new blogger and the amount was incredible to me. Well now that I'm a whole three months old, the blogging world is my oyster and here's what it's worth now-

My blog is worth $47,421.36.
How much is your blog worth?

Here's what I'd like to say now: SHOW ME THE MONEY! There's a saying that goes: "Every man has his price" and I think $47,421.36 could be mine.

So if you were wondering if you could buy this blog, the answer is: "let's talk". I am a new mother and I could use the money!

Monday, November 12, 2007

I'm A Fur Mom!

As my wonderful readers know I've been ruminating about becoming a fur parent for a while now. I'd like to introduce you to my new baby.
As she is in Witness Protection she will be known in my blog as PD (perfect dog).

Since she's been here, my life has become pretty different; walks, picking up poop, feeding schedules, holding her like a baby, laughing at her perpetual snarl (she has an under bite).

I used to be able to just do what I want but I'm not that girl anymore.

Sunday, November 11, 2007

The Pairs Meme

So I was sitting around thinking; "gee I'd really like to do a meme" and here comes my friend Jean from A Great Pleasure to the rescue. Thanks Jean! This is the Two Things meme.

Two names you go by:
Two things you are wearing right now:
Horns like Flava Flav
The Hope Diamond

Two things you would want (or have) in a relationship:
Couldn't just stop at two, but I've got them in my SO

Two things you like to do:
Count my millions
Admire my awesome beauty

Two things you want very badly at the moment:
Time to count my millions and admire my awesome beauty

Two things you did last night:
Do I really have to say?

Two things you ate today:
Bridge mix
Barbecue chicken pizza

Two people you last talked to:

Two things you’re doing tomorrow:
Taking my new fur daughter for a walk and,
Picking up her poop

2 Favorite days of the week:

Two favorite holidays:
My birthday
SO's birthday

Two favorite beverages:
Ice Blended Mocha
Apple Martini

Two things about me! Things you may not have known:
I was in a Richard Simmons Video
I was in Bye Bye Birdie in High School

Two jobs I have had in my life:
Restaurant Manager
Worked on Love Connection

Two movies I would watch over and over:
The Big Chill
Soldier's Girl

Two places I have lived:
La Jolla
New York

Two of my favorite foods:
Chocolate Cake

Two places I’d rather be right now:
Anywhere as long as there's a spa and room service.

You only have to tag two people on this meme so what two victims uh, I mean blog buddies, can I tag?
How about Spiff and Lisa C.!

Friday, November 9, 2007

Love In The 2000's

Ah the 80's, that was my time! I could and would dance for hours at a time, wore short skirts and low cut clothing with nary a second thought, and stay out all night then go to work. Yes, I was the quintessential party girl!

I dated a lot in those days (long before SO) and there was no such thing as internet dating; in those days there were personal ads in the newspaper. These ads were answered by letter, what we now call snail mail, and the creativity of some of these letters was amazing. Some people wrote poems, some sent cartoons; anything to make their letter stand out from the rest.

I have been happily attached for awhile now, but if I were still single I would have no qualms about internet dating. It seems to me a viable way to meet someone special. I do have some single friends who are wanting a relationship and I always ask if they've tried online. I would not send my friends to any of those dating sites where you answer an incredible number of questions and then for some unknown reason are rejected! Phooey on that!

Love in the 2000's is different and high tech. These days people are searching for something exciting, something that will give them value and that can be found at is a free dating site; did you hear me? I said free. The site is easy to navigate so you can accomplish your dating goals without spending a lot of time trying to figure out what's going on. Once you register you can start connecting with people all over the world; check out profiles, view pictures, send messages, enter chat rooms. It can be a whole new world, maybe one that contains someone special!

Thursday, November 8, 2007

How To Find The Right Dog

SO and I have begun the process of looking for a fur baby, a dog to be specific; and boy it is most definitely a process! There's so much to learn about how to find the right dog, one thing is for certain, you'd better figure out what traits and skills you 'd like in your pooch.

I figure, if the dog can drive a car he's pretty much golden!

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

An Oasis In The Blogging For Money Desert--Smorty

A little while ago, October actually, I wrote a post admitting that I would like to find a way to get paid for blogging. In that post I related my frustration at having to wait until my blog was three months old before I could begin monetizing it. I have been doing my homework while waiting my magical three-month-old birthday which happened a couple of days ago.

The results of my research have been interesting; I discovered many different opportunities but there was always some weird element; takes forever to pay, has to go through a rigorous approval process; it was getting pretty dismal. I don’t know about you, but when mama wants a new pair of shoes, she doesn’t want to wait two months to get the money for them!

And there, like an oasis in the blogging-for-money desert, was Smorty. Smorty is wonderful, and all the cool kids are signing up. Smorty is a service that allows you to make money from your blog by writing reviews of various services and websites. You can select the campaigns you want to write for. Since my tagline is “putting my two cents in and I’ve got change for everybody” this seemed like the perfect match for me.

Here’s the Smorty process:

1. Sign up with Smorty
2. Submit your blog for approval (takes about 72 hours).
3. After approval, select from the available advertising campaigns.
4. You'll have 3 days to write your review.
5. Submit it, and if it’s approved

Smorty pays via Pay Pal so you’ll need to have a Pay Pal account, and the very best part is: they pay weekly! Oooh, I’m even closer to that new pair of shoes!

Tuesday, November 6, 2007

Puppy Love

While reading Nessa's post about her 8-year-old son's Secret Love, I thought of an amusing story of "puppy love" from my childhood. I was in first grade and a mature and determined 6-year-old.

I can't quite remember when I first saw Ricky*; it could have been out on the playground, it could have been during reading but most likely it was during math. I never liked math so I didn't pay much attention to the scratches of the chalk on the blackboard or the droning of the nun's voice. This could have been the time when my eyes roamed the expanse of classroom and settled on something a lot more interesting...Ricky.

Oh honey let me tell you, to my 6-year-old eyes he was sooooo cute! He was taller than the other boys with curly black hair, dark eyes, and cafe au lait skin. I was smitten, and determined that he would be mine! I'm not sure I knew what that meant, but whatever it meant that's what I wanted. I hatched a plan, my little feminine wiles hard at work; every day when recess was over we had to line up in height order, boys on one side, girls on the other and the boys would pass us as they went into the classroom. That's when I would make my move.

Now, I need to take a minute here to tell you, I didn't have a move as such, but Ricky made my tummy feel funny and my face feel hot. Something had to be done! The next day when recess ended, the boys lined up on one side and the girls on the other side; I looked across the way and there was Ricky towards the end of the line. I got that funny feeling in my tummy again and the line started moving; he was walking closer to me but not looking in my direction, there was a sort of pressure, a compulsion to DO something and as he was almost in front of me, I jumped out and kissed him on the cheek!

Once I committed the act, all the adrenaline left my body; I could hear laughter and sounds of that sing-song "ooooooooooo" from the kids around me. Ricky stood in front of me for a split second, his face as red as if it had been slapped, and then he was gone. I was embarrassed; this was not what I'd planned and the rest of the day everyone whispered about what I'd done. Ricky spent the rest of the year avoiding me and left the school in the second grade.

Surprisingly enough Ricky and I ended up attending the same high school, but the magic was gone.

I met Ricky's wife at my thirty year high school reunion last year; somehow we just gravitated towards each other and hit it off immediately. Once she told me who she was, I told her my story and she laughed heartily. Ricky, now Rick, walked up as I was relating my tale; he was gracious enough to blush. Some things never change.

*name changed

Monday, November 5, 2007

Not Just Another Day

Today is SO's birthday. We're supposed to treat this as just another day which means, no cake and ice cream, no presents, and no cracked voice rendition of "Happy Birthday" (why IS that note so high anyway).

I am going to do my best to observe the edict, but it will be hard. It's really not another day, it's the day my best friend, playmate, confidant, lover, partner in crime, helpmate, and favorite person was born.

So I'll just say: I love you very much honey, and I am pretty happy that you were born.

Happy Just Another Day.

Sunday, November 4, 2007

Are You Wearing Underwear?

Are you wearing underwear? Well I am, no commando here, but because I'm constantly on a journey of self discovery I couldn't help but wonder what the underwear oracle had to say about me. What? You didn't know there WAS an underwear oracle? Well there is.

What Your Underwear Says About You

You like to think of yourself as innocent, even though you're not!

You're sexy, in that pinup girl, tease sort of way.

Amazingly accurate I'd say! See what the underwear oracle has to say about you!

Saturday, November 3, 2007

What's Up With The Mysterious Phone Messages?

There are some things that make me want to wail in frustration:
-The latest episode of "I Love New York 2 ",
-Blanket emails and,

You may be wondering what a mysterious phone message is, well allow me to illustrate;

Picture this, Las Vegas 2007...

The beautiful Menopauseprincess sits at her table, phone held to her ear, listening to her friend's outgoing voice mail message. The message concludes and her melodious voice says,

"Hi Marcy it's me, I was just calling to see if you wanted to go to the meeting with me on Friday." "Call me and let me know if you'd like to go."

Some hours go by and Marcy does return the call which MP is not home to receive. Here's Marcy's message: "Hi it's Marcy, returning your call." "Call me."

Um...what about the meeting? That information was requested but not provided; now the old game of Telephone Tag can begin. ARGH!

I am not asking for a social security number, I'm merely asking if you 'd like to go somewhere, somewhere we've more than likely discussed before. I receive a return call that might have been placed from a Free Clinic reporting results from the latest round of STD testing.

What's up with the mysterious phone messages? I always try to leave a detailed message, stating the reason for the call, even if it's just to chat; unless there's a reason I know of not to do so. If I'm calling with a specific question and you return the call and don't get me; please leave a detailed message.

When I was younger and my life was a lot less planned; those mysterious phone messages were fine; but I'm not that girl anymore!

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Happy Halloween!

I was given this luscious Halloween Sweet Treat Award by my friends Trinity and Bobby. Today is Halloween and I wanted to pass on this award to all of the wonderful people, friends and lurkers, who graciously come and read my offerings. Thank you.

SO and I will be doing Halloween Express. Halloween Express means we'll be decorating our home tomorrow during the day, eating, watching scary movies, handing out candy to all the little goblins that come by in the evening, and taking the decorations down as soon as we run out of candy!

I hope you all have a fun day.

Monday, October 29, 2007

Have I Hit The Big Time? My Content Stolen By A Scraper Site!

Oh I just really want to rant now! The post directly beneath this one concerning the "Unsexy" Celebrities according to a certain magazine is listed on a site I've never heard of and allegedly written by someone I've never heard of.

I learn something new every day in the blogosphere and so far it's been pleasant, this however just chaps my hide! The little bit of research I've done leads me to believe there's not much I can do about it; the copyscape logo wouldn't do much because these sites rarely have anyone that can be contacted.

If anyone has had experience with this sort of thing I would love some advice. I am just fit to be tied!

End of rant...for now.

Maxim's Top 5 Most Unsexy Women; It's Time For A Rant!

If you haven't heard, Maxim Magazine, a kind of soft-core porn mag, has released a list of their Top 5 Most Unsexy Women; it's time for a rant folks. My first thought is: why is this list necessary? SO says it's like being on Mr. Blackwell's Worst Dressed List, and there's no such thing as bad publicity, but is that really true?

The list is comprised of:

1. Sarah Jessica Parker
2.Amy Winehouse
3.Sandra Oh
5.Britney Spears

I don't think being on Blackwell's Worst Dressed List is quite the ding it was many years ago, people either don't care or see it as a indicator of cool. Besides, the unfortunate Gaultier or Versace can be removed after an event, being on a list that for being "unsexy" (is that really a word?" well that hurts.

Despite what media "experts" would have us believe, celebrities are human, they want to be happy and feel good about themselves, why is it fun to undermine someone's self esteem?

I have reached a point in my life where I feel it's more fun to build people up instead of tear them down. When I was younger I had fun being snarky at other's expense but thankfully, I'm not that girl anymore.

Saturday, October 27, 2007

Doris "Granny D" Haddock

Last week I wrote a post about the 85 year-old woman I met at the fitting room at Ross, and a couple of days later I saw a film about Granny D Haddock, a most remarkable 97 year-old woman. I'm sure the fact that these incredible women are crossing my path is no accident. I think that as I realize situations in which I'm not that girl anymore I'm being shown what kind of "girl" I can be.

There is a documentary currently running on HBO called, Run Granny Run. Run Granny Run" is a film about a woman named, Doris Haddock; known fondly as "Granny D", who ran for Senator of New Hampshire in 2004 when she was 94 years-old. If you get the opportunity to see this film, by all means do.

There are many interesting things about Doris "Granny D" Haddock:
-when she was 50 she and her husband successfully campaigned against hydrogen bomb nuclear testing in Alaska.
-when she was 89, she walked from California to Washington D.C. in order to raise awareness for the need for campaign finance reform.
-when she was 94, she ran for the Senate of New Hampshire against the incumbent, Judd Gregg. While Doris "Granny D" Haddock didn't win, she got 34% of the vote which was not bad for a woman who was determined not to take any special interest money.

So as my 50th birthday looms on the horizon in 2008, I see women like Doris "Granny D" Haddock and the energetic queen of the fitting room and I find myself sort of relaxing into my future.

When I was younger the idea of being 50 was scary, and not something I could even fathom but I'm not that girl anymore.

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Do These Pants Make Me Look Fat?

Hey Everyone,

Been down with a cold, so sorry. SO is keeping me drugged up with cold meds and I've managed to escape for a minute. Enjoy the picture!

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Blogging: The Ability To Connect With People

In early September I wrote a post entitled: "More Alike Than Unalike" which, on the surface, was about a reality show but was really about the similarities amongst people looking for love.

The notion of "more alike than unalike" is something that I have been observing more as my journey through the blogosphere and the process of blogging continues. It is also this notion that I believe my friend Bobby Revell from had in mind when he began his Blogging For Friendship Project. Bobby is one of the first friends I made when I began learning to blog, he is always willing to help and places a high value on friendship; indeed he freely admits he blogs for people as opposed to money. Bobby's friends, the team of NAFASG©™ , created the incredible badge shown here to illustrate the message.

Maya Angelou wrote in her poem, "Human Family"

...We love and lose in China,
we weep on England's moors,
and laugh and moan in Guinea,
and thrive on Spanish shores.

We seek success in Finland,
are born and die in Maine.
In minor ways we differ,
in major we're the same...

Blogging did not exist when Ms. Angelou first wrote this poem yet today, with a couple of pecks on the keyboard, you could be developing a friendship with someone in China, Guinea, or Spain.

I don't think I'll be going to Malaysia in this lifetime, but my friends Nick, Nessa and Conan-cat have painted vivid pictures of life there.

  • Nick has barbeques with friends, boredom at work, cuddle time with his wife.
  • Nessa has amazingly funny children and loves to shop.
  • Conan_cat is concerned about school and has a lot of wisdom locked in his young mind.
Not so different from lots of people I know right here in the States.

  • Gypsy is in Australia, and has mentioned the big spiders they have there, her love for her beautiful young daughters, and the colorful times she had back when she was single.
And then there are my friends in the States, who I may not necessarily know which state they're in but are my buddies just the same.
  • Anonymous Boxer-has a wonderful little dog that sometimes shows up in her posts wearing boxing trunks and gloves. She also really does box, but has an unfortunate Starbucks addiction.
  • Maria-has a great little daughter who's an old soul inhabiting a child's body, and some of the most colorful relatives you'll ever want to meet.
  • Frank-sometimes shocking and inappropriate, but so tender and sweet when talking about his wife and children you'll forget he's shocking and inappropriate.
  • Josie-always a kind word for everyone, but racy and spicy and sometimes soul-searingly honest.
These are just a few of my friends. Others that I haven't written of because I'd really have a post way too long, but please know I appreciate and value you all. The real point of the matter is that these people exist not only in the blogosphere but also in the real world. If anything were to happen to them, I'd be undeniably impacted. This is the funny and amazing thing about blogging, the ability to connect with people you might not have before.

Saturday, October 20, 2007

Here's What I Learned In The Fitting Room

Today it was time for a little retail therapy and I was very much looking forward to it. I had a couple of gift cards in my purse that were screaming to get out and I wanted to let them.

I found myself at Ross Dress For Less. I really have to be in the mood to shop there; the merchandise is pretty much shoved onto racks with little rhyme or reason apart from sizing. Today I was in the mood. SO and I have some social engagements this weekend and I fancied some new items. Sometimes a new shirt, pair of jeans, earrings, or a pair of shoes can just turn the switch to the "on" position personality wise.

I am pushing my little cart around the store, choosing items and mentally constructing an outfit around each item: "I can wear that black sweater I bought a couple of weeks ago with these jeans, but I'd better go try them on first", so off to the fitting room I go. When I arrived at the front desk where they give you that big hang tag number that denotes how many items you're taking into the room, I noticed the attendant was a senior citizen.

I watched this woman as she worked; she was like a hummingbird. She'd zip over to the desk hand out a number, zip back to the two racks holding discarded clothing, zip back to the front desk again. She was tiring and inspiring to watch. She also was running rings around the other employees who were younger by at least 30-40 years.

I have a few health concerns and I don't always move so well, not horrible but not great. Certainly I'm not up to climbing Mount Rushmore as a very dear high school friend recently did. Some days stairs can be a challenge. HOWEVER this little lady at Ross was moving!
I said to her: "How are you?"

"You really want to know? Come here, I'll whisper."

I leaned forward and she sort of stage whispered, "85".

I said, "Oh, I asked how you were, but I never would have guessed that."

"Oh I thought you asked, how old I was"

"That would be pretty personal" I laughed as I took the hang tag and went in to try on the jeans.

As I pulled on the jeans in the tiny dressing room I thought of the woman; I thought how sad that she has to work at 85. I then had to stop myself because really, I had no idea what that woman's story was but I was creating a dismal picture. She had way more energy than I did, and one thing I know is when you have a lot of energy, you can't just be sitting around. Maybe she's working in order to keep busy.

I wanted to ask this woman why she was working, but somehow that didn't seem like the right question, even insulting. As I left the dressing room and went to the desk to return the number I said, "what's your secret?"

"What's my secret?"

"Well yeah, you look great, you're moving faster than I am , what's your secret?"

"Well, I never drank, never smoked.."

"Good clean living?"

"Good clean living." And she gave me a very sweet smile.

So here's what I learned in the fitting room today at Ross:
-As long as you've got energy, keep moving,
-Do the best job you can,
-And be kind to silly young women who want to know your secret. They'll learn it themselves in time.

Friday, October 19, 2007

And Now A Word To All The Lurkers

There are as many types of people in the blogosphere as there are on the planet. There are funny people, happy people, angry people, depressed people; there are extroverts and the introverts and there are people with opinions about everything and people who keep their opinions to themselves. I just want to take a moment to speak to the last group I mentioned; in the blogoshpere we call them Lurkers.

Lurkers are the people who visit a blog, maybe frequently, but do not leave a comment.

Yesterday, I was reading a blog where a comment was submitted from a long time Lurker. This person said when they discover a blog with a lot of comments, they often won't leave one because it seems like there's an established community already and they wouldn't fit in.

I don't know if you can consider this a blog with "a lot" of comments, but we tend to get a little silly around here, like friends playing nicely together, and I'd like you to join in the fun, if you like.

And even if you decide to stay a Lurker, please know that I appreciate you. Thank you for reading what I have to say, know that you are welcome here and anytime you want, you are invited to play!

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Sunday Scribblings: I'm Queen Of The World!

After much hard work I have finally been elected Queen of the World! While I have only just ascended to this position I have been groomed for quite some time. I am, after all the Menopauseprincess.

I have given much thought to the responsibilities and what would be my first act as Queen. My first proclamation is:

There Shall Be No More Prejudice Of Any Type Anywhere!

There shall be no more prejudice against others because they don't share the same color of skin; they have the same need to be loved as you, the same love for their families as you, the same desire for a better life as you.

There shall be no more prejudice against others because they are poorer than you; they have the same need to be loved as you, the same love for their families as you, the same desire for a better life as you.

There shall be no more prejudice against others because they are richer than you; they have the same need to be loved as you, the same love for their families as you, they desire and deserve a better life, just as you.

There shall be no more prejudice against others because they are older than you; they have a wisdom of life experience that you'd do well to listen to, and they deserve respect just as you.

There shall be no more prejudice against others because they are younger than you; they have a joy of life you'd do well to emulate, and they deserve respect just as you.

There shall be no more prejudice against others because they are thinner than you; for their own reasons this is the body they choose and it is beautiful.

There shall be no more prejudice against others because they are heavier than you; for their own reasons this is the body they choose and it is beautiful.

This proclamation is effective this day, Thursday, October 18, 2007.

This post was done as part of the Sunday Scribblings

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

I've Just Got To Do Something About My Blog Rating!

So I was over at my blog buddy, Herb Urban's blog and after a bit of excruciatingly painful laughter over his latest analysis of Grey's Anatomy, I had to leave.

As I was leaving I noticed that he had a rating for his blog; a rating like films are rated. I won't tell you Herb's you'll have to go to his site to find out. I was excited to get my rating because I'm just so pithy and edgy (in my mind). Imagine my chagrin when I was given this:

JustSayHi - Dating

I've just got to do something about this. I want to be like the cool kids that say bad words and talk about s-e-x.

Oh h-e-double toothpicks, if anyone has any suggestions I would be so gosh darned pleased!

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Blog Matchmaking

Last week I gave out some awards to some of my blogging friends. The reason I did this is because I wanted to let these people know how much I enjoy their writing or how much fun I have when I visit their site. SO asked me if it didn't devalue the award if so many are given out; my answer to that is no. I think if people didn't care about their writing being appreciated, they'd write in a notebook and call it a day.

If you're anything like me, you probably have your favorites and you visit them frequently. Because I do visit my favorites frequently I kind of know who regularly comments. I was a little flattered when I noticed a comment from someone familiar to me, but not someone who'd previously commented on that site, that said they'd come there because they discovered them on my award post.

That comment felt like a compliment, but after it happened four more times I began to think something was up. I realized that what I had done was a fine bit of blog matchmaking because; those folks seem to be regular commenters on each other's blogs now. I couldn't be happier; it's so much fun when your friends like each other.

Monday, October 15, 2007

What Color Crayon Are You?

Hey Everyone,

I have missed you but I was up until 6:00 a.m. working on a last minute project and to say I'm fried like a piece of bacon would be an understatement.

Still, you have been on my mind and I'd like to give a little something to play with: The What Color Crayon Are You Quiz.

You Are a Yellow Crayon

Your world is colored with happy, warm, fun colors.
You have a thoughtful and wise way about you. Some people might even consider you a genius.
Charming and eloquent, you are able to get people to do things your way.
While you seem spontaneous and free wheeling, you are calculating to the extreme.

Your color wheel opposite is purple. You both are charismatic leaders, but purple people act like you have no depth.

This is pretty interesting because yellow is one of my least favorite colors, and I don't think I used it much as a child.

I was more of a red kid, but I'm not that girl anymore.

Friday, October 12, 2007

Mom's Cooking

My mother was born in South Carolina and like most mothers, her cooking style was all her own. I don't know how much of the region was present in her food; it was just "mom's cooking".

My mother tried to teach me to cook as a young girl but I was having none of what I perceived as her efforts to steer me in a woman's role direction. I would have a bright successful future and not mess around with that woman's work stuff. I hadn't figured out the eating part and just who would be cooking my meals.

Later, when I was in college I had figured out the eating part, Top Ramen, Ritz Crackers and weekends going home took care of who would be cooking the meals. I once tried to make an apple pie following the directions on a Bisquick box. The pie literally could not be cut, my roommates and I even hit it with a hammer; it made a loud clang when it hit the bottom of the trash can.

My mother made Southern food; some call it "soul food" but I think that's somewhat of a misnomer. My mother made "comfort food" greens, macaroni and cheese (my mom's resembled a kind of kugel), meatloaf, fried chicken, lima beans, biscuits, corn bread, these were some of her staples and they were like ambrosia to me.

Once during a call home from college, mom discovered I had been on a pre-digested liquid protein fast. This diet consisted of only ingesting a foul tasting liquid and drinking water; I was on the third day of this fast when the call occurred and to say I was hungry would have been an understatement. My mother begins to talk about dinner the weekend I come home, I say no dinner for me because I'm fasting; then follows a brief mother/daughter argument about dieting. Mom decides to take a different approach and begins to discuss what she's making, wow, all my favorite foods, how about that, what a coinky dink! Needless to say, I got to my mother's house on the "first thing smoking" and ate like a crazed weasel! Meatloaf, macaroni and cheese, green beans and biscuits-the health food of my youth.

Recently, as I was making dinner the thought occurred to me to make biscuits. I hadn't really tried to make anything like this since the pie debacle in college but somehow, I knew I could do this. As I was making them I saw myself making them the way I'd always watched my mother make them; right down to rolling the dough with a glass and using the opening of the glass for a cutter. SO exclaimed how good they were, and that they were "picture perfect".

Well of course they were. My mom taught me.

Thursday, October 11, 2007

The Wussification of Vampires

My fascination with vampires began with Dracula, he of the widow's peak and and shiny black cape. I was too young to really understand all that blood drinking and swooning but there was something interesting about him. People were afraid of him, whole villages actually, but the ladies still had a thing for him.

A few years later I would discover "Dark Shadows" and Barnabas Collins. I was a still a child but still not getting it; what was it about Barnabas? He wasn't in the front of the line when looks were being given out, but there was just something about him.

Over the years there have been many other movie and television vampires; possibly you have favorites of your own. If you're an older person maybe you think no one could top Bela Lugosi or Klaus Kinski; at the other end of the spectrum many people are still mourning the loss of "Angel". One thing about them, they all had a certain something that made them compelling and strong and dangerously interesting.

We all know the rules; can live forever, must drink blood, mustn't get caught in the sun, must be invited into a place in order to enter. A wooden stake through the heart, holy water and the head cut off is the only way to make sure they're dead because above all these creatures are of great power.

There have been a few signs in the latter years of what I call, "The Wussification of Vampires". They have gotten better looking (what happened to the Barnabas Collins type vampires?), developed consciences so that they don't have to prey on humans (they either only feed on criminals or get their blood from a blood bank) and they have jobs. One thing that was a constant was that power that emanated from them.

The Wussification of Vampires has reached its peak in the person, so to speak, of Mick St. John in the new vampire television show, "Moonlight". I have watched a couple of episodes, so if I still possess the talent to have shows canceled then this drivel should be off the air shortly.

Mick St. John is a private detective, which seems to be the popular vocation for vampires, (you know, they can work at night)and that brings him into contact with bad guys. On a recent episode Mick the Vamp had been chasing a bad guy whom he intended to kill and unfortunately was stopped mid-bite by the arrival of the police. He goes scampering into the night like a scared rabbit (WTF?) and said bad guy goes to jail; but now bad guy knows that Mick is a vampire and when he gets paroled years later he goes hunting for him.

Bad guy is really on top of his game unlike Mick the Vamp and he manages to make it look like Mick is stalking him (normal stalking if there is such a thing, not "vamp" stalking) and has attacked him. Bad guy has no aversion to injuring himself right up to, and including, shooting himself and so Mick looks like the psycho. Oh, I forgot to mention Bad guy shoots himself in Mick's APARTMENT! That's right, he broke in, and was waiting for him when the Vampire was away.

I don't know if you could hear me screaming: "What a wuss!" but I was. This guy is a disgrace to the entire Vampire genre and I am getting weary of his frightened, dear-in-headlights, expression which he wears all too often.

You'll pardon me for the obvious pun but Mick St. John and the show, "Moonlight" sucks.

Tuesday, October 9, 2007

Complete Your Blog Look-Add a Favicon

Around the blogosphere all the cool kids seem to be investing a lot of time (and maybe some money) into changing the look of their blogs. Whether they're searching for a new template or background, adding new graphics or changing fonts, people are looking for the thing that makes their blog memorable. If you've spent all that time trying to "individualize" your blog why not go one step further and add a Favicon?

What is a Favicon? A Favicon is that small picture that is to the right in the address bar. If you're on Blogger it's that red B up in the top of the address bar, if you're on Google it's the blue G, you get the idea, I have changed mine to a pink M for Menopauseprincess. A Favicon may help readers remember you to bookmark and return to your site.

Once you learn how to make a Favicon you'll be hooked, and you'll want to make one for every blog you own. Complete your blog look--add a Favicon!

I make a practice of visiting pretty regularly just to keep my eye on a few technical things. The author Sarah, is fantastic and does a very good job of explaining things to people who are on the level of "blackboards and hand puppets" like me. Her site is not dumbed down, but she takes the time to answer questions from readers who are less advanced technically. If she doesn't know the answer for your particular situation she'll find out and get back to you.

In September Sarah did an article called "How to Create Your Own Favicon", and after reading it I asked if you could do this on Blogger (as opposed to having your own site). Sarah didn't know but said she'd find out and let me know. Well, the results of Sarah's investigation is this article: "Adding a Favicon on Blogger" and I highly recommend it. Sarah made making my Favicon a relatively painless process, and I think lots of people can do it as well. Believe me, if I can do it, anyone can.

So what are you waiting for? Go read Sarah's articles on creating Favicons and create one.

It's what the "best dressed" blogs are wearing!

How Addicted To Blogging Are You?

SO enjoys telling me that I'm addicted to blogging (which is somewhat accurate). Imagine my delight when I discovered a way to actually quantify it.

Um 65%, that's not so bad right? Right?

So what about you? How addicted to blogging are you?

65%How Addicted to Blogging Are You?

JustSayHi - A Free Dating Website

Monday, October 8, 2007

"I'd Like To Thank All The People That Made This Possible..."

Last week was the two month birthday of "I'm not that girl anymore..." and I had a bit of a party here, at least that's what RJ said in the comments. Interestingly enough, I received a special gift on that day, the beautiful Nice Matters award. My friend Jean from A Great Pleasure gave me this and I couldn't be happier.

I would like to pass this award on to:
Gypsy - even though she teases me about my watching General Hospital.
Gnomey Newt from one of my favorite "tech" sites.

There are many great things about blogging and receiving awards is the icing on the cake.
My friend Nick

gave me this award:
This award I'll like to give to:

Herb Urban
Anonymous Boxer
Brown Baron

and this award:
I would like to pass this award on to:

Pen and the sword

I must tell you that receiving these awards sort of makes me feel like Sally Field circa 1985 when she said, "You like me, right now, you like me"; - and I like you right back.

Sunday, October 7, 2007

While waiting for the weekend re-broadcast of "General Hospital" (yeah, I said it!) this commercial came on and I wanted to share it with you. I think if you come here every now and again it's because you find me mildly amusing and for that, I thank you.

Think of this as a little valentine to you.

Saturday, October 6, 2007

Sunday Scribblings: Sorry--I'm Not!

On my visit to obtain the prompt for the week, there was this note on the Sunday Scribblings door:
Sorry, folks. Meg and I are both out of town this weekend and will not be able to put up links -- I think this is the first time in 80 weeks that we've both been traveling on the same weekend! We will be back next week with a great prompt. Hope you all have a fabulous weekend and we'll see you soon!
[Update -- It's 5 am and I'm heading to the airport & saw your comments -- aw, you guys, I feel bad! If you want to use "Sorry" as a prompt, I promise to post the links on Monday!]

My first thought was: "okay, see ya next week", because there's still that 8 year old with the potato inside of me, and there was a "getting out of homework" feel to it that was cool. Then the adult part of me piped up that no one is making me do this every week, I do it for me, and to some extent for you, my fabulous readers. I went back to Sunday Scribblings and noticed that lots of other people had reached the same conclusion; they were writing anyway, and later on there was indeed, a prompt-"Sorry".

What usually happens for me with Sunday Scribblings is something immediately pops into my head, all wordy and wanting to be written, so I sleep on it and the next day something else pops up, something not quite so full of itself and that's what gets into print. But, "Sorry?", I couldn't get anything positive with that, and for some reason I feel like I need to be positive. Not need to be really, but I need to be.

So...I wake up today thinking about "Sorry", and I'm in a good mood just because I'm me and I realized that Sorry--I'm not.

  • -I'm not sorry for any of the choices I have made in my life. Alcoholics Anonymous says in a portion of the Big Book: "we will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it". I think that is so eloquent and on point, because all roads led to now, and now is pretty cool.
  • -I'm not sorry for the relationships I've had. I may have been plenty sorry when I was in them, but they were training grounds for the two real relationships I have now; with my SO and with myself.
  • -I'm not sorry for having days when I just don't care what I look like, or who sees it. You don't like it, don't look.
  • -I'm not sorry for being loud, I don't want to live like I'm in a library. I don't know if I'm really loud but SO occasionally tells me I am.
  • -I'm not sorry for not wanting to be around people who are overly negative. We all have down times or periods in our lives, but if people only see the world through poop-colored glasses I'll send them good energy-from afar.
  • I'm not sorry that I have a pretty open mind. If what you like and believe don't involve harming children or animals--have at it. I'll respect your right to like and believe it, I may even let you tell me about it, at length.
As I sit here writing this, I can't say I can think of anything I'm sorry about. I'm all full of my "I'm not that girl anymore"-ness today, and that's a good place to be.

This post was done as part of the Sunday Scribblings


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Wednesday, June 29, 2011

sun up, to sun down

the sun came up.
good morning.
they wanted cheerios.
i wanted raw oats.
a little gardening.
aaaahhhh the smell of summer rain.
an afternoon inside.
greens+roasted broccoli+avocado+red onion+egg+lemon+olive oil

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

everything in its season

I cannot tell you how happy I am to find myself leaving the farmer's market Saturday mornings with a bag full freshly picked deliciousness, just waiting to be gobbled up by my little family. As we move deeper into summer and each week passes, there are more and more options for dinner growing in our own backyard, and coming from the local farms around us.

When foods are picked the moment they are ripe--rather than days or weeks ahead of time like some produce you buy in the store--the difference is HUGE.
The local produce actually TASTES, and it tastes wonderful. Incomparable. Basically, you haven't LIVED until you've eaten a freshly picked peach......really.

With all this perfectly fresh picked taste, you can focus a meal around the vegetables, instead of having them as a small, boring side dish smothered with some kind of sauce.

When eaten in their season--when they are actually supposed to grow (strawberries in the spring/early summer, tomatoes in the summer, broccoli in the cooler months of spring/fall....etc), because they are picked and eaten right at their peak, they actually have more vitamins and nutrients than their phony cousins who are forced to grow year round, picked early, and shipped across the country.

The bottom line is, the closer it grows to home, the better it is for you and the taste doesn't even compare.

My challenge for you this week is
a) you still have time to plant a small garden/a few veggies in pots....
or b) find a farmer's market near you! (check here for an easy search).
It's also a good way to try out new things that you may never grow yourself, or might not even find in the store. My kids love going to the famers market, and it's a good way to teach your kids about where our food comes from and let them talk to the farmers!

I planted arugula this year and it took off like crazy! What does one do with so much arugula? I decided to make a simple pesto with it, and tossed it with pasta and our farmer's market finds.
I feel like every so often I need to make a disclaimer and remind people how I cook.......handfuls of this and pinches of measurements so you can make it up as you go:)

Pasta with Arugula Pesto and Spring Veggies
for the pesto:
two large handfuls of arugula
1 handful of basil
1/2 cup-ish toasted walnuts
1 garlic clove
juice of 1 lemon
handful of shredded parmesan cheese
olive oil until you reach the consistency you like
salt and pepper to taste

add ingredients to a food processor or small chopper and let-er-rip.
Continue to slowly add in olive oil until the pesto is at a consistency you like (around a 1/2 a cup or so is what I used)
Cook your pasta according to package directions (we used whole wheat spaghetti)

While pasta is cooking, sauté fresh spring onions (NOTHING like store bought!), and zucchini in a bit of olive oil. When onions and zucchini are tender, mix in shelled peas and cook for a few minutes more. When pasta is done, strain and add to veggies, and then toss with pesto for a few minutes in the pan.

We finished off the rest of the pesto with mozzarella and our farmer's market tomatoes.

I'd love to hear what you are finding at YOUR famers market or in your garden right now??!

Friday, June 24, 2011

it makes me very happy...

From now until September I could easily title every post "I love summer", with a photo of something simple and summery that makes me happy. Every single day I find new things to love.

Like being outside all day long.
aaalllll day long.
in the sunshine.

Digging in the dirt.
Weeding (ok, lets not lie. I hate weeding, but love being in the garden with the kids)
Roses. in my house. to smell.

Sweating outside in the sun, and stopping for a drink of ice cold water.
Bonus: Ice cold water with lemon and mint.
Giving Charly a bath.
A clean dog.
bonus: a clean dog that smiles for  pictures.
Swimsuits all day.
Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack.
Still in swimsuits.
We have more and more tiny green tomatoes each day.
Farmers Market on Saturday.
Cars 2 this weekend! The boy has been counting down for months!
One last big project and Robby is officially done with school for the summer!!!
I He We have made it through the first year!

What makes you happy?

Thursday, June 23, 2011

fudge filled cupcakes with peanut butter frosting

I love cake. And cupcakes. And really, anything involving the word, cake.

This weekend after we ran I thought we had earned ourselves some kind of cake.
And chocolate, filled with chocolate, topped with peanut butter was exactly what we needed.

Chocolate Cupcakes
makes 24 cupcakes

2 ounces semisweet chocolate
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
3/4 cup boiling water
6 TBS butter, melted
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 large eggs
1 cup evaporated milk
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 350°F.
Line cupcake pans with liners.

Finely chop chocolate and in a bowl combine with hot water and cocoa powder. Let mixture stand, stirring occasionally, until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth.

In a bowl add flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. In another large bowl with an electric mixer beat butter and sugar until combined. Add eggs (adding one at a time) until thickened slightly and light colored (about 3 minutes). Slowly add evaporated milk, and melted chocolate mixture, beating until combined well. Add flour mixture and beat on medium speed until just combined.

Pour batter into cupcake liners, and bake in middle of oven until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 18-22 minutes.

Cool completely.

Fudge Filling
4TBS butter
2 oz finely chopped bittersweet chocolate, melted
1/4 c unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup powdered sugar
few TBS milk

Cream together butter and melted chocolate. Add cocoa powder and powdered sugar. Add milk one TBS at a time until you reach a good consistency.
Fill a pastry bag with filling.
I used a giant round tip, and after the cupcakes were cool just stuck the bag in to the top of the cupcake and gave it a little squeeze.

Peanut Butter Frosting
recipe from Ashley's blog that I used for these brownies
6 Tablespoons softened butter
¾ cup peanut butter
1 cup powdered sugar
1/4 tsp kosher salt
Cream the butter and the peanut butter until combined.
Slowly stir in the powdered sugar until completely incorporated.

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Dear Wasatch Back,

a collection of little letters

you came and went again. You were a blast, terribly challenging, and beeeeautiful. Thank you.
hill copy
Dear Robby,
I love when we go on super dates like this! Take that, The Bachelor!!
Remember how you don't really love to run?? Yet you keep signing up for these and doing awesome? I love you.

Dear firemen, thank you thank you thank you for spraying runners as they went by. We loved it!
firemen copy
Dear My Hair,
I don't know what to do with you anymore.
waterboy copy

 Dear Robby,
Remember when we camped out for an hour by the water? That seems like years ago.

Dear 7.6 mile run at 2am,
you were my favorite. by far.
The 40° was perfect, I could see my breath in the (full) moonlight.
Don't tell Ragnar but I pointed my headlamp up to the sky so all that lit my way was the full moon and ten thousand stars.
I was so happy that you were rocky and dirty trail instead of pavement. I was more than excited to jump the creek. And running through an old train tunnel??!!! Who gets to do that?? I loved it.

Dear High School Gym that I "slept" for two hours in at 6am,
that was weird. And dark. And musty. And full of all kinds of snoring noises. I sunk down in my sleeping bag and giggled.

Dear Girl who held up the bathroom line to shave your legs in the sink.

Dear Cup-O-Soup. We meet again my old friend. You are against everything I believe, yet you taste so good after being up running for 24 hours.

Dear Nevernude Fans,
don't worry, we'll be back in October.
Would you believe that there was a Nevernude copycat team there??!!
We'll get them.....we have a few tricks up our cutoffs.
seriously go watch our video one more time, just for kicks.

Dear Real Toilets,
wow I missed you.

Dear Ragnar Hill,
Why are you the hardest thing ever, yet look like nothing in photos?? It's discouraging.

Dear Robby, remember how you volunteered to run the last mile of The Hill with me?? CRAZY!!! I loved that you did it, and I love that you know what to say to push my buttons to keep me going.
Dear finish,
finish copy
Dear Tara and Justin,
thank you thank you for inviting us to run. Sorry we stunk up your van.
friends copy
Dear ice cream sandwich, you tasted awesome at the finish.
Dear us,

Dear self,
4th relay down.
what is wrong with you?

Dear Fish Tacos, you're what I thought about the whole time. I couldn't wait to meet up with you Saturday usual, you did not disappoint.

sincerely yours,

Thursday, June 16, 2011

the latest

It's hot. In my house. (finally!!!) Our brick house = our own personal brick oven. I love it.

Speaking of hot can find me shoving my face at Settebello tomorrow. Yum.

I am really enjoying Pinterest. It's the most organized my life will ever be.

Happy Fathers Day!!!
To my own dad, Robby, and all the dads out there....happy day!

dad. me.
Screen shot 2011-06-16 at 12.04.09 AM
these are my kids.
they're dirty. sticky. messy. grubby.
they spend the days/nights playing outside and looking for bugs/making mud food/just in general playing in the dirt.
I kind of love that about them.
this is a baby carrot. It's tiny and adorable.
It's brothers and sisters will be ready to eat soon.....I cannot wait!

I'm checking out early this week to get ready for Wasatch Back. (You may remember my last relay?).
Anyone else running??
 It should be fun, and not fun, and tiring, and smelly.....but also fun. (haha watch this). I just found out that my third leg (below) had to be plowed and there are giant walls of SNOW up each side of the mountain for us to run's JUNE!!!
Picture 34

I'll be posting updates along the course via my FB page and twitter....or maybe I'll see you out there!

Happy Weekend!!

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

a simple supper: baked frittata

This is one of our go-to dinners when we need a quick throw together meal. It's different each time I make it, depending on what veggies I have lying around, or growing out back.
bakedfritata4 copy
Saturday we went to opening day of the farmer's market, and I was so happy to see TOMATOES!! Red, plump, and full of summer-y-ness. They made the journey up from southern Utah, and while nothing tastes quite like grown-in-your-own-backyard......we have happily been eating these.

Baked Frittata with Tomatoes and Goat Cheese
eggs2 copyeggs1 copyeggs3 copy
8 eggs
a few TBS milk
4 small potatoes, thinly sliced
2 tomatoes, sliced
handful of goat cheese (chevre)
small handful of fresh herbs, chopped (I used chives, basil, oregano, thyme)
a bit of butter for pan
bakedfritata1 copybakedfritata2 copy
how to:
I like to bake this in a cast iron skillet. If you are using a different type of pan, you may need to adjust cooking time.

Place potatoes on the bottom of the (buttered) skillet.
Wisk the eggs with milk and S&P and pour over the potatoes.
Top with tomatoes, chevre, and fresh herbs.

Bake at 400° for 25-35 minutes, until potatoes are tender.

We ate it with a simple salad of mixed greens, arugula, marinated peppers, parmesan cheese, and a quick balsamic vinaigrette (balsamic vinegar, olive oil, honey)
bakedfritata3 copy

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Reduction in Pain

Orme-Johnson D.W, et al. Neuroimaging of meditation's effect on brain reactivity to pain. NeuroReport 17(12):1359-63, 2006. Full article

Mills W. W. and Farrow J. T. The Transcendental Meditation technique and acute experimental pain. Psychosomatic Medicine 43(2): 157–164, 1981.

Zammara J. W., et al. Usefulness of the Transcendental Meditation program in the treatment of patients with coronary artery disease. American Journal of Cardiology, 77, 867-870, et al.


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Data Science: The Benefits of Hiring Former Interns

During the summer months, many college students seek out and work at companies offering internships. The benefits to these students are obvious: They hope that the brief work experience will teach them valuable skills and bolster their resumes for when they look for full-time jobs after graduation. The benefits for companies to provide internships are less obvious. Companies invest in their interns by teaching them the skills necessary to be productive at their particular firm as well as general skills useful with any employer. Yet, typically internships last for only a few months before students leave the firm along with the knowledge they gained. One way that companies can try to capture more of their investment is by hiring top performers from their intern pool. In order to understand the…

Link to Full Article: Data Science: The Benefits of Hiring Former Interns

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text:
24th April 2006 - a message sent to Andy Whomsley- as follows:-

Hi Andy,

The school now has its roof on and the rendering of the inside walls will soon be complete. After that it's the floors to screed, windows and doors to fit and the outside to render, so all is on schedule for your visit in August.

The toilets are still to be built however, but should not take too long.

As far as work for your students whilst they are here is concerned it would be great if they could do some or all of the following: Design and make some basic furniture, put up shelves, paint and decorate, make a garden, increase learning resources etc etc.

Is there any chance that you could bring out supplies for the football team? Some more balls would be great as they are now using the last of those you brought out on your last visit. We were also wondering what your supplies of lost property football boots might be like? Last years boots have just about had it and they are very expensive here. If lost property can’t help could some of your students possibly buy for us from the local jumble sales or charity shops?

Love to all at the school,
Oriel & Alan

24th January 2006 - a message from Oriel - as follows:-

The students are doing an amazing job fundraising. The people out here will have such difficulty grasping the amount of money that has been given, it’s fantastic. I'm sure that when they see exactly what the money has been spent on it will be such a boost. We are trying to get everything sorted at the site this week, before we come back for the "destinations" show (the holiday and travel show at earls court on the 2-5 February at Earls Court). Nobody has any transport here, so it all needs to be in place. Hopefully the next batch of money will arrive in time to buy the windows and doors. the main building is up to window level now and once the windows are in it will really look like a school building. The guys are working hard up there and foster, who is the supervisor, is a really good bloke. At the rate they are going I would imagine the main school building could be at decorating stage for when you are here. The toilet block is being dug at present, but is very slow going as they have encountered massive boulders. Storage shelves is something that will be needed and perhaps the students could think about. We have only purchased a few text books as they get eaten by ants and rats at the old school site. The borehole is holding up well and we have had loads of rain recently, but this is also a problem as we can't get any river sand at present. I have taken some photographs of the site as it has progressed and will certainly bring them back with us. I have only just finished the film so they will not be processed in time to scan them to you, but I will get two sets printed off.
Take care and regards to all, Oriel & Alan

3rd January 2006 - a message from Oriel - as follows:-

Just a quick update on the building works at this stage. Alan gambled on a hand pump, even though the flow was not reported to be excellent. Last friday we had our first drink of borehole water, so as long as the hole does not dry up all is well and the builders and school children will have water.

At the moment the static level has risen considerably but we will have to see how it stands up in the dry season as well. Alan has gone into town this morning to get measurements for water tanks and we will site a tank with a tap on a plinth near the school and pump into the tank for now.

We are not sure if the toilets will be flush or long drop yet as it depends how deep they can dig through the rock. We are also having debates about the situation should the water be insufficient in the dry season. We don't want flush toilets that cannot be used and we also don't want the elephants demolishing them to try and get water. So if they can dig deep enough the present thoughts are long drop.

Have a happy January and week warm (it's an extremely pleasant 26 degrees and cloudy but dry here today). Oriel & Alan

Earlier News >>


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Versatrax 150™

Inuktun Pipe Inspection Vehicle

The Versatrax 150  is a modular, long range (450m/1,500ft) internal pipe inspection system capable of operation within a variety of pipe sizes. The inline chassis system is designed for operation in pipe with a minimum internal diameter of 150mm/6in up to 300mm/12in.

Versatrax 150™ in View

minitrac image
minitrac image

Industries & Applications

The Versatrax 150 (VT150) pipe crawler system is a robust workhorse designed for the inspection of long pipelines, tunnels, culverts and other confined areas with a limited number of access points. The VT150 is offered with two standard chassis configurations: in-line for smaller diameter pipes, and a steerable parallel setup for larger pipes or open areas. Built around Inuktun’s Multi-Mission Modular (IM3) technology, the Versatrax 150  is readily adaptable for different Spectrum™ cameras, sensors and tooling to perform comprehensive inspections across a range of industries.

This low maintenance crawler is simple to deploy and can be used both underwater and in dry applications making it ideal for in-service conditional assessments of sewers and storm drains, hydroelectric penstocks, and a range of other pipework found in the oil and gas, nuclear, petrochemical, and mining sectors. Ease of use, operational power and unmatched reliability make the
Versatrax 150 an ideal tool for your unique inspection requirements.

Key Specifications

  • Depth Rating: 60m / 200ft
  • Maximum Tether Length: 500m / 1,650ft
  • Maximum Speed: 9m / 30ft per minute
  • Vehicle Payload: 75kg / 165lb
  • Front Facing Camera: Spectrum 90™
  • Optional: Spectrum 120™ or Spectrum 120HD™
  • Operating Temperature: 0°-50° C / 32°-122° F
  • Vehicle Weight: 40kg / 88lb (with brass Minitracs)
  • Vehicle Dimensions: 737x343x493mm /
  • Standard Components: 2 x 6000 series Minitracs™,
    1 x Spectrum 90™ camera, 2 x 101L LED lights, inline
    and/or parallel chassis and wiring harness, 160m / 500ft tether, Versatrax™ power supply / controller in Pelican® case with Digital Video Recorder and sunlight readable monitor.

“This little workhorse is the backbone of our company…we have found that we can adjust it to any situation quickly and it runs through the line with ease, even when the lines have not been completely cleaned…”

— J. Chad, President, Underground Pipe Inspectors, Ltd .

Built Multi-Mission Modular

Inuktun Standard Product Assembly Chart: Versatrax 150™

Click chart for larger image

Standard IM3 Options

Custom configurations: see dealer for details

Spectrum 120HD
High Definition PTZ
camera for more detailed
visual inspection

Remote gripper for
object handling and

Unique Features

Sensor Integration

Nondestructive testing tools integrate with the
Versatrax 150™ for remote sensing and tooling

Extended Tether

Travel distances up to
500m / 1,650ft with the
longer tether and
AC-powered reel available
at time of purchase.

Let’s Talk!

Versatrax 150™ Standard Dimensions


text:
Press Release

Determine, Inc. Capitalizes on Expertise in Banking and Financial Sector to Expand Across Market Segments

CARMEL, IN -- (Marketwired) -- 03/28/17 -- Determine, Inc. (NASDAQ: DTRM), the pioneering leader in global Source-to-Pay and Enterprise Contract Lifecycle Management (ECLM) Cloud Platform solutions, continues to expand its banking and finance customer base by delivering innovation on the Determine Cloud Platform.

Through 2016 and into 2017, Determine has continued to acquire a wide range of industry experience, bringing its considerable depth of capability to established as well as leading edge categories. Determine, long a significant presence in the areas of traditional banking, insurance and investment management, has continued to parlay its influence throughout the vertical as more organizations recognize all the advantages of the Determine Cloud Platform. Determine now includes working directly with mobile wallet and other high-growth, innovative fintech areas among its many skill-sets.

"Our ongoing growth across banking and finance is the result of a combination of our ever-expanding expertise, resources and technological innovation we've built as an established leader in source-to-pay and contract management. We're able to transfer our experience in one business sector to another, empowering global businesses to translate our technology into improved compliance and risk management, optimized workflow and bottom-line impact."
-- Jeffrey Grosman, Chief Operating Officer, Determine, Inc.

Firms across the financial spectrum are faced with a dynamic and complex set of regulations from an array of agencies. These include the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and the Office of the Comptroller of Currency (OCC), among many others. That's why, as compliance requirements and risk mitigation strategies continue to become more demanding and sophisticated, more customers have turned to Determine's solutions and Determine Cloud Platform for enhanced capabilities.

Determine delivers procurement, sourcing, supplier management, contract management and invoicing solutions to customers globally. The company's growth in the finance and banking sector has been predominantly driven by increased adoption across many different sub-segments including: credit unions, general financial services, credit card issuers, asset management, wealth management, private equity, insurance, lending and online/mobile payments. These and additional categories are where the Determine Cloud Platform is now establishing the new standard of service.

"Considering our comprehensive presence throughout the banking and finance industry and our stellar client base, we're proud to solidify our position as a premier provider in the space."
-- Jeffrey Grosman, Chief Operating Officer, Determine, Inc.

Supporting Resources

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About Determine, Inc.
Determine, Inc. (NASDAQ: DTRM) is a leading global provider of SaaS Source-to-Pay and Enterprise Contract Lifecycle Management (ECLM) solutions. The Determine Cloud Platform provides procurement, legal and finance professionals analytics of their supplier, contract and financial performance. Our technologies empower customers to drive new revenue, identify savings, improve compliance and mitigate risk.

The Determine Cloud Platform seamlessly integrates with major ERP or third-party systems such as SAP, Oracle, Sage, QAD and Microsoft. Modular solutions can be configured to add more as needed to provide additional value beyond spend management. Our unified master database and business process approach empower users at every level to make more informed and smarter decisions.

For more information, please visit: www.determine.com.

Media Relations:
Rose Lee
Determine, Inc.

Source: Determine, Inc.