Fluent Sap

Suck!

2009-03-02T13:33:00.000-05:00

My new job ended just about as quickly as it begun, I lasted a whole six days there.

Let me tell you why.

I was given three days of training (Wed, Thu, Fri). Everything the trainer went over, he told us to write down but followed by saying, “You’ll never need to know this, but write it down anyway.” I filled a legal pad full of things we were never going to need to know.

I was told that on Monday morning, we would have a quick review and a short lesson on soft skills (aka, how to handle angry people), and then we would be on the phones, with coaches to help us when we got stuck. We were all very nervous and didn’t feel ready what-so-EVER.

So, Monday rolls around. We sat in a small room for 8 hours, waiting. We were told they didn’t have any computers or headsets for us to use. The quick review and soft skills lesson never happened.

Tuesday: We sit around for most of the day, and the other half we spend sitting by an agent taking calls. We have no way to hear the customer because we still have no headsets. All we can do is listen to the agent, and watch what they are doing on the screen. Not very helpful when you can’t hear the customer’s issue.

Wednesday: We sit around for about two hours and finally they give us headsets. They paired me with an agent who was having a bad day and it was obvious he did NOT want to train me. I heard him take TWO calls before they threw me on the phones by myself. I had a total of 10 calls all day, and on each one I needed help. I stood up and raised my hand, as they told us to do when we had an issue. Nobody came to help. I had no idea what to tell these poor people. On top of that, they pissed around and never told me what my schedule was going to be.

I found out from other agents that they never got their 50 cent raise coming out of training. Other agents had not been paid at all yet. And there were also a few who had worked a slew of overtime hours on weekends and were still waiting for their time and a half.

Thursday: I fucking quit.

There is enough confusion in the United States over Medicare, health insurance, premiums, prescriptions, etc … I refuse to contribute further to that problem. I refuse to lie to people.

Today is payday and I’ve yet to receive my direct deposit. I have no idea what time it should be in there, but if it’s not there by tomorrow, I’ll be making another trip out there (40 minutes round trip), to figure out who in the hell dropped the ball THIS time.

So, back to the drawing board. Back to trying to find an ethical job. I’m not even sure one exists, at this point. Really.

(sorry my comments are sometimes off. I have been using Chrome for my browser and for some reason it’s not cooperating well with Wordpress. I’ll figure something out soon.)

WP Remix!

2009-02-12T17:20:00.010-05:00

Although I am a graphic designer who occasionally creates graphics for the web, I am always impressed by the amount of visually stunning premium wordpress themes that are available.

WP Remix is the ONLY theme on the internet that offers WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) page editor, over fifty page templates, dynamic codes, smart-drop menus, and more to help you build your website easily.

And with their affiliate program you can earn 50% on every sale, which is impressive as well because it is up from 20% at the start of last week. Be sure to check out the FAQ page for answers to any questions you might have. You can also visit the support tab or the forum for answers to specific questions.

Cellular Woes

2009-02-12T17:14:00.001-05:00

Does anyone know an easy way to get out of a cell phone contract? We are paying so much per month for ours, and for the amount that we use them, it’s just not really worth it. We have looked around and found much cheaper options but we are currently bound by a crappy two year contract and we still have a year to go, it’s not up until next year in January.

Any suggestions? I have a feeling it would be pretty expensive just to quit the contract.

I’ve been shopping around for a better deal on cell phones … my current provider is AT&T but I’m thinking of switching. Who is your provider? Why do you like them? Who has the best offers?

Any information you have on the subject is greatly appreciated!

Bullets!

2009-02-11T21:12:00.002-05:00

I haven’t been keeping up with my diggs (on my main blog) or reading many blogs lately. Still sort of in that blogging funk that I described before. Just isn’t much to say right now.
I’d like to go somewhere. A quick roadtrip. I have no idea where. Somewhere I’ve never been.
I’m making use of the fitness center daily now. If I miss a day, I feel like crap. So, I just go everyday for about an hour and I’m usually the only one there. The privacy is nice. Three weeks ago, when I first started going I could only do 3 minutes on the elliptical, now I am up to doing the hills interval workout, 25 minutes on level 3!
Still waiting on that call, or any call, for employment. Bleak. But still searching every single day.

How’s you?

Follow Ted on Twitter!

2009-01-20T14:57:00.002-05:00

Do you Twitter?

Then check out Ted on Twitter, the founder/CEO of IZEA, which is the most wonderful site for paid blogging. I am an active member and I absolutely love being part of it. It's a great venture for me right now, since I am in between jobs and need to make some money in my loads of spare time.

Ted calls himself a serial enterpreneur who is passionate about innovation, a social media addict, an Apple fan and an owner of three pairs of pants.

His Twitter page is also a lovely shade of orange hues which is my favorite color!

So go Twitter away and don't forget to follow Ted!

10 Great Green Ideas

2009-01-20T14:52:00.001-05:00

For those who think you can't afford to go green, think again. Here is a list of ten great green ideas that are easy and cheap. Check it out!

1. Each degree you turn down the heat saves 3 percent of heating costs, while each degree you raise the temperature of your air conditioner saves 3-4 percent of cooling costs. By changing the temperature by 2 degrees all year, you can save about 2,000 pounds of C02 a year.

2. Cook with a slow cooker or a toaster oven (or even a solar oven!) to reduce electrical use from kitchen appliances. For a meal that requires one hour to cook in an electric oven, and which uses 2.7 pounds of C02, a crockpot uses 0.9 pounds of C02 for seven hours, a toaster oven takes 1.3 pounds of C02 for 50 minutes, and a microwave only 0.5 pounds of C02 for 15 minutes of cooking. A solar cooker requires NO C02!

3. Switch to a laptop instead of using a desktop computer and cut three-quarters off your electrical use. Turn off the laptop at the end of the day.

4. Switch to cold water washing and save 80 percent on energy used for laundry and save an estimated $60 a year. Hang dry your clothes instead of using the dryer and save 700 pounds of C02 a year.

5. Plug anything that can be powered by a remote control or that has a power cube transformer (little black box) into a power strip, and turn it off, and/or unplug, when not in use. (Power cubes are 60-80 percent inefficient.)

6. Turn off the lights when you aren’t using them and reduce your direct lighting energy use by 45 percent. Stop using heat-producing halogen lamps (they can also be fire hazards). Install occupancy or motion sensors on outdoor lights.

7. Switch to compact fluorescent from regular incandescent bulbs and use 60 percent less energy per bulb and save 300 pounds of C02 a year.

8. Wrap your water heater in an insulation blanket and save 1,000 pounds of C02 a year. Insulate your hot water pipes.

9. Use public transportation whenever possible, carpool, shop locally, and ideally switch to a hybrid or energy-efficient car (if you haven’t already).

10. Keep your tires inflated to improve gas mileage by 3 percent. Every gallon you save also saves 20 pounds of C02 emissions.

source

Obama Rally Signs!

2009-01-20T13:44:00.004-05:00

If you are interested in purchasing an Obama Inauguration sign, please visit obamainagurationsigns for more information. I will definitely order one, as my husband and I have collected all sorts of Obama memorabilia from the election.

The signs are 9.5 inches wide by 39 inches tall and have been printed full-color. The cost is only $9.99 each, which includes free ground shipping via 1st class USPS. The sign will ship within 24 hours after purchase, and you can pay through PayPal or Google CheckOut.

Own a part of history today!

I thought I left the snow in Ohio?

2009-01-20T13:43:00.001-05:00

I woke up this morning to about two inches of snow here in Raleigh.

Bahhhh! I hope this is a rare thing or else we will have to move even further south, haha.

I hope everyone was able to catch the Inauguration and hear Obama's wonderful, inspiring speech. I hope this feeling can be carried even into the tough times ahead.

Yes We Can!!

Long term storage solutions

2009-01-18T18:16:00.002-05:00

We recently moved to NC and I'm trying to downsize on the amount of furniture we have. We're also now trying to purchase things that match whereas in my last apartment, it was sort of a melting pot of different colors and styles.

I was glad to find this site which has tons of information on long term storage. Check them out if you are in the market for a place to store your extra things.

What are you reading/watching?

2009-01-18T18:13:00.002-05:00

My husband and I just found a cool used bookstore near us called Edward McKay's. Not only do they have books at good prices but they also have a large selection of used dvds. What is best is that we can sell or trade our stuff after we've read/watched it. Nice idea for recycling!

I picked up these books and movies yesterday:

The Picture of Dorian Gray

Memoirs of a Geisha

The Awakening

and I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

for movies, we got:

The Good Son

The Girl with A Pearl Earring

and Owning Mahowny.

Starting your own business?

2009-01-18T13:25:00.004-05:00

Click here to request your free copy of Retailers Forum Magazine, a magazine published monthly which provides offers and ads from U.S. wholesalers and online retailers.

Retail store owners and managers use this magazine as a main source of products and services for their operations. Perhaps it can give your business a boost too?

You can choose a single sample, or request a year's subscription.

Retailers Forum magazine has been published since 1981 as a source for small businesses to find real wholesale suppliers various kinds of merchandise to resell at their stores, flea market booths or internet businesses. A completely free digital version of the publication is available now, and at the first of each month a new magazine is published, and includes ads from wholesalers of jewelry, apparel, gifts, novelties, etc. along with informative business articles.

Work it Out

2009-01-18T13:25:00.001-05:00

The fitness center in my apartment complex has finally re-opened. This is great news for me.

They only have four machines: elliptical, stair machine, treadmill, and a nautilus .. but they have a ton of free weights and really, to be able to work out there for free … you just can’t beat it.

So, I’m on the lookout for some good workout music to add to my iPod. Here are a few of the songs I have and it’s pretty good but I’d like some new stuff to change it up a little.

Live - All Over You

Coldplay - Viva la Vida

TLC - Ain’t too Proud to Beg

Blind Melon - No Rain

Timbaland - The Way I Are

REM - Orange Crush

No Doubt - Just a Girl

Katy Perry - I Kissed a Girl

Bon Jovi - Livin’ on a Prayer

Kanye West - The New Workout Plan

Gorillaz - Feel Good Inc.

Eminem - Lose Yourself

So what do you listen to during your workouts? Share your playlist .. I need some more upbeat stuff. Thanks! =)

Help Reinvent America

2009-01-16T11:45:00.002-05:00

The past eight years have been rough, now just days away from Obama becoming our new President, there is some hard work to be done to bring real change to America. We worked hard to get Obama elected, and now we must work even harder by supporting him and helping as much as we can.

If you are interested, check out Ubercool and read about Reinventing America, where founder Michael Tchong, trend analyst and founder of Ubercool writes about what we can do to help reinvent America.

If you want to be the change you want to see, then read his site for information on virtues and values, transparency, recommendations for frugality, and more.

For the love of Harmony Farms ...

2009-01-16T11:39:00.002-05:00

If you are in the Raleigh, NC area and are interested in natural food stores then you must check out Harmony Farms Natural Food Store, located at Creedmoor and W Millbrook Rd.

My favorite part of the store is their huge selection of wheat and gluten free foods and snacks and a large selection of teas.

Their vitamin and supplement selection is pretty awesome too. I could spend all day looking at everything they have to offer! They also run specials quite often and sometimes have events and classes that look interesting. The staff are super friendly people and really helpful when you need information.

Don't forget to sign up for their e-newsletter while you're at the site!

Attention paintballers!

2009-01-16T11:34:00.002-05:00

I've never had any experience with paintballing but I know some friends who are into it, and their stories make it sound pretty fun!

If you are interested in the sport and want to find some information about paintball online, then you should check out pntball.com. They have a huge selection of paintball guns and accessories for unbeatable prices. Their best sellers are guns like Tippmann A-5, Tippmann 98 Custom, Smart Parts Ion, and Spyder Pilot.

They also offer free shipping.

Check them out if you are in the market for paintball equipment!

Healthier meals in 2009

2009-01-16T11:30:00.003-05:00

I've started off the year cooking vegetarian meals for my husband & I more often. I guess I used to think that meatless meals would be boring but there are so many alternatives and possibilities out there. I am always on the lookout for creative new recipes for us to enjoy. Here's one I found online that I will have to try soon. It sounds pretty good!

Avocado Reuben

Give beef the boot and try our take on the classic reuben sandwich—made with creamy avocado and a tangy, easy-to-make Thousand Island dressing.

• Spread one slice of bread with some mustard, the other slice with Thousand Island dressing.
• Place the bread slices, dry side down, in a lightly oiled skillet. Top one slice with avocado, and the other with sauerkraut.
• Over medium heat, grill the sandwich until lightly browned and hot, about 5 minutes. Put the sandwich halves together and enjoy!

I found it on vegcooking.com =)

Promises Drug Treatment Center

2009-01-14T19:41:00.004-05:00

If you or maybe some one you care about is having a problem with drug addiction, it can be a terrible thing for all involved. It is also important to know that their are destructive addictions can be an addiction to anything, whether it be alcohol, illegal drugs, or prescription drugs.

If you are seeking drug treatment help, you might want to check out Promises, a drug treatment center that treats a variety of addictions. Treatment can be arranged for 30 days to 90 days and beyond. Offered is residential treatment (which includes detox services), extended care and day treatment, outpatient treatment, and sober living.

This is particularly for those who reside in California because the locations are in Malibu and West Los Angeles. They have a core treatment team, one-on-one therapy and also family counseling, private time, support groups and continuing care ... anything you need to help get you on the right track. Promises has even been featured in several news publications as being not a resort rehab center but a real rehab center focused on making your life better.

If you are suffering or know somebody else who might benefit from this information, please pass the word. You can also reach someone there to talk about the Promises Center twenty-four hours a day by calling 866.871.3149.

Don't Abuse the Photoshop.

2009-01-14T19:41:00.001-05:00

Lately I’ve noticed people who like to label themselves as graphic designers or graphic artists just because they like to play around with Photoshop and make cool, killer grphx to post on MySpace or wherever.

All I have to say to that is: Pthhhhbtthhbth!! Go get your degree and we’ll talk. Design is not easy. It’s a tough, competitive thing and takes much blood, sweat and tears.

It’s laughable to see someone using a Photoshop filter on a photo and calling it art. Not cool. I did that when I first began using Photoshop but now that I’m an actual graphic designer (and have the degree and work samples to prove it), I have seen the error of my ways and it makes my skin crawl to see how badly Photoshop is abused. In my classes in college, the only filter we were permitted to use was the Gaussian blur filter. And even that we could only use sparingly.

So here’s a cool article for everyone who is interested in learning to use Photoshop more effectively. I couldn’t have said it better.

12 Common Photoshop Mistakes and Malpractice

Read it over and then go do some tutorials! There are a ton of good sites out there where people have submitted quality tutorials to for using Photoshop in a professional way.

Superchargerpros.com

2009-01-09T12:30:00.002-05:00

I've written on this subject before as you might or might not remember. When I was having some issues with my rebuilt Pontiac I was looking for ways to make it better and more powerful since I do a lot of traveling within mountainous areas, and I ran across this site Superchargerpros.com.

It looks as if since my last visit they have given their site an overhaul and the design looks sharp! They offer great prices on their products and also excellent customer service to help you find just what you are looking for to soup up your vehicle.

Anything from a Buick supercharger to a Mercedes supercharger (and Pontiac too, which I'll be looking at) .. they have what you need!

Check them out if you are in the market.

Lil Wayne Concert recap.

2009-01-09T12:29:00.000-05:00

If you are a fan and have a chance to go see Weezy .. by all means, GO. He puts on an awesome show. Out of all the rap concerts I’ve been to, he is truly the best I’ve seen thus far. He really puts his whole heart and soul into his performance.

He had an awesome set complete with a dj, a full band and an awesome back up singer whose name escapes me at the moment but she was really good.

TPain put on a great show too with the stage set up like a circus to promote his new album Thr33 Ringz. He is an excellent dancer and even had circus performers … a girl dancing on stilts, a midget Britney impersonator and a mime who shadowed him around the stage. I guess what surprised me most about TPain’s performance is when he sat down and started playing piano … it was really good and completely unexpected.

Lil Wayne played for quite a while … coming out and doing almost every song from Tha Carter III and also some old stuff, from his Hot Boys days and also Tha Block is Hot. There was talk during the show of Tha Carter IV and also a collaboration album called T-Wayne (TPain & Lil Wayne together) in the works. His show had lots of explosions, smoke, and fire. He disappeared for a while and came back out and did A Milli for the encore and it was awesome.

When he came out and did Lollipop he wore the same black suit he had on in the video =) Sharp!

A new site for finding hot products.

2009-01-07T17:46:00.003-05:00

Perhaps you need some assistance getting your hands on the hottest products and services on the internet? I ran across this site when browsing for restaurant management positions in my eternal search for employment. Guides to Manage a Restaurant was the first thing that directed me to hottestproducts.net.

This is a new service packed and organized with categories ranging from addiction help to writing opportunities and everything in between. They also offer a quick search feature so you can find exactly what you are looking for even faster. Just to name a few other categories you can find there: credit repair services, alternative and renewable energy, customer service software, exercise training programs, how to save money online, and information on creating your own website.

I will make use of their employment section for sure, which offers resume creators, job finders, and lists of government jobs. Since I'm searching high and low right now, I am glad to have found this site.

Also offered on the site are links to other cool sites, like Flickr Music, Essential Web Tools for Internet Businesses, and other links you might find interesting. You can find those just by scrolling down the page a little to the bottom.

Check them out if you are looking for something in particular or just want to browse around and run into something cool.

Decor.

2009-01-07T17:45:00.000-05:00

It’s our first piece of art in our new place. A Kandinsky print. I love it.

I’m currently addicted to home design shows on HGTV and I’m learning a lot from them. The mantle isn’t decorated the way I want it yet but now at least I have some colors to go by =)

What I’m going for is a minimalist style throughout the apartment so it looks more open. I like the sleekness of minimalist decor and I also like tribal type pieces in bold colors. I’ve found some cool things so far on this site in the clearance section.

Any suggestions for decently priced art/sculptures/decor of whatever type? We may go thrifting tomorrow. Perhaps I can find something cool then.

Free calls!

2009-01-07T16:07:00.004-05:00

Do you make a lot of calls? Would you benefit from a free calling service?

CallingAmerica.com allows you to make free calls and is the first complete ad-supported VoIP that lets anyone with a broadband connection make unlimited VoIP calls to any landline or mobile phone in the U.S. or Canada.

So, I tried it out and it works really great. I called my cousin in Duluth and it was easy and the sound quality was clear as a bell. And since it is purely web-based, there is no software to download or install. Anyone can simply visit the website and start making calls right away. However it is important to register, because then you can make calls without any limitations. Only non-registered callers have a duration limitation on their calls.

We currently use Skype in our household often since most of our friends and relatives live in other states and we all don't have the same cellular phone services, and we do from time to time have to purchase credits to be able to use the service. So in that case, we will use CallingAmerica instead to save us some money in this difficult economic time.

Click here to read what the New York Times had to say about CallingAmerica.com and the great service they are offering.

Warn me first, please?

2009-01-07T16:07:00.001-05:00

Last night my husband and I walked out of Rachel Getting Married because the way it was filmed made us dizzy and sick.

The same way I like to know if a 3D video game is going to make me sick, would it be too much to ask to label movies the same way? It’s worse than any badly filmed home movie I’ve ever seen. The constant, whirring close-ups leave me feeling a way I’ve never felt before: it starts with dizziness, moves on to nausea and all-over warmth, to feeling like I’m going to collapse if I don’t get some fresh air. And when I finally do, it takes hours to feel like I’m back to normal again.

We wasted $13 on what I’m sure was a decent movie if we would have watched it on a smaller screen. If we would have known, we wouldn’t have chosen to see it in the first place in the theater. The same thing happened when we watched Cloverfield. I left the theater shaking, feverish and feeling as if I might puke, collapse or go into a seizure.

I’m researching to see why this happens to some and not others. I read some comments online where people have issues with the shaky camera action while others are not affected.

Is anyone else bothered by this? I would like to know if it’s related to migraines, epilepsy, or just a bad case of motion sickness. Please share if you have any personal stories or information on the subject.

Digging yourself out of debt.

2008-12-23T17:21:00.003-05:00

Almost everything today requires a credit check and requires you to have good credit. From buying a house to buying a car to even applying for certain jobs, you can be sure the person in charge is going to run a credit check on you. I know from personal experience that it is easy to get in trouble with credit, and once you are in over your head it is really difficult to dig your way out and back on the right track.

What is most important to remember if you find yourself in this situation is going back to basics for yourself. Pay for everything with cash, do not live above your means, cut up all of your credit cards and just start paying things off little by little. You will also want to do your best to avoid bankruptcy at all costs, if you can help it, and Clear Debt can help you do just that.

Clear Debt is a company that offers bankruptcy advice for people with serious debt issues. They can help you understand the advantages, disadvantages, and can even analyze your personal situation to tell you the best way for you to get out of debt.

Visit their site by clicking the link above in this post for more information.

If you're interested ...

2008-12-22T20:09:00.003-05:00

.... I started a new blog dedicated to healthy and greener living.

Check it out!

I started it to help myself better understand what it means to live a greener lifestyle and to research ways to eat and live healthier. I'll be posting on everything from female topics, male topics, nutrition, vitamins and herbal remedies and much, much more.

Be sure to leave a comment if you are interested!

Thanks =)

The joys of unemployment!

2008-12-22T20:08:00.001-05:00

Every day for the past week I’ve sat at my laptop, furiously hunting for employment.

Out of all the applications I’ve put in, I’ve gotten only one phone call back so far.

My patience is wearing thin. I am ready to work again.

Tomorrow I have a phone interview in the afternoon.

Please oh please! Let it turn into something good =)

For those of you already employed, rejoice and be glad in it because unemployment seriously SUCKS.

Need a good defense lawyer?

2008-12-22T11:19:00.003-05:00

While I hope I will never need the assistance of Los Angeles Criminal and DUI Defense Attorneys, it's good to know there are some good ones you can rely on when you are in need.

I visited the site of Kestenbaum, Eisner and Gorin, LLP and received a good first impression. The site is designed well and is easy to navigate. If you are familiar with the Los Angeles area, they are located across the street from the Van Nuys courthouse.

Kestenbaum, Eisner and Gorin, LLP have over fifty years of courtroom experience. They have a special investigator on site and one is a former district attorney. Also, they are rated top five percent United States law firm, specializing in all criminal and DUI defense matters.

Offering agressive criminal defense in State and Federal court, they are top-rated criminal attorneys and they specialize in many areas, such as Los Angeles County, San Fernando Valley and Santa Clarita Valley courtrooms.

On the site you can search for information on subjects such as federal crimes, drugs and narcotics, violence, murder and assault, and juvenile crimes, just to name a few.

They are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by calling 877-781-1570.

Ok, so ....

2008-12-22T11:18:00.000-05:00

We didn’t go to the movies after all. Maybe tomorrow evening. We went out to dinner and then had an adventurous trip to WalMart. I mean, isn’t every WalMart trip adventurous in some way? The cool thing is we got coffee tables and end tables that ACTUALLY MATCH. That is rare for us and I love them. They are plain, simple, and black. They were cheap but still look good. There are a pair of tall rice paper lamps I found through IKEA that will look awesome on the endtables.

So, slowly but surely I’m getting the place put together. I still need art for the walls though. I’m talking affordable art. Any ideas? Any hidden gems that I don’t know about? I would love to deck the place out just using just IKEA and Etsy, but if there are some sites I don’t know about, PLEASE, point them out to me. I want to make this place look really nice.

A neat networking opp ...

2008-12-12T16:17:00.002-05:00

Today I joined acobay, a cool site where you can network with others who use the same products or have been to the same places as you. It's a new site but since its release it has received some very good feedback.

There are many categories to choose from that let you add your 'stuffs' .. so far today I added my Motorola Razr and my 2007 Pontiac G6. In addition to cell phones and automobiles you can add things like cameras, computers, books, games, magazines, movies, music, hotels and restaurants, just to name a few. Once this site really gets going, I think it will be a good place to go for reviews on products and places. I am one who loves to read reviews of things before I try them.

By creating a wishlist on Acobay you can add more people to your network and also participate in discussions about your stuffs. The site offers a handy Stuff Map so you can find your way around and see what topics are rated as "top" and "hot" by other users.

The site is very simple and user-friendly and is still in development. If you join now you can help Acobay build its user base. Sign up is quick and easy and they don't even ask for your e-mail address, which I was really impressed with.

This post sponsored by Acobay.

Check out Vitalic Clothing!

2008-12-09T16:16:00.001-05:00

Vitalic Clothing is a unique t-shirt design business started by my friend Dan, one of the best graphic designers I know.

His designs are truly original and hip! View the design gallery here.

Vitalic Clothing was created due to the lack of creativity, experimentation and individuality that can be found in a high school t-shirt. So putting our minds together we have formed Vitalic Clothing. Our first Collection of design ideas and elements can be viewed on or facebook page, but for the latest designs and the full skinny on what we can do to make your t-shirt project a success go to our website at www.vitalicclothing.com.
Our designs seek to reinvision what a T-shirt can be. All our designs are ready to be customized and reconstructed to your specific need on request: color choices, graphic accents, foil embellishment…. no problem. All our shirts are printed with soft hand inks on the highest quality fabric. Our designs are great for clubs, senior classes, and sport teams who are wanting something original and different.

Download the online Vitalic catalog, drop them a line at service@vitalicclothing.com or call 877.259.4353. And if you like what you see, of course pass this information on and join the Vitalic fan page on Facebook.

LA Police Gear!

2008-12-05T15:36:00.003-05:00

Know a police officer? Are they hard to buy for? I would assume they could be, so how about visiting LA Police Gear to see if you could find something there?

LA Police Gear offers all kinds of top brands, such as Blackhawk Gear, Maxpedition Gear, Galco Holsters, and more. You can search the site, which is very easy to navigate, and shop by category or brand.

L.A. Police Gear, Inc. was founded by Los Angeles area police officers, and according to the site news, the business has and changed greatly over the years and now serves the general public, military personnel, security professionals, and of course police officers.

They have great customer service and also a chance to get store credit if you send them your best action picture. Visit them today to find out more!

This post sponsored by LA Police Gear.

Lost things.

2008-12-05T15:33:00.001-05:00

I used to have a stack of journals and notebooks filled with my writing — diary entries, short stories, poems, journalism class assignments … dating as far back as 1992 and maybe even earlier.

I deleted my first blog. I saved all of the entries in a zip file on my ex’s computer. After the break-up, when I asked him to e-mail the file to me I got ignored, big time … a stab at me which actually really hurt. Two years worth of memories I’ll never be able to read again.

I went so far as to beg and plead for it back. No answer.

I wish I still had it all. I would like to go back and see what I was doing and thinking and caring about on any given day.

All I can do is protect what I write from now on.

All I can do is start over.

Turbocharged is what I need!

2008-12-05T15:21:00.004-05:00

My car is in the shop again. Transmission problems, bad wheel bearing, ugh. Hate it.

I've been looking around on the internet for cars that might be an option for me if I can ever sell the one I have. I've been seeing the term "factory turbocharged" quite often. I wondered what all the buzz was about. I read about Audi turbo first, and became more interested in how to turbocharge my own car.

I like a fast car, especially since I'll be traveling through mountains more often once we make our big move down south. And if you are looking for a faster ride, then turbocharging is what you need.

I visited Turbochargerpros.com and from what I see, they offer quite a range of accessories you would need to turbocharge your vehicle. Here's how it works: air is forced into your vehicle's system with a turbocharger or supercharger, which in turn improves torque and horsepower. It is important that it works correctly, and this site can help make that happen. They also offer an extensive inventory and full warranty on their products.

The site is easy to use and you can contact them by calling 800-923-0413.

Visit Turbochargerpros.com today for all of your turbocharging needs.

Starting it up again ...

2008-12-05T15:18:00.002-05:00

I haven't written here in a really long time!

I haven't forgotten about this blog, I just stopped doing my PayPerPost thing and now I want to start that up again too.

What's new here? I doubt that anyone still reads. But just in case you do, the past while for me has included getting married, graduating from college, and now my husband and I are getting ready to move south! Lots of exciting changes.

So, if you are still around, cool! or if you want to read my other blog which I update more often and will not contain PayPerPosts ... go here.

Disclosure.

2008-10-12T22:42:00.000-05:00

This policy is valid from 12 October 2008

This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. This blog accepts forms of cash advertising, sponsorship, paid insertions or other forms of compensation.

The compensation received may influence the advertising content, topics or posts made in this blog. That content, advertising space or post may not always be identified as paid or sponsored content.

The owner(s) of this blog is compensated to provide opinion on products, services, websites and various other topics. Even though the owner(s) of this blog receives compensation for our posts or advertisements, we always give our honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on those topics or products. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the bloggers' own. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider or party in question.

This blog does not contain any content which might present a conflict of interest.

To get your own policy, go to http://www.disclosurepolicy.org

JourneyLite's LAP-BAND system

2007-09-22T23:44:00.000-05:00

Have you ever wondered if weight loss surgery would be right for you?

JourneyLite offers a weight loss surgery program to meet your needs, everything from seeing whether the LAP-BAND System is right for you, to finding experienced surgeons, to insurance approval, and extensive follow-up and aftercare to see that your surgery experience was a successful one.

JourneyLite also has message boards, member forums, recipes, support groups, and nutrition education, all there to help you live a happier, healthier life.

Stop by the JourneyLite for Life website and read about their program, testimonials, and even enroll in a free seminar to learn more. They might have the program that is right for you!

This post sponsored by PayPerPost.

I've heard it all now.

2007-09-22T23:40:00.000-05:00

Things that were said to me or I overheard this week at work:

old man to me: You need to smile more, you're kinda ugly when you don't.

* * *

Druggie nasty woman who asked to use the phone: (says to whoever she called) What are you doing tonight? Yeah? Well if you feel like meeting up later I have two for the price of one. Yep, yeah. Her's is just as good and clean as mine. Yep. We can do whatever you want. Yeah, uh huh, we can do that .. mmmmm, yeah we can do that too. Whatever you want. So you have about an hour? Want to meet in Kmart's parking lot? We'll be in the gold Bonneville. See you then.

!!!!!

Sometimes I hate my damn job.

Need a new bedrom set?

2007-09-20T10:23:00.000-05:00

If you are in the market for a new bedroom set, this site has some really nice ones!

FurniturefromHome.com believes that the bedroom is one of the most important rooms in the home, and say that their furniture will last for years to come. They offer all types and sizes, from king and queen to kid's and children's sized beds.

follow these links to find:

bedroom furniture
kid bedroom furniture
child bedroom furniture

Along with bedroom furniture they also have a wide selection of home office furniture, living room and dining room sets, and leather furniture. Just check out their selection of modern bar stools.

I am impressed with this site, and it will definitely be one that I visit when I am in the market for this type of furniture.

Fish out of water

2007-09-20T10:22:00.001-05:00

Here are some rudimentary sketches for the first project in my illustration class: drawing a cliché.

I’ve been really busy with work and school already and it’s only the second week. I love my painting class, but I’m not sure yet about the others (Flash, digital illustration, senior studio.) I’ll tell you more later. In my digital illustration class we are tracing Grandpa Simpson’s head for a warm-up project, then we will trace Uncle Scrooge. For my senior studio project, I’m probably going to be designing a cookbook of family recipes. In my painting class, I am working on something in the style of Yoshitomo Nara, who I just recently discovered.

Still haven’t uploaded the vay-kay pics .. sorry .. no time!

I’ll show you my finished fish when it’s .. finished. K Thx Bye =D

Heard of Hubsess?

2007-09-20T10:01:00.000-05:00

Hubsess.com is a new discussion/news site. The site is a collection of Hubs - a place where you can post discussions, search news, pictures, and other websites.

There currently are over 50,000 Hubs. Hubs that are currently on the site include cities/towns, sports teams, actors, musicians, politicians, technology products, and much more. Users have the ability to vote on news stories and discuss them, and there is also a tutorial section and FAQ section to get you started!

A Hub's news section is links to news articles, videos, blogs, or anything else that can be linked to. These are then tagged to a Hub. For example, the Google hub will only have news pertaining to Google.

News is gathered in one of the 2 ways. Users can submit individual stories and tag them to a hub(s). Or, users can tag an RSS feed from another site to a Hub, and the news from that feed will automatically be added to the Hub's news.

What makes this site different from other similar sites is it allows you to get the news you want and gives you the ability to skip the news you don't want.

Anyone is welcome to sign up - I joined, and my favorite hubs were SEO news and baseball news.

Go check them out now .. join and start submitting to Hubsess - Your News!

This post sponsored by PayPerPost.

Most recent

2007-09-20T10:00:00.000-05:00

This is my first piece for my Painting 2 class that I will show tomorrow for critique. I had a lot of direction from the instructor and I’m happy with how it turned out. When I started out, I was just going to have the figure against the background but my instructor suggested decoupage, which I enjoy and it gives the painting something much more interesting. The used Band-aid was one we found in the classroom that belonged to a student (why she didn’t put it in the trash, I don’t know) .. anyway, it works well I think.

I’m calling this a self portrait for the time being.

I could really use one of these!

2007-09-17T18:10:00.000-05:00

If you are like me, you are in constant need of storage space for things. Right now I'm struggling with my art supplies and keeping them all where they are together and not going to get damaged or messed up in some way. My spare bedroom's closet seems to be the best place for it now, but these types of storage bins would be much better!

GuyCarGarage.com has an awesome selection of storage bins. My favorite is the 16 Mixed Storage Bins with Shelving because the bins range from shallow to deep and are you could color code them. It would be great for housing my pens, pencils, and painting supplies.

If you are in the market for storage bins then you have to go check out GuyCarGarage.com at the above link.

This post sponsored by PayPerPost.

Tree

2007-09-17T18:09:00.000-05:00

Just having some fun with my scanner and Photoshop. This is a small sized painting I worked on in my first painting class. I might submit it for an upcoming version of my school's art zine called the Silhouette. The colors are far from how my original painting looks .. but I like it just the same. Maybe even better. =)

Freeze It: Reviewed

2007-09-17T16:32:00.000-05:00

A few days ago I unfortunately experienced the pain of pulling a muscle from lifting something at work. So I was surprised to see, that just at the right time, a sample of Freeze It advanced therapy pain relief gel arrived in the mail for me to try. Pictured is me ... using the product for the first time.

Freeze It worked quite well for me. I liked how it is in gel form and dissolves quickly, and also the menthol scent isn't very strong and then disappears completely. The green gel is greaseless and didn't stain my clothing at all .. and the 'burn' it provides gives instant pain relief. I put a small bit on nearly half an hour ago and it's still going strong.

I would recommend Freeze It to anyone who uses such products for pain relief. It is offered for $9.99 and comes in two sizes and applications, either a 3 oz. roll-on or a 4 oz. tube. The roll-on is quick and easy to apply and would be good for on the go and also handy for reaching difficult areas like shoulders or the lower back. The tube kind would be good for applying desired thickness.

So I would say to anyone thinking about trying Freeze It, give up your usual brand for a while and just give it a try.l I was pleasantly surprised and think it works much better than any others I've tried in the past.

Check out the Freeze It commercial for more info.

This post sponsored by PayPerPost.

Fish Finished.

2007-09-17T16:26:00.000-05:00

I realized that my illustration could be more than one cliché .. it could be “fish out of water” .. or “I’ve got bigger fish to fry” .. or “fishing for compliments” .. I guess it could stand for lots of things. Anyway, I’m pretty happy with how it turned out =D I did turn up the contrast and sharpen it some in Photoshop so you could see it more detailed .. so, it’s not really blue … but I kinda like it that way too.

If you like quizzes ..

2007-08-25T17:50:00.001-05:00

If you are like me and enjoy taking personality tests and quizzes just to pass the time .. then you must visit this site! Quiz Rocket has 18 trivia quizzes and personality tests, and they add new quizzes each week. I especially enjoyed the dumb test.

The quizzes are free, professionally-written, and fun to take. It goes like this: users take the quiz, then view offers from advertisers based on their quiz responses, and then they receive their score and a badge for taking the quiz. The badges can be placed on your blog so other people can see it and go take the quizzes themselves.

There are dozens of quiz topics, such as: Dating Personality Quiz, Religion Test, Intelligence Quiz, Office Character Quiz, Where Should I Live Quiz, Personal Fashion Style Quiz,Cooking Quiz, Reality TV Quizzes, Dumb Test, Pop Culture Quiz, One Hit Wonder Songs Quiz, Pop Music Quiz, Gay Guiz,Online Bible Quiz, Teen Personality Quiz, Lesbian quiz, and the "Impossible" Quiz.

Go check them out today!

This post sponsored by PayPerPost.

We're back.

2007-08-25T17:49:00.001-05:00

But we're only back against our will .. we didn't want to leave. There's so much to do there, and it's so much fun, and the beach is so nice, the people are friendly, the weather is great .. I could go on and on.

I'm working on putting our vacation pics on Flickr but it's gonna take a while.

For now, here's a cool one I took just outside the House of Blues, which was excellent by the way!

StarCraft

2007-08-08T21:30:00.000-05:00

I haven't had time to play games with my busy schedule, too bad because I happen to be a starcraft player (well I used to be anyway). It's just a cool game, especially in multiplayer. I've heard some disappointing stuff about the new single player setup on the new StarCraft 2 though. I've read all about it on this site that's entirely dedicated to StarCraft and the upcoming game StarCraft 2. The site is called CreepColony.com. If you happen to be interested in StarCraft (or StarCraft 2) you should check it out, they have news and video's and just all the latest stuff you need to know as a fan. Hopefully they'll hurry with the StarCraft 2 release!

This post is sponsored by PayPerPost.

Just say no to free radicals!

2007-08-08T21:28:00.000-05:00

and drink a little Naked.

I’ve been feeling kinda crappy for about a few days now and wanted something healthy to drink so I picked this stuff up (only because it was on sale .. a 15.2 FL OZ bottle is like $3.09 and I think that’s insane.)

Anyhoo .. it’s good stuff .. a whole pound of fruit in a bottle .. this one contained 2 pomegranates, 8 blueberries, 1/2 of an apple, and a few white and red grapes for good measure.

Pretty good stuff, just pricey. I guess for the amount of fruit you get in it, it’s not terrible .. all of that seperately would be much more expensive.

The future of hockey

2007-07-25T10:11:00.000-05:00

I don't know the first thing about hockey. The closest I ever came to knowing anything about it was when I designed someone's blog in a hockey theme. But even that tells me nothing about the game itself .. however, I know a lot of people who do love the sport.

Hockeysfuture.com is dedicated to being the number one nhl draft and hockey prospect magazine for hockey fans. The site features the top 50 NHL prospects, NHL Organization ratings, and lots of hockey news listed in order by your favorite team.

Also offered is a hockey discussion board to join in on discussions about the sport, fantasy leagues, the history of hockey, and much much more!

So if you are a die hard hockey fan, this would be the site for you to bookmark .. go check it out now!

This post sponsored by PayPerPost.

Stuck.In.My.Head.

2007-07-25T10:07:00.000-05:00

Are you like me and constantly have a song stuck in your head?

Is it usually the last song you hear before you go to bed at night, or just any random song at any given time?

For the last few days for me, it's been Finger Eleven's song "Paralyzer." I finally had to break down and listen to it this morning. I watched the video on YouTube and figured that would be the end of it. But nope, it's still there. And it's just the chorus! And maybe a few random other lines here and there, but mainly the chorus.

It gets really annoying after a while!

The BP Whiting Refinery means no harm

2007-07-25T09:32:00.000-05:00

Recently the Chicago Tribune ran an article about a BP Refinery in Whiting, Indiana, and they misrepresented some important facts that the public should be aware of.

You can view the BP Whiting Refinery fact sheet here, as well.

I find the most important key factor in this story is that BP plans to get it's crude oil from Canada and not from the Mideast. When there are resources available that are closer to home, then that makes all the difference.

Secondly, the BP Whiting Refinery is committed to keeping Lake Michigan clean. Only treated water is released into Lake Michigan, not sludge. They say the water released is more than 99.9% water and the sludge is treated and released separately, so everyone can rest assured that BP is not polluting the environment.

Lastly, BP follows state and federal laws, regulations and guidelines that protect aquatic and human life.

The Chicago Tribune's main concern was that BP was dumping massive toxic amounts of sludge and ammonia-filled water into Lake Michigan, undoing all the effort that has been spent over time to clean up the Great Lakes and harming the aquatic life within. They stated that BP was given a pardon by Indiana regulators to dump into the lake, therefore creating algae blooms that kill fish.

BP stands firm saying they are well within the legal limits, stating a new water discharge permit allows the refinery's ammonia levels to increase, but still will be less than half of those that the federal environmental guidelines could allow.

BP wants the public to know they are committed to minimizing the environmental impact of their actions.

Death to capri pants!

2007-07-22T22:09:00.000-05:00

Why is it so hard to find a nice, basic pair of black pants?

I mean a pair with no beading attached, no glittery things sewn on, no wild colored threads running through, no funky belts looped on, no tapered legs, and dammit, NO CAPRIS! Everything is fucking capris. Is this disgrace to fashion ever going to go the away?

I finally found one pair tonight in a store full of pants, but even these have tiny red threads sewn at the bottom and little black eyelets attached as if I’m going to thread a shoestring through there or something. It makes no sense. But I figure if someone is down there checking it out that closely then they deserve to see them.

I got two shirts to match the black pants .. one khaki colored and the other, black. Finding a basic black shirt was not nearly as difficult, although I did have to search through some crappy ones before finding one I liked.

Basic, Basic, Basic .. keeping it simple seems to be a thing of the past.

Why can’t this damn town have a Gap?

At least the Gap has some basic black wide-leg boyfriend trousers to go with their god awful capris.

What are you waiting for?

2007-07-20T21:42:00.000-05:00

Is the first thing that catched my eye when I visited fitness dates. I don't know what I'm waiting for, but I guess if I was single I would want to date someone fit haha. The site is obviously made for people who are looking for healthy young and fit people. I don't know if it would be my first choice, but if you're single I can recommend checking it out. The sign up is free and that's always the first thing I'd look for. I like their design and I like the fact that it's not got a whole bunch of ads like other sites I've seen. The search feature is really cool, it automatically loads all the towns that are in your state, and it loads them fast. Maybe I'm easily impressed but I've not seen that before. What's also a useful search feature is the distance field, not all people find their love overseas (although I do recommend it!). I'm also impressed by the enourmous amount of details you can select people on. Theoretically you could search for an atheist who likes to watch reruns, lives in Reno, is attracted to money and owns an exotic animal. (Hey I said theoretically ;). You get the point: if you're looking for fitness singles, check out the site!

Graphically Speaking: Invaluable for designers

2007-07-20T21:41:00.001-05:00

Written by Lisa Buchanan, the long title of the book is: Graphically Speaking, a Visual Lexicon for Achieving Better Designer-Client Communication.

I have learned that people often can visualize what they want a finished project to look like, but sometimes cannot find the right words to describe their vision to the designer. It becomes frustrating for both parties when the designer fails to deliver what the client has in mind. This book can help fix that by offering specific questions for the client, such as: Do you want your design to look modern and clean? or What is your message, and how obvious or straightforward do you want this message to be?

It also helps target the client’s audience and offers ways to explain ideas to the client so they aren’t afraid to take risks.

On many occasion it has helped me decide on color schemes and fonts that work well together when creating a specific theme, anything from Alluring to Zing!

It also serves as a nice desk reference to flip through when in need of some inspiration.

I just cannot say enough nice things about this book. It has helped me through some tough times when I was blanking on what to do for a class project.

I think it makes a handy resource for any graphic designer.

Hey pssst, did you hear about...

2007-07-19T21:06:00.000-05:00

Personally I don't really care for gossip all that much, but if you do there's this new site out that aggregates all the gossip and allows you to vote on it and leave comments. They also have celebrity pictures and profiles. The site looks pretty Web two point o and also includes many of those hip features: commenting, voting, the works. I like how they've made the related news available under each article. I assume the "HOT" page works a la digg, with the most popular articles on the front page. Right now it works really fast, let's hope it stays that way when they take off. But I do like the design and functionality.

I think this site can get popular, people love their celebrity news for some reason. If you do too, be sure to check out celebritygossip.com, looks like they have all the latest news from all the celebrity news sites. The good news is that you won't have to go back to each and everyone of those, you can just keep track right there.

This post is sponsored by PayPerPost.

Chickens have Peckers.

2007-07-19T21:04:00.000-05:00

What started out as something funny that was said in my digital publishing & layout class turned into a full-fledged google search for “chicken peckers” so I could write a funny entry about it.
Little did I know there was actually a restaurant in China called that!

hahaha, “Uhhh, yeah, can I get a sack of large chicken peckers with some ranch dressing on the side? To go. Oh, and make sure to leave off those pesky chicken pubes, will ya? They get caught in my teeth.”

About my haircut .. the guy had me down for *yesterday* at 3:30. I was so crushed when I got there only to find out that he never works on Fridays. But I’m very organized usually, very punctual and good at remembering when I have to be somewhere. I don’t know who’s mistake it was .. but now I can’t get my shaggy mop of Einstein hair cut until the 31st unless I want to go to some walk-in place but I really don’t. Major disappointment of the day though.

Daily Veggies Free Sample

2007-07-19T20:46:00.000-05:00

People anywhere in the western world can live a little more healthy (there's an understatement), but especially here in the US. Instead of drinking another Milkshake or Coke, why not drink your daily dose of vegetables? Lane Labs, LLC has developed a new high-end daily nutritional supplement so that you (and me) can live a little more healthy.

Personally I love Daily Veggies. I have very little time in my life right now to cook right so anytime something comes along that helps me eat/drink healthy I'm all over it. This is perfect for me because it has all the daily needed dose if vegetables and I can just drink it in my car, or in class or where ever I happen to be that day. You can also use it in all kinds of recipes (which you can find on their site).

And now the good news: they're giving away thousand of samples, so you can get your own My Daily Veggies Free Sample now! It's a $14 worth package you get so it's worth checking out I'd say. I think you'll like it, it just makes you feel better to now you are taking care of yourself. Did you know only a very small percentage of Americans have the healthy daily amount of nutritions? I think it's mostly a lifestyle issue, I know it was for me, that's why I'm glad somebody was smart enough to make convenient products like Daily Veggies. Try it, you've got nothing to lose: it's free!

This post is sponsored by PayPerPost.

Movies

2007-07-19T20:42:00.000-05:00

I don’t often often do these, but being a movie freak this one might be fun.

1. Name a movie that you have seen more than 10 times.
Pulp Fiction

2. Name a movie that you’ve seen multiple times in the theater.
The Blair Witch Project (only twice)

3. Name an actor that would make you more inclined to see a movie.
Jack Nicholson

4. Name an actor that would make you less likely to see a movie.
Bruce Willis

5. Name a movie that you can quote from.
Pulp Fiction

6. Name a movie musical that you know all the lyrics to all the songs.
Grease

7. Name a movie that you have been known to sing along with.
Grease

8. Name a movie that you would recommend everyone see.
American Beauty

9. Name a movie that you own.
Wild at Heart (birthday present from Paulie)

10. Name an actor that launched his/her entertainment career in another medium but who has surprised you with his/her acting chops.
probably Ice Cube in the Friday movies, he’s pretty funny

11. Have you ever seen a movie in a drive-in? If so, what?
Yes, Muppets take Manhattan when I was little

12. Ever made out in a movie theater?
No way, that’s lame

13. Name a movie that you keep meaning to see but just haven’t gotten around to it.
The Departed, I started it but haven’t finished it yet and people keep saying how great it is

14. Ever walked out of a movie?
No, but I’ve been bored enough to. Oceans Twelve nearly put me to sleep.

15. Name a movie that made you cry in the theater.
American Beauty

16. Popcorn?
Rarely

17. How often do you go to the movies
Not very often .. it’s pricey around here and the people you are among are usually rude and annoying, so I just wait to watch it at home

18. What’s the last movie you saw in the theater?
I think it was Apocalypto but I’m not sure

19. What’s your favorite/preferred genre of movie?
Comedy or horror or anything that makes me go hmmmmm

20. What’s the first movie you remember seeing in the theater?
Saturday Night Fever with my Mom when I was like 3, haha .. or was it Stayin’ Alive? I don’t know, something with John Travolta

21. What movie do you wish you had never seen?
Pearl Harbor, because it sucked. And I miss you. (sorry, a little Team America humor)

22. What is the scariest movie you’ve seen?
The Devil’s Rejects

24. What is the funniest movie you’ve seen?
There are lots, but most recently I think Borat is hysterical

Review: Furniture From Home

2007-07-16T21:05:00.000-05:00

If you're looking for furniture, be sure to check out furniturefromhome.com. It's a site that sells furniture exclusively online (I know, you wouldn't have guessed from the URL huh? ;). As is common with stores that only sell online their prices are relatively low compared to other online/offline companies. I've been looking for a new couch since recent since the one we have now is a couch straight from hell. We've been given it, so no complaining there, but it's just really uncomfortable.

So my first test is to see how easy I can find a couch for my budget. I see a search field at the top of the screen so I entered the word couch. A list of search results shows up. First thing I notice: no prices with each individual item and no way to sort it on price either. I like the way you can refine your search and it updates the results automatically as you click, that's a really nice feature. but I'd like to be able to see a little more product details on the list. This pretty much goes for the whole site: navigating is easy and the breadcrumbs make sure I don't get lost in the different categories/sub categories (although they don't seem to track my flow well all the time) but I'd like to see to see details on overview pages too like on the Home Office Furniture page, not just on the product page.

But that's one of the few things that I think could be improved. Overall the site looks very good. The classic look and clean design makes it pleasant on the eyes. If I want to be knit-picky I'd say that the LivePerson button on the product details page should be in the same style as the rest of the site but that's detail.

As for the content: they have a very broad selection, and as soon as I get a place with a bar I'd definitely think about getting a bar and counter stool from there. They have a pretty cool selection of those. Their Bedroom Furniture looks really nice too, too bad I can't have it all ;). Ah well, let's just start out with a couch..

This post is sponsored by PayPerPost.

Because I’m short on time ..

2007-07-16T21:02:00.000-05:00

… it’s meme time.

Ok so I wasn’t tagged, but I saw it over at the In-Sect and thought it looked like fun .. “7 Random Facts About Me”- meme. Over 40,000 people have already blogged this. How to play: “Each player starts with 7 random facts/habits about themselves. People who are tagged need to write their own blog post with their 7 things as well as these rules. You need to tag others (it says 7 others, but who cares) and list their names on your blog. Remember to leave a comment for them letting them know they have been tagged and to read your blog.”

1. I’ve never had chicken pox.

2. I’m afraid of frogs.

3. I read my blogroll daily starting at the bottom and working my way to the top. I don’t know why.

4. I was born in Georgia and have lived in Kentucky, Ohio, Florida, Tennessee, and Holland.

5. Since about age 18, I’ve had a recurring dream about one particular house that has a room with a heart-shaped pink jacuzzi tub. I have never gone in that room in my dreams, but I always refer to it or see it from afar. I’ve been in all of the other rooms and I know what each one looks like, they never change.

6. I would be honored to meet Harvey Pekar and get his autograph.

7. I like the smell of gasoline and hate the smell of roses.

If you’ve read this far, consider yourself tagged! I’m bad at tagging people and they usually end up not doing it anyway =)

I started my graphic design internship today at the hospital — so far I’m working on a booklet about low-sodium diets and cardiovascular health. And it’s freezing in my little “office.” Gotta remember to take a sweater tomorrow.

The search for used cars

2007-07-15T17:32:00.000-05:00

I'm quite happy with my current car to be honest. It's a 2000 Chevrolet Metro, and I love it! But if there's something that I can't be happy with it's all these used car sites that are so hard to navigate and advertise only with a listing and a picture and that's it. Not at BuyYourCar.co.uk, because the guys there offer a nice looking site with a major selection of Used Cars, New Cars, Rentals and Leasing.

The site offers cool features for different groups of users:

Car dealers: If you're a car dealer they allow you to promote your complete stock of vehicles. You can be found in 5 different ways: a standard listing, an individual listing, a dedicated page on the site, dedicated page that list stock by make and a new regional search feature. I guess they spend a lot of time on optimizing their site's code for search engines because they have really high natural listing on google.

Buyers: like I said, this site is really easy to navigate and unlike similar sites I've seen they managed to make finding the car you're looking for easy. Of course I look at every site with a designer's eye and BuyYourCar scores major points on usability and overall look and feel.

So if you need a new car or if you want to sell it, go take a look!

This post is sponsored by PayPerPost.

My name is not sweetheart.

2007-07-15T17:20:00.000-05:00

Right now I wish to rant about this guy who comes into my place of business at my real job (not the internship) and tries to hit on me. And of course, guys that *try* to hit on women are always BAD at it. Well, let me tell you, this guy is the definition of SKANK. He’s nasty, he’s creepy, he has bad hygiene, he has a wife that waits for him in the car each time, and he thinks it’s really cute to call me “sweetheart” in a very creepy manner. He seems to get very upset when he starts to see this obviously is getting nowhere and pissing me right off. HATE to be called sweetheart as much as Thelma & Louise hated being called beavers.

Oh, and he “just looooooves my red hair.” My hair is blonde, mind you.

Today he started with the sweetheart shit and when I did what I always do, walk away and try to ignore him, he started to get visibly upset. He went over and pretended to read the newspaper headlines and before leaving, he managed to thrown in his dislike for the Cleveland Indians shirt I was wearing, as if that was going to hurt me or something.

As I watched him walk away, I daydreamed of going Thelma & Louise on his ass. I mean, after all, I DO work at a gas station. My .. what big flames I could make! =)

Save money using coupons!

2007-07-14T16:13:00.000-05:00

If you, like myself, are into online shopping here's a cool way to save you some money on your next purchase. The website KeepCash offers a ton of coupons for over a 1000 different merchants/sites. Seriously, before you decide to buy anything online go to Keep Cash and see if you can find a good deal, because there is a big chance that you will find something to help you save money.

I have been looking to buy a laptop for a while now, since my boyfriend and I are both pretty reliant on computers for school and our jobs. We've kinda been waiting for a good deal to come along and when I learned about this site I found some great Dell.com coupon codes there. Made the decision somewhat easier, since it's not like it's just a couple of dollars off, I saved 50 bucks this way! I was afraid I also needed to look for some printer deals on KeepCash since it quit working on me today but I think I fixed the problem. I'm so smart! ;)

And what's also cool is that they update their coupon selection daily so if there's nothing on there for you now, there might be tomorrow. I wish I found out about this before because I could have saved so much money probably. Oh well, better late then never I guess ;) I subscribed to their RSS feed in my netvibes so I can see what's new whenever I log in.

This post is sponsored by PayPerPost.

My Vincent, let me show you him.

2007-07-14T16:08:00.000-05:00

This is an old project for an art history class: Vincent, the modern day cave painter (but of course named after Vincent Van Gogh.) Inspired by the art of Jamie Hewlett of Gorillaz fame, I created Vincent in Illustrator, background was made in Photoshop with help from Paulie on getting his fingers and the lighting just right. When I first made him, he had the simple South Park hands, and well .. he didn’t look all that impressive. But like this, I’ve grown to love him and he hangs in my bedroom now.

I had more plans for Vincent, to create him in many different ways, but since college sucks every last ounce of free time you have to create things for yourself, he will have to wait.

This is scaled way down, the original is about 28″ x 12″.

Reno 911 Miami is hilarious!

2007-06-25T17:12:00.000-05:00

Have you seen Reno 911! Miami The Movie yet? I just watched it a few days ago and it is so funny .. so if you like funny movies then you must see it .. it's great!

I'd have to say each character is funny in their own way, but my favorite character would have to be the gay guy, Terry. He doesn't have a very big role but when he is there, he's hysterically funny. I wish he had a bigger part, or had his own movie in the future! He's funny because he goes around on roller skates in skimpy little outfits and talks nonsense but then ends up being this little rich kid whose father bought him a private jet, haha .. it's hard to explain, you just have to see it to know what I mean.

The Reno 911! Miami The Movie dvd was released June 19th, 2007 so go check it out! Now that I've seen it I know this is a movie I want for my own personal collection =)

Click here to watch a scene from the movie. (You must have Quicktime to be able to view it)

Check it out! If you are a fan of silly comedies or Comedy Central-type humor then you won't be disappointed!

Kerning IS important.

2007-06-25T17:08:00.001-05:00

She is just blissfully unaware, isn’t she? Poor thing.

Everyday I drive past a similar example and cringe each time I see it. I will try to get a picture of it in the near future so you can see too. It’s a sign that says, “Clint’s Pro Steam”, and the ‘L’ & ‘i’ in ‘Clint’s’ runs together, making what appears to be a ‘u’, and well .. y’know what that spells.

Always save with coupon codes!

2007-06-20T00:50:00.000-05:00

Since I'm on a little break from school right now, I actually have time to read something other than required textbooks! So I rely a lot on sites like amazon.com to get good deals on new & used books. And since I am always in search of getting the biggest discounts, the Amazon.com coupons I found at Couponchief.com really come in handy!

Couponchief.com offers free coupons, promo codes, and even online coupons which can save you quite a bit and get you some really great deals.

Right now I would like to take advantage of either the free shipping on orders over $25, or the 'save in our outlet section' coupon, because you can always find good bargains there.

CouponChief.com has also recently made scanning coupons easier and added "how-to" screencasts for some top merchants like Target, Best Buy, Amazon, Overstock.com, Kohl's, Home Depot, Gap, and Dell.

Amazon.com just happens to be my favorite store, but there are so many more to choose from .. check them out and see which one is your favorite!

This post sponsored by Payperpost.

I'm a senior!

2007-06-19T10:00:00.000-05:00

Grades are in! I think it's pretty odd how I pulled a better grade out of geology than life drawing, but to me, they were about equal when it came to the level of difficulty. Drawing the human figure is hard stuff, and so is identifying rocks, minerals and fossils. I wouldn't mind if I never have to do either one again. What matters most is I passed. I still have a good GPA (3.49). And, I'm a SENIOR! =D

Burn Notice, a new tv series

2007-06-19T00:42:00.001-05:00

I'm a survivor, sure I am. What would I do if I was stranded in a unknown city with no money or resources?

Well, first, I would hope that it's a warm city to begin with, somewhere beachy .. because sleeping on a beach doesn't sound all that terrible to me. But just in case it wasn't, I would find the nearest hotel and walk in, telling the attendant, "I am staying here this evening in room 204 and it's a bit chilly in there, and also, I need an extra pillow." After obtaining my blanket and pillow I would walk down the hall and promptly out the nearest exit to find the safest, warmest corner to sleep in, not exactly an alley but maybe one of those booths where people wait on buses or trains.

I would find the nearest soup kitchen and eat there as many times per day as they allowed. No soup kitchen in that town? I would collect cans and bottles, return them to the nearest recycling center, and be a Dollar Menu-aire at McDonald's or someplace for my meals.

Hopefully I could find a public restroom or two suitable for locking the door and taking a quick "bath" to keep myself clean. Kinda like in that movie The Pursuit of Happyness. If I could keep myself reasonably presentable, I would try to find a job at a restaurant where I could work decent hours and eat for free during my breaks.

But those are just my ideas, I probably wouldn't know exactly what I would do until I was faced with the situation. What would Michael Weston of USA Network's Burn Notice do?

Starting June 28th, Weston, a CIA Operative on the new show Burn Notice, will show us how he deals with a similar situation.

Visit http://www.usanetwork.com/series/burnnotice to learn how he survives.

How would YOU survive?

Pure Luck at work.

2007-06-19T00:41:00.001-05:00

I have a new job. I’ve gone back to my roots of working at a gas station/convenience store, which was one of my first jobs ever. I like it .. get to work alone (I don’t always play well with others) and customers are usually in too much of a hurry to stand around and gab or be really needy of attention. Most just throw their money at me and run out the door, or .. in some circumstances, grab a soda & candy bar or a newspaper and ask for the bathroom key.

When people pre-pay they often don’t pump the entire amount, and we’re allowed to keep the change if they don’t come back for it, but we have to spend it on something in the store before our shift is over. It can be anything we want, and on some really busy days I do pretty good, I think the most I made so far was $12, so I used it to put gas in my car.

But today I couldn’t think of anything I really wanted with my dollar so I put it on a scratch-off lottery ticket ..

and I won fifty bucks! whoo hoo! =) It was a good day.

Have a nice week and remember to always pre-pay after dark.

Check out Ultimate Paintball!

2007-06-14T23:57:00.000-05:00

Into Paintball? Personally I've never played, but it sounds fun and I know a lot of people are into it .. so if you are one of those people, go check out this site, called pntball.com, for all your paintball gear needs!

The company is called Ultimate Paintball, and they offer Tippmann, Spyder, Smart Parts, Dye, Draxxus paintball gear plus a lot more brands which you can see on the website.

Their top selling guns include: Tippmann A-5, Tippmann 98 Custom, Smart Parts Ion, and Spyder Pilot ACS, just to name a few. They have awesome paintball gun packages and a search option so you can easily locate just what you are looking for.

They accept major credit cards as well as PayPal and your payment is safe and secure with them. They even offer live chat in case you have some questions you need answered right away.

Ultimate Paintball offers great prices, free shipping, and you can view all of their many products at http://www.pntball.com.

Go check them out today or give them a call at 877-WWW-PNTBALL!

Whoa!

2007-06-14T23:53:00.000-05:00

After all the worrying, I did much better in my geology class than I thought I would. I passed the final with a 78%. That gave me a B- for the quarter. I don't know how I did it! The professor must have had some mercy on me or something, because I figured I'd pull through with a C or lower. I needed only a D to pass, but I'll take the B-, haha. I'm just glad it's over, it was even harder than any of my math classes!

Spy Sweeper, the most award winning antispyware software around!

2007-06-14T23:40:00.000-05:00

Not only is Spy Sweeper the most award winning antispyware software you can get, but it is also the most viable option to kill spyware, and right now you can save $10 when you purchase it!

Visit the site now to get a free system scan and see how this award winning software differs from other antispyware software you may have used in the past!

Spy Sweeper will give you peace of mind when doing online banking, downloading music, or shopping online. You can browse the web and download without being afraid with this product, and receive the most trustworthy protection available against spies.

PC Magazine said, "Spy Sweeper remains a favorite for protection from spyware." So if PC Magazine is a fan, then you know it is a good product!

Spy Sweeper delivers the most advanced spyware detection, blockage and removal. And since their database is constantly being expanded, you can always rest assured that you have the most up-to-date protection available, through the use of automatic updates.

Why not check them out? All products are backed by knowledgeable and friendly experts who can help you through even the most difficult spyware problems, and unlike many other companies, they offer help support absolutely free.

Go check them out today!

I just don't care!

2007-06-12T23:11:00.001-05:00

I don’t care about metamorphism and geologic time. I don’t care about electron captures, radiometric dating, or Sedgewick and Murchison.

I can’t seem to get interested in supernovas, asteroid belts, vertebrates and invertebrates, trilobites, dinosaurs, or vascular plants, seed plants, and flowering plants.

I don’t give a rat’s ass about early Metazoans or prokaryotic/eukaryotic cells. The same goes for volcanic activity, radiometric dating problems, and Precambrian biological events.

Are YOU interested?

If you answered yes to that, then will you go take my final for me in 8 hours? Please?!?

Drug Rehab

2007-06-12T15:09:00.000-05:00

The Narconon Stone Hawk rehabilitation center for drug rehab is different than others, because they take a holistic approach to addiction treatment. And they actually care about addicts, because they were once addicts themselves.

What makes the Stone Hawk program great is the fact that they use no drugs or medication to resolve the issues of drug or alcohol abuse. Instead they use a combination of nutrition and nutritional supplements to heal the body and help eliminate the drug or alcohol addiction.

They also promote dry saunas where the 'student' can sweat out the toxins and decrease their cravings for drugs.

If you are interested in this program or know someone who might benefit from this information, feel free to pass along this website and phone number: http://www.narcononstonehawk.com/ 1-888-227-9193.

This post sponsored by PayPerPost.

Haha!

2007-06-12T14:59:00.000-05:00

Personally, I'm glad the bratty skank is put away for a while. She deserves a little lesson on how she cannot just get away with anything. And I like how they make fun of her stupid song at the same time =D This is pretty funny. Click!

PayPerPost gets $7 Million in Funding!

2007-06-12T14:38:00.000-05:00

You probably have already seen how many people who advertise on blogs are making a decent amount of money from it.

PayPerPost just announced that they have raised seven million dollars in funding! I think they should invest it in finding new and bigger advertising opportunities!

Check out this press release:

The PayPerPost Revolution Accelerates, Sponsored
Blogging Marketplace Secures $7 Million Series B

Draper Fisher Jurvetson leads round and joins Board of Directors

ORLANDO, FL – (June 12, 2007) – PayPerPost, the leading marketplace for advertisers to reach bloggers and other consumer content creators, today announced it has completed a $7 million second round investment led by Draper Fisher Jurvetson, an investor in the company's Series A and one of the world’s leading high-technology venture capital firms. The financing brings the total amount of capital raised by PayPerPost to over $10 million, giving the company considerable resources for further development as the industry’s leading Consumer Generated Advertising marketplace. Additional participants in the round include existing investors Inflexion Partners and Village Ventures as well as new investor DFJ Gotham. With this investment, DFJ Managing Director Josh Stein also joins PayPerPost’s Board of Directors.

“PayPerPost created this exciting new advertising space and has established itself as the industry leader,” said Ted Murphy, chief executive officer of PayPerPost. “Although we’ve only used a portion of our first round capital, this added support from investors unlocks significant growth potential. Our content creator and advertiser ROI metrics clearly demonstrate the upside for PayPerPost’s model. We intend to use this capital to build the infrastructure, visibility and professional expertise necessary to reach and retain a greater network of advertisers and content creators than ever before.”

Since its founding in June of 2006, PayPerPost has signed more than 6,500 advertisers to its groundbreaking service, which has enabled Consumer Content Creators to be compensated for their efforts discussing specific companies, products or services via blogs, videos or other media. The content creators are required to disclose relationships with advertisers on their blog, providing transparency for the end reader. Over 125,000 Internet postings, most in the form of blogs, have already earned money for their creators through PayPerPost’s innovative marketplace. PayPerPost recently released PayPerPost Direct, a disruptive new service that allows advertisers to contract and negotiate directly with individual bloggers they identify through a safe, managed system.

“PayPerPost has laid a strong foundation for the future,” noted Tim Draper, founder and managing director of Draper Fisher Jurvetson. “It continues to attract a critical mass of participants from both the advertising and blogging communities. Analogous to Overture’s sponsored search model, we believe PayPerPost’s business model holds disruptive potential and will enable the company to thrive in the evolving paid-content arena.”

To mark the $7 million dollar funding, PayPerPost has launched a new website detailing the company’s service offering at http://www.payperpost.com. Bloggers and advertisers can easily sign up at the site and begin leveraging the self service marketplace.

3 down, 2 to go.

2007-06-11T14:50:00.000-05:00

Why did I ever think it was a good idea to take 5 classes in one quarter? I'm so glad it's almost over. Tomorrow I have my written geology final at 8am. Thursday I will have to present my flash website project and then I'll be done. It's hot as ever here and so humid! We could really use some rain.

OpticsPlanet.com, a neat gadget site!

2007-06-10T00:45:00.001-05:00

Need a new night vision rifle scope? Or maybe you've just always wanted one. Well, if so, OpticsPlanet.com can hook you right up!

They have a wide selection of neat items such as night vision goggles, scopes, rifle scopes, thermal imaging, flashlights, heatseekers, and tactical and military gear. And the best part of it all is free UPS and APO shipping!

You can order via the website or if you have a question you may call them at 1-800-504-5897. They offer information and professional advice to their customers and even have a helpful gift guide on their site. They might have just what you're looking for in time for Father's Day!

OpticsPlanet.com offers a variety of night vision equipment by ATN, Yukon, Bushnell, Trijicon, Weaver, Aimshot, Insight Technology, ITT & many more. Their knowledgeable customer service can help you find the best night vision scope for your application – neighborhood watch, hunting, security, SWAT, law enforcement or military. In addition, OpticsPlanet offers a full line of military & tactical gear, holsters, flashlights, rifle scopes, rangefinders, binoculars, hearing protection, red dot scopes, tactical gloves, safety goggles & much more.

Go and check them out!

This post sponsored by PayPerPost.

Movie Meme.

2007-06-10T00:36:00.000-05:00

Here's something to do if you are bored .. a movie meme! Italicize the ones you've seen and Bold the ones you actually liked. I thought I would've seen more. Of those I'd seen, I'm surprised how my instinct on italic vs. bold went. It's fun ... try it. (I've never seen Star Wars, are you shocked?)

1. Titanic (1997) - $600,779,824
2. Star Wars (1977) - $460,935,665
3. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) - $434,949,459
4. Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999) - $431,065,444
5. Spider-Man (2002) - $403,706,375
6. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, The (2003) - $377,019,252
7. Passion of the Christ, The (2004) - $370,025,697
8. Jurassic Park (1993) - $356,784,000
9. Shrek 2 (2004) - $356,211,000
10. Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, The (2002) - $340,478,898
11. Finding Nemo (2003) - $339,714,367
12. Forrest Gump (1994) - $329,691,196
13. Lion King, The (1994) - $328,423,001
14. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001) - $317,557,891
15. Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001) - $313,837,577
16. Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002) - $310,675,583
17. Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) - $309,125,409
18. Independence Day (1996) - $306,124,059
19. Pirates of the Caribbean (2003) - $305,411,224
20. Sixth Sense, The (1999) - $293,501,675
21. Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) - $290,158,751
22. Home Alone (1990) - $285,761,243
23. Matrix Reloaded, The (2003) - $281,492,479
24. Shrek (2001) - $267,652,016
25. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002) - $261,970,615
26. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) - $260,031,035
27. Jaws (1975) - $260,000,000
28. Monsters, Inc. (2001) - $255,870,172
29. Batman (1989) - $251,188,924
30. Men in Black (1997) - $250,147,615
31. Toy Story 2 (1999) - $245,823,397
32. Bruce Almighty (2003) - $242,589,580
33. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) - $242,374,454
34. Twister (1996) - $241,700,000
35. My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002) - $241,437,427
36. Ghost Busters (1984) - $238,600,000
37. Beverly Hills Cop (1984) - $234,760,500
38. Cast Away (2000) - $233,630,478
39. Lost World: Jurassic Park, The (1997) - $229,074,524
40. Signs (2002) - $227,965,690
41. Rush Hour 2 (2001) - $226,138,454
42. Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) - $219,200,000
43. Ghost (1990) - $217,631,306
44. Aladdin (1992) - $217,350,219
45. Saving Private Ryan (1998) - $216,119,491
46. Mission: Impossible II (2000) - $215,397,30
47. X2 (2003) - $214,948,780
48. Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002) - $213,079,163
49. Back to the Future (1985) - $210,609,762
50. Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999) - $205,399,422
51. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) - $204,843,350
52. Exorcist, The (1973) - $204,565,000
53. Mummy Returns, The (2001) - $202,007,640
54. Armageddon (1998) - $201,573,391
55. Gone with the Wind (1939) - $198,655,278
56. Pearl Harbor (2001) - $198,539,855
57. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) - $197,171,806
58. Toy Story (1995) - $191,800,000
59. Men in Black II (2002) - $190,418,803
60. Gladiator (2000) - $187,670,866
61. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) - $184,925,485
62. Dances with Wolves (1990) - $184,208,848
63. Batman Forever (1995) - $184,031,112
64. Fugitive, The (1993) - $183,875,760
65. Ocean's Eleven (2001) - $183,405,771
66. What Women Want (2000) - $182,805,123
67. Perfect Storm, The (2000) - $182,618,434
68. Liar Liar (1997) - $181,395,380
69. Grease (1978) - $181,360,000
70. Jurassic Park III (2001) - $181,166,115
71. Mission: Impossible (1996) - $180,965,237
72. Planet of the Apes (2001) - $180,011,740
73. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) - $179,870,271
74. Pretty Woman (1990) - $178,406,268
75. Tootsie (1982) - $177,200,000
76. Top Gun (1986) - $176,781,728
77. There's Something About Mary (1998) - $176,483,808
78. Ice Age (2002) - $176,387,405
79. Crocodile Dundee (1986) - $174,635,000
80. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992) - $173,585,516
81. Elf (2003) - $173,381,405
82. Air Force One (1997) - $172,888,056
83. Rain Man (1988) - $172,825,435
84. Apollo 13 (1995) - $172,071,312
85. Matrix, The (1999) - $171,383,253
86. Beauty and the Beast (1991) - $171,301,428
87. Tarzan (1999) - $171,085,177
88. Beautiful Mind, A (2001) - $170,708,996
89. Chicago (2002) - $170,684,505
90. Three Men and a Baby (1987) - $167,780,960
91. Meet the Parents (2000) - $166,225,040
92. Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991) - $165,500,000
93. Hannibal (2001) - $165,091,464
94. Catch Me If You Can (2002) - $164,435,221
95. Big Daddy (1999) - $163,479,795
96. Sound of Music, The (1965) - $163,214,286
97. Batman Returns (1992) - $162,831,698
98. Bug's Life, A (1998) - $162,792,677
99. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004) - $161,963,000
100. Waterboy, The (1998) - $161,487,252

WhoGets.com

2007-06-10T00:12:00.001-05:00

I played $7 in scratch-off lottery tickets tonight at work with my tip money. I didn't win anything! Maybe I should have visited whogets.com instead!

WhoGets runs continuous online sweepstakes with a twist ... you get to decide who walks away with the coolest prizes! Anyone can enter to win, so go find a prize that you just got to have and enter the contest semi-final pool. If you are randomly selected as one of the 7 finalists, you must explain to the world why you should win that prize, and then wait and see what happens! Members will then discuss the finalists, give their opinions and cast their votes. Doesn't it sound like fun?

It's free to join and upon registering you can enter each contest once. There's nothing to buy, no offers to complete, and they promise no spam, ever!

There will be hundreds of contests too .. so go check them out and win something cool!

This post sponsored by PayPerPost.

Blur.

2007-06-10T00:07:00.000-05:00

This whole week has been a big blur. It’s the week before finals yet I’ve had 2 finals already and a huge ass-chewing from a professor who thought the class should be further along on the final project (even though for me, it’s the last one to be due.) It’s been draining. I’m ready for this quarter to be over .. I’m ready for school in general to be over! I’ve got major senioritis and I’m not even a senior yet (but will be after this quarter!)

After tomorrow I will have worked 41 hours this week. I am so tired I could just sleep standing up at work. Thankfully they have really strong coffee so I can stay awake.

What's your favorite Police song?

2007-06-06T20:58:00.000-05:00

Win a New York fly-away to see The Police live!!

If you haven't heard, the Police are reuniting this summer for a world tour and also releasing the Police cd, an awesome compilation CD of their greatest hits, a must-have for any Police fan out there. Didn't you love them back in the day? I am envious of those who get to go see them in concert ... the dates where they are playing near me are already sold out.

It's really hard to choose a favorite song by the Police, but if I had to, I'd have to say it's King of Pain. I have always loved it, even since I was younger, because the lyrics made it fun to visualize. It tells a story ... to me it always seemed like it was about struggle, not being able to get what you want or go where you need to go. Being in the wrong place at the wrong time, unable to be set free.

There's a little black spot on the sun today
It's the same old thing as yesterday
There's a black hat caught in a high tree top
There's a flag-pole rag and the wind won't stop

I have stood here before inside the pouring rain
With the world turning circles running 'round my brain
I guess I'm always hoping that you'll end this reign
But it's my destiny to be the king of pain

There's a little black spot on the sun today
(That's my soul up there)
It's the same old thing as yesterday
(That's my soul up there)
There's a black hat caught in a high tree top
(That's my soul up there)
There's a flag-pole rag and the wind won't stop
(That's my soul up there)

I have stood here before inside the pouring rain
With the world turning circles running 'round my brain
I guess I'm always hoping that you'll end this reign
But it's my destiny to be the king of pain

There's a fossil that's trapped in a high cliff wall
(That's my soul up there)
There's a dead salmon frozen in a waterfall
(That's my soul up there)
There's a blue whale beached by a spring tide's ebb
(That's my soul up there)
There's a butterfly trapped in a spider's web
(That's my soul up there)

I have stood here before inside the pouring rain
With the world turning circles running 'round my brain
I guess I'm always hoping that you'll end this reign
But it's my destiny to be the king of pain

There's a king on a throne with his eyes torn out
There's a blind man looking for a shadow of doubt
There's a rich man sleeping on a golden bed
There's a skeleton choking on a crust of bread

King of pain

There's a red fox torn by a huntsman's pack
(That's my soul up there)
There's a black-winged gull with a broken back
(That's my soul up there)
There's a little black spot on the sun today
It's the same old thing as yesterday

I have stood here before inside the pouring rain
With the world turning circles running 'round my brain
I guess I'm always hoping that you'll end this reign
But it's my destiny to be the king of pain

king of pain
king of pain
king of pain
I'll always be king of pain...

I think the Police have a very unique musical style. Sting's voice is unlike any other and I always loved how their songs have a reggae feel to them. I think too the Police have influenced other bands to adopt the reggae/punk genre and pull it off successfully .. because, well, let's face it .. reggae and punk are not a likely mix but they made it work very well!

And of course there has been tribute albums and we can't forget P Diddy doing his spin on Every Breath you Take, another favorite of mine!

So are you planning on purchasing the Police cd? I'm still holding out to see if I win one from PayPerPost, but if not, it's definitely on my list!

Fun. Not.

2007-06-06T20:54:00.000-05:00

The quarter is almost over and I am so glad. It's been really rough .. I know I say that every quarter but this one just happened to be a real doozie.

My last final is next Wednesday .. then I'll be done with actual classes until August. Internship starts June 25th and runs through Aug 18th. I wish we had more of a break in between .. but ah well .. it'll be my last year .. I'm so glad!

Do you believe in ghosts?

2007-06-05T23:29:00.000-05:00

I personally cannot say I believe in ghosts. I have never had an experience with the supernatural and can't recall ever seeing anything that even remotely resembled a ghost but I know lots of people claim they have. Anyway, that aside, I am very interested to see the 1408 Movie .. have you heard about it? Go watch the trailer, it looks awesome!

Based on the short story by the most amazing horror author Stephen King, 1408 stars John Cusack and one of my personal favorites, Samuel L. Jackson. Cusack plays a author who writes about the paranormal phenomena, and decides to stay in room 1408 in a New York City hotel that has been rumored as haunted. Supposedly everyone who checks into that room dies within an hour. The hotel manager (Samuel L. Jackson) strongly warns Cusack not to stay, saying many people have died there. Cusack is determined to stay however, to prove it is all just a myth, but his stay proves something very different, and very frightening by the looks of the trailer!

I suppose I would be skeptical just like Cusack's character, but I still wouldn't be skeptical enough to spend a night where so many people had died! Would you?

Catch the 1408 Movie this summer, starting in theaters June 22nd. I will surely be there!

Design against your Creed project

2007-06-04T23:48:00.000-05:00

This final project has been difficult and it’s not even finished yet, but I decided to design for the Westboro Baptist Church, which I’m sure most people are already familiar with. If you’re not familiar with them, you’ll get an idea of what they stand for when you view the ad I made, meant to be a mock magazine ad. The text I copied from a flier the church distributed in 2004. Notice the kids in the picture, and their t-shirts.

I learned the church also pickets military funerals, calling soldiers fags. They even have a little rhyme they chant about “fags coming home in body bags.”

I will say no more. I’m too sickened. Like I said, researching for this project has been really hard.

If an organization wanted to hire you for your design skills, but you disagreed with their beliefs, would you still do it if the price was right?

Meade MYSky .. a neat astronomy gadget!

2007-06-03T23:15:00.001-05:00

Have you heard the buzz about the Meade MySky? Meade and OpticsPlanet.com proudly bring you their newest astronomy gadget.

Meade MySky Personal Video Planetarium is a revolutionary way to explore the universe. MySkY is a hand-held, point-shoot-and-identify multimedia guide to the universe and shows you the night sky better than if you had your own private astronomer! Way better than binoculars! (but they also offer those at OpticsPlanet.com :)

Meade Mysky features a full-color LCD screen and the added ability to control a Meade computerized telescope. It is easy to use and can be enjoyed by the whole family. It also makes a great gift for anyone interested in the latest technology, gadgets, science, or unusual gift ideas!

OpticsPlanet.com promise lowest prices guaranteed, Free UPS on all order above $29.95, Knowledgeable Customer Service & Secure Online Shopping. OpticsPlanet.com is the leading online retailer with a wide selection of optics and technology productions - telescopes, binoculars, spotting scopes, microscopes, night vision, flashlights by Meade, Celestron, Bushnell, Nikon, Leupold, Surefire, and Streamlight, just to name a few.

Go check them out today!

This post sponsored by PayPerPost.

Type Illustration

2007-06-03T23:10:00.000-05:00

Here’s a type illustration I did for my typography class about a year ago. It’s ok but not nearly as cool as this. Major typography skills there! Check out the rest of the site too. It's pretty neat.

Hotel reservations made easy

2007-06-01T19:05:00.000-05:00

With it almost being summer and nearly vacation time, you might be looking for a site where you can make easy and discounted hotel reservations. HotelReservations.com offers hotels, flights, rental cars, vacation packages, and vacation rentals for up to 70% off. Maybe you should check them out!

They offer booking online, group bookings, and if you are somehow able to confirm a lower rate through another site you simply fill out their internet rate price guarantee form. How easy is that? You can call them 24/7 at 1-800-447-4136 to ask questions or make your reservations.

Their pricing rates are very competitive on worldwide travel. For over six years HotelReservations.com has been providing travelers with awesome discounts on the places on both worldwide business or leisure travel.

They have handy tools like their destination guide where you can visit to get information on attractions, restaurants, and hotels at your chosen destination, along with up-to-date weather information and health tips. They pretty much just help you with everything you can imagine for your travel needs.

Another neat feature they have is the road trip search feature, where you can find the best destinations and great deals just a short distance from wherever you are located. Perfect for when you just want to take a little weekend roadtrip getaway.

HotelReservations.com offers more than 70,000 properties worldwide, everything from hotels to condominiums to bed & breakfasts and to all inclusive resorts. All is backed by a price guarantee, as you can read about on their website.

Why not check them out? You might get an even better deal than you imagined. I will certainly use this site when I plan to travel, it seems they can give you a really great deal! They make booking and planning simple for the customer, through the HotelReservations.com expert lodging website and also certified hotel experts available 24/7 at 1-800-447-4136.

Happy Summer Traveling and Vacationing!

This post sponsored by PayPerPost.

Textures

2007-05-31T21:46:00.000-05:00

I have been playing around lately with texture in my paintings. I've only so far tried tissue paper, tracing paper, or coffee grounds to see what type of different surfaces I can make on a canvas, and I've been pleasantly surprised each time.

I found this site called ArtistTerms.com, which suggests a whole slew of different textures which can be used .. ones I had never even thought about.

I am currently trying the one with elastic bands.

I will someday photograph and show you all the paintings I've been doing, when I get a decent digital camera that will show them without blurring =)

Encyclocentral Explains it all

2007-05-31T21:38:00.000-05:00

If you are looking for information on Auto & Trucks, you might want to give Encyclocentral a visit.

By visiting the above link you will find informative articles concerning autos and trucks, all written by experts in the specified field. But you don't have to limit yourself to just autos and trucks, there are many categories to choose from that might interest you.

I found the Hobbies category interesting, as it covers a lot of gaming articles. Another category I visited and found to be interesting was Gadgets & Gizmos, with a lot of good articles on new technology.

Check it out, you might find something you didn't know existed!

This post sponsored by PayPerPost.

Scattergories Meme.

2007-05-31T16:39:00.000-05:00

Use the 1st letter of your name to answer each of the following... They have to be real places, names, things... nothing made up! Try to use different answers if the person in front of you had the same 1st initial. You CAN'T use your name for the boy/girl name question.

Your Name:
Sera

Famous Artist/Band/Musician:
Skid Row

4 letter word:
Slim

Vehicle:
Saturn

TV Show:
Scooby Doo

City:
Seattle

Boy Name:
Shawn

Girl Name:
Stacy

Alcoholic drink:
Scotch

Occupation:
Sheriff

Celebrity:
Sanjaya!

Food:
Spaghetti

Something found in a kitchen:
Spatula

Reason for Being Late:
Snow on roads

Would a dehumidifier benefit you?

2007-05-30T23:44:00.000-05:00

When I was little, I had severe allergies and also was sick a lot with colds and bronchitis. I remember my grandparents had a dehumidifier and although back then I didn't know much about what it was for, I knew it was something that helped me breathe a bit better.

What I didn't know was that it was controlling things like dust mites, condensation, and mildew and mold.

I also didn't know that on a hot day, it can regulate the humidity levels and help you get a better night's sleep .. sounds like something I could benefit from right now!

There are many positive benefits to the way a dehumidifier works, and you can read about them here.

Aprilaire dehumidifiers offers a site where you can read about various dehumidifier tips and also find ones that would be best for your situation and your home.

This post sponsored by PayPerPost.

Lethargy vs. Insomnia

2007-05-30T23:43:00.001-05:00

I am so tired, so why can’t I sleep?

How can a person feel so plumb worn out yet be so wide awake?

I am constantly sleepy and sluggish yet I have a really hard time falling asleep at night, mostly because I just lay awake thinking of everything I need to accomplish tomorrow, the next day, the next week (or even the next month, the next year) … it goes on and on until I finally realize it’s already 4am and I have to be up at 6:30.

I hate that I don’t have a steady schedule. I never thought I’d say this, but I actually envy you 9 to 5′ers out there.

Check out Mint Credit Cards

2007-05-30T23:31:00.000-05:00

Have you heard the buzz about Mint credit cards?

They have recently lowered their typical APR to 14.9% (variable) and offer 0% on balance transfers until August 1, 2008. Also 0% on purchases through January 1, 2008 .. how great of a deal is that?

Mint credit cards also offer a 0% bonus offer until April 1, 2009 on credit card balance transfers (2.5% fee) debited to your account during October of 2008.

There are many other perks as well: such as Mint gift cards, discounts on home owner's insurance, and discounts on motor insurance.

Mint has online servicing, which is a quick and easy way to manage your card via the internet.

Why not check them out now to see if they are the company that is right for you? You can ask questions, compare rates, use the loan calculator to tabulate your loan needs, or apply online right now.

This post sponsored by PayPerPost.

A fun little widget ..

2007-05-28T23:14:00.001-05:00

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

This was lots of fun ..

Try it!

It's easy and it only takes a few moments.

Save a bunch with coupon codes

2007-05-28T00:42:00.000-05:00

With gas prices always being so high all the time, I rely a lot on coupons to get some good discounts when I am planning on traveling. And since I am always in search of good travel deals, these Travelocity coupons really come in handy.

Couponchief.com offers free coupons, coupon codes, and even online coupons which can save you quite a bit and get you some really great deals.

Right now I would love to go somewhere nice to have a little vacation, and would also love to rent one of the Green cars from Hertz through Travelocity and take it on a weekend getaway just to try it out! You can save $25 on a weekend rental.

CouponChief.com has also recently made scanning coupons easier and added "how-to" screencasts for some top merchants like Target, Best Buy, Amazon, Overstock.com, Kohl's, Home Depot, Gap, and Dell.

Travelocity just happens to be my favorite store, but there are so many more to choose from .. check them out and see which one is your favorite!

This post sponsored by Payperpost.

A meme ..

2007-05-28T00:39:00.000-05:00

YOUR REAL NAME:

Sera Strawbridge

2. YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (first 3 letters of real name plus izzle.)

Serizzle

3. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (fav color and fav animal)

Orange Wolf

4. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, and current street)

Renee Iroquois

5. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first name, last 3 letters of mom's maiden name)

Strseker

6. YOUR SUPERHERO NAME: (your 2nd favorite color, favorite drink).

Purple Propel

7. YOUR IRAQI NAME: (2nd letter of your first name, 3rd letter of your last name, any letter of your middle name, any letter of your moms maiden name, last letter of your moms middle name, 3rd letter of your dads middle name, 1st letter of a siblings first name)

Ernunms

8. YOUR GOTH NAME: (black, and the name of one your pets)

Black Hunter