I Am Still Alive-Saturday, November 14, 2009

I have been quite busy with work, school, and my upcoming trip to Nigeria. I have co-founded a new company called Green Pearl International. There will be allot of changes coming up for this site and I am very excited about it. There will be press releases regarding Green Pearl and what it is all about. I will be back again in January 2010. Thank you for your support.

No Posts This Week

I have had a very hectic schedule this week. I was not able to post. I will be back on track next week.

FYI-7 Year Old Leads Police on "High Speed Chase"

Hello Everyone,

Have you watched the Today show today? They interviewed the 7 year old and his family today. The youngster's mother stated that her son originally said that he did not want to go to church, however the boy told his mom that he wanted to know what it was like to drive a car. Thank goodness no one was hurt. Have a great weekend.

I got this video from You Tube.

Hump Day!-I Look To You-Whitney's Back!

Hello all,

I am sorry that I did not post on Monday. It's A Living will be back next week. I just found out that Whitney Houston's new album will be coming out late in Aug 09. This is her first album in 3 years. Whitney has alot to deal with in her life and took much needed time away from her career. I am so happy that her life has settled down some and that she looks healthy and happy again.

Whitney has had a listening party for her new album I Look To You in LA, New York, and London. Those who have heard her latest album say that it is the best she has done. If you go to www.whitneyhouston.com, you can listen to the first release I Look To You and download it for free. I have gone on the site and listened to the song and it is simply beautiful. I hear the experience and new found wisdom in her voice. I think this album will be huge.

To go along with Whitney's upcoming album, I decided to put some of Whitney's best videos and a clip from her listening party in New York on E Anastasia for you all to watch and enjoy. And know this, we all go through life's challenges and if we let it, something more than before emerges from the other side. It is up to us if that something breaks us or makes us strong, wise, and loving ourselves and Jehovah more. Enjoy and have a great Hump Day!

FYI-This Day In History

This Day In History in the year 2002, nine Pennsylvania coal miners trapped in a coal mine emerged from that mine after being trapped over 72 hours. Mine workers Randy Fogle, Dennis Hall, John Phillippi, Tom Foy, John Unger, Robert Pugh, Harry Mayhugh, Ron Hileman, and Mark Popernack helped each other survive by sticking together in a flooded mine shaft. At its worst, the waters rose up to the miner's necks.

The miners story was told in a made for TV movie called, The Pennsylvania Miner's Story starring Graham Beckel, Dylon Bruno, and Marisa Ryan. Also, a documentary about the nine miners was done called, Our Story: 77 Hours That Tested Our Friendship and Our Faith for the Discovery Channel. Lastly a book about the nine miners was written called, All Nine Alive: The Dramatic Mine Rescue That Inspired and Cheered A Nation.

E Anastasia is looking for stories about everyday people in not so everyday situations. Please tell me your story or someone else's. Thank you and have a great weekend.

Hump Day!-A Note From God

I got a job lead last Friday and followed up on it Monday. I called the place in question to find out if there were still job openings. I was told yes and given the hours to come in and fill out an application. I got to where the place is located. I noticed a large sign in the window that said: NOW HIRING! I noticed a sidewalk sign in front of the business that said the same thing.

I expected the place to be packed full of job hunters like me. With two glaring signs, people must have seen them. I walked into the business and it was empty with the exception of three employees there working. I asked for the person I spoke with on the phone and introduced myself to her. I was greeted with warm smiles and immediately given an application to fill out. I was motioned over to a table to fill out my application.

I noticed that the area was very neat, too neat. I realized that I was the only one that showed up today to fill out an application. I was shocked. I filled out the application and took a test. When I was finished, I was motioned to sit at another desk. I gave my application to one of the workers to look over. The young lady graded my test and I had only two answers wrong. "Fantastic!", the young woman said.

The young woman then turned my application and test over to another worker. The two workers talked among themselves as I sat waiting. While the conversation continued, my eyes began to wander around the office. My eyes stopped at a black frame on one of the walls. Inside the frame, a statement that read: "This is a note to you from God. I am helping you with all of your problems. I do not need your assistance. Sit back, relax, and have a good day."

The two workers stopped talking and I turned back to them. The young lady gave me the job description and told me where to go to get a manual to study for the job. I was told that I would be contacted after the application was processed. The two workers thanked me for coming in for the job and I thanked them for having an opportunity available. I was assured that I would be called back. I had a good feeling when I left the office.

I may have walked away with a job, however, I walked away with something for sure. I walked away with the reminder that God is helping me with all my problems and all I have to do is let him. I want to tell Jehovah that I am sorry I forgot that and I will do my best to stop assisting him. We all have times when we really should let go and let God. I hope this helps you. Have a great Hump Day!

Its A Living-New Job Website for People 40 and Over

I found a new site for job seekers that are 40 and over. The name of the site is Wiser Worker.com. I went on the site to check it out. The site features articles, a resume builder, job searching resources, and of course job openings.

There is also a listing on the job site for job fairs. Those of you who took advantage of the tutorial on job fairs a couple of weeks ago can put what you have learned into practice. Please check out the site and/or tell someone 40 and over about Wiser Worker. Go to www.wiserworker.com. Tell me what you think. Have a great Monday.

E Anastasia Is Out Until Monday

I am sorry that I did not mention I would not be posting on Friday. I will be back on schedule on Monday with It's A Living. Thank you and have a great weekend.

Hump Day!-12 Things Your Dog Can Teach You

Sometimes our pets are smarter than we think.


1.When loved ones come home, always run to greet them

2. Allow the feel of fresh air and wind in your face to be pure joy

3. Let others know when they've invaded your territory

4. Take naps and stretch before rising

5. On a hot day, drink lots of water and lay under a shady tree

6. When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body

7. No matter how often you're scolded, don't buy into the guilt thing and pout . . . run right back out and make friends

8. Delight in the simple joy of a long walk

9. Eat with gusto and enthusiasm. Stop when you've had enough

10. Be loyal

11. Never pretend to be something you're not

12. If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it

FYI-Accidental Savings

I had some leftover chicken and decided to go to the grocery store to get some salad to go with it. I was torn between going to the salad bar and buying a prepackaged salad. I have not gone to the salad bar at the grocery store in a while. I always spend way more than $7.00 for the salad. The salad is always great, however, I can not always afford to pay that kind of money for salad.

I thought things through and reasoned that I already had chicken at home so I could get a salad without the meat. I am also on Weight Watchers, so I would not put all of the junk I normally would on the salad. I decided to go to the salad bar and I am glad I did. I got mostly mixed lettuce and fresh spinach with strategically placed veggies and cheese. I put the salad dressing in a container on the side. I got a full container of salad for $2.25. Yes, I said $2.25 for the salad. I almost fainted.

If you are looking to save a little money at the salad bar in your local grocery store, focus on lettuce, right portion veggies, a little cheese, and dressing on the side. Not only will you save money, you will save calories as well. Plus you will wind up with a healthy, tasty salad. Have a great weekend.

Hump Day!-See It Through

When you're up against a trouble,
Meet it squarely, face to face;
Lift your chin and set your shoulders,
Plant your feet and take a brace.
When it's vain to try to dodge it,
Do the best that you can do;
You may fail, but you may conquer,
See it through!

Black may be the clouds about you
And your future may seem grim,
But don't let your nerve desert you;
Keep yourself in fighting trim.
If the worst is bound to happen,
Spite of all that you can do,
Running from it will not save you,
See it through!

Even hope may seem but futile,
When with troubles you're beset,
But remember you are facing
Just what other men have met.
You may fail, but fall still fighting;
Don't give up, whate'er you do;
Eyes front, head high to the finish.
See it through!

Edgar Guest

See it through, See it through, See it through. Have a great Hump Day!

It's A Living-Getting The Most Out of Job Fairs

I have attended job fairs on various occasions. I have never gotten much out of them other than the snacks and freebies I took home with me. I got alot of job leads. The leads were mostly for jobs I did not qualify for or had no interest in. I got names and contact information, however, name dropping usually did not pan out for me either. To be perfectly honest, I had no idea on how to get the most out of job fairs.

I went on You Tube and found a video that gives advice about how to get the most out of job fairs. The video was quite helpful and I wanted to share it with you. Let me know how you enjoyed the video and if it was helpful to you. I wish you well in your search for employment.

FYI-Be Careful This Weekend

Hello All,

Most of us hear the same thing every year around this time to be careful this weekend. You are going to hear it again, be careful this weekend. You may not be partaking in the festivities, however, be on the watch for those who are. So many people get injured and lose there lives senselessly because of the selfish and self-destructive acts of others. There I said it. Have a Great Weekend and take care.

Hump Day!-Fantasy Duet

I was on You Tube looking at a video and stumbled on a video of Cher and Tina Turner doing a duet on Cher's variety show. Looking at the video brought back memories. I thought about how I used to do fantasy duets with my favorite artist. None of you know this, however, I am a closet diva and "performed" many times with Tina Turner. In fact, I would love to perform with Tina to this day.

With that in mind, I decided to give each of you an assignment. Get your soap on a rope, hairbrush, or any other fantasy microphone you use. Then, find your favorite fantasy duet song. Get dressed up, put the song on and sing your heart out. Haven't pretended in a while, here are some videos to get you started. Have fun and have a great Hump Day!

FYI-Food Share Giveaway

Hello Everyone,I got a call last week from the State of Wisconsin Department of Human Services informing me that I was eligible for food share. I was quite surprised by the phone call. The State never calls anyone regarding food share or any other program. I did apply for food share awhile ago and had an appointment to go for an interview. However, I never made the appointment. I did go back online to schedule another appointment and I did not hear back from anyone until the phone call last week.

The social worker informed me that they pulled unemployment records and are calling individuals that are currently collecting unemployment and informing them of what is needed to obtain a Quest card for the food share benefit. I was told to submit a copy of my rent statement and my drivers license. The social worker also told me that a brochure was going to be mailed to me explaining about the food share program and other programs that were available. I, in turn, mailed the requested documentation.

This week I recieved the brochure and found that I qualified to apply for another program which I promptly did. If you or anyone you know is currently collecting unemployment, call the Department of Human Services in your state to find out if you qualify for food share or food stamps and/or any other programs. Stimulus funds have gone or are going to all of the states and Wisconsin has decided to use some of the stimulus money to help individuals sign up for state benefits. I have to admit that it was a very pleasant surprise and I hope this information helps somebody out. Have a great weekend.

Hump Day!- Attitude Is Everything

I ran across this story on www.upbeat.net. The story really made me think of how I view positive and negative situations. When finished reading, ask yourself, "Do I have the right attitude?" Enjoy the Story.

Jerry was the kind of guy you love to hate. He was always in a good mood and always had something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, "If I were any better, I would be twins!"

He was a unique manager because he had several waiters who had followed Him around from restaurant to restaurant. The reason the waiters followed Jerry Was because of his attitude. He was a natural motivator. If an employee was having a bad day, Jerry was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation. Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up to Jerry and asked him, "I don't get it! You can't be a positive person all of the time. How do you do it?" Jerry replied, "Each morning I wake up and say to myself, Jerry, you have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or you can choose to be in a bad mood.' I choose to be in a good mood. Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or I can choose to learn from it. I choose to learn from it. Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or I can point out the positive side of life. I choose the positive side of life." "Yeah, right, it's not that easy," I protested. "Yes it is," Jerry said.

Life is all about choices. When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react to situations. You choose how people will affect your mood. You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood. The bottom line: It's your choice how you live life." I reflected on what Jerry said. Soon thereafter, I left the restaurant industry to start my own business. We lost touch, but often thought about him when I made a choice about life instead of reacting to it.
- - -

Several years later, I heard that Jerry did something you are never supposed to do in a restaurant business: he left the back door open one morning and was held up at gunpoint by three armed robbers. While trying to open the safe, his hand, shaking from nervousness, slipped off the combination. The robbers panicked and shot him. Luckily, Jerry was found relatively quickly and rushed to the local trauma center. After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, Jerry was released from the hospital with fragments of the bullets still in his body. I saw Jerry about six months after the accident. When I asked him how he was, he replied, "If I were any better, I'd be twins. Wanna see my scars?"

I declined to see his wounds, but did ask him what had gone through his mind as the robbery took place. "The first thing that went through my mind was that I should have locked the back door," Jerry replied. "Then, as I lay on the floor, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live, or I could choose to die. I chose to live. "Weren't you scared? Did you lose consciousness?" I asked. Jerry continued, "The paramedics were great. They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the emergency room and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, I read, 'He's a dead man. "

I knew I needed to take action." "What did you do?" I asked. "Well, there was a big, burly nurse shouting questions at me," said Jerry. "She asked if I was allergic to anything. 'Yes,' I replied. The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply. I took a deep breath and yelled, 'Bullets!'

Over their laughter, I told them, 'I am choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead." Jerry lived thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude. I learned from him that every day we have the choice to live fully. Attitude, after all, is everything.

Its A Living!-Check That Resume!

As most of you know, I have not had a regular job since April 2009, when my seasonal position at Jackson Hewitt ended. I have been quite busy with school, my blogs, Twitter, and soon will be busy with Ebay. So busy that my last job interview was in May and I did not get the job. I had my resume updated in January 2009 with the help of someone that works for Manpower. I knew that my resume was in good shape. Then yesterday all of that changed.

I took my resume into a lady that helps people with their resumes. I intended to leave my resume thinking it was fine. I did update the doggone thing in January for heavens sake. The lady took a look at my resume and started taking it apart, and telling me what was wrong with it. The lady said that my work experience was great and that I was considered an accomplished person. However, my resume did not reflect my accomplishments. In fact, the lady said my resume was incomplete. I could not believe what I heard.

Back in the dark ages, the ideal resume was one page long, listed either the last 3 jobs and/or the last five years of employment, and references were by request. In the age of enlightenment, the ideal resume is two pages long. The resume lists the name of the company, the type of company and accomplishments while employed at said company. Along with an objective, a qualification or skill summary is included on the resume. Lastly, interests, additional experience, and volunteer experiences complete a resume.

I have decided to update my resume again and I will take it back to be reviewed next month. If any of you out there are having a problem getting interviews, your resume might be the culprit. Look over your resume to see how up to date it really is. Finding someone who specializes in helping others with their resumes can help. Also, look at the latest resume books to see what type of resume is expected for your field. I hope this helps us land a decent job and make a living. Take care.

FYI-Beware of Fraud From Everywhere

I married my husband November 2008, in Lagos, Nigeria. Most people do not react when I mention that my husband is Nigerian. There are some, however, that will raise eyebrows and panic. The country of Nigeria and its peoples have a poor reputation on the world scene. In fact, Nigeria is currently blacklisted from services such as PayPal, outbound wiring of funds through Western Union, banking, shopping and marketing sites. Some people feel that all Nigerians are con artists and that Nigeria is a country that has gone to the dogs.

One day, a well meaning neighbor approached me, telling me that my then fiance was trying to rip me off. She told me that she went on the CIA website and she learned all sorts of things about how bad Nigeria and Nigerians are. "You should send no more money to him.", my neighbor said. I looked at the woman and said,"I have never sent any money to him." My neighbor then said, "But it is a scam. It is all a scam." I replied, "Then if it is a scam, I am the con artist." I further stated, "My fiance has found a way to send me money to pay my rent since I lost my job." My neighbor almost fainted when I told her that.

My neighbor apologized to me for what she said. "It's just with everything that has been on the news, Oprah, and everywhere about Nigeria, I got scared. If your finance is helping you like that then you have a man that cares." I smiled at my neighbor and said, "There is all of this talk about Nigeria this, and Nigeria that. No one focuses on any of the other scams that are out there. No one ever talks about the Russians. They have worse scams going than the Nigerians and no one ever talks about them."

I did a little checking on worldwide fraud. Nigerian fraud accounts for only 2.8% of total complaints filed for fraud. The number one fraud complaint was for non-delivery of goods and services 32.9%. I got that information from http://www.consumerfraudreporting.org/internet_scam_statistics.htm. I admit that we all have to be educated and aware of scams that originate in our country and beyond. However, we all must have a balanced view of where the scams originate. It is shameful that the illegal actions of a few have sullied the reputation of a people that are hard-working, family oriented, intelligent, and resourceful.

I hope that this will help us all be aware and beware of fraud from EVERYWHERE. Have a great weekend!

Hump Day!-Irreplaceable Things-By Popular Request!

I orginally posted this experience in May 2009. There has been a request to rerun this post. Thank you for the request and I hope you all enjoy this experience.

In the late 1980's, I was living in the state of Georgia. One of the myriad of jobs I had while living there was a bagger at Kroger grocery store. One evening, I was escorting a customer and her 1 year old son to their vehicle to help unload groceries. We walked until we got to the woman's mini van. The woman had me stand with the full grocery cart while she put the toddler into his car seat. Somehow the woman's son broke loose and started running in the parking lot.

"Oh my god! The baby!", I yelled and took off after the little guy. As I was running after the toddler, I heard the woman yell, "My groceries!" Also, I looked up and saw a car approaching. I realized that the toddler was going to run in front of the car. At that moment, I had a jolt of what I call extreme clarity. I quickly picked up the pace of my running. While doing so, I focused on the toddler and I visualized myself reaching out to the child and grabbing him before the car got to us.

I kept reaching and reaching out to the toddler until he was in my hands. I quickly scooped up the child and pulled him to me just as the oncoming car drove by. I was so relieved to have that little guy in my arms unharmed. I turned and walked with the toddler in tow back to the car. I was so happy and proud with myself. I got back to the mini van and gave the woman her son.

"You let my groceries roll away!", the woman snapped at me. I was stunned at what the woman said. "I almost lost all of my groceries.", the woman stated. I looked at the woman and said, "Madame, we can replace your groceries, but we can not replace him.", pointing to the baby now in his car seat. I could see that what I said to the woman got through to her. The woman's eyes widened at the realization that she could have lost her son. The woman looked at me and humbly said, "Thank you". I loaded the groceries into the woman's minivan, and returned to the store to bag another customer's groceries. I never saw the woman again.

The point is obvious, however, let's review. Sometimes we as imperfect humans place more emphasis on things that are replaceable other than on things that are irreplaceable. I know in my heart that that woman loved her son and wanted the world for him. However, in a lapse of good judgement, the woman ran after a grocery cart filled with groceries while her son was running into an oncoming car. The woman was probably thinking about how much time, effort, and money she spent in the grocery store buying food and that it would be ruined if the grocery cart tipped over or something.

This is an excellent reminder for us in these turbulent times. There is nothing that can replace the irreplaceable things or people in our lives. It does not matter if we lose a job, or are fighting to hang on to the one we have. All we really have are God, our families, and ourselves. So let us start focusing more on the irreplaceable things in our lives instead of running after grocery carts. Thank you for supporting me and have a good Hump Day.

New Way Of Looking For Work

Here I am again. I am out of work, however, I am not panic stricken. I am at the point where I am numb. I can not feel anything about being out of work anymore. Being numb would be a bad thing under different circumstances. It is a great thing under these circumstances. Why get all upset? Does it help anything?

Heck no! Panicking, worrying, and crying will not do a thing except cause me to go crazy and become dehydrated. This time, I am looking at how I can work smarter and still make a decent living. I went back to school in December 2008 and I am currently pursuing a degree in Education at Ashford University. I started an EBay store in Sept 2008. I learned how to prepare income taxes. And I am blogging again.

In the past, my search for a new job consisted of pouring over the want ads in the local paper. Calling or sending letters to set up interviews, getting dressed up nice, and pretending that I was so into the company I applied with so I could get the job. I knew I was the winner of the "Best Pretender" when I got the job. I would repeat this process in intervals over my adulthood. Things changed, however, in September 2008.

The job I was working was through a temp service. I had put in my 90 days and the job was due to go permanent. I was let go on my 91st day. I put my everything into learning that job and doing everything I could in order to make sure the job went permanent. In fact, that job was the second job I lost in a year. I was on the previous job for almost 4 years. I remember going home after being told that I was being let go and crying.

I did not cry for long. I could not afford to cry for long. I had a wedding in Nigeria to go to.....MINE! I knew that I had to look for something to do, however, I was leaving the country on October 30th. I certainly could not go to a prospective employer and say, "I would love to take the job, however, I will be gone for two weeks....." I saw that scenario crashing and bursting into flames. I had an idea on how to at least keep some pocket change in my purse.

I had a purse that I wanted to sell and I remember that I could put it on EBay. I had a digital camera, the purse, and access to a computer. I posted my first ad on EBay in Sept 2008. I started with the purse and then expanded to include clothes in my closet and other clothing items I acquired. I also started running rummage sales at the building I lived at. I was able to buy groceries and take care my transportation expenses until it was time for me to go to Nigeria.

When I got back into the States, I continued with my EBay store. Then I ran into a lady that used to live in my building. I enrolled in Ashford University as a result of that meeting. Ashford has an Education program that can be done entirely online, even teaching hours. I checked the accreditation and the Better Business Bureau. Going back to school allowed me to apply, for financial aid, loans, and now scholarships. Now, I am going for my degree and paying my bills at the same time.

n January 2009, I went back to Jackson Hewitt and worked the tax season. This past season was my second season. For four months I was able to work full-time, and go to school. I stopped my EBay store during this time. I will be starting my EBay store back up this week. I will also be blogging and doing other things to take care of things and hold down the fort until my hubby comes home.

I have to admit that thinking about different ways of working and earning money is freeing. I plan to use this freedom wisely knowing that it is given to me. I did recently update my resume in order to keep all of my options open. However, I have not been on a job interview in months and I feel fine about it. I have been on different sites and have gotten ideas about work at home opportunities. There is so much out there to consider that was not available even 5 years ago.

I will be writing about myself, school, married life, what I do to pay bills, ideas on how you can pay your own bills, how to save money in these difficult times, and staying positive. I hope that you will enjoy my blog. I look forward to you reading and commenting on my blog. Also, I am open to constructive criticism. Thank you for allowing one more point of view. Take care.

Recently, I joined Twitter and Facebook. I Twittered with MC Hammer last night about his new show and that is really cool. Also, I am being followed by more and more people everyday. I will have my advertising up this week in the hopes of generating income from Twitter. I have a couple of projects in the works as well. I am really looking forward to what is ahead. Have a good Monday.

Posted by E. Anastasia at 09:49:46 Permanent Link Comments (0)

FYI-Summer Festivals USA!

I received an email this week informing me of the River Splash Festival this past weekend. The same email mentioned the Gathering Waters Festival this upcoming weekend. Both festivals are annual festivals in Milwaukee, WI. In two weeks, Summerfest (The Worlds Largest Music Festival) starts. That email reminded me of what I love about living in Milwaukee, the festivals. River Splash kicks off the festival season in Milwaukee while hundreds of other festivals take place all over the state of Wisconsin.

My favorite festival in Milwaukee so far is Bastille Days. It is a french themed festival celebrating french culture, food, and music. The festival is held in downtown Milwaukee each year. This year the festival will be July 10th-12th. The festival is within walking distance from where I live and I do not have to worry about parking. There is no charge to enter the festival and no one frowns on anyone bringing their own food and drink. So, if you want to simply walk around, watch people and listen to music while enjoying a homemade sandwich and a soda, this festival might be for you.

Bastille Days is usually the only festival I attend all summer and I treat myself. I buy food at the festival and the food is wonderful. I love the lobster tacos and the roasted corn. I usually buy a wine cooler, fresh lemonade, and water to drink. For a desert, I usually get the turtle cheesecake. I found out that there is a food stand that sells alligator sausage and I plan on trying that this year.

Performers from all over the country perform anything from mime to the tango. Musical acts perform different genres of music. In 2007, I had the pleasure of watching Paul Cebar and his band perform. After the performance, Mr Cebar greeted his fans, sold CD's, and gave out autographs. At the same festival, I met a group of people from Boston visiting Milwaukee for the first time. One of the people I spoke with said that they have nothing like this in Boston. The group from Boston said that they will definitely come back to Milwaukee to attend Bastille Days.

I almost forgot the vendors that come from all over the country selling anything from invisible dogs to garden globes. Most of the vendors wares are reasonably priced and quite a few of them come back year after year to Bastille Days. The festival is not too big and not too small. There is plenty of room for walking, talking, or dancing. And the street performers delight the crowds with their antics.

Lastly, Bastille Days attracts a more mature, settled, crowd and families. People are respectful of one another and want to simply enjoy the music, food, and each other. I like the intimate feel of the festival and being able to navigate myself around without feeling crowded. And there are plenty of places to sit and cool your heels while getting in some good people watching.

What if you are not from Wisconsin? There is hope for those of you if you are not from Wisconsin or do not or can not come to Wisconsin for any of its festivals. You can check in your area to see which festivals are coming. Newspapers are helpful and so are websites like, www.festivalusa.com, and www.greenfestivals.org. I hope that you all will find at least one festival to attend this summer. Get outside, enjoy some good music, eat some good food, and enjoy your friends and family. Have a good weekend.

Hump Day!-Ode to Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)

All you single ladies! All you single ladies! Put yo hands UP! Some of you know all of the words to Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It) by Beyonce Knowles. The song is about a woman that experiences a breakup with her boyfriend, then the ex-boyfriend gets jealous upon seeing her talking to someone new. Hence the hook, "Don't get mad cause you see that he want it. If you liked it then you should have put a ring on it." I think the song is good and the video that accompanies the song is quite popular too. The song strikes a cord with me and that's why I like the song.

I experienced a breakup with my ex-fiance in 2007. I was dumped without given a reason why. Several months after the breakup my ex-fiance contacted me again. I was still not given a reason why I was dumped in the first place. My ex-fiance stopped contacting me again when I asked him point blank what he wanted from me. I wanted to move forward with my life and I wanted clarification as to whether that would be with or without him. I did not hear from him again until I checked my emails the day after I married my husband.

I politely responded to my ex-fiance stating that I was glad to hear from him. I was happy that he seemed to be okay. I went on to say that I got married the day before. I wished him success with his personal life. Then, I signed the email with my married name. My ex-fiance was gracious enough to email back congratulating me and my husband. I really blew his mind. I have not heard anything from him since. "If you liked it then you should have put a ring on it, oh, oh oh" is my motto.

I decided to put the original video on my blog along with some "inspired videos". Please watch, enjoy and remember whether you are male or female you are all deserving of true love, with a true heart, and never settle for less than that. Happy Hump Day!

Its A Living-Making Money With A Digital Camera

Make Money With A Digital Camera! There are many ads on the internet that say something similar. I clicked on such an ad to find out what the catch was. The page I clicked into, talked about how someone could make money with their digital camera. The ad went on to talk about how easy it is to make money just from making snapshots with a digital camera, no experience necessary, and that you can make as much money as you want. Here is the kicker, $39.95 gets you all the information needed to get started.

Actually, $39.95 does not sound bad. I have spent way more money on things that I never got the benefit from. I remember spending well over $500.00 to learn how to be a Real Estate Appraiser. Little did I know at the time how difficult it is for a newbie to catch a break. In fact, you either have to have a degree or know someone in order to get your foot in the door to appraise real estate. But I digress, I did not pay $39.95 for the information on making money with a digital camera. Instead, I went to You Tube and looked up some videos on how to make money with a digital camera. I will discuss in an upcoming post on how to use the internet to get how-to get information for free on just about anything.

For now, however, you know that You Tube is a good source to use for free information. I digress again, after sorting through fake how-to videos (fake meaning the video appears to offer free information, however, directs the user to a website address that charges for the information needed.), I found a legit how-to video on making money from a digital camera on jonoman12. Jonoman 12 briefly explained how to get into the business of taking pictures. Then, I was directed to a free website that offers tips on making money from a digital camera. The website is http://moneywithphotography.net/free-photography-email-course-one.html. You can register at no charge. You receive free tips on how to make money with a digital camera after confirming the registration. Altogether, you will receive 7 or 8 emails to get you started

I registered over the weekend and have started receiving emails. I am going over the emails now. I also registered with IStock http://www.istockphoto.com/. IStock is constantly looking for people to submit decent pictures for their non-royalty site. Photographers receive credit for each download per photo. Before becoming on IStock photographer or contributor as IStock says it, you have to apply and go through tutorials. There is a final quiz after completing the tutorials. Applicants are also required to submit through scanning and uploading, an ID such as a drivers licence or passport. Lastly, applicants must submit 3 photos(your best work). Afterwards, you are informed if you can be a contributor or not.

I decided to go through the process and see what happens. I am not working anyway and I think taking pictures for a living would be alot of fun. I can work when I want to work. The upside to this is that sites such as IStock offers photographers a chance to get their work to the masses and an opportunity to earn residual income on the pictures they submit. Most photographers that contribute to IStock make $300.00-$2,500.00 a month. Photographers that submit on more than one site such as Dreamstime, make more money. I will update this article in an upcoming blog. You will not get rich taking pictures on non-royalty sites with a digital camera, however, it is one way to make a living.

FYI-Coupon Website!

Hello All,
I was online this week looking up a website and stumbled upon another(a money saving site). I wanted to share this with you. We are all well aware of the economic climate in our country right now. Everyone is tightening up their belts and purse-strings. The site I stumbled upon is www.coupondispatch.com. I was surprised by this site. There are actual good deals and discounts on this site. You do not have to purchase any offers or even register to take advantage of the savings on this site. If you like, you can get on the email list for weekly updates.

I did run into a few vendors that do not offer much or anything in the way of saving money. However the vast majority of vendors offer anywhere from free shipping on orders to 80% off merchandise. Also, there are allot of buy 1, get 1 free offers as well. There is a tab that you can click on to find out which deals and/or coupons are expiring so you do not have to miss out on a good deal. Lastly, there are grocery coupons that you can print out as well to save on groceries. (Please also read FYI-What Is SHARE? to find out an additional way to save on groceries.) Well, that's it from the peanut gallery. Happy Friday and have a great weekend

Hump Day!-Living In 2009

A good friend emailed the following. Enjoy and Happy Hump Day!


YOU KNOW YOU ARE LIVING IN 2009 when....

1. You accidentally enter your password on the microwave.

2.. You haven't played solitaire with real cards in years.

3. You have a list of 15 phone numbers to reach your family of 3.

4. You e-mail the person who works at the desk next to you.

5. Your reason for not staying in touch with friends and family is that they don't have e-mail addresses.

6. You pull up in your own driveway and use your cell phone to see if anyone is home to help you carry in the groceries..

7.. Every commercial on television has a web site at the bottom of the screen.

8. Leaving the house without your cell phone, which you didn't have the first 20 or 30 (or 60) years of your life, is now a cause for panic and you turn around to go and get it.

10.. You get up in the morning and go on line before getting your coffee.

11. You start tilting your head sideways to smile. : )

12. You're reading this and nodding and laughing.

13. Even worse, you know exactly to whom you are going to forward this message.

14. You are too busy to notice there was no #9 on this list.

15. You actually scrolled back up to check that there wasn't a #9 on this list. AND NOW YOU'RE LAUGHING AT YOURSELF!Go on, forward this to your friends. You know you want to. :)

It's A Living-Laid Off? Need A Job?

Hello All,

I took some time off last week and now I am back. I have a very exciting article for you this week in It's A Living. I want to tell you about an exciting way to look for and possibly find a job in these difficult times. In the May 7, 2009 Employment Times, there is an article about this new exciting way to get the word out that you or someone you love are looking for a job. It is to wear a wristband. After you stop laughing I will tell you about it.




Finished laughing yet? Sure? Okay, here it goes. This idea was started by friends, Stephanie Aucion and Barbara Bourn. Stephanie lost an accounting position and had been out of work for several months. Barbara has a job in interior design sales, however, has seen her commissions go down. The two friends put their heads together to earn some money.The idea they came up with is the: Laid Off Need A Job wristband. Stephanie and Barbara originally ordered the wristbands and started giving them away. Now, they sell the bracelets online for $3.00 a piece



The idea is to order a wristband and wear it everywhere. Stephanie wore the wristband and was able to get a job, the job however, did not work out. The wristband may or may not work based on who you ask. However, wearing the bracelet can open up the door of communication and quite possibly a job. If you are interested in a wristband go to, http://www.laidoffneedajob.com/. Look for an upcoming article on making money from scratch. Happy job hunting.

Photo used by permission of laidoffneedajob.

FYI-What Is SHARE?-Originally Posted 05-15-2009 on Blog.com

With the current economic climate, it has become more important to find ways to cut costs. Food is one of the items that Americans are cutting back on. It is great to see less junk food and more wholesome food being purchased. However, a growing number of Americans are struggling to provide even the most basic food for themselves and their families. I myself will be applying for food stamps in order to save money on the rising cost of food.

Besides food stamps, there is another program that almost anyone can take advantage of. It is called the SHARE program. What is SHARE? SHARE is a volunteer-run food buying club that sells food at a discount. SHARE is not like a Sam's or BJ's. There are no membership fees and food can be purchased on a month to month basis.

How much does it cost? There are two packages that are featured each month; the Big Value package which costs $25.00 and the Mini package which costs $15.00. The Big Value and the Mini packages both have 5 or 6 meat choices such as ground beef, pork chops, and boneless chicken breasts, also beans and/or rice, vegetables, fruit, and other food items. The Big Value comes with a bonus item and the Mini package does not.

Normally, the same amount of food at the grocery store will cost $60.00 and up depending on where you live in the nation. Take it from me, a Big Value package fills up my refrigerator. The food and fresh produce are good quality and great tasting. Most importantly the foods that SHARE has available are nutritious. And you can order extra items if you have a large family. The best part of all is if you have food stamps, SHARE allows you to use them to purchase food from them.

How do you get the food? Log onto http://www.sharewi.org/. If you are not a resident of Wisconsin, go to http://www.sharewi.org/, click on Locations, go to SHARE programs in other states, and click on your state. The SHARE website will give you a month to month calender of when you can order and when to pick up your food. You will pick up your food from either a church, community center, or another area designated by where you live.

Again, the SHARE program is a volunteer-run program. SHARE also encourages those who participate in the food program to volunteer at least two hours a month. This volunteering can be the public ministry, at a SHARE facility, the Humane Society, etc. Wow, $15.00 or $25.00 plus two hours of your time per month; and get enough food to fill up a refrigerator, what a bargin! Please let me know how you enjoy the savings and the food. Have a good weekend.

Hello!

Hello Everyone!

I am also on blogger.com! So now you can read my posts on both blog.com and blogger.com. I wanted to make it as easy as possible for everyone to read my posts. I will start transferring posts onto this site ASAP. I have a website that is also attached to blogger.com and I am very excited about that as well. Do not forget to check out my FYI-Update on #77 at eanastasia.blog.com today. Have a good weekend and take care.