Back 2 Blogging--- Inspiring Women

Today is the Day 4 Challenge : Write about a woman who inspires you....

Well, I did that a week or so ago so here's the link to that post Who Inspires You

But through the years other woman have given me inspiration and encouragement.

Woman like my ex-mother-in-law, Carolyn.
She worked as a night nurse. She volunteered as an EMT for the local fire department where she manned the ambulance 2 nights a week.
She raised 4 chldren while working and volunteering in the community, the schools and at our church.
She helped me when I was in nursing school. She understood the trials of working nights and raising small children, the exhaustion that is omnipresent day and night, the stress of dealing with death and dying on a daily basis and the toll it takes on a marriage.
She stood by me when my marriage to her son crumbled. She helped me to move on with my life.
She helped me to be ME when I wasn't sure that was possible.
She died 11 years ago. After I had remarried and had TeenBoy and BratChild. They were no relation to her, but she made them special blankets and pajamas when they were born and came to see them several times before she died.
Six was born 9 months after she died and had he been a girl?
Karolina would have been his name...





Today's challenge - Sponsored by :our friends at Standards of Excellence,Westar Kitchen and Bath , and Florida Builder Appliances, two very special SITStahs

Back 2 Blogging Challenge...Day 3

Today's challenge - Sponsored by :our friends at Standards of Excellence,Westar Kitchen and Bath , and Florida Builder Appliances, two very special SITStahs

is to re-post an entry with a title I a proud of... and then tell you why.

Well here it is...

Feng-Shui Me!

Ok- so that’s not exactly how it works, but man wouldn’t that be great?

What is Feng (Fung) Shui ( Shway) anyway?

According to one definition found on the web it is " the ancient Chinese philosophy and practice of creating harmonious environments."

With a definition like that you would think the first rule would be to throw out all the kids and then the husband and family dog!

But No... one of the major things in the article stated that you should place your desk so that your chair faces the door to allow the Ch’i to flow...

Oh and for those who are not Chineseology literate... Ch’i ( cheeeee) is basically your life force. And I know you all want a positive Ch’i so turn your desks around... the boss won’t mind!

Another principle of Feng-Shui that I read in a book... yep there’s a whole section just on how to decorate your house in Feng-Shui fashion at the public library ( you did not think I paid for a book with words I can barely pronounce did you?)...
is that you should never place the head of your bed against the wall with the toilet on the other side...
Makes for VERY BAD CH’I .

And rightfully so I say. I never get a good night’s sleep listening to the toilet run on all night and the water dripping from the faucet. Although the book also said that water features in the home helped to create a calm and relaxed atmosphere that lended itself to the Positive Flow of the Ch’i so maybe I just did not appreciate that role of the dripping water faucet...

Nope, on second thought I appreciated it...
I appreciated that hubby needs to check the darn washer and make it stop dripping!!!

By far my favorite Feng-Shui principle is ELIMINATE CLUTTER... so that means that I can get rid of the kids and hubby and the family dog? Oh, no, that means that I have to throw away the junk mail and clean out that bottom drawer in the fridge and sort thru the shoe boxes full of old photos and actually DO something with them?

Yeah, I’ll get right on that as soon as I turn my desk around, move the furniture in my bedroom to the other wall and install a water-wall in my living room for effect...
But then again getting rid of the kids, hubby and the family dog would be easier?
I know, I’ll send the kids to school, hubby to work and let the dog out with a nice bouncy ball he can chase for a few hours...

Voila’- Instant Feng-Shui- the creation of a harmonious environment without all the work.... and those Ancient Chinese thought they had all the answers... I guess this modern American Woman is capable of finding a few of her own!

I said S E O... not, you know, S E X !

So.

I read several blogs regularly, er, a lot, er, often?
Okay, I read them when I get a frickin chance. Like today.

Because apparently the people who call and ask for 1) hours the store is open TODAY
2) directions to the store and
3) if you have a certain pair of shoes in their size...

Don't really plan to come in today at all.
ALL 4 OF THEM!

Yes, I said 4 people called and asked those very same questions and they have not come in to purchase said shoes from me today.

Oh, you didn't know I sell shoes?

Well, I do. Unless of course the shoe consumers do not actually come in, then I just clean and dust the aforementioned shoes so they will be pretty and make people want to buy them WHEN some one actually shows up to look at them!

I know. I'm cranky. You'd be too if you kept answering the phone and expecting people to come in to see your lovely and wonderful and terrific shoes!

Oh, back to topic.... which was?
Yeah, blog reading. Which I do. And I have favorites.
Like The Bloggess and Peeling an Orange with a Screwdriver...

Today I read a post on The Bloggess about Google searches that led to her blog... and WOWSERS! does she get some interesting search words leading back to her...I think I'm jealous, but then I think about WHO would be searching for those words and I think maybe I'm a little afraid for poor Jenny The Bloggess and her creepy, scary admirers.

All this got me to wondering HOW does one know what searches lead to their website?
And what exactly is an SEO and how does it work?

I said I want to know... not that I found out... so now I will go out into the land of the search engine optimizers ( see I do know what an SEO is... just not 100% on what it does or how...) and I will search for the answers to my queries.

I might even find them and then I may even understand them.

It could happen?

It's all about SHARING, baby... and I like to share!

It's Saturday Sharefest on Secret is in the Sauce so I thought I would share The SITSgirls with my readers who haven't already checked them out.

It's a cool place for bloggers to get to know, and read about, other bloggers from all over the world. A place where you can give, and get, support for your own blog and those of others.

The blogs range from comedic to political to crafts to how to live on a budget to adopting a child from another country to satirical commentary and cartoons!

A little something for everyone, and everyone wants something!

And if you don't write them, but like to read them... again a great place to find a blog about whatever it is that interests you! ( go ahead you know you want to check it out...)

So, roll up your sleeves, charge up your laptop battery and get comfortable when you visit Secret is in the Sauce... you'll be amazed at the fun you'll have and how quickly time will fly once you start checking out the awesomeness to be found there.

And on Saturday's you will also find some helpful info for bloggers of all experience and types.

So go on, leave my blog and hop over to theirs.
I don't mind a bit...
as long as you come back and see me again real soon!

My Sharefest Saturday Link today was: Welcome 2008 or How to Crochet a Rasta Scarf!

White Line Fever... That's what I'm working on right about now!

Today is a day when I'm not really here.
Well, I'm here, but I'm just not here, typing this blog post.

Actually, I am in the process of driving the 600 miles to my sister's home while en route to Louisiana. (See yesterday's post)

Because my life seems to resemble the lives these ladies lead just a little too much... I thought these could stand in for me today... they like when you leave a nice note too!

From Hip to Housewife:
http://fromhiptohousewife.com/2010/03/15/at-least-my-dog-still-loves-me/

That Girl Blogs:
http://thatgirlblogs.com/white-noise/

Peeling an Orange with a Screwdriver:
http://peelinganorangewithascrewdriver.blogspot.com/2010/03/swivel-sweepers.html

While you're enjoying the blogs above I hope you'll think of Me, travelling across the country with TeenBoy...
and send prayers our way...
for me to live thru the trip with him, or for him to survive the trip with me...

Either way it works!

FAB FRIDAY... just telling a few friends who tell a few friends who... you get the picture

I got this idea AND the matching BUTTON (isn't it neat!)
from Crystal @ Wanna Be Balanced Mom

The premise is to write a blog about another blogger who has inspired you in some way.

The very first blog I read that made me want to Do More Be More with MY blog was Jenny@The Bloggess.

She is funny, witty, satirical, cynical, has one heck of a sense of humor!
And she has actually made a bit of a career from her blogging... she's (IN)Famous!

She inspired me to write.
Not just a blog, but a story or two, and maybe even a book.
I know a whole book, right?

It's not like she TOLD me to go forth and write a book.
It's that she makes me laugh and when I laugh I get endorphins to my brain that make me feel good and when I feel good I feel like I can do anything and when I feel like I can do anything... I try!

So, Jenny TheBloggess, makes me laugh and that makes me feel like I CAN... do whatever I want.

Thanks Bloggess... and I didn't even talk about how much I enjoy your OTHER blog!

Sunshine Award Recipient.... ME!

I was given an AWARD!

It came to me from ELLE @ A for Effort

I enjoy her posts immensely, and am thrilled that she likes mine!
Heck, I'm thrilled that anyone, even me, likes mine!

According to the rules I have to pass this LOVELY AWARD - I just love flowers don't you?- on to 12 Bloggers that I have come to know and love...

I will do the best I can, well, cuz that's all I can do!

If you have already received this award... I think it needs repeating:)

1- Nancy @ From Hip To Housewife
A really cool MOM in NYC that thinks a lot like me!

2- The Girl with the Flour in her Hair @ Peeling An Orange with a Screwdriver
Her sense of humor is a little skewed... and I like it!

3- Alissa @ Slightly More Than Dirt
A Mom with Kids taking life one catastrophe at a time!

4- Theresa @ Substitute Teacher's Saga
Life from the view point of a Teacher... enlightening and enjoyable!

5- Allycupe @ My Life As I Know It!
She's NOT afraid to share her life with the rest us... Thank Goodness!

6- Allie @ Hyperbole and a Half
Her Pictorial Views of her world and the one we all live in... WOW!

7- Mr.Lady @ Whiskey In My Sippy Cup
I like what she has to say, and I even learn things... she must be good!

8- EM @ Life,Liberty and the Pursuit
She makes me think and laugh and think again!

And That my Dear Readers is about all I can come up with...
not the full 12, but 2/3 of them...
Math DOES have it's uses in THE REAL WORLD...
Guess my teacher was right after all?

BUT WAIT!
THERE's MORE!


This was sent my way from a Full Time Mummy in MALAYSIA...
She's sweet and funny and getting the hang of this Mum-Gig @ I'm a Full Time Mummy
Check her out AND give her some love...
We Moms need a little support now and again...
without it we just might end up in jail!