A Special Gift

When I left home to start my training to become a registered nurse my mother gave me a Parker pen set. It was a beautiful pen set with my name engraved on the side and I still cherish it today. When Mum gave it to me she said, "this is to make sure you write to me often", and I did. Every time I picked up my pen I thought of my mother and, being a little home sick, it made me feel close to her.

Many parents will soon be saying goodbye to children going off to University and many will be looking for a farewell gift to give their child. An engraved pen is simple and special, especially in this age of text messages and emails. A beautiful pen asks to be used and what better way to use it than to write to the folks at home.

When someone you love is going away what better gift is there than an engraved pen set and encourage them to keep in touch.

How Is Your Sex Life

I guess this subject had to come up sooner or later, anyway here it is. Many women do not have a satisfying sex life and are often left feeling let down and disappointed after making love. If you are one of those women you may like to check out a site called Female Orgasm Secrets and then maybe you should get your partner to read it too.

Many women go through life never knowing what it feels like to experience an orgasm and yet it is something every woman is capable of experiencing. Sex is one of the most important elements in any relationship and it is the right of both couples to enjoy sex fully. Don't go on believing the female orgasm is a myth, visit Female Orgasm Secrets and enjoy a full and satisfying sex life.

Animal SOS Sri Lanka

An article in The Sunday Leader Online made me realise that there are special people in this world who do very special things. If you are an animal lover like me and despise the cruelty that is handed out to man animals this article will touch you.

The article is about the treatment ( or lack of it) of stray dogs in Sri Lanka and how To mark the 2550th Buddha Jayanthi celebrations in May 2006, President Mahinda Rajapakse, an animal lover, gave this directive to stop killing strays. Despite this directive the killing of strays continued until Kim Cooling, a social worker from London, formed Animal SOS Sri Lanka with the aim of helping the destitute strays in Sri Lanka.

This article is well worth reading and it will probably bring tears to your eyes but at least now someone is working to improve the lot of these animals. If you would like to read the article go to The Sunday Leader Online and be thankful there are people like Kim Cooling in this world.

Plan For Your Own Retirement

Women today are closer to being on an equal footing with men than they have ever been before. Because of this they need to plan for their own future and not expect a man to do it for them.

In the past the man made plans for his retirement and his wife just drifted along and expected to be taken care of. Sometimes this did not happen and the woman found herself not only alone but also without any security in their advancing years.

Women today are able to plan for themselves. They are able to secure their own future with saving and superannuation from jobs, that in the past were the domain of men only. Women are no longer limited in their choices of employment and restricted by low wages.

There are any number of sites on the Internet that will give you advice and guidance in planning your own retirement. If you are like me and not a financial whizz then you should get some advice but like anything else you need to arm yourself with as much information and knowledge as you can first. The following is a list of sites where you can start getting some information on how to plan your retirement starting right now.
ClearView Retirement Solutions
BT Super
Money 101
Retirement Planning Calculator
Planning For A Secure Retirement

There are many more sites on the Internet that you can access but the main thing is to do something today to secure your retirement. It doesn't matter if you have only just started your first job. The earlier you start the better off you will be and the best thing of all you can do it on your own and ensure your security in retirement. You don't have to be old and broke.

Adopt A Pensioner

In today's world many old people live in fear. They lock themselves in their homes afraid that someone will break in and by doing this they put themselves at risk. If there is a fire all too often these poor frightened old souls burn to death because the firemen can't get to them. This is a sad indictment on our society and one that we should be addressing.

Now the elderly have a new monster to fear. Having worked all their lives and saved to make life a little easier after their retirement they are seeing their savings disappear in the financial turmoil we are finding ourselves.

In Australia there is a group of people who have started a movement called "adopt a pensioner". These wonderful people visit elderly people who are living alone and take them shopping or even take them food parcels to help them manage on the pittance the Australian Government call a pension. Despite admitting publicly that they could not live on a single pension the government refuses to increase the single pension despite having a large surplus in hand.

I suppose this is why society in general is uncaring of each other. When a government is not prepared to take care of a group of people who have fought in wars to defend their country and have worked and paid taxes all their lives then it is not surprising that there is only a few people who are willing to do something like adopt a pensioner

Information and Fun to Read

Do you like to catch up on the latest gossip about the celebs or what is happening in sport or even learn something about meteorology then you need to pay a visit to bgs Blog.
This is a bright and informative site that will keep you informed about movies, entertainment,sport and much, much more and is well worth a visit. I have definitely added this to my favourites list.

This site belongs to a young man who keeps up with what is going on in the world and then writes about it on his site so he can keep his readers informed. Don't miss out, pay bgs Blog a visit today, I'm sure you will enjoy it.

Breast Cancer Month

October is recognised world wide as Breast Cancer Month and it is the time when many people raise money for breast cancer with numerous activities. Breast Cancer Month is much more than just a time to raise money for many, it is a time to remember loved ones lost. It is also a time to celebrate the lives of those who conquored this illness.

Don't become a vicitm of this disease, make October the month when you get your doctor to check your breasts or book that overdue Mammogram. Breast Cancer is non discrimitory and can strike anyone at any time so don't become a victim by being complacent about this issue.

During October, light a candle for those who have not survived the disease and if you can afford to, give a little for more reasearch. The early detection and treatment of breast cancer has seen a much higher survival rate than we saw in the past so remember if you are diagnosed cancer is a word not a sentence.

Proactive Health Care

According to an article on the News Blaze website the World Health Organisation (WHO) says that nowhere in the world has a perfect health care system which covers the entire population. The article states that WHO past studies confirmed that the positive indicators and health outcomes do not depend directly on the level of economic development of the state. The US is an example of a developed nation that has many problems in this area.

I live in an affluent society and our health care system has serious problems. Doctors are so overworked that instead of having an ideal proactive health care system that deals more with prevention our health care has become almost totally reactive. If is extremely difficult to see a doctor unless you are sick.

Without a doubt proactive health care is a much better way of dealing with the community health. Helping people to avoid illnesses like Diabetes, heart disease, lung diseases and blood pressure are just a few of the diseases that could be prevented with proactive health care. Even though there are numerous advertisements on television telling us about healthy living and the dangers of eating the wrong foods and smoking cigarettes we are so inured to advertising that much of the time we don't even see it let alone remember it.

One site that talks about preventative health care is The American Heart Association
but how often do we go on the net to find out how to stay healthy? By the time we look up health on the Internet we are already unwell and looking for help.

We all need to take some responsibility for our own health and learn how to live a healthy life. This is the only way we can ensure our own good health through life.

The Dating Game

Older women who find themselves alone are often at a loss about how to meet people and start dating again. They have heard all the stories about Internet dating and are too embarrassed to go to a dating agency or put an ad in the personal column so what do they do?

When I found myself alone I started taking dance classes, joined lawn bowls and went onto an Internet dating site. Did it work for me? You bet it did. Not every man I met dated me but I
have met some wonderful friends. I write to people I met on the Internet who are overseas and interstate. I also met a lovely man on the net who I have been seeing for almost two years.

I have a friend who found her current husband through a dating site and another friend who found her husband by putting an ad in the personal column in the paper. They are both very happy and have not regrets at all.

If you are alone and lonely then do something about it. Older people are finding love and companionship in different ways these days. Young people go to bars and clubs and find friends but older people do not feel comfortable doing this and for good reason. Internet dating is much safer and you can get to know a person quite well before you agree to meet them. When you do meet them you can meet in a public place and have an escape plan worked out if things go wrong.

Don't spend the rest of your life alone and lonely, look outside the old fashioned way of meeting people and enjoy the rest of your life.

Desperate Times Make Desperate People

When economic times get tough the crime rate rises. It is often the case that desperate people do desperate things. Someone who has lost their job and is having difficulty putting food on the table for their family may resort to shoplifting or commit a crime of opportunity. These are not bad people they are desperate people who see no other way out.

Often we raise our voices in anger when we hear that someone who has broken into a shop and stolen goods is let off with a warning because we believe the justice system is far too lenient. Perhaps in some cases it is but for those who are desperate and see no other solution than to steal then perhaps it needs to be lenient.

When times are good and there is a high employment rate these crimes of opportunity are not so prevalent. During the good times charities are able to cope with helping the people in need. When the is a high rate of unemployment there are too many people in need for charities to be able to service them all and so many fall through the cracks and turn to crime to provide the necessities of life. Is putting them in jail really the answer?

Australia was built by the convicts who were often sent here for stealing a loaf of bread when they were starving. Do we want to return to those times of brutal intolerance? I would hope not.

If we all try to help someone who is worse off then ourselves then perhaps we can get many of these people through the hard times without them ending up with a criminal record. One thing we can all do is try to ensure that we do not become the victims of crimes of convenience. Lock your doors, safeguard you purse when you are shopping and do not put temptation in any one's way.

Hard times are here but if we all pull together and help each other we will all get through it and be able to enjoy the good times when they come.

If you would like to find out more about protecting yourself against crimes of opportunity then visit Jefferson County Sheriff Office site and don't become a victim. You can also get more information at Citizens Agianst Crime and at BNet.

Easy Research

Up until now finding information you needed for research such as a death certificate was difficult to say the least. Now you can go to free death records enter the information you have such as name date age etc and find the certificate you want.

The free death records has taken the hassle out of finding these records. It is simple and very user friendly so why not give it a try and simplify your research.

Getting a Hobby

How often have you been in a group and been asked to stand up and "Tell us about yourself. What are your hobbies.........?" Oh dear God I hate those groups. Why? Because I don't actually have a hobby, well, maybe except for my blogs, I don't have a hobby. When I mention my blogs they all look at me blankly or a neon sign lights up that says "Warning! Warning! Computer geek!" which could not be further from the truth.

I do play lawn bowls and I also read but it seems if you do anything on the computer you must be a geek. If only they knew! I need a diagram so I can turn it on each morning. But I still wanted to find a hobby like stamp collecting or oregami of something.

Anyway, I searched the net and didn't find a hobby but found a site that I thought was really funny. If is called Slightly Humerous and I thought it was fun. If you want to check it out for yourself and have a laugh in this oh so serious world then click here and have fun.

Your Health

My friend was recently diagnosed with high blood pressure. Not wanting to take medication he went to a homeopath who put him on the blood type diet. I had never heard of the diet before and was pretty sceptical about it and I was also concerned that he was putting his health at serious risk by not taking the medication the doctor wanted to put him on.

Along with the special diet the homeopath put him on some capsules and powders to take twice a day. He was also instructed to get 30 minutes of exercise every day. After following all these instrucition for a few days his blood pressure in the evening returned to normal but was still high in the morning but not as high as it had been.

I have no idea whether the diet is working or if it is the exercise or the capsules and powders he was given to take that are causing the improvement in his blood pressure but I do wonder if perhaps we are a little too eager to take medication because it is the easy way out. Perhaps there are some illnesses that we could control by other means. After seeing what my friend is doing I think I will be asking a lot more questions when my doctor pulls out his prescription pad.

If you would like to know more about the blood diet click here

Area Code Locator

Did you know that there were 372 area codes in North America? Have you been tearing your hair out trying to keep track of which area code is located where? Then I have good news for you. Now you can have easy access to all the 372 area codes with the onlineArea Code Locator

This is a massive database that lists the area codes under each state and you can also get information on location,county, city or zip code just by clicking the code you want. You can also enter the phone number you want into the search box and get the information you want.

You will love the Area Code Locator and it will save you all that frustration and time you are currently spending trying to find the information you need.

Skin Problem? Try Bird Poo

It seems Victoria Beckam has cured her skin problem with a cream containing bird poo. Yep, you read it right, a bit of bird poo and Mrs Beckam's skin problem has disapeared. This wonderful potion called "Giesha Face Mask" costs 100 English pounds a pop but gee it is doing wonders for Victoria's skin.

I don't know if you would like to slap a bit of bird poo on your face for the sake of beauty but I sure would have to think twice about it. I tend to lick my lips a little too much for that but maybe...if they paid me 100 pounds every time I might give it a bit of thought. What do you think? Would you put poo on your face for the sake of beauty?

Timely Advice

The owner of theMortgage and More Blog has been in the mortgage industry for over 6 years so has the experience and knowledge you may be looking for as world economy takes a nose dive and many people face losing their homes. The thing I liked about Danny's blog is that it is not all doom and gloom. There is a very funny video about a drunk driver and in particular I liked what he has written about having a positive attitude.

If you are looking for a bit of advice or a bit of a laugh why not take a look at Mortgage and More Blog.

Get Your Tickets At StubHub

Have you heard of StubHub? If you want to buy tickets to any sports, concerts, theatre or live entertainment them you need to visit the StubHub site. It is the worlds largest ticket marketplace.

Have you ever bought those tickets to see your favourite entertainer and then something happened and you couldn't go? Well now you don't have to be out of pocket. You can sell those tickets at StubHub and get your money back.

StubHub is a ticket resale market that is safe and highly reliable so why not visit their site and see for yourself what StubHub can do for you.

NFL Playoff Tickets

Increase in Oral Cancers

In August I wrote about articles in the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times which wrote about the drug Gardasil. This drug is used to prevent the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) which causes Cervical Cancer in women and the articles were criticizing the cost of the drug.I ended this article by saying

When I see articles like these I have to wonder, would a drug that prevented prostate cancer be treated in the same way, or would it be accepted readily and praised for saving the lives of many men? Well now it seems we will soon find out.If you would like to read my post in full click here

On September 16th and article on PRWeb revealed that there is an increasing number of infections in men cause by HPV. Dr. Shashi Pawar, PhD, FACMG, Director of Genetics at Acupath Laboratories is quoted as saying, "We are now seeing the effects of HPV infection in men, and the marked increase in oral cancer - coupled with the well-known increased risk for penile and anal cancers - suggests that both sexes face equally serious health consequences from this virus".

Now I wonder if there will still be criticism of the cost of immunization or will we be hearing about how wonderful this drug is despite its cost.If you would like to read the entire article then go to PRWeb.

Korean Food

One of the many joys in life is trying new and different foods and of course wine, but this is about food. I just love trying different cuisines from different countries and I often snoop around the net looking for new and different recipes. I have tried Thai, Italian, French, Vietnamese and Chinese cooking and I have enjoyed most of them, barring a few disasters of course which were probable related to my cooking rather than the cuisine.

Tonight I am going to try korean food. I found a lovely recipe for Broiled Beef Ribs (Soegalbigui) which sounds absolutely delicious. If you would like to try some korean food or soak up a little Korean culture then go to korean food and see what you think.

New Frames At ZenniOptical

If you are like me and have to wear eyeglasses you will know how terribly expensive attractive frames can be and will be looking for a reasonably priced alternative to your optometrists. Now instead of paying hundreds of dollars for you new eyeglasses you can get them from a tiny $8 at ZenniOptical. That's right, stylish prescription eyeglasses from only $8.

ZenniOptical sells really lovely glasses online and because they are cutting out the middle man they are able to keep their prices down. There have been positive reports about Zenni on Fox News TV and even the Clark Howard Show (a consumer advocate program) recommended them.

I was really impressed by Zenni's huge range and the fact that you have so many choices. ZenniOptical caters for everyone. They supply sun sensor (photochromic) lens, single vision, bifocal lens, tinted sunglasses or progressive lens. Shopping online for eyeglasses with ZenniOptical does not limit you in anyway. Their range is comprehensive as well as being fashionable and attractive.

If you are like me and hate the idea of wearing eyeglasses you will be delighted with the how attractive they can be. The price is very good, the range is excellent and ZenniOptical makes purchasing your new eyeglasses very easy. Why not check them out before you or someone in your family buys their nest set of eyeglasses. New frames have just arrived so you will be sure of getting the very latest fashion so why not check them out and see how much you can save.

You can read more about Zenni Optical at
http://clarkhoward.com/liveweb/shownotes/2007/06/27/12362

Cigarettes and Health

We all do things we know we shouldn't and I guess smoking cigarettes is high on the list on things that are really bad for you. I smoked for many years quite heavily. I gave up smoking when I was diagnosed with chronic bronchitis which I knew could be the beginning of Emphysema.

Giving up was not easy. I chewed nicotine chewing gum and several years after I had successfully quit I would still get the urge to light a cigarette. It wasn't always a craving but a desired to have a smoke and a coffee and relax. That was what I missed most about smoking.

Even though I really enjoyed my cigarettes I have never regretted giving them up. within a few months of stopping I felt wonderful. I could walk up stairs without getting puffed, my food tasted wonderful and everything in my house did not smell like cigarette smoke. The down side was that I did put on weight but it was pretty easy to lose it again once I got used to not smoking.

there are numerous of debilitating and fatal diseases cause by smoking that I wonder why anyone does it anymore. There are also many excellent products on the market to help give it up. If you or someone you love is a smoker then you might like to check out what it is doing you at Net Doctor it may just save your life.

Natural Remedies

As I get older I find myself turning more and more to natural remedies. I am getting more suspicious of the chemicals in make up and skin creams and I am mortified by the way many cosmetic companies test their products on animals. When I learned about a new show starting next year on the BBC called "Grow Your Own Drugs" I was delighted. Hopefully Australia's ABC will pick it up and I will be able to watch it here.

The show is about how common plants can help with everyday ailments. James Wong shares the teachings of his grandmother in Malaysia about the health giving properties of plants. Wong is an ethno-botanist and gardener and will share his knowledge of plants to make natural remedies.

If you would like to know more details about "Grow Your Own Drugs" go to the Press Association site and read the full article. I think it sounds great.

Capella University Offers Online Degree

All too often people who are working have been unable to get the education they wanted. Now they can get an online degree while they continue to work. Capella University is accredited and fully online, offering working adults the opportunity to get a Masters and PhD degrees online. Capella University is the only online university offering a masters degree program with a state approved specialisation in reading and literacy.

Capella University also offers online graduate degree programs in business, information technology, education, human services, psychology, public health, and public safety, and bachelor’s degree programs in business, information technology, and public safety.

There are more than 23,400 students from from 50 US states as well as 45 other countries taking advantage of Capella Universities 109 graduate and undergraduate specialisations and 15 certificate programs. Getting an online degree is now within the reach of everyone.

The University's recently released podcast, 'Inside online education', features a discussion with Capella's faculty chair for reading and literacy.

An online degree will allow you to continue earning and give you the opportunity to further your career.

This blog post was based on information provided by Blogitive. For more information, please visit Blogitive.com.

Shopping For A Laptop

I adore my new laptop. It is spring where I live and instead of being chained to my desk to write I am able to take my laptop to the beach or the park to work. I have not had my laptop very long and the freedom it has given me is absolutely wonderful. Wherever I am when inspiration kicks in I just pull out my laptop and go to work.

Are you jealous? Don't be; finding a cheap laptop is not as difficult as you may think. You can get the best prices and then compare prices on one easy website. You can make price comparisons between different brands including MacBook and Toshiba. Of course you can make comparisons with other leading brands such as Acer, Samsung, Sony and HP using the same website.

Savebuckets is a price comparison site that allows you to find what you want and get it for the best price. Save yourself time and money and visit Savebuckets to get what is best for you and then start enjoying your new found freedom. I promise you won't regret it.

Age Is Irrelevant

How important is age to you in a relationship? Would you be comfortable in a relationship with a much younger man or even a much older man? Why is it that we usually accept a young women in a relationship with an older man but not and older woman with a young man?

I have always believed that age has absolutely nothing to do with who we are attracted to. Attraction is an intangible that is impossible to explain. We can call it chemistry or whatever we want but who can explain it, that instant attraction we feel for another person.

If you were to meet a man who was 20 years older or younger than you and felt a strong affinity with that man would you then let the age difference stop you from becoming involved with him?
I certainly would not.

Perhaps we should all take a long hard look at our attitude to relationships and see what makes us feel the way we do. Perhaps it is conditioning. When I was young it was more common for the man to be older than the woman and when I met a young man who was a little younger I believed that we could never become involved despite a very strong attraction between us which was mutual. Did I miss out on having a wonderful relationship with someone who may have been my soul mate?

Now I am seeing a younger man and I don't really care what people think or say and I have overcome my own hang up. My philosophy is age is totally irrelevant in any relationship.

The News You Like

Have you visited Metro Magazine online? I just love this site. There are articles there to interest anyone from sport to entertainment, lifestyle to business and lots more.

The article that took my eye today is Metro Magazine Highlights Power Women this October. If you are like me and enjoy seeing women step out of the herd and make a difference then this article will appeal to you too.

Another article that you may find interesting is Bones May Weaken After Weight Loss Surgery.
The article highlights one more risk of Lap band surgery to lose weight.

There is also an article about Horny Goat Weed, a Chinese herbal remedy for impotence. Italian researches think it may be an alternative to Viagra. Trust those Italians!!

Why not visit Metro Magazine and check it out for yourself. I'm sure you will love it.

Teach Your Child To Read

One of my greatest joys in life is reading. Of all my senses, I value my sight above all others. If I lost my sight and could no longer read it would be the most terrible thing I can think of for me. This is why I think click and read phonetics is such a wonderful program that helps children learn to read.

Some children struggle with learning to read and when this happens they quickly fall behind other children in their class. Click and read phonetics is an online program that uses animated characters to teach your child or grandchild to read. It is fun for the child and they learn quickly doing what they love.

Now there is a truly amazing program that we have found called ClickN READ Phonetics. It is an online program which contains 100 precisely sequenced, research-based lessons designed by Dr J Ron Nelson who is a nationally recognized research professor. This beginning reading program is beyond compare. There is no other phonics program that does what ClickN READ Phonetics can do and it comes with a 60 day no questions asked money back guarantee.

To try it now risk free click here use coupon code: secret10 and save 10% on your order!!

Learn conflict Resolution

Are you the sort of person who runs into an obstacle in life and falls to pieces or do you look for the way around the obstacle? maybe you are one of those people who simply plow right through it regardless of who gets trampled on the way.

I have always tried not to let a problem beat me and have searched for solutions. It is not that I am a proactive positive person, in fact I am quite shy and timid so often overcoming difficulties is very hard especially when it involved having to confront another person.

Along the way I have learned some techniques that have helped me get through a confrontation. The main thing is to stay calm and don't get angry or if you do get angry don't show it. When I have had to criticize another person for something they have or have not done I always try to start with something positive to say to that person before introducing the negative that has caused the problem. I always listen when the person is speaking and never interrupt, this way when it is my turn to speak if they interrupt me I can remind them that I had listened to their side and now it was their turn to listen to me without interruption.

One thing I found was that it was important not to attack the person on a personal level but to talk only about the behaviour that offended me. As a workplace supervisor there were often issues that I had to deal with and using these methods I found that people would listen and that the issue was resolved in a short time without any bloodshed or abuse.

The first time I had to do this I was a nervous wreck but with each subsequent confrontation it got easier. You can overcome a lot of things that frighten you by approaching them calmly and quietly and keeping your temper in check. If you would like to learn more about conflict resolution then visit mind tools and learn the skills that will help you overcome the conflicts in your life.

Keep Out Of The Sun

Sometimes I look into the mirror and wonder why on earth I spend so much money on anti- aging products and then I see an advertisement for something new that some beautiful little girl says is keeping her skin firm and off I go again. If I had all the money I have spent in my lifetime on skin creams that were supposed to keep me young forever I would not be so worried about the economy today.

Why on earth are we so gullible? I grew up laying out in the sun trying to get the perfect tan and ending up with sunburn and blisters and then after all that abuse I expect some beauty cream to fix the damage I have done. Yes, I know, I'm not the only one but why oh why do we do it?

If you are young with undamaged skin then the best advice I can give you to keep that lovely flawless complexion is KEEP OUT OF THE SUN. Of course we need a certain amount of sunlight because our skin produces Vitamin D when it is exposed to sunlight and this vitamin is important for our health. If you want to learn the facts about vitamin D then visit Natural Ways By protecting your skin now you can save a fortune in the future.