The Phone Doesn't Stop

Monday, October 20, 2008

I'm sure we are all used to the phone ringing non-stop these days. The election calls are coming, and those won't stop until election day. The advertising ones get to me the most. There are ways to stop the calls, but does it really work? Today, I found this site that lets you report phone numbers you get called from, Report Annoying Callers. I think this makes it easier to block these numbers from being able to call you. Some of the descriptions of the calls made are frank and honest. Some are harassing.

Just this morning, I received a phone call from someone. All the man said was hi. Nothing else. Strangest thing ever really. I tried saying hi again and talking to the man, but he didn't say one more thing. Weird!

Manic Monday 10-20

Sunday, October 19, 2008

How long does it take you to get out of bed in the morning?: Usually only a minute or two. Unless I see its before 7am, then I stay in bed. I don't like being up before it is light out!

Do you usually sleep on one side of the bed or another?: I sleep right in the middle of my bed!

Something you wish to accomplish before the end of the year: I want to be writing for another site or two. I want to write another story too.

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Another Monday. Where do the weeks go? Last week, I was sick. I have stomach issue. Stress related ones, and there were a few stressful things last week. This week is a new week, and I cut down on a few things that were overwhelming me a bit. I needed to prioritize a bit. Something we all need to do once in awhile I think. Right now, I'm ready for bed!

Bit By a Bug

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

My new computer was bit by its first virus. Yes, it lost its virus virginity yesterday. Around 11am yesterday, my computer restarted itself out of nowhere. I wasn't sure why. When it came back, the network and volume icons were gone from my system tray. I didn't think anything of it. Just went about my day.

I finally decided to look at that issue around 11 last night. I figured it would be a quick fix, and it would have been if there was a virus at the cause of it. It took me nearly three hours to figure out how to get rid of it. With the new system, I was having a few issues. I couldn't figure out how to boot into safe mode to delete the file in question. Finally able to enter safe mode on boot, and the file wouldn't delete.

I tried a simple system restore at first, but it wouldn't let me do that. Two hours later, I thought I might have to pull out the discs to do a complete restore, but I decided to give a system restore one more shot. This time to an earlier point. This time it worked. It was just one big pain. At least, my computer survived.

Almost Halloween Time

Monday, October 13, 2008

October means it is almost time for Halloween. I used to love Halloween as a kid. I tried to go trick or treating in costume until my 18th birthday. I thought it was fun, and I liked going around to see what some people did to decorate for the holiday. Some went all out and made little haunted houses up. Some did little spooky performances, and that was the main reason I kept going out each and every year.

Here in Arizona, not many stop by our apartment at Halloween. We buy the candy, and we end up eating it all by ourselves. I'm not complaining about that at all by the way! If kids actually came by our apartment, I might actually go through with dressing up. There is a costume and party store not too far from my apartment actually.

You can even buy your costumes online these days. It seems you really can buy almost anything online. You just need to look around a bit for it. Today, I found a Halloween Costumes site called Halloween Adventure. They even have costumes for pets. My cat would kill me slowly if I even thought about putting him through a costume experience though. I think if I were to dress up, the Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz costume would be cute.

The site has costumes for just about everyone though. All the big movie and television names are featured. I think my cat would make a great joker. Look at the picture below. I've noticed when they need pictures for something like this, they always feature dogs. Where is the cat love?! What do you want to be for Halloween this year?

Just Another Manic Monday

Does anyone remember that song? It is one of my favorite songs, and I also seem to think of it on Mondays. I seem to be getting this blog on track. I might miss a day here and there, but I really didn't have much to say here. I didn't want to bore everyone here with my promotional efforts for Celebrity Today because I didn't want to use this site to be all about that. Sure, I do promote it here. Celebrity Today is on the sidebar, but that is it really.

The weather is finally cooling off here. We are at 73 right now instead of 110. This means I'm dealing with allergies, and I am freezing my butt off. I went to the store earlier, and it wasn't even out of the sixties yet. I'm looking at getting an LCD Flat Screen monitor for my computer. I thought I found a great deal on one at Staples, but it might not work with video card. Since it is online only deal, if it doesn't work I'm stuck with it. This isn't acceptable.

The flat screen monitors are so cool though. I will have to keep looking at them. I'm sure I'll find one eventually. This one is fine, so if it decides to die, I know what I'm getting next time I upgrade. Right now, I need to get a new stereo. Mine is pretty much dead. Ugh. What a pain! More later everyone.

The Case Of The Missing Glasses

Sunday, October 12, 2008

I've have worn eye glasses since I turned six. Although, I think I stopped wearing them somewhere around my 18th birthday. I never liked wearing my glasses, and even though I knew they were somewhere in my house, I didn't know where. In the move, we had to pack up and get rid of a lot of things. I found a lot of things in the process.

One was the social security card I thought I lost two months ago, and the other was my eye glasses. They are scratched up, beat up, and right now as I am sitting here typing this, I once again don't know where my glasses are. Yes, I know. I'll find the eventually. I know I probably should think about buying a new pair of glasses. I just never really seem to get around to it.

Today, I found out that you can even buy glasses online. Makes sense because in this day and age you can pretty much buy everything online. I even found an article about the service. Zenni Optical has eyeglasses as low as $8 dollars, which is one of those shockingly low numbers, where you wonder if its true or not.

I spent some time on the site this morning, and I found a pair that might just work for me. The pairs do start at $8.00, and they even offer free anti-scratch coating and UV protection. I really like this frame, and it comes in a number of different colors too. What do you think?

Blogging Your Blessings Sunday

Been awhile since I posted one of these. Life has been hectic. I'm blessed because as hectic as the move was, it was completed relatively easily. I really didn't want to move, but I like the new apartment, and my cable internet no longer gives me problems like it did in my old apartment. That right there everyone is a blessing all on its own. I've talked about the problems I've had with my Internet time and again since I signed up for cable internet almost three years ago. Or is it four? One of the two. It was a real pain, and now the problems are history. Almost makes me wish we had moved sooner!

Have a great Sunday everyone.

Saturday Ramblings

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Another day. Another post. I know all of you are probably shocked. Entrecard is down. They have been having problems since last night. I have allergies bugging me to no ends.

My brother just came in here, being cute and wanting to rip down my Bon Jovi poster because he says I don't like him anymore. I still do. I just expanded my interests to include a huge amount of love for Eric Bana. Variety is the spice of life after all, and have any of you seen the man?

I like the weekends because I can slow down a little bit, but at the same time I really can't slow down. It is that whole double edged sword thing. Right now, I'm trying to fight taking medicine for my allergies. Ugh. I really should. I just hope I'm not catching a cold. Have a great day everyone.

Thinking About Webhosting

Friday, October 10, 2008

Time and again, I have considered getting web hosting for my blog and pulling it completely off blogger. I know many go through this internal debate as bloggers. I have had this blog since March 2005. Yes, I don't post daily like I used to in the past, but I'm still here, and I will hopefully be able to post more as time goes on. I need some place to let my hair down and just be myself. This blog is that place.

I'm always looking at sites that offer you information about webhosting. I came across this one today in fact. This one site compares the various webhosting sites out there for someone looking to make the leap. It reviews the big names Yahoo!, which it gave two thumbs up, and then it also reviews others like HostMonster. Coming in at number one was a provider I hadn't heard before called InMotion.

The site also offers information other than their list of best hosting providers. Articles include information on managed hosting. If you're pondering taking the leap yourself, it is always good to research. This might be the place to start.

Feeling overwhelmed

That is what I was yesterday. It is really amazing what sleeping in late will do to your mind. Of course, late was 9am. To some that might not be late at all, especially when you think about the fact I work from home. I looked at the clock at 7am, and I told myself just ten more minutes. That ten minutes turned into two hours somehow. That can happen so easily.

For the rest of the day, I felt rushed and stressed out beyond belief. Thursday is my busiest day of the week. Sunday is also a bit hectic. Thursday is killer though because of the reviews I write for Celebrity Today. They won't write themselves! As much as I wish they would. I put a lot of work into my writing and blogs. It is good to finally see it paying off just a little. I want more though. Always want more.

September in review

Saturday, October 04, 2008

It is now October, and this means I am now living in my new apartment. September was the month from hell. Everything from moving to having the family car finally die out.  This means we have new car. At least not right now. We're working on it. We are learning just how good the public transportation is here. We have a free bus that takes us up the block and connects to other free bus routes. That helps. There is also the normal pay bus as well.

My dad lost his job in August, and he hasn't been able to find something new. He really shouldn't be working anyway. He's almost 83 years old. He just gets bored sitting home all day though. A couple of weeks ago, he twisted his knee and ankle. Both bother him. He walked too much, and that is what happened.

I've been busy with Celebrity Today. I'm really excited to see how well my blog is doing. My posts have been picked up a lot more recently through Blogburst as well. I've seen my television reviews end up on Reuters, USA Today and the Chicago Sun Times. Some of my other articles as well, and I saw a DVD review I posted go through USA Today as well. It helps give that little confidence boost when things don't seem to be going right.

I miss writing though. I know that might sound silly because I write every single day, but I miss writing fiction. I miss creating characters. My mind just doesn't click for fiction much anymore.  I'm always thinking of my blog and things for that. Ugh. I just miss fiction. It is where I started, but I know I make more money with my nonfiction. I need to be able to pay the bills. Someday I would like to make enough to have my own apartment. No, I need to make enough to have my own place. I'm working towards it. Slowly but surely.

Living in a Vista World

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

That is what it appears we now live in. I've had my trusty computer since 2002, when a couple of weeks ago, it started giving me a problem turning on. I knew it was the power switch. I just needed a new one. I called the manufacturer, and they told me they no longer carry that for my model. I would need a new computer.

So this is where I entered a Vista world. I've heard so many horrible things about Vista. I didn't want to switch to it, but the computer is great. 2.7 GHZ and 2Gb of Ram. I have never had a computer run this fast. I hated Vista though. A lot of the programs I had grown to love using stopped working in Vista.

Two weeks later, and I like Vista a little better. I don't think it is from Vista itself. I'm learning how to work with it, but I still miss how things used to be on my XP computer. If I had a retail XP disc, I would have downgraded already.

What I love is how much faster my computer is and how much faster I can get things done. If I was still in XP, I bet it would be even faster because XP uses less memory. The move is next weekend. You don't really realize how much junk you have until you start throwing it out! I should be around more in October.

A Moment

Sunday, August 31, 2008

To all those in the eye of Hurricane Gustav at the moment, please take care and get out of its way as fast as you can. My thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by this coming storm.

Up Way Too Early

Thursday, August 28, 2008

I have no idea why I find myself up and awake before 6am. The blog here has been quiet here the last few weeks, but I have had a tough August. I had the flu for nearly two weeks, and next month I am moving. It is a small move, but we are preparing things now for a move into our new apartment by September 20. We are being forced to make the move. It is either that or move out of our building entirely.

My focus has been on getting well, keeping up my entertainment blog, Celebrity Today, and now this move. This should be an interesting month, and I am hoping things run smoothly. Not only that, but my family has been dealing with some changes as well. Changes with my dad's employment. My brother started a new job.

Someone I knew in high school contacted me the other day on my My Space. That was a bit trippy. All in all, life is definitely keeping me on my toes lately, and I foresee a lot of changes in the weeks and months ahead. If this blog is a bit quiet in the coming weeks, that is why. All should be well and in hand by October 1st. If not sooner!

Hear It On Twitter First

Monday, August 04, 2008

That is what I'm learning. It seems when news breaks, it becomes viral within moments if you are on twitter and follow a lot of people. Last week when we had the California earthquake, residents in the area immediately went to their twitters and shared about it. I knew about the earthquake almost within moments. I could have been there and felt it myself for how fast I knew it.

Later in the week, Problogger was banned from Stumbleupon and because of Twitter and a post submitted to Digg, he was reinstated almost within the hour. I looked at my tweets, and there had been a firestorm about the ban.

Today, the topic that hit everyone fast was the news of Morgan Freeman's car accident. Twitter seems to be instant news. If you want instant feedback, go to twitter, and people will respond. I seem to be spending more time there these days, but time always seems to be so short!

Of Sezwho, loving in and Entrecard

Friday, July 25, 2008

Entrecard seems to be a big topic these days, and I know I've been discussing them on my blog a lot lately. I spend a good part of my day using the site promoting my other blog, and I've become a bit more active in the forums. Today, they announced they now have over 15,000 blogs in their system, and that is a huge number.

Not too long ago, they announced their partnership with Sezwho, which I did install on this blog for awhile. I just never found it to be working properly, so I ended up removing it after a few days. I know others have had problems with it. I was willing to try it though. I will give anything a fair shake.

Right now, I'm learning my way through twitter. I found Problogger's social media love in yesterday, and I went through and made some new twitter friends. I went from having a small list of people to follow to a rather large list. I'm learning how to manage it now, and it is getting easier. Always good to make more friends!

A Child of the 80s

Thursday, July 17, 2008

I was born in 1976, and I spend my younger years in the 80s. I love the music. I loved the television, and I loved the movies. One of my favorite 80s movies has to be The Breakfast Club. Who didn't love the brat pack? Emilio, Judd and Molly - among a list of others that made up this group of movie stars known for the teen movies of the decade. St. Elmo's Fire is another one, and I just sat down and watched Some Kind Of Wonderful the other night. There are so many great movies from the 80s. It takes me back to my youth, and it reminds me how great a time it was. WarGames, one of the popular movies of the time, is coming back for a one night only event in theaters on July 24. That is next week. The showing will also contain never before seen interviews. It is hard to believe it's been twenty years, but it has. You really don't want to miss out on catching this!

Firefox 3 & Entrecard

I've been talking a lot about Entrecard on my blog lately, but it is site I find myself spending more and more time on. I've had some problems lately with dropping on my one blog account because of Firefox 3. It kept logging me out.

However, tonight I figured out a small workaround that will work for me until the problem is solved. It isn't the best solution, but it will let me get back to dropping regularly on this blog, and not just my other one. I installed Flock. They call it the social browser.

It is made using the Firefox engine, but since I installed an older version I am not having the same logging out issue I was having. It will do for now.

Keeping Safe On The Internet

The past few weeks I've been coming across sites that have been labeled as attack sites and have been blocked from my browser. I hadn't seen this much in the past, but now it seems to be more and more common. I like it. It is way of them protecting me from the bad you can find on the Internet - viruses, porn, and the like.

However, these filters aren't always full proof, and there are ways to get around them if you really want to. Today, I found out I can ignore the warning and continue onto the site with just the click of a button. What if that had been a porn site, and I was just a teenager? One button click, and I would be able to see all the porn I wanted. There are a number of free porn sites popping up online. You can even find pornish videos on Youtube if you look around a bit.

Filters can be great, but they aren't always the only line of defense you need. There are programs out there, and today I discovered one that offers porn detection. This one might be something for parents to look into. I know I don't want any kid of mine watching porn. Not that I have kids! I do have nieces though, and if they were younger than they are now, I would want them protected. The youngest just turned eighteen. They grow so fast!

Anticipation Builds

Tomorrow I will be at the movie theater to see The Dark Knight. I have my ticket bought, and all I need to do is pick it up at the box office. I am really excited to see this movie, not only as a reviewer but as a fan of Batman. I've seen all of the movies, and I am a huge Christian Bale fan. I was saddened when Heath passed on, and even wrote about his death on this blog.

I'm exhausted lately though. It might be monthly thing, so I'm just waiting it out, and I'm not going to let it stop me from going to the movie tomorrow morning. I was lucky to get the ticket that I did. Showings were selling out. I'm in for the 11:20 showing.

Other than that, there have been a few minor annoyances in life lately. I had a minor issue with a site I write for, and it is making me ponder continuing on with the site. I left before, and I will again if I see it to be necessary. Right now, I'm just going on. Also having an issue on a more personal front. Family sometimes is just troublesome. Not sure why I bothered trying. Thank you for proving to me it wasn't worth the effort.