Let's help a Chaotic Mom out!

I wanted to take the time to share a project to and from military wives....all of us, that a fellow blogger, Chaotic Mom, is working on.  Wouldn't it be awesome to be a part of this project?  She is looking for wives across the services (Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines), regardless of your husband's rank.

I've already joined her in her ambition here, and if you want to be a part of military wives helping other military wives, read below.

Here's the gist of what she needs:

If you are interested in sharing your military spouse experiences, please prepare and submit your essay to her by March 15, 2011 to be considered for inclusion into her book. Please include a personal biography (up to 90 words) and any photographs you would like to be considered for publication. The photographs could include a personal headshot, creative gift ideas, etc. For more information, send an email to: milspousebooks@gmail.com. Information is also being posted on the Facebook page “Military Spouse Books”.  Please share this essay call-out with as many spouses as possible. We all have something special to share with other spouses. Don’t worry about what to write, just WRITE. All accepted essays will be edited with the submitters’ approval before publication.

The deadline for submissions is March 15, 2011.

Free French Lessons (and other languages)....ABSOLUTELY, yes, free!

So I've been here in the French-speaking part of Belgium for 6 MONTHS and still can't speak the French fluently...I say speak, cause I can muddle my way through something in writing and if I listen ever so closely, I can at least catch the gist of the conversation.  As soon as someone parles though....I freeze up like a deer in the headlights!  Maybe I should start drinking, because I read once that when you drink, all inhibitions go out the window and regardless of what garble comes out, at least you are trying to speak the language.  With all that in mind, I've collected some FREE French lessons from a variety of sources.  It would help if I studied every day (I do not)...and also not to compare my French to my German, which I learned as a small child and can speak fluently (Note to parents:  Start YOUNG with WHATEVER other language you speak or the grandparents speak...it is invaluable, will help their brains ....GROW and will make your children seem incredibly smart when they are adults).  Let me know if you progress faster than me, so I have someone to compare myself with.

If you or your spouse is in the Army, you know that Rosetta Stone language training online is available to you for free...in something like 30 different languages.  You can sign in only with the active duty member's AKO account information.

If you don't have access to that or want to try something else (or in addition), try these below.  Many of these sites also have opportunities to learn other languages as well.

• Life Mocha is the poor person's language program and site, because it tries to mimic what Rosetta Stone is trying to do.  Their very basic lessons are free.  You can also connect with other learners, and they really try to foster a sense of community.  I have fun with it every now and again still.
• Coffee Break French is great, because you can download each lesson to your MP3 player or Ipod.  I like that the lessons are short, hence the name "coffee break".  They are already into their third season of lessons!  No need to purchase them if you don't mind clicking on each set of lessons, then on each individual lesson to download.
• The University of Texas first year French program is online and is FREE too, regardless if you are a student or not.  You can download the individual chapters and exercises, wordlists and videos directly to your computer.  I am a third of the way through the program, and I am astounded at the quality of the materials.  I printed all the chapters, and put them in a binder.  I even make myself do some homework.  
• This site recommended by my French teacher at the Language Center on SHAPE has been a big help, especially in my listening skills.  It is very interactive and allows you to take a test as well.  Try it out!
• "My" French Language Course on Wikimedia Commons is just as good as any other French learning coursebook.  It's a PDF file, and you can download it for free.....all 222 pages of it!
• Your local library also has DVDs and may even have old cassette tapes lying around.  Ours here in SHAPE must have at least 15 different French programs to choose from.  While I am using the program, I download the lessons to my computer and MP3 player for ease of us.  A few of the programs I noticed cost hundreds of dollars online, so it's worth it to check them out.  If your local library does not have the resources, you can try inter-library loan (ILL).  Almost all libraries do this now...just get the CDs or DVDs from another library:-)

 As a sidenote, in addition to the language courses on SHAPE, which cost about 100 euro for newcomers (in the first 6 months after arrival), you can also check your local Belgian commune, where night courses cost about 50 euro for learning French.  

You know, I bet there are many more sites out there...hidden under all the outward fluff.  We just have to find them!  If anyone has come across any free language sites, please post them here for all to enjoy!

Why I have changed my mind about Twitter (and you should too!)

I like to keep most things simple.  My dad had been hounding me for well over a year to make the move to Twitter.  I kept saying NO...I mean, yet another site you have to go check and keep track of passwords and just stuff in general?  No-uh....didn't want to do it.  He had already pulled me kicking and screaming to Facebook...and at the time, that was enough for me!  Well, I have changed my mind...and you might be surprised why.

My first wall of resistance with Twitter, other than what I mentioned above was being overseas with a prepaid phone where you pay for EACH text message.  I knew messages come in every few seconds if you follow more than a dozen different people or "Twitter feeds", so obviously cost prohibitive if you wanted to monkey around with this thing.  The second thing I thought of was why would I want to read the musings of some random people around the world...stuff that I would never need...mostly....either that or more stuff to waste my time over....reading and musing over!

Well, a few weeks ago, we were scheduled to fly out of Brussels Airport back to the US...and then the big snow of 2010 hit Europe, paralyzing half a dozen countries and wreaking all kinds of havoc.  I signed on the usual news channels online...news was slow incoming, and if I hadn't had Facebook and a local Facebook group I joined (SHAPE Families), I wouldn't have known what the roads were like nearby.  But really....my next biggest concern was our flight when I heard on the Belgian news that flight operations were being affected by this monstrous storm....but no real details, especially in the days coming....in the days we were supposed to make our way by train up to Brussels

So, I signed up for Twitter and immediately found @eurocontrol and @BrusselsAirport to follow and WOW...up-to-the-second information on exactly what was going on at not just our Brussels Airport but all the European airports...not just text updates but uploaded photos and real-time information only seconds old.  Twitter was also the first place I read about the shortage of icing fluid because there was a ban on all heavy trucks in Belgium and northern France, where those shipments were coming from.  I was also able to see and hear which flights were leaving and what the terminal looked like.  I even was able to find some local Twitterers here in Belgium and found our current road conditions on our local highways and other local delays, as well as what trains were running behind....the news sites didn't pick up that information til later...much later, and posted their information then.  It's also when I realized I bet some of these news outlets actually follow Twitter to get their most current news.  You just have to know who to follow to make it work for you.

So my advice to you:

• Find some Twitterers or maybe it's Tweeters who talk about the things that interest you...and sign up for those feeds only.  
• If you've got a contract phone with FREE text messaging, then link those feeds to your phone.  If not, you're going to have to rely on checking Twitter on your computer.
• Many stores post short specials and discounts ONLY on their Twitter feeds, and if you monitor your favorite store there, you can catch the discount before it disappears.  I just saw one that was good for one day only, and the info was ONLY posted on the store's Twitter feed....hmmmm.
• Connect with your favorite celebrity...I'm not saying I'm a big fan of Ivanka Trump, but it was neat hearing about her adventures on her two day backpacking journey in Patagonia (and I was astounded she had coverage there!).
• If you have a favorite blogger you can't wait to read, many who use Twitter will announce on their Twitter feed when they have a new blogpost up.  It beats having to check your newsfeeds through RSS or visiting each blog, one by one.
• You can also get last minute traffic updates as well as weather, as it happens...search for the ones in your area.
• If you have a topic you are interested in, you can also look at trends and follow those to get the latest information.  Each trend (look at your mainpage on Twitter), has a "#" sign to signify that it's a trend.  I see people following the Royal Wedding plans and others talking about their 2011 New Year's resolutions.

Do you use Twitter?  If so, why do you think it's useful?  If not, why are you staying away?  Be honest:-)

Pack up the kids and leave for a year

Many of you know that I choose a lot of the books I read, in the imperfect method of walking through the stacks at my local library, perusing the bookshelves and looking for the spine of some random book to catch my eye.  Here's one that caught my eye, and by the time I was done, I had let wet laundry sit in the washer for half a day, and I burned the night's pasta dinner...but I was determined to get to the end.  I like books that talk about peoples' experiences.....people who have done things I've never done....and probably won't get to do, because my life is at a different stage or path.  Who here hasn't at least fleetingly dreamed of selling everything and packing up the family, only to travel around the world for an ENTIRE year?  That's what this book is about.

We travel a lot.  We travel a lot with kids....up to now, kids from babies to preteens....so I caught myself either laughing, commiserating or wanting to say "I told you so", throughout the book.  I also caught myself writing down the names of some of these fabulous locations, in hopes that someday, I can make it out to some of the ones I had never heard of before.

The gist of the book, is this guy and his wife sell almost all of their wordly possessions to include their house and car and trek across the globe to a variety of locations with kids in tow.  Now, we're not talking backpacker-style....we're talking a suitcase and backpack for each including the baby (a mistake he found out later as they had way too much stuff)....and staying at some flea-bitten out-of-the-way places with some luxurious five star worthy palaces in between.  What an experience!

At one point, a hippo almost overturns their boat and really, hippos you should be more afraid of than almost any other animal...they can become that territorial and aggressive.  His daughter has surgery in Thailand (thumbs up for Thai healthcare).  He almost loses his daughter in a riptide in Australia, and the mother is beside herself with white-knuckle fear along the rim of an active volcano, holding her toddler on a leash....yes, a leash which they ended up ditching later as they were consistently getting laughed at by non-Americans or just given THAT look.  They also eat some of the most amazing food....Sardinia, here I come!...and pet everything from an ostrich to a baby elephant.

But I think the neatest thing about this family's journey and the book is seeing  the similarities to my life....reactions of the children to things......mistakes made while traveling....all things we have experienced, as we've also been to many of his European destinations he wrote about for the book.

Is it a literary masterpiece?  No, and it doesn't profess to be.  The author isn't skilled enough to make you "feel and smell" like you are really there....but, that's beside the point...I don't think I evoke that either when I write, but it's a very nice read that tells a good story, and even though the author has a little tiny bit of a chip on his shoulder, I still liked reading it.  I closed the book more enlightened than when I started, and that should be your goal with most books I think.

I'm already anxious to go back to the library and start walking the aisles again.  Before I end here, let me put in a plug for the USAREUR library system, which is what we have overseas here in Europe.  All the military libraries are connected in Germany, Italy and Belgium to name the bulk of where the libraries are physically located.  Substantial money is spent keeping up the collections and attaining new material.  At least one library or the other will have a slew of all the bestsellers, and even if your library doesn't carry it, we can use inter-library loan (ILL) to request that book.  We also have access to our accounts online, along with other databases, reviews and many other useful things.  Believe it or not, the libraries even rent out DVDs...and here on SHAPE, they have DVDs on both systems (as Europe and the US code their DVDs, so unless you have a DVD player that plays all regions, you can only play DVDs for the US market if you bought your player in the US and vice versa if you bought it over here).  They also have Wii, Playstation and DS games to include the Wii add-ons, like the surfboard or whatever it's called....all can be checked out.  We are also lucky here at SHAPE because Chievres also has a library, and you can return items to either library...they work closely together.

So that's my little plug for today....for this book and for our library system.  I'll see you all next year!  I'm taking a break to be with my family and hope to see and hear from you next year!  Wishing all my readers the best for 2011!.

Swapping the kids' clothes

I consider myself blessed that the boys have a cousin who wears designer clothes whose mother regularly sends us a box of goodies. I almost never buy them new clothes except for underwear and socks! But, wouldn't it be great, I thought, if you could connect with others in a safe environment and swap nice kids' clothes with almost no strings attached? Apparently, this idea has already been realized!  I have a guest blog entry today from a mom who started out this site where you can do just that!

Enter....thredUP....

thredUP is where America’s busiest parents exchange boxes of clothes that no longer fit their kids for stylish ones that will. We coordinate swaps among a group of your closest friends AND connect you with thousands of families nationwide and on bases overseas. There’s no bidding, no auctions, no rifling through consignment racks, and no cranky kids to drag all over town. All swaps are done online, with scheduled home pick-up and delivery in CONUS, post office delivery service OCONUS.

Finding reasonably priced new or gently used kids clothes can be impossible when you are focused on more important aspects of your move. In honor of Veteran’s Day this year, we have opened up our domestic kids clothing swap to military families living OCONUS at APO/FPO addresses.

At thredUP, we know that coordinating clothing swaps is hard – especially when your closest friends live all over the world! Getting parents together and getting all the sizes right is always a challenge. Tag sales are a ton of work, often for very little payoff.

So what can I do on thredUP?

Pick. Pay. Prepare and Send.
Pick a box of gently used clothes you’d love to receive for your child.
Pay for shipping.
Prepare and list a box of clothes your child has outgrown.
When someone picks your box, send it free of charge (we even have the Postal Service pick-up the box at your house in CONUS).

We manage the quality control and review process and take care of all the details to make sure you get a quality exchange.

“As a military wife, I'm forever in transition. As a military-wife-mom, I'm forever moving and looking for reasonably priced clothes for my children,” says Sara Gibb, Chief Military Mom and thredUP’s newest executive. “thredUP lets me exchange clothes that no longer fit my kids for great items that will, from anywhere in the country. Not only is it affordable and convenient, but the service allows me to stay connected with friends and family wherever the Navy says I call home.”

Military families can upgrade their FREE basic membership to any level of PRO Membership at a 33% discount. In addition, military families are given at least one additional pick per month (without the need to swap out a box!).

We are open to ALL parents, not only military! Currently over 36,000 members strong, thanks to our 1400+ military families we are also trading on over 140 bases in 11 countries. All families can also swap boxes of gently used toys – happy swapping!

Get your heartstrings tugged on NBC tonight

I cannot attest to the quality of this TV movie, but if you feel like having a tug at your heartstrings this holiday season regarding a military family, be sure to check it out.

Here is the blurb:

On Friday, December 3, P&G and Walmart will release “A Walk in My Shoes,” the third collaboration in their Family Movie Night series.

“A Walk in My Shoes” (airing on NBC) follows a military family who lost their Marine father/husband in Fallujah. Through the story, the audience is given a glimpse into the family’s life and learns that while extremely difficult, it’s their struggles and adversity that ultimately bring them closer together.

The Family Movie Night concept are the direct result of P&G and Walmart listening to parents – particularly moms – who said they said they wanted more entertainment that the whole family can enjoy together.

Here are the details:

Title - “A Walk in My Shoes”
Friday, December 3 at 8/7c on NBC

Thanks, and if anyone wants to provide feedback after the show, please post it below!

Just a glimpse into the life.....

I just finished a book I never would've chosen to read in my life.  Every once in awhile, I like to walk through my library's "new book" section....just to see what the library gods at my local library have ordered for our latest reading pleasure.  I neglected to mention that I DO like to read books that either detail an out-of-the-ordinary profession or activity....it just has to be something that I don't personally do or am familiar with.  Well, boy did I pick up something unusual this time around!

I can probably count on two...maybe three hands how many bars I've been to, in my life!  I know, I guess I am not as worldly as I want people to think I am.  Even while I was in Venice recently, I looked IN the window of the famous Harry's Bar and had my son pose in front of that window....but never went inside.  And to make things worse, if anyone in my extended family brings up anything about bars, I can already see my husband getting a smile on his face to yet again, share that awful story of what happened on a beach trip to Italy back when we were lieutenants...when I was introduced to some frothy peach...stuff...for lack of a better description.  The worst  is, I can't even remember, so I cannot deny or confirm anything he says....I can just be careful that he doesn't add anything every time he tells it...he is so fond of that story and relishes it every time (embelish...relish...)!

So, the latest book I grabbed is called Behind Bars by Ty Wenzel.  It's basically the story of a female bartender in New York City.....wow....I had no idea humans can be so transparent, funny, stupid or (insert your own adjective here)....AND that there is a real ritual that gets followed "at the bar"...and just the little stories she shares....kinda makes me feel thankful for what I have.  She also describes what happens to people of all walks of life and everything in between, when they feel.....lonely and forgotten.  How sad life can be for some people.  I also did not know how much money is to be made in bartending if you go with the right hotspot!  Second wow!  I guess you have to figure out  if your body and mind can take the abuse before you cash out from what Ty writes.  Read it...it's interesting....yes, it has some profanity and some other things you may not be comfortable with....her constant lighting up got on my nerves...who still smokes in bed?.....but it is eye-opening and interesting, and that's enough to get me reading something.

Do you have any similar book recommendations?  I'd love to hear about other books that detail a life that is so unlike my own!

Look at that Face!

I always wondered when someone was going to put together a collection of the crying, screaming, squirming children sitting on Santa's lap. Looks like it's been done. Looks like I will wait til next year to see if I can get it from my local library.

Do you have such a photo in your own collection?

Overheard and Overseen

Have you ever walked by a conversation and heard a snippet that made your brain skip a few beats? Or that gave you a good laugh. How about finding a piece of paper blowing around. I know I recently found a little piece of notepaper stuck to my car door...it was a windy day, and it was just plastered there. You know, I couldn't just crumple it up without looking at what it said. It was just a note that someone had put on someone's car to call them...nothing earth shattering. What is it about the human condition that we are so nosy. I'm just going to admit it right here. I honestly can't help myself sometimes. If you tend to overhear conversations in passing or look at little notes that cross your path, you're going to enjoy the time wasters below!

Overheard in New York - Now I haven't been to New York since I was a very little girl, so I have no memory of what it must be like. I envision this metropolitan place, where you can get just about anything, and be confronted with a sea of humanity from all over the world. This blog absolutely cracks me up...some of it can be raunchy, but some of it is downright funny.

Post Secret - This blog is actually quite depressing, so I don't visit it too often. The gist is that people send postcards to this blogger with their deepest...and sometimes, darkest...thoughts and confessions. It just makes me feel sorry for people mostly, although you can find some lighter fare too. This guy has also made a ton of money putting these postcards into books.

Found: The Best, Lost, Tossed & Forgotten - This is a book, although I think it stemmed from a magazine. These guys just started collecting notes that were cast off, whether on purpose or not. Think....shopping lists, love notes, notes on people's doors or cars and that kind of thing. Some are truly bizarre. I remember one note that had a typical laundry list of things to do, and oh BTW, one of the things on the list was also to kill someone...huh? There is amazingly enough a second book too.

Do you know of any other books or websites that follow along with this theme?

NikkiFitness is Kickin' My Butt Workout DVD

Don't tell anyone, but I haven't gone to the YMCA in a week...my excuse is that I haven't been feeling well, and I've been just so busy getting ready to move...at least that sounds legitimate...but who am I fooling? I am sorely out of shape...could probably stand to lose 10...no, even 15 pounds around here. I'm also going to use the excuse that I'm a military wife and most times, we have to run the household by ourselves...we can't count on anyone else because of our husband's schedules...not to mention if we have little ones either crying or crawling around, getting the breakfast dishes cleaned up can be a feat. I admit, I absolutely love our YMCA when I get the chance to go...but what about those times I don't feel like being around people or I just can't squeeze in the time to get there...what if I want to get moving in a skimpy workout outfit...as motivation I say...but not enough to stand in front of a crowd in that get-up.....or what about when we move and there is no YMCA? What options are out there? I recently did a workout video from my library...boy, was it boring...I don't believe how people can stomach that stuff for longer than a few minutes. Obviously, I can say I was prejudiced before popping in the Military Wife Workout, but since I like to say I have an open mind....I was pleasantly surprised.


After literally dripping in sweat after the 30 minutes..which actually breezed by faster than I thought...I reflected on what makes this video different...the good and the bad...

• Since the info is at the bottom of the screen, once you get familiar with the types of exercises, you can do this workout to any kind of music...that's different.

• I wanted to rest between sets...no rest...this is interval training at its purest...the only way you are going to melt that fat off as quickly as possibe the experts say. I'm sure once I get the hang of it and get in better shape, it won't be such a daunting task, and I'll be able to follow along better to boot.

• You do need a set of weights if you're not a beginner, so you have to plan for that. On the flipside, that is how you can make this DVD more challenging...add more weight.
  

• Speaking of beginners, it's easy to get behind and confused because the DVD does move quickly along from one exercise to the next exercise, but that is the nature of interval training.

• When I first started the DVD, I thought there was a thunderstorm brewing...turns out it was just the wind...it was a bit distracting at first, but once I got into it, I didn't hear it anymore. Note to technical staff...get that wind sound out of there...it would sound more professional and less "home video-ish" without it..the birds chirping are okay.

All in all, this is a good workout and not another rehash of what's already out there. It is priced a bit high when you look at the competition though of different workout videos. I think the creator would make more overall in the long run if she lowered the price to $12.99. But that is just nitpicking and my opinion. If the $19.99 is the difference between you sitting around on your duff and working out, then by all means, it's worth it to you. The creator also has a website at Nikki Fitness and is also a fitness commentator on Military.com, so this is not just a fleeting project for her. She seems to be genuinely interested in helping military wives get a workout that truly works.

Has anyone here tried this particular workout? Any other DVDs out there that are worth doing? Your thoughts on getting in shape and working out in general?

Don't Send Another Expensive Hallmark Greeting Cards

I do it all the time. I have a case of stamping stuff....you now the stuff you can make greeting cards out of. You'd think by now I would've mastered how to make my own greeting cards. Well, I haven't. Every time I try to make one, I think it is not creative enough, and I end up not sending it. I've even tried printing off cards on my computer. I'm guessing my printer isn't professional enough for that either. Off to the store to get a generic Hallmark card. I bought three yesterday at $2.99 each? When did they get so expensive? Were they always so pricey? Thanks to one of the blogs I regularly read, I've found another solution that may fit the bill for me. Maybe it's something up your alley as well.

Please take the time to pop over to Jaden's Steamy Kitchen. She is a food blogger with some hilarious posts and recipes, but more importantly, she has a knack for photographing her food creations, also known as food porn. This is how she got involved with Send Out Cards. You can upload photos to templates or make your own. Add your own text in whatever font and even scan and add your own honest to goodness signature. The best part, is that they will mail your card for you. See the video on how it's done here. I discussed once before how important thank-you cards are. This is the perfect solution, and all at a cost LESS than running to the store and picking up some run-of-the-mill greeting card. Try it and let me know how it works out! BTW, if you make your own greeting cards and would like to show us how it's done, we'd love to see some photos! It would be great if you could post some of your creations for the rest of us artistically challenged folks.

What's It Like on the Other Side?

For most of my life, I have been solidly middle-class. With human nature being as it is...downright nosy....we often wonder what it's like on the other side. If we are cash poor, we want to know what it's like to live the high life and what it's like to drop a few thousand dollars on dinner. If we are rich, at least by American standards, we still have an urge to want to see what it's like to have next to nothing in our society. How do those people survive and go on? We don't want to be in their situation...but we still want to get a feel of what it's like without getting our hands dirty. So, how do you get to be a fly on the wall and run with the experience?

You knew I was going to start talking about books, didn't you? I personally don't have an experience with either side, just what I have read. If you're like me and like to read about everything that's ever been written, you may have already seen these. If not, see below. I mean no disrespect here by commenting and mentioning these gems...just trying to broaden peoples' horizons. For the most part, these books are not "how to" but a snapshot into the lives of others. If you can think of any other books out there that follow along this thread, please mention them in the comments.

Reading List for the those who consider themselves not "up to par" with the Joneses:

Mediterranean Summer: A Season on France's Cote d'Azur and Italy's Costa Bella by David Shalleck and Erol Munuz. Before I read this book, I had to make sure I had a full tummy. I suggest you do the same! This first class chef spent a summer, sailing around the Mediterranean on a multi-million dollar yacht for a very upper class Italian couple. He was their chef and in the book, he takes us through all his trials and tribulations and demanding menus! Ah, the high life it was...even for him as an employee!

The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secrets of America's Wealthy by Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko. Most know about this book. You won't find the ritz and glitz in here, just simple stories from everyday people who made millions and live like they didn't. Still, an insightful and favorite book that will motivate you to want to join its ranks.

Confessions of an Heiress: A Tongue-in-Chic Peek Behind the Pose by Paris Hilton, Merle Ginsberg, and Jeff Vespa. I know this book is bottom-of-the-barrel and not worth the paper it's written on...but still, it is a peek into the life of a super rich girl who won't have to work to earn a dime the rest of her life, and that's why I'm including it here.

Richistan: A Journey Through the American Wealth Boom and the Lives of the New Rich by Robert Frank. Richistan is definitely about all the new found "haves" and not the "have-nots" in our country. I am dumbfounded at the amount of money these people give out who are detailed in this book. Talk about a blow to your ego! I think I need to try to get into one of the elite butler schools mentioned in the book.

All the Money in the World: How the Forbes 400 Make--and Spend--Their Fortunes by Peter W. Bernstein and Annalyn Swan. I read Richistan before I read this one. I thought it would have stories more along that line. Well, you do have to wade through tons of charts and statistics, but there is a little bit of meat on this bone, with a peek into the lives of the ueber rich. If you thought the Richistan folks threw money around, wait til you read about the Forbes 400 crowd! My God in heaven!

Money for Nothing: One Man's Journey Through the Dark Side of Lottery Millions by Edward Ugel. Ever wonder what it's like to win the lottery? I tinkered with whether to put this book under the "have" or the "have nots" category, 'cause most of the folks in the book ended up losing their millions, to the point of being miserable the rest of their lives. The guy who wrote this book used to work for a company that would give lottery winners lump sum millions instead of their usual lottery payments. Nowadays, most lotteries give winners the lump sum choice, so many of these companies are out of business now. But nonetheless, you realize that just having money without the education and "know how" can quickly slip through your fingers and be gone before you know it. Read about the nonsense these folks spent their money on and how it changed most of their lives for the worse.


Reading List for those who have everything but want to see what the "have nots" are doing:

My Secret Life on the McJob: Lessons from Behind the Counter Guaranteed to Supersize Any Management Style by Jerry Newman. I had a whole new sense of what it must be like working behind the counter in fast food. Even though this book focuses mostly on managers and what they do wrong (and sometimes right), it still glazed the surface of what it must be like, surviving on a fast food paycheck. It also made me reconsider my attitude and demeanor when I order my next Happy Meal.

Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America by Barbara Ehrenreich. An absolutely heart wrenching story of what it's like to be on the bottom, scraping by on a pocketful of tips. This lady didn't even have a place to stay or her own bank account...something I never thought would be possible in America. This'll also make you think twice the next time you visit your local greasy spoon.

Scratch Beginnings: Me, $25, and the Search for the American Dream by Adam Shepard. If you can get through the cussing, find out what it's like to start with nothing but $25. Follow this homeless man's journey, trying to chase an American dream. Yes, the book is a bit flawed, cause the guy is pretty educated and has the education to help himself and is only doing this temporarily for the book, but still...it's a look through the looking glass into poverty and what some may see as hopelessness and others see as opportunity come knockin'.


The Working Poor: Invisible in America by David K. Shipler. Read stories about those who are at the very bottom of our economic ladder. The one highlight of this book? The author does give some ideas of what our government can do to make these ranks smaller. You can be sure my sons read this book before they gently get nudged out of the nest.

Flat Broke with Children: Women in the Age of Welfare Reform by Sharon Hays. What is it like living on welfare? Why is it so difficult to get off welfare? Share insights into the lives of those caught in the vicious cycle of a state-sponsored leg up or do you call it a hand-out?



Have you read any books along these lines lately? Anything to add on the books mentioned above? Feel free to post a review!

You CAN read eBooks on ANY mp3 Player...Right Now!

I know every once in a while, I like to go off on a tangent and talk about my Zune. Now, I've never had an iPod before, and maybe that's where I am a little bit sheltered, but I am constantly finding good things to do with my Zune. An mp3 player is not just for music, videos and pictures. I don't accept the official party line that neither the Zune nor iPod supports PDFs or eBooks! So, I did a little trolling around the internet. I found a nifty little program that WILL let me read eBooks on my device. Yes, you can do it on the iPod or any other device that reads picture files too. Here's how.

I recently downloaded Suze Orman's Women and Money, after Oprah gave it away for free the other week. Since I don't spend too much time on the computer, I haven't read it yet but would like to. I spend a lot of time in my car....waiting...running errands...then waiting in line...doctors' offices....wherever...waiting. Up til now, I've been listening to some of my favorite talkshow personalities and hosts via podcast, as well as watching some documentaries and movies I had downloaded to take along. Now, I do like to look around and smell the roses and take in the scenery too, don't get me wrong...but, I just can't get away from sinking my teeth into a good book every now and then along with these little electronic stimulations. I am like my father, in that everywhere I go, I either have a newspaper or book in tow. I can't even go to sleep at night without reading...anything, even if it's a package label if that's all there is...but again, I am digressing and getting off topic!

I have about ten eBooks on my computer, from various sources, darn it...that I'd really like to read, and I am NOT buying another electronic device, ala Amazon's new Kindle. I found and downloaded some free software called eBook to Images. The gist is that this program converts every page in your eBook (in whatever format it is originally in, to include PDF images) to bitmap or jpg files, your choice. It won't convert any pictures in the book, just the written word, which is the most important part anyway.

Here are some screenshots of the program, as well as some photos of how your eBook can look on your device. You can even add page numbers, change the orientation, image size/resolution and a few other things. At first I thought the letters would be too small to read, but the Zune has such a nice large screen (larger than the iPod), that so far, I have no sign of any eyestrain.

When converting your eBook with this software, be sure to use the settings below to get the best possible copy.

• Screen width and height should be 320 x 240.

• Click "page numbers" and "rotate 270 deg".

• Keep the black background and white lettering; I've found this leaves nice and crisp lettering and is easier to read.

• Font no smaller than size 10.

• Click "ignore trailing returns".

• Click "Convert to images" to start the process.

• Once the software is done, click "Show Results" to see where the folder was deposited on your computer. On mine, it was put in the "My Documents" folder.

• For the Zune, put this converted book folder (I renamed mine with book title and author) into your "My Pictures" folder. When it is time to sync with your mp3 player, you should see the book folder listed there along with all the other picture folders you have.

• When viewing in your mp3 player, make sure you have your shuffle feature turned off and view each jpg in order, page by page.
  

It's just a little annoying seeing the original book page numbers mixed in with the new page numbers the converting program put in there, but otherwise, I enjoy being able to read my eBooks away from the computer.

How do you read your eBooks? Do you have a PDA or do you read them on your computer? Or do you not even do eBooks? Now I'm wondering what else I can do with my Zune....what is your favorite gadget? Do you have a favorite little program that makes your gadget perform even better?

Skinny Songs for Skinny-Wanna-Be Butts?

I recently got a CD in the mail for review. It's called Skinny Songs, and the lady who put this CD together, is a weight loss survivor herself. She says that there isn't a lot of motivational music out there, huh? And that is why she came up with this music CD. My impressions?

Well, it looks professionally enough put together. I think it's a bit strange that none of the artists are listed for any of the ten songs on the CD, as they are truly very talented and have great singing voices. I think the founder and lyricist of Skinny Songs, Heidi Roizen wrote all the songs and then had other people do the singing and producing.

Now I must say, the songs are very upbeat and do lend themselves to those songs you like to sing to. I can imagine doing a workout or even cleaning the house, keeping up with the beat. The songs range from country to hip-hop, and there is probably a music genre for everyone in here. What kind of rubbed me the wrong way though, was the annoying lyrics. Some sound just plain silly. You can read some of the lyrics here. Also, if you are sensitive in nature, this is not for you, cause Heidi doesn't beat around the bush of what makes you fat and keeps you there. I had to rewind a few times, thinking I heard something off-kilter...yep, sure did.

Be sure to listen to some music samples and you can also read about Heidi Roizen and her journey. I do like her t-shirts that say "objects in mirror will get thinner than they now appear". The full CD is a bit pricey at $14.99. I can find A-lister artists at much lower prices, and their stuff won Grammy Awards. I don't think she should be charging so much, especially if she doesn't even care to put the artists' names on the label. But, this Heidi must have friends in high places, as she did show up on Martha Stewart at one time. Not everyone gets there I suppose. So, if you need some inspiration and want to check out a little something different, be sure to have a listen.

One of the More Bizzare Books at My Library

Let me first say that I LOVE my local library....I really do! They have such a nice selection of both new and old. Their website allows you to put books, DVDs and other media on hold and you get these nice email notifications when your stuff is ready to be picked up. You can even request things from other branches or inter-library loan, all on-line. Now, there is this one book. I don't even remember where I first heard about it, because I had it on hold and just picked it up yesterday. In fact, it was a bit more saucy and risque to a point of being something I probably wouldn't let little kids leaf through. It's a BIG picture book with photos on every page. Now, I'm not against having nude picture books or tasteful artwork, but this book was a bit different than I thought it was going to be.

Now, I had never heard of the author...in fact, I think she is a photographer, but the gist of the book is celebrity look-alikes in paparazzi-style photos in some enlightening poses and situations that most of the time, happen behind closed doors or we think happens behind closed doors. I must say, I was floored by some of the uncanny resemblances to actual celebrities. Some that I couldn't tell the difference included Ozzy Osbourne, the Queen of England, Princess Diana's boys, Madonna, the singer m&m....I had to smile at the Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise look-alikes. They weren't exactly on target. Some of the more fun photos included:

• Angelina Jolie and Madonna changing diapers

• Paris Hilton lying in her bunk while her jail bunkmate took a dump on the open toilet
  

• Madonna ironing

• Nicole Kidman flossing her teeth

• Prince William with his girlfriend in bed and her writing "King" across his chest in lipstick

• President Bush and Tony Blair literally horsing around

• J Lo sitting on the toilet with a pregnancy test strip

• Tom Cruise standing on a box to be as tall as Katie

• Michael Douglas vacuuming while Catherine lounged on the couch with a magazine

• Britney getting liposuction
  

Okay, so those were some of the light-hearted ones, not too risque...voyeuristic of the reader, but fun. So after turning a few more pages, I was surprised to see some of these renditions, which had me wondering a bit what the guidelines were for books to be available to all ages in a library:

• Prince William peeing on the side of a wall and you can plainly see him holding his Peter
  

• Jack Nicholson cavorting with a dozen topless and nude beauties, in one shot, going down the slide with one, grabbing her crotch

• Nicole Kidman nude in the shower

• George Bush and Tony Blair wearing bathrobes and touching each other (this was disturbing in a different kind of way, as well as some of the Michael Jackson and children shots)
  

• A crotch and nude shot of Marilyn Monroe
  

• Elton John getting his butt waxed (or at least that's what it looked like)

• Some guy giving Elton John head in a car, while Elton is wearing a fluffy wedding dress
  

Do libraries have limits on what they can have on their shelves? That also made me wonder about movies. I've seen some VERY risque, mostly foreign movies that weren't rated from my library. Are kids allowed to check those out? What about R-rated movies? Hey, I am not a prude...I'm all for nudity, I grew up in Europe, my kids have seen their share of naked people as well as movies like Private Ryan and Band of Brothers too, so those aren't the issues....I was just wondering. Oh, almost forgot, the name of the book is Alison Jackson Confidential.

What interesting books have you seen and read at your local library? What are your thoughts on what should and should not be available at your local library? Should Rated R material be separate? Are there rules at your library who can check what out? Just wondering...

FREE Download of Suze Orman's "Women and Money"

Suze Orman has some great financial advice. I may not agree with all of it, but her stuff is easy to read, understand and follow. Today's the last day to download her book Women and Money for FREE. Thanks Wisebread for the heads up!

The Lowdown on the Roomba

It's been well over a year and a half now...my relationship with our robot vacuum cleaning Roomba. Remember when these things first came out? They were such a novelty back then...did they even pick anything up when they first came out? Anyway, let me tell you about my Roomba. A Roomba is actually a floor sweeper and not a true vacuum cleaner, so let's get that straight from the get go.

The thing runs around your house, sweeping up crumbs, dust and debris. It doesn't know where it's been, but it has an embedded microchip, a computer really, that goes through some complex algorithm, going back and forth, along the wall, spinning and a variety of other behaviors. The company that manufactures the Roomba says that in a room of a certain size, using this algorithm, the Roomba will eventually hit every piece of floor. I'd say it's not perfect or even close, but the thing does have an uncanny ability to reach most areas, especially under your couch, where I rarely go. So, how does it do in the cleaning department and more importantly, how has it held up over the past year?

Let me rewind by saying we have two VERY hairy pets...a German Shepherd and a long haired cat. We can easily stuff two pillows from the hair that migrates from their coats to our floors and every other surface in our house. And that brings me to my first point. The Roomba truly does an excellent job of sweeping up the dirt and dust...yes, even dust! In addition to that stuff, the bin is also ALWAYS chock full of hair. This means, if you have pets, you will be emptying the bin AFTER EVERY USE. So it's not a "set it and forget it" device. I run mine every weekday and have to make myself a note to empty that bin every day.

The second thing...all those long hairs get wrapped around the front wheel, even the sidewheels and worst of all, the inner sweeper mechanisms. This means, not only do you have to empty the dustbin after every use, but you also have to take out the beater bars and unwind the hair or just rip it out. The front wheel is trickier, as the hair gets deep down in there, and the only way to get that out is to take a razorblade and cut it out! I do the razorblade trick at least once or twice a week. The two heavy-duty side wheels are almost impossible to access at their axles.

Performance after one year? Well, the Roomba still has a full dustbin after it does its little trek, BUT it has slowed WAY DOWN. When it hits the carpet, it slows almost to a crawl. I'm not sure if this is an issue with the motor or if it's a normal progression of things or if there is some wound-up hair in the sidewheels I cannot see. As I said, these are hard to access, and it is almost impossible to see down there. After I had the Roomba about two months, each of the clips holding up the brushguard broke off, a necessary item if you don't want to leave the brushes behind as it runs! This was quickly remedied with duct tape, but still, the clips were so brittle, it makes me think the brushguard had a manufacturing flaw.

In hindsight, was it a good purchase? I would say yes, only because I got it refurbished from Amazon for $100. This particular model, brand new, is still being sold today for just under $400, even though the company just came out with a newer model about six months ago. My Roomba did come with a remote, a quick charger and virtual walls to keep it out of certain areas. I've found these accessories work very well. The remote allows you to set your little sweeper to work on a schedule, and the virtual walls keep it out of the bathroom with the litterbox. I don't like the idea of a Roomba cleaning up litter and then running around the rest of the house...yuck. My suggestion to IRobot, the company that makes the Roomba...please think about making it more pet friendly and even more rugged. There is a supposed pet brush set that has wide ends (you can now buy it separately) to encourage hair to stay out of the wheels and inner mechanisms, but from what I've heard from others who have this set, it doesn't really keep the pethair completely out of the axles. You still have to cut that stuff out. Otherwise, it can be a useful product! I've enjoyed using it...even after vacuuming with a regular vacuum, the Roomba can still pick up dust and such...that's something, isn't it? Since we've had it, I can honestly say there are at least less dust bunnies around the house, and the dog gets a kick out of following it around.

What have you bought in the past that has been a real lifesaver? Or dud? Please share your ideas of what has helped you around the house.

Review: "Military Spouse Magazine Vol 3/Issue 1

I recently had the chance to review the new Military Spouse Magazine. I think it was a long time in the making and was just recently released. Here are my first impressions.


The Stats:

• 66 total pages
• 18 full pages of ads
• 6 sections
• 3 small ads

My initial impression:

Clean cover with eye-catching headlines that included an interview with Catherine Bell from Lifetime TV's Army Wives; cost was $3.99; the magazine itself was fairly thin and lightweight

Inside the cover:

As I flipped through the pages, the printing was clean and crisp with lots of graphics and photos. Most of the articles discussed the challenges and rewards of a working military spouse. Almost all the articles were pretty generalized and written in a motivating tone of voice to get the reader fired up. There were also a few other articles on children, finances, travel and even a "follow me" fitness section. The writers are fairly unknown (at least to me), although "Wives War and Politics" was written by Tanya Biank. Tanya's claim to fame is being the author of Crossed Sabers, later re-named Army Wives and becoming the basis of the show on Lifetime TV.

I must say I enjoyed "Career Profile", which I think is a regular feature. This particular issue showcased the career and family life of an employee of USAA and how she was able to balance military life with her career and family.

Articles in this issue included:

Childcare Center Versus Homecare (very general)

Sealed With a Kiss (good tips to keep the romance going)

Military Work at Home Moms (the perks and the challenges; very basic information)

The ABCs of War (how deployment can impact children; good article)

To Work or Not to Work (things to consider when working; simple tips)

Wives, War & Politics (views from wives on the war and dealing with the issues; very good article)

Catherine Bell Interview (on portraying a military spouse; motivating and caring interview)

Featured Spouse Group (Naval Officer's Spouse's Club San Diego; photos and blurb are a good idea; I assume this is a regular feature)

Have You Lost that Loving Feeling? (4 ways to get it back; some good information)

Back to Work in Style (a few gadgets to buy for the working spouse; actually these are good bets for anyone; offerings were scant though)

Career Profiles (profile on a military spouse working for USAA; good feature)

Career Intel (highlights from the Spouses to Teacher Program; good Q&A on the program)

Career Harmony (balancing military with life; a few shared stories, no real advice)

What Food is Your Hometown Famous For? (Pittsburgh's Primanti's Bros sandwich this month; photo did not do the sandwich justice...looked terrible and unappetizing)

Welcome Home: Bringing Baby Home (how to design your nursery; some nice tips to get you started)

You Can Do It: Appliances (this was supposed to be about maintenance tips; I thought it was mostly about extended warranties rather than tips though after the first paragraph)

Money Matters (can you afford to work? good article with basic pros and cons)

The Cheap Date (stretch your dating dollar; only a few tips and they left out some valuable resources)

Chocolate (good for your conscience too; nice lighthearted article)

Back to Our Roots (good travel article on Pennsylvania)

Operation Wake-Up Call and Sgt. Ken (military inspired fitness exercises with photos and good explanations)

Would I read this magazine again? Considering that this is a fairly new magazine and that every new magazine has to get the kinks out, I would say yes. I would like to see more detailed "how to" articles, a heftier size (I realize this means more ads, but as long as they can be valuable resources for the military spouse, then it's okay). There is definitely a niche audience, receptive to assistance, support and comraderie, so this magazine really does have a chance! I wish it the best of luck and look forward to the next issue! Have you read this magazine? Let's hear about it from you!