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Why Own a Chihuahua?

Why own a Chihuahua? There's a danger you know,
You can't own just one, for the craving will grow.
There's no doubt they're addictive, wherein lies the danger,
While living with lots, you'll grow poorer and stranger.

One Chihuahuas no trouble and two are so funny,
The third one is easy; the fourth one's a honey.
The fifth one is delightful; the sixth one's a breeze,
You find you can live with a household with ease.

So how 'bout another? Would you really dare?
They're really quite easy but oh Lord the hair!
With Chihuahuas on the sofa and on the bed,
And crates in the kitchen, it's no bother you said.

They're really no trouble; their manners are great,
What's one more Chihuahua and just one more crate?
The sofa is hairy; the windows are crusty,
The floor is all footprints, the furniture all dusty.

The housekeeper suffers, but what do you care?
Who minds a few nose prints and a little more hair
So let's keep a puppy, you can always find room,
And a little more time for the dust cloth and broom.

There's hardly a limit to the Chihuahuas you add,
The thought of a cutback sure makes you sad.
Each one is so special, so useful, so funny,
The vet and the food bill grows larger, you owe money.

Your folks never visit; few friends come to stay,
Except other Chihuahua folk, who live the same way?
Your lawn has now died, and your shrubs are dead too,
But your weekends are busy; you're off with your crew.

There's dog food and vitamins, training and shots,
And entries and travel and motel which cost lots.
Is it worth it, you wonder? Are you caught in a trap?
Then that favorite Chihuahua comes and climbs in your lap.

His look says you're special and you know that you will,
Keep all of the critters in spite of the bill.
But winter's a hassle; the Chihuahuas hate it too,
They must have their walks though they're numb and you're blue.

Late evening is awful, you scream and you shout
At the Chihuahuas on the sofa that refuse to go out.
The Chihuahuas and the dog show, the travel, the thrills,
The work and the worry, the pressure, the bills.

The whole thing seems worth it, Chihuahuas are our life
They're charming and funny and offset the strife.
Your lifestyle has changed - things won't be the same.
Yes, those Chihuahuas are addictive and so is the game!

~~ Author Unknown ~~

The Dash

Inspiring short movie based a beautiful poem about life.

http://www.dashpoemmovie.com/

The Impact of Not Being Believed

I just wish someone would believe me!

How often have you said or thought that? Disbelief or skepticism about fibromyalgia (FMS) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS or ME/CFS) is something most of us are all too familiar with, and if you've experienced it yourself, you don't need a study to tell you how painful it can be.

Wouldn't it be great, though, if someone would tell your doctors how detrimental it is for them to dismiss your pain? I was delighted to see a chronic pain study out of Wales that does tell them. While this study was only on chronic pain, I don't think it's a stretch to say the findings would apply to fatigue and other "invisible" symptoms.

Of a group of 8 people in the study, only 2 said they had no problem getting health-care workers to accept their word on pain, and those two people also had visible disabilities. Stories from the other 6 included doctors denying pain medication, shouting at them for taking more pain killers than prescribed, and even blatantly saying, "I don't believe you," and walking out.

Those actions left them with feelings that included anger, frustration, isolation, depression, and thoughts of suicide.

The study concludes that doctors and other health professionals just need to believe what their patients say when it comes to pain, bringing up a definition of pain coined 40 years ago by Margo McCaffery, a chronic-pain nursing consultant: "Pain is whatever the experiencing person says it is, existing whenever the experiencing person says it does." The logic is simple, but the implications to treatment would be profound.

The final paragraph sums up what practitioners can do to avoid all these problems:

These simple means are: active listening; being non-judgemental; accepting the pain experience as credible as recounted by patients; and thus showing to patients that the relationship is based on caring and empathy. While these may be considered mundane and accepted practice, it is vitally important not to overlook the
impact they have on patients with chronic pain.

Read the full study at http://www.nursingtimes.net/ntclinical/2008/02/the_effects_of_not_believing_patients_experience_of_chronic_pain.html.

A Reason to Smile



Some days its difficult to get out of bed, function, think, and do all the things a single mother -- or any person -- does in any given day. Its been a rough, tough week and to top it off I am not feeling well today. I came across this picture in an email I received and it gave me a reason to smile.

365 Days of Christmas

365 Days of Christmas
Blogging About Christmas


"Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen." Bobby - age 7

I want that special feeling to last all year long and that is the inspiration for this new blog. I believe in Santa and the Christmas spirit. I love the excitement of decorating and the anticipation of waiting for Santa to arrive. I love the kinder hearts of people who are more generous and more forgiving during this time of year. I love the dazzle of the lights and the twinkle in the children's eyes. I love the merriment of parties and friendships. I love Christmas.

http://365-days-of-christmas.blogspot.com/

Rewards Gold

Rewards Gold is great for free magazines. Most of the ones below are still available. Review a product, using a minimum of 50 words. Its so easy! Then you get a free magazine subscription.

Interview Magazine - Movie Review
http://www.rewardsgold.com/mags/interview/sg_interview_pgr2.htm

Hallmark Magazine - Lip Balm Review
http://www.rewardsgold.com/mags/hallmark/sg_hallmark_pg1.htm

Bride Magazine
http://www.rewardsgold.com/mags/bride_em/sg_bride_pg1b.htm

Star Magazine
http://www.rewardsgold.com/mags/star/sg_STAR_pg1.htm

Golf Digest - Golf Club Review http://www.rewardsgold.com/mags/golf/tgs_gol_dig_pg1db.htm

Vibe Magazine - Deodorant Review http://www.rewardsgold.com/mags/vibe/tf_survey_vibe_pg2.htm

Parent and Child - Bottle Water Review http://www.rewardsgold.com/mags/parents_em/sg_pandc_pg1b.htm

Sherman's Travels http://www.rewardsgold.com/mags/travel_beach/sg_travel_pg3s.htm

US New and World Report - Cellular Phone Review http://www.rewardsgold.com/mags/usnews/sg_usnews_pg1gr.htm

Who Calls Me

It is a user supplied database of phone numbers of telemarketers, non-profit organizations, charities, political surveyors, SCAM artists, and other companies that don't leave messages, disconnect once you answer, ignore the Do-Not-Call List regulations, and simply interrupt your day.

If you received a strange call, most likely you are not the only one. Search for this phone number to see the reports of others. If there are no reports yet, leave your comment to start a conversation.

http://whocallsme.com/

April Freebie

EarthBound Farms, an organic farm, is offering a free reusable grocery tote. It's free, with no shipping or handling charges. All you have to do is go to their site (listed below) and complete a short quiz based on conservation topics.

http://www.ebfarm.com/AboutUs/Environment/ConservationQuiz.aspx

The answers for the quiz are as follows:
1. 2
2. 3
3. 1
4. 3
5. 4
6. 2
7. 2
8. 1
9. 2
10. 1

Family Minute #10

Prevention is the Best Cure

The news is sad and disturbing – more than 25% of girls ages 14 to 19 have a sexually transmitted disease. The Centers for Disease Control found that those infected have one of the four most common STDs: human papilloma virus (HPV), chlamydia, herpes simplex virus (HSV), or trichomoniasis. Though these diseases may not be as well known as HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, they can cause serious pain, infertility, and even cancer.

Sit down with your pre-teen or teen, talk about the risks of becoming sexually active, and let them know that condoms may not protect them 100%. It may not be the most pleasant discussion, but it could save your child's life.

Remember your family first.

Wordless Wednesday #6

Recylcing Plastic Bags

Here is an interesting article about recycling...

Cut up existing plastic grocery bags into loops and use them to knit or crochet a sturdy shopping tote that you can reuse each time you shop.

Instructions:
http://hakucho.blogspot.com/2007/06/how-to-turn-plastic-bags-into-yarn.html

Family Minute #9

Decompression Dinner

Does your family need a decompression dinner? Do you all rush in the door after a hectic day at school, work, or other activities? Do you scramble around the kitchen, throw food on the counter, and let every man, woman, & child fend for themselves?

Take a deep breath and try this: get your food ready (have something already made, pick up a prepared meal, or just keep it simple -- even cereal and fruit would be fine -- the key is to make it easy on you), turn on soft music, dim the lights, put a lighted candle on the table (this keeps my 9-year-old mesmerized), pause, say a prayer, and try to have everyone talk softly during dinner. I tried it... and my kids and I both enjoyed the calm -- even if it only lasted for one meal!

Spring Cleaning

Are you spring cleaning? Here are lots of great tips to help you do the best job to get your home organized and cleaned.

All the Dirt on Cleaning the House
http://www.cleaning101.com/house/dirt/

Automatic Dishwashing
http://www.sdahq.org/dishwash/understanding_automatic_dishwashing.html

Basic Laundering Procedures
http://www.sdahq.org/laundry/fact/fact_sheet7.html

Care of Hard Surfaces
http://www.sdahq.org/house/fact/hard_surfaces.html

Cleaning Products Overview
http://www.sdahq.org/cleaning/soaps_and_detergents.html

Cleaning and Stain Removal Tips http://doityourself.com/clean/index.htm

Get Organized At Home
http://www.organizedhome.com/

Hand Dishwashing Problems, Causes, and Solutions http://www.sdahq.org/dishwash/handdishtable.html

Hand Dishwashing Procedures
http://www.sdahq.org/dishwash/dishwashing_fact_sheet2.html

Solving Laundering Problems
http://www.sdahq.org/laundry/fact/laundrytable1.html

Facts about Laundry
http://www.cleaning101.com/laundry/sorting/

Stain Removal Chart
http://www.sdahq.org/laundry/fact/staintable.html

Types of Household Cleaners
http://www.sdahq.org/house/fact/houseclean1.html

Types of Laundry Products
http://www.sdahq.org/laundry/fact/fact_sheet1.html

Spring Cleaning Guide
http://housekeeping.about.com/cs/cleaning101/a/springclnngguid.htm

The Gratitude Campaign

April Celebrations

April 1 is . . . . . April Fools Day
April 1 is . . . . . One Cent Day
April 2 is . . . . . National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day
April 3 is . . . . . Tweed Day
April 3 is . . . . . Don't Go To Work Unless It's Fun Day
April 4 is . . . . . Tell-A-Lie Day
April 5 is . . . . . Go For Broke Day
April 6 is . . . . . Sorry Charlie Day
April 7 is . . . . . No Housework Day
April 8 is . . . . . All Is Ours Day
April 9 is . . . . . Winston Churchill Day
April 9 is . . . . . Name Yourself Day
April 10 is . . . . Golfers Day
April 11 is . . . . Eight-Track Tape Day
April 12 is . . . . Look Up At The Sky Day
April 13 is . . . . Blame Somebody Else Day
April 14 is . . . . National Pecan Day
April 15 is . . . . Rubber Eraser Day
April 16 is . . . . National Stress Awareness Day
April 16 is . . . . National Eggs Benedict Day
April 17 is . . . . National Cheeseball Day
April 18 is . . . . International Jugglers Day
April 19 is . . . . Garlic DayMore Info On Garlic
April 20 is . . . . Look Alike Day
April 21 is . . . . Kindergarten Day
April 22 is . . . . National Jelly Bean Day
April 22 is . . . . Earth Day
April 23 is . . . . Read Me Day and World Laboratory Animal Day
April 24 is . . . . National Pigs In A Blanket Day
April 25 is . . . . National Zucchini Bread Day
April 25 is . . . . ANZAC Day
April 26 is . . . . Richter Scale Day and National Pretzel Day
April 27 is . . . . Tell A Story Day
April 28 is . . . . Great Poetry Reading Day and Kiss-Your-Mate Day
April 29 is . . . . National Shrimp Scampi Day
April 30 is . . . . National Honesty Day

Blog Hopping


If you are like me, you are a blog hopper. Now this is a label I am proud to bear. I do, however have a major gripe to get off. I love blogspot and the fact that I can customize my own free blog. However, this same privilege allows others to delete the 'Next Blog' link on their own blogs and when they do my leisurely hop is over. Gggrrr! This is frustrating to me and other blog hoppers.

If you, too, are a blog hopper, feel free to go to Phyl's blog at http://scrappynhappy.blogspot.com/2008/02/blog-search.html to get the code for this adorable frog. The code will give a smaller version of the graphic above.

If you put Hoppy in your blog, please leave me a comment so I can add you the the Blog Hoppers Blog Roll that is listed at the bottom of this post. As this list continues to grow I will add to the sidebar. Don't forget to stop by Phyl's blog and let her know just how cute Hoppy is.

Check out Mr. Linky for other Blog Hoppers:

Transform Your Life


Today's Affirmation: I use the energy from my visions to inspire and motivate me into action.

 
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