It is Raining

It is raining, it is pouring, the old man is snoring. Remember that old childhood singsong we used to sing when it rained? I remember on warm summer days when it was a gentle rain without lightning, my mom used to let us walk in the rain and we would walk in the gutters along side our street wading in the warm rain water. Those are the memories you never forget. I can picture my brother and I doing just that right now as I sit here. We didn't care that we were getting wet. To this day, I always say "I am wash and wear" when it rains.

Steak and Salad

There is nothing better than a good tender steak and a good salad and baked potato. That is what we had for supper tonight. I have a Char-B-Que I got about 38 years ago that grills inside and is electric and works just like the day I bought it on sale at Sears. Sits on the counter. Easy to clean up. The steak was really tender. They have to have some fat running through them, otherwise they are tough.

Chili for Lunch

Made chili for lunch today. Easy recipe. Brown a pound of ground beef, add one can of Mrs. Grimes Chili Beans, One 15 oz can of Hunts tomato sauce, one can of water, 3 tsp of sugar, 1 tablespoon special taco seasoning we get. Heat and eat. Serve with crackers, bread and butter. I was brought up with bread and butter instead of crackers and that is best to me. It gets better with age and will have for lunch again tomorrow after church. We are Greeters tomorrow. Hope it isn't so windy.

Cooking School

Have you ever wished you could cook up those beautiful dishes like the chefs do on television? I know I have. This would be an ideal career and there is a great call for great chefs. Well all it takes is the right chef school and you can learn to do all those things yourself. But where do you go to find a culinary school? You just go to the internet to find the very best in culinary schools. It doesn't matter where you live, they have a big listing of excellent schools where you can learn all the techniques necessary to start your own catering business perhaps. They seem to be popping up all over around here. You can search by type of food such as French, Mexican (my favorite) and a whole lot more. They have many articles you can read on the growing fields of catering, salaries, women chefs and lots more. There are even biographies of featured chefs such as Wolfgang Puck. Why not consider going into this field and check out this website for the best school for you? You will be happy you did.

Cancer Benefit

Next Saturday is a cancer benefit for our niece who is dying of breast cancer. They thought they got it all 2years ago and then it returned with a vengeance. She is only 45 years old with a husband and two sons, 16 and 18. The oldest graduates in May and it is unlikely his Mom will be around to see it. It is very sad and the whole family is taking it very hard which is normal. I hope there is a huge turnout for the benefit. They will have pork sandwiches and afterwards, a silent auction and regular auction in the gymnasium of their church. They will be busing people from a nearby parking lot and people directing traffic as it is located on a main State Highway. I sure do wish they could find a cure for breast cancer as it takes the lives of so many between the ages of 30 and 50. I think they should start the mammograms at 30 if they haven't already done so.

FBI Recovers Remains of 2 U.S. Contractors

I just read that authorities have recovered the remains of two U. S. contractors who were kidnapped in Iraq more than a year ago. The men were among six Western contractors kidnapped in separate incidents. Their disappearance received new attention earlier this month when the severed fingers of several men were sent to the U.S. military in Iraq. Isn't that awful? Hopefully, they were dead when their fingers were cut off. The FBI identified the contractors as Ronald Withrow of Roaring Springs, Texas and John Roy Young of Kansas City, Missouri. Withrow worked for JPI Worldwide when he was kidnapped in January 2007 and Young worked for Crescent Security Group when he was kidnapped in November 2006. This must be a great relief and will help with closure for these families but it is very sad that they are dead.

Olympic Flame Ceremony Marred by Protests

This is really something. Even before the Olympic flame was lit on Monday, a protester of China's human rights policies disrupted the solemn ceremony, foreshadowing the prospect of demonstrations throughout the 85,000 mile torch relay route right up to the Beijing Games themselves. That would be a shame to have continual interruptions for something so special. It is embarrassing. Are the protesters going to cause more problems at the Olympics. I guess we will see.

Mail Order Brides

If you are serious about looking for someone to date and get to know in preparation for marriage, then this is a good online website mail order brides for you to check out. There are so many wonderful Russian women and Ukrainian women, as well as, other from other countries who are seriously looking to meet and date someone that will lead to marriage. They grow up looking forward to marriage first in their lives, having a family and maybe later a career. However a career is not foremost in their minds. The are beautiful and loving and you can learn a great deal about them that will help you to meet someone to date and love and marry. The divorce rate is considerably less among these women because the home is so important to them. Check out their profiles and photos and you will find many singles using this service to find a serious mate. You will be able to have any of your questions answered, as well as, become informed on many of the aspects of dating a mail order bride.

Easter Sunday

Jesus is Risen and Risen Indeed. We had a wonderful church service and a wonderful dinner at our daughter's. We got to see our darling little granddaughter too and she is at such a cute stage, chewing on her fingers and toes and smiling all the time. She is such a good baby. We brought home some yummy ham and cheesy potatoes and will have that for supper tonight. It wasn't a very sunny day but at least it didn't snow and a good time was had by all.

Winnebago Profits Slip

Winnebago had to lay off 9% of their workforce, mostly due to rising gasoline and diesel prices. They have had their ups and downs ever since they were founded but the always come back. They are still No. 1 in sales and still made profit, only just not as much. I am confident they will be back to normal once things settle down on oil barrel prices and they come down again.

Running Errands

Boy did we get the errands run this morning. First we headed out before 7:30 am in fog to travel about 25 miles to get the car serviced at the dealer's. We were 10 minutes early and got right in and out. Then headed to the Veterans Adm. for my husband's 9:30 appt. Of course, we were very early and hardly anyone was there (and it is usually packed out) so he got in before 9 and we were on our way home early, before his original appt. In between the car and the VA we stopped & bought gas for $3.019, a bargain from our little town at$3.199. They we headed to the next town and picked up our income tax forms and found we owed at least $100 less than estimated, a happy surprise and plenty enough difference to cover the tax preparer's fee :0).Then picked up some sausage,egg and cheese crescents on sale at Hardees. Had those for breakfast and lunch or should say "brunch" and I headed to the grocery store to really stock up for the next probably 2 months except for basics -milk, bread, etc. Got that put away and cleaned up the garage and got the garbage ready to go and the mailman brought the mail. It has been a busy Wednesday and having company for lunch tomorrow so I'm ready.

United, Continental Raise Fares

Two of the nation's biggest airlines boosted round-trip fares by as much as $50 heading into the weekend, raising the stakes in their fight against rapidly rising fuel costs and putting pressure on competitors to follow suit. United Airlines, the second largest U.S. carrier, led the latest round of increases late Thursday, hours after crude oil prices surged to a new record of $111 a barrel. Where is it going to stop? Continental Airlines matched the increases. At least two other carriers said they were studying the move. It was the fourth week in a row that carriers have raised ticket prices, and the second round of increases led by Chicago based United in as many weeks. United spokesman, Robin Uranski said the higher fares are based on he length of flight, meaning that trips of under 500 miles will cost travelers $4 to $10 more round trip. I think it will still be worth the price though. It is the fastest and easiest way to get anywhere.

Federal Reserve Moves to Combat Credit Crisis

The Federal Reserve, seeking to combat effects of the credit crisis, said Tuesday that it had auctioned another $30 billion in funds to commercial banks, at an interest rate of 3.080 percent. It was the sixth in a series of auctions that so far have pumped $160 billion into the nation's banking system in an effort to provide cash strapped banks with extra reserves. The Fed's hope is that the increased resources will keep banks lending and prevent a severe credit squeeze from making the current economic slowdown worse. It is beginning to look really bad with all the people losing their homes and it sounded this morning like a lot of it was due to those very banks making bad loans to people. Making bigger loans to them than they could afford.

Sexually Transmitted Disease

Did you know that in the United States one in four teen girls has a sexually transmitted disease. I am not shocked frankly, because it seems like kids are having sex younger and younger. These diseases cause infertility and cancer. Only half of the girls in the study admitted to having sex, yet other types of intimate behavior also cause disease. It is spreading like wildfire. Out of the study, 26 percent of the girls had STD's. That transmits into more than 3 million girls nationwide. Those numbers are certainly alarming. Abstinence admittedly was mentioned as not a bad thing. I totally agree. I blame parents. It is not up to the schools to teach the kids, it is the parents. Everything important to their good health begins in the home and parents who care about them.

Credit Requirements Changing Daily

The loan you qualify for on Monday might be out of reach on Tuesday. Bankers and lenders are rapidly changing their requirements as home sales and prices plummet and delinquencies and defaults rise. Problems in the mortgage market are spilling into other lending markets as customers struggle to keep up with payments on other loans, such as auto and credit card payments. It is almost impossible to believe how much money people have charged to their credit cards. I cannot even begin to imagine maxing out my credit card. In order to adjust their standards, which many critics say grew too lax in the middle of the decade, lenders now are raising minimum credit scores, offering smaller loans and requiring detailed proof of income and assets. They should have done that long ago and we wouldn't be in this mess.

Gold Prices Push Consumers to Sell

A new kind of gold rush is unfolding at jewelry stores and pawn shop counters, featuring not prospectors, but buyers. White collar workers, retirees and many others have been digging through jewelry boxes and safety deposit boxes to cash in, as gold prices flirt with $1,000 an ounce. Coins, old wedding rings, necklaces given by ex-boyfriends, hand me down gold pieces, everything is fair game when it brings this kind of profit. If you have some extra money now is a good time to hit the pawn shops for some real bargains and they should get even more valuable with the U.S. dollar going down so bad. I don't think I have anything that valuable around here so no use looking. :0)

Gunman at College

Our State is a quiet State and things like this just don't happen here. But a gunman was reported at a smaller college and it was said that one of the girl's boyfriend was coming to her place in the dorm with a gun. I heard this morning that they arrested him in Des Moines and I am very glad to hear that. It seems there have been way too many disgruntled young people going into schools and other places and just shooting up the places and killing people. You just never know where the next one will be. It is scary.

Coin Dealer

The way the stock market has been bouncing around, I am sure that it more important than ever to invest in precious metals such as gold and silver. But you want to be sure you find a reputable company to assist you in your purchases and also one that will assist you in finding the right kinf of purchases so that they will be safe. This company can be located on the Internet at this online website coin dealer and they will be ready and happy to assist you in the purchase of rare coins. They offer a wide range of investment grade coins. Some are valued in excess of $10,000,000 but they also offer many others. They are very expert in rare coins and if you are a collector, they are the company for you. Few companies can match their experience and expertise in dealing in rare coins. They have been in business for over 40 years and are one of the most trusted companies you will ever find for your purchases of rare coins. You will deal with your own "live" representative which ensures honest and safe transactions.

MetLife Adds Wal-Mart Executive to Their Board

MetLife has been one of my insurance companies for a very long time. In fact they are the biggest U.S. life insurer. They have named Eduardo Castro-Wright, chief of U.S. outlets for Wal-Mart Stores Inc., to its board. He is 53 and joined Wal-Mart's Mexico unit in 2001 and has also had executive roles at Honeywell International Inc.'s Asia division.He started March 3. MetLife's revenue is growing more than three times faster outside the United States than inside. Fourth quarter sales in Korea more than doubled as MetLife introduced new retirement products.

Snow in Ohio

I thought we had a bad winter, but watching television and seeing all that snow in Ohio, I wouldn't trade places with them. Where we might have gotten 6 inches at times, Ohio got 20 inches of snow all at once. Everything was just buried there. Wouldn't you just love to have to dig out your whole car from a snowfall - NOT! Guess we can't complain, although we do anyway :0)

Midwest Auto Recycling

That good old car you are using to get to work every day is just like an old friend. But there comes the day when the engine gives out or the transmission. You just hate to part with it because you know what you have in it and if you go out and buy another used car, it is hard to tell what you are getting. So the best idea is to contact a good company that sells good used engines and transmissions and this website midwest auto recycling has just that. And they come with a 12 month standard warranty on most of their engines. And not only that but all miles on their engines and transmissions are CARFAX verified so you can feel confident you are getting a good deal. Check them out. They have a great listing of car engines and transmissions right on their website.

Stocks Tumble Following Jobs Report

Stocks tumbled for a second consecutive session Friday after the government's February jobs report revealed employers slashed payrolls last month. The Dow Jones industrial average fell 146 points bringing its two day slide to 370 and closing at 11,893.69. This week's declines in the three major stock indexes to their lowest settlements since 2006 came despite the Federal Reserve's announcement that it would take steps to aid the credit markets. You can make a lot of money fast in the stock market and you can lose it twice as fast many times. Once it goes down, then up, you never seem to regain what you lost the first time.

Consumers Relying More on Credit Cards

This is not a good thing. Consumers increased their borrowing in January, especially relying on credit cards to finance their purchases. The Federal reserve reported Friday that consumer credit increased at an annual rate of 3.3 percent in January. That was up from a 1.8 percent growth rate in December and marked the fastest pace since November. The pickup in January pushed up total consumer debt by $6.9 billion to $2.52 trillion. That was on target with economists' expectations. The increase in borrowing was led by heavier use of revolving credit, primarily credit cards. Demand for revolving credit rose at a 7 percent pace in January. That was up from 2.8 percent growth rate in December.

Ford Radiators

Often times an older car still has a lot of good miles on it and is a great work car. However, the radiator starts leaking and it can be a huge expense. Now you can on to the Internet and check out this online website Ford Radiator for the radiator you need for your car. They have a huge listing of radiators and you should have no problem at all finding one for your vehicle. Not only that, but they back every one of the radiators with an unlimited lifetime warranty. You can contact them on their toll-free number to find out all about it. They now have warehouses all over the United States so it is easy to get your radiator to you. They have radiator experts on staff 24/7 to help you out.

Food Poisoning Deaths Increase in China

First it was the big toy recall and now they say food poisoning deaths rose in China by about one-third in 2007. The Ministry of Health over there said 258 people were killed last year, up 32 percent from the previous year. That report said that while the number of deaths rose in 2007, overall cases of food poisoning fell to 506, 26 percent less than the previous year. It is pretty hard to verify whether these figures included all the food poisoning cases in China, since the country has 1.3 billion people. I don't think I would trust the food or anything else there anymore.

Furnace Problems

This is not the time of the year to have furnace problems but we did. I noticed the furnace was running but the blower didn't come on and there was no heat. It turned out a gob of dust got into a fan that triggered everything and the plumber cleaned it out. Then it did it again today. We turned off the furnace and waited a bit and turned it on again. They say that resets the computer and now it is working again. We are very thankful for that as the service calls are a terrible expense.

McCain Flashes Temper on Kerry Questions

Republican Senator John McCain, showing a flash of the temper he is known for, repeatedly cut off a reporter Friday when asked whether he had spoken to Democratic Senator John Kerry about being his vice president in 2004. McCain told the reporter that everybody knows that he had a private conversation. The reporter, Elisabeth Bumiller of The New York Times, was following up on a question McCain had answered at a campaign event Friday morning in Atlanta. Asked if he might consider Kerry as a running mate, since Kerry asked him in 2004, McCain said no. Afterward, on a campaign flight, Bumiller said she looked in The Times' archives and that McCain had denied talking with Kerry in a May 2004 story. There's a lot of digging for dirt going on in these campaigns. I think just because McCain has won enough delegates to be the Republican choice to run for President, it won't make him immune to them trying everything they can to make him look bad. I've seen the Democratic front runners lose their tempers too.

Hormone Study Finds Heart Risks Fade

I am not quite sure what to think about this report, as I took hormones for 25 years without any problems. I always thought the main worry with taking them was that they could cause breast cancer. However, the first follow-up of a landmark study of hormone use after menopause shows heart problems linked with the pills seem to fade after women stop taking them, while surprising new cancer risks appear. I never knew they could cause heart problems and don't remember ever reading that in the information that came with the pills, not that it wasn't there, but I don't remember it. That heart trouble, associated with hormones, may not be permanent is good news for millions of women who quit taking them after the government study was halted six years ago because of heart risks and breast cancer. But the new risks for other cancers, particularly lung tumors, in women who had taken estrogen-progestin pills for about five years puzzled the researchers and outside experts. Those risks were completely unanticipated according to Dr. Geraldo Heiss of the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, lead author of the follow-up analysis.

Credit Cards - Bad Credit OK

Many people, including me, have made bad credit loans at one time or another. Once your credit is bad, your hands are tied and you are unable to even sometimes get the necessities of life. With so many consumers in debt up to their limits, what they need is credit cards for bad credit but they just don't seem to be that easy to find. However, now they can get bad credit credit cards which are a real lifesaver at this online website. They specialize in helping folks with bad credit. Whether they need a home loan, refinance their car, or just need a personal loan to help them out of the debt rut they have dug for themselves, this company is there for them. They can also assist you with getting your credit report and score and if you are in need of debt consolidation to repair your credit, they can help you with that also. Check into their website for more information and relieve yourself of the stress that bad credit has put on you. This is a great way to get started on repairing your credit and get back in good standing.

Venezuela Moves Troops to Border

Hundreds of Venezuelan troops moved toward the border of Colombia, where trade was slowing amid heightening tension over Colombia's cross-border strike on a rebel base in Ecuador.The Organization of American States scheduled an emergency afternoon meeting in Washington to try to calm one of the region's worst political showdowns in years, pitting U.S. backed Colombia against Venezuela's leftist President Hugo Chavez and his allies. Colombian and Ecuadorean officials, meanwhile, traded accusations in the United Nations and the International Criminal Court. The escalation of tensions was triggered over the weekend when Colombia troops crossed the border with Ecuador and killed Raul Reyes, a top commander of the Colombian FARC rebels who had set up a camp there.

Oil Prices Surge

Oil surged Wednesday, rising a remarkable $5 a barrel to a record over $104 after the government reported a surprise drop in crude oil stockpiles and OPEC held production levels steady. Most analysts had expected the Energy Department's Energy Information Administration to report oil supplies rose last week for the eighth straight time. Instead, they fell by 3.1 million barrels. In Vienna, meanwhile, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries said it would hold production levels steady for now.The EIA report and OPEC announcement fed a new frenzy of investing in oil futures, which have risen o new inflation adjusted records this week as the falling dollar drew new investors to the market. The falling dollar is really scary.

Democrats Propose Spending Increases

Democrats are offering hefty spending increases for domestic programs as they draft an election year budget plan that still promises surpluses within four years and assumes many of President Bush's signature tax cuts will die. The roughly $18 billion in spending increases for domestic programs funded by Congress each year are included in a budget plan to be unveiled today by Senate Budget Committee Chairman, Kent Conrad, Democrat from North Dakota, for the fiscal year starting Oct. 1. A party-line committee vote to approve the plan is expected tomorrow. Democrats argue that their plan, which has large boosts for energy, education and transportation programs, could be paid for by closing loopholes and improving tax collections. Republicans say their promises of budget surpluses rely on tax increases on upper income taxpayers and many small businesses.

Beasy Board Transfer Board

Here is a great website Beasy Board Transfer Board for daily living aids. They carry over 55,000 products under 50 categories and subcategories to make shopping much easier. It doesn't matter if you are looking for health aids such as diabetic testing strips and other diabetic supplies, or blood pressure or heart monitors, or something as simple as a shower chair. Their Free Allegro eCatalog is very popular for specials and discounts during limited time periods for those who sign up with them. Perhaps you are looking for baby supplies and have a new baby. They have expanded to cover those needs. You can shop by medical condition, as well, such as carpal tunnel computer gloves. You can set up deliveries on a regular basis with them for ongoing orders. Check out their website for much more.

New York City's Famed Plaza Hotel Reopens

Hundreds of New Yorkers and tourists alike flocked to The Plaza Hotel on Saturday for the landmark's reopening after a three year, $400 million renovation. The doorman said that they say this place is the world's most famous hotel. He worked for the hotel for 15 years until it closed in 2005. The Plaza, a National Historic Landmark overlooking Central Park, first opened in l907. Marilyn Monroe was photographed here and guests included the Beatles and Frank Lloyd Wright. Its ballroom was the setting of Truman Capote's "Black and White Ball" and the wedding of Richard Nixon's daughter, Julie. It is a very famous place.

Christening of USS New York

The USS New York, an amphibious assault ship built with scrap steel from the ruins of the World Trade Center, was christened Saturday as a source of strength and inspiration for the nation. Thousands of people, including friends and families of those who died in the Sept 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, gathered near the hulking gray ship, trimmed in red, white and blue banners. The bow stern, which contains 7.5 tons of steel from the site, bore a shield with two gray bars to symbolize the twin towers and a banner over that declaring "Never Forget" a slogan among New Yorkers.

Stocks Fall as Reports, Oil Prices Stir Concerns

Stocks fell sharply Friday after a series of depressing economic and corporate reports as well as high oil prices stoked concerns about the health of the economy. The Major stock indexes fell more than 2.5 percent and the Dow Jones industrials lost 315 points. Investors were unnerved by disappointing quarterly results from American International Group Inc. and Dell Inc. And an index of regional business activity that Wall Street regards as a good indicator of a broader report due next week had its weakest showing in more than six years. Oil prices continued to stir concern about inflation after pushing past $103 per barrel for the first time.