Cory's New Car

After quite a bit of looking and test-driving, Cory found his car last night.  It's a 2001 Ford Taurus, and it's quite pretty.  It has less than 100,000 miles on it and should be a good car for him for his last two years of college and beyond - and it was within the budget.

Cory and his dad have been looking at lots and lots of cars on the Internet in the last week.  They've found some that looked promising, but they always seemed to be gone when they called to get more information - which can be quite frustrating.  It's not easy finding a (relatively) cheap car in good shape and without too many miles on it, and when they come available people snap them up.

He wasn't particularly wanting a Taurus, and was looking at some other kinds of cars, but when he saw this one it spoke to him.  I don't know if it said, "Cory, take me home with you!" or what, but he saw it, he drove it, he loved it - and he got to bring it home.

Yeah, he's pretty excited.

Two Things

1. When I try to look at my hair in the mirror (to fix it), I feel cross-eyed and dizzy.  I have to close one eye and focus with the other one.
2. I can't get my hands dry with a towel for anything.  I end up just having to shake them and let the air dry them off. (which is pretty much why I hate drying dishes - I can't get them dry either)  That doesn't keep my dish towels from getting soaked every day (several of them) as I attempt to dry my hands.

Anybody else?

I Got POWOW Messenger for my Phone

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of POWOW Messenger for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.
 

I got a new phone this past weekend.  Well, it wasn't exactly a new phone - it was Jeffrey's old phone, and he got a new one, but it's new to me.  I had been using Beth's old phone - do you see a pattern here? - but I definitely needed an upgrade.  That phone had no internal memory to speak of, so it was always telling me it was low on space, and there was nothing I could do about it!  Sometimes I couldn't even read an incoming text message until I deleted something or cleared the cache on my apps.  It was very frustrating.

So now I have a phone with enough internal memory that I can download and use apps.  I'm so excited!  One of the apps I've downloaded is POWOW Messenger for Android. It's free, and it looks like it's going to be a really handy app for text messages.  What it does is let you create groups of your contacts so you can easily text all of them at once - without selecting multiple contacts every time.  I created a group for our family - because I really don't text anyone else, yet.  When you create the group, the app sends out a text message to everyone in the group letting them know they are part of the group and giving them a number to use for group messages.  So all anyone in the group has to do is text a message to that number, and it goes to everyone in the group automatically.  It can be good for families, people working on a project together, people planning an outing, etc.  Once you've created your group, you won't have to worry about anybody being left out because you forgot to select them when you started composing your message, and everyone will know what's going on.  I think it will be a good way for everyone in our family to keep in touch and know what's going on with everyone else.
 
POWOW Messenger can also be used for regular one to one messaging, so if I can just figure out how to disable the messages app that came on the phone, I can just use this one.  Otherwise it's like getting duplicate messages.  POWOW Messenger said to disable the notifications of the other app, but I couldn't figure out how to do that either, so I'm still getting double notifications.  Oh well, I'll figure it out.  Or get one of my kids to show me how. (Update: I figured it out!)

There's also a neat feature I haven't tried yet called ZipIT which lets you blacklist unwanted texters so you don't see their messages or get notifications.  Or you can mute the notifications while still being able to see the messages.  I can see how that could come in handy if you're being bothered by somebody, or you only want to be notified of incoming messages from people who are important in your life - and the others can wait.  And, it displays all your text messages in the speech balloon format I've seen other people have, but my old phone didn't use.  Yeah, I get excited over the little things.
 
If you're looking for a handy Messenger app that lets you easily  handle all your one to one and group messaging, be sure to check out the free POWOW Messenger for Android.  It's available in the Google Play store.  Did I tell you that I couldn't even update the Android Market to Google Play on the old phone?  I'm going to have so much fun having a phone that can actually do stuff!
 

The Money is Running Out

Cory has finished his first two years of college.  So far we've been able to help him out so that he's only had to accept the subsidized federal loans - the ones he doesn't have to start paying back until after he graduates - figuring it will be better for him in the long run to pay us back than to pay some loan with interest.  (or maybe we could collect the interest?)  Fortunately Jeffrey has a job, and he makes enough to support us.  Unfortunately, that means Cory does not qualify for any of that free money 'less fortunate' students get.  When he gets out of school, he's going to be paying.  Yes, I know, that's true for a lot of young people, and he'll survive...

As his mom I would love to see him put some effort into finding scholarships to pay for at least some of his remaining school.  I would have loved to see him actively seeking those scholarships all along, but there's just so much you can do when your kids grow up.  While there are things you would love to see them do, you can't do it for them.  When he graduates and starts having to pay back those loans - and we'll probably work with our bank on some kind of home equity line of credit to pay for the rest, because the interest rate will be better than anything they offer through financial aid - he may wish he'd listened to me, but I can't make him do it.

All I can do is keep sending him links to sites like Scholarships Online where he can search through scholarships and grants and hopefully find some he might qualify for.  I used to send him links to specific scholarships I thought he'd be interested in or would qualify for, but they just didn't grab his attention, so I must've been picking wrong - so he's just going to have to do the searching.  Scholarships Online lists nearly every scholarship and educational grant available in the U.S. - so if he can't find it there, maybe it doesn't exist.

I don't know what's available, but they have a large database and the site is designed to make it as easy as possible for students to find relevant scholarships.  Every one is real, and many are sponsored by organizations you are probably already familiar with.  If you've got a high school student who's planning to go to college, or a college student who could use a little help paying for college, you'll want to check it out - or send the link so your student can start looking.  He'll thank you later when his college loans come due!

Save Big on these Little Speakers

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Lenovo for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.
 
OK, I really want these cute little Lenovo speakers.  I mean, they are adorable!  I know that's not the reason to get them, but sometimes I just can't help myself.  See what I mean?

These ultra-portable speakers are not only cute, but they promise to deliver a big sound.  The description says 4 watts of power for high-quality full sound. It's a 2 speaker system that includes a main speaker with built-in amplifiers and a sub-speaker.  They're great for attaching to your computer, smart phone, or MP3 player - because sometimes the built-in speakers just aren't good enough, and you don't always want to use headphones.  For instance, these speakers make it super easy to share YouTube videos or stream Netflix movies, and have enough sound for everybody.
 
We have some decent speakers we use for things like that, listening to cybercasts, etc., but they're a lot bigger, and we always have to dig them out of wherever they're stored when we want to use them.  These are small and made to be portable.  I could just keep them with my laptop so they'd be handy any time we need them.  The speaker wires spool for easy storage, and they're conveniently powered by USB.  The only thing I don't know is if they come with a store and carry bag to keep them protected in the laptop case.
 
They'd go perfectly with Jeffrey's red computer, too - and my friend Peggy's red computer, though they might look a bit funny, being so small next to her Big Red computer!   Through Monday May 21 they're even on sale for $11.99 (regular price $29.99) so now's a good time to grab the Lenovo speaker M0620 and start enjoying big sound from these stylish little speakers.
 

Win a Las Vegas Spa Weekend

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Bloom.com for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

How does an all expenses paid trip to Las Vegas for you and 3 of your girlfriends, complete with massages, facials, and beauty treatments, sound?  Awesome, right?  It's easy to enter.  Simply join Bloom.com - for FREE.  Then get extra entries by inviting your friends.  You get an extra entry for every friend who accepts your invitation and joins.  And for every friend who joins and places an order, you get a $25 credit to your account - with no limits.

What is Bloom.com?  It's a social beauty network helping women find and buy the right beauty products.  When you join you'll create your own beauty bio that includes things like skin type and complexion, hair and eye color, hair length, etc.  You can also choose from different beauty concerns and categories to get information  that interests you.  Bloom.com will then be able to give you personalized recommendations from the 10,000 items available from over 150 top brands.  And, you can connect with other Bloom users who are using the products and read reviews from users.  So much nicer than standing in the beauty aisle in the store and wondering which product to buy, if a certain product is worth the extra money, or if I can get by with the cheapest one or the one without the annoying fragrance.  (except I won't ever be buying the product with the annoying fragrance)  I checked just one category - Daytime Moisturizers - and got several suggestions, including Best 4 You on a Budget (do they know me, or what?) and Best Natural 4 You.  Each item also lists product information that includes a description and full ingredients.  If only there was a way to smell them...
 
Purchases come with free gifts - I'd guess product samples based on your personalized recommendations, but that's just my guess - and 10% back in Bloom Dollars which can be applied to future orders.  Be sure to enter coupon code 30BACK, and you'll get an additional 20% back on your first purchase - 30% back!
 
All products come with a 365 Try It Love It Guarantee.  That means that if you are unsatisfied—for ANY reason—with a product you’ve purchased from Bloom, they’ll happily give you a refund within 1 year of your purchase date (not including any original shipping).  All they ask in return is that you share why your product didn’t work out, so they can pass it along to the other women of Bloom.   How awesome is that?  Not only do they work to match you up with the best products for your skin, hair, and style, but if the products aren't right, you don't have to keep them - while having to find and buy something else.
 
For your own personalized beauty recommendations and a chance to Win a spa vacation for 4 girlfriends! be sure to sign up for your own free account on Bloom.com and invite all your friends to join, too.  Good luck!
 

Grandma's Remedies

I was going through one of my old blogs - one I haven't used in ages - looking for a recipe.  I didn't find the recipe, but I did find this list of handy remedies for all kinds of things.  I'm not sure where I originally found this list, and I still haven't actually tried any of these, but a lot of them sound very promising - and they use things you probably already have.

• Did you know that drinking two glasses of Gatorade can relieve headache pain almost immediately -- without the  unpleasant side effects  caused by traditional "pain relievers."
• Did you know that Colgate toothpaste makes an excellent salve for burns.
• Before you head to the drugstore for a high-priced inhaler filled with mysterious chemicals, try chewing on a couple of curiously strong Altoids peppermints. They'll clear up your stuffed nose.
• Achy muscles from a bout of the flu? Mix 1 Tablespoon of horseradish in 1 cup of olive oil. Let the mixture sit for 30 minutes, then apply it as a massage oil, for instant relief for aching muscles.
• Sore throat? Just mix 1/4 cup of vinegar with 1/4 cup of honey and  take 1 tablespoon six times a day. The vinegar kills the bacteria.
• Cure urinary tract infections with Alka-Seltzer . Just dissolve two tablets in a glass of water and drink it at the onset of the symptoms. Alka-Seltzer begins eliminating urinary tract infections almost instantly even though the product was never been advertised for this use. (Note: Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold Medicine is not the same...and contains aspirin, which can cause stomach bleeding if you have ulcers.)
• Honey remedy for skin blemishes... Cover the blemish with a dab of honey and place a Band-Aid over it. Honey kills the bacteria, keeps the skin sterile, and speeds healing. Works overnight.
• Listerine therapy for toenail fungus... Get rid of unsightly toenail  fungus by soaking your toes in Listerine mouthwash. The powerful antiseptic leaves your toenails looking healthy again.
• Easy eyeglass protection... To prevent the screws in eyeglasses from  loosening, apply a small drop of Maybelline Crystal Clear nail polish  to the threads of the  screws before tightening them.
• Coca-Cola cure for rust... Forget those expensive rust removers.  Just  saturate an abrasive sponge with Coca Cola and scrub the rust stain.  The  phosphoric acid in the coke is what gets the job done.
• Cleaning liquid that doubles as bug killer... If menacing bees, wasps, hornets, or yellow jackets get in your home and you can't find the insecticide, try a spray of Formula 409. Insects drop to the ground instantly.
• Smart splinter remover...just pour a drop of Elmer's Glue-All over the splinter, let dry, and peel the dried glue off the skin. The splinter sticks to the dried glue.
• Hunt's tomato paste boil cure...cover the boil with Hunt's tomato paste as a compress. The acids from the tomatoes soothe the pain and bring the boil to a head.
• Balm for broken blisters...To disinfect a broken blister, dab on a few drops of Listerine ... a powerful antiseptic.
• Heinz vinegar to heal bruises... Soak a cotton ball in white vinegar and apply it to the bruise for 1 hour. The vinegar reduces the blueness and speeds up the healing process.
• Kill fleas instantly. Dawn dish washing liquid does the trick.  Add a few drops to your dog's bath and shampoo the animal thoroughly.  Rinse well to avoid skin irritations. Goodbye fleas.
• Rainy day cure for dog odor... Next time your dog comes in from the rain, simply wipe down the animal with Bounce or any dryer sheet, instantly making your dog smell springtime fresh.
• Eliminate ear mites... All it takes is a few drops of Wesson corn oil in your cat's ear. Massage it in, then clean with a cotton ball. Repeat daily for 3 days. The oil soothes the cat's skin, smothers the mites, and accelerate  healing.
• Quaker Oats for fast pain relief....It's not just for breakfast anymore! Mix 2 cups of Quaker Oats and 1 cup of water in a bowl and warm in the microwave for 1 minute, cool slightly, and apply the mixture to your hands for soothing relief from arthritis pain.

Outdoor Furniture Refinishing?

We've had some really great weather this week.  It's interesting how this time of year it gets nice and warm during the day, but it really cools down in the evenings.  I was tempted to change out of my shorts this evening because I was getting cold.  Instead I just closed the garage door so I didn't have that cool breeze blowing through the kitchen - and then I washed dishes and got all warm!

When summer gets here, it will be just the opposite.  Well, not actually cold - but during the day it will be nice and pleasant in the house, with a good breeze blowing through.  Then, come evening, the breeze will die down, and they guys will come home and start complaining about how hot it is.  Why can't it just cool down in the evenings like it does this time of year?  I wouldn't have anybody complaining about how I don't want to turn the air conditioner on.

I am looking forward to the warmer weather - because I like it! And because we'll start using the deck more.  I love being able to sit out there and enjoy our coffee in the mornings and having dinner out there in the evenings.  It's usually much cooler outside in the evenings than in the house, so it's great having the deck available.  Maybe someday we'll get tired of it, but since we've only had the deck for a few years, we're still appreciating it.  All our deck furniture is still in pretty good shape too, so we're not ready to think about outdoor furniture refinishing yet, but it's a good idea to keep in mind. 

Actually, it's not something I ever would have thought of until I started reading through the services offered by the Patio Guys in California.  Instead of buying new outdoor furniture, you can have it completely refinished.  They make old patio furniture look like new.  They update everything - paint, strap, fabric - and save their customers up to 70% compared to the cost of buying new.  All it takes is one call.  They'll pick up your old furniture, restore and refinish it, and deliver it back to you looking like new.  Not only can it save you money, but it's good for the environment, too - fewer old patio sets going into the landfill!  Patio Guys has over 30 years of experience, and all work is done by trained technicians in their factory.  Judging from the customer comments, they do great work and offer exceptional customer service.

If you're in the Southern California area and have some old patio furniture you were thinking of replacing, why don't you give them a call first.  It couldn't hurt, right?  Save some money; take care of the environment; and enjoy some brand new (looking) outdoor furniture.

Among the Squirrels

Cory finished his second year of college last week and moved back home with all his stuff.  But, he's been going back to Whitewater every day this week (except for Monday when he went to Milwaukee for a screening of the Booth DVD) for rehearsals.  Here's what he's doing now (copied from the UW-Whitewater Greenhill Center Newsletter):

The UW-Whitewater Theatre/Dance Department has paired with the Whitewater Arts Alliance in downtown Whitewater to produce a unique Summeround Benefit Event, a staged reading of Among the Squirrels. This imaginative new play is written by faculty member Eric Appleton, and will be performed on May 19th at 7:30pm and May 20th at 2:00 pm at the Cultural Arts Center in downtown Whitewater. There will be a silent auction event held one hour prior to each performance.

Among the Squirrels follows the life of an out-of-work computer geek, who is inspired out of sheer boredom to collect data on squirrel interactions. He could never have guessed how his backyard observations would reveal truths about his own, stagnant existence. Skillfully combining real life insights, including Netflix, Goth culture and nature shows, Playwright Eric Appleton explores the darkly hilarious complexities of love, friendship, employment and creating community.

Appleton, a UW-Whitewater faculty member, teaches scenic and lighting design for the Theatre/Dance Department. He has written three full-length plays, all of which have received productions. The staged reading of Among the Squirrels will be directed by Jim Butchart, and features Cory Hagen, Jake Lesh and Jen Samson.

The benefit is free due to the support of the Whitewater Arts Alliance; however, donations will be accepted at the door. For more information call 262-472-5943 or email flisterkr28@uww.edu

I like to think they listed Cory first because he's the most important, but that's just the mom in me.  I'm sure it's just alphabetical...

Rehearsal

We'll be going to see the performance this weekend, probably Sunday. If you're in the area, be sure to check it out.  Those 'kids' from the Whitewater Theatre/Dance Department put on a good show.

Cat and Mouse

To my knowledge, we don't have any mice around here - though sometimes I hear a strange rustling in the attic, a squirrel perhaps?  Considering we have 4 cats in this house right now, we better not have mice!  Though I do wonder if any of the cats would know what to do with a mouse if he (or she) found one.  They have fun batting the toy mice around, but I think a real mouse would probably get away - because they're not used to something that actually moves.

It's like watching those old Tom & Jerry cartoons from Warner Bros where the cat is always trying to get the mouse, but he's just so smart he always gets away.  Speaking of Warner Bros - Dark Shadows comes out today.  Yes, I know, this has absolutely nothing to do with the cats and any hypothetical mice, but - Johnny Depp!  ...and the previews look really good, too.  We probably won't see it this weekend, but I'm definitely wanting to see that movie. 

OK, back to the cats.  Considering there are so many cats around here, things are going quite well.  They are getting along better than I thought they would.  Beth's two cats get along with each other, and Weasley gets along quite well with Nitro.  They play with each other and even snuggle up together sometimes.  And, surprisingly, Tillie doesn't seem to mind either one of them.  She even chases Nitro and bats at him like she wants to play - even when he's just lying around minding his own business.  Beth's other cat Turbo is kind of left out, though he's trying to make friends.  He's a sweet kitty, so I'm not sure why neither Tillie or Weasley seems to like him.  Well, Tillie, because I didn't expect her to like either one of them, but I'm not sure why Weasley likes one cat but not the other one.

I guess I shouldn't complain.  We could have all four of them running around after each other like some crazy episode of Tom & Jerry.  It's bad enough when a couple of them start playing and I start hearing claws on my furniture.  Yeah, I'll just go play some free games on www.tomandjerrygames.co and figure that's enough Tom & Jerry for me!  (and continue to hope/believe there are no mice in the house)

I'm not so good at games - I tried a couple of those games I mentioned, and I had no idea what I was doing.  I guess that means I'm just gonna have to play more, right?