tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-143244012024-03-05T15:50:00.635-08:00Poetlady's BlogProgress on my writing and personal struggles.MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11797467795499382183noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14324401.post-25506596081132067162022-03-08T09:40:00.000-08:002022-03-08T09:40:03.276-08:00Retired Again<p> <span style="font-size: medium;">O</span>ver the years I've held many different jobs. Most of them have been in the food service industry. My last job was working in food service for Mystic Lake Casino. For the most part I liked working there and the money was good, but I had to leave for medical reasons. It was getting to the point where I was having to call in sick at least once each week. When you are having more bad days than good, you know it's time to take a break. Unfortunately, I'm not old enough to collect social security and they don't give medical disability for my condition. How then do I pay my living expenses? Well, out of my savings until I can qualify for social security. Even then, since my work history has been sporadic over the years, I don't expect to get much. I still make dreamcatchers and jewelry when I feel up to it. That isn't enough to live on of course. I'd have to be making them non-stop and then the quality would suffer.</p><p>My writing has gone by the wayside. The amount of work it takes to write a novel is very time consuming. Without the proper motivation, it is impossible to start such a long tedious project. People don't read books anymore. If they do, it isn't going to be a book by an unknown author. The amount of effort you have to put into promoting your work is easily twice that of actually writing the darn thing, if you want to be successful and have any sales. I like to tell people that I meet that I have written a book. Somehow people are still impresses with that, even if you have only sold a handful of copies. I usually direct them to my website if they need proof. The book isn't on Amazon anymore. I never sold a single copy there.</p><p>What does the future hold? I usually don't think about that too much. I'm actually more interested in looking into the past. I spend a lot of time researching my ancestry. You can find so much information online about your family tree. The average person usually knows who their grandparents are, but a lot of people enjoy looking much deeper than that for long lost relatives. I've even taken the home DNA test. They send you a report about what part of the world your ancestors came from. Although, the information is fairly general. You need to dig into online public records if you want to get details. A lot of the census documents are handwritten, and people didn't always stay in one place very long. I've moved around a lot over the years too. Maybe I'll to write a book about that someday... for my grandchildren.</p>MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11797467795499382183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14324401.post-6417137474547043592021-07-04T17:15:00.001-07:002021-07-04T17:15:56.650-07:008 Year Update<p> I can't believe that 8 years have past since I last updated this blog. A lot has happened since then. Too much for anyone who isn't friends or family to care about. My writing has taken a back seat to work and other hobbies. These days I spend my time making necklaces, bracelets, and dreamcatchers. I sell the necklaces and bracelets as fast as I make them. When I wear my creations out in public, people often ask about them and I end up selling the item right then and there. The price is usually only $10, and people seem to be able to afford that. I don't make much after deducting the cost of materials. That's why I still work a full time food service job. Each week it gets more challenging because of my health issues. My doctors have been unable to figure out why my blood pressure fluctuates and my heart sometimes races. My partner thinks I have Postural Tachycardia Syndrome (Pots). There is no cure for Pots. You can only manage the symptoms. I rarely have symptoms when I'm at home. It's only when I overexert myself at work. Being a hard worker is having an adverse affect my health as I get older.</p><p>Because of the pandemic, I have been unable to visit my friends and family who all live over 1000 miles away in other states. I still need to get my enhanced drivers license and a Covid shot first before I travel. I've been putting it off getting the shot because of my health issues. Last April, just as the pandemic was getting underway in the US, I had partial knee replacement surgery. I've been dealing with side effects from that for over a year now. It took me 6 months before I could walk without aid. First I used a walker, then crutches, and finally a cane. I can manage without help now. But, I walk slower these days and have a noticeable limp. It was one of the hardest and painful things I have ever experienced. They make it sound so simple and easy. Make sure you have a high pain tolerance. After surgery, we found out that I was not able to tolerate the pain meds they were giving me. It was several days of trial and error before they come up with a prescription to control my pain that didn't cause a bad reaction. If you are considering knee replacement surgery, make sure you are healthy enough to endure the recover process. </p>MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11797467795499382183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14324401.post-36716787207743486132013-05-16T22:54:00.001-07:002021-07-04T16:12:02.707-07:00My Horrible Mega Bus Experience<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Some times life can be a complete state of intrusion when you least expect it leaving your daily life in limbo. That is what these last few months have been for me. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">One day life is simple and normal, then out of the blue I get an emergency medical call about my mother's health failing. So, naturally I do my best to get to Texas for her. The b</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">us ride however, was long and enduring. An </span><span>experience</span><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> I shall never forget. This bus was called a Mega Bus, and I would not </span>recommend<span style="font-family: inherit;"> it to anyone who wishes to travel cheap.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As for my mother, her health has improved a great deal since I first arrived. So, I'm thinking its time I get on back home and be with the man I love and miss. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Since my last trip on the bus was a complete nightmare, I thought I'd go by train. Only later did I discover that the cost would be way out of my budget and I'd have to spend a night in Chicago. Therefore, that was not an option. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">So now I'm thinking, hmm? Looks like its a ride back on that horrible Mega Bus again. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">So, I go down to the bus depot that I arrived at when I first came to town, only to discover that it is now </span><span>completely</span><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> out of </span>business<span style="font-family: inherit;">. The local city transit has taken over the building and it is now also a Greyhound station. So, I asked the lady to make me a ticket to Eden </span>Prairie<span style="font-family: inherit;"> MN. But, she can't find that city in her computer, and says I have to go to Burnsville MN. When I get home, I get online and go to the Greyhound website, only it won't even let me purchase a ticket out of San Angelo. I call the 800 number and they tell me that I cannot purchase a ticket online from San Angelo because San Angelo's bus is Concho Coach. So, now needless to say, I have to make another trip down to the station to buy my ticket to Burnsville. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">If there is one thing I have learned from this whole ordeal, its that I understand why people with money fly when they have to go any distance. Traveling from State to State can be so frustrating when going by bus or train. After this trip, I have come to the conclusion that I am definitely going to lose my fear of flying, so I can get to Texas as quickly and easily as possible to avoid anymore pain and suffering in the future. It will cost more, but if you book at least six weeks in advance, you can get a better deal on airfare.</span>MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11797467795499382183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14324401.post-461316346878899672012-02-26T08:26:00.002-08:002012-02-26T08:42:58.270-08:00Gambling on Minnesota<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHlyqhlF94lNnKQ8RNTw97vLCZDbDD3bz6hL2Orsz3VdODYW-UAumH25NRj72Ob0HndR5_9dISje6ikxHPmAh2iQGBNpvCcws1Ype-tYNBc8r9OElL1hnpCfKmHkBJ5yTdBAnS/s1600/100_2686.jpg" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHlyqhlF94lNnKQ8RNTw97vLCZDbDD3bz6hL2Orsz3VdODYW-UAumH25NRj72Ob0HndR5_9dISje6ikxHPmAh2iQGBNpvCcws1Ype-tYNBc8r9OElL1hnpCfKmHkBJ5yTdBAnS/s320/100_2686.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713482455630772898" /></a><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;">It's been a while since I made any updates here, so I thought it would be a good idea to change the blog template and make an post. I do most of my updates on </span></span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1456267664" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">Facebook</a><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;"> these days. This past year, my boyfriend and I moved from Wisconsin to Minnesota, got a new house, and I had to find a new job, so that kept me busy. We caught the tail end of the horse racing season at </span>Canterbury<span style="font-size: 100%;"> Park, so I posted a picture of that. We were just learning how to bet, so we are looking forward to the 2012 racing season.</span></span><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;">We have only visited two casinos in Minnesota. The largest one, Mystic Lake, is only 4 miles from our house, so we have to make sure we don't spend too much time there. Being a very large casino, it's easy to get lost if you get separated from your partner. We usually like to go off on our own so that we can concentrate on finding a good slot machine, but at Mystic Lake you end up spending a lot of time looking for both a good machine and the person you went there with. For a better experience, I would recommend trying the Little Six casino, which is right next door. They don't have as many slots to choose from, but you are less likely to get lost.</span></span></div>MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11797467795499382183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14324401.post-5473913159468006762010-12-20T12:00:00.000-08:002010-12-20T12:46:28.293-08:00The true spirit a Christmas<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN2uLad5FjTo1eqS6MHW94xW-UP73HVv3NL8PEbRsn28j3JwJR0JZyxfpYE8Sjxs2v1sVzdVZ1eaORG2nIeIHiSxzzjffSY01F18od2z3au4_9zyCZ2tr0OXBvIuy6iG9d-j0n/s1600/winter8.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 235px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN2uLad5FjTo1eqS6MHW94xW-UP73HVv3NL8PEbRsn28j3JwJR0JZyxfpYE8Sjxs2v1sVzdVZ1eaORG2nIeIHiSxzzjffSY01F18od2z3au4_9zyCZ2tr0OXBvIuy6iG9d-j0n/s320/winter8.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552860995172292738" /></a><br /><p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in"><span><span><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in"><span><span><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in"><span><span><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in"><span><span><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in"><span><span><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in"><span><span><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in"><span><span><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in"><span><span> <b>Christmas, What exactly is Christmas? What does it all mean? </b></span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in"><span><span><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span><span> It means a <i>special</i></span></span><span><span> time of year, in which we celebrate and connect with those closest to us.</span></span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span><span></span></span><em><span><span>Those people are our friends and family, people we love most. So its only natural that we place a lot of expectations on the holidays. </span></span></em></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in"><em><span >We find ourselves anxiously looking forward to the joy of the season: , and the treasured memories of the time we will spend with family. </span></em></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><em><span><span>For these are memories that we all imprinted into our mind and revived every year with the sounds and sights of the holidays. Since school is generally out for a few weeks Children just enjoy Christmas time and relish in all the fun. </span></span></em><em><span><span>Of course they naturally look forward to all the cool stuff they hope to get, and all the great food and treats. </span></span></em></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in"><em><span >Presents are always wonderful to give and receive, but did you know the true nature of giving is really from the heart. </span></em></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in"><em><span >The real spirit of the holidays is a time to rekindle old friendships; making time to get together just to enjoy each others company,when otherwise you seem too busy. </span></em></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in"><em><span >Its about calling people you generally don't make the time for. It's a time to let by gones be by gones, and forgive and forget when it comes to your siblings, parents, or friends who have perhaps upset you at one time or another in the past year or so.</span></em></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in"><em><span >Christmas is more about remembering and sharing the good times together,</span></em></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in"><em><span > Its about remembering the birth of Christ,and glorifying in his love.</span></em></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in"><em><span >Its about laughing, singing and spreading good cheer everywhere you go.</span></em></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><em><span><span>Its cherishing the smiles of </span></span></em><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>children, as they warm your heart with their laughter and excitements, while they unknowingly remind us of ourselves when we were their age.</i></span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" >So I'd have to say that the true spirit of Christmas is Family celebrating the birth of Christ ,</span></i></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" >not only with the people you love, but with everyone, everywhere..</span></i></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" >Merry Christmas everyone, and Happy holidays </span></i></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" >M.J.</span></i></p>MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11797467795499382183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14324401.post-71125407815727547642009-07-22T10:05:00.000-07:002009-09-06T10:23:28.827-07:00Traveling tips when going Greyhound<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx_S6B7LajfGqltJ_jiHa4XY8O_xosAdiJQC-E1nfm3sJIkgg2CLNWy5igb5_3enVm5Nz27WFuv-zsjs97MBSJFR0E0o58V3Ro0fGYjuSNCq4WMwyFcuHjZ2K2vZQDmHh8_A0Q/s1600-h/greyhound.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361332050450909122" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 263px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 212px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx_S6B7LajfGqltJ_jiHa4XY8O_xosAdiJQC-E1nfm3sJIkgg2CLNWy5igb5_3enVm5Nz27WFuv-zsjs97MBSJFR0E0o58V3Ro0fGYjuSNCq4WMwyFcuHjZ2K2vZQDmHh8_A0Q/s320/greyhound.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:georgia;">Let's face it, when it comes to vacationing everybody basically wants one thing, and that's to be able to travel cheap, with as much comfort as possible. </span>Unfortunately, Greyhound is about as cheap as it gets. However, needless to say, it isn't as comfortable as you'd wished it could be. For one thing, the buses are often crowed, and some of the passengers are forced to sit next to you, which wouldn't be a problem, unless they happen to smell as if they haven't bathed in months.<br /><br /><div align="left">I have unfortunately had this particular problem happen to me a time or two, and believe me, it isn't pleasant. Then there is of course those passengers who unpleasantly take up so much room when they sit with you and rudely force you to end up being squeezed up against the window. Yes I agree, traveling by Greyhound can turn out to be a nightmare on occasions. But do not despair, because there are tips and ways to avoid these unwelcoming conditions and to make your trip a bit more comfortable and more enjoyable. After all, believe it or not, greyhound does have some good advantages verses traveling by air. For example; If the bus happens to appear not too crowded and you'd like to avoid a stranger from sitting with you, then here are seven methods that have always worked well for me.</div><br /><ul><li><div align="left">Don't ever look them straight in the face, when they are boarding the bus.</div></li><li><div align="left">When they are boarding, pretend to be reading a book.</div></li><li><div align="left">Pretend to be sleeping with your head against the window sill.</div></li><li><div align="left">Look outside as if your watching the luggage being loaded.</div></li><li><div align="left">Don't ever sit in the far back because everyone always goes to the back first.</div></li><li><div align="left">Never sit too close to the front because some folks don't like to walk to far down the aisle.</div></li><li><div align="left">Never sit by the restroom, passengers with kids usually try to get a seat close to the restroom. Plus, the restroom on the bus generally smells really bad, most of the time.</div></li></ul><div>If however, the bus does become too crowded and you know you may have no choice but to allow someone to sit with you. Then, only make eye contact with someone whom you feel might make your trip not so unpleasant. After all, making your trip as pleasant and as memorable as possible is what traveling by Greyhound is all about.</div><br /><div>Traveling by bus verses traveling by plane does in fact have its advantages. For example: while traveling on a bus, you can video tape or take pictures of beautiful country sides, on a plane this isn't possible. On a bus, you stop every so often and get to stretch your legs, buy snacks, and souvenirs along the way. On a plane, this wouldn't be possible. While traveling Greyhound, someone now and then shares a travel story about personal experiences while traveling, including the bus driver. On a plane, the only main concern is to get from point A to point B and no one ever sees or hears the pilot, unless something bad is about to happen.<br /></div><br /><div align="left">Here is an interesting travel story which happened while I was traveling Greyhound. I was on bus 6911 and many things caused a chain reaction to happen on this day. It started in California, people were boarding to Phoenix and a car crashed into a tanker truck, which caused four more cars to crash. This made the bus four hours late. Then, the bus in Flagstaff boarded people to Mexico and a boy had a seizure and the EMT had to be called. The EMT's broke the door out to get on the bus. The passengers had to wait another four hours for a new bus. Then, after everyone got on the new bus, they were all forced to get back off, because of a bomb threat. The FBI had to search the bus. So, now its another four hour delay. The FBI discovered a female passenger had packed six M-80's in her luggage. So, now everyone can reboard, only now, the bus driver doesn't want to drive the bus any more. So, now they have to wait for a new driver. Needless to say, everyone eventually got from point A to point B, but it was one helluva trip to remember.</div>MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11797467795499382183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14324401.post-62220910847446128122008-10-14T09:35:00.000-07:002008-11-04T11:46:42.086-08:00Curse of The Lost TribeHello everyone,<br /><br />Just dropping in to give you the latest update on my writing. But first of all , I want to let you readers out there know that my novel "IN A SENSE OF LOVE" is now available in print, and you can purchase it at lulu.com, or just go to my <a href="http://www.poetlady.com/">home page</a> and click on the link provided there. It took a few years to complete, and a whole lot of hard work, but I'm happy to say, it's finally finished.<br /><br />I'm now working hard to complete my latest novel "CURSE OF THE LOST TRIBE". You'll be happy to know that I've just completed chapter 12 and will be starting on chapter 13 this week. My goal is to complete a chapter each week, if possible. But unfortunately, due to the bad economy, I am now working two jobs, which also demands my time. It won't always be easy getting in a chapter each week. I suppose we'll just have to see how it goes.<br /><br />I do plan on having it completed within the year of 2009 and if you're a Stephan King fan, as I am, than I'm sure you'll enjoy this new exciting novel. A thriller in the making that I'm hoping will keep you on the edge of your seat. My goal is.... you won't want to put this book down until you've read to the ending. Well, that's about it, I'll have more updates on the new novel as it develops.<br /><br />Thanks and Happy Halloween everyone!<br />MJ.MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11797467795499382183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14324401.post-80615160519162025262008-08-08T12:52:00.000-07:002008-11-04T11:57:37.850-08:00Writing updateHello everyone,<br /><br />Well, as some as you may know by now, I've been working on a new novel titled "Curse of the lost tribe". I'm happy to say, I've just completed chapter 7, and the story is moving along fairly well. Although its still a rough draft, I am pleased with how easy the story is flowing through the pages, I expect to begin on Chapter 8 by this weekend, which I plan on completing within the week, because Chapter 9 is where the real adventure begins, and I am excited to say that I can't wait to write this chapter. I won't give away what will happen in these upcoming chapters, but I will tell you this... It will be dramatic and exciting with a bit of a twist.<br /><br />Well, that's about it for now. I will keep you updated on my progress as the story expands. Also, for those of you who don't know, my first novel will be coming out very soon. I'm not certain as to the exact date, but all the re-editing has been completed and we are currently in the process of getting the printing details finalized. Until then, have a wonderful weekend, and I'll be sure to keep ya'll posted on any further updates on my writing progress.<br /><br />Sincerely,<br />MJMJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11797467795499382183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14324401.post-18254222170738694202008-06-11T08:11:00.000-07:002008-11-04T12:03:24.191-08:00Life is harshEver get the feeling that, no matter how hard you try and struggle to get somewhere in life, there's always that little something that stands in your way and knocks you back down? Well, that's basically what my life is all about. Just when I find true happiness in my life with someone I can love with all my heart, and share it with, along comes that little something that drops you off your feet,and turns your nice little comfortable world upside down leaving your life in a turmoil of confusion. That little something is called a Texas student loan which my ex-husband caused to go into default.<br /><br />Not only did he screw up my life, but the school I attended has done their fair share as well, by not filing the proper paper work stating I had permission on a leave of absence. It was during this time that the school had decided to moved to a new location without even notifying me, yet the Texas student loan claims this wasn't so, because they show no proof that I had permission for a leave of absence. Therefore, I am stuck with paying for a loan that the government shouldn't even be charging me for. I guess you could say I'm just stuck with paying for every one's screw up.<br /><br />This situation has put a tremendous amount of stress and strain on my relationship with my boyfriend. I will now have to work two jobs in order to pay off this debt that has threaten to drag us down in its clutches. My boyfriend has offered to pay half, but I for one feel this is my debt, and mine alone, and he shouldn't have to pay a single dime on account of my mistakes. He has worked hard for his money and it wouldn't be fair for him to feel he has to help me in some way in order to get me out of this mess. Yes, life is truly harsh, and it will nip you in the butt, and bring your world crashing down, and take away what little happiness you've known, but with a lot of hard work, I know we'll get through this.MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11797467795499382183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14324401.post-16983709925387090212008-05-24T05:47:00.000-07:002008-05-24T06:45:39.188-07:00Love & MoneyWhat would happen, if you found someone you really liked and you started living together. But after a few years, your partner found out that you owed the government thousands of dollars? You have the love, but he loves his money. This is basically what has happened to me. I'm in Texas right now visiting with my relatives. My boyfriend is pressuring me to ask my family for financial support. But they are dirt poor and don't have any money.<br /><br />My boyfriend knows a lot about managing money. He doesn't take out loans because the interest makes the thing you are buying cost more than it is worth. It has taken him years of hard work to be able to do this. He has negotiated the debt down to a single payment of $11,300 which is due by Aug. 15, 2008. He is willing to pay half and wants me to come up with the rest before I return from Texas. He says that if my family really cares about me, they will find a way to get their share of the money.<br /><br />So far, nobody has contributed anything to the PayPal account that he setup for me. If the debt doesn't get paid by the deadline, it will increase to $17,300 and continue to accumulate interest until it is paid off. So, what is the price of love? Right now for me, it's exactly $5650 (my half).MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11797467795499382183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14324401.post-79129051014298495642008-04-28T16:50:00.000-07:002008-05-05T17:11:42.704-07:00Student Loan DonationsYou may have noticed that I have a donation button on <a href="http://www.poetlady.com/">my web site</a>. I don't know much about loans and investments, but my boyfriend says that there is no way to get out of repaying a student loan, even one that was signed by mistake. My ex-husband handled all of our money, but it turns out that he didn't make any payments when the loan came due. Now, twenty years later, they are after me to repay it. Only problem is; I don't have a job.<br /><br />So as a last resort, we decided to put up a donation link on <a href="http://www.digitalcharity.com/m.php?id=27799">digitalcharity.com</a>. Even though Paypal is completely safe to use, I am skeptical that anyone will actually make a donation to someone they don't know. I would probably have more luck if I went door-to-door with a <a href="http://www.mytincup.com/">tin cup</a>. That's basically what my boyfriend wants me to do with my relatives. He says that I need to ask them to donate their refund checks to me. The only problem is, none of my relatives have money, and I'm sure they are all waiting for that check to pay their own bills.MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11797467795499382183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14324401.post-31359209680964876052008-04-22T08:28:00.000-07:002008-04-28T16:49:57.168-07:00I'm a NaturalMy boyfriend and I took a trip over the weekend, to visit with his parents, who live in Northeastern Wisconsin, which is next to Michigan, On the way back from the trip we made a short stop at a local casino in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Shawno</span> Wisconsin. While my Boyfriend played the slots, I played the three hand poker,which is card game I often play whenever I manage to make it to the casinos, which isn't very often. I didn't do to bad at this game.<br /><br />I started off with twenty bucks, at ten dollars a bet,and by two rounds, I was up seventy five dollars, soon I had a little over one hundred dollars, but <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">unfortunately</span> someone came a long and sit in the chair next to mine,which in turns took away my winning hands, leaving me with some pretty crappy deals, so like a fool, I started doubling my bets, and eventually lost it all, so I left and tried my luck at the slots, which was pure suicide, because the slots shot me down about a good sixty-dollars right off the bat, I wanted to kick those machines.<br /><br />I did however, finally win about sixty two dollars on the last slot machine, and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">decided</span> to take my winnings elsewhere. My plan was to go back to the three hand poker table, but the table was full and I got tired of waiting, so I did the next best thing. I sat down at a black jack table; asked the man next to me what the hand signals were, for a hit or stand, then I was ready to play.<br /><br />The bet was five dollars at a time. I started off with twenty dollars. need less to say, I've never played at a real casino black Jack table before, except once, so it was all still fairly new to me, but I was a natural at it. In less than twenty minutes. I won a good <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">ninety</span>-three dollars and walked away a winner. In the end, I ended up thirty dollars ahead. I don't have much to work with, but anytime you leave with more than you came with, you are a winner.MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11797467795499382183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14324401.post-155913769783222032008-03-23T09:15:00.000-07:002008-03-30T19:29:10.199-07:00Book TwoHello everyone. Sorry its taken me some time to get back to you. Anyway, I'm glad to say that progress on my latest novel, is coming a long quite well. I've also decided on a new titled. It will be "Curse of the lost tribe". The story line is coming along pretty smoothly. My plan is to compose this next novel with a few twist and turns, which should include some action, and hopefully some amazing horror scenes. There will defiantly be quite a bit of drama going on throughout the story, with a tad of romance on the side.<br /><br />Anyway, I'm happy to say that I've revise and completed four chapters. I expect to be start on chapter five this week, or possibly next. Either way, I will be devoting a lot of my time and attention during this and next month to getting as many chapters as I can completed. In May, I plan on possibly making another trip to Texas, to visit with my family. Till then, have a good day, and remember, Mother's day is just around the corner.<br /><br />MJ.MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11797467795499382183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14324401.post-45420893613836640422007-11-05T19:00:00.000-08:002007-11-05T19:23:03.950-08:00A close callTonight my boyfriend and I were on our way to a Texas hold'em tournament at a casino just north of town. We were trying to get there before 6 pm, so that I could register. The casino is about 45 miles from where we live, but we had to turn back about half way there because we hit a deer that was trying to cross the road. The road was a four lane divided highway, so the speed limit was 65 mph. But it was very dark and this huge deer decided to step out into our lane. All I saw was this big huge deer head. My boyfriend saw it before I did, but there was no way to avoid it. The impact took out one headlight and the passenger side mirror. The right front fender and hood also got crumpled up pretty good. We are okay, but the car is going to need some body work. I was disappointed that I didn't get to go to the tournament, but I guess it just wasn't ment to be. I guess the deer didn't survive, so that gives you an idea of how lucky we were to be able to drive back home after that. Next time we will leave earlier and do our driving in daylight when it's this close to deer hunting season.MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11797467795499382183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14324401.post-33610696305138598872007-10-23T05:58:00.000-07:002007-11-05T19:00:30.796-08:00Going through the processWell as you may know by now, I've completed part one of my first book and its sequel, making it into a two part novel. My boyfriend, who is also my editor, will now have to go through the process of getting it published, which means writing a book proposal, printing out a manuscript, writing a synopsis, and surfing the net for possible publishers and so on... well as you can see our work isn't over just yet. There is still so much to do and prepare for before we will be able to get my book in print. I have to decide on paperback or hardcover, and the book cover layout, which we have already tried to create. I'll be letting my boyfriend take care of all the business stuff on this and just focus on my next writing project. As a first time novelist with without the education that many other authors have to depend on, I know we will have to try twice as hard to get a publisher to consider our material. My boyfriend knows a lot about self publishing because he has helped another author through the process. Most likely that is the route that we will take. But, he doesn't have a lot of free time so, it looks like it could be another long wait before my first book gets published. Sounds a lot like sometime this winter to me. Well, that's about it in a nut shell.MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11797467795499382183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14324401.post-54505621268913060402007-06-13T15:04:00.000-07:002007-06-13T15:49:44.868-07:00Getting back on trackNow that the weather is warmer these days I tend to want to naturally get outdoors more and enjoy the warmth. One of my favorite past times is putting on some soothing country music like Vince Gill and sitting outside with a good book while I barbecue. Sometimes I just enjoy the relaxation and spend time watching our little backyard chipmunks. We've recently discovered that Spike and Sassy are proud parents. Yes you've guess it. They had babies. So far we have only seen one baby chipmunk, So we're kind of wondering if this little guy is the only one. Although were not sure as to whether or not its female or male. I say little guy, because it acts like a typical curious male. We haven't come up with a name yet, but in time I'm sure it will be one that suits him or her, which ever the case may be. Now as you know with the weather being so nice these days It also tends to motivate me more in my writing, and I've been gradually getting back on track. As far as my third book, the lost tribe is concern. I'm happy to say I'm currently working on chapter 3. which so far is coming along quite well. I recently purchased myself a small notebook which I sometimes take along to work with me. If I happen to come up with an idea for a scene I can quickly jot it down in my little book, and use it later. This technique seems to works pretty well. I'll keep you all updated on my progress.MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11797467795499382183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14324401.post-74966057892830998932007-05-29T13:34:00.000-07:002007-05-29T14:02:09.528-07:00Memorial Day debutHello again everyone. Well as you know from reading my last blog, we were waiting in anticipation of Sassy's grand debut, which I'm happy to say she decided to make on Memorial Day. The day actually turned out to be pretty sunny and with the wind not blowing as much as it had the day before, it turned out being quite a nice day. The birds were chirping, and I even got in a few good photos of a pretty blue bird. My boyfriend and I grilled some nice rib eyes which is a rare treat,but not only were we celebrating Memorial Day, but the return our our little Sassy,who by the way came looking for her peanuts as we knew she would. Spike decide to either sleep in or was out running about the neighborhood. However, he did decide to come out today, and him and Sassy were enjoying the sun and playing about. Its quite obvious they are two happy and content chipmunks, whom we are glad have made their little home in our wood pile. They know us and have accepted us as part of the territory. To us, they have become part of our family. I call them "my little backyard kids" Sassy even surprised me yesterday by eating a worm I was completely horrified, and quickly let her know it ,but just like any kid, she ignored me and ate it anyway. My boyfriend got it all on video, so it should be quite interesting to watch later on. well that's all for now. I hope everyone had a good Memorial Day.<br />M.J.MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11797467795499382183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14324401.post-37616717593571691372007-05-16T07:24:00.000-07:002007-05-16T08:03:05.909-07:00Spike and Sassy<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUwfHNHahsgtnNMh9ZrQNm9nn3eOqjixf126Co9lPSxvhX90CxsvepcXR5lZ6pO7LmChLbnHBSHfMleqaPOmqivV35Y2GyUKi-d7k0m2asVd4I8pZNyzNIbWTRbHvFJEXCorPY/s1600-h/Image3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065165435579054306" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 250px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 188px" height="207" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUwfHNHahsgtnNMh9ZrQNm9nn3eOqjixf126Co9lPSxvhX90CxsvepcXR5lZ6pO7LmChLbnHBSHfMleqaPOmqivV35Y2GyUKi-d7k0m2asVd4I8pZNyzNIbWTRbHvFJEXCorPY/s320/Image3.jpg" width="279" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Hello everyone, well as you know by now the sun is shinning more these days, and the squirrels are playing in the yards, there's four whom we favor, three small ones, I've named Alvin, Simon, and Theodore. they are so animated in their playing, its a joy to watch. Then of course there's Buster. A much older grey squirrel, who is usually very curious about what goes on in our backyard. but what i'd like to share with you all most of all is to let you know that our backyard chipmunks, Spike and Sassy are starting to come out from their long winter hibernation, so far only Spike has shown his furry self. Sassy I expect is due to come out pretty soon. As you can see in the photo taken last Summer. Sassy truly enjoys enjoys her peanuts. Actually we were quite surprised that Spike is the one hanging around, and living in the wood pile with Sassy. considering the fact she ran him out of his home last year. She most defiantly didn't care to share any of those peanuts with her partner. I'm wondering if she's changed her mind, and decided to let him come back. Only time will tell for sure, well just have to wait till she makes her debut. </div><div></div><div> </div>MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11797467795499382183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14324401.post-25723116832998992632007-05-12T10:31:00.000-07:002007-05-12T10:48:25.257-07:00A tribute to Mothers Day<span style="font-family:georgia;">Hello everyone, well as you all know Mother's day is this Sunday, and and I for one would like to pay tribute to all the moms in the world who struggle each day to make ends meet, who endure their children's pains and heart aches, wishing they could make things better. For all the moms who listens when our cries are heard, who lends a shoulder to cry on when our pain is too much to bear. when ever I think of my mom, I think of a woman who always puts others needs before her own, who works hard each day to make her life a better place to live, not only for herself, but for her children as well. a woman who's heart is filled with love for all the grand-babies she is given,and for the children God has blessed her with. When I think of my mother I think of all the love she fills me with, and all the good values she has instilled in my life. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Because of my mother, I am the person that I am. so I ask you all who read this. take time to tell your mother that you love her,and how special she is in your life.</span><br />MJMJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11797467795499382183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14324401.post-23756010037624585672007-05-06T10:00:00.000-07:002007-05-06T10:43:01.138-07:00Spring 2007<p align="right"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPE5A3oUXvQs2D0KyQhG_Gw7OZaokolyGMlfYQnNifXfrH2FpXIlxQWAYGub6ThtPscVnloTFEQ3PekWDcm-YQ8AfrhgUiB09ZO81rPdczj1PA3F7qK2LcEEfsUfFsKf_kjIpZ/s1600-h/100_1360.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5061500703523649218" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" height="159" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPE5A3oUXvQs2D0KyQhG_Gw7OZaokolyGMlfYQnNifXfrH2FpXIlxQWAYGub6ThtPscVnloTFEQ3PekWDcm-YQ8AfrhgUiB09ZO81rPdczj1PA3F7qK2LcEEfsUfFsKf_kjIpZ/s320/100_1360.jpg" width="249" border="0" /></a></p>Spring has finally arrived! I'm glad winter is over with. The warmer weather means flowers are back and so are the critters that I like to watch. I recently video taped some squirrels in our back yard. They are so much fun to watch. When I played back the video on TV our cat watched it three times before I had to cut him off. Every once in a while he would attack the TV screen, which is so funny. We are thinking of producing a video for cats after seeing the reaction from our cat. This would be a good summer project for me because I love video taping critters. Hope you have a good spring and enjoy every sunny day.MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11797467795499382183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14324401.post-1161145231004186122006-10-17T18:42:00.000-07:002006-10-17T21:20:31.056-07:00HalloweenAs long as I can remember,rather it be Halloween day or Halloween night,children around the world have antisipated this day. An annual celebration that has dated back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain which (pronounced sow-in). The Celts, lived 2,000 years ago in an area that is now known to us as Ireland, located in the United Kingdom. Did you know that northern France, celebrated their new year on November 1. It was said that this day marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark, cold winter. I bet you didn't know that Halloween is also one of the worlds oldest holidays. well its true,and I bet you also didn't know that the custom of Halloween wasn't brought to America until the late 1840's. by Irish immigrants fleeing their country's potatoe famine. In fact,The custom of trick-or-treating is thought to have originated not with the Irish Celts,but with a ninth-century European custom called souling. Even a simple thing as the traditional custom of the Jack-o-lantern was once carved out of turnips until the Irish came to America and learn that pumpkins were far more plentiful,and worked far more better. So, my thoughts to all you trick or treaters out their celebrating this holiday, just keep in mind that, although some cults today around the world may have adopted Halloween as their favorite "holiday," the day itself did not grow out of evil practices. It grew out of the rituals of Celts celebrating a new year. Even today, many churches have Halloween parties, bobing apples, or pumpkin carving events for the kids. And remember,the day itself is only as evil as one cares to make it. So get on out there put on your scariest costumes, have fun and spook the dead , after all,thats what the Celtics did.<br />Happy Halloween!<br />M.J.MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11797467795499382183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14324401.post-1159924565200534242006-10-03T17:54:00.000-07:002006-10-03T19:03:15.423-07:00Bingo in TexasHello again everyone. Sorry it has taken me a while to get back to you, but I'm still visiting relatives here down in Texas. The weather has been so nice and there's always something to do around here. They have a big bingo hall and I have made a couple of trips there. Although I haven't won any games, I still enjoy playing. Not all gambling is legal in the state of Texas, so if you are looking to win some cash, the bingo hall is the closest you'll get, unless you live on the coast in Corpus Christi. They have gambling on the crusie ship that will take you out to sea. If you are looking for a real casino, then Shreport LA. is the closest you'll find around here. My boyfriend and I live up north in Wisconsin, where gambling is legal on the Indian lands, so we make a trip to one of the Indian casinos on special occasions. It isn't something we can afford to do everyday. If we did that, we'd surely go broke. I guess you could say casinos do have the odds in their favor. Well, that's about it for now. I'll try to post another update soon. Until then, have a happy October.MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11797467795499382183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14324401.post-1158431241101368302006-09-16T10:58:00.000-07:002006-09-16T11:27:21.150-07:00Trip to TexasHello everyone, well its that time of year again, and I'm making my annual trip to Texas to spend some time with my family. This year were going to be painting my mom's house, with everyone helping out. We'll have a good barbecue going for sure, maybe I'll introduce them to some grilled brats. I know they've never ate those before. Anyway I expect it to be a fun event. I'll be missing my man naturally of course, as I always do. We also have a new member to our family this year. Her name is Sassy, a little chipmunk that lives in our back yard. I'll be missing her as well. Alan will have to keep her company and load her up with plenty of peanuts while I'm away. We've discovered she a very photogenic chipmunk, so don't be surprised if you see a few of her glamorous pictures on my web site.<br /><br />So... What else is new in my life? Well I got myself one of those new PsP game machines and I am finding it quite entertaining. you'd be amazed at all the things it can do. However, I must admit there is a few flaws to it. The biggest are the load times for games and the two megabyte cache limit on the web browser. Other than that, I'd say it was worth the money because of all the things you can do with it. Well time to go, but I'll be back soon to give an update on my life.<br />M.J.MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11797467795499382183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14324401.post-1155401031441099012006-08-12T09:43:00.000-07:002006-08-12T09:46:32.130-07:00Pain in the backI realize that it has been a while since my last update. The previous posting makes it look like all is well in my world. But as it turns out, I ended up giving all of my casino winnings to my family. As usual their needs seem to come up every time I get a little money in the bank, which explains my pitiful financial situation. I have also been suffering from a back injury since the beginning of the year. Up until last week, my medical expenses have been covered under workmen's compensation. But now it looks like they will not cover any more of my medical expenses. I had to hire a lawyer this week to try and get them to make some kind of settlement. They are supposed to let me see a doctor of my choice to see if surgery is needed. As soon as they heard surgery might be involved, they decided to stop making payments. Of course I don't have money to hire a lawyer. He will get a chunck of any settlement. Hopefully I will not get scammed on this deal too.MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11797467795499382183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14324401.post-1150319899195205432006-06-14T14:02:00.001-07:002006-06-17T08:43:07.526-07:00Lucky LadyHi Everyone, well looks like the stars where shining my way over the weekend, because luck was diffently on my side June 10th. My boyfriend and I decided to make a day of it and took a ride up to the St. Croix Casino in Turtle Lake, Wisconsin. After we arrived and made our way into the casino, we naturally looked for what we call our <em><strong>lucky machine</strong></em>. Sad to say, it was occupied, but we weren't discouraged. I was planning to wait it out. In the mean time I took my chance and played a few other machines. I ended up winning a little bit and was thinking our lucky machine was never going to be free of other people, then I saw the lady leave and I made my move. I took the seat and quickly put my money in. A $20.00 bill, and hit the spin button. And guess what? I hit big on my first spin. Triple 777's with a 2x multiplier playing the maximum amount for that machine. Not enough for retirement, but I was one lucky lady that day.<br />M.J.MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11797467795499382183noreply@blogger.com0