Starting at 7 this morning I entered information on the new site until 10 tonight.  Greg has been working on it as long as I have today and he has many, many days of work in it before it got to the point where I could help.  We still have content to transfer but at least we are coming!  Should have it done tomorrow.  If you want to see the new look go to www.iowabeautiful.com.  It's the same format that all of the sties will be, including the video which we will either make, have sent to us or get from UTube like the one that is there now.

Kara is going to do an ad for us for the La Quinta.  I really need to learn how to do it, but there are other things that I need to learn first I think, like editing a video…I think I can get that if I just dedicate some serious time to it.

Heidi commented that she likes the new look.  Thanks for telling me sweetheart, I'll tell Greg too.  

The dishes, laundry and vacuuming are done now, some of the dusting (enough for this week anyway) so it's really close to bedtime…5:30 will come early.  It may take us longer to get to work tomorrow since we got rain and then snow…that equates ice to me…whee

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Ok, so I had to call Bobbi tonight and ask her how to make her enchiladas cause I bought the stuff the other day that I thought went into them and then couldn't remember for sure what I was missing.  We had them for dinner and they weren't bad, I like things hotter than they turned out to be but they still were pretty good.  It takes Bobbi hardly any time to whip them up, took me quite awhile LOL

Cyn called last night to tell me that she had won on a quarter slot machine.  Wonder of wonders!  She and I just don’t' hit on them (which is one of the reasons I don't play) but she got lucky on the way to the Wayne Grady show, sweet!

We went to Judy's birthday party last night, it was neat to see them and Dan and Donna (Dan is an auctioneer with Smith …he and his brother run it).  Donna looks great considering she has been going through chemo for almost a year and only has one treatment left.  Hopefully they got it stopped, bless her heart.  It was fun seeing them since I haven't been to any of their sales for awhile…actually they haven't had many this winter, too darn cold.  Dan said they would be getting busy again pretty soon.

Judy's cake was perfect for her, Betty Boop.  Those two really like the cartoon characters, Spider Man, Betty Boop and so on.  I thought I would post a picture here so you can see it. 

I have told you that Tom and Judy are great fun, Tom is a really large man so thought I would insert a picture here to show you this outstanding couple. three of thier kids are in the photo too, Bobby is with the camera, Scott is sitting beside Tom and Judy's daughter (don't know her name, have only met her once and she doesn't live with them…) is behind Judy.

Tom told Greg that they want to go with us the next time we travel overseas.  It would be fun to have them with us, Judy hasn't traveled much so it really is exciting for her.  Tom traveled all over South America when he was just out of high school but not so much since.

Our new format for www.iowabeautiful.com and all the other sites will be rolled out tongiht or tomorrow morning.  I am so excited about it, looks so sharp.  Greg did an outstanding job.  He had to figure out and then do the programming himself and did, wow!!  I'm so proud of him.

 

It appears that the fixed rate mortgages are more popular in the UK then they have been in the past, according to a report by Abbey.  Commercial Mortgage is another area that will be looking for a longer term financing option with a fixed rate rather than the adjustable situation that impacted the United States in the past year.

Research from Abbey has revealed that the two year fixed-rate mortgage is more popular than any other mortgage deal.  The research also revealed that 58 per cent of people in the UK would not know which deal to go for and four per cent said that they would rather go for their provider''s standard variable rate. 

It has been awhile since I have caught a payperpost opportunity, seems like all there was when I checked was the opportunity to video grilling chicken.  Let me assure you that at subzero temperatures I am NOT going to be outside grilling a darn chicken, even for a $30 or $25 post!

Heidi has been on it, she has really paid attention to the posting opportunities and writing good articles, good for you kiddo!  It's kind of nice to have the money flow into your PayPal account every month or so.  It's kind of like free money!!  Check her out on www.sweetmunkies.com .

It's snowing again, yes, go figure.  Not heavy but snow flakes like fake snow, light and fluffy so if the wind comes up it will drift like crazy.  Fortunately we don't have far to go and it is supposed to warm up, yeah, like to 17!!

I got an email with the freebie this morning (and sent them on to the kids and Donna) that if you go to IHop tonight between 7-10 you can get a free short stack of pancakes.  It's national Pancake Day or something like that.  I called D&D and left a message, don't know if they will be interested, but there is an IHop on the way home from the office so, why the heck not??

Last night we had Weight Watchers frozen entree's for dinner.  They were actually very good and we liked the price, $2.64 each LOL  That along with the fact that is was, again, nice to eat at "home" and then go watch the rest of the dog show in bed (for the 15 minutes I could keep my eyes open) was just nice. 

Neither of us took our computers home with us last night, can you believe it?  What a nice change!

 

If you are in need of new windows or doors for your house, you may want to look into the company that is the eaxpert in windows installation and choose this quality builder to help you reduce your heating anc cooling bill.

Enjoy having your window blinds open and looking out at the day without worrying about the heat loss or the cooling loss.  New windows can really make a huge difference.

 

While Greg was gone today I baked rolls and then called Jake and Joan to take some out to them, Joan just loves them (as does Jake).  Jake answered and told me that he would love to have me bring some out but that Joan is now in the nursing home at the hospital.  When I was there he told me that she has hit the time when part of the time she is violent.  She threw a cane at him and then fell.  That was the day he admitted her to the hospital which resulted in her going to the home.  He said he just can't do it by himself anymore.  His health is slipping too, back problems, eyes and intestinal so he needed to get help.

He said that Joan always knows him and he spends all morning with her, has lunch and then after a bit comes back home.  I'm going to go see her tomorrow, if she knows me when I come that will be great but Jake said she probably won't remember the visit the next day.  Oh well.  I want to go anyway.

Greg was offered two different classes to chose from, Accounting and Economics.  He is to decide, fill in the form and return it to them with his choice.  He thinks he's going to teach the Accounting class first since it starts soonest and he wants to get the experience.  The Economics class doesn't begin until June or something.  The school uses the same style that he was taught with in Chicago so he is really comfortable with it.  He said he wants to be able to start looking at other schools in July and will be able to with William Penn on his vita.

He was also impressed with the President of the Adult Education College, he stressed the importance of teaching rather than putting all the focus on research which many schools do, they make their money with research I guess.  But William Penn is teaching 500 or so adult students now and are planning on 2500 within the next couple of years.  Quite a growth.

The weather has changed again.  The news out of the Quad Cities tonight said the temperatures will be sub zero again tomorrow.  Then, Monday there is a chance of snow and temps in the 20's and by Wednesday it is supposed to be in the 30's.  Good grief!

I sent a site to you guys tonight where you can get free samples.  I've gotten some from them so figured they are real and you might as well get some free stuff too.

I hope Bobbi and the kids are feeling better by now.  She said she still had a couple that were feeling bunky when we visited yesterday.  Now if Peanut can get better too it will certainly be a nice change for all!

Greg interviewed at William Penn University yesterday, the Des Moines campus.  His interview, presentation and evaluation was at 4.  He was very prepared, good stuff.  He had to teach a class to 5 professors as part of the process, they wanted to see if he could teach.  He did extremely well.  Following that he was told to be at the college on Saturday morning for orientation at 8:30 am.  So proud of him, it's a goal he has had and now has made it happen.  He will be teaching as soon as there is an opening in his area, which could be very soon or could be a month or more.  Time will tell, but he will be teaching at a college.  It will really help his vita.

That meant that we would drive home last night and then he would have to be up at 5 to drive back to DM on Saturday morning.  Since he had to go help a freind with her computer after his interview we decided to just stay in town and go home after the orientation.  I called the Minor Mansion and asked if our room was available, it was so we are in.

Greg had said that his stress load indicated a need for wings and a drink after the interview but since we went to friends we decided we will do it tonight instead.  We didn't stay too long and when we got "home" Greg was in his jammys within minutes, sitting on the sofa unwinding and working on his computer when I heard a noise, turned to look and he was sound asleep, sitting up perfectly straight.  I think he was tired LOL. 

The wake up call went off a little while ago, I quickly answered and hung it up so that Greg can continue to sleep.  Bless his heart, he's pushed himself so hard he is broken out with hives all around his neck and chest, he needs the rest!!  We’ll go to work in a little while but there isn't any need for us to be there before 9 since that's when the guys will be there and they aren't expecting us to be in town,

 

 

 

 

 

How interesting to know that between the Democrat candidates there is only an 80,000 vote difference nation wide.  Just think of that, only 80,000 in total votes.  Who would ever have believed that a black man could have the potential to defeat a white person (man or woman) in the election for President of the USA?  I would hazard a guess that our forefathers would never believe it.  That and a WOMAN in the running.  Scandalous!

If John McCain gets the Republican nomination I believe his only chance to win would be to have Mike Huckabee as the VP.  It would give him some balance in the area he needs and of course it would be my pick for President in the second seat in case something, God forbid, should happen to McCain.  That's a pretty strong ticket.  We'll see.

On the news last night they showed the youth training for Al Qaida activities.  Some of them are just "babies"…reminded me of the movie we saw with Cyn and Drew..Blood Diamonds..where the youth of a tribe was taken and brainwashed into becoming guerilla fighters.  How insane, how cruel, how wrong is that?

I emailed both ChaCha and the Ambassador yesterday to inquire as to the impact the difficulties in Kenya have had on them and their families.  I worry so about ChaCha.  He may be out of the country for work but Robbie and the kids are in country, I certainly pray they are safe.  At least Peter and Rose are in the USA so they, themselves, have been fine, I hope their families have been safe too.  How totally sad.  

Greg and I were discussing the situation at dinner last night and his take on it is that due to the President trying to rid Kenya of the corruption that has been part of life for ever that the riots provoked by the opposition party could be as a result of the opposition party losing their ability to control the corruption and it impacted their “way of life and income” so much that they are fighting to bring back the old ways.  When Peter and Rose were at our house they talked about the positive changes that the President was bringing to the country, roads, communication, electricity and so on.  Desperately needed things that had fallen into disrepair from neglect or have never been installed.  It would be wonderful it these things could be done for the country without the degree of corruption that has run rampant in the county in years past.  Everyone would benefit…well, maybe not everyone, those that want to pay their families for not working, for taking things that don’t belong to them and keeping them as their own probably don’t think of it as a benefit to all.

For the past two days we haven't had phones at the office, a major cable was cut someplace that took the whole area down.  At first they said it would be fixed by 4:30 on Tuesday, ok, the guys would just have a short day.  Well, that didn't happen so when I called yesterday morning they told me that they had someone on it and it should be up "as soon as possible."  Well, that didn't happen either.  I called last night and they told me that it might be Sunday night before it was fixed although it was a business account so it had top priority.  I went a little nuts (but, I was nice to the guy, it wasn't his fault) and wouldn't you know it, its fixed today!! 

Greg is working hard on the stuff for his interview this afternoon.  He has a lot of it done but still needs to focus and finish up.  The amount of work he had to do for this is actually a lot, with only two days to prepare (which may, in some ways be a blessing..not so much time to fret) he has really had to stick with it.

Because the phones were out and so no one was able to work I took the afternoon and went with friends for coffee.  We got a lot discussed, plans made and ideas shared and were out of Greg's hair until 6 pm!  I felt kind of bad that GW wasn't able to be with us but at the same time I knew he really would get a lot more accomplished if I wasn't in the office…even if I kept quiet (which isn't easy for me…thought hits brain and runs out mouth) so it worked out for the best.

Next week is state wrestling tournament which means that all the hotels are booked from Wed. on.  We will be at the Minor Mansion until Wed. morning and then will be over where our friend lives for Wed. night.  Because most of those units are rented out as condo's they only have a few rooms left to rent on a nightly basis (and don't work very hard at doing that) they are not booked for the tournament.  Friends set it up for us so we will have a room and it will only cost us $25!!  Not a bad deal.  Then next week it's back to the LaQuinta (Minor Mansion). 

I've been checking Payperpost when I get time but haven't had much luck lately, most are videos (which I could do but since I'm not cooking chicken on a grill it hasn't been something for me to video.)  Heidi has gotten some that I've missed….you go girl!!

Now it is time to get to real work. 

 

It will be interesting to see what happens with voter turn out today with the huge storm that is to be hitting the central and southern US.  How many people won't bother going out due to the weather?  Will more Democrats make the effort or will Republicans?  Will Obama supporters make a bigger effort or will Clintons?  How about McCain and Huckabee or the other guy?

In Des Moines they are predicting 1 - 3 inches of snow this evening.  In MP they are saying that it will begin with freezing rain and then turn to snow, up to 10 inches today and another 1-3 tomorrow.  Great!  Just so the power stays on so Mercy doesn't get cold I guess we'll not worry about it until we get home and have to shovel out.  Just means that people won't be house hunting today or tomorrow either.

We need to put some more ads out for staff.  Actually, Steve said that he would help with writing some of them that go out. I do appreciate it because, all other feelings aside, he has proven over the years that he can write ads that bring people in.  I don't know how the culture has changed in the past number of years but we will find out.  I do know that the DM Register is super expensive to place an ad in, way more expensive then it used to be, $480 for one day in a help wanted section for a small ad….geez!  If you want to go on Career Builders you are looking at nearly $1000.  Craig's List is free, that's where I'll be putting some ads and I'll check around for other options that don't cost a fortune.  The unemployment office doesn't do much, they sit people down at a computer and say they should seach for a job.  Seriously, that's it.  I'll still put another ad in there and other places, but don't count on much from the great state of Iowa for help finding people even though they are complaining that the unemployment rate has gone way up in the last two months.

Anyway, it's time to go to work so have a great day!

Now this was cool, such a close game,  both teams playing to the last second (well, ok, so they had to clear the field for the last second) but although it certainly wasn't the best played game the Patriots had played this year it was still a heck of a game to watch.  I'm glad I didn't have any money on the game though, with the spread I would have lost!

It's kind of neat that Eli Manning won, can you imagine facing your big brother when you lost and he won last year?  I'm sure that they would survive it, but still, competition has to be a factor.  Now they can share the experience and enjoy both of their wins!

I do feel bad for the Patriots though, it would have been a neat thing to have gone undefeated for the year, but they just didn't play as well as they could have, maybe they were overconfident, who knows (they probably do).

Eli Manning getting a new hybrid Caddy as most valuable player isn't too tacky either!

Ok, now I'll get ready to go to work tomorrow.