OK. It’s 2009.

OK, so it’s 2009 and we’re off to a great start.  The stock market still wavers, there are more foreclosures and it doesn’t look all that good for credit cards.  Other than that, things look pretty good.  We’re able tto catch up on TV re-runs of telecasts we’ve already seen and the grocery store is still in the same location as it was on 1/1/09.  The washer and dryer still work, there haven’t been any plumbing problems (Oh, my!), and the furnace keeps my home warm.  The sun still rises and sets every  day regardless of the cloud cover and snow blankets the ground in many places.  Mandi still sleeps all day and cats around at night while I’m sleeping.

 

The doorbell doesn’t work but everyone knows to knock on the front door.  My patio is warm with the aid of a space heater and I still write reviews for Popsyndicate.com.

 

New adventures arrive to replace what’s broken and won’t be used again.  I start my new job next week and it will bring in that additional cash needed to survive in today’s economy.  My bed gets made every morning and I still drink a pot of coffee before 11.

 

I am not bored.  Just alone.

A new start

I’m not counting the hours to 1/1/2009, but we don’t have long to go.  In a previous blog I mentioned that I had made a resolution to lose weight.  I may have to eat  crackers and sardines to do it, but I will lose weight.

 

2008 has not been a good year for many of us.  I don’t think anyone has escaped the downfall of the housing market or credit card companies lowering credit limits on major credit cards.  I know I have not escaped.  Our hands have been tied behind our backs with invisibe string, but we must move on.

 

Let’s hope that 2009 is a better year and gives us hope.

 

Happy New Year!

Resolutions and the holidays

I’d be remiss if I said the holidays were all that good.  Sure, we celebrated as a family but had to do so on the Saturday before the 25^th.  Some of the family had to work the day after Christmas and flying was near to impossible with timing.  My cousin’s two daughters had commitments the day after Christmas so we decided on the Saturday before to do our celebrating.

 

When the 25^th arrived, I had nothing to do and the family that was left was not in the mood to celebrate.  So I spent my time sending Pop Syndicate reviews to various social networking sites such as Digg, Redditt, Myspace, etc.  I enjoyed doing the transfers and it kept me out of trouble.  Now I’m the Social Networking Editor for Pop Syndicate and sending the reviews to these other sites has increased hits on http://www.popsyndicate.com by 20 percent.  I’m still doing DVD and music CD reviews as well, so I stay busy all day here at my computer.

 

I haven’t made my New Year’s resolutions so far, but one suggestion has already been made and I must try to see if I can accomplish the task.  In talking with a friend the other day, he made mention (We’ve known each other over 30 years.) that a person my height and stature should weigh no more that 185.  Since I tip the scales at 198, I think I have my first resolution for 2009:  lose weight!  Losing weight has never been easy for me, but I’m certainly going to give it a try.

Rewarding time

I feel relieved that the voting process is over and we can get down to business as usual.  Well, it won’t be business as usual since we have a new president who is going to face an uphill battle during his first few months in office.  However, I’m confident that he knows what he’s doing and his advisors will help him along.

 

I’m chomping at the bit because I have 6 CD reviews that my editor can’t find time to look over before I post them.  She has a lot on her plate right now and is looking for someone else to review the next six that I have ready.  I must be patient.

 

Yesterday, I received WALL-E the movie and am looking forward to watching it so I can write a review.  My review will probably give it five stars for its merit.  And I won’t be left out in the cold for I just received 13 more CDs to review.  Guess I’m going to be busy.  That’s okay.  I love to write so they should be fun to do.

For lack of anything else

For lack of anyting else to do, I’d like to run away.  However, that’s not feasible or even reasonable.  I have responsibilities that demand my attention and I can’t leave them to live in a daydream world.  Life goes on, doesn’t it?

 

I have ten CDs staring at me waiting for me to write a review.  I also have three DVDs I need to watch so I can review them.  The hours pass and they’re still staring at me on my desk.  I’ve pulled information about each CD from the Internet and just need to listen to each one so I can write my reviews.  I must be frustrated ’cause I’m not getting anywhere by just sitting here staring at my desk.

 

Things will get better, I’m sure.

One more day

One more day and then all the hype and brohaha will be over.  It will be interesting to see who wins and spends the next several months at the White House learningn the ropes before being sworn into office in January.  Will it be McCain or Obama?  How many promises will the new president be able to keep?  Won’t Congress intervene and stop some of the project both candidates have put forth?  Of course they will.  Neither candidate will be able to fulfill more than a handfull of the promises they have made on the campaign trail.  It will be an uphill battle for either candidate to live up to what has been promised.

 

I’m looking forward to the voting process although I’m not looking forward to standing in a long line waiting to get to the voting booth.  I’m hoping there will be a place to sit down while I’m in line because my legs won’t hold up to the stress of standing for very long.  I’m going with a positive attitude and may even make some new friends while standing in line.

 

We either have a rosy four years coming up or a dismal outlook.  I’m hoping for the best and I know that my vote will count!

 

Get out and vote!!

Another day

It’s been a marvelous day so far.  The leaves have been raked and burned (Yes, we can still do that in this small town!), I’ve retrieved the mail and thrown away all the junk that arrived.  My cousin is going to install a new doorbell that chimes; it replaces the one I have now that buzzes (I hate that sound!).

 

I’ve written my review on the newest album by New Kids on the Block, edited poetry for a friend and decided I’d do a little blogging until my cousin gets here to install the chimes.

 

The sun is shining and I may get another review done this afternoon.  We shall see.  It’s by a rapper and I’m really not into rap music.  But, I received the CD so I must try and review it.

 

Tonight, I will have my lights off so the trick or treaters will not knock on the door.  I’m thinking about putting up a DO NOT DISTURB sign on my front door so people will not knock and expect candy (I didn’t buy any.).  Plus my cat, Mandi, is not used to strangers and she’d hide away if someone knocks on the door.  Does doing this make me feel like a louse?  Nope.  The only thing negative about not turning on the lights is I “may” be mentally placed in the category with sex offenders who are NOT supposed to open their doors tonight, leave lights on or give out candy.  I don’t want to be associated with such a group of people.

 

Happy Hallowe’en!!

Remiss

I am remiss in entering any blogs for over two weeks and I think it’s time to write.

 

I’ve been extremely busy with writing music reviews for Pop Syndicate, but there really is no excuse why I, a retired person, can’t find the time to write a blog now and then.  There are many distractions in my day and (pardon if you will) I just don’t make good use of my time.  There are the 50 emails every morning that I must sift through and answer the various surveys sent my way.  Then, there’s the spam mail or junk mail to go through and change it to spam.  I’m now helping an author work on his book of poetry for publication and that keeps me busy.

 

Right now, I have 18 CDs that I need to listen to and write a review.  This has become a tedious task for me since I send my reviews to the editor and then we bandy back and forth to make sure I’m not infringing on a copyright and that the review is in sync with the policies established for Pop Syndicate.  It sometimes takes upwards of four days for a review to become final before I post it.  That’s okay.  I like immediate gratification but have learned to be patient with the process and move on to other projects while I wait for the editor’s approval.

 

Now that I have a van instead of an undependable truck, I’ve added driving somewhere to my routine.  I used to stay home for a week at a time before venturing out, but I now go for drives to the grocery store or a larger town 18 miles away to have a nice meal in a reputable restaurant.  Mandi, my cat, doesn’t seem to be fazed by this if I first tell her I will be back (I find her waiting at the mud room door.).

 

The only thing I’ve really fallen behind on is my novel.  I’ve got the sheriff ready to question an accountant and can’t seem to get the conversation in my head for what I want to write.  I haven’t even sent out any queries to pubishers for the last month (or more).

 

I need to do some mass marketing on the two books I’ve had published, but I don’t have the capital needed for such a journey.  I’m sure it would lead to sales of my books, but everyone I talk to says a person never gets rich as a writer.  I’ve created two good books, but I’m a pauper.

 

Until next time……

Doing well

I’m doing well today and feeling no pain.  It’s amazing to me how much pain gets in the way of doing constructive things.  I don’t like pain and have a low threshold for it.  At the slightest hint of a headache, I must take something so I’m not in pain very long.

 

Fortunately, the meds I take have kille the lower back pain from which I suffer.  Chronic lower back pain is worse than knees that hurt from arthritis.  I’m 64 and don’t want to fall apart just yet.  I don’t know how my cousin can stand the pain since she has MS and is in bed all day and all night—flat on her back.  I guess she’s suffered with the pain so much that she has been able to block it out.  I don’t have the same quality.

 

Having a pain free day is like getting in a canoe and gliding down a river somewhere.  There are no worries, nothing.  Just fun.

 

Hope you have a great day, too!

Dogfight

We’ve now had our first taste of the contest between Senators Obama and McCain and I still know for whom I voting.  I could not believe that in the 90 minute debate McCain not once looked at Obama.  His eyes were constantly moving, but he never addressed Obama or looked at him.  I could see the frustration on Obama’s face every time he made a point and tried to include McCain in the conversation.  McCain spoke far too long on his accomplishments and how well versed he is in everything.  I am so glad that Obama kept his cool when McCain raked him over the coals and made some very cutting remarks.  I don’t know if I could have held up under the pressure that McCain applied.

 

Some said the debate was an even match and not once did anyone remark about McCain’s lack of looking at anyone other than Jim Lehrer, the commentator.  To me, it was not an even contest and I eagerly await the vice presidential debate next week to see what Palin pulls out of her hat.  That’s right, she doesn’t wear a hat!!

 

Anyway, you can tell for whom I’m voting and I don’t think I’ll be disappointed by my vote.  Change is coming and let’s see what it brings.