President Obama Is On Yahoo! Contributor Network

I just saw today that President Obama has an article published on YCN, the same place I write for. You can read President Obama's Article here.

And while you're there you can find my article's here.

Spirituality

My Thought For The Day...

Just because you say you are spiritual doesn't mean you are if your every action shows that you are actually a jerk. Just as getting whisker implants, and wearing a dog collar doesn't make you a dog. Just saying you are a spiritual person without having it backed up with the actions in your life doesn't make it so.

You can't have it both ways.

Rat Scratches

One of my rats, Bandit...decided he wanted to grab a hold of my hand and climb on it. The result was three little claw marks on my hand. lol 

I don't get a lot of scratches from them but when they dig their claws in to grab a hold..this can be the result. He tried giving me kissed later..Made it all better. 

Making Friends

If you've been reading my blog for the past couple of months you know that I adopted 4 rats a while back from a friend and one of those rats, Fang...would not let Ken pet him, especially through the bars of a cage. Fang bit Ken on more than one occasion. I told you about Ken getting bit in this blog post and he has been bitten by Fang, not once, not twice but 4 times. Once on the nose. 

Fang didn't want Ken touching him when I was holding him or petting him and when Ken would come over to pet him while I was holding him, he would turn away or nip him. I think Fang thought Ken was competition for my affection. So I would hold Fang and have Ken come over and pet him while I petted him too and after a while he stopped turning away from Ken and let him pet him. It took a while longer for Ken to be able to put him fingers through the bars of the cage like I could to pet him, even though he would come and sit over by the corner of the cage and look at him, if Ken put his fingers in there, he would get bit. 

So I sat in front of the cage while Ken was on the side like in the picture and I would pet Fang in the cage while Ken pet him through the bars of the cage and after a while he stopped trying to bite Ken. 

As you can see, fang likes coming over to the corner now and getting petted. Ken also gives him little bits of whatever he's eating, so that didn't hurt. LOL

Fang and Ken are now buddies. 

Freebie Friday!

Welcome to another edition of Freebie Friday, where I tell you what free samples and full sized products I received in the mail and how you can get them too.

This week I received a sample bag of Purina Cat Chow from Costco and I found the link for that on Hey It's Free.

I also received two sample boxes of Align Probiotic from Vocal Point. 

You can sign up at Vocal Point and receive random freebies too. You have to contribute to discussions on the site and when they have free samples available you can also sign up for those. 

Favorite Books

Everyone has favorite books. Books that you either never give away and have re-read, or are a part of a series that you love and can't wait for the next book to come out. While other books have sentimental value because of the person that gave it to you, or how you got it.

Here are some of my favorite books.

I couldn't make this list without adding a book from this series. Anita kicks ass!

I have to say this is a book from one of my all time favorite series. I tell everyone who asks for a great series of books about these books because I haven't been let down by one of them. 

Can't say enough about Gena's books. I'm a huge fan and most of the people I talk to about PNR books, also love her books. 

Sara has a great series out and I impatiently await the next book from her. If you like shifters, you'll love her books. They are hot!

I love shifters and Jennifer Ashley has a great series that I love to read. I have read all the books in this series so far and can hardly wait for the next one.

This is by far the longest book on my bookshelf and it had to be to tell us Acheron's story. This is my favorite book in this series and every book in this series is an auto buy for me. 

So what are some of your favorite books?

My boys...

Finding A Lost Loved One Or Old School Friend

It may seem like a great idea to go and look for a long lost relative or someone you went to school with in this age of technology, but are you prepared for the consequences if things go bad?

A decade ago before I really knew what I was doing on the intenet, I went through a website to help me find a relative that had been put up for adoption and with their help I did find him. My family welcomed him into our family with open arms and it seemed like things were going well for a while but sooner or later the real person shows through, they really can't keep up the fake persona for too long and when they start feeling comfortable around you, all the fake falls away and all you have left is the real truth. Sometimes it's not so pretty.

So after years of dealing with the drama, the lies, and the weirdness we all parted ways with him and most of his extended family.

So my advice to anyone looking for old friends, relatives ect... Don't. Not unless you are emotionally prepared to deal with things you never though you'd have to deal with because you don't really know this person. Even if you knew them in high school and got along great with them, were best friends...if it's been a while, they have changed...hell, you have changed and you might not hit it off so well again.

It's something to think about. Do you really want to bring potential drama into your life? Into your families life? Most likely the answer is no.

I know it's easy to find people these days, all you really have to do is Google someones name and you'd most likely be able to find them. That happened to me a while back when an old friend from high school contacted me on FB. Imagine my surprise. After a few months though, things got weird and he got weird and I ended up having to unfriend and block him...people change over time and sometimes not for the better.

So be careful out there...

A Late Christmas Card

I received this in the mail last week. I found it funny. Happy Obamacare...LOL 

Easy Bread Machine Cinnamon Rolls

I have a bread machine that my mom gave me for my birthday years ago and I love using this thing. Not only does it make really good bread..but I can make fast dough for pizza, cinnamon rolls and dinner rolls. So that's what I did here. I put all the ingredients in my bread machine and let it do all the mixing, then I took it out, rolled it into a 12x12 sheet and put a thin layer of butter all over it. Then mixed 1 cup of sugar with 1Tablespoon of cinnamon and sprinkled that mixture over the butter. I rolled it up and cut into slices. Here's a picture of my first batch.

You have to grease the pan, cover it with plastic wrap and let them rise for about 3 hours or until they double in size.

3 hours later, they have doubled in size. Now I just bake them at 350 for 20 minutes. 

How easy is that? For a homemade icing I mix 1 cup of powdered sugar with 1 Tablespoon milk and 1/2 tsp of vanilla extract and pour over cinnamon rolls. 

Now if these pictures aren't reason enough to buy a Bread Machine, you can also read my article on my top ten reasons like mine. 

Freebie Friday!

Welcome to another edition of Freebie Friday, where I tell you what free samples and full sized products I received in the mail and how you can get them too.

This week I did pretty well and am so excited to read this book. 

I won Wild About You by Kerrelyn Sparks from a giveaway at SOS Aloha blog. *Thanks Kim!* She also sent me the Hawaiian tea. 

I found the links to get the free samples of Folgers coffee and Cream of Wheat at Hey it's Free.

I found the link to get the Jergens lotion sample at Freebie Shark. 

Today I also want to introduce you to another freebie site I found that has great freebie links. It's called Freebie Shark. They have links to great freebie samples too. 

Bagels and Cream Cheese

Bagels and Cream Cheese probably doesn't sound too terribly weird to you and the picture probably looks good to anyone who has ever eaten that. But what if I would you this was a cinnamon bagel and salmon cream cheese?

Still sound good?

Well, that's what it is and I loved it. lol 

No, I'm not pregnant. Ken got us both a bagel the other morning and I used some of the salmon cream cheese he bought for his onion bagel..because I like it.  I wasn't sure it would be good but Bam! Delicious. 

Now I usually have cereal for breakfast, in fact I've had cereal for breakfast pretty much every single day since I was a kid, with a few pancakes, eggs or toaster strudel thrown in every once in a while. But this is my new favorite breakfast. Who knew?

Books I'm Looking Forward To In The New Year

There were a lot of great books that came out in 2012 and I still have a few of them in my wish list yet to read. But I wanted to make sure to put some of the upcoming books that are not yet out in my wish list as well. There are some great books coming out this year that I'm really looking forward to.

I know there are more, and I'll probably have to make another list of them. So what am I missing in my list? What are you looking forward to?

Lucky The Three Legged Rat

My little guy decided to go under the blanket in his cage..he's so small he has no problem getting into the smallest of places. 

Look at that little face. We are going to try and introduce him to the boys in the big two level cage when he gets a little bigger. Right now he's the size of a mouse and the other boys are much bigger than he is.

Monday Blog Hop Quiz About Me

Welcome to Monday Quiz About Me - hosted by Acting Balanced and Touristic.

Here are FOUR QUESTIONS that everyone can answer and then you have the option to add a fifth question of your own for those who are visiting your blog to answer in the comment section, along with commenting on the four standard questions you answered!


Here are the Questions:

1. What do you think the biggest downside to being rich and famous would be?
2. What is the most interesting news article you read or heard about last week?
3. Who kissed you for the first time?
4. How much do you typically tip at a decent sit down restaurant?

And don't forget to add a 5th Question on your own blog so we can answer as we hop around!

My Answers

1. Getting spammed by people who you've never met wanting money, ie..charities ect..
2. This one... http://news.yahoo.com/cat-caught-sneaking-saw-phone-brazil-prison-145407675.html
3. His name was Jose and I was 15 years old. Yeah, late bloomer. lol
4. If the service is good, I would tip 15%

My 5th question this week is ...

5. What one thing makes you smile each day even when you aren't feeling so good?


Now, please link up and tell your friends to join us!

This is a Blog Hop!

Ratty Pictures

I switched cages last week and put the 4 younger boys into the bigger 2 level cage because my two older boys can't walk up and down the ramp any more and I don't want them getting hurt or falling down the ramp, so they are now in the single level cage. 

The boys are checking out their new digs. 

I think they like it. 

Bandit wondering how to get on the floor. 

Bandit, always the one wanting his picture taken. 

My two 3 year old boys went right in their bed to take a nap. 

Fang was trying to clean himself but Patches wanted to sleep on him. 

Ares and Hades. Ares is winking at you. 

(I actually think Hades whiskers were poking him in the face...lol)

My old boys just want to sleep. Elderly rats love to cuddle, fall asleep on you and aren't as rambunctious as the youngsters. 

If You do The Crime..You Should Have To Do The Time

I'm a firm believer that if you do a crime no matter what the circumstances, there should be some form of punishment. And if you do a crime under the influence of alcohol and or drugs, even marijuana ..you should get even more time for being a dumbass. You had a choice to drink and take drugs. You had a choice as to whether you were going to get so stinking drunk that you lost control of yourself and ended up committing a crime and now feel bad about it..it's not an excuse.

If you 'think' you have a mental illness and plan on using that as an excuse ...it's not an excuse.

Do I believe that most people deserve a second chance? Of course I do in most circumstances, but if you've already been given one and another and still make the same bad choices...you get no sympathy from me.

Funny Thoughts

Each Wednesday I put on here funny things that others say on Twitter, and I thought why not put some of the things I've added on twitter and Facebook over the years. So hear are some of the funny sayings I've found over the years that I've posted on Twitter and Facebook...

You my friend, should have been swallowed.

I have a bad case of Idontgiveashititis.

If I had a nickel for every stupid thing you ever said. I'd have a sock full of nickels to beat you with.

I would take your advice, but I can't go to hell. Satan still has a restraining order against me.

Respect is earned not given.

The only reason you talk about me behind my back is because you have no life.

Confucius say man with hole in pocket feels cocky all day long.

I bet you feel totally fucktarded right now, don't you? You totally mistook me for someone who was going to take your bullshit. better luck next time douche bag.

If you're smoking in here, you'd better be on fire.

So, if I were to do unto others as they have always done unto me. How much jail time would that be for me exactly?

Last night I dreamed of you, I had to sleep with the lights on the rest of the night.

I just rolled my eyes so hard I saw my brain.

Go down a water slide without water and you'll understand why foreplay is so important.

You hide crazy like a bikini hides an extra 45 pounds.

I'd trust a fart after a binge at Taco Bell more than I'd ever trust you.

You know that annoying little turd that just swirls at the bottom of the bowl and won't flush? Yeah, that's you.

If you have a problem with me, then cry me a river and drown yourself in it.

I make milk...what's your super power?

I look at people sometimes and think...really? That's the sperm that won?

If you want a man to leave you alone at a bar, don't tell him you have a boyfriend...tell him you have a penis.

I have many small things on my mind, but your penis isn't one of them.

We need gun control and idiot control.

If I did half the things rumors said I did, I might have more fun.

Freebie Friday!

Welcome to another edition of Freebie Friday, where I tell you what free samples and full sized products I received in the mail and how you can get them too.

This week was a great week. I received:

2 Diapers from Costco. I found the link for this freebie on Hey it's Free.

John Frieda Sheer Blonde shampoo, conditioner and lightening spray. I received this freebie right from the John Frieda website. If you sign up for an account with them the will send you occasional freebies.

Schiff Digestive Advantage daily probiotics 30 day full size box. I heard about this freebie from The Dr. Oz show, he gave them away on his website. 

I got a beautiful necklace, pen, note card and fridge magnet from Cat Grant. I won this in a giveaway on Pants Off Reviews blog. 

And I was able to buy A Love Untamed by Pamela Palmer with free Amazon gift cards I got from cashing in my Swagbucks. 

Meeting People Online and Red Flags

I realize a lot of people meet other people these days by chatting online first and then meeting face to face. A lot of my friends have met after chatting online first. I myself have friends online that I've never met face to face, but that doesn't mean you don't have to be careful about meeting people online.

Regardless of the length of time you've chatted them up online, you really don't know this person and have to keep yourself safe. Always meet in a public place for first few times you meet. Let someone know where you're going to be and when you plan to be home and whom you are meeting.

Red Flags
If the person doesn't want to meet in a public place, that should throw up a red flag.
If the person shows up and doesn't look anything like their photo, or are years older than they said they were..that should be a red flag for you. It means they lied and now you can't trust anything they've said to you.

If after you meet this person a few times and find out that none of their family members talk to them, they have strange security concerns, they think people are watching them or they just seem off in some way...you may want to Google the persons name and see if they have anything written about them anywhere.

Don't share personal information with anyone until you feel comfortable with them. There are a lot of nice people out there but there are a lot of people just looking for an easy target also. It's always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to letting new people into your life.