Just how safe are my JPG files?

It's that time of year, school is back in and there are plenty of picture perfect moments to capture. This is Ryan's senior year and Jenn's sophomore year and both are continually asking to use my camera to take photos. What worries me most is the camera's ability to protect my jpg files from being deleted from its memory.

When I mentioned my concerns to my boyfriend, he suggested my purchasing some sort of micro sd travel card for those times when the kids have my camera. One of its features is that is has a write/protect switch which would prevent my data from anyone mistakenly deleting valuable files. I think it might be something I'd use all of the time. Goodness knows, with all of the things I photograph, I could use the extra space!

PS Maybe I'll pick up a 2 pack for twice the space, you think?

Please, Merci!

In today's economy more and more of our clients are coming into our office to get copies of their federal returns in an effort to qualify for medical care at the Merci Clinic. They aren't the only ones effected by the economy, even some of us at our office are earning less than what it takes to support a family and to have medical coverage. That someone is me. All of the other women in our office either have husbands with medical benefits or they have ex's carrying them on their insurance for the time being. So, today I spent the better part of my day at the clinic. I have to say that the staff was wonderful, the doctor took his time answering my concerns, and they made you feel important. It's a shame that for the most part, medical services that are paid for lack the qualities of subsidized care. All I can say, is that I hope to be able to give back the way this staff and doctors have to our community.

No Gimmicks Needed

On Friday morning we received a call at our office from a client who advised us all to fill up our gas tanks in preparation of sudden but certain higher gasoline prices. We suspected they would rise after Hurricane Ike stormed its way through the gulf, but our client said they would reach the $5 mark by days end. So we all took turns to head out and purchase the least expensive product available. The station just up from the office was still selling it for $3.61 but the lines of vehicles were ridiculous! I ended up getting mine at a station I saw on my way into work and managed to only pay $3.68 per gallon.

There are many businesses that have to offer promotional items to get you purchase their products; gasoline sales is not one of those. The best thing they can do is keep their prices lower than the next guy. We have way too many gasoline stations in our town, and you would think that they would practice this feat, a few might. It's so bad here, that you will see one station selling it for $3.99 and less than two blocks away it's being sold for $3.61. What's up with that?

They don't even need someone in a t-shirt that says "Cheapest Gas In Town". Like I said ... no gimmicks needed.

Ike: Hurricane to Tropical Depression

As Hurricane Ike made landfall in Galveston, TX it was packing winds of 110 miles per hour and traveling at a speed of 13 miles per hour. Today Ike is categorized as a tropical depression and is currently on a path through Memphis, Tennessee. I'm sure our friends and family who were and are in the path of Ike have taken the necessary precautions to prevent any injury. Forecasters had predicted some rain for the area but local Doppler radar isn't showing much at the moment. Though most of the farmers might like a bit more rainfall for their crops, too much is never a good thing!

At this point the news reports say there has been minimal loss of life in Texas and the surrounding states along the coast. Rescue efforts resulted in saving nearly 2000 residents from Galveston and flooded areas along coastal waters, and the search for survivors continues. However there is extensive property damage throughout the area. The JP Morgan Chase building in Houston which stands 75 stories tall suffered extensive damage including loss of office equipment as the windows were blown out on the sides of the building. People outside found computer parts on the sidewalks and streets along with shattered glass. What is puzzling is that older surrounding buildings seemed to have very little damage to their windows. Was this a design flaw?

Several roadways remain impassable due to downed power lines and debris from the surrounding areas. Standing water and debris over these roads were making rescue of those still in Galveston hard to accomplish early this morning. Why would anyone want to ride out a hurricane that had flooded your streets before it made landfall? One man's home burnt to nothing as he helplessly stood by watching in horror. Firefighters had no way of reaching his home; it is a total loss. My heart goes out to all of the residents and families of the hardest hit areas. I can only imagine their sense of loss.

Hurricane Ike Regaining Strength Over Gulf

Over the past two days Hurricane Ike has crossed over Cuba causing great damage and loss of life, and has entered the Gulf of Mexico. It would appear it is headed on a northwestern path towards Texas and the surrounding states along the coast. While it appeared to have had the breath knocked out of it crossing over land, as soon as it was over the warm water in the gulf the winds grew with renewed strength. Ike may once again make it to a category 4 by landfall later this week.

We've watched with great interest as we have family in Texas and in Louisiana and am hoping they are all safe having taken the necessary preventative measures to avoid "the wrath of Ike". Hoping for a miracle with this storm, that something causes the winds to diminish to nearly nothing, and for the rain to dissipate causing minimal or little flooding. We can always hope for the best while preparing for the worst.


Reminder to self: It is far better to be safe than sorry!

Helpful Blogger Tips & more ...

A couple of days ago, I was searching for tips on how to better maximize my blog here on Blogspot, when I received an invitation to visit a website via BlogCatalog. I accepted the invite, and boy, am I glad I did! As I read this gentleman's posts I found one titled "Must Read Tips for Google Blogspot Bloggers". It is both interesting and informative, and I manged to find some things that may help improve the look and feel of my blog. Right about now I could use a good facelift ... I mean my blog could ... yeah ... after all I am just 29 ... cough ... 39 and holding! ;)

While I was there I there I took a look at some of the other topics. In "Make her leave you soon" the writer shares his experience handling one of life's most uncomfortable situations; a break up. As a man, how do you handle a break up with a woman from whom you have fallen out of love? Are you up front by telling her the truth? Do you find a way out without being honest? Or do you find ways to turn her off? To see some of the ways this writer suggests might be options for handling the same situation, you'll have to visit the site yourself.

Thanks for the tips!

Residents of Florida May Get Their Wish

If Hurricane Ike stays its course westward Florida residents will breathe a great sigh of relief! Since yesterday the storm had diminished in strength by over 50 miles per hour. What began as a storm packing 135 mph winds has weakened to a mere 80 mph winds; at least for the moment.

Forecasters are predicting that Hurricane Ike will regain strength once it is in the gulf. The thought process is that it will make landfall anywhere between Louisiana and Texas. I'm no meteorologist, but if I lived anywhere from Florida to Mexico I'd be packed and ready to hit the trail in a moments notice. But that's why they pay the meteorologists the big bucks; they know their stuff! :)

Hopefully both of my nieces, Olivia in Louisiana and Talena, her hubby, and two children in Texas are far enough inland not to be to badly effected by this monster on waves! For now my friends and family in Florida are safe, which is a good thing! Did I mention that I am so thankful that Hurricane Ike didn't repeat Hannah's track up the eastern seaboard? Well, I am!

To all my family and friends in Louisiana and Texas, please take care & BE SAFE! I love you all!

Check Your Facts

A friend of mine in Florida (who happens to be a democrat) sends me lots of interesting information throughout the year. This year is no exception. I have the utmost respect for her as she continues to present the facts. Check these sites out for more information on what you thought you might have heard during the conventions:

"Just the Facts - The Party's Over" video clears up the many political facts from fiction during both party conventions.

You can read more about the facts presented by Emi Kolawole at the following links:

"FactChecking Obama - August 29, 2008 - He stuck to the facts, except when he stretched them.

"GOP Convention Spin - September 3, 2008 - Lieberman and Thompson make misleading claims about Obama on Day Two of the party in St. Paul."

"GOP Convention Spin, Part II - September 4, 2008 - Palin trips up on her facts, and Giuliani and Huckabee have their own stumbles on Night 3 of the Republican confab."

"FactChecking McCain - September 5, 2008 - He made some flubs in accepting the nomination."

While you're there check out their homepage.


Thanks for the info Ape ;)

Hurricane's Hannah & Ike

On Friday around noon our area started feeling the effects of Hurricane Hannah's outer bands. When it began we got drenched! If this storm had kept up its pace of rainfall we would have had a bigger mess than was experienced over the next 48 hours. As it would turn out we suffered far less damage than the middle of the state. Areas surround the I95 corridor received 5" of rain compared to the coastal areas 1-2" during the course of the storm.



If Hurricane Ike hits either the gulf coast states or the eastern seaboard after being drenched by Hurricane Gustav and Hurricane Hannah, the damages will be both extensive and devastating for all. Right about now it would be a great blessing if Ike would "drop dead" much like Hurricane David did off the coast of Florida years ago. Well, it's worth all the positive vibes we can muster!

Like Hurricane Hannah, we don't want to see is Hurricane Ike to loop down around those islands and redirect itself towards the Carolinas!

Ignorance vs Knowledge

How much information have you reviewed or researched in your quest to make the best choice for our next Commander in Chief? Everything is not as it appears, or is it? Do we blindly follow along in ignorance or do we research our choices to ensure an intelligent informed decision? Just how much truth an article, speech, or video contains depends on how much we search for the truth and what we believe to be true. Speaking of public information available; this is one I had not seen, have you?



A video that makes one wonder do birds of a feather really flock together? Are you truly the company you keep? Will Obama have to denounce yet another from his associations? Is this again becoming a campaign of the "lesser" of two evils? We absolutely need to know more about each of the candidates before placing our votes in November 2008.

What causes blurred vision?

Yesterday as I awakened to the sound of silence; the kids had already left for school, I meandered into the kitchen for a cup of coffee. The cats were circling my legs looking for some breakfast, the birds were gathering in the backyard for a meal in the freshly cut grass, and the crew at the local news station were all hyped about the 2008 hurricane season's predictions for the Atlantic Ocean.

As I sat down at my computer with my cup of coffee I gazed at the television to see what was happening with Hannah, the latest storm to be headed up the east coast. I squinted at first, then gently rubbed my eyes, but my vision remained blurred as if I had some kind of gel in them. This has happened before, so is it aging? My oldest daughter and her husband have both had Lasik eye surgery, and both were successful surgeries. My daughter went through a period of having to hydrate one eye more than the other but it seems like such a small price to pay for clear vision.

Today my eyes are clear again, and I'm not sure if it was allergies, stress, fatigue, or something else causing less than perfect vision. One thing I do know, I'll be scheduling an appointment soon with my eye doctor and physician to see what is going on with my eyes. Keep your eyes, I mean fingers crossed it is something easy to repair, and that my vision remains crystal clear.

Productive Labor Day Weekend

This weekend was a very productive one. Jenn and I went to visit "Mr.D" with a dual purpose, first to fulfill her commitment to mow his grass, and to spend some time visiting a loved one. We got up early Saturday morning to get the things done around our house before heading out. As soon as those things were done we headed to town to go by the bank, pick up some lunch, and then headed to my brother's house to drop off Ryan. When we arrived at our destination "Mr.D" took us out shopping for supplies for the weekend, and though we picked up food to cook for the weekend, our host insisted on Chinese take-out for dinner. We spent our first night dining and watching movies, one of which was "Multiplicity" starring Michael Keaton. What a riot!!!

Jenn's plan for the weekend was to mow the yard Sunday morning, and then wash the car on Monday morning. Unfortunately when Jenn woke up on Sunday morning she was feeling a bit under the weather, so our host assured her that it was fine if she did what she needed to the next day as long as she was feeling better. She knew that if she needed my help that I was there for her. Meanwhile I tended to drying and folding our laundry, and helping with the dishes.

Bright and early this morning after a delicious breakfast, Jenn and I started with our chores for the day. I started the mowing by cutting close to the house and outlining the area she needed to do first. There is a section where some roots are partially exposed so I like to mow there to avoid any injury to Jenn. She is not yet confident to get to close to the roots without hitting them which cause the mower to stop. After that she took over the mowing and I started on trimming the tree branches.

Next thing we knew our host had fixed all of us a delicious lunch ... Angus bacon cheeseburgers, complete with a side order of potato chips and a tall glass of iced tea. "Mr.D" you are too sweet! After lunch we finished our tasks, cleaned up, packed the van for the trip home, and said our goodbyes. It's really nice getting to visit, but equally as important that we had things to keep us busy while our host worked on things he needed to accomplish before he heads into work tomorrow.

Thank you both, Jenn and "Mr.D" for making this a most productive and profitable weekend!

PS Ryan finished sanding the chairs over the weekend, so they are ready for delivery and payment!

Fulfilling a Commitment

Last month Jenn and Ryan spent the week at a nearby camping location along with other students from around the state who participate in FFA events throughout the year. They both had the chance to hang out with their friends for the week making new friends, playing volleyball, tug-o-war, water-ball, canoe racing, and time learning about commitment and teamwork. Ryan and his friend, Mike, enjoyed preforming on talent night by playing guitars. Ryan had even written a song dedicated to his girlfriend that he sang that night entitled "She Smiles". All in all it was a great week for everyone.

Jenn & her friend Trish watching a volley ball game.

Mike & Ryan at talent night playing "She Smiles"

Jenn the Putt-Putt Pro

Ryan at bat in a game of "water ball"

Then earlier this month Jenn attended a leadership camp for her FFA Chapter. It is an annual trip made each year by the incoming officers team for another week's stay at the same camping site. Previous year's officers may attend, but this year it was only the current officers who would embark on the final adventure for the summer. Jenn was really excited to get to go with all of her new team, and even though she ended up going to the urgent care for pink eye, she still had fun.

One of the things that made these trips possible were the tasks that both Jenn and Ryan took on to earn the money to attend both camps. Ryan had worked this spring as a lacrosse referee and saved his money to pay for his trip this year. Jenn ended up mowing two yards, and washing cars to earn her money for the trip. One of the yards Jenn had to mow was a future commitment. Since her camp was earlier than our next trip to southwestern NC, I agreed to fund her trip until she could fulfill her commitment to mow "Mr.D" yard. She will get to do that this weekend as we are headed for a visit for a couple of days.

Ryan will stay here with his uncle to finish sanding two chairs for an order that he has committed to complete over the weekend. It's so nice to see them both sticking to the things they commit to do for others and for themselves. Now if only Ryan can find the job he'll keep, to earn the money, to save for the car and insurance, to make his life more mobile. That is one goal I am looking forward to him reaching in the very near future. Glass half full, not half empty!

Ryan & Maria Retiring Officers 2008

Turning Eighteen Today!

My son turns eighteen today and hopefully he will enjoy the events of the day. Though we celebrated his birthday this past weekend while his sister was here from VA, he has had surprises all week and more to come this weekend. He may attend a college football game on Saturday, and his girlfriend will be coming in on Sunday for a visit after being apart for just over two weeks. He is too excited about seeing her. He has mentioned he would like a cake just for his birthday since the cake over the weekend was for Ryan, Lisa and Steve, all who celebrated a birthday this month. I wonder if he would like a German Chocolate cake?

Happy 18th Birthday Son!

A Step Away from Uniformity?

Yesterday was the first day of school and both Jenn and Ryan complied with its new dress code. It really isn't that far off from what they normally wear, but it's still annoying that it had to be implemented in the first place. It is a real shame for whatever reason, clothing has become the ruler for the character of a person. It's not surprising though. When you see young people wearing pants around the top part of their thighs causing their entire buttocks to be exposed to view, covered only by their boxers underneath, or their tops cut so low they expose more than needs to be imagined, or expose rolls of excess midsection, none of which could possibly promote a healthy self-esteem!

Let's consider for a moment the health issues of some of today's lackadaisical dress code. If you wear your underwear on the outside of your clothing, it can be quite unsanitary. Think about it! How many times have you stood in line next to someone that had bad body odor? How gross a reality would that be, to have to sit in a seat where someone like that has just been sitting? After all, high school seats are not single user property; there are multiple users in each seat in a single day! Have you ever seen the janitor cleaning off the seats in a classroom?

I can see the enforcement of a better dress code, but it can be taken to extremes. It only makes sense to have students to wear clothing that fits their bodies in a way that they don't have to worry about an item falling off, exposing private parts, or strangling the breath out of them. If a student has on clothing that covers both their private body parts and their undergarments, and the fit doesn't endanger them or others in any way; then why be so picky? What is wrong with a t-shirt with a design or logo on it? As long as it is not promoting sex, drugs, racism, prejudice, or violence, then why shouldn't they have the freedom to dress responsibly?

There seems to be some confusion about the new dress code and what is really allowed as proper attire. Why? Perhaps it was the packet sent home by the school to order "school spirit" clothing? Why? You can purchase a hooded sweat jacket, an item of clothing not allowed according to the new dress code. So what is it to be? Can you really expect the students to comply when you cannot be consistent with your guidelines?

The only way you will make a clean break from choosing to dress neatly and responsibly on your own, is to implement a uniform dress code. After all, most parochial school students wear uniforms throughout their entire lifetime in the school system, and they have survived the ultimate dress code! Even the instructors made it a "habit" to dress in uniformity.

School Starts Tomorrow!

After a long summer vacation, or a short one for some, school will resume tomorrow morning promptly at 8:00 a.m. We spent a couple of hours today trying to find polo shirts for both Ryan and Jenn on a very limited budget. Ryan spent his birthday money on two of his three shirts, and I chipped in to get his third. Jenn was a bit harder to shop for, but after three stores she finally found one style of polo shirt in five different colors. So, we are all set for this new dress code for the time being.

They are both so angry about having to wear clothing that resembles a uniform. I can't say that I blame them, it has been difficult considering the funds are not available for them to get a wider variety of clothing. More difficult than that is the gas it takes to travel all over the triangle area to locate collared shirts for school. Maybe we'll be able to get some different styles as time progresses. The only saving grace to this dress code is that the kids can a least wear their favorite team or school t-shirts on Fridays.

Let's hope this works, otherwise there will be a lot of kids returning home tomorrow morning. Is it time for a sit-in for a bit of freedom in apparel on the high school campus?

Happy Birthday, Kids!

Today we celebrated three of the four birthdays we share together in our combined families with a Mexican style dinner, followed by cake and ice cream. The day started with my oldest daughter and her husband bringing my youngest daughter home from her visit in Virginia. Since they share a birthday this month with two of our sons, we thought we'd fix a special dinner. I had already baked the cake earlier this morning, so all we had to do was pick up the ingredients and supplies for the dinner.

Then about noon my daughter called to let me know they were just leaving to head our direction, and that they would be in around dinner time. We had just pulled up at the store to get what we needed for dinner when she called again to says she had called my parents and asked if they could spend the night with them. This is a good thing since they rarely get to spend time with them. So, my mom suggested she call me and ask what our plans were for dinner.

I let her know our plans to cook them a special meal for their birthday, and mom said she had let it slip that I had fixed them a cake ... lol ... it really didn't matter if they knew. So, I called mom to ask if they would like to be treated to dinner, and if they minded if we prepared it there at their house. She asked what they could do and I asked if she could provide some ice cream for the cake. No problem as she had plenty of vanilla on hand.

We arrived with food prepped to begin cooking the meal. Since most of it was stir-fry ingredients for hot burritos, and soft and hard tacos, it was an easy chore. The guests arrived, we all enjoyed a great home cooked meal topped off with cake and ice cream, and an evening full of conversation. Surprisingly enough there were plenty of compliments from the toughest critic in the bunch, my son-in-law. Though we weren't trying to bend over backwards to please any one person, we were happy that everyone was satisfied with their dinner and the visit.

We finished cleaning up the kitchen, packed the leftovers, said our goodbyes, and headed on home for some quiet time. It was nice to spend the rest of the evening together relaxing before the hectic week ahead. My special thanks to "Mr.D" for all his great ideas, his expertise in Mexican cooking, and the time he enjoys spending with all of us. Goodness knows, I love spending time with him!

I'm looking forward to being able to bake a cake for the other birthday celebrants here shortly. Do you think the cake would survive a six hour drive? As long as there is air conditioning in the car, it should do all right. Now all I have to do is find out what their favorite flavor cake is from their dad. Oh, "Mr.Deeeeeeeee"

PS I promise not to arrange the candles on the cake backwards this time ... :P ... you had to see it to understand my thinking ... or not ... LOL!

How do you choose your multi-vitamin?

Since we are all trying to get rid of the dreaded tax season additional padding, we've been concerned about making sure we maintain our proper levels of daily supplements. Our local radio station claims to have a product that will be the ultra solution to all of your vitamin needs as well as strengthening your physical structure with a pill and little to no exercise. All right. Then there are others with equally enthusiastic promises of health and rejuvenation, what's a dieter to do? How do you choose your multi-vitamin or supplement? Do you order sight unseen, without reviewing its information, or do you take a friend's word for it, and blindly try the product?

Yesterday we were introduced to a new product, well, new to us. We decided to check out the Orovo reviews just in case it was something we could do as a team. Dieting is never easy when you do it alone, and getting healthier is paramount for us all. So, after we've all read the reviews, discussed the pros and cons, perhaps we'll give this supplement a try on our road to a slimmer, healthier us. My plan is to shed my unwanted pounds by disciplining myself to eat healthier, to eat my last meal at an earlier time, and to increase my daily physical activities. All I'll need to do then is find a supplement that works best for me, but not until I've completed a careful review.

Teenage Skin Complexions

As school is about to begin in a little over a week, Jenn and her girlfriends are making sure they get in the last bit of tanning before its time to hit the books. Though most of her friends have clear complexions, there are some that don't have that luxury. For those girls the challenge is to find a treatment that will work well with their choice of cosmetics. One in particular has had an issue with her complexion for years, but after having tried and successfully used Proactiv acne cream, she has been much more confident about her appearance. She is a beautiful young lady, and now she can relax about how she looks among her peers. Believe me, there is nothing fun about having a zit right in the middle of your nose. Been there, done that!

Who said diet pills?

It's one o'clock in the afternoon on Thursday, just after lunch and before our return to the office. We've just had a wonderful plate full of home cooked southern food and someone has the fortitude to mention our weight gain as a whole at the office. The next thing you hear are suggestions for how to get that unwanted weight off. From exercise to diet pills, from surgery to starvation, you hear it all. The one thing you don't hear is a sensible plan for cutting back on the foods we eat, the sweet snacks we could replace with healthy ones, or the exercise programs we could do as a whole to help support each other in our attempt to shed these winter pounds.

So, how does one get six women to join together to encourage each other to success? If you have any suggestions, please leave me a comment. Thanks in advance!

Ü

Political Face Lifts

You know it's a crying shame that neither of the major political parties is able manage a blemish free campaign. This year brings with its election choices both a young candidate full of promises for change with flowery rhetoric, and a veteran candidate promising in unpretentious rhetoric that experience and wisdom is what we need going forward. And just when it appears that the campaigns are wrinkle free, BAMM, one of the parties vice-presidential hopefuls admits to having had an affair! What next?

Someone recently said that "politicians are little more than pimples on the face of America." Pimples? You have to be kidding! Our country's presidential campaigns are looking like a bad case of acne during puberty. It seems the harder they try to cover their flaws up with political makeup, the worse the outbreak. You would think that as effective as mud packs are for one's complexion, that the mudslinging between the parties would have help out by now. No? Perhaps then both parties should consider a real face lift ... literally!

Lose Weight Live Longer?

Yesterday we were watching one of the daytime talk shows and a guest doctor was talking about general health, lengthening ones lifespan, and sampling some healthy juices. Later on in the evening I asked Mr.D if it scared him to grow older. He said only if he couldn't move around like a lot of seniors are nowadays. It's odd, but my and great grandfather (1880-1997) age 97, and my grandmother (1911-2003) age 92, both ate a diet of fried foods, red meats, and vegetables cooked in fatback and bacon grease.

You would have thought that he would have had to lose weight, but he ate sensibly and got regular exercise. He worked for my grandfather at his "Bait & Tackle Shop" well into his eighties. He used to give us a penny for the gumball machine, and if we got a speckled ball we could trade it for any item in the store that cost 25 cents. He kept all of the speckled balls in a cleaned out cigar box under the counter. I loved trading mine for a sweet pastry! Now those are some sweet memories!

So, which is really true? Is how you prepare your food and how you eat more important than what you eat?

Learning to Live Peacefully

Please! Someone tell me how I can get my two cats to behave when they are both in the house together. Nearly two years ago Jenn found a kitten and brought him home to live with us. We already had a cat who was about five years old at the time. She was an indoor/outdoor cat. In an effort to nurse the kitten back to health we kept him inside. He got on the other cat's nerves so bad that she spent more and more time outside.

Now whenever she comes in, he has to be put in a kennel that he sleeps in at night to keep from harassing her. My house is too small for a cat tree for two, and even if it was I am not sure they would even share it. I had considered purchasing something of the sorts, but alas I think perhaps cat perches might better suit them. I can see it now, Baby Girl will take the higher perch in order to keep Lil' Man at bay.

Resources; Are there ever enough?

It's time to stop putting it off and just do it. I've tried everything I can short of hiring a team of miniature techies to climb into my computer and make it run faster. I even promised them miniature glasses of green tea and crumpets, but they declined the offer. Something about having to share the space with all of the dust aliens hiding out inside my CPU. Imagine that!

Seriously, I just have to bite the proverbial bullet, squeeze a bit tighter, put off some of the less important things, and purchase additional system memory if I am ever going to get back up to speed. At the rate this thing is moving now, the slugs that cross my porch at night are moving faster. How slow you might ask? I started a scan of the system earlier this morning and after 7 hours, 13 minutes, and 18 seconds and it is still scanning. :/

Anyone have a suggestion on which memory chip is better to use with a Dell?

Note to self: Remember to pick up a can of alien blaster!

What Happened to the Sizing of Clothing?

So tell me, what's up with the change in the sizing charts for women's clothing? It's enough to confuse anyone. There are petites, classic fit's, women's, plus sizes, and none of them are staying true to size. One year you're wearing what you think is normal sized clothing and the next you are in numbers you'd rather not discuss!

I must admit that years ago (and even now depending upon the maker) I had to wear clothing that was larger than those gorgeous outfits donned by the store mannequins. Like most young ladies I would gaze at them wondering how in the world I could ever get my svelte body into something so tiny.

Now, it's not what you are thinking, although I've been there done that before too. But as a youth I was endowed enough to warrant plus size clothing when it came to choosing the size of blouse or shirt. Since then, I have had a reversal of wardrobe challenges, and what once was an asset, is now less of an asset. Now the challenge is bringing up the rear so to speak.

A bit more walking and a lot less sitting sure would help improve those odds, or is that end?