Happy Thanksgiving

Image by Terry Lea

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

It is a time to rest and be with family...Enjoy your day!

Why oh Why?

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This is what my inbox from my accounts look like every day:

• Add me as friend
  
• I have new content for you
• How much do you make?
• Help me out here, I'm new!
• Read my articles and comment please!
• Thumb this up and pass them to your friends
• Here is my friend's link, review it and pass them on
• Read my new book, I appreciate it
  

At first, and still is sometimes, I feel obligated to response to these requests. I make my rounds and check out newcomers, articles, and photos. I answer questions, and give advices to the people that asked for specific areas. Then, I found out that I have accomplished nothing for myself at all. I couldn't even write one post, or article, or poem!

Image By Ai Q

Now, I just want to blow my top! Come on people! Is my life not worth living? Am I sitting around and wait for you to tell me what to do? When I'm online, I shouldn't do my things, but just what you've sent to me? Oh wait, I have to use all my free time and pass your links around too! Whoa...thanks for turning me into a SPAMMER, too!

Why I Am Not Going to Response Anymore

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• I am not going to add you as friend if you haven't take time to check out my work! Why should I add you as friend when we are total strangers? Just because you sent me a message tell me to add you as friend, that I will just do so! Friendship is a two ways street!
  

• If you have new content for me, I also have new content for you! Go read them, leave comments, and I will return your kindness! By the way, I didn't ask for your new content, and definitely your new content is not for me!

• How much do I make writing is my very personal business! Whatever I make, didn't hand it to me on a platter. I work my butt off for it! I won't tell, and it is distasteful!

• If you are new to a site, I once was too! What do you need help with? An instruction booklet or hold my hand and I will take you to the top? Spend your own time and learn then. I have a life to live too!

• Read your articles and comments? No thanks, I have better things to do! I need my bread and butter just like you! Hey, what about read my articles and comments? You didn't think of that, did you? Only you are important, right?

• Thumb this up and pass them to your friends! Sure, why not? I got online just to do your errands right? Your post is so important to you, that you didn't even bother to check out anything on my blog, and just kept on sending every freaking post you have!

• Well, that is not enough that you are sending your own posts, now it is for your friend too! Double duties for me! Wee ha...Where is my pay check? With all the time that I spent doing your errands, and now your friend's errand, who is going to pay me? Oh wait, free labor! My mistake is to add you to my friend's list...Remove, remove, blocked!

Conclusion

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The internet, and social media sites are great, but do take time and common sense to be part of the circle! I don't have time to carry everyone up the ladder. I have my own things to do, and I'm doing it on my own. Before you can walk, you have to crawl! That's how people who have respect for themselves do it!

• Use common sense and think about what you are asking a total stranger to do
• Stop sending links and ask your friends to send them around
• Have a little respect for other people's time, and wishes
• Be a friend first and always
• In any relationship, give and take should be close to the middle

Now you know how I feel about receiving messages or links to my inbox! I'm probably stepping on a few toes, but face it, there isn't enough time in the day to satisfy all, if I still want to live my life, and I do!

Helping Your Digestive System Naturally

We all occasionally suffer from heartburn, constipation, diarrhea, bloating, and stomach cramp or pain. Some people have a more severe problem than others. Do you know that The American Gastroenterological Association stated that nearly 30% of Americans have gastrointestinal illness a year?

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I am a part of this 30%! I suffer terrible acid reflux, so much so that I can't consume any oranges, orange juice, coffee, soda, and a whole lot more! I dislike taking pills, so I find different alternatives to deal with this problem.

Medications and Supplements Can Have Side Effects

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Medications and supplements can have side effects. Sometimes, the side effects are worse than the main illness, at least for me.

• Calcium commonly can cause constipation
• Magnesium and vitamin C can cause loose stool, and diarrhea
• Iron can cause nausea, constipation and dark stool
• A certain vitamin B can cause nausea

Ask your doctor about the medications you are currently taking for their side effects. Pay closer attention to the medications and supplements will help you to know which ones to avoid.

Change Your Diet

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According to The National Institutes of Health, nearly 30 million to 50 million Americans are lactose-intolerant. You can find lactose in milk, yogurt, ice cream and cheese. The most common complains are diarrhea or constipation.

Lactose-intolerance have different effect in ethnic groups. As many as 90% Asian-Americans, 80% Native Americans and African-American can't tolerate lactose. If this is a problem, you can cut out dairy to see if your condition improve.

Change Your Habits

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• Eat smaller portion
• Take time with your meal and chew well
• Avoid caffeine, alcohol, chocolate, fatty foods, and fried foods
• Avoid eating right before bedtime
• Give your stomach time for digestion
  

Eat High Fiber Foods

Image by Mr. T. in DC

If you are not used to eating fiber, start slowly. The idea is to add fiber into your daily meal until you reach 25 grams a day. Making the switch to whole wheat take a little time to get used to, so be patience if you have small children.

• High fiber breakfast cereal
• Whole wheat bread, crackers, and pasta
  
• Whole oats
• Brown rice
• Beans
• Nuts
• Seeds
• Peas
• Lentils

Knowing what to eat and drink can help you to handle the digestive problem. I still have acid reflux, but it is only worse when I am not watching what I am consuming. Cutting out on citrus drinks help big time for me.

Pay Attention to How You Surf the Web Can Actually Help

Image by Dave G. Kelly

Upon paying closer attention to my habits when surfing the internet, I have some questions to ask below.

• How long do you stay on a certain site?
  
• Do you actually read the content? Or are you scanning it through?
• What irritates you?
• How do you feel when you first arrive on a web page?
  
• What are your first impressions of the site?
• Do you browse through the website if you like it?
• Do you wait around for the page to load or you click on to a different one?
• Do you prefer long post or short post?
  

My habits are terrible, I admit! It seems that every time I am online, I'm in a frantic rush to get things done. My attention is scattered in hundred different directions!

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What I Do When I Surf the Web

• I don't have patient to wait for the page to load
• I like clean design
• I don't like scrolling down to read the content. This is the biggest turn off for me!
  
• Ads at the top of the page is an automatic thumb down
  
• I will actually take time to browse the site if I like its uncluttered design
• I prefer to read medium length post
• I scan for the main ideas on long post, especially when there are no pictures
  
• Pop up ad is the most irritating thing to me
• I strongly dislike: "If you are new here, please subscribe to..." at the top of the post. (I'm new so I don't even know if I like the site yet, why should I subscribe?)
  
• I especially offended by this: "StumbleUpon users, thumb this up!" (What if I am not a StumbleUpon user? What if I don't think the post deserves a thumb up? When I read this, I want to just thumb it down! I restrain myself and go on though...)
  

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Why Paying Closer Attention When Surfing the Web Helps Me

• I choose a cleaner design for my blog
• Flashing ads are not the first sign readers will see
• I keep my post within a reasonable length
  
• I use photos in my post
• My content is the main focus when the a viewer arrives
• No pop up ads, ever!!!
• I need readers, viewers, subscribers, but "thumb this up if you are a StumbleUpon users", or "subscribe to me if you are new here" won't be a part of my post content.
• I will provide the bookmarking sites and the subscribe options, but they won't be obnoxious or demanding.
  

I know, this is only my opinion-one person, actually! There are millions, trillions people out there. I wonder how many people are like me. How do you surf the net? If you know your habits when surfing the web, does it help you when you are creating your post?

Let's Give Thanks

Thanksgiving is around the corner, and many people are busy preparing for family gathering. Personally, I think it is one of best holidays to celebrate. It also has deeper meaning, less stress, and no pressure.

Thanksgiving is time for reflection, appreciation, and togetherness. The season comes with beautiful colors of nature, and abundance harvests. While we are anticipating for the Thanksgiving feast, there are many people who could not be with their families, and these people are our soldiers.

What We Can Do


A friend sent me the link to the above website, and immediately I was impressed by the children's designs of wonderful post cards. It only takes a moment to send a free card to our troops, and say thanks to them for keeping us safe here at homes. There are three simple steps:

• Pick out a card
• Write in your name, city, and state
• Hit the send button

Did I mention, it is FREE? Send one, please! You won't see it, but I am pretty sure whoever receiving the card is smiling! Here are a couple of cards, designed by a six-year old and thirteen-year old.


Other Things You Can Do

In this article, Give Thanks to Our Soldiers, you will find many more ways to show your appreciation to our troops. If there is one act of kindness you would like to do, this is the time to do so. Below is a general look at what you can do in this article.

• Adopt a US soldier
• Any Soldier
• Adopt a Platoon
• Soldiers' Angels
• Send a care package
• Donate your time, or your hand made crafts

Share you love, share your care, share your wealth in giving! If you can't afford to donate money or send a care package, you can send a FREE card, or volunteer at your local church/agency to pack the items!

Dot Com vs. Blogspot

Before starting this blog, I read, and read, and read on everything about blogging. I found some very inspiring posts, followed their journey, and watched them achieved their dreams.

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Hence, the force of "just do it" was behind my motivation! So what if I do it and fail? So what if I never see my dream soars? Those doubtful thoughts can't even hold me back from having my own blog.

After deciding on blogging, the next dose of questions arose! Again, I read, and read, and read to find a balance or something that will work for me, and best for my situation.

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Dot Com, No Thanks!

More than half of the articles that I've read, suggested owning a dot com domain if you want people to take you seriously. Some bloggers with a dot com domain even admitted that the URL was the first thing they look at, and how turned off they were if it was not a dot com! Now, excuse me but that is extremely shallow!

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The URL has nothing to do with the content of the post! If the post is great, informative, entertaining, or inspiring, why focus on the URL for dot com or not? Are we judging people for what they wear? Are we looking for perfectly made-up superstars? Isn't there ground for absolutely everyday bloggers to succeed without bells and whistle? Where is the difference between one great post on a dot com domain to one great post on a free host?

You are reading the post, are you not? You are not starring at the URL at the very top of the page all this time, are you?

Blogspot, Embrace Me!

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After taking many things into consideration, I chose Blogspot to host my blog! Free for the people, normal, everyday John and Jan! I have also seen many successful Blogspot dot com blogs.

It goes to show that success comes with hard work and persistent, not brand name or dot com name. Those that can afford the dot com domain, more power to you! Those that want to make use of free host, there is nothing wrong with it either!

Why I like Blogspot

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• It is easy to use
• It is free
• You don't have to be a pro to have a blog
• There are so many wonderful templates and gadgets
• Create your own world
  
• It's my playground

I like Blogspot dot com over LiveJournal, and other free blogging hosts. I give the credit to Blogspot dot com for making it possible for many people to start their dreams or giving them a canvas to paint on.

For me, there should be no different between dot com or blogspot dot com! If I read a post on a dot com domain, and have the thought "shoo...this is on a dot com, what a turn off", then I am a hypocrite!

So if you read, enjoy the post, enjoy the thoughts, enjoy reading! Don't go looking for that dot com domain to judge whether it has any weight or not!

Taking a Bite Out of a Bully

"Adult bullies target their victims in many of the same way children who bully do. While many people think that bullying only occurs amongst children, it can also happen in the workplace among adults."

The quote above is directly from Stop a Bully-Characteristics of Adult Bully Targets. It is what I have been experiencing these last two months, when my little boy and I became victims to a neighbor bully.

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This woman began to show signs of aggressiveness, by yelling at us whenever she saw fit, and teld us what to do even at our own home. For seven years that we've living here, we've tried our best to keep peace, but it only got worst when she knew the older children moved away.

After many incidents, I started to feel stressed out, couldn't sleep, and my body ached! My energy was low with just the thought of her! My first reaction was "oh sh...what's now" when I see her stomp down on to my driveway.

Her physical body is three time the size of little me, (she is around 280 lbs, while I'm at 75, you do the math) and yes I am, afraid, even though I didn't do anything wrong!

Characteristics of Bullies

• Intimidation
• Power domination
• Controlling and manipulating
  
• Physically aggressive behavior
• Think they are the center of the universe
  
• Pick on vulnerable people

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Characteristics of Victims

• Loner
• Socially isolated
• Physically small or weak
• Different race, or ethnicity
  
• Quiet, polite, and keep to oneself
  

The characteristics of victims fit well with us, also! Sad, but true! We don't have people coming to our house often, so we are isolated in a sense. I don't hang out with friends or family in my own neighborhood.

However, we belong to a church, involve with swimming, soccer, and baseball teams. We are on the road most of the time, but just not at our own neighborhood.

There are not enough hours in the day for me to get things done, but in the back of my mind, I always have to be prepared with some sort of answers to make the neighbor bully happy, just in case she questions my choices! Why is that? Who the heck is she to me or my child?

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Though I believe it was our rights to do whatever we want at our own house, the bully neighbor didn't want us to do so. Her list of unhappiness are:

• My son introduced her son as neighbor
• My son didn't invite her son to his birthday party
• My son didn't look at her son when he has to run in the house to take a pee
• I'm a bad mother for not making my son share his friends with her son
• I didn't teach my son the right thing to do because I allow him to choose who he wants at his birthday party
• I have nothing to do, so I should hang out with her everyday

The list of demands go on! I feel as if I live under her control, and that she was the center of my world. If we happen not to say hello for whatever reasons, she will be stampede down to our house and yelled at us.

A few weeks ago, when she intimidated me with her big body, towered over me with her voice, and expressed her horrid opinion about my parental skill, I took a bite out of her bully days!

I cut out the relationship, and ask her to just live us alone! She didn't give up that easily, still yelling after us from her own house, but that has to stop too! I am ready to enlist the help of law enforcement.

Being a victim makes me feel very small, and violated! It also makes me feel like I have no rights as a human being, and that I fail as a mother to protect my son.

Why is it that people think they have the right to tell others what to do? Why is niceness always turned out bad? Or was it my fault to fit the characteristics of victims?