She's still here...

I spring-cleaned the buns condo and courtyard. Let’s just say, it’s not their fav thing. Mr. R is use to it, but that doesn’t mean he likes it, and Madame, well, I don’t want to talk about it. The cutest thing is when I’m done, they go in and investigate. <sniff, sniff>. Then, as if they discussed it, they start to toss everything around until they get it just the way they like it.

Having a Twitter account allows you to inform your clients and would-be clients the progress in your company. You don’t want to be constantly pitching, but you do want to share with clients (current and prospective) what’s happening within the company including its people and products.

Twitter, unlike MySpace and Facebook, poses an advantage for new and advanced marketers. As an efficient social media marketing tool, Twitter allows you to build a giant list of followers. It allows your clients and subscribers to see whats up right now. It gives them access to your immediate profile and permits you to share your ideas with other twits – and the best part, it’s FREE.

While many people have other purposes for the use of the free service, the marketer can use Twitter to jump start a list of followers that can grow into thousands.

These followers are the next best thing to customers. You need to keep providing them something new to look forward to, they will receive your message, and eventually will purchase something from your company.

You need to measure activity. According to quantcast.com, Twitter reaches about 6.1 million U.S. people every month. There are so many tools out there to analyze you Twitter reach. One that I like is TweetReach. “It gives you detailed reach analysis for any search term on how tweets about that term have spread on Twitter — all in one simple report.”

There are other methods of social media marketing available for your use.

1. Blogs
2. Community forums
3. Social networking sites such as Facebook, FriendFeed, and LinkedIn.
4. Video-sharing sites such as Youtube, Metacafe, and Google videos.
5. Content sharing sites such as Dropbox, Flickr, Squidoo, Hubpages, Wetpaint, Qassia, and Google Knol.

There are many more. It all depends on your objective, and you definitely do not want to limit yourself to one thing. It only works if you work it! In addition, with the Internet as vast as it is, you should use every opportunity to make your voice heard. Not to mention, it’s a great way to learn and connect with people online.

Leave comments on what you are doing and what’s working for you. Questions are also welcomed.

I grew up in a broken home. Though I had a mother, my oldest sister and my father were my parents for the most part. My mom had a rough life. She was born to an abusive father, and was manically depressed.  She was in and out of hospitals most of her life. Now, you’re thinking, “How depressing!” Or, “What a way to start a story!” Well, I tell you this because my mom was not the typical soccer mom, but she did love her children.

My mom was poor, and lived off the state. She shopped mostly at food banks, or churches, or Goodwill. She didn’t have much at all. Even though she was poor, she was a very generous woman. Many years she donated her time to the Salvation Army. Barely a stocking on, or a coat that didn’t button, she would stand in the cold winter air ringing a bell to collect money for the homeless – people less fortunate than her.

We gave her food, money, and clothes all the time, but she gave it away. She’d cook the food for her neighbors, and she would give the clothes away. We’d fight with her, “Why are you giving this away?” She’d simply say, “They are less fortunate.” So we decided to ask, “What can we bring you? What do you need?” She’d say, “Red lipstick.” I guess those essentials are not sold in church basements.

My last day with her was a great day. It was a sunny day in March – still a little chilled, but a beautiful blue sky with the warming sun. We headed out for some clothes shopping; she needed a winter coat. I wanted to take her to the mall to get a new coat; not a used coat. She said, “No! I want to go to Goodwill.” So, we did. She was looking for a long-red coat. Funny, as I write this, I can’t remember if she ever found one. That is sad to me – a simple memory that is slipping away.

Afterward, we went to eat. As we finished, I pulled out my lipstick and put it on. She noticed, “You can put on your lipstick without a mirror?” She watches in amazement, “That’s talent!”

A few short weeks later, I get a call that my mother is in the hospital with pneumonia. As I sat there holding her hand, she realized, “I missed your Birthday.” I said, “That’s okay.” She said, “No it’s not!” She died later that night.

That was a decade ago, and I can still feel her hand in mine, I can still feel the warm sun from the times I had with her, and I will cherish the small moments as long as my memory allows me.

Cherish your mom! Even the one’s that are not so normal; because in their last hour, they will be thinking of you.

The other white cheese!

I’ve just discovered the wonders of Babybel.

What a cool way to market it – in this red wax of surprise.

My favorite part is opening it. You take the stem and pull. The cheese is soft and yummy. It’s fun and a delicious snack.

It’s 1977, and I just moved onto a newly developed, dead-end neighborhood; the kind that all the homes lookalike. Only a few homes are completed, and there is this one house across the dirt street with a family pulling into their driveway. It’s the Truschel’s.  I didn’t realize at the moment, but I was introduced to a family that would be a big part of my life forever.

On April 2, a man who lived in that home, passed away in that house that I played, skipped school, had parties, sleepovers, and great memories of family. He was my best-friend’s father, but he was like a father to me.

Some called him Truschel; some called him Mr. Wilson; and some called him Dick. Whatever you called him, he was a loving, genuine man who touched our lives.

I count myself fortunate to have had the opportunity to spend time with him in his favorite place on earth, Las Vegas. Last June 2009, my best-friend and I, went to Vegas with him. Of course, we pissed him off on the last night because we were drunk and it was only three in the afternoon. He was yelling at us as if we were 10 years old again. It was quite comical.

To Truschel! I love you, and I’ll always remember you working in your yard sportin those cut-off jean shorts.

With Easter only a few weeks away, many pet stores and shelters will see an increased number of parents looking to bring home a special Easter morning surprise. Many rabbits get abandoned when well-intentioned, yet under-informed folks learn that a bunny may not be the best pet for small children. They envision a bunny providing companionship for their kids, but that relationship often doesn’t materialize, and interest from the child fades.

Having a rabbit as a pet is more work than initially thought, especially in the beginning. You need to bunny-proof your house to make it free of electrical cords, plants, or chewable items. Rabbits are social creatures with gentle natures and individual personalities. They also require special diets, stimulating environments (never an outdoor hutch), and veterinarians who specialize in their care. Caring for rabbits is not simple or easy, which is why rabbits are the third-most surrendered animals in the U.S.

I urge you to pass this on…
Before adopting a rabbit, or any pet, please do your research. Be confident you can handle the attention and care that they need for their entire life. An animal also suffers from heartache, and it is stressful for the pet when their owner abandons them. And, as animal shelters, and rescue groups suggest  —— think carefully about giving a stuffed or chocolate bunny this Easter.

The Boy has been on his own for most of his adult, peace-and-quiet, life. Gollum if you will…

Those of you who know me, I’m not a peace-and-quiet kind of girl. I’m all about noise, clutzey-grand entrance kind of things. Kramer if you will…

We mostly have dinner while watching the news – the news is one of his fav things to watch. Anywho, as we sit there eating and listening to the daily outcomes, I start being a chatty-kathy, and blah, blah, blah. He picks up the remote to pause, and tentativly listens. I stop for the time being. We watch more of the news. Chatty-kathy begins her song, he pauses then resumes. After a few times of this, I wonder to myself, “Why is the Boy’s forehead a little more crinkled than normal?” It dawns on me that I’m interrupting one of his fav moments. I’m cool with that because I wouldn’t want him to interrupt one of my moments. So, I make a mental note to Shhh during the news…

The next night, we’re eating dinner and listening to the nightly news….I think you know what happens.

I’ve done little things around the Boy’s place – adding my mark. Mostly moving things around in the kitchen. At work, I get a txt from him at home. BUT First, let me explain. I’m frugal – so when soap gets low in the pump, I add a little water, shack it, and ‘Wa, la’ I have a little more. Let’s face it, the bottom portion can’t get pumped up, and it’s wasted – I get my money’s worth with my cocktail of delution. His txt was, “You put water in the hand soap – didn’t you?” It was Mr R =P

December 12, 2002 – January 18, 2010

“… and together they slipped away, running easily down through the wood, where the first primroses were beginning to bloom.” ~Watership Down

If you have the iPhone, then you might have this problem, or it might just be me…

To text is an every-so-often thing for me. For the most part, my texts are to and from the Boy. The iPhone stores the most recent text, or received text at the top – making that number easily accessible – the Boy is my easy access . Once in awhile I get a text from friends and family. If I’m busy, I may forget to delete their message – leaving their number in the number one spot. Because of this, I’ve text…

a co-worker – “Goodnight puppy.”
a friend – “Goodnight lover.”
a friend – “I love you.”
my sister – “Whatcha wearing?”
a co-worker – “I miss you.”
a co-worker – “Kisses.”
a co-worker – “I can’t wait to see you tomorrow.”

The most embarrassing would be to the Nephew. He was in class when his phone went off. He looked at it thinking, “WTF.” He then showed his friend and said, “Do you think she meant to send this to me?” I then receive a text back saying, “haha wrong person.” I quickly respond, “OMG sorry =p.” Luckily it wasn’t the “Whatcha wearing?”, but still humiliating – I text, “Miss you sexy.”