Have you heard of the song, Be True to Your School? Or the Beach Boys? No? You can click on this link, keep reading, or do both. I suggest both 😊 Link: be true to your school - Search (bing.com Be True to Your School is a song by the Beach Boys, and it came out in October of 1963. I was 4, but I still remember it. The Beach Boys were popular in the 60’s and later in the 70’s when I was in high school. They were known for their ‘California sound.’ It was all about surfing, cars, and girls. You know, teenage stuff. In the 60’s California was the place to be. My parents considered moving, but didn’t. This song started playing in my head after the OSU/Michigan game. My team, The Ohio State University, lost, and the internet articles were awful. Everyone loves the thrill of victory, but no one wants anything to do with the agony of defeat. It’s not fun, but it’s important to know how to win, and how to lose. Maybe that’s why this song started circling through my head. So where did it come from? From Brian Wilson and Mike Love, two of the original Beach Boys. I knew that, but I didn’t know the melody was the University of Wisconsin’s fight song, ‘On Wisconsin.’ But the Wilson brothers, Brian, Carl, and Dennis weren’t channeling Wisconsin. They were using their high school fight song. Hawthorne High School in California uses the same melody, different words. As for the Beach Boys, their lyrics were all about staying true to your school, to your girl, the important things in life. I love positive messages, the kind that make you want to be a better you. Loyalty is a good thing. BTW – the cover photo (below) is for their single, not the album. If you’re younger than me, songs back then were played on record players. They were vinyl disks, 7 inches in diameter. The ‘A’ side had Be True to Your School, the hit side. On the ‘B’side was In My Room. It was actually a hit, but not as big. Tomorrow – my thoughts about staying true to my school, to its coaches and players. Win or lose, I believe in loyalty. Sources: Photos: By http://www.7inchrecords.com/, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5030597 Search link: be true to your school - Search (bing.com) Information Sources: Be True to Your School - Wikipedia The Beach Boys - Wikipedia Part 2 – The School: I’ve been true to my school since the 70’s. I’m a Buckeye first, last, and always. Win or lose, I’m a Buckeye. They’re words, but I’m a writer, and words are important to me. I’m also loyal. If The Ohio State University is playing football, then I’m cheering them on. If we’re into Bowl Season, then I’m all about the Big 10. I’ll root for them, for their coach, and their players. Shucks, I’ll even root for Michigan, but only if it’s a Bowl Game. There are 3 seasons at OSU – the first11 games, then Michigan, and last, a Bowl. Win at least 2 of them, and you’ll keep your job. Here are the last two OSU coaches, Ryan Day and Urban Meyer. After OSU lost The Big Game on Saturday, people wanted Ryan fired, and Urban to be rehired. My guess – probably the same ones. The history of the two coaches is linked, Here’s how . . . In 2018 when people were calling for Urban to be fired, he was placed on administrative leave for three games while the university investigated him. Urban was cleared, and he returned to finish the season. But those people, they were still calling for him to be fired. Not me. I’m loyal. The coach during those 3 games – Ryan Day. He won all 3. I backed him then, and I backed Urban’s return. Some people didn’t, and they got their way. Urban retired after the 2019 Rose Bowl. I was glad because I thought Urban stepped away for health reasons. He looked like he was in pain during most of the season. The next head coach – Ryan Day. I was glad to see him back. I thought he deserved the job. And his record since then . . . In 2019 Ryan had a 12 – 0 regular season, the first one since 2013. His team won the Big 10 Championship. They made it to the National Playoff but lost to Clemson. Coach Day was named the Dave McClain Coach of the Year, AND he beat Michigan. 2020 was a weird year. That’s when Covid almost stopped college football. The Buckeyes played 4 games and won them all. The 5th game, Coach Day missed . . . he had Covid . . . but his team still won. As for Michigan, they refused to play, they said because of Covid. We Buckeyes didn’t buy it. We thought Michigan choked and wanted to stop us from making the National Championships. But the Big 10 council said let OSU play. We won the Big 10, then beat Clemson in the National Playoffs. It was so satisfying after losing in 2019, but the year ended with a loss to Alabama. Disappointing, but being the #2 football team in the nation – not so bad! 2021 was interesting . . . Coach Day started freshman CJ Stroud at quarterback. I couldn’t believe it! I haven’t seen a freshman in that position since Art Schlichter when I was in college. I also couldn’t believe how Coach Day helped him grow. The Buckeyes lost 2 games that season, early in the year against Oregon, and that final awful game. I knew eventually Michigan had to win, but it was glorious, from 2011- 2020. And the good news – we beat Utah in the Rose Bowl. Michigan – lost BIG time in the National Championships to Georgia. This year, 2022 was great, until Saturday. That’s the day Coach Day lost to Michigan, again, 2 years in a row. I didn’t know he bragged that he’d “hang 100 on them” in 2021 . It wasn’t wise, and it fired up those Wolverines, 2 years in a row. But looking at his record, even with 2 losses to Michigan, I’d keep Coach Day. Look at all those great regular seasons, plus 2 Bowl wins. Photo Sources: Ryan Day: By CFB ON FOX - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kelObbmNiQ, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=113990115 Urban Meyer: By CFB ON FOX - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kelObbmNiQ, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=113990179 Information Sources: Ryan Day (American football) - Wikipedia Part 3 – The Team: I’ve been true to my school and its team since the 70’s. No player wins in isolation, or loses that way either. Great plays, and mistakes are part of the game. I believe in that old adage – it’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how you play the game. As for CJ Stroud, he took a lot of shots over the weekend for losing The Big Game, two years in a row. I didn’t blame CJ last year. He was a freshman and still learning. The only other freshman to win the starting quarterback position was Art Schlichter. It was unimaginable to start a freshman then, unless they’re super-talented. It still is. CJ has grown a ton over the last 2 years, thanks to Coach Day and his staff. He is so good that this is probably his last season at OSU. He’s planning on going into the NFL draft. The quote in the screenshot from CJ is, “I just have to eat it.” It’s about losing twice to Michigan, about never winning a Big 10 Championship. It makes me sad. It makes me wish he’d stay for one more year, for one more chance to beat Michigan, and to win that Big 10 Championship, but money talks. So does your body. It can be injured anytime during a season. I understand, and I wish CJ well, wherever he plays next year.
As for that team up north, I’d take Coach Day any day. Looking at Jim Harbaugh, he’s played OSU 7 times since he became coach. He’s won 2, lost 5, and choked in 2020 when he refused to play. Jim did go on to win the Big 10 Championship in 2021, but he lost to Georgia in the National Playoff. Last year, Coach Day won his Bowl Game. As for this year’s Bowl Season, I predict Michigan will go down in the National Championships. I think Georgia will reign supreme. As for Jim Harbaugh, I think he’ll head back to the NFL as soon as he can get himself out of Michigan. He almost made it last January, in 2021. And finally for my Buckeyes, I think Coach Day will review the tapes and work on plugging the holes. I predict another Bowl win for the New Year. My prescription for the future – find someone like Mike Vrabel to coach the linemen, offense and defense. Mike left in 2018 to go to the Tennessee Titans, and he left a hole that needs to be filled. There are 3 seasons at OSU – the regular season, the Michigan game, and the Bowl games. Coach Day needs to get a Bowl win this year. Then next year he must take out Michigan and do it in the Big House, their stadium. I believe in Coach Day, and in his team, but win or lose, I’m still a Buckeye. And I’ll be true to my school, its coach, and its team. Information Source: C. J. Stroud - Wikipedia
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Tonight I’m welcoming Guest Blogger, Justin Bennett. He’s an author and blogger. He loves to collect resources from all over the web to share with his audience. Part of being healthy is having fun. There’s nothing better than a good vacation, and the two biggest travel holidays are coming up – Thanksgiving and Christmas. You don’t want your next trip to be a series of “Can we really afford this?” moments. Author and speaker Justin Bennett presents some tips, on how to plan a vacation without overspending. Vacations are expensive. Kids are expensive. So, it’s hard to imagine vacationing with kids being anything other than a drain on your pocketbook. And at the end of the day, can you really relax on vacation knowing you’re putting your budget at risk? Part 1 – Save on Travel and Supplies Vacations don’t have to be wildly expensive. There are plenty of ways you can reduce how much you spend when you travel. For example, it might cost less to drive to your destination, or, as The Points Guy notes, a budget airline might be the better call. You can also invite another family along to split costs or travel during your destination’s off-season when you’re more likely to get favorable rates. Search for deals on supplies for the road like luggage, changing bags, toys, and basics like diapers and snacks. Whether you’re driving or flying to your destination, also be sure you have a car charger or a portable power bank — you’ll likely rely on your phone to help you get around on your trip, so it’s important to make sure it’s always powered up. Get the Kids Involved Unexpected activities and excursions can be a major financial drain on your finances, but an easy way to avoid them is to get your kids involved in the vacation planning stage. If they’re very little, they might be limited in what they can help with, but even a toddler will enjoy giving their opinion between two options (though their opinion may change with the wind). If your child is preschool or elementary school-aged, print a list of activities at your destination and have them pick two or three they’re interested in. Not only will this give them a chance to take ownership of part of the planning process, but it will also be a fun bonding activity for the whole family. Part 3 – Start Planning Early On top of the tips listed above, the simplest way to ensure you’re not worried about money on a trip is to plan ahead and make sure you can afford the trip to begin with. Start by making sure work is prepared for your absence. If you’re going to spend time worrying about clients, your business, or coworkers, it’s going to be much tougher to truly enjoy your vacation. Money Helper suggests setting aside a savings category in your budget just for vacations, and putting a sum of money into savings each paycheck. Do the math to see how much you’ll have set aside by the time a good vacation opportunity arrives, and then plan a vacation around that budget. Always plan to spend less than you have — eating into a buffer is better than spending each day worried about strict spending limits. If you’re jonesing for that last-minute, follow-your-heart kind of vacation, there are ways to make it financially responsible. Just plan so that by the time you take it, you’ve set aside twice the money you’d expect for the trip. You probably won’t use it all — and you shouldn’t plan to — but you’ll know you have it in the event that your spontaneous plans go south. You can put whatever you have left over toward your retirement, emergency fund, or next vacation. Part 4 – Look for Deals on Entertainment and Trips to Disney To stretch your dollars further, look for ways to save money on entertainment. For example, if you’re set on seeing a ball game, find tickets through a ticket deal site. Or if you want to take in a few different activities like mini golf, laser tag or a water park, look to sites like Groupon, and see what sort of local deals they offer for your destination. Remember too that the earlier you work out your entertainment plan, the more you can save. You can also find deals for fun destinations like Disney, a trip of a lifetime for kids the world over. Use MouseLifeToday.com – a free resource for Disney enthusiasts and consumers – to find great money-saving deals and learn how to use their member reward points for ongoing bargains. When everyone is involved in planning a budget-friendly vacation, you’re a lot more likely to be able to enjoy the trip without worrying about your bank account. Search out great deals and start early so you know you’ve done the work to make your trip as affordable as it is exciting! Justin Bennett is an author and the creator of Healthy Fit, which collects valuable fitness resources from across the web. Contact him at: justinbennett@healthyfit.inf I want to welcome tonight’s guest blogger, Janet Campbell. She emailed and asked if I’d be interested in an idea for parents who want to work at home. I said, “Yes, please!” And this is what she wrote . . . If you are a stay-at-home parent looking to contribute to the household income, then it is a good idea to start a business out of your house. These days, more people are working from home than ever before and there are many great business ideas that you can turn into a full or part-time job. Rinda Beach shares these tips for businesses you can start, and how to get your idea off of the ground. Part 1 – Business Ideas: The evolution of technology has made it so that just about any modern office job can now be done from the comfort of your home, so you have many options when it comes to creating your new business. When you are considering potential ideas, think about what you are good at or what you enjoy doing and the odds are that you can make a career out of it. So, if you love writing and corresponding with others then you could be a professional freelance writer. If you are good at playing a particular instrument, then you could start a business where you tutor others online. If you still need help coming up with an idea then there are many other at-home jobs that you could consider, including: * Professional dog-walker * Consultant * Massage therapist * Virtual assistant * Personal Trainer Part 2 – Building Your Business: Once you know the type of business that you want to start, it is time to start building your company from the ground up. One of the most important steps will be choosing a business structure. You could start a sole proprietorship, an LLC, or a corporation. Determining factors may be what the future may hold. If you want to limit your liability and gain tax benefits and flexibility, then an LLC is the way to go. Since you will likely be doing much of your correspondence and business dealings online, you will also want to have the proper protections in place to prevent cybercrime. In addition to antivirus software, backup servers, and a strong firewall, you will also need to create a recovery plan. Essentially, this is a strategy that you can fall back on should you be hacked or targeted by cybercriminals, and it will dictate the steps that you should take after a breach, including which programs you will need to recover first, how you will do so, and how you plan to notify your customers of the intrusion. Part 3 - Getting Paid on Time With Invoicing Software: If you're running a small business, there's a good chance you're doing a lot of your billing and invoicing manually. Perhaps you're using Excel spreadsheets or Word documents to track what your customers owe you. Or maybe you're still using paper invoices that you mail out (or hand deliver) each month. There's nothing wrong with any of these methods per se, but they are all somewhat ineffective and inefficient. This is where invoicing software can come in handy, which offers a number of benefits for small businesses. Perhaps most importantly, it can save you a lot of time. With automated invoicing, you can set up recurring payments so that customers are billed automatically on the same day each month. This means you don't have to spend time creating and sending invoices each month - the software will do it for you. Part 4: Designing a Logo: A logo is more than just a pretty image - it's an essential part of your business brand. Your logo is one of the first things that potential customers will see, so it's important to make sure that it makes a good impression. A well-designed logo will convey professionalism and instill confidence in your business. It can also help to build customer loyalty, as people are more likely to remember a business with a recognizable logo. The easiest way to create a logo is by using an online logo maker. This tool offers a large variety of logo templates to choose from which can be customized with your choice of icons, design elements, and images. Part 5: Finding Customers: Once you are all set up, the next step is to find your customers. As a first step, you should create a website that explains what your business does, how you do it, and how you can be contacted. As you start getting customers, it is a good idea to ask them for reviews and then put those comments on your website so other customers can see that you have a high-quality company. With your website completed, you now need to find a way to market your services. Many people choose to go on social media to talk about their business. Consider trying social tools such as Facebook and Google Ads. For a small fee, you can use these products to elevate your marketing strategy so that potential customers will see your business first before your competitors. Finally, when you do land customers, ask them to refer their friends, and before you know it, you could have a substantial following. If you’re a stay-at-home parent with a great idea for a business, it’s time to put it to the test. By building your business, using invoicing software, designing a standout logo, and finding customers, you can launch your venture and set the stage for the extra income you need. Would you believe this post started with an email? Gwen Payne wrote to ask if she could write an article to help the parents of kids with special needs. It’s not easy to raise children, but it’s even harder when they need more from you. I said absolutely, and this is what she wrote. I hope it helps you and your kids. Making Time for Self-Care for Parents of Special Needs Kids As a parent of a child with special needs, you know just how important it is to care for their emotional health in addition to their physical health. For many parents in your position, though, it can get exhausting to constantly give care and rarely receive it. According to research, 66% of working parents experience burnout — and this figure might be even higher for parents of special needs kids. In order to be the best parent you can be, it’s imperative that you make time for self-care. This article will help you find ways to take care of yourself and prevent parental fatigue. Part 1: Recognize Your Roles Outside of Parenthood It’s easy for any special needs parent to become absorbed by their role as a caregiver and forget that they have other interests, too. This is especially true when you’re battling parental fatigue and burnout. If you suspect that you may be fatigued, consider whether you’re parenting effectively — or whether you’re satisfied with your parenting. If you don’t feel that you’re at your best, this may be an indication you’re dealing with fatigue. To combat it, consider what roles you have beyond your role as a parent. Are you a musician? Craft enthusiast? Writer? Reader? Tapping into other aspects of your identity can help you achieve a sense of balance that’s often lacking for fatigued parents of special needs kids. Making time to invest in your other interests can be challenging, though. As you pursue a self-care plan, you may find that you struggle to seek help from your support system without overburdening them. To avoid this, you should simply be straightforward in your communications and ask your friends and family to set clear boundaries. Part 2: Invest in Your Mental and Physical Wellbeing Another way to assess your level of fatigue is to consider how much physical exercise you’re getting. In many cases, a lack of exercise can contribute to fatigue — especially for special needs parents who are tasked with daily caregiving. It’s important to make time for exercise and ensure you maintain a quality diet, too, in order to prevent physical exhaustion. Of course, your physical health isn’t the only aspect of your wellbeing that necessitates care. You must also tend to your mental health in order to take care of yourself. It’s not uncommon for special needs parents to experience anxiety and depression, but an online therapy service can help combat these symptoms. You can take advantage of the convenience of virtual therapy by scheduling an online appointment. This allows you to consider a wide variety of licensed providers, eliminate the need for travel, and pay less than a traditional therapist would charge. You may even be able to take advantage of a free consultation to ensure that your new therapist is a good fit. Part 3: Don’t Get Burned Out on Caregiving Caregiving of any kind is an arduous task. When you’re taking care of your special needs child, though, it’s an especially difficult responsibility. Feeling fatigued doesn’t make you a bad parent — it simply means that you’re human. You can mitigate this fatigue by investing in self-care, eating healthily, getting enough exercise, and scheduling an online therapy session. These steps can help you regain a sense of balance that will ultimately make you a better parent. This post grew too long . . . so I broke it in half. The first half is about putting together a blog. Now the new second half . . . it's about taking that blog and converting it into a vlog. Converting a Blog Post into a Video: A vlog is just like a movie or a television show . . . it starts with a script. I don’t have to stick to it, but it guides me from the beginning, to the end. I usually pick the blog that’s up next, but not always. This time I picked an old post from August of 2017. I needed an easy button this week. Step 1 –Putting Together a Slide Show: That’s what I started on today. This is the screenshot for the whole post – The Search for Zero Gravity. It’s short and sweet, but it still takes time. I usually go back and forth between writing the script and making the slides, but I can’t. Not when I’m writing this post at the same time. It’s too complicated . . . too many moving parts. I needed an easy button for this one. I start each vlog with a question about the topic. I’ll add in another sentence or two. Then I introduce myself. I’ll tell you a little about me and why you should tune into this vlog. Next, it’s time for the slide show, with the title and the 1st image from the blog. This is my 1st draft, for the 1st slide, but it didn’t make the cut. Why not? The title’s too big. I checked . . . I went into zoom to see how we looked together. I screenshotted it (below), and it’s too big! Here are three screenshots of what it looks like to edit slides. The 1st has the title, too big. The 2nd is about right, but I usually go in/out of zoom a few times until I’m happy with it. The 3rd – I’m ready to move onto the next slide. I wanted this pair of images from the original blog post for the 3rd slide. I took a screenshot, cropped, and pasted them into the new slide. I changed the title and checked on zoom to make sure we looked good together. It’s a process! It just takes time and patience. This pair of images came from the original blog post. I wanted it for slide #3. I screenshotted, cropped, and pasted them into the new slide. I changed the title, then checked to see how we looked on zoom. It’s a process! Give yourself time, and a little patience. This is a screen shot of that 3rd slide. If you look at the left side, you’ll see the seven slides that make up the vlog. Almost done! Step 2 – Putting Together a Script: It’s not pretty, like the slides are, but the script is key to a good vlog. This is a screenshot from the new one, on zero gravity. I caught the last sentence from the 1st paragraph, and all of the 2nd one. That’s where I introduce myself to the audience. It’s a first draft, the worst one. I’ll go back and make changes when the script’s done. Take another look at the screenshot. Do you see the sentence in red? That’s my note for what to say or do. This one tells me to go into my slideshow. That teeny-tiny picture is the first slide you’ll see. Look down below the large print, and you’ll see two paragraphs in small type. I copied and pasted them from the original blog. I’ll type them back in large print, and I’ll simplify as I go. I want to make my video feel like I’m really talking to you. (Note – It’s still the first draft, the worst one.) Here’s that same page again, but the letters are all the same size. When I print out the script, bigger type is way easier for me to read. I also use short paragraphs. Sometimes I go off script, and when I do, those short paragraphs help me find my place again. Finally, look at the bottom of the page. Can you tell when I should click and move onto the second slide? (The answer – after I say, “remembered to get a picture.” The proof – there’s a mini slide below it.) This is a screenshot of how I end my vlogs, with the same basic last five slides. This one’s from my last vlog, Christmas in July. The first invites you to listen to the vlog again. The second, to check out the original post. The next two slides take you on a scavenger hunt across the buttons on my website. The final slide says goodbye, and it invites you back next week. PS – I do change the slide titles . . . as needed. This is the last slide I create. I go into my digital playground on Facebook. That’s where I’m the one and only member. I paste in the original blog link and get back a copy of it as a post. It’s a great trick to test-drive your content. Step 3 – Revision: This isn’t pretty either, but it’s key to making a good video. With 3 pages, or more, it takes time, but I still revise everything! I use narrator to listen to the script. I make at least three rounds through the words to make sure I’ve said what I wanted to say, that I said it clearly, and that it sounds good to my ear. For the vlog I listen to the script paragraph by paragraph. I change the first one that’s off. Then I go back and keep listening until that paragraph is clean. Then I move onto the next one, revising until it’s bug-free. I keep going until the first page is done. Then, I listen to the first page as a whole. Would you believe I always find a few small things I want to change? Or that I won’t leave page 1 until it’s done? Then I move onto page 2. I do it twice until it’s clean. I repeat this process on each page until I reach the end of the script. When I’ve reviewed each page twice, I do one last round with the whole script. This time I listen from the beginning, all the way to the end. If I make a change, I only repeat that paragraph. When I finish that 3rd round, I’m happy with what I’ve said, and how it sounds. At some point – you have to move on. The rule of 3 rounds of revisions makes me feel like I’ve done the job, to the best of my ability. Step 4 – Video Taping: I video tape my script and power point on zoom. But first, I practice going through the whole thing at least one time, from beginning to end, without hitting record. I may have gone through the script 3 times already, but this is the first time with the script and the slide show together, so I practice again. Sometimes I catch mistakes in the script or in a slide. The vlog is a lot longer than Saturday Reads, at least 3 pages long. So one more practice really helps me learn how/when to move the slides. It doesn’t make me perfect, but it makes me feel more confident about doing the video. Confidence makes everything easier. It’s easier to make a vlog now from the beginning to the end. That’s because of all the time and practice I put into them. The result – confidence! Step 5 – Social Media: I do 3 rounds of it, just like I do for Saturday Reads, but I’m a day behind. Round 1 – on Friday afternoon I post my announcement for Sunday’s Vlog on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. It’s like a free commercial – something I do to get your attention. Round 2 – I’ve gotten in the habit of taping the video on Thursday or Friday. I tape Saturday Reads on the same day as the vlog. That way I only have to do the prep work once. BTW – the key to a good video is making sure you have good lighting when you tape. Once I’ve trimmed and saved it, I schedule it on Facebook Meta, unless I’m at the lake. When I’m there I try to time my Meta scheduling with when I’m in town . . . the internet’s better! Round 3 – The video goes live on my Facebook business page Sunday at 4. As soon as it’s live, I copy and paste it on my personal Facebook account, on Instagram, and Twitter. Then I’m done! Finally! Until Sunday night when I start thinking about my next blog to convert, and my next book to read. It’s my writing circle of life! Have you ever wondered how I put my Sunday Vlogs together? They all start with a blog post, and here’s how they start. Part 1 - Putting together a Blog Post: Like all good things, they grow out of an idea. Then I search for images to illustrate them. I have two examples for you to see. Pick one or look at both. #1. The idea and images for zero gravity. Link http://www.rindabeach.com/blog/how-i-put-together-a-blog-post #2. The ideas and images for lost/devastated and found/grateful. Link: http://www.rindabeach.com/blog/putting-together-a-post-from-start-to-finish-the-story-of-lost-devastated-found-grateful Part 2 - Writing the Blog Post: Once I have my idea and the images, I write the post. It’s like typing from one picture to the next, like connecting the dots on a road map. Sometimes I add or delete images. Other times I need to do a little more research before I can write. That usually means googling things like, ‘What is zero gravity?’ or ‘How do I find something I’ve lost?’ #1. My Blog Post – The Search for Zero Gravity Link: http://www.rindabeach.com/blog/the-search-for-zero-gravity #2. My Blog Post – From Lost/Devastated to Found/Grateful Link: http://www.rindabeach.com/blog/lost-devasted-found-grateful Part 3 – Scripting Saturday Reads Videos: I wrote about it first, because it’s shorter. It’s only one page that I have to get ready by Saturday at 4PM. My Sunday Vlogs are much longer, usually 3-5 pages, but the process is a lot alike . . . I write a script, revise it, video tape, post the video on Facebook, and then put out the word on social media. The two big differences – 1. I pick a book that matches my Sunday Vlog. 2. I don’t have to prepare a power point slide show. All I have to do is share the book . . . it has all the pictures I’ll need, and more. I’m not allowed to read the whole book . . . because of copyright. The Blog Post – Putting Together Saturday Reads for You Link: http://www.rindabeach.com/blog/putting-together-saturday-reads-for-you The idea for this post came in an email from Laura Mitchell. She represents cellphonedeal.com, and that’s where I found this link, and this image. She asked if I’d share it with you. My answer . . . with pleasure! Link: 13 Awesome Uses for Your Old Smartphone (cellphonedeal.com) Part 1: Four great ways to use your old smartphone. 1. A Music Player – Who would have thought you could recycle/reuse your phone as a record player or iPod? I didn’t! You can also use it to listen to audio books or podcasts. That way you can save your smartphone battery for something else. 2. An e-Reader – If you use your old phone as an e-Reader, you can always have it charged up and ready to go. Best of all, it’s old so no one else will borrow it! 3. A Spare Camera – Who doesn’t need one, that fits in your pocket? I didn’t realize cell phones had better cameras than some of the ones you buy in a camera shop. Another plus – you can buy accessories that will fit your old, recycled camera. If you keep them altogether, you’ll be ready for your next photo-op! 4. A PDA or Digital Calendar – I had to look up PDA . . . it’s like a palm pilot from the 90’s. They worked like a little computer, but you could carry them around. They probably became today’s smartphones. Digital calendar . . . now that one I understood. Who knew an old, outdated phone could be so useful! Part 2: Four more great ways to reuse/recycle your old smartphone. 5. A First Phone for Your Child – Here’s another way to reuse your old phone and save a little money. Kids only need basic features for their first phone. Your old one might be a perfect fit for them. Just do yourself a favor . . . double check that it’s kid-friendly before you pass it on to them. 6. Backup Storage – Need extra storage that you won’t lose, like a thumb drive? Try using your old phone. You can keep files, videos, or photos on it. It’s a great place to store data, and it’s easy to get to. 7. A Universal Remote – I didn’t know smartphones could control the TV, but my daughter did. She added an app that put me back in control. Guess what?! Your old phone could do that for you and your family too. 8. A Gaming Device – Have you ever had your phone die because someone was playing games on it . . . Maybe, it was even you! Did you know you could use your old phone as a Gameboy, like back in the day? Try it out, and you’ll have a great new way to play the latest online games. And, your new phone will still have a charge! Part 3: The last five ways to reuse/recycle your old smartphone. 9. An Alarm Clock – My phone wakes me up. It’s simple, and it works well. It can for you too, whether you use your old phone, or a new one. 10. A Back-up Phone – Back in April I really wanted that extra phone. I lost mine somewhere in the airport on my way home from Texas. It took 2 days to return and get a new one. I felt lost without any phone. I spent the third day making sure all my apps worked again. Having a back-up would have made everything easier! 11. Emergency Phone – It sounds just like a back-up phone. The biggest difference between the two – an emergency phone must always be charged; in case you have to make that call. My husband and I don’t need an emergency/back-up phone. A better idea – to give our old phones to seniors, like parents or relatives. It could be a lifesaver, if they know how to use it properly. 12. Donate it – There are some great services out there that will accept your old phone. My local funeral home collects them, then sends them overseas so our troops can phone home to their families. That’s a great cause! Important Warning – make sure you delete all your information from your phone. If you’re not sure how to do it, check the link from cellphonedeal.com. List item #12 will tell you how to do it. 13. Donate its Processing Power – I hadn’t heard of this, but the link from cellphonedeal.com had some apps that can and will use the processing power of your phone. It’s wonderful to know that your old phone can help someone in need. In 1965 a song came out about Henry VIII. I thought Henry was the king who’d had 6 wives. This Henry, but I was wrong. I just looked up the song and reread the lyrics. It turns out the song’s Henry married a widow from next door, and she’d married seven other Henry’s. That made him the widow’s eighth Henry. Here’s the cover from that 1965 song. It hit #1 on the US charts, and it was the fastest selling song in history, back then. It’s still one of the shortest songs in chart history. That’s because it only used the chorus. There are actually three verses, but Herman’s Hermits didn’t use any of them. I guess they wanted their song short and snappy. The Hermits skipped the verses, but they kept the Cockney accent from the original song. It was written back in 1910. Their Henry is pronounced Enery, with three syllables. Would you like to hear The Hermits? Click this link. Link: henry viii i am song - Search (bing.com) Would you like to learn more about the song, Henry VIII? Click this link. Link: I'm Henery the Eighth, I Am - Wikipedia Photo Source: By MGM Records - Stereo Gum, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=62053039 School’s out for the summer, and it’s lovely – more time for vacation and family – But it can also make it harder to get things done. If you need a little help, here are four tips from Justin Bennett. (@HealthyFit.info). I hope they’re just what you need. Having a baby or toddler makes life exciting and exhausting. However, working from home while managing your children presents an additional layer of challenges. If you are looking for ways to be successful when working remotely while taking care of your kids at the same time, follow these four tips. 1. Rely on Others Having a support system makes a huge difference when it comes to taking care of your kids while working. Your partner, family members, friends, and neighbors are all excellent resources when you need someone to watch your child. Sit down with your husband or wife and make a weekly schedule; it should note who watches your children and when. Do your best to include some child-free work time for yourself. Maybe there are a few days during the week it would be helpful for someone else to watch your child. Perhaps you need someone on standby for extra busy days. Talk to people in your support system, and see if any of them can tend to your kiddos on a regular basis or as needed. 2. Reorganize Your Processes If you are a company employee, over time you have probably gotten into the habit of doing things a certain way. Taking a step back and reevaluating your processes helps you realize there are faster options that save you time. For example, maybe your inbox is a mess, and you have simply gotten used to it being that way. Making a few teaks can make it easier to manage and track emails. Search online for articles and videos with helpful recommendations for reorganizing your inbox. If you are a freelancer, you have more flexibility with revamping your processes. Maybe you need help tracking your income. Instead of sending a generic email to customers as a bill, better track the amount and accuracy of payments using free tools. Check out this invoice maker. This allows you to create professional invoices that feature your logo and brand. Simply select from a variety of pre-built templates, and customize your invoice with your brand colors, business name, logo, and other important information. 3. Stock Up on Toys and Books Whether your kiddo is stationary, sitting, crawling, or running, having items to play with helps him or her stay busy while you work. Set up a play area in or near your office so you can monitor your child. Fill the area with kid toys, books, and games. Wash the toys on a regular basis to prevent germs from spreading. Stock up on toys without spending lots of money by shopping at thrift stores and garage sales. 4. Make To-Do Lists Many people find their lives run smoother when utilizing checklists. According to one article, 96% of those surveyed felt their lives were better when they used to-do lists. To prevent personal and professional tasks from slipping through the cracks, make a to-do list at the beginning of each day. Check items off as they are accomplished. Create other to-do lists throughout the month, such as bills or chores lists. As needed, add tasks from these indexes to your daily list. This ensures big-picture items are not overlooked and get tackled during the week. While working remotely gives you more freedom, you need to take intentional steps to make sure your job and your little ones are tended to. Following these four tips brings balance to your workday while still loving on your children. Visit Rinda Beach for more.
I spotted this on one of my Private Facebook Groups, and I saved it to share with you. It made sense to me because I’ve done all of these things, tried to quit, and found myself going back there again. Bad habits, they’re hard to break! When I went back, my source had disappeared. I did a reverse picture search and found the original site on Tiny Buddha.com. I’m glad to give them credit. 1. Trying to please everyone – Have you ever felt like this? Like everyone wants a piece of you, and you just can’t say no? You don’t have to be a doctor to feel this way. It happens to everyone, even kids. I’m a retired teacher, and I used to feel that way all the time. I had kids at home and at school who needed me, and I tried to help everyone. The result . . . I burned out. You can’t take care of everyone, if you don’t take care of yourself. Sometimes that means you have to say no to someone. Just make sure it’s not always YOU. Sometimes you need to say yes to your own needs and wants. If you’re happier, everyone around you should be happier too. 2. Fearing Change – No one likes it. Change is hard, but it’s inevitable. Everything changes. Kids do . . . they grow from babies to toddlers to high school graduates in the blink of an eye, and they’re excited about it. As a parent, I felt torn between being happy and sad. Fear needs to be handled like anything else. I look for opportunities in it. Sometimes what I fear actually makes my life easier. Look at elementary age kids – no diapers. No terrible twos. It was my favorite time with my three kids. Losing a job/failing to find a new one – those are hard changes to make. When I’m in the middle of one, I look for silver linings. I wait for them. I know they’ll come, but I have to be patient and wait them out. You can too. 3. Living in the Past – You have no choice. You can’t stay in the past. It will quickly become the present, and eventually the future. Nothing stays the same forever. I’ve been a kid, an adult, a mom, and now a grandma. Each stage had things that were wonderful, and awful. That’s life. It’s interesting that #2 fearing change, and #3 living in the past can be the same. You have to change to move into the future. For me, the trick is to minimize what’s awful. Then I look for silver linings. There are opportunities out there. Sometimes you have to look for them. Sometimes you have to work, and make them happen. 4. Putting Yourself Down – Are you harder on yourself than you are on anyone else? Me too. It’s important to be honest with yourself, but you also need to give yourself a break, the kind you give other people. I’m a recovering perfectionist. I’ve learned to forgive myself when I fall short. It’s hard. It’s easier to forgive someone else. My advice – Put yourself up. Recognize one thing you’re doing well. You have to believe in yourself to get things done. Put downs can stop your forward progress. 5. Overthinking – Do you examine every angle before you start something new? Thinking through consequences is a good thing . . . unless you freeze and can’t move forward. I overthink things, but I’ve learned to balance it by looking for problems, and then coming up with solutions. If they don’t work, I make a new plan. Life is about problem solving, not perfection. I want to enjoy both the journey, and the challenges. My Summary – I’ve given you a list of don’ts, but I’d rather finish up with things to do. 1. Please yourself. If you’re not happy, no one else will be either. 2. Examine change. Look at it closely. Does it fit you and your style? Adjust as needed. You don’t have to change, for change sake alone. 3. Live in the present. Learn from the past, and plan for the future, but enjoy the here and now. No one is guaranteed tomorrow. 4. Compliment yourself. Celebrate what you do well, and what mistakes can teach you. 5. Make a plan and test-drive it. Correct as needed. Remember detours can be a good thing. |
AuthorWhen I write, I can only have one voice in my head, mine. A little noise is fine. But too much, or worse yet, WORDS, and I must change rooms or pull out headphones. Then I can write on! Categories
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