This post came from another email suggestion. Jack Robertson, who’s a content specialist with ireviews.com, asked if I’d share an online article about protecting seniors from online scams. I took one look at their first image and said YES. I’m summarizing . . . according to the FBI, seniors lose an estimated $3billion because they fall prey to these scams.
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Their article highlighted ten. It told you how they worked, and how to spot them. Here’s their link: How To Keep Elderly Loved Ones Safe From Online Scams (ireviews.com)

​I picked three to write about. They struck me as the most common, and the most dangerous. Looking at them, might help you navigate the others.
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Part 1 – Three Scams and How to Spot Them:

#1 – Social Security – Everyone should watch out for this one. Bad guys can be so clever. The most common – to call or email seniors to ask for their Social Security numbers. Sometimes those scammers make you think you have to respond. That you’ll miss out on money you’re owed.

Remember, Social Security will never call or email you. They’ll never ask for personal information. The scammers will want you to use their phone numbers, emails or web sites. DON’T. Type www.ssa.gov, and you’ll go straight to the real Social Security site.

#2 – Prescription Drugs – I didn’t know seniors take 1/3 of the prescriptions in the US, and that’s a hefty price tag for someone on a fixed income. The bad guys know how to catch their attention – with cheap prices. Then they try to steal credit card numbers and insurance information.
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Remember no matter your age, if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. If it’s misspelled or sounds fishy, skip on by. Don’t be tempted! Buy your prescriptions from a trusted pharmacy. 

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#3 – Free Vacations – Scammers will promise all-expense-paid trips to seniors, but they’re really looking for personal information/credit card numbers. Don’t give them out. If they push you to book a trip, hang up!

Remember, if it looks too good to be true, it probably is. Another tip – don’t use the links they send. Google the company yourself. It may not even exist. If it’s real, check out their reviews before you make a decision. That’s good advice, anytime/anyplace.
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Part 2 – Fourteen Ways to Prevent Scams:  An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of protection. I know – I spent the last ten years helping my parents age, then pass away. Each one of these tips helped me, help them. I decided the best way to share them is by doing a picture walk through the list. To read more, click on this link: How To Keep Elderly Loved Ones Safe From Online Scams (ireviews.com)
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​​1.   Talk to them regularly about technology.

3.   Install antivirus software for them.
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​4.   Teach them how to handle links in messages.

6.   Keep an eye on their social media accounts. ​

9.   ​Keep phone numbers private.

​10.   Research before buying anything.

​11.   Consult/help them with big purchases.​

​12.   Explain how official correspondence works.

13.   Check in on their finances.    

​14.   Check in on them regularly. 





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10-16-202  I bought this book back in early September. I shop whenever I’m watching an OSU football game. It’s a superstition, but it makes me feel like I’m doing my part to help the Buckeyes win.

September 3rd was their opening game against Notre Dame. I probably started shopping early in the 1st quarter, when Notre Dame scored first. At half-time they led, by 3 points.

OSU came back in the second half, scoring 2 touchdowns. It worked! I shopped, bought this book, and Notre Dame stopped scoring. I didn’t buy anything else, but I kept screen-shopping, just in case.

I read the 1st chapter later in September, and I discovered this is an unusual book . . . Each chapter has a set of trivia questions, followed by multiple-choice answers, and the explanation for those answers.

        Next Game Day Saturday, October 22nd, I’ll share how I did on chapter 1, and what I learned. 

Amazon’s Description:
Do you think you’re the ultimate superfan of the Ohio State Buckeyes? Do you have a friend who bleeds scarlet and gray? Do you want to learn about the history of your favorite Big Ten school’s football program?

Even if those questions don’t apply to you, The Ultimate Ohio State Buckeyes Trivia Book is the best book for learning about the Buckeyes and their history. This trivia book is packed with interesting facts about Ohio State football from cover to cover, taking you from the playing fields of Columbus to the being drafted into the National Football League.

In this book, you’ll discover the answers to such questions as:

• When did Ohio State win its first national title?
• Who holds the Ohio State record for career rushing touchdowns?
• Who was the first coach to lead the Buckeyes to an unbeaten season?
• Who was the first Ohio State player to be chosen in the 1st round of the NFL Draft?
• What was Les Horvath studying before he went on to win the Heisman Trophy?
  
  

Whether you are an Ohio State fanatic hungry for more information about the team, a Big Ten superfan craving knowledge about the teams in the league, or just someone who enjoys learning new, interesting facts, this book is right up your alley. You will not be disappointed in discovering the world of the Ohio State University Buckeyes, so just crack open the book, sit back, relax, and enjoy the wave of knowledge.

                             Game Day Saturday, October 22nd - Chapter 1 - How I did, and what I learned. 

Chapter 1: Origins & History Time: Welcome to University Hall! It was the first building to be built on campus in 1873, It was reconstructed in 1976, a year before I became a Buckeye. I started at the Lima Branch in 1977, and I went to the Main Campus in 1979.
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I thought I bled scarlet and grey, but I guess, not as much as I thought . . . On the first quiz I got 5 right, out of 20. JUST FIVE! I couldn’t believe it, but, the questions were really hard. I picked three to share with you.

                         #2 Ohio State’s first football game was played in May.  True or False?
True, and I got it right. It was a lucky guess! I looked up the reason behind the answer – the book didn’t explain why. The reason – They started trying to form a team in 1886, but it took until 1890. The very first OSU game was played on May 3, 1890 on the campus of Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio. There’s even a historical marker there to celebrate that very first game!
                                            Source: Ohio State Buckeyes football - Wikipedia

                 #17 Michigan is the only team to beat Ohio State more than 20 times.  True or False?
False. I got it right, but I misunderstood the question. I thought Michigan won LESS than 20 times. I was SO wrong! The teams met the first time October 16, 1897. The team up north (Michigan) won 34 to 0.

OSU and Michigan played 117 times so far. Michigan won 59 times. OSU 51, and there have been 7 ties. My favorite fact – OSU dominated this century. Michigan won in 2003, 2011, and last year, 2021. THREE TIMES! Woohoo! This year . . . yet to be played.
                                                Source: Michigan–Ohio State football rivalry - Wikipedia

                               #18 What charm do Ohio State players receive for a win over Michigan?
                                    A. Gold “W”        B. Silver jersey        C. Gold buckeye        D. Gold pants       
                                             The answer – D! I missed it because C sounded better.

Here’s how the tradition started . . . from Michigan’s early domination, from 1897 to 1933. They won 22 times. OSU 6 times, and 2 ties.      

In 1934 OSU hired Francis Schmidt as head coach. When the local media got a chance to ask about that team up north, Schmidt said, “They put their pants on one leg at a time, just like the rest of us.”
That’s when two Columbus businessmen formed the ‘Gold Pants Club.’ They created gold lapel pins, shaped like football pants. Each player and coach on that winning team gets a gold pin, engraved with their initials, game date, and the score.

The first year, 1934, Schmidt’s team won 34 – 0. OSU kept winning! They beat Michigan for the next four years. Talk about motivation! Here’s to gold pants in 2022!
                                             Source: Michigan–Ohio State football rivalry - Wikipedia

                                 Game Day Saturday, October 22nd - Chapter 2 - How I did, and what I learned. 

Chapter 2: The Numbers Game:  I knew I was going down when I realized they were jersey numbers. I never paid attention to those. I was shocked! I got 7 right out of 20, TWO more than last week, but it was only lucky guessing.

This chapter was all about name dropping, and I thought I knew a bunch. Just 14, HALF! Like Archie Griffin, the Bosa Brothers, and Eddie George. But there were 14 I didn’t know, at all, like Kirk Herbstreet, you know the football commentator. YIKES!

Here’s this week’s Pick 3 – Three questions with three great answers . . . 
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                           #6 Which number did the Bosa brothers wear while terrorizing opposing
                                                       backfields for Ohio State?     94     96     97     98   
The answer – C! I picked B, a pure guess. Their dad John wore #97 when he played for the Miami Dolphins. Joey picked up his dad’s number from 2013 – 2015. Then Nick took over the family tradition from 2016 – 2018. For six years #97 led the way. It attacked and sacked quarterbacks across the Big Ten, and beyond.

      #19 Ohio State’s school colors of scarlet and gray predate the football program. True False?
True. One right! I can’t imagine OSU without scarlet and gray. They’ve been Buckeye colors since 1878. A team of three students picked them out. They thought it was a “pleasing combination,” and no one else used them. That first game – May 3, 1890!

                                          #20 What color are the buckeye decals given out to players during
                                 the season for big plays and consistency?     Black     Green     White     Scarlet
The answer – B! I guessed C. I thought the decals were mostly white, with black outlines. No other colors, but I was wrong again, but maybe I’m remembering the old ones. Today they’re the size of a quarter, with GREEN leaves.

I also thought they were a part of OSU tradition. Not! They first appeared on helmets in 1968 because the athletic trainer suggested it. Why? Ernie Biggs never explained, but everyone agreed they were the perfect motivator for college football players. After all, who wouldn’t want a helmet loaded with stickers?!

I didn’t know OSU coaches used them differently. For example – Woody Hayes, the first to get the decals, handed them out for big plays, or for consistency on the field. Later Jim Tressel used them to award groups of players. Everyone got a Buckeye for a win. A pair, if it was a Big Ten win. His units on the field would get one for an explosive play. The defense got them for three-and-outs . . . That’s when the other team tried three times for a first down, failed to get it, so they had to give the ball back to the Buckeye offense.

PS – #10 is one of those special numbers. It wasn’t in the book, but it belonged to Troy Smith. He won the 2006 Heisman Trophy. In 2014 OSU changed procedures. It didn’t retire his number, but it enshrined his jersey at the stadium to honor Troy’s Heisman, and good old #10 is still in circulation. Someday, someone else will wear it.
 
​Sources: 
Photo – By Fernando Martello, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=91173769
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Information – Ohio State Buckeyes football - Wikipedia
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 – The Ultimate Ohio State Buckeyes Trivia Book: A Collection of Amazing Trivia Quizzes and Fun Facts for Die-Hard Buckeye Fans

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                              Game Day Saturday, November 3 - Chapter 3 - How I did, and what I learned. 

Chapter 3: Calling the Signals: I thought I might do a little better this time – today was all about quarterbacks. They’re the commanding officer on the offensive line. I did! I jumped into double digits . . . barely . . . 11 out of 20. Still failing, but it beats a 5 or a 7 😊

I recognize all of these quarterbacks from my days as a student, until now. Except for Les Horvath. He played QB for one year. It figures . . . in 1944. I wasn’t even born yet. I recognized 11 names in today’s quiz, but there were 9 I didn’t know. The big one I forgot – Joe Germaine – the QB from 1996-1998. Go figure!

Here’s my Pick 3 for this week – Three questions with three great answers . . . 

                               #1.  Cardale Jones easily holds the record for most wins without a loss
                 as an Ohio State starting quarterback, with how many victories?     9     11     13     14

The answer – B, 11 wins. I guessed 14, too high. I remember Cardale. He’s one of the most unusual quarterbacks in OSU history. He was the 3rd string QB who won the national championship. HOW?

Braxton Miller and J.T. Barrett were both injured. Cardale led the Buckeyes to the Big 10 Championship, the national semifinals, AND The National Championship! It was the first year for the REAL one, with three games between the top 4 teams. Alabama, who lost, said OSU didn’t belong in the semifinals. Guess who was wrong?!

Dr. Pepper even made a commercial based on the 3rd string quarterback who won the national championship. It was an incredible year for OSU, and Cardale!

                #22. Which of these quarterbacks did NOT win 30 games as the Buckeyes’ starter?
                       A. J.T. Barrett       B. Cornelius Greene       C. Braxton Miller       D. Bobby Hoying

The answer – C, Braxton Miller. I got it right – I guessed! I thought the others hit 30 games. I was SO glad it wasn’t Cornelius Greene. He’s one of the first quarterbacks I remember. I’d never heard his story, until today. Maybe I was too young, too protected to hear about it.

I didn’t realize he was OSU’s first black starting quarterback, and that a lot of people in 1973 didn’t like it. Cornelius got 50 letters a week from the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) and other similar groups. People even called his dorm room with death threats. It all stopped when Cornelius led the Buckeyes to a 56-7 win in the first game of the season, against Minnesota. Cornelius finished his OSU career with 2000 passing and rushing yards. He won the Chicago Tribune Silver Football as the Big 10 MVP (most valuable player).
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BTW – he didn’t have a chance at the Heisman. His roommate, Archie Griffin won it, in 1974 and 75. He’s still the only college player to win it, TWICE. Bam! He was a Buckeye! And so was Cornelius!

          #9.  Dwayne Haskins is responsible for all but one of the 400-yard passing performances
                                            in Ohio State history. Who is responsible for the other one?
                                       A. Troy Smith   B. J.T. Barrett   C. Art Schlichter   D. Cardale Jones

The answer – C, Art Schlichter. I got it right – It was a good guess, but Art was a very talented player, with a back story that’s better than I thought.

George Chaump was the first Buckeye coach to spot Art in high school. He showed Woody Hayes a couple reels of film, then got him to go to a game. Woody was sold, but Art was ready to sign up with Michigan. OOPS! I mean that team up North. But Woody got Art. HOW?

Woody promised that he’d start as a freshman, and that the Buckeyes would open up the offense for him. That they’d even let him pass the ball. Timing is everything! Woody made that promise the day before Bo Schembechler was scheduled for a visit. When Art’s dad told him about the promise, Bo stormed out shouting that Woody would never keep it.

He did. Art started as a freshman, and I was a sophomore. I couldn’t believe Woody actually started a freshman. OSU is so deep in talent. How could a freshman become the starting QB? I don’t think anyone has started another one since, until last year, with C.J. Stroud in 2021. 

BTW – I’d never heard of Kirk Herbstreit. Here’s his story . . . Kirk only started one year as QB, in 1992. It was nothing to write home about so he decided to take a corporate sales job with a nice salary, and matching perks. Then a Columbus radio station offered him much, much less, with no benefits. The job – to do an afternoon talk show and sideline gameday reports for the Buckeyes.

Kirk took it! Two years later ESPN2 hired him to make sideline reports. The rest – is history. In 1996 he made it all the way to College Gameday. Not bad! And it beats a sales job!


                                Game Day Saturday, November12 - Chapter 4 - How I did, and what I learned. 

​​Chapter 4: Between the Tackles: I got 11 right last week, but I slipped back to 5 again. It figures . . . this week was about running backs, records and awards. I never paid attention to those things. I watched the plays, the touchdowns, and wins. The important things!

​When I was looking for running backs, I found this screenshot. I recognized everyone, except Jim Otis. He started in 1967 – when I was 8. I recognized 9 players on the quiz, but I was clueless with 13.  
Here’s my Pick 3 for this week – Three questions, and three great answers . . .


                                 #5. Eddie George and Ezekiel Elliott are tied in the record books with
                            the most 200-yard games for the Buckeyes, with how many?     5     4     3     2

The answer – A . . . 5 games. I guessed 4, too low. Both Eddie and Ezekiel had five games with over 200 yards, but no one dreamed Eddie could do that when he arrived. He was a BIG guy!

OSU was the only school that gave Eddie a chance to run. The others thought he should be a linebacker. Everything looked good until the first game with Illinois. That’s when he fumbled, TWICE, on the 5-yard line. Fans were furious! They said he should transfer! That Eddie wasn’t running back material.

Eddie persevered. Three years later he set a record against Illinois. He ended the season with 1927 yards rushing (a school record). He missed the single-season touchdown record by one. He also brought home every award a running back could win, including the Heisman Trophy. Way to go, Eddie George!


                     #13. What was Les Horvath’s career high for rushing yards in a game, set during
               his Heisman-winning 1944 season?      114 yards       128 yards       141 yards     157 yards

                 And the answer – C . . . 141 yards. I guessed too high – 157. Close doesn’t count in trivia.
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The funny thing about that 1944 season . . . Les wasn’t supposed to play. He retired from football in 1942 after winning the national title. He started dental school in 1943. But in 1944 the coach asked Les to come back for one last season. Why? There weren’t enough players. They were off fighting in World War II.
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The NCAA made players like Les eligible to play. And coach promised Les could skip practice AND fly to games, so he didn’t miss out on his dental work. Thanks to the war and the NCAA, Les rushed for 924 yards and scored 12 touchdowns. He was also OSU’s first Heisman winner, thanks to one last, unexpected season. 
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      17. Which of these Ohio State running backs was NOT a three-time first-team All-American?  
                             A. Lew Hinchman    B. Howard Cassidy     C. Chic Harley    D. Archie Griffin
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And the answer – B . . . Howard Cassidy. I guessed wrong. I was torn between Lew Hinchman and Chic Harley because I didn’t know them. I picked Lew, wrong.  He was a first team All-American from 1930-1932, but he’s not well known. Everyone knows Archie Griffin. He’s the only player to win the Heisman twice, in college football history.
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Meet Chic Harley, the first OSU superstar. He played during the 1916 and 17 seasons, but skipped out in 1918. He enlisted as a soldier in World War 1. It ended so Chic came back in 1919 and won first team All-American again, for the third time.
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I didn’t know Chic was so popular that he put OSU football on the map. He was also the driving force behind building the Shoe. It used to be called the ‘House that Harley Built,’ but the important thing . . . it’s where the Buckeyes play!
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Sources: The Ultimate Ohio State Buckeyes Trivia Book

-  QB/HB Lew Hinchman (3-time All-American) | BuckeyePlanet
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-   Ohio Stadium - Wikipedia

​-  Howard Cassady - Wikipedia

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​                              Game Day Saturday, November 12 - Chapter 5 - How I did, and what I learned. 
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Chapter 5: Catching the Ball: I caught 5 answers, the same as last week. It figures – I’ve never been good at catching anything. And the answers I did manage to catch – the true and false kind. YIKES!

As for name recognition, I knew 7 . . . but not the other 14. AND worst of all, none of the book’s answers resonated with me.  
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      So for this week’s Pick 3 – Three True & False Questions – And my research into their answers. 
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                                           #2. Only five Ohio State receivers have gone over 1,000
                                                 receiving yards in a season.      A. True     B. False

The answer – A . . . True. I said false. I was sure there had to be more than 5. So here are the FIVE best receivers in OSU history . . .
                                                                In 1998 David Boston made 85 catches for 1435 yards.
                                                                In 1995 Terry Glenn only made 64 catches. He gained 1411 yards.
                                                                In 1986 Cris Carter caught 69 passes for 1127 yards.
                                                                In 2002 Michael Jenkins caught 61 passes for 1076 yards
                                      And finally in 2018 Parris Campbell joined the group with 82 catches for 1006 yards. 

Source: Parris Campbell Becomes Fifth Ohio State Receiver With 1,000 Yards Receiving in a Single Season | Eleven Warriors

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                                      #13. No Ohio State receiver has ever won the Biletnikoff Award ​for the
                                                        best wide receiver in the country.     A. True     B. False

                          And the answer – B . . . False. I knew it! At least one Buckeye had to win. REALLY!

But it turns out only ONE Buckeye did, Terry Glenn. He won in 1995, the 2nd year the award was given out, and he’s THE only finalist from OSU, ever. You have to be one of the top-three vote-getters to be a finalist. No one else broke through – not David Boston. Not Michael Jenkins. Not even Parris Campbell. It’s hard to believe with all the talented wide receivers that no other Buckeye ever got a nod. Unbelievable!

Source: After Ohio State football’s Biletnikoff Award snub, can Jaxon Smith-Njigba break the drought in 2022? - cleveland.com
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​                                               #19. Ohio State has NOT had a receiver with 200 receiving yards
                                                     in a game in the twenty-first century.      A. True     B. False
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And the answer – B . . . False. It had to be false. Surely SOME Buckeye had to have over 200 yards receiving in a game, since the year 2000. Surely!

In OSU history there have only been four 200-yard receiving games, ever. SOME Buckeye did, since the year 2000 – and it was Jaxon Smith Njigba – twice, last year.

That means OSU is up to six games with 200 receiving yards, but I couldn’t find the other receivers. I looked for almost an hour, sorry. My guess is that Terry Glenn had one of those games, maybe two, but I have no idea on the others. Maybe a super-fan will comment and share those answers with all of us.
 
Source: Jaxon Smith-Njigba Breaks Rose Bowl Receiving Record as OSU Tops Utah in Thriller | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors | Bleacher Report
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​                              Game Day Saturday, November 26 - Chapter 6 - How I did, and what I learned. 

​Chapter 6: Trench Warfare:  I pictured the trenches of World War I when I read the title, but these are on the football field. The kind that the offensive and defensive linemen fight over. Today was the first game the OSU linemen failed, especially in the 2nd half, and it was against that Team Up North, but Coach Day and his assistants will analyze and tighten those lines. Come Bowl time, they’ll be ready. I have a feeling, Michigan won’t. They won, and they feel confident. They’re in for a brawl in the National Championships, and I’m not sure that they can handle it.
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I thought lineman. Then uh-oh, but I got the same score as I did last week . . . not worse! I got 5 answers right again – 3 weeks in a row. I didn’t do as well on True/False, but I actually got some multiple-choice answers right. Sometimes good guesses pay off.

As for name recognition, I knew 12 linemen, more than last week, but there were way more names I didn’t know . . . 26. Ouch!
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Here are this week’s Pick 3, but think of them as a Pick 5. The first three questions are all about the same person, and I got 2 right. Woohoo!
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Game Day Saturday, December 31st  - Chapter 7 - How I did, and what I learned. 
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Chapter 7: No Air Zone: I had no idea who this chapter was about. I had to finish the questions and answers first. No Air Zone – those are the players who break up passes or make interceptions – the defensive backs.  When I found the picture below, I wasn’t sure who was trying to catch the ball, and who was trying to intercept or break it up. 

I figured I’d do worse this time . . . no one remembers the defense, but I lucked out with a few good guesses. Eight, WOOHOO!

I did about the same on name recognition. I knew 10 but failed on the other 16.

Here are this week’s Pick 3. Sorry, they turned into a Pick 8. The first 3 questions are about one defensive back, and the other 5 are about another.

                                 8.  Which Ohio State defensive back is one of the namesakes for the
                                         Big Ten’s award for the best defensive back of the season?
                                    A. Shawn Springs    B. Mike Doss   3. Dick LeBeau   4.  Jack Tatum

And the answer . . . Jack Tatum. I got it right! YAY! Good guess! I knew it wasn’t Shawn Springs. He came to OSU much later.
 
                            11. Who was Ohio State’s first first-team All-American as a defensive back?
                                   A. Jack Tatum   B. Ted Provost   C. Arnie Chonko   D. Mike Sensibaugh  

I missed it! I guessed Jack, but it was Arnie. I would have NEVER guessed him . . .  I didn’t know his name.
 
                                13. In which season was Jack Tatum named the national defensive player
                             of the year and unanimous All-American?   A. 1971   B. 1970   C. 1969   D. 1968

                                                  Yay! I got it right! I picked the middle answer, 1970.

And Jack Tatum . . . he came to Columbus as a running back, at least that’s what Woody Hayes had planned. Then Lou Holtz took a peek. He talked Woody into turning Jack into a defensive back. Jack was fearsome. Lou put him in to challenge the other team’s top receiver. To do linebacker duty too. It worked!

Jack was first team All-Big Ten for 3 straight years. Then an All-American in 1969 and 1970. He was the national defensive player in 1970. In fact the Big Ten’s defensive back of the year award is named after Jack. What a pity – he has to share it with Charles Woodson, from that Team Up North. Blech!

The End of the Season:  December 31st was the last game for my Buckeyes. They lost in the run-up to the National Championships. They played #1 Georgia, and I dreaded this evening after the Michigan game, but they showed up, BIG TIME! They led twice during the game, and if they’d scored a field goal in those last 8 seconds, they would have won. AND, they deserved it! WOW! What a game, for Georgia, and for my Buckeyes!
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I’ll see you next year for the last five chapters of OSU Football Trivia. BAM! Here’s to those Buckeyes!

Part 1 – Plants for Decoration:  When I came up with this title, I didn’t think of the plants pictured below. I thought of the kind you plant . . . then eat. But now . . . that’s part 2.
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We buy special plants to decorate our homes at Christmas. Do you recognize any of these? The first two are flowers. The last two can either be bushes or trees.

First up is the Christmas Rose – I only recognize it from the Christmas Eve hymn. Its English title – “Lo, how a rose e’er blooming. I didn’t know it was composed in Germany. To learn more about this old hymn, click here: Es ist ein Ros entsprungen - Wikipedia.  Don’t worry! The link is written in English.

The second flower is the one I think of when I think Christmas – the Poinsettia. They’re also called the Christmas Star. A lot of people buy them in November and December. I never do – I hate to kill plants! If someone gives me one, they only last a month or two, and then they die. Poor plant! I think it’s kinder for me NOT to buy one.

The third plant, Holly. I didn’t know there were 18 different kinds. I can’t decide what I like better – the waxy leaves, or the red berries. They look great in your yard, and they grow year-round without needing a lot of care. But whatever you do, don’t eat the berries – they’re poisonous! If you love the way they look, use them for decoration, or save them for your local birds . . . They’re safe for them to eat, and they love the taste.

The last one is everyone’s favorite – the Christmas tree. Some people buy artificial ones. Others go out to the woods to chop theirs down. Still others go to the store and buy one to decorate in December. If you’re into the environment, you could even buy one for Christmas, and then plant it in your yard. If you did it every year, you’d wind up with your own small forest of evergreens.



​Part 2 – Plants That Grow in Pots:  Like vegetables! That’s what I was thinking of when I decided to put up this post in December.  Fresh vegetables are great to have anytime, but especially in the winter when nothing grows up north. But inside in a pot, plants can grow and thrive. 

Back in August I got an email from Jen Stark, from Happy DIY Home.com. She had a link she hoped I’d share. Her turn came up this month, and it struck me that gifting someone with plants for Christmas, might make the perfect gift. If you have kids, growing vegetables is a great way to grow responsibility too, and your kids get to eat their profits.
 
The title of Jen’s post – 16 EASY VEGETABLES TO GROW IN POTS. They include – beans, beets, carrots, chard, chili pepper, cucumbers, kale, lettuce, peas, peppers, potatoes, pumpkins, radishes, spinach, tomatoes, zucchinis. That’s a lot of growing you can do when it’s freezing outside.
Jen’s Link: https://happydiyhome.com/easy-vegetables-to-grow-in-pots/
 
I must warn you – some vegetables are easier to grow than others. Lettuces and greens are easy-peasy. So are peppers. If you go to Jen’s link, it will tell you what size pot you need for each plant, and what kind of light they need based on your location. Some vegetables are climbers. They’ll need something to climb, like a trellis. The one I would never do inside – pumpkins. A friend tried a few pumpkin seeds, and they took over her whole backyard.  I’d hate to put one in a pot.



Part 3 – Easy Plants to Grow During the Winter:  The easiest ones – lettuces, greens, and herbs. After I read Jen Stark’s link from yesterday, I wanted to make sure I had the best ones for you . . . so I checked with Google. The link: can you grow vegetables inside during winter - Search (bing.com)

That’s where I found Dian Farmer. She did a post about best practices if you want to grow plants inside during the winter. She also had veggie suggestions. I posted basic information. Click Dian’s link for more specific instructions.  Link: 7 Vegetables You Can Grow Indoors In Winter – Dian Farmer Learning To Grow Our Own Food

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​Dian’s Tips:
1. Use good potting soil. It should be a mix of peat moss, vermiculite, and perlite.
2.  Pick pots that let the water drain out. Make sure the container fits your plant. Some veggies only need a few inches, but others need a foot of space to grow properly.
3. Place your containers in windows that face south. They get the most sunlight during the winter. If yours face a different direction, add lighting. Check out Dian’s site. It has a link to Amazon that will help you buy the right light.
4. Avoid drafty windows. They’re too cold. Don’t put your plants too close to heaters. That will dry them out.
5. Pick the right plants to grow inside in the winter. It makes a difference!
 
Dian’s Top Seven Suggestions: Garlic greens or chives, lettuce, kale, arugula, beans, peppers, and culinary herbs like rosemary, thyme, oregano, cilantro, lemon balm, and basil. If you feel more adventurous, you might consider alpine strawberries, brussels sprouts, Bok choy, Asian greens, broad beans, lamb’s lettuce, winter cabbages, or collard greens.

​​I found another helpful link. It had some of the same information, plus a few tips that were different. It also comes with links to the stuff you need to make your garden grow.
       Link: Learn How Easy It Is To Grow Vegetables Indoors In The Winter (theedibleterrace.com)
 
My favorite part – his conclusions . . .
1. Start small, with lettuces, the come and cut kind. They’re easy, and they can help you learn as you grow.
2. Check with local plant nurseries. Sometimes they have classes or experts who can guide you into gardening.
3. Gardening can be tricky. Be diligent, patient, and determined, and you’ll grow as a gardener too.
 
                                                                        Good luck, and happy gardening!

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
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​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.
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Tomorrow – my thoughts about staying true to my school, to its coaches and players. Win or lose, I believe in loyalty.
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​                                             Sources:
Photos: By http://www.7inchrecords.com/, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5030597
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Search link:  be true to your school - Search (bing.com)
​
Information Sources:
Be True to Your School - Wikipedia
The Beach Boys - Wikipedia


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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.
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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.
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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.
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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. 
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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
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Information Sources: Ryan Day (American football) - Wikipedia
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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.
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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.
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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.

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​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? 
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​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. 
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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.

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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: [email protected]

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.
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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            
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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.
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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. 
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​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.        
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​ 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.

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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.   

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​ 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.​

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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.

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​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.

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. 
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​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. 

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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. 

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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.
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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.)
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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!
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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!

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​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.

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​#1. The idea and images for zero gravity.
Link http://www.rindabeach.com/blog/how-i-put-together-a-blog-post

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​#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

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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?’

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#1. My Blog Post – The Search for Zero Gravity
Link: http://www.rindabeach.com/blog/the-search-for-zero-gravity

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​#2.  My Blog Post – From Lost/Devastated to Found/Grateful
Link: http://www.rindabeach.com/blog/lost-devasted-found-grateful
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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.

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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)
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​​                                                                                     Part 1: Four great ways to use your old smartphone. ​
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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. 


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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!

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​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!

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​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. 
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​​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.

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 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! 



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Part 3:  The last five ways to reuse/recycle your old smartphone.
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​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.


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​​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!


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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. 

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​ 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.


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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.