Now that is cool! You can win prizes for searching the web, like you already do! The search engine is called Winzy.com and you just sign up, and then when you search, it will let you know if you’ve won! How cool is that! And! You can get your friends to sign up under you, and when they win, you win, too!

And they have their own free online version of Deal or No Deal that you can play just for fun! You get to pick and open cases with different amounts of ‘money’ in them, and you have the option at different intervals to buy back their original case you chose. You can choose not to buy back that case, and keep going, and hope you win even more!

They have another game called Winzy Secret Suitcase, that is very similar to Deal or No Deal, that you can play and win real prizes! And they have an arcade with even more games! While you are searching, you earn chances to play the games.

Summer’s coming!! I’m so excited! The kids have been having fun with friends on Spring Break - the weather has just been beautiful!

The other day they - they did get chilly after a while, though. So then they rolled the hoses back up and laid out in the sun on the driveway with the dog. I took a picture of the little creeps out the kitchen window! Heehee - it was so sweet! Makes me happy for them, makes me long for my time as a kid on those lazy summer days, makes me happy to be a part of their lazy (not quite summer) days…a million swirling emotions, but, mostly happy ones - I just love summer!! (And no, I don’t want you to remind me of this post in a couple months when I’m complaining that it’s too hot, but, thanks!)
It was so awesome to see and hear - I love those sounds …those sounds of summer!

The crickets are already singing, the locusts, whatever all those little critters are out there singing at night!

We saw grasshoppers and dragonflies and bees (eek! I’m scared!) and even FIREFLIES!!!! I love fireflies!!

Maybe Spring Break is summer’s appetizer. Heehee

It seems like every day I run across a new dating community for a different sector of the population. If you know any Black Singles, there is a dating site just for them. It’s got a very hip name, too - it’s called BlackScene.com - The Premier Ebony Dating Community. I don’t know if this is typical, but, I think it’s pretty neat - they have their own IM program - I think that is pretty cool!

How cute is this:

Create Animated Text

Or, how about this:

Create Animated Text

Those are so cute!! It’s just too bad that blogger puts all graphics in those rotten boxes! I was reading somewhere recently about getting rid of those…I don’t know if the people were successful at it, or just wishing out loud that they could. I’m gonna have to go dig around and see if I can find out!

Now go check out my friend, Julie’s at her blog, Just Julie - soo cute!! I think I could waste a whole day on this stuff!

LOL!!

I have done it again, folks. I have a long history of this behavior …occasionally with uber cool results (ok, that was once) ….sometimes with ‘workable’ results …and quite often, unfortunately, with rather unfortunate results.

Yes, I have cut my own hair.

I had to - I was getting so sick of the stringy, dried out hair that gets finer and finer the longer it gets!!!

I just could not take it one more day! And unfortunately, this is one of those times with rather unfortunate results. Hahaha! It is VERY, VERY crooked!

The funny part is, even in its crooked state - it looks so much better! How sad is that?

And the lucky part is - Cousin Kim (our family hairdresser - God love her!) is coming over Sunday for Mark’s and Granny’s joint birthday party. I’ll just have to remind her to bring her scissors before she comes!

So I’m sitting here typing with curlers in my hair - they are wiggling and jiggling all over my head! I thought I’d see how my new, shorter hair looked curled up a bit.

I even put some of that, what do you call it? Paint? Oh - I know! Makeup - yeah, I put some makeup on my face - just for the heck of it.

When I’m all done with all this silly girl primpin’ stuff, maybe I’ll even take a picture.

Funny - I’m primpin’ up my blog and primpin’ up myself all on the same day!

(Yeah, please excuse the condition of the Hippie Spelunker - she’s a gettin’ primped!)

It’s time again for the Postie Carnival - hosted by the lovely Colleen, of Simple Kind of Life!

This time we are discussing all things TV! There is a great mix of posts over there - go check it out - just click on the graphic above and it will take you straight to the carnival post!

The bloggers who participate in the Postie Carnival are all “Posties” for PayPerPost. That means we sometimes get paid to blog - it ROCKS!

If you’d like to get paid to blog and get involved in our carnival, you can sign up to PayPerPost by clicking this button:

I got this as a bulletin on MySpace today from a great group that rescues horses:

Hi Everyone -

I am crossposting this from Yahoo to Myspace - last December, there was a mare and some other horses in West Virginia that were starving in a field. No shelter, no food, no water. (just a mudhole that froze when it got cold) Some concerned people got together on the internet, and in the local area, and after much wrangling, and letter writing to officials, and a Peta Action Alert, the horses were finally siezed, and taken to a rescue. Last week, the county magistrate awarded custody of these poor creatures BACK to the people (a term I use loosely in this case) who had starved them in the first place!!!! A concerted effort is underway to try to overturn the local magistrate’s ruling. Scroll to the bottom of this bulletin. Before and after pictures are included. And if you can, please take a moment to email, fax or call the below listed persons, and let your voice and concern for these animals’ welfare be known. Thanks for all you do for the animals.

Theresa Gray
Grayhorse Ranch

Dear All ~ We are desperate for calls, letters, e-mails, faxes. If something doesn’t give pretty soon – the Lewis County horses could be returned next week. This would be a terrible sentence. It has taken thousands of dollars and a world of good care to save their lives. PLEASE DO NOT ALLOW THESE HORSES TO GO BACK TO THE WILLIAMS.

Governor Manchin is on schedule for tomorrow a.m. (Monday). Calls please. They’re taking names and keeping count. Also – the county commissioners – see below – have sway over the magistrate. Contact appreciated. Moody hung up on me, though I was very professional and reasonable, etc. The prosecutor refused – not for the first time – to return my call.

About my signature: I pointed out that I am a West Virginian and a horse woman, rather than an “animal rights activist”, because we’ve been called “animal rights terrorists” by the Lewis County authorities. We must take care to point out that we are HORSE PEOPLE period. When I heard the term “terrorist” thrown out, my ears perked up. You all know the reason for this.

GOVERNOR JOE MANCHIN III
Toll-Free: 1-888-438-2731 | Email: Governor@WVGov. org

To read URGENT PETA ALERT:
http://www.peta.org/actioncenter/ActionAlerts-item.asp?id=215

Many thanks.
Bonnie
****************************************************
lcsomikegissy@yahoo.com (Sheriff Gissy)

lcpa@verizon.net (Joseph Wagoner – Prosecuting Attorney)

gmcnair@wboy.com (Gary McNair – WBOY)

awilliams@wboy.com (Aaron Williams – WBOY)

jstarcher@ag.state.wv.us (Dr. Starcher – Animal Protection, Charleston )

jplumley@ag.state.wv.us (Dr. Plumley – Assistant to Dr. Starcher)

gkinder@ag.state.wv.us (another assistant to Starcher)

Governor@WVGov.org (Governor Joe Manchin)
*****************************************************
Lewis Co Sheriff
Mike Gissy
PO Box 150
Weston, WV 26452
Ph 304-269-8245
Fax 304-269 8202
**************************************
Lewis Co Prosecuting Attorney
Joseph Wagoner
Lewis County Courthouse
PO Box 686
Weston, WV 26452
Ph 304-269-8240
Fax 304-269-8250
***************************************
Lewis County Commissioners

Lewis County Courthouse
PO Box 466
Weston, WV 26452
Ph 304-269-8201
Fax 304-269-2416

Lewis County Magistrate
Dan Moody
111 Court St
Weston, WV 26452
Ph 304-269-8232

LETTER SENT TO GOVERNOR
Sent: 16 March 2007 07:07

Subject: LEWIS COUNTY HORSES - PLEASE HAND DELIVER TO GOVENOR MANCHIN
Importance: High

Dear Sirs:

The magistrate, Dan Moody of Lewis County , dropped charges against Wanda Williams. The law was not upheld. Who is the magistrate accountable to? I have been advised, by attorneys spoken to last evening, that Magistrate Moody broke the law. It is fact that the magistrate had already ruled on the case and THEN agreed to rehear it. But he didn’t rehear it. This is unacceptable and it is not justice.

The truth can be attested to by a multitude of people. Many horsemen/women (NOT animal rights terrorists) gave their time and put forth a world of effort, to do what was right. Countless West Virginians worked to save these horses. Crossed Sabers Stables put forth time, energy and much money to bring the horses into good health. For what? For the Lewis County authorities to return them to the irresponsible people who starved them?

Why do we have laws, if charges can be dismissed without witnesses being allowed to testify? This is what happened yesterday in Weston. Wanda Williams did not care for her horses. Neglect to the point of abuse was painfully apparent. And Wanda Williams has a history of horse neglect. Ms. Williams should never be allowed to have horses in her care, for the good of the animals.

Please see attached photos. You will clearly see that the horses have done exceptionally well, with proper care. How did you reach your decision, with these pictures to view and witnesses to testify, though testimony was not allowed? I believe the vet said that it would be better to euthanize the horses, rather than send them back to Wanda Williams. The scheduling of a second and unnecessary hearing was the decision of the magistrate, Mr. Moody. Why this was done is unknown. If the hearing had been conducted, as planned, you would have heard a story that would have forced you to take the right and honorable decision. It took a three month campaign to bring these horses out of abysmal circumstances. It took many more months to heal the horses. You obviously took neither the horses nor the effort put worth, on behalf of the horses, into consideration.

Please see the pictures at the bottom of this page. The mare was bred back three times, each time only nine days after having delivered a foal. Her age had nothing to do with her appearance, though a mare of 20 should not have been bred three years running. Out of 36 months, she spent three months and 27 days not in foal. Shocking, isn’t it, and highly irresponsible. Neglect had everything to do with the mare’s emaciated state, along with having a starving foal on her for many months beyond the time for weaning. You see the distinct difference in the mare’s appearance, after enjoying shelter, blankets, a proper diet, enough water, vet care and attention by a farrier. Both the mare and her foal were extremely dehydrated, upon arrival at Crossed Sabers. They drank continually for a few weeks and the mare continues to drink more than any horse in the barn. On a recent warm morning her blanket was removed, but it had to be put on again. She shivered. She shivered because of the exposure to the elements she suffered at the hands of Wanda Williams.

Justice was not served. Fair mindedness played no role in the decision handed down yesterday. The mare was given care in the nick of time, when she was delivered to Crossed Sabers. In all likelihood, she would not have survived the lengthy period of severe winter weather. And if she had not survived, her foal would have died, too. The other horses were nearly as susceptible.

What happened in Weston today was a travesty! The Williams couple admitted on WBOY that they could not afford proper care. They do not know how to provide it and they would not take care if money and knowledge were not lacking. And yet you returned these horses to them. As long as the law is not enforced, West Virginia can expect a world of such cases. And with every case, please do expect bad publicity. We deserve it.

(Before picture on the day of arrival 12/13/06, 90 days ago)

Today - 3/13/07 - losing all her rescue hair and really starting to fill out. When all that ‘rescue hair’ falls out she’ll have a beautiful roan coat underneath

Filly on arrival - December 13, 2006

Filly - 3/13/07 - turning into a brut, big girl, it’s hard to see but the foal has really grown and filled out, she is almost as big as her mom now, such a sweetie

Black yearling filly on arrival 12/13/06

Black yearling filly - 3/13/07 Remember - they had their thick winter coat upon arrival and they have been under blankets and sheets when temps are below 40 but she is growing like a baby should and really starting to looking like a horse, turning bay, very athletic

Midnite on arrival 12/13/06

Midnite today - 03/13/07 - he’s a bit of a mud bog (loves to roll and won’t keep a blanket on) but you can see he is not sunken in at the flanks anymore, more fleshy and not full of worms now, it was over cast today and if the sun would have been out, he would have had even a brighter shine as his coat condition is getting there, Mr. Personality

Bay filly on arrival 12/13/06 - full of worms and very stunted growth, covered in winter/rescue hair

3/13/07 - Not fat, by any means but she’s really grown, which is probably hard to see, nice hair coming out and starting to get muscled up. Not huge changes, mostly just in height and hair condition (loss of that wormy belly) but she is pretty active, sweet sweet girl

More of Emily Today - What a difference 90 days of food and care will do for a horse, and a judge has awarded Emily and all the others back to the people who starved and did not care for them in the first place!!!! PLEASE CALL, WRITE, EMAIL, TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THE WORLD IS WATCHING - AND THESE PEOPLE DON’T DESERVE ANOTHER CHANCE TO KILL THESE HORSES - THE HORSES DESERVE A CHANCE TO FIND AN OWNER WHO WILL TAKE CARE OF THEIR NEEDS, AND TREAT THEM AS PETS - NOT PARK THEM IN A FIELD TO STARVE!!!!

THE END :-}

If you like to watch online videos then you need to head over to Cool Video Clips. I had so much fun at this site - it was really great!

See, when I’m on those big video sharing websites, I really have to wade through some crap to find good videos. There are some really boring videos that people publish to the web! Now we don’t have to waste our time watching videos that put us to sleep, because at Cool Video Clips, they’ve done that for us! And they’ve taken the very best videos, and published them on their site! This is definitely a site worth bookmarking!

I don’t have a ‘headache’ so far today, but, I sure as heck have the migraine hangover!

I actually went back to bed after the kids left for school. (There’s something so glorious about their taking the bus to school! heeeee) I slept until 11am!! And I didn’t want to get up then! I knew if I didn’t, though, that I would regret it. I would have way less time alone before the kids came home, of which I’d already lost quite a bit. And I might wake up really groggy if I slept anymore - and I could have trouble sleeping tonight. So I made myself get up - it was painful, though, let me tell you - I was uber comfortable in that bed!! (It’s probably unbecoming for a 36 year old woman to say uber, but, you know what? I like it!)

I missed my daughter’s recorder concert, but, she didn’t seem upset by it at all. She said, “No, Mom, it’s ok, I know you don’t have a car.” I probably would’ve gotten a ride, or just walked up there - heck, it’s only a mile - if it hadn’t been for the headache from hell!

The kids have, however, now arrived home from school and are quite noisy when they first get here, especially because next week is Spring Break and they are all excited about that! So there was screaming, screeching, fighting, and singing - and it was a bit too noisy for my hungover head. So the pain is trying to come back. Some days I wish I could trade heads with someone. Heck, John Travolta got to trade faces in Face Off…. heh.

You know what’s really terrible, though? One of my daughter’s friends gets migraines. She is in the sixth grade - UGH! That is so very not fair! I mean, I complain a lot about my migraines, but, no way should a kid have to go through this - no way! She got one last weekend when we took her with us to my brother-in-law’s house. I could see the progression of it in her actions and in her face. It was eerily familiar - especially being on a sweet child’s face. We were 20 miles away from home, and I knew 20 miles in the car was the last thing she needed!! So I put her to bed in my BIL’s bed, and let her sleep it off for a while before I dared to put her in the car!

A few years ago, I was scheduled to have hernia surgery, and it got canceled because the doctor had an emergency surgery. I always get my migraines when I have surgery because of the stupid (I know, it’s necessary) ‘no eating, no medication, no coffee’ prep. So I had to ride home just about 20 miles, and it was not pretty! My mother had to pull over three times for me to vomit on the side of the road! In the middle of the day, in the middle of the week, on major freeways in Dallas - so not pretty! So yeah, the car is the last place to put me when I’m in the throes of the monstrous menace that is in my head!

Oh, speaking of my mom, she sent me these cool things for Christmas for my headaches. And actually, they really are cool - they are cooling migraine pads. Quite a funny, but, oh so perfect Christmas present! And I guess I’ve been quite lucky, because I haven’t had to use one yet, and dang! This is already March - that’s pretty dang good! My head’s been nice to me lately! Anyway, I used one last night and it made a BIG DIFFERENCE! So, Mother, if you’re reading - THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!

She sent me four boxes of those things - the kids and I were laughing so hard - they were in my stocking, but, I was so excited to get them!!

That’s not a sign of getting old, is it?

Heh.

….but, insurance sales must be really hard! I know how people have an idea about the ‘insurance guy’ before he ever opens his mouth! And with spam and the Do Not Call list and the expense of Yellow Page ads, they must have to work extra hard! My high school sweetheart went into the insurance business right after we graduated and he is now in North Carolina in the same line of work. And I can tell you that he is a really great guy! Would he have been my high school sweetheart otherwise? I am sure, however, that people have a prejudice against him from the get-go, just because he is in insurance.

A great way for him to avoid getting the cold shoulder from prospects is to buy insurance leads. Contacting people who are already looking for insurance, and have already filled out questionnaires detailing what exactly they are looking for. There is a great company out there called QuotesAuction.com that is offering a special promotion right now! Chris can get $200 worth of free leads!

QuotesAuction.com spends more than $900,000 a month marketing on the internet and finding leads for their various insurance agents. The leads fill out detailed questionnaires in order to match leads with agents in terms of territory and the type of insurance they are looking for and the phone numbers and emails are checked before the agent even receives them. Their website has a complete description of the process of working with their high quality insurance leads.