as I was saying....

Sorry, I had to go deal with my "honking goose" cough and in my absence, Chris took over the computer! Anyway, I read this article about how some people get free trips and payment (money, computers, etc.) for blogging about their trips. I totally think someone should pay me to travel to their country and then blog about it. I say that, but then when I think about it seriously, do I really want that? Do I want to be beholden to some country or city because they paid my way? What if I had a really bad time? Would I feel okay saying that even though I know the reason they gave me the trip/money wasy to say good things?

And, how would anyone know for sure whether they could trust what I said? That's essentially what the article says: You can't know if a travel blog is being sponsored by someone, so take them all with a grain of salt. Seems a bit cynical, but then again, how do you not look at it that way? One thing the article mentions is that some people were flowen over to Amsterdam all expenses paid (flight, hotel, attractions) and in return, the bloggers added a "Bloggers in Amsterdam" logo to their blog. Is that so wrong? I visit sites all the time of regular 'ole people who are bloggers with logos on their site. I've seen a ton with Amazon logos/links. The article kind of turned me off a little bit. It just felt so negative.

I think there is a place for bloggers in the travel industry. I think their travel experiences are valid for them. So what if their trip was paid for, if they genuinely enjoyed their experience, I want to hear about it (actually, I think there's a lot to be said for hearing about the negative too). And speaking of travel blogs, Johnny Jet's is awesome! Makes me want to travel...bad! So, who's gonna ante up to send me to Europe?

I could kill my IT guy!

Seriously. I've been without internet on and off (mostly off) for days. It's been driving me insane. Everything I do is Internet related. I've been lost without it. So, I've wanted to kill my IT guy. Oh...wait...that's my husband. Okay, maybe not kill - I'll go with maim. Anyway, he figured out the problem and fixed it, so now he's out of the dog-house. I think I have like 200 unread e-mails right now, though.

The other day, I read a piece in National Geographic Traveler about bloggers who get free trips. I'm a blogger (random though I am), I should get a free trip.

blech

I'm coming down with something. It feels like a sinus infection. I'm trying to fight it, but it's winning. I hate feeling crummy. The funny (or should I say Ironic) thing is that tomorrow and Thursday I have a class that I was supposed to have right after Christmas, but I was in bed hoping to keep the Grape Gatorade in my stomach and couldn't very well teach. So they rescheduled it and now I'm feeling crummy again. Maybe it's psychopsematic (or however you spell that).

We've been having some serious internet issues. I think it's actually on our end because we had the Cox guy out yesterday morning (for other issues....I hate Cox...don't get me started) and he did some stuff that didn't make a difference. So, the resident geek has been working overtime. He's finally gotten me hooked back up. I could barely function yesterday. It's amazing to me just how ingrained the internet is in my life. Email, message boards, I'm even taking classes online. It's just pure and complete craziness, but I love it!

Happy & Resolved

Happy New Year! I'm so excited for the new year. I don't know why. There isn't really much difference between Dec. 31 and Jan. 1, but I'm feeling so much promise. We've celebrated the New Year in fine form...champagne at midnight while I was on the computer messing around and Chris was watching poker and a day full of the Rose Parade, football, and a poker tournament for Chris. The way it's supposed to be. I can feel it in my bones...this is going to be a good year, a very good year. I'm excited, yet nervous about the changes and can't wait for the travels and new things we'll get to see. It's gonna be quite a year!

BTW....did you see the OU game last night? Holy Stinking Cow! Games like this is why the BCS system stinks. Give us playoffs!!!

It's getting hairy over here

Christmas is coming fast, and there's lots to do! Actually, it's not Christmas so much as the 18th. I heard the other day that anything that is being mailed USPS first class has to be mailed by the 18th to arrive before Christmas. I haven't even made Christmas cards yet! And I bought a bunch of supplies for them, so I have to or I'll get in trouble with the other half. AAAAAARRRRGGGHHHH!! (Kristina, that was a total Cathy reference). I wasn't feeling so stressed, but I think I took a too lax attitude and now I'm freaking out!

I'm just sayin'

So, I've made a name change here. I've been thinking about it for a while. Anyone who spends very much time with me will know that "I'm just sayin'" is totally my catch phrase, so I thought it was fitting to change the name of the 'ole bloggity!

Winter Wonderland

Just checking here...I still live in the land of the Okies, right? Here's why I'm asking....

We're lousy with snow over here! I'm just sayin', we're not supposed to have weather like this. It's supposed to be warm. Well, maybe not Florida warm, but certainly warmer than 15 for the high! We started with thunderstorms at 35 degrees on Wednesday, and it went downhill from there! Freezing rain, then sleet, then snow, then sleet again (and what exactly is the difference between sleet and freezing rain? One freezes in the couds and the other on the way down? Either way, I'm not a fan).We've got a bunch of snow over a layer of ice. Yuck! I'm not sure what the official tally is, but we're looking at about 6 inches around our house with drifts of 2 ft.! Once again, this is OK, we're not prepared for such nonsense! The whole city shut down yesterday and today. Chris and I needed some food last night, so we ventured out to Target, and it was us and like 4 other people. Holy Cow! Chris has been working from home, and my classes were postponed 'til next week. They even closed the Airport and the freeways. When you only have 15 snowplows for a city this size...you're in trouble!

The puppies adore the snow! They hate the freezing rain (Scoob wouldn't go outside in it), but they love the snow once it's on the ground. They always end up with white faces from plowing it. Chris let them out this morning and kinda forgot they were out there (he's working downstairs, I'm working upstairs). Forty-five minutes later, I hear this, "Uh-oh." When I investigated, what did I find, but two little babies with snoballs in their skirts. Darn Scottie cuts! So, off we went for a warm bath. Silly puppies! They're already dying to go play in it again.

Don't get me wrong, I *love* the snow, but I'm totally getting cabin fever over here. I'm just dying to get out and go do something. And that darned Chris is actually working. Sheesh!