Allegro Medical

I was over at the Allegro Medical website looking at scooters when I got to looking at their lift chairs to assist people in standing. I had never seen the lifting cushions before. They are a simple cushion that you put on a normal recliner chair to transform it into a lift chair.

Allegro Medical has all kinds of interesting to browse through medical equipment, I can spend hours just window shopping for things that it would be good to have to make being a caregiver a little easier.

For example - I was also looking for one of them things that lets you lift in and out of the bathtub, but the closest I found to that was an inflatable bath that you put on a bed, the person rolls onto it and you inflate the bathtub around them. Looks like a good idea for someone that is bedridden or just can't take a traditional bath.

Family Caregiver Info

Family Caregiver Info (www.familycaregiver.info is shaping up very nicely. I have some more work I need to get done on it, but the site is starting to look okay and I've got a theme for WordPress from V4NY that lets me set things up how I was wanting to get them organized. I have a lot more work to get done on the site, but I am very happy with how it's shaping up so far. Feel free to stop by and let me know what you think about it.

Diabetes.org can help you shop

I was researching recipes for diabetics and came across a section of the Diabetes.org website that I had not seen before. They have a Virtual Grocery Store in their recipes section. What you do is create a profile at their website, then you can select meals that are approved for a diabetic diet, request the meal to be placed in your recipe file, then have the needed ingredients dropped into your shopping list.

You can edit the shopping list to remove things you already have around the house and even add things that you need that are not on the list. They have a printer friendly version of the list, but it did not seem to show up right on my computer screen, I have not tried to print it. Even if you have to select the list section on the list page and print the selected text, this is a great tool for going shopping. I'll be using the site a lot more, particularly since I have determined that if I am taking over the cooking, my mom is going to be on a strict diabetes approved diet. I doubt she'll even notice the change, since she is already being really good about that stuff, but I don't wanna fix the wrong stuff so I'll be relying on that site and what I can collect for the cookbook I plan to start at Family Caregiver Info or Diet Tracker Online Info.

Financial jobs blog

Have you been forced to move because of caregiver responsibilities? It can be hard to find a new job, particularly if you are looking for something in an executive level position. That is where A. E. Feldman Associates, Inc. comes in. They have recruiters that have all had successful careers in their represented fields, so they can help employers and job seekers find the perfect match.

You can visit the financial jobs blog by A. E. Feldman Associates, Inc. to find out more about what jobs are currently available and how A. E. Feldman Associates, Inc. provides expert advice on the executive search process.

With areas that include risk management services, legal and legal support services, communications and technology and more A. E. Feldman Associates, Inc. can help fill any middle to executive to top "C level" position. Find out more by vising the link above.

One of those days - grrrrrrr

One of the reasons that I don't talk a lot about my personal life on here is because of days like today. My dad has decided that he is going to be in a bad mood, no reason, no explanation, he just is in a foul mood - so I get growled at for everything. It is one of those things about being a full-time family caregiver that just makes you want to scream and give up, but you know it won't last and to get upset back won't cure the problem, it'd just make it worse. So I sit here frustrated trying to get some work done and having absolutely no focus for working on anything other than a forehead shaped dent in the tabletop.

I will make a podcast - someday

I keep wanting to start a podcast for my family caregiver info website, but there never seems to be any time to dedicate to the project. I am determined that I will get some time to work something out, I just have to come up with a bunch of stuff that will work for a podcast and find the time to actually sit down and create the things.

It probably won't be a weekly podcast - more like a "whenever I can get one made" podcast. I suppose that would be better than never getting one made, huh?

Moving Companies

Rather you have to move because you have just become a full-time caregiver or you have just reached that stage where moving is necessary, you want it to be as stress free as possible. Let's face it, family caregivers have the highest stress unpaid job in the world, they should not have to be stressed out when they need to move. Right?

Service Network has set up a website to help anyone that is preparing to move find moving companies that can help them with their move. The moving companies have all undergone careful screening and are fully licensed and insured, so your move can have a lot less stress.

Find out more about Service Network and their quick and easy process for getting you connected with movers by vising the company's moving companies website at the link above.

Helium

I have been thinking I would write some article on family caregiving for Helium. I have been wanting to write more articles there and being a family caregiver is something that I know about - learned from in the hard knocks school of life. So in addition to the fantasy writing that I have been working on for the site I want to work on some family caregiver and maybe dieting articles.

How do you know ADVAIR is being taken right?

My dad's doctor prescribed ADVAIR for him to take, those discus things, but I'm not sure if he is actually getting the medication out of the thing or not. I intend to wait until the medication doses have all been used up, then carefully break the discus thing open and see if the medication looks like it was actually distributed properly or not. It makes no sense to be taking something that costs over $400 a month if it is not actually being taken properly.

Online Degrees

Something that I love about Capella University is the fact that you are able to take your school work anywhere you can take a laptop computer. You can work on your degree at any time, taking classes online from the convenience of your home computer - even in the comfort of your pajamas.

Capella University is a fully accredited online university with 101 graduate and undergraduate specializations and 15 certificate programs. Students in all 50 States and 56 countries have already discovered how convenient it is to earn their degree online.

To find out more about the online degrees that Capella University offers, and how you can earn a degree in your spare time, visit the Capella University website at the link above.


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Want Open Source Scrapbook Software

I want to find a good Open Source program for creating digital scrapbooks. I want something I can run on my website to allow people to create a scrapbook page that they can print out. I'm not sure if there are any programs like that out there or not, but I would really love to find it if there are. Something I want to incorporate into my One Of A Kind Biz website is a scrapbooker's image gallery that can be used for creating scrapbook montages.

Sand for icy path

I have decided that I am going to build some sort of waterproof wooden box out off the edge of the porch this summer, then collect some really good dry sand to stash in it. That way when the walkway gets covered in ice, like it is now, I can have sand ready to spread over the icy surface.

Spa Jobs

In 2002 the Regency Beauty Institute was just two schools in Minnesota , now they cover almost 30 campuses across nine states, and that growth continues. In April three more campuses are going to be opening in Michigan. And they have launched an online job search engine designed exclusively for the beauty industry.

More than just a place for cosmetology students to locate spa jobs, BeautyJobs seeks assist those in the cosmetology industry locate promising new talent.

Featuring a school directory that allows those looking to learn cosmetology to search for schools and a career resources page to help with preparing for interviews and building resumes.

Known for producing graduates that are sought after by the beauty industry throughout the United States, Regency Beauty Institute is excited by this newest resource for students and professionals and what it can do for the beauty industry.

Might have a new dog

My nephew's dog's little of puppies includes what looks like it will be a white dog. I know my mom liked the fellow, but last night I brought him in and my dad saw him for the first time. My dad asked me to leave him in his lap for a few and he petted him and asked him if he wanted to be his dog. Was so cute to me. My dad had a Springer Spaniel for a lot of years, looks like he might have found himself another dog now. We have been pondering keeping the white dog already, but this might just cinch the little fellow having a home with us. Of course, I think he's probably going to grow to be a rather BIG dog, but he's small right now. We'll see how he looks when it's time to find the puppies new homes.

Going to look at other family caregiver websites this week

I plan to make a tour of family caregiver websites this week, just to see what kinds of sites are out there that are maintained by family caregivers and what they are sharing about their experiences. I know that I am very private about that kind of thing, but there are a lot of people out there that share information about their daily lives and I want to take a look at what is being talked about in the blogosphere and beyond.

Flowers

A flower that I would love to grow this summer is the trumpet shaped mini calla lily. These delicate flowers have the perfect fairy-skirt shape to them and come in a wide range of colors. Most often thought of when one is planning a wedding, the mini calla lily is a flower that I have always thought was perfect for any special occasion.

Fifty Flowers carries mini calla lilies as part of their floral selections for weddings. Their color selections ranging from the golden yellow of a buttercup to a Cream Purple that creatures a deep rich purple with white edging. My personal favorite is the Lavender Blush, which is a lovely white ruffled calla lily with a soft lavender tinting on the ruffled edge of the bloom.

Cut fresh at flower farms the mini calla lilies are bulk bundled, and shipped via express shipping directly to the bride or event planner. Fifty Flowers includes the cost of shipping in the wholesale price, so there is no second guessing how much it will cost to receive the flowers.

If you or someone you know is planing a wedding, or other special event, then Fifty Flowers invites you to come browse their floral selections and start planning your arrangements. You can either have the flowers shipped to you, or their flower facility can create custom floral arrangements according to your desires.

Making Money Online - no, I'm serious, take a look at this ---

While it is not exactly something that will make a person rich, I have discovered that if someone loves to write and enjoys creating an online journal to share their interests/hobbies/experiences with the world, they can make at least a little money. (between $10 and $1,000 a month) This has lead me to create a website where I can share information on how to get paid to blog with others that are interested in learning more about paid blogging.

Not only focused on blogging, Paid to Blog Info also shows a lot of ways that you can earn a few dollars from standard websites as well. Imagine being able to create a website that will showcase your cross stitching and earning a couple of dollars month from just sharing your passion. You might not get rich, but one of my goals is to set up a couple of sites that the money they earn goes into an untouched savings account where the money can build up slowly.

I also have a forum at Paid to Blog Info, dedicated to the discussion of ways to make money on blogs and websites. This is a place where those who know what they are doing can help those new to the idea of making money online, and those new to making money online can find out more from the people that know where to find money making opportunities.

I am very strict about not letting anyone fall for scams (see How Stupid Do They Think I Am?), so there is no fear that I will tolerate scammers using my boards to target people looking for ways to make money. If a service requires you to pay them, they are not serious about helping you make money. All of the services I endorse at Paid to Blog Info will require no monetary investment by the person seeking to earn money - aside from the cost of getting your computer and website etc, but even then, I will be giving a lot of information on how to make money with free sites using library computers. Family caregivers should not have to spend a penny to earn enough to get themselves something nice or help pay for medications or food etc...

Joint pain

My right knee started hurting late last night, that intense muscular pain in the middle of the joint that leaves you wanting to scream. It was nearly impossible to think straight and took me almost half an hour to stand up from a chair I had sat down on.

I didn't want to take medications for it, so I finally tried taking a nap to get the pain to stop. It didn't help, so I went back to bed. Got up around noon to finally find the pain had dissipated over the night.

I really want to know what it is that causes that to happen. It hits both knees and hips at seemingly random times, usually in the winter. I've had it hit the shoulders too in more recent years, it seems like the same pain, but in the shoulder. I've had the problem with my right knee since I was in my early teens, over the years it seems to be spreading throughout my body. I think what I need to do is get a small notepad and start keeping a journal of when the pain hits, for how long, and what might have caused it. Make noted on what the weather was like and what I was doing that might have triggered the pain. Maybe then I can start figuring it out.

Destination Weddings at Karisma Hotels

Rather you are 18 or 80 getting married is a special occasion that can be made even more special by taking a romantic honeymoon or even deciding to run away and get married in one of those destination weddings. Destination Weddings are something that were once thought to be for celebrities and the rich, however, it is no longer the case. Some destination weddings can cost significantly less than some traditional weddings. And it is a wonderful mini-vacation that allows you to have the weddings of your dreams in the perfect location.

Karisma Hotels offers destination weddings to the Riviera Maya, what they say is "one of the most romantic destinations in the world". An extensive Frequently Asked Questions page at the Karisma Hotels website (link above) can help you get ready for a vacation wedding with answers to popular questions such as how many witnesses are needed, how long you must be in the country before you can be legally married, and what documents are needed for a wedding that will be legal in the United States.

For more information see Karisma Hotels weddings page at the link above.

Winter coming to a close

The snow is starting to melt off out there some, the warm weather and strong winds that we had contributing to the quick melting of the snow. I've seen it all melted away by Easter before, and am hoping that this will be one of those years. I won't be hiding eggs this year, but I can tell you that it is no fun trying to hide colorful eggs in white snow. Right now I will just be glad to see the ice gone from the walkways, when me and my brother were helping our dad back in the house after the doctor's appointment yesterday it was a very icy and dangerous path even with cat litter sprinkled over the ice.

Doctor appointment

Went to a doctor appointment with my dad yesterday.  I knew that we would be waiting for a while, so I took along my laptop and got almost 400 words added to the novel I have been working on.  Really happy about that, and the fact that I have plans for continuing the scene later.

The appointment went good for my dad, although his doctor did prescribe an inhaler for him.  He had been on a optional inhaler in case he gets short of breath, but she wants him to take one regularly now, which I don't really like the sounds of.

She also signed the form needed to get him on the talking books program from the Library of Congress, so we can start getting him some audio books.  Being an avid reader that can no longer read, that is something that is going to be important for him to be able to get.

Investing in the future - someday

I suppose that it is my mom who gave me my love for gold. I don't mean gold jewelry and the expensive trinkets, I mean real gold that you can hold and feel the weight of and enjoy how it looks just laying there in your hand. Someday I want to have enough money ahead that I cam invest in gold. Just call up the Monex Deposit Company and say "I'd like to buy some gold bullion please..." Ah... that would be nice.

Another metal that I dearly love is silver, so I would probably make some investments in that as well. It would be tempting to have them send it directly to me, their hard asset professionals can help arrange for personal delivery, but I think I would rather take them up on helping arrange for deposit into an independent bank or depository. Less chance of me cashing my gold or silver in unless I really have to, know what I mean?

The Monex Deposit Company has been in business for over 40 years now, so I know they will still be in business when I can afford to invest in my own future. And while I dearly love the feel of gold, I might decide to look into metals other than gold or silver. Right now I am wondering what the palladium market is like and what the future of that metal might be like. Maybe I'll head over to the Monex website and check into that. It never hurts to do research while I am waiting to be able to buy, right?

Writing to stay sane

I suppose that this morning is a good example of why I write so much. I write to stay sane.

There have been times over the years when I have poured my heart out into the written word. Sometimes it was written and destroyed or written and tucked away, but there are times when I have shared it with my closest friends. I have write through some pretty tough things with my friends, both in my life and theirs. It is a therapy, but not the same as keeping a journal. A journal is merely a recounting of what occurred, but when I write it is more like an exploration of what happened.

I take things that have happened and cast them into the fictional world. I explore what happened through the eyes of fictitious characters in a way work out my own feelings through those characters.

Sometimes it needs to be conveyed in a nonfiction format, and those are far less likely to be kept and rarely shared, but one way or another I tend to write my way back to sanity.

Sad morning

This morning was a sad morning. A couple of days ago (on the 9th) one of the dogs I am taking care of over the winter had puppies. The pair belongs to my nephew and BB decided to have a litter of puppies, although I think when it came time to have them she realized I was right a few months ago when I kept telling her she could not have a boyfriend. This morning the little runt, the really little runt, died. :'(

The little fellow hung on for a day and a half, but he was about one fourth the size of all his litter mates, so I knew it was just a matter of time.

I have tucked him away in a small box and will put him somewhere safe in the shed, then in the spring when I can dig in the ground I will bury him out behind the garden area where my dad's old Springer Spaniel and my two dogs I had as a child are buried.

Then I plan to build one hell of a huge freaking cement waterfall feature over top of them all so that it is guaranteed that they will rest in peace and never be dug up on accident by anyone that might own this place in the future.