Its been a while

So as with most things, real life has once again interfered with my online life. Since posting last, my Father has passed away, we lost a beloved family pet, and we almost lost my Mother to, of all things, a ruptured appendix, (something that generally does not affect anyone over the age of 35). That was followed two days later by her having a heart attack and needing stents, followed by colitis, bleeding ulcers, and a nasty staph infection less than a week later. May of this year was not a good one. So between taking care of all the things that go along with an unexpected death (Dad had an aneurysm that led to a massive stroke), and fighting with Insurance companies over what they were supposed to cover but did not in Mom’s case, and trying to keep two on-line businesses running its been hectic to say the least.

Things seem to be finally settling down now. And I can finally take a few deep breathes and relax. At least until life slaps me upside the head again, or we sell the property and have to downsize Mom into a smaller home (her choice as she no longer wants to be burdened with a larger home or lot to take care of), which ever comes first.

But hopefully I will be better able to keep up with whats going on and actually keep the blog current.

Another Year Another Set of Resolutions

Its that time of year again.  The start of a new year seems to inspire most people to make a list of resolutions.  Everything from losing weight, getting a new job, to quitting smoking.   And by the middle of January 90% of us will have given up on them.  I have the utmost respect for the 10% that actually manage to follow through with they’re resolutions.  I am not now, nor will I ever be one of them.    I have reached that point in life where I have decided to give up on making lists, goals, and resolutions.  From now on I’m just going to take life as it comes and ignore the rest.  If nothing else I’ll free up lots of spare time to do things I really want to do when I quit making lists that end up as scratch paper.

Wishing all a happy, healthy, sane 2010.

Misuse of Free Postal Supplies

Okay, normally I live and let live.  But this is one pet peeve that really irritates me.  People who get the free priority mail supplies from the post office then uses them to ship via parcel post, first class, or media mail.  THIS IS NOT OKAY.

I have received no less than three packages this week alone in which the boxes were turned inside out and shipped parcel post.  Luckily I was not charged extra for these.  But only because I refused the one that came postage due, and the others were not caught.

People it doesn’t matter if the priority mail material is used or new.  It can only be used for priority mail shipments.  Any of the following can happen if you use the priority supplies to ship another method:

1.  The package is inspected and returned to sender postage due.

2.  The package is inspected and sent on to your customer postage due.

3.  The package is inspected, either sent back you, or on to your customer, postage due, AND the post office you ship from is instructed to hold all packages you ship and inspect them to make sure your shipping legally.

And don’t think, the post office can’t check your packages.  From what I’ve been told, the only packages immune from checking without a court order are priority mail, and express mail.

So please, before you ship your next item in an inside out priority mail box, make sure you aren’t violating the law.  These mailing supplies will only remain free as long as we don’t abuse the rules.  Just think, it was abuse of the rules than ended the free priority tape we used to be able to order from the post office by the case.

The Insanity of the Holidays

Maybe its just me.  But it seems like things get crazier every year at this time.  With people fighting over the latest must have toy or gadget.  Lining up outside stores Wednesday mornings to take advantage of Black Friday sales.  The grinches who think its cool to destroy Christmas decorations people put up in their homes.  Or how about the people who go crazy with the lights on every conceivable, and some not so conceivable, surface of their house and yard.

I can remember a time when Christmas decorations didn’t even hit the store shelves until the first week of December.  Now, they are up in July.  Maybe thats why so much of the magic has left the season.  Its become way too commercialized.

I am not complaining so much, as wondering where the insanity will stop, if at all.  Next thing you know, you’ll be able to buy that inflatable Christmas Tree when you buy the cupid decorations for Valentines Day.

Regardless, here’s wishing you and yours a safe, happy, healthy, and SANE holiday season.

Its Good To Be Back

I never realized just how dependent I was on my computer until I was without it for the better part of 3 weeks.  I was able to use my brothers long enough to check emails, and do my banking, but that was about it.  Now a new hard drive, additional memory, and reinstalls of all my favorite programs and I am back up and running.

Its so nice to be able to log on to the internet at 3 in the morning when I can’t sleep, and to spend more than a few minutes deleting all but the most important emails that need to be answered.  It’s even better to be able to catch up on the ebooks I haven’t read yet. (I still haven’t yet found an eReader that I am happy enough with to spend the money on, so I’m still reading on the computer.)

Thank god I’m anal about making backups and backups of backups.  That was the only thing keeping me sane during the days without my trusty computer.

Oh you want to know what happened.  Simple really, my hard drive crashed. Which may have been a blessing in disguise.  I was able to add the additional memory I wanted at the same time, and add a larger hard drive.  While checking out the computer, the friend who was fixing it for me (can you say bartering for homemade Christmas gifts for his Mom and Girlfriend), discovered a couple of other minor problems that would have led to major problems if not taken care of.

As I sit here and type this all I can say is  “It’s great to be back!”

Look At The Cute Cake I Found

Okay, so I was searching for something unique for a friends birthday, and this popped up in the search. It was simply to cute not to share. Almost makes me want a baby. Scratch that, rather let my Brother and his Wife produce any new little rug rats. Its amazing the talent some people have for things like diaper cakes. Oh well, back to searching for that perfect birthday gift.

Yeah the links work

Cool, the link actually works. So I will be trying to alternate posts every other week, with items I am selling, and cool items I have found while searching bonanzle. Probably not more than one post per week. And I am certain there will be times when it is more than a few weeks between posts as life happens to all of us.

Hope everyone has a great rest of the summer, and I will see you next week.

Bonanzle’s New Affiliate Program

Whether its going to increase sales or not, I’m not sure yet. The nice part, you can sign up as both a seller and promoter. So a couple of different ways to profit from it. Now whether the links work or not, I’m testing them out this week, so bear with me, and lets see if this actually takes you to the page of antiques that I searched out or not.

Antiques on Bonanzle

Of course I think the single item links would probably be easier to work with. We shall see.

In Loving Memory

My father passed away on Monday, July 27th. He had not been ill so it was very unexpected.

He was and Easter baby, having been born 84 years ago on Easter Sunday, April 12, 1925.

He served in WWII in both the Army and Air Force. He had signed up with the Air Force, was drafted by the Army, then called up by the Air Force after completing basic training, and just before he was due to be shipped out.

He taught school for a few years in the late 50′s. He also farmed, worked in construction, followed the fruit harvests, and late opened his own business.

He was the youngest of 8 children with 20 years separating him from his oldest sister. He has two brothers still living.

He and my mother were married for 53 years. I cannot, recall them ever having a single fight. They survived the loss of two children (one miscarriage, and one still birth), a bankruptcy in the 1970′s, and the stress and fear that goes along with open heart surgery in 2001.

My father was a generous man. Sometimes too generous. He would give every dime in his pocket to someone who asked for a loan. He was repaid maybe 1% of the time.

He never complained, or spoke bad about a person. If he did not like someome, he tried to stay away from them. If he couldn’t, he held his tongue and “killed” them with kindness.

Although raised in a location and at a time when those who were not white were discriminated against, my father did not have those same feelings. He treated everyone the same regardless of their race, religion, sexual orientation, or political beliefs.

I can only hope to be half the person my father was.

I miss you Daddy.

Bonanzle Affiliate Program Coming Soon

As many of you know, I left ebay for bonanzle, and my formerly bleeding ulcers thank me daily. Now the boyz are getting ready to launch a new program. From what I’ve read about it, it sounds great. Of course the proof will be in how well it works or doesn’t work after its launch.

So for those of you interested in affiliate marketing, this may be something you might be interested in. Its created quite a stir among the sellers on bonanzle. You can read more about it, here.

If it works the way everyone is hoping it does, it will be a win-win for all concerned.