Social Media (networking) burn out

I knew it was bound to happen sooner or later, and it has. Twitter, facebook, my space, Squidoo, PNN, Hub Pages, being a freelance writer, blogs and other commitments have just become too much. Of course, I'm not willing to give up my writing career and I'm too hooked on Squidoo to ever let that go, but I think it is time to back off of some of the other sites I frequent.

We've become slaves to social networking. We have to twitter every update, send a notice to all of our friends at FaceBook and so forth. Besides that, the "coaches" on the social networking sites are really starting to irk me. They sort of remind me of the twitter version of the Stepford Wives. Oh, Pooh, I'm getting too old for that. I believe in trying to stay positive but it takes a little rain to receive a rainbow, doesn't it? Anyway, that's where I am. I have picked up clients so I am very busy with work now. I think I am up to graduate on Rocket Moms and I'll be joining the new group Bonnie has going in September. Along with my blogs, I think that will be enough for a while. I have been sprucing up my older lenses some though. Just adding some of the new HTML I've learned and so forth. When it comes to networking, stay with what works. Personally, I think Squidoo is a great place to network, twitter, not so much. You'll have to determine what works for you and what doesn't and stick with that. Don't waste time on "social networking" that is getting you nowhere!

The best part of waking up...

If you can finish that sentence then you can probably understand how truly magical that first sip of coffee is when you wake up. No matter how much coffee you drink during the rest of the day, none of it will quite match that first sip. Unlike most people though, I begin my caffeine infusion in the wee hours of the morning while I am still working on articles and before I've even been to sleep. I'm an incurable insomniac so I've just adjusted to getting my work done at night.

I am astounded, even at this hour, how quiet it is here now. The teen is staying with a friend and Gina took the babies and left when I found out for sure she was pregnant and had been drinking all along. I haven't seen the babies since Mother's Day when I went to baby Jeffery's birthday party. (From which his mother was absent). I know, you are probably thinking "she's deaf, it's always quiet!" Well, not quite. I am about 80% deaf but there is no mistaking a two year old outside pounding on your bedroom door and yelling; "Gamma, nandy!" That would have been my Grand daughter Loveyah wanting in for her daily treat from my candy stash. Maybe quiet is the wrong word. It's empty. There is a part of me that wants to just put my head back and sigh, then relax and enjoy. There is that other part that just feels uneasy. All is not right in the world and I miss those babies. I miss the relationship I thought I had with their mother.

I have been parenting for over 30 years now and under the circumstances, an otherwise welcome retreat seems awkward and painful. I try to keep myself busy with work, Squidoo and article submission but as soon as I stop, my mind recalls the moments of being raised by alcoholic parents and knowing that my grand babies will be too unless something changes. Oddly enough, I don't drink.

It's nice being able to leave my bedroom door open without worrying that one of the babies will come in and get into things but all things considered, for me; the best part of waking up was seeing those precious faces of my grand kids.

Keeping busy

The next round of Giant Squids and Giant 100 Squids are coming up and I am working on that. I currently have 103 lenses and I am going through and trying to polish up some of the older ones with newer modules and updated information. I've also added a couple of new lenses.

As a challenge to keep my mind off of the family drama going on, I've also joined the 30 hubs in 30 days challenge at hubpages. My first hub for the challenge is Dammit Dolls. I think it turned out pretty well.

I have been writing more articles for dailyarticles and I also am checking out some constant content bids.

If you are not familiar with Squidoo-you should be. You can check it out here (it's fun, fast and free!) Squidoo

Decisions

Well, my Grandson had his first birthday party (sans his mother) and Sunday was supposed to be "back to work" for me. I've been wrestling with quitting that job for a long time because now they are asking me to write things that just go against my grain. Yes, I am a writer and yes, I can present different points of view. But, when asked to write articles such as "Larry the Cable Guy" and some connection with the New World Order, it just doesn't make sense to me. Nor does writing a 1000 word article on a humorous aspect of "popping zits". Not for what they pay me, sorry!

I now have over 100 lenses on Squidoo and I want to do some major polishing of some of my older lenses. I see a lot that can be done with some of my older lenses that I have not visited in a while. I also want to start making my "Squid Kits" which should be a lot of fun. More info on those later.

I have joined the 30 hubs in 30 days challenge at hubpages too. It is an experiment to see just how many have increased incomes as a result of the challenge. I already have an idea of what to do some of the hubs about so it should be fun.

Writing more articles on dailyarticle.com is something else I have been doing as I have had good luck selling articles there. All of this and more I do because I just can't stand seeing my assignments any more from work. More ridiculous and absurd with each passing day and certainly not worth the small change I am paid! I'll keep you all posted on how the income stats change with all of this going on.

Another day in wonderland...

My daughter is still somewhere, with the kids but there is good news; I got ALL of the babies (including the unborn) on medicaid and it is in MY name. I'm just going to let this play out and see what happens when the baby is born.

I am thinking very seriously of doing the 30 hubs in 30 days or even the 100 hubs in 30 days. It is sort of an experiment by someone to see how much revenue is generated. I figured I would do the hubs but I would do a lens about doing the hubs.

I am putting a few new things together including Easy Peasy Squid Kits. I cannot say much about them until I have one done and can show pictures, but I think lensmasters will like them. I hope so anyway. I am accepting fillers to go into the kits though so contact me if you are interested.

For those of you who are not yet creating squidoo lenses (web-pages) you simply MUST try it out. I can almost guarantee you will become addicted. For English; PRESS ONE.

On a personal note: Grandparent rights

Probably not the wisest thing to do on a blog but I'm going personal here. Many of the people who read my blog are Grandparents, so if nothing else, may understand.

My oldest daughter is newly 22, 8 months pregnant with her third child (oldest is 2 1/2) and is an alcoholic. She didn't drink with the other two but has steadily with this one. She has been lying to me about it (they live with me) for 8 months when I have confronted her many times asking her if she was pregnant. The reason she hasn't admitted it? Apparently, it's none of my business!! Oh, and she is giving the baby up...she doesn't care who gets him, doesn't want to see him or keep up with him after he is born.

My older two grand children have lived here their entire lives and I adore them, naturally. I am currently doing the hardest thing I've ever had to do and that is telling my daughter that if this baby is none of my business, then neither is her having a place to stay. She is throwing MY Grandson away like a used tampon, drinking like a fish while pregnant with him and lying to everyone. My babies that I have had with me since birth are probably going to be taken away from me and there is not a damn thing I can do about it.

Never in my wildest dreams did I ever envision this happening. This was my "good" daughter. The one who never missed school and who (up until she met the kids dad) dated guys I could at least tolerate. My Grand kids are the joy of my life. I have housed them and fed them since they were born and their own mother is treating me like this! Forget how she is treating me...she may be killing her own child! Grandparents should have more rights, children should be able to stay with biological grandparents if able. (I am only 48) Parental rights should only go so far as protecting parents who have proven capable of making good judgment calls in the past. Drinking while pregnant is not a good judgment call.

So today I confronted her and she left...with the grand babies. Probably getting drunk. I feel like my heart is on the floor, open and oozing and she is running around pouring alcohol on the knife. So, the woman who is usually cheerful, usually witty; instead is broken hearted and feels helpless. I don't want to lost my babies.

Product review-Splenda with Fiber

Yes, it's official...I've reached that age where I can talk about fiber to people. sigh. Well, it was bound to happen.

Have any of you tried the splenda sweetener with fiber? If you haven't, you should. I was really surprised at the difference it made. Of course, I drink more than 3-4 cups of coffee a day too. It is a bit pricey but when you consider how much fiber is and how much sweetener is, it comes out about right and it's so convenient. You might want to check out the Splenda Website and see if they have any coupons (now, you KNOW they do!) Try it and let me know what you think about it.

News-Personal and Public

From the "What were you thinking" department: A woman in Ohio was stopped today for driving while talking on a cell phone. Oh, and she was also breastfeeding her daughter! DUH! You can see the story HERE

I have a new website coming that I am very excited about and I will be giving you all the addy as soon as it is launched. Hopefully, it will be ready by March 10. That's my goal anyway. I think it is going to be a lot of fun and I am looking forward to it. I've just finished my Webography and it is located at Squidoo so check that out if you get a chance.

I'll be putting together a regular schedule of topics for the weeks posts soon so you'll know what to expect. I'm thinking "Freebie Friday" and "What were you thinking Wednesday" and I don't know what else yet; any suggestions?

Freebies

No gimmics, no spam, scam or jumping through hoops. I've done the research already!

Free True Lemon Drink Mix

Free Splenda Sample

Free Betty Crocker Coupon Book (If you sign up for their Dinner made easy free program)

Free Emmerson House Coffee

Free Dunkin Donuts Dark Coffee

Free Minutemaid Juice Coupon

Free Gain Laundry

Free Tide Total Care

Free Bathroom Tissue

Free sample Dove Lotion

Please leave me a note to let me know if you took advantage of these. I just may post more often! Enjoy.

Speaking of Grandmothers

I was reading my email this morning and came across information about a contest that was being held by CVS pharmacy about Caregivers. I thought It would be appropriate to share my story here.

My Parents were good people. Very hard working, family oriented people. They made sure we had a good life and in many ways they dragged us up through middle class by their dedication and hard work. We went to private schools and had new clothes twice a year and also went on yearly vacations. My story, however, isn't about my Parents. It is about the woman who cared for my sisters and me every summer and weekend and sick day from school; My Grandmother.

As I said, my Parents were good, but they were alcoholics. Although my Grandmother was dirt poor, had very little in the way of material things, her home was like a haven. We loved going there. My Grandmother was loving and looking back it seems she was full of laughter and in her home and in her care we felt comfort and safety and love. We would be allowed to experiment with baking and cooking which my Mother wouldn't allow because she was afraid we would burn the house down or something. My Grandmother would play baseball with us in her backyard. My Parents sent us to Private School but my Grandmother took us to church.

My Parents home had air conditioning and yet partially by choice, we would spend every summer with Grandma, who had none. Oh, I can remember many nights by the open window praying for the slightest of breezes to come through-and not ONCE did I say I wanted to go home where there was air conditioning. Not once. It never even occurred to me. As poor as my Grandmother was, I never realized it. We ate well, we played often and we were safe and loved.

This continued throughout my life and luckily, my oldest Son got to know his Great-Ma (which is what we called her) and he grew to love her just as much. She absolutely adored my Son. I can remember she would sing to him (singing is not something our family is well known for) and he would just start bawling! She would laugh and start to sing again.

As my Grandmother got older, she was afflicted with Arthritis. We were aware of it but she never really made too big of a deal about it. Looking back, I realize how much pain she was in. I can honestly say that until her last day, Grandma put us first. At one point, she had had a stroke, a leg amputated, her diabetes was out of control and she was facing another surgery. We literally had to sit down beside her before surgery and tell her it was okay if she was tired and wanted to go home to be with the Lord. We told her she had done a wonderful job with us and she need not worry about us if she wanted or needed to leave. Grandma didn't leave us just then, but it was soon after. I honestly believe she was holding on for us. Her life had been a hard one and I know that in more ways than one she went through hell. Yet, when I remember her, I remember the smiles, the laughter, and the fun. My Grandmother was one of the greatest influences of my life and I hope my own Grandchildren think of me in somewhat the same light.

Thanks for reading.

By the way, if you post your story on the link I gave you, you have a chance to win $10,000 - 25,000. Thought I'd let you know.

Back to work!

I'm afraid I've bogged myself down so much these past few months I've neglected my blogs. I've been working on my other blog Thrifty Home and I've been working on my Pet Rescue Column on The Examiner. Now I need to concentrate on this blog.

I'm still loving being a Grandma, even though the kiddos live with me. They delight me in ways I never dreamed possible. Their smiles light up my life and give meaning to days that I'd rather stay in bed.

I'm going to be starting a newsletter for this blog soon, so I need your input. What sorts of things would you like to see here? General stories, information, recipes? I'd appreciate some of your thoughts on the subject.

Grandma's are no longer taking to their front porch rocking chairs (at least not without their laptops!) Many of us are on the go, internet savvy Grandma's who at least try to keep up with the times. We are still very productive in society in our own way, be it online, offline or both. We've learned from our past and still look forward to our future. We're the NEW AGE GRANDMA'S. Join me as we celebrate (and sometimes commiserate) with each other in this exciting time in our lives.

I have a website all ready to be hosted and set up for when this blog grows into what I hope will be an active Grandparent community. Maybe some Mom's will even stop by! I welcome your comments and suggestions, and thanks for hanging in there. I'll be putting up a new sign up box for newsletters, so even ifyou have signed up before, please do so again. It will say "NEW Newsletter sign up.

Grandma's gone Virtual!

Well, this may surprise a lot of you (I know it did me!) but THIS grandma is going virtual. I have so many things going on and I run out of hours in the day before I get anything completed!

I've hired a coach who should help me focus and I've also hired a Virtual Assistant to help with some things. I'm in the process of narrowing down which blogs/sites I can connect and what will have to go.

I have tons of recipes and I know that I will be putting them together in files and selling them CHEAP so stay tuned for that.

Finding more family time

As a parent, (or a grandparent) you are familiar with the concept of “family time,” but have you ever sat down and thought about why it is important and the benefits it brings to both you and your children’s lives?

Many of today’s families are very busy. Most households need two incomes to survive. Some parents even hold down two or more jobs in order to make ends meet. Many parents feel out of balance when it comes to their working and family time.

These feelings can lead to stress and anxiety. As you know, stress and anxiety lead to other health problems, such as head aches, irritability, depression, high blood pressure, and other ailments.

The time your children spend with you gives them many benefits. Spending time as a family provides your children with feelings of love, support, security and safety.

The various activities you engage in during family time provide your children with opportunities to learn new behaviors and skills. For example, teach younger children the alphabet by making a game out of it. If your elementary age child is learning about pollination, go for a walk and point out the many types of flowers you find.

Spending time with your middle school and high school aged children allows you to stay connected with them and to help them ward off peer pressure. When your child feels a connection to you and the morals you have taught them, they won’t have a high need for acceptance from peers. Your teen will be able to take pride in themselves and stand up for their own convictions.

Spending time together as a family can also be beneficial to your marriage. It’s no secret that the nation’s divorce rate is quite high. Family time isn’t just about a parent spending time with their children; it’s also about spouses spending time together. When both partners are actively making time for one another, the marriage will be stronger and less likely to fold.

While the importance of family time is clear; it isn’t always easy to find the time needed to enjoy family time. There are resources to help you, such as the report “Real Life Guidance: Finding More Family Time.” This report goes over many ways to help you find more family time and it also provides some fun (and inexpensive) ideas for how to spend your time together.


Author Resource - Aurelia Williams is a certified life coach and author of Real Life Guidance: Finding More Family Time. Take the 1st step to finding more family time today.

Multi-generational homes

There is a lot to be said for them but not all of it is good. Especially in times of economic trouble, having a multi-generational household can save a lot of money. (Read: The kids usually live at Mom's for free.) But what happens when Grandma is the only one bringing any income into the house? A lot of frustration, that's what. I love my daughter, I love her children but carrying the load is getting kind of old. That's not even the worse part. I feel trapped in my room some times. My computer is in here and I am a writer by profession so naturally I spend a lot of time in here. When I do venture into other parts of the house, however, I am usually tackled by the grand kids (God bless them!) In fact, my granddaughter (she's only 2) finds any excuse in the world to get in here and when I go out there, she is all over me.

I'm just not sure I like being a prisoner in my own home. I'd like to go to the fridge and get a snack without tripping over toys and having the little ones tackle me. Like I said, I love them to death, I just have done my Mommy gig and I'd like a little peace now. When I'm not working, I'd like to enjoy some television maybe. No can do unless I want to be in the room with 4 other people. sigh. I guess I'm just venting. Does anyone else live in a multi-generation house? Any thoughts.

10 Steps For Cooking-Up Family Memories

The kitchen is the perfect place for making memories. When you spend time baking, cooking and enjoying meals with your family, you create happy memories you and your children (or grandchildren) will cherish forever.

The benefits of preparing and enjoying food as a family are clear. You save money and eat healthier meals. You create opportunities to connect and communicate with your children and spouse. And most importantly, you show love for your family when you spend time cooking and eating with them. Children of all ages need your attention and your time. By working together to create a meal or bake a batch of cookies, you spend valuable time together.

So, here are 10 steps to get your family cooking up memories.

Step 1:
Teach small children the fun of cooking by helping them bake cookies and cakes. If you are short on time, you can use a boxed cookie mix and spend more time decorating.

Step 2:
Encourage the littlest ones to play pretend cooking. Kids love to play with real mixing bowls, strainers and wooden spoons. These make harmless toys and can be easily thrown in the dishwasher for quick cleanup.

Step 3:
If you live by your day-timer, schedule in baking cookies with your kids. Our schedules can be so hectic that something as simple as baking a batch of chocolate chip cookies can get skipped over. Write it down and do it.

Step 4:
If you have teenagers, let them play their favorite music while they wash the lettuce and set the table.

Step 5:
Work together with your spouse to prepare the dinner and use the time to catch up on each other's day.

Step 6:
Even if you are in a rush preparing dinner, remember to reduce your stress and focus on creating a fun atmosphere that naturally encourages the whole family to participate.

Step 7:
When spending time preparing food with your children, include lessons about healthy eating choices. Keep the conversation positive and avoid listing foods they can't have.

Step 8:
On days where you anticipate time will be tight, consider taking a short cut by using a frozen stir-fry mix or pasta with a jar of pre-made sauce. Your family will appreciate your relaxed mood much more than a made-from-scratch dinner.

Step 9:
Share the job of grocery shopping. One week have mom take one of the children as a helper, the next week dad can go with another child. Always work from a grocery list and let your children help you retrieve items and cross them off the list.

Step 10:
Have big family meals where you share about your day. Keep the conversation fun and avoid negative lectures over dinner. Remember to laugh.

Take these steps today and make your kitchen a fun and memorable place for your whole family.

Great ideas- after the fact

Have you ever just had great ideas? I mean, just out of the blue, for no reason. I think that happened to me today. I'm not sure why, but I had this thought: Great title for a Blog: Grandma Muses. (You know, like Grandma Moses, only Muses.) Ahh well, that's for another day

I'm under the weather today. Stomach flu I think. I've been working hard trying to get everything done and today I'm not going to be doing much of anything.

Please tell your friends about my blog. I will be adding some great stuff soon.

More thoughts on the New Year

I've been busy as ever and worked right through New Years Eve and New Years Day. It is sometimes a struggle to keep up with my job as a content writer (writing 7500 words a day) and also trying to start my own business. That's before the blogging and Squidoo-ing that I try to keep up with! I did want to point out that I do have high hopes for 2009. My most popular and best ranked Lens on Squidoo right now is "I'm gonna Shine in 2009" It even toppled the Lens that was my #1 for over 8 months! You may want to take a look at it and join those of us who are making a commitment to shine in 2009!

Is there something magical about New Years?

I don't think the magic is in the day but rather in our determination on this day. Whether it was held on January 1st or May the 14th, it signifies a change. It represents what we have learned about ourselves and what we would like to change. Personally, I don't make "Resolutions." I do make some general goals and I think that is important to do. Everyone should have goals and aspirations. However, "resolutions" get broken whereas goals can be modified.

No, it's not the day that is magical, it is how we view the past with hindsight and wisdom and use that to try to shape our future. Oh sure, New Years is a holiday and many people celebrate it. I have no problem with that. I prefer to just go on about my business and yet take time to reflect and even plan some goals for the future. New Years does tend to give us hope and that is probably the most magical thing about it. The old year is past. As Oprah said "here's to a new year and another chance to get things right!" Good Ole Oprah.