--=Ana's Cyber Retreat=-

Guest written by our friend Gladys Fuentes

Mom and dad recently bought a lake house for the whole family to use. It was pretty much the best idea they ever had if you ask me and I’m just really happy they’ve gone ahead and done it since they’ve been talking about it for years and years. My kids can’t wait for the weather to warm up so we can go up there and get out on the boat but I for one know the place needs a little work before it’s ready to be lived in for a season. I’ve been helping mom and dad with things like wild blue internet and getting a painter in there and even looking for furniture for the patio but there are some things they’re just going to have to do themselves. Dad’s been talking about putting a fire pit in and mom would love to have a porch swing so I guess we’ll see what kind of extras the place has by the time summer rolls around! I know they can’t wait to start using the place like they intended.

Spring came early for us here, and ah, what a treat! The weather is perfect. I'll have to get out soon and start cleaning our yard. I have to plant some flowers again, and maybe vegetables too. Anyway, I hope everybody's having a wonderful time going out and about. As for us, we're doing just that. Okay, happy spring! Aw, the sun is up and shining...yay!

Spring Season Pictures - Quotes - Photobucket

Guest post written by my buddy Aldo Mays

I was helping my co-worker research SIP trunking providers for the office. Some of our workers ended up moving to different areas of the state recently. It is too far for them to drive into work, so my boss decided it was best to let them telecommute. They are really essential parts of our work team so I do not think we could afford to lose them completely. Before, we were not really using very much video or calling using the Internet. Now, it will really help to have some service that provides a mixture of that to accommodate the new work setting. I think it is nice our boss is going to do that. It is partially for our business’ benefit, but I know they will really benefit from it as well since they will not have to suffer a long commute or searching for a new position elsewhere. The job market is pretty difficult right now. It makes me really glad I am a part of such a nice small company and it is good to know we will have the software and capabilities to work from more places if needed.

I am taking a break from school to get a few things done. First off, I need to learn how to drive, so I am finally mobile. I really dread relying on other people for a ride...even if it's my husband in particular. I especially didn't care for it when I started going to school here. It's awful not having your own vehicle and be able to come and go anytime you please. Anyway, I am looking forward to being on the road, and oh, it's another form of freedom for me as if I have wings. LOL! But for a new driver, I must take it slow though, since it's quite dangerous to be driving in the big city with heavy traffic. Okay, this is all for now. Happy Valentine's Day!

Contribution by Stevie Kirby

I’ve been looking into Business Internet solutions for my little company because I knew we needed to get on top of the technology needs we just weren’t living up to. I try really hard not to get too caught up in what the “important” thing to do is for your small business but even I could admit that we needed to do a little updating on the tech front. It’s just me and my assistant Shirlene and two interns and things just don’t get done as fast when you don’t have what you need to be efficient, you know? I try as hard as I can not to buy anything superfluous for the business but this is something even I can admit we’ve been needing for a while so I can handle some criticism that it took me so long. Now that we’ve got faster internet at the office I expect the productivity there to really go through the roof and I’ve told all my girls that – they’re being monitored for productivity now!

Welcome to the year 2012! Let's hope that this year and the years to come will only bring us more good things, and not bad things. And let's not the "End of The World" hearsay instill fear in us. I for one, just don't believe in it, or that the world will end in December 21, 2012...LOL! That is just a myth. So let's continue to live, laugh, and love. Take care peeps! Happy New Year!!!

New Year 2012 Images & Pictures - Photobucket

Thanks to Erasmo Cortez

I am already looking forward to the next season of American Idol. Each year I think about what I would sing if I were to audition for the show. I am by no means a good singer, but I like to practice singing when I am in the shower. I am glad we got satellite TV from expertsatellite.com so we can record the show and watch the parts we want to watch. I enjoy watching all of the auditions at the beginning of the season because I like to see the ones that perform really well as well as the ones who get made fun of and think they are really good singers. I feel sorry for the way the judges make fun of some of the singers, but it is hard to believe that they actually think they are good enough to be the American Idol. I do not enjoy watching the Hollywood rounds when the contestants have to compete in group competitions. I usually resume watching the season when the top 12 are chosen. I rarely vote on the contestants unless I feel strongly about one. It is hard to believe that show has been on so long.

It's exciting to think that I only have a week to go and school is over. Ah, who doesn't like to sit around and do nothing...LOL! So ok, I am just kidding aside there, but seriously who doesn't like having some time to relax? Anyway, as for how I am doing with school, I must admit that it has helped me in terms of polishing my English skill a bit. Indeed, although my classes were mainly about essay writing. And hey, I am proud to say that I did very well in almost all of my writing assignments. I hardly had any problems. I am glad that taking an English class is behind me now though, because I was getting kinda frantic about what I'd write about next...LOL! My academic progress is so far so good! The only thing that holds me back is my tendency to take for granted the things that I should do firsthand. I did have a lot of play time, etc. doing everything else but study. I felt ashamed of myself for being careless, but at the same time happy to think that even though I didn't put in enough effort to see my full potential I still managed to maintain good grades or attain my desired GPA. I'll consider myself lucky for now...LOL!

When it comes to musical instruments, anytime is a good time to surprise somebody with one. What I mean is that a musical instrument can be a such a special gift to somebody you care about. You can give it at any time of the year or on so many occasions. It is always welcome, especially if you are giving it to a musician or somebody who enjoys playing different instruments. I actually have a friend whose son is a band leader, and perhaps he could use Crystal Singing Bowls for his instruments. I'll have to tell my friend about where to get them cheaper. I would also consider making a purchase of one of those types of instruments for my personal use. It would be a treat for me to get one since I find them to be quite unique-I'm fascinated by them.

Since the weather is warm, my husband talks about renovating our kitchen. We recently discovered that the pipes under our kitchen sink leaked, so we will probably have to make major repairs. We would have to replace very much everything. Replacing our kitchen sink would be our top priority, and I already found the right stainless steel Topmount Sink for us. It's a good thing that we have a computer at home because then we're able to surf the web for the particular items we need. Sometimes we even find special items that we couldn't often find at the local stores. And I learned that buying online is also a good thing because there are websites with better selections of products and better prices because they are discounted just like these Topmount Sinks I've just looked at. I am glad I found a website with great deals. It helps with saving money.

Guest post written by Sherri Burton

My old faux fur lined snow boots that I've worn for years finally gave out right before Christmas when i was playing with my kids in the snow. I tripped and somehow ripped them, although I'm still not exactly sure how it happened. So on the day after Christmas, I set out on an internet mission to find a pair to replace them.

I kind of wanted some that were exactly like my old ones, but I also wasn't completely again finding some other kind of good snow boots. I did a whole bunch of searching online with my 4G internet and found some snow boots that were actually a little different.

They were these waterproof black quilted material and were lined with fleece on the inside. I thought that would be just as warm but probably a little easier to clean. I've already used them since I got them when it snowed and they were perfect for what I wanted. Plus they seem pretty sturdy so they should last me for a while.

Taking care of our adorable pets take a lot more than just feeding them. They need to be sanitized as well-that is especially when they are allowed to be inside the house. Pets can make an open house impossible. My family and I had a difficult time looking at houses with pets allowed inside. You literally have to hold your breath. Now speaking of pet odor causing trouble, for those of you who own a dog, I found just the website for you. You can find pet care products and even a special dog perfume just for your beloved pet. The website is operated by a charity based in Canada that rescue abandoned dogs in California, U.S.A. I've heard about horror stories that dogs are often abused in California and left to die in the street. In fact, some of those dogs that have been injured, walking around loose in California are due to dog fighting. So I am glad there is actually a charity that helps with getting those dogs out of harms way. Anyway, for those of us who might be able to help make the rescue possible, purchasing a dog perfume would help a great deal. That is the least we can all do if we are not able to rescue dogs ourselves, to be able to support the tremendous effort that such charity is making. Indeed, let's pass the information along to our family and friends and maybe they, too, can help. Dogs that are rescued are sent to homes where they are well cared for by people who love animals. By making our purchase on the products available at the website, we won't only get great deals on products specialized for dogs, but also know for sure that we are contributing to the rescue of abandoned dogs in California. Let's show our support by getting a dog perfume because when we do that, it's a step closer to saving a dog's life.

Posted by Jerold Austin

One of my children's favorite shows to watch is Handy Manny, on The Disney Channel from http://www.expertsatellite.com/. They love it because it is a cartoon. I love it because they are learning. It is such a well rounded show. They learn how to speak a foreign language, how to fix things and most importantly they learn to help others. The main characters are a bunch of tools and a handy man named Manny. There is also Kelly who owns the hardware store and Mr. Lopar who owns the candy store and never wants Manny's help. The show usually comes on in the morning and they often had to miss it because they had to go to school. There are so many cartoons on these days that are to violent for little children to watch. It is a relief that there is one that I have no problem letting my children watch. Now that we have satellite tv we can watch it almost anytime. I love letting my children watch a show that can teach them so many things, like having respect for people and always helping out your fellow man. The best part about Handy Manny is that they are learning and having fun at the same time.

In Michigan, so far, from what we are learning you have to learn how to always be a defensive driver; otherwise it's your loss. Talking or texting on a cellphone is not illegal here that there are people who are talking or texting on their cellphones while driving. My husband was broadsided by somebody who ran a red light, but fortunately, he only lost his car and not his life. He had a close call; he could have died if the impact was a little closer to his seat. So he practically cheated death. He thinks the person who hit him was talking on a cellphone while driving. Talking/texting on a cellphone or driving under the influence is really irresponsible. Some of these people are so careless doing what they do on the road; they don't seem to realize that they can lose their lives in a flash. Driving is not fun if you have to worry about other people running into to you and, of course, kill you in the process. That is why I am not sure about driving in the city like where we are residing at the moment. It will take a while for me to drive and be on the road because of the fact that I can die too soon and too easily. I have to master being a defensive driver because I am too young to die. By the way, let me share what my husband's car look like now. Okay, you take care, always drive carefully, and please, don't talk/text or drink while driving. We're only here once and life is much too precious to let it go so soon.

Why, I can sell my old mobile phones for cash! This is what I've been looking to find since I was just wondering how I can get rid of all my old mobile phones without polluting the environment. Wow! I won't only get to recycle my old mobile phones the safest way possible, but I will also get cash for them. All I basically have to do is go to a website and locate the buyer that offers that best deal for buying my old mobile phones. Anyway, I have to tell my family and friends about this, so they, too, can get cash for their old mobile phones. Now for those of you who are wondering where you can send your old mobile phones off to, be sure to see about this wonderful way to recycle them. As we all know, there is nothing better than being paid to recycle, and, of course, be able to help keep the environment safe at the same time. If you recently bought a new mobile phone, you'll be glad to know that you can easily sell your old mobile for cash. You simply specify the model/make of your old mobile phone and sell it to the phone buyer who offers the most money. So there you go, be sure to look for all your old mobile phones and get paid for recycling them. Don't waste your old mobile phones by sending them off somewhere without being compensated for them! Let's keep the environment clean by recycling our old mobile phones; not by plainly throwing them in the trash but by selling them for cash. Please inform your other family members and friends about how they can trade their old mobile phones for cash as well.

Thanks for the article from Laura Ryan

Every time the Heat play at home, I have the same routine. I go home after work, take a shower, set my ADT security systems, pick up my girlfriend, and head to the game. This season started out exciting, especially with all the media coverage. But the hype is the reason we got off to a slow start. So much was expected of the big three that they were pressing way too much. Bosh started out ice cold, but once he got hot, Wade went cold. And Lebron was just forcing shots all over the place. The turning point was the game vs. the Cavs in Cleveland. The boo-birds were out that day and the Heat were under a lot of pressure. Lebron and the rest of the Heat players responded in a major way. Since then they have been on a tear, destroying teams left and right and spitting out their limbs once complete. Okay, a little harsh there, but you get the point. I now love going to the games. Unlike earlier in the year, I know I'm watching three superstars play on the same team. It's a lot of fun, especially when they're ahead and playing free. This is when they begin to look a lot like the Harlem Globetrotters. If you're ever in the Miami area, I would recommend buying a ticket or two.

My first resolution for this new year would be that I become more organized with everything in the house. I can't imagine all the cleaning up that I have to do when the holidays are over. I could probably use the help of those who clean houses; especially carpets like this house carpet cleaning austin because I don't think that our simple carpet cleaner can do the job. Our carpet hasn't been washed for some time now and it would require a thorough cleaning process like what cleaning steam cleaner austin can do. I like the idea of steam cleaning a carpet because it takes a lot of dirt off the carpet as well as making it look like new again. By the way, my husband talks about moving somewhere where the weather is reasonable, and Austin, Texas could be one of the cities we'll consider moving to. If so, it's good to know that we can easily find cheap carpet cleaners austin. Who knows that we'll find ourselves there someday. My husband prefers that we hire a company that does carpet steam cleaning because we have small children in the house. So, yes, we should hire a company that steam cleans a carpet. Lucky for those who live in Austin because they have home steam carpet cleaner austin to count on to clean their carpets.

Let's welcome the year 2011, and hope that we'll have better luck this year if we didn't quite have it as good last year. Always hope for the better, not for worse...LOL! Indeed, let's try to always be happy despite that life can be full of happenings to pull us down. Being positive and happy is always a good thing for all of us. We will not only be able to keep a youthful appearance but a healthy body and mind. That is what laughter and positive thoughts can do for you. There is nothing better than healing yourself the natural way. Anyway, here is a video with my children and my pictures on it. We had a good laugh when we watched it; it was fun seeing ourselves dancing...LOL! OK, this is all for now. I wish all of you out there to have a happy and safe new year! Happy 2011!!!

We will need to renovate our kitchen in the very near future. At this time we are still thinking about what material to use to make our kitchen look stunning. According to my husband's sister who recently renovated her kitchen, granite is the best material for a kitchen counter top. As for the sink; however, we are currently in the process of doing our research about what works for us. What I mean is we need to shop around and find the best one that suits our needs and style. So far, I found a website where there are so many fine looking Undermount Kitchen Sinks to choose from. I like what I've seen, so I'll definitely save the website to my favorites. Those who need a kitchen sink should also visit the website; especially if they are looking for unique items for their homes. The website has it all to offer you in terms of providing you the items you need for your home. Now as for us, I'll suggest to my husband that we get our Undermount Kitchen Sink at such website because the products there seem quality. The stone sink sounds like a good one for us. It would make a more practical choice for us to avoid all those unpleasant looking scratches. Anyway, it pays to shop around, though, so you find a good deal. Not only that you save money that way, but you find well designed items.

Indeed, I hardly shop unless I have money saving coupons to use. I try to spend my money wisely. Anyway, I'm currently looking to buy a new blender, and finding this Target coupon code online makes it possible that I should shop at Target. I always appreciate getting some money saving coupons. Every bit of help counts when it comes to saving money. Other shoppers should consider using them as well since they can save big. They have no idea how much they can save if they take advantage of the money saving coupons they can find online. Now I would also like to get a few things for my newborn niece, and I'll probably get them at Target since there are these Target coupons available online. Moreover, I noticed that Target has huge selection of baby products, which wraps it all up for me. I find it difficult to pay top dollar when, in fact, I can actually save money if I take the time to look for money saving coupons online. When the weather is cold, I prefer to shop online, and lucky me, I find all kinds of Target Online Coupons. So I get to save quite a lot. There are so many great products that can be found at Target, and finding a quality blender is one. I'll be shopping at Target for sure with all the money saving coupons there are for me to use.