It's all apart of life's pageant

It's Official | Movin' on to a new place

It's been fun, it's been real, it's time for another change. You can find me over here:

PaulaWessells.com

Be sure to update your Google Reader and any feeds! Look forward to seeing you on the other side -

 

 

 

Blog Help | Need extra $$

I am working on a personal blog project and need help saving and transferring all my photos from this blog to a special NEW place. The process looks something like this:

1. While viewing your new blog, which currently has all the images displayed (however they are still stored on Typepad/Wordpress!!!!), right-click on the first image, and choose Save Image As...
2. Choose a location on your computer (I suggest creating a new folder to hold all the newly imported images).
3. Then give the image a name. Since you will be doing this a lot for all the import post images, I would use a naming convention such as the Date and then Image Number. So for example, Dec19-Image1.jpg.

Suggestions on Saving and Replacing Images:

1. Continue  the process above, with all the images in all posts. So if you had another image for the Dec. 19th post, it would be saved as Dec19-Image2.jpg, then Dec19-Image3 and so on.
2. I would suggest doing one post at a time. Save all the images from the post (which were imported from Typepad/WordPress) to your computer (new folder).  Then delete them one by one; and re-insert the images you saved on your computer until all the images in the post are replaced.  Then continue to the next post.

If this is something that you are capable of doing and need to earn some extra mooola - email me [email protected] for the details.

For Japan with LOVE

The events of Japan have affected me in a way that is hard to explain. While we don't have any immediate family in Japan - I am sure my grandpa would have been devestated to see the destruction of his home country, again.

I believe,that a day of silence is just what we need. Thanks to my friend Brandi I found this site For Japan with Love and other sites that are needing donations.

It's hard to know where to start giving and I believe getting the word out is a good place to start.

If you are looking to donate for the animal rescue efforts in Japan check this site out on how to help them - thank you Brandi for that link!

Every Monday Matters - Plant a Tree

25 - Plant a Tree

FACTS

• 1 acre of trees produces enough oxygen for 18 people every day.
• Planting trees remains one of the most cost-effective means of drawing excess CO2 from the atmosphere—1 acre of trees can absorb the same amount of CO2 produced by a car driven 26,000 miles.
• 3 trees planted strategically around a house can reduce energy by up to 50%.
• Trees add beauty, increase property values, and reduce stress.
• 1 tree planted by every family will reduce 1 billion pounds of CO2 annually from our atmosphere.

TAKE ACTION TODAY

• Find a list of trees that grow best in your area; then determine the type of tree you would like to plant.
• To plant the tree:
  • Identify the proper location.
  • Dig a hole at least twice as big as the root ball of the tree.
  • Place several inches of good soil mix at the bottom of the hole before inserting the tree.
  • Place the tree in the hole. If your tree comes in a plastic pot, burlap, or a wire basket, remove it from the container without disturbing the root system.
  • Fill the hole with good soil and pack firmly.
  • Anchor your tree using a tree stake or a length of wood. Use wire and a length of old hose to secure tree to the stake—the hose will keep the wire from cutting through the trunk. The anchor can be removed after two years.
  • Water thoroughly and fertilize as directed.
• Have a tree planted in the National forest as a gift or in memory to honor friends and loved ones.

YOU MATTER

Trees improve our air quality, save energy, reduce pollutants, provide homes for wildlife, and add brilliant colors to landscapes. Planting 100 million trees can reduce the amount of carbon by an estimated 18 million tons per year and, at the same time, save consumers $4 billion each year on utility bills. 100 million trees—that’s the goal. So get out your shovel!

Every Monday Matters - Don't HONK

24 - Don't HONK

FACTS

• Noise is among the most pervasive pollutants today.
• 28 million people in the U.S. have impaired hearing caused by noise.
• Hearing loss is occurring at younger and younger ages.
• Overexposure to noise can cause increased heart rate, respiration, sweating, headaches, stress, high blood pressure, and sleep loss.
• The law states that a driver of a motor vehicle, when reasonably necessary to insure safe operation, shall give audible warning with their horn. The law prohibits the use of horns for any other reason, except as part of an alarm system.
• Sound is measured by decibals (dBA). Common sounds include normal conversation (60 dBA), a noisy restaurant (85 dBA), a car horn (110 dBA), and a jackhammer (130 dBA).
• At 110 dBA, the maximum exposure time is 1 minute and 29 seconds before damage could occur.
• Noise-induced hearing loss, though preventable, is permanent.

TAKE ACTION TODAY

• Only use your horn when it is reasonably necessary to ensure the safe operation of your vehicle.
• Don’t use your horn to let someone know you’re angry, to tell people you’re waiting outside to pick them up, to say good-bye, and/or as a way of protesting.
• Be aware of other loud sounds to which you may be exposed.  Either change your exposure or buy earplugs.
• Take a quick hearing test.
• Get your hearing checked.

YOU MATTER

You can be both the cause and the victim of noise. Noise-induced hearing loss is cumulative over one’s lifespan. To avoid noise-induced hearing loss, pay attention to the noises around you, turn down the volume whenever possible, and don’t honk your horn unnecessarily. Often, by the time you realize you are losing your hearing, it’s too late…WHAT?

Every Monday Matters - No one is immune

23 - Get Tested

FACTS

• The U.S. has the highest rate of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) in the industrialized world, with over 65 million people infected.
• 19 million new cases of STDs are diagnosed every year.
• 1 in 4 teens contracts an STD each year.
• 1 in 2 sexually active persons will contract an STD by age 25.
• Over $15.3 billion is spent each year to diagnose and treat STDs, excluding HIV.
• Nearly 1.2 million people are estimated to have HIV, and 25% are unaware of their infection.
• 50% of the population will likely have an STD at some point in their lifetime.
• STDs and HIV and preventable

TAKE ACTION TODAY

• Call your physician or locate a testing facility near you and make an appointment to get tested for STDs and HIV. Testing is anonymous and can be free of charge.
• Get the information you need before getting tested. Counseling and support is available to help assess your risks and understand your results.
• If your test results are negative and you are sexually active, take appropriate precautions. Abstinence is always the safest policy.
• If you test positive, be responsible: get treated and tell your intimate partner. Be honest and give full disclosure.
• Don’t use drugs. If you do, don’t share the needle.

YOU MATTER

We need to take responsibility for transmitting infections and diseases to others. Save lives, money, heartache, and emotional burden by getting tested. If you could prevent yourself from passing along a life-threatening infection, disease, or inconvenience to someone, wouldn’t you?”

Every Monday Matters

22 - Thank a Firefighter

FACTS

• There are over 1,149,000 firefighters.
• 72% of firefighters are volunteers with 70% or more of fire departments 100% by volunteers.
• More than 118 firefighters die in the line of duty each year.
• 1.6 million or more fires are reported annually.
• Fire kills more Americans than all natural disasters combined, with over 4,000 deaths annually.
• The U.S. has one of the highest rates of death due to fire in the industrialized world.

TAKE ACTION TODAY

• When you see firefighters in uniform, walk up and thank them for keeping you and your community safe.
• Get out of the way: pull your car to the right when you hear a siren or see a fire truck with its lights on.
• Organize your friends, co-workers, neighborhood, or child’s class to create and deliver thank-you cards to your local fire station.
• Become a Jr. Fire Marshall (for kids).
• Develop a fire escape plan for your home.
• Donate to firefighter benefits and causes.
• Minimize your risk of fires — install smoke detectors, keep a fire extinguisher in your kitchen, don’t overload power plugs, clear brush from around your house, and don’t flick your cigarette butts.

YOU MATTER

Every day firefighters put their lives on the line to save people and property. Many of these firefighters are volunteers, so let’s “pay” them by showing our appreciation, thanking them for the valuable service they provide, and letting them know that we are very aware of the significant positive impact they have on our communities. Firefighters, whether paid or not, make an incredible difference in our lives—so let’s make a difference in theirs.

Every Monday Matters - learn CPR

21 - Learn CPR

FACTS

• Cardiac arrest may be caused by drowning, drug overdoses, poisoning, electrocution, and many other conditions.
• 95% of sudden cardiac arrest victims die before reaching the hospital.
• Nearly 80% of all out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen at home.
• 4 to 6 minutes after someone experiences cardiac arrest, brain death starts to occur.
• CPR helps maintain vital blood flow to the heart and brain and increases the amount of time that an electric shock from a defibrillator can be effective.
• CPR can double a victim’s chance of survival.

TAKE ACTION TODAY

• Learn the basics of CPR.
• If you have dogs or cats in your house it is a good idea to take the animal CPR/first aid at your local Red Cross.

• Find a place near you that teaches CPR or arrange for a certified CPR instructor to come to your school or workplace.
• Sign up for a class with a family member, a friend, or even your kids.
• Learn CPR. It only takes a few hours.
• Post CPR guidelines in a kitchen cupboard, your office, your car, and anywhere else you frequent. These guidelines may come in handy during emergency situations. Tell people around you that the guidelines are there in case they need to perform CPR.

YOU MATTER

What if you could have saved a life had you known CPR? What if you needed help and no one around you could help you? Take a few hours today to learn this life-saving skill. It can change your life—and someone else’s life—forever.

Every Monday Matters - cigarette butts

20 - Don't Flick your CIGARETTE BUTT!

FACTS

• The average smoker smokes 10,000 cigarettes a year.
• Cigarette butts are the most commonly littered item in the U.S.
• Over 100 billion cigarette butts, weighing 100 million pounds, end up as litter each year.
• Cigarette filters are made of cellulose acetate, a plastic that takes decades to decompose.
• 28% of all ocean and beach debris is cigarette butts. They have been found in the stomachs of fish, birds, whales and other marine creatures that mistake them for food.
• Over 858 civilian deaths, 1,591 civilian injuries, and $480 million in direct property damage occur each year due to over 25,000 cigarette-caused fires.
• 1 in 4 victims of cigarette-caused fires is not the smoker whose cigarette started the fire.
• Annual cigarette butt litter, end on end, measures more than 2 million miles. That is 337 roundtrips from Los Angeles to New York.
• Imagine a 7 foot wide cigarette butt highway stretching across the country.

TAKE ACTION TODAY

• If you smoke today, don’t litter the butt.
• When you see a friend, neighbor, co-worker, or stranger smoking, ask him or her to discard the butt in an appropriate receptacle.
• If you see someone flick a cigarette butt on the ground, politely ask them to pick it up, or do it yourself. Maybe they will see you and get the point.
• Consider posting the above statistics at designated smoking areas at your workplace or school.
• Utilize a pocket ashtray or purchase one for someone who smokes.
• Don’t smoke.

YOU MATTER

Why is it that people who wouldn’t even think about throwing trash into the street don’t hesitate to flick a cigarette butt? Most people who litter their cigarettes either don’t fully understand the consequences of their actions, or they have rationalized their behavior. Imagine fewer fires as well as less litter, pollution, and harm to animals simply because people stopped throwing their cigarette butts out their car window or tossing them on the ground. The sheer volume of cigarette butt litter isn’t just ugly … it’s hazardous.

Every Monday Matters - Adopt a Pet

19 - Adopt a PET

Caring for and having animals in my life is very near and dear to my heart. I don't know what I would do without dogs?! But before I get into the fun stuff, I want to take a few moments to discuss the reality of having a furry friend in your life. Being a responsible pet owner comes with expense and responsibility that most people do not take into consideration. In the end the animal is either hurt physically or psychologically. I have seen it over and over again... "My son/daughter really wanted a dog", "I didn't know that owning a dog would be this expensive", "I didn't know that a dog would be demanding of MY time", etc, etc

Let's touch on those three points:

My son/daughter really wants a dog

• EVERYONE in the family should be in agreement that the dog is welcome. Not just the child.
• Observe over time how your child reacts to ALL dogs not just well behaved ones
• Is there a neighborhood dog that your child could volunteer to take care of? This has to be non paid - in my opinion taking care of a family pet should not fall under allowance payment. I am sure any neighbor would love for someone to come over a poop scoop, clean bowls, change water, etc. Again observe your child during this time.
• Let's be honest - you as the parent will be adopting another 'child' to take care of. Are you ready/prepared for that?
• ALL family members should be required to go to dog training school. Training school is not for the dog - it's for the people who take care of them. YOU need to be trained on dog behavior.

I didn't now that owning a dog would be this expensive (addressing the must haves...)

• Vet visits - budget at least $100/mth per dog. This would be on the low end. We have had months where two dogs were sick at the same time with different symptoms. Selby was always sick with her allergies and for at least two years it was $100/$200 per month for her visits. Plus another $50/$80 for medication. For the most part the other two have been healthy dogs with just regular check up visits for vaccinations.
• ER visits - As soon as you call our 24 hr ER pet clinic they tell you that it will be $80 just for the visit. Depending on the severity of the situation plan on $500+ AND because of Murphy's Law - your dog will always be sick on the weekend, never on a weekday so you can see your regular vet. LOL!
• Food - If you are one of the lucky ones that can feed your dog the cheap dog food from the grocery store you are in luck! Fortunately/unfortunately (either way you look at it) we have one dog with extreme food allergies (among other things) and we have to buy natural raw food. This runs us about $32 every two weeks for three small dogs. Probably equivalent to one large dog. There is a plus side to feeding your dogs a good raw diet, besides very healthy dogs - LESS poop!
• Replacing parts of your home - we have replaced carpet.
• Training - a basic dog obedience training class should run you around $65 for four weeks. This is a group setting, which I highly recommend. Other people and dogs need to be around to create realistic behaviors.
• Grooming - I take mine to a friend that happens to work at PetSmart. For the full spa treatment on my dogs it is $30 each. I go every four to six weeks and sometimes they need a home bath in between visits.
• Licensing - this is a yearly fee where I live and it's around $20 for each dog
• Collars and leashes - don't get anything too expensive when you first get your dog. Wait to see what the trainer recommends. They will know what will fit the dog and you the best.
• Bed, kennel and toys - shop your local pet store, be sure to get the appropriate size!
• Kennel fees, daycare or pet sitter

I didn't know that a dog would be demanding of MY time

• Full time job - it really is. Feeding, walking, playing, vet visits, grooming appts, cleaning up poop, etc., this all takes time.
• up keep of your house - unless you get a breed that doesn't shed, you are going to be vacumming at least every other day. I vacumm almost every day and wash dog bedding twice a week. In the winter months I am constantly mopping tile floors because of muddy paws.
• Need to plan ahead for vacations - we are VERY lucky that we have a family support system that helps out with babysitting. Our dogs don't go to a kennel or daycare.

So do you still want to adopt a pet? I hope so! They are the most rewarding beings and the unconditional love is precious.

The FACTS

• There are 4,000 to 6,000 animal shelters
• Nearly 8 million dogs and cats enter U.S. shelters each year.
• Approximately 3 to 4 million dogs and cats are euthanized each year because there are not enough homes.
• 1 out of 4 dogs in shelters are purebreds. Adoption fees are usually much less than the cost of purchasing a dog from a pet store or breeder.
• Only 16% of owned dogs and 15% of owned cats were adopted from an animal shelter.
• Many shelters vaccinate, de-worm, and spay or neuter for free.

Take ACTION today

• Go to a shelter near you to see if there is an animal with which you “connect.” If not, search online for a pet available for adoption.
• Speak with an adoption counselor at the shelter about whether your choice of a particular type or breed will be best for you.
• Only select a pet if you have a realistic understanding of the time, effort, and money required to provide a healthy, loving environment for your pet.
• If you decide that adopting a pet isn’t feasible, advertisers will give free food and care for you.
• Enjoy your newfound friend.

YOU MATTER
Animals are unconcerned about age, looks, or physical ability; they accept you just as you are. If you’re thinking about getting a pet, seriously consider adopting. Not only will you be saving your new pet’s life, but you’ll also be rewarded with years of companionship, entertainment, unconditional love, and increased opportunities to meet others. Single? Go to a dog park … but only if you have a dog.

[all images taken by DoxenPetPhotos.com - pugs courtesy of PacificPugRescue.com]