Here in South Florida, a lot of business is conducted during rounds of golf. The Good Ole Boy Network is alive and well. As a professional woman that doesn't golf, it's sometimes hard to compete with those relationships cemented on the greens.

A lot times, price and service doesn't even factor in. It's more like, "well, my wife's brother sells that, so I have to buy from him" or "my boss has part ownership of XYZ company, so we buy from them." Those kinds of parameters are hard to get around. In fact, it's best to walk away from them and move on to someone else.

Recently, I've been thinking of taking up golf, though walking/riding over a course of 18 holes in order to hit the little ball into the little hole holds absolutely no interest for me. But with the economy taking a dive and sales getting harder to come by, I may need to become the Ole Girl in the Ole Boys Network.

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Back when I was in high school, my mom had a small vegetable garden in our backyard. At the time, I didn't appreciate the fresh produce, in fact-in my teenage mind, it didn't make sense to me that she would put forth all of that work for something she could just simply pick up at the grocery store. She tried to get me interested, but this was when I was young, thin, and cute, and didn't have time for such things. We had all kinds of salad fixings and I refused to eat salad. I called it "rabbit food." Boy, was I stupid or what?

Now, as I settle in to middle age, I truly understand the value of home grown fruits and vegetables. I wish I had the time, patience, and inclination to plant produce. I have grown to LOVE salads. I have a lunch of salad more often than not. And with the price of fresh veggies skyrocketing, I could save a grip.

Now, I need to figure out if anything will even grow here in the land of brutal sun or if I'll have to make some provisions. And the next time Mom comes down to visit, she really needs to show me how to get started. I think I will definitely be more attentive this time.

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I went to high school in my hometown of Washington, DC. It was Calvin Coolidge Senior High School, home of the Colts. While it certainly wasn't a school of elite status, there were many adults who actually saw promise in the students and dared to care. Cecelia Broadnax was one such individual. She was the assistant principal. Strangely, I can't recall the principal's name, but I'll never forget Mrs. Broadnax. Quite often, she would say, "Never stand begging for that which you have the power to earn." I'm sure that I heard her say it hundreds of times during my high school years.

That little adage never left me, but I must admit that it was long after high school before they took on any real significance. Over and over, I have found myself in situations where her words would resound loudly. "Never stand begging for that which you have the power to earn." And each time, I say to myself, "You're right, Mrs. Broadnax. I have fallen short again," and resolve to do better.

I have no idea of whatever happened to Mrs. Broadnax, or if she is even still alive. But wherever she is, I hope she knows that I heard her and I thank her...

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Have you ever heard the old saying--"When one door closes, another door opens?" Loosely interpreted, it means that some opportunities are not meant for you, and when you pass on them, another opportunity is then placed in your path. My questions are these--When the one door closes, does it automatically lock? If it does indeed lock, will the same key that opened it before, open it again?

Most people have the problem of not wanting the door to that first opportunity to close and doing whatever they can to keep it propped open. I have a different problem. Once Door #1 opens for me, rather than examining that opportunity, I'm always looking for additional options, hoping that Doors #2, 3, 4, and 28 will open. Sooner or later, Door #1 closes. Only then do I realize that it was the opportunity that I should have pursued.

They say that you will never find resolution for a problem unless you first recognize that there IS a problem. Here's to recognition!

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For the last few days, the families of the 3 missing boaters have been in my thoughts and prayers. I can't imagine a more difficult circumstance to go through--a loved one missing and presumed dead.

I saw the father of one of the missing. He spoke so eloquently to reporters about his son and his resolve to find him. My heart broke for him and for all of the other family members. I can only hope that I could be so composed and courageous if I were in his place.

I've always told my children that if they were ever missing, that I would NEVER stop looking for them. I pray for comfort for these loved ones.

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What are your thoughts on celebrities? There are some people that think they are very much different from you and I. I disagree--under the makeup, the glitz and the glamour, they STILL breathe in and out like the rest of us, they have family, work and relationship issues like the rest of us, they EVEN (gasp!)still need burp, belch and fart, just like the rest of us.

If you grew up in the hood, and Ebonics is your first language--it won't matter how fat your bank account is--you will still not be able to converse intelligently in civilized society. If you come from a family of mountain bred hillbillies--it won't matter which designer's dress you wear on the red carpet--your siblings will still be caught on camera showing off the latest possum catch.

My point is this--WHY are we surprised when celebrities make bad decisions and do things that don't make sense to us? Don't WE make bad decisions? Don't WE do things that are confusing to others? Why should they be any different? They have the same daily struggles that we do-in fact, many of them have money issues--albeit on a different scale--just like us common folk. Why are our expectations greater for those who have achieved fame?

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While watching Celebrity Apprentice last night, I realized that some folks are just NOT team players. Not that I shouldn't have figured it out before now--I've had many jobs, and there's always at least one who doesn't grasp the team concept, or even worse, doesn't WANT to grasp it.

In some work situations, it is nearly impossible to get tasks accomplished without everyone pulling his own weight. Most everyone is short staffed and overworked--we have to work together. If you are lucky enough to be surrounded with like minded colleagues, it can be a lot less stressful.

But more often than not, there's that rogue team mate who is only out for himself. They show up late. They leave early. They come to meetings unprepared. They sabotage the work of the rest of group. And the one that always gets my goat--when confronted, they pretend that they have no idea what you're talking about, or worse yet, they try to throw someone else under the bus. What is that about???

I think teams are better off without such members. They bring everybody down. I'd much rather undertake a challenge with fewer team members, as long as we are all in it together, wouldn't you?

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One of my struggles with my middle school aged son is attire. I can NOT stand the slouched pants. There has to be a way of looking presentable without losing all of your cool points.

My son is required to wear uniforms to school, but some of his peers have found a way to make even khaki shorts/pants and golf shirts look slovenly and unkempt. It's actually sad to see youngsters with so little regard for their appearance.

Last night, in a McDonald's parking lot, I noticed teens and young adults coming and going. It was offensive and appalling to see exposed hind parts. Ok, you're right--it WAS Saturday night, but, for most of them, I think this is their regular manner of dress. And when I saw middle aged men rocking the "belt under the buttocks" look, I actually got angry. Why? Why? Why?

And it wasn't just one segment of males--I saw Black, White, Hispanic, etc. It seemed to be generational (discounting the old dudes). Where do these guys work? What employer finds this acceptable? Was this how they showed up for the interview? Is this how they meet women? Go on dates? To nice restaurants and establishments? I just don't see how that could possibly go over well. Could Obama and Joe have sold the stimulus package to America with their back pockets hitting them somewhere around the calf area? I think NOT!

But again, every man everywhere can adopt this style, and there will be one home, down in suburbs of Miami, where the males will dress suitably and respectfully. I hope my son understands...

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It's Saturday morning and the American economy is in dire straits. Money is scarce and if you are like me, your shopping addiction STILL needs to be fed. I've turned my attention to garage and yard sales.

If you've never gone this route, now is the time. There are several simple things to remember--

• Pricing is not final and in fact, the later it gets, the more flexible the seller may become. But be mindful as well, don't drive up in a new Benz and expect to negotiate down to pennies.
• Have small bills, change may not be available.
• Bring your own cardboard boxes or bags.
• Be careful if you are sensitive to cigarette smoke. If the seller is smoking like a chimney, there's a good chance that your items will smell smoky.
• Leave your pets at home!!
• Examine items carefully. There are no refunds.
• Keep an open mind. Look at things for potential uses--like an old child's chair that can be converted into a porch planter.

I find that the best sales are the multi-family or neighborhood sales. Have fun!!

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So, I've had the Kindle now for a full day and a half. And I must say, I love it! I finished my first book last night and this morning will decide what book to tackle next. I wasn't sure if it would be comfortable to read on, but it definitely is--it actually seems to disappear and I don't focus on anything but the words.

The main selling point for me was the ability to carry 1500 books with me in a gadget that weighs half a pound. I generally am reading several books at a time, and it's good to have them all with me. I also read the Washington Post daily and to have it downloaded to the Kindle before I get up is very convenient. I also like the read to me function, that's good for driving. The adjustable text size is also cool, it allows me to make every book an "easy reader." The digital dictionary is helpful, allowing me to look up at words right on the screen. And the selection of books available from Amazon is awesome--nearly 250,000 with more being added daily.

I thought the cost of the books would be worrisome, but so far I have 14 books on the new Kindle, at an average cost of 86 cents per book. This is a little misleading because 12 of the books were free and I paid $6.04 for 2 books. There are a ton of free books available and I can also download books from my local library. I was also concerned with battery life, but the battery lasts about 2 weeks. Hmmm..why can't my Blackberry battery last 2 weeks???? I have to admit that I haven't even tried out the web access or email features, as the last thing that I need is ANOTHER email to keep up with.

All in all, this may be the best Valentine's Day gift that I've ever gotten--thanks Hubby!!!

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My husband is not perfect, and I'm even farther away from perfection--but we do have genuine love and respect for each other. And even more, we LIKE each other. Years from now, after the children are long gone, we will still have each other and I look forward to it. We still joke, giggle, and just enjoy each other's company.

This is definitely one that I'm going to need help with. What are your thoughts on it? Would you risk everything? Why?

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Ok, let me first say that I don't drink coffee. I don't like the taste of it. But I do love the way it smells. There's nothing like the aroma of coffee in the morning, flowing through the house. Every once in a while, I will ask for a sip from my husband's mug, hoping that the taste has changed. It never has. I know that the masses enjoy it--hence the popularity of Starbucks and the like. So, when I heard about the $45 cup of coffee being sold at a South Beach hotel, I had to know more about it.

Well, it turns out that the coffee is made from cat poop! Yuck! The coffee is harvested in Indonesia. Native cats eat the coffee beans, they pass through it's digestive track(where they are mixed with digestive juices), and come out the other end--still intact. It's sold by the cup at a handful of restaurants in the United States, but also by the pound in specialty gourmet stores.

Again, I don't drink coffee. But for those of you that do--does this appeal to you? Would you try it? Hmmmm...I'm getting ideas about my next giveaway...

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I have always loved to read. As a child, Laura Ingalls Wilder and Louise Fitzhugh were my favorite authors. I became quite attached to the librarian at my elementary school. I went to visit her house on weekends. By the way, I've looked for her for about 10 years--I think she died. I wanted to tell her how much she shaped my life and express gratitude. But back to the story...

Almost 20 years ago, my oldest daughter started school in Montgomery County, Maryland. It was one of the best schools ever. Her principal, David Rotter, enacted something called DEAR time. It stood for DROP EVERYTHING AND READ. Once a week, he would go to the PA System and announce, "It's DEAR time." That meant that for the next 45 minutes, everyone in the school, from the janitors and cafeteria workers to the students and secretaries--even teachers, had to pick up something and read. It could be a magazine, newspaper, novel, or anything other reading material. But you had to read until he announced that DEAR time was over.

It was kind of weird the first couple times that I experienced it, seeing everyone flipping pages and engrossed in reading. But then, I got the hang of it and started bringing a book with me during my volunteer shifts, just in case Mr. Rotter called for DEAR time. After a few years, he retired and someone else took over. I'm not sure how or why, but DEAR time went away. I thought it was a great idea and I missed it. What could be better for our children than instilling a love of reading and learning?

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My Dad always said it would happen. He told me more than 30 years ago. We were standing in the hallway of Paul Junior High. He says to me, "One day, you will wish you had worn your glasses."

I found out in 7th grade that I needed glasses for reading. When we went to pick them out, he could tell that I wasn't enthused at all. I was too worried that the other kids at school would make fun of me. So I didn't wear them at school, then, after a few months, I stopped wearing them at home too.

My Dad said it would happen. It's happened. I wish I had worn my glasses. My eyesight has diminished now to the point where it's no longer a choice. I NEED my glasses. Not just for reading either, I probably need to wear them in my sleep, so I won't have to feel my way through my dreams.

This weekend, I am going to buy glasses. I have no worries at all about whether my co workers will make fun of me. I don't care. I just want to see clearly, after 3 decades. Sorry, Dad, you were right.

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1. Avoid accelerating or decelerating quickly.

2. Obey speed limits.

3. Find the lowest gas prices around.

4. Don't leave the car running, even just for a few minutes.

5. Lighten your car's load.

6. Buy gas early in the morning or late in the evening.

7. Maintain your car with regular service checkups and keep your tires inflated to the correct pressure levels.

8. Combine trips whenever possible.

9. Drive in the correct gear.

--as adapted from workitmom.com

Have you started prep for cleaning yet? Well, I'm looking forward to Spring Cleaning. I have lots that I've collected that needs to be purged. I have items that no longer fit that need to be given away. I have surfaces that need to be cleared and things that need to be put away. Now, you may think I'm talking about cleaning my home-WRONG! I'm talking about getting rid of rubbish in my life!

Every so often, you have to take stock of the clutter in your life and figure out what you truly need and what you are simply hanging on to, knowing that you will never use it. This clutter could be relationships that you've simply outgrown. It could be the rubbish of stagnant processes that you had hoped would lead to a better life. I have all of that(and then some) in my life right now. Unfortunately, there isn't room for it. It's taking up much needed space.

So, I'm getting rid of it. I'm starting to gather it up now, with plans to leave it on the curb soon for the garbageman to scoop up and take away. Then I'll have room for new ventures. Not that some of those new ventures won't end up being swept away next year, but that what's life's about right--learning and growing?

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Congratulations go out to AMBER, who won the $25 Amazon Gift Certificate in the February Giveaway (chosen by a random number generator). Thanks to everyone who entered. And hello to all the new subscribers and followers!!!

By the way, I had major problems yesterday, getting the blog to email--it never did. I hope it's cleared up today.

When you walk into an ice cream parlor, do you browse and look at every single flavor or do you immediately just go for "plain vanilla?" I look through all the cases, but almost always end up with Butter Pecan, Rocky Road, or Mocha Almond Fudge. I would never have plain vanilla. When I find a great deal on a pair of shoes at Sawgrass Mills Mall, and the shoe comes in 3 colors--black, brown and fuschia--you can bet I go for fuschia. I leave plain vanilla for the plain janes.

I like variety. I like the unexpected. I like the unforeseen. I don't like predictability. I don't like the customary. I don't like regular. The more diverse the better--be it neighborhoods, restaurants, books, or music. Had I never stepped out of my comfort zone, I would have never discovered that my favorite food is thai, my favorite tea is caramel rooibos, or that my favorite song of the moment is David Archuleta's "Crush."

What about you--are you plain vanilla or are you adventurous? Is the familiar comforting to you or do you crave new things? I'm curious...

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What's with the free breakfasts? Denny's gave away Grand Slams last Tuesday as part of it's Super Bowl promotion and in another couple weeks, IHOP will host it's annual Free Pancake Day. Roaring Lion Energy Drink is giving away both a can of their product, as well as a can of their competitor's--Red Bull, for comparison. These is just the latest in marketing tactics geared towards consumers. These companies hope that if they lure you in with the free offering, that you may become a loyal customer.

I admit, free works for me. I like getting free products. In fact, about a year ago, I signed on as a agent with a company that sends me free products to try, in return for telling other people about those products. Some of the products that I have tried include snack foods, gasoline, soft drinks, laundry detergents, household cleaning products, and "healthy menu" items at chain restaurants. But, after using the sample, I seldom use the product again. It's not always that I wasn't impressed with the product, just not enough to stray away from being a "price shopper." For instance, I like Snuggles' new Almond Fabric Softener, but not enough to pay extra for it. If Downy is on sale this week, then that's what i get.

Would you go out of your way for a free product? Do you love to go to Costco on the weekends, just for the free samples? And then, once you've tried it, does it become your regular brand? Share your experience.

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I got my taxes done last weekend. Now, I'm waiting on my refund to be deposited directly into my savings account. My friends who live in California may have filed their taxes as well, but they don't know when to expect their refund. California has halted all state tax refunds indefinitely. What?

In this age of economic crisis, with foreclosures and repossessions everywhere you turn, they are suspending payments to their citizens? Seriously? Suppose those people have debts and were counting on that money to give them some breathing room? Suppose that check is the only thing standing between them and eviction/foreclosure? Suppose they've promised debtors that they would catch up on payments with that money? And they can give no indication of when to expect it?

Why is it that everyone gets a bailout except the folks whose money we are using? Can we get a moratorium on foreclosures, evictions, utility shut offs, and credit reporting of a negative nature? No? Then be prepared for the inevitable.

It's not right to back people into corners with no place to go. A person who feels that they have no way out can be dangerous. It breeds undue pressure, stress, and unfortunately, suicides and homicides. I believe the Federal Government should step in on this one. After all, whose fault is it that California is in this position--certainly not the residents'.

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Tomorrow is Groundhog Day. Folklore maintains that, every year on February 2nd, Punxatawney Phil, beloved mascot of a small, rural town in central Pennsylvania, makes his prediction on when there will be a break in the cold weather. Supposedly, if he emerges from his burrow and the weather is cloudy (he sees his shadow), then winter will soon end. If the weather is sunny, and he doesn't see his shadow, there will be 6 more weeks until Spring.

I think it would be great to have my very own Phil pet that I could carry around with me, giving me predictions on the future. For instance, when speaking to a prospect for the first time at work, I could ask Phil, "Will this turn into a contract, or am I wasting my time?" And Phil could say, "She has NO intention of doing business with you" and I could scratch her off my list and move on.

Or before I started watching a movie, I could ask Phil if I were going to fall asleep in the middle or not. Or before eating a meal, I could find out if it were going to give me heartburn or gas. Or before going on an interview, I could ascertain if that particular job was in my future.

The uses would be endless. I could save a ton of money on my daughter's college application fees, because I would know which would accept her. My morning commute would be a breeze because I would know which route would be fastest. I'd NEVER have to watch an awards show again, I'd already know the winners. Do you see where I'm going with this?

What would you use your personal Phil pet for? How could it help you save time and money?

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