15/20 Principle of Cleaning

On Monday, I took the advice Charyl (a friend of mine on Facebook) shared with me, advice she'd gotten from FlyLady... set a timer and work for 15 minutes then rest for 20 minutes, work 15, rest 20.... I accomplished a fair bit here, well, compared to what I usually accomplish, I did a lot!!!! I reached a point where I knew I should stop, yet knew I couldn't.

I put a bunch of little bags of food scraps for the compost into a big garbage can outside. I had them in the fridge and on the steps outside, too much snow to get to the compost pile so needed to come up with a better plan. I washed dishes and cleaned my kitchen to the point of where I could actually manage to cook in there!! Then I started to cook. I was going to my monthly Vegan Potluck & Health Video evening so had to get this food cooked, couldn't just say "enough for one day"... also had to stop the rest periods in order to finish things up. It was the first time I made this recipe, but it was basically easy, and it's healthy, though it turned out to be somewhat bland. Needs more spices. Needs more salt, but I don't like using much salt. I usually find that most recipes call for way too much salt, but apparently this one didn't, lol. I posted the recipe here a few days ago.

The evening was great though my back was hurting some. Tuesday I did the dishes I left from cooking as I rushed out in a big hurry, going to be late if I didn't move fast. When I got home I went straight to bed with my laptop. I mostly sat here on my Chaise Lounge, with the laptop, all day long. My back hurt too much to do much else. So, I do think the 15/20/15/20 etc. works well, I also know one can only do this for so long, especially one with FM & other physical issues. I hope to soon be back doing the 15/20/15/20 and getting this place cleaned up. I think in order to get my home organized and cleaned up to where it once was and needs to be again, I could use about three of those conveyor things like we had on some of the jobs I've worked, only instead of bringing bottles down the line for me to pack into boxes to be shipped out, I would be putting things onto the conveyors to sort them and get them out of my way.  1 to take "Recycle" papers, cans, bottles, etc. down to a big clear or blue plastic bag... another 1 for "Donate" items to be boxed... 1 for "Sell" items.... and 1 for "Garbage".... and 1 for "Keep/Put Away"   Okay, so I need at least 5 conveyors, and since my home is not big enough for that many I guess the idea won't work.  More for doing things in a shop or warehouse.

 My second favorite household chore is ironing.  

My first being hitting my head on the top bunk bed until I faint.  

                                                                  ~Erma Bombeck

                                                 Nature abhors a vacuum.  And so do I. 
                                                                   ~Anne Gibbons

Housework is something you do that nobody notices until you don't do it.  

~Author Unknown

Only Stevia for Me

As I diabetic, and a person working at weight loss and better health, I rarely use sugar and I have totally quit using any form of artificial sweeteners.  What I choose to use now for sweetening my tea or any other thing I want to sweeten, is Stevia. Not the white Stevia Powder, but the natural, unaltered, Green Stevia Powder!

I find it very odd as well as sad that Health Food Stores and Health Food sections of Grocery Stores sell the white powder and in most cases I've seen, no green Stevia.  We do have one store that sells both kinds, several choices of the white and only 1 choice of the green... imported from India!!! I don't mind things being imported from other countries if we don't have the product here in Canada, but when it's not only in our own country but our own province too!  The organic farm I get my Green Stevia from is 160.9 kilometers away.... this is 99.978625 miles, so fits perfectly in the '100 Mile Diet'!!

Yesterday I ordered another 215gr bag of Organic Green Stevia from this wonderful Organic Farm where it is grown. I also ordered a 215gr bag for my friend Joyce as she wants to start using it now too.  This is great!! They send it out right away, by mail, and if you order $150 minimum or if you recommend their products to a friend, they give you free shipping... and they always include some little extra something in the package.  Oh, I'm not saying they are the best selection of promotional products in fact, it's not really promotional products they send, they include samples of other products they have available.

In this order, I also included for myself a one month supply of Happy Caps, a mineral mixture from organic products, including Stevia.
"Your body requires minerals to escort acid out, thus increasing the alkalinity of your body. GET ALKALINE = GET WELL. Get your pH up quickly and stay healthy with Happy Caps!"

There is some controversy regarding the safety of Stevia Powder for use in humans.  I believe the naturally grown herb, the Green Stevia is not only safe, but also has many good health properties.  The white powder they are calling Stevia may not be so safe for us and I am not sure they should allow the sale or use of that product.  It is called Stevia because it is made using Stevioside which has been extracted from the herb then mixed with fillers to create the sweet white powder.  With health food stores selling this product, many people think they are doing something healthy by using it, and they are being lied to. It is a processed product, not a natural, whole food product.  I used the white powder for awhile, not knowing better, though now that I know better I use better.  


The Stevia I get comes in a zip-lock bag.  I took an old, empty spice jar I had here and filled it with some of that Green Stevia Powder so I could use it without opening the bag every time.  I also filled one for carrying with me wherever I go.

A teaspoon is too large to fit into the spice jar, and you only need such a tiny bit of the powder to sweeten a cup of tea, so I use a souvenir spoon for this purpose. The one I take with me I made into a necklace so I can wear it around my neck and always know where it is, the one I use at home sits in the cupboard beside the jar of Stevia.  This system works very well for me.
 

Sweet Potato And Beet Soup Recipe

Since starting to eat Vegan (plant based diet of vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, grains... no animal products such as meat, eggs, milk, cheese) about 15 months ago, I have become much more interested in reading recipes and cooking myself proper meals. I love sweet potatoes (or as many people incorrectly call them, yams), and have always liked beets though never really ate many other than pickled beets.  I came across a recipe the other day that uses both sweet potatoes and beets in a vegan soup. 

Sweet Potato And Beet Soup Recipe

Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Time from start to eating: 50 minutes
Makes 5-6 bowls.

Ingredients

• 1 cup onion, peeled and chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
• 1 Tbsp thyme (fresh or dried)
• 1-2 tsp paprika
• 2 cups beets, peeled and chopped
• 2 cups sweet potato, peeled and chopped
• 2 cups rutabaga, peeled and chopped (you can replace this with potato or more beet or sweet potato)
• 1/2 tsp sea salt or Herbamare
• 1/2 avocado or 2 Tbsp nut/seed butter (optional)
• 2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar (optional)
• 1 cup fresh parsley, chopped
• 2 Tbsp pumpkin seeds

Directions

1. Cut up the onion and garlic and cook them in a large soup pot with a bit of oil, water or veggie broth until they soften.
2. Add the thyme, paprika, beet, sweet potato and rutabaga, along with 4-5 cups of boiling water or vegetable broth and leave to gently boil, covered, for about 30 minutes or until the vegetables are soft.
3. Add the parsley (save a bit for a garnish) and puree the soup. Add any extra seasonings, and the avocado or nut/seed butter if you're using it, and puree again. Serve topped with fresh parsley and pumpkin seeds - and maybe the other half of the avocado if you used it.

 

Visit Heather to read more or to see her cooking this soup in a video!

Happy December Holidays!!

 I wish you and all your loved ones

 on this day

2012!!

May you all have a VERY

If you don't celebrate Christmas, that's okay!

I honour you and whatever it is you choose to celebrate.

 

Do you celebrate any of the following?

December

5 - Ashura (Islamic, Muslim)

6 - St. Nicholas Day (International)

8 - Bodhi Day - Buddha's Enlightenment (Buddhist)

8-16 - Hanukkah* (Jewish)

12 - Virgin of Guadalupe (Mexico)

13 - Santa Lucia Day (Sweden)

16-25 - Las Posadas (Mexico)

25 - Christmas (Christian, Roman Catholic, International)

26 - Boxing Day (Canada, United Kingdom)

26 - Kwanzaa (African-American)

 Or, do you celebrate none of the above??

Whatever you do or do not celebrate in December, I wish you

 

Yard Dreams

I really want and need to clean up my yard and to make it look a lot better than it does now.  "Grossly Overgrown" is not the look I had originally been going for in my yard, yet it is in fact what I have achieved. Many fruit trees have grown where I didn't plant them, as have wild roses, and many/most/all need to be removed, the grass mowed and flowers &/or vegetables planted.  I admit I do really like the wild roses when they are in bloom and they do provide privacy by blocking the view of my property from the highway and from near by neighbors, but there are too many so they at least have to be thinned out.  I would love to put up some fencing for the look as well as I would love to have some animal that would eat the grass and such so I would not have to try to keep it all mowed.  I have often thought it would be great to have aluminum garden gates into the one area of my yard where I have raised bed gardens and my patio table and chairs.  It would be so nice to have all that area fenced as well, especially if company came since one place has a 6' drop I would not like to see anyone fall over.  Yes, there are many things I would like to do to my yard.... and they will all have to wait for now.... we got a fairly heavy snow fall last night so yard work is now best left until spring.

My Life as of Late

Most of the time I am out and about, being social, doing things, going places, seeing people.  It is rare that I stay home much at all and when I do feel like I need to stay home to 'recharge my batteries', it's only for 1 - 2 days, then I get 'cabin fever' and feel like I must get out of here or go crazy!!  Well, for some strange reason, for the last week or two I have been just staying home, sitting in my big chair all day every day and halfway into the night just playing Spider Solitaire, game after game after game. I am happy to say that I am getting very tired of the game as I got very tired of MahJong after playing so much of it for so long, and Solitaire before that. I really must stop sitting here playing stupid games on the computer (something I never used to do) and get back to being more active. I know that this is not good for my mental or physical health to just sit here like this. I`m sure that, like all other things, this too shall pass.... I just hope it passes quickly and I get back into enjoying a much more active life style.

Staying Home

Most of the time I tend to be out and about, doing numerous different things with my life. I rarely ever stay home and when I do it's only for 1 day, maybe 2 at the most and then I get stir crazy and have to get out of this house or go crazy!! Now, the last while I want to just stay home. I stayed home last Sunday, had to go to town for an appointment on Monday or would have stayed home. I planned to go to work at the Food Bank on Tuesday or Wednesday yet couldn't bring myself to go out so didn't. Again I had to go out for an appointment on Thursday and to get some pellets for my stove as it was about 55°F in my house since the stove ran out of pellets on Wednesday.  I knew I should go get pellets, yet couldn't bring myself to leave home, so combined reasons I had to go out on Thursday.  Friday I planned to go do some Volunteer work at the Food Bank, and again stayed home.  Today is Saturday and I stayed home all day again even though I had planned to go get some groceries. I have run out of some important staples in my diet: apples, bananas, peanut butter... and I am low on Nutritional Yeast. Maybe I will push myself to go out tomorrow, we'll see.

So, you might be wondering what I have been doing all day at home alone. I have been playing a lot of Spider Solitaire on my computer.  I also have been doing some much needed work in my home and have given away lots of 'stuff'.... freezer burned meat from when I was still eating meat; 3 boxes of quilt batting, 2 of them carded sheep fleece and 1 was a mix of small store bought pieces; 4 huge bags of yarns of various colors and kinds (I can't remember what I got it all for so was time to let it all go); 2 huge bags of material bits and old clothes that I had planned to make into a patchwork quilt and know now it will never happen... all through Freecycle on the internet, and I gave a bunch of recipe books, some drinking glasses, and a couple big bags of women's clothing to a thrift store.  My goal is to purge everything that has been here for years and is not being used.  I have stored this all for way too long and it is time to admit to myself that I won't likely use it, and let it all go.

I also have been surfing the internet, looking at all sorts of different web pages on all sorts of different things... the Desert Bar in the Buckskin Mountains of Arizona because my friend Mike told me about this place.  He plans on going to Arizona in his motor home for 2 months next winter and we have been talking about me going along too. He said we will go check out this bar he heard about out in the desert.  He has been doing lots of research on making this trip.  Mike even would let me take my cat Mewsic with me, though I will have to find someone to critter sit the rest of my animals. I don't know what I will do about leaving my home for 2 months in the winter, but I will figure that out too.  

Speaking of my home, I have never liked my kitchen.  There are so few cupboards and they are so old as well as high. I have to always get up onto something like a stool or ladder to get anything out or put things away.  I have most of my dishes and food in storage cupboard things I bought that stand alone in my kitchen. This kitchen is small and over crowded and even when I had my home clean and uncluttered the kitchen was still not at all to my liking.  I dream about having my entire kitchen redone... new cupboards, new sink, new fridge and stove, stuff like that. I sometimes surf the net and look at different web sites about kitchens.  Today I looked at  RTA kitchen cabinets. Someday my dream will come true and I will have a nicer kitchen, whether it is in this home or another one.  I must admit, though, that my dream to have a better trike does take priority. As long as my health allows me to ride my trike (3 wheeled motorcycle) I will do so all summer long... and I will be taking the one I have to Arizona with me on a trailer behind Mikes motor home next year.

Headphones

I can not sing well, nor can I play a musical instrument... unless you include banging on a native style drum.  I sure am grateful that other people not only can sing and play instruments, but that many of them also record their music so the rest of us can enjoy listening to it at our leisure. I don't think I know anyone that doesn't enjoy listening to music. For me, because I live alone with my animals, I mostly can listen without needing to use headphones of any kind. There are times, though, when I am traveling with someone or when I have company and I want to listen to my music while they try to get some sleep, watch television, or just relax in the quiet. For this reason I decided to check out some headphones on the internet and I liked what I saw at Sennheiser studio headphones.  I wonder if these would work in my computer and I think they likely would since computers are an important part of recording things like music.  I think I will do some more research.

Puzzling

I've had this cute picture in my collection for awhile.  I think I got it in an email from a friend.  I've been waiting for a time to share this either on my Facebook or on one of my blogs.

Now, this evening I'm sitting here watching TV while I blog, eat dinner, talk to a friend on the phone, etc.  I happened to go to the ravensburger puzzle web site and was looking at some of the pictures of puzzles they have there.  I haven't done a puzzle for years now, but used to love doing them and might just decide to do one this winter.  Anyway, look at this photo I found there.

It is the same picture, just without the words someone added somewhere along the line. It is a puzzle to me who had the photo first, and I think it would be interesting and peaceful, calming to put this puzzle together on a cold winters night.

 

CMA Music Festival

Last night, the CMA Music Festival was on TV.  3 hours of country music by some of the best of the best.  I wanted to watch it and something on another channel at the same time, so I recorded the CMA Music Festival while watching other things.  Today, I turned on my TV and watched a couple things, then I decided to play back the CMA while doing some house work here.  It would be great to sit and watch it, but so long as I can hear it that's the main thing.  I cranked the volume up and went off to get some of my work done in the kitchen then in my bedroom. I popped in and out during the show, so I did see a little here and there; Alan Jackson, Hank Williams Jr., etc. etc. etc. I'm not up on my instruments or equipment, but may have seen a mpc 5000 musicians friend on stage... or not.

I'm really grateful I recorded this show and I have decided not to delete it as I usually do after I watch the shows I record.  I want to be able to play this again while doing house work, and to at some point sit and enjoy watching the entire 3 hours.

Just Sayin'

Browsing on the internet a wee bit here this evening. I was just looking at a cute little table I think would make a great stand for some of my house plants.  It is actually a small bistro table from thegardengates, but I think I personally would get more use out of it as a plant stand. I am single and rarely have visitors, and I do have an abundance of house plants.  This reminds me... sigh... I should be getting off the computer and watering said house plants as well as the plants that are outside in my garden. Always something is wanting for me to take care of it; plants, animals or  business of some kind. Since this is Thursday I will soon be heading into town to visit with friends... another awesome evening I am sure.

My Soap Oprah

I watch General Hospital.  It's the only Soap Oprah I watch and since I am not always home at the time it airs I have my PVR set to record GH every day.  Sometimes I get as much as 2 weeks or more behind on watching it, then, like I am doing today, I watch several of them back to back.  Wow, it has been some interesting the last while!! I think these characters need to look into some good equote life insurance, the way they are getting poisoned, shot up with LSD, shot, kidnapped, etc etc. Robin, killed in an explosion awhile back wasn't really killed, but was kidnapped and some other body was burned beyond recognition.  Now Robin is finally back on the show after quite a while away. Heather Webber, the crazy unleashed on Port Charles is finally caught after injecting Olivia with a very big does of LSD and they're not sure if her brain can handle that much of the drug. Heather also kidnapped Luke, then shot him, tried to kill Anna while she was trying to save Luke from a fire.  Like I said... they all need life insurance on this show, lol.

No Smart Meter Here!!

I found this sign on the internet and copied it out on a big plastic sign... actually on the back of a big plastic For Sale sign I have here.  I have this sign out in my yard, at the top of my driveway where no one could come up to the yard level my home is on without seeing the sign. It's been up for awhile now and going to stay there for as long as need be.

 

ATTENTION!
CORIX
Smart Meter Installer
for BC HYDRO

NO TRESPASSING 

DO NOT INSTALL
SMART METER HERE

THIS IS NOTICE OF MY
REFUSAL TO ACCEPT
A “SMART METER”
AT THIS ADDRESS:

                                       (I put my address and signature here)                                         
Owner/Resident

Analogue Meter Reader Still Welcome


.

The "Smart Grid" is a SLAVE GRID

I REFUSE TO HAVE A "SMART METER" installed on my home.  Many people are worried about the health hazards of these meters and with good reason, however, there is much more to worry about than just the health hazards.  There is also the VIOLATION OF PRIVACY and the fact that these meters help to facilitate CONTROL OVER YOU!!!

Read this article!!!  I am sure that you, like myself, will find it most interesting, informative, and scary!! The author, Roger Toutant, has practiced electrical engineering in private industry for more than 20 years and is currently licensed in Ontario, Canada.

The "Smart Grid" is a SLAVE GRID.... and with it, YOU become the SLAVE!!

Flying Olympic Style

Another email copied... from FlyLady:

Dear Friends,

The opening ceremonies for the London 2012 Summer Games will begin Friday, July 27, 2012. We will watch as the athletes enter with their flags flying high and their smiles guiding them.

Those smiles are evidence of the dedication to their life's work. At a very early age they decided that they wanted to be and compete with the world's best athletes for the gold medal. Do you want to know what got them there? It was not just talking about their goal, it was putting together a plan and implementing it every day of their lives.

Do you want to smile too? Many of you came to FlyLady.net with one goal in mind; to get your home in order. That is an honorable goal but that is not the be all and end all. It is just the stepping stone to opening up your world to many wonderful things. Getting my home in order has allowed me to be who I was put on Earth to be! I am fulfilling my life's mission and I would not have ever been able to find my reason for being if I had stayed in my clutter and CHAOS.

CHAOS separates us from our goals. We may not even know what they are when we first start, but if we will practice our routines every day then we will begin to see what is waiting for us once we get out of our clutter and CHAOS. These skillful athletes practice every single day. God gave them a talent and they have taken that talent to its highest levels. They did not hide it under a bushel or go bury it under the clutter. They set up a plan and each day, each week and each month they took the BabySteps to help them accomplish their goal of being the best in the world.

We have established the FlyLady Declutter Games that will be full of challenge events, supportive words, testimonials, bonus events and so much fun. We are going to spend the next 16 days getting that clutter out of your homes and celebrating every day with claiming our medals!

All of the athletes have a coach. They didn't have to sit down and figure this all out for themselves. They had someone who had done it before them to help guide them and tell them what to do! We all need a coach and you have a whole coaching team!

Meet FlyLady! She is the bossiest coach, but she has your best interest at heart and she loves you as if you were her own. She is tough but this will help you too. She guides you with the combination of her personalities; The loudest cheerleader, a fairy godmother, a strict drill sergeant and a loving but firm parent shaking her Mommy finger when you need that attitude adjustment.

Then there is Kelly! She gives us what we need to help us get through our days and feel good about something. She is our sprinting coach and at the end of the day she sends us to the showers to take care of ourselves.

You have a whole FLY Crew to help you from your head to your toes. We have a lifetime of being able to stand up on the platform and accept our gold medal for a sport that was not the most glamorous but for a blessing that we have performed out of love for ourselves and for our families. Take your bows friends and put that smile in your face! Get out your timers!

We are going to have fun with our FlyLady Declutter Games!

FlyLady

--------
You are not behind! I don't want you to try to catch up; I just want you to jump in where we are. O.K.?

Perfectionism is Shelved in 2012!

Join us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/TheFlyLady

Getting Ready to FLY

Sharing another email with you from FlyLady... then I am going to drink some water and pick up some "stuff" to either put away, throw away, donate or recycle.  Wish me luck!!

******************************

Dear Friends,

I have been playing with a fun relay today in preparation for the Olympics that starts on Friday. Here is what I have been doing all day and boy is stuff getting done.

I started my day dressed to shoes. As part of my morning routine I put on my earrings. I take them off every night and put them in my BP Bottle top. Then I drink 10 ounces of water to take my pill. This encourages me to go potty in 45 minutes. That is what starts the relay.

I drink another 10 ounces and then put something away. As I put an item away I find another item in that area that is out of place. I put away three items on this leg of my 15 minute relay.

This last relay I mopped the floors with a rag that was on the back of my couch. Only spot that was not touch was the place where our big dog was asleep. It is amazing what you can do in 15 minutes or less. Everyone go drink some water and play this game with me. LOL Tell me how you like it.

Put RELAY in the subject line and send it to FlyLady@flylady.net.

Let's learn how to play and get things done!

FlyLady

Flying with Kale

This is a letter I received from FlyLady's Leanne Ely.  Reading this great information made me realize I want to share this with others as well as keep it where I can easily find it to read over and over again. 

Dear Friends,

I'm going way out on a limb here to say that kale is the most nutritious food you can put in your body. Lots of people think that kale is some new nutritional magical trend, but it's your basic green veggie and it's been around for a long time!

And while kale's being touted as "the New Beef" and the "Queen of Greens," (as if it's a new invention), I might go so far as to say that I'm the one to thank for starting the Kale Revolution! I've been getting my kale on for YEARS!

I eat a lot of kale. I love juicing it and I blend it into my smoothies—but there was a time when I thought the only thing kale was good for was garnish, back when I was in my 20s and operating my own catering company.

I started seeing the real benefits of kale when I moved my family on a farm just outside of Charlotte, North Carolina, when the kids were little. The woman who sold me the house had a ton of kale planted in the garden and told me how delicious it was. Of course, I didn't believe her, but I started cooking with it and I've been hooked on the stuff ever since then.

So why is kale so good for you?

Let's see...

- Kale is high in fiber and low in calories. It aids in digestion and helps keep you regular, (if you know what I mean, lol).
- Per calorie, kale has more iron than beef.
- Kale is packed with Vitamin C and Vitamin K. Vitamin K helps prevent blood clotting and aids in bone health, while Vitamin C helps to maintain joint flexibility.
- There are many antioxidants in kale including flavonoids and carotenoids.
- Kale is an anti-inflammatory food.
- There is more calcium in kale per calorie, than in milk.
- Kale is chock full of sulfur, and along with its high fiber content, kale is an excellent detox food. It will keep your liver nice and healthy.

What's the best way to enjoy kale?

I enjoy it best raw, in its liquid form, mixed with some spinach, lemon, carrot, apple and ginger, but that's not for everyone!

Here are some ways you can try preparing kale as you attempt to get a taste for the stuff:

- Rinsed and dried well, spritzed with a little olive oil, and baked in the oven until crispy but before its brown, yum you've got kale chips!
- Toss kale leaves into a salad.
- Throw a handful of kale into your soups.
- Add it to a pot of salted, boiling water for 3 or 4 minutes, strain like pasta and use it however you use other vegetables. Add it to your stir fry, serve it with sauteed onions . . . use your imagination!
- If you eat rice or pasta, add kale to the cooking liquid a couple of minutes before the starch is ready and enjoy all that green flavor in your meal without dirtying another pot!

Love,
Leanne Ely, Your Dinner Diva since 2001
http://savingdinner.com Get a FR*EE Menu-Mailer when you get our Daily Dish!

Flying in a Healthy Way

I my quest to be healthier as well as my quest to declutter and clean my home, I joined FlyLady some time ago.  I am so far behind on reading the emails, and so far have not even begun to declutter and organize my home.  I do manage to read an email here and there though often feel that my inbox is even more cluttered than it was before and my inbox is as bad as my home.  Today I decided to try reading a few and deleting some of the testimonials and out dated Flight Plans.  I will be sharing some of the good info here on my blog.

My Phones.

Some people I know still have a land line (home phone), some have a cell, and some have both types of phones.  I had both for a long time, 2 summers ago I let the land line go and went with just the cell phone. After 6 months, I was offered a very good deal on an internet, satellite TV and phone package, so I again had a land line.  About 1 1/2 years later, just this spring, I decided that I would go back to just the cell phone.  While some people use Koodoo, some use vonage world, some have Rogers, I have my cell through Telus Mobility and my TV/internet through Telus. I have a much better cell plan now than what I had with this same company 2 years ago so with that and being able to make phone calls over my computer/internet, I figure I don't really need the land line anymore, so that saves me around $25 per month.  I like having at least one less thing I need to pay for each month. I also like the mobility of having a cell phone, and the protection of having a phone with me if I happen to break down along the road somewhere and need to call for help.

I've had some 'issues' the last several days.... I'm finally back!!  All is good now with internet and with other facets of my somewhat crazed life.