Tonight, during my Abby-walk, Mickey, the little ten-week-old puppy from downstairs, followed us to play. Abby plays, all right. She plays hard to get. She wants other dogs to beg her to play with them. Since Abby was more in the mood to walk and not play tonight, I picked Mickey up while Abby walked. He’s such a fatty, so cute! As soon as I picked him up, though, I noticed his tummy was hot. I learned a few years ago that you can tell if a dog has a fever if their hind inner thigh is warmer than normal to the touch. Mickey was burning up! Shoot, he was even making me hot holding him.

As soon as I gave Mickey back to his mommy I came up and checked the Internet for what could be giving him a fever when he’s so young. Thank goodness, I remembered the website for pets I found last week, Zootoo dot com. So easy to remember! I was able to check-out what other puppy owners said about their puppies having a temp so I could help Mickey. Thankfully, his fever’s down now but his mommy will watch him to see if he needs to go to his doctor tomorrow. He’s so happy it’s hard to believe he might be sick.

The once or twice Abby’s been sick I’ve relied a lot on my past experience and different websites that are ok but, when I really need help they are pretty generic and don’t answer my questions. Zootoo (I love the name!) connects me with other dog’s parents. We can chat about our dog’s problems…or just brag.

I told Mickey’s mom about the Zootoo so she could help Mickey, herself. She’s very into the social networking scene so I know she’ll get into the Zootoo pet social networking scene too. The site is a good place to help pet owners help their pets.

Last time I checked on her and Mickey, Mickey was lying on her lap and she was engrossed in Zootoo. She already found Abby’s photo on there under Mom4Abby. Abby’s so proud! She’s all about pink!

~ Diana

This is very exciting for me! Someone e-mailed me and asked for advice! Not sure if I’m qualified, but I always have an opinion I’m willing to share…

Dear Diana,

A guy-friend of mine and I at work chat a lot. He’s in his 20’s, married 5yrs to someone 4yrs younger.  She likes gold, he likes silver.  He said many times the ring he wanted to wear forever he wanted it to be silver.  Her ring set was both gold and silver.  She was buying his wedding band, and was surprising him with it the day of their wedding.  He said the time came, and the ring she put on his finger … one, was silver and gold, and two, had plastic on the inside.  He waited until after the ceremony to ask her about it.  She said she had a silver/gray band picked out for him, but at the last minute decided she wanted them to match, thus getting this one.  However the store didn’t have his size, it would take time to do this, so they gave her/him a “loaner” for the meantime.  He wore the ring for 2yrs, and then took it off, never put it back on.  She of course is pissed at this.

 You have to know my co-worker, nice guy, would never cheat.  Says he doesn’t need a ring to know he’s married.  But his argument is, she got him something she had to know he wouldn’t like, just so they could “match”, and the big one being … “she could have got me the ugliest ring in the world, I’m sentimental, if it was the ring she put on my finger on our wedding day, I’d wear it forever, just for that reason”.  He said instead his wedding ring reminded him that he got married with a “loaner”, and he grew more and more bitter.

I told my boyfriend when we first started talking about the kind of ring I wanted, “Just because I like yellow gold, doesn’t mean you have to get the same. You get what you like.”  I think he said something about yellow gold being okay, but in any case, it’s totally up to him.

Does my friend’s wife have a right to be pissed or does he deserve to wear a ring that’s not a “loaner”?

Signed,

Sun Princess

Dear Sun Princess,

If someone expresses a desire for a gold, silver or any type of design wedding band, if it’s within the budget of the bride (or groom), the bride should get the color or type of band the groom asked for. After all, he’s the one that’s going to wear it for life. Personally, I’d feel the same as your friend if I was married with a plastic sizer on the inside of the band because she didn’t plan far enough in advance.

A wedding band is a symbol of unending love. It is not to be confused with being unending love. Also, a marriage is made between two people not two rings. Again, the rings are just symbols.

If the wife is concerned that others won’t know he’s married, she has a problem much larger than him not wearing his ring. The husband’s actions will, and apparently do, tell other’s he’s married, not the ring.

Since my husband outgrew his wedding ring several years ago he hasn’t worn it. This doesn’t bother me at all. There are some professions that don’t allow wedding bands of any kind because they become a safety issue. Again, it’s not the ring that makes the marriage or commitment…it’s the person. To even emphasize the symbolism of the ring versus the commitment, there are many cultures that don’t use rings as a symbol of the marriage commitment. Why? They aren’t needed to display what is in the person’s heart.

What I might recommend since the couple has been married for 5 years is that the couple renew their vows. Then, she can find the perfect ring that he will like, have it sized, and give it, with love, to her husband. When they renew their vows as she places the ring on his finger, he will wear it forever.

~Diana

Whether Richard Roth is the first or just the first person I know to sue a major airline, like Delta, for delays, inconvenience, rude behavior, and rebuffing employees…I hope he’s not the last. With what airlines charge (high fuel prices or not) someone needs to get upset. No longer are the skies ‘friendly’. Sure the flight attendants are fairly courteous, depending on their mood.

Sure the pilots are friendly, they’re the ones whose hands our lives are in…but the ground personnel…please.

Over the past 5 years alone, I’ve flown every major carrier that flies through or from the United States. One thing I can always count on is that the service gets worse with each trip.

Baggage handling personnel are the worst. My bags have been lost several times. It doesn’t matter if its in the United States or not. When I try to get information on my bags the people I speak with are rude and unconcerned. Yes, I know they have millions of bags they lose everyday but I don’t care about millions. I care only about mine…and since the baggage handler wouldn’t have a job if we all stopped flying…they should at least have an ounce of concern in their voice. That would at least make me feel a little better, like I counted.

(Story continued below)

I was in the insurance business for more than 20 years. Daily, no, hourly, someone would call and complain about their premium going up $1 or $2. It wasn’t millions, no, but it was complaints and they were all the same. Still, it was my job to be kind, courteous and understanding. I spoke to them with the authority that I would do everything in my power to find out why there premium went up and take the time to find a less expensive rate. Sure, I knew the rate went up because of inflation and I knew I couldn’t find a less expensive rate but…I spoke to my client for those few minutes like he was the only client I had. I was on the telephone with the client anyway…why not speak kindly rather than abrasive and uncaring?

Every single passenger understands that there is a chance their luggage will be lost. It’s the law of average. It happens. But when you are given a phone number to call for the airline baggage people and they never answer their phone except between a specific 15 minute interval, what kind of message does this give a traveler?

My son’s and my bags were lost, all of them, going on a non-stop flight to Mexico. It took them 5 days to get our bags and phone call after phone call after phone call. And, hotels charge for phone calls to parties outside the hotel! Add it up! Yes, I was reimbursed, I think a total of $120 for the delay of getting my bags but that $120 does nothing to make up for all the time I had to spend driving over 30 minutes to the airport and back from the airport four times because they didn’t answer their phones, were rude and totally ruined the 5 days I had to spend looking on my own for the baggage (yes, you can do this). Was I able to go to the beach? How could I? I had to call the airlines. Was I able to go to breakfast, lunch or dinner? How could I? I was traveling to and from the airport.

 I’m not surprised in the least that this man is suing. ? To me, $1million is cheap for Delta to get by paying. Maybe this will knock the airline industry back to the era of the ‘friendly skies’. Maybe not.

~ Diana

As promised a couple of weeks ago, the charity logo I designed is above. Feel free to download it if you like or let me know if you’d like a larger copy. I have it in jpeg and vector formats with no background.

This is the image I sent to my friend, Tonia, that heads a charity in the Caribbean. I visited her recently and spent an entire morning taking candid shots of the children she works with and of the area where the hospital wing she’s building will be. I took so many photos it completely filled my card. She was a little concerned because she still had a lot more she wanted me to take before I left for another shoot. Thank goodness I’d been using my new SD card. I bought it just for shoots like this where I run out of memory on my card and still have photos to take. It’s so cool. Before I had this card, I had to carry my laptop with me to download them manually. This time though, I was easily able to transfer all my images home and keep on shooting and even go on to another shoot.

I hope you like my image logo and I’ll post some photos of the kids soon.

~ Diana

Have you ever had one-of-those days…today is my one-of-of-those days. One of my friends is getting a divorce, another friend’s friend might be getting a divorce, a very young friend is pregnant and trying to keep it a secret, and my daughter’s friends, Sarah, who has had an eating disorder for several years, attempted suicide last night, again. Thankfully, Sarah left several clues so my daughter with her other friends and the school counselor worked together with her parents to get to her just in time. A child taking their own life has to be one of a parent’s worst nightmares.

To save Sarah’s life, even though she and her parents live in the Midwest, her psychiatrist recommended her parents take her to an inpatient treatment center in California. When my daughter told me about it she was really upset that Sarah would be so far away but I told her about another friend of mine that that had a son that needed alcohol and drug treatment that had done the same thing. Geography doesn’t count when you’re trying to save your child.

When I showed my daughter the website for Drug Rehab Sunset Malibu on the Internet she was thrilled with Sarah’s parents’ choice. Seeing it in black and white helped to reassure her that Sarah would be in good hands. She could see that Sunset Malibu was one of the most prestigious drug rehab centers in the country and their addiction treatment philosophy was one that incorporates a wide variety of traditional and non-traditional methods utilizing the talents of the best practitioners in the world. Of course, I needed to do a little explaining about treatment programs and what goes on but eventually my daughter understood, or understood as much as a teen can understand in an emotionally charged situation.

For me and my family, communication has facilitated us to understanding each other and what we each go through. Did I have time to explain what was happening to Sarah, how she was going to be away from her friend for a while and what a treatment facility is all about? How could I not have time?

In the meantime, my blogs have sat an entire day without attention but they will wait another day, my friend received papers from her soon-2-b-x and we will talk tomorrow, my young pregnant friend will tell me when she’s ready,  and my other friend’s friend I can do nothing for since I don’t know them except be here for support. What a day.

Over the years, I’ve found that we are only as happy as our unhappiest child. Tonight, I am thankful to have happy children, once again. All is right in my world.

~ Diana

I’m even more convinced than ever that Internet Explorer is the root of many Internet problems.

Last week, I tried to list my Canon EOS 20D camera for sale on Ebay. Simple, right? Wrong. I listed it, all right, but it never showed up. Ugh! Naturally, I went through their site to find out why my camera wasn’t showing up. My personal page didn’t’ even show that I was selling an item, let alone selling a camera. However, I had an e-mail from Ebay that my account had been suspended because of something I couldn’t comprehend at the time. You can only imagine what I was thinking. Why on earth would Ebay suspend my account? They did leave a note that I could chat-live with them, so you know I did. It didn’t matter if it was Midnight or 10AM; I needed to find out what happened to my account. It’s not like I do a lot of business with them but I have purchased a few items here and there from them and have even sold a couple of things.

Seems that somehow my keystrokes were being copied and someone used my login to create several auctions, on my behalf. They thought that I possibly had spyware or a virus in my computer that allowed access to my information.

At first, I was a little taken back but no big deal. Ebay’s security was on it and I could rest easily and my camera would be back on the site, soon to be sold. Not. The security center had me verify some information which would have been cool except…they went so far back in time that not even my mother would have remembered it. Still, it was for security reasons. I told the guy my life story and finally whatever I told him answered his question and he was sure I was me. I wasn’t, but he was. LOL

So now that I’ve answered all his questions, I go to bed knowing that the next day my camera would be listed. Low and behold, I got busy with my blogs (this one in fact) and never checked my account Saturday. It wasn’t until yesterday that I finally got to it. Ugh! Still, it’s not listed. Still, my account is suspended for a month. All right, now this is bordering on being a pain-in-the-neck! All I want to do is be a normal person, sell my camera on a website, mail the camera, collect my money and go about being normal. But…nope, not going to happen.

Sunday afternoon I proceed to go back onto the chat-live with Ebay again. This person doesn’t ask my life story but now, they want to confirm that I am me with copies of my ID’s. No, they said I can’t e-mail them, which you all know is very easy for me. I need to fax them. I don’t have a fax machine. It’s a miracle I have Internet let alone a fax. So, they tell me I can mail the documents. From where I live, to mail documents to Ebay would take over a month for them to get the papers.

It’s at this point I tell the guy, Jeremy, that something I didn’t do and am trying to fix is bordering on being a pain just so I can sell a camera when they already have the situation fixed. Well, he proceeds to tell me nothing can be done until the documents are received, thanks me for contacting them and closes the window. Is that like a hang-up call?

After I collect a few thoughts, I realize that because Jeremy closed my window so I don’t have the fax number, the address to mail the information to and can’t find the information on their website so…I need to chat-live, again. I’m getting good at this by now. I’m so proud ;-).

This time, I’m fortunate enough to talk with Patch. Nice guy. I get the information I need and no one hangs up on anyone. All ends well. My neighbor has a fax machine and I faxed what they asked for within minutes. Hopefully, sometime in the next 24-72 hours my account will be restored and I’ll be selling my camera. Any bidders? Call or e-mail me. I’m serious!

As the story continues, today I’m building a weblog for my son’s new Firestone store. I hope he likes it. He’s so into customer service having a blog is the next step in being there for his customers. As I’m going through template ideas I see this note on one:

“I noticed you are using Internet Explorer. If you did not know already: Internet Explorer does not display this site correctly, mostly due to the inability of Microsoft to comply with web standards. More importantly Internet Explorer is susceptible to viruses, and spyware because Microsoft has problems patching Internet Explorer in a timely manner. So I highly recommend, a safe, more standards compliant browser such as Mozilla Firefox.”

My little brain starts spinning with this message…Ebay told me it was spyware that caused my account with them to be corrupted. I use Firefox for all my blogging now but…not my normal e-mail, Ebay, or other transactions. Yep! This was it. Internet Explorer allowed my information to be taken from me without my permission causing my account to be frozen. Who knows what else they could have had access to before I changed all my passwords and stopped using IE?

At this exact moment, I’m not sure if I’m angry or relieved. Angry someone stole my account from me causing havoc in my normally tranquil life or relieved no more was taken. Jeeez. Drama-drama-drama

First, “Thank you, Ebay, for your security and helping me resolve the problem so quickly. It was a pain, but less painful than coming up with money I shouldn’t owe.”

Second, if you use Internet Explorer, no matter how many firewalls or virus protections you have on your computer…you’re not safe. I have the firewall and protection I need but if you’re using a browser that allows someone to track your keystrokes…all the protection in the world isn’t going to help. It’s kind of like on one of the first Seinfeld episodes when his apartment is broken into. He didn’t need insurance since he had the best lock on the market, the Clapto D29. It only had one design flaw…in order for the lock to work the door had to be shut. In order for your computer to be protected you can’t leave the door open through Internet Explorer.

Enjoy your day and if you are interested in a great camera, call me!

~ Diana

Remember the friends you had in high school you’d promise to always remember? Remember, the boyfriend that broke your heart and you swore you’d never get over; or the girlfriend you knew you would someday marry?

High school was both fun and tumultuous for me. But, from watching my son in his teen years and other young people, it’s fun and tumultuous for everyone. We all have great memories and hopefully, any bad ones are faded away by now.

A few years ago I started to reconnect with some of my old classmates and old friends that I’d thought about every once in a while. I figured that if they wanted to become friends again, cool. You can never have too many friends and these people were a huge part of my life for many years. As it turns out, I’ve reconnected with many classmates and we’ve become great friends. Some of us live in different countries, have really different lives than we’d planned and some of us still live in Alton, Illinois, my hometown.

My old photography friend, and mentor, is my new photography friend and mentor. He’s sent me photos he’s taken in North Carolina and the Outer Banks that are absolutely stunning. I can only dream to be even half as good as he is. Then, he and I have another classmate just outside Charlotte, North Carolina that is also a photography buff and he goes to the Outer Banks every year for vacation. It is such a small world! And, as you well know, who else lives in Charlotte? My son ;-)  Well, guess what? When I visit my son in a few months…guess where we’re going? Too meet up with my two old classmates (young at heart) and take some awesome photos together! It will be a blast!

If you’ve put off reconnecting with former classmates, going to your class reunion or just making that call to an old friend…don’t. None of us lives forever and some don’t live long enough for us to reconnect.

~ Diana

With Father’s Day coming up I waned to get my hubby something really nice. I know, he’s not my father but…he’s a father to our children and without him, this journey wouldn’t be half the fun it is.

He has a casual dress for work and really casual for play. Still, when he dresses up…he’s all the way to the 9’s. I was thinking some gold cufflinks. We’re both gold people versus silver but what kind of design to guys like? There so many choices. Guys what do you like? Would you rather have a classy square set or a set with more ornamentation or mother-of-pearl? Oh! I did see a gold set with mother-of-pearl and an emerald in the center. Those would be totally cool.

I’m looking for votes and ideas here. Can you help me? Post your vote or comment here or shoot me an e-mail. Time is of an essence.

~ Diana

A young couple in the Bavarian town of Krumbach posted an ad on Ebay: “Offering my nearly new baby for sale, as it has gotten too loud. It is a male baby, nearly 28 inches (70 cm) long and can be used either in a baby carrier or a stroller”. OMG! They offered to sell the child for one euro ($1.57 USD).

I’m unsure if the shock of selling a child on Ebay has me crazy or the fact that these two young people don’t have another living soul on earth to help them with their parenting skills. This couple isn’t in their teens either but in the mid-20’s. Please, help me here. Even if this was a joke…how can you play a joke on a child’s life? There’s a test required for the privilege of driving…but no test for the privilege of raising a child. Hmmm

I’ll just bet some of the mommies and daddies in China that lost their only child in the earthquake  last week would give a million dollars to have their child back…crying or not, and this couple sells their baby for less than the cost of a cup of coffee.

I’m looking for answers here. Does anyone have any?

~ Diana

Divorce is never easy, even when it’s been in the works for years. A friend of mine has been married for 32 years and is now going through the process legally, even though emotionally she went through it years ago. Good for her that she’s talking with a counselor and staying emotionally healthy while she goes through this. Unfortunately, her husband has made some not-so-smart decisions in the past months and now she has to clean up his messes. 

How do I say this in a nice way? People, because you are getting a divorce doesn’t mean you cancel your life insurance! You’re still going to die. You’re still going to need to be buried! You still have your children to think of, unless you want to be a ‘great’ parent and stick them with the bill. Jeeez. As a former insurance broker for more than 20 years, when she told me her husband canceled his life insurance I just about punched-out my LCD monitor. But then, I remembered, the guy wouldn’t feel my anger…so I backed off. 

Thank goodness, life insurance, as well as most other insurance coverage’s, has advanced since I left the business. Now, she can insure herself and her (soon-2-b-x) husband online. She has a good head on her shoulders so I’m sure she’ll do what’s right. Good thing is, now she can do it all from her laptop rather than when I was in the biz. Times, they area a chagin’.

Divorce changes many things. Act smart, not emotional. 

~Diana