You Can Phone Home From Gmail

I really like this feature.  It is so convenient.  Most say this is nothing new, but it is to me. 

After downloading the plug-in, I gave it a whirl.  I called my house phone and surprisingly it was very clear.  The next day, I needed to make a long-distance phone call and since, I was on my computer, I decided to use the new feature.  I dialed the number, it rings, I'm place a queue as according to the recording my "call will be answered in approximately 5mins".  When the rep answered, I said, "hello" and proceeded to explain my dilemma.  In the middle of my explanation, I hear "hello, how may I help you!"  Argh!  She couldn't hear me.  What a disappointment.  I decided to search online to see if others were having the same problem...and they were.

I decided to update my drivers, reboot and try again.  I tried calling a friend locally.  The keyboard stated, it was dialing, but I couldn't hear it. Ugh!  I then re-installed the initial plug-in, reboot and retried.  This time I called my mom, who is local.  I can hear the dial tone (yay!). 

Mother: "Hello"

Me: "Hi"

Mother: "Where are you? "Whose number is this?"

Me "You can hear me!" *smiling*

Mother: "Yes, I can. Stop yelling!"

Me: " It works!" *smiling*

Mother:  "What are you up to now?"

Me: "I'm calling you from my laptop, through my gmail account."

Mother:  "You and these gadgets"

Give it a try if you have a gmail account and if you don't sign up for one.  Remember to update your drivers (sound) and then install the plug-in for the feature from Google.  Long distance calls are free now; not sure for how long.  International calls have a small fee.

My First Auction

I woke up today not feeling the best.  My allergies seemed to have gotten the best of me.  After dropping my son off at school, my intention was to call out of work, take my allergy medicine and take a nap.  After calling out and taking my allergy medicine, I started reading the paper.  I came across the legal notice section and saw some scheduled foreclosure home auctions.  I have been to tax sales, but never the foreclosure home auctions.  I had a hour before the start of a particular auction that happen to be a property in my neighborhood.  I didn't know the person, but I decided I would go and witness the sale.

I went to the court house and literally there were seven people sitting on the steps of the court house with their list, pen and pad and cell phones.  I walked up, with my pen and pad (I had wrote down some info on the homes I was interested in) as I was curious as to how much each would sell for. 

Each auction was announced, "this is the 1:23pm auction for [insert address]" and he would read the legal mojo.  He would then ask someone on his cell phone what is the opening bid.  He would then share that with the group and then he would begin he auctioneer song..."225, 225 do I hear 226, 226, 227...anybody want it for 227".  Those bidding were on their cell phones discussing with partners, I assume on how high they should bid.  It was obvious that these investors come to these auctions often as their was a small group who greeted each other, even the auctioneer, when they arrived.  In bidding, one lady made a comment to me, "she's only bidding on it because she knows I want it".  Then, the other lady said, "Sue, do you really want this property?"  The lady who made the comment to me didn't reply.  She ["Sue"] ended up winning the property at a higher cost than she anticipated.  I overheard "Sue" tell someone that the other lady ran the price up so she wouldn't be able to bid high on a property that everyone else seem to want [it was in a very nice community].  Alot of the auctions had no bidders, at least not at the court house and the auctioneer would make a statement, "sold to note holder" or "back to the bank".

Prior to going to the auction, I researched some of the properties online and there value and some were really nice looking homes and some deals were definitely available.  The only problem is alot of times you don't know what the inside presents.  Also, as one of the ladies commented, she likes to bid on the vacant properties because she doesn't like going through the eviction process.  It definitely was interesting and I'm glad I attended.  BTW, the property in my neighborhood was cancelled, seems they got the money prior to the sell...happy for them.  Some were not so fortunate.

The Garden

My Cabbage...it's getting bigger each day!

I am so proud of my little container garden.  This year, I planted tomatoes, green beans, cabbage, green bell peppers, carrots and lettuce.  The tomatoes were slow in producing fruit.  I had several flowers, but no fruit.  I researched online and discovered it was probably due to the extreme heat we've had.  I also, stopped fertilizing the pants.  Another thing I did, which I feel helped is, I  placed the container of the tomatoes in the shade.  That seemed to help in the production of flowers again and they didn't drop off like they did previously and this time they indeed produced fruit!  Once, the tomatoes started forming, I placed the container back in the sun and fertilize every so often.  I gave my mom a bag full of tomatoes as her tomato plants did not produce any fruit this year.  I thought my tomato plants were done (as they are no longer pretty looking...thus, no pic), but I see five new yellow flowers

My lovely Green Peppers

I had difficulty with the lettuce, carrots and green beans.  All were growing good and then something went wrong.  I will try growing these next year, but I will do differently.  With the lettuce, I will not attempt to grow seedling in the home and then transplant.  I will plant in a big pot outside and keep my fingers cross.  As far as green beans, I will have to pick up some bush type beans and not the pole type.  Carrots, not sure what went wrong, but I will purchase a deeper pot to have those in.

I am preparing for my fall garden, I plan to have kale, collards and I read that I still have time for lettuce, so I may give it another try.

It Would Have Been Her 82th Birthday

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDMA!

Love & Miss You

Cold Stone Creamery

Hurry and get your coupon for TW0 'Like it' size Create Your Own for $5.00.

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Random Thoughts

• I live in the DC area and I have yet to watch Housewives of DC.  Why?  My dog chewed the last working remote (seriously!)...I'm stuck on Channel 5 until I get some new remotes (this wkend).  I miss the cable boxes where you could change the channel from it.
• I can't stand gnats!  I wish they would stay outside where they belong.  I've used bleach, vinegar, bug spray, hairspray (it was near), soapy water...it seems they don't die, they multiply!
• "Dr." Laura, IS a racist!  Apology not accepted.  The incident where she said the "N" word several times is not why I refer to her as a racist. I agree she used it to make a point...a sad one and IMO really an over used one (i.e. black men say it...comedians used it).  THAT particular incident, she was insensitive, rude and swayed from the actual discussion at hand.  I refer to her as a racist, because of the comments she's made previously about Mexicans, African Americans, President Obama and of the countless other blantant racial remarks she made towards people of color.  I am an African-American woman, I hear some white people (notice I said some; as not ALL black people use the "N' word) go around calling each other 'Redneck'.  Is it ok for me to go around calling white people 'Redneck' and expect them not to be offended?  When they express that they are offended, is it okay to say you're "hypersensitive"?  When that person tries to express their dislike for the word and the derogatory meaning behind it;  is it okay for me to say, 'don't go getting all KKK on me?' I think know not!  Laura has shown her true color...the color of a racist. 
• I'm going to New York for my birthday! Yay!
• I can't stand gnats!
• I came across my old answering machine and listened...my grandma's voice was on the recording...I cried, but they seemed to be tears of happiness.  I've listened to the message ten (10) times, which happens to be 'Happy Birthday' and her telling me she put my card in the mail late.  My birthday is on the 22nd of this month.  Isn't God wonderful!  Best Birthday gift I could ever ask for...hearing my grandma's voice again and her wishing me Happy Birthday.  Yall know I miss her.
• I'm glad it FRIDAY!

Everfresh Banana Colada ... Yum!

I'm a juice person.  I LOVE juice and Mt. Dew.  The other day, I asked someone to bring me something to drink and they brought me that beauty on the left.  When I first looked at the flavor, I thought to myself, I've never had this flavor [by Everfresh] before.  Duh! That's when the red letters captured my attention "New".

I twisted the cap off and took a sip...it was "Everfreshing!"  Okay, but it was refreshing.  Really, the flavor was so distinctive.  The next day, I went to the grocery store, two gas stations and a Mom and Pops store to my disbelief no Everfresh Banana Colada.  It wasn't that they ran out, they didn't sell that flavor...hadn't heard of it.  I told the guy at one of the gas stations that he needed to contact his rep. or whomever makes the decision on what to sell in the store to put it on their shelves.  He laughed at me, but he wrote the name and flavor down.  I can't find this stuff!

So, I called my friend and asked where in the world did he find the juice he had brought me.  He didn't want to reveal his source [come on now it's only juice...good juice though], but offered to bring me another.  I accepted.  The first one I received was nice and cold and tasted great!  The second one I received had a slight chill.  I popped the top and was slightly disappointed.  I didn't get the "Everfreshing" taste.  After placing the bottle in the refrigerator and letting it properly chill, I was in luv again.

Everfresh has three new flavors check them out (make sure they are cold).   I know, I will.  If you're like me and can't find them in stores in your area contact Everfresh's Customer Service Ofc. they will provide info. on a retailer near you.

Disclosure:  I am not affiliated in anyway with Everfresh.  The products consumed, were not given to me by Everfresh, nor have I received compensation for the above review of the product.  The above review of the product is that of my personal opinion.