The Crab Chronicles

Problems and Solutions

The past few days have been pretty distressing for a variety of reasons, chief among them the fact that being a parent to a teenager IS truly a nightmare. It's worse than nailing jello to a tree. Add to it the fact my daughter spent nearly 7 years in Russian orphanages and learned a lot of bad behaviors that years of love and therapy haven't wiped out, and you have one stressed mama.

I don't want to go into details of the issues here publicly, but I will say this - Alesia is grounded until the end of April. So you get an idea of the stress level.

Just when I think my life and my woes are way worse than anyone else's, I read about a family struggling to adopt a precious baby girl from Eastern Europe, a baby with limb differences.

This family has a lot of what we call gumption, though. They are raffling off an iPad 2 in order to raise funds for the adoption. Pretty clever. If you want a chance to win, please see their blog. Please re-post on Facebook and help in any way you can, even if, like me, you are short of funds. The longer a child spends in an orphanage, the worse the issues are later..

One of the nicest things the government has ever done is give adoptive parents a sweet tax credit to help them pay off adoption expenses. Unless you adopt from foster care domestically, you are looking at expenses of $15-50,000 in most cases. Costs vary widely depending on the country. The tax credit really helps. The only catch is you can't get the money until after you have adopted.

There's not much else I want to say but I will leave you with a funny:

Just in case you need a laugh: Remember it takes a college degree to fly a plane, but only a high school diploma to fix one; a reassurance to those of us who fly routinely in our jobs.  After every flight, airline pilots fill out a form, called a 'gripe sheet,' which tells mechanics about problems with the aircraft.  The mechanics correct the problems, document their repairs on the form, and then pilots review the gripe sheets before the next flight.  Never let it be said that ground crews lack a sense of humor.  Here are some actual maintenance complaints submitted by UPS pilots (marked with a P) and the solutions recorded (marked with an S) by maintenance engineers. P: Left inside main tire almost needs replacement. S: Almost replaced left inside main tire. * P: Test flight OK, except auto-land very rough. S: Auto-land not installed on this aircraft. * P: Something loose in cockpit. S: Something tightened in cockpit. * P: Dead bugs on windshield. S: Live bugs on back-order. * P: Autopilot in altitude-hold mode produces a 200-feet-per-minute descent. S: Cannot reproduce problem on ground.. * P: Evidence of leak on right main landing gear. S: Evidence removed. * P: DME volume unbelievably loud. S: DME volume set to more believable level. * P: Friction locks cause throttle levers to stick. S: That's what friction locks are for. * P: IFF inoperative in OFF mode. S: IFF is always inoperative in OFF mode. * P: Suspected crack in windshield. S: Suspect you're right. * P: Number 3 engine missing. S: Engine found on right wing after brief   search. * P: Aircraft handles funny. (I love this one!) S: Aircraft warned to straighten up, fly right and be serious. * P:Target radar hums. S: Reprogrammed target radar with lyrics.. * P: Mouse in cockpit. S: Cat installed.. * And the best one for last * P: Noise coming from under instrument panel. Sounds like a midget pounding on something with a hammer. S: Took hammer away from the midget.

Collecting and Creating

As I mentioned before, one of my goals in running these April Giveaways is to help the small business owner explain about what they do, why, and what it's like to run their business. I have always been fascinated by entrepreneurship and the courage it takes to strike out and start something new.

Michelle at Washed Up Creations is also a fitness trainer in Pilates! Here's more from Michelle:

Name/age/hometown. Is this the only thing you do?

I was born July 10, 1970 in Glen Cove, Long Island, NY and grew up in Roslyn.

My occupation is Fitness and Pilates Trainer which is something I've done now for 8 yrs and enjoy it. I work for myself and teach Pilates classes as well as train people one on one around Long Island.

When did you start creating your pieces? Do you remember the first ideas/images that inspired you?
I first started selling costume jewelry in 2004 at various fairs but always was intrigued by the people who sold their own handmade products. I had always collected beach glass and seashells and even driftwood and knew I wanted to do something more with them besides just have them sit in my house looking pretty. So I slowly began learning how to drill sea glass and then create all sorts of designs with it. There is a ton to learn about materials and techniques but I love it all and always learn something new every day.

DON'T FORGET TO LEAVE A COMMENT IF YOU WANT TO WIN THE BEAUTIFUL DOLPHIN NECKLACE! DRAWING ON FRIDAY.

Today, tell me in a comment whether you or someone you know has ever found something interesting on the beach. A friend of mine found a beautiful antique watch on the beach when he was a little boy. He still has it and it runs!

Don't forget to like Washed Up Creations on Facebook and/or visit the Etsy store!

A Gorgeous Necklace is Giveaway Item #1!

April is Giveaway Month here on the Crab Chronicles and I am excited to announce the first prize I will give away.

Some of my happiest early memories are going to the beach with my family and playing happily on the sand. My mother would give me a bucket and a tiny plastic spade and I would dig and dig. Ah, what fun. Until I stood up and had to dig sand out of my creases... LOL

Michelle at Washed up Creations makes beautiful and unique products from sea glass and other items she finds on the beach [or "at the shore" as they say up north]. My first giveaway item is

"Dolphin on a Cloud Necklace"

  

Authentic white sea glass adorned with a sterling silver dolphin charm hung from a swarovski bead and strung on a beautiful 3-hole heart link sterling chain. 18,1/4". Simple yet so pretty any time of year!

Michelle says: The chain on that one is really pretty and people always love it. it's a heart link chain.

Michelle sent me one of these necklaces and it is truly a work of art. Just leave a comment in the comments section here telling me about a favorite beach memory, and you will be eligible to win. I will draw a winner on Friday.[If you have trouble leaving a comment, just email me at thompsondee@bellsouth.net]

Be sure and go to Michelle's website and check out all the delightful and unique gifts she offers!

Michelle also has a Facebook page and an Etsy store!

Barbeque and Other Kinds of Sauce

I can't recall if I've ever mentioned it here, but my dad was a huge fan of all things barbeque. He would drive all over Tennessee, Georgia, and South Carolina if he heard about a good barbeque place to try.

The quest for barbeque was a holy mission for Dad.

Our favorite place when I was a kid in Augusta was a place called Brown's, a small place with old formica dinette tables and chairs, nothing fancy, where they had the best barbeque in Augusta. After we moved up to Knoxville when I was 8, Dad had barbeque shipped up to us on a couple of occasions. It was that good.

I am excited to announce that as part of my April giveaways, I will be giving away some barbeque products from Sucklebusters. a company out in Texas. Dan Brown of SuckleBusters is sending me some products to try, and I can hardly wait. I may have to go buy some Boston butt pork roasts and put them on the grill next week. YUM.

Grilling is only a recent tradition in America. I bet you didn't know that. Dad liked to tell the story of one of my uncles coming back from World War II - I can't remember if it was Bobby or Lewis - and showing Dad and his parents how to grill a steak. He dug a hole out in the yard, built a fire, and covered it with an old refrigerator shelf, I think it was. He bought steaks and cooked them over that pit fire. Dad said it was wonderful. Thus the Thompson grilling traditions were born.

IN OTHER NEWS

It's been a weird day, watching the skies all day to determine if we can play some of our April 2nd tennis matches tonight at 6, since everyone on the team will be gone for spring break from April 2-9. As of 4:30 the Weather Channel says there's only a 15% chance of rain at 6, so I am hoping we can get the matches done.

I had a million errands to do this morning, including picking up a few things at Kroger. I forgot Mother's tonic water. Tonic has quinine in it, and it's helpful for folks who suffer from leg cramps. She drinks it a lot - without vodka, I should add. So on the way back I pulled into a tiny liquor store not far from our house, to get the tonic. I had not been in a liquor store in years and years. I just rarely drink anything. I buy most of my wine at the grocery store, 'cause we ain't fussy about beer and wine. I'm in the liquor store marveling at the variety of stuff in there. There's a poster showing a broken Crown Royal bottle on a beach, the liquor dribbling into the sand, and it's titled "Oh Hell no." That made me chuckle.There was the beginning of a story line, but no resolution. Marketing idiots.

I also wanted to giggle at the black guy that came in while I was there and bought a huge jug of wine, two cans of pineapple juice, some club soda, and a ginormous dill pickle. He bought several other things, too, but I didn't see it all. I thought, how are you gonna carry all that to the car, and not have your pants fall down around your ankles?!? He was sagging, big time. Probably thought he was being healthy with the pineapple juice and the pickle. Yikes.

I walk out to get to my car, and there's a small muscle car parked in front of the door, and it was colored a deep pink/purple shade you would never, ever find on any car, even a Mary Kay cadillac. It had custom wheels, too. I wondered if that was the ride for Mr. Saggy Pants Pineapple Pickle Dude; you feel me dawg?!

 

HELPING AN ADOPTIVE FAMILY

I posted this on Facebook today, but for those of you not on there, please read:

I read a while back about a child in Russia who has Down's Syndrome but a family is waiting to adopt him. The court has halted the adoption, not understanding how a family could want little Kiril. However, actress Patricia Heaton has started a campaign to contribute to the legal fees to assist the adoptive family in an appeal, and momentum is building. YOU can help, and it will cost you nothing! PLEASE see this message from Patricia Heaton about how you can help.

Preview of Giveaway Month

I just looked at weather.com and realized it's supposed to rain all week. We got over 3 inches of rain in the last couple of days, according to my rain guage on the patio, which is very scientific. if this continues I may get rich selling door to door Damp Rid to the neighbors with basements.

I forgot to mention this morning that I am very excited about the fact that April is Giveaway Month here at the Crab Chronicles. I have some very cool things to give away.

I remember when I was in paralegal school studying corporate law, and I learned that something like 80% of small businesses fail within the first year. I find that disturbing. When I find a small business and I sample their products and feel like they are excellent, then I want to help the business succeed. I'm not trying to be a goody two-shoes or establish good Karma or be a "fine Christian" as my Mamaw would say. I just like to encourage people who have the guts to try starting their own business. They deserve help, if they offer a quality product or service.

So here is a preview of the things I will be featuring here in April. Check out these sites:

Washed Up Creations - awesome jewelry and keepsakes using found objects from the sea

Chocolates By Joanne - she has lovely and original items made from chocolate

Yvonne Totes - lovely and practical totes and purses and other items

Brainella's Pottery - my friend Julia makes unique and delightful items you will treasure

By the Light of the Foxfire - Emory Raxter, a lady who lives in Maryville TN and wrote a book set in the mountains, wrote this thriller. I am so excited to read it, and Emory kindly sent me a copy to keep and one to give away.

I may offer some surprise items, too. You will simply need to leave a comment to win. IF you are a small business owner and would like me to showcase your products, shoot me an email [thompsondee@bellsouth.net]. Thanks!

 If you have trouble commenting just send me an email.

Free Stuff

I love getting things for free. I suspect that most of us love that. So I am working on obtaining some cool products for giveaways. I want to make April the "giveaway" month here at the Crab Chronicles. 

I have a verbal promise of one item which I think will be really fun to give away, and it ties in with the whole "beach" theme of the blog, so that's terrific.

If you are a small business owner or if you have an Etsy shop, please think about sending me something for a giveaway. It will need to be something easily mailed, obviously, since I don't have a fortune with which to ship large items across the country.It may or may not have anything to do with crabs or the beach - that's not a big deal.

Of course, if you or someone you know owns a restaurant, you can send me a gift certificate.

AND think about this - maybe you don't make anything or you're not a business owner but someone in your family IS, or one of your neighbors or friends. Give it some thought.

I really like helping people market their businesses.

I also like learning about wonderful new products, like those on the website Goat Milk Stuff. I LOVE their soaps!

My blog readership has increased steadily over the years, and even though I don't have a huge following, I have respectable numbers [250-500 views most days], so I'd like to reward my loyal readers and hopefully attract some new ones.

Of course, if I wanted to just blatantly troll for readers I'd mention names like Justin Bieber or Lady Gaga or Charlie Sheen. But that's not how I roll. [cough cough]