Alternatives

I just had a conversation tonight regarding gas prices. My mentor mentioned that he and his wife just returned from a month in Europe. They said that when they returned to the US they could feel the tension with the economy being what it is and fuel prices skyrocketing out of this world. He also delivered some grim news. He said, in his opinion, this is no where near the top. He feels that gas prices will not stop rising until they hit around $6.50 per gallon. In Europe they toured one of the richest oil countries around and they were paying $10 per gallon. And this is a country that produces it's own fuel.

Pretty grim. So it's no longer a situation about where the prices will stop, but rather what are you going to do to improve your income $400-$450 a month so that you can manage it. What are you going to do to manage it? Mmmmm.....good question.

One solution. Invest in your own home based business. Sleep deprivation is a huge issue in society. So most likely if you are like most American's taking a second or in some cases a third job may seem overwhelming. Looking at what fits into your life at the moment seems logical and most of us talk, right? We talk at work. We talk to our friends and we talk to our family. Well, why not talk to them about something that could be beneficial for everyone. And while your at it, why not talk about NIKKEN.

What astounded me when I got involved with NIKKEN and I started talking about it, I haven't had one person tell me a single negative thing about the company. The 33 year established business has such a well earned reputation that maybe not everyone wants to be a business builder with you, but they will be pleased with the products. Seems people I talk to have a) not heard of it before or b) oh yeah, their mom has used it and loves it or something similar.

It's time to look at home based businesses as a serious means of supplemental income. Rising costs of fuel and groceries will not go down soon. Therefore, it is imperative that we find additional means of bridging the gap. What are you going to do the make up the financial difference of $450 a month? What if it could be even more?

In network marketing, you definitely reap what you sow. You get out of it what you want to put into it and if you want to do it part time or full time, you can't go wrong as long as you move forward.

Personally, I'm looking for business builders. However many hours you can contribute, I want you on my team. I want to build you up, because that is how you win at this game, by helping others and I want us both to benefit from the knowledge of an amazing upline and sidelines to make a difference not only in our financial well being but in our health as well. More and more we hear about stress effecting our health and how it is a leader in health issues in this country. Give me a call or drop me an e if you are looking for a way out of financial worries and way in to a healthier more financially stable life. I'm standing by. Christy.Barber@hotmail.com or 541.786.1613.

Shannon Miller Joins NIKKEN

From the Heleman Group:

Shannon Miller a 7 time Olympic Medalist and 9 time World Medalist remains The Most Decorated American Gymnast, male or female, in history, having won more Olympic and World Championship Medals than any other US gymnast.

Shannon has a BBA in Marketing and Entrepreneurship and a law degree from Boston College. She now spends her time as a highly sought after motivational speaker, television host, author, sports broadcaster and clinician.

Shannon hosts Gymnastics 360°, founded the Shannon Miller Foundation to fight childhood obesity and Co-Chair's the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness in Florida.

Accomplishments and awards from her sport only begin to tell the story of this remarkable young woman. She has overcome many obstacles to achieve greatness; a true testimonial to all those who have a dream and work hard to achieve it.

Doug Braun shared the following:
As far as her being the most decorated American gymnast and all the medals that she has won; she has been abducted into six Halls of Fame and will be inducted into the International Women's Sports Hall of Fame on June 9,2008.

She is the only woman in any sport to be inducted into the United States Olympic Hall of Fame twice; once as an individual and second for being part of the Olympic teams. So she is a very dynamic woman. We look forward to her participation with Nikken and her participation in this launch event.

I mentioned that there is a product associated with this and Shannon is going to lend her endorsement to the Nikken products. It will be primarily towards one product, which is a new sport bracelet. Her tie into this sport bracelet is very similar to what we're doing with the current green sport bracelet and our donation to Autism Speaks.

This new sport bracelet will not replace Autism Speaks - this bracelet will continue. The new bracelet is a new color and upgraded design. You are going to love it.

This new bracelet is going to be tied into the Shannon Miller Foundation. With the purchase of every bracelet, we will be making a donation to the Shannon Miller Foundation, which is setup to fight childhood obesity.

In addition to Shannon using our products, endorsing our products; she has a philosophy in her life and how she works that is very similar to Nikken. We will be supporting the Shannon Miller Foundation and her fight against childhood obesity. This bracelet will participate in a major way in that effort.

The timing of this is perfect because as I mentioned Shannon is going to be inducted in to the Woman's Sports Hall of Fame on June 9th.

June 19th - 21st are the US Olympic gymnastic trials, which Shannon will be participating in at many different levels. There is going to be lots of Press around this.
Shannon will be participating in the trials so there's probably going to be some media around that. She is already wearing our new bracelet!

We have the Olympics coming up in August. This is an opportunity to create an awful lot of excitement around Shannon and huge excitement around Nikken and our new bracelet. It's going to be a Go for the Gold type bracelet!

We're going to be able to make a lot of noise come here in June!

*Bloggers Note: Along with Shannon Miller comes a new product! Our new Tri Phase Bracelet is now available and part of the proceeds go the Shannon Miller Foundation to bring awareness to childhood obesity. For more information on how you can get one, email me at Christy.Barber@hotmail.com.

A Note From the OBAMA Campaign

Barack announced an important decision for our campaign today.

I want to add a little context to the video message you received earlier announcing that we will not participate in the public financing system for the general election.

Even though we stood to receive more than $80 million in taxpayer funding for our campaign, the system has been so gamed and exploited by our opponents that it is effectively broken.
John McCain, the Republican National Committee, and their allies in so-called 527 groups that raise and spend unlimited contributions are dedicated to manipulating this broken system to raise as much money as possible -- and they've proven that they're very good at it.

A top McCain adviser told MSNBC earlier this month, "now that we're in the general election, the RNC money counts, the DNC money counts. So the truth is today, John McCain has more cash on hand and more money than Barack Obama does."

In April alone, they raised nearly $45 million. That's more than our campaign and the Democratic National Committee combined. And that doesn't include the plans of 527 groups like the one called "Freedom's Watch," which has said it will spend as much as $250 million under Karl Rove's direction to attack and defeat Barack Obama.

To compete, Barack has put his faith in ordinary people giving only what they can afford. That's been the strategy of this campaign from the beginning, and more than 1,500,000 supporters like you have gotten us this far.

We have a historic opportunity to prove that a movement of ordinary people has the power to change the way political campaigns are funded. And we have a clear goal as we begin this new challenge: 50,000 people declaring their independence by making a donation before July 4th.
You can help take on John McCain and the RNC by making your first donation today.
A previous donor is standing by to match your gift and double your impact. You can even exchange a personal note with them about why you've chosen to support Barack.

Declare your independence from our broken system. Make a matching donation today:
https://donate.barackobama.com/match

Opting out of public matching funds was an extremely difficult decision, and frankly we are at a disadvantage when it comes to raising money. Unlike John McCain, this campaign has never accepted donations from Washington lobbyists or special interest PACs.
While McCain has built his fundraising strategy around high-dollar donors giving huge checks to the RNC, you are creating a new model for publicly financed campaigns.

Thank you for your support and for taking on the masters of a broken system,
David
David PlouffeCampaign ManagerObama for America

Introducing NORMANDY GUITARS!

Guitar Company Creates First PRODUCTION Aluminum ArchTop

SALEM, ORE., 12 JUNE 2008 – An Oregon-based guitar company has hit the market with the world’s first production aluminum archtop guitar. Normandy Guitars of Salem, Oregon has officially introduced a lightweight aluminum model that is unlike any other guitar on the market.

“I started making aluminum basses 15 years ago and it’s evolved into this incredible product. Our final model is the result of 15 different prototypes we’ve developed over the past five years,” says Jim Normandy, the creative mind and CEO behind Normandy Guitars. “Our goal all along has been to be different but not too weird or ‘space age’… to offer the guitar world something new and modern but with classic sound: an affordable but "top of the line," high-end masterpiece. I think we've met those goals tenfold; the feedback I'm getting from all types of musicians is overwhelmingly positive.”

The Normandy guitar is made out of specially selected aluminum, resulting in sustain qualities that are better and have been touted as far superior to the traditional wooden bodied guitars. “The purity and length of time a single, plucked note can ring out clean and true are far superior... this is important to most guitar players, especially those who play lead guitar,” says Normandy.

The guitar features a body with classic archtop curves, a vintage Bigsby®-vibrato tailpiece and distinctive rivets on the front and back. The Normandy guitar is available in nine colors and three different finishes: chrome, powder coat and Candy Apple Metal Flake finish. The chrome finish is triple electroplated. In that process, the body is initially buffed, electrically charged in a hot bath with Zincate, then dipped in copper, covered with nickel and completed with a flashy chrome finish.

Normandy has created a killer guitar that also is affordable. “Through the development of our welding processes and riveting, and because of our large manufacturing plant, we are able to make the body in a fraction of the time it takes other folks to create theirs. So, our price point is considerably less than what you’d pay for other guitars, somewhere between $2,000 and $3,000,” says Normandy.

Those attending the NAMM show on June 20-22 in Nashville, Tennessee will get the first peek at the Normandy guitar. Normandy Guitars will have a booth at the event, showcasing their revolutionary product. The NAMM show is the world’s largest music trade show; it is held this summer at the Nashville Convention Center. Follow Normandy’s journey to Nashville on myspace.com/normandyguitars. For more information or to order, call 503.689.1998.

RIP Tim Russert

I didn't used to be into politics like I am now. I never really understood how it all worked. Until this guy started coming on the Today Show and was ever present at the 2000 elections with that darn dry erase board and it all started to come together. I began to understand what was going on, what mattered, what didn't and how my vote mattered or didn't. Then I began to watch this show called Meet the Press. Yeah, the very show that used to make me roll my eyes as a kid when my parents watched it. I thought it was the most boring thing you could watch but in the past several years, it had become a must see in my household. It made sense. Those who were unclear were asked to justify and those who lied were called to the carpet. Yes, there was a little justice in politics after all. And now, it's over. The nation lost one of the good guys out there. Someone who didn't write tell all books or even share his own views an not once did his own agenda come in to place. He just did what he could to make clear and very cloudy political world to so many of us out here. And dare I say I feel as if I have lost a teacher. Like the one math teacher you had who made it all make sense. No, political journalism will never be the same. Any one who has to take that place will be a mere shadow of the man who reined at the Bureau.

The Shorter Version-Take Ten You'll Never Regret

Professor Randy Pausch's Last Lecture - Don't Miss

Barack on the Economy

Road Etiquette

Whenever I take a road trip, I am always reminded of things that tick me off and that are just plain rude. So here are just a couple of road etiquette reminders for my readers. And maybe you might just have a story or two to share of your own.

1. If you MUST drive in the passing lane, MOVE OVER when someone is trying to pass you! Yesterday I was behind someone in the passing lane with several people behind me . I saw them look in the rear view mirror and just stay there. So the people behind me started to pass on the inside and eventually I did too shaking my head at the driver of the car as I passed. This happened on a 250 mile trip yesterday not once but 3 times. So people, please, if you must drive there for whatever reason, give the other drivers on the road a break.

2. If someone is trying to merge on to the interstate and you have the availability to do so, move into the passing lane. I had a truck driver block me in one time with NO ONE in the passing lane. Rude.

3. Don't pass me like your hiney is on fire and then slow down in front of me. That is what cruise control is for.

4. And my all time biggest pet peeve is not highway driving at all but in town. Funeral processions. People, (and maybe your town isn't as guilty of this as mine) don't cut in, honk your horn, drive through or exhibit any other sort of rude behavior. If you see a line of cars with their lights on in the middle of the day driving slowly behind a hurse, ultimately you should pull over and pay your respects as you would for an emergency vehicle. But at the very least, stay out of the way for the friends and family members who have lost a loved on. I didn't realize how bad my town was about it until I attended my uncle's funeral in another state. There, cars pulled over all the way to the cemetary and most actually got out the car and stood at attention as we drove by. I was blown away. So parents teach your kids about this form of respect and practice it yourselves. A little old fashioned politeness can go a long way today.

Crunchie Stretches

If you own an athletic horse, chances are you've heard of "carrot stretches". As the photo here from Today's Horse demonstrates, carrot stretches are great way to keep your horse limber and eliminate the risk of some injuries.

I have an 11 year old thoroughbred off the track or should I say that she has me. I have finished her for polo with the help of many friends. After an injury I kept her supple over the winter with these stretches. Well today I found something better.

Though she loves her carrots, today I did her stretches with a Canter Crunchie and saw amazing results. She loves these treats. I took one treat and broke a piece off of it and flexed her to the left then the right. Then she got her reward. Then I took another piece and did it again. I took the final piece and put it to her chest and not only did she flex low but backed and backed which will help strengthen her hind quarters.

Check out Today's Horse for specific instructions to these stretches but call me today to order your Canter Crunchies. Just $13 and the profits go to help send my son to Santa Barbara with his interscholastic polo team in the spring of 2009. Lines are open and standing by! 541.786.1613

Want Preventative Medicine? Worth Watching!

History

A day I didn't think history would see in my lifetime. A man, unwavering in his convictions and unwilling to bend to the negative has been nominated for the democratic ticket for the White House. And not that this is that amazing, though in these times it is, but that fact that he is a black man running for the white house is historic.

I fell in love with this candidate when I saw him at the DNC four years ago as did many others. I watched it alone in my front room at midnight on the edge of my chair wondering if I should wake my children to hear it. I watched that speech on You Tube again tonight and wasn't completely suprised to see that he has not wavered on the convictions he spoke of back then. He still believes now as he did then.

And more amazing? He has not dipped into that negative abyss to get to where he is today. He didn't vote for the war and he still stands behind so many other things that he held dear then. Have you ever thought about why you don't see negative ads about him? Because we finally have a candidate folks that doesn't have skeletons in the closet. I've watched this man for four years and I have to say he has yet to disappoint me. You have someone running now that will not accept lobbyist money. You have someone now folks who is vowing for an open door politics. Get the dirty laundry out there for all of us to see and let us decide who we want in the senate and congress. Never in my life have I heard someone willing to do just that.

I heard him speak and he's not afraid to say when he doesn't know. And he has a plan to back up his ideals and he has the conviction to see it through.

Oh yes, I am very excited about these winds of change. Change that is so needed in the world right now. The world needs healing and if anyone can do it, this man can. And on this historic day in the world, I was touched once again to find in this clip below of a moved Chris Matthews from Rev. Desmond Tutu and he feelings about Obama. Matthews also points out that we are not the only one's glued to our sets and radios at this time, the world is listening also. And this excitement radiates all over.

Yes, if healing can occur, I believe this is the man to do it.

My Truck

Okay so about two months ago, I bought my first truck. It's nothing fancy. I got a very used 1994 GMC Sierra with a crap ton of miles on it that has had some tough love but overall is a hot lookin' truck.

Payments are inexpensive. Gas is not. I drive it very conservatively. My prayers are that it does what I need it to do for two years and then I'll upgrade to something less....used. I love my truck. It wasn't in the plans but for a single gal with a kid, dog and horse, it makes life easier when it comes to hauling hay, dumping yard debris and overall horsewoman activities. But the one thing I didn't see coming was joining the club.

I live in a rural area, population of about 13,000. People that is. Livestock numbers are higher. But something I've noticed since I've had the Green Moose (she's a full figured gal) is that other people in trucks wave to me as if we are secret members of some sort of "country" club. Most of them I don't know but I can count on driving past a fellow quarter ton-er and getting a wave. A brief acknowledgement that I am a member of "the club".

I've always loved a man in a cowboy hat that tips his hat as you walk by. I love being dirty at the end of the day and knowing my horse and kids are happy and the chores done look great. I didn't originally want to live in a rural community but I do. Now I wouldn't live anywhere else.

The best part? Waving back to a friendly stranger and knowing the kinship you find in small town life. It never fails to suprise me and makes me smile every time.