Greetings, everyone!

Thank you for visiting my blog. I am not too consistent in writing on my blog sometimes, but I will always return to it eventually!

I hope everyone is having a good summer. (It's almost over).

I don't really notice the difference in summer vs. spring anymore. When I taught school, I did so because I knew that summer was the only time teachers could relax, at least a little, before returning to the classroom. But now with all of the red tape and bureaucracy, teachers don't stop during the summer and have to keep attending useless workshops and time-wasting lectures (a FEW of these have value, but not many), just so we can say we did the required 60 hours that the legislators (not teachers) decide we should do.

I'm out of that now. I quit teaching in 2009 and decided to strike out on my own. I had always wanted to be in business for myself and I don't regret that decision, though I do miss working with students and teaching literature, writing, etc.

Both of my parents were great educators. My dad taught for years and then worked as basically Assistant Superintendent for the last few years of his career. He always had very high ethics (he and my Mom are where I got a lot of mine), and did a great job. They just didn't pay him near enough. There were rednecks that called themselves principals that questioned why the district should pay an extra $2000 per year for a Ph.D. (which my dad had--well, Ed.D. which is the same thing for education degrees). So I taught at the same school as my dad for a good part of my career and my 24 graduate hours in Psychology and Counseling actually raised my pay $2000 more per year for the 24 hours, but they only paid him a meager $400 per year for the Doctorate!! What in the world is wrong with this picture?

Regardless, he kept doing a great job and was awarded a plaque of excellence at the end of his 35 years of service, then he even returned and did more years on a PT basis later after retirement. He was very dedicated.

My mother was equally amazing and dedicated to her teaching career. She loved helping people and taught Business Education and Typing, Shorthand, and Accounting in the early part of her career in the mid-70s. As the computer revolution unfolded, her job evolved into teaching computers. She taught CIS (computer information systems, Windows, and other tech courses in the latter part of her career. She introduced me to computer stuff, but I didn't really become a true nerd until 2000, when I learned the entire HTML language so I could have full creative freedom to build websites.

My mom always loved teaching because she loved helping people and opening up opportunities in their lives that they didn't have before. I did a video of her retirement party and interviewed several people, former students, co-workers, and administrators, and they all said they loved Mom and how she had helped the school and the students and had a lasting impact.

I created tons of websites in my hometown area, including the original James Ranch page, McNabb Funeral Home, and several others. Then I moved from my brick-and-mortar studio to a virtual-only business, and it grew even faster after I left the building. 

I miss my parents, but they are still with me in spirit through our walk with Jesus, and I know we'll be together again. 

I saw this butterfly BOBO BIRD watch (see the top) on Amazon recently, and it reminded me of my mom, because we used to go on all of these nature trips and more than once, the butterflies would land on Mom's shoulder or hand and stay out here. And please return. I'll post again sometime in September. 

Using Your Hobbies to Create a Side Income (Jewelry-Making)

 I've told my listeners and readers many times before in my various articles that the best source of your future side income is doing what you love. Many of us have found this within one of our favorite hobbies. Ebay recently moved me up to Top-Rated Seller status, which is the highest level of eBay sellers. This opens many other doors to be able to share even more discounts and great deals for my customers, as well as providing the best deals possible across all of my items and saving on seller's fees, etc. 

Visit my ebay store at https://www.ebay.com/str/smalltownglobalinnovations and let me know if you have other things you'd like to see me offer in my store!

For crafting your own original jewelry, start with these sterling silver pendant rings that easily connect to your pendants with the need for needle-nosed pliers. My sister was here celebrating my upcoming birthday today and we needed one of these to create a loop for one of our pendants that Mom gave us, but I discovered I was out of them. So I decided to stock up on them so I will always have plenty. I also sent some to her house so that she could complete her necklace and also have some handy for the next time she was completing a necklace or repairing her other jewelry.

Amazon has what you need when it comes to jewelry findings. No need to look elsewhere! For genuine sterling silver jewelry findings, visit this link.

https://amzn.to/4gLqJxU

Notice: I do receive a small commission for linking to Amazon products on my blog and other online platforms. Visit Amazon today for pretty much everything you need.

Remember to use your hobbies to find a lucrative side income!

That's what I have done and I love what I do!

Presenting the Closet Rock Star!

 Some of you may not know this, but my first career ambition was to be a famous singer. I started writing music (mostly country and pop songs) during the early 80s, and Mom and Dad bought me my first guitar about that time. I was already taking piano lessons from my mother. My mother was an accomplished pianist who loved to sing and play for us. She had a beautiful voice and sang in church and for funerals and other occasions. 

I am mostly a STUDIO MUSICIAN and own a digital multimedia production business so I feel more comfortable just doing studio work. But on occasion, I have performed for local events such as nursing homes or get-togethers. I have written hundreds of songs over the years, and I'm a poet, as well (nationally published), so it seems to come easily for me. I also play several other instruments, including the Alto Sax, Piano/electronic keyboard, flute, guitar, and more.

In 1997, 2 Hollywood record labels released 4 songs I had written, and I still receive some royalties when they are used. So I am a Hollywood songwriter, and lately also a Nashville songwriter, since a well-known songwriter there picked one of my songs to promote to big labels.

That being said, I still sing and love writing music. I just don't spend as much time on it as I used to. I have to spend most of my time now on the things that make me immediate money. But I do hope to do more music recording, mostly featuring my own original songs to promote them online and hopefully see some sales from them.

In the meantime, I mess around with Karaoke, singing some of my favorite songs of the 1980s such as ones by Stevie Nicks, Olivia Newton-John, and a few others. My latest trend for my own music is to sing and write music in the JAZZ or ballad genre. But I have always loved the music of Stevie Nicks. So I thought you might enjoy this video I created over the weekend featuring me singing and then I created the video in a creative way to capture some of the mystery I think this song entails.

I hope you enjoy it!! I'll have more soon, but will mostly focus on my own original music. If you would like to purchase the same digital multitrack recorder I sometimes use to produce my work, check out the TASCAM Digital Portastudio.

Note: I do receive some commissions from promoting Amazon products as a registered Amazon associate. I use a number of tools, both portable and stationary, but this is a great recorder!

Stay tuned for more. My performances and my original music can also be 

heard on my internet radio station. More coming soon!

Support a fellow Patriot - My eBay Store

 Hello everyone. This is just a short post to let you know my new eBay store is up and running. It's not exactly new, but I've added a lot of different things to it since some of you may have checked it out. We need the money for some important bills right now, so check it out and see what you might like. Lots of vintage stuff like watches, pens, electronics, technology, some of my candle products, etc and other stuff. 

Here's the link. 

https://www.ebay.com/str/smalltownglobalinnovations

I'll make another post soon. 

Happy 250th Birthday, America!

 

Today is the 250th birthday of our country, and her independence from England's monarchy and tyranny, a landmark day of when our forefathers signed the Declaration of Independence, and we declared in one voice that we would be a nation and a government "Of the people and By the People," which means that WE, the people decide the laws and how things will be run in our own country.

Click here to see fireworks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71vFziEeNW4

Our founding fathers who wrote the Declaration of Independence were highly educated and intelligent people, entrepreneurs from various walks of life who believed in GOD and the freedom of religion. People today seem to think that "separation of church and state" means to keep God out of the government. WRONG! It meant that no specific religion would be considered the religion of the people of the country, such as we see in Islamic or Chinese countries that require either a devotion to a false god that overrules independent religious choice, or they completely negate God from the government, which is a religion of atheism, void of any ability to recognize one's faith. 

Thomas Jefferson was not an orthodox Christian, but he knew that the Constitution was based on Christianity and the Bible and the founding fathers all agreed that the only way a government for the people and by the people could exist was if there were enough good people whose belief in God would move them to do what was right. And the minute this stopped being the case, the nation would fail. 

The phrase "government of the people, by the people, for the people" comes from Abraham Lincoln’s 1863 Gettysburg Address. It defines the democratic spirit of the U.S. Constitution, summarizing how the nation's power stems directly from its citizens. (GPB GA Studies)

But the understanding was only when it was run by people who believed in God and the principles of Christianity would it survive as an independent government, where GOD, not the government, had the final say in decision-making for the laws of the land so that fairness and justice would take precedence over individual interests and the love of power. 

And they have proven to be right. We almost lost our country to communism in 2016, but we stood up and said NO to socialism and communism and the evil attempts to overthrow our election process, and Trump won in spite of the odds.

Check out the video of Trump's celebration of freedom from Mt. Rushmore last night: Mt. Rushmore 2026 Celebration

Trump is not perfect, but he believes in God and knows the importance of putting God first and focusing on making the right moral decisions for the country moving forward.

On this 250th birthday of our nation's freedom, let us always remember that it is only when we keep our mind on doing the right thing, that we will continue to exist and not fall for the tricks that the anti-God and anarchists hope to push on the public.

On this July 4th, thank a veteran for sacrificing and risking everything so that we might live free and to always remain vigilant for the threats against our freedom so we may REMAIN free.

Here's to the next 250 years!

My Recommended "Must-Haves" for Summer Excursions!

 If you're planning on going camping this July 4th weekend, don't go without checking out some of the camping items now available on Amazon. I found this Villey easy-to-set-up camping table . It is light and easy to carry and offers a quick and easy solution for setting up a place to eat or play games with family or friends while camping.

I've shown this item before, but this portable shower is fantastic if you're planning to go camping, to the beach, or anywhere this summer where you need to cool off. The Hurmovae Portable shower comes with everything you need to shower on the go, all in one convenient container , rather than having to tote a bucket around. It also keeps your water warm for several hours! Use it to shower off quickly after the beach, cool off in the summer sun (if you fill it with cool water), and wash your car without hooking up to the water hose. 

Then also check out this nifty Lost Horizon air and foam camping mattress in either single or queen sizes. It has great support and is easily portable and inflatable in just a few minutes.

With summer vacations and the Fourth of July just ahead, you need to check out these items from our brands on Amazon just in time for the summer season!

Note: I do receive a commission for sales generated through my articles and affiliate links, but I only promote items I have used myself or believe are high-quality items that won't let you down.

Portable Everything!

Hello, Readers!

It's Deb, just stopping by to say hello and see if everyone is gearing up for those summer barbeques, camping trips, and Fourth of July celebrations! This year, our nation will celebrate its 250th birthday of freedom. President Trump is planning to host one of the most extravagant events yet. He is known for his strong sense of Patriotism and for restoring pride in America. Rumors are that he will be on Mt. Rushmore again, leading the country in a massive celebration, but that is not confirmed yet. Wherever the location, we know it will be an event to be remembered. 

While you're planning for the Independence Day festivities, don't forget the camping trips. A lot of people really enjoy camping, but what they miss is the conveniences of home, like showers, hot water, and fast food. We can't do anything about the fast food, but I wanted you to know about this Hurmovae Portable Shower. I just bought on Amazon that holds up to 8 liters of warm water for a "shower-on-the-go" during camping trips. Most campers feature a way to heat water or may pack a portable water heater. Either way, you won't need it for this shower. As long as you've got a way to get warm water (whether at home or traveling), this portable shower will keep your water hot for several hours, ready when you are to clean off after a swim, or use it with cool water to water plants and gardens.

It has several different spraying modes, as you can see from the description on Amazon, and it's very neat-looking to take with you and not heavy to tote. It is so compact that it would even fit in a large beach bag.

Let the kids run through it like a sprinkler or even use the hands-free function to get wet on a hot summer day without having to hold the nozzle. 

Look at all of the ways you can use this cute, modern portable shower!

Some of the best uses of this handy-dandy shower are:

-Quick showers on-the-go for camping, the beach, and more

-Use it to water the garden and watch your flowers or plants grow

-Use it indoors or outdoors without having to use a bucket

-Self-contained waterer for indoor plants

-Use it to cool off anytime it's hot outdoors!

In our current tech age, almost EVERYTHING is portable now! Pick up your Hurmovae Portable Shower while it's on sale and stay cool on those hot summer days ahead!

I can't wait to get this to use it to water my miniature roses and other plants, encourage wild birds at my bird bath and feeder, and to wash the sand off after a visit to the beach. Check it out now on Amazon while it's at a great price and get reach to hit the road this summer!

Writer/Entrepreneur

Notice: As an Amazon associate, I receive a small commission from sales that result from clicking the Amazon links.