I'm Heading Over to Bean Town

Hey there. I got word from my boss that I am heading over to Boston for a credit conference. Just last month, he sent me to Phoenix to attend the meeting there. The hotel in Phoenix was in an awesome location with a beautiful view. I've never been to Boston so I'm curious as to how the scenery is there. The trip is not happening until May so there's plenty of time to check out the city and see if there is anything to do while there. During my trip to Phoenix, I was literally stuck on a cliff. The hotel was built on the side of a mountain and I couldn't walk anywhere and was regulated to roaming the property. For dinner, I literally had to climb the mountain to reach the restaurant where the group scheduled dinner. Considering that it was part of the resort I didn't think it would going to be a long climb. lol

As for Boston, I believe the hotel (Nine Zero Something, I think) will be located in Downtown Boston so I'll have the opportunity to roam around the city and check it out. I've asked for suggestions and the only thing I've gotten back is to check out the pubs. Other than that, what else is there to do in Boston, MA? Until I figure it out... Later.

Help Your Career Blast Off with Allison Maslan

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Allison Maslan, author of "Blast Off!". All opinions are 100% mine.

Hey there friends. I awhile back, I wrote about my passion for my work. How I no longer displayed that "fire" and passion that I did when I first started. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy my work, but I guess I'm just not putting forth that extra effort that I once did. Now, is it that my fire is diminished, or that I simply need a push to the right direction. I feel as if I need to be my own boss. When I found out that my web site is a considered my personal small business, I was excited. I felt a fire burning again. What I need is something, or someone to help me get my business priorities straight.

Allison Maslan is a well known life, career, and success coach. That's right, someone that knows the ropes and help guide and motivate average people like myself to greater things. I mean, she managed to guide Sam Zien, The Cooking Guy on Discovery Health, to launch his career. So, why not me?

Her latest book, Blast Off!, is now readily available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and the Borders websites. Retail price is $24, but you know I'm a bargain hunter. I'm sure I'll be able to score and find it for less on Amazon.

The book was released on Jan. 19th and almost instantly hit the US best sellers list. I'm sure millions of people can't be wrong for seeking her guidance. It would be great to have some direction. Nobody wants to feel lost when it comes to their career or their life. I would love that guidance right now. I have a small business that I am not 100% sure how to manage. What I should keep track of and what steps I would need to take to make it grow. That book again is Blast Off! Get your copy today and find the inspiration to take the next step to a better career and a better life.  Later!

Today has Been One of Those Days at Work

Hey there.  Have you ever had one of those days where you feel as if the people you are working with are incompetent?  I don't want to bash anyone in particular, but it's frustrating when we're all part of a team and someone just doesn't give a crap and screws everything up.  I mean... we do work for the same company, right?!  I understand the segregation of duties, I understand that you should do your job, but if you know that you're doing something wrong, how about you speak up instead of saying, "I'm just doing my job". 

I've had to make several calls to the controller of a certain account several times today.  Each one outlining mistakes that were done by our people because they were being extremely careless.  And the frustrating part of it all is that we'll all experienced in the field.  This is not our first day on the job.  There are other accounts that are in a similar situation as this one and yet we can manage to screw this one up but not the other?  You knucklehead...  Can you learn by example?!  You're already doing it correctly with the other account... can't you apply the same techniques to this one?!?!?!  

UGH!!!!

Our Son is Getting His Hearing Tested

Hey there.  Today, our young one is off to get his hearing tested.  It's usually done at the hospital within the first 2 days of the baby being born.  When the technician came in to test our baby, it turns out that one of his ears produced a result of "inconclusive".  Now... that may be nothing, since she stated that it could be that there is still some fluid in his ear so the machine couldn't get a proper read.  Nevertheless, because of that inconclusive result, we've had to go through all sorts of calls, authorizations, and what not just to get our boy scheduled for a hearing test. 

We're hoping that everything will be fine and it was just some build up in his ear.  But the fact that this hearing test is hours long is a little scary.  Our baby will also have to be sedated and he can't eat hours before the test, which must be hell cause, well... he's my son.  lol  My wife has been texting me how he's struggling to stay awake and he's fussy cause he's hungry.  The test is scheduled for 1 PM, which is approx. 3 hours away from the time of this post. 

I'm trying to occupy my mind with work.  It's helping... but not entirely.  Guess I should go back to reviewing these files... Later.

I'm Heading to Phoenix

Hey there. I'm off to Phoenix, AZ for a credit conference later this week. I'll be in the Phoenix area most of Thursday and Friday, coming back home on Friday evening. I've never been to Phoenix so I'm excited about visiting a new city. One of the perks of my job (Sr. Credit Analyst/Credit Manager) is that I've been asked to attend credit conferences/meetings. I've been fortunate to be sent to New Orleans, New York City, and San Diego. San Diego shouldn't count, since that's just a car drive away, but still, it make me feel somewhat important to represent our company at these meetings.

I was hoping to catch some sight seeing, as I did in New York and New Orleans, but to be quite honest with you, I'm not exactly sure what I can see or do in Phoenix. My brother suggested seeing the "Shaqtus". lol I would if I could find it, but if I remember correctly, only Shaq knows where it is and I doubt I'll be running into Shaq on the streets of Phoenix. lol

I don't know any people in the area and I don't believe any one that I know have visited the area. I'll try to spend some time later to day to find a good restaurant or something to check out. If you guys are from the area, let me know what's good out in Phoenix. Local knowledge is a lot better than online information.  Later!

My Little Guy Has Pneumonia

Hey there.  Our youngest is sick.  Last night, he started showing some signs of fussyness and a slight fever.  We chalked it up to him teething.  He's been drooling like a lil monster and can't keep his hand out of his mouth.  We expect some teeth to pop out soon.  Anyways, last night got tough.  He started getting a little flushed and started to feel warmer.  We gave him some Tylenol with hopes that the fever would diminish.  It did... but very slightly.  We ended up staying up most of the night to keep an eye on our little one.  We checked his temperature throughout the night and kept an eye on his breathing.  Come close to 3 am or so, we finally got a few hours of sleep in.

At about 6:15 am, I got up and checked his temperature.  100.6...  Not too bad, considering that at one point is sitting high at 102+.  We got ready and headed off to work.  My mother in law then called us to let us know that the baby seemed sick.  We asked her to take him to a doc to check him out and before long, we receive a voicemail that the doc said the baby has pneumonia.  Our hearts sank.  In my eyes, it's nothing but a glorified cold, but I know that that the elderly and the very young, can have some pretty serious complications from contracting it.

Luckily, we were able to get away from work and check on our son.  My mother in law lives minutes from where we work so we were able to get to our baby right away.  When we got there, our baby was asleep, but flushed.  He still had a temperature and after he got up and ate, he went back to sleep.

Poor little guy.  I want my baby to be happy, not sluggish and sickly.  It sucks because him being so young, there really isn't mcuh you can do in meds and because he can't speak, you can't really pinpoint where he's uncomfortable.  Does he feel too hot?  Does his head hurt?  Does his chest hurt?  Is he uncomfortable?  I don't know.  We do our best to make him as comfortable as possible but in the end, you're really just guessing that you took care of his needs.

Being a little one, I'm sure that the kids probably passed it on to him in some sort of way.  They're not sick or anything, but when you have a house of 3 school kids and a baby, it's bound to happen where one of the four will get sick.  My mother in law is beating herself up thinking that she may have not cared well for him.  She's the one that looks after the kids while we work.  We assured her that it's not her fault.  She can't wipe every kid in the school with germ killing wipes.  Germs are everywhere, it's just that the lil ones are more likely to get sick with older kids around.

Right now, the little guy is still sporting a fever, but we're sure it's because the doc gave him some antibiotics.  He didn't see the need to send our boy to the hospital.  We don't want to make a trip there, but we are eyeing our boy like a hawk to make sure he's not displaying any of those symptoms that would require emergency care. 

Earlier in the day, my wife told me that he was looking better and managed some smiles and laughs.  We have a check up with the doc tomorrow morning.  I'm hoping that after a good night's sleep, he'll be feeling a whole lot better.  Later.

The Fire is Gone

Hey there.  Not that long ago, I had a performance review at work.  Most people look forward to them since they get to see where they stand in their boss' eye.  Many of us got excited last month when after over a year, the paycut that was thrust upon us has been returned to us.  Following the increase, reviews were given out.  I'm pretty sure that no raises will be given since we just got the percentage back from over a year ago.

Anyways, I was fairly pleased with my review.  I seemed to have marked higher than the majority of my peers and performance wise, it was excellent, but the thorn on my saddle has to be the comment that my boss said to me.  He stated that when I first started, I got on things quickly and got them done quickly too, now, "the fire is gone".  Now, I don't see this a knock on my performance, I see this more as a wear and tear type comment.  I understand that when someone starts off a new anything, you're enthusiastic, you're energetic, you want to make a good impression, but after so many years on the job, it's tough to maintain that high level.  No wonder some people refer to working as going through their daily grind.

Now, I'm not saying that it's not possible to keep that level.  There are people out there that simply love what they're doing and can maintain that level throughout their careers.  Just take the great late Steve Irwin.  The man genuinely seemed happy each and every time he was out and about with the wild life of Earth.  The majority of us, however, are not as fortunate to land a gig where that fire burns and stays strong throughout our careers, the way Steve's did.

So what's my problem?  I don't want to be complacent.  I don't want my job to be a daily chore.  I don't want, several years down, to look back and say, damn... I'v been doing the same damn thing for X number of years.  How do I avoid that?  How do I get that fire burning bright again?  I'm happy with my job.  I'm a geek when it comes to numbers and that's all I stare at all day here.  I don't mind, I enjoy it.  Balance sheets, income statements, profit & losses, 10Ks, 10Qs, the occasional conference call, credit conferences...  This is my work life and I'm cool with it.  What I'm not cool with is that this fire is missing...  I need to get this fire burning brighter friends.  Until then, later.

Baby Soup for the Soul

Hey there.  I'm sure you've heard about all those self help books out there.  One of the more popular ones are the "Chicken Soup for the Soul" series.  I think that they're great in the sense that they may answer questions that many of us are thinking or feeling.  Honestly, I've never read any of those books and I think it's cause when I'm feeling down, I turn to my family.  They are my "soup for my soul".  Recently, work has been a drag on both my wife and I.  We're a few weeks into the year, but it's felt like an eternity.  Almost as if the week off threw our work schedule out of whack.  I'm still adjusting and I'm sure that my wife is too since she's been out of the office for close to 4 months.  After a day of damn near pulling our hair out at work, we get to come home to this.

Yup, that's our chicken soup for the soul, or better yet, baby soup for the soul. lol  It's funny how a young one can wash away many of the aches and pains that a working parent endures at work.I know that it does wonders for my wife.  Through all the financial reporting, balancing of the month, dilution report, meetings, and hold order reports, it's great to be able to have it all wash away by a smile.  Later!

Mr. Computer Repair Man

Hey there. I've been one busy beaver these past couple of weeks. I did some fixings at home and as soon as those were done, computer repair came knocking. I started the New Year with 0 computers to fix. To date, I've fixed 2 laptops and a desktop. I have 2 more desktops at home and another 2 busted machines are on their way (another desktop and laptop). It's a hobby of mine, so I do not mind helping out friends and family. The prob is that is that I do take some family time away to get the machines done. My wife has pointed that out to me many times. Especially since I don't charge family to fix up their machines. Last night, I decided that I am. I've been fixing machines for years now, and it's usually family. I started getting requests from friends of family and I don't think I'll be doing those machines for free.

So far, I've been fortunate enough that I have not come across a machine that I was not able to get working. The only snag I came across was a computer that needed a new hard drive since the one it had crashed. The owner pretty much said, screw it, and it's sitting in my shed. lol I think I'll end up getting a hard drive for it and then selling it. I don't have a need for a desktop computer so it would be pointless to keep it and it would be a shame to throw it away. Maybe have a contest and give it to the winner??? I don't know. Still got think about that one. lol Either way, with a little extra income coming in, I'm hoping we;ll be able to save up for that dream vacation a lot sooner rather than later. Until then.... Later!

A Week Off from Work

Hey there.   I have the whole week off from work!  It's kinda a double edged sword though.  I don't have to work, but it's not a paid week off, so the company is going to take 40 hours of my vacation time to offset that week so that I can get paid.  It kind of sucks.  It's more like a forced vacation than a week off from work.  Either way, I have more than 40 hours vacation time accrued so I'm going to enjoy the time off with my family.  So far, we've been lounging it.  We have to recharge our batteries after all the holiday madness that went on the week before, you need the time off to just relax.  Now, with the New Year just around the corner, we need all the rest we can get now so that we're ready to be alive when the New Year's Eve rolls around.  Take it easy friends and rest up cause 2009 is almost over.  Later.

Experience True Sound from your iPod with the Yamaha PDX-60 Speaker Dock

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Yamaha. All opinions are 100% mine.

Hey there friends. Are you still listening to your Ipod using the standard, white headphones? I'm pretty sure that everyone has seen the commercials that bring those headphones to icon status, but you know what? They are still standard headphones. Considering that the iPod is a multimedia machine, you owe it to yourself to experience it in true high quality sound.

Enter the Yamaha PDX-60, a power speaker system that will not only enhance your listening experience but change the way you see you Ipod. Music and movies will resonate across the room since the PDX-60 has some Bass-reflex speakers and since it's compatible with all things Ipod, your iPhone will definitely get a boost in sound while you're surfing Youtube videos.

Did I mention that the whole thing can be wireless? The Yamaha PDX-60 runs on Yamaha's original wireless technology, yAired, which is way more user friendly than Bluetooth.

Here at work, many of us gather around lunch room to catch The Office on my coworkers iPhone. It's tough for a group of 4 to really listen in on the iPhone's speaker system. If we were to have a PDX-60 in our office, we'd be able to listen with crystal clear sound all the jokes and comments that Jim throws at Dwight! Maybe the 4 of us can pitch in to get one, since this has become a ritual at work. AND... if more people start clamoring in to catch The Office on the iPhone, it would make perfect sense to get a high quality device to accommodate our office.

Check it out , friends. Get high quality sound for your iPhone or iPod. It's the only way to go if you are looking for the best in sound quality. Later!

Gross Profit, Current Assets, and Financial Statements

Hey there. Today was just a tough day at work. A tough week actually. I have been asked to follow a certain Major Department store that our sales team wants to pursue. I have looked over the financial statements and this company is just not profitable. Why would you want to invest in a company that is losing millions of dollars a quarter? I just don't understand that logic. I've spent the last 3 days spreading financial statements, reading their SEC reports, and typing up an extensive report on my findings. All for the best interest of the company that I work for. Yet, I feel as if my word means nothing, even though I have been labeled as "an integral and vital part of this organization". Instead of a good old pat in the back or a "good job", I get an Email from the president of sales stating that we're pursuing them anyways. lol Yeah... Just like that... 3 days of hard work, all for it to be flushed down by a simple Email. *sigh* The life of a credit analyst is never easy... Later.

It Was Just One of Those Days

Hey there. Anything that could go wrong, will go wrong. I've heard it many times before and usually you don't get the worst of things. Well, yesterday, it finally happened.

Monday morning started out rough. We got up late and after rushing the kids to get ready, we were out the house approx. 10 mins late. I go to the van to turn it on and it won't start... Are you kidding me?!?! Our new van, which we have not had for a month is not starting. I tell the kids to go back in the house while I tinker with the battery. After about 5 mins, I figure that I can't deal with it now and load up the family in our car, the 5 passenger Mazda. It was a tight fit for our family of 6, but we all squeezed in OK.

Things start to look up when I get a call from my aunt saying my little cousin, who has been in the hospital for over a month, is being released. She is throwing her a welcome home party at her place and wants us to be there. "Great!", I think. Then, a few hours later... The hospital is not releasing her. Are you kidding me?!?!?! They kept her admitted while they deal with her insurance so the welcome home was canceled.

Then, we had our kids' assembly at their school. They were being honored for scoring advanced on the California state tests. I tried to leave a few mins early, but of course, my boss detained me for a bit while I "debriefed" him on the day's work. I left the office later than I wanted too and barely made it in time for our son's assembly (I missed our daughter's). After sitting through the whole assembly, our son's name wasn't called. Are you kidding me?!?!?! We sat through the assembly and they didn't call our son up to receive his award and medal. After a few moments of confusion, the school got it right and acknowledged my son, along with some of his classmates, and awarded them their medals and certificates, BUT.... they did not allow pictures due to them being rushed on stage and then out. A huge bummer.

On our way home, I called some people that were selling a wireless guitar and wireless drum set for Guitar Hero World Tour. My brother broke my Rockband drum set and I need a replacement. This couple is selling their set for $45, which is a steal, so I called them up to let them know we're on our way to pick em up. We meet up with them and they still have the drums and guitar in the original box. Everything looks good. I go home and the Xbox 360 craps out on me... Oh man... 3 red rings of death. So I take the time to fix it and after some time, I finally get it working. I set up Guitar Hero Metallica and I start the game. I check the drums and everything seems OK... until I try the orange cymbal and it's not registering. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!?! I could not believe the day I was having... After check it out, it looks like the wire connecting the cymbal has been severed. Needless to say, I was upset... I sent a message to the couple to tell them it's busted and they offered a refund. I told them that I'll try to fix it, but if I'm not successful, I'll let them know and they agreed to give me a refund it doesn't work out for me.

I then fed our son, at close to midnight and after lying him down for bed, I realize that the van is not starting and I need to take care of that. I go and grab my light and head outside with my tools. I remove the battery from our car and van and place the car battery in the van. As soon as I hook it up, the back light in the van turns on. Oh man... The kids must have switched on the light and didn't turn off, causing the battery to drain. I turn it off, throw the battery in the van (to be charged later today) and go back inside for some sleep. Time? 2:00AM

Man... It was just one of those days... Later.

The Gillette Career Advantage is Here for Job Seekers

Hey there friends. You get only one chance to make a good impression and Gillette is here to make sure you look your best when that chance happens. Gillette has commissioned several surveys to find our what HR professionals are looking for in potential candidates. After all is said and done, well groomed candidates are more likely to get hired and are more likely climb the corporate ladder (read the press conference here).

After gathering the information from the surveys, Gillette has established web pages that you definitely have to check out to better your chances on landing that job. The Gillette Career Advantage is where job seekers can go and get useful information in regards to grooming, style tips, and even take a quiz to test your job market know how. The Gillette Resource Center was created to provide users information in regards to Gillette products and the Gillette company. You can read their latest press releases, find videos on how to shave for that professional look, and read up on their latest products to help you look your best.

Update your look before you update your resume! Make your first impression last by reading up on tips and quizzing yourself on your knowledge. Be prepared to nail that interview with confidence. Best of luck, friends. Later!

Get That Job Looking Gillette Ready

Hey there friends. It's a tough job market our there for those of us looking for a job. The economy is moving up, but jobs are still not as abundant as they were before. Maybe you've been one of the lucky few to have an interview lined up. Don't blow the only chance you have to make a great first impression. Our good friends at Gillette commissioned a survey of over 500 HR professionals and 90% of those professionals indicated that they were more impressed with well groomed interviewees than those that were not. Also, 84% of those same professionals indicated that those that were well groomed moved up in the corporate later.

Imagine that, you go in for an interview and because you took the time to look your best, you are already ahead in the game. But for those of us that need a little help, Gillette has launched the Gillette Resource Center for job seekers who need a little help on looking their best. Here is the place to get information on Gillette products and advice for looking you best.

For those of us that are ready to tackle the job market, Gillette has launched Gillette Career Advantage for those of us that are looking to move one step ahead. Here, job seekers can get expert tips from GQ stylists or review the Hire Guide to get an idea of what HR professionals are looking for in potential employees.

You can't go wrong with looking your best and being knowledgeable about what HR professionals are looking for. If you are still looking for more information, check out the Gillette press release here. Good luck friends. Later.

We Are Now Considered Full Term

Hey there. We have entered our 37th week of pregnancy. That means that if baby decided to pop out today, all should be good. We had a little scare a few weeks ago when the doctor put my wife on bed rest, but that only lasted for a week. What my wife got off of that is 1 week of bed rest and getting out of work more than 2 weeks earlier than she would have liked.

She's not liking this staying at home business. Actually, she's not staying at home. She's staying at her mom's house. I don't want her to be by herself in case the baby decides he wants to be born, I'll be able to get to her quickly. She wanted to stay home, by herself, which is over 15 miles away and I need to get on the freeway to get there. On top of that, it's driving AWAY from the hospital where her doctor is going to deliver her. I'm just not very keen on the idea of her being farther away from me than she needs to be. I don't want to be stuck in a traffic jam and not be able to get to her quickly if she were to go into labor and she's at home. I just don't like that idea.

So she's at her mom's place and she's expressed to me that she's extremely bored there. I told her to take some books, magazines, or even Guitar Hero to keep herself entertained. Our due date is 3 weeks away, but baby can be here any day now. Just a little bit longer, babe. Just a little bit longer. Later.

The Use of Foul Language at Work

Hey there. We spend most of our lives at work. There is no doubt about it. Sometimes, our best judgment eludes us when we are pushed to our breaking point. Here are some pointers, from Human Resources of course, of how to go about those trying times. lol Enjoy.


Dear Employees:

It has been brought to management's attention that some individuals throughout the company have been using foul language during the course of normal conversation with their co-workers.

Due to complaints received from some employees who may be easily offended, this type of language will no longer be tolerated.

We do, however, realize the critical importance of being able to accurately express your feelings when communicating with co-workers.

Therefore,a list of 18 New and Innovative 'TRY SAYING' phrases have been provided so that proper exchange of ideas and information can continue in an effective manner.

Number 1


TRY SAYING: I think you could use more training.
INSTEAD OF: You don't know what the f*** you're doing.

Number 2
TRY SAYING: She's an aggressive go-getter.
INSTEAD OF: She's a f***ing b****.

Number 3
TRY SAYING: Perhaps I can work late.
INSTEAD OF: And when the f*** do you expect me to do this?

Number 4
TRY SAYING: I'm certain that isn't feasible.
INSTEAD OF: No f***ing way.

Number 5
TRY SAYING: Really?
INSTEAD OF: You've got to be sh***ing me!

Number 6
TRY SAYING: Perhaps you should check with...
INSTEAD OF: Tell someone who gives a sh**.

Number 7
TRY SAYING: I wasn't involved in the project.
INSTEAD OF: It's not my f***ing problem.

Number 8
TRY SAYING: That's interesting.
INSTEAD OF: What the f***?

Number 9
TRY SAYING: I'm not sure this can be implemented.
INSTEAD OF: This sh** won't work.

Number 10
TRY SAYING: I'll try to schedule that.
INSTEAD OF: Why the f*** didn't you tell me sooner?

Number 11
TRY SAYING: He's not familiar with the issues...
INSTEAD OF: He's got his head up his ass.

Number 12
TRY SAYING: Excuse me, sir?
INSTEAD OF: Eat sh** and die.

Number 13
TRY SAYING: So you weren't happy with it?
INSTEAD OF: Kiss my ass.

Number 14
TRY SAYING: I'm a bit overloaded at the moment.
INSTEAD OF: F*** it, I'm on salary.

Number 15
TRY SAYING: I don't think you understand.
INSTEAD OF: Shove it up your ass.

Number 16
TRY SAYING: I love a challenge.
INSTEAD OF: This f***ing job sucks.

Number 17
TRY SAYING: You want me to take care of that?
INSTEAD OF: Who the f*** died and made you boss?

Number 18
TRY SAYING: He's somewhat insensitive.
INSTEAD OF: He's a d***.

Thank You,
Human Resources

Bed Rest: Day 1

Hey there. Yesterday my wife went in to see her doc for a check up. And guess what, she placed my wife in bed rest. From what I remember my wife telling me, the doc said that she's having light contractions and she's dilated 1 cm. My wife told her that she's still working and Dr. Bohn pretty much said no more. My wife did look like she was having trouble walking and she was having some stomach pains. She showed up at work following her doc appointment and pretty much told everyone that she's not coming back until post baby. lol Some people refused to believe it. Especially since she wasn't scheduled to be out until late September. Now, she's bored out of her mind being stuck in bed.

I helped her over to the living room and we've been hanging out here, watching some movies. We caught Be Kind Rewind and are now watching some movie on Lifetime. I don't have the remote with me and I'm too lazy to get up and get it. lol So yeah, I'm watching a lifetime movie while writing this post. Once the movie is over, I'll be playing Rock band with the kids. I promised them that I would play with them this week since I've been putting it off for quite sometime. They want to play some kind of marathon gig in the game. Something along the lines of a 12 song set list that needs to be completed in one sitting. You'll have to start from the beginning if you don't get through it.

My wife feel asleep. I don't think we'll be playing Rock band anytime soon. She needs to rest and take it easy. It looks like Baby Metallman will be early. It's just a matter of how early. I'll keep ya posted. Later!

Metallman's Reverie August Income

Hey there. I've been meaning to post a monthly income statement for this site. I've seen other sites that tend to do it and I kinda think that's it's not a bad idea. If you show that the programs that you use are not BS then people are more likely to check em out. Personally, I just want to show that an average Joe, such as myself, can make more than a few bucks online if you work hard and build an audience. I don't have a fancy spreadsheet or anything of that sort, but here is where I stand with my online income:

Adgitize - $17.11

I like Adgitize. It's a very simple program and it keeps my site updated. You earn points for visiting sites, displaying ads, and writing posts. All things I do anyways so why not get paid for them, right?

Adsdaq - $6.61

This is a relatively new ad service for me. I'm getting tired of the low payout from Adbrite. The great thing about this is that you set your own price for each 1000 impressions. The huge negative on this ad service is that they do not offer referral links and the payout is set at a high $50. It's pretty much a "set it and forget" type service so once you sign up, you don't really need to do anything else but request a payout when you've reached the threshold.

Adbrite - $1.46

This is another set it and forget type ad system that did fairly well for me at first. I made more $20 a month with this ad service but for whatever reason, it's not earning me anywhere near that any more and I am seriously thinking of dropping it. Maybe other alternatives are stealing their advertisers? Who knows, but I'll keep it around for a bit longer and hope that maybe it's a just a slump and in a couple of months, they'll be back as a top performer for me.

Associated Content - $ 2.30

I really like this system. You can write about whatever you want and get paid for the page views. You can also take some of their assignments for upfront payments or for ideas about what to write about. I've seriously lagged it in this area. This can produce a nice stream of income if you work on building a sizable audience for your work. You start off with a base "salary" of $1.50 for every 1000 page views. After hitting a certain number of page views, you earn bonuses that will build upon that base pay of $1.50. This is perfect for those that have an itch to write short stories or poetry, but will do just as well for game reviews, photos, life experiences, and all sorts of other creative writing.

Socialspark - $205.63

Socialspark is definitely my bread and butter site. I love everything about it. The friends that I have made there are wonderful and the opportunities available to you are many. You will need to get your blog approved before you can join, and if it's approved, it's very well worth it. Once you're a part of the team, you can browse opportunities and request to be part of advertiser's blogroll. The CPC program is great and payout can be requested at low $20. Any paid opportunity that is approved for payment will be paid 30 days from approval, so this $205.63 that was made is from opportunities that were written in July. This is definitely one you should check out.

So there you have it friends. I made a grand total of $233.11 for the month of August via Metallman's Reverie. I have joined a few more sites to see if traffic can be boosted, increasing my exposure and hopefully, my revenue. I didn't post some of those here since the funds are pending. The above is only what has been transferred to my paypal account. If you are interested in those sites, please check out the links at the top of this page and those under affiliates near the bottom. One that seems to be working pretty well is Easy Hits 4 U. They will give you $.30 for every 1000 pages that you visit and it asks you to visit a site for a minimum of 15 secs. On top of that it offers bonuses which include cash for surfing. I've only been a member for a few days so I cannot say its the best thing out there, but I'm giving it a shot and so far liking it. Hopefully, I'll be posting it as part of September's income post.

Feel free to check out the links in this post. And don't forget, tell them Metallman sent ya. =o) Later.

Black Gold on truTV

Hey there friends. Most of you know about my love of truTV and of real TV. Just this weekend, my wife and I sat through several hours of Most Shocking on truTV. Most Shocking: Caught on Tape and Most Shocking: Car Chases are the ones that come to mind.

Anyways, a new show that I'm starting to catch is truTV's Black Gold . I'll admit that I didn't catch the first season but after catching the second season's premiere episode, August 19th, I may be tuning in for this season.

The show features the daily toil of Roughnecks. Roughnecks are the men that are on the field, drilling for oil. This is no ordinary job, though. These men need to be tough, strong and if they are not paying attention, could lose their lives. The show follows the format of Ice Road Truckers, another truTV show that follows the lives of men that drive big rigs in icy Alaska. Check out this link to see how truTV's Black Gold drilling adventure goes down. This job is definitely not for the weak.

Imagine going to an interview to be roughneck. I don't think I'd be able to cut it. First off, I'm a dwarf compared to the men out on the rig. I don't have anywhere near the muscle needed to operate the machines. I would expect to go through some thought provoking tests to gauge my focus and ability to think on my feet. Being a roughneck, you can't afford to have many mistakes. You'll be lucky to get away with one or two but the next mistake could be your last. I don't know, the more I think about it, the more I don't think that I would be able to cut it.

Check out the videos below to get an idea of how an interview goes for a soon to be roughneck. Those are just a taste, if you want to catch all new episodes, tune in to truTV every Wednesdays at 10p/9c. Check it out, friends. Later.





Crazy no? If you want to see more, you can check out truTV's Black Gold trailer to get a good look of roughnecks in action.