No Blog Today

There is no blog today. Yesterday was Chris' birthday and I did not have time to prepare for the blog. Tune in tomorrow for a fresh blog. Thanks for all you do! © 2008 Barry T Horst


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Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

BLOG TAG - I'm It!

There is a game that has been making the rounds of blogs, apparently for some time in various iterations. (I've used that word for Mandy!) Here's how it works. A person tells 5 or 7 unknown, interesting facts about theirself and then tags another blogger. The newly tagged blogger then tells the requisite number of facts about theirself and then tags another blogger; and the cycle continues.

Needless to say, I have been tagged by Mandy. Read her blog: Rogers Review. I have found at least 2 references to Blog Tag. The first is at the Jeff Pulver Blog. It is dated December 10, 2006. The other reference is dated December 28, 2006 at SoloSEO.

Oh, I guess I should share my 5 or 7 things. Let me think for a few moments. (Tapping head, rubbing chin, thinking--I teach kindergarten you know!)

1. I really like music from the big band era. You know the stuff of Benny Goodman and Glenn Miller.

2. When I was much younger I would do things just to see what would happen. For instance, if you hit a bullet with a hammer it explodes. (The bullet, not the hammer.) Matches dropped into a gasoline container generally go out before they drop into the can. (State Farm and the Waco Fire Department are certainly glad of that.) And gunpowder from Black Cat Firecrackers makes a dandy explosive when packed into small glass tubes. (Great for making holes in the driveway.)

3. I love Braunschweiger. Some of you may know and love it as Liver Sausage. Yum yum!

4. I learned a lot in the 3rd grade. For instance, if you chew on the end of a Bic pen the ink comes out in your mouth. The ink tastes terrible. Also, the ink doesn't wash out at the water fountain. I thought you might want to know that.

5. I love mustard and saurkraut. Not necessarily together unless it's on Reuben sandwich.

I better stop there. I might get in trouble if I divulge much else. Besides, I think my second item could count for 2 or 3 individual items.

Oh, I just remembered something else. If you hit a hard drive with a screwdriver while it is accessing information the heads will clatter and they don't stop until you unplug it. Also the computer doesn't recognize the hard drive anymore. Go figure! (Shrugging shoulders!)

I'll tag my brother and his blog on the L & P Home Web Site.

© 2008 Barry T Horst


This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

Picture Monday For February 25, 2008

My sister, Michal Ann, was a majorette when she was in junior high. She attended University Junior High. Their mascot was the Indians.

I remember her practicing all the time at the house. In the picture, below left, she is practicing twirling with Sandra Cranfill (left) and Lana Morris (center). Michal is of course on the right. The other picture shows Michal preparing to march in a parade. These three pictures were all taken in the early 1960's. Michal played the flute in the band. She also twirled in high school and then was cheerleader in college.

The picture above is Michal and my brother Lance. It was taken in the spring of 1957.

"Isn't she a doll?"

© 2008 Barry T Horst


This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

The Garden-Latest Pictures Are In

Here are the latest pictures from the garden. The top two are gazanias. They are beautiful during the day. They close up shop in the evening and go to bed on ly to open again in the sunlight.

The narcissus are beginning to look great. The snapdragons are in place now, as are the bluebonnets and grape hyacinth.

© 2008 Barry T Horst


This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

FREE, FREE, FREE-2nd Installment

I don't know how many of you spend much time on the internet. I have found a lot of useful things in my time. I have signed up, joined up, and who knows what else.

Many years ago I found a couple of places on the web that let you answer surveys in return for receiving points that could be redeemed for merchandise and sometimes cash. They were Bonus Mail and My Points. A couple of years ago both of these sites merged and they're now called My Points Bonus Mail. Original! Anyway, Chris and I both have an account. In return for giving them a little of my information I get e-mails to read. I get points for each e-mail. If I take advantage of the offer in the e-mail I get even more points. It's not that bad. Since I have signed up we have received about a total of $200 in gas cards from Shell, Exxon, and BP; $150 in gift cards from JC Penney; and $200 in gift cards from Circuit City. The cards from Circuit City helped me get my HDTV last fall. Not Bad! If you shop and purchase from certain retailers on-line you also get points. Check them out here: MyPoints.

In an earlier blog I mentioned the many magazine subscriptions I get. I get them from FreeBizMag and from AdPerk. I have had several new magazines come in now.

If you are looking for free stuff, samples, and such; I go to Weekly Freebie. I subscribe to their e-mail and get the notice weekly. But you need to check them every Th ursday because they post a couple of other offers on the B-Side. You can also check out The Bargainer.

There are also a couple of survey sites that I belong to. In return for participating in surveys I receive money, gifts, and points redeemable for merchandise. I complete surveys for e-Rewards, MySurvey, and Synovate-Global Opinions Panel. It's pretty good. there have been times where we were involved in studies testing various products for manufacturers. We have tested cat food, dog food, shampoos, laundry detergent, deodorants, and many other items.
If you go to the Wal-Mart and Sam's Club site you can find samples. At Wal-Mart you have go to the In Stores Now tab and click on FREE Samples. At Sam's Club you have to click on the In Clubs Now tab and then look for any free samples. More free samples can be found at Start Sampling. You have to join that site to participate though.

Do you get Frequent Flyer Miles on your credit cards or from taking trips? Do you get enough to take more trips. If not try Points.com. I had several thousand AA points just laying around collecting dust. I used this site to trade them in for something useful; although, I can't remember what it was now.

These are just a few of the places on the internet that give samples, points, cash etc. I use them and have been very pleased with them. You may know of others. If so, share them.

PS--Want to make a little extra money? Write a blog like I do. I am sure that you have noticed the ads on my blog. By placing the ads on the blog the author receives payment for each ad that is clicked. The payment varies based on the ad, daily traffic to the blog, etc. I certainly will not be able to quit my day job, but it is fun. Oh, and don't forget the Blue Sunflower Collection. The stuff is not free, but it is fun to look.
© 2008 Barry T Horst


This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

The Blue Sunflower

The Blue Sunflower Collection is open. I just opened an on-line store through the Cafepress storefront website. I currently offer many household type items which include mugs, note cards, magnets, buttons, pictures, etc. All of the items are embellished with various pictures that I have taken over the years. Most pictures are of flowers, but there is a lighthouse and the Air Force Academy Cathedral on a few. I think the items are pretty cool. I invite you to visit my store by clicking on The Blue Sunflower to the left or you can click on the link in the sidebar on the left hand side of the blog. It is a little below Kitten. We are still trying to keep him off the streets so please visit and purchase if you see something you like. And if you don't see anything to buy I hope you just enjoy looking at the pictures I used. Thanks again and have a blessed day.


© 2008 Barry T Horst


This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.