bloggerama or the little picture

Repost!!! please help Scout $5...REPOST!!!

alVacado — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 02:49:05 GMT

Favor - please...$5 - that's all... or.... if you can't honestly give $5 or perhas don't want to, can you please REPOST this at least ? Kern Co. Near Bakerfield is probably the WORST shelter on the West Coast. The dogs there are often very ill, diseases spread there, they get euthanized very quickly...it's pretty awful. This person - "Tyler" has managed to save 46 dogs in the last month...This person has a full time job, 2 dogs of their own and dedicates their life to this... Can you please donate $5 or $10 to help save this little puppy. Tyler is literally tapped out of fundage and needs a little help - please, even if it's only $5, it does help.... This puppy needs more veterinary care and we can't afford it...Reaching out, please... This is not a scam and is legit (Jenn). Tyler writes : I pulled/rescued SCOUT--an adorable little guy from death row out of Kern County Shelter/Bakersfield. He was transported by Stephanie and Paula on Friday June 19th 2009. By 6 pm when I met Paula to pick him up he was extremely lethargic, a lot of nasal discharge, sneezing and difficulty breathing. I immediately took him to my vet. A Parvo test was performed(negative), xrays & medications. He has been admitted to the hospital since Friday night. Over the weekend I went to visit him and spend time with him a few times. Saturday he was worse then Friday. Sunday he was in isolation & oxygen and they started iv fluids on him. Today--Monday June 22nd--Update is he is worse now but the vet is confident he will turn the corner--it's just getting him over the "hump"...They are starting him on a nebulization stimulation to try to break up the congestion. There is more discharge today then through the weekend. If by Tuesday evening he isnt any better then more xrays will be taken to see if pneumonia has settled in both lungs. He has URI, Kennel cough, pneumonia in one lung. As of Today (Thursday) Scout is very sick. Will not eat and needs more care...they believe he will make it, but cannot be released yet...which of course, means more $$$. The estimate for everything prior to todays update was $700.00. If he needs to stay in the hospital additional days, change medications & xrays it will jump up to $900.00 ++ for his care.. Any donations are appreciated for his care: Animal Medical Center 600 Broadway El Cajon, CA 619-444-1166 Or The Kern Co Rescue Fund "CHIP IN": kerncountypups.chipin.com/kern-...escues Or PayPal: Tyler.91942@gmail.com Even if it is just $5, it DOES help.... $5 is a starbucks coffee, a pack of cigarettes, almost, etc... Please help......

Today is Administrative Professionals Day

alVacado — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 03:03:13 GMT

If you've ever been one, whether or not it was/is your actual title, OR you just ended up somehow doing the things that people call ADMIN (used to be Secretarial) maybe you just got stuck doing them because you did it once, or you are the most competent person to do them and to let anyone else take it over meant you'd probably get stuck re-doing their crappy attempt at the chore, then.... I FEEL YA! It's not my job (now), yet in the fallout from the economy and recent layoffs at my company, and probably something to do with me having been one for so long and being a perfectionist (and having to re-do/fix half-ass attempts at a seemingly simple and/or mundane task), i have been asked or taken it upon myself to do random things around the office. So long have I been this type of person, that people come to me, lowly (paid) me, with questions and problems from the office. oh sure...let me put aside my monstrous pile of work and stay late to take care of that... well, no...I don't know, but I can find out how to.... no, i don't mind working late because you didn't do this and i can take care of it. Ok, if you've ever been on the other side of that conversation, I want you to figure out how to make it up to your Admin. No cheezy e-card. No stupid flowers. (yer not my man.) put some freakin thought into a genuine acknowledgement that shows how lost you would be without them and how F-d you'd have been if you didn't have your go-to girl/guy. if you've ever been an ADMIN... <sigh> you know.... they just don't get it. but YOU Know! You're a STAR!!!! treat yourself to something nice :)

PLEASE REPOST!!!!!!! MISSING - Sandra Cantu

alVacado — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 04:13:04 GMT

(yes, I know this girl's uncle and he's a good friend. Heartbreaking for anyone--never want this to happen to someone you know and love.) From my friend Joey ***PLEASE REPOST**** Here is a picture of my sister's 8 year old niece, Sandra Cantu, she has been missing since Friday afternoon. She was last seen in Tracy, California near her home. She was wearing a pink Hello Kitty T-Shirt and black leggings. She has been missing for over 4 days now and can be just about anywhere. If you see anything or hear anything, please contact the Tracy, CA Police. (209) 831-4550 ***PLEASE REPOST*** Thank you to everyone for posting this and looking.

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥puppy bliss♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

alVacado — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 07:24:55 GMT

This is Bud. He's one of 9 puppies that was rescued by my bf's friend's mom. I warned my bf that he should not go see them, and if he did to NOT pick them up. He didn't listen. 6 weeks later and this one went home with him. I was worried about Maya. As you may know, she is a bit of a diva and although she LOVES!!! people, she does not like dogs. Especially small rude dogs that run up in your face. We did the required slow introduction, discouraging any and all growling (I call it doggy tourette's)and aggressive posturing. This weekend is the 2nd weekend with overnight stays; this one at my/Maya's house. She's getting used to the little tyke. We're still monitoring it all and will continue to do so. Today, huge break through with Maya enticing the puppy into a gentle tug of war with a toy of hers he was interested in (previously, she'd just take stuff away from him). Then... during this interaction, there it was: The Play Bow Soon she was laying down to be at his level and allowing him to be in her face (even biting her a little; which we discouraged on his part). Later, they engaged again and even seemed to do a lopsided wrestling, with Maya gently "hugging" him and then...putting his head in her mouth. Seems like not a good thing but this is a normal dominance/adult over puppy move. We joked that she won't be able to do this very much longer. Soon his head will be bigger than hers, I'm sure. Anyway, I think this will be good for both of them. Maya is mellower now. She'll be 6 in May, and is much more responsive to commands and correction than she was even as recently as last year. And Bud, well... he's got a lot to learn. And we can't teach it all to him, he's got to get some of that K9 inside story from someone in the know. She can be a bit bossy but she's got a heart of gold. And I've got the best of both worlds. A mellow sweet dog and I get to be fairy dog-mother to a puppy!!! All the fun and none...well, let's just say LESS of the work. ah...the pitter patter of little feet! :) Puppy Love is terminal.

baaadly bored!

alVacado — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:01:19 GMT

*1. Started your own blog - My Tribe blog is my first blog *2. Slept under the stars *3. Played in a band (jr. high BAND, does that count?) *4. Visited Hawaii *5. Watched a meteor shower 6. Given more than you can afford to charity *7. Been to Disneyland *8. Climbed a mountain 9. Held a praying mantis *10. Sang a solo 11. Bungee jumped 12. Visited Paris 13. Watched a lightning storm at sea *14. Taught yourself an art from scratch 15. Adopted a child 16. Had food poisoning 17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty *18. Grown your own vegetables (assisted. I prepped & planted seeds/baby plants...then with help from someone who didn't have a brown thumb...) 19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France 20. Slept on an overnight train *21. Had a pillow fight *22. Hitch hiked ****23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill *24. Built a snow fort (oh...wait, I thought this said snow fart) *25. Held a lamb *26. Gone skinny dipping 27. Run a Marathon (did a half marathon) 28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice 29. Seen a total eclipse *30. Watched a sunrise or sunset *31. Hit a home run (technically, it was on an error, but hitting thru the trees is fair ball and I came home) 32. Been on a cruise *33. Seen Niagara Falls in person *34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors *35. Seen an Amish community 36. Taught yourself a new language *37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied (in general) 38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person *39. Gone rock climbing 40. Seen Michelangelo’s David *41. Sung karaoke 42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt *43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant 44. Visited Africa *45. Walked on a beach by moonlight 46. Been transported in an ambulance 47. Had your portrait painted (done in chalk as a characature) 48. Gone deep sea fishing - uh, do halibut charters count? 49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person 50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris *51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling *52. Kissed in the rain *53. Played in the mud *54. Gone to a drive-in theater 55. Been in a movie 56. Visited the Great Wall of China 57. Started a business *58. Taken a martial arts class 59. Visited Russia 60. Served at a soup kitchen 61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies *62. Gone whale watching *63. Got flowers for no reason *64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma 65. Gone sky diving 66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp *67. Bounced a check *68. Flown in a helicopter *69. Saved a favorite childhood toy 70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial *71. Eaten Caviar 72. Pieced a quilt 73. Stood in Times Square 74. Toured the Everglades 75. Been fired from a job (always called a Layoff) 76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London *77. Broken a bone *78. Been on a speeding motorcycle 79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person 80. Published a book 81. Visited the Vatican 82. Bought a brand new car 83. Walked in Jerusalem *84. Had your picture in the newspaper 85. Read the entire Bible 86. Visited the White House *87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating -I'm w/Lisa on this. If fishing counts *88. Had chickenpox 89. Saved someone’s life *90. Sat on a jury *91. Met someone famous *92. Joined a book club *93. Lost a loved one 94. Had a baby 95. Seen the Alamo in person 96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake (I swam in Erie) *97. Been involved in a law suit (asked to be on Judge Judy, but the defendant didn't comply) *98. Owned a cell phone *99. Been stung by a bee *100. Read an entire book in one day

Matching Gift--Double your Donation

alVacado — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 03:52:47 GMT

https://secure.ga0.org/02/matching_gift Anonymous Donor Offers $10,000 In Matching Funds All Tax-Deductible Donations Made Through This Page Will Benefit Two IDA Campaigns: Puppy Mills and Ending Animal Experiments Through the end of the year, all donations made through this page will be doubled by a very generous IDA supporter, up to $10,000. The donations will be split between two of IDA's main campaigns: closing puppy mills and stopping experiments on animals. Plus, if you donate before December 31, you get to use the tax deduction when doing your taxes this year instead of waiting until next year! do it!!! I did!!!

Believe!!!!

alVacado — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 03:34:22 GMT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNqlGlzNVEE and Be Merry!!! love, alv

update on the neighbor's puppies

alVacado — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 03:36:30 GMT

about 2 weeks ago, right around the time the rains really started coming down, i noticed that the puppies & mama dog weren't in the neighbor's yard anymore. i was kind of relieved---thought they must have put them in the garage, safe from the bad weather. then i didn't see their vehicles, so i thought maybe they'd gone away for the holidays....and taken the pups with them. i think their were only 6 pups left but it still bothered me to see them crowded into the dog house while mom slept on the mattress on the porch or visa versa. just got home from working today (trying to get caught up enough to take all the tweener days for the holidays). as i got to my block, i saw a man walking one of the pups. i stopped and rolled down my window, and he came up to my door. i asked him what happened to the rest of the dogs and he said Animal Control came and got them. took the 3 ducks they had too. guess someone did what i couldn't. he said Animal Control lady was so mad, she waited for an hour and then, finally with a police escort, they took the animals; this is not the first complaint on these people. i wish i had been strong enough to call them myself. i feel bad for them. at least they're safe from the elements now.

Remembering my brother

alVacado — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 03:59:07 GMT

today is the 4 year anniversary of my brother, Ernie's passing. i woke up early...and had a hard time getting back to sleep. it did not occur to me then that This is The Day. In fact, I didn't realize it until i turned on the computer at work and saw the date. but i've had the overhanging blue mood that happens around this time of year. For the holiday's, my brother always made it bigger. it sometimes caught me by surprise to see someone so very Cool with such a hardcore exterior indulge in some of what i think of as the cheesy side of Christmas. Ernie would ignore my practical declarations of "I'm not getting a tree cause there's no room in my livingroom ....and there way too expensive.... and the cat will probably piss on it or shred my ornaments." i'd come home early in the 2nd week of December to a big tree leaning up against my front door or have him call me to say he was picking my up to go shopping for a tree and I was coming with him. He'd have some weird christmas cover from some punk band or a hardcore rendition of a holiday tune that he'd say: oh you're gonna love this....blast it on the stereo. if we DID have to go to mom's, it really was the only thing that made it fun. as you may know, Fresno is rarely found in the same sentance with fun. when we were kids, i think that Ern fell for the Santa con for a lot longer than i did. or maybe, he just found it in his best interest to do so. in preschool, his class had to do "Donde Esta Santa Claus" in the holiday pageant. omg, that was a running joke for years. in the last few, for a period of time, we were estranged (due to a fight where he stubbornly refused to forgive me for meddling in his life and for which i will always regret), i drove alone, to mom's for xmas. The Song, came on the radio; and i called him and just played it to his voicemail. Mamacita, donde esta Santa Claus? Donde esta Santa Claus? And the toys that he will leave. Mamacita, oh, where is Santa Claus? I look for him because it's a Christmas Eve. I know that I should be sleeping, But maybe he's not far away, Out of the window I'm peeping, Hoping to see him in his sleigh. I hope he won't forget to clack his castinet, And to his reindeer, say, "Oh Pancho, Oh! Vixen, Oh! Pedro, Oh! Blitzen," Ole! Ole! Ole! cha cha cha. Mamacita, donde esta Santa Claus? Oh! Where is Santa Claus? It's Christmas Eve. Mamacita, donde esta Santa Claus? I look for him because it's Christmas Eve. I know that I should be sleeping, But maybe he's not far away, Out of the window I'm peeping, Hoping to see him in sleigh. I hope he won't forget to crack his castinet, And to his reindeer, say, "Oh Pancho, Oh! Vixen, Oh! Pedro, Oh! Blitzen," Ole! Ole! Ole! cha cha cha. Mamacita, donde esta Santa Claus? Oh! Where is Santa Claus? It's Christmas Eve. It's Christmas Eve. It's Christmas Eve. It's Christmas Eve. Alright, Mamacita. I'll go to sleep now. It's Christmas Eve...... he bitched at mom about me....still, i KNOW it made him laugh. Thinking of him laughing...i gives me a little bit of Christmas magic back. Miss you Ern! LOVE YOU!!!! NEVER FORGET 11/04/67-12/16/04

Oakland Shelter Animals in Danger!!!!!!! (PLEASE REPOST!)

alVacado — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 03:33:50 GMT

The city of Oakland is requiring a shut-down of all its departments from December 26th through January 2nd. We urgently need to inundate the city officials with emails explaining why the Oakland Animal Shelter CANNOT be required to shut down. Being forced to shut down will have terrible repercussions on animal care and safety at the shelter, and on the community at large. Talking points for your email/phone calls: --Based on current incoming rates, the shelter director estimates that 20 animals will need to be euthanized each day due to lack of space if the shelter is forced to shut down. This INCLUDES adoptable animals. With the shelter currently open 7 days a week, we move a lot of animals out to adopters, found animal owners, and rescue groups...if the shelter is forced to close then none of these animals will move out. The shelter will hit capacity quickly, and we will be forced to begin euthanizing animals. The situation is grim and totally unacceptable, and in direct contrast to the shelter's stated policy of making all efforts to avoid euthanasia. --On 11/26, the first mandated shut-down day for the city of Oakland, it took the two allowed Animal Control Officers all day to perform basic cleaning, feeding and medicating, which is unacceptable treatment for needy animals. If the city requires this for an extended period, the care of the animals is in jeopardy. --While the shut-down is designed to save money, it will cost Oakland MORE money by closing the shelter! By not allowing medical staff to work during the closure, incoming injured animals will have to be taken to costly outside vets for services and boarding. The two Animal Control Officers allowed to work will be busy cleaning/feeding/medicating the shelter animals, leaving Oakland Police Officers to respond to the many daily animal issues in the field--this is very costly compared to Animal Control Officer wages, and Police Officers aren't trained in dealing with aggressive animals. And with so many calls and services not handled during the shut-down, shelter staff will need to use over-time to respond to a deluge of unhandled business--again, more expensive! --Because there will be no one to take surrendered animals, our after-hours intake cages (only 8 in total) would be filled all day. This leads to the very real possibility of citizens dumping injured/surrendered animals on the street outside the shelter, leaving them in danger. In addition, police officers will have nowhere to leave after-hours animals that they pick up. Please send an urgent email to Dan Lindheim, Budget Director at the Mayor's Office at dlindheim@oaklandnet.com, and/or call at (510) 238-6840 to let them know the shelter is different from other city agencies, in caring for HUNDREDS of animals each day, and needs special accommodation during the mandated Oakland shut-down days! Here are additional folks you can contact with your emails/calls, and encourage others to do the same! Police Chief: Chief Wayne G. Tucker (510) 238-3365 wtucker@oaklandnet.com City Council Members: Desley Brooks (510) 238-7006 dbrooks@oaklandnet.com Jean Quan (510) 238-7004 jquan@oaklandnet.com Pat Kernighan (510) 238-7002 pkernighan@oaklandnet.com Ignacio De La Fuente (510) 238-7005 idelafuente@oaklandnet.com Nancy Nadel (510) 238-7003 clstarks@oaklandnet.com Larry Reid (510) 238-7007 lreid@oaklandnet.com Jane Brunner (510) 238-7001 jbrunner@oaklandnet.com We hope to weather the storm and keep looking out for all the shelter animals as best we can. Thank you for your help and support!

Virgo Horoscope for week of December 11, 2008

alVacado — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 07:09:06 GMT

Verticle Oracle card Virgo (August 23-September 22) After meditating on how best to energize your love life, I decided to direct you to this passage from John Welwood's book Perfect Love, Imperfect Relationships: Healing the Wound of the Heart: "Everyone knows perfect love in their heart, for the human heart is a direct channel through which absolute love pours into this world. At the same time, human relationships are imperfect expressions of that love. This creates a painful gap between the perfect love we know in our hearts and the imperfect, incomplete ways it is expressed in our relationships. When we imagine that relative human love should be something it is not -- absolutely unconditional -- we suffer disappointment and wind up distrusting love itself. We also hold grievances against others for not loving us rightly or against ourselves for not having won that love. This gives rise to a universal human wound -- the sense of not feeling loved for who we are."

too much cuteness!!!

alVacado — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 04:24:13 GMT

as you may know, 4 days a week, i walk my dog before leaving work and then at lunchtime (friday's i do the morning walk and have a dog walker). i do this because the option of leaving her in my big back yard is eliminated due to the neighbor directly in back of my house having a yappy dog that incites Maya to jumping at the back cinderblock wall. on my side it's about 5ft high and if she really tried, she could easily jump that high straight up off the ground. if she did, i can't imagine it would be good. the scary part is that the neighbor never tells his dog to stop barking and once, his dog jumped onto the wall (it's only about 3 ft on his side). I feel that if left alone, Maya might take it upon herself to jump over and eat that dog or, if the yapper jumped on the fence, Maya might just snatch it off the fence. Even if the dog fell into my yard, there's no way it could jump back and I feel like it would just be a horrible incident that would leave a bad mark on Maya's reputation that I could not afford. in this way, i protect my dog from the general pit bull-hating populace. those of us who know, know. Additionally, Maya tore a ligament in her knee that cost me a pretty penny to fix. i can't afford to make her other knew bionic. anyway...in my neighborhood, the corner house on my block has a dog, Daisy, a yellow lab. Poor Daisy, was pregnant very early in life and this year had her second pregnancy yielding 13 puppies. i believe it took this pregnancy for the owners to get Daisy a dog house. she often slept on the lawn. now, i know...some people are of the school that dogs belong outside (and not, as Maya believes inside, in the bed under the covers napping to their hearts content until you come home to take them for a walk.) even so, i felt so sorry to see that she would be often sleeping on the dewey wet lawn or on the concrete porch at the front door when Maya & I would walk by on in the morning. early in this pregnancy (before she started showing) she got a cushion, and that was a relief. then, when she started showing, a dog house appeared, and i was happy for her that her owners got a clue. now the puppies are 3 months old, and today, i came home from lunch for my walk and 4 of them were outside their yard. i worried that they would get hurt. it was garbage day and the truck on our narrow streets barely squeezed through the usual cars parked on both sides of the street. also, how was I going to walk Maya by the house with puppies? she's NOT good with other dogs without a carefully executed introduction, and really not good with dogs running up to her, especially small dogs. some might say that puppies would be different, they know...but i say, i'm not taking chances. THREE incidents with smallish rapidly approaching dogs (one unleashed oh-but-she's-friendly!!! dog, two on those stupid extendable leashes that i hate that give the owner a false sense of control) have left us both with bad tastes in our mouths. so i stop and park and take about 20 minutes trying to round them up and put them back in their yard. no sooner do i put one in and am chasing another and two more pop out. i try handing them over the fence to Daisy but they are too heavy for her attempt to grab them by the head, so i try lowering a couple onto her back and then try lowering them under the upper body till the back legs barely touch the ground and dropping them. then i find a barrier (disposed of garbage wood) and do my best to reposition the rocks and wood in front of the wire mesh covering the bottom of the gate. WHEW!! all this in heels and work clothes. ok, it was worth it. for how annoyed i was at the people for not securing them better, that all fell away with the wiggling buts and soft puppy heads and sweet puppy squeals and antics and by how sweet and grateful Daisy seemed to be at getting her puppies back. also, it seemed like the whole crew of puppies was cheering me on! satisfied i get home. only to discover i forgot my key at the office (took it off the main ring to go to the bathroom. so i had to break into my house. Maya loved that, me hanging half way in the window trying to fish the key out of the bowl with the serving fork. then onto to our walk...cautiously peeking around every corner to make sure that another puppy didn't escape the yard. this time, Daisy didn't even bark at us on our walk. i think she likes me now :0) So that's my good samaritan act for the day. it's good, cause i've been cranky and annoyed in general with people. leave it to the dogs to cheer me up!!!

Wal-Mart worker dies after shoppers knock him down

alVacado — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 00:24:14 GMT

2 hrs 6 mins ago NEW YORK – A Wal-Mart worker was killed Friday when "out-of-control" shoppers desperate for bargains broke down the doors at a 5 a.m. sale. Other workers were trampled as they tried to rescue the man, and customers shouted angrily and kept shopping when store officials said they were closing because of the death, police and witnesses said. At least four other people, including a woman who was eight months pregnant, were taken to hospitals for observation or minor injuries, and the store in Valley Stream on Long Island closed for several hours before reopening. Shoppers stepped over the man on the ground and streamed into the store. When told to leave, they complained that they had been in line since Thursday morning. Nassau police said about 2,000 people were gathered outside the store doors at the mall about 20 miles east of Manhattan. The impatient crowd knocked the man, identified by police as Jdimytai Damour of Queens, to the ground as he opened the doors, leaving a metal portion of the frame crumpled like an accordion. "This crowd was out of control," said Nassau police spokesman Lt. Michael Fleming. He described the scene as "utter chaos." Dozens of store employees trying to fight their way out to help Damour were also getting trampled by the crowd, Fleming said. Items on sale at the store included a Samsung 50-inch Plasma HDTV for $798, a Bissel Compact Upright Vacuum for $28, a Samsung 10.2 megapixel digital camera for $69 and DVDs such as "The Incredible Hulk" for $9. Damour, 34, was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead about 6 a.m., police said. The exact cause of death has not been determined. A 28-year-old pregnant woman was taken to a hospital, where she and the baby were reported to be OK, said police Sgt. Anthony Repalone. Police said criminal charges were possible in the case, but Fleming said it would be difficult to identify individual shoppers. Authorities were reviewing surveillance video. Wal-Mart Stores Inc., based in Bentonville, Ark., called the incident a "tragic situation" and said the employee came from a temporary agency and was doing maintenance work at the store. "The safety and security of our customers and associates is our top priority," said Dan Fogleman, a company spokesman. "At this point, facts are still being assembled and we are working closely with the Nassau County Police as they investigate what occurred." Kimberly Cribbs, who witnessed the stampede, said shoppers were acting like "savages." "When they were saying they had to leave, that an employee got killed, people were yelling 'I've been on line since yesterday morning,'" she said. "They kept shopping." Shoppers around the country line up early outside stores on the day after Thanksgiving in the annual bargain-hunting ritual known as Black Friday. It got that name because it has historically been the day when stores broke into profitability for the full year. ___ AP retail writers Anne D'Innocenzio and Mae Anderson and contributed to this report.

we interrupt this inactive blog for this very important commercial message

alVacado — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 04:49:05 GMT

hello all, in addition to working my butt off, i'm encouraged to spread the word about the product of the loins that is my company. if i've not told you before, it's Livescribe (my employer) and the product is the Pulse Pen. www.livescribe.com http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZ-8my1J8rg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azN5ZGN7-cg by now, you may have seen the ads on yahoo, and if you facebook, there. the videos tell much better than i could what it's all about. the good news is, it is recently released to be compatible with MAC and the latest release enables you to print your own paper (embedded with dots, which you need) so, pardon the cut & paste, but the marketing people say it better than i could. as my own testimonial, i'll just say, this saves me from the embarrassment of exposing my extremely poor memory and horrible note-taking dis-ability. **** Dear friends, As you know, my company, Livescribe, has just launched a revolutionary new product called the Pulse smartpen. If you’ve ever missed something important in meetings or classes, you could definitely use Pulse. It’s basically a computer in a pen that records everything you write and everything you hear, and then links the audio to your writing. Later, you can just tap anywhere on your notes , and Pulse plays back your meeting or class recordings from that precise moment, so you never miss a word again. Click here to learn more – www.livescribe.com. If you don’t want to take my word for it, check out what they’ve said about us on PCMag, Popular Science, Popular Mechanics and PCWorld, to name a few, below. http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2305672,00.asp http://www.popsci.com/bown/2008/product/livescribe-pulse http://www.origin.popularmechanics.com/technology/reviews/4287283.html?series=60&page=4&?series=60 http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/product/31717/review/pulse_smartpen.html Here’s the reason I’m writing - as we are already in to the gift giving season, I wanted to pass along a special offer for friends of Livescribe. Go to the store at Livescribe.com, order a pen, and enter the following coupon code: PulseBTS10 - and you’ll get 10% off plus free shipping between now and the end of December. I hope this discount gives you at least one less gift to worry about buying this season. Pulse is ideal for students, business professionals, lawyers, journalists, doctors, teachers in your lives – really anybody who uses pen and paper. Btw, feel free to pass this offer along to your friends too! Thanks for spreading the word!

DAMMMIT!!!!

alVacado — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 03:53:05 GMT

tribe messages for unsubscribed members are GONE!!!! before, if you had a message from someone, you could still read it, but obviously, it showed that the person was unsubscribed. now, you get this nasty message! YOU DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THIS MESSAGE WAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! this SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i had very meaningful messages that i would re-read like a diary and of course i've lost messages from people that are gone forever!!! this is like losing them all over again. i know that it also went to my email but i've switched that several times since, and to some emails i don't use, and prolly can't remember the password to. i HATE THIS!!! i have a crappy memory and there were alot of phone numbers and important dates in my mailbox. was there some kind of warning about this that i missed. i'm PISSED!!!!!

Virgo Horoscope for week of July 31, 2008

alVacado — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 02:39:00 GMT

Verticle Oracle card Virgo (August 23-September 22) Could you get access to a crane with a wrecking ball? How about a chainsaw or sledgehammer? Metaphorically speaking, you may need some heavy equipment to do all the demolition work that's necessary right now. Among the structures that could be due for destruction: a mental block you've been preserving out of perverse nostalgia; a prison cell you lock yourself inside on your off days; a half-built bridge you're no longer interested in or capable of completing; a pedestal on which your fallen idol used to stand; and a door you nailed shut in order to seal yourself off from a person with whom you still have unfinished business.

whew!!!

alVacado — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 07:43:19 GMT

last night, i took a Maya up in the hills for a walk. it was a little after 8 when i started making my way back on the trail. there were only a couple of cars when i got there, so Maya and i were probably the last to be leaving and it was getting near dusk. along the path, i watched my step to avoid any missteps. i didn't see anything unusual, but Maya lagged behind and startled enough to catch the leash a bit and make me stop. she nosed up to something on the ground in the middle of the path. then appeared to be opening her mouth before i caught her with a stern "NO! LEAVE IT!". it appeared to be a baby...animal. a closer look, and i saw a fuzzy baby squirrel, no bigger than 3" long and with eyes and ears still closed. it was moving around, and appeared to have no wounds. how did it get in the middle of the pathway, and how did i miss it? did it roll down the hillside behind me? did something drop it there? i hesitated, but then, knowing that it was too far out on the path for it to be able to get back to its nest, i picked it up and brought it back to the car. surely, it would have died overnight of exposure, tho i didn't have a clue what i was going to do with it. on the way home, i called pet club, to ask for any recommendation on nursing the thing and suggestions on who to give the poor little critter too to take care of it. the pet club guy chastised me for not leaving it where i found it, saying that i may have deprived something of it's food source or any chance that the mother might reclaim it. i felt bad, but still believed that it was too far away from even any foliage that could have been a nest for the tiny helpless thing. i asked him how they fed their "pinkies" and he said they had a feeder wet nurse rat. i asked how i cold get one, and he said it would probably be dead by morning, even if i was able to get one, it would be ill advised. pet club dude also pointed out that it could be a rat, which, after looking again at the nearly bald critter with the naked tail, i began to believe that it could be. pet club guy further speculated that it might be contaminated with disease and in no way, should i attempt to nurse the thing or allow it to be in contact with anything or anyone. he said it was very unlikely that the one source he could think of that rescued wildlife, would not take a rodent of any type because of the contamination /overpopulation of the thing. ok, by this time, i'm starting to freak out and beginning to itch and have wiped down every surface i've touched in my car and in my house with disinfectact; and scrubbed up like a surgical nurse pre-op. still, this tiny thing is squirmy and healthy looking. the internet is about as bad as pet club dude, with warnings on how it's illegal to capture and hold any wildlife creatures and how it's unwise to try to even feed & nurse squirrels due to a whole list of problems that you could encounter. now i'm paranoid and feeling like i can't even ask anyone's advise because i'll be reported to the squirrel authorities for breaking all these laws. i'm thinking that i could be the person responsible for the next outbreak of the bubonic plague or the squirrel version of some new disease. still, i kept it warm all night and attempted to let it absorbe some of the pedialyte from a cotton ball and a q-tip (even harder than it sounds). i'm half hoping it will die overnight and relieve me of the whole ordeal. i dream about someone official knocking on my door about a report on a wild animal violation and a pending quarantine of my neighborhood. morning comes, and the baby squirrel is still moving around in the shredded toilet paper and seems ok. i still don't know what i'm going to do, and i needed to go to work to take care of some reports that are piling up there. i call an old friend who, i think, like me, would not have been able to leave the poor creature to die of exposure, to ask her advise. she's not awake yet, but i leave a message with her mom. she calls me at work and i tell my story and we commiserate about the situation. she suggests i call a mutual friend who works as a vet tech. i call her husband (who i play softball with) and he puts me thru to his wife who suggests Montclair Vetrinary Clinic as a local place that takes wildlife. i gather up my stuff from work and go home and yes...baby squirrel is still alive and kicking, so i take him to the clinic. i premeditate just dropping him off, on their doorstep if needed, in the tiny good vibrations shopping bag filled with shredded toilet paper and a mini water bottled with hot water and covered in a sock. the ladies in the office are nice and kind and commend me for keeping it alive. they advise that squirrelly looks healthy and confirm it would have likely died, left overnight outside the nest. they say it will be nursed and then rehabbed to be put back into the wild to do it's squirrelly business. YAY!!! i feel so much better! i DID help the little creature. and without endangering my own species. WHEW!!! i so do not want to be notorious for bringing on a new world plague.

Virgo Horoscope for week of May 29, 2008

alVacado — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 01:07:25 GMT

Verticle Oracle card Virgo (August 23-September 22) Your role model is Tilly Trotter, a blind, 74-year-old grandmother who lives in the UK. She took up archery two years ago despite her handicap. Recently she pulled off a rare feat, shooting her arrow so precisely that it split another arrow already lodged in the target. Among archers, this is called a Robin Hood. According to my analysis of the astrological omens, you now have the power to do something similar, Virgo: overcome a disadvantage in order to accomplish a riveting triumph that would be difficult even for those who don't have to deal with a limitation like yours. You're primed to carry out your personal version of a Robin Hood.

Virgo Horoscope for week of April 17, 2008

alVacado — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 02:34:17 GMT

Verticle Oracle card Virgo (August 23-September 22) "The Japanese believe that crying babies grow fast," wrote John Flinn in the San Francisco Chronicle, "and that the louder an infant wails, the more the gods have blessed it." The astrological omens suggest that a similar principle will soon hold true for you: The more you sob and blubber, the smarter you'll get. The louder you howl and moan, the more likely you'll be to attract benevolent influences and unexpected help.

Amazing!!!! Elephant paints self portrait

alVacado — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 20:26:12 GMT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LHoyB81LnE

Virgo Horoscope for week of March 6, 2008

alVacado — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 01:45:04 GMT

Verticle Oracle card Virgo (August 23-September 22) "The moon asked me to meet her in a field tonight," wrote mystic poet Hafiz (translated by Daniel Ladinsky). "I think she has amorous ideas." You might soon feel a similar suspicion, Virgo. According to my reading of the astrological omens, seductive offers will be coming your way, and not just from the moon. Secret suitors may emerge from the shadows. Temptations could lure you toward the far ends of your imagination. The sheer profusion of invitations you'll receive might make you giddily agitated.

She was left behind - soon to be euthanized...Please cross post

alVacado — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 03:16:30 GMT

PLEASE CROSS POST AND SEND OUT TO YOUR EMAIL LISTS. She is so pretty and nice. The person to email is the first email under this message. Thank you for caring! ‏ From: doggilama@aol.com Sent: Fri 2/29/08 12:26 AM She's too young & pretty to die! Please Xpost! Janet M. Hicks Animal Communicator Confirmed, this is at the South Los Angeles Shelter This dog is so cute!!! Get her out now, please!!! ----- Original Message ----- From: Samara Saffian This dog came in with her 2 brothers. They got adopted together and she was left behind. She is deteriorating fast. This dog has been at the pound tooooo long. A volunteer said she was shy at first and now has become depressed and is getting aggressive with the other dogs out of fear. She is going to get put down for sure if a rescue doesn’t take her because she isn’t going to get adopted by anyone. It’s going to take a rescue to save this gal!! Muneca, 924534, is a female retriever mix, barely a year old. The unbelievable part is that she has been at SLA for OVER A MONTH NOW, AND REDLISTED FOR TWO WEEKS!!!! This is totally unbelievable. come on there has to be a family out there somewhere that wants this sweet girl.

Virgo Horoscope for week of February 28, 2008

alVacado — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 18:27:13 GMT

Verticle Oracle card Virgo (August 23-September 22) Read this joke, told by Jeff Thredgold in his book On the One Hand: The Economist's Joke Book. "An economist returns to visit her old school. She's interested in the current exam questions and asks her old professor to show her some. To her surprise, they are exactly the same questions that she answered 10 years ago. When she asks the professor about this, he says: 'The questions are always the same. Only the answers change!'" The professor's reply should be your guiding meditation in the coming week, Virgo. Your most enduring uncertainties are inviting you to seek new solutions. Questions that have tormented and tantalized you for a long time will respond revealingly to your fresh probes. (the pic is the 1st thing that came up when i googled "the answers".)

what?? how?? who??

alVacado — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 00:46:46 GMT

i JUST noticed that i have a star!!! a few days ago, someone sent me an invite to the Tribe Gold Star Club, which I thought was nice, but i didn't have the premium membership so i didn't accept. but i didn't really look that closely---and maybe.... anyway.... :) it's kinda like waking up and finding a new tattoo that you don't remember getting...only it's a really cool one! THANK YOU!!! whoever? i would like to give a more personal thanks, but you'll have to 'fess up.

Virgo Horoscope for week of February 14, 2008

alVacado — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 07:32:43 GMT

"The Eskimos had 52 names for snow because it was important to them," wrote novelist Margaret Atwood. "There ought to be as many for love." Your assignment, should you choose to accept it, is to coin at least nine of those 52 new names between now and January 1, 2009. Of course that means you will have to discover or create nine alternate states of love that have previously been unnamed. And to do that, you'll have to put aside your habitual expectations and standard definitions of what constitutes love so that you can explore an amazing array of nuances, including varieties you never imagined existed. Start now, Virgo. Happy Valentine's Daze!