Spelling

The other day, I told you how much I enjoyed math. Today, I want to share my thoughts on spelling and grammar.

I am a lousy speller. Always have been. I can read and comprehend what I am reading quite well, but when it comes down to actually spelling the words on my own? Well, let's just say that I LOVE spell check. I have a couple of good dictionaries and a thesaurus that I can use if I get really stuck. I don't know about you but it always annoyed the heck out of me when I'd ask someone how to spell a word and they'd say "Look it up in the dictionary!" Well how do you look up a word that you don't know how to spell?

Learning my ABC's was easy. So were the basic words we learned in the first few years of school. It was when they started teaching us all the rules that go with spelling and sentence structure that I started getting a headache. It really didn't help matters that my penmanship was rather pathetic due in large part to my poor vision. "Needs to work on penmanship" was on all my report cards. The teachers knew I understood the concepts and could converse well. It was my visual limitations that were causing most of the problems and they made allowances for it. Even with that, I still struggled to express myself on paper.

English is an extremely difficult language to learn to spell, write and speak. So many words have their own unique rules. You are taught the basics and then told that there are a whole bunch of exceptions.

More than one mouse is mice, but more than one house isn't hice it is houses. Fish is both singular and plural.

Rain, rein and reign are all pronounces the same way but have different meanings. How about words like "live" that are pronounced either with a long "i" or a short "i" to make two completely different meanings. Words like once sound like they should start with "w" not an "o". Let's not forget the words with silent letters like psychic or where the "ph" sounds like an "f" as in pharmacy or phonics.

Then there is the "i" before "e" except after "c" rule. It is more or less a good rule, except for words such as; beige, eight, either, feisty, freight, keister, leisure, neighbour, neither, rein, reign, sleigh, surveillance, veil, vein, weigh and many others.

Or how about that lovely British way of spelling things with a "ou". Canada sure picked up on that one with words like colour, favour, flavour, humour and honour. Most English versions of Spell Check will tell you these are spelled wrong since they are developed in the USA and they dropped the "u" from such words centuries ago.

Confused? Your darn right it's confusing! When I am doing any type of writing, I often have to stop and think of the way to spell even simple words. Is there one "m" or two in memory? Spell check will tell me, but I can never remember.

Anyone who has ever gotten a hand written note from me, knows my spelling is a bit off, but it isn't horrible. My friends do like to razz me about my spelling. A few months ago, I was talking to a friend who was telling me about a trip to a family members cabin. After I left, I couldn't for the life of me remember the pronunciation so there was no way I could figure out the spelling to look it up on a map! My friend just laughed at me when I asked them again where they were going. They even wrote down how to spell it for me. I remember how to pronounce it now, and I think I still have the spelling somewhere....

Before I had the computer, I used to write all my correspondence out longhand then grab a dictionary and check what I thought might be spelled wrong. Then I would rewrite the whole thing more legibly and hopefully with the words spelled correctly or at least close enough that the person on the other end would know what I was trying to say.

I was never great at grammar either. I generally knew where to put quotes, commas, periods and question marks. I know - more or less - how to use colons and semi colons, but don't ask me to dissect the parts of the sentence and tell you all the verbs, adverbs, adjectives and so on. I'll only get it half right and end up being more confused.

My mom and I did a lot of writing in the 1980's with family histories of both of my parents families and the history of a small local school district. All three books were done on letter sized paper and had about 120-150 pages/book. We did the vast majority of the work ourselves. I did all the typing for two of them (we hired a typist for the third one). There was a white out function on the typewriter and we went through a number of bottles of liquid paper. Luckily mom's spelling is much better than mine, but several spelling errors still made it into the final editions. One of our "kind" relatives was gracious enough to point out that in several spots, we had spelled February as Febuary. After those books were done, I swore I'd never write again!

So given all that, I guess it is a little ironic that I am now writing a blog. My spelling, penmanship and grammar are still pretty bad, but I do enjoy the creative process and finding ways to express myself. It does take me a little longer than the average person to put my thoughts down, but it is very gratifying to see the final copy and know that I have actually managed to put my thoughts down in a manner that others will actually be able to understand what I am trying to say.

Just do me a favour and don't check the spelling and grammar too closely. Spell Check is already giving me a rough time!

dn

Math

I had a dream about learning math a few weeks ago. I don't recall the details, but when I woke up, I started thinking about my real memories of learning math in school.

When I started Grade 1, 45 years ago, in the fall of 1964, I remember the teacher giving us sets of coloured sticks. I don't know what the technical name was for them, so I'll call them math sticks. They were all different lengths and they were numbered. The smallest ones were an inch long, all numbered one and were the same colour. The next longest were two inches long, all numbered two and were a different colour. Each length had it's own colour and number. The sticks were about 1/4" wide on each of the four sides. There were ten sizes in all. I don't remember what numbers were matched with what colours, but I did find a graph picture on line that I added numbers to so that it would give you a better idea of what I'm talking about.

We were encouraged to play with the sticks and see what combinations we could find that would match up to the length of other sticks. How many red sticks would it take to make a brown one? If you put a white, red and lime end to end would you have a yellow, green or black?

This was a fun way to play and learn at the same time. I had learned my colours and could do some counting before I started school, so this made sense to me. It was pure logic for me.

Math was always my favourite subject when I was in school. It just came easily to me. I always found it odd that some of the kids just didn't get it, no matter how simply it was explained.

The concepts of adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing and even fractions came easily. I remember finishing a 5 question math test very quickly in Grade 2 and taking my workbook up to the teachers desk to turn it in for marking. She wouldn't let me turn it in, as she didn't think I could have done them that quickly and gotten them right. She made me go back to my desk and reread them all. I did, but I knew they were all correct, so I just sat there until she let me turn it in about 5 minutes later. She was quite surprised to see that I had indeed gotten them all right and hadn't done any erasing.

When I was about 7 or 8, I remember going to a local store and the owner giving me the wrong change back. I don't think it was deliberate. I tried to tell him that he was wrong, but he wouldn't listen. I knew I was right and I was frustrated to the point of tears. I went out to the car and told mom. Mom went back in with me and had me show him how I could count change. He checked his money drawer and realized that he actually did owe me a few cents more. He apologized and was always very careful about counting change around me after that!

As I grew older, some of the algebra type questions were a bit harder but they could be solved with a little thought and concentration. In senior high we did a section on log rhythms and that was hard. It was the only time I really struggled with math. I only had to deal with that for a few weeks though, as I was taking a general math course and accounting. Lucky for me, I wasn't taking a university math course or I would have been in real trouble!

In high school, there were awards at the end of the year for the highest overall marks in each course. In Grade 10, I was third for Math 101. The girl who won left at the end of that year and I got second for the Math 201 in Grade 11. The guy who won it that year, had been second the year before. He would have won it in Grade 12, but was away for a couple of weeks helping his dad with harvest, so missed the section on income tax. That brought his overall grade down, allowing me to win the Math 301 trophy and a $50.00 scholarship. He never let me forget that he went on to become an accountant and I was only an assistant cook!

We never used calculators, except in accounting class - and then it was only for the more complicated questions. We were expected to be able to add long numbers and columns in our heads quickly.

A few years after high school, I did work as a junior clerk for an insurance company for a few months and had to learn to use a calculator. It wasn't easy, but I did get the hang of it. It was faster than adding in my head and as long as I entered the right info, it was accurate. Using the calculator came in very handy in several other positions over the years.

I slowly started to use the calculator for personal use - especially if my check book was out by even a penny! I want - no make that need to know where that penny went! When I shopped I used my brain to figure out which size and brand had the best value for my money. I generally knew within a dollar, how much my total would be at the checkout.

I still use my brain for calculating in the store, but I rely on a calculator for most of my other math needs. Like so many other things in life, my math skills have decreased immensely as I have aged. Whether I'm in a store or adjusting the measurements for a recipe, I have to stop and concentrate a little more to calculate the correct amount. The calculator is never far from reach.

I wonder if I should get myself a set of math sticks.....

dn

dn's Recipe Index

Welcome to my Recipe Index. This page contains all of the recipes that I have posted on the blog as well as pages that talk about tips for grocery shopping and food storage. As I add more recipes and related info to the blog, this page will also be updated to reflect the new content.

Every recipe and article (within the various categories) is a hyperlink. Just click on the recipe or article that you wish to view.

I hope you enjoy the recipes and info that you find through these links

dn

LAST UPDATE: 08/15/10

Breads and Biscuits
- Chocolate Scones
- Corn Muffins
- dn's Cloud Biscuits
- Focaccia
- Homemade Buns (and variations)

Cakes, Pies and Desserts
- dn's Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Cake
- dn's Sinsational Chocolate Pizza
- Lemon Cloud Pie


Condiments, Dips and extras
- dnsyl57's Herbed Croutons
- Fat Free Dip
- Relish

Cookies
- Chocolate, Chocolate Chip Cookies
- dn’s Chocolate, Chocolate Chip Cookies (and Variations)
- dn's Oatmeal and Sour Cream Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Orange Almond Chocolate Chip Cookies

Fish
- Baked Salmon Fillets

Frozen Treats
- Cheesecake Ice Cream (and variations)
- Ices (and variations)
- Sherbets (and variations)
- Sorbets (and variations)

Holiday and Festive Treats
- Chocolate Cherry Fruitcake
- dn's Double Chocolate Almond Shortbread
- dnsyl57's Cherry Brandy Chocolate Truffles
- dnsyl57's Peanut Butter Bars in Dark Chocolate
- Triple Chocolate Pizza

Meat
- dn's Baked Pork Chops
- dn's Chili Con Carne
- dn's Farmer Sausage Casserole
- dn's Family Favourite Sweet And Sour Ribs
- dn's Pork Chops With Mango And Apple
- dn's Pork Chop's with Mushroom Rice
- Improvised Camp Chilli
- Oven Stew
- Taco Meat

Muffins, Loaves and Quick Breads
- Apple Muffins
- Choco Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake
- Chocolate, Chocolate Chip Zuchinni Loaf
- Mocha Muffins
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Muffins
- Pumpkin Loaf/Muffins

Poultry
- Baked Thai Chicken
- Chicken In Peanut Sauce
- Creamy Lemon Garlic Chicken
- Mandarin Chicken Bake
- Mexican Lasagna Casserole

Puddings and Squares
- dn's No Bake Chocolate and PB Slice
- Jollygood Squares (and variations)
- Mom's Apple Crisp
- Peanut Crunch Apple Crisp
- Pumpkin Pie Squares
- Upside Down Pudding Cake (and variations)

Salads
- dn's Lazy Mixed Bean And Corn Salad
- dn's Lazy Bean and Corn Salad
- Summer Salad Ideas

Sides
- Mom's Stuffing

Veggies
- Oven Fries
- Oven Fries Seasoning Mix
- Oven Roasted Potatoes
- Oven Roasted Veggies

Miscellanious
- Food storage to save you money! - Part 1
- Food storage to save you money! - Part 2
- Grocery Shopping

Apple Muffins

February is apple month. That means there are great deals to be had on all kinds of apples. About a year ago, I went looking for a new recipe for apple muffins. I stumbled across "The Official New York State Muffin Recipe", which apparently IS the official state muffin! Believe it or not, the recipe was developed by elementary school children in North Syracuse. Way to go kids!

Well it looked like a pretty good recipe, except for the fact that it had no chocolate chips! I played around with it a bit and came up with my own version of Apple Muffins. I used half whole wheat and half all purpose rather than all white flour. I prefer almonds to walnuts any day so that was an easy swap. I eliminated the raisins and added lots of chocolate chips instead.

So, with apologies to the kids and the state of New York, here is my recipe:

APPLE MUFFINS

Topping

1/2 cup chopped almonds

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup flour

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon lemon peel

2 tablespoons melted butter

Muffins
1 cup all purpose flour

1 cup whole wheat flour

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup sugar

2 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1-1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon cloves

1/8 teaspoon nutmeg

1 1/2 cup chocolate chips

1/2 cup chopped almonds

3 eggs, slightly beaten

1/2 cup butter, melted

4 ounces light cream cheese, cut into small pieces

1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups apples, coarsely chopped

Combine topping ingredients and set aside.

Combine flour, sugar, salt, spices, and baking soda. Stir in the chocolate chips and almonds and set aside.

Combine eggs, butter, cream cheese, and vanilla until creamy.

Stir in the apples. Add dry ingredients, a little at a time, to the apple mixture. Stir until just combined. Do not over-mix.

Portion the batter into paper lined muffin pans. Sprinkle with topping. Bake at 375 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes. Cool on wire racks.

Makes 2 Dozen

This recipe freezes well.

Enjoy!

dn

Valentine's Day

The holiday is named after two among the numerous Early Christian martyrs named Valentine. "The day became associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished.

An alternative theory from Belarus states that the holiday originates from the story of Saint Valentine, who upon rejection by his mistress was so heartbroken that he took a knife to his chest and sent her his still-beating heart as a token of his undying love for her. Hence, heart-shaped cards are now sent as a tribute to his overwhelming passion and suffering." (oh, now isn't that just THEE most romantic thought! EEEWWW!!)

Greeting cards first appeared in England in the mid nineteenth century. An estimated one billion "Valentine's" will be sent world wide. This amount of cards is second only to the amount of Christmas cards sent each year. It wasn't until the mid twentieth century, that the exchanging of Valentine's was really expanded to include flowers, chocolate and other romantic themed gifts. On average men spend twice as much as women on the holiday.

The day is celebrated in many ways throughout the world - some more romantically than others. In Japan women are expected to give chocolate to their male co-workers and friends. The favour is returned by the males on March 14. "In Finland Valentine's Day is called Ystävänpäivä which translates into "Friend's day". As the name indicates, this day is more about remembering all your friends, not only your loved ones."

I've never been a huge fan of Valentine's Day. It's not that I am not a romantic - I can be very romantic given the right circumstances and the right guy. I just never really bought into the whole commercialization of a day specifically for romance. I guess some people need that kick start to rev up a romantic partner, but I think the day feels forced. Romantic gestures can be very simple and should come at any time - not just one specific day to boost the profits of greeting card companies, florists, candy makers and other businesses that want a piece of the action.

The commercialization of the day has pretty much destroyed any real credibility to the real or intended meaning for the day. There are so many unrealistic expectations for Valentine's that it is inevitable that most people are disappointed at the end of the day.

Most women expect men to make the big romantic gestures. They want flowers, chocolates, jewellery, heart felt cards and confessions of undying love from the men in there life. They want it all!

Most men don't even remember the date until it is almost too late. They then rush to the malls and florists shops and spend inflated prices on gifts of love that will hopefully get them a home run rather than time in the proverbial dog house. There are some men who know how to romance women, but sadly most believe it is through the grand romantic gestures rather than the more subtle from the heart gifts.

Ladies, let's be honest here - shall we?

Would you rather have a dozen long stemmed roses that he paid a $100.00 or more for and will wilt in a week or a single paper/silk rose and a handwritten note that says he love you?

Would you rather have a dozen gourmet chocolates in a heart shaped box or a one pound bar of your favourite chocolate with a red bow from the dollar store on it?

Would you rather go to an expensive restaurant and spend over a $100.00 for a fancy meal or stay home and enjoy each others company over a meal you prepared together or some inexpensive take out?

I can't speak for other women, but if it was me, I'd take the second option every time! Like the old Beatles song says: "Can't Buy Me Love"! I'll take a simple, sincere gesture from the heart over an overpriced gift that was bought on the spur of the moment to appear romantic.

If you rely on this one day of the year to keep that flame burning, you are sure to be disappointed. Romance isn't easy. It does tend to fade from time to time. It takes a concerted effort on both sides to keep that spark alive.

So, no matter how busy your life gets, take a little time as often as you can (preferably every day) to let the other person know how important they are to you. It doesn't have to be big. A tender kiss or an extra long embrace. An "I love you" note taped to the mirror or stuck in their lunch bag. Really listen to how the others day has been. It's the so called little things that make the difference. These are the things that keep romance alive and make you realize just how lucky you are to have each other.

To all my friends, I hope that this day brings greetings of love and appreciation from the special people in your life.

I Love you my friend!

dn

200 And Counting!!!

Well believe it or not, this is post #200!! If Blogger didn't keep track of such things - I wouldn't have known - but they do keep track - there is a running total of published and unpublished posts on my Blogger dashboard.

It is hard to believe that I have made this many posts, but I have. It will be exactly one year on February 14, since I made that first post. I didn't set out to write 200 posts in my first year. I had decided to do 50 posts in the first 50 days because I had turned 50 a few months earlier. I then switched to every other day and now post about every third day. It isn't that I have run out of ideas! I keep a list of ideas and notes on various subjects that I eventually want to write about. I don't often have to go to that well of ideas, as I often find inspiration in day to day conversations, news and life in general.

I also keep lots of humouous emails and links to various web sites that make me laugh or inspire my creative juices. My recipe files are still overflowing with recipes that I eventually want to try and many that I already know I love and want to share with you.

As many of you have no doubt notices, there is a couple of hit counters at the bottom of the site. The freeware counters help me keep track of the traffic on the site. I started off with Bravenet as it was really basic. New or returning visitor, pages viewed and a few other minor details. Nothing that special. There was a technical problem on their site back in the summer and I was without a counter for a day or two, so I went looking for another counter as a backup.

I chose SiteMeter as it was also free and the details it provided intrigued me. With most hits, I can tell what country the hit is from. It usually tells me the province/state and sometimes the city. Please note that I CAN'T tell who you are unless you tell me who you are by posting a comment, sending me a message or telling me in person that you were on at a certain time. It provides only the basic of details but it is really interesting to see where the hits are coming from. Since July, I have had hits from every Canadian province and territory except Nunavut! I have had hits from at least half of the states in the USA. I have had numerous hits from Australia, New Zealand, England and Ireland. There have been hits from Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Japan, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Philippines, South Africa, Nigeria, Jamaica, Trinidad, Brazil and a few other places. It is amazing to me how small this world really is.

One of the other things I like about using the hit counter from Site Meter, is that it tells me how you came to find my blog. If you clicked on a link at the bottom of an email that reads http://dnsyl57.blogspot.com/ then I know that someone I sent an email to hasn't cleaned out the info on my email. That's okay though as you were curious enough to come have a look. Several people come in through a bookmark for my blog or through the RSS feed!
My blog is also linked to Google search, so if you hit my blog through that search engine I see what you were searching for. It is amazing what people actually search for!! I haven't kept detailed records of what pages have been hit through these searches but I do know which three posts have gotten the most hits.

The third most popular hit was "Groundhog Day". It got several hits in the first couple of days by people wanting to know whether the groundhog in there area saw it's shadow.

The second most popular hit was for my post about the Blizzard of 1986. There have been at least 25 hits since that went up in November! The hits have come from all over the world!

The most popular post I did was December 23. It was called "A Little Christmas Humour" and was a collection of Christmas themed cartoons. The hit counter went a little crazy that day and the next couple of days as well. It took me a while to figure out what was going on. You see I also post as "dns" on the Give Away Of The Day web site. The site provides an option to link your name to your website, which I had done a few months earlier. I had posted in the forums recently so assumed it was people just looking around to see who had their own sites and what they were about. Well, after getting about 15 hits in a couple of hours, I clicked on the link that people were finding me from.

Well, you could have knocked me over with a feather! There was a thread called "Some Xmas Chuckles". A member had been looking at various member websites, liked the cartoons I'd posted and started a thread to let everyone know about my little corner of the web! I had over 70 hits in 4 days! That was more than I'd had in over two months!!

In the past year I've had almost 900 page views by almost 550 people. That may not seem like much in the grand scheme of things, but when I started this blog, I only told about thirty people about it. I have no idea who the majority of you are, but I want to say thank you to all of you for stopping by. I hope you found what you were looking for and enjoyed what you saw!

To those of you who have come back a few times or better yet come on a regular basis, I can't begin to tell you how much it means to me that you take time out of your busy schedules to see what my warped little brain has decided to post! Thank you!!

As I said earlier, I still have lots of ideas, recipes and humour to post in the future. I will say that there won't be 200 posts in the coming year - I'm aiming for between 75-100! I hope you will continue to visit this page and if you like what you see, please leave a comment here or on the guestbook. Feel free to invite your friends!

Thank You!!!

dn

A Clean Shave!

In the last few weeks there have been a few "news" reports that got me thinking. Apparently George Clooney and Brad Pitt have both been seen wearing mustaches! Now I hope that this is only for a movie role. If this is their way of making a fashion statement, then men will follow it assuming that if the hot celeb's are doing it, then they can do it too!

Wrong! Wrong! Wrong!

I will admit that their are some historic and iconic figures, such as Charlie Chaplin, Clarke Gable, President Abe Lincoln, Santa Clause and others, who would seem a little strange without a mustache and/or beard, but that doesn't mean that every guy that is old enough to shave should forget how to do it or throw away their razor!

Okay, so you probably have guessed that I am not a fan of beards and mustaches. You're right, I'm not. It's not that I haven't been exposed to them, as there have been several men in my family who have tried various styles of facial follicles over the years.

My dad never wore them and neither did his three brothers as far as I know. My oldest brother wore a beard for many years and actually won/placed in several beard grooming contests - including the annual beard growing contest at "Festival du Voyageur". He always kept his clean, neat and well groomed. An uncle on my moms side of the family, also had a beard for most of his adult life. In his later years, he could have passed for Santa Clause when he wore a red cap and scarf! My other brother wore a handlebar mustache for many years and it looked okay I guess. A few cousins on my dad's side have also worn beards and mustaches, but most have been clean shaven.

I've dated a couple of guys that had mustaches, but I just can't get used to that fuzzy, hairy feeling against my face when things are getting interesting. If it is really short or just growing in, it can be very prickly and irritating. If it is longer and somewhat softer, it just plain tickles and annoys me.










Villains, are often depicted as having a mustache or beard. Just look at Snidely Whiplash and Boris Badinoff - they both wore mustaches and they were some pretty shady characters! Okay, I'll admit they were only cartoon characters, and wore black, but you have to admit, that their facial hair, was a part of what made us believe they were evil.

Please don't misunderstand me. Not all men who wear beards or mustaches are villains. Not all clean shaven guys are good or trustworthy. Maybe it is all a false misconception, but it is the way that it is perceived and frequently portrayed/depicted.

Some men grow beards for religious reasons. For some, it is a right of passage into manhood. There are a lot of musicians and sports figures who have facial hair. It's kind of hard to picture Eddie Rabbitt or Kenny Rogers without their beards. Some guys just look plain silly with a bit of growth such as Apollo Anton Ono. That little tuft of hair under his lip looks ridiculous! Most newscasters are clean shaven. It may well be a form of prejudice but somehow people just don't tend to trust a newsman with a beard or mustache. The facial hair just doesn't carry the same "Trust Me" factor as a clean shaven face. I just can't picture Walter Cronkite, Tom Brokaw, Sam Donaldson and other well known newsman with beards or mustaches.

Beards and mustaches are often used to "hide" a facial feature such as a mole, scar or something that would make them more identifiable. They think that by wearing facial hair, they can slip under the radar, but it makes me wonder what they are really trying to cover up or are they just to lazy to shave?

I've known some guys whose facial hair can grow in fairly quickly. The five o'clock shadow can appear by early afternoon. They have that Fred Flintstone look! I do feel bad for them, but that still doesn't mean that they should grow a mustache or beard!

Then there is the whole issue of food and other particles that get stuck in the beards and mustaches. Or how about the little bits that appear during cold weather. Oh, those are attractive sights, aren't they? EEEEWWWW!!!!

I know lots of women find the scruffy look, beards and mustaches to be really sexy and a complete turn on, but I just don't get it. It does nothing for me. Sorry guys, but not everyone enjoys your scruffy, fuzzy or furry features.

So please, do us and yourself a favour - get a good razor and use it regularly.

Trust me, most of you will clean up pretty good!!

dn

You ought to Try Ott!!

Have you ever had trouble seeing small or detailed print?
Have you ever found yourself wearing navy socks with black or brown because you couldn't see the difference?
Have you ever found yourself going over to the nearest window to get a better look at something under natural light?
Have you ever had trouble seeing to thread a needle or other fine detail?
Do your eyes feel tired or strained after reading for a short period of time?

If you answered yes to any of these questions then you should check and see when your last eye exam was. Eye health is critical and should never be delayed or avoided. BUT, their may also be a revolutionary form of lighting that can help you see more clearly and with less eye strain and fatigue.

It is called OttLite. It was created by Dr. John Nash Ott who is considered the father of time lapse photography, He created a method to photograph a pumpkin while it grew indoors. These photos were then used by the Walt Disney Company to create the animation for the pumpkin scene in Cinderella. His new found technology was then used as a springboard to create better lighting that reduced eye strain and used less energy. He brought the natural daylight inside in a whole new way!

I first heard about this lighting, about four years ago. I was watching The Shopping Channel and they were talking about this new lighting concept. I thought it looked too good to be true, but kept watching to see what it was about and how it would sell. I'm a bit of a skeptic and I'd watched the channel long enough to know that only products that worked well, made it back to air for more than a couple of visits. Well over the next few months, it came to air several times and sold quite quickly.

Decent lighting has always been a concern for me. Using the standard 75 or 100 watt incandescent bulb, I could read a decent sized print/font for about 30 minutes or so before needing to take a break. If I sat by the window with indirect sunlight coming in over mt shoulder, I could read for maybe 45 minutes - less if the sun was coming in directly as it was too harsh a light. The old fluorescent type of tubes that were used in schools and stores in the 1960's and up were even worse for me. I would start getting headaches in a short period of time. It made doing school work a real challenge. I was having to rest my eyes every 15-20 minutes. I often came home with a headache.

The new low energy bulbs that are being marketed now - and will eventually replace the vast majority of incandescent bulbs are almost as bad as the old fluorescent ones for me. I find them extremely harsh and my eyes do not adjust well to seeing anything under their light. Most new cars use this type for their headlights. When a car is coming towards me with them on I have to look away or shield my eyes to still see what is around me. Many stores, offices and streetlights are now using this type of lighting. For me it is like staring into camera flash bulbs. The low energy bulbs are blinding for me. I also really hate the look of the low energy Christmas lights. The white is harsh and the dark blue is so intense. I really can't enjoy a tree with those lights

I knew that to be able to continue reading and other activities, I was eventually going to have to find another light source. I didn't have a PC at the time so couldn't do the research, but decided to take a chance and see if the OttLite was even half as good as everyone claimed it was. I ordered an 18 watt floor lamp and 13 watt desk lamp package in early December 2005.

I got the lamps a few days later, and quickly did the minor assembly. I plugged in the floor lamp and sat down with a phone book, a magazine with pale print on glossy paper and a book with dark green print. All these items were things that I have had trouble reading. To my complete amazement, they were ALL much easier to read! That first night, I read my book and magazine for almost two hours WITHOUT any eye strain or headache!

So, I'm sure you can imagine how thrilled I was to find a light that I could read by and not get eye strain! I now own 3 of the 18 watt floor lamps and 2 of the 13 watt desk lamps. I use them in the living room, here by the computer and I also move one of them to the kitchen when I am dipping my chocolates every Christmas, as it is much easier to see if I am getting everything dipped properly!

Some of the lamps can be a bit pricey compared to some other lamps on the market, but you can shop around and find decent deals. There are lots of great styles available. I have bought all of my lamps through The Shopping Channel. I've also seen them at local retailers such as Canadian Tire and Office Depot. They also sell the replacement tubes. (Office Depot is by far the cheapest for the refills!). When you stop to consider how energy efficient and the vast reduction in eye strain, using the OttLite is actually a very smart investment both financially and visually!

I recently learned that the OttLite is now also available in a bulb that will fit the standard incandescent socket. They are available in 15 watt Ott (60watt), 20 watt Ott (75 watt) and 25 watt Ott (100 watt). I phoned about 10 Winnipeg retailers and wholesale outlets a couple of weeks ago looking for these new bulbs. No one had them in stock yet. Several had the OttLite tubes and said they were excellent light sources and good sellers. Half had never heard of OttLite and tried to tell me that all low energy bulbs are the same! HUH! That's what they think! If they tried them, they'd be sold on them too!

I'll keep looking and also have friends look in their travels to the USA. Thesse new lights for the old sockets would make my daily living so much easier!

Seeing is believing! Until you've tried Ott, you ain't seen nothing yet!

dn

Groundhog Day

Well today is Groundhog Day and that means that the groundhog prognosticators will be woken from their winter slumber so that they can tell everyone when spring will arrive.

An early spring or six more weeks of winter. Hmm... an early spring would be nice, especially after the winter that most of us have just come through, but even if the sleepy little guys sees his shadow, six more weeks isn't that long. After all, that would only take us to March 16, which is only a few days before the official start to spring on March 20. So why the big deal over whether or not the little guy sees his shadow or not?

Groundhog Day always seemed like a waste of time to me. Getting up out of a nice warm bed before dawn on a cold winter's morning to see if a groundhog sees it's shadow. Yet people all over North America and parts of Europe have done this for well over 150 years. Come on, people, it's not like the groundhog actually speaks and says I saw or didn't see my shadow! It is the human "handler" who interprets whether or not a shadow has been seen.

Many Europeans used the hedgehog as their forecaster, but due to a shortage of hedgehogs in North America, settlers switched the custom to watching woodchucks or groundhogs. The first reports of this custom in North America date back to the 1840's.There are also some European countries that watch certain days in June or July for weather predictions. If it rains on a certain day, then it will be a rainy season ahead.

Here are just a few of the groundhog prognosticators across North America:
- Punxsutawney Phil found in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, USA
- Jimmy the Groundhog of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, USA
- Wiarton Willie found in Wiarton, Ontario, Canada
- Staten Island Chuck found in New York City, New York, USA
- General Beauregard Lee, PhD found in Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Dunkirk Dave in Dunkirk, New York, USA
- Malverne Mel and Malverne Melissa found in Malverne, New York, USA
- Brandon Bob of Brandon, Manitoba, Canada - Balzac Billy of Balzac, Alberta, Canada
- Shubenacadie Sam of Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Gary the Groundhog of Kleinburg, Ontario, Canada
- Spanish Joe of Spanish, Ontario, Canada
- Sir Walter Wally of Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
- Pardon Me Pete of Tampa, Florida, USA
- Octoraro Orphie of Quarryville, Pennsylvania, USA
- Holtsville Hal of Holtsville, New York, USA
- Buckeye Chuck of Marion, Ohio, USA

The official forecaster here in Manitoba is known as Manitoba Merv. His partner is named Maria. They are residents of Oak Hammock Marsh, but Merv isn't your average groundhog. Several years ago, the staff at Oak Hammock, decided that they would use puppets to embrace the spirit of the day, rather than wake the real animals. Groundhogs normally sleep through late March, and it was agreed that waking them for that one day was not really that good for the well being of the animals. Bravo, Oak Hammock Marsh!!

I know of a couple of people who were actually born on Groundhog Day - one a very close family member and the other is a longtime friend of the family. They have always been razed about seeing their shadow on their birthday! We've even threatened to blindfold them or keep them indoors some years!!

So, regardless of whether any of the Groundhogs sees their shadow today, I thought I'd share a little Groundhog Day Humour:

Q: Why was the groundhog depressed about his den?
A: He was having a bad lair day!

Q: What would you get if you crossed February 2 with a Christmas drink?
A: Ground Nog Day!

Why bother with Groundhog Day?
- It's already on the calendar.
- with all the wannabe prognosticating rodents out there, at least one of them has got to be right!
- often more accurate than the regular weather forecasts and networks!
- As the old radio show used to say: "The Shadow Knows"!
- For those of us who are single, it is less depressing than Valentine's Day!

dn

dn's Chili Con Carne

There are countless chili recipes out there, each claiming to be the definitive version or a perfect variation. Chili is one of those recipes that inspires creation and variation. Mine never turns out exactly the same every time, as I rarely measure the veggies or spices. I go by what I have on hand and what looks about right. That meant that to create this recipe in print for this post, I actually took the extra time to MEASURE every single ingredient when I made this a couple of weeks ago! This recipe has a lot of ingredients, but once you try it, I'm sure you will agree that it has a great variety of flavours all rolled into one. It is heavy on protein and has lots of veggies thrown in. I garnish each serving with a bit of grated low fat cheddar cheese, a dollop of fat free sour cream and a sprinkle of chopped green onion. I also have a small side salad and either my Focaccia Bread, Corn Muffins or Homemade Buns along with it. All in all this is one very hearty and healthy meal!

dn's Chili Con Carne

olive oil
1 pound/454 grams lean ground beef or turkey
2 cups chopped onion (1 large)
1 cup chopped red bell pepper (1 large)
1 cup celery, chopped (1 rib)
2 Tablespoons minced garlic (bottled type)
1 cup grated carrot
1 cup grated zucchini
2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms
1 540 gram/19 ounce can white kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 540 gram/19 ounce can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 540 gram/19 ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 398 ml/14 ounce brown beans in tomato sauce
2 cups frozen kernel corn, thawed
1 cup crushed stewed tomatoes
1 680 ml/24 ounce pasta sauce
1 1/2 cups salsa (mild or medium)
1 Tablespoon chili powder
2 teaspoons dried basil
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon garlic pepper (or black pepper)
6 -10 drops Tabasco sauce

Add about 2 Tablespoons of oil to a dutch oven and heat. Add the ground meat, crumbling it into small pieces as you add it. Brown thoroughly, stirring often. Remove the meat to a paper towel lined plate. Add the onion, pepper and celery to the dutch oven. You may need to add a bit more oil. Stir and cook till onions are translucent. Add the garlic, carrot, zucchini and mushrooms and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring often.

Return the meat to the veggies in the dutch oven, then add the white, kidney, black, and brown beans. Also add the corn, tomatoes, pasta sauce and salsa. Stir well. Bring to a gentle boil then reduce to medium low heat and simmer for about 15 minutes, stirring often.

Add the chili powder, basil, oregano, cumin and pepper. Stir well. Add a few drops of Tabasco sauce - stir well and simmer for another 10 to 15 minutes stirring occasionally.

Note:

- All of the ingredients for this recipe were no name or store brand products, so that will cut down on the cost, but it does not cut down on the flavour!
- Tabasco sauce is VERY potent, so use sparingly! 6 to 10 drops will give you a mild chili - if you like it hotter, you can add a bit more - just go easy as you can't take it out once it is in!
- Don't cook the chili (or any other dish for that matter) more than 15 to 20 minutes after adding the spices, or they will loose their potency and leave a bland taste to the dish.

This recipe makes about 10 cups of chili. One cup is more than enough for one serving with this potent combo of protein and veggies. Garnish with grated cheddar, sour cream and chopped green onion.

Portion the leftovers into individual servings and freeze in an air tight container for up to six months.

Enjoy!

dn

Focaccia

I've been making buns off and on for years, but I tried making this amazing Focaccia Bread for the first time in early December. I had tried a similar idea a few years ago, using a loaf of frozen bread dough, but it just wasn't as tasty as homemade dough. I was going to be hosting a dinner on the 10th and decided to do a test run a week or so before the big evening to make sure that this would work. Well, I wasn't disappointed! It was absolutely delicious and my guests LOVED it! I served it with Chick Souvlaki, Tzatziki Sauce, Oven Roasted Potatoes and a Salad.

This is actually a variation of the Homemade Bun recipe that I posted last April.

FOCACCIA BREAD



1 cup whole wheat flour
1 1/2 teaspoon quick rise yeast
4 1/2 teaspoons oil
2 Tablespoons white sugar (OR 4 1/2 teaspoons liquid honey)
1 large egg
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cups warm (not boiling) water
1 - 2 cups flour (all purpose, whole wheat flour or combo of both)

Topping:
3/4 teaspoon basil
3/4 teaspoon oregano
3/4 teaspoon thyme
3/4 teaspoon parsley
3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
3/4 teaspoon onion powder
1 1/2 teaspoon Parmesan cheese powder

Combine the whole wheat flour and yeast in a small bowl. In a large bowl combine the sugar/honey, oil, salt and egg till lightly beaten. Add water and stir until frothy. Slowly mix in the flour and yeast mixture. Gradually add the all purpose/whole wheat flour and mix well. As the dough becomes stiffer, knead with your hands so you can get a feel for the dough and know when it is no longer sticky. You will add about 1 - 1 1/2 cups in total.

Cover the dough with a tea towel and let rise for about an hour or until double in size (Note: the more whole wheat flour you use the longer it will take to rise.)

Combine the topping ingredients and set aside.

Spray a 10"X15" (25.4cm x 38.1 cm) baking pan with non stick cooking spray such as Pam. Punch down the dough and then place the dough on the pan. Grease your hands with a bit of margarine or a shot or two of Pam. Using your fingers and the palms of your hands, gradually spread the dough evenly over the entire pan. (Note that the dough will be a bit sticky and tend to want to shrink back towards the center, but if you keep your hands greased and keep working the dough it will cover the whole pan.) Using a fork, poke holes in the dough about an inch apart. This will help the dough to rise more evenly and not shrink back from the edges as much.

Spray the top of the dough with Pam or brush with cooking oil. Sprinkle the topping mix evenly on top. Cover the pan with a tea towel and let bread rise till almost double in size - about 45 - 55 minutes depending on room temperature and how much whole wheat flour you used.

Just before baking, use a pizza cutter or sharp knife and cut the dough into about 15 pieces - I do it so that it is 3 pieces wide and 5 pieces long. The cuts will allow for more even baking and for easier cutting after it comes out of the oven.

Bake in a 350F oven for about 15 - 18 minutes or until a light golden brown. Slide the baked bread onto a wire rack and cool for 5 - 10 minutes before serving.

The leftovers, can be wrapped in plastic wrap and kept in an air tight bag in the freezer for about 2 months.

Notes:
- When spreading the dough, it is tempting to tear parts of it and work it into sides and corners, but I find that once the dough is torn, that it doesn't always want to connect with the rest of the dough and will leave gaps in your dough as it shrinks back to itself. It takes a little longer using the method I listed above, but overall it gives a better appearance and is worth the extra couple of minutes effort.
-You could use other spices in the topping depending on what you like or don't like. You could even use part of a package of ranch dressing mix or other mixes, although most of those contain additional additives and salt.
-You could add the seasoning to the dough itself, but it has a nicer flavour if left on the top.
- You could mix up a larger batch of the topping mix and label it so that it is ready whenever you make the recipe. (I would recommend a Tablespoon of each of the six seasonings and 2 Tablespoons of the cheese.)
- Try adding about 2/3 cup grated medium cheddar to the dough before adding the last of the flour. Mix a teaspoon of flour to the cheddar first, so that the cheese does not clump together.

Serving suggestions:
This bread is great served with any soup, salad, chili, stew etc. It can also be sliced horizontally and filled with pretty much any sandwich fillings. I love it with ham and cheese or a tuna filling. I've also topped pieces with a bit of salsa or sliced tomatoes and sprinkled with grated mozzarella or Monterrey Jack cheeses and stuck it under the broiler till the cheese is bubbly!

Warning!!! This bread is so delicious that it is downright addictive! I'm not usually a big bread eater - except when it is fresh from the oven - but this one doesn't last long in the freezer either!!! I made this again this past Wednesday and served it with a chef's salad for my supper. I ended up eating 4 pieces before I made myself freeze the rest! I then ate another one for lunch on Thursday with a filling of ham and cheese!

Enjoy!!

dn

BBBRRRRR!!!I The Deep Freeze Is Back!!

Well, we had a bit of a break from the deep freeze - for about a week! We went from several weeks with highs around -25C/-13F (before the wind chill is added on) to temperatures around 0C/32F. Talk about a shock to the system! It was really a heat wave! It was just long enough to let things melt a bit and then freeze over and make things even more fun when it comes to walking and driving!

The city crews took advantage of that mild spell to clean up some of the streets, sidewalks, boulevards and snowbanks at intersections. They do this work mostly in the overnight hours, when people like me are trying to sleep and all you hear is the sounds of heavy snowplow equipment and large trucks rumbling along your street while you are trying to get some much needed rest from all the exercise you got while you were maneuvering in and around all the ruts and snowbanks they left while cleaning up after the last snowfall!

Note to city: Next time please check with my schedule to see if I need to be up early the next morning as I really need my sleep and as much as I appreciate your cleaning up in the wee hours of this past Wednesday morning - I wish you could have done my street on a night that I could have slept in the next morning. Better yer, I wish you could have done it Sunday night into Monday, as I was already awake for two hours with insomnia! Is that really too much to ask?

I know that most of Canada and parts of the USA have been having a bitterly cold and stormy winter, but those of us here in Manitoba, are used to this. We dress in layers and go on about our business even when the wind chill factor hits -50C/-58F. When it gets that cold, you have a choice. You either stay home and hibernate or you suck it up and get out and get some air and a little exercise.

I'll admit, that it isn't much fun when it is that cold - especially when you are wearing so many layers that you look and feel like the Abominable Snowman. Climbing the stairs on any of the older city buses should be considered a true aerobic workout dressed like that! It should also be considered a double workout if you are wearing a backpack full of groceries or carrying heavy shopping bags!

It takes a special kind of person to survive a Manitoba winter. A lot of people bitch about the cold and the snow or even try to "escape" for a week or two to a warmer climate, but they are only making it harder on themselves by exposing their systems to extremes in temperatures and our hatred of their ability to actually leave without taking us with them!!! The nerve of some people!!

I'm not a big fan of the really cold weather but if I had to choose between -30C and +30C, I'll take -30C thank you. As my grandmother always said: "You can always put more clothes on, but there is only so much you can take off!"

dn

Sometimes Morals Suck!

I've been writing this blog for almost a year now and I've talked about a lot of personal beliefs and opinions. I've shared my feelings on a number of very personal things, like religion, inner peace, my weight, vision loss and looks.

I've written about my beliefs in "Love at First Sight", "Soul Mates" and "Telepathy". I wrote a post about "Female/Male Relationships". I even wrote posts in November called "An Open Letter - Dear Mr. Right" ( part 1 and part 2 ).

I really do believe in the personal things that I write about, but there is also a flip side to what I've written about love and relationships that I haven't talked about.

As much as I cherish my independence and privacy, there are times that it really sucks being single and alone. There are days and many nights that I wish there was someone to share a thought, an embrace, and the more intimate pleasures of being alive.

I know that I am not alone in this. There are millions of single women and men who are in the same boat. There are even many married people who lack that connection and intimacy.

We are all human and whether we want to admit it or not, we long for that human touch and the pleasures of intimacy. What separates us, is where we sit on the moral compass of relationships. Some are in relationships emotionally and physically. Some are there on an emotional level, but not so much physically. Some are in it more for the physical benefits and try to avoid the emotional side.

I've never been in the "physical benefits only" division, but there have been times that I've been very tempted. You feel a strong attraction to someone and you can't help but wonder what it would be like to be with that person. You feel an emotional or a physical chemistry, but you have to stop because if you don't you'd be crossing a line that you swore you wouldn't cross. The urge is very strong but you feel compelled to fight it. If you crossed that line strictly for physical benefits, you will only end up being hurt or hurting someone else - especially if either of you are not "free" to pursue. No matter how hard we try, the physical will become emotional for at least one person at some point.

Sometimes you can avoid the person, but that isn't always a viable option. An affair may seem like an option, but if they cheat with you, the odds are they will cheat on you. If you risk telling the other person how you feel, it could get very awkward if the feeling isn't mutual or one of you isn't free. For many, the only acceptable answer is to just enjoy that few minutes of chemistry when that person is around. If it is meant to be, then someday, somehow you will be together.

Remember the old 1978-1984 TV series "Fantasy Island"? You know, the one with Ricardo Montalban (who just passed away this past week at age 88) as the host Mr. Roarke and Hervé Villechaize as his assistant, Tattoo? Every week, people would arrive on the island to fulfill a fantasy. Some were wild adventures, some were touching, some were fun and some were... well let's just say of a more intimate nature. They pretty much wanted a free pass to explore the fantasies of the "What if...." variety. They wanted to experience guilt free pleasure and intimacy with a lost love, a friend, an acquaintance, or a fantasy lover. There was usually a consequence of some sort to the weekend, but that part wasn't always fully explored. There were moral lessons, but it was more focused on the pleasure and escapism of the story. It was fitting for the free wheeling sexual revolution of the time, but there were and are consequences.

In 1998, there was a brief remake of the series, with Malcolm McDowell (Mr. Roarke) and Fyvush Finkel and Sylvia Sidney as elderly travel agents who arranged the trips, but it only lasted 13 weeks as it was seen as a little too dark. It tended to show the consequences of our fantasies in more detail than many of us would want to know. Personally, I loved the dark humour that was often displayed with this remake.

So here I am - 51, single and no one to share with. There is nothing wrong in being single and nothing wrong in enjoying a few fantasies of the "What if..." variety. Despite, what some might say, there is also nothing wrong with learning to pleasure one's self - in fact many of us would be even crazier if we didn't experience the occasional release. It's just that sometimes we really need that physical connection with another human being and a hug from a friend just ain't gonna cut it! Neither is sleeping with a body pillow. All the chocolate in the world can't replace that physical presence of another human being. As much as I'd like to be with my soul mate, I also just want some love and companionship. Is that really too much to ask? I know, I know, be careful what I wish for, but I want my "Fantasy Island" - consequences and all!

Yup, sometimes morals really suck.

dn

Playing Games

I've never thought of myself as a "gamer", but there are several games that I have come to love playing on my PC! When I got my new PC in November, there were a number of games that I was unable to transfer and boy oh boy did I miss them! Playing the games that came with the PC just didn't satisfy me. I wanted my favourites back! I was in game withdrawal! Until I found them or suitable replacements, I just wasn't going to be a happy camper!

As I mentioned the other day, it started out innocently enough with playing Free Cell and Hearts. They are both fun and don't require a lot of skill - mostly luck and a good memory. The problem is that they aren't very interesting over the long haul. Playing Free Cell for more than a few rounds gets tired fast! Playing Hearts for more than a few games is fun with real people and conversation, but can get rather annoying when you are playing against three PC characters that insist on sticking you with the Queen of Spades and all the Hearts they can! Although I have won a few games and have often gotten scores in the 20's and 30's - I think it is a conspiracy!

I started looking for other games as I wanted a bit more of a challenge. I wanted to know what my vision and eye hand coordination was actually capable of doing. I had been doing Sudoku puzzles for a few years, but finding a suitable version on line wasn't easy. There just wasn't the same ability to make your own hints in the corners, without which, can make some of the more difficult puzzles next to impossible to solve. Some versions had the hints built in but that took the fun and challenge out of figuring it out for yourself. One version, Buku SuDoKu, (a Game Giveaway Of The Day feature that is trapped on my old PC!) came close. Sudoku is one of those games that is probably better left to paper and pen/pencil.

I've tried a number of jigsaw puzzles, but the only one that I play on a daily basis is Playtonium Daily Jigsaw. It is offered on a number of sites, and gives you several customizable features such as changing the background colour (a must with some puzzles that seem to wash out on the basic grey background), number of pieces (I take the 50) and piece rotation (a little too hard for these eyes).

I found a couple of mini golf games that are pretty simple visually, but at least a couple of the holes can be a real pain! I've gotten par or a bit better several times on both but can also do miserably if my aim is even slightly off! I took a screen shot of my best scorecard just to prove that I had actually done so well! "Mini Putt" "Island Mini Golf"



I've tried a number of versions of Mah Jong. (Many of the games have their own way of spelling the name) The ones that have variations of the basic Chinese tiles are far to detailed for me to see the subtle differences. Unless the game has alternate sets of tiles that are easily distinguishable, I won't even bother trying to play even the simplest boards. The one that I have found the easiest visually, is "Mahjong Towers Eternity" - I got this version, with an e-card a year ago. There are a few tile sets included and I really like the musical instrument one! You can also download a lot of layouts of varying difficulty. The game opens a browser on closing, but that is minor. Two others that I enjoy are "GameHouse Mah Jong Medley" and "Cafe Mahjongg". Some Mah Jong games will even allow you to create your own tile sets and layouts.

There is a game called "Ingenious" that is sort of a cross between Chinese Checkers, Domino's and Othello. It is a challenge to win this one, but it can be done! I had this on my old PC and was lucky enough to find another full version copy of it on line.

I have a lot of match 3 games and a few word games that I really enjoy, but I'll save my comments about those for a post down the road. For now I'd like to share a little advice and words of wisdom when it comes to finding games to play on line or to download.

There are tons of games out there in almost any theme or genre you can imagine. Some you can play on line for varying amounts of time with or without memberships and some can only be played if you download a version from the web site that includes commercials or opening a browser on closing the game. You have to BUY the full version games to get the unlimited commercial free versions.

If you DO sign up for a membership on any site:
- READ the agreement before you sign up. Some sites require you to have them as your default browser or that a toolbar be installed.
- Never use your real name! Create an online identity to protect yourself and your personal information.
- Create a strong alpha/numeric/symbol password to protect your email and games accounts.
- Create a specific email account using an online service such as Hotmail, Yahoo or Gmail that is strictly for gaming sites that require an address. That way if there is a problem, only that email account will be affected not your personal or professional accounts.
- Before disclosing any personal or financial information be sure that the URL includes "https" and there should also be a locked padlock visible with the URL or at the bottom of the page.

There are file sharing sites and software programs such as Bit Torrent and Limewire that you can use to find full versions of games, music and other programs BUT you have to be EXTREMELY careful if you venture into this area. I have had both good and bad luck with downloads from these programs. Here are a few things you should be aware of:
- Not all files/matches that fit your search criteria are safe or legitimate!
- Know the size of file/program you are looking for (you can find that info by going to a games website and doing a little reading on system requirements.
- if there are comments attached to the download READ THEM!
- ALWAYS scan files for viruses BEFORE you extract or open them!
- some games will only work if you install and run as Administrator, especially if you are using Vista.
- While installing, watch out for unwanted additions like agreeing to toolbars or changing your browser. UNCHECK those boxes whenever possible!

For the PC game novices and the wary among us, I strongly feel that the Games Forum at Giveway Of The Day is still the most informative, open and friendly place to learn about the ins and outs of almost any type of game.

Gaming is a great way to improve your mousing skills, give your brain a bit of a challenge or a way to relax! Whatever your needs, there is at least one game out there for you! So be safe and have some fun!

dn