Comment Showcase

We get pleasure from reading the comments on our blogs and appreciate some of our readers taking extra time to leave them for us. I know I generally don't look at the comments on posts unless I want to make a comment so thought it would be nice to highlight some of the ones we received the last two weeks that we thought were exceptional. Here they are:

Beaded Tail commented on 5 Things I Learned This Week--Part 22

Beaded Tail said: Very clever about the moat around the cat food bowl!

And I finished your book last night and enjoyed it very much! It was everything you said and more! I felt myself going through the emotions that you must have been feeling when dealing with your dad from happiness and laughter to frustration and even sadness. Thank you so much!

On What Graduate Can You Surprise?

I chose the following interesting comments to share here:

Lin said...

My daughter just graduated from 8th grade and my husband's side "does not celebrate" grade school graduations, so the party will be a little sparse. We've received a few cards, but people don't think to send them anymore. I think you are right--it is a nice treat! How kind of you to do that for the kids.

Sandee said...

Only one this year, my granddaughter. She did get a card with money inside and next month on her birthday (18 years old) we are buying her a car.

What a nice thing you are doing though. Good for you.

Have a terrific day. :)

Anonymous said... (I don't get many anonymous comments, wonder who you are?)

The kids love it, they like that they are better at it than Joe and I am they can all play, we mostly play when it is rainy outside so it is a fun thing, they like the bowling and the boxing and all those games it is more geared toward "todays" kids, rather than us that actually went bowling all the time. I like the Wii fit but really do not get to play very much. All in all we do not play the wii nearly as much as I thought we would but it is fun for the kids.

On What Do You Do At Lunch Besides Eat? Mountain Woman said...

I'm retired now but when I was working, I'd head to the gym (which was close by) and swim laps. It always left me refreshed and not quite so hungry and ready to face the hectic afternoon.

The last thing we want to do is hurt someone's feelings doing this. We just thought it may encourage some more to comment and give a little recognition to those who leave comments. We seem to have a nice group of commenters and thought we'd like to try this and see how it goes. Let us know what you think.

7 Things I Learned This Week of 2009--Part 23

Get Your Blog Analyzed

When I checked out the discussion forum on Blogging Tips at Book Blogs I learned about using website.grader.com to analyze my blogs for free. Wow, it is great, quick and easy! It gives you a lot of information and also suggestions on thing to do to improve your blog plus a grade. This blog got an 85, my Zemeks' Updates got a 91 and My Funny Dad, Harry got an 86. It said though that Google thinks that my blogs with the www. and without are two different blogs and so my traffic count is split. Anyone know how I can fix this?

Cat Information

From reading The Ultimate Cat Lover, The Best Experts' Advice for a Happy, Healthy Cat with Stories and Photos of Fabulous Felines by Marty Becker D.V.M, I learned the following:

• www.bestfriends.org (pictures of the pet rescue of New Orleans after the hurricane);


• www.help4pets.com and www.thecenterforlostpets.com (both these have advice on how to prevent loss or find a runaway pet).


• A foundation that is an identification system for pets in any emergency, such as lost, house fire, car accident, natural disaster, travel emergencies, can be reached at 1-800-HELP-4-PETS.


• It's best to let the cat go or stop petting it before it gets antsy so it will want more.


• When taking pictures of cats, for best results indoors use a flash and get to their level. Try to have plain background but incorporate windows or plants in the shot to give a feeling of outdoors.

I recommend this book to all cat owners!

Book Blogs

While doing my EC drops last Friday, I came across a badge for Book Blogs and decided to check it out. This is a site for bloggers who read books, review books, promote books and write books so I thought I would join since I read a lot and do book reviews on my blog. See the badge on my left side bar by what we're reading now?

Kevine Laue--What Determination!

At Strong and Fit I learned about Kevine Laue, a one-armed college basketball player! What a great inspirational story.

Time to Weigh-In

When reading Health Nut Wannabee Mom, I learned that the best time to get weighed to get your most accurate reading is before breakfast in the morning while nude. To maintain weight, it's good to weigh in every day. Health Nut Wannabee Mom also said we should eat breakfast every day before 8 a.m. and within 15-30 minutes of waking up. (This is something I don't do--I eat breakfast, but usually get up at 4 a.m. and don't eat until 5:30 a.m.). What about you?

Reducing Stress

At Beyond Horizons I found a great list of things we can do to reduce stress in our lives the Christian way in a two-part post. I think it's worth checking out because I do many of these things and find it works. One thing I would add to the list, however, would be to pet and play with your pets!

Find Your Best Friend--a Pet

Tomorrow at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is "Meet Your Best Friend Day" at the Zoo's ticket plaza. This is a free event from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. with over 100 adoptable dogs and cats from over 20 area shelters and rescue groups with pet care information and giveaways. Gerard and I go every year--it's fantastic! Each year we are tempted to bring home a dog. One of these days, I'm sure it will happen. We're trying to hold out until we retire. If you're in the area, why not go and see what's available. There may be one or two that will catch your eye and steal your heart! Bring cash just in case.

What Celtic Animal Are You?

Since I am a huge animal lover, I just had to take this quiz. In Gary Smalley's personality quiz I am a beaver and Gerard is a Golden Retriver, but this quiz says Gerard and I are ravens based solely on our birth dates.

Your Animal is the Raven

You have an incredible work ethic and are very tenacious. You like to productive. No matter what you want in life, you're committed to making it happen. You are infinitely patient. You are philosophical about life and feel that good things will eventually come. You believe it's important to carve out your own space in the world. You will change your life until you feel comfortable.

Just for fun

click here to find out Celtic Animal you are?

More Money From Blog Net Awards!

I won another $50 CAN from Blog Net Awards just by commenting about other blogs! It's so easy! You could win too. Why not start with voting for my other blog--My Funny Dad, Harry.

What Graduate Can You Surprise?

I remember when I graduated from High School, how happy I was to be out and what an important event it was in my life; however, I was even more thrilled when I graduated from college knowing that now I was really done! Back than graduation parties were not as common as they are today. We just had some relatives over and whatever cards we got in the mail from friends or family. I was very grateful to my Aunt Martha and Dorothy for giving me my first car for graduation, their Rambler back in 1971.

I was also very surprised when I got a card with a check in the mail from someone at church. It was completely unexpected. It came from Norm, the friendliest and biggest man I ever knew even though had no real connection with him other than just greeting each other on Sunday mornings. He talked to everyone from kids up through seniors. He passed away, but I'll never forget him and his heart for youth!

Now, it's my turn to brighten a graduate's day and surprise them with a card and a check they are not expecting. I thought it was such a nice gesture and I enjoy doing it now, although I limit it to graduates that I have taught along the way or have had some kind of connection with such as a fellow puppeteer or VBS worker. Graduation is a milestone in a person's life that is nice to share in the celebration.

Why not get a card and write a check for a graduate you know, or give them a car if you have a spare? I am surprising eight this year, with checks, not cars. How many will you surprise?