I know there are many levels in which books are used.  From the "See, Dick run" to the  ones where I can't even interpret what they are trying to say.  There are audio books in other languages, audio books to learn other languages.  But, I've seen and heard of audio books being used in a couple of places in particular.

I've heard people talk about using an audio book on long trips when they were alone and had a book they wanted to read but didn't have time for.  And, people who are trying to learn other languages as well.

My idea of a good use of audio books is when my kids know the words to the doggone book but want me to read it anyway.  Books that have new words, I like to read to them so I can point the words out, but when I've read the book 700 times and they can read it to me but insist that I read it, I love the audio book way.  They love it too.  It is totally worth my sanity sometimes to kick back and surf or work and let them read and listen on their own.  You should try it.

If figure if I am going to chat up my birthday here on this site, I might as well take you the professional me.  The me that has a B.S in Education and a Masters in Counseling.  Yes, I am way more educated than  my writing every appears to show.  If I use one of those sites that determines the maturity level of your writing, I almost always rank somewhere around "high school to barely out of high school". 

There's a reason for that.  I like for my reading to be....readable.  I've tried reading periodicals (for assignments in college obviously) that the author is so educated that not even he/she understands what needs to be interpreted.  So, with that, I try to keep my posts in a a language that is reasonable, on topic and simply relay my message to whoever is trying to read. 

So, with that, I'll give you the photo I used on my resume' when I graduated from college in 1991.  So, with that, I'll give you circa 1991.

I know that is some might big hair there.  But for that time i my life, that is about as good as it every looked.  I never had good hair, and right now, as I scan through photos, I don't see any to actually prove how bad my hair was when I was younger.  Actually, I did find a couple, but you will have to make your way of to some of my other blogs to see those, because, hey, this is my September 3, 2008 Professional Look Post.  After all, I am 40 TODAY!

You can find the rest of my 40th Birthday posts at the links here.

I've lived in 3 states and held down a job in two of those.  I didn't work at all when we lived in Florida but I've worked in both Alabama and Georgia.  And, currently I'm working from home which happens to be the coolest thing ever.  I was featured in our local paper yesterday and it was kind of neat.  I was called a "professional blogger" and it kind of made me laugh.  I don't consider myself a professional blogger but each to their own. 

We owned a daycare, and by we?  I mean my husband I bought it together but I did the work.  We closed that and sold our equipment last month.  I couldn't have been more excited to own my own business but I was also ready to let it go.  Now, I'm blogging for bucks at home and I love it.  I don't see me moving from the area I live in now but if you are up for a move or already live in the Boston area, there are jobs in Boston that you might be really qualified for and you definitely need to check them out before you get moving on something else.

Go see what you think, you never know until you try, right?

Our local paper did an article on my blogging.  I am not one to boast or brag about myself and I was perfectly content knowing that my information would be in the Lifestyles section of the paper yesterday. 

When word came through that the article would instead be front page of Monday's paper, you know Labor Day, I almost threw up a little bit.  Wow!  I mean, it is Labor Day, right?  And, my article is about how I labor from home, right?  But, man....how fascinating is that?

And, I'm giving you the link, feel free to go check it out, as a matter of fact, I'd love it if you would go check it out.  And, if you have a minute to leave me some feedback, I would greatly appreciate it and I'm sure the writer of the article would as well.

So, I give you Carbon Hill mother makes money from blogging.

I want to throw a big howdy and welcome to all of you who came here via The Daily Mountain Eagle Lifestyles Section of today's paper.  I'll do my best to be a good host but I don't really have any refreshments to offer except that stuff over there in my archives.  Give them a whirl!

Here's a complete list, if you are interested:

Mom~E~Centric - 5 months old but technically since I moved from a previous blog to this new dig, approximately 6 years of real life blogging.  All of the information hasn't been converted over yet, just bare with me as I move posts one at a time

A Crack 'n Life:  3 years old

Life in Reality:  18 months old

TV Boyfriends:  16 months old

Mom is Teaching:  1 month for me as author, but 19 months total with another author 18 months

Marital Talk: 1 month for me as author, but 19 months total with another author for 18 months

Mental and Emotional Health:  1 month for me as author, but it was started in 2006 with another author

So, make yourself at home, then comment and let me know you came by.

I want to throw a big howdy and welcome to all of you who came here via The Daily Mountain Eagle Lifestyles Section of today's paper.  I'll do my best to be a good host but I don't really have any refreshments to offer except that stuff over there in my archives.  Give them a whirl!

If you are an avid reader of my blog, you most definitely have seen the places where I've posted in a Dirty Housewives Unite Contest and...well, I won.  And, if you read my blog often, you can see that once a week I post a series called "What Would Martha Do?" which is obviously in reference to Martha Stewart.  What I'm getting at is, we are very busy, running our kids al over the country side, and since we live in the boondocks, it is a major issue just to go for a gallon of milk or a loaf of bread.

However, when we bought our house, I demanded some nice furniture.  That doesn't mean I know how to keep it clean, it just means that I wanted some nice stuff.  One of the things I wanted in my home was some a nice bedroom suit.  And, basically, I was just so excited to have a house that I let my husband pick out most of our furniture.  But, the bedroom furniture was not something I was willing to negotiate on.  I wanted something pretty. 

I would have preferred something really feminine but in the end, I settled for something that my husband thought he liked as well.  There's just nothing like a marital agreement uh?  So, a platform bed was the answer to our furniture issue.  One of the places that you can find some great furniture, and platform beds to boot, is South Shore Furniture.  So, if you are in the market, go take a look and see if you can find what you need.

Somewhere in Alabama: you will find:

A Crack 'n Life

Life In Reality

TV Boyfriends

The others should be added by tomorrow.

Mom is Teaching

Marital Talk

Mental & Emotional Health

Swimwear has never been a hot topic of conversation for me.  I mean, even when I could wear a bikini, it had to be an expensive Body Glove suit that was capable of squishing in this and that and helping the body look a little better.  And, now?  Now that I weigh over 200 pounds, I'm definitely wondering how in the world I'm suppose to go to the beach and not look like some kind of whale.

So, when we were making the decision to go to the beach late this summer and when I say late, I mean like next week, I knew I wanted a suit I could wear on the beach and not feel like I had to keep my cover-up on the entire time I was outside.  So, ladies and gentleman, I've found the ultimate in swimwear.  I ordered 2 suits and one of them came today.  I put it on and my husband even said, "Hey that looks good". I mean, it can only look so good on a 200 pound person but still, you get what I'm talking about.

This is not my real post, this is just a shameless plug but it does relate to how public schools go about raising money on a regular basis.  So, if you want to order, fine, if not, tell me what you think about the methods that the teachers and administrators as well as PTO members go through in order to ensure funding for the schools.

My son is in Kindergarten.  And, if you ask me much about the fact that it took almost $125 to get his school supplies and that didn't count clothes, socks, underwear and shoes, you will get an ear full on the sad state of education in Alabama.  However, over the years, I've watched fund raiser after fund raiser just flop. 

I didn't join the PTO yet, and I may not.  I kind of like my volunteering thus far in a way that suits me and the person who needs my help without pushing myself onto just any and everyone else. 

Moreover, when I say our first fund raiser coming our way, I was a little apprehensive.  But, it is one that I've been a part of before as a buyer.  I've purchased from folks in the neighborhood over the years and the products involved in this particular fund raiser are not bad at all.  Naturally some of the items, particularly the chocolates, appear to be way over priced.  But, the other items, which include calendars, wrapping paper, decorate-your-own-plate, coffee mugs,etc just happens to be one of my favorites.

You see, at Christmas, I wrap all of our gifts in different kinds of paper.  However, Santa Clause has paper that is not like any of the other paper under the tree.  For all those purposes, I use just plain wrapping paper that I can buy cheap at Wal-mart or Target or where ever. 

But, when it comes to buying paper to wrap gifts for special friends, bosses, teachers, etc, I like to have at least one roll of this really good stuff.  Yes, it costs a bit more but it is really thick and it folks nicely to make pretty corners and it simply has an "expensive" feel to it.

So, as I make my shameless plug here and ask you to check it out, go see the website and if you choose to order, please put in our information that way my son gets credit for it and the teachers and the administrators don't think I am a totally useless parent. 

And, to admit the truth, I really am interested in making sure I don't look like a totally useless parent.....truth hurts sometimes but heck, I'm an honest gal. 

I know this has nothing to do with A Crack 'n Life but I'm just throwing this in here, this isn't my real thoughts for the day.

The website address is Innisbrook and our code is 106338.  When you get to the site, here are the directions:

1.  click shop

2.  enter that code 106338

3.  hit go

4.  select a school which is the only choice and it is "Lupton Junior H.S. - Nauvoo Al

5.  Click Continue

6.  Enter "Seller Number 1" and at this point, I'm having a hard time finding out what  my son's Seller number is, but as soon as I have it, I'll come back and make a big announcement.

And, as it is, you can't do much more until I find that information.   You can still show around and find something you might like to have and I'll get back to you asap with that number.

This is by no means a beg or plea, just something I'm throwing out here as something you might be interested in because I was totally truthful about the wrapping paper and I'm being totally honest when I tell you I would never pay that kind of money for chocolate...lol.   I'll get back to you.