A Tumbleweed Christmas
In those days, I worked for the Dept. of Motor Vechicles, in the state of California. I lived in Lancaster, California, which is about 50 miles north of Los Angeles. This is dessert area. Very hot in the summer time and snow every three years in the winter time.This particular winter was an easy winter.
At least the weather was easy. My life started to crumble before my very eyes.At the ripe age of 38, I almost had a stroke on my job and was ordered by my doctor to quit my job. Quit my job! What was I going to do? We were in a small town and jobs were scarce! I could never find a job with the job security I had with the State of California. The good part is I had a choice, if you could call it that. I could stay on my current job and risk dying there or I could quit and live for my child.
What a choice! For me, there was only one choice. My child came first.The only work I had ever done was in offices and most of the jobs listed in the local paper wanted you to type 80 words per minute. I must admit typing was never my best attribute and 80 words per minute was way out of my range; 60 words per minute was more in my range.I had managed to save a little nest egg while I was working and drew out my retirement money. I tried to start a home business, but failed with that. My money was almost gone and I didn't have anything to fall back on.On top of all of that, it was getting close to Christmas.
Now what? The only alternative I had was to go to the Dept of Public Services [better known as welfare]. They told me it would be two months before I could receive any money, although I would get food stamps right away. Well, at least I knew we would eat at Christmas time! What about gifts, a tree and all the other things that my daughter and I had gotten used to all those years? You know, the "traditional" things all families in the United States had at Christmas? I knew one thing, I couldn't and wouldn't let my daughter down!I took sewing in school, had made men's suits at one time and had an old sewing machine. A friend of mine had given me ten bolts of material they had stashed away when cleaning out their garage. I would make my daughter some clothes for Christmas.
My daughter, at 11 years old, was so brave. After I explained our situation to her, she set about asking one of our neighbors to teach her how to do macrame. If you aren't familar with this craft, it was used to make the plant holders they had then out of yarn.I didn't know she was doing this and I set about sewing her Christmas gifts while she spent time at the neighbors house. I thought she was playing and having a good time.I still had one problem. What would I do about a tree? I told my daughter that we wouldn't be able to have a tree this Christmas.
She said to me, "Mom, why not use a tumbleweed?". I thought about it and said why not? They were plentiful in the dessert and free.We went out and chose a tumbleweed just as if we were picking out the perfect Christmas tree. When we found the right one, we came home, put lights on it and popped pop corn and strung them for the tree.Christmas morning we arose full of anticipation and excitement. I was surprised to find two gifts under the tree with my name on them. How did my daughter get me two gifts? She had no money.When I questioned her about it, she said, "Just open them mom!".
I opened them and was pleasently surprised! They were simply beautiful. They even matched my decor! She explained how all the time she had spent at the neighbors house, she had been learning to make these for me. This touched my heart to the core. I have never forgot it to this day. Neither has my daughter.
When she talks about Christmas now, she always mentions our tumbleweed Christmas and how she remembers that Chistmas over all the rest. She always refers to it as the best Christmas we ever had.(c) Jane Fulton/Smart.
Jane Fulton/Smart and her partner has just launched a series of sites that, when put together offers you excellent exposure for your business and will help you get a business started on the internet, without spending a lot of money. Check it out here: http://jnjservices.biz.The First Nationwide Online Reservation System for the Pet Care Industry Has Been Launched
Chicago, Ill. (ContentDesk) August 24, 2005 -- FindPetCare.com, Inc has launched the first nationwide pet care reservation system enabling pet owners and travel agencies to make real-time reservations for pet boarding and daycare while connecting thousands of U.S. pet care providers with millions of pet owners nationwide."We aim to enable over 70 millions of American families that own at least one pet to conveniently include pet boarding or daycare into their vacation plans while increasing pet owner awareness of professional pet care services. Until now there was no easy way a pet owner or travel agent could have shopped for the best service and made, in 5 minutes, an online reservation to board a pet and pay with a credit card," said Loriana Kirlig, co-founder of FindPetCare.com, Inc. "Our goal is to bring all pet care providers online, such as boarding kennels or daycare facilities, to start accepting guaranteed online reservations, 24/7, from thousands of travel agencies and millions...
The First Nationwide Online Reservation System for the Pet Care Industry Has Been Launched
Suits > The First Nationwide Online Reservation System for the Pet Care Industry Has Been Launched
There's a New (Tutti Bella) Kid on the Block
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASELOS ANGELES, California ? February 17, 2003New (Tutti Bella) Kid on the BlockTutti Bella, the high-end online baby boutique has a new sibling! Beginning this month, Tutti Bella Kids, (www.tuttibellakids.com), will offer clothing, room furnishings, and accessories for trendy tots who've grown too big for Tutti Bella.Tutti Bella Kids will carry an adorable selection of boys' and girls' clothing from many of the brands Tutti Bella shoppers love including Mad Sky, Frolic, Psketti, CC Clothing, Lili Paris, and Icky Products. The site will also sell pajamas, bathing suits, and lounge wear. Tutti Bella Kids knows how to make bedtime beautiful. The site will sell twin and full-size bedding in feminine floral and cowboy prints, sure to bring sweet dreams. And don't miss the fun robot-themed travel bed that's also great for sleepovers.
Shopping for a gift is fun and easy at Tutti...
There's a New (Tutti Bella) Kid on the Block
Suits > There's a New (Tutti Bella) Kid on the Block
No income verification loans ? when income doesn?t show on paychecks
Financial statements, salaries, income proof, documents, paycheck, W-2 forms, 1099's - there is an exhaustive list of some of the forms that you may require to provide for a loan. Income documentation is not always easy for someone who is self employed or retired or for any person who doesn't have a fixed source of income. You may have high income and assets. Undocumented income can get good gains in the context of tax deductions. However, it might frustrate a loan borrowing attempt because the loan borrowers usually require two to three years of employment proof even for self employed.
A no income verification loan can counter this situation when you can't adhere to conventional loan demands. The no income verification loan are applicable to everyone and not just self employed people. In fact many people apply for no income verification loans for the simple reason that they are processed faster. No income verification loans have three basic types ? stated income loans, no ratio...
No income verification loans ? when income doesn?t show on paychecks
Suits > No income verification loans ? when income doesn?t show on paychecks
Santa Claus is Making a Comeback For This Season
Philadelphia, PA (ContentDesk) December 9, 2005 -- The holiday season 2005 has had its share of controversial marketing mess-ups.
While some retailers have chosen to take Santa Claus and Christmas out of the holidays, Planetsanta.com can attest to the fact that Christmas and Santa Claus are very much alive and well.Richard Williamson, President of Pierre's Costumes and Planetsanta.com based in Philadelphia said "It is refreshing to hear our customers say -- Merry Christmas -- We enjoy the warmth and joy of the season, and it make us and our customers very happy."Williamson has been in the Santa Suit business for 20 plus years and his company has been in the Santa Claus costume business for over 60 years.
"Seriously, it gives me a really great feeling to offer tips and advise to a guy playing Santa Claus for the first time" continued Williamson.
"We will give them tips like having a helper get the name of the child along with a fact like their pet or teachers...
Suits > Santa Claus is Making a Comeback For This Season
Move over Gold & Platinum - There's a Hot New Metal for Mens Wedding Rings
(ContentDesk) June 18, 2006 -- Hip, young, men are increasingly choosing alternative metals for their jewelry. While their fathers wear 14kt gold or the more expensive platinum, the Generation X'ers are gravitating in large numbers to tungsten carbide, titanium, carbon fiber, and stainless steel.