Amazon Appstore for Android

I  know a bunch of you have new Android phones, and I wanted to tell you about Amazon.com's Appstore, in case you haven't heard about it yet.  I saw a little news blurb about it today and logged on to see what it offered.  It advertises one free app every day for Android phones.  That isn't such a big deal since there are so many free apps anyway, but I found a list of 100 free apps and downloaded a bunch. 

It was very easy - you will be prompted, with your phone handy, to enter your phone number, and then follow the easy directions to install the Amazon installer app.  Then pick your apps!

Here's what I got for free tonight:

Today's advertised freebie is a game:

 Angry Birds Rio

  I also got:

Angry Birds Seasons Free

 ColorNote Notepad Notes 

Compass

 

Catch Notes

Roller Lite

 

Scanner Radio

WiFi Analyzer 

Wordsmith Free

These are my nine new apps.  I don't know if I will keep them all, but I love Skee-ball and Scrabble, the Wi-Fi app shows the nearest wi-fi places available, whether they are locked or not, you can even pin-point them on a map. 

The scanner radio - I don't know.  It was kind of heard to decipher the voices when I listened for a minute.  Might come in handy, though.  The Angry Bird games are very popular.  I tried one when I first got my Android phone.  It was fun at first, then I got stumped and couldn't go further and gave up.

The Compass could be really good to have - I also have a "level" app that will come in handy when leveling my RV.  

The Catch Notes and ColorNote Notepad Notes are obviously both note apps, but they look different, and Catch Notes goes with the Compass app, so I'll keep both for now and see which I find more useful.

There you have it - I now have 87 apps.  Sounds like a lot, but I do use a lot of them, and others are there for that JIC - Just In Case - scenario.  If you are interested, google Amazon's Appstore and have fun!

From Me and My Dog, have a great Wednesday, everyone!  : )

Do you carry an "8" in your wallet?

First, a big WELCOME to Teri, our newest Follower.  Thanks for signing on, Teri.  I'm planning to be a full-timer, hopefully I'll purchase a used Class C this summer or fall (sooner if the right one falls into my lap), keep working until December, then hit the road.  I CAN'T WAIT!  I hope you enjoy following the process with me and Katie, my dog, and then the adventures we'll have starting January 2012 or sooner. : )

Quick blog today.  I've been wanting to ask you all if you have heard of carrying an "8" in your wallet.

 

I heard someone talking about it on the radio one night a few years ago.  He said if you put a piece of paper with the number 8 on it in your wallet, money will come your way.   Listeners were calling in and telling stories about how it worked for them.

I'll believe about anything, so I went to my computer, typed an 8 in a large font, printed it out and cut it into a small square.  I put it in my wallet. 

I have to tell you, I forget it's there, but once in a while I clean out my wallet, take out old receipts and other things to throw away, then I see the eight.  Each time I think about it and what it's there for.

I've never been poor or really wanted for anything I needed, never went to bed hungry. I've never had a lot of money, either.  But it seems like since I have had that 8 in my wallet, my finances have been smoother.  It's not that money has dropped out of the sky or anyone has given me money, but opportunities have come my way to make money, I've had more refunds and rebates, my tax returns have been more than I expected.  Little things here and there.  Sale prices, good deals seemed to come my way.  And my attitude about what I wanted and/or needed changed.  Sounds weird, doesn't it?

I think that most things in life happen because one way or another we make them happen. It might be unconscious or subtle, but we pretty much float our own boats.  And I think having that 8 caused a subtle change in my thinking and spending.  Maybe the sales and deals were because I researched more.  Maybe I was subconsciously looking for more opportunities to make money and was willing to take them.  I've been saving more money than I ever have before, and paying down debt.  And it hasn't been difficult.

Did the 8 make all that happen?  Of course not, I did it.  But did the 8 somehow help me change?  Who knows?   I think maybe it did.

Do any of you have an 8 in your wallets?

From Me and My Dog, Katie, have a great Monday evening, everyone! : )

Hydroponic Peace Plant with Beta Fish

When I was outside yesterday, my neighbor called me over to see what she made.  It was a Hydroponic Peace Plant.  Have you seen those?  I made one years ago, but had forgotten about them.  Hers was beautiful! I wanted one again.

I had a repair man here fixing my washing machine, and as soon as he left I went shopping to get the materials I needed to make one.  I already had the clear vase and rocks, but needed the male Beta fish and a Peace Plant. I had trouble finding a good plant, but finally found a gorgeous one at Home Depot.  I got the fish at WalMart.  They had quite a selection, most had beautiful colors.  The males are the most vibrant, females are more bland in their coloring.

Pretty with a turquoise ribbon 

 Isn't he gorgeous?

This would make a nice gift

I put a blue ribbon around the vase, but it should have a wide, wired ribbon with a big, pretty bow.  It's off to Michael's today.  They have tons of ribbon, and should have a good color that will match my new fish.

If you haven't seen these, there are a few plants that will thrive in water only, and don't need dirt.  (Although they are in pots with dirt when you buy them.) The fish gets what it needs from the roots of the plant, and the plant gets fertilizer from the fish droppings.   Betas are perfect for this, I don't know if other fish would work, but I know only one Beta should be in the water, because they will kill other fish and other Betas.  They are so beautiful and graceful. 

I think this would make a nice gift, but I would give a smaller one.  Minimal care - occasionally add water, once a day add Beta food.  I think after a while the fish gets all he needs from the roots and you can stop feeding.  That will become apparent if/when he doesn't touch his food.

If you are interested in making one of these, you can use a smaller vase and smaller plant.  If I ever do this again, I'll make a smaller one.   Mine is 38 inches tall, from the bottom of the vase to the top of the tallest flower.  Too tall for my dining room table.  It almost hits the chandelier.  

The only hard part - be prepared for this! - is getting all the dirt off the roots.  It took me forever, and I had to take the plant apart, break intertwining roots, used my kitchen faucet sprayer, pulled little dirt-embedded baby roots off, and finally got tweezers to reach spots my fingers couldn't reach.  What a pain!  A smaller plant would have fewer roots, and they wouldn't be so entwined.

This photo is from the link I found with materials/directions on the web.  I was going to add the link, but now I can't find it.  It had great directions, so if you're interested, you'll have to Google for it yourself.  I'm usually a good researcher, but this one stumped me when trying to find it again.

 Hydroponic Peace Plant with Beta Fish

I've heard during my lifetime how there is nothing new.  When I saw my neighbor's plant, I thought of that.  Once you get to be my age, there is little that's new.  Things just recycle - you enjoy them, you forget about them, then they come back.  Sometimes they are a little different, but you remember them, and they feel familiar.  This one was exactly like the one I made long ago, and it brought back some great memories of people and places.  I guess that's why I immediately wanted to put another one together.

From Me and My Dog, Katie, have a great weekend, everyone! : )

Cody correction: Chiweenie

I have a correction to make about what kind of dog Cody is - Kristy, my daughter, had told me he "has a face like a German Shephard puppy."  I thought she said he was part German Shephard.  Chihuahua/German Shephard mix - well, I'll leave that one alone.

They think he is part Chihuahua and part Dachshund.  This mix is called a "Chiweenie."  That's a new one on me!  I've never heard of it, but I guess with so many Chihuahuas now, we are going to get all kinds of new blends.  Here he is again, with granddaughter, Lauren, in the background--I recognize the shirt. : )

Cody

Kristy and the kids, Andrew and Lauren, Skyped me today and I got to see Cody in person - or at least on the screen.  He is so cute.  He IS very calm but can run fast and was playing with the kids, running after his ball -  they were screaming and laughing and running.  Cody plays really well with the kids, and they were very good with him. 

I can't wait to see how he and Katie get along.  Katie plays and runs with people, but I've never seen her play with another dog.  We'll be there a few days over Mother's Day, so Katie and Cody will have a chance to get to know each other.  Katie has never spent time with another animal since I've had her.

I was looking at Kristy's Facebook for a new photo of Cody, but the one above is the only one there, sorry for the repeat.  But I found a few new ones of my granddaughter, Lauren - couldn't resist:

 Lauren at the Park

 

Isn't that hair just great?!?

That's all for tonight - good grief - it's almost midnight.  Sleep well, everyone, from me and Katie! : )

My new dog-faced grandson & Happy St. Patrick's Day

We have a new addition to the family!  When my daughter Kristy e-mailed me about a new family addition, I saw the subject line and thought, a Baby???  A new room in the house???  Well, the new addition is a dog.  They have been wanting a dog for a long time.  My granddaughter, Lauren, three, just LOVES Katie.  Andrew, almost 6, likes her okay, but pretty much stays away from Katie.

 My dog-faced grandson, Cody

So, last weekend they were at the pet shelter and saw this little guy, who was perfect for them.  They named him Cody, he's  a four year old rescue dog, part Chihuahua (his body and legs) and German Shepherd (his head and face).  Isn't he cute?  He looks like a puppy.  Kristy said even Andrew loves him, so he must be a winner.  Kristy said he has a really nice nature, and in two days they haven't heard him bark.  They are sooo lucky - that's Katie's only real fault - she's a barker (but getting better).

I'm sure Lauren and Andrew are really enjoying Cody.  I'm driving up to visit them for Mother's Day, so I will get to meet him then. And Katie will meet her new ... nephew?

 These are the BEST Irish Coffees - at the Buena Vista in San Francisco.

Have a wonderful St. Patrick's Day, everyone, from me and Katie!  Irish Coffee, anyone?  : )