Simple Facebook Feature to Protect Your Account

In the blue bar at the top of most any Facebook page, select Account > Account Settings. Scroll down to account security and click "change." Then select "yes" to be notified by email every time your account is accessed from a new computer or device. Each time you log on for the first time from a device, you'll name the device...."phone" or "work" or whatever you choose, and then you'll recognize that device's name when you receive an email. If anyone else logs on from any other device or location (or even a different browser in some cases), you'll receive a notification email. If you receive a notification email, and you know you haven't been logged on to a new device, you'll know someone else is accessing your account.

This is a fast, easy way to monitor your account security, so there's no reason not to use it!

Doesn't "God" Ever Want To Say "No Comment"?

Before I get into the meat of this post, let me begin by saying that I do not intend to start a theological debate.  Nor is it my intention to proclaim any set of religious beliefs as specifically right or wrong.  I have no interest in condemning anyone for their chosen beliefs.  I am not in the business of converting others to my way of thinking OR of being converted to anyone else's way of thinking.  So, while this post will focus mainly on my observations of the Christian treatment of "God," I am not making any criticism of Christianity or any of its followers.

I have noticed, as I have connected with more and more people on various social networking sites (Facebook and others), that a great number of people will post updates asking for prayers, or praising their God, or stating that they know that their God will guide them/protect them/heal them/etc.  It is most specifically my Christian acquaintances that do this.  Among my Facebook friends, alone, I have no fewer than 10 friends who are employed by churches and countless others who openly and consistently practice the Christian faith.  There are, of course, others who are "part-time" Christians....you know: they think about their God on Easter, Christmas, Mother's Day, and any time they're in trouble, but mostly forget about the god concept the rest of the time.

There's Always A Reason [Follow-Up To Romantic History Blog]

After spending my evening last night with thoughts of relationships past, I thought to start my morning by finding something humorous to read about ex-boyfriends.  So began my search for funny quotes about exes.  What I found, however, surprised me enough to necessitate the writing of this blog entry.

So, what was it that I found?

I found, rather than a wealth of ex-boyfriend humor, the internet is flooded with sites promising to help you win back the "lost love" of an ex with hints, tips, advice, subscriptions and "foolproof systems."  Seriously?!?!

I was, once, friends with a woman who wasn't particularly outstanding in any way.  She wasn't all that smart, or interesting, or adventurous.  In hindsight, I suppose she was more of a friendly acquaintance than a real friend.  She never said much of anything of note, or much worth remembering.  But she DID have one phrase that she spoke quite often, and it was quite possibly the most wise thing I ever heard her say:

"Exes are exes for a reason."

A Brief Romantic History of - - - Me.

Tonight, I've found myself thinking about the past.  Some things I remember fondly, others sadly, and yet others with tears in my eyes.  I suppose everyone has evenings like these, when their thoughts turn inward and toward the past.  And now, as my thoughts have gone inward, they are flowing back out in text format!

For me, tonight, my thoughts seem to be largely populated by my exes....and they're an interesting group.

In the 9th grade I met a man who, for the purposes of this blog, will remain nameless and mostly without description.  He was a good man, much older than myself, whom I considered to be a true friend for the short time I knew him.  There was no romance, nor would it have been appropriate (or legal) if there had been.  What there was, for me, was knowledge that this man would become, in large part, the standard by which I would measure the other men who came into my life.   

Just a thought...

With every passing day,

I realize more and more that my son

will grow up to be the man

that my parents raised me

to raise him to be.

This makes me happy,

and helps me worry less.

A Review of the Exploreum in Mobile, AL

Today Dad and I took Kaleb to the Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center in Mobile, AL.  What follows is my review of the parts of the museum we visited.  There were several of the exhibits that were geared toward children much older than Kaleb, and so these exhibits were not on our trip through the museum.

Our original reason for going to to Exploreum today was to check out the Reptile Planet exhibit showing at the Exploreum from July 9th until October 24th.  I have seen numerous billboard and internet advertisements for this exhibit over the last several weeks.  The Exploreum's website has this description of the exhibit:

These are NOT your garden variety reptiles! The Gulf Coast Exploreum’s new exhibit, Reptile Planet, features 30 exotic, live reptiles from 20 different countries. Get up close and personal with Burmese pythons, snake-necked turtles, veiled chameleons, American alligators and more! The exhibit also features numerous interactive components and activities that are fun for the whole family.  See this exhibit before it slithers away for good!

I am SO glad this was not the only exhibit accessible on our tickets!  It's true that there are 30 species of reptiles there, but I really didn't know that I was getting all excited to go and see lethargic turtles and sleeping snakes.  One of the animal exhibits was uninhabited while we were there, so that the caretakers could clean the terrarium.  Um, hello!  You're only open from 9-5 each day!  Don't you think it might have been a good idea to do your cleaning during the 16 hours the museum is closed?!?!  The "interactive components and activities" associated with this exhibit were static displays of anatomical parts of various reptiles.  I guess by "interactive" they meant "you can read the labels."  This exhibit was small, and tucked away in an upstairs area.

Giving you my 3¢, and you didn't have to beg for it!

So, news in the Pensacola area lately has brought "panhandling" to the forefront of local news (related news article here).  While I personally can't afford to provide income to every beggar in the greater Pensacola area, I don't think they deserve to be thrown off the street corners either, as long as they aren't being unsafe or harassing other people.  But all the press and print over this issue has gotten me thinking.....

Why are we really surprised at or surprised by the number of people taking to the streets these days to beg for money (some very successfully)?  Why are homeless people despised for begging, while parents all over town (and probably across the country) are actually encouraging their children to do essentially the same thing?  This is a problem that society has created, and many parents are perpetuating.

I can scarcely remember the last time I ventured to the grocery store without being pestered by some 6-year-old in a baseball uniform, or having to duck around a 5-foot-tall 13-year-old, or experiencing ear-splitting screaming from cheerleaders of all ages.....all standing around outside of the stores begging passers-by for money!  They're out there most every weekend, all year long.  All that changes are the uniforms that change with the seasons.....no, no, not the seasons of fall and spring and summer and winter.....I'm talking about the other seasons: football, baseball, basketball, soccer, marching band, etc.  I'm fine with the petite people selling lemonade or cookies or candy or hot dogs, or having bake sales, or washing cars.  Those kids are actually being taught a valuable lesson: that you should have to work for what you want.  My beef is with the kids who stand around with a can and just expect people to drop in money!  Heck, sometimes these kids aren't even STANDING to beg anymore; now, they're sitting under umbrella-shaded chairs!  Occasionally, I see the PARENTS doing more of the "work" (begging) than the kids who will supposedly be benefiting from the donations!

You may think your "tan" looks good.....

But I have never in my life seen anyone who I thought looked better "tan" than they would look with their natural skin tone.  If you were born white, than white is what is most healthy for your skin.  If you were born yellow or brown or olive or black or any other color, that natural shade is what is most healthy for your skin.  I don't care what the lady behind the counter at the tanning salon told you about how healthy it is to build up a "base tan" before you start going to the beach for the summer.  A "base tan" is still just a tan, and ALL tans are built up by overexposure to UV rays.....which means you are damaging your skin every time you get a sunburn OR a suntan!

Yes, your tan may be trendy and stylish.  Sure, I may be out of vogue with my pale, un-tan-able skin.  That's fine with me!  In 20 or 30 years, I'll still have healthy skin, and you'll either be going broke paying your dermatologist for "miracle" cures or you'll look like an expensive leather handbag!  Either way, I'll be better off for never trying to get a tan.

For the record, it IS absolutely possible to go to the beach and spend lots of time in the sun without causing unnecessary damage to your skin.  Sunblock and beach umbrellas are both cheap.  Use them!

Treat your emotions like a choose-your-ending story!

Remember when you were a kid, and there were 3 types of books in the school library that were always popular?  The Baby Sitter's Club, Goosebumps, and.....those wonderful books where you got to make choices to determine the outcome of the story.  You could read them several times each, making different choices along the way, and experience the story in a new way each time.  The choices made along the way were relatively simple, but they could make a big difference in the plot of the stories.

As I think about it, life's emotional roller coaster is actually a lot like those choose-your-ending books.  With each event in your life, you make choices about how to deal with the situation.  For example:

Wilting Lilies: Weak Women!

I find, lately, that I am completely disgusted by what seems to be a growing "trend" of weak women.  Nearly every day, I read Facebook status posts by women ailing from broken hearts and "can't-live-without-him syndrome."  There are news stories about women who stay with abusive husbands, not because they are scared to leave, but because they "love him," or they "know he doesn't mean it," or they "believe he will change because he swears he will."  I hear conversations (yes, everyone eavesdrops sometimes) between women discussing men who don't respect them, don't value their opinions, refuse to pay child support, don't help around the house, or are cheating.  Seriously!  What's wrong with you, women???

Aside from disparities stemming from anatomical differences, there are no significant characteristics preventing women from being as capable as men.  Don't get me wrong, I do believe that there are differences between the genders.  The point, though, is that none of these differences are great enough to prevent women from being able to live productive, happy, and healthy lives without "him."