In the past few minutes, I've decided that I am going to start posting my vampire novel on this blog so that it actually gets read by someone other than me. And then, it's open for people's comments (good and bad, just don't be mean!!!) and for suggestions for improvements.

I am (I think) a very detailed writer, but it's been years since anyone else has read my works, so congratulation Blog readers!! You get to be my editors!

Constructive critisism only please, I won't respond to rudeness or cruelty..........

So, look for some "Shimera" tomorrow!!

Ta-ta!

Have you ever had a dream that you thought could make a great story, if only you could remember all of the pieces?

I had a really funky dream last night about ghosts, and if I could remember more, I would write it down and probably get a good sided novel out of it...but I can't remember much...

Haunted house
Room with furniture nailed to the walls
Hands reaching through the walls
A bleeding ceiling lamp
A crooked cupboard door

Hmm...I could probably embelish what I have here...but I'm too busy working on my vampire novel to start a new one...well, into the "Writing Ideas" folder for later on.

So we've now moved into our new house, and we're pretty much settled down for the long non-move...well at least for five years (maturity date of the mortgage). So now it's time to sit down, and get used to living with my boyfriend.

Man, what a change...seven years together, and this is the first time that we've lived together...and we didn't just rent for a while to test the waters, we just decided to jump right in. But so far so good...we each have habits that drive each other crazy (like Geoff and his taking off his socks and leaving them everywhere in the house........ARGH!) but now its' all about feeding off of each other, and training ourselves to be respectful of someone else in the home.

It's been about 3 months since I even lived with a roommate, so of course, I got used to having the house and stuff where I wanted it...but now, it seems I have to get input for every decor idea! I am so totally not used to that!

But, thankfully, Yoda (my cat) has made himself at home. He walks around the house mewing at anyone that dares to sit in any of his 300 designated spots around the house, including, but not limited to: the couch, the chair, the kitchen chairs, the bed, the patio furniture.....that's my boy!

I'm super glad that we bought before the mortgage rates started to climb...otherwise, we would have been looking at about $50 each more per month! What a difference! As is, my wallet seems to be getting consistently thinner...owning a home seems to cost a lot of money! So far, we've replaced the roof (we got a wicked deal from a family friend), gotten new washer and dryer, bought a new TV, bought a ride on mower (because our yard is HUGE), bought a new patio set ($299.99 for a 10 piece nice set at Home Depot!!), and not to mention the small little repairs to the home.

I"m so happy that I'm finally in the market, now, I can sit back, pay my own mortgage, and hopefully make a nice profit if we decide to ever sell the house.

Till next time folks!

So a lot has happened in my life since my last post...

Geoff and I have bought a house with his friend (an actual house, not a townhouse or condo) so I'm totally thrilled! We moved in last Saturday, and we almost have a living space...filled with boxes.........but we're getting there!

Super short post today, as I'm just about to leave work to go out to the neighborhood pub and get a few martinis in me...

CIAO!

Paid Surveys are scams!

As I surfed the internet the other day, looking for ways to supplement my current income, and pay for my future schooling, I was amazed at the websites that offered $500 a day just to complete surveys...so, I signed up (I didn't sign up for any of the ones that required me to pay for membership or buy something, don't worry)

But then, as an afterthought (I didn't want to have to answer a thousand junk e-mails), I did some more research before actually clicking on the links sent to my e-mail address to verify me. I found more than a fair share of websites that absolutely knocked down this form of web income. So, with my research complete, I deleted the registration links and washed my hands of the affair.

From what I gathered...only about 6% of all of the websites that offer "paid surveys" actually pay you anything, and they are pretty exclusive, you have to meet the qualifications to be a member, and to do each survey, you have to complete a survey to find out if you qualify for that particular survey. The majority of these "Actual Paying" websites actually only pay you in points, which have to be accumulated and used within a certain time frame, and are very hard to accumulate, because 99% of the surveys you won't qualify for.

Most of them require you to pay a membership that provides you with a list of websites that offer it...which, you could find just by searching in Google...other sites require you to solicit your friends to buy stuff and/or sign up and get a membership with the same website.

Now, at first, the deals sound great, get a $300 Best Buy gift card just for completing an offer like "Enter a poetry contest for free!" which, as it states, does not cost you anything, but, in order to recieve this gift card, you have to have a minimum of six friends ALSO sign up for an offer, which may or may not cost them money. So, if you decide to take them up on say...the "Learn to Speak German" CDs that are free, but in actuallity cost you $6.95 US in shipping, you still can't claim your card unless you have six friends that are interested in buying or signing up for something too, and what's the chances of that? My friends are not idiots, so I didn't bother.

And, even if you do find a website that actually pays you for doing surveys, don't expect to earn $500 in one day. Most of the surveys only pay $2-$5 per survey (and some only give you points to cash in later), and the average survey takes about 45 minutes to complete. So, even if you were at your computer for the entire 24 hours...the most you could realistically earn would be about $265.

And while I am sure that there are people that can sit at their computer and do nothing but surveys, this is completely unrealistic and a scam.

I fully recommend never clicking on a link for these types of websites, or signing up for something, or even clicking on those pop up boxes that say "Free Gift! No Obligation!" because in reality, nothing is free, and your time is more valuable than $2 an hour.

But, if you decide to give it a try, don't say I didn't warn you!!!

I have been pondering a new career direction lately.

This has come along due to the fact that I have realized that as much as I love the staff that I work with, that I don't love my job, and in many ways, it is thankless and stressful.

I have a sales target to meet, which to me has always been wrong, because in order to meet a target set by people that may or may not have ever actually set foot in the branch other than to have a brief "ra ra", I am forced to coerce and otherwise convince my clients and members that this product is for them, where as in fact, in a lot of cases, it isn't.

I'm not saying that I sell products that don't meet my clients needs, because to me that is wrong and I'd be choked if someone did it to me, but I am saying that when I don't, I get a good talking to about where i am with my targets vs. where I should be.

As I said, I love the staff that I work with, they are a fun loving bunch with hearts filled with laughter and different personalities. But I am finding that, for myself, I need a job that is more fullfilling to my own unique personality.

My friends all agree that I would make a wonderful peace officer of Canada, and I am inclined to agree. I am steadfast in my dealings, great with people, and have a very strong desire to help people. But, because it is considered a "dangerous job" my family and boyfriend are against it.

So, I decided to create my own Pro/Con list based on what I would need to do to become a peace officer, and what I already have. And this is what I came up with...

Pro:

I have wanted to be in policing since I was a child (never had the urge to play the robber)

I have good posture when firing a gun, and succeed in hitting my target 7 out of 10 times

I would be good at the people aspect of it

I will look good in the uniform :P

I have good typing ability (I have measured about 85 wpm on occasion)

I am in good (but not great) physical shape, and can outrun most of the people that I know

I have no prior criminal convictions

Con:

It is considered a dangerous profession

I have no prior experience in law enforcement

I have no post secondary schooling

I have had my license revoked in the past due to a speeding ticket

I would have to quit my job to undergo training and it will cost me about $5000 out of pocket

I would have to be able to work in any part of Canada (RCMP only)

It all brings me back to...I have no idea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!