Football 101

Ladies, you're sitting there on the sofa next to your husband trying to watch a football game...everyone jumps up and screams and you have no idea what just happened. Watching the Super Bowl is an intense way to spend an evening once you figure out what's going on. Here is a site that may help you understand it a little.



Go Cardinals!

Remember if the Cardinals win you'll see Jeff Martin in the dress of my choice!

Be a Cardinals fan

I got this note from a listener this morning and if you don't know who to root for on Super Bowl Sunday, then just read this.

Hi Susan, I am an avid listener of 101.5! Hope you can open this! Please read the email from the beginning. I was overwhelmed just to think a man would be interested in a woman with a problem child. Wait till you read who the man is!!! Thanks Stella

KURTIS THE STOCK BOY AND BRENDA THE CHECKOUT GIRL
In a supermarket, Kurtis the stock boy, was busily working when a new voice came over the loud speaker asking for a carry out at register 4. Kurtis was almost finished, and wanted to get some fresh air, and decided to answer the call. As he approached the check-out stand a distant smile caught his eye, the new check-out girl was beautiful. She was an older woman (maybe 26, and he was only 22) and he fell in love.
Later that day, after his shift was over, he waited by the punch clock to find out her name. She came into the break room, smiled softly at him, took her card and punched out, then left. He looked at her card, BRENDA. He walked out only to see her start walking up the road. Next day, he waited outside as she left the supermarket, and offered her a ride home. He looked harmless enough, and she accepted. When he dropped her off, he asked if maybe he could see her again, outside of work. She simply said it wasn't possible.
He pressed and she explained she had two children and she couldn't afford a baby-sitter, so he offered to pay for the baby-sitter. Reluctantly she accepted his offer for a date for the following Saturday. That Saturday night he arrived at her door only to have her tell him that she was unable to go with him. The baby-sitter had called and canceled. To which Kurtis simply said, "Well, let's take the kids with us."
She tried to explain that taking the children was not an option, but again not taking no for an answer, he pressed. Finally Brenda, brought him inside to meet her children. She had an older daughter who was just as cute as a bug, Kurtis thought, then Brenda brought out her son, in a wheelchair. He was born a paraplegic with Down Syndrome.
Kurtis asked Brenda, "I still don't understand why the kids can't come with us?" Brenda was amazed. Most men would run away from a woman with two kids, especially if one had disabilities - just like her first husband and father of her children had done. Kurtis was not ordinary - - - he had a different mindset.
That evening Kurtis and Brenda loaded up the kids, went to dinner and the movies. When her son needed anything Kurtis would take care of him. When he needed to use the restroom, he picked him up out of his wheelchair, took him and brought him back. The kids loved Kurtis. At the end of the evening, Brenda knew this was the man she was going to marry and spend the rest of her life with.
A year later, they were married and Kurtis adopted both of her children. Since then they have added two more kids.
So what happened to Kurtis the stock boy and Brenda the check-out girl? Well, Mr. & Mrs. Kurt Warner now live in Arizona , where he is currently employed as the quarterback of the National Football League Arizona Cardinals and has hisCardinals in the hunt for a possible appearance in the Super Bowl. Is this a surprise ending or could you have guessed that he was not an ordinary person.

It should be noted that he also quarterbacked the Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI.He has also been the NLF's Most Valuable Player twice and the Super Bowl's Most Valuable Player. Makes it hard not to root for the Cardinals today...doesn't it?

Great dips!

Super Bowl Sunday is quite the event. Whether you watch for the game, the commercials or the half-time show...it's the great American pig-out!

Here are some of your favorite party dips:

Jeff C. - "I like the old classic, dried onion soup mixed in sour cream to make french onion dip"

My family calls it football dip because I usually made it on Sunday for football.

You will need
2 cans of refried beans
1 jar of Picante salsa (mild, medium or hot to preference)
1 medium tub of sour cream
Shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese

Mix two cans of refried beans with one jar of Picante salsa. Layer the mixture into a microwave safe casserole dish as follows: bean mix, sour cream and then cheese. I usually make two layers. Microwave on high for about 3-5 minutes, turn dish and microwave again until cheese has melted. Serve with corn or tortilla chips. Can be refrigerated and reheated at will.

Marnie



Hi Susan

The only one I have is Sausage Dip from the Gator Cookbook which you have tried. It is always a hit!.

Hugs,

Mom


2 cans artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
1/2 c. Parmesan cheese
1/2 c. shredded cheddar cheese
8 oz. shredded Mozzarella cheese
1 c. mayonnaise
1 tsp. garlic salt
Mix together. Spread in 8 x 8 inch baking dish. Bake 25 minutes until hot at 350 degrees.
I like to serve with scoop chips..Mindy


I'm a vegetarian.. here is a fav of mine
Black Beans con Queso Bean Dip.
Ingredients:
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1 large onion. finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, pressed
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups of milk
2 packages (8 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese
2 15 ounce cans black beans, rinsed and drained
1 4.5 ounce can chopped green chiles
1 teaspoon vegetarian Worcestershire sauce
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
Tortilla chips, corn chips or crackers
Preparation:
Melt butter in a large soup pot over medium heat; add onion and sautee 8 minutes. Add garlic and sautee 2 minutes or until onion is tender.
Stir in flour until smooth; cook mixture, stirring constantly, 1 minute. Gradually add milk, stirring constantly, until thickened. Add cheese, stirring constantly over low heat until cheese melts.
Stir in black beans and remaining ingredients, gently stirring until mixture is thoroughly heated. Serve warm with chips or crackers. –Amanda


I LIKE TO TAKE A BOWL FILL IT WITH FRITOS. AND THEN GET A SECOND BOWL AND FILL IT WITH GIN. SOMETIMES I GET FANCY AND USE A LADEL. THIS WAY EVEN IF MY TEAM LOSES, I STILL WIN. I WIN BIG TIME.

D


In the interest of helping, considering I don't really cook and don't do Super Bowl parties.. I can offer this simple word.. hummus. I love it and it doesn't have any dairy. It's basically just mashed chick peas or garbanza beans, but I don't mash 'em. No I get this at the store.

Gayle


Hi Susan,

I do have a favorite, and it's a very big hit. I never have any left when I make this for a party.

WARM & CREAMY BACON DIP
1 (16 oz) container Sour Cream
1 (3 oz) jar of Bacon Bits
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 (8 oz) package softened cream cheese

Heat oven to 400 degrees. In an ovenproof bowl, combine all ingredients. Cover. Heat 25 to 30 minutes. Serve warm, however this is okay at room temperature, and serve with your favorite chips or veggies.

Talk to you soon.

Cheryl


pound shredded Mozzarella
1 cup grated Parmesan
1 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup sour cream
1 can artichoke hearts - (8 1/2 oz), drained, chopped
Minced onions, to taste
Black pepper to taste
1 cup scallions sliced thin
1 bar cream cheese, softened

Directions:
Mix ingredients together. Bake in lightly buttered 3 1/2-quart crockpot on HIGH for about 1 hour. Serve with crackers. – Alex


Susan, I know it sounds icky but this is by far one of the best dips I've ever tasted and so easy to make.....goes best with plain ol potato chips or those new york bagel garlic chips....

Henrietta's Famous Clam Dip (Henrietta is my mom)


1 CAN OF CLAMS, 1 SMALL PACKAGE OF PHILLY CREAM CHEESE, A-1 STEAK SAUCE AND LEMON JUICE. Pour clams and juice over cream cheese, smash together with a fork add a dollop of a-one (really) and a dash of lemon juice to taste. UN-believable...

Cheers, D.


Ok don’t laugh……you know I don’t cook. The Publix Spinach artichoke dip is awesome!! All you have to do is open it !! Tara

Jeff Martins dip:

Fat-Free Refried Bean Dip Ingredients
1 cn (29-oz) fat-free refried
1 ts Garlic powder (or to taste)
1 cn (4-oz) chopped mild
1 1/4 c Grated fat-free Cheddar
1/2 c Minced green onion
Low-fat tortilla chips
1/2 c Thick & chunky salsa
Instructions for Fat-Free Refried Bean DipDate: Tue, 5 Mar 1996 12:12:03 -0500 From: TexGQ24@aol.com Combine refried beans, peppers, onion, salsa, garlic and 1 cup cheese. Spoon into 1 quart baking dish and sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake at 350xF 30 minutes. Serve with chips and salsa.

Susie,
1 Can of Hormel Chili Beans with Tabasco sauce ½ a bar of Philidelphia Cream Cheese (fat or non-fat) ¼ bar of velveeta cheese-microwave....Bag of Tostitos. Go Cardinals! JEFF you are done. Sucker’s bet - Willie

Family bonds

Do you have a highly-happy family?

What's your secret to bring everyone together? When I was a kid, our family made lots of trips to the lake in Missouri, Friday nights at the driving range and the stock car races. I cherish those memories. If you need some ideas to bring your family closer together. Just click here.

Boss buddy

Are you buddies with your boss? Just how close is your relationship? That's the question we asked you this morning and I was surprised to hear most of you said you have a really good friendship with your boss outside of work.



Quiz: Rate Your Relationship With the Boss


By Dale Kurow, Career Expert

Does dealing with your boss cause knots in your stomach? Is it a skill you've never mastered?
Do your co-workers seem to have an easy time of asking for, and getting, what they want? Do you hesitate to approach your boss for what you want because you're unsure of his/her reaction?Your boss determines much of your happiness at work, if not all of your satisfaction. Wouldn't it be helpful to know how strong your relationship is with your boss? Then you'd be able to pinpoint the areas you need to strengthen.

This quiz will help you rate your relationship with your boss.

Gong Hei Fard Choy

....Means Happy New Year!

It's the Chinese New Year! This morning we took lots of calls about what part of the Chinese culture you enjoy most. You said the food, the martial arts, proverbs, fine silks and so much more.

But I think the highlight of the morning is when we received a call from a man working in Beijing and listening to LITE FM on the Internet. He talked about the lion dance as part of a lot of festivities and how the fireworks are still going off. I'd love to visit Beijing someday.

The Oscars

Brad Pitts movie "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" is up for 13 Academy Awards. It tells the tall tale of an infant who is born as an old man—tiny but suffering all the infirmities of an 80-year-old—who lives his life in reverse, becoming younger with each passing year until he achieves real infancy at the end of his life.

If you could go back to a certain age? What would it be and why?

I think I'd go back before I baked myself in the sun for hours and slather on some sunscreen.

A few ways to stay young:

1. Change your perception of time. Don't be in a hurry.

2. Get restful sleep.

3. Eat fresh, nutritious food.

4. Take at least two multivitamins with minerals every day.

5. Practice a mind body technique such as yoga or tai chi.

6. Exercise regularly.

7. Don't put toxins in your life, including toxic food, toxicemotions, toxic relationships, and avoid toxic environments or toxic relationships.

8. Have a flexible attitude to minor hassles.

9. Look at so-called problems as opportunities.

10. Nurture loving relationships.11. Always have an attitude of curiosity, learning, and wonder and spend time with children.

Curbing PDA's

When it comes to public displays of affection, how much is too much? All I can say is, beaches are for building sandcastles, backseats are for groceries and PDA's are electronic devices!

Convincing a partner to be more or less affectionate in public isn't easy, but it can be done.

Check out the following strategies:

Open up: Talk to your partner about what makes you uncomfortable about PDA. Ask what they can handle (a hug, a kiss on the cheek, an arm around the waist, a hand on the knee, etc.) and don't go beyond those limits.
Compromise: Bring a 'touchy-feely' partner down to your level, or a 'hands-off' one up by coming up with less obvious ways to be affectionate in front of others, such as holding hands under the table, sharing a look, or blowing a kiss across a room.
Get playful at home: Tickle, wrestle, kiss and be spontaneous when you're alone. It just may carry over to the outside world.

Inauguration events

(cbs4.com)

South Floridians who couldn't make the trip to Washington D.C. to witness the historic inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama have plenty of local inauguration events to attend.

Miami Presidential Inauguration Celebration and Live Simulcast

Tuesday, Jan 20, 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Adrienne Arsht Center 1300 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami Call: (305) 949-6722 or go to: http://www.arshtcenter.org/

Broward Presidential Inauguration Celebration

Tuesday, Jan. 20, 10:00 a.m. African-American Research Library & Cultural Center 2650 Sistrunk Blvd., Fort Lauderdale Call: (954) 625-2810 or go to: www.broward.org/library

Deerfield Beach Inauguration Luncheon & Live Broadcast Presented by First Baptist Piney Grove

Tuesday, January 20, 11:00 a.m. Hilton Deerfield Beach 100 Fairway Dr., Deerfield Beach Call: (954) 735-1500 or go to: http://www.pineygroveevents.com/

Downtown Miami Inauguration Simulcast

Tuesday, January 20, 10:30 a.m.- 1:30 p.m. Olympia Theater at the Gusman Center for the Performing Arts To request seats, send an email to http://cbs4.com/local/info@gusmancenter.org(two seats per request) or go to: http://www.gusmancenter.org/

Inauguration Party For President-elect Obama Hosted by the Democratic Party of Miami-Dade County

Tuesday, Jan. 20, 8:00 p.m. Rusty Pelican 3201 Rickenbacker Causeway, Key Biscayne Call: (305) 781-9177 or go to: http://www.miami.therustypelican.com./

Hail To The Organizer In ChiefHosted by Human Services Coalition

Tuesday, Jan. 20, 11:00 a.m. Churchill's 5501 NE 2nd Ave., Miami Call: (305) 576-5001 ext. 16 or go to: http://www.hscdade.org/

If you get laid off

The unemployment rate spiked to 7.2% in December and if you are part of that statistic then you may be wondering what to do next.

6 Steps to Take the Moment You Are Unemployed

By Laura Dawn Lewis

(couplescompany.com)

Step 1: Call Your State's Unemployment Office
Don't feel guilty about this. You and your employer have been paying into this fund your entire working life. You've earned the money you are going to receive through your own hard work. This is the very first thing you want to do the second you are terminated. Call your state's unemployment office. Most states begin the benefit period from the day you call, not the day you were let go. You will not get paid for the first week of unemployment in most states (although in some they count the day you call as the 1st week--let go Friday, call, become eligible the following Monday. ) It will take 3-4 weeks to get your first check, longer if you were fired because they must do an investigation. In most cases you will still receive compensation even if you were fired. The exceptions are termination for misconduct (lying, cheating, abusive language etc...) or criminal acts.

Step 2: Plan for the Best but be Prepared for the Worst
Make list of your liquid assets including stocks, bonds, 401K, IRA's, credit lines, savings, and pawnable items like CD's, VHS or DVD movies, electronics, jewelry and other items of value. Depending on your savings situation and monthly expenses, you may need to liquidate these to survive. If it appears you may need to access these assets, move any high risk stocks into to lower risk stocks or cash them out and put them in a savings account for this period. The last thing you need to happen now is watch your saving drop 98% with stock market (as many tech workers have seen). You can always switch the funds back once you are working again.
You will have the option of rolling over your 401K or cashing it out. Most financial advisors will tell you to roll it over. If you have to make a choice between being homeless without food or rolling over your 401K, use it to survive. If it is not essential to your ability to survive, roll it over. Cashing out a portion or all of your retirement is a last resort and should only be used if you do not have any other choice

Step 3: Make an Honest List of your Current Liabilities and Payments.
What can you cut? What cannot be avoided. If you have to miss payments, choose bills that will not directly effect your ability to survive like department store credit cards, health clubs and membership dues. To find a job you need a phone, electricity and roof. Your Internet connection is also critical. Car insurance is very unforgiving and you need a way to get to your interviews.
In a crisis situation, most credit card companies and automotive lenders will allow you to skip a payment or two, if you ask. You generally will still have to pay the interest and any late charges on the account so this may or may not help you. Utilities are less forgiving. In most cases your cable will be shut off at 20-days past due. Phone companies and the electric company can go as far as 45-days past due before you lose service. Car Insurance will cancel within 10-days of being past due. If you are a renter and can't pay your rent, it generally takes 60-days for the manager to legally have you removed from the premises although they will give you a 72-hour eviction notice if you are more than 3 days late.

Step 4: Prepay As Much as Possible
Since you've just lost your job, you've got the most money you'll have until you receive your first new paycheck. Pay as many critical bills as far in advance as possible like Insurance, phone and electricity. You'll be glad you did this when the other bills start rolling in. Stock up on essentials like toilet paper, shampoo, frozen and canned foods and pet food.

Step 5: Moving into Survival Mode
The average person is currently taking 4 months to find a new job. Plan on taking six months. This means you are going to need to adjust your lifestyle and move into survival mode. The first place to save is unneeded luxuries like maid service, gardeners, and even add-on convenience services like caller ID, call waiting, premium cable channels and pagers. The second best way to save money is on your food budget.

Step 6: Health
Most insurance companies will not allow you to do more than one month's worth of prescriptions at a time. Sometimes your doctor can request multiple months if you are to be out of the country for an extended stay. If you depend upon medicine for your health, get as many months as possible before your prescription card expires. That $10 a month prescription could turn into a $120 a month requirement you can't afford right now.

J.P. Taravella High School Band

They are marching to Washington DC for the Presidential Inaugural Parade on January 20th.

We were treated to a performance yesterday at Whole Foods Market in Coral Springs while we raised money to help them get there. In one hour we raised $2,283 to help these talented kids have the experience of a lifetime.

Thank you to everyone who made a donation.

Our new puppy

Howard and I are getting a new puppy.

You may remember my Dalmatian "Geddy" I was privileged to have her in my life for 15 wonderful years but she passed away just over a year ago. I've missed her so much. A day doesn't go by that I don't think about her...she was so much a part of my life.

I can't imagine my world without a dog in it. So Howard and I decided to get a Basenji. Here are the latest pictures and we chose a female and we are naming her "Divot." I'll post more pictures of her after we get to bring her home next month. She is about 6 weeks old in this picture.

Aren't they cute?

You've won...now what.

Do you play the lottery? Have you ever won? If so, after you jump up and down, scream and hug everyone in site, there are a few things you should do.

(MSN Money)

Keep that ticket safe. Sockman says people do funny things with their tickets, such as keeping it in a baggie in the freezer, in a sock under the mattress, in a money-belt around their waist day and night, or most practical of all, in a safe deposit box.

Think about your job. A winning ticket is a grand thing, but it doesn't really count until you've got the cash. For now, consider just taking a little sick time or vacation, without explaining why, if possible. You're going to be very busy becoming a millionaire. You probably will quit eventually. Sockman says most winners do, even though at their original interview about a quarter claim they'll keep working. He explains, "They can't imagine how much money they've won. It's a life-changing event."

Find people you can trust. "The most important financial decision to make initially is who's going to be accountant, financial adviser and lawyer," says Hartigan. "And I don't think they should be the same person." If you don't have all of these people in your Rolodex currently -- and how many of us do? -- "talk to other people who use these kinds of services. Referral is the best way," Hartigan suggests. If none of your friends or family can recommend a particular professional, Hartigan recommends going to a major accounting firm, a major brokerage and a large law firm. "Ask what they'll do for you." Garrison agrees with Hartigan's advice and adds, "References are mandatory."

Decide on a lump sum or payments. This decision depends on what you want to do with your money and advice from your team of advisers. The lump sum will equal less than the total of the payments over however many years. "With the lump sum invested properly, you'll probably have more at the end," says Hartigan. "If you're a person who really can't control your spending, annual might be better." In Florida, the recent trend shows 75% of winners take the lump sum, says Sockman.

Arrange for a special account at the bank. You can't just deposit millions into your plain ol' checking account. And they don't really give you a paper check with a lot of zeroes. They give you the money by a wire transfer to your pre-arranged special account, says Sockman.

Change your phone number. Now that you're richer than your wildest dreams, everyone's going to want to reach out and touch you, and that will be a nightmare. So get a new unlisted telephone number.

What's in your wallet?

How many credit cards are in your wallet? The average person has from 5 to 10. I carry 11. I think it's time to cut back a little. Here is a good way to start.

Curing a Credit Card Hangover

By ELISABETH LEAMY

Do you have a New Year's hangover?

Not the kind you get from sipping champagne on New Year's Eve. I'm talking about a credit card hangover from all that holiday shopping. I got my first credit card hangover in college. I was like many students -- a company issued me a credit card even though I had no job and no way of paying. I quickly racked up about $2,500 in debt. My parents bailed me out. I racked up another $5,000 in debt. This time I dug myself out, dollar by dollar. What an achievement! I can't tell you how good it feels to be free of credit card debt.

Here are some strategies to help you liberate yourself too:

Cut up all your credit cards
Are you feeling the withdrawal symptoms yet? Credit cards give us a sense of possibility that we just don't have with cash. They allowed me to live beyond my means for years. But I paid for it. Just as an alcoholic can't drink a drop without relapsing, a credit card junkie shouldn't have any credit cards. Zero. Zilch.
When safe, use a debit card instead of a credit card
You may argue that in this high-tech age, it's impossible to conduct business without a credit card. True, you can't pay cash when you shop online and hardly anybody uses personal checks anymore. But your argument falls flat in the face of debit cards. A debit card allows you all the convenience of a credit card, with all the limits of your own bank balance. It's an excellent substitute. (Be careful using a debit card online though -- a great subject for another column.)
Keep just one card and freeze it!
If you believe you must have a credit card on hand in case of an emergency, I've got a creative suggestion for you. Cut up all but one credit card. Then take the lone survivor and drop it in a Tupperware container full of water. Pop the container in the freezer and put your credit card spending on ice! That way you'll have to think about it for several hours if you want to use the card. You're unlikely to thaw this consumer culture ice sculpture to make an impulse buy. But if you have a true emergency, it will be there for you.
Impose a spending freeze
My financial planner boyfriend (now husband!) put me on a spending freeze back in my debtor days. I wasn't allowed to spend money on anything non-essential. For me, that meant no new clothes, no home decorating and no dinners out. Not using your cards anymore really is the first step in paying them off. Most people who are in a credit card crunch charge their cards to the limit, pay the minimum each month, then spend right up to the limit again until they get their next bill.
Send payments more than once a month
After you stop spending, you need to start paying. Here's how I did it. I didn't make much money in my credit card debt days. I lived paycheck to paycheck. When my credit card bill came, sometimes I didn't have much money to send in, so I sent what I could. At other times of the month, I occasionally had extra money. In the old days, of course, I would have spent it! Instead, I began sending money to my credit card company even when I didn't have a bill due. I pre-addressed and stamped several envelopes so I had them ready. Anytime I had extra money in my checking account, I popped it in an envelope and kissed it goodbye.
Use your savings account to pay off your credit card debt
Your savings account is another source. Sound sacrilegious? I get into this argument with people all the time. I know lots of smart people who have a savings account and credit card debt. It's ludicrous! I know, I know, you feel it's important to save for emergencies. Trust me, credit card debt is an emergency. But here's my less flippant explanation. If your savings account yields 3 percent interest and your credit card charges 19 percent interest, you can instantly "make" a 16 percent "profit" by using your savings account to pay off your credit card debt. That would be an impressive gain in the stock market! Then, instead of pulling out your credit card to make impulse buys, you could fall back on it in emergencies -- a much sounder use.
Beware of debt consolidation loans
You could also look for a debt consolidation loan, but don't count on it. Reputable banks don't make debt consolidation loans to people with no collateral. Crooked lenders may offer you a consolidation loan, but you'll probably find that the interest rate is actually higher than what you're paying on your credit cards. They'll try to trick you by offering you a lower monthly payment than what you currently pay, but the loan will last so long that you end up paying far more money than you should have.
If you own a house, you may be able to take out a home equity loan to pay off your credit cards. This option sounds great because you can then write off the interest you pay. But beware! Home equity loans come with closing costs, which just add to your debt. And there's a real risk here. Think of it this way: If you miss a payment on a credit card, you just lose your good credit rating. If you miss a mortgage payment, you could lose the roof over your head.

Diet pitfalls

You've mustered your resolve, and this time you're sure: You're going to stay on your diet no matter what!
But a few weeks or a few months later, you find yourself weakening. A nibble here, a nosh there, and before you know it, your healthy eating plan is history.
If this has happened to you, there's no need to beat yourself up. In fact, says psychologist and weight loss expert Warren Huberman, PhD, it's more common than not for dieters to derail.

Here are some tips to stay on track.

Happy hour

After work to you hang out with co-workers for "happy hour" or are you to busy or dog tired to do anything else?

A recent CareerBuilder.com survey offers a snapshot of our happy hour habits. Here's what it found out about our post-work festivities:

• One in five workers attends happy hour festivities with co-workers at least once a month.
• Eighty-two percent go to bond with co-workers, while 11 percent go specifically for quality time with the boss.
• Fifteen percent of the attendees were all about the office gossip.
• Men and women were equally likely to attend.
• Workers ages 25 to 34 had the highest attendance across all age groups.
The survey revealed a number of incidents and events where a worker's happy hour experience went from smooth sailing to crash and burn.
• Sixteen percent of those who responded said that they talked negatively or inappropriately about a co-worker or manager.
• Ten percent said they shared a secret or confidence about a co-worker.
• Eight percent kissed one of their co-workers, and another 8 percent admitted that they drank too much and acted unprofessionally.
• A surprising 5 percent breached a confidence or secret about the company.
• And 4 percent of workers admitted, with regret, that they sang karaoke.

Pack-rat?

Is this your room?







What part of your home has the most clutter? The garge, your bedroom a closet? It seems to overcome clutter...it's all in your mind. For tips to manage your clutter just click here.

Make it look like this!

Holiday debt

Do you have a pain in your wallet or a nauseous feeling in your checking account? Then you must have a Holiday Debt Hangover.

(msnbc)

If you, like so many of us, put the bulk of your spending on a credit card, the first thing you must do is decide to make getting out of debt a priority. If you’re still using that card and you’re carrying a balance, you have not made it a priority. Take the following steps to rid yourself of this holiday hangover as soon as possible.
Use debit cards and cash until you have eliminated your credit card debt. It will keep you more in touch with your spending.
Don’t pay penalties. Make sure you pay at least the minimum on every card each month on time.
Pay at least the minimum using one of two strategies: Pay off the card with the highest interest first. You’ll pay less in the long run. Or, pay off the card with the lowest balance first. It’s very satisfying to pay off a debt in full. It can be a great motivator.

Also, do yourself a favor and join a Christmas or holiday saving club. The extra savings will take a lot of the stress out of holiday spending next year!

Don't be starstruck

Have you ever had a "brush with fame?" I went to high school with Brad Pitt, I even acted in a school play with him. But he wasn't famous then...so I don't know if that really counts. Have you ever had a brush with fame? Has a celebrity unexpectedly come into your life? How did you react?


1. Remember these people are just people who chose to be in a profession for which they had a passion. This profession put them in the limelight, but they do have a right to some privacy. We do not need a play by play of their every day lives. We wouldn't want people sticking their noses in every aspect of our lives. So shouldn't we show the celebrities the same respect?

2. Remember these people put their pants on one leg at a time just like everyone else. They are human and as humans they're going to mess up once in a while. Do we really need to read about every mistake a celebrity makes? Would we want any of our most embarrassing moments captured on film and shared with the whole world? I don't think any one would find it funny to be the punch line in some late night talk show host's joke.

3. Remember your manners. If you see a celebrity in a restaurant, eating dinner with their family, leave them alone. For one thing, it's rude to interrupt someone while they're eating dinner. There is no need to go running up to them, jumping up and down, and begging for autographs. Do you like to be interrupted when your spending time with your family?

4. Remember the old adage, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." This is probably the single most important thing. It ties into all the other steps. The simple fact is that we often don't think about our actions when we see a celebrity. If we were to stop and think about it, we probably wouldn't act as foolish when we do see one.

Celebrities made a choice to follow a dream. To some extent, they did ask for the publicity that comes with the fame. But do we really need to know every detail of Anna Nicole Smith's death? Do we really need to know that Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are adopting another baby? People adopt kids nearly every day, yet they're not glorified in the press.

The bottom line is that we should always show the celebrities the same respect that we would show anyone else. Just because they're famous doesn't give us the right to stick our noses in every aspect of their lives. And instead of focusing on the stupid mistakes they do, look for some of the good things they do. Most importantly, give them some privacy. At the end of the day, they really are just like us.

Auld Lang Syne lyrics

Should old acquaintance be forgot,and never brought to mind? Should old acquaintance be forgot, and old times since?

CHORUS:
For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.
And surely you’ll buy your pint cup !

And surely I’ll buy mine !

And we'll take a cup o’ kindness yet,for auld lang syne.
CHORUS
We two have run about the slopes,and picked the daisies fine ;But we’ve wandered many a weary foot, since auld lang syne.
CHORUS
We two have paddled in the stream,from morning sun till dine† ;But seas between us broad have roared since auld lang syne.
CHORUS
And there’s a hand my trusty friend ! And give us a hand o’ thine ! And we’ll take a right good-will draught, for auld lang syne.
CHORUS