I finished my B.A. in English in 2001. I took a year off to write, but I soon realized that I wanted a master's degree. Since I was in Europe at the time and my husband was a contractor to the military, I had access to the Ramstein Air Force base's educational facilities. Some of my professors had admitted to writing courses for the University of Phoenix. Some of the professors had been my favorite when I was taking college courses. But, before I could check out this online university, I... Read Full Story

I received my first rejection letter on my novel. It wasn't bad. The agent didn't rip apart my writing. She just wasn't enthusiastic about my novel. Ouch! So I took a deep breath. I am looking for another place to send it after I take a look at my first pages--again. And after I take another look at the synopsis. When I first started writing and when I received my first rejection slips, I took it personally. I would cry and rage. Now, I know it is just part of the business. I try not to... Read Full Story

Life is worth living only if accompanied by good health – an existence wracked with illnesses and injuries only weakens the quality of life. It follows naturally that a healthy person will live a long life, as long as accidents do not end up shortening it abruptly. Now a recent study from Harvard Medical School and Harvard University has found that life expectancy and education share a relationship that’s directly proportional – simply put, the more erudite you are, the longer you tend to... Read Full Story

Termites are cause billions of damage yearly to private property in the U.S. But they can be treated and prevented if you recognize the problem. Then you must treat the problem. This guide can be a termite barrier for your home, trees and other property. One of the things that I really like about this online guide is that they show you pictures of termites and damage caused by termites. Much of the information in this guide is of practical use to the homeowner and/or business person. (for... Read Full Story

By Jim Jubak I know who can fix our broken health care system -- and who can't:Not presumptive Republican nominee John McCain. He proposes a tax credit of $5,000 per family to encourage us to buy private health insurance. Not Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. She proposes universal health insurance supported by tax credits. Not Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama. He proposes a mix of public and private health insurance with government subsidies to those who don't... Read Full Story

As an individual with a rare vasculitis disease, Wegener's Granulomatosis, I do understand the important of health insurance. Thankfully, I have been insured from the beginning of this disease. I have had blood transfusions, chemotherapy transfusions, x-rays, labs, and MRIs. I even get bone density tests. The other day I asked my pharmacists how much I would really have to pay for my prescription drugs if I did not have affordable health insurance. He said that it would have cost me... Read Full Story

Well we have been watching a pair of red-tailed hawks raising their chicks. It was quite an experience, especially because the hawks are so big and they had a huge nest in the middle of our apartment complex. We had to run off a few hooligans in our neighborhood because they would stand below the fir tree and throw rocks at the hawks. I was amazed that the hawks didn't attack them. Dumb idiots. But, it might have helped because the young men couldn't throw high enough. Eventually, the hawks... Read Full Story

A few years back, my husband went to New Orleans after he retired from the U.S. Navy. He wanted to see the place, and maybe find work. He said the place was alive and hopping. He went in the fall so he missed Mardi Gras. However, the pubs were lively. He could walk down the street and listen to the jazz musicians. He even went to the graveyards to see where people were buried above ground. It was quite a place. Of course, if you are going there for a vacation, you can rent a car in new... Read Full Story

The ASSIST Study Accessing Social Support in Symptom Treatment The ASSIST Study is a research study for people who are currently taking at least one medicine to treat their vasculitis. The goal of the ASSIST study is to understand where vasculitis patients get information about their medications and how supportive relationships help individuals cope with treatment side effects. Help us understand how you manage and effectively deal with your vasculitis treatment regimen. In this study... Read Full Story

You can't imagine how many birds we have in our neighborhood. There are chickadees, finches, and starlings. There are ravens, western scrub-jays, desert jays, magpies, and blackbirds. In the center of our apartment complex, a red-tailed hawk pair raised two chicks. In fact the chicks are grown and flying now. The mother takes them out in the morning to hunt. At dusk they hunker down in that huge familiar nest. So yes, we like binoculars. OpticsPlanets has all sorts of name brand products... Read Full Story