My Content: Hubs, Answers, and Forums
22A Road Trip Across the USA in 1960
Traveling back and forth across the USA in 1960 was an adventure. It is impossible to see all of America in three weeks, but during that time we got a feeling of what the county was really like.
37Freestyle Embroidery: Doodling With Thread
If you like to embroider, but can't find patterns you like, why not try freestyle? Making up your own designs as you stitch is as easy as doodling with pen or paper.
10Mission San Juan Bautista - Step back in Time.
San Juan Bautista is one of the less-known, but largest of 21 California Mission settlements. As a well-preserved, active church since 1797, it evokes life in earlier days .
25Cannery Row and The Monterey Aquarium
Cannery Row and the Monterey Bay Aquarium in Monterey, California provide a lot of sights and experiences for the traveler. Great restaurants, wine tasting, shopping and great acommodations, all in a small area make this a perfect mini-vacation spot.
14Manzanita: A Special Source of Fire, Cider, and Art.
Manzanita Shrubs are common in the California foothills and chaparrel areas of the Pacific Northwest. Native Americans made good use of the unique qualities of this plant, and it is still appreciated today for its special qualities.
27Making Tuneful Wind Chimes at Grace Note
A small factory in California Gold Country , turns out musically tuned wind chimes that are shipped all over the world.
29Designer Bottled Air: The Next Big Thing?
Bottled water has become big business around the world. So why not bottle air for individual users? It could be a real moneymaker!
44Pre-Packaged Produce: Fresh Foods Get a "Bad Wrap" for Sustainability
Pre-packaged fresh fruit and vegetables are considered to be convenient time-savers for many consumers and a profit-maker for supermarkets. Are they good or bad?
37Spinning President Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address
Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address is one of the most famous speeches ever given. Would we remember it if it had been shorter?... or longer??
49Fall Color Around My California Home (Photos)
Signaling the beginning of Autumn, the changing color of the leaves comes with a sudden dip in temperature. Many trees that lose their leaves every year, put on their best show before going to sleep for the Winter.
28Contradictory Rhyming Sayings Lead to Total Confusion
Old sayings and proverbs often contradict each other. Here are a few more to add to your confusion.
25Shibaraku-- Experiencing World War II in Japan
Born into an Armenian family living in pre-war Japan, the author and her family led a comfortable and pleasant life until December of 1941. As their adopted country entered WW II, everything changed for non- Japanese residents and they were forced to live in a tiny remote village where they endured hardships and suffering that left them barely alive. "Shibaraku Memories of Japan 1926-1946"
78Knowledge You Will Need When the Economy Falls Apart
What information will you need if the economy collapses? Do you have basic helpful knowldge for survival in hard economic times? Now is the time to learn a few old-fashioned skills.
87Fifteen Ways to Save Gas, While Being a General Nuisance and Road Menace.
If you haven't already heard enough silly ways to (possibly) save gas, here are a few more. Don't try these at home . . . or on the road.
37EVACUATION !! What You Need to Take With You in an Emergency
Evacuation! A sudden disaster might mean you have to move fast. What can you grab to save yourself some trouble and heartache?
37Food With Chemical Additives: What's in it For You
What if we had to speak the ingredient list every time we talked about food? Would it make us think about what additives we are really eating?
29Winter Power Outage: Tips for Cooking, Heating, and Lighting
A snowy winter may bring power outages. Having a few simple supplies at home can keep you comfortable even if the electricity is off for a few days.
20Letters of a Gold Rush Pioneer
A 23 year- old gold seeker arrived in San Francisco from Massachusetts in 1854. His observations and opinions of the California Gold Rush are recorded in well preserved letters.
75Table Setting Competition : A Fair Exhibit Tribute
Table setting competitions are featured at many county fairs across America. Creative ideas like these can make your table look more festive or elegant.
41Kerbyville Inn: Bed, Breakfast and Beyond Cave Junction, Oregon
Bed and Breakfast inns can be a pleasant surprise. This one near Cave Junction Oregon suited us fine with many unexpected features.
54Ideas for Organized Storage in Cupboards: A Cheap and Easy Solution for Your Home or RV
Here's a quick, easy, organized way to increase storage in cupboards. For just a few cents and a few minutes of time, you can easily create a practical storage system.
138Why Should I Deal With Rude, Tactless, Messy, Dirty, Uneducated People?
Despite their uncivil and impolite behavior, these little people will steal your heart if you are not careful.
87Freelance Writing Tips for Your Best Feature Articles
Following a few guidelines for writing free lance articles and feature stories will help your submissions be accepted by editors.
88How to Invest in Yourself
Even without money, there are things you can invest in which will pay off later.
91How to Eat a Lot at a Buffet: A Glutton's Guide
Restaurants with an "all you can eat" buffet meal at a set price, can be a good value for diners, especially if they stay aware of what they are eating. Here are some tips on how to eat a lot at a buffet, and get the best value.
31The Case for Same Sox Legislation
How many years of our lives must we waste on sorting socks? We need some laws to make this easier for everyone.
39A Future President Explains "Beneficial Control"
How will the future government try to control us? It may be subtle, or it might be a variation on a familiar theme.
14"A Fair to Remember" The American County Fair Tradition
Labor Day weekend means county fir time in Mariposa County, California. It's a small fair, but has all of the elements that make it a nostalgic part of of life for everyone who has lived in the country.
17Tenaya Lodge: Luxury in the Sierra Wilderness
If you want to enjoy the wonders of Yosemite, but would rather not camp out, Tenaya Lodge may be the place you are looking for. Close to nature, this hotel offers the comforts you expect at a quality hotel.
85How to Win A Poetry Contest !
If you want to win a poetry contest, you can always start your own. It will be hard to chose between the finalists, but it doesn't really matter.
411947 Hudson: I Fell Out of a Classic Car
The 47 Hudson was a great car, at least untill I fell out of it. This classic car was the first my family owned after WW II...
56The Emperor's New Clothes Poem
Just because someone else says they see something in your poetry, doesn't mean it's really there. The Emperor had no clothes, no matter how many people claimed he did.
26A Near-Death Publishing Experience
Working in the back room of the funeral home was -- well, different, but we had to get our newsletter done.
31A California Gold Rush Store Sold Everything in General
The General Store was often the first real business to be established in a gold rush town of the American West. the miners needed tools, clothing, food and other necessities...
21How do You Get a Children's Book Published ?
A rhyming alphabet book may not be at the top of a publisher's list right now, but it might still be published someday.
15Mariposa County Courthouse: Historic Justice in the West
History and justice are still alive in the old courthouse of Mariposa, California. For more than a century and a half, this venerable building has been an icon dating from gold rush days.
14Bridal Shower Gift and Wedding Tool Poem
Every bride needs her own set of tools. A poem and a pretty wrapping makes it memorable.
15Doctors-- With Diseases Named After Them
How does a deadly disease get named for a doctor? The fame of many MD's is associated with conditions we would never want to be too familiar with.
40My (Very) Brief Film Scene Career
Becoming a full-fledged child star was not in the cards for me, but I did get a brief opportunity to work at a major movie studio.
15How to Write Tabloid News
Tabloid newspapers make us want to reach for them when we see an outrageous headline. What attracts us to such outlandish stories? Can't we just write them ourselves?
19Grand Jury Duty: A Letter to the Judge
Serving on the county Grand Jury can be an eye-opening experience, and an opportunity to learn about the inner workings of local government.
19The Art of The Kiss: Auguste Rodin, Pablo Picasso and Others
The kiss can be a polite obligatory greeting, a sign of respect, or a personal expression of caring concern. It...
6Phishing Trip: You Can Avoid the Scammer's Net
If you have been targeted by a phishing scam, you are not alone. These types of internet deceptions seeking tidbits of information, are sent out by the millions.
18Finding Pinocchio in Bible Stories, Like Jonah
Do the wooden headed puppet and Adam have something in common? The author of Pinoccio must have thought so.
41Supermarket Grocery Stores Have Too Many Kinds of Orange Juice, and Other Stuff.
My local supermarket, recently underwent a reorganization. That means a"change of heart", but since supermarkets have no heart, it really means that everything is harder to find.
40Processed Foods You Should Have in Your Home Pantry Cupboard
Canned and packaged foods are not all bad. There are some you should keep in your pantry even if you are trying to use all fresh and natural foods in your kitchen,
38Dinner for Two -- Make It Special
Cooking for two can be a challenge, but it can still be appetizing and attractive. Here are a few tips to make it that way.
34The Wild Merced River Canyon: Gateway to Yosemite National Park
The scenic and wild Merced River flows out of Yosemite National Park between steep canyon walls. In the Springtime, wildflowers can make it as spectacular as the park, itself.
38Cream Pitcher People-- a Collection
People and pitchers come in different sizes, colors and shapes. They might be attractive or homely, but they can be also be practical and useful. Collecting pitchers reminds me of the people who owned them . . .
53Surviving The Great Depression of the 1930's
How did people survive the Great Depression in the 1930's? They didn't have enough money to have a "financial situation", but somehow they managed to survive.
39A Declaration of Out-dependence: What Happened to Self-reliance?
Self-reliance made this country great, but when the USA's founding fathers signed the Declaration of Independence they knew that their lives were about to change forever.
17Parsley Stems? Eeeek! What is This Fuzzy Green Decoration on My Plate?
A simple parsley garnish can add a lot to your plate for eye-appeal and even nutrition.
21Sociopathic Murderers I Have Known That Were not Famous Killers
How can a young man plan to murder his parents? I've had a passing acquaintance with two young men who did and the reasons are unclear.
37How to be a Good Father Without Being Religious
You don't have to be religious to be a good dad, but a lot of the same principles apply.
31Traveling the World With Health Insurance Money
Health insurance was expensive for a small businessman, but this one found a way to cover the doctor bills and still have enough left over to travel the world...
70Sprouting Vegetable Seeds in a Jar for Big Nutrition or a Classroom Garden
By sprouting seeds and beans you can harvest a crop in only four or five days. You don't even have to to mess with dirt, soil or growing medium, to get a fresh, edible, nutritious crop...
15Two Historic California Earthquakes: in Long Beach and San Francisco
Californians are used to earthquakes, but once in a while a seismic event gets everyone's attention. Long Beach and San Francisco each had historic quakes.
63Do You Want a Wild Animal Pet? Oh, Deer!
Wild animals do not make good pets. Though "rescuing" a squirrel, fawn, raccoon or other wild critter may seem humane, it often has bad consequences for both the animal and the human.
29A Wild Pet Ground Squirrel
I didn't know I shouldn't catch a baby ground squirrel in the woods. He became a much loved pet, but I wouldn't do it again...
26The Words Sound Write. . . What's the Madder? (Matter)? The Difference Between Words That Sound Alike.
Words that sound alike, but have different meanings, are one of the difficult aspects of English, but homophones can be conquered with practice and a few memory tricks.
15These Ghoulish Things: Halloween Monster Costumes
A Halloween college prank was inspired by a green cosmetic mud mask. Instead of making us beautiful, it made us into monsters.
21Moving to a New Locale: Are You a Neighborhood Newcomer?
Living in the country brings a lot of changes for a former city-dweller. Are you a country newcomer?
9Classroom Control... Losing it --and Taking it Back
When children are out of control in the classroom, you had better have a plan to put yourself back in charge.
30Gold Rush Medicines : A Dose of Deception and a Swig of Swamp Root or Snake Oil
Mass marketing and advertising of patent medicines began at about the same time as the California Gold Rush. These "cure-alls" made outrageous claims and some were a recipe for disaster...
28A Therapy Dog Offers Health and Happiness Advice
Petey, the therapy dog, was a good friend to everyone he met. He brought joy and also good advice for health and happiness.
19Tour of a California Gold Rush Museum
A tour of a gold rush museum can be boring or interesting, but seeing the humor in history is always fun.
17How to Capture a Saw-Whet Owl (and make it into a Children's Book)
Incredible photos of a tiny Saw-Whet Owl became the inspiration for a childrens book which is both entertaining and educational
24Useful Recipe Ingredients Beyond the Basics
Any good cook keeps basic ingredients on hand. Even when you cook with mostly fresh foods, few canned ingredients are often useful. Here are a dozen items you should have for variety and flavor.
150Why America Will NEVER Switch to the Metric System
Is the U. S. is economically and scientifically doomed because we cannot get metric ideas like Celsius and milligram into our heads?There are reasons that Americans continue to resist metrification. Silly reasons...
19Casting and Carving Cement Stones: A Post-Funky Tiki Owl Sculpture
The "cast-stone sculpture class", sponsored by a local Arts Council, put me in a new world. Creativity emerged from ordinary people . . .
31Good Things About Being Sixty
Aging is almost unavoidable, but there are some good things about turning 60. It's all in how you look at it.
33President Kennedy Assassination -- November, 1963
President John F. Kennedy was shot while riding in an open car as his motorcade drove through Dallas, Texas. It was before the time of 24-hour news stations and the internet, but news traveled quickly...
29One Way to Self-Publish A Children' s Book
Like many good things, it started as a happy accident, and took a lot of work to bring into being.
127Funny, Hairbrained Ideas for Beauty and Hair Salon Names
Naming your hair salon or nail salon is a big deal. Here are some suggestions for attention-getting names -- some are silly, some are clever, some are quirky . . . and more.
8Prescription Side Effect Warnings Can Make You Think Twice
Medicine labels give way too much information, like "possible side effects". Over the counter products are bad enough, but prescriptions can induce chronic paranoia.
35Garage Sale Junkies: The New Hunter-Gatherers
Yard sales, garage sales and flea markets offer a blinding array of bargains among the discards. You may find just the treasure you are seeking . . .
20Are Substitute Teachers Sub-Human?
Where do substitute teachers come from? No one knows. There are some ways to make this job easier for yourself..
39Defensive Grocery Shopping, A Supermarket Strategy
Supermarket shopping is an adversarial situation which requires strategy, commando tactics and a sense of humor.
34Teaching Blind Children After Seeing Fifty Candles
Turning fifty is a milestone. Interacting with blind children made it a very memorable one for me, because of the insight they gave . . .
21Artificial Additives in Distressing Salad Dressings
Healthful green salads with lots of fresh vegetables are a good nutritional choice, but if you look at the ingredients list on the bottle of your favorite dressing, you may be in for a big surprise...
9A Credit Card Freeze Can Have Chilling Financial Consequences
Maxed out credit cards can bring on a big financial chill. Here are a few sane and silly ways to make sure you are not overdrawn.
23Authority in the Classroom: A Tale of Two Teachers
Why did this tiny woman have more authority and control in the classroom than the wrestling coach?
28Some of the Oddest Things in the World
Are you fascinated by odd things? A lot of people are. Here are a bunch of them, with reasons why they are odd.
28Are You Ready for a Power Failure: I am (sort of).
When the power goes off suddenly, you will wish you had prepared ahead. How will you see in the dark? How will you keep warm or cook?
20Cement Dinosaurs May Attract Asteroids
Some roadside attractions never become extinct, but could cement dinosaurs be an asteroid magnet?
94Using Garden Gnomes for Self-Defense
Garden gnomes are not useless. They can be effective for protection and self-defense. Instead of pepper spray or firearms, a well aimed gnome can easily stop someone trying to do you harm.
203How to Keep Mice, Rats and Other Rodents Out of Your Car Engine
Mice, rats and other rodents can do surprising damage in your car engine and other automotive parts. How you you keep them out of your vehicle?
23Mariposa: John C. Fremont's Town Survived the Gold Rush
Many gold rush "boom towns" grew up quickly and disappeared almost as fast. Mariposa, California is one that survived from its 1850 beginning, keeping much of the local historic flavor intact.
18A "Bubble Explode" Video Game Addict Learns to Score High
An innocent diversionary "marble-exploding bubble game", can teach some life lessons... if you force the issue a bit.
123How to Write Humor: What Makes Something So Funny?
Can humor writing be taught, or is "funniness'" an inborn trait? Can you learn how to write humor? There might be something to learn if we examine why we laugh.
94What's In Your Bra, Ladies?
Keeping small animals in your bra could lead to some distressing events.
62Purposely Purseless and Proud: Do Women Really Need a Handbag?
Why do women carry handbags? There are circumstances when you might need to have a purse, but mostly they are unnecessary. Try purselessness for a taste of freedom.
7Convenience for Your Food Pantry
A storable stash of food in your home pantry saves you time, money and stress...
4When Kids Argue: How to Help Them Settle It
As a sub teacher I had a common problem: WANTING to be sensitive and fair while NEEDING to be decisive and firm. It is not impossible when you give a direct limited choice....
7Dealing With Minor Misbehavior in School
Keep minor classroom misbehavior from escalating by using the right words at the right time.
9Picasso, Webs and the Big Bang Theory of Housekeeping
Housekeeping and cleaning philosophies can vary widely. Whether you believe in the "big bang theory" or the creationist approach, it all needs to be done.
19Historic California Street Clock Set for Restoration
A massive four-sided street clock, the Dreger Clock, that was located at Buena Park's Knott's Berry Farm for more than 50 years has been restored by the Buena Park Historical Society.
15A New Floor Mop Has Me Wringing My Hands
My "self-wringing" mop isn't all I expected, but I have learned some dance steps . . .
18The Defiant Child: "He's on the Roof!"
Sub teachers hope to keep kids from climbing the walls, but when one actually ends up on the roof . . . it is a little embarrassing.
8How to Stop the Trash Tsunami
Landfills are a modern phenomenon. A few years back no one ever had trash. Here's why . . .
15Easy Cranberry Sauce -Bran Muffin Recipe
Healthy ingredients are the key to making this tasty muffin a healthful treat.
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How to Remember Names
How do you remember names for a classroom full of kids? You don't, at least not right away. Here are some tips to make it easier for the sub teacher.
16How Can I Find Toothpaste With No Egyptian Hippo Guts?
How do you choose toothpaste when there are too many choices? Do you want whitening, tartar control, healthy gums, plaque abatement, or total health and happiness?
22Moving to the Country: Could You "Head for the Hills"?
Country living is attractive to many who are tired of city life. This can be a major life change with some surprised you never expected. Is it for you?
22A Funny Thing About Feng shui (Humor)
The positive energy of feng shui can be completely misunderstood, if you only try hard enough.
14How to be a "Stand-Up" Teacher
As a substitute teacher in control, you will rarely find yourself seated-- at least not for more than a few minutes. It's a job that keeps you on your feet.
2Name Games and Trading Places
A favorite classroom game, to confuse the substitute teacher, is trading names and places. If you play it cool, you can win the game while winning them over.
47"Damn! What's Your Problem?": Defiant Kid vs. Substitute Teacher
While sub teaching, you are bound to be confronted by a defiant child. Dealing with such a student requires special tactics.
10What the Blind Children Taught Me
Working with blind children in the classroom was an experience that educated this teacher in new ways. . .
6"Oh Say Can You Sub?" The Morning Substitute Call
Sometimes, for a substitute teacher, that early morning call is the hardest part of the day.
