2006's Top Ten Lists...

I hope that everyone has a wonderful New Year's!

Last year I had a top ten list. This year, I have more than one Top Ten List.

Mostly because I now have been blogging for just over a year...

And I have a lot more to contribute this year than I did in 2005.

*ha*


I started a "flickr" account and began adding photographs to it like some sort of crazy person. I added so many, that I met my monthly limits.

This made me crazy...

So I shelled out some cash and upgraded to a "pro" flickr account.

Now you can call me crazy.


*ahem*


I wanted to post my top ten photographs, but I was faced with a dilemma. Do I post the top ten according to the amount of comments they've received, or the photos that have been favorited, or by the number of views?

Since a lot of people "look" and "lurk" but don't actually "participate", I decided to post the top ten photographs according to each photo's number of views.

Up to this point, my photographs have received 1688 views. I know that this isn't a lot compared to most, but it's a lot to me.

~The Top Ten Viewed Photographs~


Timmy the Chihuahua Dresses Up for Thanksgiving
Originally uploaded by itsmetj.

#10

Surgical exposure of a feline urinary bladder.
Originally uploaded by itsmetj.

#9

Timmy the Chihuahua is a Christmas Angel
Originally uploaded by itsmetj.

#8

Timmy the Chihuahua Celebrates Christmas
Originally uploaded by itsmetj.

#7

Timmy the Chihuahua is a Christmas Angel
Originally uploaded by itsmetj.

#6

Timmy the Chihuahua Ponders Farming
Originally uploaded by itsmetj.

#5

Norma Wants to be a Beauty Queen
Originally uploaded by itsmetj.

#4

Two Urinary Catheters in the Urethra
Originally uploaded by itsmetj.

#3

Norma the English Bulldog Wants to be a Beauty Queen
Originally uploaded by itsmetj.

#2

Timmy the Chihuahua is a Christmas Angel
Originally uploaded by itsmetj.

#1 viewed photograph with 144 individual views.

Congratulations Timmy!


In August of 2006 I decided to start marketing my images through CafePress. So I shelled out some more money and opened what they call a "premium shop".

I knew that I would probably take this thing too far just like I did with my flickr account, so I went ahead and saved myself some aggravation and paid for the upgrade upfront.

Christmas sales were quite a shock to me.

No...

I didn't get rich, but what I did get was a boost of confidence . I realized that I had a marketable product, and that there were people who liked "my stuff" well enough to buy it!

In fact, there are folks who bought more than one item!

~wow~

I won't list a top ten here, but I will let you know what the top three images were that sold the most products.


Top Three 2006 Designs at dogscatskidslife's Online Shop



Roy
Originally uploaded by itsmetj.

#3

Norma Celebrates Christmas
Originally uploaded by itsmetj.

#2

Veterinary Support Staff
Originally uploaded by itsmetj.

#1

I'm really enjoying my little online store, and it is becoming quite the compliment to my new hobby of photography.



Last year I posted my top ten list of blog posts.

I was faced with the question of how to rate these posts and had decided that I would judge them by the number of search engine hits they received.

Now I'm not talking about the weird and bizarre hits you get from isolated words that you may type into your posts.

I'm counting the visits from folks that are searching for information and who actually chose to visit my site for the answer to their "questions".

When I search for information on the internet I really like to stick to the .gov and .edu websites. This, coupled with several .org websites, gives me a lot of good and sound bits of information.

I think that it is strange that someone would actually visit a blog for information. Keeping this in mind, when I write something that's of an informational nature I really like to make sure that my facts are straight, and that I provide links to my sources.

While I didn't do all that good of a job in keeping tabs on my "tally sheet" through out the year, I do have a pretty good idea of the trends.

My new year's resolution will be to do a better job of this in 2007. I don't want to shell out any more money to upgrade my SiteMeter account just so that I can follow all of my statistics a little better.

Of course, this decision is subject to change depending on how "crazy" it makes me.

*smile*

~The Top Ten Posts of 2006~

#10
Sex Offenders: Your Neighbors and School Volunteers

#9
Bladder Stones in the Canine Patient...

#8
Commemorative Speech...
(This post's traffic fluctuates with the college semesters with students usually searching for "commemorative speech examples".)

#7
Chronic Renal Failure in Dogs and Cats

#6
Anonymouse*
(This post was a spoof about anonymous posters; however, unknown to me at the time, there is a cloaking software also called Anonymouse. I get a lot of hits from places like Iraq, United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Kuwait, etc. I presume that they are mostly Muslim internet users looking to hide their ISP's from tracking software. Very rarely do I get a hit from a location within the United States on this type of search. What is interesting is that I included some comments in this post about Muslims as well as a link to Deeyah who is a Muslim singer/songwriter that lives, in hiding from the Muslim community, in fear of her life.)

#5
Subcutaneous Emphysema in a Canine Patient...

#4
Resourcefulness...
(This post took an enormous leap when there was an online veterinary anesthesia class late this summer. The instructor actually linked to this post for the class. They never contacted me about it or anything! I thought it was really weird, and I certainly hoped that they were using this post for "educational purposes"!)

#3
A Bite of Reality...

#2
Cytauxzoonosis aka Bobcat Fever...

And for the second year running, the number one post for 2005 ~AND~ 2006 is:

#1
dogscatskidslife: Swiffer Wet Jet Rumor is an Urban Legend...


There were several posts that were written in 2005 that still made 2006's Top Ten List.

I think that's really interesting...

Like, somehow, the internet avoids the decay of time and aging.


Or it could be that I'm loosing my edge.


hmmm...


I truly hope that all of you have a wonderful 2007!!


Happy New Year and...

God Bless!!


later...

Today's Mailbag...

The ornaments from Gloria Duchin arrived in the mail!

Norma the English Bulldog's prize winning photo is placed in each one of them too!

They are really pretty ornaments.

*smile*

The pictures aren't the greatest...

Mostly because I am over-tired, and I am having a lot of trouble with my balance tonight.



We've gotten some heavy rain this evening.

We need the moisture as we're almost 9 inches below normal for the year.

They've closed the highways in the west due to heavy snow.

We're too ~warm~ for it to snow here right now...

But the temperatures are due to take a dive again soon.


*sigh*


I need to get to my bed...

While I can still maintain my upright position.

;+ )


later...

This Ol' Computer...

I've been struggling with this computer of mine.

It has been a wonderful machine for me and hasn't given me a lick of trouble...

But I've seem to have "outgrown" it.


I find that the things that I am wanting to do aren't ~do-able~.

I want to work more with photographs and images in general...

I need a lot more RAM and a faster processor.

Of course, I need a new OS as well...

Windows 98 isn't going to cut it much longer. Even the internet is becoming Win98 unfriendly.

And I hear that there is a new operating system by Microsoft that is coming out called Vista.


I think three + generations of OS is long enough to wait for an upgrade.

Don't you?


So...

Time to start saving money for a new computer.


Do any of you have any recommendations that you would like to share with me?

And how about this Vista that's coming out...

Have you heard anything about it?


Any and all suggestions are welcome...

Except maybe from you Mac users.


*laugh*


I still haven't been convinced that a Mac is the way to go.

Call me "old-fashioned", I guess.


But...

If you have a convincing argument.

I will listen to it.


;+ )


later...

The Last Week of 2006...

I made it back from Texas late yesterday afternoon.

I didn't experience any problems on the road which was a blessing.


I trust that all of you had a very nice Christmas.

We did.

The kids stayed at Nana and Pa's and they'll help them with the chores.


Dad seemed to be in pretty good spirits considering.

I know that Mom and Dad are really worried.

Dad will be having a full-body scan (PET scan) on the third.


His eye is black and blue from the surgery and is still quite swollen. He can't see well enough to read or drive, but he said that he's thankful that he can see well enough to get around.


I pray that he continues to improve and that there isn't cancer elsewhere in his body.

According to the oncologist, there isn't much that they can do to treat the cancer that was found behind his eye without risking complete blindness.


So...


I seem to be really tired and lack any substantial amount of energy.


This big tall glass of ice cold milk and these generous portions of leftover Christmas fudge should make everything all better.

;+ )

later...

~Merry Christmas~

We will be going to my parent's for Christmas.


I do not have much in the way of money...

But I do have a big God.


And His Gifts are worth much more than any earthly gift could ever be.


So the gifts that I have to offer to you are....

My hopes...

My dreams...

And my prayers...

For you.


I pray that everyone has a wonderful Christmas.

That all your travels are pleasant and safe.


I pray for you and your family's good health...

For joy...

And peace in your home.


I pray that your faith grows...

And that your trust in God strengthens.

That your hope is restored...

And that your vision for your life is clear.


I pray that you are blessed...

In your home...

And your endeavors.


I pray that you recognize the blessings that you have...

And that they are multiplied.


Thank you Lord for all that you have given me.

Please give me the wisdom to use it wisely.


God Bless.

I've Been Told...

...to watch the Daily Oklahoman (our local newspaper) for an article about Norma the English Bulldog.


I worked late today...

And I need to go to bed now.


I hope you guys have a great Friday.


later...

The Official Announcement is Up!

Gloria Duchin, Inc. has officially anounced their 2007 Spokespet Winners and have posted them on their homepage!

What's really great is that the cat is an Okie too!!

Gotta run!

later...

Today's (e)Mail Bag...

Norma Celebrates Christmas
Originally uploaded by itsmetj.

Hey guys...

Sorry to be so short on the posts here lately.


I've been busy with painting in the house, the kids, and work.


By the way...

I haven't gotten very far with the painting. Not like I had hoped to by this point at least.

Norma Celebrates Christmas
Originally uploaded by itsmetj.

Tomorrow we all three have a dentist appointment, so there goes some more time.

At a place I really don't like to be.

Don't get me wrong...

Our dentist is great.

I just don't like what he does for a living...

Especially with me in the chair.

Norma says to "Let it snow!"
Originally uploaded by itsmetj.

I have some great and fun news to share with you guys!

I have received a very special e-mail today!

Norma Can't Wait Until December 25th!
Originally uploaded by itsmetj.

A few months ago a client/friend of mine told me about a Christmas photo contest. She told me that I should enter the Christmas pictures that I had taken of my pets.

Gloria Duchin, Inc., was holding a contest to see who their ~spokespet~ would be for their special 2007 pet Christmas ornament. This special ornament would help be a fund raiser for the ASPCA.

I entered pictures that I had taken of Oliver the Cat, Norma the English Bulldog, and Timmy the Chihuahua.

Well today...

I got an e-mail from Gloria Duchin, Inc., that states:

We finalized our voting, and everyone unanimously decided that she is the most adorable dog. Please give her our congratulations!

Can you believe it?!


Wow!

Double WOW!


So, I thought that I would share the "fun and great" news with all of you guys! Norma will be the Gloria Duchin, Inc., spokespet! The company will also have Norma's very own web page to help promote the ornament. When they put it up I'll let you all know!

Norma Says, "bah humbug".
Originally uploaded by itsmetj.

(BTW... I don't get any money from this thing, but I do get two of the special pewter ornaments with Norma's picture on it and $100 will be donated in Norma's name to the ASPCA.)

So...

I really need to get to bed now.

You guys have a great Wednesday and hopefully I'll be catching you back here...

later....

Semester Break...

Well, I have a small break before I get inundated with school work again.

I want to get two of the upstairs bedrooms and the hall painted during this time...

But I don't know if things will go "my way".


I really don't want any half-baked projects in the house while I am trying to concentrate on my studies.


I had been working on these things a little bit at a time after we had moved into this house...

But when I had my surgery...

Well, everything pretty much stopped.

That was three years ago in November.

Then I decided to go to college.

And ever since then, I have really done nothing other than go to work, attend class, study, and complete assignments.



I've had a few distractions this week which have taken the wind out of my sails.


One of my concerns is my dad.

Three years ago, at almost the same exact time that I had discovered that I had a brain tumor...

They found a retinal melanoma in my dad's left eye.


My father and I had surgery within weeks of each other.

My mom was pretty much beside herself.


I lost my hearing and ended up with partial paralysis of the left side of my face...

And my dad lost his eye.


Last week, Mom called and said that she had some bad news.

They found another tumor in my dad, and it was behind his right eye.

His only eye.


They did surgery yesterday and this time Dad woke up with his eye still there.

Last time, Dad didn't know that he was going to wake up without his left eye.


Dad seems to be in pretty good spirits and says that he is doing well.

And he is very thankful that he can still see.


So, I am counting my blessings...

And I am hoping that I will get these projects taken care of before classes start again.


I hope that all of you guys are certainly doing well.

God Bless.

later...

Busy...

A lot of things are going on over in my part of the world.


I hope everyone is doing ok and that your families are all doing well.


God Bless...


And I hope to catch all of you back here...


later...

Pearl Harbor Day...

Today they have finally broken ground in Hawaii for a memorial to honor the USS Oklahoma and it's crew members who died from the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

It has been 65 years since that tragic day...

"...a day that will live in infamy".


That very morning, on December 7, 1941, the Japanese ambassadors were kowtowing and smiling at our folks in Washington...

Talking like they were going to cut a deal.

A peaceful agreement.


All the while they knew what was fixing to transpire in Pearl Harbor.


It just seems to me that we just don't ever get any smarter...

No matter how many history classes we take...

No matter how many lessons we have to learn from.


It looks like to me that the same type of rhetoric is going on in the Middle East.

They're all smiling at us...

Talking about "peaceful" agreements.


Why can't we feel that knife that is in our backs?


It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure this one out.


By the way...

A town in Somalia has passed an edict that demands that you pray five times a day.

If you don't, you'll be beheaded.

But they've been kind enough to give the citizens a three-day notice:

Those who do not follow the prayer edict after three days have elapsed, "will definitely be beheaded according to Islamic law," Rage told The Associated Press by phone. "As Muslims we should practice Islam fully, not in part, and that is what our religion enjoins us to do."

Sounds like a peaceful little town to me...

With a really low crime rate I bet.

later...

Counting Pennies Really Adds Up...

I've been busy.

And I have been concentrating really, really hard on my class assignments.

Because of that, there are several things that just don't get the attention that they deserve.


For example...


Bills.


Yes, I hate bills...

And one thing about bills is that it takes time to go over them.


Well today I was looking at my AT&T bill. Actually, it was last month's bill, but nevertheless...

At least I was looking at it.


Since this bill is paid as an automatic withdrawal from my account...

Sometimes close scrutiny is overlooked.


Today I discovered that there was a new charge on my telephone bill in the amount of $3.88.


It was for long distance service.

Not for a long distance call mind you...

It was a charge for the ~availability~ of the service.


I called AT&T and asked them why I had this charge on my bill.

There really wasn't an explanation other than it was a charge that the telephone company has decided to implement.


I told the service rep that I didn't want it on my bill.


I think she was shocked.


Why is that?

Is it because everyone just accepts the status quo and doesn't ask any questions?

Surely I'm not the only one who has called about this?!


The representative proceeds to tell me that I can have the long distance service removed but that there would be a $9 disconnect fee and, of course, I wouldn't be able to make any long distance telephone calls.


Can you believe that?


I have to pay a bogus fee to have their service removed?


I told her that I wanted it off of my bill and that I didn't want to pay for any services that I was not going to use.


I use my cell phone for all of my long distance telephone calls and I haven't used my "land line" for long distance communications in over seven years now.


The lady really couldn't believe that I actually wanted the long distance service removed.

It took a while, but I finally convinced her that:

#1. I refuse to pay for something that I am not going to use.

#2. That I was offended that AT&T actually has the audacity to a: bill me for un-used services, and b: bill me to have said services removed.



Of course the poor woman is required to up-sell their services to me, and she dutifully did her job.

I once again repeated my position and feelings about the whole situation to her and that I did NOT want to increase my telephone bill.


So... I will have to pay $9 as a one time fee in order to save $46.56 annually on my telephone bill (and that's not counting those unbelievable taxes either, so it will be well over $50/year savings).


Finally, I had "indoctrinated" my representative and I was finished telling her no, no, and no to all of those extra features.


I was ready to hang up the telephone when finally her 'light bulb' came on.

(Surely she must work off a commission or something.)

She said that they also had a new "pick and choose" package where I could maybe get the same exact services that I have but for less money.

I don't buy into their package deals, so I was paying for what I wanted separately.


Come to find out the ~new~ pick and choose package will save me about $5 a month (not counting those blasted taxes).


So...

I am a happy camper now and AT&T will be getting more than $100/year LESS from me.


Ha.


I hope you guys had a great Wednesday!


later...

Honestly...

I've read several posts this evening with poignant reflections concerning this time of year...

Ways to make Christmas special.

Changing our point of view from the commercial aspects of Christmas, and directing our thoughts towards what it should really mean to us and our families.


And yes, you are right about all those things, and I whole-heartedly support you all.


But guys...

I have to be honest with you.

There are many times in December that I don't feel all warm and fuzzy inside.


And I don't actually feel recovered from the Christmas Season until about March or so the following year.


This video seems to express my stress...





later...

Boo the Rat Terrier...

This is a picture of Boo. She is one of Mom and Dad's dogs and is considered a "varmint dog".

Varmint dogs are supposed to protect the property from small wild animals such as raccoons and opossums. These animals like to kill chickens and other small farm animals during the night.

Boo does a good job and is always on the lookout for something that's "out of place".

Parker took this candid shot and I think he did a great job.

What is really neat about this photograph is that you can see Parker's reflection in Boo's eyes.

Cool huh?!

I hope you guys' week is going well.


I'm currently studying for a final exam.


later...

Brrrr...

I have been working hard on my schoolwork the entire week-end. I have had very few breaks or interruptions...

So I feel that I have gotten quite a bit accomplished.

Once again, I was NOT tempted by any beautiful outdoor weather...

Which enabled me to keep my nose to the grind stone and complete my tasks.


I'm so thankful that we have not lost any power over this wintry aberration...

I hope that the folks in the Midwest get their electricity restored soon.


Surely all of you had a wonderful week-end?


Good. I'm glad.


Once I get through my final exam I will be able to blog a little more...

For a short while.


Then I will be starting some new classes.


You guys stay warm and safe.


later...