Ok, my goal here isn't to be an advertising machine. However, I do try to share when I come across a really good deal or product. If you are like me and get cold sores (fever blisters or herpes type whatever that you get on your face), then you probably notice that they seem to show up more during the winter or when you are stressed. That lovely little sore appears and hangs around for a few weeks. I don't suffer from much vanity, but even I feel quite conscious of that little sore on my mouth and often feel like it is taking up my whole face. Ugh. Anyway....
For years, I have been using Zovirax topical to treat my cold sores. Seriously y'all, it cuts the life of those things in half! There have even been instances where I have felt the sore coming (oh, the familiar itch or burn) and put Zovirax on it...and the sore was gone 3 days later. I swear. Yes, really. I have recommended it a couple of times to family or friends and each of them became a Zovirax believer after they gave it a try. My little tube of Zovirax lives in my purse. I have tried some of the over the counter stuff--NOTHING works like this stuff!
If you get these little sores, then you are bound to be interested, right? I mean, who wants a sore on thier face any longer than it has to be there?
So here is the deal...you can try this stuff out AND get a rebate on your co-pay! Most people will only end up paying $0 to $15 to try this stuff out. Here is the simple path:
Go here to print out your coupon/rebate form (be sure to PRINT!)
Ask your doctor for a prescription
Turn in your prescription and rebate form.
Use Zovirax on your next cold sore or fever blister.
You won't be sorry!
Worried about this being a scam? It isn't. I did this for the rebate on my next script. Here is what you see when you fill out the rebate page:
Thank you for your interest in learning more about ZOVIRAX. We will be sending you the most up-to-date information about ZOVRIAX via e-mail.
In the meantime, take advantage of our rebate for ZOVIRAX Cream. You'll pay only $15.00* on co-pays up to $50.00. the best part? You'll receive the rebate instantly. So there are no receipts to photocopy or save -- just bring the rebate form with you when you go to pick up your prescription of ZOVIRAX Cream at the pharmacy.
*Attention Patient: If your co-pay or pharmacy bill exceeds $15.00, present this certificate to the pharmacist for an instant rebate of "upto" a maximum of $35.00 for each product. If your total out of pocket pharmacy bill exceeds $50.00 for any single product, you will be responsible for the additional balance. Not valid with any other offer.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Friday, August 27, 2010
I met myself
I met myself this morning. No, really, I did. Before my collective family starts calling my husband and telling him to "keep an eye on me", let me explain...
I was putting Kale into his seat for our morning ride to school/work. I plopped his bottom into the seat and put his cup aside so I could strap him into his seat. In that mere nanosecond, two still chubby little hands went to work. Ok, yes, my hands are still chubby too...but I am talking about Kale's little hands. They reached for the straps and he very clearly said I DO IT!
I should have known right then that I was meeting myself. I didn't. What I did know was that I had two options. Remove my hands and let him try to do it while knowing that eventually he would get frustrated and let me do it for him OR keep my hands involved in the situation and risk losing a finger and eardrum. I let him give it a try.
As I moved back a little from his personal space...oh, wait, does he have personal space? No, nor does he even acknowledge that such a thing exists for anyone else either. So let me rephrase that, I moved back so I was out of the way when the frustration hit him. Yep, thats better.
So, as I am moving back a little, I emerged from his mouth in a little whisper. As he intently stared down at the clasps and worked his little hands, he whispered "I do it myself". Oh, hello little me. Hello strong willed and stubborn and persistent little me.
Right at this moment, if you listen closely enough, I am sure you can hear my mom laughing. Later, when she reads this to my dad, you will be able to hear them laughing too. Ah, the sweet revenge of grandparenthood. Yes, I met myself. I know, or at least think, I know what I am in for with this child and he is going to completley wear me out. And I will love every stinking minute of it, if not in the moment, then later. Because I am stubborn and strong willed and am determined to love every stinking minute of it.
After I met myself and let him get frustrated with trying to connect the bottom clasps, I reminded him that those clasps can pinch him if he isn't careful. He dropped the clasps and said "you fix it mommy". Well, there must be some of his daddy in him after all!
I was putting Kale into his seat for our morning ride to school/work. I plopped his bottom into the seat and put his cup aside so I could strap him into his seat. In that mere nanosecond, two still chubby little hands went to work. Ok, yes, my hands are still chubby too...but I am talking about Kale's little hands. They reached for the straps and he very clearly said I DO IT!
I should have known right then that I was meeting myself. I didn't. What I did know was that I had two options. Remove my hands and let him try to do it while knowing that eventually he would get frustrated and let me do it for him OR keep my hands involved in the situation and risk losing a finger and eardrum. I let him give it a try.
As I moved back a little from his personal space...oh, wait, does he have personal space? No, nor does he even acknowledge that such a thing exists for anyone else either. So let me rephrase that, I moved back so I was out of the way when the frustration hit him. Yep, thats better.
So, as I am moving back a little, I emerged from his mouth in a little whisper. As he intently stared down at the clasps and worked his little hands, he whispered "I do it myself". Oh, hello little me. Hello strong willed and stubborn and persistent little me.
Right at this moment, if you listen closely enough, I am sure you can hear my mom laughing. Later, when she reads this to my dad, you will be able to hear them laughing too. Ah, the sweet revenge of grandparenthood. Yes, I met myself. I know, or at least think, I know what I am in for with this child and he is going to completley wear me out. And I will love every stinking minute of it, if not in the moment, then later. Because I am stubborn and strong willed and am determined to love every stinking minute of it.
After I met myself and let him get frustrated with trying to connect the bottom clasps, I reminded him that those clasps can pinch him if he isn't careful. He dropped the clasps and said "you fix it mommy". Well, there must be some of his daddy in him after all!
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Pinecone Research
I recently signed up with this survey/research company and like it so well that I am posting it here. The surveys are short and sweet and this is one of the few reputable survey companies on the web. Give them a try if you are looking to earn a few extra bucks or rewards! Click here to get started! Enjoy!
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Last day of class and a girlfriend
While the majority of everyone around us seems to be reporting in on their child(ren)'s first day of school, we are winding down our last day of class here. Well, our last day of class with Ms Vivian.
Kale: my friends are boys
Me: what about Sloane?
Kale: she is my girlfriend
Me: is Jolie your girlfriend?
Kale: (sigh) NO MOMMY! I TOOOOLD YOU, FWOANE IS MY GIRLFRIEND!
Kale started school last July and within a month it was time for promotions, which is when he joined Ms Vivian's class. That makes Ms Vivian his first teacher. God bless her. They both survived! She even potty trained him. Can we make her a saint now? This is Ms Vivian and Kale:
And this is the teacher from the other portion of the split classroom, Ms Chasity. I am not sure who will miss Kale more...Vivian or Chasity. There hasn't been a day when Chasity hasn't greeted or said goodbye to Kale. This is Ms Chasity and Kale:
Tomorrow, school is closed to prepare for the big promotion. Cubbies are cleaned out, belongings are sent home, and (hopefully) all the toys and books are cleaned. On Monday, each kid goes to a new class. For Kale's class, pretty much the only thing changing is the location and the teacher. Every single kid in his current class will be in his new class...plus 3 kids from the adjoining classroom and 2 kids that he doesn't yet know. So, out of 11 other kids in his class, he is already very familiar with 9 of them. Thankfully, this aslo means his girlfriend will be his new class as well. Whew. We don't need heartbreak at almost 3 years old.
Yeah, my son has a girlfriend. Go ahead and roll your eyes. Yet, if you ask him who his girlfriend is...he will tell you. Its Fwoane. No her name is not Fwoane. Its Sloane. But he can't say it correctly and so it comes out Fwoane. Ask him about her and he grins. Anytime I talk to her, she beams her little grin at me and then cuts her eyes to him. Apparently, if you can be smitten at 2, then they are smitten with one another. Oh, and do NOT make the mistake of asking him if someone else is his girlfriend. I did that the other day and it went like this:
Kale: my friends are boys
Me: what about Sloane?
Kale: she is my girlfriend
Me: is Jolie your girlfriend?
Kale: no
Me: is Ainsley your girlfriend?Kale: (sigh) NO MOMMY! I TOOOOLD YOU, FWOANE IS MY GIRLFRIEND!
Me: busted out laughing and finally recomposed myself enough to say, OK!
So this is Kale and Sloane:
I asked them to stand by each other. She obliged and stood there smiling and calm with her hands clasped in front of her. Kale on the otherhand...well, he pretty much lived up to his "Mr. Mischief" shirt today.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Groupon Gone Wrong
I am a fan of groupon. I have been a fan of groupon since before it was even accessible in our area. If you aren't familiar with it, here is a quick intro: a business in your area does a 24 hour deal for a certificate/voucher/discount and once a certain number (usually a small number) of people committ to the deal, then it is activated (tipped).
For instance, a car wash may advertise a 60% discount on a specialized wash/interior clean on your vehicle. Once the tipping point is reached, anyone who has already committed or committs during that 24 hour to purchasing the voucher will get the deal.
So, a few weeks ago, our favorite car wash (great service in the past) had a groupon deal for a $25 cleaning for a $10 price. Sweet! We grabbed one. Before we left town a for our vacation, we had used our groupon to get the truck cleaned. As we rolled down the road that afternoon, I noticed that it appeared the front window had not been cleaned on the inside. Bummer. That was one of the main reasons I bought the deal. My front window REALLY needed a deep clean. I mentioned the problem to my husband and we agreed I would just handle it when we returned home in a week.
Fast forward to this past Monday. On my lunch, I head over to the car wash and explain the situation and why its taken me so long to report it to them. The asst manager tells me no problem and that they will not only take care of my interior windows, but re-do the entire truck (exterior wash, clean tires, clean interior, etc). Sweet! I don't have time that day to let them do this, so I ask if my husband can bring the truck back tomorrow. Of course! No problem. Just ask for either the asst manager or the manager and explain what has already been decided. He even gave me his name, the manager's name, and the name of the specific wash code.
Of course, as my husband is on his way to get the truck washed, the sky lets loose a torrential downpour. Great. Well, lets try again tomorrow. So, now we are at today.
My husband takes the truck in and explains it all to the manager, who has no idea about my conversation with the asst manager. However, he takes our word for it and puts our truck through. As he was walking up to our truck, my husband was rummaging through the center console and money was visible. I had laid it there the previous day. It was in a closed compartment that he opened up. Yes, I know. Yes dad, I know. YES MOM, I know. So, anyway, my whole big whopping $7 is laying there. I know it was there because I had used some change out of that console just an hour earlier. I saw the $7 (a $5 and two $1) plus I also knew there was a separate $1 a little further down and if you dug just a bit below that one, you would find another $5. My husband knew the $7 was there because it was laying on top of the paper he was seaching for in the console. The manager sees it as well. Neither of them knew about the other $6.
The truck is cleaned inside and out and my husband is handed the keys. I am not sure if he had even left the parking lot when he looked in the console and noticed the big whopping $7 was gone. He went to the manager and said that we have a new problem. He explained the missing $7. He tells the manager he has 20 minutes to get it all figured out or he is calling the police. Stealing is stealing and money doesn't grow on trees at our house, especially not right now! The manager knows the money was there. He saw it. (Later on the phone, he tells me that he saw it.) So, he hands my husband $7 and promises to figure it out. My husband leaves and calls me.
I was furious. First, you don't do what you were supposed to when cleaning my truck...and then when you are trying to make good on that, you steal from us? Nope, don't think so! A few calls later and I am on the phone with the manager. The first thing I did was ask to speak to the owner. The manager can't stop apologizing. The owner is out of town. By the time we hung up, the manager told me that he would call me later this afternoon to let me know what he uncovered from his staff. He had already made two employees empty their pockets. He had also told them that if he had to, he would close the business for a few days until it all got sorted out...meaning they would not be getting paid. I trusted that he wasn't playing around. I also made it clear to him that we had been loyal customers BEFORE the groupon even existed, so now he had basically lost us as customers over something that started out as a way to bring in customers or get current customers to upgrade a service. I made it clear that if he wanted our business, he was going to have to earn it back.
He called me back a little after 5pm. How many of you are surprised that he actually called me back. Anymore, customer service is dead. Not at this car wash. He immediately said he wanted to update me on things. He said that the three staff who had touched our truck were no longer working for the car wash. He said he wasn't able to figure out who took the money, so he let them all go. Yep, put your eyeballs back in your head. He moved on to ask what he needed to do to retain our business. I was so stunned, I asked him for the chance to discuss it with my husband before letting him know. He offered up deep detail service (the kind where you drop off your truck and come back in a few hours), oil change...whatever. Ok, for real, pick your chin up off the floor. I know, right? Amazing. What do you know, customer service is still alive.
I am not sure who was stunned more, me or my husband. I don't think that was the outcome either of us expected. We are not disapointed with it, but just stunned that someone was willing to go that length in the effort to catch a $7 thief. Most times, a manager would say they had much bigger issues to deal with and move on. If anything, I expected that the thief would be fired and it would be such a shame that someone lost a job over $7 measly dollars. Yet, it was much larger than that. Three people went home jobless today because one of them failed to do the right thing and speak up to being guilty. I am not stunned that the thief didn't speak up. In fact, I doubt the thief realized that the boss would truly fire someone over $7, much less all three of them.
Despite the fact that they failed of giving me what I paid for the first time and then stole from me, I still think I will be giving them the chance to retain my business. People make mistakes. Businesses make mistakes. Its how those mistakes are handled and rectified that makes such a huge difference. For once, a person and a business are choosing not to sweep a mistake under the rug...they are willing to do whatever it takes to make it right. Yeah, I am all about those kind of second chances.
As for the $5 and a separate $1 that was in the same console and buried just a little deeper in the paper pile...they are still there. I even doubled checked to make sure that the original $7 hadn't just been shifted around. Nope. Three people who had jobs this morning are now jobless tonight. One of them has $7 more than he was supposed to have today. I hope that $7 was worth it. I bet that the other two who lost thier jobs think that as well. Well, maybe not...
For instance, a car wash may advertise a 60% discount on a specialized wash/interior clean on your vehicle. Once the tipping point is reached, anyone who has already committed or committs during that 24 hour to purchasing the voucher will get the deal.
So, a few weeks ago, our favorite car wash (great service in the past) had a groupon deal for a $25 cleaning for a $10 price. Sweet! We grabbed one. Before we left town a for our vacation, we had used our groupon to get the truck cleaned. As we rolled down the road that afternoon, I noticed that it appeared the front window had not been cleaned on the inside. Bummer. That was one of the main reasons I bought the deal. My front window REALLY needed a deep clean. I mentioned the problem to my husband and we agreed I would just handle it when we returned home in a week.
Fast forward to this past Monday. On my lunch, I head over to the car wash and explain the situation and why its taken me so long to report it to them. The asst manager tells me no problem and that they will not only take care of my interior windows, but re-do the entire truck (exterior wash, clean tires, clean interior, etc). Sweet! I don't have time that day to let them do this, so I ask if my husband can bring the truck back tomorrow. Of course! No problem. Just ask for either the asst manager or the manager and explain what has already been decided. He even gave me his name, the manager's name, and the name of the specific wash code.
Of course, as my husband is on his way to get the truck washed, the sky lets loose a torrential downpour. Great. Well, lets try again tomorrow. So, now we are at today.
My husband takes the truck in and explains it all to the manager, who has no idea about my conversation with the asst manager. However, he takes our word for it and puts our truck through. As he was walking up to our truck, my husband was rummaging through the center console and money was visible. I had laid it there the previous day. It was in a closed compartment that he opened up. Yes, I know. Yes dad, I know. YES MOM, I know. So, anyway, my whole big whopping $7 is laying there. I know it was there because I had used some change out of that console just an hour earlier. I saw the $7 (a $5 and two $1) plus I also knew there was a separate $1 a little further down and if you dug just a bit below that one, you would find another $5. My husband knew the $7 was there because it was laying on top of the paper he was seaching for in the console. The manager sees it as well. Neither of them knew about the other $6.
The truck is cleaned inside and out and my husband is handed the keys. I am not sure if he had even left the parking lot when he looked in the console and noticed the big whopping $7 was gone. He went to the manager and said that we have a new problem. He explained the missing $7. He tells the manager he has 20 minutes to get it all figured out or he is calling the police. Stealing is stealing and money doesn't grow on trees at our house, especially not right now! The manager knows the money was there. He saw it. (Later on the phone, he tells me that he saw it.) So, he hands my husband $7 and promises to figure it out. My husband leaves and calls me.
I was furious. First, you don't do what you were supposed to when cleaning my truck...and then when you are trying to make good on that, you steal from us? Nope, don't think so! A few calls later and I am on the phone with the manager. The first thing I did was ask to speak to the owner. The manager can't stop apologizing. The owner is out of town. By the time we hung up, the manager told me that he would call me later this afternoon to let me know what he uncovered from his staff. He had already made two employees empty their pockets. He had also told them that if he had to, he would close the business for a few days until it all got sorted out...meaning they would not be getting paid. I trusted that he wasn't playing around. I also made it clear to him that we had been loyal customers BEFORE the groupon even existed, so now he had basically lost us as customers over something that started out as a way to bring in customers or get current customers to upgrade a service. I made it clear that if he wanted our business, he was going to have to earn it back.
He called me back a little after 5pm. How many of you are surprised that he actually called me back. Anymore, customer service is dead. Not at this car wash. He immediately said he wanted to update me on things. He said that the three staff who had touched our truck were no longer working for the car wash. He said he wasn't able to figure out who took the money, so he let them all go. Yep, put your eyeballs back in your head. He moved on to ask what he needed to do to retain our business. I was so stunned, I asked him for the chance to discuss it with my husband before letting him know. He offered up deep detail service (the kind where you drop off your truck and come back in a few hours), oil change...whatever. Ok, for real, pick your chin up off the floor. I know, right? Amazing. What do you know, customer service is still alive.
I am not sure who was stunned more, me or my husband. I don't think that was the outcome either of us expected. We are not disapointed with it, but just stunned that someone was willing to go that length in the effort to catch a $7 thief. Most times, a manager would say they had much bigger issues to deal with and move on. If anything, I expected that the thief would be fired and it would be such a shame that someone lost a job over $7 measly dollars. Yet, it was much larger than that. Three people went home jobless today because one of them failed to do the right thing and speak up to being guilty. I am not stunned that the thief didn't speak up. In fact, I doubt the thief realized that the boss would truly fire someone over $7, much less all three of them.
Despite the fact that they failed of giving me what I paid for the first time and then stole from me, I still think I will be giving them the chance to retain my business. People make mistakes. Businesses make mistakes. Its how those mistakes are handled and rectified that makes such a huge difference. For once, a person and a business are choosing not to sweep a mistake under the rug...they are willing to do whatever it takes to make it right. Yeah, I am all about those kind of second chances.
As for the $5 and a separate $1 that was in the same console and buried just a little deeper in the paper pile...they are still there. I even doubled checked to make sure that the original $7 hadn't just been shifted around. Nope. Three people who had jobs this morning are now jobless tonight. One of them has $7 more than he was supposed to have today. I hope that $7 was worth it. I bet that the other two who lost thier jobs think that as well. Well, maybe not...
Monday, August 9, 2010
Round and Round We Go...where we stop, nobody knows!
The title says it all right now. Round and round we go. Life hasn't been boring lately. Here is a preview...and just maybe I will get around to posting more in detail about a few of these events.
My husband was unexpectedly available to have this past week off work. We rearranged a few agenda items and made a great week of it. We started at camp for a few days, and then jaunted to my parents house to be around for the welcoming of our new nephew. Then, we jaunted some more and landed at my in-laws house for a few days.
In the midst of all this, we have been embracing some changes in our routines and finding blessings in what some would call a hardship. Moreso, God has reminded us constantly that we are in His hands and that He will see us through our struggles. We have even had unexpected glimpses of perspective tossed at us.
It was a great week full of welcoming new life, finding blessings, and just letting go of all the stress/struggles of our everyday life at home. Thank you to everyone who hosted us and thanks for loving on us!
The coming weeks have agenda items of people turning 40 (not us!), transition to a new class at school for Kale, figuring out a new normal, and saying a lot of prayers that fall doesn't get shy and take forever to show up because we are tired of this heat!
My husband was unexpectedly available to have this past week off work. We rearranged a few agenda items and made a great week of it. We started at camp for a few days, and then jaunted to my parents house to be around for the welcoming of our new nephew. Then, we jaunted some more and landed at my in-laws house for a few days.
In the midst of all this, we have been embracing some changes in our routines and finding blessings in what some would call a hardship. Moreso, God has reminded us constantly that we are in His hands and that He will see us through our struggles. We have even had unexpected glimpses of perspective tossed at us.
It was a great week full of welcoming new life, finding blessings, and just letting go of all the stress/struggles of our everyday life at home. Thank you to everyone who hosted us and thanks for loving on us!
The coming weeks have agenda items of people turning 40 (not us!), transition to a new class at school for Kale, figuring out a new normal, and saying a lot of prayers that fall doesn't get shy and take forever to show up because we are tired of this heat!
Monday, August 2, 2010
Connor Joseph George
What an amazing day! What an amazing blessing it was to stand in the corner of a hospital room and watch as a momma, daddy, and two grandma's welcomed Connor into the world.
Connor entered the world at 4:56pm weighing 6lbs 2oz and 19 inches long.
God is so amazingly good!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Connor entered the world at 4:56pm weighing 6lbs 2oz and 19 inches long.
God is so amazingly good!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
36 Hours
Sometime in the next 36 hours, my brother will become a dad....his wife is being induced in a few hours. Look out world, here comes Connor Joseph George!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
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