GOOGLE SEARCH ENGINE EVALUATOR JOB

I didn’t want to get your hopes up by sharing this until I was absolutely certain it’s legit and a real money maker. Now I’m sure. This book was written from experience, not just theory. The author of this book actually makes money as a Google Rater. And so do I.

I’m not going to go into all the details of this business, partly because of the non-disclosure agreement I signed, and partly because everything you need to know is in this $2.99 ebook from Amazon Kindle. 

You may enjoy this kind of work--
If you are out of work
If you hate your job
If you are tired of driving to work in traffic
If you are tired of wearing a uniform or a tie
If you are tired of micro-managing control freak bosses
If you are ready to be your own boss
If you love the Internet
If you are good with computers
If you are good at time management
If you are self-directed and self-motivated
If you want to earn more than minimum wage

What you need--
A good computer
A fast Internet connection
High quality anti-virus software
A quiet place at home where you can work for a few hours a day
A high tolerance for boredom
Some college--Could be business or tech school, any degree, or even “in progress”

I can’t tell you how much I make but I can tell you it’s enough to pay all my monthly expenses. I can also tell you it’s more than I was making at my last full-time job. It’s also a lot easier. Plus, working from home is a dream-come-true for me! 

Here is what you can expect--
1.25.2014 I bought the book
1.25.2014 I read the book
1.25.2014 I filled out the online application
1.28.2014 I took and passed the online exam
2.03.2014 I started working
3.21.2014 I received my first paycheck
4.16.2014 I received my second paycheck

If you’re interested, buy the book. It’s cheaper than a cappuccino and it can change your life forever. 

Here’s the link: Make Money from Home as a Google Rater

In case you’re wondering, I get nothing from recommending this book. I’m merely sharing something I found that I think could benefit you, my readers.

Now go take on the day!

Peace, out.


Check out Duane’s Youtube channel

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Follow-up note on Google Rater job--Don't quit your day job yet! 

You will start out at 1-2 hours per day. Each month your work will be evaluated for accuracy (yes, there are strict guidelines you must follow). If your evaluations are good, you will be given more hours. If your evaluations are sub-par, they will tell you what you did wrong and how to do the job better. At that point, you may be placed on probation till your next review. If this happens, re-read the guidelines and make sure you understand them. You may ask questions via email. The people you work for are very nice and very helpful. They want you to succeed because everybody makes money as a result of the work you do.

If you decide to do this, drop me a note and let me know how it's going.

Peace, out.

ACT LIKE YOU'RE BLESSED

(this is my 12 year old cat, Joey)

Act like you’re blessed, talk like you’re blessed, and think like you’re blessed. Put actions behind your faith, and one day you’ll see it become a reality.

-Joel Osteen Ministries 

I found this quote on Facebook this morning. This is the best life advice I've read lately. It could be a powerful, life-changing mantra for anybody who wants to see positive change around them. Try this: Write this quote on a piece of paper, carry it with you, read it every day. Watch what happens.
   

Now go take on the day!

Peace, out.

Check out Duane's Youtube Channel

WHAT WOULD 10 YEAR OLD DUANE THINK?

(royalty free image from clipartoday.com)

A Facebook friend recently posted a drawing he did. It was of a little boy looking at a man watching TV. What really caught my attention was the caption he added: “What would 10 year old me think if he saw me now?”

That really got me thinking. What was I doing when I was 10 years old? What did I enjoy doing the most? What were my hopes and dreams? How did I want my life to turn out? And the big question: What would 10 year old me think if he saw me now? 

Honestly, I think he would be impressed. I’m not saying my life is perfect and exactly how I hoped it would turn out. But on the plus side, I have a comfortable home, a reliable car, and no debt. I’m not currently working but I don’t feel guilty about it because I worked hard for many years. I know I will find a job when I’m ready to go back to work. 

Also on the plus side, I’ve had a lot of different jobs, done some traveling, and tried a lot of different things. It’s not as if I’ve been stuck in a rut, doing the same thing forever. 

I’m a positive, happy person. Mean and negative people are deleted from my life as quickly as possible. I used to want to save them all, but I learned that if people don’t ask for help, it’s usually because they don’t want to change. Some people are literally happy being miserable. I don’t get it, but it’s true. Since adopting a “live and let live” philosophy, I feel a huge burden has been lifted off me. Who put that burden there in the first place? I did. 

Something else I finally let go of is the need to make everything around me perfect. I used to drive myself crazy trying to make everything exactly how I wanted it to be. I usually came up short of perfection, which added stress to my life. I finally asked myself, “Who says it has to be perfect?” Only me. Not anymore.

So, back to “What would 10 year old me think if he saw me now?” When I was 10 years old, I loved to ride my bike and play outside. I still ride my bike often. I keep it inside the house. I do regular maintenance on it and keep it tuned up and ready to go anytime I want to ride it. I still play outside, but it looks a little different than it did when I was 10. Now it looks like going for walks, mowing and watering the lawn, and gardening. 

Is my life exactly what 10 year old Duane expected? No. Am I happy? Yes. Would 10 year old Duane be proud? Absolutely.

Now go take on the day!

Peace, out.


Check out Duane’s Youtube channel 

JUST FOR FUN

I've seen this done on Facebook so I wanted to try it. Just go to Cartoonize.net, upload any photo you want, choose the effects you want, and TA-DA! You become a cartoon character! LOL  I put rock star hair on Cartoon Duane. What do ya think? :) You can share your cartoon self on Facebook, or email it to people, or whatever you want. And the best part--It's all FREE! 

Have fun!

Peace, out.

Check out Duane’s YouTube Channel

BEING A HANDYMAN WAS FUN FOR AWHILE

I know, I know, in my last couple posts I said I enjoyed my job. So what happened? 

Here's the thing: I very much enjoyed the hands-on work. I enjoyed the carpentry, plumbing, electrical, and painting. It was a lot of fun. The problem was, it was a very stressful job. It didn't have to be, but it was. After 7 months, I decided the paycheck was no longer worth the stress. 

So what's the next step? 

In my November 18 blog post, I mentioned 3 Alternate Sources of Income (ASI). 
Here they are (plus a new one):

ASI #1-- SCRAP METAL RECYCLING. You would be surprised how easily you can make money by collecting and selling scrap metal that you can get for free! I use a Dodge minivan and I earn $50-$100 per load.. If you are interested in starting a scrap metal recycling business, all you need is a truck or van and some free information. You can learn everything you need to know right here on your computer, via Google and Youtube.  

ASI #2-- YOUTUBE VIDEOS and THIS BLOG. I'm not setting the world on fire with my commission checks but they are becoming more frequent, which is a very good sign. It's taken 6 years to get to this point, but I'm doing something I enjoy, I'm my own boss, and I'm getting paid. Gotta love the Internet!

ASI #3-- BUILDING CUSTOM ELECTRIC BIKES. This is the idea I haven't put into action yet but I'm close. Worldwide, electric bikes are growing in popularity. The electric motors and lithium batteries are becoming cheaper and more reliable. I think this will be a nice little business. Nobody in my area is doing this. I will start off slowly--build a bike, sell it, repeat. We'll see where it goes from there.
                        
                                  (E-Moto 24 Volt Electric Commuter Bike)

ASI #4-- VIDEO KNIFE REVIEWS FOR MANUFACTURERS. I'm currently negotiating with a large knife manufacturer to make review videos for them for cash. They enjoyed the first one I did and they paid me promptly. Hopefully we will have a deal some time next week.

If you have any money making ideas, I'd love to hear about them. 

Now go take on the day!

Peace, out.

Check out Duane’s YouTube Channel　

$ WHAT'S NEXT? $

   

(free clipart from Google Images)

Now that I've accomplished my goal of finding a job I enjoy, its time to set some new goals.

I love my job but I'm not going to lie to you, being a handyman does not pay very well. I really miss my paychecks from the laboratory work I used to do. That was the best paying job I've ever had. One of my current goals is to match or exceed that income. I have a long way to go, but I have a few ideas. 

Most of my ideas do not involve changing jobs. I'm trying to think outside the box, and come up with alternate sources of income. I have three ideas that seem very promising. Two of them are already showing small profits. The third hasn't been put into action yet. 

More to come later. Sorry for the teaser. :)

If you have any money making ideas, I'd love to hear about them. 

Now go take on the day!

Peace, out.


Check out Duane’s YouTube Channel　

I'M A HANDYMAN!

(free clipart from Google Images)

This post is long overdue. I was out of work for about 16 months. I thoroughly enjoyed my time off but it was about time to get back to work. No prob. I landed a job doing something I enjoy doing. 

I'm a maintenance man at a large apartment complex here in Washington state. For the last 7 months, I've spent 5 days a week fixing, repairing and improving apartment homes. I have done this type of work around my own home for most of my adult life but I've never done it as a profession. I have to say, most days are a lot of fun and I do look forward to going to work. Not many people can say that about their job so I consider myself fortunate.

OK, so some of you who are currently looking for work want to know how I did it. Here's the truth--

I sent out more than 200 resumes to companies who were advertising job openings that I was either very qualified for or at least sort of qualified for (I honestly felt I could do the job with very little training). That was all a giant waste of time. 

So, how did I land my new job? NETWORKING!

I like to stay in touch with friends, family and former co-workers. When it was time to get serious about finding a job, I let everybody know I wanted to go back to work. I was ready and willing to do just about any type of job. My only requirements were a short commute and no night shifts. 

One day I was talking to a long time friend (of 30+ years). His wife manages an apartment complex and she was having trouble finding an honest, reliable maintenance man. Long story short--I got a great job and they got a great employee. Everybody wins! That's the power of NETWORKING. 

If you are looking for your next job, spend 80-90% of your time on networking. Chances are, somebody you know knows of a job that would be perfect for you.

Your comments are always welcome and appreciated.

Now go take on the day!

Peace, out.


Check out Duane’s YouTube Channel　

UPDATE

I’ve been jobless for more than 10 months. Thanks to the US Unemployment Insurance program, which I have paid into since I was 15 (36 years!), I have been receiving weekly paychecks this whole time. It’s a good thing, because jobs are hard to find. Never-the-less, I have faith I will find a good job before the money runs out. That’s my goal and as you know, setting and reaching goals is kind of “my thing”.

So what have I been up to since my last blog post?

I feel a little guilty because I haven’t written in six months. There are two reasons for my absence. First, I strive to keep my posts interesting, intriguing, positive, and thought-provoking. If I don’t have something to say that meets all those requirements I will usually say nothing. Second, I have been spending a lot of time outside and less time on my computer.

I read somewhere, years ago, that you should spend at least an hour every day outside. Something about nutrients you get from the sun and spiritual health that comes from the earth. I dunno about all that, but it does feel good to spend time outside, especially when the weather is nice.

Bicycling is still my favorite hobby. So far this year, I bought a used mountain bike on Craigslist, cleaned it, tuned it, adjusted it, and made several upgrades with new parts. Fun and easy stuff if you have any mechanical interest and a good assortment of metric tools. 

I rode this bike for about 3 months, then I donated it to a friend who wanted to buy her son a bike for his birthday but was having trouble finding a good used bike. It felt wonderful to help others and to know the bike I had cared for would be loved and ridden and enjoyed. Time to acquire another bike from Craigslist. I found a Schwinn I really liked at a good price and brought it home. I will probably keep this one forever. It just feels perfect for me.

At the beginning of this year, I couldn’t imagine riding my bike 10+ miles in one day. I mapped out some routes of 1 mile, 2 miles, and 4 miles. I really thought riding 4 miles one direction then back home would be the farthest I would travel on a bicycle. Wrong. As summer came and the weather warmed up, I found myself staying out longer and going farther and father on my bike.

To date, I have ridden more than 20 miles in a single trip and I now feel that 10 miles is a SHORT RIDE. Isn’t that interesting? Is there a lesson here? You tell me.

Now go take on the day!

Peace, out.

　
Check out Duane’s YouTube Channel　

RE-DISCOVERING A FAVORITE HOBBY

JOBLESS, 122 DAYS

I’ve had a lot of time to think and do what I want to do without the pressure of working at a job for 4 solid months. I have to tell you, I am loving the freedom I have now!

In the past, I have fantasized about how wonderful it would be to retire from my job and spend my time doing what I want to do. This first taste of what retirement will be like is as wonderful as I had imagined. I still get up early, 6am at the latest. But it is because I want to, because I love mornings. The world is quiet and the coffee tastes best first thing in the morning.

How about a hobby?
I got my first bike when I was 10 years old. The drawing above is from memory of that bike, drawn in 2008. My bike was my transportation, my freedom, and my independence. I rode it all over town. I rode every chance I got. I loved my bike more than all my other toys combined. Once I started working, I bought a car and sadly, my bike was forgotten and eventually given away. Now that I have no job and lots of free time, guess what? I bought a new bike! :)

I have re-discovered my love of bicycling. I am not a pro-bicycler. I don’t wear the Spandex bike clothing and I don’t push myself to the point of exhaustion. I wear comfortable clothes and I ride at my own pace. I usually take a snack and a bottle of water with me. I stop and take frequent breaks in beautiful city parks. It is the most fun I’ve had in years!

Bottom line:
At this point in my life, my time is my own and I’m enjoying every minute.

Now go take on the day.

Peace, out.


Check out Duane’s YouTube Channel

EXERCISE, WHAT A RUSH!

Factoid:
Exercise is good for the body and mind. There are hundreds of studies that show physical activity reduces stress, depression, and makes you feel more energized and confident throughout the day. Exercise helps stimulate the production of serotonin in the brain. The effect of this mood elevating chemical makes you feel good for hours afterward.
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I’ve been unemployed for 33 days. The job search is going about as expected. No interviews yet. Of course my recent experience in a research laboratory is not a high demand field. In fact, the field is shrinking. If you can score such a job, it’s great. Otherwise, you feel the curse of being far too specialized.

So what else have I been doing to keep myself busy? One thing I am committed to is keeping active. I have implemented an exercise routine that is easy, fun, and free. I know myself, and if it weren’t easy, fun, and free there is no way I would stick to it. So here it is:

Every day I will do one or more of the following--
INSIDE--
Stretching, at least 3 minutes
Push-ups, at least 10
Work out with nunchucks, at least 3 minutes
OUTSIDE--
Walk at least 1 mile
Bicycle at least 2 miles

So far in the last 33 days, I’ve only skipped 3 days. Not 100% but better than I have ever done with any exercise routine, ever! That’s a win in my book! I know it’s not much of a workout to do only one thing on the list. But I usually do more than the “required minimum”. Besides, even the minimum is much better than doing none at all.

This is the starting point of my do-it-yourself home fitness program. I would love to hear about your exercise/fitness success stories. What do you do for exercise and what do you do to stay motivated?

Your comments are always welcome!

No go take on the day!

Peace, out.


Check out Duane’s YouTube Channel

ONE GOAL

I normally have 5 or more current goals written down where I will see them every day, and I eventually reach every goal that is truly important to me. However, some of the goals I set for myself are eventually dropped from my list because I realize they aren’t really important to me after all.

Buying a motorhome was one of those goals. When the idea came to me, I was all gung-ho to get one and start traveling. But after a few months I realized I didn’t really want a motorhome and all the work and expenses that go along with it, so I dropped it from my list.

Anyway, I’m telling you this as a precursor to a different approach to goals. I know from experience that anybody with normal mental capacity can have different goals in different areas of life and achieve each one, such as:

A PROMOTION AT WORK
BUY A NEW CAR
HELP YOUR CHILD IMPROVE AT READING
TAKE YOUR FAMILY ON A CRUISE

But think about this-- What would happen if you only had ONE GOAL at a time. You would put the others on a separate list to deal with later. Then you would be free to focus all of your energy and attention on that ONE GOAL. Success would be an absolute certainty! Not only would you be focusing on ONE GOAL like a laser beam, but there would be no question that this is truly something you want.

Try it and let me know your results.

Now go take on the day!

Peace, out.
　
Check out
　Duane’s YouTube Channel

FISH OUT OF WATER

Yesterday was my last day working at the laboratory. Today is my first day of unemployment. As the title suggests, I feel a bit like a fish out or water. I’m not saying the lab job was my ideal job, not by a long shot. But it was part of me and I was part of it for nearly 8 years.

“Now what?”

It’s not hard to find the silver lining in this current chapter of my life, but I do feel the need to remind myself that there are positives to being jobless. At the top of that list is: “Free Time”. So what will I do with all my new-found free time? Part of it will be spent searching for a new job, but certainly not the 10 hours a day I previously spent working and commuting to my job.

I will invest more time posting YouTube videos and writing in this blog. I hope you, my viewers and readers will continue to find them both interesting and entertaining. As I have said many times, it wouldn’t be any fun without you.

Other plans include more minimizing of my stuff, and more exercise. This is my favorite time of year and I intend to take full advantage of the enthusiasm I feel right now. 2012 BRING IT ON!!

Your comments are always welcome and appreciated.

Now go take on the day!

Peace, out.
　

Check out Duane’s YouTube Channel

PLACES I DON’T GO

One day I was driving to work and I realized there are a lot of businesses that would not exist if everybody was like me. Here are a few of the businesses that I drive by but I almost never go into.

Bars, taverns, pubs, dance clubs—When I was younger and trying to go along with the crowd, I did. Not now.

Safeway, Albertsons, Yokes, Fred Meyer—These are over-priced grocery stores. I don’t care how nice the store is, I will not shop where prices are sky high.

Giant shopping malls—I may go inside to look around, people watch, or eat, but I won’t buy $200 jeans, $75 shirts, or any of the other over-priced stuff these places are famous for.

Any big bank that charges fees to bank there--I bank at my local Credit Union where everything is FREE and they pay me interest on my checking and savings accounts.

Casinos—I used to like to go to casinos and I went often. Now I rarely gamble. When I do gamble, I win a little or lose a little (less than $20). No stress, no regrets, and no worries.

1-Star hotels/motels—Back in the day I would stay at a $30 motel, but no longer. I don’t mind paying a premium for first class accommodations, but I always ask for a discount.

Just an observation I wanted to share with you.

Your comments are always welcome and appreciated.

Now go take on the day!

Peace, out.

　
Check out
Duane’s YouTube Channel

GO WITH THE FLOW

This is not my pic, I borrowed it from Google Images :)

When I was in my late 20’s I really wanted a kayak. I don’t remember exactly when or how I got the idea, but I thought about it constantly, especially when I saw a river or a lake. I visualized myself paddling around in the water, exploring and enjoying the exercise. The Internet hadn’t been invented yet, so I looked through magazines, catalogs and newspaper ads every chance I got to see what was available. I decided on an inflatable kayak, reasoning that it wouldn’t take up much space when it wasn’t in use.

I also bought the necessary accessories to go with it: the double-ended paddle, life jacket, some rope, a repair kit for leaks, and an air pump to inflate it.

I ordered it through a catalog and then waited. When it arrived, I was so happy and excited. I practiced inflating it and sitting in it in my living room for a few days before I was able to take it down to the river. Finally, the day arrived. I made sure it was firm and full of air, and then I put the kayak and all my gear in the back of my van and headed for the river.

I put the kayak in the water and tied it off so it didn’t get away from me before I could get in. This day was the culmination of months of dreaming and planning. I had thought of everything and planned every last detail. I put on my life jacket, grabbed my paddle, and carefully climbed in. I sat down, untied the rope and let the current take me away from the riverbank. YES, I was finally in my kayak, in the water! “WOO-HOO!”

My plan was to paddle upstream and then let the current carry me back downstream to my van. I reasoned that if I went downstream first, I would quickly be miles from my van. So I pointed my trusty kayak into the oncoming current and started paddling. “Hmm, this is not as easy as I thought.” I was actually getting carried downstream. No matter how hard or how fast I paddled, I was losing the fight. I was being swept farther and farther downstream. “Dammit!” I had no intention of carrying my kayak a mile or more back to the van, so I started paddling back to shore.

My first time out with my kayak was short, frustrating, and much less enjoyable that I had imagined. I felt angry, confused, exhausted, and discouraged. I honestly didn’t know where I had gone wrong.

Fast-forward about 10 years--
I was having trouble in my relationships and I was in a very stressful job. I often felt angry, frustrated, and confused about life in general. I fantasized about quitting, walking away. Instead, I spent more and more hours at work, trying to get caught up. That actually helped the job situation, but it had the opposite affect on my home life. I didn’t know how I had gotten to this point. Why was life so hard? I was exhausted and discouraged. What was I doing wrong?

One day it hit me. I was at work, thinking about the flow of the work I was doing, when a little voice in my head said to me, “You have to go with the flow, don’t paddle against the current!”

I hadn’t thought about my first adventure with my inflatable kayak in a long time, but that day it all came back to me and I finally realized what I did wrong that day and what I had been doing wrong in other areas of my life. I wasn’t going with the flow, I was fighting the current and the current always wins. You will never out-paddle the current. It will only lead to anger, frustration, and confusion. But if you can get yourself into the flow, the current will carry you along with it, effortlessly. Think about that.

Now go take on the day!

Peace, out.
　
Check out Duane’s YouTube Channel

MINIMALIST ART by Duane :)

I like to draw. I don’t draw very often, but when the mood strikes me I can spend a few hours drawing. I always have an image in my head of what I want my art to look like. Sometimes it’s close and sometimes it's miles from what I envisioned. Not sure why. Anyways, today I want to share with you my latest collection of very quick sketches I call “Minimalist Art”. Enjoy.
　

Sports Car

SUV

　

Cat

Coffee

Shapes

Thanks for stopping by.  Have a great day.

Peace, out.

　
Check out Duane’s YouTube Channel

Moving Toward Minimalism

Yes, Duane has caught the Minimalist bug! :)

Just to be clear, here is my definition of minimalism:
Minimalism means eliminating clutter and excess in both my possessions and in my schedule. It’s a way of simplifying my life and freeing up space and time, rather than filling my house and my time with things that really don’t matter to me.

My goal isn’t to own nothing; my goal is to only own things that I find beautiful and useful. As far as minimizing my schedule, having blocks of free time with nothing scheduled brings me peace and happiness that is hard to describe.

Here are my favorite book and website on minimalism--

THE JOY OF LESS by Francine Jay
(I bought the Kindle version because I don’t buy physical books any more.)
 
http://www.MissMinimalist.com also by Francine Jay
(Lots of free info and stories of other peoples’ minimalist journeys)

One of my biggest fears about deleting things from my life was, “Will I miss it when it’s gone?” Francine explains how to deal with that in her book. It goes something like this--

Some items will be easy to delete from your life and some will be easy to keep. But some items will be hard to decide on. Put those into an “undecided box”. Date the box and put it away for 6 months or so. If you haven’t missed or needed anything in the box, take it to Goodwill. Easy!

So, how much excess stuff have I deleted from my life? I’ve gone through every closet and every room in my house. I’ve sold a few things. I’ve given away about 30 boxes of stuff to my family and to the neighborhood thrift store. I’ve decluttered my filing cabinet and shredded dozens of old files. I’ve eliminated 5 boxes of kitchen stuff that I never use. Boxes of books and bookshelves are gone. I gave away most of my DVD’s, and will probably give away the rest, since I never watch the same movie twice. I know some people do, but it’s not my thing. I’ve eliminated about 30% of the stuff in my tool shed. There is no clutter in my car.

Some people think I’m crazy or I’m going through a mid-life crisis. Some people think I’m getting ready to move across the country. But honestly, I’m having a blast getting rid of things I don’t want, don’t need, and haven’t used in years. I keep asking myself, “Why was I keeping all this stuff?” LOL As my house gets lighter, I feel a sense of freedom and calm. I’m in awe of all the space I have now.

Your thoughts, ideas, and comments are always welcome.

Now go take on the day!

Peace, out.

　
Check out Duane’s YouTube Channel

PERFECT VERBAL COMMUNICATION

I’m writing this post because I have realized that many people don’t understand the basics of good communication. To illustrate, I will first tell you what good communication is not.

DON’T BE “THAT RUDE GUY”

I know some brilliant people who seem to be incapable of answering a yes or no question with less than 1000 words. I’m not exaggerating. If I ask a simple question, I expect a simple answer. If you ask me, “How you are doing?” I will not ramble on about myself for 20 minutes. That’s not a conversation, it’s just plain rude!

I know people who not only try to finish other people’s sentences for them, but also will interrupt someone in mid-sentence and start talking about themselves. That’s not a conversation, it’s just plain rude!
　
GUIDELINES FOR PERFECT VERBAL COMMUNICATION

If you are talking about yourself, your family, your hobby, or whatever, consider whether the person you are talking to is interested. They may just be listening out of politeness, but they really have no interest in your story. Think about it; put yourself in their place.

Keep it fair. Communication should be 50/50. Each person should be given the courtesy to share and contribute to the conversation. Nobody wants to be around someone who hijacks the conversation and makes it all about them.

Now go take on the day, and have great conversations.

Peace out.

MY SPACE

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about my space. Not the social networking website, but the space where I spend most of my time when I’m not at work.

Basically, I like things neat, tidy, and clutter-free. I honestly don’t understand hoarders, people who surround themselves with junk that is never used or even seen because it’s not easy to find or get to. Not to be mean, but it’s a fact that compulsive hoarders are mentally ill.

So, back to my space. I’m not a minimalist, but I tend to lean that way. Maybe one day I will reach minimalist status. At least once a year, I will go though drawers, closets, and cupboards and get rid of things I haven’t used in the last 12 months or so. This is my way of keeping life simple and organized. I usually make four piles as I’m going though things:
1) Things to keep.
2) Things to sell.
3) Things to give away.
4) Garbage.
That’s my system. It works for me.

Why have I been thinking about my space so much lately? Well, I’ve been reading stories and how-to’s about people who sell their home, buy an RV, and hit the road with only the things truly necessary to live comfortably in that lifestyle. No excess, no clutter, just what is necessary. For some reason, this idea really appeals to me. I first heard about “Full Time RVers” about 15 years ago, and I was fascinated with the idea. Eventually, I decided it was un-realistic (for me, at that time in my life) and gave up on the idea.

A few months ago, I was thinking about what I would do if I had to grab a few things as quickly as possible and get out of the city. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a fully stocked and ready to go RV, Van, or Pickup w/Camper for just such an emergency? Or maybe even to live in, to live a simpler and less expensive lifestyle. How cool would that be?

Anyways, here are three websites where I found tons of info about this sort of thing. Check them out if you’re interested.

http://cheaprvliving.com/index.html
http://cheapgreenrvliving.com/
http://www.stealthvandweller.com/

Your thoughts, ideas, and comments are always welcome.

Now go take on the day!

Peace, out.
　

Check out  Duane’s YouTube Channel

A Story About Marketing

In the United States, we are bombarded with more than 3000 advertisements per day! Some are passive, some are aggressive, some make us want to buy right now, some plant a seed that slowly grows, and we act on it days or weeks later and we don’t even realize it. That’s what happened to me over the past few months, and I just realized it today. Check this out.

I have a satellite dish and DVR so I can easily record my favorite TV shows and watch them later, when I have time. One of the advantages of this is that I can zip through the commercials and watch a 1-hour TV show in about 40 minutes. But sometimes a commercial catches my attention and I watch it. Sometimes I watch it over and over again. That’s what I did with these two commercials.

You can watch them here--

2010 KIA COMMERCIAL

2011 KIA COMMERCIAL

Cool commercials, right? I loved these commercials from the very first time I saw them. But, here is the strange part: On April 1, 2011, my Cadillac was gushing antifreeze all over my driveway, rendering it un-drivable. I had to work the next morning so I needed to find some transportation, fast. I had an appointment that afternoon to meet with my friend, Troy, who is a salesman at a car dealership. I walked the lot with Troy, looked at a few used cars, and settled on a black 2005 Kia Spectra. We did the paperwork, paid for the car, and I drove home happy.

Just today, April 13, 2011, it hit me. Those two TV commercials--the ONLY car commercials I have ever loved, and watched over and over again--were KIA COMMERCIALS! No way! Yes way! I’m still a little in awe over this. Do you think that’s just a weird coincidence, or is it awesome marketing?

If you have a similar story, I’d love to read about it. You can email me here: 
duanemyers2000@yahoo.com.

Now go take on the day!

Peace, out.

　
Check out Duane’s YouTube Channel

I Bought a Cadillac--Big Mistake!

I bought a Cadillac on January 11, 2011. Not a new Cadillac, but still a very nice 2002 American made luxury car. I have wanted one for a long time so I finally treated myself. I know it’s not a practical car. It’s bigger than it needs to be and it has a much bigger engine than is necessary to get me from point A to point B. The MPG is pathetic, around 16. So why did I buy it? It was part of my experiment to start living my life in a state of wealth and abundance (see my blog post “The Secret” from November 4, 2010). The hit to my savings account made me uncomfortable, but that was just the beginning of my grief.

I enjoyed driving the Cadillac. It was a smooth ride, lots of black leather and polished wood accents inside, with a GPS navigation system and DVD player in the dash. The Northstar V8 engine purred like a kitten but when I pressed down on the accelerator, it roared to life to declare, “I am the king of the road!”

The snowball effect--
It began with a dead battery. The dealership where I bought it happily replaced the dead battery with a brand new one. It was winter, dead batteries are common in cold weather so I didn’t worry about it. Then the heater didn’t work. The dealership was happy to fix that, too. Cool, I was happy.

As I drove home, a text message scrolled across the dash, “Check tire pressure”. Fine, I stopped at a filling station and checked the tires. I added air to 3 of them and filled up the gas tank, $64. Then I was back on the road.

It started to snow and the windshield wipers came on automatically--Cool! I tried to use the windshield washer to clean the glass better. It was empty. Turned on the fog lights, one was burned out.

Next day, the dash text message was back, “Check tire pressure”. I did. One of the tires was over-inflated so I let some air out.

Next day, noticed that passenger side of car always had hot air blowing from the vents. Not a problem in January, but something that needs to be addressed before summer.

Next day, dash text message reads, “Change oil”. I pushed “clear” and it went away.

Next day, dash text message reads, “Change oil… Check tire pressure… Headlights suggested”.

Next day, dash text message reads, “Change oil… Check tire pressure… Headlights suggested... ABS... Check brakes... Service engine”.

Next day, I noticed drops of oil on my driveway. Checked oil, it was a quart low. Added oil.

This harassment continued until April 1, 2011. I drove home after a long day at work. Got out of the Cadillac and walked toward the house. I smelled antifreeze, turned and looked under the car. Antifreeze was coming from the engine compartment and running down my driveway--LOTS of antifreeze!

FOR SALE

Evil Cadillac

Cheap!

So what did I learn? The Cadillac had 183,785 miles on it when I bought it. That’s why it seemed like a bargain at $5999. Cadillacs are quality luxury cars, but they don’t last forever. You can buy cheap like I did and spend a lot of money on repairs, or you can pay more up front and get something with a lot less problems. If you figure in the “cost of frustration and inconvenience”, this was a very expensive lesson for me. I hope you learned from it, too.

Now go take on the day!

Peace, out.


Check out Duane’s YouTube Channel

Results from “Where’s Duane?” Survey

Here is what I learned from your replies to my last post, when I asked if you would rather have more frequent posts.

I was a bit surprised by some of you. I think that’s a good thing because I learned some things. The main theme to your responses was that I should write about what’s important to me. After all, that is what you enjoy, and the reason you surf on over to Duane’s World. Thank you all for that.

The second thing I learned from you is that quality is important. You don’t want to waste your time reading pointless nonsense from an uninteresting author, and neither would I.

I will do my best to give you my best. Thank you all for your support. I truly appreciate every one of you.

Now go take on the day!

Peace, out.
　
Check out Duane’s YouTube Channel

Where's Duane?

I know, I know, I haven’t been keeping my promise to post at least once a week on this blog. But here’s the thing-- I want to write factual, thought provoking posts that are both an “Ah-ha!” and a call to action that will help you, my dear reader, make positive changes in your life. So, when I have no such topic on the tips of my typing fingers, I post nothing. I feel that is preferable to posting random rambling tidbits of my everyday thoughts and “Hey guess what happened to me today” or “Did you ever notice…” type of posts.

And how does that make me feel? I feel guilty, as if I’m withholding some precious jewels of wisdom from you, even though I haven’t a clue about what to write.

So, may I ask for your help? I know my readers enjoyed my first 22 posts. Visitor count to this page reads more than 3100, so I must be doing something right. My question to you is this: Would you like to see more frequent posts, even if they are slightly less awesome than you are used to seeing here?

You can leave a comment or send me a private email here: duanemyers2000@yahoo.com. Depending on how many comments and emails I get, I may not reply to every one, but I will read them all. Results to follow…

Thanks for being you! Have an awesome day!

Peace, out.

Check out  Duane’s YouTube Channel

Learning the Hard Way

I’ve always had to learn things the hard way. When I was little my mother told me "Don’t touch the stove, it’s hot." So naturally, I had to touch it to see if she was right. She was.

As I got older, I continued to use this learning method.

When I was in high school, I learned the hard way that a car never wins a fight with a tree.

When I was in my 30’s, I read an investment book that said, "95% of all commodity traders lose money, a lot of money." So I decided to trade commodities. I did well in the beginning. I actually made a few hundred dollars before I crashed and burned. I learned the hard way that the book I had read was right. I lost what was to me, a huge amount of money.

There were many other examples of me learning things the hard way but that’s enough for now. Why am I telling you all of this? I wanted you to know that I’m not perfect and I don’t always do everything right. I have done some really stupid things in the past. The thing is, every lesson I have learned the hard way has stuck with me. I thank God for these lessons. They have made me who I am today. I have learned to take risks, and I have learned that it’s OK to fail once in awhile. It’s all part of growing and learning, and gaining wisdom.

How about you? Do you usually play it safe? Or do you sometimes have to touch the stove to see if it really is hot?

Now go take on the day!

Peace, out.

　
Check out Duane’s YouTube Channel

MY MRI TEST RESULTS

I met with my doctor today to go over my MRI test results. What did they find? Well, first let me tell you what they did not find--

BRAIN SCAN:
There is no sign of brain tumors, aneurisms, bleeding, water on the brain, or brain swelling.

SPINE SCAN:
There was no sign of misalignment, bone marrow changes, disk abnormalities, bone lesions, or pressure on the spinal cord.

So what did they find?

BRAIN: Tiny bit of white matter, potentially related to migraine headaches.
SPINE: Tiny central disk protrusion, which could compromise nerve roots.

I thought it was interesting (and funny, and a relief) that both of these findings were described as TINY. That's a good thing. Maybe one or both of these are causing my headaches. Or maybe it's stress or tension. Or maybe it's an allergy to wheat or dairy or applesauce or pollen or dandelions... You get the idea.

In a nutshell, I'm glad I did the MRI because now I know for certain that I don't have any serious brain or spinal problems. Thank God!

But am I any closer to finding a cure for my headaches?  No.

OK, I won't bore you with any more of this headache stuff, unless I find a cure, then I will definitely share it with everybody who will listen. :)

Now go take on the day!

Peace, out.


Check out Duane’s YouTube Channel

My First MRI

Today was my first MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging). Why am I getting an MRI? My goal is to find out why I get headaches and then find the cure for them. I believe nobody should have frequent headaches. I had 89 headaches in 2010. If you have pain anywhere in your body that often, something is definitely wrong!

Anyway, I want to tell you about my experience with the MRI machine. Since I’ve never been subjected to this type of test before, it was a memorable experience.

First, let me tell you what the MRI machine does--
Your body is mostly made up of water. Water is made up of hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen atoms respond to a magnet. The MRI machine uses a very powerful magnet to line up the hydrogen atoms in your body in a straight line. About half of the atoms point toward your head and about half point toward your feet, but there are always a few unmatched atoms. Then a radio frequency pulse is added which causes the unmatched atoms to spin the other way. When the pulse is turned off, the unmatched atoms return to their normal position and emit energy. This energy sends a signal to a computer, which converts it into an image.

I felt honored that they were going to use this sterile, spaceship-looking mega-machine on me. I did some research before my appointment and learned that just the machine itself costs more than $3 Million. And that’s not including the highly trained staff that runs it. Impressive.

They had me lie on a narrow table, which is designed to slide your body into the machine. The table was surprisingly comfortable. They added a pillow under my legs to keep my back as flat as possible. Then they added pads under my arms (for comfort, I guess). I also got foam earplugs and headphones, which played music and allowed the technicians to talk to me while the machine was running. Last but not least, I got an emergency squeeze bulb attached to a cord. "If anything happens(!?!), just squeeze this and we will get you out of there." That was both worrisome and comforting at the same time. LOL I never had to squeeze it.

One of the technicians said my job was to hold still. In my head, I told myself, "Hold still, think positive thoughts, and smile". It may not help, but it sure can’t hurt! :)

They slid me in and went behind a glass wall. I wondered if the glass was explosion-proof. They turned on the music and started the machine. I was expecting a loud windy sound. Nope, what I heard was very loud pulses of varying frequencies and degrees. Sometimes it sounded like the bass beat of rock music. Sometimes it was just noise.

A lot of thoughts went through my head as the huge magnets and pulsing frequencies did their work. I remembered when I was a little boy, hiding in my toy box, which seemed oddly similar to where I was now. I also wondered if the lights in the rest of the hospital dimmed when they turned the MRI machine on. That led to thoughts of spinning electric meters, and people running the power plant having to turn a few dials to compensate for the increased power draw at Kadlec Hospital in Richland, Washington… Just for me…

I briefly wondered if this giant hydrogen sucking magnet would cause me to have a headache for the rest of the day. How ironic would that be? I tried to keep my thoughts positive. Feeling good, pushing back any negative thoughts, and smiling. I wondered if the MRI techs could see what I was thinking on their computer screen. His name was Don, he was nice. There was a woman, too, but she didn’t tell me her name. She talked to me through the headphones while I was in the machine. She asked me if I was ok, and gave me periodic updates of how much time was left.

They did two separate scans, one of my brain and one of my neck. Each took 20 minutes. There was about a 2 minute break in between. I can’t say it went fast or slow. I was very much aware of the time as it passed. I knew it was almost done before I heard her voice in my headphones, "only 4 more minutes to go".

When it was over, I wasn’t dizzy or disoriented at all. I felt like I had taken a 40 minute nap but I know I didn’t sleep. And I was very hungry!

I won’t have the results for a few days, but I expect a clear picture with no sign of trouble. I suspect my headaches are caused by some type of allergy. I will get to the bottom of this mystery, because that is my goal. :)

Now go take on the day!

Peace, out.
　

Check out Duane’s YouTube Channel