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A Priceless Birthday Gift by Sean North

Kelly was a very wealthy Hollywood actress, who was used to a posh lifestyle. She lived in a multimillion dollar home in Beverly Hills. She had all sorts of people she paid to do things for her, such as her personal chef, her aerobics trainer, her gardener, her maid and her masseuse. She spared no expense to take care of her wants and needs.

Kelly was a great actress and had been nominated several times for Golden Globes and Academy Awards. She seemed to have everything she wanted.

In spite of losing her mother at a very young age, she had a very loving father and sister. Her Dad ensured that both of his girls got a great education. He also was very supportive of their career moves. Kelly had always wanted to be an actress. Her sister, Sarah, had always wanted to be a scientist.

Sarah drove from where she worked, at Jet Propulsion Laboratory, to her sister’s home.

It was Kelly’s birthday and she invited dozens of celebrities, ranging from actors to musicians. Each guest took turns giving Kelly her extravagant gifts, such as gold-plated picture frames, modern expensive artwork and items from Hong Kong. It was time for Sarah, her sister, to give Kelly her birthday present. She handed Kelly a brand new photo album. Kelly said jokingly, “A photo album, Sarah? Do you know how many photo albums I have? I don’t have enough pictures to fill all my photo albums.”

Sarah knew her sister’s sarcastic humor and took the comment in stride. She finally said, “Open the album, sister.” “But-“ “OPEN the album, Kelly,” Sarah said with conviction.

Kelly opened the photo album. There were many photos of an attractive woman and a handsome man in their mid-thirties next to two girls. Both girls appeared to be less than ten years old.

Kelly’s mouth slowly started to open rather widely as if she had been transformed on the spot. She began to weep as tears of love ran down her face. She stared at the first page of pictures for several minutes. She finally said softly, “It’s Mom.” She couldn’t say anything more for another few minutes as she turned the page. The room was silent. The next page contained pictures of her mother, father, Sarah and her at the Grand Canyon. “Our last trip together,” Kelly said even more softly. She couldn’t hold back the running tears, which were now like Niagara Falls. The people in the room started to cry as well. Most of them knew that Kelly lost her mother at a very young age.

“Where did you get these?” Kelly asked Sarah. “These are absolutely priceless.” “Dad found them in the attic. I had the same reaction as you. I had a photoshop restore many of the pictures and make several copies. I had to make an album for you and me. It’s the least I could do for Mom,” exclaimed Sarah. “Do you remember the hike along the Colorado River?” Kelly asked Sarah. “She was so mad when we jumped in the river.” Both sisters hugged each other. Sarah was now crying as much as Kelly. Both sisters’ tears were tears of embrace and loyalty. They both adored one another.

After about an hour of reminiscing with each other and the guests who surrounded them, Kelly said, “Sarah, this is the greatest birthday present anyone could ever give me. Thank you.”

Sean North primarily helps writers gain focus, motivation, remove mental blocks that help to unblock the writing process. EVERYONE who writes has been stuck at some point in his or her career. You do not have to accept these mind-boggling roadblocks! seannorthstn@aol.com (586) 216-7516

Article Source: A Priceless Birthday Gift

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Tips For Road Bikes Maintenance by Alastair Hamilton

A clean bike will function better than a dirty one and is a pleasure to work on. Before you start any bike maintenance you have to clean your bike, that doesn’t mean a bit of wipe with a cloth, you have to clean it properly and there are a few things you need to do the job, you might have to buy some equipment, but most of it can be found around the house, try under the sink, but don’t let your wife/mother catch you.

First what equipment do you need

• A bike workstand or handy tree/washing line to hang your bike on.
• Old rear hub or old axle or stick.
• Degreaser or diesel fuel (careful diesel is not good for your hands).
• Hot water.
• Washing up liquid.
• 2 buckets (1 with soapy and 1 with clean water).
• Paint brush.
• Old water bottle.
• Bottlebrush.
• Soft scrubbing brush.
• 2 sponges.
• Cloths.
• Oil.
• And for that extra shinny finish, spray polish.

The most important thing to remember when you are cleaning your bike is to keep your eyes open and look for anything that may need fixing later, this is how a mechanic on a professional team does it, but he might have 10 bikes to look after, so it’s a lot easier with only one.

The starting point

Start with the wheels, cut the top off the old water bottle and put some degreaser in it, you can use a spray degreaser, but you waste most of it. With the paintbrush work the degreaser into the sprockets being careful not to get too much into the bearings. Then with some hot water and washing up liquid scrub the sprockets clean, then scrub the rims clean of old brake block residue, you can use a little degreaser to help this, but don’t get it on your tires. Scrub the tires clean, with soft scrubbing brush, at this point look at the tires for any cut in the tread that could puncture later and inspect the rims for damage or if they are wearing thin. With a soapy sponge wash the spokes and then rinse them in clean water and put them to one side to dry, not in direct sunlight.

Now the rest of the bike put your bike on your bike workstand or other handy item you can hang it on. Put the old hub/axle/stick in the rear end of the frame so the chain can rest on it, then using the paintbrush and the old water bottle with the degreaser clean the chain, the front and rear derailleur, chain rings and cranks, brakes and any other metal parts, try not to get it on the saddle, handlebar tape and don’t get too much on the headset and bottom bracket bearings. Also use the degreaser and paintbrush to clean under the down tube, as you’ll find any spillage form your feeding bottle will make this a very sticky place and the degreaser should shift it.

Now take the bottlebrush or a sponge and a bucket of soapy water and clean under the saddle, under the bottom bracket, under the brakes and under the forks, use the scrubbing brush to shift any stubborn dirt, then take a soapy sponge and clean off all the degreaser and loosened dirt. Then with a clean soapy sponge clean every part of the bike, start with the handlebars and saddle and work your way down the bike making sure the whole bike is sparkling clean, then rinse with clean water. Remember keep your eyes open for things like worn brake blocks, gritty bearings, tight or frayed cables or any cracks or damage to the frame, if all is OK put the wheels back in.

Things to look for while you are cleaning your bike

• Worn brake blocks.
• Damaged or thin rim walls.
• Damaged or cut tires.
• Damaged chain.
• Damaged or bent handlebars and stem.
• Twisted or damaged saddle.
• Torn or worn handle bar tape.
• Damaged or worn chain rings and sprockets.
• Damaged or worn chain.
• Damage to cranks or pedals.
• Condition or gear and brake cables.
• Damage to frame tubes.
• Loose or broken spokes.
• Condition of brake calipers.
• All bearings should run smoothly.

So your bike is now clean, dry it with a clean cloth and if you want it to really shine, get the spray polish out, but don’t get any on the brake surface or you wont be able to stop the first time you go out. Next you have to oil the chain and all moving parts, brake pivot bolts, front and rear derailleur, pedal springs and the pivots on the brake levers, wipe away any spilt oil, check your gears and brakes work well, pump up your tires and away you go on your clean and sparkling bike. Oh! And remember to put back all that stuff from under the sink before you go on your bike ride or you’ll be making your own dinner when you get home.

Alastair Hamilton is a successful writer who contributes adding technical articles on road bikes (http://www.bike-cycling-reviews.com/road-bikes.html) to some cycling online magazines. Further information on bike components and cycling news at http://www.bike-cycling-reviews.com

Article Source: Tips For Road Bikes Maintenance

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Telemarketers Don't Like Them? by Martin Lemieux

Telemarketers... ooohhh... I'll bet we've all got a nice story to tell about these guys & gals don't we? Well here's a story i'll never forget and I'll show you how to turn a sales call into a sale for you!
So I'm sitting in my office one day and mind you at the moment I didn't have a helper to screen my call for me and don't you know it, I get a telemarketer.

See, I used to be in a few network marketing programs and I know how hard it is to get rejections on the phone. Some of us take it very personal and some just don't care. But I assert you this, whichever one you are, cold calling isn't an easy business.

When someone calls me to sell me something I will only talk to them if they too will listen to a promotion I'm offering, only fair right? You'd be amazed at how many won't listen to you so why would you listen to them?

I make it a point to tell them that my specialty is promoting and if they want to have any of my time, they will have to listen to me 1st. No exceptions.

So one day, I get this call from this really nice guy who completely understood my deal and accepted to hear what I had to say. Usually, I will pick one of my clients and and only promote that one client to the other person on the phone. Trying to promote 2 or more at a time is like road kill, you don't want to confuse the other person.

With this conversation on the phone with this telemarketer I explain to him that I have a client in the Transport industry and he deals with all kinds of shipping services. What I usually do is ask the other person on the phone if he can recall anyone who mentioned to him that they needed to ship something!!!

With that, this gentlemen on the phone says 'I'm actually looking into shipping a small package overseas'. Now, I'm fully aware that he can just say whatever he wants and possibly get me to finally listen to him so I immediately conferenced him with the transport company to give them his contact information so that they can send him an information package.

Once the call was complete, I returned the favor for allowing me to discuss one of the promotions my company was taking care of and asked the gentlemen to explain what it was he was calling for. It turns out that he was trying to sell a magazine subscription for health issues. I told him that I wasn't interested but I had a client who was in the health industry so I gave this gentlemen my clients information to contact him

Going back to the transport company, it turned out that the telemarketer actually did take their services and in return the owner of the transport company took a year subscription of the health magazine I told you about!

Now that's not often it happens like the way it did but just remember that telemarketers are people as well and they too also know other people. There's a great book that I feel is of the best on this type of promoting and anyone committed to their sales should read it...

It's called: Endless Referrals By: Bob Burg

'A must read'.

So next time a telemarketer calls you, you'll know what to do and if they reject hearing your offer, be kind and let them go!

Hope you've enjoyed my story!

Martin Lemieux Smartads - President Affordable Web Design & Web Advertising http://www.smartads.info / http://www.smartads.ca Eye Catching Print Design http://www.3dimentionaldesign.com Marketing Tools http://www.smartads.info/newsletter

Article Source: Telemarketers Don't Like Them?

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Don't Let A Golf Injury Keep You Away From The Game by Mike Pedersen

The golf swing puts tremendous stress on the joints of the lower back, hips and even the shoulders.

As many mature golfers anticipate the opportunity to play even more golf, they are confronted with the limitations of their failing bodies.

Driven to stay in the game, many are realizing the importance of golf conditioning.

With age comes a decrease in muscle mass, range of motion, body awareness (balance) and muscular endurance.

The good news is men and women older than the age of 50 can build strength and develop muscle at the same rate as adults much younger than them, according to a 1996 study conducted by Wayne Wescott, who co-wrote, 'Strength Training Past 50'.

This is the time period that can make or break your future golfing life.

You may be surprised to learn that:

* More than 60 percent of amateur golfers sustained one or more golf-related injuries over the course of their playing years.
* The above number was higher for players over the age of fifty.
* The average injury kept the amateur golfer off the course for more than five weeks.
* The highest percentage was the lower back, then the elbow,wrist,shoulder and so on.

The bottom line...take care of the most important equipment you've got... YOU!

About The Author: Mike Pedersen is the featured expert for Golf Magazine's GolfOnline.com site, one of the top golf performance experts in the country, author and founder of several cutting-edge online golf fitness sites. Take a look at his just released golf fitness dvds and manual at his golf swing tips site - Perform Better Golf.

Article Source: Don't Let A Golf Injury Keep You Away From The Game

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Fun & Easy Halloween Party Themes and Ideas by Party Ideas 4u

Halloween is the day of the year that has the most parties thrown in its honor. Everyone loves to dress up and attend Halloween parties with their friends. Most people end up getting several invitations to different Halloween parties that are often on the same night. If you are planning to throw your own Halloween party, how can you get all your friends to head to your shindig and not someone else’s? You need to come up with some unique and fun ideas that will get everyone on your list so excited about your party they won’t even consider going anywhere else.

Not Just Any Old Theme

Many people don’t bother thinking of a theme for their Halloween party since it seems to be somewhat of a theme already. But rather than just putting up some Happy Halloween banners and fake cobwebs, why not come up with a great theme party idea? You can do anything from a haunted house or graveyard to a monster mash or horror movie bash. Once you’ve chosen your theme apply it to everything from your invitations to your party food. Guests will love some guidance on what to dress up as, especially if you do something a little different.

Your Halloween party invitations are one of the most important aspects of your party. Invitations are the best way to get your guests excited about your party. Many people don’t even send invitations anymore so even sending out simple ones will help your party stick in people’s minds. Be sure to apply your party theme to your invitations. If you can’t find any invitations at your local party store that go with your theme you can always use invitation templates that you can download for free from the Internet.

You can totally customize invitation templates and add colorful pictures as well. Guests will love to receive these fun invitations in the mail. You should send your invitations out approximately three to four weeks before your party to give everyone time to make plans to attend. If you’re running short of time sending electronic invitations is a great idea too. You can add animation and sound to e-invitations and even check guest’s responses online. Be sure to contact anyone who doesn’t respond via telephone since not everyone checks their email often.

Spooky Decorations

Everyone will expect to see your house decorated to the nines on Halloween so be sure not to disappoint. Your decorations should match your theme, so give them plenty of thought. For instance, a haunted house theme should be complete with low lighting, smoke, a spooky soundtrack, and even live ghouls to jump out and scare the guests as they arrive. A horror movie bash might include retro horror B-movie posters stuck on the walls which you can find on the Internet and print off at home.

Decorations can be found just about anywhere in the months leading up to Halloween. Even grocery stores carry a wide selection. Start shopping early so you can get the best selection possible and take advantage of any sales. If you can’t find just what you’re looking for you can always rent decorations from a local party supply shop or even purchase decorations from the Internet. The Internet has an almost endless selection and you can find just about any party supplies or decorations you’ll need.

Music is an important aspect of any party as well. While some spooky tunes are fun at first, you’ll want to switch over to some more upbeat music once the party gets going. People love to dance so have plenty of high energy songs ready to go. If you are inviting a variety of different people have several different types of music so no ones gets bored.

Tasty Halloween Treats

Food is an important part of any party. While you don’t need to provide a full meal, some creative and tasty snacks and treats will help keep your guests fueled for the night’s festivities. Turning simple party food into ghoulish culinary delights will surprise and please your guests. Try making some bewitching cupcakes, and put out snacks such as gummy worms and other Halloween candy treats.

Costumes are a given, since this is Halloween after all. If you are having a Halloween theme of some sort, let your guests know on your invitations that they should dress to fit the theme. For instance, if you’re throwing a horror movie bash, you can simply say, “come as your favorite horror movie star”. Don’t expect all your guests to comply with your request. Some people have been thinking up their Halloween costume since last year!

Don’t forget about the party favors! Depending on how many people you’re inviting and how much you’re willing to spend, the possibilities are endless when it comes to party favors. A simple idea is candy bags full of traditional treats such as candy corn. Something more substantial might be a pumpkin carving kit that comes with cutouts and tools. Your guests will love having a little something to take home with them.

Endless Costume Possibilities

If you really aren’t into the scary aspect of Halloween, you can always break with tradition and hold a different type of Halloween party. Have a famous couples party or a crazy hat party instead. Guests can still dress up but might be more creative then a white sheet with holes cut out of it. Dressing up for Halloween is something that both adults and kids can enjoy so great creative and have fun with it!

Having games at your party isn’t a necessity, but can be a great deal of fun for your guests. Games act as an excellent icebreaker if everyone doesn’t know each other. Any games where you can break people off into teams will help to get everyone talking. Pumpkin carving contests are a good idea, as is bobbing for apples. Be sure to give a prize to the best costume as well.

Your Halloween party is sure to be a success if you take the time to plan. Leave yourself plenty of time and don’t forget it’s all the little details that help to make a fabulous party. Enlist the help of family and friends if you’re feeling overwhelmed, and remember, planning is half the fun!

John Lenaghan offers creative birthday party ideas, Halloween party ideas, & more at the Party Ideas 4u website. Visit our site to download your free party planning checklist at www.party-ideas-4u.com/checklist.html

Article Source: Fun & Easy Halloween Party Themes and Ideas

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