Setting the mood for your romantic dinner is an important thing. If your dining table is usually well lighted, you can make the place sensual by using candlelight instead. Place two candles on high holders and place them at both ends of the table. Flowers can also add color to your ordinary table and sets the right mood. Scents play a huge role at romantic dinners – bringing in a wave of seduction and relaxation. Some recommended scents are lavender, mandarin, jasmine, vanilla and rosewood.

After you have set the mood, here comes the hard part – cooking dinner. No, you can’t buy a complete meal and have it delivered to your place – that would take away from the romantic message you are trying to convey. Cooking the dinner all by yourself would send the message to your partner that he or she is special because you actually took the time and effort to prepare dinner and to make the evening extra special for them.

You should have a complete menu set for dinner, which includes beverage, appetizer, salad, an entrée, and dessert. Here are a couple of suggestions to include in your list.

Beverages

Here’s your chance to buy that favorite champagne or wine. If you have an idea of your partner’s favorite drink, then get that one as well. The objective is not to get drunk, so you can even opt to have some non-alcoholic fruit drinks as well.

Appetizer

Anything with cheese is a good appetizer. Small helpings of seafoods like shrimps are also recommended. It actually just boils down to the presentation of the food – a dash of red hues like tomatoes or red bell pepper can jazz up a simple appetizer and can go a long way.

Salads

There are hundreds of salad recipes you can choose from. Try not to be overly experimental with your salads and go with the norms like green salads, mixed vegetables and the like. It would look nice if you can place your salads in “fruit” plates like the outer layer of avocados, papayas or coconuts.

Main Entrée

You can cook something new for your main dish. You can turn the usual chicken and pasta into something special by adding a different sauce or spice. Observe what your date usually get when you dine out and try to prepare his or her favorite restaurant dish.

Desserts

Strawberries and cherries topped with chocolate chunks is a good idea for a dessert. You can also bake simple cookies or cakes with red embellishments.

Preparing a romantic dinner can turn out to be quite pricey, but then again, it’s not something that you do everyday. Making this kind of effort can really add spice to your relationship and will leave a long lasting impression on your date.

Litter boxes are an important issue that most of us would rather not think about, but we need to. Satisfying the cats needs for a good toilet and our need for a non gross out answer, to a necessity. There are so many kinds of boxes and litter to choose from. From the cheap disposable type to the high tech raking kind.

Some people even choose to teach their cats to do their business in a human toilet. This is a great way, if you have a spare toilet. It would save a fortune over the years in litter cost. The problem is with the training. It is not a cats natural instinct to squat over water and not be able to scratch afterwards.

If you live in an apartment where cleaning out a box would be a major problem, then the disposable box type might be your best solution. You still need to scoop the poop every day/ night to control the smell. Be careful about flushing the litter covered poop. Some brands are not toilet friendly. We recycle plastic grocery bags for scooped poop and wet clumps.

We were unhappy with a regular plastic litter box and the scattering of litter that happened on the exit from the box and vigorous scratching, that sometimes occurs. We purchased a Rubbermaid storage box that is 9 inches deep by 15 inches wide and 20 inches long. It works well with a washable grass style door mat on the exit side. We push the box in a corner, so that two side are tight against the corner.

It worked great on a sailboat and now in our house. We have it right in the bathroom beside our toilet. We still use the recycled plastic grocery bags for the poop and clump scooping, because the litter we use is not toilet compatible. My main complaint with litter is the dust that is generated.

The Rubbermaid box with its sealable airtight lid, is also great for traveling. Especially by car and getting into motels/hotels. You just put the lid on and the cat carrier can go right on top, for one easy load in and out.

Do not forget your recycled bags, scooper and deodorant spray can. We cover our back seat with plastic and then an old sheet. The litter box and the carrier then go on the seat in case it should be needed while under way. Use all fresh litter in a very clean box. Take ziplock plastic bags with extra clean litter for each day and the return trip. Your nose will thank you.

The box needs to be cleaned often, this is our method of handling the chore.

1. Timing is important. A cats normal nap time is a good choice.

2. The old litter is screened with a recycled table fan screen cover, after it has been scooped as well as it can be.

3. Then the box is washed out with pine oil and then a bleach rinse.

4. Letting each one sit a few minutes.

5. The old screened litter is put back with a new batch of litter on top.

We like the multi cat type, because it has more odor control. Baking soda is another good thing for odor control. We buy the giant size box of baking soda.

Cats can use the same box, but we had one cat who insisted on having her own. We quickly figured out the problem and once she had her own box ,she was fine and we were relieved to stop cleaning up after her. When changing brands of litter it is best to mix some old with the new for acceptance.

Please remember – you would not like to use a dirty toilet so do not make your cat use a dirty litter box.

Rubbermaid being the leader in high quality plastic materials, they provide handy and comfortable items that are very easy on the pocket and can be used for several years without breaking. There are various styles, designs and sizes to choose from according to your preferences. You can use Rubbermaid cooler for traveling or just for simple storage of your water and other beverages. It’s very durable and you can be sure that your drinks are safe and fresh although the day.

It’s made with a tough removable lid that’s easy to clean, stain resistance and break free. You can easily clean this rubber maid cooler without having a hard time. You can even leave it with flavored beverages for several weeks without worrying much about odor and the effect on the water taste right after washing. It is also made to be spill free so you can easily carry a portable Rubbermaid cooler even on your bag. It’s made with insulation so you’re cold drink will not turn warm easily. The exterior will not fade easily so even in time, it will still look new as the first day you purchased it. Your money will be worthy if you have a Rubbermaid product.

Enjoying your cold drink is not a problem anymore with Rubbermaid. This company has been in the industry for decades and they have been serving people globally with the highest quality products that are just so hard to resist. Other competitors cannot keep up with their standard that’s why they are still number one up to this day. You can buy a set or a piece in almost anywhere. They are available in most shopping malls, supermarkets and even in online shops today. You will not really have a hard time finding one.

THE MORAL OF THE STORY

Lou Dubose and Jan Reid’s new book, THE HAMMER, a biography on House of Representatives Majority Whip Tom DeLay, is allegedly a story of God, Money, and the Rise of the Republican Congress–and just how Tom DeLay took advantage of Newt Gingrich and fellow Texan Dick Armey’s Republican ascendancy and became himself the most powerful man in the House of Representatives. We’ll get into the “God part” a lot more than the money and political parts for now–but just to warn you, the King of Tyre (money) and the King of Babylon (political power) have a whole lot to do about this most interesting story.

This is all the more fascinating now that the powerful Congressman has collected a whole lot of chips from fellow Reps. for past support and, consequently, has gotten the House GOP caucus (Nov. 18, 2004) to vote to end its rule requiring leaders to step down if indicted (which it now appears that DeLay will be for past indiscretions brought against him in Texas). The political intrigue is mounting, big time!

Now, the plot of this political-religious thriller intensifies as the “moral of the story” is discovered–enter Tim LaHaye (kind of a neat little rhyme going on here with Tom and Tim, DeLay and LaHaye). You see, DeLay eventually walked right into an evangelical church that had gotten a whole lot more “politicized” by folks like LaHaye–so, when we get into the “God part” of DeLay, you’ll understand why we brought LaHaye along.

Now, LaHaye will act as Chairman of the Board for Jerry Falwell’s newly energized FAITH AND VALUES COALITION. The Faith and Values Coalition, according to the most beloved Baptist brother on the planet, the Rev. Barry Lynn (mouth for Americans United for the Separation of Church and State), is nothing more than “just another fund-raising vehicle.” Furthermore, Lynn so abhors these religious/political efforts that he likens them to “an old horror movie–every time they bring Frankenstein’s monster back, it just gets worse!”

One might be hearing “sour grapes” a bit–check out Barry’s remarks, and comments on his remarks:

“Some things should be left dead and buried,” Lynn said. He noted that recent analysis of election results debunked early claims that “values voters” re-elected President Bush. In fact, Lynn pointed out, voter’s main concerns were terrorism, national security and the war in Iraq.

“The people do not share Jerry Falwell’s repressive vision of an America where church and state are merged and the views of intolerant TV preachers form the basis of our laws,” Lynn said. “I welcome Falwell’s new organization to the debate. I feel confident it will meet the same fate as the Moral Majority.” (see above for source)

Sure, I bet Lynn welcomes Falwell and LaHaye to the debate–I bet he just can’t wait! Apparently, Falwell believes in the resurrection–I wonder if Barry does? But then, again, nothing like another “Son of Frankenstein” movie!

THE BOBSIE TWINS – FIRST, LaHAYE

DeLay and LaHaye do have some interesting things in common. For one, they know how to wield political clout and marshal conservative religious forces in America, while amassing vast sums of money for their causes (most of which are mutual). LaHaye co-founded Falwell’s original Moral Majority back in the late ’70s. He and his wife, Beverly, started campaigning for pro-life causes through their Baptist marriage counseling company, Family Life Seminars. In 1979 Bev founded Concerned Women for America–a sort of counter weight to the National Organization for Women (NOW). Furthermore, LaHaye’s famous “Left Behind” series–whose sales are off the charts, approaching (if not surpassing) over 100 million copies (and, catapulting the LaHaye’s literary fortunes close to that same figure)–makes him one of the wealthiest evangelicals in America, if not the world.

Although Falwell held center stage in galvanizing conservative Christians to the polls and, ipso facto, to the Republican cause, LaHaye (as Falwell puts it) “ran under the radar.” In 1981 LaHaye founded the Council for National Policy–claiming, at one time, some 600,000 members. In the 1980s, the CNP was quite the political/religious machine; spawning countless campaigns and organizations. Included among its members were Ed Meese, John Ashcroft, Pat Robertson and, of course Falwell–as well as key think tanks, and activists like Grover Norquist and Oliver North. A lot of the “right-wing jihad” against President Clinton in the 1990s was funded by CNP supporters like Texas oilman and silver manipulator, Nelson Bunker Hunt, Richard DeVos of Amway and beer magnate Joseph Coors (the same crowd that funded the contras in Central America).

Impeaching Clinton was allegedly conceived by the CNP in Montreal in June of 1997. Falwell touts the CNP for helping raise hundreds of millions for ventures like Liberty University (the second largest Evangelical Christian University in America–surpassed only by Baylor (Baptist) University in Waco, TX). President Bush attended a CNP meeting at the start of his 1999 presidential campaign, and Rumsfeld took part in the group’s gathering last April in Washington, D.C. Republican political strategist, Paul Weyrich, once said: “Without [LaHaye], what we call the religious right would not have developed the way it did, and as quickly as it did.”

Brother LaHaye took a severe fall when he was linked, along with wife Bev, in taking hundreds of thousands of dollars from the wacky would-be messiah Rev. Sun Myung Moon and his Unification Church cult (which most Christians really do view as laughably heretical). When Moon got entangled with tax evasion charges, LaHaye came to his rescue. Then the “pay off monies” came out into the public–so, LaHaye tried to back off–but it was too late. By the time LaHaye tried to regroup, his reputation–along with another one of his organizations founded in the 1970s, The American Coalition for Traditional Values, flopped! But LaHaye did regroup–thanks to the multi-million dollar sales of Left Behind (see, he wasn’t about to be Left Behind).

LaHaye’s agenda mirrors that of Falwell’s; and is the heart and passion of the so-called Religious Right in America. Restoring the Nation back to Absolute Values–family, pro-life (a.k.a., “the culture of life”), anti-abortion (just so you know what pro-life is), anti-gay agenda (the whole thing), pro-marriage (between Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve), pro-prayer in the public schools, pro-displaying of religious symbols and artifacts like the Ten Commandments wherever and whenever, strong “national defense” (as defined as “whatever it takes to get destroy the barbaric infidels”), etc., etc., etc.

NOT LEFT BEHIND – JUST DeLAY (BOBSIE TWIN #2)

A little evangelical background on Rep. DeLay would be helpful . . . so, after a couple of terms in the Texas Legislature (after a rather lackluster business life as a pest control operator), DeLay made a move on the US Congress, running in the suburbs of Houston, TX and winning! He headed off to Washington as a freshman Rep. and led the charge against the NEA (National Endowment for the Arts)–and got a whole lot of fame for DEFUNDING THE LEFT (especially with the NEA’s propensity to spend huge sums of money on absurd and even pornographic “art”).

Notwithstanding the crusading efforts to purge the Left of its immoral efforts, DeLay himself had his own demons to corral. It was in the mid-1980s when the booze-drinkin’ (similar to President Bush’s story) DeLay rediscovered his Baptist roots and through a fellow Republican colleague, Frank Wolfe, was handed a tape by Dr. James Dobson–and the rest is evangelical history. DeLay claims he had a real born-again experience–much like President Bush. And, like Bush, eventually got involved in an “accountability group” compliments of the Promise Keepers; then, on to the Southern Baptist, avant-garde, Sugar Land First Baptist Church, where DeLay’s A-A-mens could be easily heard, as Pastor Scott Rambo (who, as Dubose describes was “as charismatic and engaging as Bill Clinton at a town hall meeting”) preached to the thousands who’d come each week to hear his “seeker-friendly” messages.

Yep, like President Bush, DeLay’s faith has utterly energized his politics. Listen to DeLay’s “mission statement” for America:

“To bring us back to the Constitution and to Absolute Truth that has been manipulated and destroyed by a liberal worldview.” (p. 58 – The Hammer)

BUSH, THE PATRICIAN vs. DeLAY, THE PLEBEIAN or

THE OIL MAN vs. THE BUG MAN

Continuing on with DeLay’s evangelical roots (his political evolution and machinations are also really interesting–but later on those) . . .

Like Clinton, DeLay grew up in a dysfunctional home where his father was an alcoholic. He hailed from the “roughneck camps of the Texas oil patch–home to the guys who drilled the wells and ran the casing for the bullies who owned the royalties and ran the state. His patrimony was the sort of dysfunction that is the psychological and biological inheritance of the children of alcoholics.” (p. 9 – The Hammer).

On the other hand, Bush picked up the Texan drawl, but, let’s face it, his family richly provided him an East Coast prep school, bachelor’s degree from Yale, an MBA from Harvard–and, being the grandson of a U.S. senator and son of a vice president and president–man, maybe, after all, he was born with a “silver spoon” in his mouth. Whereas DeLay’s background couldn’t hold a candle to the patrician Bush. Nope, DeLay was through and through a plebeian (Roman for “dirt poor” compared to the aristocrats among the Romans called patricians.).

Bush was an oilman–and, frankly, not a very good one (so everyone knows)–but he had a deep well of never-ending resources through family-related investment capital. On the other hand, DeLay was a bug man. And, like Bush, not a very good one at that. Eventually, the rules and regs. of the EPA just about wiped out his business–and, that did it. “It’s off to Congress I go”–so you wonder why the “counter-revolution” against the EPA, et al, continues to this day?

Right about the same time that DeLay was “finding Jesus” – President Bush was doing the same–but under very different “evangelical environments.” First of all, Bush’s drinking habits were getting the best of him–and Laura had had it.

The time was ripe! However, Bush’s “conversion experience” differed from DeLay’s. When Bush, the prodigal son, returned home to the Maine compound in 1985, there was the Revered Billy Graham. They walked the grounds of Walker Point–the Bush family estate on the coast of Maine. Bush prayed with Graham and he “surrendered himself to Jesus.” Returning back home in Midland, Bush joined a Bible Study “accountability group” that Laura also attended–eventually, he quit drinking.

In sum, Dubose describes the Bush and DeLay religious encounters as follows:

“DeLay had come up harder in all ways, all his life. He had absorbed enough Baptist teaching and upbringing to call himself a Christian, yet as he neared forty he knew he was a sinner. His road to Damascus was plebeian, and he choked in the dust of patricians like George Bush.” (p. 53)

“When Tom DeLay fell to his knees before a video clip of James Dobson, he was not only born again in Christ, he was born again in Republican electoral politics. This is not to suggest that his motives were anything less than spiritual, but the result was political. Not only did his return to the church provide him the focus and discipline he lacked when he had been ‘Hot Tub Tom’ of ‘Macho Manor’ in Austin (you’ll have to read the book to understand), DeLay immediately became part of a religious community that is also a political community. As a high-profile evangelical Christian, Tom DeLay connected to the Christian base without which the Republican Party cannot win national elections–and many state elections. Like George W. Bush, DeLay found Jesus at the precise moment in American political history when Jesus became a political asset. THE TIMING WAS SO PERFECT THAT THE NONBELIEVR IS LEFT TO WONDER IF IT JUST MIGHT HAVE BEEN GOD’S PLAN. (pp. 58-59 – The Hammer) (Note: My emphasis upon the “secularist’s remarks.)

There you have it–somehow, evangelicalism and politics–along with this guy, Tim LaHaye–found fertile ground in the Baptist soils of Texas. Two men from two completely different walks of life–at about the same time–got the “old time religion” and it has shaped how they look at America and the world–BIG TIME! Likewise, it has shaped how “Liberal America” thinks about them and about most “old time religion” in America–just in case you can’t see where I’m going with this!

To be continued . . . but first, contemplate what John saw in the Revelation:

“I was astonished beyond astonishment (i.e. ‘who would have ever thought it’) when I saw the woman. And the angel said to me, ‘Why are you flabbergasted, floored, amazed, and astonished beyond astonishment? Let me tell you about the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that supports her, who has the seven heads and the ten horns’” (Revelation 17:6b-7).

Tom & Tim

DeLay And LaHaye

Or

“Creatine Christianity”

Part II

By Doug Krieger

POLITICAL-RELIGIOUS CONVERGENCE–Delay … Bush … LaHaye … Falwell & Rove

In the first part of our two-part series on TOM & TIM, we discussed a little about the history of Tom’s evangelical background, and how his “evangelical conversion experience” turned his political journey in Republican Politics into a RELIGIOUS CRUSADE–i.e., his “conversion” had immediate political consequences.

Likewise, we discussed how President George Bush–also in the mid-1980s–received Christ through a variety of experiences, most importantly a time of prayer with Billy Graham at the Bush estate in Maine, and subsequent deliverance from alcoholism while attending a similar Charles Dobson-style accountability group (e.g., Promise Keepers), as did Tom DeLay at another “accountability group” and/or “Bible Study.”

Incidentally, President Bush’s conversion galvanized his lack-luster political career into a similar CRUSADE that ultimately landed him the White House in 2000 and a second term (2004) with the support-base he cultivated (as did/does DeLay) of the Religious Right. In particular–we drew attention to the special meeting with Bush and evangelical leaders who anointed him in the Texas Governor’s mansion to pursue this “calling” on his life (please read the November Blog article).

Now, I brought in Tim LaHaye into this mix–introducing him with DeLay (not that they have any immediate “working relationship”)–however, Tim’s religious beginnings as “already converted to evangelical Christianity” are significant in that his journey into RELIGIOUS-POLITICS is the reverse of DeLay/Bush. LaHaye moves in power POLITICS from the POWER RELIGION perspective (LaHaye’s one of the wealthiest evangelicals in the world); whereas, DeLay/Bush come into RELIGIOUS-POLITICS from the power POLITICS angle.

If you would–DeLay/Bush are “representative” of numerous politicians (including recent “convert” Karl Rove, Bush’s political strategist par excel lance) who have entered POWER RELIGION (i.e., Meta-Churches and Ministries, like Liberty Baptist (Falwell), and Second Baptist in Houston, TX). Falwell said of Rove: “I have known Karl Rove for many years and I am greatly impressed with his wisdom, dedication to President Bush and his love for Jesus Christ.” (Interesting? Bush first, Jesus second?)

APOSTASY – “CREATINE CHRISTIANITY MIXED WITH GLUTAMINE GOVERNMENT”

Recent scandals of anabolic steroid use by professional sports in the USA and abroad is tricky business. For one, if you’re going to super-size your capabilities, you’ve got to do it on the sly, viz., hire a personal trainer who knows how to use “designer” drugs which can enhance your so-called performance on the field. These growth hormones that Barry Bonds and other athletes are accused of using, are, figuratively, a lot like the current stream of “Creatine Christianity” and its muscle enhancer, “Glutamine Government.” (Note: Creatine and Glutamine “enhance” muscle strength, stamina and size.)

I’m not saying that it’s ultimate product is Arnold Schwarzenegger, but I am saying that when you “inflate” Christianity with spiritually “illegal drugs” in your game, you’re going to get a beefed up brand of Christianity that, with “Glutamine Government” enhancers, will slamdunk the scrawniest Arab into the sand.

Now, what makes American Creatine Christianity and Glutamine Government so “illegal” in the eyes of the Almighty is that ALMIGHTY DOLLAR; i.e., the ultimate intoxicant or the CATALYST/STIMULANT where the two find common ground (without which neither Religion and Politics could ever merge and/or find common cause).

Again, in its purest form–i.e., the best “creatine” and the best “glutamine” that can be ASSIMILATED by the “Religio-Body Politic” will result in what the Bible calls APOSTASY. Yes, you’ll get results (e.g., home runs, olympic records, etc.) if “results” is what you’re looking for. So, today’s Christianity has, again and again–though they would vehemently deny it–injested this “witches’ brew” of Apostasy because it works; results are awesom and the fans love it (e.g., attendance is up, salaries are up, scores are up, and the money’s rollin’ in). And, best of all, turns out that BIGGER IS BETTER! Bigger Churches, bigger salaries, bigger programs, and, as it turns out, more patriotism to boot!

THE MORAL HIGH GROUND–WHO’S GOT IT?

Ronnie Earle, the district attorney for Travis County, Texas, recently came out with a strident op. ed. piece in the New York Times entitled: “Tom DeLay: A moral indictment.”

Earle, a Democrat, has tried some 15 elected officials in his 26-year tenure (12 Democrats and three Republicans)–DeLay appears to be the next if the local Grand Jury finds sufficient evidence to bring DeLay’s indiscretions to court.

Earle’s Times’ piece hits on the issue of “MORAL VALUES.” Humm . . . I wonder what Earle’s alluding to here? Could it possibly be that Tom DeLay’s “moral crusade” to purge the Republican Party of those compromising moderate Republicans and them Democrats (the whole bunch of them) bears a casual allusion to DeLay’s evangelical zeal to rid the Congress of all who aspire to gay marriage, pro-choice (a.k.a., “abortion on demand”), “In God We Trust,” school prayer, creationism in the curriculum, etc.?

This little cactus critter from Texas is not about to have “moral issues” the exclusive purview of the Republican Party:

“Last week Congressional Republicans voted to change their rule that required an indicted leader to relinquish his post (Earle’s op.ed. is dated 23 Nov. 04). They were responding to an investigation by the Travis County grand jury into political contributions by corporations that has already resulted in the indictments of three associates of Mr. DeLay, the House majority leader.

“Every law enforcement officer depends on the moral values and integrity of society for backup; they are like body armor. The cynical destruction of moral values at the top makes it hard for law enforcement to do its job.

“In terms of moral values, this is where the rubber meets the road. The rules you apply to yourself are the true test of your moral values.

“There is no limit to what you can do if you have the power to change the rules. Congress may make its own rules, but the public makes the rule of law, and depends for its peace on the enforcement of the law. Hypocrisy at the highest levels of government is toxic to the moral fiber that holds our communities together.

“The open contempt for moral values by our elected officials has a corrosive effect. It is a sad day for law enforcement when Congress offers such poor leadership on moral values and ethical behavior. We are a moral people, and the first lesson of democracy is not to hold the public in contempt.” (Copyright 2004 The New York Times Company)

DeLay’s “Creatine-style Christianity” (a.k.a., “POWER RELIGION” or “MORAL VALUES” – so-called) has apparently gotten Earle’s goat.

Like DeLay, Karl Rove, et. al., have cleverly inserted these “designer enhancers” into the religio-political system to produce today’s Republican majority–to the chagrin of the Democrats, who, for the life of them, can’t figure out how it works (or from time to time they think they’ve spotted these anabolic steroids and are about to unleash scores of trial lawyers in pursuit of this phony and SHAMLESS grab for power!).

In desperation some Democrats are actually recommending a “come to Jesus” campaign on the part of the outflanked Democrats. I mean, it works, right?

“First, when a candidate stresses moral values in every speech, every television commercial, every day for a year, it should be no surprise that when voters are asked why they voted for him, they will reply ‘moral values.’ If George W. Bush had put as much effort into ‘eat your spinach,’ some people would have given that reason for supporting the president.

“Second, Republican strategists began in 2000 and continued in 2004 a skillful effort to equate moral values to Christian values, and within that category to mean conservative Christianity, largely of the evangelical brand.

“The Republican Party captured the Cross in 2000 and the Flag on 9/11, two of the three classic American values – the third, Mom’s Apple Pie, is now available at Wal-Mart.” (”Christians and Karl Rove hold no monopoly on values” – Floyd J. McKay, The Seattle Times Company)

(Please link to: http://www.the-tribulation-network.com/dougkrieger/delay_lahay.htm for graphics/links/remainder of article.)

When I was in graduate school for psychology, our rallying cry was “Go with you feelings.”

When somebody got up in front of class to give a presentation and we were in a rowdy mood that’s what we said.

When one of our gang hesitated over a project, whether it were conducting some original research or figuring out how to get a date,

that’s what we said.

And when we were in a session with a client, that’s what we said, too.

The reason we passionately believed in this idea was because it was quite obvious to us that the cause of most psychological disorders, whether they were the garden variety or the serious ones, were due to emotional suppression.

We equated “feel more” with “be more.”

On the surface, this seems correct.

After all, if you want to try something new that will eventually empower you, feeling it more will empower you more.

And, if you want to help someone pull out of a stuck state, feeling it more will flush it out.

Or, if something doesn’t feel right and you shouldn’t go along with a person or situation, it may be your intuition ringing a loud alarm.

In such cases, it’s wise to trust your feelings.

But there is a shadow side to trusting your feelings and going with them.

Let me explain:

This is when you should do something, but you don’t feel like doing it. So you don’t do it.

You probably want some examples.

You should clean up the kitchen, tidy your desk, or go to bed early because you have a busy day ahead, but you don’t feel like it.

The result is that your kitchen becomes a health hazard, your desk the source of your habitual inefficiency, and your late nights, the reason for your low energy and bad moods.

You went with your feelings alright, and had to pay a price for it. Was it wise to trust those feelings?

Now let’s dig a little deeper.

Why do we have feelings that we shouldn’t trust in the first place? Where do they come from? Is a part of our mind deliberately out to wreck our little world?

The answer to the source of these feeling is the subconscious mind. In particular, past associations of pain associated with the necessary activities.

It’s not fun cleaning the kitchen, washing and rinsing dishes, wiping down the counter, putting away dinner, and taking out the trash. It’s a lot more fun to watch T.V. So pleasure wins.

It’s not fun tidying up your desk, filing away old documents, finding a place to put your calculator, and wondering what to do with all the excessive pens you’ve collected. It’s more fun to fire up your computer and check your email.

It’s not fun going to bed early when you feel the need to watch T.V., chat on the phone, or do something else that you consider pleasurable.

Pain, pain, pain.

Why opt for pain, when it can be substituted for pleasure?

It’s because the pain you avoid today will only get worse tomorrow.

The 15 minutes it takes to clean the kitchen will one day prevent a 3 hour attempt to create sanity (and sanitation).

The 10 minutes it takes to tidy your desk will one day prevent a frantic search for that overdue bill that you’re now paying a late fee on.

The 5 minutes it takes to go to bed will prevent you from dragging through the next day feeling like death warmed over.

Ideally, you can flip the switch and change associations of pain into those of pleasure and make the clean kitchen, and the tidy desk, and the early bedtime sources of pride.

But it does take some work, and you may not feel like it.

When times are so hard, it is important that you know what you can do to find a new job if you are recently unemployed. Even if you have been out of work for years, there is absolutely not reason you can’t find one again. This article will show you how to go about finding a job, even in an economy that makes it seem like doing so is impossible. The more options and methods you have to find a job, the better your chances will be of getting the position you most desire.

To find a job fast, it is important to utilize everything and every one that you know. Start off by asking family and friends if the company they work at is hiring at all. This can be a great way to get your foot in the door and get an interview. Many companies look kindly on people that are highly recommended by their already existing employees. If you feel ashamed about asking people you know, you should learn to put away your pride and think about what is best for you.

One all too common mistake that people make when going about finding a job is not settling for a position that pays less than what they are used to. If you have this problem, it is critical that you accept the fact that you may not be getting your dream job right away. It’s always a good idea to take whatever comes along, until you can find another job that is better.

Start utilizing the internet as much as possible. There are dozens of different websites set up for the specific purpose of helping people find a job. Most of these websites have search engines where you can type in key words for job positions and search within a certain mile radius. This is a great help to people who get tired of going from place to place handing out their resume. Technology may just be responsible for getting you your next job, so check it out.

Are you constantly finding yourself to be out of room for all your tools and equipment? After all, you can’t keep stuffing everything into your garage. Hey, you might even be finding that you have no room to get work done, either. It’s because of problems like these that home sheds were invented. Also, in an effort to help everyone with any kind of problem, there are different types as well.

So, think about what you’re going to be using your new storage unit for. If you just have tools and equipment to get out of the way, you should probably invest in a synthetic plastic type. These vinyl sheds are ideal for the casual lawn caretaker because they provide a very easy way to hide all your tools when you’re done with a task and easily access them later. Better still is the fact that these units are portable, modular, and inexpensive. The best part of all is how durable they are. They will last a very long time. Rubbermaid and Duramate both manufacture these, as well as many other brands.

If you have larger equipment to store (like a ride on lawn mower) or you need an actual place to be in that you can get work done, you should think about either a concrete or wood model. A concrete type is just one step away from adding onto your house, so think about how much of a task that will be to undertake. A wooden style, on the other hand, is more versatile. They can be designed to match your house, and they come in virtually any size. They are less expensive than concrete, and very sturdy. Also, if you have a DIY knack, you are more likely to be able to find quality plans from a friend or online. Another thing wood sheds are good for is potting. They can be like greenhouses at the same time.

If you need a quick, cheap way to cover your tools and there is nothing on sale, get a portable garage tarp. These very versatile tarps will protect things from the elements for a limited time. They’re very easy to move and set up, as well.

Thinking about buying a Rubbermaid shed? I will tell you just what I did to get my outdoor shed up and functional. Oh the instructions may look like a piece of cake but if I knew what I’m about to tell you it would have saved me so much time. I hope this helps you with the assembly of your outdoor Rubbermaid Shed.

First off, why did I decide to get one of the Rubbermaid sheds? Well let’s just say my work space was getting a little over crowded. I love to buy stuff, and I was running out of space to put it in. So after a lot of research I found that for me the Rubbermaid shed would do the trick.

My very first tip is make sure you have at least one other person helping out on this project. Don’t do what I did, get help don’t try to take it on yourself. My back still hurts just thinking about it. So get a friend or two to give you a hand on this one.

You do need to know your way around tools. If this is your first attempt at a do it yourself project then you might want to start with something smaller. The instructions tell you to use a stepladder, so do yourself a favor get a 6 ft ladder. It will make things so much easier. Remember my back, yea that is one thing that really made it hurt.

Make sure you put your shed on level ground. It is the first thing the instructions tell you and the first thing I didn’t do. Mistake number one, without level ground nothing lines up right and makes things so much harder. After about 2 hours of fighting with my new Rubbermaid shed I went back and read the directions again and took the time to make some level ground. Dig out the area about 3-4 inches down and put down some gravel rocks. This will allow any water to drain.

The directions say that Rubbermaid sheds can be assembled in 60 minutes. Well I’m not so sure about that. But with the right amount of help and right tools it can be done in less than 4 hours for sure. I’m going to say thing again “read the directions”. They are step by step and give you the proper way to assemble. My first attempt I didn’t even get all the parts out of the box before I started. Now with a bad back and some cut up hands I type this out to help the next person trying to assemble one of these outdoor sheds.

Now if you didn’t listen to anything I said in this report about getting some help, make sure you do when you try to put on the roof. Even with my friends help this was a bit of a pain. One person would have a very hard time trying to install the roof by themselves. Also, try to pick a day when it’s not too windy. Wind is not your friend.

All in all the Rubbermaid sheds are durable and have a vinyl siding look to them. Plenty of space inside for your tools. If you’re thinking about purchasing an outdoor shed then the Rubbermaid storage shed is a great choice. Just make sure you follow the instructions and get a few friends over to help out. It will save you time and money in the long run.

Are you one of those folks who got layed off in the past few years and are having trouble finding any type of job? Did you have a high paying job that no longer exists? There are many people just like you. They worked in an auto plant or a factory and their skills aren’t really transferable. How many companies are looking for someone who can install 30 windshields an hour?

Going back to school isn’t really an option. If you had wanted a desk job, you would have taken one when you got out of school. Some people would rather work with their hands than to be chained to a desk all day. If that person is you, take heart, there are good paying jobs out there that require no experience and START at $50K per year.

Not only that, but they include 4 to 5 months vacation each year!

How can that be?

The jobs are in the oil industry working on an oil rig. The only prerequisite is you be in good physical shape. The hours are long, sometimes up to 12 hours per day but no more than 14 days in a row. Then you get at least 14 days off.

Why is the pay so high for these entry level jobs? The truth is very simple. They are in the lucrative oil industry. Oil companies are awash in money, often declaring record profits. The more money they make, the more exploration they do and the more people they need. Entry level jobs are easy to get.

The entry level position is called a Roustabout. This is a general laborer position. After a few “trips”, you can easily be promoted to Roughneck and oversee several roustabouts. You can work your way up to a driller position in a few short years which is a 6 figure position. And remember, maritime law requires you get ample time off to make sure there are no injuries.