Whirled Glass » General Hub Bub

Post Reflections, Comments

Green People — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 10:05:09 +0000

I was reading through the comments on here yesterday and I came across a rather negative comment. At first I was a little shocked that something I would write about on this blog would be construed as anything but positive. But then again when you are reviewing companies and products you have to expect some negative with all of the positive. I was reading a review about Leptovox and the writer was heaping through the same issues.

Even though you don’t like a product or service that is written about on a blog or forum somewhere I say always be honest and comment according to your personal experience. But be honest. Don’t just bash a company because you had one late delivery or a product showed up later than you expected. Think before you type and make your comment count. Remember, no one likes a whiner.

Making Sense of a Situation

Green People — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 03:12:52 +0000

I was trying to figure out what the problem was with people that have issues with illegal substances. I figure that if there is something that you need to keep you afloat in life then maybe you should consider the options that may come about for you. If you are in fear of losing your livelihood over something that really isn’t a part of every day life then there are always drug treatment centers that are available to everyone.

I was looking at my younger life and the things that I did way back then that put me where I am today. If it weren’t for the help from others I think I would not be taking the 19th to the 29th off for some first time shooting of the WhirledGlass.com podcasts. In Washington. W00t!

Going Green with Weight Loss

Green People — Wed, 07 May 2008 17:31:55 +0000

No one knows this but you can lose weight and feel better about yourself with and with out the use of things like Phentermine or Hoodia or any of that other stuff. Not that they are bad or not useful but eating has a lot to do with weight loss as does getting help from pills. We all have been on this being Green and Losing Weight kick for a while now. We all figured that if we were going to be on podcasts when we start visiting these glass shops then we should probably look a little better. Ya know the camera does add 10 pounds. I often ask myself how many cameras are on me when I am shooting. It’s not pretty.

So myself and the rest of the people here at WhirledGlass.com and EarthArticles.com have been kicking butt and dropping pounds like crazy just by exercising and eating better Whole Foods, and actually taking the time and energy to prepare meals for the day. I see that we are also trying to think of other ways to manufacture meals for our diet so that we can have a day off from the kitchen. Maybe that is not such a good idea. See how we are all programed to do things easier instead of healthier? Sheesh .. get in the swing of green and healthy will follow.

Wilmington Popularity Spike

Green People — Thu, 01 May 2008 14:02:08 +0000

There must be everyones dream home in Wilmington because I keep hearing about Wilmington real estate and the low prices of luxury there. There should be a direct flight, train line, and bus line directly there with all of the gaining popularity of that area. Maybe that is the next hot spot but our next hot spot we found out is in California. We will be visiting Washington State for a few days then its on to Clear Lake California where we will be meeting with some of the local glass blowers there to see how they do it in Nor Cal. We are all excited and just cant wait to get out to some of the other places we had planned trips to. It’s nice being in the city that truly never sleeps but it is time for a road trip.

Cleaner Air

Green People — Thu, 01 May 2008 13:53:57 +0000

The air filtration system on our hydroponics room went down the other day and what a mess. You never realize how important changing the air cleaners and filters on that room is until you have a bunch of tomatoes and cucumbers that you can’t eat. We originally set up this green house type hydroponics room outside in the back yard so that we could have our own little garden all year round. It turns out that keeping it self sufficient and out of the harsh sun in Vegas made for some very interesting vegetables al year long. Even with the wind though, and actually more so because of the wind, we had to put a air cleaning system in there and filter the carbons off of the plants. With all of the different varieties of food we have in there it was no easy task. And then the weekend of the broken air system came along.

So we are repairing the air filtration and trying to save the food that we can. This is our food for the year that we preserve and keep for all of our eating needs. It’s hard to let any of it go since we depend on it for almost every meal. And it is supporting 4 people now instead of only the two of us. Kids need to eat to! No more formula for the little ones they are eating real food now. It’s amazing that they can taste the difference in the store bought stuff and our grown stuff. They will refuse a handful of string beans from the store and ask for fresh ones from the garden. Go figure.

Keeping us in line is Uncle Sam

Green People — Thu, 01 May 2008 13:44:45 +0000

We have tons of financial items that we got to claim this year. We couldn’t have done any more to save money this time around since everything seems to be right on the money. Get it? One little item that helped us this year is our financial reporting system that used to keep track of all of our money in and out. It was pretty simple to get a rough idea of the claims we would be making this time around and how much that was going to save us on the tax front.

Not being big fans of giving our money to people we don’t even know, we all wanted to save as much and keep as much in our pockets as we possibly could. Good thing for having a system in place that better kept track of the finances this year. The programs where well worth the purchase and we actually came out ahead enough to take one of our trips already. Eagle Valley near Pioche. Check out more about that on our EA Blog.

Dual Meanings Maybe

Green People — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 03:49:44 +0000

There are always seemingly dual meanings to just about everything. Take Baldwin for instance. When I was younger working at Cedar Point I was often called a Baldwin. This meaning that I was cute or something in that rouged way. That I guess is a compliment if you are familiar with the Baldwins you would think that they are good looking rouged guys and to be called a Baldwin would be a compliment.

Well Baldwin is also decor for homes. Who would have thought that I was being called something that could help to open a door or make a cabinet look great. I guess the dual meaning is closer than you think being that both are a compliment of looks to something else that is necessary.

Get Ahead

Green People — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 16:00:57 +0000

We have been putting some thought in to taking some of the money we make and generating a small investment portfolio that we can hand over to our kids. Something we have been looking into and we have been dealing with a futures broker. Some of the information we are getting seems a little out of reach for us but having someone to talk to about the things we don’t understand is pretty nice.

Our parents both say that we should be thinking about our kids futures. Well I have one question to that. If we should be thinking about our kids futures and that is what parents do … then who was thinking about my future and who did what to set me up with some kind of security? I don’t remember getting any help like what I am being told to get for our kids. Still I want to make sure that they don’t end up in the same situations that I did so I am looking out for their futures. I hope that theirs is better than ours at this point. hehe!!

The Challenge

Green People — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 15:51:15 +0000

I have issued a challenge to everyone in the group to find out how well they are doing their research and how much other surfing the web they do while we are supposed to be working. I asked everyone to see if they could count the number of private and public drug rehab facilities between Our starting point and ending points for one weekend trip we are taking next month.

We will start in San Diego and end in Reno Nevada by way of San Francisco. There are tons Im sure but I want to see if they are going to make this their top priority for the day or is we can actually get some work done and get the schedule together of places we are going to stop and people we are going to interview and meet. I want the whole schedule done by this Friday and to be totally honest I don’t see if happening. They are motivated to get things done but if you want something done right ….. you know!!

Laptop in The RV

Green People — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 15:43:45 +0000

The ultra portable laptop computers that are super powerful and rugged can fit just about anywhere. We were even thinking about putting one in the RV for our trips. Little did I know that another plan would arise. I was also thinking about putting a MAC Mini in the RV with a sound system and huge monitor. But then in thinking more about the situation we would do even better with a laptop that we can hook GPS into and anywhere wireless. Not to mention all the WiFi hot spots that are all over the country.

I’m pretty excited that we are going to be able to shoot the show from the road. That has to be one of the coolest things that we have going for us so far. Im thinking about asking AT&T if they will let us try out the anywhere wireless for 90 days just to see how we like it. Hehe .. ya never know unless you ask.

VW Bus Upgrade

Green People — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 15:38:58 +0000

I was too short to reach the pedals on the bus so I had to put a book under my butt to get i the right position for the drive.

That is the story I heard from a lady that was driving the van that we were on our way to look at. Apparently she put a furniture catalog under her butt so that she could reach the pedals and thought that she was good to go in moving the van out of the driveway and onto the road so that we wouldn’t miss the house. Well the sad thing is that the van is wreaked and we are not going to buy it now. I really wanted a VW van to. I was even willing to settle for this one and get rid of our nice big camper for it. The year was unimportant at this time for this transaction. I just wanted a VW again and this was our big chance. Now … nothing.

Packing for Washington

Green People — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 15:34:14 +0000

We are heading to Washington in June and we have scheduled a few stops along the way. Eugene Oregon is one that we have been anxiously waiting to get back to. The sisters are going to be one of our first stops before we head on to Washington and check out some of the schools up there for Glass Blowers.

When we were looking for a hotel to stay at I discovered a place that actually showed you the comforter sets that they would be using in your room and if you wanted something different like a different pattern or style you could choose form 4 different sets and they would put it in your room before you got there.

I found out later on … last night .. that we are not going to be able to choose or stay anywhere nice because we were invited by family to stay at their house. :/ w00t. That will save some money but that is not what I had in mind for a “vacation” trip to one of my favorite places to visit. MAybe someday we will get to take a vacation that we want to take.

Camp No Where Weight Loss Fat Camp

Green People — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 15:23:00 +0000

I discovered that on our tour we are passing these fat camps. I have always thought of weight loss as something that should come naturally and you shouldn’t have to beat yourself up to lose a few pounds.

I can’t imagine not stopping at a few of these places and seeing if we can get a little tour and perhaps a try out. I would like to see what these places are all about and find out if any of us are fat enough to need a place like that. Besides I would like to see which ones are worth talking about and maybe we could set up an exchange with them for advertising.

Buying Real Estate

Green People — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 16:54:18 +0000

We are thinking about re-locating the office to another city. Somewhere more centralized to our fan base. I was looking into Winter Park real estate that is available in our price range and there seems to be a real boom there. I wonder how long that will last? The last time we moved to a new city was over 12 years ago when we came here. Since we have been in Vegas we have seen Real Estate grow and shrink so much that the thought is maybe there are better places to live that don’t have such up and down property markets. Maybe we will be able to find something in Winter Park.

Watch Your Face

Green People — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 16:50:49 +0000

Glass blowing can sometimes cause some real dryness in your skin. All that prolonged heat can really do a number on your skin. There are many cases where you skin will try and over produce the essential oils in your skin to compensate. And for that you get a few pimples. There are many different acne treatments that you can try to get the acne to go away. Don’t forget to wash your fce after blowing glass for hours and losing all of that skin integrity. Check out some of the helpful products available for acne treatment. Your face will thank you for it!

Buying Real Estate

Green People — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 19:46:35 +0000

What is more worth your money then investing it in something that makes you money back in the long run? Real Estate is one of the best investments if you know what you are doing. If you can buy a home in an area that is going to flourish over then next few years then you are doing a good thing for your investment money. Branson real estate is one of the hotter real estate areas. Seems that there are more and more homes being sold in that area of the country than has ever been before. They must know something that we have not found yet.

We have been thinking about purchasing a home and have weighed the options for investing verses flat out buying. I figure it like this … if we can invest in a few homes .. ie flip a few properties .. then we would have enough money built up to either keep one of the homes or flat out buy a home. That sounds like a really simple plan right? Well there is a little more to it than that but the idea is solid. And there are people all over the country that are doing this everyday!

Easy Transition To The Elder Years

Green People — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 15:42:00 +0000

There is only one concern I have about getting older and that is losing my youthful look. The years of hard work are showing in our faces and we have so many great years ahead of us. I want to last in this old body long enough to at least see some of the great sights in this world. And look good doing it! Considering that there are anti-aging formulas out there that can keep my youthful look .. well youthful .. I am a little more confident that looking good for a long time will not be that hard. When are they going to come out with a formula that actually does some work with time and not just coverup!?!?!

Winter is Over

Green People — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 15:37:12 +0000

Now that winter is over we will be getting the RV ready to take us up to the northern most ends of the US. We have been planning this trip for some time now. There are some glass makers that we want to see up there that offer some great insight to glass blowing and lamp working. Thats like comparing a Rolex President to a Seiko. I have met people that will take great offense to being called a glass blower when in fact they are lamp workers. That seems kind of trivial to me but who am I do judge?

So we will be heading out here soon and have room for one more person if anyone is interested in seeing Washington and Oregon. Shoot us an email!

Eugene Oregon

Green People — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 16:12:51 +0000

One of the nicest places to visit on the trip to Washington to see our Aunt is Eugene. I always plan the trip so that we can stop and see the Sisters and catch Sunday Market. A couple times we have missed it but we still get to see the Sisters and grab a great bite to eat there.

I wanted to have a few of the shops and the independent jewelers get involved with a website project that I have been working on but when we are there it’s just so relaxed and laid back that I forget about business and focus more on having a great time while we are there.

We used to be able to visit more often when Audrey lived there and I sure miss hanging out with my favorite coffee girl Paige. If ever there was a great place for us to visit more often it is Eugene and Oakridge.

Thanks for the hospitality when we come through there everyone. We love your town.

Where To Call Home

Green People — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 16:09:13 +0000

We are still looking around the country for the perfect place to call home. Branson lots are still a possibility just for the sheer beauty of the landscape. We have an interesting offer for a property in Florida as well but I am still not sure about the bugs and the humidity. Seems like trading one type crazy heat for another. There are so many beautiful places in the US that are just begging for a new home owner to come in and make it a home. Not to mention the mass amounts of vacation properties. Come to think of it … we should take mini vacations around the country and stay in vacation homes. That way we could get a real feel for the area of the country we want to move toward.

Lose Weight With Diet Pills

Green People — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 16:00:09 +0000

I have been going through a slight change of pace because I am trying to lose a few unwanted pounds. There is no miracle pill that rips away the fat from your body therefore I have been working out like a mad dog and eating a little healthier. Although there are many top diet pills that you can take also to kind of help you control your eating, I would find that even one such pill works really good for me personally. I think you have to find what works for you and stick to it. Even if you only lose a pound a week you are still doing something. And if you are eating healthier then you are really doing something for you!!

Custom TV Mounts

Green People — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 16:41:59 +0000

We had to build a little bit of a custom built TV Mount for out RV. We have been trying to recycle as much of the old stuff that was in there as we could but we ran into a little problem with the tv mount. It seems that the old stuff that was in there didn’t look great and was even less functional. So we ended up building a whole cabinet that houses the TV that we have for in there. It’s quite big so I think building something custom was the way to go. The weather is getting better so now it’s about time we get that thing finished and get to some camping.

Vegas Here We Are

Green People — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 15:03:23 +0000

Everyone asks us if we live in Vegas do we live in a Vegas hotel / Casino or do they have houses there? What .. are you serious? I can’t believe that people think that all Vegas has to offer are casinos. There is more to Vegas than just gambling. And YES there are houses out here. In fact this is one of the hottest places for investors to buy and sell real estate. As nice as that sounds to live in a hotel where the casino is only a few floors down and the free drinks are only a few steps to a machine away, no we do not live in a Casino. Homes are actually pretty nice out here. To look at.

Wine of the Month Club

Green People — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 14:58:18 +0000

I discovered a better way for us to get into the wine tasting arena. We have been planning a trip to wine country in California for a while now and maybe if there was a cheaper way we would have gone already. Well .. I found that we can bring wine country to us for a lot less than the trip there. I found online a wine of the month club that allows you to get great wines with a very low monthly membership.

Now this is a lot more cost effective if you are keeping a house hold running and managing kids, school, work and trying to take a vacation. Every month the wine comes to you and you get to sample a little bit of the tour through wine country every month.

Ah .. The Good Ol Days

Green People — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 14:54:00 +0000

I was talking with everyone the other day and we got on the topic of our old rooms when we lived at home with Mom and Dad. I remember my room was very cool. I had a ton of Heavy Metal original movie posters and Band Posters all over my room. My parents thought I was losing my mind but what’s a bad ass room without bad ass posters. I remember as times went on and friends interest changed .. my room stayed the same. Some of the posters changed of course but the feel and grind of it stayed the same.