Ebay On Location - Orlando Sept 8, 2001 - a little bit late

So I went to Orlando back in September for eBay's On Location event.  The one that was been promised to be in the NORTHEAST Quadrant of the US for the last 2 years.... yeah - don't hold your breath waiting for that.

So the mountain went to Mohammed.  And I had a darn good time. I met folks I only ever got to talk to online, including Granny Annie, Karen Locker (who was busy busy busy all the time) John Lawson, Larry Phillips, Melinda Jackson, Bev England..and those are the names I remember.  (pictures will get added as soon as I figure out where they are filed. I'd already met Kat Simpson but we got some "together time" - not as much as we needed for all the things we wanted to discuss but..hey we made do. 

I mention this now, a month later, because ?? Because eBay just posted the videos from there.  And the webinar content is great.  Here's the link..http://ebayonlocation.com/sessions2011.htm  I'll add my commentary later -

So the Moral of Last Week's Post was..........

To figure out your emergency back up systems needed. And I obviously FAILED cause yesterday and the day before, we had, 6 power outages of at least 10 min...a couple were hours.

PECO (Phila Electric Co) gets NO Props for fixing them because their employees are so darn obnoxious. I mean if I can see the line laying in the street, do you think they could at least send someone to figure out WHAT the line is?? nope..they have their crews out "trying to determine the source of the outage". Which means he's sitting at McDonald's having a burger... not fixing a darn thing.


I've said for years I wanted a generator.. I can't afford to do a whole house one but I could get a gasoline powered one for situations like this. I mean with no electricity you can't even read a book.

BUT I did have my "hand cranked" flashlight - purchased at the Golden Nugget Flea Market in Lambertville NJ for a mere $5 so I could see to call PECO every 5 min and complain...

So this month (and next month and probably the month after that...the object is to save enough for a BIG generator so I can run the Frig, the electric stove, my husband's C-Pap and one electric light...

WHAT is your emergency plan??

Disaster ALWAYS Strikes When You're NOT Ready

WE in OBS have been having a discussion for the last 2-3 weeks about emergency preparedness. Some of it revolved around the wild weather a lot of us experienced this last couple of months. Some of it revolved around 3-4 members who had folks in their family pass away unexpectedly and some of it revolved around a couple of us who had surgery - some scheduled or elective and some not.

So... I decided to share some resources with you over the next few weeks (days/months/years).

First of all, look around. Are you an eBay or eCommerce seller?? So who that you trust*, (* important qualification there...TRUST)has your passwords and ids and can step in and handle things at least thru a temporary shutdown, if, in the daze of heat exhaustion or flood of spring snow melt, you step out in front of a bus and can't take care of business yourself??

I had my 2nd total knee replacement in June. My husband ran things for a week..(well really more cause I came home with strep throat and didn't realize it for 2 weeks.). BUT, for reasons I'm not going to discuss, he only had the eBay/Paypal portion of my empire to deal with. I shut down Amazon, eCrater, Addoway and Bonanza for 3 weeks.. (means no $$ coming in but no problems either)

My son had my password code sheet with ALL the other membership sites, selling venues, mailing lists and "recreational stuff" like podcast signons for Talkshoe etc.

WHO HAS YOUR BACK??? find and train someone you trust..your spouse, your adult (over 15 ? child) your sister/brother/mother, bff,

HERE is a FEMA Guide To Emergency Preparedness to get you started


And here's a blog post about some folks who went thru a "weather-related" disaster of sorts but who used the lemons of bad weather to make lemonade with their customers orders...(ok that's stretching the analogy to the breaking point but read it anyway...it's really interesting...besides they give good buys!)

BUBBLEFASTNEWSLETTER

And if you drop by their store and buy something - tell them you want the OBS discount! LOL (HI MARK and ROBYN)

Happy New Year - 2011 Goal Setting

Way back (in the dark ages) when I was in college at Stone Age U, I read a magazine article that said, Goals put in writing were much more likely to be achieved. It actually said a percentage but that was so long ago who remembers?

I found that writing out my goals for the day, week, month and years (going as much as 5 years ahead) worked for me. Sometimes I got off track but having them in writing in front of me worked better than anything else.

So for 2 years now, the group that writes this blog has also had a "conversation" on our yahoo group about daily goals, and we "grew" enough to expand that to monthly goals. And we're doing pretty good (most of us...rolling eyes at how bad I've been lately) at hitting those daily goals. Some of us have even managed to do well with the monthly ones.

So now our challenge is to step up our level of commitment and make yearly, three year, life-long goals.  And we're doing that by using VISION BOARDS.  Elaine called hers a "life book" but it's the same idea.

1. If you put it in writing, that's a higher level of commitment on our part than just saying "yeah I'd like to do that some day".

2. If you put it in writing, or pictures, online/offline, wherever, it's less likely (in everyone's case but mine...since my brain is moth-eaten with age now) that you'll be so distracted by "LIFE" that you forget to work on your goals or even forget that there was a goal.

Now I'm an "out of sight, out of mind" kind of person.  I never put a project away until it's done cause if I do? It is not getting done. I'll open a desk drawer or a storage bin a year or 10 years from now and say "OH that's where I put that...".  Been there, done that, too many times.

With that in mind some of us are doing vision boards where we use pictures to remind us, and to help us attract the "cosmic energy" that will let us achieve those goals.

I'm going to verbalize some of mine here, and picture some of mine here and then the "Cosmos" can help remind me (ok the blog... LOL nothing so grand as a Cosmos) of what I'm trying to accomplish.

Forthwith (I love that expression):

1. I need to increase income either thru more sales on various ecommerce venues or another solution.  $5000 a month will do just fine. (now to figure out how) UH... so come buy something from me > here >
Antiquedaze (one of my many venues..and the best stocked too!

2. I want to blog more,write more, podcast more.  I'm working on a solution for the writing art...the blogging means I have to be more conscientious and just do it... (Ihave 5 blogs besides contributing to this one so it's not like I don't have somewhere to put all my drivel).  The podcasting is going to require some thought, planning and time so I'm putting that on the weekly teux-deux list.

3. I want to travel

Preferably not on that but I can't find an airplane picture at the moment.

Destinations of choice include:

NH or Cape Cod - husband's cousin lives in NH and her brother lives in Cape Cod, so we can visit either one and catch up with 2 of his cousins.

TN - My cousin and my friend Dar both live there - and I know KAT knows where TN is and can get there from where...so that would be fun too.

NC - My friend Pat lives there...and it's somewhere that I've always wanted to visit with the possibilty of retiring there....soooo

Next year - Chicago or Reno (friends in both places and some sci-fi book conventions DH wants to go to... soooo )

And the last major goal is to have a clean, roomier and peaceful home.  And for DH to be healthier (and me too).  More on that in the next installment...or maybe the end of the month...

That is as far as I've gotten with "goals" or visions for 2011 - what about you?!

Please, rate our blog by the stars, post comments and be sure to put your store or blog link in there so we can follow you back and return the favor. And then tweet us up and post links to your facebook page - we need the link love.... (for seo don't you know)

Thanks...see ya later this week...

Beth



Tis the Season

When you see this guy -

You know this guy (pointing up and down) is NOT far behind...and

 

Neither is the crappy attitude some folks get...Grinch This Christmas!

 

Our Featured "Seller" of the Day- Lattegirltoo

  I've been supposed to be doing these blogs for about 2 weeks and I just couldn't "get started" but today I was reading a very inspiration email from this seller, and I wanted to "introduce" you to her.


This woman joined my yahoo group about 2 years ago...and WHAT A WOMAN! She immigrated here as an adult and has built a wonderful life for herself and her family thru her efforts and her husband's.  She's the mom to three adorable kids (I've seen pictures...they are gorgeous kids).  Here's the "interview" I did with her about 2 weeks ago.

1. I am not expert in particular area. I like branching into new categories because in the process as I educate myself and that's it's just like another dimension opens up for me.



2. I've been selling online since 2001 and adore every minute for me. It's so thrilling for me, that I cannot call it a business. It's just gives me too much fun. researching & learning about new things gives me as much thrill as making a profit.




3. For me being able to immigrate to this country, start a new life and being fully accepted by fellow Americans, that's the lottery I always wanted to win. And I did. I will never stop struggling with the question - why me?


Why was I able to escape without being caught and thrown in jail like other desperate people?


When I sat on a lounge chair in Mexico behind rope fence and watched the vendors carry literally their whole store on their backs, I was thinking this could have been me, how come I am so fortunate and these people barely make $50 a day?


When I see my classmates moms dying and leaving small kids behind ( this October & November we lost 2 moms due to breast cancer) I think - this could have been me.


Have a great weekend, Beth!


Let me tell you, Katarina has earned her spot on the beach. She made adorable bras for both BLINGMYBRA campaigns on eBay and she's a RESEARCH FIEND!  She finds the Best examples of things.


But check out some of her items: ok but THIS is my favorite one...
Slovak Coffee

This is soooo yummy!! Don't buy it all, leave one more for me... LOL


The woman's fashion sense is totally awesome, very European and tasteful ...like this... Italain Leather Bucket Bag style purse.

Hand-tooled Italian Leather Purse

I like this too - not that it would fit ONE leg... but it's adorable  Ladies Blanket Dress

But she also sells some "little things"...Like this page of toys Very Desperate Housewife's Collectible Toys

And the woman is just a fantastic person and marketer.  Please Christmas shop with our "Very Desperate Housewife"

Look UP in Levittown PA

The Countdown To Christmas SALES!!!

This sale runs from November 13th until the end of November. Watch for more updates as we add and subtract items or feature certain categories..

Beth, will have selected items (a lot of them) for 20% off from Nov 13th until the end of the month.
DepressionGlassWarehouse for elegant gifts!


Trish – 15-25% off selected items
BIRDHOUSEBOOKS for ephemera and children's literature. Among other things, Trish has a huge assortment of vintage paper.

Bob 10% off storewide
BOB'S NEAT STORE You never know what you'll find in Bob's Neat store...check it out!

Katarina
One Very Desperate to Sell you something Housewife!

10-40% selected items
VERY DESPERATE HOUSEWIFE She has the best deals anyway and now with a sale?? Shop here for fashion items or just plain great deals!

Elaine 15% storewide
CozyHomeCollectibles has a large assortment of collectible china, delft and other vintage decorative items. Make an offer! She just might take it!

Suz 15% off store wide
MYMOMSBOOKS
Suz has tons of children's books, along with other great collectibles...another place to make an offer and stock up on great books for the grandkids or the little newbies in the family.

Marion 5% storewide

FREELAND ENTERPRISES for great cosmetics, and other useful things!

Addition savings on the following sites
My eCrater Store: FREELAND ENTERPRISES ON ECRATER

Marion's Bonanza Store

My Addoway Store

Bev 10% storewide:

Video-Town For Adult Entertainment - VHS

FAMILY NITE MOVIES for the whole family

GRANDMA BEV'S STUFF

Breast Cancer Research Benefitted From The Generosity of Friends

Well, it's almost over - NO...not the political campaigns thing...those fools will be back again in the spring for the primaries. BUT the BlingMYBra campaign is in it's final phase for this year. We've got 85 bras up for auction and one website for sale.   

We've (we being Kat...did I tell you she does all the work? She does) already sent a couple of thousand dollars in donations in to eBay Giving Works to benefit the Susan G Komen for the Cure program already.  We're hoping someone makes a last ditch offer for that gorgeous website http://www.cozykidbedtime.com/

http://www.cozykidsbedtime.com/

- which is turnkey. It was donated by the Cowie family and is all set up and ready to go, with training to be offered by Shawna Siegel and her crew at 1Choice4YourStore.com.  Visit here to see all the details and make an offer!  YOU could be up and running by November 15th if you buy and pay immediately. Take advantage of the Christmas Shopping season to get it off to a great start!
 
But..back to the BMB story-  Kat Simpson of katskloset, took over the reins this year and has personally listed every single one of the 180 - 200 bras donated by amazing folks all over the continent.  eBay and non-eBay sellers and eBay employees "blinged" bras. People had parties, people worked in silence, people worked in memory of friends and family who have suffered and in the hope that no more will suffer as we'll find a cure sooner. Kat videoed them all, did most of the photography, and all of the listing single-handedly.
 
Christy Librizzi of KayCee Studios kept our eBay store organized and magnificient. Karen Locker tweeted and promoted and ran our CAUSE page on Facebook as well as helping adminsiter the Facebook fan page which was created and optimized by  Dany Byrne of Ghostleg Media and Cindy Shebley of Clovercity Sells made and ran our website and set up the fan page all while maintaining their own businesses and the WebsellersCircle.com.
 
eBetsy and Jon Monjott helped - eBetsy and Danni Ackerman of UdderlyGoodstuff   wrote all our press releases and distributed them.
 
Bev England of Grandma Bev's Stuff on eBay helped on Facebook and with wrangling bras and finding our amazing BRA ARTIST VAL who sewed so many of the celebrity bras
 
AS for the BRA ARTISTS?? I can't begin to keep them all straight. If you haven't visited our blog, please do = BLINGMYBRA and see all the bras and all of Kat's amazing videos. There are sooooo many generous people who donated including (but never limited to) the folks at Hydes' Cafe in Texas who held two "BlingMyBra parties" and gave Melinda Jackson of Galleria Gifts, 40+ bras to bring back to us, the folks in Colorado who were not to be outdone by Texas and who  had their own Bling My Bra party and then got the bra autographed by the founder of Susan G Komen for the Cure - Nancy Brinker (that one is listed right now -quick run over and bid...).
 
There's the indefatiguable Melinda Jackson of GalleriaGifts and TheRiverTheRanchAndTheBay podcast who not only went to Hydes to bling a bra and pick up all of them but went to the Dallas Cowboys and got a signed bra (which believe me, I will hold over the head of the Phila Eagles Wives organization which never responded to my letter...frownie face here...)
 
Marlene Gavens who helped us by doing a fantastic Owl Bra (her logo is a Wise Owl and her business is The-Savvy-Seller.com and she also went the distance and make the bra for John Jantsch of Duct Tape Marketing.
 
A special thanks to Lee Mirabal of EBRN radio - which produced the eBay Radio Show for allowing us to takeover whole segments of her shows to talk "Blinged Bras" and continued prayers for her husband John. (he had a horrible health problem last month and is just  coming home this weekend (last of October 2010).
 
When I started BlingMyBra last year, I never envisioned it getting this big or reaching so far. I thought it was wonderful we got 40 bras which came  from my friends, relatives and listeners to the podcast kat & I started - The River The Ranch and The Bay. . I still do. And this year, I'm just in awe of what Kat and her crew have done.  I'm so proud to know the people who organized this year's campaign and who've pushed it so much further than I ever thought it could possibly go.  Look at these...aren't they amazing?  BLINGMYBRA GALLERY
 
THANK YOU ALL - now go bid...BLINGMYBRA isn't over quite yet!!
THANK YOU for reaffirming my faith and confidence in people..
Beth Cherkowsky
http://www.depressionglasswarehouse.com/

My Other Favorite Holiday - Halloween!



Stars and Moon Pumpkin Courtesy of Taryn



Regurgitatin Pumpkin - Mike



Cannibal Pumpkin - Mike

Please visit our website Depression Glass Warehouse for great Holiday Gifts!

Happy Face Pumpkin - I think Taryn did this one too!

This would be me!

  

The Bucks Keystone Kops try to capture a parrot!

So, locally someone posted a "lost Bird" poster all over the place. I mean every store in the shopping center has at least 2 - one on the door or window and one on the register area.

The bird who answers to a non-bird name like Charlie is a green parrot. He's been on the lam for over 3 weeks but today both my adult son and I spotted what we thought might be him,in the pine tree behind the house.

are indoor cats, declawed before we ever met them (all 4 wheels) but you'd think they were panthers the way  they've been carrying on.

Well their humans, my son and his father went out to try and entice this "bird" off the tree. Because? Because if it's Charlie the parrot there is a $1000 reward for nabbing him.

First of all, can I tell you the two vice-presidents here, Cosmo on the left and Max on top of my computer..., raised such a ruckus no bird in it's right mind would have come anywhere near the house unless, lassoed, knockedout and fricaseed.

We whistled, we chortled, we threw peices of bread in the air (well I did) and talked bird baby talk. And when the "suspect" came down within sight, it was a parakeet, not the green parrot with pink neck ring we needed to get the reward.

Where is the parakeet you ask? The last sighting had him still in my pine tree and he/she/it is making periodic forays down to the bird feeder for bird seed.

On My SoapBox Again - KNOW the Signs of Stroke

In 1994, on Father's Day (June 19th to be exact) at the age of 46, with no previous history of it in his family, my husband had a stroke. Fortunately, we were both home, I recognized that what was happening was not normal.  He put on shorts, but couldn't stand up without assistance. I literally carried him to the van and boosted him in and raced 1 mile up the road to the closet hospital.
And fortunately for him, there, the ER doctor was experienced enough and astute enough to recognize the same symptoms I had seen and gave him the clot-buster drug.

IF either one of us had NOT recognized his symptoms, he would either be a partially crippled 62 year old now or dead.  We had a 13 yr old at that time. I'm still grateful his father survived to help raise him.  Not a job for me alone.

PLEASE read this article and in particular the bottom section with the symptoms of Stroke - If you are lone and don't "feel right", go to the bathroom or the bedroom or a mirror anywhere, look at yourself?

Is one side of your face not working??
can you touch your nose?
What is your name (Say it out loud...if you don't sound right or look right CALL 911) 
do you know the name of the current president? (whether you voted for them or not) - SAY IT OUTLOUD...if you can't or it's garbled or you can't understand yourself...CALL 911.

SM ILE at yourself in the mirror - if you can't? Call 911

If you're still not sure? CALL 911 just to be on the safe side.


later this week I'll tell you about ARCHANGEL PATTI and why she's an archangel in stead of still being my sister-in-law.   Meanwhile, READ THIS
STROKE

#blogboost  #stroke