Make Your Opinion Count!

Last month I was emailed an available study from Schlesinger Associates and was selected to participate in an hour long study in Dallas. So I took a couple of hours of Paid time off from my regular job and participated. I Made $100 and didn’t lose any of my regular pay from my job! Easy Money. :)

Many of you are already members of Schlesinger Associates or have participated in Market Research studies from them in the past. And if you haven't heard yet, they are making some changes.

Just this month, I was invited to join their new site Inspired Opinions. This is a site dedicated to providing a central spot for people all over the U.S to receive updates on studies. These paid studies can either be in person, online or via telephone.

Previously, Schlesinger Associates had locations in many areas but you need to apply for that specific location’s studies. Now with their new site Inspired Opinions I don’t even have to take Paid Time Off ! I can do it from the comfort of my own living room and so can you!

To get started with Inspired Opinions and Schlesinger Associates just enter your email address below and see how much you can add to your pocket book.

No Rest for the Wicked?

Weekends are wonderful times in the spring. The windows are open and the cool breeze makes for wonderful sleeping weather . . .NOT!

Saturday morning, Ronnie slips out of bed grabs Nitro and his bed and closes the bedroom door - Ahhh . . . I can sleep all morning if I want . . .NOT! Tweet-Tweet-Tweet...... Tweet-Tweet-Tweet.... Tweet-Tweet-Tweet.... Tweet-Tweet-Tweet. Oh, yea, the birds are waking up to this glorious Saturday morning. Where's the shotgun!

Sunday morning, 3:15 am, whiskers tickle my face. Nitro needs to go out. Ok, I'll be back in bed asleep in about 5 minutes, no problem.

Sunday 4:40 am repeat above. But this time I let the Elvis out with Nitro and went back to bed without letting them in. Ahhh, back to sleep with no other interruptions . . .NOT!

Sunday 7:49 am . . . RING, RING, RING! Text message. Jaclyn is texting, "R u up?" Guess what, I am now!

No Rest for the Wicked!

Contrasts of Life (Maybe)

You gaze at the world around you and get used to the sights, sounds and smells. You get on a plane and fly to New York City.


City Streets, street vendors selling food, handbags, jewelry. Buildings from the streets to the sky as far as you can see. Horns honking, the constant buzz of people talking, music drifting in and out of restaurants, not a quiet place to be found. Food vendors with pretzels, fresh fruit, chicken on a stick. Restaurants with stuffed flounder that melts in your mouth, restaurants that serves only chocolate (delicious chocolate pizza) and down home Chicken & Waffles in Harlem. Tastes, smells and sounds that make Manhattan a wonderfully blend of your senses.


You gaze at the world around you and get used to the sights, sounds and smells. You get in a red truck and drive from Lewisville, TX to the deer lease in Throckmorton, TX.


First stop, the feed store. The resident dogs greet us and the beagle promptly hikes his leg and pees on one of the truck tires. The crisp morning air smells of hay, sweet horse feed, fertilizer and corn for the deer. At the deer lease can see from the cactus splattered ground to the ends of the blue sky universe. The only sound is the rustling of the mesquite trees and the deep voice of a cow mooing to warn the herd of our coming. Stop along the way home in Graham and have a delicious steak burger, fries and mac&cheese while looking off the top of a hill into a valley of brown, tan and dots of green! Exploring the town of Graham and stop at a wonderful shop - full of jewelry, purses, candles. Meeting two wonderfully delightful women, Vickie and Audrey. Laughter feels the air. They look like they belong in NYC, not Graham, TX.


It is a lie about New Yorker's not being friendly, they were as friendly as the women in Graham. A world of contrast, but so much really the same.

Preparedness Has Been Achieved!

4 Pigs, 3 Deer and Me!

It's been a long hunting season (just as the wife), but a good one. I look forward to helping everyone with their gun and ammo needs and hopefully pick up a few new customers along the way. Give me a shout and let's talk "turkey" . . .that's the next season for hunting here in Texas!

Easy Lollipop Valentines

Easy Lollipop Valentines

This a very easy and cute idea for all you guys with school age kids. I think I'll make them for the office "kids"!

Lewisville Citizen Police Academy

In 2001 my husband and I moved from Jacksonville, Florida to Lewisville, Texas, even though he had sworn that he would NEVER live in North Texas. But since I am a native Texan, and the wife - I won the war! When looking for a new home. We had a few priorities – a one story, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2 car garage in a nice neighborhood. We settled on Lewisville. We bought a nice home on a cul-de-sac near Memorial Park.
We found the neighbors to be nice and friendly. 4th of July parties, new friends (Even Fire Chief Lasky lived next door). Life was good! We had made a good choice! Lewisville, Texas was home.
Eight years later I decided to participate in the Lewisville Citizen Police Academy, as my husband had the year before. During the class, my rose colored glasses were shattered.

These are a few of the details I learned about my city.
► In 2008 over 5,000 people were arrested for various offenses.

►There are actual prostitution houses in upscale neighborhoods, along with a few “crack” houses in the less prestigious part of our city, demonstrating that crime knows no boundaries.

► Not every one wants police protection, even the woman who has been beaten on many occasions by her husband or boyfriend and refuses to press charges.

►There are more than 55 sex offender in the 42 square miles that Lewisville encompasses.

► We are home to 6 gangs with the youngest gang member being only 12 years old.

My question to the class was, “Who would have known that this small city would have these challenges?”

And then “Why don’t we the citizens know about these issues?”

The answer I received was politics versus reality. It’s the Chamber of Commerce syndrome. Chambers are comprised of businesses whose goal it is to further the interest of businesses within the community.
So why would the city publicize the challenges that are not only a part of Lewisville, but every city.

So how does a city like Lewisville confront it’s reality?
By using these avenues:

Community Programs like the Neighborhood Watch Program, Law Enforcement Exploring Program for youth and the School Resource Officer Program.
Informing our citizens using the city’s website with eAlert subscriptions, Chief Kerbow’s weekly update and ability to know where in the city Sex Offenders reside
AND Educating our citizens through . . . the very class we just completed.

I want to let you know that we are a very fortunate city. We have a very dedicated group of people who take these challenges personally . . . 24 hours a day . . . 365 days a year.
They are the hardworking, distinguished men and women of the Lewisville Police Department.
With the guidance of Chief Kerbow, we have officers like SWAT Commander Lt. Kendall Lynn, Detective Robert Feagins, K-9 Officer Shane Menz (my favorite)

And our class’s mentor, the legendary Training Officer Scott Pedigo: Along with many others in the Lewisville Police Department who spend more than their fair share of time, effort and energy to balance politics and reality making Lewisville, Texas a city where everyone would want to live.

I learned a tremendous amount about our city and our outstanding Police Department. It is my personal mission and I hope it is yours also, to recommend this class to all Lewisville citizens every chance we get. And to warn them of Officer Pedigo, the consummate class clown!