I’ve been watching all the economic news coming out of the US the past few weeks with great interest, since the majority of people I interact with online are US based. Heck, the PPC campaigns I run are targeted at US consumers and I get paid in US dollars. I recall a couple years ago when I would get $1.58 Canadian for every US dollar I cashed in at the bank. Ahh the good ole days! Now I barely get $1.03. Eight months ago I was getting less than 95cents for a US dollar.

I wasn’t really bothered by all the news I was seeing on tv and reading online, since I’m based in Canada and things didn’t seem as gloom. Plus, with the bailout package the US federal Gov’t pushed through, I’m under the impression that things will smooth over in a few months.

As I drove Kieana to school this morning I took my attention away from all the nut-case high school kids who seems to think the entire street is theirs and noticed something. The 5 minute drive to her school and back, I counted over 9 homes for sale. We’ve lived in this area for about 5 years now and the most “for sale” signs we’ve ever seen at one time is probably 2 or 3. Not only that, but once a for sale sign goes up, it’s usually down in less than a week. That’s when I started to think. The house we saw for sale a few blocks over that we wanted to put an offer in for in the early part of the summer, is still listed for sale. Wish I could go in with a low-ball offer now

I know where my cousin works (trucking company) they’ve had to restructure and let people go and most days where my dad works, they’re sent home early. Yes this recession talk is REAL and very scary! But it seems that many Canadians are not paying attention. We stopped in at Ikea on Saturday on our way to Toronto and it was a battle trying to find a parking spot. And once inside it was a friggin zoo.

Well, I’ll keep pushing the affiliate networks I promote and try to better manage our spending and use of the mighty Visa and Master card! what changes are you making? Are you even concerned about what’s happening around us? Leave me your comments.

I’ve been so busy with work today I completely forgot I promised to launch a small contest today. Well it’s already late and Indy refuses to lend me her camera to take pics of the prize, so I’ll have to wait to see if Kieana will let me use her camera when she gets in later. The other 2 cameras are on vacation with Caron and Tehya. Some freaking nerd I am, I don’t even have a camera of my own!

It’s surely one of the longest working days I’ve had to endure in quite sometime. We’re rounding the bend and the finish line is within sight for the new website  we’ve been working on the past 3 weeks. I’m working with an overseas programming team and the one programmer I’m working closely with, doesn’t seem to get what I was trying to explain to him about the blog portion of the site. Doesn’t it amaze you sometimes when someone super-smart can’t get a simple detail? Maybe it’s just my crappy way of explaining?

I just sent him the final edits (it’s probably close to morning where he is, poor fella stayed up most of the night working with me), so hopefully by midday EST on Thursday, the site will be ready for full launch. Fingers crossed.

Looks like tomorrow will be another busy one for me. Gotta work with the programmer, do some work around the house, take the girls to the salon and Indy to her soccer game. But I promise to try and make time to tell you about the contest! Are you eager to win? After I launch this site, I’m taking a couple days off to read, watch movies and melt away in the hot tub! Maybe I’ll even squeeze in a bike ride or two.

Funny story before I go (wanted to share this with you since yesterday). So there I was sitting in the foot specialist office yesterday, her explaining the plan of action for the treatment… when a phone started to ring. Rang about 4-5 times, so I was about to say.. is the lady behind the desk not going to get that for you? When said lady, poked her head into the room we were in. Now both her and the foot specialist are looking at me..”is that your phone?”

With Tehya on vacation, I borrowed her cell phone to use while I was out and didn’t know what the ring sounded like. So after 7 rings and two people glaring down at me, I picked it up.

Enjoy your night and leave me your comments.. please!

Over the last 9 years I’ve heard it all… Why doesn’t Glen get a real job? Do you have to work from home? Why don’t you get an office? You have no idea what a real job is! You have no clue what it is to work hard. Why does dad have to be here ALL THE TIME? Can he not find somewhere else to play with his computer? It’s almost sickening to hear (I mean really pay attention and listen) what people say and think about what you do. Funny thing is, it’s usually the people most close to you.

I think it was a recent CareerBuilder.com survey I was reading found..

What are people focusing on instead of their professional duties?

• Children — 22 percent
• Personal calls and surfing the Internet — 17 percent
• Vegging out: watching TV and/or sleeping — 15 percent
• Personal errands — 11 percent
• Housework — 9 percent

No wonder people think we scratch-ass all day

Yes, telecommuting or working out of your home will never get the credit it deserves, well not until more people are doing so. It’s assumed that it’s not real work and it shouldn’t be taken seriously! I try to put myself in my girls shoes and see things from their side of things… It must SUCK that your dad is there 24-7. I mean, you can’t sneak off, you can’t sneak friends over, you can’t do as you please as if he wasn’t home, you have to be quiet when he’s working.. don’t you dare scream or get the dog barking when he’s on the phone… well the list (in their mind) is probably long.

Tough luck… this is my job and I work very hard at it people. If you’re lucky you’ll be able to enjoy the work from home life one day

Sometimes I tend to forget that many of my readers and other website visitors are only just starting off and much is like an alien-like language to them. Yes, I was in the same boat about 8 years ago and the rate the internet is growing and new techniques are coming online everyday… It’s a daily challenge to keep up.

I found a great video by Joel Comm (one of those fellas who make a lot of money online) explaining in simple terms, what Affiliate Marketing is and how simple it is to get started making money from home in your spare time. BTW, here is the link Joel mentions in the video:  CLICKBANK

Leave me a question or comment if you have any questions by clicking on the “comments” link below this post.

Just a few days ago I was enjoying my morning cup of tea under the shade of an umbrella by the pool. Mind-you the tea was not my normal decaf and I was forced to use a microwave to boil the water. I didn’t even know people boiled water in a microwave before, but my sister didn’t have a kettle so she pointed me to the trusty microwave.

This morning I awoke to yet another snow storm from the night before and about 15cms of wet, heavy snow. I’m not counting, but this is probably the 9th storm we’ve had so far this winter. I’m just sick of winter now. and we’re expecting another system this coming weekend. Yippee!

I guess you have to take the good with the bad, then make the most of the “bad”. I know I’ve been complaining how crappy it is outside, but I’ve been using the time I’m locked-up in my office to :

- think up new money making ideas

- plan my year

- tweak my online income streams

- automate things, so in the warmer months I can “scratch-ass”

- set clear goals.

Rather than bitch about the weather.. can you change things? Use this time wisely!

Here’s the table by the pool where I had my tea every morning before we went on our daily adventures.