Well, I wanted to start off sharing about my new project as many of my online friends still haven’t heard about it. You’ll want to read about it! So, here goes…

Officially Plugged In - A website I started to showcase friends and folks who are in the public eye. The showcase contains a video, a mini interview and links to official websites. This is the first website of it’s kind!!

My friend Karlyn described the OfficiallyPluggedin.com site well in her blog today… she said, “These are artists, musicians, actors, directors, producers, authors, business people and more, who care about their representation in the public eye and want to make sure you know where to get the real info on them, their background, their website, contact information, etc and not be mislead by copy-cat sites, false or outdated information by others posted online, unofficial fan sites, or even people with a similar name.. If you are in the public eye and want to keep your friends and family (and fans) safe, then I encourage you to check out OfficiallyPluggedIn.com and all it has to offer you and protecting your online identity. As Wendy told me, «It’s just good to know who the ‘real deal’ is», you know?”

I have been helping actor Sean Patrick Flanery (Young Indiana Jones, Boondock Saints) with his Official website and MySpace account. There was some doubt from friends and fans as to whether he was indeed the real person he claimed to be. So, I had him make a video that said who he was and where his official website was located. This helped friends and fans wonderfully and they write in often to say they are glad Sean did the video. This got me to thinking that others can also do the same thing and so a site to showcase these videos came to mind.

I set the new website up at the end of last year and showcased Sean’s video after I talked with him about it. He was more than happy with the idea. So, this year, after New Year’s Eve, I started getting it going. To date … there are 23 videos/interviews showcased on the website. This site is not just for folks who are famous, but also for folks who are up and coming and are in the public eye.

I am always looking to help my friends out with the projects and things they are working on. This website will be useful to many folks as a resource to find others in certain fields to work with. For example, a casting agent may look at the videos of the actors/actresses and decide they like what they see and hear. So, they’ll contact them for film or television work. A filmmaker may like a band they see listed and want to use their music in a film. There are lots of ideas that can come out of this. Folks will be able to see, hear and reach the official site of folks showcased. The listings are complimentary! If I ever get too busy with it, I will try to keep basic showcases free and those who want up fast can pay a fee or pay to be featured.

This site brings people a presentation of folks that are real. You can hear and see them. The site helps to keep family, friends and fans safe on the internet.

Take a look at the ABOUT page and the GET LISTED pages for more information about why you should seriously consider getting showcased. All videos showcased will have the video/info posted at the various video/social networks listed at the bottom of the OfficiallyPlugggedin.com website.

I feel really strongly about this project. If you believe it is good, please get yourself showcased or tell folks who should be posted to get in touch with me. It is beneficial for everyone involved. Help me get this out there!

There is a MySpace set up for OfficiallyPluggedin.com (www.myspace.com/officiallypluggedin) where you can find some banners to post. If you want a size or something besides what is there, let me know.

TODAY is February 29, 2008. It’s my birthday and I am now 10 (40) years old… a rare day as it only comes once every four years. I often get asked when is it that I celebrate my birthday when there isn’t a 29th… well, I tend to celebrate a bit on both Feb. 28th and on March 1st… it depends on some family and friends and when they can celebrate it with me. However, I do prefer the 28th if it isn’t a Leap Year. Though celebrating over a couple days is nice, but I do feel spoiled no matter what year it is. I am blessed to have my family and friends. I also wanted to say thanks to everyone who sent me birthday wishes today. You are awesome!! I wasn’t expecting such a huge outpouring of love and wishes.

My birthday goodies!!!!!!! The three cards in the front are the ones my boys made. My youngest made his with colorful lettering and filled it with hearts. My middle guy made a creative card box that held a card inside. My oldest used glitter glue which made the card have a raised affect…. He wrote in his card, “Most people have their birthday once a year, but yours is once every four. So it only makes sense that you make your birthday four times as special. Happy 40th Birthday Mom.” He is only 14. I love all my boys and husband!

The flowers with bear and the tower of yummy goodies are from my mom and her husband. I was totally surprised by them and ate some sweets after dinner. My husband came home from work carrying the big spring bouquet of flowers. Awwww!!!! I got lots of phone calls from my family and friends today. I am very blessed to be here to share more time and memories.

So I was Tagged again, this time by my long time lovely friend Karlyn. I’ve been instructed to post six unimportant facts about myself. So, here goes…

1. I love my family and wish we could live together forever.
2. My favorite color is purple.
3. I love chocolate… especially dark chocolate… everyday!
4. I am very sensitive to sound… if it’s too loud-too long I get irrated.
5. I love hot peach tea.
6. I only get a birthday once every four years… so I am 10 years old!

Now, I get to pass on this little meme to six friends.
Paul, Rob, Zara, Brett, Michael, and Frederic. and I’ll add Mireille, and whoever else wants to share theirs! Let me know if you do this and I’ll put your name here and link to your blog where you posted yours.

All through my life I have come across people who think they have me pegged.

Oh yeah…I had the “You did that? But, I thought you were so innocent!” As I can look like that.

Then they become surprised when they find out something ‘new’ about me.

It isn’t ‘new’ at all. It is just a new discovery to them. They hadn’t figured me out at all.

The next reaction when they see this ‘different’ side of me is ‘why?’

Why does she do that? Why does she like that? Who influenced her?

It isn’t like her to be that way. She is acting out of character.

Is she depressed? Is she on something? The answer is no, but people will still think what they want.

The judgments people make can be amazing. I am sure everyone has to confront it or ignore it.

Generalization on character happens by people every day. Judging isn’t their job to do in the end anyway.

However, people’s judgments can be harsh and wound people. Just because they ‘aren’t like them’.

I think everyone has something interesting about them. People come into our lives for a reason.

I am not one to do something because ‘everyone’ is doing it. I am not a ‘follower’.

I won’t let anyone try to ‘mold’ me or tell me how I should be.

I ‘rebel’ against people like that. I won’t change just to ‘fit’ in.

Stay true to yourself. Help others along the way. Love your family and friends the best you can.

So there! I am who I am. I’m unique and different as it should be!

I can say my husband is my soul mate and understands me nearly all of the time.

However, no-one can be ‘pegged’ completely.

Do what you love in life and don’t let anyone say you ‘can’t do it’. Show them you can!

~Wendy Shepherd

Many new readers have informed me that my Chart Jungle (free printables) site has made a magazine appearance in the November issue of PARENTS Magazine on page 194. It is a an article written by Nancy Rones about potty training. This same article can also be found on the Parents.com website here.

Click here to see the large image of where Chart Jungle was mentioned.

ChartJungle.com has printables in many categories, so my new visitors have been writing saying how much they love all of the choices available to them for getting organized and such.

Thanks to Nancy Rones, Parents Magazine and everyone who wrote in about it as well as my friend who sent me the scanned image. If anyone has a copy of the magazine to send me, please message me.

A kind reader has informed me that my Chart Jungle (free printables) site has made a magazine appearance in Paper Crafts magazine, Room to Room. This looks like a fun magazine if you are into making paper crafts for home decorating.

Click here to see the large image of where Chart Jungle was mentioned. I blurred out the content of the page for the reason that this is a magazine by subscription and didn’t want to post their content.

Thanks for letting me know about this Jo!

…and also thanks to Paper Crafts magazine.

Will Moore reviewed the book, Online Millionaire…

“The Internet is no longer an uncharted business frontier”… the first words I read.

The Online Millionaire is a how-to that zeroes in on this idea.

Serving up lessons on everything from eBay to building your own website author Amy Joyner backs up theory with stories from the front lines.

Lacing each chapter with stories retold by online millionaires, Joyner’s 101 approach (with sub-chapter headings like The Lowdown and How It Works) may not appeal to the Internet enthusiast, or anyone under the age of 16, but will be a breath of fresh air to the web-challenged. Joyner keeps it simple and paints with broad strokes . . . so for me - a member of the latter group, Millionaire helped break down the intimidating and self-imposed barriers I have towards the Internet. I couldn’t build a website before reading the book and I probably won’t anytime soon, but the curtain has been pulled and the mystery revealed.

We are now home from the surgery. Things went well enough that my son could be released the same day. He went in surgery at 8:45am and came out about 11:30am. The doctors removed his appendix, scar tissue and the crystallized part from the appendix rupture. Everything went well. He slept most of the day and ate at around 4:00pm, got up and walked around, etc. and so he was allowed to go home. He still has a lot of recovery this week, but he wanted to show them how much he wanted to go home. That’s my son for you!     I need to monitor his pain, etc. for the rest of the week. He is allowed to swim in 4-5 days. THAT made him happy!

He is sleeping right now and seems comfortable. We are all relieved…especially ME! *whew

Thanks for your prayers and well wishes!

I am just going to make a quick blog post here since I have a million things to do before bed. My son is due to have his surgery tomorrow. We will be going in early and staying overnight. Once I get home and get him situated, I will check in and make another post about how things went. We are both nervous about it. But, better to take care of that ole’ appendix so that it doesn’t happen again.

Not sure what this is about fully? Read my previous blog post about my son and his ruptured appendix.

Basically, he is fully healed. He is happy and has gained much of his weight back now.
We were told that some doctors may even leave it alone after he was well again. However, these doctors think it is best to remove the appendix as there is always a chance of getting appendicitis again. It really depends on where the rupture happened. It could have just been a split, or the end could have ruptured leaving the rest of the appendix in tact. They won’t know until they get in there.

This is supposed to be an outpatient overnight surgery. So hopefully all goes well. I feel pretty good about it, just a bit nervous and protective of my son.

~Wendy

I can’t believe my littlest guy is now 8 years old today! He is excited and very happy on his birthday.Well, I have had very limited internet access since yesterday. I can’t understand how satellite can cost so much and still not allow near as much as DSL in usage. Verizon guys are coming today to hopefully fix our phone lines and DSL that were knocked out by a lightning storm.I will get back to everyone as soon as I can. I am starting to feel like my head is coming out of a fog from this bad cold.

The Exciting stuff is… I am working with actor Sean Patrick Flanery on his Official website for fans. He has been in such films as Boondock Saints, Powder and so many more! You will find his IMDB link on the website.

Here is a video that I just put up in the wee hours of the morning of him announcing his new website…

** www.seanflanery.com **

You Tube Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c__elaI5aBs

He is also on MySpace, so go - Add him as a friend for new videos and updates!

Help me spread the word about this by posting this on your website or by sending to your family and friends. Let’s see how many people we can reach!

Woohoo!

~Wendy Shepherd .com

I thought it was time to do an update.

My son is doing well. We have a Dr. appointment this coming week and we will then find out when his surgery will be to remove his ruptured appendix. My whole family got hit by nasty colds, but we should be pretty much over them in a few days.

Lots of things happening, as always in my neck of the woods. I’ll cover more of that at a later date. I have some catching up to do, some interviews to weave and if you are waiting to hear from me, it won’t be long. I’ll email you soon!

My friends are busy with lots of neat things as well. A few I can mention about are:

* Brett made a new song called “Tightrope” - Listen here (*Brett, waiting for your reply on what that tv debut is about. )

* The ’soopa’ multi-talented Paul, Rob, and Zara are working on a film called “FUROR” - More Details Here
They are all part of Soopa 8 run by Sid who is also super nice.

* Will is progressing with the Cowboy Smoke film. Please tell family and friends to go view the film trailer and leave comments of their thoughts - View here (Official Site)

* Some rumbling going on with James and Cory, which I’ll share soon. Fun stuff.

* Arin and Susan have posted their full feature film on YouTube until August 15. They are the first to feature a full film on YouTube - View Here

* Mike Hedge is taking an Eco Trip across the USA - Read More

* Dan was on the show THE LOT and had to come up with a beautiful short film. Letting Go - View here

If I forgot to mention anyone, I am sorry. I still suffer from a stuffy head. By the way, I found that sucking on ice helped my laryngitis. I almost had it full blown and was drinking lots of fluids, but the ice helped the most. Maybe it was the contstant moisture or the cold that helped the swelling. I am getting better and very happy to get things back to normal.

Feel free to post your latest happenings in the comments section below to share.

Personal note: My son turns 8 years old this coming week and my husband and I will celebrate our 20th anniversary on June 30. I still love him with all of my heart! My one true love. We were so made for each other!

Watch here for future exciting things. Make sure to subscribe to this blog in the right hand column