Nita is another online friend from the webmaster email list. Her websites are :

- Organize Tips
- EduSearcher
- Bright Spot Ezine
- Able Websites

and she has a new blog - click here

Paula is another friend I met through the email webmaster list. She lives in Windsor, CT with her husband of 8 years. Her two websites are:

- PaulaWalla.com - international gifts and music

- HostingCT.com - website design, hosting, etc

Christa is another online friend of my through a webmaster network email list that I am on. She started off with Preschool Education many, many years ago. Her arsenal has grown to 7 websites…

- Preschool Education.Com

- Holidays For Everyday

- Ask The Preschool Teacher

- Preschool Coloring Book

- Preschool Printables

- Lehigh Valley Kids

- The Perfect Title

She is a work at home wife and mom of a 2 year old little girl. They live in Bethlehem, PA.

Well, busy as I have been, it is no surprise it happened. Let me share with you a dumb thing I did before Mike blogs about it.

I was making pancakes with syrup for breakfast last week while listening to a conference call for my new side business. I finished everyone’s pancakes and served mine last. Since it was hard to hear the call in the kitchen or diningroom, I decided to bring the phone into the computer room. I sat down and ate while listening and cleared the dishes after the call was over.

As I walk into the kitchen, Mike makes a comment from the computer room. He was complaining about something on the carpet. So I look. There it lay, or should I say t r a i l e d all the way over to my computer. A line of syrup that had streamed across the carpet from the doorway to my computer mat. There was no hiding the evidence. Not even from a super sleuth. *sigh So, naturally I cleaned it up with a bit of soapy water and a washcloth. I didn’t need the handheld carpet cleaner…

…that was until a couple of days later when I started to notice where the syrup trail had previously been created was now turning into a faint white reappearing trail. Yep, I needed that handheld carpet cleaner afterall. Lugged it out and cleaned it right up.
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Comments:    1.

That was too cute!!!!! We dont mess up very often but
when we do there is usually a man (Mike) there to
catch us!!! LOL!!! Have a good weekend Wendy love
the pics on Mikes blog. God Bless. Stephanie

Comment by Stephanie — 10/28/2005 @ 11:14 am

have posted this on my site: The Lost Harp and am also posting here for you…Please consider joining Mark & Jim in New York for a special book event! Bring a friend along too.

Books of Wonder is putting out a limited HARD cover edition of The Stoneholding for the signing.

The full event is entitled ” An Evening of Great Fantasy ”

Tuesday, November 15, 2005 at 5:30 - 7:30 pm
Signing at Books of Wonder
18 West 18th Street,
New York, NY
(800) 207-6968

If you get to go, send in photos of yourself holding your shiny new hard cover copy from the event to be posted on my site: The Lost Harp!
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Comments:    1.

Wow, this is really exciting, Wendy. Congratulations to the Mark and Jim. Are you going to go to the signing? I’ve never been to Books of Wonder but I’d love to go someday.

Comment by Sheila Ruth, Imaginator Press — 10/29/2005 @ 10:12 pm
2.

I wish I could go, but that won’t be happening. I have homeschooling and my family will be visiting. Not easy days to be traveling for us.

Comment by Wendy Shepherd — 11/1/2005 @ 7:33 pm

I usually watch The Apprentice each Thursday evening. The show goes through a routine of having two groups of appretice candidates perform a task. The best performing team wins. The losing team has to return to the boardroom. Usually the project manager of the losing team gets to pick one or more people they can bring back into the boardroom and one of the them will get fired.

This week, the losing team happened to be the worst losing team the Apprentice has ever had. Instead of the project manager choosing who stays with him, Donald Trump chose four people himself. Those four people came back into the boardroom and tried to fight their way to stay on The Apprentice. There were three guys and one gal. I was certain the one gal was going to get fired. Her performance, from three of the shows in particular, seemed weak compared to the other three men.

As Donald picked out each fault of these four individuals on the task they lost at, it was apparent two people were definitely on the chopping block. Donald Trump pulled a shocker and fired ALL FOUR of them! That is the first time on the Apprentice this has happened. Mike and I were both shocked! Did you see the show?
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Comments:    1.

Hi Wendy, I have never watch the original Apprentice but have you been watching the new one The Donald is producing for Martha Stewart?? I have been following that one and since then I
will be watching the original when it starts the new one next
season. And on this weeks previews she is firing two
people as well. These shows are something to watch arent they??
Cant wait to catch both of them new. Take care, Stephanie

Comment by Stephanie — 10/29/2005 @ 9:02 am

Ok. Just when I thought I was getting caught up, I ended up getting more work. Over 23 hours of work plus my own stuff. I don’t mind. I just can’t get over here to post as much. Here is the latest news…

1) I just posted these beautiful handmade heirloom Tee Pees on our FromTheSource.com website. I also added them to my TipzTime.com website.

I also just posted “The Breezes of Inspire” book on FromTheSource.com

2) I sent out a Tipz Time newsletter update about the new tips and articles on the site.

3) Today I sent out a Chart Jungle newsletter update with new charts for your electrical box, and two types of graph paper.

4) I worked for client friends on sizing hundreds of photos, making new webpages, etc.

5) I will next be starting to work on posting both dispatch newspapers online tonight.

That is for the online work portion. We have also been doing homeschooling, fencing classes for the kids and we all enjoyed a day at the Renaissance Faire this weekend. - Read Mike’s post about it

My latest work has kept me quite busy but my head is starting to bob above the workload. I am catching up on my own tasks and email now.

- I worked on the two latest online versions of the dispatch newspapers here and here

- I worked on my friend Robert’s website.

- I updated some photos and such on Hap Palmer’s website. You should make use of the “Making Teaching Aids” section that go along with his songs.

- I worked on a couple of new websites for my client friends that aren’t public yet.

- I’ve created a bunch of new charts on Chart Jungle.

- Plus I have been working on my Arbonne business. I will be receiving my first check of $30 this month. My next one is already $26. It’s a beginning, right? I just started with it, so I have a ways to go.

- Jim Anderson phoned to give me an update on The Stoneholding. They are doing a book signing in New York in November. I will post more about that when I get more exact details. They also received two wonderful endorsements by G.P. Taylor and Douglas Preston which can be found on the Lost Harp.

- I’ve posted some photos and such on Movie Vine for Madison Riley (who lives in MD like I do) She is super sweet.

- Besides all of that: Mike had some time off for a week. My brother and his family visited us and I got to play with my little niece over the course of two weekends. We enjoyed lots of chicken and rice and movie watching when the kids were in bed. Homeschooling and chores also keep us busy. And now… I have caught you up on the latest.

Well, the tooth fairy is in the air tonight. My third son just lost his FIRST tooth this morning. If you notice, it took 3 weeks for that VERY wiggly tooth to come out. This is due to the new tooth coming in way behind and in a different position to the baby tooth. The position didn’t put much push on it until now. We can see that new pearly white sticking out and getting into position slowly. We had a very happy gap toothed boy running around today and very anxious to get that tooth under his pillow!
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Comments:    1.

That is so cool, I remember my babies losing there first tooth. Do you keep them?? I saved everyone they lost. They are in a box in my jewelry box!! memories….sigh…..Now my babies are 16 and 13…another heavy sigh…..Take care Wendy.

Comment by Stephanie — 10/21/2005 @ 3:16 pm

I really want to vent, but I realize that I have to understand that some people either get confused, or simply don’t “GET IT” when it comes to getting something for free. Is it REALLY free? Think about it. SOMEONE is paying for it to become available to you for “FREE” somehow!

Let’s look at newspapers or magazines that you receive for “FREE.” These publications are supported by advertising that is built around the content. The more advertising dollars the publications gain, the more they can grow. Some publications will charge you AND place advertising around their content. So, you should feel lucky that SOMEONE is paying for you to get the “FREE” version, which isn’t really free because they are “BUYING” space for your eyeballs to see their products or services. Same with television.

Now, why would I vent about this? Perhaps it is because I offer free printables on a website that is built upon the same premise. Chart Jungle has printable charts, schedules, checklists, etc. available for free. Let me tell you, it isn’t free for me to run the site and it isn’t free for me to send out a newsletter to let my subscribers know that there are more free printables, articles, etc. available. Every time that someone loads each printable image, my bandwidth gets used and the price for it is paid for by me. I use a third party host to send out my newsletter and they charge me too.

To offset the costs that I have to pay each month, I build advertising around the content areas, just like I mentioned the newspapers and magazines do. I get TONS of nice letters from thankful individuals and families each month. However, I get a few of the selfish and mean messages too, which I don’t understand. For heaven’s sake, these printables are free!

I received messages like:

” I don’t want the advertising, I just want the free printables ”

” I feel like I was duped into signing up for what I thought were charts and helpful tips and stuff. What I got from your site is advertisements ”

” Remove me from your “Club”. I joined by lure of “free printables”. However, it’s a scam like everything else. You should be ashamed of yourselves luring in desperate parents. ”

Hmmm… wow. A scam, they were duped, they don’t want advertising. Those types of messages make me think about charging subscribers a monthly cost and remove the advertising. However, that wouldn’t be fair to the parents who can’t afford it and really rely on the charts that I provide. I use these charts myself, and found that sharing them helped others.

So, maybe they just misunderstand, or got confused. I am not sure. But, one thing is for sure… NOTHING is REALLY free. SOMEONE is paying for it and for a reason.

I am sure that my fellow friends in the media online and offline understand this view.

Article Copyright © Wendy Shepherd - http://www.wendyshepherd.com
**May be reprinted with permission, credit, and link
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#1 2005-10-13 @ 7:10:24 am
From: NightOwl

Tens of thousands of page views per day and the fact that you get emails like this infrequently sends a clear message to me that 99.9% of your following loves what your doing for them. There’s always going to be an occasional whiney baby so don’t take it to heart dear. I know you’re a perfectionist and you want to make everyone happy but you always are going to have at least one knuckle-head out of ten thousand!

#2 2005-10-13 @ 10:10:49 am
From: Ken

Wendy,
Sorry that you are frustrated and dealing with this right now. Hopefully, your readers will realize that advertising is better than being charged for your content. The free printables are a bonus and they should be thankful you offer that. You are not giving them worms or trojan horses just advertising. What’s the harm in that? If they don’t want to buy the product they don’t have to. It’s a choice. I hope you are able to continue providing interesting content and points of view to your readers. Some ethos for you: I work for The Palm Beach Post so I totally understand the situation.

-Ken

#3 2005-10-13 @ 11:10:59 am
From: Stephanie

Hi Wendy,

Some people are really thick arent they???? I love your sight and have been a subscriber for years and I for one love the different things that you offer on your sight I have never thought it was to much I love your sight for what if is and what it offers isnt that the purpose of going to a websight???
The printables are great and so helpful and your right alot of homeschool families dont have alot of money so your sight is a real blessing for them as well. If the others dont like the way your doing things they can make there own charts or just get the charts they want and make copies and dont bother coming back it they dont want to be bothered!!! Another idea I know your real busy but maybe you could make a CD of your main helpful charts and sell them for a set price and the complainers can get their charts that way and you could make some extra money as well…I am also a stay at home homeschooling Mom and maybe I could be of some assistance?? I love your sight and would hate to loose it because some people dont understand the concept of free stuff..Know what I mean?? You and Mike have some awesome sights keep up the good work and dont let a few bad apples ruin the whole basket for the ones who really appreciate all you do and all your hard work. Your the best and so is your sights…. :>) Have a good one Stephanie

#4 2005-10-13 @ 1:10:41 pm
From: Xerraire

Hi Wendy

I was thinking what Mike said.

You already seem to have a working forumla (for your visitors and for yourself). I hope you don’t stress on the few who write in negatively.

#5 2005-10-16 @ 1:10:32 am
From: Joni Pipkin

Hi Wendy!
Have loved your site for a long time now and could really relate to your frustration. As an online entreprenuer, I have come to believe that there is a weird little group of aliens that get paid big bucks to harass all the rest of us and make us feel as low as possible~ maybe so we quit and they can take over the whole cyber space universe for themselves! Anyway~ I say “Keep up the good work” and don’t let the little depressed cyber-whiners get to ya~