It has been an interesting week.

(1) I have been following Arin and Susan with their video blog covering of the Sundance Film Fest. They just made their film, Four Eyed Monsters, available on DVD for the first time in limited quantity. They are using what they earn from the DVD sales to help get themselves out of $80,000 in credit card debt. (I have been in CC debt and know of the stress it causes, so I know they appreciate any help you can give.) If you are interested in more info with neat episode videos about their film and where to get the DVD, go to www.foureyedmonsters.com

(2) I recently did a fun and informational TeleInterview with Stuart Tan(such a NICE, smart guy!) in which he titled the interview “Secrets of a Superstar Work-At-Home Mom”. If you are interested in listening to the interview, you can go here to “Internet Marketing Singapore“. You can also get it by signing up on my site at www.wendyshepherd.com near the bottom of the page. When you sign up there, you will also receive my internet business blog updates, which are different in nature than my family/friends blog posts. If you don’t want to sign up and really want to hear the interview and learn more about my online stuff, then just message me and I’ll get it to you some how.

*Personally, I think I giggle too much, and my husband tends to agree. I’m happy, what can I say?

(3) I have a couple copies of Jonathan Clay’s CDs that are autographed. If you are interested in getting a copy in exchange for a review about his music/songs, message me about it. The review should be about 3 or more paragraphs and will be posted on one of my websites with your name credited. This offer will be over at the end of January, 2007. You can read the interview I did with Jonathan Clay here.

(4) I have delved into homeschooling my children about mid-way through the month. We are progressing through the learning material nicely. There is always a bumpy start in the beginning, where it is hard to get my boys to focus and come out of the “holiday/timeoff” mode. We seem to be past that now.

(5) After the interview I did with Stuart, I realized again the importance of writing my ebooks/book to help others learn what I have done, answer their questions, and more importantly, provide some information and step-by-steps to help them get started. I have written a bit here and there, but this last weekend I sat down for hours upon hours writing.

(6) One last thing, I don’t watch too much television at all. There is one show that I have watched since the beginning, and that is LOST. There is something about this show that is way different than the others that keeps my interest. My oldest son watched the show with me, but I have to make sure to watch for bad scenes that wouldn’t be acceptable for him to see. I am happy to say I just found out that… LOST is coming on again starting February 3!

I just watched two season previews and a bunch of “moments” that were posted in another blog.

Here they are…

LOST Preview #1
LOST Preview #2

Moment #1
Moment #2
Moment #3
Moment #4
Moment #5
Moment #6
Moment #7
Moment #8
Moment #9
Moment #10

- Laters for now!

Everybody Wants Your Money

Boy, does that title ring true! I also noticed on the cover of this book the wording, “Because that hand in your pocket… isn’t yours!” You and I know that everybody wants your money in one form or another. However, I discovered some new ways while reading this book that I just finished. It is Written by David W. Latko, who is the co-host for the national radio program, “Money and More”. Impressively, David Latko ranks among the nation’s top one percent of financial advisors. I can just imagine how ‘in demand’ he is. He started off in a middle class neighborhood and moved his way up by helping people.

Where do you usually turn for answers with questions regarding investing, real estate, divorce, automobiles, identity theft, and so much more? If you say your family, friends, neighbors, or your own financial advisor, then you REALLY need to read this book to make sure you are steered on the right path. Looks can be deceiving. Do your homework, starting with this book, because it is YOUR money and YOUR financial future you are looking out for. No one else has such a vested interest in your finances as you need to, except for the slime balls mentioned in this book that you have to watch out for who want your money.

David not only presents practical advice in this book. He also shares memorable stories that yank on the heartstrings and gets your blood boiling. Think you are safe from your own family members who are to inherit your money? Think again and take a look at the story examples in this book. If nothing else, you will at least be aware and prepared just in case.

This book would make great gifts for everyone in your life. What better gift can you give them than to make sure they don’t make wrong financial decisions that can destroy their future? I’m going to be buying and giving this book to some of my own family and friends as gifts. I am keeping mine to refer to and share with my children when needed. This book is definitely worth it!

… Story example: Willa and Tony, a retired couple who had a horrific experience with their first financial advisor. They came into some money. They had no idea what to do to invest or what to do.

So they solicited some advice from other retired friends. One of them had received a postcard in the mail a week before, and he passed it along to Tony and Willa. It gave the name and number of a financial advisor who worked in a branch office of a major brokerage which they knew of from hearing about it on TV.

In short order, their new advisor “handled” their prosperity problem. He put them into a range of investments that Willa and Tony did not clearly understand. Then, after a month or so of frenetic activity, he stopped calling–or returning their calls.

With their frustration mounting, they mentioned their problem to a person who happened to be a client of Davids. Turns out the other advisor had locked Willa and Tony into investments that carried staggeringly large up-front commissions; others carried long-term (and expensive) surrender charges.

There was little that could be done. The couple were tied into investments that could not be changed without taking a significant financial hit, in the case of Willa and Tony, it was more than a $26,000 loss.

- Buy the Book

- Visit the Official Site

- Review/Article Copyright © Wendy Shepherd - http://www.wendyshepherd.com
**May be reprinted with permission, credit, and link

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Comments:    1.

Sounds like a very good and sensible book!

Comment by Barbara (Xerraire) — 8/20/2006 @ 4:49 pm

My father-in-law sent me an email this morning with the topic of BC / AD versus BCE / CE. What is it you may wonder? I will paste it below for you to see. I get so frustrated with this type of change people want to do. Why can’t they just leave it alone? Not only do they want to change things, but they go to the core, the school books! Good thing I homeschool and have control over what my children learn. -

AFA (American Family Association) Poll - Should we replace the birth of Christ to date time (BC/AD) with a secular dating method (BCE/CE)? Read the information below and then vote!

The Kentucky Board of Education has voted to take the first step in redefining how America dates time. The board voted to include a new secular system of dating the calendar, BCE (Before Common Era) and CE (Common Era), and added it to the BC (Before Christ) and AD (Anno Domini, Latin for “in the year of our Lord”) method.

The new secular system of time dating will appear in the curriculum and other materials used by Kentucky educators. This new system is already being included in textbooks across the nation.

The new method will replace the birth of Christ as the dividing point in history. For example, the new system would change 2006 AD (Anno Domini) to 2006 CE (Common Era).

It also opens the door for the ACLU to find a liberal activist judge who will forcefully remove the use of BC and AD. The ACLU types will claim that the use of BC and AD are a violation of the First Amendment because it dates history based on the birth of Christ.

Please forward this poll to your friends and family!

Take Action - Results of the poll will be shared with members of Congress.

Should Congress pass a law making BC/AD the official method of dating time? - VOTE HERE

What are your thoughts on this topic?
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Comments:    1.

I think things such as this are just whats the word I am looking for …. INSANE… I am a believer in Christ I dont force my beliefs on anyone but I am not ashamed of what I believe .. the ignorance of society today sadens me what about the violations that are being made against our freedom of speech.. I think that if they spent as much time trying to educate our children as they do trying to change HISTORY well I guess society wouldnt be as “screwed up” as it is today .. think about 20 yrs ago ..worse off think about what its gonna be like 20 yrs from now .. I really am starting to believe they are trying to force World Order on us all … Why cant we decide if we want to be religous or not If the 10 commandments are in a court room or if the pledge of allegiance says ONE NATION UNDER GOD .. and you dont believe it THEN DONT SPEAK IT … DONT READ IT … but most importantly … DONT TELL THOSE THAT DO BELIEVE IT that its a violation of the First Amendment..

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Thank you all and MAY GOD BLESS YOU

Comment by Stephine — 4/21/2006 @ 3:06 pm
2.

I almost forgot Wendy Thanks You always have great topics I enjoy your site

Comment by Stephine — 4/21/2006 @ 3:08 pm

My family loves just about anything that has to do with the Medieval and Renaissance times including castles, knights, swords, armor, archery and tapestries. We are also keen about handmade items such as wood boxes, soaps, candles, jewelry, clothing, costumes, etc. We have attended the Renaissance Faire several times and just adore the atmosphere it has to offer with the music, food, vendors, entertainment and jousting (which is the official sport of our state, Maryland) .

There is no doubt the above are reasons why my boys have taken an interest in “Fencing.” They seem to have a passion for sport, which is actually an Olympic Event. It all started at the Renaissance Faire where kids can have a mock duel trying to pop the balloons on each other’s shoulders. This isn’t real fencing, but it was fun for them to put on the gear, masks, gloves and use the sword.

They have taken about three different classes through a local college (Kids on Campus). The classes tended to last about an hour and a half for six weeks. The college provided the gear and foils (fencing swords). They learned to “thrust”, “parry”, “repost”, “En Garde”, etc.

These classes weren’t enough for them. They wanted more! We got really lucky to be able to have the assistant coach, Brian, teach the kids outside of the college. We met at a park in Frederick once a week for two hours. He is the best teacher they have ever enjoyed.

He started his lessons off with having the kids stretch. Then about half an hour was spent teaching them the history of weapons, how and why they evolved, etc. They would then learn new moves that were used in certain historic times. Next they got into the actual fencing lesson. They also started doing “combat fencing”, which required them to use a wooden dowl instead of the foil sword.

Brian would get into his gear before they started the active part of their lessons. He wasn’t wearing the normal fencing gear, he got into character depending on what type of history he was teaching. You can see the stages he took to get ready. He even made the chain maille that he was wearing. He has to be well protected against the kids as he tends to be the main target which they like to gang up on. I guess they know a competitive foe when they see one.

They have learned moves such as “Ochs (ox)” guard, “Pflug (plow)” guard, “Alber (fool)” guard, “Vom Tag” (roof) guard, etc. The five basic fundamental stances or guards are used with nearly all forms of Medieval long-swords. Virtually all the masters taught these primary positions or variations of them.

We have a collection of favorite movies such as ” First Knight ” , ” Braveheart “, ” Lord of the Rings “, ” Kingdom of Heaven “, ” Star Wars “, ” Harry Potter “, etc. My boys have seen some of these films, but can’t watch all of them due to their content. They did see one small part of ” Kingdom of Heaven .” The reason they watched this one part of the movie is because there is a scene where the father ( Liam Neeson ) was teaching the son ( Orlando Bloom ) sword combat moves that were familiar to the kids from their lessons.

I am not sure where they will use these skills when they grow up, but they are certainly having fun learning!

Check out the video… (click here)
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Comments: 1.

Hello Seniorita~

We love Fencing in my country of Mexico too!!

Adios,

Juan

*James… you are too funny! ~Wendy

Comment by Juan Martinez — 1/31/2006 @ 3:26 pm
2.

Very sweet Wendy!
:)
I am glad the boys are enjoying that!

Comment by Barbara (Xerraire) — 2/1/2006 @ 8:59 pm

Take a gander at this article that I read today… The Pied Piper & The Emperor’s New Clothes

Next they will probably go for compulsory toddler “school” or even baby “school” *sigh
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Comments:     1.

Don’t you worry about the future of our grandchildren?
I sure do.

Comment by Xerraire — 10/1/2005 @ 12:53 pm
2.

Barb, I certainly do worry about them. Look how much has changed over the last 20 years. What will it be like in 20 more years?? I don’t see it getting better and that is sad.

Comment by Wendy Shepherd — 10/3/2005 @ 11:36 am

I have now taught all 3 of my children how to read. I have used the book, (more…)

Interesting article being shared among homeschoolers…

Publik Skule vs. Home School
by: Doug Giles : January 8, 2005

I was sitting at our neighborhood pool New Year’s morning, enjoying the great South Florida weather while trying to grind out a couple of chapters for my new book, when three high school girls took the chaise lounges next to me and started talking about their New Year’s Eve party with their high school mates.

Seemingly still semi-drunk from the party, the 16- and 17-year-old girls began to recount how much coke, weed, vodka, guys and girls they did the night before. Listening to the F-bomb riddled report of the previous night’s peccadilloes left me thinking, how sad … and … what a waste … and … (more…)