Surviving a Road Trip
It's time to take a break from SurvivingNJ! Now I'm on my way to survive a road trip. ;)
I just wanted to explain why it will be quiet for awhile. I'll be back soon enough.
Turn on Vacation Mode...ahhhhh
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January 31, 2007
Creating a Fairy, from Disney Online
Disney Online has updated their website, and one of the options is that you can create your own fairy. I went through the process and created the fairy above in less than 10 minutes. This is a great activity that little girls will really enjoy. You are given the option to change the cothing, hair, skin tone, shoes, and accessories. It then names the fairy, of you can choose a different name. It's an easy to use platform, that will have little girls delighting in their own creation in no tme at all. Your child can then save the creation and use it on the site, or start over and create another one. You need to sign into the site, but it is a free log-in.
January 30, 2007
Personalized Baby Gifts
Don't you hate when people don't put any effort into the gift giving? I like people to know that I chose something specifically for them and it was well thought out. One way to let people know you had them in mind is by getting personalized gifts. Take for instance a baby shower. Why not get personalized baby gifts and let the parents know you went the extra distance to get something special. At BabyNest.com you can check out their large selection of apparel, gifts, blankets and more. Take the time to do something special. Personalized gifts are a great way to show you care. Who doesn't cherish that personalized item? The parents of the child will know you went above and beyond to do something extra special, and in return, it will make them feel great.
January 29, 2007
Untamed Tuesday, Squirrels
Today I’d like to highlight squirrels, both red squirrels and grey squirrels. We have a lot of squirrels around here, and they love to torment my dogs, using the top of the privacy fence and the trees as their own private highway system! We have both red and grey squirrels in my neighborhood.
The red squirrel is smaller than its cousin the grey squirrel. It’s coat has a orangey-reddish-brown hue, while it’s chest is white in color. The tail of the red squirrel is not as full as the grey squirrel’s tail. They use their tail to help with balance and steering. The red squirrel inhabits the northeast, the west, mountain terrain as well as Canada and Alaska. Their average lifespan is 3-5 years, though there are documented cases of older squirrels in captivity.
*red squirrel picture from news.bbc.co.uk
*grey squirrel from ClassroomClipArt.com
The grey squirrel has a similar life span of the red squirrel and tend to live 3-5 years in the wild. Grey squirrels can be found in North America. They have been introduced to other countries as well. Morning and late afternoons are when you’ll find both squirrels the most active. Grey squirrels use their tails for communication, and a simple twitch cans speak volumes.
My father spent many years trying to out wit squirrels as they found ways to continually eat the bird food my father left out. Greased poles, shields and covers were tried, and no matter what the inconvenience was to the squirrel, they always found a way around it. They are clever creatures!
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Making it better for animals:
Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation, Inc is based out of Texas and helps displaced, injured or orphaned animals by rehabilitating them and releasing them in the wild. They also offer sanctuary to those animals that can not be released.
They offer a 24 hour emergency hotline and are open every day of the year. They are also accredited by The Association of Sanctuaries.
If you'd like more information on this Wildlife Rescue and Rehab group, follow the above link. If you'd like to volunteer or make a donation go here.
*I am in no way associated with this group and wanted to highlight them as a part of a weekly series.
Alli's Chatting in Chatanooga
Alli is ready to be casual. She's done business casual long enough! Actually, Alli is making the transition from that of a working mom to a stay at home mom! This is an exciting time in her life, as Fuller is growing fast!
Alli's blog can be found here. Wait, that's not the only blog I have to tell you about! Alli also blogs about her hometown of Chatanooga! She's the official Chatanooga, Tennessee blogger for Home Turf Media...way to go Alli!
Take a few minutes to check out Alli's blogs and see what the excitement's all about. 
Scribbling With Dandelions
I wanted to talk about a friend I have, who has an interesting look on life. She's full of life experience and has a unique voice. You can find my friend Marisa at Scribble On The Wall. One of her recent articles about appearance caught my eye. She mentioned a website I'd been to before, and wanted to share with you. First you need to read her article, so you understand the thought process about the website. It's a great read, and is worth your time!
One of her other websites, Marisa's Dandelion Patch is another great outlet for her. Show her some love and stop by and check out her sites today. Remember the article I mentioned above...it's a must read.
Loretta's Thoughts
My friend Loretta is having a rough week. The poor girl has hives, and all sorts of havoc is going on The thing about Loretta is I just really like her. She doesn't have to do anything or say anything, she is just like a comfortable friend who's always been there. Loretta has a family of boys and being a mom of boys, maybe we relate well. :) I love how on her blog she mixes things like family life in with movie reviews and other bits of information.
She's a fellow WOW mom, and can relate to the kids being zombied out in front of the monitor, and was just excited that the new update finally was released. Though I don't play it, I was tired of my kids waiting and waiting for it! It took way too long to finally arrive!
If you love to read blogs that have the feeling of an old friend, then you'll love Loretta's blog, "Thoughts out of My Head". Bookmark her today!
Sunroom Visions of Snow
We live on a corner lot, so most of our yard is in the front and side. Here's a picture of the final snowfall from our sunroom. I love our sunroom. It's a great place to wipe off the dog's paws after coming in from the rain. In the summer, I love to sit in the rocking chair/recliner at the end of the sunroom and read in the morning We open all the windows and just soak in the fresh air! Can you see the handle to the snow shovel!!! And yes, that's an actual sofa in our sunroom. We have 4 sofas, with one in the garage, waiting for a new home. This is what happens when you combine households, and you inherit furniture as well. Our dogs love to sleep on the sofa in the sunroom!
If you notice our sunroom is long and narrow, rather than a square, it's because of zoning variances that say it has to be so many feet from your property line. We weren't sure how it would look when it was first being done, but we adore it! This is one of my favorite rooms in the house. It attaches to the house, with an entry way being sliding glass doors. :)
January 28, 2007
And the Snow Falls
...and the snow falls. This is our cherry tree in our front yard. Snow has been falling for about 4 hours here, though the road is still black, the grass and trees have a nice coating. I had to drive for 2+ hours in the snow from Hunterdon to Bucks County and back tonight. Driving wasn't too bad, but of course there wasn't much traffic either!
January 26, 2007
Valentine's Day Goodies
Valentine's Day is almost here. Did you order something special for your sweetheart yet? If you didn't, I have a great place to tell you about. They have valentines day gifts ranging from flowers, to cookies to gourmet goodies. I can tell you, the times I was at the office, and my honey had sent me flowers, all the other girls who were forgotten were wishing they were as lucky as I was to have a guy remember me with something special. What about a gorgeous arrangement of flowers to come home to? You'll want to check out DotFlowers.com for all your valentines day gift giving! You'll be glad you did, and so will she!!!
Family Friendly?
I was listening to a family friendly show tonight, and was disappointed when a crude joke slipped in. I understand a little bit of somewhat passable adult humor, but this was down right crude. I have to say, when something is rated as family friendly, crude shouldn't be an option. When you are listening to a show with your kids, you don't want to have to explain something so crude. Boo for that...
January 25, 2007
The Wiener Dog Magnet
I have to tell you about the cutest book I've seen in a long time, called "The Wiener Dog Magnet". Do you remember the drawing I was speaking of for my "Untamed Tuesday" post- my porcupine? Okay, so anyway, if you haven't checked out the illustrations over at BlueBison.net, you don't know what you're missing. There is a gifted artist! Anway, I was poking around on the site, and came across a book by Hayes Roberts. If you're looking for a unique book with adorable drawings, this is a great choice. Kids would love this book, and the voice. You can find this book here at LuLu. You can even check out a sampling of the book here.
Take a moment a check it out, and you'll see why I wanted to spotlight this talented author and illustrator. If you'd like to see more of their drawings, check them out at BlueBison.net
Reduce Costs and Increase Profit
When you want to save money on the bottom line, that's where Acorn Systems can help. They have corporate performance management software that can help you predict future expenses. When you're a business, and you know where your money is going, you're better able to control costs, and make cuts where they are needed. When you can cut out that excess, it means a better bottom line, and profits for your business. Acorn Systems consulting can help you find things you didn't think about, and with a clearer picture, you're ripe for making better choices which will propel your business to the next level. Let Acorn Systems save you money!
One Week From Now
This time next week I hope to be finding my way to a hotel! I'll have been on the road for more than 8 hours and will be along my way as I road trip and enjoy some time off. My biggest perk is leaving the area while a cold front is coming through. I'm hoping that it stays warm as we go further south! It would be just my luck that a cold snap would find it's way along the road with us!
I guess as long as snow and ice don't plague the trip, we should be just fine.
TDB, Top Dog Blogger
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© 2007 All Rights Reserved.
Blogability
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© 2007 All Rights Reserved.
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I copyrighted a word, how fun! Blogability, the ability to blog about something, or something's blog worthiness!
Quiet Your Plane Ride
Experts say rewarding kids for cooperation, distracting them with simple games and telling them in advance what's going to happen can help. But at the end of the day, you may just have to take control, restrain the child, and comply with the rules.I found a neat article on Yahoo News that speaks about dealing with toddlers on airlines. They have a list of ideas and thoughts on taking kids on planes that run the gammit. If you're thinking about flying with a young one, check out this article for some useful tips. Nobody wants to hear a screaming kid on an airplane!
Beacuse Ethics Matter in Legal Issues
Kudos to Simmons, Jannace & Stagg! They're a law firm that achieved high honors in ethical standards and legal abilities! I was reading a web release about this particular law firm that practices in the tri-state area. (NY, NJ and CT) Simmons, Jannace & Stagg represent big business (Coca-Cola, Kmart, Bank of America, etc) as well as small businesses and individuals. For simmons jannace & stagg to have achieved such a high honor, by being ranked at the top from their peers is an outstanding accomplishment. Way to go! We can all aplaud strong ethics. If you're looking for representation, you'll want to look up Simmons, Jannace & Stagg.
Return to Sender
The-seven day Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) sweep, dubbed "Operation Return to Sender", targeted jails across five counties in the Los Angeles area, where police took 423 of what they called "criminal aliens"; into federal custody for deportation, after being held on charges unrelated to their immigration status.Federal agents from seven teams also fanned out in local communities, where they nabbed 338 undocumented immigrants, more than 150 of whom were classed as "immigration fugitives" -- foreign nationals who ignored final deportation orders
Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap. Immigration has gotten out of control and I have no problem with people starting a better life, but let's look at some of these people here. Prisons being filled with criminals, people who are known fugitives and more...High Five to the successful sweep. Let's clean up and clean out people who are illegal and unlawful!
I've seen and heard both sides of the immigration stories, and some of them can break your heart, but it's the people like these that were sweeped that I am glad they are "Returning to Senders".
January 24, 2007
Jersey Cop Gets DWI
In a story on NJ.com an off duty officer was charge with DWI.
A Jersey City police officer was charged with driving while intoxicated after an accident on the Pulaski Skyway last night that left a woman and her 2-year-old son in critical condition, officials said
Shame to see something like this...seriously, shouldn't he know better? He's been an officer since 1996, but has only been with Jersey City since 2005. You'll want to read the article, the link is above, because there's all sorts of information coming to light. A previous accident at a tavern, etc. What do you think of this topic?
Vacation Talk
Did you hear about Vacation.net yet? They offer things like an all inclusive family vacation, along with lots of other great offers, and at really great prices. They can save you up to 50% off the going rate. With so many travel sites out there, the competition is stiff, and Vacation.net wants to be your first stop and only stop when it comes to planning vacations.
They offer a booking system that offers images, detailed information, and even speciality stuff like the activities, cultural things and history. Now that's detail! The easy navigation makes it a snap to get around and find what you want. Check out Vacation.net and save yourself some money, while booking a high-end vacation! This message was brought to you by Vacation.net
Google Earth
I downloaded Google Earth today. I know, it's about time, huh? For a long time, I just popped my info in on another site, but now that I can put Google Earth right on my desktop, I'm loving that. I actually decided to do it today, because I wanted a good visual of where a particular building was. Man, it was great! That is some cool technology.
Do you use Google Earth? Have you looked up yourself yet? Did you see yourself reading my blog? ;)
Frozen Tails
Awww man.....The lobsters haven't thawed enough. I guess we'll be doing surf and turf tomorrow night. I had them in the fridge all day, but I guess they need a little extra thawing time. Sounds like a pizza night to me! LOL
Okay, I'll probably just have some cereal and I'll make something else up for hubby. We have to be geared up to catch the next auditions on American Idol. Don't let them fool you with that talk about auditions in New York, when they were actually in New Jersey.(East Rutherford to be more specific). Guess I better get on it!
Valentine Gifts
What are you doing this Valentine's Day? I get the fun of a doctor's appointment, though I guess I can't complain too much since I'll just be getting home from an awesome trip. I don't know about you, but I'm horrible about remembering stuff like that, so when I read about something like Valentine's Day I plan ahead and preorder something. One place you can order Valentines Gift Baskets is at GourmetGiftBaskets.com. They have a big selection of baskets and fill them with top quality products like snacks, nuts, wines, chocolates and more! This is one site you'll want to bookmark, or better yet, head over to now!
Feeds
Do you belong to Feedburner? Where do you have your feeds burned??? I joined them about 6 months ago, and I just love the little divet they give you to put on different places. I have one of their little widgets in my signature on one of the message boards I go to, and it rotates my latest headlines.
On the topic of feeds, do you use a reader? I know a lot of my friends are digging Google Reader, but I'm still sold on Bloglines. What do you use to read your feeds?
Listmania
Have you heard about Listmania over at Amazon.com? They are lists people created on certain topics. Say you want to learn more about gardening...you can pop in gardening in the search box, and a bunch of lists will pop up on that topic. People list different books they recommend on their particular topic. Wanna know the best part? You can create your own list for other people. You can list up to 40 items! What will you be listing?
Get Well Tam!
I was supposed to go down on Friday to see my mother and sister, but my sister isn't feeling well. I talked to her yesterday and she sounded horrible. Maybe I should get her some Get well flowers. She told me I could still come to visit, but no thank-you, I leave for vacation next week! I don't want to end up sick. I need to check out FlowerShop.com and see what catches my fancy. I was reading in a web release about how they offer fresh flowers and unique gifts. I love getting new ideas for gifts. One of the things that caught my eye is that a lot of their products are hand delivered by local florists, and what that means to you and me is that they can offer same day delivery!
Book Ordeal
I was over at the bookstores the other day....yes more than one, because I couldn't locate a book I was looking for. I finally found it, but one of the things that frustrates me, is here is this/or I should say these two giant book warehouse sized stores, and 2 of the three books they didn't have in stock. Sure they have the popular titles and every other title under the sun, just not the books I'm looking for.
I always here, I can order it for you, it would take about 7 days. Why wouldn't I just go home and order it from Amazon and have it shipped to my house, instead of ordering it there, waiting a week and then driving back to get it? Umm...No, don't order it for me, I'll order it for myself and get it sooner, and it will come to my door! phhhfffttt
SpicyPage, Next Big Thing?
Did you hear about SpicyPage.com yet? It's a new hot spot to rate/vote for blogs, sites and other things. You can register, add your stuff, and get it voted on. I added SurvivingNJ and it's got a few votes all ready!
Are you trying to get a little more exposure for your site? You may want to check it out...it may just be the next big thing, and you'll be wishing you got in early!
Electronics for the Outdoorsman
I grew up with an outdoorsman. My dad loved to fish, hunt and just putter about. Shopping for men gets frustrating sometimes, because I run out of ideas! There's a place over at Northeast Marine Electronics that will help you decide on the right product if you have questions. I love that, because that's a topic that is just not my strength. I actually read about Northeast Marine Electronics on a web release awhile back. They carry all sorts of things like high-tech GPS Chartplotters, as well as things like compasses, binoculars, and well, pretty much any electronic you can think of for the sport and hobby minded person. If you're looking for some great electronic gear, give Northeast Marine Electronics a try!
January 23, 2007
Untamed Tuesday: Porcupine
The porcupine is the first in my series of “Untamed Tuesday” posts, due to my new logo critter, made over at BlueBison.net
The porcupine is considered a rodent. He carries quills on his back, and is a slow moving animal. The porcupine uses his quills in an attack. This animal eats vegetation. Porcupines can be found mostly in North America, and will be found mainly in forested areas, though has been seen in deserts. It’s weight can range from 10 to 40 pounds, and has a lifespan of approximately 5 years.
For more information on the porcupine, you can go to DesertUSA.com
Here’s one way that you can help out:
WoodlandsWildlife.org helps by educating people, and rescuing and rehabilitating wildlife in the New Jersey area. They are always in need of volunteers, donations and help.
January 22, 2007
A New Series is Coming!
I'm going to be starting a new series called "Untamed Tuesday" which will highlight a forrest critter and also speak of different ways and places that help, rehabilitate or rescue animals. One of the fun things I'm doing is creating a small logo to place at the top of each of the "Untamed Tuesday" posts. I found a great little site called BlueBison.net where there is an assortment of drawings that are just adorable. Seriously the monkey pirate is the coolest!
Anyway, I dropped them a line, and they are going to create my very own critter to add to my logo! I'm excited to see what it's going to look like when it's done! I gave them a simple idea and told them to run from there....If I get it this evening, you'll get to see it on my first "Untamed Tuesday" which will be starting tomorrow! If you are looking for drawings, consider checking them out! BlueBison.net
Theme of the Day
The theme of the day was, are you seriously going to take my picture? I didn't answer the dog, but I answered my husband. "Yes, you are sexy and I want to take your picture," I said smiling while clicking. He'll get used to it eventually!
Getting Antsy
I'm getting antsy, our trip is only a short while away. My husband has been working long hours, and I'm so glad he's getting some time off in early February. We plan on heading south, and are hoping for some warmer weather. We've pretty much lucked out in the area of snow and ice here lately, but those cold temperatures sure do have me wishing for spring, or warmer climates!
We weren't sure if we were going to be replacing one of our cars before the trip or not, but we decided to keep our Olds after all. We love the car, it's such a nice smooth ride, but it has had a few small issues. We'll nickel and dime it for awhile as it is in pretty good shape otherwise. We decided we didn't want another new car payment at this time. Works for me, I love our Intrigue.
When I head out on vacation, I'll be sure to drop a note in, because things will get quite for a little while. My gift to me, is no computer on vacation. If I take a laptop, I know I'll find myself using it each night and morning.
Do you take a laptop on vacation? Do you find youself still using it? I want to be computer-free for those days I'm gone!
January 18, 2007
Running Commentary
I went out today and did a few errands, and I noticed I had a running commentary going on in my head! Somedays my mind is quieter than others, but today, I was a curious thing! Here's a little of how it went...
I went to the post office and a uniformed officer came in with packages behind me. "I wonder if he's a cop or works over at the prison?"
I wait for the woman to come out at the counter of the post office and she wipes her fingers off with tissues before picking up my packages. "I wonder what she was doing so she'd have to wipe her fingers off and not wash them."
Headed to the grocery store and saw an old man buying ice cream "I wonder if he's buying it to share or have alone."
A little old man pushing a cart very slowly. "I wonder if he's going to eat alone tonight. I wonder if he's lonely. He looks lonely." I smile and say hello, and keep walking.
I notice someone outside without a jacket and think, "I wonder if they are cold?"
Driving home a guy almost cuts me off because he's talking on his cell phone and not paying attention, "I wonder if he knows what an idiot he just was? And I wonder if they realize this headset law in NJ has done nothing...a lot of people don't even use them."
A deer starts to cross the road, I hit my brakes and wonder if the deer gets cold outside.
It's funny, so many times, I'm lost in thought, other times, not a thought to be had...just a quiet place to settle!
I wonder if while you read this, you thought....hmmm, do I do that too?
Personals
Did I mention I met my husband online? Yup, I'm one of those stories! We've been together for going on 7 years and it's a blissful match. It's funny, because people used to be more surprised about these kinds of matchmaking sites, but it's become so much more common today. In fact, there are so many different types of sites for different people to meet up. One place called LoversPlanet has russian personals where people can meet russian women looking to meet a mate. Most of the women are looking for full-time relationships. I know a guy I used to work with at the cable company, who married a russian woman in a format similar. They've been married for years and quite happy. There are also women from other European nations with personals as well. They look to have a traditional family life with someone and want to get to know them first. It's an intersting concept, that you can meet people from all over the world with this internet connection. Who will you meet next? This message has been brought to you by LoversPlanet.com
January 17, 2007
Neutralize Free Radicals!
Did you know that antioxidants can help prevent wrinkles, as well as promote skin healing? They also reduce the formation of skin tissue. That's not all they can do!
What’s in your skin care products?
January 16, 2007
Boat Rentals, LBI
Can you remember where this is on Long Beach Island? This one is a little trickier, if you don't take that little back road over by Viking Village! Ooohh, I just gave it away! This is a little boat rental place on the Barnegat Light side of the island. Coming from the lighthouse (Old Barney) right about Mustache Bill's Diner, you hang a right and follow that backroad around a bit, and pretty soon, you'll meet up with this blue baby!
I hope you've enjoyed the LBI pictures I've posted over the last 2 weeks. I may have one or two, but I need to sort through them! I've enjoyed sharing these shots, and really enjoyed taking them. It's not a crisp picture, as I lost quality on shrinking it down!
Rock the Cradle
I'm listening to "TheTube" in the background, and this just came on. I forgot how much I love that song! "Rock the Cradle of Love" by Billy Idol
January 15, 2007
Got a Few Pennies?
I came across this on ebaumsworld.com! This is cool...it's shot in quick-time, so you can watch the process of the portrait being made with pennies! That's talent!
January 12, 2007
The Other Type of Housing, LBI
This is one home. This is the other type of housing that is taking over Long Beach Island. I can't say it isn't gorgeous, because it is, it's that the island has changed from a blue-collar island to a white-collar island, and that's not a bad thing for the island. The difficult part is knowing that it's getting more out of reach for the average person. Either way, I wanted to show both sides of LBI...and I love every piece of this island.
LBI, This and That
Can you place this on Long Beach Island? This is all the way down the end of the island in Holgate. Long Beach Island is a little of this and a little of that. These days it seems as if people buy $500,000 homes to tear them down and build mini-mansions. It's the property that is so valuable, so to see this little gem of the past still here is a nice thing.
Invest Wisely
Precious metals and gold coin can help you diversify your portfolio. Did you realize precious metals hold their value really well! This is something you should consider when you want to add some new investments to your portfolio. Monex Deposit Company can personally deliver OR store your investment for you. I was reading a web release about Monex and it mentioned that buying gold is one of the best ways to keep your wealth because it retains it's value. They offer competitive prices when it comes to precious metals and they are ready to help you invest wisely. This message has been brought to you by Monex.com
Wiki This!
Found a new cool Wiki Site I wanted to share called Wiki Upload:
Imagine having Free File Hosting and sharing platform with 5GB's where you can stash your music, your picutres and more. Once you create your file, Wiki Upload makes a link, and then you can give that link to the people you know and share your stuff! You can choose to put it in the public display or keep it private. Wiki Upload wants to build a massive online library; we're talking mondo-big, the largest library of media and files to share! Wiki Upload is completely free for 5GB, but if you want to upgrade to 20GB, you can get all that space for only $10 a month!
January 11, 2007
Time Crunch
I'm on a time crunch. It's 10 minutes until midnight and there's something I want to get done right around midnight. I hate feeling rushed, but I do work well under pressure. Some people panic when they are under stress, that's when my strength comes out. I hate the feeling, but I get strong and to the point. I'm not sure why I'm like this, but I guess it can come in handy sometimes. Do you work better under pressure, or do you like to take your time? Most things I like to take my time, but on a time limit, I know I won't get sidetracked like I so easily do.
Cheaper Insurance?
Did you know you can get a free online car insurance quote from CarInsurance.com. I said free! If you're in New Jersey like I am, you know the pain of paying high car insurance. Did you know based on a study that we are paying more than any other state. New York came in second place. Are you paying more than you need to be? That's the thing about it quote, it doesn't lock you into anything, but it does let you do some comparison shopping to decide if you want to switch car insurance companies. Any way to save a few extra dollars, and sometimes switching companies can mean more than a few extra dollars. Check out CarInsurance.com for a free quote today. This post was brought to you by CarInsurance.com
Caffeine-Free
So the caffeine thing seems to be going pretty good now. I've been off it now for over a week I think, and I feel okay about it. I bought some Sierra Mist Free just in case I get the craving for a soda. I've been living on Crystal Light mostly though, and it's funny because I used to be thirsty all the time, and drank all the time, but now I'm not as thirsty. I must have been so dehydrated from all the soda I drank before. I still drink a lot, becasue I think it's good to flush out toxins by drinking a lot of fluids. Let's see how I do over the weekend!