Search Results

As stated in my last post, I am pairing gardening with murder in the new novel series I have started to write. I have now written 7,500 words, and the first chapter is below. However, before diving into it, let's discuss the beautiful aster. Here are some facts and tips for planting them: Asters are known for up to 600 species, but there are mainly two best known in North America: New England and New York, with the latter growing to 4 feet tall with a thicker stem and textured leaves. The Aster is a sunflower family member, even though they can be mistaken for daises, and their yellow centers are clusters of mini flowers called florets. In ancient times, asters were burned to ward off negative energy and used for headaches, muscle aches, and colds. Asters have been used to mark the passing of a loved one but are also associated with patience, good luck, love, and feminine energy. These star-shaped flowers bloom in spring and fall in colors from soft blues to fiery reds. They like full sun to part shade in zones 3-8 and can grow anywhere from 1-8 feet. They attract pollinators like crazy and love to be paired with coneflowers and hydrangeas. Ensure they have moderate water, well-drained soil, and look out for aphids, slugs, snails, and lace bugs. Plant about 18 inches to 2 feet apart to give them plenty of room to grow. Fertilize in spring and early summer, but don't overfeed them. Okay ... now delve into the murder mystery starring Patrice Summers. And please, give me your honest feedback on the chapters. You are my readers, and I need constructive criticism if I am to make this series successful. Chapter One: Gone in a Split Second I wasn’t always a green thumb. It took years of watching my parents, learning from them, mimicking some of their habits, and then developing my own - a lot of tests, failures, and, yes, much success too. But after years of planting thousands of flowers, herbs, vegetables, and fruits, I had a pretty good knack for gardening. But I know some people with the brownest thumb ever; still, my neighbors seem to have some nice gardens. So, it wasn’t entirely odd as I strolled down the sidewalk for my daily walk with my mutt, Hercules, you know, patterned after the buff mythical legend, that I noticed a large hump in the front of my neighbor’s yard that used to house about 3-foot tall, gorgeous deep purple asters that bloom in the spring and early fall. New buds were just starting to form for Autumn. However, all you could see was a large mound of dirt now, while everything else around it was full of perennials, like Dahlias (my favorite), Echinacea, Lilies, and David Austin Roses – breathtaking and aromatic ones that you have to bend over and smell, even if it makes you look like a loon. I could think of a million reasons why the asters that I helped plant were missing: the plants bit the dust (they were looking a little sad the last few days), and Mrs. Carmichael plucked it out and just left the dirt for future planting. A gopher or vole decided to take up residence and dug their way to China. This year, They were particularly bad with all the home-building in our neighborhood. Or, their mangy mutt, Pickles, dug up a bone he had hidden and then covered up his tracks. I didn’t think anything more of it, eager to get my walk in before the heat of Utah’s summer snuck up on us. I call it Bipolar Utah because one minute it’s sunny and hot, and the next, the wind is howling, the rain is barreling down on you, and the temps drop 15 degrees – in July. Or it’s snowy in January, and a week later, an Indian summer hits, and the temps rise 15 degrees. It’s just weird and something you can’t predict. Still, something makes me slow my steps as I walk by, and I see the two-story white brick home, with cerulean blue shutters and door and closed white blinds to be devoid of any life. Typically, I observe Deanna Carmichael out tending to her garden or mowing the lawn. Her boxwood shrubs line her fence that borders mine, and some huge variegated yellow and white hostas frame her bay window. Our homes face the north, which is perfect for the perennials, as they like shade. Her home is beautiful and bigger than mine, but her yard is smaller, and mine isn’t. She wanted height, whereas I wanted length. Our house is still two stories, but we have more acreage to work with, particularly because we are the last house on the street. I have several gardens in my backyard, with a few smaller gardens in the front fenced yard. The red Asiatic lilies form a nice border along the west side fence with yellow Gaillardia tucked underneath them. On the other side, tall boxwoods line the fence. In front of our basement-level window are golden elderberries forming a privacy hedge and trailing around to the side. Depending on my mood, I may grow some annuals or plant some tulips and daffodil bulbs underneath. My goal was to have a 3-season garden, and I accomplished it. It's not too early as I glance down at my Apple watch that reads 8:10 AM. Usually, the kids ride their bikes down the street with the four-year-old on her tricycle on the sidewalk, trying to keep up with them. She has three kids, two rowdy boys named Cory and Baxter, who are 8 and 11, close to the same ages as my grandkids, and “princess” Melanie, to which the strawberry blond, blue-eyed, and dotted freckles refers to herself. Her ex-husband, Aaron, left them two years ago for his therapist – yes, you heard that right – therapist. Melanie was a year old.   Snapping back to reality, I was making too much of it. They could have gone on late summer vacation before the kids returned to school in a few weeks, to the park, or even up to one of our beautiful lakes. scold myself, which I often do when my vivid imagination runs wild. My nickname has stuck with me throughout my life, and even though my legal name is Patrice, people still call me Trice. As long as they don’t call me “Pat,” I’m good. That just seems like such a boring name with no life or adventure. Still, my maiden name isn’t all that glamorous – Patrice Lockhart. When I got married, it wasn’t all that much different – Patrice Summers. Still, I’m known as “The Gardening Guru of Grantsville” on my YouTube channel. I’d say it’s a successful video series on gardening, with 345,000 subscribers, which is not nearly as many as some channels, but I’ll take it. At first, it was just some gardening tutorials for my kids and something my grandkids could look back on and tell their friends or spouses that their grandma was a YouTube star. But then I started to get followers and then more. That was three years ago. My goal is to hit 500,000 by the end of summer. Between that and gardening, I also have a small marketing consultant business. The city is in northeast Utah and isn’t known for much, except for many farmlands and newly developed homes that started exploding in the last twenty years. On second thought, it’s not really a small town anymore. My neighborhood was part of that explosion, even though I grew up here just a mile or so down the road. When my husband, Brock, and I decided to set down roots with our three monsters, Eric, Josh, and Ian, we wanted a safe place where boys could be boys but still keep a close eye on them so they didn’t terrorize the neighborhood. They’re grown and left the nest now with families of their own. Eric is married to Sirena and with four kids of their own – three boy triplets - and one girl (Heaven help her). Josh is married to Samantha, and they have two kids, a boy, Sam, and a girl, Jessie (Jessica), and Ian and Stephanie (yes, all three of my daughters-in-law have S names) have just the one – for now – little Clarise, yes, the same name from the movie . It was my son’s favorite movie, which I thought was odd, and even more odd that he would name his firstborn girl after Jodi Foster’s character of the same name. Still, I loved how much acreage was here; it allowed me to experiment with my gardening and have plenty of area for the grandkids to play after me, and Brock spoiled them with a playground that even my kids never had. Plus, I didn’t have to worry about the Homeowners Association (HOA) breathing down my neck on how many plants I could put in or that my lawns had to be mowed a certain way or length. No, this was under my control and no one else’s. My gardening has been a passion for the last 30 years, and as my mother used to say, “It’s a labor of love, emphasis on labor.” She’s not wrong. Gardening is hard, but the rewards of seeing a colorful display of perennials and annuals hugging my bay window and snaking around to the side of my home, plus twin gardens that marked our pathway to the front door, were always aesthetically pleasing to anyone walking or driving by. On more than a few occasions, while I was out, I had people stop by on their walk and remark how beautiful our yard was, particularly my roses. I chose the best of the best – David Austin – which is probably why our neighbors put some in with my insistence. I beamed with pride that day. It was a balmy Wednesday morning, the air still cool and crisp. This year, the summer temps got to over 100 several times, which isn’t that unusual for our area, but it happened in early July, which doesn’t happen until the end or even into August, so the local meteorologist dubbed it a “heat wave.” Now that we’re in the middle of August, it’s still hot, but not nearly as hot. Some of my flowers loved the heat, while others needed tons of water and some shade to survive. Luckily, my tomatoes, peppers, onions, cucumbers, and zucchini in backyard raised beds were loving it. I hear the distant sound of doves as I round the corner. The breeze starts to pick up, and a few clouds obscure the sun allowing for a brief reprieve from the heat. It’s been almost an hour, and the sun beats down on me, the sweat prickling my neck and forehead. I try to powerwalk at least half of my daily walk to get the fat-burning effects, and so far, it’s paying off. According to my Apple watch, I’ve lost 6 lbs. in the last two months, averaging around 5,000-8,000 steps daily. I couldn’t very well blame it on the baby fat since I haven’t had any babies for decades, but the dreaded “M” my mother used to call it has arrived, and it’s the pits. I’m either hot flashing several times a day or drenched in sweat at night, tossing and turning to get comfortable. Thankfully, Brock sleeps like the dead and is typically up late doing casework in the kitchen before crashing on the couch most nights. He has a large, high-profile case coming up that would make his firm millions. Brock and I will celebrate our 35th anniversary next month while he’s in court. Yep, he’s a defense attorney and a damn good one at that. He works for one of the largest firms in Salt Lake City, making the nearly 45-minute drive into the city daily. When he comes home, he’s mentally tired, but he still manages to play with Eric’s kids, whom I watch twice a week in the summer, while his wife has a part-time job at the local farmer's market. He’s a whiz at grilling, so in the summer, we eat burgers, hotdogs, chicken, steaks, and his favorite, baby back ribs smothered in smoky barbecue sauce. Our yard smells like a steak restaurant nearly every day. Some weekends we host a barbecue for the street. The young and old women swoon over his cooking skills, and the men are jealous of them. I do a loop with my walk, going down about ten blocks and then turning back and returning in the opposite direction. This is three days a week; the other three days, I go to the opposite side of the neighborhood for some change in scenery. I take Sundays off. This time, I decide to come back the way I came. Hercules had already marked his territory on every post, fire hydrant, and bush he could find, and his slowing down and panting told me he was tired. He was getting on in years as I was and would turn ten at the end of the year. Still, the vet said to take him for daily walks to ensure he stayed fit. He should live longer than a purebred because he’s part Blue Heeler and German Shepherd. As I cross the street and head home, I pick up my speed, making the last stride with a renewed energy burst. However, when I hit our street, I stop in my tracks and stare. Whatever burst I had was gone in a split second.

Yes, now is the time to start thinking about your fall garden, even though we hit 98 degrees a few days ago and will likely hit 100 this weekend in my state. However, fall will arrive sooner than you think, so let's "fall" into the best plants for autumn. Chrysanthemums, affectionately nicknamed mums, are a must-have for autumn gardens. This perennial is hardy and packs a colorful punch with yellows, oranges, reds, purples, and whites. Place them in a container or your landscape in the late summer, and they will bloom all of fall. Zones 5-9 Pansies love the cool weather, but they are no pansy when it comes to handling winter in some areas. I live in Zone 6B, which means I get snow in the winter and temperatures as cold as 5 degrees. But I've had pansies withstand the cold and return the next year. And if you had them blossoming in spring, chances are, they will come back for fall and put on a lovely display. If not, buy some at your local nursery and dress up a summer container or nestle them among your bushes that may be starting to lose their seasonal color. Zones 3-8 Primrose also enjoys the cooler weather, and these vibrant flowers also can handle the shade. The Primula genus boasts of at least 500 species, with an infinite number of hybrids and cultivars. With a hardiness zone of 3-8, you can grow them pretty much anywhere, and they will return yearly. Be careful, though; they're toxic to humans and pets. Asters show up in early fall and give a much-needed renewal of life from the summer heat. The New England Aster is often found in meadows and in full sun. If you have plenty of space, let them go wild, if not, there are compact plants you can get. They will spread but will get a maximum of a few feet. Zones 3-8. Ornamental cabbage and kale can spark up a container with their purple hues. In fact, the colder it gets, the more vivid their colors tend to be, even putting on a deep pink or fuchsia show. Show them in the center of pots with sweet alyssum bordering them, and you will enjoy a beautiful display. They will even flower! Zones 2-11 will overwinter in many areas. Oakleaf hydrangea thrives in cooler weather. With firey-tinted leaves, they create a blaze of color. They blossom with cone-shaped heads that open white, turn red in late autumn, and then pink in winter. They grow about 6-8 feet tall, so perfect for a privacy hedge. Plant in part shade in zones 5-9 Fountain grass shines in autumn and, with theof the wind, sways gallantly. The soft texture of the bottlebrush-like heads enhances fall gardens and makes perfect additions to bouquets. Some may even boom into winter when all other plants die off. Plant in late summer sun when the humidity is high, and it will thrive! Zones 5-9 With the changing colors of autumn, you can enjoy a garden full of color, structure, and beauty. Happy Gardening!!

Julia Nielsen Lehi, UT | 801.636.3788 | julialn72@gmail.com Professional Summary      A complished and Strategic Marketing Manager, including as a Partner Marketing Manager for Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Intel, with 5+ years of experience in developing and executing marketing strategies, including SEO content, social media, Google Ads, and Paid Search. Highly skilled in leading high-performing teams, crafting compelling content, and optimizing digital marketing campaigns for maximum ROI. Adept in managing content calendars, spearheading content updates, and managing accounts Technical Skills Business to Business (B2B), Business to Consumer (B2C), WordPress, Marketing Development Fund (MDF) Management, Google Analytics, Salesforce, SEO, SEM  Professional Experience Freelance Content Specialist | Lehi, UT | August 2024 - Present Crafted compelling and original content tailored to diverse client needs and target audiences by adapting writing styles for various platforms and formats and utilizing search engine optimization tools, resulting in 25% website traffic Conducted thorough research to ensure accuracy, credibility, and depth of understanding for all writing projects by maintaining up-to-date knowledge of industry trends, leading to client satisfaction Managed multiple projects simultaneously, consistently meeting deadlines and communicating effectively with clients to address questions and incorporate feedback, ensuring client retention Self-edited and proofread all work to ensure high-quality, error-free deliverables, demonstrating strong attention to detail and commitment to excellence. Sparkz Marketing |  Pleasant Grove, Utah |  Oct 2023 - July 2024 Director of Sales Lead Generation/Content Manager Developed and executed lead generation plans, increasing leads by 70% via content marketing management, including writing and editing blogs, social media posts, landing pages, emails, SMS, and more Recruited, led, and inspired a high-performance lead generation team, fostering collaboration and continuous improvement Conducted market research and analysis to identify trends and shape effective strategies, including designing and scheduling social media posts, which garnered a 72% increase in traffic and conversions within 6 months for internal and clients Implemented cutting-edge tools and technologies to optimize lead generation processes, including skills with Canva, Asana, GoHighLevel, and Zoho Scorpion Design | Lehi, UT (remote) Marketing Manager | 2022 - 2023 Spearheaded accounts for 24 franchise clients as an account manager in the Enterprise department, including Del Taco and World Gym, utilizing SEO and SEM strategies Utilized strategic marketing plans by assessing data analysis and holding monthly reporting and insights meetings, resulting in $80,000 in upsells  Created website content and directed social media marketing campaigns by leveraging strategies to increase online visibility and customer engagement, resulting in 2 closed sales Developed a marketing strategy that achieved 60% visibility for new products on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Google+, resulting in 10k organic social media impressions and a 25% increase in website traffic MarketStar | Lehi, UT (remote) Partner Marketing Manager | 2022-2022 Developed a marketing plan by onboarding partners onto the Intel marketing platform, explaining how their marketing development funds (MDF) can be used for marketing activities, resulting in a 20% increase in brand awareness, improving product positioning and online reputation Promoted new marketing services by pitching their benefits and market value to achieve superior customer service interactions, resulting in an 80% increase in sales Using a good line of communication by ensuring strategic monthly reports and informative emails and messages, resulting in maintained strong customer retention and increasing average order size by 25% bChannels | Lehi, UT (remote) Partner Marketing Manager | 2021-2022 Generated $70,000+ in marketing services within a 90-day window by effectively managing Marketing Development Funds (MDF) for 50 tech companies as a Partner Marketing Manager for AWS Developed and executed comprehensive marketing strategies by driving brand awareness, increasing customer acquisition, and generating leads Analyzed market trends and competitor activities to identify opportunities for growth and adjust marketing strategies accordingly, which resulted in a 22% average increase in qualified leads Created comprehensive marketing reports/presentations by using Amazon Web Service's platform, which resulted in a 34% increase in webinar participation Led market segmentation projects, identifying key customer segments and developing targeted marketing campaigns, resulting in a 40% increase in conversion rates REVITY Marketing Agency | American Fork Content Marketing Director | 2019 - 2020 Collaborated with cross-functionally relevant departments to create and refine unique content for 120+ clients by researching keywords for maximum impact and traffic, resulting in a 30% increase in traffic. Demonstrated expertise in inbound marketing techniques and search engine optimization (SEO) by utilizing tools like Google Keyword Planner, SEMrush, and Moz, which led to a 35% increase in qualified leads Led content meetings, fostering open communication and enabling the creation of impactful content strategies by training writers, leading to better performance overall. Edited and proofread writer's content by using tools such as Grammarly and the AP Editor's Handbook, resulting in professional, polished copy Created and managed a long-term editorial calendar and content production pipeline by using Asana and Google Sheets, which resulted in an organized and well-defined task system Colla Content Manager | Pleasant Grove, UT ATS ShieldSafe & Innova| 2018 - 2019 Managed office tasks and copywriting for a B2B company that sold water treatment services and safety showers by creating relevant and engaging content, increasing organic traffic by 60% Utilized WordPress to boost search engine optimization (SEO) strategies, developed and published email campaigns in Net-Results, and drove social media marketing, resulting in a 200% increase in traffic and conversions within 6 months Translated two websites into Portuguese and Spanish by using a 3rd party agency, which led to the acquisition of the #1 dairy producer in Brazil Created and produced marketing videos by writing scripts and recording regional sales managers (RSM) and search matter experts (SME), leading to a 30% sales conversion rate. Content Writer | American Fork, UT ATS ShieldSafe & Innova| 2017 - 2018 Interviewed over 150 dental practices for website content preferences and needs by calling and understanding their content needs; this led to a retention rate of 98% Worked closely with top leaders and a results-oriented writing team in finalizing projects ranging in value and complexity, often writing 4-5 websites a day by using an HTML template, leading to our team meeting weekly quotas Helped writers complete their assignments for dental practices and mentored them on their grammar, voice, and formatting as a senior writer Education & Certifications Diploma , The Institute of Children’s Literature HubSpot Software Certification , 2022 Salesforce Essential Training Certification 2021 Google Analytics Certification through SkillShare , 2021 IoT Foundations: Fundamentals Certification , 2021 Certified Digital Marketing Masterclass through Udemy , 2021 Certified Content Marketer through HubSpot Academy , 2021 Websites, Portfolios, and Profiles www.jewelswrites.blogspot.com www.linkedin.com/in/julianielsen

For email campaigns to be successful, it’s crucial that subscribers click on the link(s) imbedded in your email, but how do you get them interested enough to click through? Below is an email sample that has the five elements of good journalism (even though you’re not a journalist), and that is the who, what, where, when, and why. Humans are curious animals, but they just want the information and then they can come to their own conclusions. (media, what a concept, right?) And hey, if it works for journalism, why can’t it work for email campaigns or social media, blogs, articles, website pages, etc? Let me know what you think in the comment section below. Email Marketing Campaign for Office Pro and Grant: Sample One Subject Line: Gift your students a 6 MONTH K12 Grant for Office Pro from TestOut! Preview: (Name), give your students the best in certification software today with TestOut’s Office Pro grant. Main: Ring in the new year with TestOut’s K12 Grant for IT and MS Office Pro courseware and see what the buzz is all about. We are thrilled to offer this grant for the spring 2021 semester that starts January 1 and goes through July 30, 2021. With so many opportunities at your student’s fingertips, they will have a clear direction in which to follow for certification regarding Office Pro, which includes: Word  Excel  PowerPoint  Access And Outlook You can count on TestOut’s software with all-in-one training and skills testing in real scenarios. As a leading IT education software company, we include complete certification training software, enabling you to provide everything you need to ensure your student’s success. Click here for more information and to apply for the grant. Don’t hesitate to take advantage of this unprecedented offer, and give your students the best in certification software, today!  — Our TestOut Family Email Marketing Campaign for Office Pro and Grant: Sample Two Subject Line: Take 2021 in Stride with TestOut’s Office Pro Grant that includes 6 Months of Certification Software at no cost! Preview: (Name), boost your student’s success when you apply for a 6-Month Office Pro grant from TestOut!  Main: With 2020 nearly behind us, it’s time to slide into 2021 with our generous Office Pro grant. Starting January 1 until July 30, we offer 6 MONTHS access to our MS Office courseware at no cost to you. Now is a great time to get your students excited about their future with TestOut’s certification software program, Office Pro. This course includes Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Access, and Outlook, and is a completed training program that allows your students to get ahead. We include everything you need: Video instruction  Demonstrations  Lab simulations  Text lessons  Comprehensive practice exams As a leading IT educational software company, TestOut provides proven methods that help keep your students focused and engaged, to ensure their continued success in education. To learn more about the grant and where you can apply, click here . We know once you peruse our site and see why many schools have adopted these training programs, you will jump on board too. Here’s to your student’s success and future! — Our TestOut Family

If you have a company, you know the importance, or should know the importance, of getting your content in front of an audience — and that means blogging to help improve your brand’s online visibility. However, writing just any old blog isn’t going to cut it; it needs to contain relevant and engaging information. Continue reading to learn about the 3 ways blogging can help your brand's online visibility. Why Blogs Work for Brand's Online Visibility When someone is searching for an answer to their question or would like a step-by-step instruction manual on how to replace siding, your blog should be the first one that pops up, or at least be in the first page of search results. It should have relevant keywords that Google or DuckDuckGo can crawl and pick up and rank. Including a catchy meta description captures people’s attention and they will likely click on the link to see what you have to offer. Always include the keyword to ensure maximum visibility. This is when a blog can establish credibility and answer someone’s question or solve their dilemma. Don’t underestimate what a good blog post can do for your brand. because it affords an opportunity for you to branch out and reach a wider audience. Setting yourself apart from the competition means getting your company’s brand out there. When you guest-blog, it establishes your company as a thought leader, thus increasing traffic when readers can link back to your site. If done every once in a while, it can boost your traffic and conversions. which then increases your online presence. When you post a link to your blog to Facebook, X, LinkedIn, et al, followers can click on the link that takes them directly to the blog post. This can improve online brand visibility as well. The more followers, the more likely your content gets exposure. Using an infographic highlights the blog and is an excellent visual, as well as memes, videos, or reviews. The key is more visibility in key places that subscribe to your brand.  This is just the tip of the iceberg with blogging. If you don’t yet use blogging for your brand, this is an excellent time to get started. Content specialists know what it takes to increase a brand’s online visibility, and they do it with YOUR vision, goals, and mission in mind. Contact me, a marketing content specialist, to learn more.

I have been married 32 years and have three grown and flown-the-nest children and four beautiful grandchildren. I was a U.S. freelance writer for 18 years and an employee with marketing agencies for the past 7 years in content management and franchise development account management. I’m also a novelist and have written for many outlets, including magazines, newspapers, websites, radio, video, and blogs. My passion lies in marketing, especially search engine optimization (SEO). I take pride in helping companies put their best foot forward, including ensuring they have the right audience for their products and services and the right SEO keywords and meta descriptions for search engines. My services extend to editing and proofreading, and I have experience editing manuscripts and manuals for businesses and individual authors. My skills include: Expertise in SEO, including keyword density and meta descriptions Extensive knowledge of Microsoft Word, Office, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, & Indesign Proficient knowledge of Google Drive, OneNote, OneDrive, Cloud, Sheets, & Docs Experience with Apple iPads & iPhones, along with many apps Interviewing Excellent research skills Professional, Timely, Creative, and Detailed Content Editing & proofreading Content management Social media management Email & SMS campaign management Marketing Consultant Account Management AWS (Amazon Web Services) IoT for Intel Whatever your company needs in content digital marketing, I can make it happen. Please comment for email and/or services and rates, and let’s get your company shooting to the top with proven SEO strategies.

Asters & Arsenic: A Patrice Summers Mystery The Crystal Locket: Key to the Tunnels of Time The Crystal Locket: Secrets of the Hidden Pyramids The Crystal Locket: Mystery of the 13th Skull

This year has been a roller coaster of a ride. Starting in March, we dismantled our old upper deck and cleared out stuff underneath for a bottom deck. It took us 6 months, but in August of this year, we finished and now have a new beautiful upper and lower deck! It took many hours, but it’s finished and man, do we love it. Look at the difference from 9 months ago!! Anyway, now that fall has hit, and even some winter conditions, it’s time to huddle indoors and be a hermit. Well, can’t really do that, because I just got a new job after working conditions at my old job were not good. I left my old job three days ago, got a phone interview the next day and an in-person interview the day after. Two hours after, I got the offer!! That was the fastest time from going from one job to another and it’s a bit of a whirlwind, but an exciting one.I went from being a copywriter to a content director, and the building is 5 minutes from home on the freeway.When one door closes, another one opens - and quickly in my case. I felt it was a vindication from what happened in my last job and from being attacked by two dogs last month.Now, I say, bring on the holidays!! OH, and next project is new kitchen cabinets, counters, and bathroom tile!! And, next spring, new landscaping with square foot gardening, revamped flower gardens, and maybe even a deck slide for the grandkids!We got our work cut out for us!Soon, I will post about ‘The One Thing,’ a great book about finding that one daily thing to focus on, particularly when it comes to work.Enjoy the extra hour of sleep, (for those who come off D.S.T. ) come tonight!

Marketing campaign pitches:  Vitamin D Creative Sample Marketing Report Sample Marketing Campaign Report Pitch for Sparkz Marketing Client Sample Marketing Campaign Report for Batteries Plus (Scorpion Client) Links to online articles and blogs, as well as samples of writing Shining Light on LEDs with Landscape Lighting Pro of Utah  (Blog page) 10 Biggest Cities in Vermont: How Well Do You Know the Green Mountain State? 5 Facts About Vermont's Captial: How Well Do You Know Montpelier? Places to See and Things to Do in Albany GA | Avis Rent a Car 7 Possible Career Paths For Event Planning Degrees Services in Diamond Bar, CA - Honest-1 Auto Care Home Page - Mount Pleasant, SC - Honest-1 Auto Care 3 Tools and Apps Every HR Manager Should Have ATS Innova Blogs ATS Safety Shield Blogs Sample of published articles Paws Up: The Picture-Perfect Family Resort for Your Summer Vacation (Written for Paws Up Resort, 2013) Okay, now I know you've been asking, "What can we do differently this summer as a family, something unique and yet fun and relaxing?" Well, I found the perfect family vacation. So listen, picture your family in the countryside this summer, away from the hustle and bustle of the city, enjoying each other without constantly hearing, "I'm bored!" Paws up, family resort is your ticket, my friend. Nestled in the Rocky Mountains in Montana, approximately 35 miles from Missoula and several other cities, we are an all-inclusive family resort that couples Montana's beautiful warm summer weather with family-friendly outdoor adventures or winter-time activities, making for a perfect Christmas vacation. One of the best family resorts that won't cost you an arm and leg, we feature the best activities around, including: • Horseback riding • River rafting • Fly fishing • Rappelling • Kid's camp • Paintball wars • Chuck wagon rides • Mountain Biking • Hiking, and more This is a family resort that your family will be talking about for years to come because they will get to experience a new environment and learn how to do new activities instead of just riding rides all day long. This is truly one of the best experiences you can have with your family on our huge 37,000-acre (60-mile) piece of beautiful wilderness. Besides being a great family resort, we also accommodate family and school reunions, a unique wedding experience, or even just a small family vacation. At all-inclusive family resorts, you can find anything you're looking for in a vacation. Looking for a winter wonderland Christmas vacation? Our resort also caters to the outdoor winter enthusiasts by offering:  • Snowmobiling  • Snowshoeing  • Cross-country skiing  • Ice wall climbing  • Sleigh rides • Ice skating • Ice fishing  • D og sledding • Downhill skiing nearby and so much more Surrounding Lewis and Clark History, we are also home to ten winding miles of the Blackfoot River (think of the movie, "A River Runs Through It.")  Our family resort is not just "roughing" it; the resort features luxurious accommodations for your family, all the while keeping the rustic look of wood cabins. There are many different rooms to choose from, depending on the size of your family, and comfortable furnishings with large windows to bring in plenty of summer sun or to look out at beautiful sow-capped trees. After a fun day of horseback riding, river rafting in the summer, or skiing down the mountains, our luxurious spa treatments can help your family rejuvenate and prepare for a relaxing night's sleep.  Summertime weather is truly perfect, with 70-80 degrees in the daytime and cool temperatures at night—perfect for a warm fire and hot chocolate. In the winter, don on coats, gloves, and hats because it gets mighty cold. If you love the nippy air, we are just up your alley for a fun, outdoor winter experience. So, this summer or winter, treat your family to this awesome, once-in-a-lifetime family resort experience that will have your kids talking about it for years to come. Enjoy the Rocky Mountains of Montana! Six Most Common Uses of Summit Evolution Software (Written for DAT/EM, 2021) Whether you’re in the construction, government, or transportation businesses, ensuring you have clear and concise geo-mapping is essential. Because Summit Evolution’s photogrammetry software includes features that make it user-friendly and cost-effective, you can apply it in many industries: forestry, Departments of Transportation, City, State, and Federal infrastructure mapping, military, watershed management, predictive sea level rising modeling, and more. Photogrammetry has taken the process of 3D photo extraction to the next level, from Stereo data mapping for aerial photography via drones to ground digital photography. Today, we will discuss the six most common uses of Summit Evolution software from the list above. You will learn how the software is easy to use and configure, compatible with most hardware, and uniquely capable of compiling mapping data directly into a target CAD or GIS system, such as Bentley MicroStation, AutoDesk, AutoCAD, or Blue Marble Global Mapper. This is without needing to translate or manage the data after the fact. Continue reading for a quick overview of the leading industries we serve and how the Summit Evolution software helps. What is Photogrammetry? Photogrammetry is the science and technology of obtaining reliable information about physical objects and the environment through recording, measuring, and interpreting photographic images and patterns of electromagnetic radiant imagery and other phenomena. Coined by the Prussian architect  Albrecht Meydenbauer , photogrammetry appeared in his 1867 article, “Die Photometrographie.” and was defined by the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. (ASPRS) It’s about as old as photography itself—about 150 years. Since then, it has evolved into digital or softcopy photogrammetry based on digital imagery and computer vision. The concept involves taking precise measurements of three-dimensional objects primarily from two-dimensional photographs. It’s used in many applications, such as: Coordinate measuring Quantification of distances, areas, heights, and volumes Preparation of topographic maps Generation of digital elevation models and orthographics There are two types of photogrammetry: arial (in the air with a camera) and terrestrial (handheld camera or on a tripod). Two other types of photogrammetry you may encounter include interpretive and metric. Interpretive uses careful and systematic analysis to identify objects and gather important factors from an image. Metric photogrammetry is all about finding measurements and covering planimetric and topographical mapping. Industry Applications for Summit Evolution Software As stated above, our software serves several industries. Let’s break down the six typical applications for Summit Evolution’s workstation software, how it helps, and what makes it stand out.   Forestry One of the applications Summit Evolution software serves is in the forestry industry. This includes compartment mapping, logging road layout, harvest planning, stand management, forest fire assessment, and mitigation. In addition, 3D images enable farmers to get insights into soil quality, irrigation scheduling, nutrition, and pests in agriculture. Another valuable photogrammetry service is the ability to survey land after storms or floods to address growth and crop damage. City, State, and Federal Infrastructure Mapping For precision mapping of roadways, bridges, buildings, housing, urban forestry, landscape architecture, and the mapping of taxable assets, Summit Evolution Federal ensures you have the tools and resources necessary to find and capture 3D stereo data information. The software features: CAD and GIS interfaces 3D stereo vector superimposition Automated feature editing Contour Generation, And much more Summit Evolution Federal can apply coordinate transformation, allowing unlimited zoom levels, past pan, and automatic loading of adjacent stereo models. This is accomplished with DAT/EM Superimposition of CAD and GIS vectors over the image view. This program is primarily used for land surveying and by construction crews, architects, and local governments to discover and use data analysis to decide property boundaries and building planning. Departments of Transportation Using aerial footage of roads and streets provides better State and Federal roadway management and long-term planning when using photogrammetry. 3D images produce dimensional data for mapping, design, and computation of earthwork and other construction quantities; it also provides a clear picture of traffic accidents for investigative purposes. With over 75 million vehicles on roadways, the urban planner is responsible for planning today's and tomorrow’s mobility; therefore, using photogrammetry via a drone gives them an accurate, visible assessment of infrastructure. Planning transportation is a massive job that requires careful consideration of public roads, neighborhood streets, and highways. A 3D aerial view offers a clear image of an area that can be surveyed and studied. Military Intelligence If you need software for discovering and capturing 3D information from stereo data, our world-class photogrammetry workstation is one to consider. This software assists in campaign planning, wargaming, access mapping, and defense planning.  Photogrammetry is necessary for understanding a landscape. It creates  accurate geo-locational mapping with low processing times, which, together with aerial imagery and photogrammetric technology, enables accurate 3D maps—all without human input. The two purposes the military uses aerial imagery for are map preparation, used by Army staff to plan their operations, and by combat troops to find their way on the ground, from place to place. When computing field artillery and infantry firing data, it’s also used for intelligence purposes. Pictures taken above and over enemy lines are studied for signs of movement to help with military planning and disclosing those of the enemy.        Watershed management Central and local authorities adopt photogrammetry for watershed management, including contour mapping for runoff estimation, flood risk assessment, and emergency response to flooding events. The software makes it more manageable, allowing crucial assessments and imagery. For example, it’s used for pinpoint accuracy in locating people stranded after a natural disaster, along with a visual of the depth of damage to an area. Regarding integrated and participatory watershed management approaches, drones are vital catalysts in providing authorities with integrated management, planning, forecasting, executing, and sustaining projects. Participatory management involves actively collaborating with NGOs, local government, and people.   Survey and Engineering With the advent of drone technology, it’s now much easier to take more accurate and transparent images of contours and landmasses. This is a valuable tool for engineers to evaluate a construction project, allowing for more detailed photos. Land surveyors can also take more precise measurements, which assists local governments in mapping out areas, benefiting the community. Like land surveying, photogrammetry can also help with commercial and residential development and subdivision planning by giving clients and construction workers perspective images; this allows them to take in-progress visuals or prospective results. Visit DAT/EM for Summit Evolution’s Software The applications for photogrammetry are vast and offer valuable tools in many industries when precise data is crucial for mapping and photo extraction. Summit Evolution’s software gives you everything you need to obtain the best 3D images. In addition, our products include key features that will become more valuable as technology evolves and more industries come on board. Take advantage of the ground-breaking technology of photogrammetry’s digital landscape and start seeing what makes us stand apart. Visit our  product page  for more information or  contact us  for general inquiries or sales information.

Today is Friday and the sun is shining!! The beautiful snow glistens in my yard and no one got hurt from these horrible storms this week! I have a lot to be thankful for. I'm also grateful I was able to do yoga last night with my awesome sister-in-laws; I come home, take a hot bath, crawl into bed and crash the whole night; it's vunderful!! Anyway, here is part five on my continuing adventures in Dizzyland! I, of course didn't want to hear it. I wanted to pity myself. I wanted to stew in my angry juices, let them boil and then simmer, until I was ready to face them. I wanted my dad. Now, anyone knows, your spouse, friends, family and mother are wonderful, but there’s just something about Dad that makes it all OK. He didn't have answers, only a hug and “It will all work out.” I felt better already. Soon after, I started finding natural solutions to my problem, or at least the symptoms. I tried motion sickness medicine, essential oils, aromatherapy, exercises, you name it. When those failed to work, I tried physical therapy. Maybe I could retrain my brain to deal with the balance disorder. That helped, but made me dizzier, as it was supposed to do, in order to retrain it. I did walking exercises, closing my eyes, walking forward, with my eyes open, looking side to side and up and down. Whew! In the course of my research, I thought it might have to do with my jaw. It was off and had been for years. Maybe it was putting pressure on the ears causing the imbalance. I went to a TMJ dentist. He took x-rays and said that my jaw bone, on both sides, was deteriorating and pushing on the ears because of how off they were. I needed an appliance to wear at night that would re-grow the bone and take the pressure off the ears. Sounded quite reasonable, so forked over the money and started wearing it. Needless to say, it didn't cure the problem and only made things worse; except for it did re-grow back the bone, but changed my bite big-time! Back to square one. By this time, it was going on two years and I was getting used to this constant off-balance feeling. But, I was not giving up. Chapter ThreeWhat Now? Just as I was getting used to the idea of having the balance problem, another symptom reared its ugly head—tinkling, or as the experts call it, tinnitus. I felt it in my left ear, almost like a high tinkling sound, akin to chimes outside your window. It drove me nuts! Was I having a stroke? Was I losing my hearing, or just hearing things, losing my mind? No, it was another pesky symptom of a balance disorder. In fact, in all my research and from being told by doctors, balance disorders make up a whole host of symptoms. I counted close to thirty of them. Not only that, but your muscles, eyes, and ears all make up your balance system. Who knew? I would learn quite a lot about the amazing labyrinth that makes up your balance and how seemingly small things can throw it completely out of whack.  Not only did I hear that sound in my head constantly, I also started noticing tingling in my forehead. The kind of tingling that makes you feel like there’s not enough blood going to it, and that at anytime, you will keel over into nothingness. I ended up scratching my head numerous times a day to get feeling back into it. My legs also shook and felt like they would collapse, and I would go down like Gumby, after a few too many cartwheels.  I felt like I was falling apart. Of course that triggered the panic feelings, which fed off the fear, which continued to feed the panic, and well, you know. My fears were not just about me, but about my family. Would my children resent me for not taking them to the mall? Not go bike riding, or just a simple walk down the street? What about my husband? Would he hate me for not going hiking with him or go to dinner at a restaurant? Would I ever be able to get on a plane again?  Two years ago, my husband and went on a Mediterranean cruise to Greece and Italy and I was scared to death! What happened if I panicked in a plane cruising at thirty thousand feet in the air? Or become so dizzy and sick, I couldn't stand up? I slowly prepared myself, such as walking 4-5 times a week. It did get better. I had a great time; I didn't panic. Yeah, I was a little dizzy, but Dramamine took care of that. I got to see some beautiful ancient relics and buildings, such as the  Colosseum  in Rome, Vatican City, Pompeii, The Parthenon, etc...WOW! I will remember that for a lifetime! I still have the real fear of what might happen in the future, when I have grandchildren, and it haunts me daily. Will I be able to hold them without feeling dizzy? Or drive them to the movies? My son wants to be a pilot and take me and his dad all over. Can I do that with this balance disorder?

It's still snowing and, even though it's beautiful, I want spring! I am sure the snow plows are loving this weather, as well as the skiers, snowboarders, and other winter-loving enthusiasts. For me, I want warmth!! Alas, come summer, I will be in sunny Florida on a Disney cruise with my family, so I will look forward to that! Here is part four of Adventures in Dizzyland... I came home, took my antibiotic faithfully, and viola! A week later, no difference. Went back, doc said the ear was nice and pink, but there was a little fluid still in there. It would take time, he said, to drain. Ok, I would wait patiently, but three months later, I was patient enough. This time, the fluid was gone, but I was still off-balance and dizzy. Why? I demanded. He didn’t know and sent me for an MRI, just to check for a tumor in my brain. Great! Just what I wanted to hear. When that came back negative, he sent me to an ENT. Test after test came back negative for anything and everything related to the ear. Sent me for another MRI to check my ears. Nothing to report there. This was starting to weigh heavily on my mind, not to mention my wallet. And of course, I couldn’t drive there, so my mother, father, when he could, mother-in-law, and husband became my chauffeurs. Month after month, test after test, and I was ready to pull my hair out, along with my ears! Maybe that would solve it. Uh, no, then I would have two problems. Back to the drawing board—the internet. Let’s see, I could have Meniere’s Disease, and inner ear disorder, but is characterized as someone who falls down and vomits all the time. Not me, I hadn’t vomited once. BPPV? Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo…hmmm…could be…oh wait, ENT already tested for that—negative. What about Vestibular Neuronitis, inflammation of the vestibular nerve, perilymph fistula, a leakage of inner ear fluid into the middle ear. Ok, those are plausible. Of course, not one of these could be diagnosed without first seeing a hearing and balance specialist, thirty minutes away. More time off of work for my poor hubby, who by this time, is so tired of the millions of doctor’s visits and money being poured out in rivers, he could throw his own tantrum. Of course, I had to get to the bottom of this. I couldn’t be like this forever, could I? I had, of course, researched what a balance specialist does, and it didn't sound pretty or fun. Nevertheless, I braced myself. How bad could it really be? Plus, it would be worth it to find out what’s wrong with me. The day of the appointment, I dressed casually, as if I was going to see a movie with a dear friend. My appointment was for 8:30, but my husband couldn’t get time off, so my mother drove. After parking underground, we walked inside the huge building that housed all kinds of medical specialties. Thank Heavens the Balance center was on the first floor (someone knew I didn’t want to be tortured) because my height phobia had jumped through the roof with this balance problem. We waited, me filling out a million forms, giving them everything from how long I had the problem to my pain scale, which was 0 for a balance problem, unless you count the time I fell back onto my then 11-year old son at church, oh and possibly when I bumped into the wall in the middle of the night, because I couldn’t see or walk straight. A while later, we finally went in. The first thing was to check my hearing—been there, done that, twice already—but had to do a third time for their records. Hearing fine, except for a few high-pitch noises that should have sent me through the roof, apparently. After my hearing appendages popped back into place from the heavy, suck-your-ears-back-into-your-head phones were gone, they took me into another room. This is where it not only got very weird, but very nauseating.  First, I had to put on these funky, not-so-cool-driving-with-the-top-down glasses that sucked into my face. A red dot appeared, and oh goody, I get to follow it, back and forth, back and forth—whoa! When did the room start spinning? Of course, on their computer, my eyes looked like huge saucers, as they watched them go back and forth. They wanted to see if I had nystagmus—if my eyes fluttered when the motion stopped, indicating an inner-ear problem. Very slight, he said, but nothing to indicate a serious problem. Next, I had to walk up and down the hall, just to check my gait, which I looked drunk while I did it. I had to close my eyes and stand on one foot, almost fell over, and a bunch of other tests.  The last thing was to have a caloric test, and let me tell you right now, it is the worst, out-of-control feeling you have ever encountered. They first put cold water in your ear, which simulates dizziness, while wearing the funky glasses and closing your eyes and counting back from forty, or saying whatever they wanted you to say, so they could see what your eyes were doing, while you feel like puking your guts out. Then, they do the other side! After that, I lay on the table, on my side, not moving a muscle! I just wanted the world to stop spinning. How embarrassing, even though the specialist said he sees it all the time. Yeah, I bet! After sitting there waiting for those results, I just wanted to go home and crash. Soon, the specialist comes back in and says the tests are inconclusive. WHAT?! Meaning, you need to repeat them at a later date. I wanted to reach out and strangle the life out of him, not really, but I had to endure this torture again?! Not cool! On the ride home, I cried. I was so tired, so sick, so sick and tired of feeling this way; I wanted to climb out of my body and say, “See ya!” At home, I tried to remain calm, but when my husband came home, he got the brunt of it, poor guy. “Why me? What did I do to deserve this?” “Nothing, but then nobody does anything to deserve what challenges they’ve been given, they just have to work through them, with the Lord’s help,” my wise husband said.

It's Tuesday and the snow is coming down in a flurry of excitement. The roads this morning are a mess and I am shaking my head wondering why a snow day wasn't declared for our region. We should have plenty of extra snow days from years previous to use for this morning. Alas, I am glad I'm back home safe in my warm home, and thank The Lord for that. The snow is always pretty when it blankets the earth, so as long as I'm not, or anyone I know, driving in it! Here is part three of My Adventures in Dizzyland. Hopefully, you are enjoying it so far. Leave me a comment if you're so inclined. Adventures in Dizzyland Continued... Before any of this happened though and I was still unsure of my driving ability, I stopped driving, except for taking my kids to and from school and to the local store. Why chance it, right? I did teach my daughter to steer when she was thirteen and drive while she was fourteen, just in case she had to take the wheel. The first time I had a panic attack on the road, I was by myself. I was tired of being stuck home, not being able to drive, and the ironic part was that I was driving to a natural medicine clinic that I thought might be able to shed some light on this mysterious illness I had. Well, I was lost to begin with. I had no clue how to get to the place and the dizzy spells were getting worse. The familiar panic starting welling inside me (and yes, I had had many panic attacks in the past not related) and I knew what would happen. My heart was beating out of my chest, my hands became cold and sweaty, a feeling like I would die right then and there was so overwhelming, I began to hyperventilate, which made the dizziness worse. I managed to pull into a gas station and sit there, trying to get a hold of myself, while people stared at me as if I might go insane. I had to call my mother, who lived just up the road, to come get my husband from work, who was thankfully only minutes away. We only had one car. Both of them showed up about fifteen minutes later, and by that time, I had calmed enough that I felt like I would live. My husband drove me home and went back to work, but by then, all I could do was sleep. I felt like I had just run a marathon. It wiped me out. After that terrifying experience, I relegated myself to my home. I became agoraphobic, afraid to leave my house. I swore I would never go through that again. Well, because of that vow, I made myself a prison—within the walls of my own home. This was not the life I wanted to lead, which then propelled me to becoming a research maniac. Chapter TwoInformation Overload Let me tell you, the internet is a wonderful tool, but it can also be the devil. What I mean to say by that is we humans are curious people, even downright obsessive when it comes to our health. Any abnormal bodily change was an urgent alarm in my head to find out what I “had.” I was, I admit, a hypochondriac. It started in childhood. I was afraid of everything! I was afraid of the wind, thought it would blow the house down, (Three little Pigs must have traumatized me or something) afraid of thunder, (not sure why) and lightning, thinking it would split our house in two (was told a relative’s house was struck by lightning, therefore, ours was bound to as well) and afraid of every spider there was. Didn't help that as a child I was bit by a wolf spider that sent me to the E.R. in the middle of the night, with a fever over 104. To me, these were legitimate reasons for my fears, but alas, I obsessed over my health, and the internet became my connection to every disease on this planet. So, naturally that’s where I went when I wanted answers, at least ones I could take to my doctor. I wanted him to know I was intelligent when it came to my health, you know a real sleuth. I was taking control. I turned on my computer, went to my trusty search engine (Google) and typed in dizziness and off-Balance feeling. I got #6, 524, 345, 678 results! Ok, I would be there a while, I figured. After seven hours of searching over everything from constipation to cancer, I couldn't see straight and a panic attack was knocking on my door. I had to downsize. So, I just typed balance problems. Better, now it was only a couple thousand pages—that I could handle. Armed with my  new-found  information, I headed to the doctor. He did a complete exam, looked in my ears and said, “You have a red ear.” Red ear? Was it bleeding? A sore, what? An infection. Ok, have had ear infections for years, no biggie. Take an antibiotic? That’s it? I had my stapled concoction of possible diagnoses and he tells me an ear infection? Well, my ears did feel full and stuffy, and to think about it, I would slap anyone who touched my sinuses, so yeah, made sense. I’ve always had sensitive ears, a stink load of infections as a child. In fact, I had an infection so bad; my hearing was almost gone in my right ear. My mother never took us to doctors. Whatever we had would be cured by herbs. Too bad my rotten teeth couldn't be cured by that.