Everyday, people all over the country open their mailboxes only to be overwhelmed by a tidal wave of unwanted catalogs. Many of these catalogs are never looked at and are thrown in the trash, taking up space in landfills and wasting natural resources in the production of the paper and inks used to print them. Catalogchoice.com offers beleaguered users to take themselves off the mailing list for catalogs that they don’t want to receive. Using the site is as easy as signing up for an account and browsing the catalogs to decline any further mailings. Sign up is free and there are a lot of companies that participate, but many of the more egregious offenders aren’t listed.

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I changed the banner again.  The current one is a picture of a camper trailer that is parked at the end of our street.  It’s been there for quite some time.  It looks occupied.  I can’t imagine that anyone is staying in it, though.

I found this today: 101 Versions of Stairway to Heaven.

It cracked me up.  I don’t care for the original. I can’t fathom why that many people would cover it, but still.  It’s good for a laugh.

I haven’t gushed about my make-up lately, so I feel like I’m due.

I think by now, most of the make-up I wear is mineral make-up.  Now that I know what is in most of the crap that you can buy at Wal-Mart, I just can’t see putting that mess on my face.

Anyway, I’ve switched to Everyday Minerals, who have great, great products- lots of colors and four foundation formulas so it works for all skin types.  They are also cheap and they always have great specials.  I was almost out of foundation, so I placed an order for the six piece custom kit.  It was $32 and I got to pick six products that I wanted.  It isn’t like the kits where you have to pick two foundations, one blush, one finishing powder and two brushes whether you need them or not.  Ironically enough, I did order two foundations, one blush and one finishing powder- but I only ordered one brush and got a container of Pick Me Up Pink Concealer.  The brush I got was the Premium Flat Top Brush.  I firmly believe that if everyone who tried mineral make-up used this brush, everyone would switch immediately.  It is as soft as anything I’ve ever felt on my face and it applies the foundation evenly.  I absolutely love it!  I also love my new blush.

I may be in the minority, but I can remember my first make-up. My first blush was from Cover Girl and it was called Natural Glow. My new blush from EM is called Natural and it looks a lot like my first blush.  It’s very light with a subtle shimmer.  I used it as an eyeshadow base yesterday and it worked great.

I also ordered the Green Tea Everywear cream that is doing a number on my scaly elbows.  With all of that- I got a free bonus gift.  I love free stuff!  I got three brushes and two full sized eyeshadows.  Gingerbread Man is pretty but it looks almost just like Comfy.  Tinsel Time is gorgeous!  It’s an antique gold with a greenish tint.  I use it as a lid color with In the Garden in the crease. All of that cost me  $38, including shipping.

Tax time can be stressful for many people, but none so much as senior citizens. Senior citizens have special tax questions that often can’t be answered with boxed tax software or tax preparation websites. Social security income, pension checks, retirement benefits and spousal death can complicate taxes and can increase the chance of an incorrect return. Knowing where to turn for senior citizen tax help can make tax time easier and less stressful for both seniors and their families.

The Consumer electronics Show just wrapped up in Las Vegas, but the real show started today when Apple’s Steve Jobs stepped onto the stage at MacWorld and introduced the Macbook Air, the thinnest laptop ever. According to the Wall Street Journal, the Air promises to be to the laptop what the iPhone is to the cell phone market. A 13.3 inch screen and a full sized keyboard is folded into a package that about 3.4 of an inch thick and will weigh just three pounds. The Macbook Air boasts an 80 GB hard drive and a built-in webcam. Of course, as is the case with all of Apple’s “I want that!” items, innovation doesn’t come cheap. The Macbook Air will retail for a whopping $1800 when it hits stores in two weeks.

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American Idol returned Tuesday night with a line-up that’s familiar to anyone who has watched any of the previous six seasons. There were the weirdos (what’s up with the Hairy-Man Genie Guy?), the melt-downs (Alexis, I’m talking to you), the sweet, but horribly off-key crier (Temptress, I cried right there with you) and mixed in with all of the mayhem and bad auditions were inspirational stories, laughs and an impressive array of talent for this early in the season.

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American Idol returned Tuesday night with a line-up that’s familiar to anyone who has watched any of the previous six seasons. There were the weirdos (what’s up with the Hairy-Man Genie Guy?), the melt-downs (Alexis, I’m talking to you), the sweet, but horribly off-key crier (Temptress, I cried right there with you) and mixed in with all of the mayhem and bad auditions were inspirational stories, laughs and an impressive array of talent for this early in the season.

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With the presidential primaries heating up, more and more second and third tier candidates are dropping out. Don’t tell that to New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Just as many candidates are putting the brakes on their campaign, Bloomberg is exploring an independent bid for the White House.

Conventional wisdom says that it’s too late for anyone entering the race to make much of an impact, but there is little that is conventional about Bloomberg.

Where fund raising is a major issue for the current crop of candidates, Bloomberg has his own billion dollar fortune that he would likely tap if he makes a run for the White House. He has already heavily invested in a highly detailed national voter study of his chances for success.

Well-known third party candidates have a history of pulling votes away from major party candidates, so Bloomberg’s flirtation with running for office may have a major impact on the election. As a former Republican, but with liberal social views, Bloomberg could draw from fiscally moderate conservatives. He has also shown conservative leanings in his support for the Patriot Act and the war in Iraq.

However, his liberal social leanings could damage his conservative appeal. Bloomberg supports abortion rights, gay marriage and stem-cell research, all of which are hot-button topics for evangelical voters. With his liberal social stance and conservative stance on national security issues, Bloomberg could either alienate both parties or could draw a wide range of support across party lines.

As fiscal moderate, he could do well if the economy slides further into recession. Recent polls indicate that the economy has overtaken the war in Iraq as the one issue that most concerns likely voters. Current social and economic conditions could create a perfect storm that would allow a third party candidate to make a close run for the presidency.

On occasion I change the header bar for no good reason.  The header that’s up there now is a picture of Roy Roger’s boots at his museum in Branson.