Many years ago I would fill out all of the PCH Sweepstakes entries and send them in by snail mail and sometimes I would order something here and there, but it never helped my chances so I stopped the whole thing because it was a pain in the butt.

This year since it was so easy I entered online, but I never ordered anything, all I would do is submit my entry after being forced to view all they had to offer. On the 19th I received an e-mail thanking me for my order to Soap Opera Digest on the 18th.

I’m thinking, WTH? I don’t even watch Soap Operas so why in the world would I want to keep up with the world of Soaps? I’m wondering why they picked that particular publication, because I’m a female?

I called immediately to cancel that Soap Opera Digest subscription after finding their number online and they asked my name, address and for the 12 digit number I had been assigned. I hadn’t received a 12 digit number until I spoke with the foreign operator and she said she couldn’t find the order.

I said I would just ignore the billing because I hadn’t ordered it and she was very adamant that I should call back on Monday to cancel if that was what I wanted to do. I called back Monday and gave the 12 digit number that I had been sent after the phone call and this operator was very rude.

I will never participate in the PCH Sweepstakes again online or off, I really don’t like some of their tactics. If I’m going to pick a magazine to purchase it’s at least going to be about something I’m interested in not Soaps .

When I was 45 I decided to accomplish something I had wanted to do since I was a young girl, but the time never seemed right. I wanted to be a Cosmetologist because it was fun playing with hair. Of course at the time I had no idea of everything involved and that it was indeed a very serious undertaking. I wont go into the details here because I usually put that type of info on my other blog.

The point is I had ambition, motivation and determination to finally finish something I had wanted since I was a young girl, but I don’t practice anymore even though I keep my license current because I worked so hard for it. I found after awhile that I don’t like touching people so I stopped and went back to waitressing where all I had to touch were those same peoples’ plates when serving them and not their body parts.

I always receive the PA Board of Cosmetology eNewsletter and it keeps me up to date on current events and other news and it always reminds me to check the PA disciplinary actions in my area for all the occupational professionals that are licensed by the state. It made me wonder if other people realize that they can also easily check their state board website to verify a license and lodge a complaint by choosing the form they need and mail it in. These links are all for PA.

Below is an example of one in my field and area I live in, there were others in the medical profession which made me think I should start checking this more often, nurses and doctors who had paid fines and why and if their license had been revoked some were fined for still practicing without a license, so never take for granted just because you see a piece of paper, go and verify that license.

“Vivian Antoinette Iacoboni and Camillo Anthony Iacoboni, t/d/b/a Market Street Manor Spa & Salon, license no. CB117673 of York, York County, was ordered to pay a civil penalty of $850 because of aiding and abetting the unlicensed practice of a profession, occupation or business, for practicing cosmetology in a grossly incompetent or unethical manner, and by designating a person in charge of respondents’ cosmetology salon in the owners’ absence who was not a cosmetologist.”

When I was dropping EC’s I ran across a blogger that was giving out some pretty stupid advice on starting a home business and one of  those I had to comment on was about my profession. They were advising people to put out a sign in front of their house and start cutting and coloring hair if they were good at it and said they might need a license for the business, but they weren’t sure…WHAT?

There are rules and regulations in all fields for opening a business and you most certainly need a license for this type of business besides following all codes, rules, and regulations and then being inspected by the state plus you need a cosmetology license to cut and color anyone’s hair, you can’t just set up shop because someone thinks it’s a good idea. Also if you have a shop at home it has to be separate from living quarters with a separate entrance just too many requirements, that’s why I didn’t do it.

If you’re suspicious of any business or professional that might be practicing without a license or you need to make a complaint then you can go to your own state’s official website and verify the business or professional license and lodge a complaint if you need to. You can also check out any disciplinary actions that may have been placed against any professional in your area or whether they have paid fines and ever had their license revoked and why.

When I first moved in with Bill, I was plastering and painting everything and ripping out old carpet and poor Bill put the new floor down. I turned his poor settled life upside down. I’d really like to change the kitchen and I’m forever on the DIY site looking for ideas, but I’m not sure how to do it because it  isn’t very big so I pretty much have to settle for updating smaller things like the stove hood and the stainless steel sink. I would love to have one of those huge islands in the middle where we could both work on our cooking together.

I’m also getting addicted to shopping online because it’s so easy to browse and find what you need. This past year I have ordered more online than ever before, medication for Bill which is much cheaper than the drug store, parts for the bike, toys, my new Orgreenic ceramic cookware and just recently I ordered some seedless tomato plants from Burpee which should be arriving soon. It’s such a pain to pick out all the seeds because of Bill’s diverticulosis so we’re going to grow our own.

I am now considering ordering my stainless steel sinks from Mr Direct online because the prices are cheap compared to some we priced around here. Of course I always check to make sure all the places I order from are BBB accredited or have an excellent reputation from others that have used any place I’m thinking about ordering from. So if any of you guys have used Mr Direct before I would appreciate your input on the quality.

We really haven’t done many updates in the past couple years on the house and we need to finish the basement and have rewiring done before we buy our stainless steel sink so I have plenty of time to decide which shape and style I want. Of course that might mean that I’ll need a new base also so that’s something else to consider. The more I look around this old house, means my list of appliances and fixtures that need replacing grows longer and longer, looks like I may be looking for a job soon.