Mama's Ramblings

Mama has website, newsletter, daughter, granddaughter and grandson. You may read about any of those, or marketing, using the internet, current events, or anything else she is thinking about as she writes, or rather, rambles.

Tuesday, August 09, 2005

My Apologies for The Earlier Post

Hi, I'm back and maybe my brain is functioning better.

The doctor says my grandson has a "virus" causing him to have cold like symptoms and the breaking out. He suggested zyrtec and benadryl (I learned to spell that since the earlier post - I looked at the box). I really didn't think either of those were for a "virus" but for allergies. I think he was right in the meds but not the diagnosis. By the time they got home, he was just about covered in the bumps again. They start to join in a patch as more surface. I think the drug he was allergic to will just have to wear off. The sore it was far looks much better. With Zyrtec and Benadryl both, any allergens should be cut short.

I have spent most of my day moving this blog from blogspot to my website. It can now be reached from links on almost all of the pages. I didn't add it to the Kids Stuff or any of the shopping pages except the main page. The address has changed to http://www.mamarosegifts.com/blog1/mamasramblings.html .

I am also trying to find out about adding RSS feeds to my website for page content. If anyone reading can tell me what kind software I need. It needs to read as html. I am aware of a couple of ways but I think there must be something simpler. Anyone with any suggestion, please click the comments link below and I will post them as soon as possible.

I still don't have the newsletter out but I am going to work on it right now.

I have fibromyalgia. If you are familiar with it, you will understand what I am about to say. If not, I will explain. I have had a flare up for the last 4 days. Moving around is extra painful and my concentration is scattered. I am having problems focusing on anything. I usually do some housework and do the cooking. Those have been almost impossible for most of the last week. Today was the worst. I managed to get out of bed and told my daughter I felt like the statue of Atlas holding the world up.

For those who aren't familiar with fibromyalgia, it is a syndrome, a group of otherwise unrelated conditions or illnesses. They aren't terminal but sometimes you almost wish they were. The main ones are sleep disorders, depression, and very tender, achy muscles. Some describe it as "flu like symptoms". I have read two very good descriptions. Every muscle in my body feels like it has a toothache. Every muscle in my body feels it needs to throw up. Both are very fitting. Along with the pain and the other conditions that I won't go into, there is what is called the "fibro fog". This is the confusion, lack of ability to concentrate, lack of focus, and forgetfulness. Thankfully, the worst of all of this does come and go but it never completely goes away.

The fibro-fog is my excuse for not getting the newsletter done, yet. I keep thinking that it will get better tomorrow. I guess I will just jump in and get it done anyway. I don't know how much sense this post has made but I will try to better next time.

If any reader has FS and would like to add comments to this, please do so and I will post them in a later post.

I hear my daughter coming in the door and I know she is hungry. She has already called and said to start supper. I told her it would probably be sandwiches. It is too hot to cook and I don't feel like it anyway.

Bye for now,
Be back soon, Be well and God Bless,
MamaRose

Short and Sweet

Well, I hit enter and this was almost very short.

I'm not sure how sweet it is. My daughter is at the doctor's office with my grandson. He had a bite on his leg (mesquito?) that wasn't healing and the dr gave her ointment to put on it. He had a reaction to the medicine, we think. Bumps head to toe. The nurse she talked to said to start him on benedryl and stop using the ointment, bring him in if he started coughing. He coughed all night and was still coughing this morning. The bumps were gone when I first looked at him but in about 30 minutes, they started coming back. By the time they left about an hour ago, he was getting a pretty good crop of them again. I am wondering if the cough is from being broken out inside, also. I'll update later.

I have been busy downloading information and software to learn to market - part of my website that I will be working on as I attempt different things and record how they work.

As you can imagine, my mind isn't really on writing this. I may do another post later today. I have gotten behind in what I need to do. I usually send my Chocolate Gravy Bulletin out on Sunday. I got busy with something else and haven't sent it yet. I need to be getting it ready.

Be back soon, Be Well and God Bless,
MamaRose

Friday, August 05, 2005

Initial Post - Welcome to my Blog

Well, I finally broke down and started a blog. It sounds like fun and I am going to give it a whirl.

I am Rose Staggs, better known to most on the internet as MamaRose, of MamaRose Gifts and more, found at http://mamarosegifts.com. I have been using the name MamaRose since the early '90's when I worked as a purchasing assistant and one of my contacts' receptionist thought I sounded like her mom. She started to call me Mama Rose when I called.

When I started a catering business and was looking for a name, I became MamaRose Catering and Desserts. I also made, and still make, a line of food mixes (which will soon be available on my website) known as MamaRose Mixes.

When I registered my first domain, the site I have now was not the site I was working on then. It was to be MamaRose Crafts and Things. Before it went live, I went back to my regular job and didn't have time to finish it. I still had the name registered and had signed on for 5 years. I decided I would use it and build a site with "gifts and more."

That site was a little 4-5 page site that has developed into a larger site and continues to grow. I also started a newsletter about a year ago and call it Chocolate Gravy Bulletin. You would never guess it was about cooking would you?

MamaRose Gifts and More is a Home and Family Living website. I have a kids page that I am being very careful what goes on it. No information feeds or blatant advertising. I am choosing the articles for that page carefully. The links will be links that I am comfortable with my grandchildren Taylor (9 - girl) and Brad (4 - boy -ALL BOY) using.

You will be hearing more about them if you are a regular reader. He is playing football this year and she is cheerleading.

There is a craft page that I will be working on along with the kids page. The other pages are currently in pretty good shape. Recipe, Foods, Survey, Health and Nutrition, and Shopping for the whole family are pretty well formed and filled. Information will be changing regularly.

About Us stays pretty much the same unless we have a major change. It is about our family and our interests.

Our Stores will be changing as soon as I have the time to add MamaRose Mixes.

My Daughter, Sandy, is representative for a company with lots of decor items. I was going to set her up on the site with that but I think we have decided she may need a separate site. More about that when we get it done.

The home page of the website is a summary of the entire site. I also have a sub domain - Learning to Market Online. This part of the website is developing as I learn and may turn into a separate blog.

Please, visit MamaRose Gifts and More at http://mamarosegifts.com and look around.

On the Contact Us page, you will find a form for 2 Free Recipes From MamaRose Cookbooks and subscription to our Chocolate Gravy Bulletin. If you like recipes, or like to cook, or like to eat, you will enjoy the ezine and the cookbooks.

That's all for now,
See you soon,

MamaRose