Affiliate Marketing: Getting My Toes Wet

I've been busy, too busy. I had to put the blog on the back burner for a bit. I hope to get back to my 3/week posts by the end of summer. I am still visiting blogs. I just haven't had too much time for posts.

I signed up to be an affiliate marketer. You can see some of the ads on the top of the blog. Adsense just isn't cutting it for me. I signed up for their "image" ads and still only got text. So I took the plunge to be an affiliate. Guess what, it's free. You should check them out because Pepperjam Network is Now Offering a $10 Affiliate Sign On Bonus. Join Today.

Here's how I'm using the Pepperjam affiliate ads on Squidoo:

• Swimsuit Model Selections for Real People
• Food Recipes: Variety is the Spice of Life
• Debt Free! Real World Credit Management Solutions
• Dereon Makes Perfect Back to School Clothing
• Bartending or Bar Tending? That is the Question...
• Old Vintage Jewelry is Beautiful and Stylish
• The Pepperjam Affiliate Marketing Program is for You!

Here's another affiliate program: ClickBank. Their ads are in text link ads to digital products. I just signed onto this one. I created Bass Fishing Guide for Fishing Largemouth like a Pro. I don't know how many clickbank lenses I'll do, but that lens was a fun one to throw together.

You probably won't have to hear me ramble on too much about affiliate marketing until I get to know the ropes a little better. So far I'm doing alright with it. Every day another advertiser accepts me as an affiliate at pepperjam. As long as they do, I'll keep building the lenses.

If you are looking to run ads on your blogs or make more money on Squidoo, I think you should give Pepperjam a go.

The Diaries of Dogs and Cats (from an email)

I received this in an email. I don't know who wrote it but it's one of the funniest things I've read of this nature. Too good not to pass along. Kudos to the writer...

(ETA: I found the Siamese Rescue site has more excerpts from the cat diary. Apparently it was written by Diane R. Karius, Ph.D. I think it's hilarious and if I come across any more entries I'll post them.)

This is our dog and the diary represents her perfectly.


EXCERPTS FROM A DOG'S DAILY DIARY

8:00 am - Oh Boy! Dog food! My favorite!
9:30 am - Oh Boy! A car ride! My favorite!
9:40 am - Oh Boy! A walk! My favorite!

10:30 am - Oh Boy! A car ride! My favorite!
11:30 am - Oh Boy! Dog food! My favorite!
12:00 pm - Oh Boy! The kids! My favorite!
1:00 pm - Oh Boy! The yard! My favorite!
4:00 pm - Oh Boy! The kids! My favorite!
5:00 pm - Oh Boy! Dog food! My favorite!
5:30 pm - Oh Boy! Dad! My favorite!
6:00 pm - Oh Boy! Playing ball! My favorite!
8:30 pm - Oh Boy! Sleeping in master's bed! My favorite!


Here's our cat...Spooky similarities here too.

EXCERPTS FROM A CAT'S DAILY DIARY

Day 183 of my captivity.

My captors continue to taunt and torment me with bizarre little dangling objects.

They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while I, on the other hand, am forced to consume dry cereal only.

The one thing that keeps me going is the blessed hope of escape, and the mild satisfaction I get from ruining the occasional piece of furniture. Tomorrow I may eat another houseplant.

Today my attempt to kill my captors by weaving around their feet while they were walking almost succeeded. Must try this at the top of the stairs next time.

In an attempt to disgust and repulse these vile oppressors, I once again induced myself to vomit on their favorite chair. Must try this on their bed.

Decapitated a mouse and brought them the body in an attempt to make them aware of what I am truly capable of, and to instill dread and terror in their hearts. They only cooed and repeated "what a good little kitty" I was. Hmmm, not working according to plan.

There was some sort of gathering of their accomplices. I was placed in solitary throughout the event. However, I could hear the noise and smell the food. More importantly, I overheard that my confinement was due to my "ability to induce allergies." Must learn what this ability is and how to turn it to my advantage.

I am convinced the other captives are flunkies and possibly snitches as well. The dog is routinely released outdoors and seems more than happy to return. He is obviously a complete idiot.

The bird, on the other hand, has got to be an informant, as he speaks with them regularly. I am certain he reports my every move. Due to his current placement in the small metal room, his safety is assured. For now.

But I can wait. Oh, yes, I can wait....

A Preface to a Dream...Continues ©

...continuation

I belted out an uncontrollable scream and demanded to see him.

My father was in his bed. His complexion was gray. His eyes were shut. He looked peaceful, almost happy.

The pungent scent of rubbing alcohol filled the room. Pristine white sheets lay crisp and smooth upon him. His arms were at his side. He did not move a muscle or crack a joke. I touched his hand. It was cold.

I wanted to cry. I could feel it in my throat but the tears would not fall. He was gone all right.
My sister walked in. Tears streamed down her cheeks. I was jealous. She said mom did not want to come in. I knew she had to.

I sat on my father’s bed. His body shifted. My heart jumped inside of my chest. For a moment I thought he came back but I was wrong.

My sister and I sat silently with our father until there was a knock on the door. I knew who it was. I could not bring myself to open it.

I grabbed my dad’s hand. I asked him to come back. For the first time in my life he did not respond to me.

The door opened and a nurse entered silently. I did not look at her. She whispered something but I ignored her. My sister stood up and left me alone with my daddy.

I pulled my father’s hand and poked his arm. I shook the bed again. He moved but didn’t say a word. I wanted him to tell me, "cut it out!"

My sister returned, “They’re here.” She held her hand out to me. I stood up and shook the bed again. I told him I was sorry I didn’t take him home last night and walked out.

The corridor was silent. The normal hustle and bustle of nurses and staff did not exist that evening. Down the hall, a gurney sat draped in midnight blue. A tall man in a dark suit and tie stood beside it.

The wing doors were still shut. In fact, every door down the hall was closed. I passed the vacant nurses station feeling just as empty.

The drive home was silent except for Nana blowing her nose. I dropped her off and returned home. My sister and mother were sitting on the couch. I went to my room.

Continued...

A Preface to a Dream ©

In reference to a recent comment from fellow blogger Kathy of Well Placed Words, I wanted to post a short series about a dream I will never forget.

A little history:

My father passed away several years ago. I was rather young and his passing devastated me. He had survived open-heart surgery--a triple bypass and mechanical valve replacement.

There were several complications following the surgery including a catastrophic staph infection in his sternum. They had to re-open him to remove a great portion of his sternum and build a makeshift replacement.

He survived all of this and lived quite well for another six months.

He went to the dentist for an abscessed molar. As it turned out he needed root canals on four molars. The dentist opted to do all at once. A problem occurred and he was transported to emergency and admitted to the hospital that afternoon.

After one week in the hospital, he was scheduled to go home on Saturday. Friday night he asked me to just take him home because he hated it there and couldn't stand one more night. I told him I couldn't but he would be going home tomorrow. One more night, just one more night.

The next morning my mom called and told me pick up my Nana and hurry to the hospital. I walked out the front door and vomited. I had not been ill so I was quite surprised. Afterward, I felt an urgent need to be with my dad so I got there as fast as I could.

When we arrived, my father's wing was locked down. We were directed to a private waiting room. The room was dank and dimly lit by small sconces on the wall.

My mother was sitting in the room alone. Tears were streaming down her face. Unaware of what was going on we sat with her. My sister arrived shortly after us with my grandfather.

Dad's doctor entered the room and shut the door. He had sweat on his brow and his eyes were blood shot as if he had been crying. He knelt before us and took my mother's hand. "He’s gone.”

Apparently there was some medication problem. His mechanical valve burst and there was nothing that could be done to save him.

To be continued...

My Horoscope: Time to take Action, Muse!

How often do you read your horoscope? I read mine just about everyday I'm on the computer. I have it as a part of my homepage. Here's what it says for today:

This is a wonderful day to get stuff started! If you've been delaying making travel plans, calling up that cutie, or getting you car fixed, it's time to stop stalling and do what you need to do. You've been thinking and pondering long enough. Now it's time to act. You can be confident that whatever is begun today will end in a huge success. As for your concerns that you're not quite ready: Well, you're never going to be completely prepared. But you can make things up as you go along!

Funny, I really want to go on vacation, my hubby has a sexy phone voice and is a cutie, and my car is broke down. Call me paranoid, but is somebody watching me?

All that aside, the first sentence: This is a wonderful day to get stuff started! Indeed it is! You know me, everyday is a wonderful day for me to start something. As a matter of fact, I started two new Squidoo lenses in the last two weeks:

• SharedReviews: Paid to Review


• SproutBuilder Widgets Help You Market and Promote Your Content!

I put a lot more effort in these two. I learned a few more tricks about Squidoo also. I'll make a separate post to talk about the tricks.

Back to my horoscope, it says I should quit thinking and start doing. I guess I've had the irons in the coals long enough? Whatever I start today is going to be a huge success. I don't know whether I should build a lens, write an article, or start that book I've been thinking about.

The last part really made me laugh because it's so true about me: ...make things up as you go along! I do that all the time.

I suppose no matter what I do, it'll be grand!

It's Friday the 4th of July

Happy 4th of July to you!

Today we're going to BBQ. No fireworks though, there's a county wide firework ban due to the dry conditions and fire danger. We may cruise into town to see a professional display, if the mood hits us and we feel like dealing with traffic.

Of course, you never have to leave the house when you have YouTube:

I hope everyone has a safe holiday weekend!