Ashley’s Picks

My friend and I are both having some problems with ours cars, which is so annoying. Car parts can be so expensive, so we started talking about how we should get a motorcycle. They’re so much more easy to maintain, and pretty fun to drive. There is also cool places to get accessories and parts, llike chrome accessories, and saddlebags.  I think it would be lost of fun to shop for motorcycle gear, and stuff to make my ride my own. It’s alot more fun than shopping for a new transmission for my car, and less expensive too. Sounds like a plan.  Don’t you think?

Well, Tomorrow is Fathers day! How special. I love my dad, but I don’t know what to get him. There are so many things to choose from, but you always want to find something they will love. Anyway, I just had to ask him what he wanted. I guess thats sad, but I dont think he minds.

Have you ever heard of anonymous proxy servers? They are used to hide the IP address of the computer using the site. It has been discovered that many of the proxy users are responsible for spamming and credit card fraud and even hackers who try to scam your or your web site visitors.

So why would you need IP2Proxy? Because proxy servers can be used to cover up fraud, many e-commerce sites have lots of charge backs. The IP2Proxy is a system that updates daily a list of proxy’s that have been activated in the past 24 hours, so you can identify those who may be preying upon your site.

Is something like this easy to use? It’s as simple as downloading and importing into your system and it starts working right away. Just automate the process every once a day and import the proxy list into your site, and they will be blacklisted. The proxy list comes from using an algorithm that uses servers scans IP addresses to find open proxy servers that are in use. It will then make a list of the ones that are released to download area every 24 hours.

Webmasters can use the IP Address Detection for free just by applying the script into your site, and show the results of the detection to your visitors. All you need to do is visit http://www.ip2location.com/demo-ip2proxy.aspx and copy the code in the “Free Tool 1″ area, and just paste it into your site. That simple. Then you will have it free for your site. You can see that I have done it below. The tool is very helpful, so check it out to see how it can help you.

Yesterday I ate a sugar free cookie, and although I like cookies, I usually prefer them soft and chewy. I didn’t want to write about cookies, but my sister keeps talking about them.  And although I’m trying to change the subject i just can’t, because cookies come in many shapes and sizes, colors and flavors, and they are just so addicting. Anyway, Since cookies can be so yummy…. ok, I’m just going to go and get one.

Would you like to improve your vocabulary? It can definitely help you out. You can express yourself so much better when you have all the words you need. I found this new tool online called Vocaboly, it can help you build your vocabulary. You can use this software to help you with exams or just to improve your knowledge. Either way, you will learn a ton. This software comes with more that 12,000 words, so you will always have something new to learn. There are also many ways of learning, by playing a memory game, or listening tests.  So, if you want to improve your vocabulary, this is where you should look. Check it out.

This week has been a little crazy for me.  I was really sick for the most part of it, and had quite a bit of drama to go along with it. Anyway, it’s drama that not everyone would understand so I won’t go into it. I just hope that this week will be a little less eventful.

I want to bring up something I think is very important if you have a website or a blog. There are so many people that use “free sites” and don’t realize how much they can benefit if they go ahead and get a domain, and web hosting. I used to use free sites too, but when I finally got my own site, I realized that it was so worth it. You have complete freedom and control over your own site, and can do so much more with it. Another great thing is that it’s not that expensive. It’s not expensive at all.

If you think you might want to get hosted you should go to a web site hosting website like Web Hosting Geeks and you’ll find out all you need to know about web hosting and which one is right for you. There are so many different hosting options, and there is one that is perfect for you. It depends on what kind of website you want to have, and how much space you need. Each service has it’s own special features, and you get to choose what you like the best.  It’s definately worth the investment. You have a much higher quality site that will look much better to all your visitors.

I have a job where I work just 4 days a week, and I really like that. The job is fun, but I just started so I’ll have to spend some time working my way up. But, as soon as I do that, I think I can really start to enjoy it there. I also like doing some extra stuff at home so it makes it pretty nice to have more days off to do them.

I have a lot of friends who having been needing some extra cash lately. It’s summer and they just want to go out and do something. But, you can not do anything without some money in your pocket. A good way to get money when you need it is to get a Payday Loan. You don’t have to wait a long time to get it, and you get to pay it back quickly. You can go online to apply, and get approved right away. It’s very simple, and convenient. So, if you need money right away, why not get a Payday Loan?

Not everyone gets to go away for 6 months and live in another country, but I was given the opportunity. I actually worked hard for that opportunity, and saved money for a year to be able to go, and quit my job of 7 years so I could do it.  Why? I knew it would be just about the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life, and it was.

I remember saying goodbye to my family at the airport, and crying all the way there while I was on the airplane.  I knew once I landed, I would be in a country where I didn’t know anyone, didn’t speak the language, and didn’t know where I would be living.  I had booked a hostel for the first week I was there, and then had to find an apartment.

I started language school the day after I got there, and didn’t know where it was, so I took a taxi to get there.  I took me a week before I was able to walk there. I got lost on my way back from the school, and I was asking in my best Spanish about how to find my way back.  It took me an hour and a half to make 15 minute trip. But, from then on I knew my way around.

I spent alot more time walking than that, since I couldn’t bring my car with me. So, in my first month, I broke two pair of shoes.   It turns out, they weren’t made for walking.  So, I went shopping and bought a really nice pair that have lasted me through the rest of my walking around Mexico, until now. They were hand made leather, and I love them. They are very comfortable.

I did some really fun things, alone. I went diving in a cave, and touring some Mayan ruins. I also went to Cancun, on Mexican Independence day.  It was beautiful, but while I was in the water, I had to keep one eye on my bag, since I had no one there to help me watch it, and I had to have money with me so I could pay for my bus ticket back. So, it was not as fun as it could have been. But I enjoyed it anyway. I learned however, that it is worth the money to get a hotel on the beach.

I had my birthday while I was there, and didn’t get to celebrate with my family. But, I had made some friends by that time, and was at a youth camp on my birthday. So, I had to do a little birthday dance, and got hugs from about 50 people. It was pretty nice.

After three months in that location, I was on to my next place. A little island, in a place where I also knew no one. I was a 6 hour bus ride. I was going to be picked up from the bus station by the family that I would be staying with.  The trip was nice, I was able to see the sunset over the ocean as we were crossing the bridge. I got there on Thanksgiving week, and was surprised that the family I stayed with made a dinner just for me, (since it’s an American holiday).

I started teaching their son English, shortly after I got there. He started improving quickly in his English class. I was glad to be able to give back in some way.  I became part of the family quickly, and helped out around the house, and whatever I could do. I had a friend come from the US to visit me for Christmas, and she took my bed, and slept on the floor.  For me that is fine. I went Christmas shopping for the kids there, and the toys are so overpriced there.

Right after Christmas, my friend and I visited the city I had stayed at for the first 3 months, and we went to the beach, and Cancun. In that part of Mexico, it never gets really cold. I got a nice suntan on the beach on December 31st.  I thought that was great.

Shortly after, I got the flu. It was awful. I had planned to go to a conference that was out of town, so I went anyway.  Because of a crime in the area, the location of the conference had to be moved….to outside.

It was raining, and I had on flip flops.  The conference lasted all day long, and I was miserable. Since I lived with a family, I was being taken care of by them, and had to follow the “sick rules”, which included not being able to drink my diet soda.  That was really hard.  Cause I have to drink at least one or two a day. I don’t usually take care of myself when Im sick. I just suffer through it til I get better. I thought I had gotten better, and was going to be coming home soon. but, just a couple of days before my trip home I got sick again. I had fever, and I lost my voice. I took some kind of pill that made me feel so much better, but my voice was still gone.

The day of my return was great. I booked my flight in the first city, 6 hours away, and it was scheduled for 8 in the morning. So, I had to take a bus a midnight to get there.  Then I took my flight from there to Houston, and arrived at 11am . So, after traveling for 12 hours I was so happy to see my family waiting there for me at the airport. My voice was still gone, and so I couldnt say anything, but I was so glad to be back.

Being back home has been nice, and I still haven’t gotten over being happy about it. I was able to find a job quickly after my return, and realize that I really love my friends, and family.  I also enjoy living in the US. I also know that I have another family in Mexico, and they helped me learn to speak their language, and taught me alot about living in another country.

So, even though I had to give up alot, I think it was worth it. I didn’t get this opportunity, I worked for it, gave things up for it, and it was hard. But, if you want to do something like that, it will cost you something.  But, if nothing else, you’ll at least make some friends, and learn a new language.