Build It: Half-Height Gaming PCs For The Living Room : How Low Can You Go?

Did you all know that i am a Geek? Well...I am, so here is a really cool article about making a small computer to hook up to your TV; but not just any small computer - a Gaming computer!

Build It: Half-Height Gaming PCs For The Living Room : How Low Can You Go?

Enjoy,

Travis!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Hello everyone,



I would like to wish everyone a very merry Christmas and a very happy new year!



This is the season where we have the joy of giving gifts to other people. But as your shopping and choosing gifts I would like you to remember that the reason we give them. I enjoy the look on their faces and the warm feeling I get when I see the excitement on the children's faces.



I always make a big deal on Christmas Eve and track Santa using the NORAD Santa Tracker at: http://www.noradsanta.org/ I like to see him as much as my kids do.



I have found "The Night before Christmas" on YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a46lTHxc1bo


Since my new TV will play YouTube I will be reading the story of "The Night before Christmas" and then we will be watching it. Do you have special traditions that you follow on Christmas Eve? On Christmas Day? If not this would be the perfect year to start your very own Family Christmas Tradition.



Whatever you feel is the reason for the season, I hope that you have a great time this year!



Travis!

My Seattle Snow Storm Experience

Here I have been talking about emergency kits and being prepared and guess what? It happened to me! I was caught in a snow storm and was stuck on a six mile stretch of interstate for nine hours.

Every year I travel to Seattle, Washington to the VA Hospital there for an Annual evaluation to see if my Spinal cord Injury has changed in any way. I decided to drive this year since it was during thanksgiving week and my mom lives near there. My kids got to spend time with their grandma as I and my dog went up to my appointment.

I took my own advice and made up an emergency bag for my car. Here is a list of what I had in it:

• Water,
  
• Four Backcountry Bars (because there are four of us in our family),
  
• Rope,
  
• Bungee cords,
  
• A spotlight,
  
• Flashlight,
  
• Led lantern,
  
• Tools
  • three different style of plyers,
    
  • Philips and flat screwdrivers,
    
  • utility knife,
    
  • crescent wrench,
    
  • a tube of goop,
    
• Winter gloves, and
  
• A small blanket.
  

It was so nice to have! Yet there are some points that need to be addressed with my kit.

First I think that more water is necessary. I had about 1 liter of water for both me and my dog for nine hours. We were both still thirsty but we had enough to sustain us. And since I ate one of the Bars I was thirstier, but if the time is long enough it is a given that you will be eating. I think that I should have had a whole gallon of water. It should be a gallon of water per person and if you have pets, don't forget them either.

Another interesting thing is that if you are traveling in a car you should keep the fuel above half a tank at all times. I had 3/8 of a tank at the beginning of my nine hour trip and had to start rationing it a couple of hours into the wait. I would wait until it was cold in the car and then start it, run the heater for a while and turn it back off again. There were other people who ran out of gas as they waited.

Since I am in a wheelchair I could not "walk" out of the situation or even go for help if I really needed it; so I stayed in my car and ate my bars, drank my water and waited. I called my wife every hour to tell her of my progress as she was quite worried. A cell phone is also something that should be accessible to you even if it can only dial 911.

If you have a disability, Please make your emergency kit! You never know when you may need it, and it is usually unexpected, but having it may save your life! Don't forget extra medical supplies if you need them (medicine, catheters, extra warm clothes, etc)

Stay Safe!

Travis!Seattle PI Snow Image

Here Comes Christmas Resolutions are Next

Ok Guys…Here comes Christmas. Another year has gone already (not sure where it went as I look back at the year), and it is almost time to look at our New Year's Resolutions. I usually don't think about it until the day after Christmas, but this year I thought I would get a jump on it.


So….what do I want out of my new year? What are my goals? Where do I want to be this time next year? These are the questions that begin my thinking process about what my resolutions are gonna be. Then I compare those answers to where I am now, or how I feel about where I am now.


How I feel about where I am now has a big impact on what my New Year's Resolutions end up being. But remember to not make them too hard or we will never achieve them and that always makes us feel bad.

So this year as I watch Christmas come closer I am thinking that losing weight and getting in shape will be my main goals for the New Year. I would also like some more money in the coming year so I am going to keep my eyes and ears open for entrepreneurial opportunities.


I am going to go over to AnabolicMusclesPro.com and make an order for some supplements like Vitimans/Minerials, Fish Oil and Protein to help in my goals. They have a great selection, great customer service and good prices, and I believe that supplements help with getting in shape when taken in the right dose and at the right time.


New year's resolutions are important to us because it help us to reflect on where we are and improve ourselves. So think about yourself now, then think about where you wanna be at this time next year and make your new year's resolutions.


2011 is gonna be a great year! So, enjoy the rest of 2010 and lets all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!


Travis!

Cyber Monday Yields Highest Online Sales Ever - Website Magazine - Website Magazine

Cyber Monday Yields Highest Online Sales Ever - Website Magazine - Website Magazine

Emergency Survival Kits

With the storms that have recently wreaked havoc on the Midwest and more fall and winter storms on the way, we need to be prepared by having our own Emergency Kit. I wrote an article about this in September because it was National Preparedness Month, yet now that the storms are here it is more necessary to have the right stuff to help keep you alive.

Here in Idaho we have had missing hunters, hikers and backpackers already this year, because you never know when the weather will change suddenly, or something unexpected will happen. It is better to follow the Boy Scout Motto and “Be Prepared” than the alternative.

Now another important thing to consider…are you disabled? If you are, do you need extra supplies? Medicine? Catheters? Extra clothes/blankets to keep warm? Other things you need above and beyond these kits? Then you can put them in an extra backpack or day bag and store it next to your Emergency Kit. If you don’t have an extra bag laying around you can find many of them at your local second hand store. If you are planning for a 3-Day Kit then I would add my ‘extra’ supplies for a five (5) day supply.
Here are two kits that come in backpacks and are ready to go as they are – just “Grab ‘n Go” ::

Grab-n-Go Emergency Kit, 2-Person 3-Day Back Pack

:: Because you never know when there will be an emergency situation, it's wise to always be prepared. To avoid being caught unprepared, make sure that you have the Grab 'n Go 3 Day Emergency Kit 2 Person Backpack on hand at home, at school and at the office. Each kit contains enough emergency supplies to sustain two people for three days. The three basic essentials, as recommended by the American Red Cross, are in every handy backpack.

Each kit contains enough emergency supplies to sustain two people for three days, as recommended by the American Red Cross. There's food, water and emergency blankets, plus a First Aid kit (33 piece), two 12-hour safety lightsticks, dust masks, nitrile gloves and an emergency whistle. Each kit also contains emergency ponchos and pocket tissues. The kit, in a handy backpack, can be stored at home, at school, and at the office.
• Sustains two people for three days
• Food, water, emergency blankets
• First Aid kit (33 piece)
• Safety lightsticks (2)
• Handy backpack

Survivor Emergency Kit - 4 Person, 72 Hour Disaster Survival Kit,

:: Disaster is not something that we can predict, but we can be prepared for is when it happens. Because you never know where you are going to be during an emergency our kit includes the 48 page “How to Prepare for Any Disaster” book to help you before during and after a disaster, a Lithium Ion hand crank rechargeable AM/FM radio flashlight, and our SOS Brand food and water have a 5 year shelf life.

This kit includes the following:
• 1 Organizational Backpack,
• 1 Large backpack,
• 1 Dynamo AM/FM radio and flashlight with lithium ion battery-rechargeable with a hand crank,
• 4 eight hour light sticks,
• Magnesium Fire starter,
• 4 emergency reflective sleeping bags,
• 4 emergency ponchos,
• 4 body warmers,
• 2 tube tents,
• 20 hour liquid candle,
• 4 3600 Calorie US Coast Guard approved Food Bars with a 5 year shelf life (SOS brand coconut flavor),
• 24 US Coast Guard approved Water Pouches (125ml each) with a 5 year shelf life (SOS brand),
• 1 bottle of 50 Potable Aqua water purification tablets (Aquamira brand),
• 1 Lexan bottle (1L),
• 1 multi-tool knife,
• 1 5-in-1 survival whistle,
• 1 50 ft. rope,
• 2 pairs of work gloves,
• 4 N95 masks (individually wrapped to keep clean),
• 1 deluxe first aid kit,
• 1 hygiene kit (4 toothbrushes, toothpaste, comb, washcloth, 10 tissues, 24 wet naps, shampoo),
• 1 roll of toilet paper,
• 1 note pad,
• 1 pencil,
• 1 sewing kit and
• 1 Emergency Preparedness Guide. (The 48 page HOW TO PREPARE FOR ANY DISASTER gives you the steps to preparedness. It includes emergency checklists, preparedness tips, what to do before, during and after a disaster.)

These kits are a great advantage in being prepared for the unexpected. Remember that they are only the starting point, and they need to be in an accessible place for them to be of any use. Being prepared is also a way to think. When you leave your home do you always carry extra supplies that you may need? Extra catheters, clothes, gloves, etc? I do and I have found them to come in very handy on more than one occasion.

Whether you make your own kit or choose one of the above kits, I believe that we should be prepared for the unexpected. I am in a wheelchair and I have to make extra considerations in emergencies, so being prepared could save my life when other people wouldn’t be at risk at all.

Please take these things into consideration as we are entering the stormy season of the year.

Be Safe and Be Happy!

Travis!

Halloween in a Wheelchair

Now that I have kids that go trick or treating I have had to modify how we celebrate this awesome holiday. I love the costumes, the parties, and the candy. It's one of my favorite holidays, but making sure my kids are safe is important to me. Being in a wheelchair prevents me from going up to most houses – they have steps!

Here are some very affordable and convenient solutions.

• Go to the local Mall
  
• Find a community event
  
• Have an able-bodied partner
  
• Only go to houses of known people
  

For the last two years I have partnered with my Brother-in-Law and we have taken his four kids and my two kids all together. My kids like being with their cousins, and this makes it more fun for them. An able-bodied friend or family member that comes along with you can have fun and eat some of the extra candy.

Before that, my wife and I would take the kids to the mall. They are completely accessible and nearly all of the stores have someone out in front with a big bowl of candy for the kids. Not only is the parking good (with my handicapped sticker) but it is also warm inside when the weather outside isn't

One year our elementary school had a nice harvest festival for the local community that was celebrated on Halloween. It was way cool as it had fun activities along with the candy.

So check out your local community and the local mall for additional activities and places to trick-or-treat, before calling off the fun.

Have fun, be safe and enjoy!


 
Travis!

New Cell Phone

I have been using a cell phone for quite a few years now. I have not had a land line phone for about five years or more, and I don't miss it. So, when my cell phone broke I had to use the insurance on it and get a new one.


And I had to wait two days without a phone. I felt so disconnected from the world! I couldn't just pick it up and text someone or call someone, and no one could send me a text or call me either. It was worse than not having the internet for a week!


I have my new phone. Even though it is not configured with all my contacts I still feel like I am back on the grid! I am able to contact my friends and family again.


My question to you is: What makes you feel disconnected from the world around you?


Please answer in the comments & Thanks!



Travis!

The new health drink: Beer! | AnabolicMusclesPro.com

The new health drink: Beer! | AnabolicMusclesPro.com

The 5 Best Cures From Around the World | The Dr. Oz Show

The 5 Best Cures From Around the World | The Dr. Oz Show

Childhood places

I recently visited my childhood home in Wallowa, Oregon and then traveled up the road to Wallowa Lake, Oregon and on my way home these questions collided with me: Are things ever the same when we visit the places of our childhood? I think not. Well then…is it our memories, the places themselves or us that has changed over the years, or is it all three?

The house we lived in had burned down many years ago, yet I had to drive by the place where it used to stand. Seeing the driveway hill that I used to ride my bright yellow Tonka Truck down looking a lot smaller than I remember makes me feel old, and pointing out the shed that had the two-seater outhouse built into it to my kids makes me feel even older yet.

They were good times though, and different incidents flash through my mind as we drive out of town and continue on toward Wallowa Lake. Like chasing my cousins around the yard as dusk falls and I become the Booger Man instead of the Boogie Man; Like jumping off the roof of the shed near the alley and learning to roll when I land; Like when the skunk sprayed our dog while he was on the front porch and the whole house smelled for a week or more; Like watching the Apollo 17 night launch on our black and white TV; and more...

So, to answer some of the above questions, I believe that over time our memories do change somewhat, yet remain basically the same. The places we remember also change over time. We may not see it if we are so close to the things that are changing. For example do we see our children grow taller? Not really but they do nonetheless, and one day we realize that they are now much taller. Every season, every year things change from place to place and town to town; grass grows, trees grow and sometimes fall, more houses are built, some houses are torn down or remodeled.

I am a different person than I was even a year ago, let alone thirtysome years ago. So I know that me being different is a large factor in how I see the town of Wallowa, Oregon. The same goes for Wallowa Lake. I remember feeding the deer there as a kid, but I also remember having respect for them as wild animals. I found myself teaching my kids the exact same respect (see the pics).

When I mentioned this to my mom, she told us that we were told not to touch them both because they were unpredictable and because having our scent on them may change how other deer act towards them. I didn’t remember the words or who told me them, but I remember and lived by the principals. How many times throughout our life do we do this? Humm…something else to think about!

So, anyways, it was a great trip down memory lane and I'm glad I was able to show my kids where I started school and where I had really good memories of my whole family being together. This was the first stop on our two week vacation so…check back for more.

Work from Home!

Do you want to work from home?

 I wanted to be my own boss and work from home at the same time, yet I could not figure out how to do both at the same time. Then someone told me about the Internet Marketing Center!  

After doing my research I found that they have The Step-by-Step Guide to Selling Online that anyone can follow to create a very successful business. 

This is NOT a get rich quick scheme, but if you are serious about making money and if you are willing to follow their instructions, then you can become a profitable business owner.

Read More Here >>

Wheelchair Wheely with Kids

Wheelchair tennis clinic with Randy Snow

I was looking around on YouTube the other day and found a video of me playing tennis.  Check it out and let me know what you think...

Something more than you are!

I wrote an article for another blog today.  Check it out here :: http://anabolicmusclespro.com/blog/2010/05/something-more-than-you-are/

Let me know what you think by leaving me comments!

Travis!