In a paragraph describe what I do to save energy in my home.

            There are so many ways of saving energy in a home, here are just a few things that we do in our home. Changing or cleaning our furnace filter once a month. Dust and dirt can quickly clog vital parts; which makes the furnace run harder and less efficient. Programming our thermostat to set the temperature back by ten degrees for eight hours every night saves us about ten percent on our bill. We vacuum registers and vents every month, and have inexpensive plastic deflectors that direct the air for maximum efficiency. During the winter we keep curtains and blinds closed at night to keep cold air out, and open them during the day to let the sun warm the room this reduces the work of the furnace. When we are gone for more then twenty four hours we lower the thermostat to 55 degrees. This saves energy and still keeps the water pipes from freezing. Since our basement is unheated we have installed blanket insulation in between exposed floor joists. And added pieces of batt insulation to rim joists were the top of the foundation meets the exterior walls. We have also installed additional attic insulation at right angles to the previous layer. By doing all these little extra things we are saving close to 25 percent on our energy bills.

In a paragraph describe my favorite source of research

            The Internet has made an enormous impact on the daily lives of people worldwide, it has changed the way people communicate, and learn. The speed of surfing the internet is a lot faster then doing research in a newspaper or book. The convenience of being able to do research on a subject at anytime is a huge help to a college student; making doing school research at the last minute possible. Internet speeds are increasing faster and faster everyday. Finding information is as simple as entering words into a search engine. Knowledge can be gained in minutes rather than hours and days. You can get a couple of thousand to a few million items to research. Doing the same research would take weeks or longer with traditional research techniques.

My big time goal

Becoming really fit and in shape is on of my hardest goals I want to accomplish. So to help me reach this goal I have set one of the toughest marathon races in the country in front of me. The only reason I want to run this marathon is to be one of only a few people that have finished it. The thing that will make this goal possible is the fact that it is in one of my most peaceful and beautiful places in America, Estes Park Colorado. The Estes Park Colorado marathon is set for June 10^th 2012, and starts at an elevation of 7,550 with the highest point of 8,150 feet high. I will be training at an elevation of 1066 to 1227 so I will have to incorporate some extra training that will help prepare me for higher altitude running. Only two people have run this marathon from Nebraska in 2011 with a time of over five hours I think my goal for this race will be just to finish and be happy that I will finish.

            My distance training will begin after I weigh in at 160 pounds. My training until I reach my goal of 160 pounds will consist of getting my body use to running everyday five miles. Also I will be doing weight training to help convert fat to muscle which will help me finish the race. My goal of reaching 160 pounds is October 3^rd 2011. Then I will start running longer distances with reaching 25 miles in April 2012. In the spring I will start running up and down hills doing this will help me be ready for the higher altitudes.

            Getting use to the high altitudes fast will be key, I plan on being there three days before race day. I will drink about two gallons of water everyday. The first day I plan on doing a five or ten mile run. The second day I’m planning on doing another five or ten mile run. The third day I will get a message to work out the muscles in my legs and then walk the course so I know where everything is at.

My favorites that can kill

Like so many Americans these days I'm attached to foods high in salt, sugar, and carbohydrates. my favorite meal would be breakfast, or supper with lots of family. The only times that a significant number of family members get together, is on the major holidays.

            My favorite foods for breakfast are O.J., blueberry pancakes, french vanilla coffee, bacon, and maple smoked sausages. My favorite foods at meals other then breakfast are; grilled cheese burgers, homemade garlic mash potatoes. Also on my list are grilled cheese sandwiches, tomato soup with basil and parsley, and freshly shot and smoked turkey. My favorite vegetables are steamed carrots, green beans, and sweet peas. My favorite fruits are bananas, cantaloupe, blueberries, and grapes.

            You will be fine eating foods like these if you eat the right portion size and exercise everyday. It is sad that most people eat foods like these and then don’t exercise or eat ten peoples portion. Most people are stupid and don’t read up on what they need to do to stay healthy. They just blame it on someone or something and for a small percentage of people this might be true. You can’t wait for big time, money making pharmaceutical companies to make a pill that will make you skinny. There is only one way to get healthy and in shape, and that is eat right, and exercise. Did you know that a peanut butter and jelly sandwich is a portion size for two? And did you know that a portion of cereal is ¼ of a cup to ½ cup of cereal have you ever measured out your cereal before? When you get done eating a portion of fruit, vegetable, protein, or fat your done eating for that meal? Don’t eat another portion that just means you have to exercise for two people now.

The cost and timeline of my education.

I hope to be able to start doing my prerequisite this winter 2011, with completion of all my prerequisite classes to get into the nursing program by the end of summer quarter 2012. Then beginning in the fall quarter of 2012 metro community college’s associate’s degree in nursing. The program will cost around but less then $7,000. My hope is that with a good ACT and with the help of some scholarships that I will be able to pay for the total cost without any loans. I also plan on working as much as my grades will allow me, to help with any other cost incurred. My goal for completion is May 2015.

            After my graduation from Metro with my associates degree in nursing I will have or will be in the process of applying to UNMC’s RN to BSN program. Also I will hopefully have a full time job at night as an RN to help pay for the UNMC BSN program. An ASSN in RN graduate earns between $20-36 an hour. I plan on doing UNMC’s RN to BSN program in one year; they do have a 2.5-3 year part time option available also if needed. My goal for completion is May 2017.

            After my graduation from UNMC with my Bachelor’s degree in nursing I plan to enroll into UMKC’s neonatal nurse practitioner program. This program taken full time will take me 1.5 years to complete. UMKC also has options for a 2.5-3 year part-time option. What makes UMKC's program so nice is that the whole program is an online study program that way I can still live and keep my job in Omaha. My goal for completion is May 2019 or May 2020

            After all my education is done with I will be a neonatal nurse practitioner. For the Omaha area, 25% of all NNP’s earn $86,550 and 75% earn $102,647 while the median salary is $94,149. My goal is to make over $95,000 after all my education is all done with which is a far cry from my 10.35 an hour job I do right now.

Here is a pay break down.

2011 = $10.35 an hour

2015 = $20-36 an hour

2017 = $60,000 per year

2019 = $95,000 per year

So after eight years of schooling I will be making about $95,000 per year. And hopefully I will have no college loan debt.

Zero debt people and business.

If the stock market were to crash to zero, today, these people and companies would be able to survive. In fact history shows that in a down market that companies that have zero debt and the ability to buy without debt will come out WAY ahead when the market goes back up. Some of these companies have learned by the way of the hard knock school, failing with debt only to turn it around and be better without debt.

American financial author, radio host, television personality, and motivational speaker, David L. Ramsey III has an estimated net worth of $55 million.

Fastenal

They sell industrial supplies; they have 203 million in savings and zero debt

Infosys Technologies

They provide IT consulting services; they have 3.5 Billion in savings and zero debt

Cognizant Technology Solutions

They offer IT consulting and outsourcing services, they have 1.4 Billion in savings and zero debt

Lancaster Colony Corp.

They sell packaged foods, glassware and candles; they have 96 Million in savings and zero debt

Panera Bread Co.

Well you know about them; they have 305 Million in savings and zero debt.

WellCare Health Plans

They offer managed care services for government health programs; they have 1.1 Billion in savings and zero debt

Google

Everyone knows what Google is about; they have 27 Billion in savings and zero debt.

Texas Instruments

They design semiconductors; and have 2.8 Billion in savings and zero debt.

Apple

Everyone knows about them; they have 23 Billion in savings and zero debt. And if they were to liquidate everything they have they would be richer then the whole U.S.A.

Bed Bath & Beyond

They sell furnishings, linens and appliances; they have 1.5 Billion in savings and zero debt.

Good and sound business advice

You are considered a business start-up when you want to start a business of your own. And as a business start-up there are several rules that most business start-ups don’t know or they just don’t care to follow. Here are some good guidelines to follow as a business start-up.

1. Don't start a company unless it’s an obsession and something you love, and if you have an exit strategy, it’s not an obsession.
2. Hire people who you think will love working there with you.
3. Sales cure all. Know how your company will make money and how you will actually make sales. Having all this information written down in your business plan is key to your companies survival.
4. Know your core competencies and focus on being great at them. Pay up for people in your core competencies. Get the best. Outside the core competencies, hire people that fit your culture but are cheap.
5. No offices. Open offices keeps everyone in tune with what is going on and keeps the energy up. If an employee is about privacy, show them how to use the lock on the john. There is nothing private in a start-up. This is also a good way to keep from hiring execs who can not operate successfully in a start-up. Your biggest fear should always be hiring someone who wanted to build an empire. If the person demands to fly first class or to bring over their secretary, run away. If an exec wont go on sales-calls, run away. They are empire builders and will pollute your company.
6. As far as technology, go with what you know. That is always the cheapest way. If you know Apple, use it. If you know Vista... ask yourself why, then use it. Its a start-up, there are just a few employees. Let people use what they know.
7. Keep the organization flat. If you have managers reporting to managers in a start-up, you will fail. Once you get beyond start-up, if you have managers reporting to managers, you will create politics.
8. NEVER EVER EVER buy swag. A sure sign of failure for a start-up is when someone sends people logo polo shirts. If your people are at shows and in public, buy for your own folks the swag, but if you really think someone is going to wear your noname.com polo you sent them in public, you are mistaken and have no idea how to spend your money.
9. NEVER EVER EVER hire a PR firm. A PR firm will call or email people in the publications, shows and websites you already watch, listen to and read. Those people publish their own emails. Whenever you consume any information related to your field, get the email of the person publishing it and send them an email introducing yourself and your company. They will welcome hearing from the founder instead of some PR person for finding new stuff is their job. Once you establish communications with that person, make yourself available to answer their questions about the industry and be a source for them. If you are smart, they will use you. And doing this will bring in sales.
10. Make the job fun for employees. Keep a pulse on the stress levels and accomplishments of your people and reward them. More often than not most vendors cover the tabs of parties for venders always love a good party.
11. NEVER EVER EVER do business with family, you will ruin the family relationship dynamics. Family is the best things to have in the world, so don’t ruin it by bringing family in as a partner, business associate or client.
12. ALWAYS ALWAYS have a WRITTEN business plan, with a marketing plan. Without a written down vision of who, what, and where you are going how can you make sure you are on the path you had in-vision when you started out?

Busy day

So today was a busy day! Me and Jacob started the day at Mahony State park then proceed to Shramm State park, then stopped in Louisville at the state Rec area there, and on the way home we stopped at the sarpy county fair.
While at Mahoney State park we caught lots of fish, saw horses and wild turkeys. Then we climbed the tower there and later played on the playground equipment there.
Then we went to Shramm state park and walked around inside the aquarium building. Jacob was running around pointing at all the fish.
Then we drove to Louisville State rec area and did some more fishing and walking around. Then mommy called and said "I am hungry can you come and make me some food?" So we started to head back home. While on the drive back home we stopped at the Sarpy county fair where Jacob got to see lots of farm animals. Jacob got the chance to pet a cow, goat, sheep, and a horse. Then we started to head back home again, and before we got about five minutes away Jacob finally fell asleep.