I’m headed out to the “wild” blue yonder (or the yonder, anyway) in about a month and I’ll be giving my Treo a real shakedown.

I’ll only be gone for about 10 days, but I’m really anxious to see if it’s possible to run my business from the Treo, while I’m on the road.

To me, being successfully mobile means traveling light — really REALLY light. And, I’m going to give it my best shot. I’ll report in on WickedTreo. I’ll let those who are interested in the mobile uses of the Treo know how well things worked, what went wrong, and what I wish I’d considered before I left.

Losing my laptop?!?! YUP, I’m going to try it. I have a trip planned in a little over a month. I’ll be traveling with my father, my uncle and my daughter out to Colorado where we will meet up with my sister and her husband for a couple days before I have to head back home.

This will be my first trip out for an extended time, without my laptop.

I’ll be traveling light, taking only a backpack for my personal belongings and my work necessities. So, it only makes sense that I use this opportunity to run my office from my Treo.

There will be a few places where we will be camping that I’ll not be able to get a signal, but I think those will primarily on the weekend, so it’s not a big deal.

I plan to take my portable keyboard, possibly both of them, and give them a real “shakedown” in a genuine “on the road” situation.

I’ll let you know how that goes. I’d like to find a way to blog from the Treo directly on this site, but thusfar, there’s not a plugin that will permit a log-in from the road. I may be able to post without doing so under my name while I’m on the road. We shall see. If I get the time between now and then, I’ll see if there have been any advances in that mobile connection option.

For now, I’m going to try to determine how SMALL I can actually pack and still stay on top of my client work, keep organized and on track, maintain my schedule and be able to communicate with my clients by phone, by email and do my work, all on the Treo.

I already know I’ll be packing lighter with the Treo than I would even without the business aspects. I’ll have a few movies (probably four) on an expansion card, a few audio books, a few ebooks and the ability to take notes and do some journaling and writing. I’ll also snap a few photos using the Treo 650 while I’m out and I’ll post those when I return.

It’s going to be quite an adventure to see if I can “be a turtle” with just a backpack on my back that holds my clothes, my personal essentials AND my “pocket-office.”

So you want something REALLY cool for your Treo? How about the ability to watch the latest DVD from your collection while you are on the road?

I’ve tried several of these players, and even purchased one (MMPlayer) but nothing compares to a free program I found.

MMPlayer gave me some difficulty. It wasn’t easy to “tweak” so the video and the audio match up. I REALLY don’t like watching video that trails the audio. The lips move and the voice timing makes it look like a badly dubbed foreign film. Truth is, I never quite got it perfect. And the frustration of reloading a key to allow me to use the player when I rebuilt my OS, or when I deleted off the player and needed to reload it during one of my test phases — Well, it made me nuts.

Then, I found the beta version of the Core Pocket Media Player (Version .65Y). This great little program can be downloaded at: http://tcpmp.corecodec.org/. The developer, from Hungary, accepts donation for this wonderful little piece of code. It’s worth a small donation, make one! But download it and try it first. I’m sure you will love it.

My lips and voice synch now!

You can also play mp3s through this program. It’s a clean, unbloated little program and works extremely well for videos. For music, it works ok, but does not (in this version) support background playing. This means you can’t listen to music while working in other programs. Most of the paid players for the Palm Operating system will permit background playing. Since I use this function often, I prefer to keep another player on my Treo for music.

I hope that the alpha version of this program will have a few of these “nicety” functions. And, I’d love to see some new, colorful skins. I’ll let you know when I hear any updates on this exceptional — and FREE — product.

Do remember that you will need to record the DVD into a Treo-friendly and properly sized format before you can view it on your Treo. I’ll tell you more about one of these programs later and tell you which one I use to rip my DVDs for my Treo.

Have a great weekend!

With your Treo 650 and a good sized expansion card, you no longer need to carry a jump drive (aka lipstick drive).

If you have a cool application program called Softstick Card Export II (version 2.19), available from www.PalmGear.com, that is.

This cool little program lets you use a the standard cable that comes with your Treo to hook into ANY computer with a USB port, and have your expansion card recognized as a logical disk.

Why is this so great? You can transfer files directly (without conversion programs) from your desktop or laptop to your Treo’s expansion SD card. It also means you can back up the contents of your expansion card directly to your computer’s hard drive for archiving.

You can also use the Treo as an SD card reader too with the Card Export program. No need to buy a physical card reader, your Treo already is one.

Personally, I find this the MOST efficient way to load music, movies and large document files on the expansion card. A hotsync operation will not always work with extremely large file sizes. Card Export will.

The program runs about $15, but if you watch the sales on PalmGear, you may get it a bit cheaper. Maybe. And you can give your jump drive to someone less fortunate — someone who doesn’t own a Treo ;O)

I am deeply concerned about the recent decision of the Supreme Court (Kelo v. New London).

I want to see a law pass that will restate the eminent domain and the current interpretation by the Supreme Court such that private lands may not be obtained by governments for re-distribution to corporate interests simply if such distribution will mean more taxes for local interests. This interpretation should be limited to use for public infrastructure such as roads and bridges and only those items that are of direct benefit to the citizens of that area. And, I believe that even this purpose should be extremely limited. If an improved tax base is the primary reason for land-grabbing by the government, who will protect our not-for-profit organizations? Our churches? Our other valuable, but not currently taxed, land-use? (more…)

Let’s see, what shall we do when sci-fi movies become reality TV?

A bit of fiction to entertain you: Let’s set the stage, shall we? Imagine a USA where the government is all-powerful. Not much of a stretch so far.

Now imagine that all the citizens are calm and behave themselves. They don’t cause any fuss, they don’t advertise their personal feelings, they don’t write their feelings down, they don’t complain to their elected officials (after all they didn’t really GET the leaders they elected). Everything is peaceful and quiet.

Why are these citizens so lamb-like?

Because if they become restless, they are imprisoned, have their homes taken from them, or get fired and can’t feed their family.

Why imprisoned? Because they are speaking out against the government and thus are a threat to national security. Think Patriot Act and Son of Patriot.

Why have their homes taken? Because if the Government’s corporate arm wants the land, they have that right. (That’ll keep them quiet!) Read up on Kelo vs. New London.

Why get fired? Because they work for the government, a subsidiary company with government interests, or a company with ties to the government. Learn more about government official’s links to corporate America and how lobbyists really operate.

Hmmm. And how does this omnipotent government keep tabs on this feeble citizenry? They become omniscient. They scan emails, listen to phone calls, install cameras and watch every move. Sounding a bit too familiar? Feeling uncomfortable yet?

Hmmm. And suddenly we recall some of the sci fi reading we did in our high school English class … and start thinking terms like “big brother” and “1984″ don’t we? Humph. Isn’t it interesting how something so far fetched and fictional becomes so near to the reality in a few short years. Funny, I say, in the sense of extremely odd, not the entertaining “ha-ha” belly-laugh variety.

So, how long will it be until we aren’t even permitted the “illusion” of land ownership and personal freedom? How long before we aren’t allowed to work for ourselves or be “self sufficient?” How long before we become merely the drones, the worker bees for the hive of the government machine? Not long, I’d say. Not long.

Ok, I’m mad. The most recent Supreme Court decision that corporate America has more right to my property than I do makes me, well, pissy. And, trust me when I say this is the “g-rated” version of how I feel. My language and content have been watered down to the point you can see through them. What’s not crystall clear, in fact what’s murky as hell, is how this type of thing can be done.

Quoting from the fifth amendment:

No person shall be… deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

Uh-huh, but the Supreme Court disagrees: (http://www.supremecourtus.gov/) – see the “recent decisions” section on “Kelo vs. New London” for the June 23rd decision. Now, it seems, if there is a better use for any land (meaning it makes more money for the government through increased taxes) they can take it. Period.

Our rights are being eroded. I’ve blogged about my concerns about privacy and our right to it in the past. Now, it’s not just our privacy and the right to bear arms (which I support, although I don’t get all self-righteous about it — yet.)

The social security number issue and the fact that it IS our national ID number makes me crazy. The amount of our personal information that flows out the cracks of corporate America and the government itself, makes me nuts. And now this! What ever happened to personal freedom and small “essentials only” forms of government? Why do we support a land-snatching tyrant?

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve always felt that the beauty of the farm was more than I deserved, and that I could never really “own” it – but considered myself more of a caretaker. But this philosophy is between me and my God – it should not be between me and “my” government.

And now, after all the work I’ve done, the sacrifices I’ve made to carve out my own little piece of heaven on the farm — I find out that if a “better” use for it can be determined — a corporate use — then my farm can be taken by the government and handed over to a developer, and there’s nothing I can do? If another use of MY land can contribute more to the government’s pockets via taxes, then I don’t have a right to it anymore?

This is OK?

Ohhhhh noooooo. It most certainly is NOT. This is BS. I’d like to blog and rant some more about this, but I need to go write my public officials — you remember them, the people we elect to take care of our best interests? Well I hope you remember them, because obviously they don’t remember us.

They have done a FINE job thusfar, Ehhh?

I’m off to write letters now. I advise any of you who own land now, or ever plan to own land in the future, do the same.

This morning, I heard from a friend, fellow writer, and client I’d not spoken to for some time. She asked what was new, and I asked her to visit this site to see my latest undertaking. Her response (in part) was:

Hi Angela,

I like the website, but as a total non-geek, would like to have seen a precise definition of Treo up front — is it a palm computer? What are its physical characteristics and how exactly do we use it?

That’s particularly timely for me (sort of) because I’ve just bought my first laptop and plan to take it to Charlotte, NC next week when we go to meet our newest grandson. That’s as mobile as I am so far, but I’m always interested in new ideas.

On the price range, what’s the high and low end?

So, to answer the question “what is a Treo?” I sent back the following response:

Dear Molly -

Good point on the whole “what is a Treo?” issue. Most of the audience I’m seeking here already has one or wants one, but I’ll add that information in immediately!

My Treo is my “office in my pocket” — it’s a cell phone-PDA combo that lets me make calls, keep up with my contacts and appointments, lets me take notes, send email, cruise the Internet, listen to music, play games, and even watch movies! Of course, mine is totally “tricked out” and I’ve spent months learning how to do it all.

You, in particular, would be interested in the portable keyboards I have which fold up or BEAM the full-sized keyboard by infrared to any flat surface so you can type anywhere! Imagine having a cell phone sized device on a stand and being able to whip out a keyboard projector the size of a plenty pack of gum, flip a switch and type on your best friend’s kitchen table. When you are finished, you can email it to your client and call to say “check your email.” Then, you switch off the keyboard, tuck that and your Treo back in a small purse and you are on your way.

It’s truly awesome and super portable. I have a 2 gig card on mine which means lots of storage space, and I carry an additional 1 gig card (these cards are the size of thick postage stamps and I keep the extra one in a zipper compartment of my wallet). On these cards, I have all the programs I need, several games, 30-40 ebooks, a dozen audio books, fifty of my favorite songs and four full-length feature movies I copied from my DVD collection. No matter where I am, I’m in full contact with my most important files (I even have a program that lets me hook up to any computer anywhere and download files from my expansion cards in the same way you would use a thumb drive).

And, for quick input, there is a thumboard keyboard on the front of the Treo. This just scratches the surface of what this device will do. Come back to my WickedTreo site when you have time to browse and learn more, I’ll be adding more info almost daily!

In answer to your question on the price, they aren’t cheap. But, like most technology, the prices are going down. Check the vendor’s block on the right side of my home page this is where I keep updated information on the most recent prices and sales, and you can click there for basic specs and to learn more info about as-delivered factory options on these little gems.

Blessings,

Angela

The best email package for the Treo 650 for business applications isn’t what comes packaged with the machine.

[more]

SnapperMail (TM) offer a program that will handle attachments and photos without breaking a sweat. It’s a bulletproof program, in my experience and has no soft-reset issues or hangs. I swear by my SnapperMail program, and I’ve tried several others before settling in with SnapperMail.

I used this product on my Treo 600, and used VersaMail on the 650 for awhile before the limitations of that program for business applications became obvious. Then, I loaded up SnapperMail again.

It’s not cheap, running $25 to $60, depending on the version you select. I run the Premire version (and even got a bonus of SplashPhoto when I bought it — so watch for special promotions).

Get it at PalmGear, the best resource for Treo Programs on the web, IMHO or learn more by visiting the SnapperMail site.

A few of the key features include the ability to check multiple email accounts and SEND from multiple email accounts. You can leave all the mail on the server to pull down when you get back to the office, or you can weed out the ones you never want to see again and remove them from the server on the spot.

Again, if you are just using the Treo 650 for occasional email, you don’t need this expense, but if you are running a “pocket office” then you need it now.

Once you have the Treo all nice and comfy in a new protective case with screen protectors in place, you will probably want a way to easily keep your power ON when you are using the Treo.

The Treo has a great battery life, but you may want more. I can use my Treo for many hours before I need to recharge, but I DO sometimes suck the battery pretty dry.

Unlike the Treo 600, the 650 uses a type of memory that doesn’t experience total memory drain if your battery is completely depleted.

Pro side: You don’t lose all date while on the road and have to hotsync again before you have your baby back.

Con side: this “flash” type of memory (that’s a loose description for demonstration purposes only) requires more space to run, meaning you have less user designated space on your Treo 650 than you did on the previous model, even though the memory size is the same.

Palm one is offsetting that with some models by offering a free 128MB expansion card. So, if you have the Treo 650, and you don’t yet have your free card, see if you qualify to Order It! Even shipping and handling are free.

The easiest way I’ve found to keep all charged and ready is to keep an extra batter with me. I bought a simple silky little pouch (designed for sunglasses, but works great for this purpose). And, I keep it charged and in my purse. I also keep a convertable hotsynch cord with a USB end that plugs into a wall-outlet type of plug. It also had a car charger adapter, but it never worked and the company where I purchased it never responded to my inquiries.

I’m still looking for the best solution for on-the-go charging and will let you know if and when I find it. I had a fantastic little charger with my Treo 600 that was a wall plug (the prongs folded down neatly and out of the way when not in use) and had a racheting car cigarette plug on one side. With that little gem I always had what I needed, no matter where I was.

If only they would have that “head” on a USB style plug in — that would be nirvana.

For now, the best option I have is to carry the extra battery (which will charge the same time my handheld charges in a cool little multi-purpose cradle/hotsync/charger/extra battery charger device from PalmOne. It’s not cheap (running over $50) and it’s an extra $50 or so for the additional battery — but I like having my treo propped up there on my desk at the office and easy to slip out and put in the case for a trip out. I like knowing my extra battery is always charged.

There are hundreds of ways to entertain yourself on your Treo after “business” hours. Today I want to tell you a bit about one of my favorites — The Village Sim by the good folks at Last Day of Work Software.

The concept is that you have this tiny island, and a few shipwrecked sims — who know NOTHING about survival and then you teach them how to –

feed themselves, heal themselves, have babies to populate the island, build new housing, even carve statues, bury the dead and grow a garden. The list goes on, but I don’t want to spoil it for you.

I love it. It’s a great little program, keeps me (a confirmed Sims 2 University fanatic) happy and occupied while I’m on the road and between business tasks.

If you like simmie games, get this one for your Treo. They are adorable. The program is great and the folks at LDW are the best! They respond quickly and completely to any questions, comments and suggestions.

Now go… have fun and waste a bit of time!

Outsourcing veterans launch a new membership-only network for outsourcing specialist, experienced virtual assistants and skilled offsite providers.

(PRWEB) July 20, 2005 — Outsourcing is no longer exclusively a tool of corporations. Small businesses are discovering a competitive edge through access to the talents of specialists. The difficulty for small businesses is the time and effort involved in sifting through thousands of offsite options to locate those providers best suited for their needs.

(more…)

June 20, 2005 – Dunnville, KY – WickedTreo, a website dedicated to educating real estate agents about mobile “pocket office” solutions was launched today. Designed for real estate agents, brokers, and Realtors, WickedTreo.com will outline the steps required to set up a mobile operations center from an “all-in-one” pocket-sized device.

From making the decision to try a mobile office solution to making the best purchases in programs and accessories, WickedTreo will guide members of these mobile professionals through the organization and implementation process. The site’s focus will be on the implementation and productive use of the PalmOne Treo 650 and 600 models. [more]“As a business and marketing consultant for real estate agents in the US and abroad,” said owner Angela Parker, “I see a continuing need for real estate professionals to implement technology solutions to help make their mobile career more manageable.

Today, there are literally thousands of options for software, hardware, and accessories with this type of tool. It becomes a real challenge and is incredibly time consuming to make these choices. After consulting with many agents and brokers over the last five years, I’ve undertaken this Treo project to make the process easier for my own clients, for other real estate professionals, and for those interested in mobile solutions.

WickedTreo.com’s launch is just the beginning, the site will grow with frequent updates, a discussion area and responses to direct questions from visitors.” Based in Kentucky, Parker works as a marketing consultant and freelance writer providing web content, marketing assistance and business advice for small business owners, entrepreneurs, and individuals worldwide. “This site enables me to bring together the benefit of my experience as a business and marketing consultant, my writing skills, and my belief that mobility is the key to expanding the capabilities of industries such as real estate and other small business and entrepreneurial endeavors.”

Based in Dunnville, Kentucky, Angela A. Parker is the owner of Wicked WordCraft, (www.WickedWordCraft.com) a site that offers real estate marketing articles, business consultation, and writing services. The new site, WickedTreo represents an expansion of informational and educational services offered by this Kentucky writer and marketing consultant.

NOTE: WickedTreo.com was active for over a year, and all articles and how-to entries are now archived on WickedBlog.com.

The one thing that my son’s Tungsten C has, that my Treo doesn’t (besides a slightly larger display) is wi-fi access. He’s sitting on the couch, cruising the web while I’m lugging a laptop to do so.

I just happen to live in one of those areas in the knobland of Kentucky that, although beautiful, it’s nearly impossible to get a cell signal sitting on my couch. And, the wi-fi is so much FASTER! He can cruise the web like lightening compared to data service speeds.

What can I say, I’m jealous! But soon, a new product will be released to fix that envy.

[more]

Enfora is introducing a “Wi-Fi Sled” for both the Treo 600 and the Treo 650. Their own website www.enfora.com gives all the details.

The extra add-on will run about $150. Personally, I can’t wait!

(Note: I have not tried this software myself, but it looks like something that you may want to review. — Angela)

Leesburg, VA (PRWEB) June 3, 2005 — Today, RealOrganized, Inc. updated its award winning RealtyJuggler Deluxe and RealtyJuggler Calculator products. “This is a free upgrade to our registered users and addresses requests from agents who wanted to handle loan calculations for non-traditional loans such as interest only, combo loans such as 80-20, as well as 0% down loans. With RealtyJuggler, agents can do quick calculations without getting bogged down in complex math.

Just fill in the blanks and the answers come out in plain english.” said Scott Schmitz, President of RealOrganized, Inc. A number of additional improvements have been made including improved ability to handle referrals and improved 5-way button navigation for Treo 650 users.

RealtyJuggler Deluxe is organizational software for real estate agents on the go. Agents can track listings, prospects, buyers, sellers, lockboxes, closings and more from their Palm Powered PDAs and smartphones.

RealtyJuggler Calculator consists of five real estate calculators which run on Palm Powered PDA’s and smartphones. The calculators are: rent vs own, seller net, maximum home price a buyer can qualify for, mortgage payments, and commissions.

30-day free trials for both products are available at the company’s web site: RealOrganized.com, where the software can be downloaded and purchased.

The software runs on Palm Powered handhelds with at least 2MB free RAM and requires OS 4.0 or later.

RealOrganized is a Virginia based corporation founded in 2003 by an former executive from AOL and a top real estate agent each with over a dozen years experience in their respective fields. The company’s mission is to create organizational software for real estate.

Shopping for a case for your new Treo is not easy. Doing it online, where you can’t touch them all and slip your Treo 650 in them for a “test fitting” is annoying.

I’ve been through SEVERAL cases before finding my own Treo case nirvana. Before I tell you what I like best, let me tell you a little about some of the other options I’ve tried.

I can tell you to not use the soft leather case with the clear plastic that covers your keys. First of all, it’s annoying to type on the thumboard with that thing on — and it makes you miss keys. Second, it’s not really protecting anything. And, for those who are interested in aesthetics, it’s what my teenage son would call “butt ugly.”

The side-sliding models are a bit better, from a looks standpoint, and they don’t interfere with your use of the keyboard because the Treo has to come completely out of the holster before you can use it. That’s what bothers me about it. I used that for awhile with my Treo 600, and I found that the little thing was completely unprotected when it needed protection the most — when I was using it. It was a hassle to get it in and out of the slide case and I’d have calls go to voicemail by the time I could stop, dig in my purse, pull out the Treo, unsnap the strap, pull out the phone and view the screen to see who was calling. It had a simple covered metal clip on the side that made me nervous. I was afraid I’d lose it from my belt, so I kept it in a purse.

There are silicone rubber cases available. I’m sure these help with the dash-board sliding problem, if you toss your Treo up there. Personally, I don’t. And besides, I just couldn’t bear to wiggle what I considered to be a condom on my smartphone. Maybe you feel differently, but that stuff (based on observations with similar silicone products) tends to have a sticky feel and attracts dirt. Sherbet colors or not, I’ll pass.

Although I’ve not tried the hard metal cases, I’ve shopped for them a lot. Every model I’ve seen leaves me with the impression that I’d have a hard time accessing my Treo quickly. And quick access is essential for me. I like the idea of rubberized shock-absorbing material between my Treo and a rough tumble, but I don’t want to have to open it up and figure out what to do with the hinged metal flap while I use it. It just seems to me that those cases take a great, slender product that’s easy to use and is the optimum size, and they bulk it up and make it less convenient. Again, I’ll pass.

When I got my Treos (both of them) I salivated fairly profusely over the Vaja cases VajaCases.com, but the $100+ model, although beautiful, leaves the screen open and vulnerable. They did have another model with a flip front to protect the screen, but that particular model was even more. At that point the cost of the case was nearly half as much as the Treo (especially if you get the personalization options including monagram and custom color combinations and the belt clip thingee). But, my GOODNESS they look really nice!

After much searching (mostly soul searching and staring with bloodshot eyes at my budget), I decided to try the Piel Frama Case leather case. It’s handcrafted and feels simply divine. I researched them on the web and then found a new one on ebay.com for a few dollars less than retail.

Presentation on the Piel Frama model is really nice, nice box, tissue paper, etc. It exudes quality. It flips over and covers the whole front of the Treo, keeping my screen AND keyboard safe from scratches and marks. The magnetic closure makes it much quicker to open to use than the snap-type ever could. It’s open on the bottom for hooking to a Hotsync cable and/or charger. and all the buttons are easily accessible. It keeps the camera eye protected, but it’s hinged enough that a slight downward tug in the back gives you quick access to use the camera without slipping it out of the case or “inching it up” like many cases of this type require.

The flap on the front and the panel on the back are stiffened leather and keeps the Treo protected from scratches, wear and tear and keeps it from slipping from your hand while in use.

The downside is that the “credit card pocket” described in the product literature won’t hold a credit card. Mine is just slightly too small to fit one in. This also means I can’t carry an extra business card there. And here I was trying to eliminate a purse altogether! Drat!

The case has a mesh cutout for the speaker, so that’s not muffled. It has a button (which is removable with the special tool included with the case) for using a solid belt clip (also included).

Mine is quite “broken in” now and I like it more today than I did the day I unwrapped it.

A word of caution: although this case (and several other leather models) have a place to slip a couple expansion cards, I’d advise against it. The SD cards are great, and they are tiny enough to slip in anywhere, but they won’t take much flexing and a hard case is a much better option if you must carry extra cards.

With all that said, I highly recommend the Piel Frama Case. I feel strongly enough about it that I wrote a glowing feedback about this product on Amazon this week. [PLEASE NOTE COMMENT BELOW ADDED LATER].

Although I’ve not used the Covertec Case for the Treo, I did purchase on for my son’s Tungsten C. The model he has is quite nice and is comparable to the Piel Frama Case, IMHO. Again, I’ve not used or tried this on the Treo 600 or the Treo 650, but it may be something you want to investigate.

Note: (August 2005)

One warning on the Piel Frama case – if you are a heavy user, you
should check the “fit” on the Treo as leather will naturally “give” and
“stretch.”

Having learned the hard way that sometimes a broken-in case allows some
play — which may result in an unexpected spill from your case onto the
floor or pavement — I’m now looking into another model with a snap
closure at the top to keep my Treo IN the case, even with natural
stretching.

Perhaps my problem is unique, but if you have this case, or you buy the
Piel Frama — be sure to check the fit on a regular basis and replace
the case if the fit becomes loose.

The reason I’ve been rather quiet (relatively speaking) for the last few months has been due to several health issues that surfaced. I don’t like to blog about bad stuff that’s personal – especially not when I’m in the throes of a personal battle.

With that said, I’m feeling MUCH better now, I’m back to work full-force and I’m not feeling guilty for feeling like crap and being unable to do much. NOW I can finally blog about it.

My husband was awesome, as were my kids, and even my clients were understanding (I never thought anything would ever slow down my work!)

With all that said, the Doctors and the over $5K of tests and exams, blood analysis, CT scans, X-rays, EKG’s, ultrasounds, ad nauseum were unable to find anything. The solution was to put me on medications, and then more medications.

Now, I don’t believe in medications, never have. I don’t even take ASPRIN! I’m not accustomed to being “sick” and I firmly believe that most people get SICKER, not better, when they use medications.

During this bout where I was desperate to feel better, to quit having the dizzy spells, to get rid of the swelling, the joint pain, and all the other many symptoms, I agreed to go on meds. Mistake. HUGE mistake.

When I looked up the counter-indications for the meds I was on, it amazed me to find that most of the things I was taking had side effects, which were identical to the symptoms I was taking them FOR. And, if not that, then the one I was taking for symptom X caused the problems I was taking another med to address. And the problem was, I already HAD all these symptoms — so my drugs were possibly exacerbating the issues I was taking them to subdue.

When I asked my doctor about this, she said it was strange, but often medications are given for a solution to the symptoms they cause. Very odd, in my book and frustrating. So, I figured, if I DO get better – how would I know? Especially if medication X causes the symptoms that medication Y erases?

All I know is that I was exhausted all the time, was grumpy, had heart palpitations, my hands and feet were swollen to nearly double their normal size on the worst days, I couldn’t sleep, even had difficulty walking during the worst of it. I had all these physical maladies and then was being given (expensive) medications that didn’t really help, but stated on the information sheet that they could do harm.

After taking myself OFF all the medications (nearly three weeks ago), giving up on the medical community, and putting myself back on an elimination (yeast elimination) diet, I’m feeling 110% better. Some symptoms remain, but they are starting to fade. I’ve gone all-organic and have started paying much closer attention to what I ingest and what products I use.

Why this approach? Experience. It worked once before.

Before Alexzandria was born, I was diagnosed with Arthritis (Rheumatoid variety) and the joint pain and swelling (especially in my knees) was so bad at that point, I was told (and became convinced) I’d not be able to climb stairs in a short while. I had no desire to take steroids for the rest of my life.

On an unrelated note, I also had a recurring infection, which baffled the doctors. I tripped across a book called The Yeast Connection, by William Crook, MD and in desperation; I bought it and tried the diet. In a matter of weeks my infection was gone and so was my arthritis. Gone. Completely. I eliminated sugar from my diet for several years, convinced that was the culprit.

On our wedding day, I ate wedding cake. And after that, I started eating sugar again. I was also drinking between two and three 2-litre bottles of Diet Cola per day. I was an addict, and I admitted it freely. I ADORED diet cola – and Diet Dr. Pepper. I’d drink it hot or cold, fizzy or flat. I even joked that an IV of caffeine would be a quicker, more efficient method of delivery of my “drug of choice” and it would improve my productivity by reducing my trips to the bathroom. I’d be more efficient and could work longer. I said that caffeine didn’t keep me awake. And, I could, in all honesty, go to sleep immediately after ingesting large quantities of diet cola. Of course, since I kept a 2-litre with me at all times, if I ever was going to sleep it would HAVE to be after ingesting a large quantity of my favorite beverage. Do a web search on aspartame poisoning, if you really want to become alarmed. It’s a neurotoxin.

Now, with all that said, I dunno if it was the sugar, if it was the enormous amount of aspartame I ingested, or some other chemical mixture of toxins from the food I ate or some combination thereof – but my body did certainly go awry.

The symptoms were nearly gone by the time I went back for my second appointment with the ear specialist, who was running more tests on my vertigo (so bad at times it made me nauseous). When I told him I’d not had an episode since the last time we talked, a week before, he asked what I’d done differently. I told him about the “no yeast” diet, and my prior experience with the arthritis and infections that disappeared when I went on the diet. He told me that he was quite interested in learning more, and took down the title and the author.

I don’t expect to feel like new again immediately, but I already feel better. My husband said he loves having his wife back and he’s happy to not be worrying about me on a daily basis. He said he never would have believed ANYTHING would slow me down, ever, and to see me like that worried him terribly.

I’m not good at being sick. I don’t like it. It cramps my style and ruins my quality of life. So, I’m doing what I can to fix it.

I still get dizzy occasionally, I’m still dealing with a substantial weight gain during this whole ordeal, and I have a long way yet to go — but at least I feel human again.

I’ve done an enormous amount of research on chemical-related symptoms (particularly from aspartame and other artificial sweeteners) and urge anyone who eats standard USA American Fare to do a bit of research.

Some of the things I’ve read are downright scary! And, eliminating all those products from my diet has delivered a solution to a multitude of problems which left my doctors saying they didn’t know what was wrong.

If you want to learn a bit more, check out the “Healthy Links” I will attempt to collect. This will include resources I want to share and books I recommend you read. I may throw in a few organic food and product resources too. My most recent read was Kevin Trudeau’s Book which I found to be quite interesting. I must admit it was overly verbose (and for ME, that’s really saying something). Phrases like “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore” were repeated to the point it was irritating. He spends too much time “witch hunting” and pushing his own website, but the information is thought provoking. If it were “boiled down” into five concentrated chapters, it would be a better read for the information addicts among us. :O) With that said, I still think it’s well worth your time, and wading through the less than informative, and repetitive portions to pan for the gold.

It’s not been easy to go “all organic,” it’s like taking the Yeast Diet and going a step further, but if that’s what I need to do to feel better, it’s a done deal!

Blessings and good health to you all (without that, not much else matters)!

As I did some submission work for my new baby, WickedTreo.com, I found an article on a PR consultant and her husband doing, albeit in grander style, what Wayne and I have been discussing for many months.

The two are going MOBILE — in a big way. They ditched the office space in favor of an RV and work from the new “workstead” on wheels.

Granted, they are doing it bigger than I want to. They have a $100K RV that’s much larger than the Airstream Bambi we are considering, but still — they are doing it and loving it.

I think it’s going to be a great day when more people adopt a more mobile work philosophy. Why be tied to a desk, tethered to a laptop, when you can just as easily be anywhere — and still get the work done?

I like changing my surroundings. I also like having a good, solid “homebase” — but the farm provides that. I love working and may never retire completely — but I do want to see the world and Wayne and I want to start by touring around in the US.

We think we may pack Alex up and do the homeschooling thing via the Internet and her own personal laptop so we can leave a few year earlier than when she goes off to college. What a wonderful educational experience it could be — for ALL of us! And so we spend much time dreaming about it these days.

Meanwhile, we are paying off the few remaining debts and I’m learning everything I can about how to get more mobile, how to continue to focus my business into a fine point that is well niched and Wayne seeks his own ideas of work nirvana that can be accomplished while on the road.

It’s a great dream, and will be an even more wonderful reality — in 3-5 years!

Have a great weekend, and go read more about the PR consultant on wheels at www.BizJournals.com/entrepreneur/2005/6/18 — Sorry, they don’t offer a permalink, so I don’t know how long this address will work.

And, after you read this, go take my poll on the importance of mobility in YOUR life. I’d like to know! :O)

You now have a fully-charged Treo with the proper cellular service and data plan for your needs.

The next steps are crucial to protect your investment. First, buy a screen protector pack and second, get a protective case! Your Treo 650 probably came with a single screen protector. Take the time now to wrestle that little sucker on the screen. Although there may be some bubbles you just CAN’T get out, they will probably disappear in a few hours or a couple days of use (if they are small). The tiny bubbles mine on mine made me nuts for the first day or so, but they did eventually disappear.

I take good care of my Treo and pretend I don’t have the protector on it. I treat it with kid gloves, so my first protector is still on the Treo. It appears that it has just a few tiny scratches, but it’s still fine.

As much as they charge for those things, I’ll not change it until it needs to be done!

A word of warning: Do not wait and “use it awhile” before you install the screen protector. Do that first. Do that now.

Google has just released a mobile search for WAP (read that as “Treo Optimized”) websites. Now, it’s even easier to find the best possible sites for your Treo 650’s display.

These sites load faster and are usually easer to navigate with a stylus.

Google Blog tells the whole story. Check it out HERE.