Making Childhood Dreams Come True

What did you want to be when you weren't an adult?

Almost everyone has childhood dreams. But did yours come true?

Mine did:

http://www.helium.com/items/1085129-writer-free-lance-barbaro-thoroughbred-racing-kentucky-derby-retirement-animal-rescue

Saying farewell to one of racing's kindest

If you passed Mike Becker on the street, you wouldn’t guess he was a philanthropist in any sense of the word.

Philanthropists come in many shapes and sizes. The most common image we have is of a wealthy, aging donor who supports the arts or perhaps an alma mater.

Becker, 49, didn’t come close to matching this description. Nearly penniless when he died May 23, 2008 after a long, debilitating struggle with the complications of diabetes, he had kindness imbedded in every cell of his body.

The love of his life was Influent, the thoroughbred he used to own but for whom he was forced to find a new home due to financial problems. Influent, who is healthy and happy today, won nearly $1 million before his retirement.

Becker was well known in racing circles. He frequented the tracks at Monmouth and Belmont. At one point, he worked as a groom for Genuine Risk, the Virginia filly who is the oldest surviving winner of the Kentucky Derby.

Injured when he was hit by a tractor-trailer, he became partially paralyzed but recovered to a large extent over time. A settlement from the accident enabled him to buy and train some horses. However, he gave away most of his winnings and often provided unsuspecting employees with on-the-spot cash bonuses for jobs well done. He in effect ran his own informal version of a children’s charity, allowing kids to pick a favorite horse and then giving them a portion of the earnings. He spent very little on himself.

Becker’s legacy lives on in the fans of the great 2006 Kentucky Derby winner, Barbaro, who was euthanized in 2007 due to complications of laminitis. When the former thoroughbred owner’s story of medical and financial woes hit the site most frequented by the Fans of Barbaro (FOBs), they mobilized to try to unite him with Influent.

Unfortunately, he died without seeing Influent again. Through the selfless efforts of one woman, Colette Mulhall, Becker’s plight reached hundreds of readers. He is undoubtedly watching over many animals today. And the FOBs will keep his memory alive in thousands of acts of kindness to animals, some random and some orchestrated.

Rest in peace, Mike Becker.

How to handle denials from your health insurance company

Last year, my family had quite a few. You expect what seems like a routine procedure to be paid quickly. Instead, you get a notice that it wasn't even medically necessary and that you're liable for the full amount billed.

Here's what you should do:

http://www.helium.com/knowledge/5457-what-to-do-if-health-insurance-denies-your-claim

What Do We Really Love About Randy Pausch?

People are still riveted by the "Last Lecture", given by Carnegie Mellon University professor Randy Pausch last Fall. The winsome 47-year-old is terminally ill with pancreatic cancer. He'll leave behind three young children and a wife.

The video of this lecture has been viewed on the Internet millions of times. Pausch has been interviewed by Diane Sawyer and appeared on Oprah's show.

Unfortunately, most individuals who contract pancreatic cancer die as the result of the disease. Read this piece for my opinion on what really fasinates us about Randy Pausch:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/798423/what_people_really_love_about_randy.html?cat=49

Another Angle of Spending Less/Saving Money

Sad but true: individuals rushing out to buy hybrid vehicles are finding out that at least for the first three years after purchase, they could actually be more expensive to operate than ye olde gasoline-powered four-wheeler parked in the driveway. That's because they forget about the cost of just buying a new car vs. the older one, especially if the older model is already paid in full.

Many articles in the last year have focused on how to cut expenses for groceries and fuel, two of American families' biggest outlays each year.

Here's another angle: getting things for free.

Over the years, I've checked out various sites for freebies. . .everything from diapers to cat food. The one I've found consistently the best:

http://www.momanddads.com/

Enjoy!

Vonda

Talladega is Not a New Tex-Mex Dish

The NASCAR season is in full swing. The drivers race toward points as well as the checkered flag.

In the midst of some serious concerns over wrecks and mechanical problems, how about a little humor?

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/224797/confessions_of_a_nascar_widow.html?cat=41

Rest in Peace, Eight Belles

The races get faster and faster. The horses bred are more and more fragile. Read about Eight Belles, the filly who finished second in the 2008 Kentucky Derby but who lost her life at Churchill Downs:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/749837/kentucky_derby_how_much_tragedy_can.html?page=2

As of this posting, results of her autopsy are not available, and the cause of her breakdown has not been specified.

Wondering How to Convince Your Boss You Should Telecommute?

The thought of one more day driving 90 minutes each direction and the recollection of the price of your last tank of gas is enough to bring on a migraine. If you're convinced telecommuting is for you but need to convince your boss, you'll need some ammunition. I telecommuted for four years while working for the Federal Government. Read on for some ideas:

http://www.helium.com/items/986532-price-gallon-still-convinced

Finding a Summer Camp for Your Special-Needs Child

It might not be easy or particularly affordable. However, here's what you need to know to locate the right summer camp for a special-needs child:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/644655/how_to_find_a_camp_for_your_specialneeds.html?page=2

How to Survive the Recession if You Have No Savings

In the Washington, DC area, they're commonly called "McMansions". They're the $800,000-plus properties that sold for maybe half that amount 5 years ago. Many of them are currently in foreclosure.

However, you don' t have to own a piece of real estate that's actually an albatross to be affected by the looming recession. For millions of families, the idea of savings for emergencies is just plain fiction. Read on to find out what you can do if you're one of them:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/699275/how_to_face_the_recession_without_any.html?cat=3

What on earth is MaundyThursday?

Have you heard the term and wondered what it really meant? Many denominations now call it Holy Thursday. Read on to find out about its significance:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/663105/why_holy_thursday_is_an_important_part.html

Camps for Special-needs Kids

It's the second half of March, and many parents are slipping into panic over a summer camp for their children.

If you have a special-needs child, finding the right spot for a summer camping adventure is even tougher. Here are some tips to speed your search:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/644655/how_to_find_a_camp_for_your_specialneeds.html

Halting Impulse Spending at the Grocery

Are you sick of reaching the checkout at the supermarket, only to find that you've spent nearly double what you planned? Then take a look at this piece for ideas on how to squash impulse spending each time you shop for groceries:

http://www.helium.com/tm/912457/intended-spend-10000-grocery

Taking Back Your Taxes

'Tis the season to be at least THINKING about preparing your 2007 income taxes. I don't normally do ours until March, when I've finally collected all the paperwork.

If you're looking for a humorous respite from your income tax ordeal, check out this link:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/577717/taking_back_our_taxes.html

Remembering a Champion

Barbaro, winner of the 2006 Kentucky Derby, might well be remembered as the greatest thoroughbred in American history despite his catastrophic injury in the Preakness.

Read why the big bay colt made more of an impression off the track than on it:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/569091/remembering_barbaro.html

In memory of Barbaro, who died January 29, 2007.