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I saw this article in the Baton Rouge paper recently about Ms. Nora Shaw of Thibodaux just turning 102.  Evidently, Ms. Nora said that, “doing The Freeze never gets old” …. read rest of story here 

And, I have to say that Ms. Nora’s example is definitely one I would love to follow since I, too, love dancing!  In fact, lots of Louisianian’s love it; I saw a lady this past summer out boogeying with her walking cane and she was having a grand old time. 

I like to think I “will” follow Ms. Nora and, if that is the case, knowing that I have my home paid for will, in and of itself, give me cause to celebrate and dance the night away but at a lot sooner age, I would imagine, than I’m sure Ms. Nora did.  Thanks to my MMA program(tm), I will have much more to celebrate and dance about soon!

And, oh, seems like Ms. Nora caught Jay Leno’s eye too….check it out here!

Debra

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Posted by Debra as Dance, Program Particulars at 9:47 PM EST

A friend of mine wrote this poem about the disappointing loss we suffered to Ole Miss last weekend …..and, about the role of a true LSU fan which I couldn’t agree with more!

An Ole Miss win?  Who’d a thunk it?
Looks like LSU just decided to chunk it!
They booed Jarrett Lee
        And Jefferson wasn’t the key-
LSU clearly did flunk it!!

I’m looking for someone to blame
I want no excuse that is considered lame.
The whole game was bad
Tiger fans are mad
Cuz now Mud has to be our name.

Saturday Ole Miss played the best.
I hate losing, it makes me depressed
        But you can book it that Anne
        Is a true Tiger fan-
And next year will be a Tiger success!!!

 By Anne S.

 Any other “true” Tiger fans who care to chime in, please do!

I, personally, am disappointed in the season but feel like a lot of people have not been fair to Jarrett Lee and think he has done a great job for LSU.  I do look forward to putting this football season behind the Tigers though!

I’m ready for basketball, now, and to see how the girls and boys will fare this year.

Here’s the Heisman Trophy winner getting some recognition some 50 years later….just in case you missed it.

Love to have feedback from other Tiger fans….

 Till next post….Debra

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Posted by Debra as LSU at 10:09 PM EST

United First Financial Co-Founders Take Home Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Regional Award

July 3rd, 2008

For Immediate Release

United First Financial Co-Founders Take Home Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Regional Award

The company’s co-founders were awarded for entrepreneurial success in the financial services category; qualify for national awards

BLUFFDALE, Utah – July 3, 2008 – Skyler Witman, John Washenko, Matt Lovelady, Jonathan E. Bonnette, and Don Jorgensen of United First Financial™, a financial software services and support company, were recently awarded the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2008 Award in the financial services category in Utah. An independent panel of judges selected their work with United First Financial from a group of finalists, and the award was presented at a gala event at the Salt Palace Convention Center on June 27, 2008.

United First Financial’s (UFirst) innovative Money Merge Account™ program utilizes existing banking tools, one-on-one coaching and a Web-based software tool to help consumers pay off their mortgages and consumer debt in about one-half to one-third the time.

“When we started United First Financial, we didn’t just want to help people get out of debt and improve their financial situation eventually, we wanted to help them do it fast and with little to no change in their current spending habits,” said Skyler Witman, co-founder of UFirst. “The Money Merge Account solution has done just that, and more. It helps homeowners pay off a traditional mortgage in as little as one-half, to one-third the time, it helps clients without a mortgage eliminate other consumer debt and it helps clients without debt build wealth.”

The UFirst co-founders were among the founders of nine Utah-based companies to receive Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year regional awards. According to Ernst & Young LLP, the award recognizes outstanding entrepreneurs who are building and leading dynamic, growing businesses.

“Ernst & Young is pleased to honor outstanding business leaders such as United First Financial,” said David Jolley, Managing Partner and Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Program Director for Utah. “Winners of the Entrepreneur of the Year award build leading businesses and contribute a great deal to the communities around them. Their success helps Utah grow stronger.”

The co-founders will travel to Palm Springs, Calif. to compete for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2008 national program Nov. 15, 2008. Award winners in several national categories, as well as the overall national Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award winner, will be announced at the annual awards. The awards are the culminating event of the Ernst & Young Strategic Growth Forum, the nation’s most prestigious gathering of high-growth, market-leading companies.

About United First Financial:
United First Financial (UFirst) is a financial software services and support company. Its products, tools and coaching services enable consumers to pay-off their mortgages, eliminate their debt and achieve financial independence in a fraction of the time. For more information about United First Financial or the Money Merge Account system, please visit www.UnitedFirstFinancial.com.

About the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards
Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year is the world’s most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs. The award makes a difference through the unique way it encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential and recognizes the contribution of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement. As the first and only truly global award of its kind, Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognizing them through regional, national and global awards programs in more than 135 cities in 50 countries.

About Ernst & Young
Ernst & Young is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. Worldwide, our 130,000 people are united by our shared values and an unwavering commitment to quality. We make a difference by helping our people, our clients and our wider communities achieve potential. For more information, please visit www.ey.com.

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Posted by Debra as Articles, Awards at 2:23 PM EST

Well, sort of some towards Katrina/Rita…..in that, if need be, my blue tarp could last forever (just about) since when I queried the Corps about how long the tarps ”would” last I was told that some Katrina/Rita ones were still!!! in place.  That should have given me a clue to know that I am not the only one singing the Blue Tarp Blues (which, of course, logically I knew better than to think/feel but as we all know logic definitely does not always come into play and specifically during hurricane season in Louisiana)!

Sorry, Katrina and Rita people, I know now that you, too, “still” have a good case of the Blue Tarp Blues after doing some link research for this blog!  

In the past, I have noticed (and mentally chided) other people (for) thinking everything revolves around them and their universe solely, and, I, regrettably, did the same thing (i.e. the only ones who knew or could sing the Blue Tarp Blues were those of us who had just suffered Gustav and Ike) ………… until I started looking for a catchy poem or lyrics to put with this “Blue Tarp” card! Lo and behold there’s all kinds of Blue Tarp misery out there and it isn’t all of the hurricane variety either!

 In fact, there’s even a Blue Tarp Blues song!  So, that really just sort of skewed the whole Blue Tarp Blues song I was originally penning.  Here’s the lyrics to the one I hope you listened to above (in the first link).

Which lead me to the fact that I sure wouldn’t have minded being the inventor of the Blue Tarp; I imagine he/she may have started out singing their own variety of blue tarp blues……but not anymore!

I guess I could muse on and on about this simple invention and its blues but, after much ado, I guess you could say that as long as there is Mother Nature, we here in Louisiana (both Katrina/Rita and the more recent Gustav/Ike victims) don’t have the monopoly on them thar Blue Tarp Blues!

Until next post, be Safe!  Debra

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Posted by Debra as General at 1:53 PM EDT

As you can see from my very first post over a year ago, I was planning to blog about my Money Merge Account® business, but about the time I got my site set up, the policy of allowing blogging was rescinded.

Unfortunately, because the Money Merge Account system deals with consumers’ finances AND is such a new and revolutionary concept in the States, many will try to attack both it and the company - so a command decision was made not to get into debates via blogs with those people. We are happy to answer any questions individually.

Hopefully, you will check out the program itself from the numerous links on the blog as well as my other links (particularly the one to my Cash Flow Business). Please feel free to email me with ANY questions.

In the meantime, I have been trying to figure out what to do with the domain and have decided to use it for my personal blogging. I “did” have a personal blog previously on eblogs but one day it was just gone and I haven’t been able to get in touch with them to see if I could get the files from my previous site. Naturally, I had not backed it up! Maybe they’ll see my link here and read the post and get back to me!  They evidently have turned their site into an email marketing one.

In any event, the eblogs dilemma is a good example of why the teacher of my short-lived blogging lessons (way too advanced for me), Yaro, says you should always own your own domain because of just such a thing (as with eblogs) happening. I felt like that was my personal musings, etc. and they just took it away without notice to me or anything.

So, American Dream Plus, it is from now on!

Before getting going on to my personal blogging, though, I did want to post links to articles which have come out about the Money Merge Account system as well as a News Release I think you might find of interest!

Broker Banker (Article 1), click here; Mortgage Planner (Article 2), click here; True Wealth (Article 3), click here;

Ernst & Young Award Winner -  News Release, Click here.

Until next time, be safe……Debra

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Posted by Debra as Program Particulars at 8:34 PM EDT

Hi, Everyone -

Thanks for stopping by!

I am excited to be able to share particulars about a wonderful software program that I feel can help us all achieve what has sometimes become the all too elusive……….American Dream!

I will be sharing details of this program and just how it can help us on future blog posts and will hope to hear from you with any questions at:  debra@americandreamplusblog.com or by phone, 225-247-4370.

If you wish to view a video presentation on the software program at this time (which takes about 20 minutes), please go to my American Dream website. 

Now let’s get to some details and posting!

Debra

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Posted by Debra as General at 10:04 AM EDT